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The Green Bay Packers have a rule when it comes to their own players and free agency: it is better to move on a year too early than a year too late. This has meant, at times, that some productive fan-favorite players were not brought back at the end of their contracts, or were released when the guaranteed money was gone.
Indeed, it is very rare for the Packers to give out third contracts to players, with the most recent being Kenny Clark. Before him, it was Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers, of course, signed multiple contract extensions with Green Bay throughout the course of his time as the Packers starting quarterback. During his tenure, though, he saw each of his favorite wide receivers/pass catchers eventually depart from the organization, whether or release or simply not being extended another contract.
And one of these former teammates has a message for the four-time NFL MVP as he contemplates his future.
One of Rodgers’ best wide receiver targets during his time in Green Bay was Jordy Nelson, who was drafted in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft, the same season in which Rodgers took over as the starting quarterback.
While it took Nelson a few seasons to become established, he quickly became one of the more feared pass catchers in the game. In 2014, he set Green Bay’s single-season record for receiving yards with 1,519 (a record that has since been broken by Davante Adams). After missing 2015 with a torn ACL, Nelson came back with 1,257 yards and an NFL-leading 14 touchdowns in 2016 while winning Comeback Player of the Year.
But after a down year in 2017, Green Bay decided it was time to move on. Nelson played one final NFL season with the Oakland Raiders, but retired after the 2018 season.
And he was ready. Nelson recently told RG that if he could give his former quarterback any piece of advice regarding his future, it would be: “If you still have an itch to go do it, go do it. Because once it’s done, it’s done, you’re not going to be able to come back and do it. You’ll know when it’s time to be done. You’ll know, at least I did.”
Many Packers fans wanted Nelson to come back, even as late as 2021 after he had been retired for three years.
Meanwhile, the NFL world will continue to wait and see what Rodgers will decide to do: sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers or end his NFL career and retire.
Offseason programs have started, so he may not have that much time.
More must-reads:
- How Steelers reportedly expect Aaron Rodgers saga will end
- Mike Tomlin provides update on Steelers’ pursuit of Aaron Rodgers
- The 'NFL mascot names' quiz
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Steelers’ Coaching Staff Can't Hide The Fact Anymore That They Truly Feel They’ve Hit A Home Run With Their Rookie
The Pittsburgh Steelers gave up 299 rushing yards to their arch-nemesis, the Baltimore Ravens, in the Wild Card Round of the 2024 playoffs. Slowing down Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson was never going to be easy, but Pittsburgh’s defense was gashed from start to finish. It was an embarrassing showing that made it clear major changes were needed. The Steelers immediately began planning how to fix the issue heading into the offseason. With the 21st overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Steelers selected defensive lineman Derrick Harmon, a physical and explosive presence up front. Harmon was brought in to restore toughness, speed, and discipline to the heart of Pittsburgh’s defense. Since his arrival, he has quickly impressed the coaching staff throughout training camp and other offseason activities, showing signs that he could be exactly what the Steelers need. Steelers insider reports have added even more excitement around the rookie. During an appearance on WDVE 102.5 on Wednesday morning, one insider named Gerry Dulac spoke about how impactful Harmon has been, both on the field and in the locker room. The Steelers were humiliated in their playoff loss to Baltimore, but with Harmon in the fold, they believe they’re on track to make sure it doesn’t happen again. "I'll tell you who's buzzing about it quietly and internally, are those coaches," Dulac said. "They love this guy. [From] what they have seen, they're thinking this pick is a home run. Now, we'll see how it plays out, but [from] what they've seen so far, they think he's terrific, and gonna be terrific." It’s not just coaches who are noticing Harmon’s impact either. Teammates have been raving about the way he’s carrying himself, especially for a rookie walking into a veteran-heavy locker room. He’s been described as humble, but intense. Quiet, but physical. It’s that mix of work ethic and natural ability that has people around the team believing the Steelers might’ve nailed this pick. Harmon’s explosiveness off the line has stood out in nearly every practice session. He’s consistently disrupting plays in the backfield, and he’s already shown he can hold his own against the Steelers’ top offensive linemen. Harmon is going to be called on as a rookie to be a starter right away. It's not an easy task for any rookie but the Steelers are just that confident in his skills. What’s also impressive is how fast he’s picked up the playbook. For a position that demands a lot of mental processing, especially in the Steelers’ complex scheme, Harmon hasn’t looked overwhelmed. In fact, he’s been praised for asking the right questions, staying late in meetings, and learning from guys like Cam Heyward and Keeanu Benton. He’s clearly not just relying on his physical tools. Of course, it’s still early, and everything changes when the pads come on in real games. But if training camp is any indication, the Steelers’ front office may have landed a game-changer in Harmon. And after that nightmare in Baltimore, they’ll take all the help they can get. Steelers’ Defense Expected To Be Elite The Steelers defense is expected to be one of the NFL’s best in 2025. But if they want to be the best, Harmon’s impact will be key. Lining up next to Benton and Heyward, he could help anchor a dominant front. For that to happen, Harmon will need to play at a high level as a rookie. That’s a big task, but the coaching staff believes he’s more than capable. He’s shown the strength, quickness, and awareness they were hoping for. The Steelers didn’t draft him to sit. They want him to contribute now. If Harmon does that, this defense should be in very good hands for the 2025 season.
