Packers Give Levens 5-Year Deal

Pro Bowl halfback Dorsey Levens signed a five-year contract Thursday worth a reported $25 million, and now the Green Bay Packers can slap their franchise tag on another star, such as Antonio Freeman.

"I feel appreciated now that somebody actually recognizes what I've done in the past and possibly what I can do in the future," said Levens, who signed a one-year tender for $2.742 million on Sunday so he could report to the team and begin practicing for the season opener against Detroit this weekend.

"Hopefully, I can end my career as a Packer. If I play past this five-year contract, I'll be surprised," said Levens, 28.

General manager Ron Wolf said he felt Levens could be productive throughout the length of the contract. Levens only became a full-time starter last season when Edgar Bennett got hurt in the preseason.

"I certainly think he can be, because of how he takes care of himself and he is not ... beaten up," Wolf said. "Through college ... there was always somebody there better than he was. Somebody started in front of him. So, I don't think that will be a problem for him."

Levens played two years at Georgia Tech after transferring from Notre Dame. He totaled 1,221 yards in 207 rushing attempts in college. The Packers drafted him in the fifth round in 1994 and he began his pro career as a fullback.

He split snaps with Bennett at halfback in 1996.

Levens

After years as a backup, Levens finally broke into his own as a starter last season. (AP)

Levens' agent, Hadley Engelhard, and Packers chief negotiator Mike Reinfeldt made significant progress after breaking through a stalemate late last month. Engelhard lowered his demands on a signing bonus and Green Bay increased its offer to a yearly average of $5 million, according to Engelhard.

Levens was in his fourth season when he took over for Bennett in 1997. He scored five touchdowns on passes and seven more on carries, rushing for 1,475 yards, 39 short of Jim Taylor's team record.

The Packers named him a franchise player, effectively removing him from free agency, because another team would have had to part with two first-round draft picks to sign him.

A league rule now allows Green Bay to transfer the franchise designation to another player as long as Levens accepted a long-term extension before the end of the season.

The Miami Dolphins used the same strategy to sign their franchise player, defensive tackle Tim Bowens, and retain their franchise tag this summer.

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