El Guapo
Cheesehead
We had so many threads in 2013 that discussed the possible return of Jolly. There have been a few threads about free agents and the DL that have mentioned our consensus feel-good hero of 2013 (Lacy aside), but none that really discuss his status going into 2014.
I've seen everything, including the end of the article below, that says that many factors will influence whether the Packers bring him back. Yeah, yeah. That's a cop-out statement for making a prediction. The reality is that Jolly came back and played pretty well for a 30-year old who spent the last few years out of football and in prison. The dude plays with attitude, brought it to the team, and filled a valuable role. On a young defense, Jolly was a veteran presence that was missed in the playoffs.
I don't think anybody will be clamoring to sign him away in FA. He's coming back from neck surgery and still is likely a question mark in the minds of anyone outside of Green Bay. He should be re-signed for slightly more than the veteran minimum for a 2-year deal with an injury clause. I don't see one good reason not to have him on the line. He's still got a motor and the drive to succeed. I'm looking for TT to use both his busy hat and his heart to make this decision.
Points? Counterpoints?
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/247618881.html
I've seen everything, including the end of the article below, that says that many factors will influence whether the Packers bring him back. Yeah, yeah. That's a cop-out statement for making a prediction. The reality is that Jolly came back and played pretty well for a 30-year old who spent the last few years out of football and in prison. The dude plays with attitude, brought it to the team, and filled a valuable role. On a young defense, Jolly was a veteran presence that was missed in the playoffs.
I don't think anybody will be clamoring to sign him away in FA. He's coming back from neck surgery and still is likely a question mark in the minds of anyone outside of Green Bay. He should be re-signed for slightly more than the veteran minimum for a 2-year deal with an injury clause. I don't see one good reason not to have him on the line. He's still got a motor and the drive to succeed. I'm looking for TT to use both his busy hat and his heart to make this decision.
Points? Counterpoints?
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/247618881.html
Green Bay - Anytime neck fusion surgery is mentioned around the Packers organization it usually raises the hair on the back of the front office's neck.
In the case of DE Johnny Jolly, the potential for being cleared medically may not be as slim as it was with S Nick Collins and may be for TE Jermichael Finley.
The neck and shoulder issues Jolly dealt with at the end of the season and ultimately resulted in him going on injured reserve with two games to go in the regular season, were the result of a bulging disk between the 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae.
To repair the injury, Jolly had single-level fusion surgery in Chicago on Jan. 10 and has been waiting for clearance to begin working out.
According to his agent, Jack Bechta, Jolly received word from his surgeon this week that he can start doing cardio and light lifting. Bechta had said at the scouting combine last week that Jolly was doing very well and was expecting a good report from the surgeon, so the news isn't a big surprise.
A bigger milestone will come in two weeks when Jolly has an X-ray and MRI to determine whether he can step up his workouts and get closer to proving to the Packers that he'll be ready for next season. At play is the condition of Jolly's hip where a graft was taken and used to help fuse the vertebrae together.
"He's looking good," Bechta said. "Over 20 guys in the league have had it. He wants to play another three or four years. Nothing else on his body is bothering him."
The Packers already know a C-5, C-6 fusion doesn't mean the end of a career. Safety Sean Richardson underwent a similar procedure early last year and was cleared at mid-season to resume his career.
Richardson appeared in six games and posted 12 tackles on defense and four tackles on special teams.
Most neck specialists consider the safety position much riskier than defensive line because of the high-impact collisions, so barring any complications Jolly should get to play football again.
Whether he's playing in Green Bay is another matter. Jolly, who turned 31 last week, is an unrestricted free agent and the Packers will undoubtedly wait before making a decision on whether to re-sign him. The Packers may be re-making their defensive line and how things go in free agency and the draft will probably play a big role in whether they want Jolly back.