The Green Bay Packers are unable to reach a long-term contract with cornerback Sam Shields by the time NFL free agency opens on March 11. Shields will test the market as an unrestricted free agent.
The Packers want Shields to return though, according to ESPN. The 26-year-old cornerback and the Packers have been talking about a deal.
Shields had a productive season in 2013 with four interceptions and a career-high 61 tackles. The Packers will not likely use the franchise tag on Shields though it costs $11.8 million to use it on a cornerback, according to CBS Sports.
Shields played last season on a restricted free-agent tender worth $2.023 million, and he is expected to command around $7 million this year.
General Manager Ted Thompson said that Shields "has been a good player for us" and "he's one of the fellas we'd like to have back."
The Packers will look to retain Shields in free agency and see him help cure their defensive woes, which have hindered them the past few seasons.
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