NFL

Hawk signs six-year deal with Packers

Linebacker's contract reportedly worth $37.5 million

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The Packers made former Ohio State standout A.J. Hawk their No. 1 pick in this year's draft to bolster its defense.

updated 4:50 p.m. ET July 29, 2006

GREEN BAY, Wis. - First came his wedding. Then all the “lawyer stuff.”

Now first-round pick A.J. Hawk can concentrate on football.

Hawk signed a six-year deal with the Green Bay Packers on Saturday morning and participated in his first training camp practice later in the day.

Hawk’s agent, Mike McCartney, and the Packers agreed in principle to a six-year deal on Friday, but it wasn’t finalized in time for Hawk to practice that night. A person familiar with the deal, who requested anonymity because it had not been completed, said on Friday that it was worth $37.5 million.

“I’m really excited to get it done, just because it seemed like they said they were ’close’ forever and it just took a little longer than expected to get the language worked out and to get all the lawyer stuff that they need to after they agreed on the terms,” Hawk said.

Hawk asked McCartney on Friday if he should be getting ready to practice. But once he realized he wasn’t going to be able to join his new team then, he decided to stay home.

“I didn’t come over and watch,” Hawk said. “I don’t know what the rules were exactly about that. It was a tough day at home, you know.

“My parents are actually in town right now. I worked out at home, just tried to keep myself busy and keep your mind off of it.”

The completed contract capped a whirlwind week for the former Ohio State star.

Hawk and his fiancee, Laura — the sister of Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn — were married in a civil ceremony earlier this week, something the couple tried unsuccessfully to keep quiet.

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“Yeah, that kind of got out, which is fine,” Hawk said. “We were happy. We felt like it was the right thing to do at the time, and it was, we’re still happy about it. We’re still going to have our big celebration next March. It’s good to get all this stuff in line before, now I can come in here and just play football. And that’s what I’m focused on.”

Hawk knew Packers football was a big deal, but said the attention paid to his wedding opened his eyes to the level of attention the team gets in Green Bay and around the state.

“And that’s not a bad thing,” Hawk said. “I think it’s a good thing that people care and they want to be part of the Packers. It’s a lot better to have this type of situation I think than somewhere where they don’t care about the team and they don’t care about the players. So, you don’t want your whole life to be public but you also have to understand that it comes with the territory.”

Imagine the attention he’ll get once he actually starts playing.

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Because of NFL rules that limit the amount of time a college draft pick can practice with his team while classes are still going on at his school, Hawk missed more of the team’s voluntary workouts than he wanted.

Hawk isn’t worried that he has fallen behind, but is eager to start practicing.

“I wanted to make sure that I could get into camp on time and make sure I was here for pretty much everything,” Hawk said.

He is listed as the starting weak-side linebacker.

“I just want to come in and try to have an impact somehow, somewhere on the field,” Hawk said. “Wherever that is, I don’t know. Whether that could be playing the (weak side) or playing special teams, whatever it is, I want to come out and just show the coaches and the team that I’m going to come out and play hard just like I did in college. I just want to help the team however I can.”

Packers general manager Ted Thompson said linebacker is one position where a talented rookie typically can get on the field from the start.

“If you’re a good player at the linebacker position, you can play right away,” Thompson said. “And I think defense as a whole, I think young defensive players can play right away.”