Randall Cobb could be looking up at a much bigger contract in the next couple of years … or he might be one of those could hold out for more.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The Minnesota Vikings‘ Percy Harvin could be a trend-setter, but not the type of trend any of us really like to see and a trend that could in 2014 absorb the Green Bay Packers‘ Randall Cobb, among many other NFL veterans whose rookie contracts will be coming to an end.

The issue that will be rearing its head this year coming to a boiling point within the next couple of years centers around the salary cap. You see, it is increasing, but not enough to stay abreast of the increases that players are wanting in their salaries.

And I thought the collective bargaining contract would keep the peace for the next decade. Apparently not.

Mike Florio of Profootballtalk.com said in his post yesterday on the topic that “something has to give.” He’s right, but there will most likely be conflict between employers and employees before some kind of middle ground is worked out. In other words, players will most likely hold out until they get their employers to understand their place or to at least meet them in the middle.

So, here’s what many are saying will occur in 2014 – those who signed rookie contracts in 2011, including Randall Cobb, will be coming due for their first big pay day.

Here’s the list of some of the players who might be ready at the time to sign a new contract and could be affected: Cam Newton, Von Miller, A.J. Green, Patrick Peterson, Julio Jones, Aldon Smith, J.J. Watt, Muhammad Wilkerson, Andy Dalton, Colin Kaepernick, Torrey Smith, DeMarco Murray, Cecil Shorts, Jacquizz Rodgers, and Randall Cobb.

But because the amount of money available to teams from the slow-growing salary cap could hamstring teams, these players, who will most likely be looking for big dollars, will use the only tool they have available to them – the holdout.

However, Florio points out that the league has at its disposal the tool of a $30,000 per day fine for each day missed of training camp, but it seems the penalty has lacked any teeth – at least to-date. Florio said that in the case of Maurice Jones-Drews’s holdout last year the two sides came together and agreed on a reduced rate instead of applying the full penalty of $30,000. His fines amounted to more than $1 million, but he ended up paying much less.

The big question will center on how willing employers will be in compensating these high-performing players, especially if they continue to play at the level they have in their first two seasons. There’s no question that Cobb has earned every dime of his $729,414 salary. He sits at number 27 among the 53-man Packers roster and will surely be looking to move up toward the top of that list.

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Dec 9, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) makes a one handed catch during the third quarter against the Detroit Lions at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Randall Cobb Sunday again demonstrated his value as a receiver and special teams player for the Green Bay Packers – catching three passes for 62 yards and a touchdown and 3 punts for 13 yards – and though he left the game with an ankle injury in the third quarter, he played enough to garner an impressive team record.

Early in the game, Cobb set the franchise record for most combined net yards in a season with 2,342 yards receiving, rushing and returning kicks. Cobb eclipsed the previous record set by Ahman Green with 2,250 all-purpose yards.

Here’s what Cobb had to say about the team record:

There have been so many great players, it’s definitely an honor to be mentioned with those names. But I’m a championship guy. Records can be broken, but you can’t take championships away.

While outdoing Green, Cobb is coming close to the NFL record set by Darren Sproles, but it appears he will fall short of that record.

Sproles’ record of 2,696 yards set just last year seems out of reach for Cobb, but doesn’t diminish what he has done for the Packers this season. His consistency and ability to become a big time player can’t be underestimated. While the Packers stars, Jordy Nelson and Greg Jennings, went down with injuries for several games this season, Cobb’s production increased dramatically. When coupled with the play of James Jones, Cobb has become a major star in a short period of time and has become a weekly, reliable target for Aaron Rodgers.

The injury he suffered Sunday against the Titans didn’t seem serious, according to sources.

X-rays completed after the game were negative and he was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday. The early prognostication was that he might be ready to play this coming weekend against the Vikings. If he isn’t ready for this coming weekend, he would definitely be ready for the playoffs.

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Nov 19, 2012; Detroit, MI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) celebrates after catching a pass for a touchdown as Detroit Lions cornerback Jacob Lacey (21) reacts during the fourth quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-US PRESSWIRE

After 10 games, 574 receiving yards, 54 catches, and 7 touchdowns, it’s apparent to even the most passive observer that receiver Randall Cobb has become the Packers most dangerous weapon. On its face alone that’s impressive, let alone after Cobb’s impact on the return and running game is factored in.

