The Lass Word: Life Without Bakh is Getting Near
How long can Packers afford his limited availability?
By KenLass
A sullen-faced Matt LaFleur stepped up to the podium Monday morning for his usual day after the game press conference. Right out of the gate, the very first questions asked by the beat writers were about left tackle David Bakhtiari.
Reporter: Did he not play because it was a turf game or because he had an issue that popped up last week?
LaFleur: Well, his knee is injured. There was swelling.
Reporter: If that game is played at Lambeau Field is he able to play or not?
LaFleur: I don’t believe so.
Reporter: Just to clarify.....
LaFleur (cutting the reporter off while throwing his hands out to his side): All right, that’s it. Just to clarify, I’m done talking about it. I’m not talking about it.
It can be tenuous to read between the lines when trying to interpret the Green Bay head coach’s terse answers and abrupt shutdown of the topic. Clearly he is frustrated by the Bakhtiari situation. It’s not the first time the media corps has peppered him with multiple questions about a particular player. LaFleur is usually patient and tries to deal with each query calmly and expansively. But not this time. Why has this issue gotten under his skin?
Maybe he is just irritated that the beat writers consistently want to probe for more information. Or, maybe he is as disheartened with the former first team all pro’s availability as we are. Bakhtiari still is one of the best in the business when he can play. But he is having more and more difficulty staying healthy. After seeing no action in the preseason, and barely even practicing with the team, the eleventh year veteran started the season opener against the Bears and played 55 snaps, 92 percent of the offensive plays. He was his usual reliable self, but then was unable to practice all week, and it was determined as late as Sunday morning he would not be able to play against the Falcons. It’s anybody’s guess whether he can answer the bell this Sunday against the Saints.
In the first seven years of his career, Bakhtiari played every regular season game five times. But after a season ending knee injury in 2020 he played just twelve games that year, only one in 2021, and eleven in 2022. Now he has already missed one contest this season.
According to overthecap.com, Bakhtiari has, by far, the highest salary cap number on the team this year at $21.3 million. The next highest is Kenny Clark at $12 million. Next year Bakh’s cap number will skyrocket to $40.5 million. The former Colorado star is about to turn 32 years old (September 30).
It’s probably not too late to deal the talented tackle to some team that is in desperate need of O-line help. Although the compensation Green Bay might get in return would likely be lower than you might think because he is damaged goods. Regardless of whether he remains on the roster throughout the current season, clearly the Packers cannot sustain his $40 million hit next year. They will either have to trade him, cut him, or rework him.
Bakhtiari stood in front of his locker on Wednesday and answered media questions. Among other things, he confirmed that his absence in Atlanta was because he was injured, not because the game was on turf. He said he was more than willing to play on turf or any other surface. He said no one is more frustrated at his missing of games than him. “For me, it’s pretty devastating” he told reporters. “Every game that goes by, I’m not getting any younger. What I want for my own personal self, along with what I want to give to this franchise, it’s tough. When my knee hits its limit, it hits its limit.” He added that he didn’t know how many games his knee would allow him to play this season.
Bakh also said he intends to play next year, so long as doctors say its okay. This will force the Packers to make a decision on his future.
I don’t see him on this team next year. I’m not even sure I see him on this team the remainder of this year. In his absence in week two against the Falcons, Rasheed Walker got the start, and rotated at the position with Yosh Nijman. They held up reasonably well against a strong defensive front. There were some mistakes. Atlanta’s Kaden Elliss burst through the line unblocked to register Atlanta’s only sack of the game, while Walker was standing in the backfield looking confused with no one to block. But generally, Jordan Love had adequate time to throw. If the coaching staff and front office get the feeling the team can get by this season with Walker and Nijman at left tackle, Bakh’s departure may come sooner than later, but almost certainly by the start of next season.
There will eventually be the option of moving guard Elgton Jenkins to left tackle when he is recovered from a sprained knee ligament. Jenkins is already being paid like a tackle, having signed a four year extension worth $68 million last December. At the time, it was the second highest salary in the league for a guard, and would have ranked him in the top half of NFL tackles. Zach Tom could also be moved from right tackle to the left side. And then there is the coming draft. Green Bay will have a first round pick and two second rounders and could well target a left tackle prospect whom they think could start right away.
