Nov 2nd 2008 9:35AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Packers, NFC North
Remember when there was some consternation this offseason that, with Brett Favre “retired,” the Packers would really need to have a strong running game to counter Aaron Rodgers’ inexperience? Conventional wisdom suggested that the team needed to give Ryan Grant a new contract, and not just because he earned it with a strong finish to the 2007 season, but for the reason mentioned above.
As training camps were starting, the Packers offered Grant a $1.75 million bonus on a six-year deal, which was deemed “insulting” by Grant’s agent. A week later, Green Bay would ink Grant to a four-year, $30 million contract, and everybody lived happily ever after, right? Uh, no.
Through seven games, Rodgers has been a pleasant surprise, playing well enough for the front office to extend his contract through 2014. That he’s been able to do this without any semblance of a running game is even more impressive. In particular, Grant has looked more like Shaun Alexander, version 2007 than the guy who averaged 5.1 yards per carry just a year ago.
According to FoxSports.com’s John Czarnecki, Green Bay’s front office becomes less impressed with the Grant deal with each successive two-yard gain:Continue Reading
