c/o espn.com

Despite an 11th-hour bid from a team in their own division, ESPN.com has learned that the Green Bay Packers -- decimated by injuries to three of their top four wide receivers -- reached agreement Wednesday with free agent Antonio Freeman.

 

Negotiations went deep into Tuesday night, and Freeman met for several hours with head coach Mike Sherman, before opting for the Packers over the Detroit Lions. The Lions had all but assured the veteran he would fill the No. 3 wideout role and they also proposed to guarantee his base salary.

 

But Freeman, who will sign a one-year contract with the Packers to begin his second stint with the team, could start quickly in Green Bay, where he knows the offense and where injuries could move him near the top of a diluted depth chart. Freeman, of course, played the first seven years of his career with the Packers before his release last spring for salary cap considerations.

 

"All along Free had various opportunities to sign with other clubs, but this was just the right time and the right place for him to contribute to a winning team," his agent, Joel Segal, told The Associated Press. "He maintained that his priority was to find a situation where he could contribute, and he's always had an affinity for the Packers."

 

Freeman already counts $4.3 million against the Packers' salary cap this season and would count an additional $475,000 against it if signed to a deal for the veteran's minimum of $775,000. Freeman was released by the team in June 2002 in the middle of a seven-year, $42 million contract.

 

The Packers-Freeman courtship began Monday morning, just one day after three Green Bay receivers, including both starters, suffered injuries in Sunday's season opener that could sideline them for various periods of time. The Lions entered the bidding Tuesday.

 

Freeman had maintained all summer that he would not reach a panic decision about where to play in 2003 and that proved to be the case.

 

Donald Driver, the Packers' top receiver, suffered a neck injury and he will be evaluated on a day-to-day basis.Robert Ferguson suffered ligament damage to his right knee and ankle. Karsten Bailey, the No. 4 wide receiver, strained his hamstring during the loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

 

The spate of injuries left second-year veteran Javon Walker as Green Bay's lone healthy wide receiver.

 

A first-round pick in the 2002 draft, Walker started two games as a rookie, and he had 23 receptions for 319 yards and one touchdown.

 

Freeman, 31, played last season for the Philadelphia Eagles on a one-year contract. He rejected some contract proposals in the offseason and told ESPN.com two weeks ago that he was seeking an opportunity with a team where he would get playing time, and where the franchise had a chance to go deep into the playoffs and possibly to the Super Bowl.

 

With more than enough cash in the bank, Freeman acknowledged that he had opted for deliberation over desperation. But the plight of the Packers, and his friendship with many of the veterans on the roster, helped bring him back to Green Bay for a second stint.

 

The advantage to the Packers is that Freeman is familiar with the offense and might be able to step quickly into the lineup, depending on his conditioning. A team source said he appeared to be in very good shape during a Tuesday audition.

 

Playing as the No. 3 receiver for the Eagles last season, he had 46 catches for 600 yards and scored four touchdowns. His reception total would have topped all wide receivers on three teams in the league. It was better than the catch totals of a dozen No. 2 receivers and just five of the No. 3 wideouts leaguewide had more catches.

 

His best seasons, of course, came with the Packers. From 1995-2001, he had 417 catches for 6,510 yards and 57 touchdowns. Four times Freeman registered 60 or more receptions and in the three-year period between 1997-99, he averaged 79.7 receptions, 1,247 yards and 10.7 touchdowns.

 

Freeman appeared in 101 games for Green Bay, which selected him in the fourth round of the 1995 draft, and the former Virginia Tech star started 90 contests.

Phlub

 

Better start ordering your Superbowl tickets ...

 

Seriusly ...It will be fun to watch Freeman and Favre combination again.

inevitable

 

his choices were the Lions and the Pack

 

 

hmmmmmm

Well Super Bowl tickets haha. The Pack will have a good year if we beat the Queens in the Division.

 

But still, the Packers have some seriously scarey personnell on Offense, I can't think of a team with better Offensive Personnel in the game. But thats only on Paper. What matters is on the field. And unfortunately Tom Rossley sucks (Rossley is our Offensive Coordinator)

 

 

QB: Brett Favre (Hall of Famer)

RB: Ahman Green (Multi All Pro)

RB: Najeh Davenport (250 lbs, 4.35 40 yd. dash, and averaged 90 yds in 2-3 starts last year)

RB: Tony Fisher (averaged about 93 yds. in 2-3 starts last year)

FB: William Henderson (Multiple Time All Pro, arguably the best blocking and recieving FB in the league)

FB: Nick Luchey (275 lbs. says all that needs to be said)

TE: Bubba Franks (Mr. TD, 2 time all pro)

TE: Wesley Walls (possible hall of fame TE)

WR: Donald Driver (All Pro)

WR: Antonio Freeman (3 1000 yd. seasons, multiple All Pros, Bretts favorite target)

WR: Robert Ferguson (reminds many of a young Freeman, and had a solid year as the #3 last year)

WR: Javon Walker (has stepped it up big time in the past 2-3 games that count and will soon be a star in the league)

RT: Mark Tauscher (All Pro Alternate in 2001)

RG: Marco River (All Pro)

C: Mike Flanagan (All Pro Alternate in 2002)

LG: Mike Wahle (All Pro Alternate in 2002)

LT: Chad Clifton (All Pro Alternate in 2001)

 

So there you go...

 

12 All Pro's and All Pro Alternates on One Offense. Thats fu*king SCARY.

 

If our Defense can step it up LOOK OUT. But I doubt it.