In this year of transition, naturally Jordan Love can use all the O-line protection he can get, and of course, the ideal scenario is for Bakhtiari to get his knee healthy enough to the point where he can go every game. But as LaFleur explained after the Falcons game Sunday night, the tentative state of Bakhtiari's health is nothing new. It’s been going on for more than three years now. It’s time to face the reality that he will never be a steady starter on this team again.
Number 69 has long been a fan favorite. His playfully mischievous personality, outspoken interview statements and beer chugging antics at Milwaukee Bucks games have endeared him to the base in a special way. It would be sad to see him go. Even sadder for him. “It’s just tough for me to want to retire” he said. “I just enjoy it so much, and I’m too (expletive) good at it.”
Maybe the Packers are waiting to see if the team is a legitimate playoff contender this season. If so, they will likely hang on to Bakhtiari and hope for the best.
But if the losses pile up and it becomes clear Green Bay is going nowhere, don’t be surprised if the left tackle is shipped off before the trade deadline on October 31.
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Ken Lass is a former Green Bay television sports anchor and 43 year media veteran, a lifelong Packers fan, and a shareholder.
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Comments (104)
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
September 21, 2023 at 03:05 pm
What choice do they have? They're gonna be paying him whether hes playing or sitting for the Packers or any other team. This never would've happened under Teddy T. Never in a million years.
Edit: Why isnt Zack Tom the next man up at Left Tackle? Hes clearly the next best pass blocking tackle they have so why not move him instead of playing Walker or Nijman there? Makes no sense to me. Zack Tom is clearly the future left tackle and the future is now. Lafleur gets too cute sometimes and it drives everyone nuts.
chaka
September 21, 2023 at 03:56 pm
Thompson would have never resigned him to such a stupid contract. He would have let him walk at that age.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
September 21, 2023 at 10:05 pm
Chaka, thats exactly my point.
HawkPacker
September 22, 2023 at 09:45 am
I was kind of surprised when they did sign him a few years back just based on his age at the time and how old he would be towards the end of that contract.
SicSemperTyrannis
September 21, 2023 at 04:06 pm
Zach Tom's best position is C. We have nobody on the interior of the O line. Including Bakh we have four starting caliber OTs, Mt Caleb, Walker and Nijman.
The strategy was to use Nijman as a swing tackle, and he embraced that idea. I think the team has seen my point, that he's better specializing at one side. If they've had all three specialize at LT and only Mt Caleb at RT that's kinda odd.
We can't run behind Myers at C.
We need to focus on S and interior linemen in next draft. Adding OT to the priorities would set us back, not forward.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 21, 2023 at 09:56 pm
Don't entirely agree!
We will see what happens by the trading deadline, or for sure by the end of the year.
I will respectfully argue a couple points:
1. The Packers greatest need 'right' now in the draft is a big & mean space eater DL who can solidify the DL, and stop the run.
2. We do not really know whether we have good OT's yet in Wallace & Jones. They need to play, so we find out before end of year. My philosophy is you can never have too many OT's.
With 3 picks in first 2 rounds next year, I fully expect a DL, OL, and Safety not necessarily in that order. The fact Zach could move inside gives Gutey so much flexibility with possibly 4-5 OT's already currently on team, plus where they can nab another OL/OT early in draft should he feel the need. I also wonder what we might have in Luke Tenuta.
The Packers really are sitting in a good place right now.
jannesbjornson
September 22, 2023 at 02:24 am
The first two picks need to be OT , OG, WR/ RB maybe two offensive tackles. The priority is to protect Love and improve the skill positions around him. Safety may best be served through free agency as they did with Amos. See how the season shakes out, The Fans typically over rate the existing depth chart. If the team takes a dive, major changes should be in order.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
September 21, 2023 at 10:07 pm
How do you know his best position is center? He hasnt played there in a game in nearly 3 years.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:20 am
THANK YOU!!!
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:24 am
We don’t know. However, that’s what he was drafted in mind of, and I do trust our scouts. It’s also what most profiled him as. Actually, RT was probably no better than third for a mostly finesse guy. We do know that Myers is not great, that both Walker and Nijman are good enough that they are willing to let them protect the blind side.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 01:37 pm
"However, that’s what he was drafted in mind of, and I do trust our scouts. It’s also what most profiled him as. "
<<Josh Myers enters the room at this point>>
cdoemel
September 21, 2023 at 08:36 pm
Stop crying. It is way it is. Trade him to the Jets.