The second year receiver has been such a revelation that Greg Jennings’ pending free agency, a major preseason storyline, has become a complete afterthought.

And it was so close to not being that way.

Nov 27, 2010; Knoxville, TN, USA; Kentucky Wildcats wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) is tackled from behind by Tennessee Volunteers linebacker LaMarcus Thompson (42) at Neyland Stadium. Tennessee defeated Kentucky 24-14. Mandatory Credit: Mark Zerof-US PRESSWIRE

Randall Cobb wasn’t an unknown commodity heading into the 2011 draft. Not only had Cobb made an All-SEC first team, but he had done so for the lowly Kentucky Wildcats. His return skills and overall versatility were also widely celebrated. Most draft experts had Cobb projected to go as high as the first round.

Yet Cobb fell, and six receivers were taken before he landed to Green Bay on the final pick of the second round. All but A.J. Green and Julio Jones, both top 10 selections, have been irrefutably inferior to Cobb. While it isn’t news to anyone that players often outperform those drafted ahead of them, or vice versa, it seemed odd at the time that Cobb fell so far. Nowhere is this more apparent than pick 44.

The Detroit Lions, wanting a speedy receiver to take pressure off Calvin Johnson, selected Boise State’s Titus Young. Young’s profile was very similar to Cobb: A somewhat diminutive pass catcher with fantastic speed and quickness who was highly productive in college.

Detroit will be left questioning this decision for quite some time.

While their career numbers are nearly identical at this point – Cobb has 79 catches for 949 yards and 8 TDs while Young has 80 catches for 990 yards and 10 TDs – these are two players moving in opposite directions.

Young hasn’t progressed as a playmaker despite increased opportunities. His production is basically the same as last year, and he hasn’t done anything to make defenses think twice about double-teaming Calvin Johnson.

Cobb on the other hand has been thrust into the role of lead receiver. And he has flourished. In the last six games alone, Cobb has 412 receiving yards and 7 TDs on 36 receptions. That’s more catches, yards, and touchdowns than Young’s entire 2012 season to date.

Now imagine what the Packers offense would look like this year without Cobb. Jennings and Nelson have missed a lot of time, and while James Jones has played great and deserves even more praise than he’s receiving, this team is two or more games worse without Cobb’s play.

It’s early, but the preliminary returns indicate Cobb could go down with Aaron Rodgers as the greatest draft robberies of the Ted Thompson era.

Oct 23, 2011; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb (18) returns a punt against the Minnesota Vikings in the third quarter at the Metrodome. The Packers win 33-27. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Every Green Bay Packers fan knew what they had when Ted Thompson drafted Randall Cobb in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft. They knew he had speed. They knew he had great hands. They knew he could be the X-factor the team had been missing and needed desperately in this 21st century game.

But they also knew he was a character guy – they type of individual who fits in well with the team and will do whatever it takes to make the roster and to make the team better.

That’s why it’s not surprising to hear that Packers special teams coach Shawn Slocum has declared Cobb the return guy again for 2012. While that decision ultimately falls on head coach Mike McCarthy‘s shoulders, there’s no reason in my mind why he would disagree with Slocum.

With the depth the Packers have at wide receiver and talk about the possibility that McCarthy may keep as many as seven – yes, seven – wide receivers on the roster, it would make sense that they would keep Cobb in the position where he excelled last year. It seems they would keep him at return man at least until they can develop another player to take the reins – moving Cobb permanently to the receiver ranks once that happens.

But with Donald Driver and James Jones coming off the bench, too, Cobb’s legs should be plenty fresh by the time the second half of the season rolls around to continue to help the team at both receiver and special teams.

He’s a dynamic player who can take it the distance any time he touches the ball and if he can touch it on every kick-off and punt, it only positions the team better on the field.

Frankly, I can’t wait to see him exploding again up the middle, breaking tackles and outrunning opponents.

If he stays healthy, he could become one of the most improved players in the league – possibly taking the step toward a Pro Bowl nod.

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