Kampman may be target for extension

if the Green Bay Packers decide to use some of the nearly $2 million they have in unused salary-cap space this season, they might turn to defensive end Aaron Kampman.

General Manager Ted Thompson has 4½ weeks to work out contract extensions and still be able to prorate a portion of the signing bonuses on the 2005 cap.

Before Thompson took over in January, the Packers typically liked to do at least one in-season extension to take advantage of that cap rule. Among the players the Packers have signed to late-season deals were: center Mike Flanagan in 2001, receiver Donald Driver and tackle Mark Tauscher in 2002 and cornerback Al Harris in 2004.

When asked if he planned to continue that practice this season, Thompson on Tuesday said: “We’re not opposed to doing it.”

Kampman is perhaps the best candidate for that this year. In what has otherwise been a miserable season for the 2-9 Packers, Kampman has been one of the few standout players. It just so happens he’s due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.

The Packers thought enough of Kampman, a fifth-round draft pick in 2002, to match the one-year restricted free-agent offer sheet he signed last April with the Minnesota Vikings worth $1.206 million. The Packers previously offered Kampman the $656,000 restricted free agent tender.

Through the first 11 games this season, Kampman has been the Packers’ most consistent and durable defensive lineman. Week in and week out, he leads all defensive linemen in snaps played. That he’s become an every-down player who can both play the run and rush the passer has added to his value.

Top-end defensive linemen command signing bonuses of $10 million or more in free agency, but Kampman isn’t in that category. Where he fits in the pecking order, however, might be debatable. He’s not a pure pass rusher, and before this season, hadn’t been a regular part of the dime defensive front. This season, he leads the team with 6½ sacks, which is a career best. It might take a signing bonus in the $3 million to $5 million range to get Kampman under contract. The Packers are believed to be slightly more than $1.9 million under the salary cap, which is more than enough room to do one significant contract extension.

“He plays hard and does his job,” Thompson said. “He’s got good strength at the point of attack and works hard in the pass rush. He’s just a really good, solid player.”

Of Kampman’s pass-rush ability, Thompson said: “He’s the kind of guy who comes hard every time, and you have to be ready for him if he’s your opponent.”

The 6-foot-4 Kampman almost always is described as a dependable, high-effort guy. His defensive coordinator, Jim Bates, gave nearly the exact description of Kampman this week when he said Kampman “brings his work hat with him to practice and in games, and it really shows.”

“It’s always good to have dependable players like Aaron because you always know what you’re going to get from him every week,” Bates added.

Kampman might be underrated athletically. In the offseason, he shed about 10 pounds from his 284-pound playing weight from a year ago and may be quicker as a result.

“Everybody says this is a try-hard guy, but he’s a lot more than that,” coach Mike Sherman said recently. “He’s a good athlete, a tough football player (who) comes to work every day (and) plays hurt. I can’t say enough about him. It’s a pleasure to have him on the team.
“He has a lot of football left to play. He’s just going to keep getting better.”

Among the other possible candidates for an in-season contract extension are kicker Ryan Longwell and defensive tackle Grady Jackson, both of whom will be unrestricted free agents after the season. Longwell remains in the upper echelon of NFL kickers, but some in the organization believe Longwell doesn’t want to return to Green Bay because he would prefer kicking in a warm-weather climate or a dome.

The Packers probably would be willing to sign Jackson to another short contract like the two-year, $2.31 million contract he signed last time around, but Jackson maintained earlier this month that he’s seeking a much larger deal.