Levens May Not Be Back With Pack

Pro Bowl running back Dorsey Levens says he's willing to sit out the season if the Green Bay Packers don't pony up roughly $5 million a year for his services.

"I'll be willing to compromise a little bit. But I think I want to get pretty close to $5 (million). I think I deserve that, to be honest with you," Levens told host Jim Rome on Fox Sports Net's The Last Word.

"It could come to (a season-long holdout). Hopefully, it won't come to that, but I'm prepared to do whatever it takes and to sit out as long as it takes," Levens added.

Levens' comments on Monday night's show echoed previous remarks from his agent, Hadley Engelhard. But it was the first time he had issued the threat himself and it was his first public comments since the Super Bowl.

As the Packers franchise player, Levens is guaranteed to make $2.742 million this season. But Engelhard said Levens will never play for that amount.

Last month, Engelhard proposed a four-year deal averaging $5.3 million after Robert Smith ($5 million) and Curtis Martin ($6 million) cashed in on the multi-billion dollar infusion of broadcast revenue to the NFL's coffers.

The Packers countered at $4.1 million, according to Engelhard. The sides also remain far apart on guaranteed dollars and contract structure.

Denver's Terrell Davis got an $11 million signing bonus when he reworked his contract last week. Packers general manager Ron Wolf said Davis' deal shouldn't affect negotiations with Levens.

After practice Tuesday, coach Mike Holmgren was surprised to hear of his holdout halfback's threat to sit out the season.

Asked if he had ever considered that possibility, Holmgren replied: "Not prior to his sayin that. I really expect him to come in. I'm a little surprised he would say something like that."

Levens' holdout hasn't been big news at training camp so far.

Everybody from Holmgren to quarterback Brett Favre has expressed faith, indeed anticipation, that Levens would arrive in due time.

The Packers signed Chicago Bears castoff Raymont Harris as insurance and to alleviate Levens' rushing load.

Levens, a fifth-year pro from Georgia Tech, rushed for 1,475 yards and seven touchdowns last season after taking over for the injured Edgar Bennett. He missed Jim Taylor's club record by 39 yards but did post a team record 1,805 yards from scrimmage.

Although he has just one year as a starter under his belt, Levens contends those numbers prove he's worth $5 million a year.

"I think so, especially with the new TV deal and the salary cap is just going to get higher and higher as we go along," Levens said. "In a year or two, my deal is going to look like peanuts anyway because guys are going to get a lot more money when the salary cap increases."

Asked if he knew why the Packers were reluctant to meet his demands, Levens said: "I really don't. Maybe they don't think I'm worth what I'm asking for and maybe that's why we're not coming to an agreement on a contract."

Wolf said both sides know what's reasonable and he expects an agreement to be reached soon.

But, the longer Levens remains away from training camp, the more susceptible he might be to injuries such as muscle pulls.

"I read where he has a trainer. He has a personal trainer and he says he's in wonderful shape and he's running 40s and 100s and miles and all that," Holmgren said.

"The trouble is, after he finishes running the 40, no one hits him with a baseball bat, which is essentially what happens when he carries the football."

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