Phlub, Chad Cliftons the guy that warren sapp nailed right?

 

is he alright to play this season, or will he be out for a while?

 

i figured i'd ask since you just mentioned him

Yep Cliftons the guy Sapp nailed in what in my opinion was a cheap shot (i mean come on Clifton was on the other side of the field!).

 

Clifton has been playing since training camp and looks like his old All Pro Caliber self.

 

The Packers offense will be unstoppable once Driver and Fergy get back here.

The Packers offense will be unstoppable once Driver and Fergy get back here.

doubt it

Well Super Bowl tickets haha. The Pack will have a good year if we beat the Queens in the Division.

 

But still, the Packers have some seriously scarey personnell on Offense, I can't think of a team with better Offensive Personnel in the game. But thats only on Paper. What matters is on the field. And unfortunately Tom Rossley sucks (Rossley is our Offensive Coordinator)

 

 

QB: Brett Favre (Hall of Famer)

RB: Ahman Green (Multi All Pro)

RB: Najeh Davenport (250 lbs, 4.35 40 yd. dash, and averaged 90 yds in 2-3 starts last year)

RB: Tony Fisher (averaged about 93 yds. in 2-3 starts last year)

FB: William Henderson (Multiple Time All Pro, arguably the best blocking and recieving FB in the league)

FB: Nick Luchey (275 lbs. says all that needs to be said)

TE: Bubba Franks (Mr. TD, 2 time all pro)

TE: Wesley Walls (possible hall of fame TE)

WR: Donald Driver (All Pro)

WR: Antonio Freeman (3 1000 yd. seasons, multiple All Pros, Bretts favorite target)

WR: Robert Ferguson (reminds many of a young Freeman, and had a solid year as the #3 last year)

WR: Javon Walker (has stepped it up big time in the past 2-3 games that count and will soon be a star in the league)

RT: Mark Tauscher (All Pro Alternate in 2001)

RG: Marco River (All Pro)

C: Mike Flanagan (All Pro Alternate in 2002)

LG: Mike Wahle (All Pro Alternate in 2002)

LT: Chad Clifton (All Pro Alternate in 2001)

 

So there you go...

 

12 All Pro's and All Pro Alternates on One Offense. Thats fu*king SCARY.

 

If our Defense can step it up LOOK OUT. But I doubt it.

Hey dope, not every Packer runs a 4.3/40. Davenport runs a 4.57/40, here is his player bio Im right, you are wrong.

 

If you think William Henderson is either the best blocking FB or receiving FB in the NFL you are retarded. Walls is washed up, Freeman is washed up, Driver is paralyzed, Ferguson is a #3 at best, Walker has stones for hands, your o-line isn't great. Get over it.

well.... lol... Driver isnt paralyzed, but I agree on the rest Sals

 

also, Freeman will not play this Sunday

Cecil Martin and Jerald Sowell are probably the two best FB's in the game right now - not that the FB position is utilized very much anymore...

Best TE Is Warren Sapp :thumbup

FB: William Henderson (Multiple Time All Pro, arguably the best blocking and recieving FB in the league)

Best blocking FB? Um.....

 

LORENZO NEAL!!!!!

In the past 3 games that have counted Walkers been Bretts go to guy.

 

Ferguson is a very good starter. Sals IM RIGHT YOUR WRONG. Ferguson is a big game reciever as he demonstrated last year against New England, Minnesota, and 2 other games.

 

Freeman washed up?? hahaha. As the #3/4 WR in Philadelphia he caught 46 balls, 600 yds, and 4 tds. Hardly washed up for a #3/4 WR.

 

Our O-Line has allowed the least amount of sacks of any O-Line in the NFL in the Past 2 years.

 

Davenport's Draft profile is now 2 years old. Davenport was clocked a 4.35 in training camp this year.

 

You guys just dont get it, William Henderson is the most underrated FB in football. The guy just obliterates people. You see some of the HITS that he layed on your Boy Zach Thomas last year?

 

Zach Thomas said after the Green Bay/Miami game and I quote....

 

"Man that Henderson is good. How come he's not in the Pro Bowl every year? *reporter response* Jesus lord that guy can block. After seeing him tonight I knew he was good coming in, I didn't know he could hit like a linemen and block like one. Not to mention his hands are as soft as feathers when they run that screen."

 

Ramp, Freeman will be in the Starting lineup come Sunday, where'd you hear he's not playing? He's practiced with Brett the past 2 days. And is scheduled as our starter alongside Walker.

 

Walker will be a star. Mark those words. Brett Favre know's talent. Favre said after the '95 season that if there were to be an unfortunate injury in the Starting WR duo that he thought that Freeman (then the #3) was the best of the bunch and would be a mega-star.

 

Favre predicted that about Driver before last year.

 

And this year he says Ferguson and Walker will both have huge seasons and whoever starts the most this year will have a breakout year.

 

Brett said it about (Ahman) Green and Bubba (Franks). The guy knows talent.

 

Freemans stats with an inferior QB compared to Favre last year were well above what I thought he would've done as a #3/4.

 

Sals I bet you said Keith Jackson was washed up when he signed in 1996 with Green Bay and caught 11 TD's that year. Wesley Walls will not be the super star he once was, but he will be the best damn #2 TE I can think of right now.

 

So far Sals I've been right more then you, all be it only a week, but still. You watch mark these words.

Just cuz your underrated, doesn't make you the best. The best is Lorenzo Neal. The man practically lives in Hawaii.