Defensive end has plenty of suitors despite coming off of an injury. Andrew Brandt
The National Football Post continues its breakdown of free agents who hit the open market on Friday, the start of a new league (and uncapped) year. Today: Aaron Kampman.
Background
I remember signing Aaron four years ago this week on the eve of free agency — the ultimate leverage point for a player with his incumbent team — to prevent him from entering a market clamoring for his services. With that contract from four years ago, modeled after a similar one given by the Titans to Kyle Vanden Bosch (another free agent now), Kampman hits the market as a cheaper and more consistent, although less talented, option for teams losing out on the derby to sign Julius Peppers.
Kampman never took to the new 3-4 defense of Packers coordinator Dom Capers, and his relationship with a team and a defense where he had been a leader on and off the field took a downward turn. Previously an eternally positive force in the locker room, Kampman’s position switch robbed him of enthusiasm as he took an indifferent approach to the position change that did not sit well with the Packer coaches. Simply, after eight years with the Packers, it’s time for Kampman to make a change.
The issue with Aaron, coming off an ACL, will be the physical he takes with a new team. My reports are that his knee looks good and his rehabilitation has been successful (but whoever says his rehab is not going well?).
Cost
This will obviously depend on the demand for his services, but Kampman and agent Neil Cornrich will be seeking a shorter term — three or four years — to give Kampman the potential for another bite at the free agency apple. Four years ago, Kampman signed a four-year deal worth $21 million with $11M guaranteed. He should receive at least those numbers, with some upside built in for him to return to his form from 2006-2008, where only DeMarcus Ware and Jared Allen registered more sacks than Kampman.
Depending on the leverage, there will be some risk management in the contract about the knee. Again, that depends on whether one of the teams involved will not require it or not.
Value
I am biased here, but virtually any amount paid to Aaron will be worth it. As a strong believer that character counts, Aaron has great value beyond the field. He will instantly upgrade the character of the defensive line unit — a group that can be a bit squirrelly — and become a team leader in the process.
Aaron has had the label of a try-hard, grinder since he came out of Iowa as a fifth-round pick. Although unable to shed that label, he is a truly talented defensive lineman and has proven that. He will provide strong value to whichever one of many suitors lands him.
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Similar upside to Vanden Bosch, someone who makes the team mindset be all about football, planning, preparing in practice, playing. Yeah, he is an investment in that way, he yields a return in positive example.
A class act and a great player. Some team is going to be very happy with Aaron. The Packers are losing a huge asset, both on and off the field.
I'd like to see the Panthers make a move for this guy, especially after losing 2 starters on the Dline in the past 24 hours, and speculation is all four guys could be gone.
I think that if they tagged him the Packers would be on the hook for BIG $$$'s for a player coming off an ACL and that does not fit in a 3-4 should they not be able to work out a trade. You might say with all the potential suitors TT should be able to get something for him but teams know exactly what the situation is and TT would have zero leverage. So IMO the risk would be much higher than the reward.
Good Luck Mr. Kampman. You are a CLASS ACT all the way. Too bad we have to lose you.
Even though recent history shows you were one of our best defensive players, as a whole we have to move on with the new 3-4 scheme. Best of luck to you. Please don't sign with a NFC team.
"Virtually any amount paid to Aaron will be worth it"? Really? Yeah, you are biased. You do work for the Eagles so are you going to be involved in a Kampman contract?
I love the guy too but he has somethings to prove physically as well as in his mindset
I believe what you wrote below because I was reading the reports all last off season. It does, however, cast Kampman in a somewhat negative light. The leader who now decides not to lead..
"Kampman never took to the new 3-4 defense of Packers coordinator Dom Capers, and his relationship with a team and a defense where he had been a leader on and off the field took a downward turn. Previously an eternally positive force in the locker room, Kampman’s position switch robbed him of enthusiasm as he took an indifferent approach to the position change that did not sit well with the Packer coaches."
In football, why is it always the coaches responsibility to provide the motive for enthusiasm? Kampman watched himelf get outplayed by other guys around him. There are other DE's who have made the switch to LB successfully
Kampman has been a really good (not great) 4-3 Defensive End. I hope he is again but he didn't do the team any favors. I guess they should have traded him last off season but they said that he was tailor made for the position
Big Packers fan, always loved and respected Aaron Kampman. He has always been a positive team leader and a class act... However, once the Packers made the switch, he has shed himself in a different light. Shying away from, or acting short tempered with the media, reluctant to answer questions, etc, etc... He obviously isn't a guy who likes change as he was even reluctant to switch sides in the 4-3 when asked. Some guys are open to change, adapt to it and do well... Aarons just not one of these guys. Probably not quite as unselfish as we were led to believe, but at the same time, if it ain't broke...
It's not coincidence the Packers D was much improved after he went down. Time for both parties to move on... I wish TT would've pulled the trigger on a trade earlier last season, then we could've gotten something for him...
Good Luck Aaron, except for when you play the Pack!
