The Green Bay Packers are just two wins away from claiming their first Super Bowl championship since 2010. However, they are rumored to cutting one of their best defenders in the offseason due to big head injury.
According to Rob Demovsky of ESPN, Shields' days as a member of the Packers are numbered because he is expected to be released in the offseason. He noted that the 29-year-old cornerback has only one-year remaining on his contract and Green Bay will save $9 million if they cut him.
"Sam Shields, the Packers' former No. 1 cornerback, will be done in Green Bay. The Packers will release Shields, who hasn't played since Week 1 because of a concussion that landed him on injured reserve," Demovsky wrote.
The 2014 Pro Bowl selection suffered his fourth known concussion in the NFL in Week 1 of the current season. He got it after tackling running back T.J. Yeldon of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was evaluated in the next four games but he was eventually placed on the injured reserve list on October 18, 2016.
Adding insult to the injury, Shields was arrested for marijuana possession a day after the Packers placed him on the injured reserve. He was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia last weekend after a three-month investigation by the police, per CBS Sports.
Shields is scheduled to appear in court on April 24 and he is only facing misdemeanor charges. Nevertheless, the injuries are more of a problem for Shields rather than what he does in his free time. Several NFL players have retired due to multiple concussions and teams are very wary of head injuries as of late.
The former Miami Hurricanes standout went undrafted in 2010 but he got signed by the Packers. He was part of the team's Super Bowl-winning roster that same year and he improved his play every year. He signed a four-year, $39 million deal in 2014.
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