ATARI BIGBY #20, Safety, Green Bay Packers, 3rd Year NFL, 3rd Year Packers
Atari Bigby signed the Packers one-year tender as an exclusive-rights player. Bigby is entering his third season in the NFL and will be paid $445,000 for the 2008 season. In 2007 Bigby started oppisite Nick Collins at safety and played strong late in the season including playoff games. The rise to starting safety was remarkable after not being picked in the NFL Draft and spending most of the last two seasons on the Packers practice squad.Free Agency Signing News Mix - Atari Bigby
Wisconsin Media Mix:
Green Bay Press Gazette - Safety Bigby signs 1-year deal:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Bigby signs 1-year deal:
WIBA-AM Madison - Source: Packers sign safety Atari Bigby to one-year contract
Florida Media Mix:
WSVN-TV Miami Beach - Source: Packers sign safety Bigby to 1-year contract
Big Media Mix:
Fox Sports - Source: Packers sign safety Bigby to 1-year contract
CBS Sportsline - Source: Packers sign Bigby to one-year deal
"Atari" is Japanese for a form of the word "attack." and Bigby is building a reputation with fans and most likely other players as a big hitter at the safety position. His agent Jack Bechta has said believes the Packers will talk about a long-term deal as early as this regular season.
The 25 year Bigby will be entering his third NFL season in 2008. He was not drafted after finishing his college career and the University of Central Florida. He signed with the Dolphins after the 2005 draft as non-drafted free agent, the Dolphis released him and he then spent most of the 2005 training camp before being one of the final players released. After the Jets released him the Packers signed him on November 1st and he played in one game in 2005 making his debut on Christmas against the Bears. After the 2006 season Bigby was allocated to NFL Europa in spring 2006 by the Packers to work on his game. In 2006 Bigby again started the year on the Packers practice squad where he stayed for the first ten weeks of the season before being signed off of it Nov. 15. After joining the Packers regular roster he played in 5 games in 2006 mainly as a special teams player.
In 2007 Bigby used his hard hitting ways and knack for finding the football to earn the starting safety position. He had a Packer team leading 5 interceptions for 50 yards in the 2007 season. He also was third on the team with 84 tackles (66 solo tackles)
Going into the 2008 season Bigby should have plenty of motivation as he will playing for a contract extension and will be pushed for his starting job by second year player Aaron Rouse. Aaron Rouse was the 89th pick (third round) in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Packers.