Lang Got His Deal, Who is Next?

It seems as though Ted Thompson did not agree with my assessment that Sam Shields was the most pressing pending free agent to resign, as he opted to extend the current contract of TJ Lang first. Lang was heading into the last year of his four year rookie contract, and was scheduled to make $1.26 million. The extension includes a $5.5 million signing bonus and raises his average annual compensation to $5.2 million for the next four years. Both guard spots are now locked down by solid young starters for the foreseeable future.

The price paid to secure Lang’s services through 2016 is not exactly a steal, but he’s not overpaid for his resume. Offensive linemen are as important to the success of an NFL team as they’ve ever been. Of course they never get the publicity that quarterbacks or wideouts or running backs (or even d backs for that matter), but that comes with the territory. Lang was solid in starting all 17 games last season, including the playoff loss to New York. He’s been the best left guard in Green Bay since Mike Wahle left town, but that’s not exactly the toughest list to top.

During Lang’s first two years in Green Bay, he started a total of three games. He had been bounced around between a few different positions, but has settled in nicely as the left guard. He’s been through quite a bit personally during that time, having lost his father to cancer and had a son of his own. Having developed a reputation as a party boy early on, Lang has apparently gained a renewed focus as a result of these personal events. Perhaps that has more to do with the new contract than we’ll ever know.

Now that Lang is locked up, Ted Thompson can turn his focus to the two remaining free agents to be; Greg Jennings and Sammy Shields. Jennings has stated that unless a deal gets prior to the season, nothing will get done until next offseason. He has stated convincingly that he will not be a distraction to the team, but that he knows the NFL is a business first and foremost. The guy is no dummy and I have no doubt that he will test the free agent waters if he and his agent feel that’s what they need to do. Greg Jennings is somehow still underrated as a player and a person. He’s right when he says he could fit in on any of the 32 teams in the league, and I really hope we don’t have to let him go. Rest assured that if Thompson does let him walk (and he very well might), that the decision will be based on sound logic and thoughtful analysis. Shields hasn’t said much, since nobody really wants to talk to him since he lost his starting gig anyway.