One day after the Packers made headlines by signing quarterback Aaron Rodgers to a long-term contract extension, they did the same Saturday, waiving veteran defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

It could not have been an easy decision for the Packers. But the facts were, the 31-year-old Gbaja-Biamila was not producing at the level he once did, when he registered double digit sacks each season from 2001 through 2004. This season, Gbaja-Biamila had only a ½ sack to go along with nine tackles, and few quarterback pressures.

If he is not picked up on waivers by Tuesday, it will turn out to be a costly decision for the Packers. Gbaja-Biamila’s team-high $6.15 million base salary was guaranteed for this season once he was on the roster after the opening game.

Any team that claims him will have to pay him the remainder of his base salary, about $3 million. A playoff contender could deem it to be a gamble worth taking.

It also hurt Gbaja-Biamila that he never seemed to be fully recovered from the knee surgery he underwent in June. But perhaps going to another team will provide him with a jolt and allow him to regain the form he had when he was one of the league’s top pass rushers.

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