GREEN BAY, Wis. -- It could be the first sign of a second chance or it could mean absolutely nothing, but the Green Bay Packers have restructured the contract of recently reinstated defensive lineman Johnny Jolly.
Jolly was suspended by the NFL in 2010, shortly after signing a restricted free-agent tender with the Packers for $2.5 million. Jolly's violation of the league's substance abuse policy, however, never allowed him to earn that money.
After being reinstated by the NFL earlier this month, Jolly automatically became part of Green Bay's active roster with his salary temporarily carrying over. Clearly though, the Packers would never have considered paying Jolly, now 30 years old and three years removed from playing football, that same amount. First reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, today's NFL Players Association salary data revealed the expected pay cut for Jolly to have him now on the books for $715,000.
That move trims the Packers' salary obligation (and cap space) by $1.8 million.
Jolly has yet to be put through any workouts and could be part of the Packers' offseason program, but he is still a ways away from being considered a part of Green Bay's 2013 plans.
Jolly had been suspended indefinitely by the NFL following several arrests, including one for possession of codeine. He spent six months in a Texas prison before being released in May 2012 for "shock probation."
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