Is there room for AARON KAMPMAN?

[FrankRizzo]

http://t.co/TukgWtjf

About 4 years younger than Saturday, and Teddy brought back former Packer Daniel Muir already, perhaps Kampman?

 

[SpartaChris]

Doubtful. I'm a huge Kampman fan, but he unfortunately has too much of an injury history, and he didn't really fit our scheme to begin with.

 

[Dan115]

Packers had him in his prime.

 

[Aaron rodgers is god]

Doesn't fit our system. We saw that in his first year moving to a 3-4. Injuries have plagued him since then. If we were a 4-3 team, than i'd consider bringing him back .

 

[Wood Chipper]

Not worth it

 

[FrankRizzo]

Not worth it

Probably not, but because he's too injured lately.

How does is size measure up with Anthony Hargrove, as a DE?

 

[13 Times Champs]

No. Injuries have taken their toll on him.

 

[El Guapo]

We all feel bad for Kampman as he got a raw deal when the scheme changed. It was nobody's fault and just time to move on. However, both of his knees are wrecked. He can't perform the way that he did in his prime. I wish him the best and would be happy if we signed him to a quick deal so that he could immediately retire a Packer.

 

[ivo610]

Minimum non guarantee contract I would be all for. Anything more no thx.

He wore out his welcome with the coaching staff and front office so I would be very surprised to see him back.

 

[Vltrophy]

If we were taking a vote I'd cast a ballot for not bringing him back. He's had his day & past his prime. It'd more of a risk than what it's worth.

 

[60six]

He's played in 20 games in three years b/c of injuries and doesnt fit our Defensive system, what would be the point ?

 

[SpartaChris]

He's played in 20 games in three years b/c of injuries and doesnt fit our Defensive system, what would be the point ?

There is no point. This happens on these boards every single time any player with any semblance of name recognition is released or rumored to be on the trading block.

 

[longtimefan]

There is no point. This happens on these boards every single time any player with any semblance of name recognition is released or rumored to be on the trading block.

r
Yuppers...

He was released for a reason, why would they bring him back?

 

[60six]

There is no point. This happens on these boards every single time any player with any semblance of name recognition is released or rumored to be on the trading block.

I know what you mean. Its like when a Packer player retires, he should go right into coaching or announcing b/c he would be great at it.

 

[slaughter25]

There is no point. This happens on these boards every single time any player with any semblance of name recognition is released or rumored to be on the trading block.

This is a football forum man.... Its not like people are out in the streets campaigning to bring this guy in, its June and football news/forum topics (good ones at least) are few and far between. If you aren't interested in a thread like this don't click it and come back in August.

Let free discussion reign!

 

[GreenBlood]

This is a football forum man.... Its not like people are out in the streets campaigning to bring this guy in, its June and football news/forum topics (good ones at least) are few and far between. If you aren't interested in a thread like this don't click it and come back in August.

Let free discussion reign!

I'm pretty sure SpartaChris wasn't telling anyone or even suggesting not to talk about Kampman. He merely pointed out the fact that every time a former Packer is cut somewhere, the discussion always comes up about the Packers re-signing him. He's right. What's the problem?

 

[slaughter25]

I think his post in so many words said exactly what you said it doesn't, difference in perception I guess. Just have to agree to disagree

 

[TheStone]

My first thought, after Dom Capers was hired was,
"How would Kampman fit in there??"

I think we all know the answer was
"Not at all, not even with the biggest hammer!"

And that was in his prime.....

 

[DoddPower]

My first thought, after Dom Capers was hired was,
"How would Kampman fit in there??"

I think we all know the answer was
"Not at all, not even with the biggest hammer!"

And that was in his prime.....

I still think Dom did a bad job of integrating Kampman. Square peg in a round hole type thing. He might not have been able to be a full time OLB and play in space, but he could have still been effective with his hand in the dirt as a pass rushing specialist on passing situations. I suppose both Kampman and Caper's thought that they had to give him at chance at making the transition. I just feel like the coaching staff should have realized his limitations of playing in space and had him focus more on rushing the passer. Aldon Smith of the 49'er's played in a similar role (in that he was a more of a pass rush specialist, although he is way more athletic than Kampman) this past season and still racked up 14 sacks. Just because he wouldn't have been playing full time doesn't mean he couldn't have still gotten a big contract the following season. Who knows, perhaps he could have even made himself more valuable.

Either way, he obviously wasn't going to stick around at his price tag. I just always thought his skill set could have been utilized better than it was before he got injured.

 

[TJV]

Kampman is going to be 33 this season. If he wants to try out at the veterans minimum that'd be fine but IMO it makes no sense for the Packers to pursue him. I don't remember it the same way as you do, DoddPower. I remember being disappointed in Kampman's attitude regarding the switch to OLB. During those early practices I remember at least a couple of occasions when he was supposed to talk to the media and didn't and when he did talk he appeared to me to be pouting about it. Part of that was (if I remember correctly and there's certainly no guarantee of that!) it was a contract year for him and he may have worried the switch to OLB would cost him a lot of money. The plan was for Kampman to play strong side OLB opposite of Jeremy Thompson (who has the distinction of being the first player Thompson traded up for) or perhaps some rookie named Matthews had a chance at that spot? But Capers and McCarthy were quoted as saying Kampman would get a shot to rush the passer on passing downs with his hand on the ground. And just like today, the point was made that the Packers don't play their base D (with Kampman at LOLB) a majority of downs. Anyway, maybe Dom could've made Aaron more comfortable or could have somehow been more accommodating but I remember at the time being surprised and disappointed at Kampman's attitude.

