2019 UDFA NEWS and Signings

[Pokerbrat2000]

That position has to be the worst.
Imagine your only job is kicking accurate footballs 40-50 yards and sometimes in windy 5 above 0.

Yeah damn, couldn't pay me $3M+/season to want to do THAT!

 

[gbgary]

Why are Lazard and Coleman at the orientation?

7 OL,7 WRs, and 8 LBs....if one thing is clear those 3 positions will most likely be the first 3 picks for us in the 2020 Draft.

they need the work and want to show they're all-in?

 

[HardRightEdge]

Ex Badger Running back Taiwan Deal.

Nickname: "Trade Pact"

 

[PackFan2]

Bell was invited as a tryout to rookie camp. He's a long shot to even make it on the 90 men offseason roster. There's no reason to complain about it.

There's two spots left. They currently have 88 men, including the undrafted free agents. 2 out of the 20 tryout guys will crack the 90. Darrius Hayward (WR-North Dakota) has punt return experience. And probably the Kicker from LSU take those two slots, IMO.

 

[TomBrownFan40]

https://twitter.com/WesHod/status/1124422357957914625

Thank you PackFan2!

I confess I'm not entirely sure where Pettine's scheme is but, this UFA intrigues me a bit. With the usual caveat that all UFAs are long shots, Greg Roberts looks like a guy who would fit a Sam or Buck in a traditional 3-4.

57, Greg Roberts, LB, 6-5, 258, Baylor, Nacogdoches, Texas

Roberts, 23, saw action in 42 games with 26 starts for the Bears, recording 81 tackles (53 solo), 15.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles and two blocked field goals. As a senior, he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention after registering 33 tackles (22 solo), a team-high eight tackles for a loss, three sacks, a QB hurry and two passes defensed. His father, Greg Sr., is a former NFL player and 1978 Outland Trophy winner

https://www.kltv.com/2019/04/24/coach-reyes-greg-roberts-is-making-his-own-path-nfl/

“I have been training since January,” Roberts said. “I feel like I missed my part a little bit but I did good. I have been training as both an edge guy and an outside linebacker depending on what scheme the team plays.”

Roberts stayed at Baylor through five of the toughest years for the program. He continued to support the team as the school and athletic office dealt with serious allegations of ****** assault. By the time he finished with the Bears in December, Roberts had played for three different coaches. Still he doesn’t seem to be ashamed of playing for the green and gold.​

 

[Deleted member 6794]

LOL on this News......Everyone still want to jettison Crosby?

The #Bears have eight kickers in for rookie minicamp. With the entire team looking on, each kicker had one attempt from 43 yards out, which is the length of Cody Parkey’s miss from last season. The kickers went 2-for-8.

Geez, six kickers the Bears brought in as tryouts missing a single field goal definitely doesn't mean there's no way for the Packers to find a cheaper replacement for a below average kicker.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Geez, six kickers the Bears brought in as tryouts missing a single field goal definitely doesn't mean there's no way for the Packers to find a cheaper replacement for a below average kicker.

Oh finding a cheaper replacement for Crosby isn't the problem whatsoever, they could sign a million guys that would be cheaper. However, what I guess they are concerned with is signing a guy that is an equally "below average kicker" or better in both the regular season and playoffs.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

However, what I guess they are concerned with is signing a guy that is an equally "below average kicker" or better in both the regular season and playoffs.

As I've supported with a ton of numbers over the past few years that wouldn't be that difficult.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

As I've supported with a ton of numbers over the past few years that wouldn't be that difficult.

Statistically speaking, you could probably make an argument to replace half the Packer roster, but who is this Field Goal kicker you have in mind that the Packers should sign to replace Crosby?

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

You guys kill me with the thought that Crosby can just be replaced with just some guy off the street. He's the all time leading scorer in Packers history #2 is over 400 points behind and counting. He's had his highs and lows, but he didn't get to that mark by being consistently bad. You guys need to put some respect on his name.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

You guys kill me with the thought that Crosby can just be replaced with just some guy off the street. He's the all time leading scorer in Packers history #2 is over 400 points behind and counting. He's had his highs and lows, but he didn't get to that mark by being consistently bad. You guys need to put some respect on his name.