Rebelgb
September 22, 2023 at 01:22 pm
Hes not going to a team with artificial turf. Period.
Tekraut17
September 22, 2023 at 09:54 am
Easy to say TT would never have signed him to that contract but I'm pretty sure AR applied a lot of pressure on Gute to get him signed. Now if you want to argue that TT would never have signed AR to his last contract I'd probably be on board with that...
Duneslick
September 22, 2023 at 11:58 am
They save 20 million off their salary next year if he is gone. So their is a difference
stockholder
September 21, 2023 at 03:10 pm
Cut him.
I'm sure he'll understand.
You can't pay people who don't play.
Just ask Nick Perry.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 04:02 pm
We’ve already paid him the vast majority when we converted his salary into bonus to get more cap this year.
stockholder
September 21, 2023 at 06:14 pm
So What. And next year?
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 06:48 pm
Next year he wasn’t coming back on this contract anyway.
stockholder
September 21, 2023 at 06:52 pm
Next year Bakh’s cap number will skyrocket to $40.5 million.
????????????? I didn't write it. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My point was to get out of it. Per This line-
They will either have to trade him, cut him, or rework him.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 11:20 pm
Which is why he won’t be back in his current deal. That was pretty obvious when he accepted the money up front and helped us free cap space this year. After this season we can walk away with ease. Right now he’s mostly been paid for this season already.
LLCHESTY
September 21, 2023 at 08:31 pm
At this point CW I'm not sure why you reply to an idiot. I do too sometimes to make fun of his grasp of the English language which is roughly the same as Jim Morrison's when he was tripping on Peyote.
He's not going away but ignoring him is the best policy.
Coach Cleve Steamer
September 23, 2023 at 11:38 am
U R A D H
cdoemel
September 21, 2023 at 08:38 pm
I totally agree! It’s a business decision!! We can’t win a Super Bowl with him! and he’s too expensive. Bye bye
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:30 am
Cutting him does us no good cap wise in season really. I think the only reason for doing so that is valid, since he’s already essentially been paid this year, is to stop our coaches planning around him and force them to settle on a line premised on his unavailability. It may come to that.
At this point it’s more likely that he hardly hits the field than he plays double digit games in my view. Gute may have to step in and make decisions for outlet coaches, as he had to with Watkins and Amari. Sad, but LaFleur and co have trouble moving on with reality over established preferences. Reality says he’s a luxury we can’t plan on.
NickPerry
September 22, 2023 at 05:29 am
"You can't pay people who don't play.
Just ask Nick Perry."
Awww, thanks. I'm glad you have some confidence in my opinions.
Now, if you'd just start making your comments so they don't look like a poem...
Starrbrite
September 21, 2023 at 03:54 pm
This is difficult. Lafluer, Bahk, probably the team, and we fans—all frustrated.
I say play him when you can and rotate the others as needed. Next year, he has to be jettisoned via a trade or otherwise.
Go Packers!!!
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 04:51 pm
At some point, if the future left T is on this team, and between Nijman, Tom, Walker and Jones, I think he is, and do is outlet right T, then it’s better to play him.
Personally, I’d go with Nijman, who has played well there before over an extended stretch, but I would move Tom to C yesterday because Myers just can’t run block to save his life and they may yet move him to G. Otherwise move Tom and start Walker or Jones at right. Plenty of cover and experience comes with playing, alongside the rest of this O.
Messing around with the young guy makes us worse next year. Pick a LT, play him. If necessary, bite the bullet and move Tom now. Never a good time, but after the carousel at LT last week, the normal excuses are pretty empty.
Bakh can come back if the LT is not cutting it (though Nijman did for a season and an half) and he’s healthy, but otherwise play for the future. At this point his knee is such that they admit it won’t be reliable one week to the next all season.
Unfortunate, but it’s time by the looks of it. The injury means he can no longer be counted in regularly, will be gone next year, and we gain nothing material by not giving his successor a chance to gain experience (and prove himself). We were willing to risk Love with Walker last week. We don’t really have that excuse going forward.
I just wish I had faith in Butkus. He’s made a real mess of this again this year despite them knowing that this might happen. Should have left Nijman there, used Walker/Jones at RT and Tom at C all summer.
