Grant Agrees to New Deal

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GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers agreed to terms with running back Ryan Grant on Saturday, allowing one of last year's breakout stars to end his seven-day holdout and report to training camp as early as Sunday.

 

Agent Alan Herman said Grant has agreed to a four-year deal that could be worth up to $30 million, with much of the money coming in performance-based escalators. Grant will make $4.25 million this season.

 

"He's very happy," Herman was quoted as saying by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "It's been a dream year for him."

 

According to the paper, Herman negotiated a contract in which Grant will earn a $3 million roster bonus when he signs the deal and $1.25 million more this season through $750,000 in base salary and an additional roster bonus worth $500,000.

 

The key to the deal was the first-year payout of $4.25 million, according to a source who spoke to ESPN's John Clayton on condition of anonymity.

 

A week ago, the Packers were offering only $2 million in the first year of a six-year offer.

 

Grant is an exclusive-rights free agent but refused to sign his tender offer from the team in hopes of working out a long-term deal. He did not report to camp earlier this week, and talks between the two sides had stalled until late in the week.

 

"We never approached this with the idea of breaking the bank and treating it as an unrestricted situation, because it isn't," Herman said.

 

Grant and Herman plan to be in Green Bay on Sunday to review and sign the contract. Grant could report to camp in time for Sunday's "Family Night" scrimmage at Lambeau Field, although it is unclear whether he would practice right away.

 

Grant, acquired by the Packers in a trade with the New York Giants just before the start of last season, became the starter in the second half of the season and rushed for 956 yards and eight touchdowns. He added 201 yards and three touchdowns in Green Bay's playoff victory over Seattle.

 

Grant participated in the Packers' offseason workout program but sat out offseason practices because he didn't have a deal in place.

 

 

Information from ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton and The Associated Press was used in this report.