Packers to Retain Geronimo Allison, sign Exclusive Rights Tender

When Ted Thompson said that he wanted to get one or two deals done before the March ninth commencement of free agency, he wasn't kidding.

The Packers' general manager went to work on retaining punter Jacob Schum, who will sign his exclusive rights tender to remain with the team as reported on Thursday. Just three days later, another player is set to be retained by the team.

The fan favorite Geronimo Allison will also be reserved a spot with the Packers, who will sign their exclusive rights deal with the undrafted training camp spectacle to keep him in Green Bay. The news was reported late Sunday evening by ESPN's Rob Demovsky.

"Geronimo Allison will sign his exclusive rights tender with the Packers before free agency opens this week. Allison's agent met at the combine with the Packers, who offered him the second-year minimum. Allison, an undrafted free agent who was promoted from the practice squad, caught 17 passes for 267 yards and two TDs including playoffs."

Allison, 23, is in the early beginnings of a storybook career with the Packers, depending on what he makes of it. From Iowa Western Community College to the University of Illinois, the Packers signed Allison last May only to release him four months later. Despite the early showings of a playmaker in the beginning stages of blossoming talent, the Packers stashed Allison on their practice squad before being promoted just a week before the Packers traveled to Atlanta in week eight to face the Falcons. A team Allison would eventually catch a single pass for 11 yards against in the NFC Championship.

While it is unknown what Allison's contract details are at the moment as it has yet to be negotiated, this move was inevitable. Since Allison had just one accrued season under his belt, he was able to avoid the "unrestricted" or "restricted" title, meaning the Packers would be able to keep Allison around on a one-year deal at the league minimum, which is $450,000.

Allison is two months removed from a court hearing due to being pulled over on September fourth, just a day before the Packers moved him to the practice squad. The police found that Allison was in possession of Marijuana, ultimately leading to his January 23rd court appearance. The Packers issued a statement saying that they are "aware of the matter" involving their wide receiver.

With a multitude of other free agents set to negotiate new deals with the Packers, Allison was the only receiver on the list. Now, he can be checked off said list and potentially "wow" fans in camp for the second time and carry his maturing experience in the offense over for a second season.

__________________________

Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].

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Comments (23)

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PatrickGB's picture

March 05, 2017 at 08:51 pm

Another Packer who cannot stay away from weed. Otherwise good player. Long and lanky who managed to get open a lot. Despite his arrest I like this kid and hope he gets his act together if he wants a career in football.

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Bearmeat's picture

March 05, 2017 at 08:53 pm

I'd bet 90% of NFL players use weed PGB. It does help with chronic pain, and football players live in a world of pain.

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mrtundra's picture

March 05, 2017 at 09:11 pm

I am wondering why the League isn't pushing for legalization. It seems many of their players use it to alleviate pain.

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dobber's picture

March 06, 2017 at 05:52 am

Two things...
1. I think we make an assertion that needs more proof if we assume that pain relief is why many players use pot. They might claim that because it's socially more acceptable than recreational use.
2. Legalization is currently a controversial stance that the league isn't going to want attached to the Shield.

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mrtundra's picture

March 05, 2017 at 09:11 pm

I am wondering why the League isn't pushing for legalization. It seems many of their players use it to alleviate pain.

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Donster's picture

March 06, 2017 at 09:54 am

Players using it is one thing. But if the league says it is okay to use, then there will always be the issue that players will take their pot with them for road games. That would open them to arrest at either the airport, or at anytime they are in the city where they play in the states that do not have pot legalized. I am not saying that police will go looking for the users, but there is always that possibility. Can you imagine Jerry Jones telling a contact or two in the Dallas PD that one or two of the visiting teams players have pot on them? I know it sounds a bit crazy, but crap like this isn't beyond possibility.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 06, 2017 at 06:52 am

If you've ever read Allison's twitter feed, you might not like this kid so much. If you have daughters, I'm guessing you wouldn't let him near them. I would not let my sons go near him either, for that matter.

Weed might be for pain control. It might not be.

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fthisJack's picture

March 06, 2017 at 07:54 am

what difference does it make if its for pain or not? i personally don't feel its as bad as alcohol and should be legalized.

