The Packer Pundit

Ferguson on way out
Pack will trade or release wide receiver
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Aug. 16, 2007 / Story Link
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers' patience with Robert Ferguson finally ran out Thursday. Around 5 p.m., about 90 minutes before the team took the field for its final night practice of the summer, Ferguson was informed by coach Mike McCarthy that an attempt was being made to trade him to another team. If a trade can't be made, then he will in all likelihood be released. "Robert will no longer be a Packer," McCarthy said after the night practice. "We're going to go in another direction. We're just moving on with the other guys and that's where it stands right now. I'll have more definitive information for you tomorrow." McCarthy said the Packers were in discussions with several teams about a trade for Ferguson. It's possible they have a firm offer for the 27-year-old receiver and are trying to see if they can do better. If released, Ferguson, a six-year veteran, would not be subject to waivers and would be free to sign with any team in the league. Players with four or more seasons of pension credit are exempt from waivers until the end of the trading period Oct. 16. It's unlikely the Packers will be able to get a lot for Ferguson - probably a low-round pick at most - and it's questionable whether a team would be willing to take on his $1.8 million base salary.

One potential suitor could be the Houston Texans, where former Packers coach and general manager Mike Sherman is the offensive coordinator. Sherman was influential in the Packers selecting Ferguson over Wisconsin's Chris Chambers in the second round of the 2001 draft and it's possible Ferguson, whose off-season home is in Houston, might be willing to adjust his salary in order to play in his hometown. What is certain is that Ferguson had little chance of making the Packers' roster. The writing was on the wall after receiver Carlyle Holiday clearly outperformed Ferguson on special teams in the exhibition opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Holiday is an ascending player who is just two years into a transition from college quarterback to professional wide receiver. Against the Steelers, he not only caught a 3-yard touchdown pass but he made two outstanding tackles on special teams. Ferguson used to be a Pro Bowl-caliber special teams player but he showed little of that talent this summer and was not much of a factor as a receiver. Injuries were not an issue for Ferguson, although he was being held to one practice a day because he was coming off a serious foot injury that ended his 2006 season.

"I think it's a number of factors," McCarthy said. "I feel good about what other guys are doing. I think Ruvell Martin has had an excellent camp, I think Carlyle Holiday has had a very good camp, and I think he really stepped out on special teams. When you get down the line, at any position group, special teams are going to be a factor. It's every position. So there are a number of factors involved in that decision." McCarthy said that nothing Ferguson did off the field forced the decision. "Like I told him, I think he's a talented young man," McCarthy said. "I thought he busted his (butt) the whole time he was here. I thought he was a true professional, but we've gone in another direction. That's where we're at right now." Neither Ferguson nor his teammates were made available to reporters after practice.

If Ferguson is traded, the Packers will absorb under the salary cap the remaining $700,000 of prorated signing bonus he has left on his deal. If he is cut, the Packers will take on the $700,000 next season. Either way, his $1.8 million base salary will be wiped off the books, so the Packers will actually gain salary cap room once he is off the roster. Ferguson was in the fourth year of a five-year, $13 million contract extension he signed in May 2004. The Packers took a chance that he would develop into a consistent receiving threat, paying him a signing bonus of $3.5 million as part of the five-year contract. Injuries, however, continued to plague Ferguson, who in six seasons missed 36 of a possible 96 regular-season games. His best season was in 2003, the year before his contract extension, when he caught 38 passes for 520 yards and four touchdowns. He hasn't had 30 catches in a season since then, losing his starting position in 2004 to Javon Walker and again in 2006 to Greg Jennings. Over the last three seasons, he has started just 13 games. Ferguson never fulfilled the promise Sherman saw in him when he pushed then lame-duck general manager Ron Wolf to select him in the second round. Ferguson finishes his Packers career with 116 catches for 1,577 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also returned 43 kickoffs for 22.6-yard average.


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