If Nijman really is on the outs with Butkus, then we need to ask if the problem is him or the coach. I confess, I suspect Butkus is the issue. If it is Nijman, them go with Walker at LT and Jones at RT and Nijman and Bakh as depth when available with Myers behind Tom at C .
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 21, 2023 at 10:04 pm
My sense has always been Nijman is one hell of an athlete, but even more a nice guy. Meaning he just doesn't have that internal fire & kick ass attitude on the field that the Packers want. Some guys struggle to always want to pancake you, & I think that is Nijiman. The talent is there but he has to want it.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 11:36 pm
Whatever we think he might be, he has played pretty well over an extended period in the past. Right now, he might be a tad unhappy with his treatment it’s true, fair or not. He’s also been pretty highly rated in the run game, which doesn’t suggest gentle Giant syndrome on the field of play.
As I said, I have grown to have very little faith in Butkus and Stenovich’s personnel evaluation and management abilities since the switcheroo. As a developer of players, Stenovich was an asset. Since he was promoted, I’m not so sure, it’s been one strange and counter intuitive mess up after another.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:22 am
My understanding is that Nijman has always rated well as a run blocker--and he has plenty of tape and snaps to base that on--which insinuates some degree of nasty and finish.
*IN EDIT* -- whoops. What CW said above.
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:35 am
There is no harm in emphasis. The treatment of Nijman since they didn’t want to move him to RT is baffling. Did he make them look bad? These are the guys that started him twice with one arm essentially, rather than put Tom in.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:56 am
Certainly keeping him on the bench suppresses his value on the open market. It seems they like Walker better at this point on the left side, but it's hard to argue that Tom hasn't played well. As you note, the handling of these guys is baffling at times.
chaka
September 21, 2023 at 03:59 pm
Gutey made a terrible choice re-signing Baht. He gave him stupid money for a declining player. Thompson would have never done that.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 04:03 pm
He wasn’t then declining.
LambeauPlain
September 21, 2023 at 06:22 pm
Correct. At the time, Bakht was an all pro and viewed as one of the best LT's in the NFL. Hindsight is always perfect vision.
HawkPacker
September 22, 2023 at 09:56 am
I think the age factor should have come into play when Bahk was extended and it wasn't.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:59 am
I'm not sure anybody expected him to finish that contract and get to the silly cash numbers at the end.
Then Covid hit, the cap contracted--which has never happened before--and many teams were forced to make hard, and often short-sighted/bad, decisions regarding expensive vets. It was an unforeseeable event that exacerbated a contract that was already looking lousy in the face of an unforeseeable injury.
Packfansincebirth
September 21, 2023 at 04:16 pm
I seem to recall the situation differently. Wasn't Bahk the top LT when that deal was made? The untimely knee injury, unfortunately, may have changed our view of the signing.
You are right about Thompson. That guy pinched pennies so badly he had a permanent imprint of Lincoln's head on his thumb.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 05:08 pm
I was not convinced it was wise given his age back then, but with Rodgers, his then impeccable health record and standard of play, making an exception hardly seemed like an indefensible gamble. The risk and reward were obvious.
Unfortunately, lady fate well and truly screwed that, but I can’t honestly say the gamble was an unreasonable one, even though I’d personally not have given him that contract length. We just lost and heavily. That happens.
LLCHESTY
September 21, 2023 at 08:33 pm
This definitely seems like a Stockholder after the fact bitch.
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 05:13 pm
I remember it more as why would you resign a player to this huge contract at this time of year? My internets research says it was mid November. I'm sure there are a million reasons for contract negotiations happening any time, but mid-season just seems odd to me. You know... maybe see if the player survives the season before signing them to a huge extension?
Packers0808
September 21, 2023 at 05:47 pm
They just gave Mahomes new contract, Jones of SF. Nope not odd at all!
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 06:39 pm
Having a good LT is important, but not as important as Mahomes.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 06:24 pm
I think, from memory, that allowed them to spread the cap over that year as well as the rest of the term. They paid him a huge 30 odd million signing bonus in that cap year (2020).
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 10:43 pm
Yep that could be one of the million reasons I mentioned but don’t have the innate knowledge of. Thanks for the clarification.
PhantomII
September 21, 2023 at 08:23 pm
Bak wanted highest paid LT in NFL money. I'm sure Gute/MM were afraid the price would go up if signed after the season due to other OT signings. Obviously, it would have been much better waiting....the way things worked out. Gamble for health/ gamble for money.