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Bearmeat's picture

March 05, 2017 at 08:53 pm

Good for Geronimo. I'm looking forward to seeing him progress as a WR4 now to up the ladder in the future. Jordy won't last forever and we've got to get someone to step up in that outside role.

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PatrickGB's picture

March 05, 2017 at 09:14 pm

"Weed helps with pain"...so does aspirin but I don't break the law to buy it. And Its pretty dumb to be driving around under the influence. I wish the kid gets his act together. He could have a future if he gets clear headed.

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fthisJack's picture

March 06, 2017 at 07:58 am

thats a dumb statement. clear headed? how many guys in the NFL are clear headed? and you personally know Allison is not clear headed? he looks pretty damn clear headed catching passes.

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NickPerry's picture

March 06, 2017 at 09:33 am

It said nothing about him being under the influence, he was charged with possession. The police report said they smelled weed. At least in Los Angeles the report will ALWAYS say they smelled it, gives them probable cause to search. Maybe I'm a little suspicious, but when the LAPD headlines the local news more times then not you have a tendency to be suspicious.

On the flip side I do hope he gets it together too. He can't help the Packers when he's suspended. Hopefully this is the first and last charge he'll have.

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dobber's picture

March 06, 2017 at 10:18 am

Agreed.

In the end, these kinds of things are tests of IQ and dedication: do you care enough about your profession and your opportunity to not spend your time on activities the league will hit you for? Some people will argue that pot is "harmless", which is a debate that I don't want to get into here. The fact remains that the league has it on it's "no-no list" which is all that should matter to these guys.

Do we really buy that a 23-year-old, finely-tuned professional athlete suffers from chronic pain that can only be relieved by smoking pot? Really?

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stockholder's picture

March 05, 2017 at 09:29 pm

TT signed him for 3 reasons. #1. Adams and Janis are free-agents next year. #2 Just more depth to push Davis or Janis out the door. #3 he's a cheap insurance policy.

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Since'61's picture

March 05, 2017 at 09:52 pm

Glad that Allison will be back. He could evolve into a solid WR. I guess that Schum and Allison will be TTs big splash in FAs for this year. Thanks, Since '61

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NickPerry's picture

March 06, 2017 at 09:35 am

LOL.... Why "Dislike" this comment? A little humor and sarcasm in a comment not that far from the truth.....SMH...

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al bundy's picture

March 05, 2017 at 11:02 pm

Good I like the kid. Hopefully Janis will be jetisoned. LIke many of you, I think the Janis experiment is over. Too bad we had great hopes for this guy but it didnt pan out. I think its mental and he never got the route running and plays down

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marpag1's picture

March 06, 2017 at 04:31 am

In other words, "Geronimo Allison took the only option available to him to remain in the NFL."

As always, the article is systematic genocide of English grammar.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 06, 2017 at 07:12 am

In addition, TT could have done this sooner. Note that the only necessary thing is for the team to extend a tender by 4:00 pm, March 9 to retain the player's rights. The player should sign it by April 21, 2017. Tenders can be rescinded. Since GB only had 47 players under contract, extending Allison reduces our cap space by $450K as of the date the tender is made, not when the player signs the tender. Each ERFA tender issued will also reduce the cap space until 51 players are under contract.

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Rossonero's picture

March 06, 2017 at 06:23 am

Only days until free agency and all Ted has done is bring back our punter and WR4. Great...

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dobber's picture

March 06, 2017 at 07:15 am

It takes two to tango...

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PatrickGB's picture

March 06, 2017 at 09:17 am

A clear headed man does not drive under the influence. I clear headed man does not take illegal drugs. A clear headed man does not take drugs that mess up his head when he needs his brain to know complicated offensive game plans. A clear headed man knows he will be tested in the NFL.

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TheVOR's picture

March 06, 2017 at 05:54 pm

Like this kid, remember, probably 25% or more of the NFL players are smoking weed in the off-season, and when he got popped, he wasn't technically "In The NFL" he was a citizen. So hopefully he understands the opportunity he has in front of him. I really like this player, he was excellent in the Dallas Playoff game, couldn't ask for more from a young undrafted player.

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