|
Rodgers is in: No. 1 pick signs
Training Camp 2005
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
PackersNews.com
The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Aaron Rodgers, their first-round draft pick, General Manager Ted Thompson announced Saturday night.
After signing the contract Saturday night, Rodgers immediately headed to St. Norbert College in De Pere to join the rest of the Packers. He will practice for the first time this morning.
Before Rodgers had signed, Packers coach Mike Sherman said he wasn’t overly concerned about the four days of practice that Rodgers had missed.
“Everything we’ve done so far he did in the minicamps,” Sherman said. “The opportunity to go back and do it again, he’s missed that, but he’s a bright kid. When he gets here, we’ll get him working around the clock and we’ll get him ready to go.”
Rodgers is the last of the Packers’ 11 draft picks to sign. While terms of Rodgers’ contract are unknown, it is expected to be similar to the five-year deal that Buffalo quarterback J.P. Losman signed last year. Losman’s deal, with incentives and escalator clauses, could be worth as much as $24.58 million.
Since Rodgers isn’t expected to start until Brett Favre retires, negotiations with Rodgers’ agent, Mike Sullivan, were especially difficult. The contract is expected to include an escalator clause that will trigger when and if Rodgers becomes the starter.
“Obviously, this is a very difficult contract,” Sherman said. “This is a contract that is (geared) toward the future.”
When he reports to camp today, Rodgers will have to share reps with Favre as well as backups Craig Nall and J.T. O’Sullivan. Favre has been participating in only one practice per day, so that may increase Rodgers’ chance to get plenty of reps.
The Packers took Rodgers with the No. 24 pick in April’s draft. At one point, he was expected to be taken with the No. 1 overall pick but unexpectedly fell to the Packers toward the end of the first round.
Dylan B. Tomlinson writes for The Post-Crescent of Appleton.
__________________
|