LLCHESTY
September 21, 2023 at 08:35 pm
Because then you get another year to spread it out? I mean, Duh.
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 10:41 pm
Sorry for not being a cap expert LL. I’m sensing a lot of negativity in your posts across the various Packer boards I read - have faith fellow packfan, the season is young as is our team. Lotta ball game left. Now go pick on stockholder :P
packerfanroy
September 21, 2023 at 05:40 pm
Not only was DBahk not declining when the contract was signed he was probably the 2nd best Tackle at the pro level and close to being the best.
Since his knee injury he still hasnt seen any drop off in what he does on the field. The problem has never been what he does on the field and he is, by far, the best tackle on the team. The problem is that he can't stay on the field.
Fubared
September 21, 2023 at 06:57 pm
That's one thing about the Vikings they have a tendency to unload 28 year olds via trade, get picks and save money by not spending it on has been..
Just think if the pac k would have traded him before the big injury, no big money, first rounder from trade still on rookie contract, and no issues with an injury. This is piss poor management.
11Bravo1p
September 21, 2023 at 09:51 pm
The Vikings usually don’t sign their draftees to 2nd/3rd contracts because most of their draftees are busts.
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:43 am
And the exceptions want to leave in the worst way.
packerfanroy
September 21, 2023 at 11:34 pm
There is so much wrong with your post it was just more efficient to write that as a response instead of correcting you. I'm not trying to attack you personally but when you start a post by using the Vikings as an example of how to run a football organization well....there are used cars with more titles than the Vikings football organization....
bjkdad44
September 21, 2023 at 09:05 pm
Sounds familiar!?… #12?
jannesbjornson
September 22, 2023 at 02:32 am
Ted drafted him and would keep an All -PRO left tackle at market rate. He had Regggie McKenzie around to dial in on the offensive line selections. Left Tackle would be my # one pick in 2024.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:26 am
At this stage, they've got Milt Hendrickson as their "OL insider". He's got a definite type that he's looking for, but I'd say IOL isn't his bag.
jannesbjornson
September 22, 2023 at 10:38 am
He hit on Jenkins. Did he make the call on Myers over Creed Humphrey ?
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 01:42 pm
Very true on Jenkins, but recall that Luke Getsy had been hired away from MSU at that same time and had direct knowledge of Jenkins as his OC. My understanding was that Getsy was the one who rallied for Jenkins the hardest.
jannesbjornson
September 22, 2023 at 06:06 pm
Yes, I now recall the inside info. Now we can place the rest of the story on Milt.
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:37 am
Clifton got a pretty good contract for that era from TT
Tekraut17
September 22, 2023 at 09:56 am
One, he wasn't declining at the time he signed the contract. He was one of the most dependable LT's out there AND I'm sure AR had some input in re-signing BAK. I'm sure Gute didn't want AR pouting all offseason, threatening to retire, etc...
Packman60
September 22, 2023 at 01:13 pm
This is the most idiotic take I've ever seen. Bak was playing at an All-Pro level when the injury occurred and he had rarely missed a game up to that point. It was clearly the right move at the time to re-sign him as great o-lineman often play at a high level into their mid-late 30's. Losing him when they did likely cost them a Super Bowl appearance. The problem has been the ongoing issues with the knee and the annual restructuring of his contract chasing another playoff run, which has inflated his cap hit to the current level.
GregC
September 21, 2023 at 04:04 pm
Would any team want him in a trade, even for something like a conditional 7th round draft pick? They would need to pay his salary, and he may not be able to play at all. Don't players need to pass a physical examination when they are traded? How would THAT go?
SicSemperTyrannis
September 21, 2023 at 04:09 pm
Exactly. He currently has 0 trade value. Play him when you can. Practice for using depth instead. Be ready either way. Probably have him on a limited snap count. This is also the best way to evaluate depth behind him, and worth to the team. Bakh has said he knows he needs to take a paycut next year no matter where he plays. Make him comfortable and leverage that into a hometown discount.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:28 am
Is it possible that he's angling for a cut after 2023 so he can control his own destiny rather than making himself a trade chip?
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:41 am
Right now, the odds of him playing anywhere next year are no better than 50:50 regardless of what he wants.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 10:06 am
It certainly doesn't look good at this stage. He'll have to be playing every week and practicing regularly over the latter parts of the season to fix that.
