NFC Notes: Shields, Ware, Bennett, 49ers
Among the Packers’ top priorities this offseason must be cornerback Sam Shields, writes Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Shields won’t be easy to retain — he’ll be among the best cornerbacks on the market this offseason, and Dougherty believes he could fetch a contract that pays him $8.5MM per season. With new deals coming for Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, it may be difficult for Ted Thompson to navigate a deal for Shields and keep room open to fill out the roster. Here are some other notes from around the NFC:
- DeMarcus Ware had said he would have a scope on his right elbow this offseason, but as of right now has no surgery scheduled, writes David Moore of the Dallas Morning News. Ware was already viewed as a potential cap casualty, as Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated notes, and this ongoing injury only adds incentive for the Cowboys to release him and save about $7MM on the cap in 2014.
- Michael Bennett reiterated that he is fully committed to trying to return to the defending champion Seahawks in 2014, writes Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. “We can go back and win a Super Bowl again with all these guys,” Bennett said. “It’s a business but I definitely want to be back.”
- The 49ers‘ priorities are holding strong this offseason, write Bill Williamson of ESPN.com. The team is trying to lock up quarterback Colin Kaepernick and head coach Jim Harbaugh to long-term deals, and still keep free agents Anquan Boldin, Donte Whitner, and Phil Dawson.
Packers, Sam Shields In Talks
The Packers have a number of unrestricted free agents to tend to this offseason, including notable cornerback Sam Shields. The two sides are still in regular contact, a source tells Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel, while quantifying the odds of a return at “50/50.”
Shields, at the age of 26, is widely considered to be one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. In a division featuring the likes of Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Greg Jennings, and the ever-improving Alshon Jeffery, Shields would leave some massive cleats to be filled. As Dunne notes, position coach Joe Whitt Jr. has deemed Shields to be a “top ten” cornerback in the league. While that could be up for some debate given his tackling woes and health issues, it’s easy to see why Green Bay would want to keep him in-house.
An undrafted rookie out of the University of Miami, Shields made a name for himself in his first season in 2010. Last season, Shields finished out the year with 61 tackles (51 solo), 17 pass break-ups, and four interceptions. Including the postseason, he has had a total of 17 picks over four seasons. Unfortunately, injuries have cost the corner eight games over the last two seasons.
Green Bay’s other unrestricted free agents include B.J. Raji, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Jermichael Finley, Ryan Pickett, Mike Neal, and John Kuhn.