Sam Shields receives second-round tender from Packers

The Packers made it more difficult for restricted free agent CB Sam Shields to find his pot of gold after slapping the second-round tender on him, according to multiple reports.

As a result of receiving the middle of three possible tenders, worth $2.023 million over one year, the compensation level set for any team wanting to sign Shields is a second-round pick. If Shields were to sign an offer sheet, the Packers would have the option of matching the offer or accepting the second-round pick.

Last month, several personnel evaluators  predicted that Shields would receive the second-round tender. After a poor start to the 2013 season, Shields won back a starting position and went on to have a very good season, improving as both a cover man and as a tackler.

Shields does not have the reputation around the NFL as a sure thing, but his upside is big because he's arguably the fastest player on the team and is a relative novice at the position given he mostly played wide receiver and special teams at the University of Miami.

"(Shields is a) very good role player as a third corner, but he is small and more than likely it's safe to assume he will have some injuries because of the lack of size," one personnel director said. "This is a tough one that I'm glad we don't have to ponder this year.

"I am guessing they will do the two and will always have the (match) if someone does offer and they want to keep him."

The reports on Shields - from both ProFootballTalk and ESPN.com -- receiving the second-round tender are very likely accurate given Shields' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, because it's well known that he generally talks only to those two outlets. It is unclear whether Rosenhaus has spoken to the Packers about a long-term deal.

At the combine last month, Rosenhaus declined to talk about Shields' situation.

The Packers are not taking the same risk with Shields that they are taking with C Evan Dietrich-Smith, who received the low tender on Monday. Dietrich-Smith also wasn't drafted so there is no compensation tied to him and the best the Packers could do if he were to receive an offer sheet is to match it.

With Shields getting the second-round tender and Dietrich-Smith the low tender, the Packers have used $3.346 million of salary cap money on restricted free agents. They have three other RFAs in TE Tom Crabtree, LB Robert Francois and LB Frank Zombo.

Francois and Zombo are not likely to be tendered and will become free agents. The Packers may try to re-sign them after they are let go. It's unclear whether they intend to tender Crabtree.


(jsonline.com)