Packers2020
September 21, 2023 at 04:51 pm
We also only get $323,000 in cap savings if we release him this year. He will stay put on the Packers this year.
Next year if we release him, we save $21,400,000 against the cap. He will be gone next year unless the knee all of a sudden heals itself.
x24
September 21, 2023 at 04:58 pm
Trade window closed when Rodgers blew out his achilles
Rebelgb
September 22, 2023 at 01:30 pm
Bak was never going to a team with Turf.
CheesedDeadHead
September 21, 2023 at 04:38 pm
During the Preseason DB mostly sat except for a practice against the NE Patriots then 3.5 weeks and he played in the first game of the year. Based on that he will be available once a month. Seems like they managed him better last year. I guess the training staff is too busy with DB to worry about their poor performance with players having hamstring issues. How many Packers training staff does it take to screw in a light bulb?
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 05:07 pm
Oh Great Reynoldo where art thou?
I know CW mentioned this already in his reply to stockholder above, but I'm pretty sure that we don't really gain anything by cutting him. Trade value? Love anyone wearing the green and gold, but what trade value?
Sounds like a rock and a hard place, so... can we stop beating the dead horse?
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 05:19 pm
Bakh’s revised salary is $1.165 million, the league minimum for a player of his tenure. That’s the only cap relevant figure yet to be finally incurred (well, 15/17ths of it now). However, since he was a vested veteran on the roster week one, I believe he gets that anyway if he’s injured, as he obviously is.
We could theoretically get him healthy and cut him, but you’d only save the amount of games outstanding at that point from the perorated yearly wage above. I suppose he could retire and agree to waive further pay, but that seems unlikely. That could change though, if the problem keeps him out.
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 10:50 pm
A million and change is a lot to us mere mortals but to an NFL team that’s peanuts. Ergo he’s on the team if he can play even a few games - gotta sleep in the bed that was made. So I hope he comes around and can play this weekend just to quiet the peanut gallery.
Duneslick
September 22, 2023 at 12:00 pm
They save 20 million off their salary next year if he is gone. So their is a difference
packerfanroy
September 21, 2023 at 05:29 pm
The way his contract was setup meant that 2023 was always probably going to be his last in GB. If he stayed healthy the Pack would have thought about a restructure but still probably moved on. Now with his knee damaged its a sure thing. I cant imagine he has trade value. It's hard to see any team in the NFL wanting him taking up a roster spot and cap space but who knows. The fact that he still plays at an elite level when he does get on the field is a testament to how good he really is. DBahk knows this is his farewell tour for the Pack if not his pro career. If he skipped out on the ATL game because he was worried that the turf would fuck up his knee again and he wanted to make sure he got to play at historic Lambeau Field at least one more time I can't blame him. Not one bit. So, if you happen to go to a game, try and give DBahk some shout outs and show the guy some love and gratitude.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
September 21, 2023 at 10:09 pm
I'm very curious when the truth truly comes out? Is there more to the story. He says no but personally I believe there is. Rather than saying what I think I prefer to wait and see what occurs next year, and who he ends up playing with. To me...that will answer a lot of unanswered questions!
packerfanroy
September 21, 2023 at 11:23 pm
I think that the truth is (and has been for awhile) that its not a matter of if his knee gets re-injured but when. He is not gonna play next year. He is not gonna get traded. When he plays the Packers know what type of play (Great, All-Pro) they are gonna get. So they arent gonna cut him cause they already paid the money might as well get as many All-Pro snaps as they can get. When it happens its gonna cause a minor delay in the game because everybody on both teams is gonna know what is up and want to give Bahk the respect he's due as he goes off the field for the last time. Packer fans need to lay off the grumbling, this team isnt winning the Super Bowl or making a deep playoff run. The FO and coaches know what they have at Tackle besides 69 and its the reason they keep Bahk out there and rushed to get Tom on the right side.
Packers0808
September 21, 2023 at 05:50 pm
For what the guy has done as a Packer and these calls for his head seems a bit harsh IMO!
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 10:03 am
Yeah, but living and paying on past performance just makes your roster old and expensive and does little to encourage performance.
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 11:19 am
Bakh has banked tens of millions for playing a tiny number of games. He’s done very well from it in material terms. I don’t think even he would claim disloyalty.
