Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Packer Plus
Free agent center Winters visits Eagles
Editor’s note: This story was published Feb. 26, 1997.
Unsure of what intentions the Green Bay Packers have of re-signing him, center Frank Winters visited the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday and declared himself open-minded toward pursuing a free-agent contract with another team.
The visit to Philadelphia seemed a natural for Winters considering: The Eagles lost starting center Raleigh McKenzie to San Diego; he grew up about 1 hour from Veterans Stadium in Union City, N.J.; and coach Ray Rhodes, offensive coordinator Jon Gruden and quarterback Ty Detmer all spent time with him in Green Bay.
Winters’ trek to Philadelphia was his first official visit since he became an unrestricted free agent Feb. 14. The Eagles treated him to lunch and a tour of their facilities. It was more a feeling-out process than anything else, so no contract figures were exchanged.
It was obvious that Winters, who played in his first Pro Bowl this year after 10 seasons in the National Football League, was interested in finding out what his worth is on the open market. After averaging $900,000 per year with his last contract, the 33-year-old center doesn’t want to be taken for granted by the Packers.
“Green Bay has not approached me,” Winters told reporters in Philadelphia. “I’m not sure where I stand with the salary cap and everything. It’s something I have no control over. I wanted to check out what’s out there. I have no ties to Green Bay.”
A close friend of Brett Favre’s and the quarterback’s center for 70 consecutive games, Winters said it would be difficult to leave the Packers, but he didn’t rule it out. He said it would be a mistake for anyone to think that his return to Green Bay was imminent just because he was close with Favre and tight end Mark Chmura.
“No, that’s not true,” Winters said. “That would be a big reason, my friendship with Brett, to keep me
there. But they understand that it’s a business.”
Winters is not the only center the Eagles are pursuing. They are hot after Baltimore free agent Steve Everitt, a first-round draft choice in 1993. But
Everitt, a transition player, wants $3 million per year, and the Eagles aren’t prepared to pay that for a center.
Rhodes also brought in former San Diego center Courtney Hall, who is four years younger than Winters and is a former second-round pick. But Hall, who was waived by the Chargers because of his $1.6 million salary, is 2 inches shorter and 15 pounds lighter and has had shoulder and knee surgeries in the last three months.
The Packers have indicated a desire to re-sign Winters, who was a big part of the line’s success this season. But whether they’re willing to shell out $1 million per year to someone in the twilight of his career remains to be seen.
Neither Winters nor his agent, Tony Agnone, has indicated what it would take for Winters to re-sign with the Packers. After making the Pro Bowl, it’s a good bet he won’t be receptive to taking a pay cut.
The Packers were going to groom rookie Mike Flanagan for the starting center position last year, but he suffered a broken leg in the Aug. 11 exhibition game against Pittsburgh and spent the season on injured reserve. In effect, he will be coming into training camp this year as a rookie, so there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to start.
Veteran Jeff Dellenbach, also an unrestricted free agent, is probably more backup material than a potential starter, although he could fill in in a pinch.
The Packers have inquired about unrestricted free agent Ralph Tamm, a backup with the Denver Broncos and a former San Francisco 49er. The 6foot-4, 280-pound Tamm has played both center and guard and is familiar with coach Mike Holmgren’s offense.
Tamm’s agent, Robb Nelson, said his understanding was the Packers were looking at Tamm as relief in case they lost Winters to free agency. He said Green Bay had not made an offer but that Tamm, 30, would be interested in exploring what the Packers had to offer.
“I would guess if they lost Winters it would be a more pressing issue for them,” Nelson said. “I don’t know if they would want Ralph to come in and start. He could probably do that. But (now) he’s a backup. That’s been his role the last couple of years.”
Winters, meanwhile, said he had no other visits planned.