 

[DoddPower]

Kampman is going to be 33 this season. If he wants to try out at the veterans minimum that'd be fine but IMO it makes no sense for the Packers to pursue him. I don't remember it the same way as you do, DoddPower. I remember being disappointed in Kampman's attitude regarding the switch to OLB. During those early practices I remember at least a couple of occasions when he was supposed to talk to the media and didn't and when he did talk he appeared to me to be pouting about it. Part of that was (if I remember correctly and there's certainly no guarantee of that!) it was a contract year for him and he may of worried the switch to OLB would cost him a lot of money. The plan was for Kampman to play strong side OLB opposite of Jeremy Thompson (who has the distinction of being the first player Thompson traded up for) or perhaps some rookie named Matthews had a chance at that spot? But Capers and McCarthy were quoted as saying Kampman would get a shot to rush the passer on passing downs with his hand on the ground. And just like today, the point was made that the Packers don't play their base D (with Kampman at LOLB) a majority of downs. Anyway, maybe Dom could've made Aaron more comfortable or could have somehow been more accommodating but I remember at the time being surprised and disappointed at Kampman's attitude.

Well, I didn't really comment on his attitude. He didn't speak to the media a few times and he he didn't hide that he wasn't thrilled about the move. He did, however, accept it and stated he was going to work hard and adapt. I didn't really have a problem with his reaction. He's a smart guy and he knows he body. But Caper's definitely tried to make him a OLB exclusively. I don't know if I remember him putting his hand on the ground and rushing from a more traditional defensive linemen position much at all (if ever). Which, if they were truly trying to make him an OLB, makes sense. After all, we never seen CM3 or Walden doing so, for example.

I just think that it was a failed experiment and both parties moved on. I'm glad he was able to get a nice contract from the Jags. It's really too bad he's had so many knee injuries in recent years.

 

[TJV]

DoddPower, my disagreement with you was regarding who was most at fault for Kampman's not adapting to the new defensive scheme. I placed most of that on Kampman. Before that, I remember him being a "do anything for the team" type of player and I just didn’t think he handled the change professionally. I expected better from him because I had such a high opinion of him.

But Caper's definitely tried to make him a OLB exclusively. I don't know if I remember him putting his hand on the ground and rushing from a more traditional defensive linemen position much at all (if ever).

Here's an excerpt from a June, 2009 story by WTMJ:

One of Kampman's closest friends on the team, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, said he hopes Kampman will embrace the change. "I hope he realizes that this is probably going to be the best thing for him," Rodgers said. And Rodgers reiterated a point brought up repeatedly by McCarthy and new defensive coordinator Dom Capers: Kampman's position switch might not be as drastic as it seems, given the fact he generally will go back to being a traditional defensive end when the Packers deviate from their base defense with a "sub" package with extra defensive backs. "He's not going to be standing up as much as maybe people think he is," Rodgers said.

http://www.todaystmj4.com/sports/48085367.html
Rodgers' quote shows it wasn't a secret Kampman would get snaps with his hand on the ground.

This is from a jsonline from October, 2009:

In a 26-0 victory over the Detroit Lions Sunday, Kampman played nearly a dozen snaps with his hand on the ground, reverting back to the form that had netted him 50 ½ sacks coming into the season. Lining up wide in the same spot he normally would in the 3-4, he put his hand down and rushed like an end. "I told him the very first time I met with him, there will be a lot of our defense where it will be whatever you feel most comfortable with," Capers said. "We have a whole number of packages, and we're going to ask him to do different things out of it. So we played a couple new packages today."

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/64711512.html
So while Kampman had to learn the OLB position I think he'd have done better with a positive attitude. It's all moot now of course.

 

[ivo610]

He refused to talk to the media for weeks (not counting the entire off season when requested to speak about it) and was called "disruptive" in the locker room

 

[DoddPower]

Yeah, I guess I remember his hand on the ground some, but I also remember him standing up a lot as well. IMO, more than he should have been (the majority of his snaps). I recall a couple of plays where he just looked lost dropping back into coverage. He didn't have the best attitude, but I don't think any of us are required to be positive about everything that happens in our careers. Most of us are aware of certain things that just aren't best for us. I don't think Kampman didn't try hard or anything like that. I could be wrong, but I'm under the impression that he still tried to succeed. I do think in his heart he knew it wasn't going to work out. If anything, I don't think he should have been the starter. It might have worked out better if he was ONLY brought in on obvious passing situations. But then again, Caper's is obviously much more intelligent than I am in matters such as this, so I probably shouldn't judge.

 

[NelsonsLongCatch]

The good thing about signing Aaron Kampman is that he has no more ACLs to tear!