Guynorge
September 21, 2023 at 07:14 pm
What moron agreed to make his cap hit next year 40 mil? Oh yeah his agent AR, (who also held the company reins while there). negotiated it for him
PS. Confession. I pegged his new Nick name Bakh-up the other day. Mainly because of his unwillingness to not play on turf in ATL. So the leg WAS swollen. Sounds like I was wrong. Or maybe not. He condemns the NFL for turf and warns the Pack not to tank and conveniently then does not play not recognizing the optics that only get worse with every mouth at 1265 Lombardi closed. And ML gets upset. Gee coach, “doncha think. “
Guaranteed. He will play next year (somewhere)cuz he wants his final pay day. Regardless of his health. Gotta love a man who loves money that much.
Leatherhead
September 21, 2023 at 07:23 pm
I figured Bakhtiari for about 12 games this year, and worth it, because he's a good player.
All offseason I beat this drum about how we thin our depth was, and how it would be unwise to let Bakhtiari or Nijman get traded, and how our #7 guy was Newman. Not much left to do now except do the best we can and hope for some luck.
It's been apparent this was going to be it for Green Bay and Bakhtiari, and next year he still costs us $20 million. It'd be great if we could trade him then, but now, he's needed to help us win the division.
I know it's easy to say now, but a lot of us kind of shook our heads when we gave Bakhtiari his contract and then he got broken. Bad luck, or a bad decision? Generally speaking, I'd be very reluctant to offer a 3rd contract to an OL. But that's done, it can't be undone, and the best we can do is get some more good offensive linemen to make the line stronger and deeper. We've had more than our share of bad luck there.
Literally, if Myers, for example, got hurt, that would move Tom to C and Nijman to RT and Walker at
LT. Runyan and Newman the guards.
That could easily be our post Bakhtiari future.........much grimmer than I imagined until now.
LLCHESTY
September 21, 2023 at 09:09 pm
My god you're a Gomer. Name a another team that has more depth at OL than the Packers. Now name a 2nd team. If you draft every year like you need to have 9 O lineman capable of starting another position is going to bite you on the ass. Which one would you pick to be a teams weakness?
Your comments seem to vacillate between I used to coach football in the 70's and hey, 7>6.5, which is what Robinson averaged on his runs. You might want to check out how many plays the Falcons ran against the Packers before you spout your BS again. In the NFL fatigue is a Real thing.
You also never respond when I mention the Eagles game last year. They could have won that game without throwing the ball if they wanted to. You supposedly coached the game but you'd be ok with a defense getting absolutely crushed as long as 6.5<7? That tells me you have no clue how to manage the psyche of a defense, because getting crushed in the running game is akin to watching some asshole kick your dog and there's nothing you can do about.
Your whole attitude about I don't care about stats and 7 is more than 5 is fool's gold. A team getting beaten repeatedly in the running game gets demoralized, your 5 is better than 7 isn't worth shit when a team can get that at will. Your theories are a defeatist attitude as far as playing football. Nothing on god's Green Earth is worse to a defensive player than being unable to stop the run when you were focused on stopping the run.
Your ideas about not returning punts is even worse. I gave you the numbers and yet you still insist on spouting your BS. It's about the same as when you told me 2nd and 8 was the same as 2nd and 4. I looked it up. A team has about a 36% better chance of getting a 1st down than they do facing 2nd and 8.
Also when a QB hits two of your DBs in the chest and they don't hang on to them you don't dissuade him from trying again. The Falcons running Robinson for 6.5 yards is way better than hitting the DBs so much they eventually catch one. I said with about 12 minutes left in the 4th it will be interesting if they are patient enough to stick with the run down by 12 because they were starting to get chunk yardage. They definitely were and they won.
But keep imagining you know what you're talking about. Then maybe listen to somebody that really does. I still find you funny but you need some new material.
https://youtu.be/fTg0CEx1i8o?si=c_TiXi-KxgK0nbVQ
Leatherhead
September 21, 2023 at 10:00 pm
You are a really angry guy. I'm done with you.
Rarescope
September 21, 2023 at 10:54 pm
Yeah idk what crawled up his ass this year, he used to be one of the better posters.
