Like Brewers leftfielder Ryan Braun, Ryan Grant had a breakthrough season last year. And now, the Packers starting running back is angling for a new contract, and he may actually cost himself money in the long run -- like Braun might have with his contract with the Brewers -- by signing a deal soon and passing on someday being a free agent.

Grant, who ran for 956 regular-season yards in only seven starts last season and set a franchise record with his 201-yard playoff performance against Seattle, isn't participating in any of the football drills during the Packers' organized team activity practices because he refuses to sign his one-year, $370,000 exclusive-rights free-agent tender.

Instead, Grant wants a long-term deal with guaranteed up-front money. When asked if he expects to have a long-term deal in place in time for training camp, Grant replied, "Yeah, I do. I don't have a timetable. There's no timetable in that sense. I don't have control over that. I'm just trying to do my part and make sure I'm taking part in everything I can.

"I just felt like it was in my best situation to handle this way. I think both sides feel like I'm going about it in the correct way. It's not a matter of unhappiness. There's no hard feelings or anything like that. Not at all. It's just the business."

Grant has next to no bargaining power because the Packers hold his exclusive rights and he cannot negotiate with any other team. And if he signs a long-term deal before camp, he could be costing himself a bigger payday he might've received with a similarly productive season in 2008 as the starter from opening day.

Grant joined the team last year following a Sept. 1 trade with the New York Giants and didn't take over the starting job until DeShawn Wynn went down with a shoulder injury Oct. 29 at San Francisco.

Still, because Grant is doing everything but actually practicing -- he spent Wednesday's practice doing conditioning work with the injured players while the rest of the team did normal football drills -- Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Grant has handled the situation ``very well.''

"He has been here every day through the whole offseason. He has been lifting (weights) here four days a week. He's up on the third floor all of the time with (running backs coach) Edgar Bennett. So he is getting himself ready," McCarthy said. "Would I like him out there with everybody else? Absolutely, but he's not under contract right now, so it's clearly a business decision."

 Page 1 of 2 

Next >>

Post a comment / write a review.

Recent blogs/briefs by Jason Wilde

Packers offensive line still looking for stability Aug. 19, 2008 The Packers are no closer to resolving their offensive line problems. In fact, after Monday ...

Packers camp report: What about the other guys? Aug. 10, 2008 The focus in the Packers exhibition opener Monday will be on Aaron Rodgers, but rookie ...

"Closure" doesn't mean "over" for Packers, Favre Aug. 08, 2008 The Packers and Brett Favre said all the right things in the wake of the historic trade ...