Koition - Other than Favre, can you think of one Packer who has left and made it big elsewhere?
Bryce Paup? too long ago. Darren Sharper ? played well in Minnesota but not so well they didn't cut him
Mostly these guys have been products of the system. I hope Kampman picks the right team and coach
Packers players don't usually leave when they're stars because the team re-signs them, rather than signing other teams' free agents.
There are of course some if you think back... Timmerman, Wahle, even Javon Walker was still a very talented player before his injuries and other obvious problems (one good season in Denver). He just wanted out of GB though.
I'm guessing GB will get a 5th round comp. pick for Kampman, so at least there's that. I enjoyed watching him during his years there.
Holligan - I forgot Timmerman, good call. Wolf made the mistake of choosing Earl Dotson over him.
Wahle was Thompson's admitted mistake.
Andrew, I know that money is the main motivator in sports, but why would a player leave a team that appears poised for runs in the playoffs for the next several years, for a rebuilding job in Jacksonville?
You always hear about players saying that winning the SuperBowl is the ultimate....but seems to me that $$$$ always win out.
I know it's money, but its not exactly like they have been eating beans and cornbread at the Kampmann house!
Kampman flattened himself last year, and for him, I hope he can gather a deal that will set him and his kids for life. However, to me, as a lifelong Packer fan, he has proven himself incapable of change. Resistant to change, hesitant to make a difference. He had multiple opportunities last year, with Capers going so far as to change up the makings of HIS 3-4 D so Kampman could rush from a stance, to make a difference, and since he was deadset that he wasnt a fit for a 34 scheme, he couldnt mentally make the difference he could have if he had his head in the right place. Mentally all year, from the start of camp to the injury, he was wah wah wah"ing it. Playing nice to the media, yet if you can read body language, any Packer fan who watched his interviews could clearly tell he was not pleased at all with his role. I find that a poor quality for a p[layer, failure to change, failure to adapt, failure to conform to your role...........dinosaurs are gone for a reason.........and someone who cannot adapt in the NFL surely wont make it much longer.......regardless of a knee injury or not........he will simply fade out.
Brian, Green Bay hurt Aaron Kampman, not him to himself. He was the third ranking sack artist from 2006-2008, if you have a good thing going, don't spoil it by changing his position because without Brett the Pack can't outscore opposing teams so they hide their flaws by converting to a new look D. But the Packers have been too good at letting go of great players, bringing in numb skull coaches and GMs since 2005. The list is disgusting... how do you root for a team who lets go of guys like Darren Sharper, Mike McKenzie, Mike Wahle, Mike Flanagan, Marco Rivera, Ryan Longwell, Javon Walker, oh yeah, and the man who lifted the Vikings over the Packer hump, Brett Favre. Ted Thompson is too prideful and too ignorant to run a team who is apparently rebuilding a team that would have been SB worthy 2005-Now if he didn't dump some of the greatest Packers of the last 20 years.
Alan, no offense... but that was one of the most unrational posts I've read in a long time!
- "because without Brett the Pack can't outscore opposing teams so they hide their flaws by converting to a new look D"
The 2008 Packers offense was ranked #8. The defense was ranked #20. They had outscored thier opponents, but lost something like 6 games by less than 3 points. Most of those games within the last few minutes on scoring drives by opposing offenses. The defense had to change.
In 2009, the Packers offense was ranked #6 (#3 in total points). The Defense was ranked #2... yes, #2... without Al Harris and Aaron Kampman for 1/2 of the season. They obviously knew what they were doing by making the switch. It sucks that Kampy couldn't convert. But you can't look over your roster and not make a change because one guy won't fit... that's ludacris!
Your list of players? McKenzie was terrible after signing with the Saints. Sharper was average until he went to New Orleans. Walker proved to be a good move. Flanagan was uneffective. Rivera was hurt and out of the league shortly after signing with the Boys. Favre was replaced by someone younger with a bigger upside. Wahle and Longwell were the only arguable losses.
Your evaluation of talent is poor... While I don't agree with all of his moves, I'll take good ol' TT any day over you!
Opps, previous post by "Koition" my reply was to "Alan"...
For those mentioning Mike Wahl, the thing to remember is that he was due something like $11+ million in salary and roster bonus, and would have totally skewed our cap management if they hadn't re-negotiated or cut him.
Main mistake I see there was not doing more to re-sign him after cutting him.
And as I recall had a couple of good, not great, years and then faded away.
By the way you skipped all around the facts bout white people being handled the same as blacks in the aboved mentioned statement by MICHAEL WILLIAMS. You answered two of them i guess, but please feel free to explain the rest, i'm listening.
Kampman is such an awesome football player. He is so talented as a defensive player. If i owned a team i would have him on my team. There is no better talent.
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Mar 05, 2010
01:32 PM
Hi Andrew,
Great article. I was wondering if you could speculate on why the Packers chose not to put some kind of tag on him in an attempt to trade him. Obvioulsy he is in demand. Why did the Packers let him walk instead of trying to get something for him?