Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Complex change to Crosby’s deal helps cap
The Green Bay Packers created $1.34 million in cap space by completing a unique restructure of kicker Mason Crosby’s contract.
According to Bill Huber of Sports Illustrated, the Packers not only turned $1.675 million of Crosby’s base salary and roster bonus this year into a signing bonus, but the restructure also added three voidable years to the contract, allowing the Packers to prorate the signing bonus over the full five years, instead of just the two years left on Crosby’s deal.
The restructure mechanism created a bigger chunk of cap space now in return for a dead cap hit later.
Crosby’s cap hit in 2021 dropped to $3,160,000 and rose to $4,735,000 in 2022.
The void years start in 2023 when Crosby is no longer on the roster and a dead cap hit of $1,005,000 (or the final three years of the prorated signing bonus) will be due on the Packers’ cap.
Before the restructure, Crosby was due a roster bonus of $1.25 million. His base salary dropped to the league minimum ($1,075,000) for a player with 10 accrued seasons.
The restructured deal means little for Crosby and his money. He will receive the same amount, but the money is just moved around the salary cap for accounting purposes. This is not a pay cut.
The NFL’s new television deal is expected to hit the salary cap in 2023, making it easier for teams like the Packers to tack on void years and take dead cap hits that year.
Crosby, who turns 37 in September, made all 16 of his field goal attempts last season. With this new restructure, the Packers are committing to him as the team’s kicker for at least the next two seasons.
Safety Adrian Amos completed a similar type of restructuring on his deal to help create more immediate cap space.
Packers bringing back Redmond
The Packers have re-signed safety Will Redmond, the team announced last Friday.
The third-year defensive back posted two Instagram stories suggesting his return to Green Bay: one with the words “run it back” in green font and a second including video outside of Lambeau Field and the words “Year 6.”
Redmond’s new deal marks general manager Brian Gutekunst’s latest attempt to retain players from the Packers’ 2020 roster. With the NFL salary cap down due to COVID-19, Gutekunst has prioritized keeping his own, resigning running back Aaron Jones, tight end Marcedes Lewis, cornerback Kevin King and others.
After his third season with the Packers, Redmond became an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year. Now, every Packers safety on the 2020 roster except for Raven Greene will return for training camp in 2021.
In former defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme, Redmond was utilized as a dime defensive back and a backup safety. He played 340 defensive snaps (33 percent) in the regular season, which ranked him 15th among Packers defenders.
He appeared in 13 games and his lone start came in Week 7 against the Houston Texans.
Redmond also served as a core special teams player, finishing the regular season with a total of 238 snaps. In Gutekunst’s offseason press conference, he referred to Redmond as one of the special teams’ “standouts.”
In 2020, Redmond had 28 tackles, one pass break up, two quarterback knockdowns and four quarterback pressures. He also missed 20 percent of his tackles and dropped a potential interception in the first half of the Packers’ NFC championship game loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Redmond, who played for Mississippi State, was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round, 68th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. After his release from the 49ers, he spent time on the Kansas City Chiefs’ practice squad in 2017. The Packers signed Redmond on Sept. 11, 2018.
Adams surprises alma mater with new uniforms, cleats
Packers receiver Davante Adams gave back to the high school that helped launch his football career.
With help from Wisconsin-based sports apparel supplier Eastbay, Adams surprised the football team at his alma mater in Palo Alto, California, with new Jordan brand uniforms, cleats and shoes.
Adams said sports help unite communities and give kids an “escape” and an “outlet,” providing the basis for him helping out his high school.
“Having Davante come back and give back is something they’re going to remember the rest of their lives,” Palo Alto coach Nelson Gifford said.
Adams won a state championship with Palo Alto High School before becoming an All-American at Fresno State and a second-round draft pick of the Packers.
Adams, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Packers, became a brand representative of Jordan in May of last year. He enjoyed the finest season of his NFL career in 2020, catching 115 passes for 1,374 yards and 18 touchdowns over 14 games.