Oh yeah....oh yeah....

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[Dantés]

You guys kill me with the thought that Crosby can just be replaced with just some guy off the street. He's the all time leading scorer in Packers history #2 is over 400 points behind and counting. He's had his highs and lows, but he didn't get to that mark by being consistently bad. You guys need to put some respect on his name.

He didn't get to that spot by being bad, obviously. But he did get there by being consistently in the range of average to a little above average. And more recently, it's been consistently below average.

In the past five seasons, he's had one where he was actually good (2016). His average 2017-2018 is right around 80%, which is perfectly replacable production at kicker. They're paying a lot of money for "replacable." Crosby has the 3rd highest cap hit for a kicker in the league this year. If they're going to get sub-mediocre kicking, they might as well get it for cheap.

 

[Pkrjones]

He didn't get to that spot by being bad, obviously. But he did get there by being consistently in the range of average to a little above average. And more recently, it's been consistently below average.

In the past five seasons, he's had one where he was actually good (2016). His average 2017-2018 is right around 80%, which is perfectly replacable production at kicker. They're paying a lot of money for "replacable." Crosby has the 3rd highest cap hit for a kicker in the league this year. If they're going to get sub-mediocre kicking, they might as well get it for cheap.

If we fans are determined to save $3.6Mil & get rid of Crosby I'm CERTAIN the Bears would send GB one of their 2020 5th rounders for that trade. Then they could be laughing at GB trying-out 8 kickers, testing them from the 43 & watching 75% of them miss. Until Crosby gets unseated I'm OK with his "averageness".

 

[Dantés]

If we fans are determined to save $3.6Mil & get rid of Crosby I'm CERTAIN the Bears would send GB one of their 2020 5th rounders for that trade. Then they could be laughing at GB trying-out 8 kickers, testing them from the 43 & watching 75% of them miss. Until Crosby gets unseated I'm OK with his "averageness".

Crosby and Cody Parkey, who the Bears cut, missed the same exact number of field goals last year (7).

 

[Dantés]

There were seven kickers in the NFL last year who had a FG% a full 10 points higher or more than Crosby's 81.1. He was 24th in the league.

He was also 24th in 2017, with a 78.9 FG %.

I don't think fans realize that we haven't seen the solid to above average version of Mason Crosby for a few years now.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

He didn't get to that spot by being bad, obviously. But he did get there by being consistently in the range of average to a little above average. And more recently, it's been consistently below average.

In the past five seasons, he's had one where he was actually good (2016). His average 2017-2018 is right around 80%, which is perfectly replacable production at kicker. They're paying a lot of money for "replacable." Crosby has the 3rd highest cap hit for a kicker in the league this year. If they're going to get sub-mediocre kicking, they might as well get it for cheap.

I think you mean "replaceable".

And being replaceable is relative. Kickers are as hard to find as Quarterbacks in this league. 120+ schools at the FBS level, who all have kickers and punters and yet how many get drafted every year? Two out of the seven that declared this year had their names called(Punters fared better at two-for-five.). Odds are that one might stick at best, but it's more likely that neither does. I doubt any kicker better than Crosby is likely to be given up easily by his current team, so if you're advocating for some Joe Blow off the street just because Crosby had been middle of the road at best, I question your fandom.

Lastly at the end of the day, I can't think of maybe no more than probably 7 games where Crosby's performance probably cost us the game(over a 13 year career, and I don't count 2018 Arizona game). My faith is squarely in the combined performances of MLF, NH, and AR to get the ball in the endzone. The only reason Crosby trots out there is because we failed to accomplish that.

 

[Dantés]

I think you mean "replaceable".

And being replaceable is relative. Kickers are as hard to find as Quarterbacks in this league. 120+ schools at the FBS level, who all have kickers and punters and yet how many get drafted every year? Two out of the seven that declared this year had their names called(Punters fared better at two-for-five.). Odds are that one might stick at best, but it's more likely that neither does. I doubt any kicker better than Crosby is likely to be given up easily by his current team, so if you're advocating for some Joe Blow off the street just because Crosby had been middle of the road at best, I question your fandom.

