GREEN BAY, Wisconsin – At the end of the season, All-Pro center Corey Linsley said there had been no negotiations with the Green Bay Packers for a new contract.
With the free agency starting in less than three weeks, that hasn’t changed, a source said on Wednesday. Linsley is expected to play elsewhere in 2021 and the Packers are looking to replace their starting center in the past seven seasons.
While there is time to come to terms with Linsley, it seems unlikely to happen. The Packers had the whole season to talk to Linsley, and the season ended almost exactly a month ago.
“My agent didn’t talk to the Packers,” said Linsley the day after a bitter loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the NFC Championship Game – Linsley’s fourth empty trip to the title game in his seven seasons. “This obviously doesn’t mean that something couldn’t happen, but up to this point it was kind of complimentary, but nothing substantial. Let’s move on with this. It is what it is. I personally felt that I had a good year. Obviously we didn’t reach the goal we wanted, but I felt like I made a good movie. Hopefully, a team values this and we will move on to the free agency with that in mind. “
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Linsley’s is a fascinating free agency.
He was elected All-Pro of the main team and, for what it’s worth, was by far the best ranked center on ProFootballFocus.com. According to Sports Info Solutions, Linsley did not allow a bag or thing (a tackle on the scrimmage line or behind the race). Among centers with more than 500 snaps, it had the third lowest blast rate, 0.6 percent, according to SIS. He was also not penalized.
On the other hand, Linsley lost three complete games and most of two others due to injuries. After not missing the chance in 2017 and 2018, he played 88 percent in 2019 and 71 percent in 2020. And he will be 30 years old by the time the training camps open next summer.
Packers being $ 11.45 million above the projected salary cap certainly does not help facilitate a new subscription. While there are levers to be used to create ample space, there are 10 centers that earn at least $ 10 million a season, led by Ryan Kelly’s $ 12.4 million average.
Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers and Baltimore Ravens should be among the suitors. Jacksonville Jaguars’ new coach Urban Meyer trained Linsley in Ohio.
Linsley was not only an excellent center, but also a pillar of the community. He was nominated by the team for the prestigious Walter Payton Award for Man of the Year.
However, at the end of the season, Linsley seemed prepared to leave his teammates and connections with the community behind.
“I talked to a friend of mine in town,” said Linsley. “The relationships we made, we filmed, we didn’t see anyone this year, anyway, so it’s like a sabbatical from that point of view, but the relationships we build, we will always keep in touch with people and see them. Again, it may be rare, not as much as it would have been here, but our home is in Ohio, anyway, so it would happen sooner or later.
“But we love the people we know here, the relationships we build. We have been very fortunate to be part of the lives of so many people and to be part of ours. If it doesn’t, it stinks. The guys in the locker room, I will definitely miss the guys in the locker room. This dressing room is a great dressing room. Again, if it doesn’t, the guys here are fantastic leaders, I can’t say enough about them. So, this is going to be difficult, but other than that, this is a business. I mean, it is what it is. Some guys, that’s exactly what happens. “