Acme Packing Company - Aaron Rodgers Signs 5-Year Contract Extension, worth $110 MillionWhere "Draft and Develop" isn't just a philosophy...it's a way of life.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46645/acmepackingco_fave.png2013-04-27T10:00:06-05:00http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/rss/stream/40357572013-04-27T10:00:06-05:002013-04-27T10:00:06-05:00Rodgers, Matthews deals won't handcuff Packers
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<figcaption>Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>As if there was little doubt, the Green Bay Packers made sure the new deals for Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews won’t prevent the team from contending for another title.</p> <p>Critics who worried that the extensions for <span>Aaron Rodgers</span> and <span>Clay Matthews</span> would hamstring the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Green Bay Packers</a> financially can calm down now.</p>
<p>Mere hours before the start of the NFL draft's second day, the Packers announced they had come to terms on a long term deal with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The extension, which adds onto Rodgers' preexisting contract, is worth $110 million over five years. The agreement nets Rodgers $40 million in year one, and $62.5 million over the first three years, though his cap number should remain fairly consistent over the next seven years. In all, Rodgers will make $130.75 million over the next 7 seasons. In terms of total contract value, Rodgers is now the highest paid player in NFL history.</p>
<p>The takeaways from the Rodgers extension are twofold. Because of the way the contract is structured, Rodgers' cap hit will hover at around $21 million per year, which is not significantly higher than the deals Joe Flacco and Drew Brees have received recently. Second, the Matthews deal was not an anomaly. Green Bay will take bigger salary hits in the short term in order to keep their best players on manageable contracts going forward.</p>
<p>The Packers can do this because of their carefully managed cap situation. The team entered the offseason nearly $20 million under the salary cap. Rather than spending on pricey free agents, Green Bay conserved those dollars while team negotiator Russ Ball struck new deals. Matthews' extension includes a $20.5 million signing bonus. Because the contract begins after the final year of Matthews' rookie deal, a large chunk of that bonus be prorated starting this year. Combined with Rodgers' $40 million earnings this season, the Packers will absorb the big hits all at once and give themselves the freedom to spend more money in future years. With <span>Morgan Burnett</span>, <span>Jermichael Finley</span>, and <span>James Jones</span> set to enter free agency after 2013, and even more players the year after that, it's a wise move for the franchise.</p>
<p><i>Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Acme Packing Co. He has previously written for Lombardi Ave, College Hoops Net, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is also currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at </i><a href="http://twitter.com/JBHirschhorn"><i>twitter.com/JBHirschhorn</i></a><i>.</i></p>
<p>Of course, keep your internet coverage locked on Acme Packing Company for all the coverage of the Green Bay Packers' ten draft picks on day three. It will be a long, busy day, but we'll be there with you every step of the way.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Check out all of Acme Packing Company's draft coverage:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013-nfl-draft">2013 NFL Draft Central</a> | <a href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/25/4268298/2013-nfl-draft-green-bay-packers-first-round-pick-datone-jones" target="_blank">Green Bay Selects Datone Jones in First Round</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013-nfl-draft/2013/4/26/4272280/eddie-lacy-2013-nfl-draft-results-green-bay-packers-pick">Green Bay Drafts Eddie Lacy in Second Round </a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/26/4272856/packers-dolphins-2013-nfl-draft-trade">Packers' Complete Draft Order</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/26/4271716/packers-aaron-rodgers-signs-5-year-contract-extension">Keep an eye on the news about quarterback Aaron Rodgers' new contract extension</a></p>
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https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/27/4272066/aaron-rodgers-contractJason B. Hirschhorn2013-04-26T16:15:40-05:002013-04-26T16:15:40-05:00Frontloading Rodgers' Contract<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/4035757">Frontloading Rodgers'&nbsp;Contract</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>We're not sure yet how much of that is a prorated signing bonus, but more money going on the cap early means fewer headaches later.</p></p></div>
https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/26/4271750/frontloading-rodgers-contractEvan "Tex" Western2013-04-26T16:12:08-05:002013-04-26T16:12:08-05:00Terms of Rodgers' Extension Reported<h3 class="link-title"><a rel="nofollow" href="/rss/stream/4035757">Terms of Rodgers' Extension&nbsp;Reported</a></h3>
<div class="description"><p><p>Tom Silverstein is on top of things, as always. This indeed is the biggest contract in NFL history.</p></p></div>
https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/26/4271728/terms-of-rodgers-extension-reportedEvan "Tex" Western2013-04-26T15:53:26-05:002013-04-26T15:53:26-05:00Aaron Rodgers signs contract extension
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<figcaption>Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The Green Bay Packers have signed Aaron Rodgers to a contract extension. He will likely become the highest paid player in NFL history.</p> <p>When <span>Aaron Rodgers</span>' April 15th soft deadline for a contract extension passed without a deal getting done, most of us thought that we might have to wait a while to see the deal get done. Apparently, Rodgers' agent and the <a href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Green Bay Packers</a> felt like banging it out as soon as possible. Just before the second round of the NFL Draft gets underway, <a href="http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article-1/Packers-sign-QB-Aaron-Rodgers-to-contract-extension/515bef8f-c70f-4a04-b342-2044b3bc7ee7?campaign=t130426" target="_blank">the Packers have announced that Rodgers has signed a contract extension</a>.</p>
<p>Obviously, everyone's thrilled. Both Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy had statements on the Packers' official release. Here's what Thompson had to say:</p>
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<p>"Aaron is a true professional and a special player. He works hard, is humble, and is focused on his actions, on and off the field. He is an excellent teammate and pushes himself and others to be the very best. We are happy to reach an agreement to extend his career with the Packers."</p>
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<p>And McCarthy:</p>
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<p>"An exciting day for our football program. Aaron is an excellent illustration of a Green Bay Packer. It is truly a blessing to witness his continued accomplishments, both on and off the field."</p>
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<p>We'll have more details later, but for now, WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><b>Check out all of Acme Packing Company's draft coverage:</b> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013-nfl-draft">2013 NFL Draft Central</a> | <a href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/25/4268298/2013-nfl-draft-green-bay-packers-first-round-pick-datone-jones" target="_blank">Green Bay Selects Datone Jones in First Round</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/24/4259488/2013-nfl-draft-packers-team-needs">Packers' Team Needs</a> | <a target="_blank" href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013-nfl-draft/2013/4/24/4261062/2013-nfl-draft-prospect-profiles">Prospect Film Study Profiles</a> | <a href="http://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/25/4263070/nfl-draft-2013-first-round-draft-order-green-bay-packers-picks" target="_blank">Packers' Complete Draft Order</a></p>
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https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/2013/4/26/4271624/aaron-rodgers-contrat-extensionKim McCauley