...Richard Pufall
The general manager: Look for Ted Thompson to break out his A-Game. We don't want to suggest that Thompson spent his first year as GM building a case to fire Mike Sherman as head coach. And if you think you just read that, well . . . that's your call.
But the whole enchilada is on Thompson's plate now. And he better add a little salsa or it will go down hard in 2006 just as it did in '05. We hear the GM is no fan of the free-agent market, but it is a place Thompson must learn to like and shop wisely.
The Packers have about $21 million under the salary cap to spend on signing free agents, whether they are their own or someone else's. And Thompson must upgrade his tastes from the Matt O'Dwyers, Adrian Klemms, Earl Littles, Arturo Freemans and Ray Thompsons of the world. You get what you pay for, as the cliché goes. Thompson paid very little last season and got even less in return.
The Packers could have 14 unrestricted free agents of their own: Kevin Barry, Najeh Davenport, Rob Davis, Tony Fisher, Mike Flanagan, Rod Gardner, Ahman Green, William Henderson, Grady Jackson, Aaron Kampman, Paris Lenon, Ryan Longwell, Craig Nall and Grey Ruegamer.
If all 14 were worth keeping, the Packers would not have been 4-12. Thompson isn't likely to have the sentimental attachment to any of these players that Sherman did during his time as GM. We think Thompson can be trusted to pay players for what they will do, not what they once did.
Aaron Kampman and Grady Jackson are definitely worth keeping and Ryan Longwell should be considered, although his best kicks might be behind him. Gardner might be worth another look.
Davenport has been injury-prone and underproductive and probably won't be re-signed. Age and injuries have taken a toll on Flanagan at center and his days in Green Bay might be over. The Packers probably won't get outbid to keep Henderson, the aging fullback or Davis, the long-snapper.
Green looms as a frightening puzzle. Some say he is done. And he looked to be losing it even before he tore is right quadriceps muscle on Oct. 23 and was lost for the season. But we are left wondering if his pre-injury problems were more the byproduct of a struggling, patchwork offensive line fighting to find itself in the early part of the season.
Samkon Gado was a nice discovery, but not nearly the back Green was in his prime. Gado is not Green, but maybe Green isn't Green anymore, either. Green says he will come back strong, but what else would you expect him to say?
Thompson can re-sign Green cheaply and it might turn out be a bargain.
The general manager: Look for Ted Thompson to break out his A-Game. We don't want to suggest that Thompson spent his first year as GM building a case to fire Mike Sherman as head coach. And if you think you just read that, well . . . that's your call.
But the whole enchilada is on Thompson's plate now. And he better add a little salsa or it will go down hard in 2006 just as it did in '05. We hear the GM is no fan of the free-agent market, but it is a place Thompson must learn to like and shop wisely.
The Packers have about $21 million under the salary cap to spend on signing free agents, whether they are their own or someone else's. And Thompson must upgrade his tastes from the Matt O'Dwyers, Adrian Klemms, Earl Littles, Arturo Freemans and Ray Thompsons of the world. You get what you pay for, as the cliché goes. Thompson paid very little last season and got even less in return.
The Packers could have 14 unrestricted free agents of their own: Kevin Barry, Najeh Davenport, Rob Davis, Tony Fisher, Mike Flanagan, Rod Gardner, Ahman Green, William Henderson, Grady Jackson, Aaron Kampman, Paris Lenon, Ryan Longwell, Craig Nall and Grey Ruegamer.
If all 14 were worth keeping, the Packers would not have been 4-12. Thompson isn't likely to have the sentimental attachment to any of these players that Sherman did during his time as GM. We think Thompson can be trusted to pay players for what they will do, not what they once did.
Aaron Kampman and Grady Jackson are definitely worth keeping and Ryan Longwell should be considered, although his best kicks might be behind him. Gardner might be worth another look.
Davenport has been injury-prone and underproductive and probably won't be re-signed. Age and injuries have taken a toll on Flanagan at center and his days in Green Bay might be over. The Packers probably won't get outbid to keep Henderson, the aging fullback or Davis, the long-snapper.
Green looms as a frightening puzzle. Some say he is done. And he looked to be losing it even before he tore is right quadriceps muscle on Oct. 23 and was lost for the season. But we are left wondering if his pre-injury problems were more the byproduct of a struggling, patchwork offensive line fighting to find itself in the early part of the season.
Samkon Gado was a nice discovery, but not nearly the back Green was in his prime. Gado is not Green, but maybe Green isn't Green anymore, either. Green says he will come back strong, but what else would you expect him to say?
Thompson can re-sign Green cheaply and it might turn out be a bargain.