Coldworld
September 21, 2023 at 11:45 pm
Those two have been having an ongoing forthright “discussion” off and on for a while.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:34 am
They drafted the heir apparent at LT in 2016 (Jason Spriggs), and he turned out to not have it. That, and Bakh's rapport with 12, backed the Packers into a corner when Bakh's contract was coming up and he got the big extension.
The injury was just bad luck...as it usually is. He was 29 when he blew the ACL--not an old man.
coolhand
September 22, 2023 at 11:52 am
And dobber, Bakh blew is knee out in PRACTICE, not even in a game. So how do you plan for that? So if next year is the last year of this deal, he will be 32 or 33. That's not ancient for a premiere OT. An RB or WR it would be different.
Curt
September 21, 2023 at 07:57 pm
How soon some of you forget that Bakh was one of the top four (if not the best) tackle in the league from 2018, 2019 and through the time the new contract was negotiated in mid 2020 - he didn't have any injury issues until right after signing the contract ..... at the time with the spiraling salaries, having Bakh signed for 4 years seemed like a great idea.
I suppose just like NYJ thought signing AR was a great deal --- just can't control injuries!
TXCHEESE
September 22, 2023 at 02:19 pm
Best post yet! Let's also remember Bahk, played a full game for the first time in 5 months earlier this month. If we're being honest with ourselves here, I would bet very few were surprised he had swelling and couldn't go in Atlanta. If the Packers had won the Atlanta game half the folks here would have been lauding the FO and coaching staff for remarkable foresight.
At this point, the Packers really don't have any choice but do their best to work through this with DB, and hope they can find the right combination of activity and rest.
I find it humorous, some here are already drafting in 2024 and we haven't even watched 3 games.
GPG
PatrickGB
September 21, 2023 at 08:23 pm
A bit off topic, but please don’t put Jenkins at LT. I would rather have another tackle play there. It’s our interior line that’s a weakness. And we have more tackle types on the roster than interior linemen. And I cringe at the thought of Newman at LG.
stockholder
September 21, 2023 at 11:14 pm
I would trade Jenkins.
Runyan is doing just fine.
I believed he was exposed
when he played Rt.
He'll never be an All-pro again.
Take the pick and use the money.
Draft a center.
dobber
September 22, 2023 at 09:36 am
Again--I think just about every GM in the league would love for you to be the GM of the Packers.
coolhand
September 22, 2023 at 11:54 am
Actually PatrickGB, Newman had a pretty good game on Sunday. I was really surprised.
Biabia
September 22, 2023 at 02:53 am
X
TxFred
September 22, 2023 at 06:36 am
A decision needs to be made. I can't imagine any team interested in him with Fat paycheck & plastic vs grass field comments. True or not. Once that got out, the Pack is screwed. Can't afford to have him sit. Team has to get out of that "cap hell." It is bidness plan & simple.
Tekraut17
September 22, 2023 at 07:44 am
I say Gute needs to sit down with him after this season and tell him that there's just no fing way we're going to keep paying you top LT $'s when we can't count on you being available every game. Either we're going to trade you, cut you or we can rework your contract to be in line with what we would pay a back-up swing tackle which is essentially what you've become> We've already overpaid for what you've provided so that's what we can do, let us know if that works for you, if not we've appreciated your services good luck in your next endeavor.
Coach Cleve Steamer
September 22, 2023 at 08:08 am
Do you honestly think Bahktiari would pass a physical exam? ‘“Keep draining that knee until we trade him!”
Coldworld
September 22, 2023 at 09:56 am
He might pass an exam to play at some points ( he did to get activated), but yes, at this point the league, let alone medical examiners know it’s a one game pass in reality, even with no practice.
HarryHodag
September 22, 2023 at 09:10 am
It makes zero sense to cut him now from a salary cap perspective. He could be a very expensive back up for this season. His cap number explodes next season and he is an almost sure cut. I would assume Walker or Nijman are starting the rest of the year and if the starter is hurt or ineffective DB could then play until his knee flares up again.
A hint at this outcome was foreshadowed when they kept so many tackles on the team.
Via.Lombardi
September 22, 2023 at 11:53 am
NEWS FLASH: David Bakhtiari will never return to form. His knee has taken 3 years, and he continues to miss games. The aging process will only speed up the end of his career. It's unfortunate, but that's the reality.
Qoojo
September 22, 2023 at 05:33 pm
Terse answers or tired of repetitive questions? I don't see anything wrong with the Q&A.