KGB signs with Packers

[40yearfan]

Packers, Gbaja-Biamila agree to contract of $37 million
By TOM SILVERSTEIN
[email protected]
Last Updated: April 2, 2003


The Green Bay Packers have reached a contract agreement with defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila that will pay the restricted free agent around $37 million, the player's agent has reported.

Bruce Tollner told ESPN.com that Gbaja-Biamila had agreed to a seven-year deal that includes about $13 million in guaranteed money. Though Tollner was not specific, the guaranteed money probably comes in the form of a large signing bonus and various roster bonuses or guaranteed base salaries.<p>Only $13M guaranteed. Good deal for the Packers?

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

KGB has gotten the Pack 25.5 sacks the past two years. $13 million guaranteed IS a good deal for the Packers.

 

[Houdini]

This signing might have closed the door on Holliday returning to Green Bay, and pushing him closer to Arizona. Holliday is running out of options. I read that he wasn't happy with the low offer he got from Seattle.

 

[WizardOfAz]

ESPN Insider head-line is:

HEADLINES

Pack overpay, but keep D intact


I'd like to see it if anyone who has access can post - thanks!

 

[JeffGollin]

This morning, I contributed to the Vonnie Holliday "Death Watch" by combing the www for any news about his visit to KC yesterday. I found nothing - with suggests that, at the very least, the Chiefs didn't knock Vonnie's socks off. Otherwise there would have been some sort of press conference and story. I haven't checked the KC newspapers yet. Maybe there's something there.

For those of us who want the Cards to sign Holliday - no news is good news.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
[BI haven't checked the KC newspapers yet. Maybe there's something there. [/B]

There isn't.

 

[Houdini]

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
ESPN Insider head-line is:

HEADLINES

Pack overpay, but keep D intact


I'd like to see it if anyone who has access can post - thanks!

I don't have access to the article, but the general feeling in Green Bay is the Packers made a mistake by giving KGB the middle tender which would have given them only a 1st round pick if someone else signed him and the Packers declined to match. If they would have given him the highest tender offer, the Packers would have gotten a 1st and 3rd round pick if someone else offered him a contract and the Packers declined to match. It's unlikely anyone would have went after KGB with the higher tender, but the Eagles went after KGB with the middle tender offer, so the Packers might have had to overpay him to keep the Eagles from landing him. Maybe the ESPN article says something different, but that has been the buzz in Green Bay the last month. I also read that KGB was trying to get $14 million for a sigining bonus after Coles got a $13 million siging bonus with the Redskins. That still seems like a lot though.

 

[CardsFan88]

KGB is an intriguing player. He comes in only on 3rd down (well most of time anyways), and get 25 sacks the last two seasons. If you expanded on his sack totals to include 1st and 2nd downs, he would be in Michael Strahan 2001 range.

That said, he has so far only been a 3rd down pass rusher. I love watching him play. Now it's his chance to shine. No way does the pack pay him that much and keep him as a 3rd down rusher...especially with holliday's imminent departure.

Will he be better against the run this year? Will playing every down wear him down so that he isn't as effective in pass rushing situations? These are questions he has to answer next year, but with his track record in the NFL so far, there is NO reason to think that he won't pass the test with flying colors. Overall I think it is a great signing. Many of their star(THEIR star) defensive players and quality depth players have left this offseason.

I can't remember how old he is 23,24,25? A seven year contract for him won't be his last, all things considered.

 

[kerouac9]

KGB's 25, but in the past 2 seasons, I think he's only had something like 4 sacks scattered over the last 5 games of both seasons. The kid's great is September, but folds it up come December like the Miami Dolphins. He's most effective when only playing 20 downs a week. Much more than that, and he's just another guy.

 

[CardinalChris]

He played every down last year, not just third. He wears down late in the yar which comes from being 245 pounds and playing DE. Is he worth 13 mil in bonuses? Probably to Arizona..... But any other team? I find that number a little too big to swallow.

 

[Houdini]

The Packers were one of the league leaders in both sacks and takeaways the last couple of years, and a lot of that is because of KGB causing fumbles or getting in the QB's face to help create interception opportunities. That is worth more than a sack but is not always seen in the stats for D-linemen. KGB can be a liability at times against the run though and can get worn down against a power running team. I think the Packers did overpay him some considering he's not built like a young Bruce Smith or Strahan who can dominate both the run and pass, but when you consider Plummer got a $13 million signing bonus in Denver, it makes KGB's guaranteed $13 million look a little more reasonable. I am kind of surprised by some of the big contracts given out so far during free agency when I thought so many teams were having salary cap trouble.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Numbers:

Packers | Contract Details: KGB - posted at KFFL (http://nfl.kffl.com)
14:14 PT: Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports the deal restricted free agent DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila signed to return to the Green Bay Packers was a seven-year contract worth $37 million. The deal breaks down as follows: base salaries of $650,000 (2003-guaranteed); $675,000 (2004- guaranteed); $925,000 of $1 million is guaranteed (2005); $3.85 million (2006); $5 million (2007); $6.15 million (2008); and $7.3 million (2009). The contract includes spring roster bonuses of $675,000 (2004) and $1 million (2005). The deal also included a signing bonus of $11 million.