Packers will retain Sam Shields

Restricted free agent cornerback Sam Shields will return to the Packers.

An NFL source said Shields did not sign any offer sheets from other teams. Today was the deadline for restricted free agents to do so.

Now, it's just a matter of whether he will play this season for the restricted free agent tender or a long-term contract. According to the source, Shields has not signed his tender with the Packers yet. Shields would prefer to return under a long-term deal, if possible.

The Packers put a second-round tender on him. That's worth $2.023 million this season. Had another team signed Shields to an offer sheet and the Packers declined to match it, they would have received a second-round pick as compensation.

Shields entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Had they put the low tender on him, they would have had to pay him only $1.323 million but would not have received any compensation if another team signed him.

Shields started 10 games last season, including both playoff games, and was their best cover corner. He allowed completions just 37.2 percent of the times he was targeted and gave up only one touchdown in the regular season, according to STATS.


(greenbaypressgazette.com)