FrankRizzo
Cheesehead
Look, we all know that Teddy is not a player in free agency. He's just not. He's not.
No, he is not.
I know I know about Charles Woodson.
And Ryan Pickett.
But that was when he inherited the salary cap hell from the general Mike Sherman, and he cleaned that up in one year, than had a lot of money to spend and almost had to spend some on free agents because the talent level from general Mike the GM was ***** on not worthy of that $ under the cap.
And let's realize that Thompson was lucky as **** that he got Woodson because A) Woodson didn't want to come here, he had no other options, B) Teddy tried to throw all that money at Lavar Arrington first, not Charles. But Lavar DID have other options and he used TT for leverage, not wanting to go to Green Bay, and C) Woodson was injury-prone in Oakland. With us, he's been remarkably durable, which is some luck.
Now that being said, I don't think Ted is dumb, naive, or ignorant. He knows damn well this defense, and pass rush specifically, is flatout ******.
Now, with that being said, there are some tough choices to make with our own guys and their contracts.
2012 Free Agents
Jermichael Finley
Pat Lee
Jarrett Bush
Scott Wells
Howard Green
Erik Walden
Matt Flynn
Ryan Grant
#1- Scott Wells, the Pro Bowl center. His contract is up and he's going to expect a big raise, his first and last big contract. I'm afraid he's a goner because some ONE team will probably throw a big $ at him. If not, we keep him, but I will assume the worst, he's gone.
#2- Finley, I see him re-signing with us, in a deal that some say was too much $, while some others say he could have gotten more $ had he reached the open market. A fair deal on both sides, and some pressure taken off the shoulders of J-Mike for 2012.
#3- Matt Flynn, he has too much value to let go for just a chump comp pick. Ted may be quiet, but he's not dumb. I expect him to cash him in for what the market dictates, and that's at least a pick in the #20-#30 range, and some say more like that and an additional 3rd or 4th round pick. I'll go conservative.
#4- Walden is gone. I liked him once, but he didn't make plays. And he might be behind bars too.
#5- Lee is gone. He sucked at Auburn, never knew why we drafted him.
#6- Ryan Grant. He's 50-50. Everyone assumes he's gone. But A) nobody out there will offer a good $ at him, B) we have nothing proven behind him. I think he stays cheap.
#7- Bush, he stays. He's gotten better each year the past few years, and his special teams is very good.
#8- Big Howard. I love the guy, and I will always remember HE was the guy in Super Bowl XLV who got to Big Ben, causing that Pick-6 by Collins. But he didn't do much this year, and the league is turning more and more pass-heavy, and we already have 2 big whales in Pickett and Raji. That being said, I don't see anyone else throwing any big $ at this guy, so I think he signs on with us cheap. But his roster spot is certainly not assured to start 2012.
#9- Nick Collins. I guess only God knows at this point. On one hand, I can't see Collins ever playing again. This franchise has been **** with necks before, from Sterling Sharpe to Terrance Murphy, and a few other players like Tim Lewis and a few LBers. I can see Collins being screwed out of the NFL like they were for us.
But I also know some others have come back from the same surgery he had. So I have heard. I want him back so badly. Like this year's playoffs, I am expecting the worst, but hoping for the best.
#10- The Donald- I love Driver so much, but his contract must be reduced, and even if it is, we need to get Tori Gurley into the mix. There can't be more than 5.
I think the locker room is a very important component of team success, and keeping Donald is worth it, even if it means losing one younger player. I this case, I trade James Jones to one of many teams out there who have crappy starting WRs, starting with Jacksonville. Their WR's are horrible. Jones would be the #1 WR on that team.
I get a 4th round pick from them, which IMO is very conservative.
FREE AGENCY
With Teddy trimming some payroll, and restructering some guys, he has room for one actual free agent signing:
JASON JONES, TEN - DE (6-5, 280)
When healthy, Jason Jones is one of the league's better interior pass rushers. He has an explosive first step in getting upfield and disrupting a quarterback's ability to step up into a clean pocket. The Titans have allowed Albert Haynesworth and Jason Babin to leave at the top of their games, so it can happen again. Jones was a 2nd round pick out of Eastern Michigan, just in 2008. He's in his prime, but not a big name really. Packers have good luck with guys from Michigan, Eastern, and Western.
THE DRAFT
#22- (From Cleveland for Matt Flynn)- PETER KONZ, C, Wisconsin,
He's got an NFL-ready body, solid technique and good intelligence, which is critical for a position that serves as the quarterback of the OL. He'll step in and be like Nick Mangold was for the Jets and Pouncey was for the Steelers, as rookie centers who step right in and play great.
#28- ANDRE BRANCH, OLB, Clemson 6-4, 260
Branch, a first-team ACC selection, was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.
With 16 tackles for loss, Branch is classified at Clemson as a “bandit end’’ who is apt to drop back in coverage, as well as pass rush.
“He gets a lot of attention, which frees up other guys,’’ fellow end Courtnei Brown said.
