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Packers officially release C Jeff Saturday

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The Green Bay Packers released C Jeff Saturday today.

Saturday, who signed with the Packers as an unrestricted free agent in March 2012 after playing 13 seasons (1999-2011) with the Indianapolis

Jeff Saturday

Jeff Saturday

Colts, started 14 games for Green Bay this past season and was named to his sixth career Pro Bowl.  He also earned Pro Bowl recognition with the Colts in 2005-07 and 2009-10.  He was twice named first-team All-Pro by the Associated Press (2005-2007).

Saturday has played in 2011 games with 202 starts during his career.  He has started all 16 regular-season contests in 10 of his 14 seasons.

The move immediately clears $3.75-million in salary cap space.

Saturday is expected to sign a one-day contract with the Indianapolis Colts and retire as a member of that franchise, where he spent the first 13 years of his NFL career.

Saturday announced his retirement shortly before the Pro Bowl but has yet to file retirement papers with the NFL.  The Packers originally signed Saturday as an unrestricted free agent to replace Scott Wells who left for St. Louis in free agency.

The Packers now are about $20 million under the 2013 salary cap.

Saturday reportedly met with Packers on Monday

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The Green Bay Packers are in the market for a center after losing free agent

Scott Wells

Scott Wells to the St. Louis Rams. 

ESPN.com reported that the Packers and Tennessee Titans both contacted Colts free agent Jeff Saturday to set up a visit. 

ProFootballTalk.com reported that Saturday took his visit with the Packers yesterday. 

The 37-year-old Saturday is a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time all-pro selection. 

Saturday may also draw interest from Denver, now that Peyton Manning is on the verge of signing there.

If the Packers don’t sign a free agent, incumbant Evan Dietrich-Smith would be the leading candidate on the current roster to get a shot at the job.  The Packers also like practice squad player Genus Sampson and could look for a replacement in the draft as well.

 

Packers looking for a new starter at Center

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The Green Bay Packers are looking for a new starting center after Pro Bowler Scott Wells agreed to a reported 4-year deal with the St.

Scott Wells

Louis Rams worth $24-million, including $13-million in guaranteed money.

Wells had been with the Packers for 8 seasons, 7 of them as a starter and he turned into their most reliable offensive lineman.  But after the Packers failed to negotiate or offer him a contract extension this past season, Wells was looking forward to his day as an unrestricted free agent.

Wells was a 7th round pick by the Packers in 2004 out of Tennessee.

His departure leaves the Packers with Evan Dietrick-Smith and 2011 practice squad player Sampson Genus as possibilities to replace Wells.  They could still sign a free agent center, move somebody else into that spot or draft Wells eventual replacement.

A quiet start to free agency for Packers

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While teams started shopping and signing free agent players around the NFL,

Scott Wells

all is quiet so far on the Green Bay Packers front.

Free agency officially got underway at 3pm Tuesday afternoon and the Packers started with nearly $7-million in salary cap room.  But Ted Thompson and company didn’t reach a deal with veteran center Scott Wells or defensive back Jarrett Bush.

The Packers are likely looking to reach a deal with one and most likely both players, but they’ll have to wait to see what the market will bear for both.

If Wells and Bush don’t get the kind of deals they’re hoping for, there’s a chance they could return to the Packers.

There was no interest in any other free agents from other teams, but that’s not a shocker.  Thompson rarely plays the free agent game, other than to sign his own players.

QB Matt Flynn has drawn some interest.  The Miami Dolphins are hoping to land Peyton Manning, but that’s not real likely.  Should the Dolphins miss out on that deal, they’ve already reached out to the Flynn camp to express their interest in the former Packers backup.

Running back Ryan Grant is also seeking offers from other teams, but the Packers have already said they would like to resign him.

NFL Free Agency opens today

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The Green Bay Packers have until 3pm today to reach a deal with any of their seven soon-to-be free agents.  Without a deal by that deadline, the players will become unrestricted free agents and can negotiate with any other team in the league.

The top two in the Packers free agent class is center Scott Wells and defensive back/special teamer Jarrett Bush.

Packers general manager Ted Thompson has just shy of $7-million in salary cap space and he could be working on a deal to get Wells signed before the deadline. 

Besides Wells and Bush, the Packers have five other players set to become free agents later today.  They are:  QB Matt Flynn, RB Ryan Grant, DE Howard Green, CB Pat Lee and LB Erik Walden.

Ryan Grant’s agent last week said his client will test the market, but the Packers have told him they would like to have him back.

Packers don’t use tag on Flynn

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The deadline to place a franchise or transition tag on pending free agents has

Matt Flynn

come and gone with the Green Bay Packers not tagging their backup quarterback Matt Flynn.

Had Packers general manager franchised Flynn without a deal in place, he have had to try to work out a trade after the start of free agency.  But first, Thompson would have had to find a way to clear several million dollars in salary cap space to fit Flynn’s $14.4-million guaranteed salary.  Then if he couldn’t find a trade partner, Thompson would have been stuck with a backup quarterback making as much as $6-million more than starter Aaron Rodgers. [Read more…]