Lastly at the end of the day, I can't think of maybe no more than probably 7 games where Crosby's performance probably cost us the game(over a 13 year career, and I don't count 2018 Arizona game). My faith is squarely in the combined performances of MLF, NH, and AR to get the ball in the endzone. The only reason Crosby trots out there is because we failed to accomplish that.

You question my fandom because I think they should find a replacement for an aging player who is both bad and expensive?

Are you insane?

 

[OldSchool101]

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with bringing in competition. I get the love for Crosby he’s a good guy and the “grass ain’t always greener” as they say.

But the #3 highest paid kicker isn't expected to be perfect, but he is absolutely expected to have a running 3 year average in the top 10 range (or thereabouts) it’s about consistency and when that slips in consecutive years or there is a decline it would be remiss not to consider alternatives.
The Kicker position is not immune to being scrutinized and idC if it’s Bart Starr out there kicking on his return to Lambeau (ok maybe I’d let him slide he’s been through a lot)
Sometimes competition lifts the bar and makes everyone better in the process.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Statistically speaking, you could probably make an argument to replace half the Packer roster, but who is this Field Goal kicker you have in mind that the Packers should sign to replace Crosby?

The Packers should have signed Will Lutz in 2016 instead of overpaying for Crosby. They could have replace him with Harrison Butker the next year. At this point I think Cole Tracy could present an adequate replacement for Mason.

You guys kill me with the thought that Crosby can just be replaced with just some guy off the street. He's the all time leading scorer in Packers history #2 is over 400 points behind and counting. He's had his highs and lows, but he didn't get to that mark by being consistently bad. You guys need to put some respect on his name.

Crosby is the franchise scoring leader solely because of volume. Ryan Longwell and Jan Stenerud, who both kicked in different eras for the Packers, have a higher percentage than him.

And being replaceable is relative. Kickers are as hard to find as Quarterbacks in this league.

You're ****ing kidding, aren't you???

120+ schools at the FBS level, who all have kickers and punters and yet how many get drafted every year? Two out of the seven that declared this year had their names called(Punters fared better at two-for-five.).

Teams don't draft kickers because they can find good ones without doing so. The top seven qualified kickers in field goal percentage in 2018 all entered the league as undrafted free agents.

Lastly at the end of the day, I can't think of maybe no more than probably 7 games where Crosby's performance probably cost us the game(over a 13 year career, and I don't count 2018 Arizona game).

Crosby contributed to three losses and a tie in 2018 alone by missing field goals. That number is definitely higher than yours.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

The Packers should have signed Will Lutz in 2016 instead of overpaying for Crosby. They could have replace him with Harrison Butker the next year. At this point I think Cole Tracy could present an adequate replacement for Mason.

Or they could have replaced him with a number of guys who did worse. Cole Tracy was given a tryout over the weekend, we will see how that turns out. From what I read, he is an accurate kicker (in college) but due to not having a very strong leg, didn't handle kickoff duties, that alone could be a deal breaker.

I guess the frustrating part for me in all this is the attitude of "Crosby is easily replaced, just do it." Could the Packers end up with a better and cheaper kicker by signing an UDFA now? Sure they could, but look around the league and ask some other teams just how easy that is and what happens when it doesn't work out.

Over the years the Packers have brought in a number of kickers to compete with Crosby for the job and Crosby has managed to keep his job for the past 12 years. Maybe season #13 will be his unlucky one. If the Packers decide to keep him over Sam Ficken, Cole Tracy or whoever else they bring in, I can live with that decision. Crosby has been a clutch playoff kicker, solid on kickoffs and if a bad snap, bad hold or a bad kick costs the Packers a few FG's in the regular season, so be it, I know what I have with Crosby.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Or they could have replaced him with a number of guys who did worse. Cole Tracy was given a tryout over the weekend, we will see how that turns out. From what I read, he is an accurate kicker (in college) but due to not having a very strong leg, didn't handle kickoff duties, that alone could be a deal breaker.

I guess the frustrating part for me in all this is the attitude of "Crosby is easily replaced, just do it." Could the Packers end up with a better and cheaper kicker by signing an UDFA now? Sure they could, but look around the league and ask some other teams just how easy that is and what happens when it doesn't work out.