Branch is a larger 34 OLB, in the mold of a Lamar Woodley or Shawne Merriman, and I feel he is a perfect complement to the smaller, quicker Clay Matthews, and could give the Packers a great bookend who gets to QBs, but also is stout vs the run. #
Round 2- JARED CRICK, DE, Nebraska, 6-6, 285
I'm not saying this is the next JJ Watt or Justin Smith. But he does remind me of both of those guys.
He's your "high effort", "high motor" DE, which is what they always label the big white forces off the edge. Remember Aaron Kampman? Same thing, "high motor".
Round 3- CASEY HAYWARD, CB, Vanderbilt, 5-11
Round 4- (from Jax for James Jones), WINSTON GUY JR, S, Kentucky, 6-1, 215
Clay approves of this guy.
Round 4- *TRADE ALERT* The Packers trade this pick, and a 2013 conditional pick, the the Indianapolis Colts for DE/OLB Jerry Hughes. #
Hughes was a guy who, 2 drafts ago, was projected by many (including the best 2 national mock guys Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, and Bob McGinn) to be the Packers first round pick at #25 in the 2010 draft, but Bryan Bulaga slid to that pick and the Packers had to take him.
The Colts took him later in that 1st round, but tried to make him a 4-3 DE in the Freeney mold. He's not that guy, and he has not panned out. He's been a disappointment and was not even their #4 DE to end this season. They're ready to cut their losses, especially after firing their GM and head coach now.
He has 2 affordable years on his contract, and I know for a fact that Ted Thompson liked this guy coming out. *This is a low-risk/possible huge* reward for the Packers at this point. This could be one of those guys where a guy blossoms into a star, and the fans of their old teams ask "why the hell did we let this guy go?"..... see Steve Young, James Harrison, Charles Woodson, Jimmy Smith, Kurt Warner, Justin Smith (Cinci had him), etc.....
Even with taking OLB Branch in the first round, you never know what you're gonna get at OLB in the draft, and you cannot have too many good pass rushers. We had too many bad ones this year.
Round 4- (comp pick for Cullen Jenkins) - JOSH CHICHESTER, TE, Louisville, 6-8, 240
6-foot-8... Rodgers' Jimmy Graham?
Round 4- (comp pick for Daryn Colledge) -BROCK OSWEILER, QB, Arizona St, 6-7, 240
Round 5- *Trade to Washington for their 2013 4th round pick
Round 6- LANCE DUNBAR, RB, North Texas, 5-9, 203
Round 7- *Trade to Carolina for their 2012 6th round pick
No, he is not.
I know I know about Charles Woodson.
And Ryan Pickett.
But that was when he inherited the salary cap hell from the general Mike Sherman, and he cleaned that up in one year, than had a lot of money to spend and almost had to spend some on free agents because the talent level from general Mike the GM was ***** on not worthy of that $ under the cap.
And let's realize that Thompson was lucky as **** that he got Woodson because A) Woodson didn't want to come here, he had no other options, B) Teddy tried to throw all that money at Lavar Arrington first, not Charles. But Lavar DID have other options and he used TT for leverage, not wanting to go to Green Bay, and C) Woodson was injury-prone in Oakland. With us, he's been remarkably durable, which is some luck.
Now that being said, I don't think Ted is dumb, naive, or ignorant. He knows damn well this defense, and pass rush specifically, is flatout ******.
Now, with that being said, there are some tough choices to make with our own guys and their contracts.
2012 Free Agents
Jermichael Finley
Pat Lee
Jarrett Bush
Scott Wells
Howard Green
Erik Walden
Matt Flynn
Ryan Grant
#1- Scott Wells, the Pro Bowl center. His contract is up and he's going to expect a big raise, his first and last big contract. I'm afraid he's a goner because some ONE team will probably throw a big $ at him. If not, we keep him, but I will assume the worst, he's gone.
#2- Finley, I see him re-signing with us, in a deal that some say was too much $, while some others say he could have gotten more $ had he reached the open market. A fair deal on both sides, and some pressure taken off the shoulders of J-Mike for 2012.
#3- Matt Flynn, he has too much value to let go for just a chump comp pick. Ted may be quiet, but he's not dumb. I expect him to cash him in for what the market dictates, and that's at least a pick in the #20-#30 range, and some say more like that and an additional 3rd or 4th round pick. I'll go conservative.
#4- Walden is gone. I liked him once, but he didn't make plays. And he might be behind bars too.
#5- Lee is gone. He sucked at Auburn, never knew why we drafted him.
#6- Ryan Grant. He's 50-50. Everyone assumes he's gone. But A) nobody out there will offer a good $ at him, B) we have nothing proven behind him. I think he stays cheap.
#7- Bush, he stays. He's gotten better each year the past few years, and his special teams is very good.
#8- Big Howard. I love the guy, and I will always remember HE was the guy in Super Bowl XLV who got to Big Ben, causing that Pick-6 by Collins. But he didn't do much this year, and the league is turning more and more pass-heavy, and we already have 2 big whales in Pickett and Raji. That being said, I don't see anyone else throwing any big $ at this guy, so I think he signs on with us cheap. But his roster spot is certainly not assured to start 2012.
