Agent: Tauscher, Packers agree to deal
March 15, 2010
MILWAUKEE (AP)—Veteran Green Bay Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher(notes) has agreedto terms on a multiyear contract that will bring him back to the team, his agentsaid Sunday.
Agent Neil Cornrich said the deal will allow Tauscher, who went to theUniversity of Wisconsin, to play his entire football career in his home state.Tauscher was an unrestricted free agent.
Milwaukee’s ESPN 540 AM radio reported Tauscher’s return on its Web siteSaturday night. The team has yet to announce the move.
Cornrich said Tauscher was thankful the team’s front office—includinggeneral manager Ted Thompson, vice president of football administration/playerfinance Russ Ball and coach Mike McCarthy—gave him the chance to finish hiscareer with the Packers.
“He’s ecstatic,” Cornrich said. “Mark’s very grateful that Ted Thompson,Russ Ball and Coach McCarthy have worked so diligently to provide him anopportunity to return to the Green Bay Packers.”
Speaking at the team’s Fan Fest on Friday, McCarthy said he was optimisticabout Tauscher’s return.
“I feel Mark Tauscher is definitely not too far away, and hopefully we’llhave some news for you there shortly,” McCarthy said.
The new deal for Tauscher completed a flurry of activity this weekend forthe Packers, who also completed long-term deals with two cornerstones of whatwas a much-improved defense last season: nose tackle Ryan Pickett(notes) and safetyNick Collins(notes).
The Packers also recently re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton(notes), whoalso was an unrestricted free agent.
“We’re focused on bringing our own free agents back, getting better as afootball team, starting internally, and then we’ll add another draft class tothis group,” McCarthy said Friday. “We like where we are today, but theimportance of the offseason program and keeping your own players has been ourfocus, and that time is upon us now.”
Promising young lineman T.J. Lang(notes) could be in line to eventually replaceTauscher at right tackle. The team also is expected to look closely at offensiveline prospects in the NFL draft.
Tauscher, Green Bay’s starting right tackle for most of his first nineseasons in the league, began the 2009 season out of football after a torn leftanterior cruciate ligament ended his 2008 season.
The Packers brought Tauscher back in midseason after his replacement, AllenBarbre(notes), struggled on the field.
After working his way back into football shape, Tauscher returned to hisstarting spot, bringing stability to the NFL’s worst pass protection unit andearning praise from quarterback Aaron Rodgers(notes).