Payroll takes a major dip in Green Bay

SportsLine.com Report
Sept. 7, 2000

After leading the NFL in spending on players' salaries with $77.4 million in 1999, the Packers have plummeted from the top to nearly the bottom of the league in cash spent on wages.

This year, the Packers are scheduled to spend $56.015 millions or nearly 21 million less than last season. That ranks Green Bay 28th out of the 31 NFL teams, according to information obtained from NFL Players Association documents.

The payroll is calculated by adding players' base salaries with any bonuses they received that year.

The Packers' spending habits are under special scrutiny this year because taxpayers in Brown County will vote next week on a referendum to pay $160 million of a $295 million renovation of Lambeau Field. The Packers say they need the renovation, which includes a 365-day-a-year atrium, to generate more cash so they can keep up with the rest of the league in their ability to pay key players.

The 28th ranking reflects an offseason in which they didn't sign any of their own key free agents to big contracts or sign another team's big-money free agents.

"Player contracts and costs are cyclical," Packers senior vice-president John Jones said in an interview with the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Cost reflect what players' contracts come up and what the market is for that player (the contract) expires.

"(Team president) Bob Harlan said this was our reward for winning the Super Bowl (in 1996), we paid for that (in salaries the past three seasons)."

FREEMAN'S FRUSTRATION: The New York Jets' defensive game plan was designed primarily to take away Antonio Freeman as the Packers' No. 1 weapon. The Jets rolled safeties toward Freeman and clogged the middle of the field with linebackers to eliminate Freeman's go-to move, the slant route.

Through the first three quarters, Freeman had only one catch for five yards.

The Packers had a span of 24 offensive plays from the middle of the first quarter until the middle of the third quarter in which Freeman never saw a ball come his way, leaving him frustrated after Sunday's 20-16 loss.

Sunday frustration turned into this week's realization that Freeman will likely face this kind of coverage until the Packers get back the services of deep-threat receiver Corey Bradford.

Freeman believes Bradford's return will open up the middle of the field for himself and Bill Schroeder.

Bradford, the third-year pro who broke his fibula during the Aug. 13 exhibition game at Denver, most likely will miss at least three more games.

Bradford said he hoped to return by the Oct. 1 game against Chicago.

For Freeman, it won't be a minute too soon.

"You're talking about a guy who can really stretch defenses," Freeman said. "On Sunday, you saw a lot of safeties kick my way. The weakside safety would go to the middle of the field. Now they're overloading (on Freeman), but you can't leave (Bradford) one-on-one over there because he's going to run by you."

Opportunity knocks

Sept. 4, 2000

It appears Mike McKenzie's knee injury will get former first-round draft pick Antuan Edwards into the Packers' starting lineup for the first time in his young career.

McKenzie, the Packers' starting left cornerback, tore lateral cartilage in his left knee in the Packers' 20-16 loss to the Jets on Sunday. McKenzie, who earned the starting job last season during his rookie training camp, will likely miss four to six weeks.

Though second-year pro Tod McBride went into Sunday's game as the first corner off the bench when McKenzie went down, there's a good chance Edwards will start Sunday at Buffalo.

McBride was beaten several times, including on a 61-yard pass play from Vinny Testaverde to Dedric Ward that set up the game-winning touchdown. Edwards, who was drafted as a cornerback and played there as a backup last year, had been moved to safety by new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell.

"He's a real instinctive guy," Donatell said of Edwards. "He's a quick learner, and (cornerback) is where he's done the bulk of his career's work."

McKenzie will have arthroscopic knee surgery on Wednesday.

GET USED TO IT: After one week of the regular season, this much is clear: Brett Favre's health is going to be an issue the entire season.

Coach Mike Sherman revealed Monday that Favre sprained his right thumb, the same one that troubled the Packers quarterback all of last season. That's in addition to the elbow tendinitis that forced Favre to miss the final three preseason games.

During Sunday's loss, Favre was seen grabbing his tender elbow after several hard throws. Despite playing in pain, Favre had his usual zip on his fastball.

Favre, however, missed several other throws and ended up only completing 14 of 34 passes for 152 yards.

"Anytime a quarterback has an elbow or thumb (injury) or anything on his arm, it's a concern,'' offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said. "I think we'll just have to see how it goes (in practice) on Wednesday."

LET DOWN: Going into the regular season, the one area Sherman felt good about was his offense.

However, that's the one area that let him down in the season opener. In addition to Favre's rustiness, the Packers dropped five catchable passes and had a slew of holding and procedure penalties.

On the other hand, Sherman said he was pleased with the defense and special teams, two areas that were suspect in the preseason.

NEED HELP: Receiver Antonio Freeman, who was shut down for the first three quarters against the Jets, expressed frustration over the Packers' inability to find a way to free him up. Freeman said he doesn't believe it will get much better until the Packers get deep threat Corey Bradford back. Bradford could miss another month with the broken leg he sustained in the preseason.

"You're talking about a guy you can't leave open in one on one because he's going run by you," Freeman said of Bradford. "That would definitely open things up."

SHORT STAY: The Packers released rookie tight end Chris Eitzmann, who was claimed off waivers last week. That leaves the Packers with only 52 players, but GM Ron Wolf said he had no plans to sign a defensive back to replace the injured Mike McKenzie.