The Packers have released veteran cornerback Sam Shields with a “failed physical” designation, per a team announcement. 
[RELATED: Packers Release James Starks]
The release of Shields doesn’t come as a complete surprise, as the 29-year-old struggled to stay on the field during the 2016 campaign, ultimately only playing in a single game (the season opener). A concussion sidelined him for the remainder of the year, and Packers doctors never cleared him after that. Still, despite suffering two major head injuries in a nine-month span, Shields has maintained that he has no plans to retire.
Shields, who served as Green Bay’s No. 1 corner for a three-year stretch, agreed to forgo free agency in 2014 by agreeing to a four-year, $39MM deal. Although he made it through 75% of that contract, Shields won’t see the final season, as the Packers will save $9MM in salary cap space by cutting him. The club will also incur $3.125MM in dead money by parting ways with Shields.
A former undrafted free agent, Shields spent seven years with Green Bay, starting 62 games and racking up 18 interceptions during that span. The 2014 Pro Bowler will now hit the free agent market for the first time in his career, and he’ll face stiff positional competition. Other cornerbacks available on the open market this offseason include A.J. Bouye, Trumaine Johnson, Stephon Gilmore, and Dre Kirkpatrick, among others.
The Packers have now cleared roughly $12MM in the past two days by releasing Shields and running back James Starks, and could invest some of that savings in free agency, as the club is reportedly open to delving into the market for the first time in years.
Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk first reported Shields’ release. Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Been hearing about Ted Thompson going to be active in free agency every year he’s been GM. Ted needs to retire he’s not a GM he’s a very good scout.
3 places I hope he signs
1 Cowboys
2 Cowboys
3 Cowboys
Are you high lol Ted is terrible at both
I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers see if he is willing to sign at a cheaper rate. Given his injury history, that price is too expensive. And I don’t see another team giving him a contract longer than three years (even two is a stretch, but I could see a team offering an option year). I’d offer Shields a one year, $3-$5 million base salary with incentives based on games played and performance. I think that’s more than fair given his injury history.
I also think he’s going to resign at cheaper rate maybe 2 y 10m 3m signing bonus
He prob wants to win. Everyone does. That leaves 1 destination – Boston. He may follow others in taking significant pay cuts for the chance to be a goat.
We don’t really need him
Dont want him but with butler RFA and Logan Ryan URFA there could be need if they cant strike an extension with either, especially butler. Add in possibility of losing Harmon, could be huge need for secondary help, unless bill knows something we dont
This is coming from a Pats fan you’re the most annoying person on here. You act like the Patriots are the only good team in the NFL, while the Pats are above everyone else the Falcons are a close second and have the chance to be the next dynasty. The Patriots should worry about signing their own players first which as Bennett has already said teams overpay for super bowl champions
Falcons dynasty? Won nothing. Lost 2 coordinators. Just surrender biggest lead in SB history. No dynasty happening there. AB SO LUTE LY NO. Pats have only 2 decade dynasty ever. Will grow into 3, 4, 5 decades. Brady can coach when he old.
It’s clear you’re delusional, I’m a huge pats fan but Brady probably won’t coach, and the Dynasty certainly won’t last 3,4,5 decades.
It should be obvious that this Falcons team is the second best team, the offense is outstanding no matter the OC, the defense just needs some DB help which they’ll get from Trufant, this team will have the number 1 offense and top 3 defense if not this year then next
Second best team is prob Pitt. Then Seattle or GB. If Broncos get a QB they will be there. Maybe Dallas too but they out-played their actual skill level this past season.
I meant to reply to Num1
It’s cool I noticed
Packers have no CB’s! Why would they cut their top CB? He’s damaged goods!
They have a track record of releasing / retiring players who suffer head and neck injuries…Nick Collins, J. Finley and now Shields. They don’t want the fear of injury to cloud their unit’s development and to put a finer point in it…they dont want a life-threatening injury to occur on their watch.
Sad to hear he’s not recovered but a prudent move by the frachise to let him determine his own future.
They do have corners, unfortunately they all suffered an injury here and there throughout the season. Looking at Rollins and Randalls rookie years they both produced very well and Gunter has only gotten better over time. Sign a solid vet to help mentor and lead this young group of young corners. Of course I would add a corner or two in the draft and free agency to help with the depth and you need to resign Hyde to solidify the safety position. The Packers have plenty of cap space so I hope they spend it wisely
D. Randall was terrible the entire year, which confirmed what I thought when the Packers draft him… he’s a bust. He doesn’t tackle, he’s immature, he gets burned a lot, and when he finally gets an INT, too many think that he’s great. The Vikings burned him on nearly every pass play, in their first meeting last year, and when that happened, the rest of the teams saw his weaknesses.
ᴍy ᴜɴᴄʟᴇ ʜᴀyᴅᴇɴ ʀᴇᴄᴇɴᴛʟy ɢᴏᴛ ᴀ ꜱᴛᴜɴɴɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴅ ʜyᴜɴᴅᴀɪ ᴠᴇʀᴀᴄʀᴜᴢ ꜱᴜᴠ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴏɴʟy ᴡᴏʀᴋɪɴ ᴩᴀʀᴛᴛɪᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ᴀ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴄᴏᴍᴩᴜᴛᴇʀ. ᴠɪꜱɪᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴇʙꜱɪᴛᴇ
>>>>>>>>>>HOMEJOBSNEWS.TK