#9- Nick Collins. I guess only God knows at this point. On one hand, I can't see Collins ever playing again. This franchise has been **** with necks before, from Sterling Sharpe to Terrance Murphy, and a few other players like Tim Lewis and a few LBers. I can see Collins being screwed out of the NFL like they were for us.
But I also know some others have come back from the same surgery he had. So I have heard. I want him back so badly. Like this year's playoffs, I am expecting the worst, but hoping for the best.
#10- The Donald- I love Driver so much, but his contract must be reduced, and even if it is, we need to get Tori Gurley into the mix. There can't be more than 5.
I think the locker room is a very important component of team success, and keeping Donald is worth it, even if it means losing one younger player. I this case, I trade James Jones to one of many teams out there who have crappy starting WRs, starting with Jacksonville. Their WR's are horrible. Jones would be the #1 WR on that team.
I get a 4th round pick from them, which IMO is very conservative.
FREE AGENCY
With Teddy trimming some payroll, and restructering some guys, he has room for one actual free agent signing:
JASON JONES, TEN - DE (6-5, 280)
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When healthy, Jason Jones is one of the league's better interior pass rushers. He has an explosive first step in getting upfield and disrupting a quarterback's ability to step up into a clean pocket. The Titans have allowed Albert Haynesworth and Jason Babin to leave at the top of their games, so it can happen again. Jones was a 2nd round pick out of Eastern Michigan, just in 2008. He's in his prime, but not a big name really. Packers have good luck with guys from Michigan, Eastern, and Western.
THE DRAFT
#22- (From Cleveland for Matt Flynn)- PETER KONZ, C, Wisconsin,
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He's got an NFL-ready body, solid technique and good intelligence, which is critical for a position that serves as the quarterback of the OL. He'll step in and be like Nick Mangold was for the Jets and Pouncey was for the Steelers, as rookie centers who step right in and play great.
#28- ANDRE BRANCH, OLB, Clemson 6-4, 260
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Branch, a first-team ACC selection, was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation and was one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Defensive End of the Year Award.
With 16 tackles for loss, Branch is classified at Clemson as a “bandit end’’ who is apt to drop back in coverage, as well as pass rush.
“He gets a lot of attention, which frees up other guys,’’ fellow end Courtnei Brown said.
Branch is a larger 34 OLB, in the mold of a Lamar Woodley or Shawne Merriman, and I feel he is a perfect complement to the smaller, quicker Clay Matthews, and could give the Packers a great bookend who gets to QBs, but also is stout vs the run. #
Round 2- JARED CRICK, DE, Nebraska, 6-6, 285
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
I'm not saying this is the next JJ Watt or Justin Smith. But he does remind me of both of those guys.
He's your "high effort", "high motor" DE, which is what they always label the big white forces off the edge. Remember Aaron Kampman? Same thing, "high motor".
Round 3- CASEY HAYWARD, CB, Vanderbilt, 5-11
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
Round 4- (from Jax for James Jones), WINSTON GUY JR, S, Kentucky, 6-1, 215
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
Clay approves of this guy.
Round 4- *TRADE ALERT* The Packers trade this pick, and a 2013 conditional pick, the the Indianapolis Colts for DE/OLB Jerry Hughes. #
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
Hughes was a guy who, 2 drafts ago, was projected by many (including the best 2 national mock guys Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News, and Bob McGinn) to be the Packers first round pick at #25 in the 2010 draft, but Bryan Bulaga slid to that pick and the Packers had to take him.
The Colts took him later in that 1st round, but tried to make him a 4-3 DE in the Freeney mold. He's not that guy, and he has not panned out. He's been a disappointment and was not even their #4 DE to end this season. They're ready to cut their losses, especially after firing their GM and head coach now.
You must be logged in to see this image or video!
He has 2 affordable years on his contract, and I know for a fact that Ted Thompson liked this guy coming out. *This is a low-risk/possible huge* reward for the Packers at this point. This could be one of those guys where a guy blossoms into a star, and the fans of their old teams ask "why the hell did we let this guy go?"..... see Steve Young, James Harrison, Charles Woodson, Jimmy Smith, Kurt Warner, Justin Smith (Cinci had him), etc.....
Even with taking OLB Branch in the first round, you never know what you're gonna get at OLB in the draft, and you cannot have too many good pass rushers. We had too many bad ones this year.
Round 4- (comp pick for Cullen Jenkins) - JOSH CHICHESTER, TE, Louisville, 6-8, 240
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6-foot-8... Rodgers' Jimmy Graham?
Round 4- (comp pick for Daryn Colledge) -BROCK OSWEILER, QB, Arizona St, 6-7, 240
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Round 5- *Trade to Washington for their 2013 4th round pick
Round 6- LANCE DUNBAR, RB, North Texas, 5-9, 203
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Round 7- *Trade to Carolina for their 2012 6th round pick