Sophie Cunningham, Sparks HC react to third incident of object tossed onto court
Over the past couple of years, the WNBA has seen a major uptick in ratings and overall fan engagement. Unfortunately, that has also come with negative attention. It may have reached a new low, as there have now been three separate incidents in which a fan has thrown a sex toy on the court. This time, it nearly hit Indiana Fever veteran Sophie Cunningham during a matchup with the Los Angeles Sparks on Tuesday. Cunningham had already joked about it on social media, and given her outspoken nature and reputation as a bit of an instigator, she didn't shy away from it: She also laughed it up on her Instagram story: Sparks head coach Lynne Roberts, however, didn't think it was a laughing matter. Following the game, she put the fans on blast for their "stupid" behavior. "It's ridiculous. It's dumb. It's stupid," Roberts said, per Yahoo Sports. "It's also dangerous, and you know, player safety is No. 1, respecting the game, all those things. I think it's really stupid." There's no place for any of this in sports, much less in women's sports. The league needs to crack down on this and take the necessary measures to prevent it from happening ever again. The WNBA is finally thriving after years of surviving, and while the fans will eventually grow to respect the product, not all publicity is good publicity.
NFL Hall of Famer reveals why he chose to join Deion Sanders' Colorado coaching staff
Oilers' new signing ranked among NHL's worst contracts
Despite boasting a core of elite contracts that include Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Zach Hyman, the Edmonton Oilers saw their overall contract value rankings take a hit in a recent article by The Athletic. Dom Luszczyszyn looks at every team and its contract situations each season. The Oilers ranked 8th overall, but that dropped them down the standings, largely due to the new eight-year, $3.9 million AAV deal handed to forward Trent Frederic. In a recent analysis evaluating NHL contract efficiency, Frederic’s deal earned a D-grade — one of the lowest marks handed out — alongside the much-maligned Darnell Nurse contract. He was signed to the new deal this offseason after arriving to the Oilers via a trade at the deadline. Injured, but in the lineup for the playoffs, he wasn’t exactly the most effective forward. The Oilers believe he has a lot more to give and GM Stan Bowman bet on the forward. Frederic’s extension, which carries a modest annual cap hit but stretches through 2033, is projected to offer just a +20.1% positive value while delivering a -$15.2 million total surplus over its duration. Frederic’s ranking is particularly glaring when placed next to the six A-grade contracts on the Oilers’ books. No other forward has a grade lower than a C. The team also has four different A-grades, an A for McDavid and an A+ for Draisaitl. Combined with team-friendly deals for stars like McDavid and Draisaitl, Edmonton remains one of the league’s most efficient teams in terms of contract value. Will the Oilers shed either of these bad contracts? According to this ranking, Frederic and Nurse deals are two glaring liabilities. Don’t expect the Oilers to move off either contract anytime soon. Bowman said of the Frederic deal: “…he’s a very unique player with the skillset that he has. He’s a big guy, he’s a physical player, he’s not afraid. He’s got that intimidation factor where he’ll go to the other team’s bench and challenge anybody, like stop messing around with our group. That’s something that I find, you either have that or you don’t. … And he’s scored, you know, he scored what, 18 goals twice in a row at a fairly young, younger age. So I think he’s got the game in him. And I think when you add all that up, it comes down to he’s a very unique player. It’s not like if we passed on Frederic, we’ll just go get so-and-so, who’s maybe a little different, but the same type of player. Not a lot of guys like that out there. They just aren’t anymore.” As for Nurse, there was talk that the Oilers approached him and others about their no-move clauses, and Nurse declined to waive his. The hope is that he elevates his game, and with the rising salary cap, his deal doesn’t look like such an albatross. With several key contracts set to expire soon — including McDavid’s — and questions lingering around term for others, the Oilers need to be cautious with long-term commitments. As it stands, the Frederic deal is a warning sign that not every extension is created equal, even on a Cup-contending roster.
Intriguing solution to Commanders' Terry McLaurin problem emerges
As of Wednesday morning, there was no indication that the Washington Commanders were close to working things out with Terry McLaurin after the 29-year-old wide receiver in the final year of his current contract requested a trade. For an article published on Wednesday, senior columnist David Aldridge of The Athletic proposed a solution that could result in McLaurin becoming a full participant in training-camp practices as soon as possible. "Washington has about $17.1M in cap space available after its first 51 players are under contract — that includes McLaurin, who will make $15.5M in base salary this season," Aldridge wrote. "Can’t the Commanders use some of that space now, bump up McLaurin’s base salary for this season by $3M or $4M, then fully guarantee his 2026 salary at, say, $27M or $28M? That’s probably more than they want to give, but it would at least get McLaurin a little more than $30M or so in guaranteed money over the next calendar year." A Tuesday report indicated that McLaurin is looking for "parts" of the five-year, $150M deal that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave DK Metcalf earlier this year. It's unclear if McLaurin would accept an offer similar to the one suggested by Aldridge. Understandably, numerous analysts have mentioned that a Commanders team coming off a trip to last season's NFC Championship Game should want to pay McLaurin after he recorded team highs of 82 receptions, 1,096 receiving yards and 13 touchdown catches while sharing an offense with quarterback and reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. Aldridge expanded on why Washington should be in a rush to get McLaurin back to working with other members of the offense as the club prepares for its preseason opener at the New England Patriots on Friday evening. "McLaurin has yet to get on the field with (dual-threat offensive weapon) Deebo Samuel or (left tackle) Laremy Tunsil, key offensive newcomers," Aldridge added. "A tackle with Tunsil’s versatility can be a lead puller for McLaurin on reverses or can get out in space to help him on screens. Receivers work in tandem on pass patterns; you have to know exactly where your teammates are going to cut, how they like to come out of their patterns, how and when to cut off of their blocks on tunnel screens and the like." Trading McLaurin for future draft assets this summer makes no sense for a Washington side that continues to be listed sixth among the betting favorites at +1800 odds to win Super Bowl LX by DraftKings Sportsbook. Getting a deal done with McLaurin before the situation turns ugly should only benefit the Commanders as it pertains to pursuing a championship and showing younger players that they will eventually be rewarded for positive on-the-field contributions.
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