Over the years the Packers have brought in a number of kickers to compete with Crosby for the job and Crosby has managed to keep his job for the past 12 years. Maybe season #13 will be his unlucky one. If the Packers decide to keep him over Sam Ficken, Cole Tracy or whoever else they bring in, I can live with that decision. Crosby has been a clutch playoff kicker, solid on kickoffs and if a bad snap, bad hold or a bad kick costs the Packers a few FG's in the regular season, so be it, I know what I have with Crosby.

There's no doubt the Packers could have troubles finding an adequate replacement for Crosby but it's definitely easier to make it work at kicker than most other positions. Packers fans are fast to advocate getting rid of underperforming players yet there is a sentiment that it's difficult to adequately replace a below average kicker being paid like an elite one. I really don't get it.

 

[TomBrownFan40]

Wow. Hopefully by the end of the year, the biggest argument of the season will be "Did we overpay the kicker?"

Anyway, I'd like to see competition for kickers in every camp.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Wow. Hopefully by the end of the year, the biggest argument of the season will be "Did we overpay the kicker?"

The Packers could sign a veteran at a position of need with the cap space saved by releasing Crosby.

 

[GleefulGary]

Crosby is still one of the better cold weather kickers in the league.

He's made 17/22 in weather below 40 degrees since 2014, which is the 2nd best rate in the league among kickers with 15 or more attempts. That's per Michael Cohen.

I would love to replace Crosby with somebody better, but good cold weather kickers are not easy to find. They should still try to find a way to restructure that contract.

Cole Tracy ain't gonna be the guy to replace him either. He doesn't have the leg strength.

 

[Favre>Rodgers259]

You question my fandom because I think they should find a replacement for an aging player who is both bad and expensive?

Are you insane?

I question it because like many others on this forum people just seem to think NFL ready kickers are a dime a dozen. I get it he's overpaid, that's what Russ Ball is for. He'll make his $3.6M this year and after that they can find a much better team friendly deal for under $2.75M

The Packers should have signed Will Lutz in 2016 instead of overpaying for Crosby. They could have replace him with Harrison Butker the next year. At this point I think Cole Tracy could present an adequate replacement for Mason.

I'll agree with you on the Lutz move, but my only concern(and probably was the Packers as well) was that a guy who kicks in a dome or South Florida at least 10 out of 16 possible games in the regular season may not fair as well at Lambeau.

Crosby is the franchise scoring leader solely because of volume. Ryan Longwell and Jan Stenerud, who both kicked in different eras for the Packers, have a higher percentage than him.

We must be getting our stats from different sources. Yes Crosby has kicked for longer(roughly 50 games) than Longwell, but Longwell's career percentage with the Packers is 81.6%, Crosby's is 80.3%. Would that 1.3% difference have won us more games? Who's to say?

I had to look up Stenerud(born in 88) but his percentage over his short 3 year career was only 80.8% The next kicker I actually had in mind was Chris Jacke who had a career percentage of 77.2%. To be honest after doing more research nobody in Packers history seems to have a career percentage besting Longwell's. So that says to me traditionally that the Packers don't value having an All-Pro Kicker to win Super Bowls; and let's be honest, have we?

You're ******* kidding, aren't you???

Nope, I get that Kicker/Punter may not have as much of an impact to the game as the QB position, but if you look at K/P signings across the league, most are retreads who didn't work out with their former team(s). Yes, every couple years some new blood sticks to replace guys who finally hang it up, but in my opinion you have far more darts to throw at the proverbial board at QB than you do at Kicker/Punter.

Crosby contributed to three losses and a tie in 2018 alone by missing field goals. That number is definitely higher than yours.

We analyze games differently and that's fine. Granted being overseas hampered my watching of the games with my usual eye, with the exception of Detroit(Yes he was horrible) and Arizona(which I honestly believe AR told him to miss it), we normally had a handful of possessions following Crosby's miss that had they ended in TDs instead of punts and field goal attempts would have changed the entire landscape of the game. I blame that more on MM and his abysmal offensive design than I do Crosby, call me biased.