Apocalypse
Cheesehead
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Packers: He's a real head-Turner
JASON WILDE
PHOENIX - While the Green Bay Packers' fan base has expended plenty of sports-radio airtime and Internet bandwidth debating whether the team should trade for controversial wide receiver Randy Moss, another player that fans probably should be buzzing about is San Diego Chargers restricted free agent running back Michael Turner.
An NFL source at the league's annual meetings at the Arizona Biltmore resort said Tuesday that the Packers are among a number of teams that have expressed an interest in Turner.
"There's been lots of activity," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said.
Despite having NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson as their starter, the Chargers used the highest possible restricted free agent tender ($2.35 million) on Turner, which means any team signing him to an offer sheet would owe them first- and third-round draft picks as compensation if the Chargers opted not to match.
It's hard to imagine Packers general manager Ted Thompson paying such a steep price for Turner, given how he values his draft picks. However, the clubs could work out a trade that would allow the Packers to add Turner for less. The Houston Texans traded a pair of second-round picks to Atlanta last week in order to sign restricted free agent quarterback Matt Schaub, who also had been given the highest tender.
Thompson said the team feels "pretty good" about the Packers' four remaining running backs - Vernand Morency, Noah Herron, P.J. Pope and Arliss Beach - following the free agent departure of starter Ahman Green. But Thompson also wouldn't rule out a trade, either.
"I think you have to be careful parting with draft picks," said Thompson, who has nine picks - one in each of the first six rounds, plus three seventh-rounders. "But we're not opposed to it."
Asked if he's had any trade talks this week, Thompson replied, "Yeah. Whether it's me (initiating it) or it's somebody from another team going on what I refer to as 'fishing expeditions,' saying, 'What about this? What about that?' You get that kind of chat all the time."
The 5-foot-10, 237-pound Turner, 25, entered the league in 2004 as a fifth-round pick out of Northern Illinois and has rushed for 941 yards on 157 carries in three NFL seasons. Last year, he gained 502 yards on just 80 carries (a 6.3- yard average) and scored a pair of touchdowns. His agent is Bus Cook, who also represents Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
"If they have (talked), it's between them," Cook said. "No one has called me."
Asked about Turner during Tuesday morning's AFC coaches breakfast, new Chargers coach Norv Turner - having faced the running back twice a year as the Oakland Raiders' coach in 2004 and 2005 - said, "I have a good feel for evaluating him because I've stood on the sideline and watching him rip-roar through there. ... (The question is), does someone say, 'We'd rather have Michael Turner than a back in the draft'?"
For now, the Packers adding Turner seems like a longshot, even though fans have been clamoring for Thompson to do something in free agency.
"It can't determine policy. It can't determine the direction of our team," Thompson said of fan opinion. "I want the fans to think we're working very hard and doing the best we can to help the Green Bay Packers, and I desperately want that image to be portrayed. But I can't react and do things for the sake of the populace. It has to be a thought-out decision that makes sense for the Packers."
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/index.php?ntid=126427&ntpid=1
JASON WILDE
PHOENIX - While the Green Bay Packers' fan base has expended plenty of sports-radio airtime and Internet bandwidth debating whether the team should trade for controversial wide receiver Randy Moss, another player that fans probably should be buzzing about is San Diego Chargers restricted free agent running back Michael Turner.
An NFL source at the league's annual meetings at the Arizona Biltmore resort said Tuesday that the Packers are among a number of teams that have expressed an interest in Turner.
"There's been lots of activity," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said.
Despite having NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson as their starter, the Chargers used the highest possible restricted free agent tender ($2.35 million) on Turner, which means any team signing him to an offer sheet would owe them first- and third-round draft picks as compensation if the Chargers opted not to match.
It's hard to imagine Packers general manager Ted Thompson paying such a steep price for Turner, given how he values his draft picks. However, the clubs could work out a trade that would allow the Packers to add Turner for less. The Houston Texans traded a pair of second-round picks to Atlanta last week in order to sign restricted free agent quarterback Matt Schaub, who also had been given the highest tender.
Thompson said the team feels "pretty good" about the Packers' four remaining running backs - Vernand Morency, Noah Herron, P.J. Pope and Arliss Beach - following the free agent departure of starter Ahman Green. But Thompson also wouldn't rule out a trade, either.
"I think you have to be careful parting with draft picks," said Thompson, who has nine picks - one in each of the first six rounds, plus three seventh-rounders. "But we're not opposed to it."
Asked if he's had any trade talks this week, Thompson replied, "Yeah. Whether it's me (initiating it) or it's somebody from another team going on what I refer to as 'fishing expeditions,' saying, 'What about this? What about that?' You get that kind of chat all the time."
The 5-foot-10, 237-pound Turner, 25, entered the league in 2004 as a fifth-round pick out of Northern Illinois and has rushed for 941 yards on 157 carries in three NFL seasons. Last year, he gained 502 yards on just 80 carries (a 6.3- yard average) and scored a pair of touchdowns. His agent is Bus Cook, who also represents Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
"If they have (talked), it's between them," Cook said. "No one has called me."
Asked about Turner during Tuesday morning's AFC coaches breakfast, new Chargers coach Norv Turner - having faced the running back twice a year as the Oakland Raiders' coach in 2004 and 2005 - said, "I have a good feel for evaluating him because I've stood on the sideline and watching him rip-roar through there. ... (The question is), does someone say, 'We'd rather have Michael Turner than a back in the draft'?"
For now, the Packers adding Turner seems like a longshot, even though fans have been clamoring for Thompson to do something in free agency.
"It can't determine policy. It can't determine the direction of our team," Thompson said of fan opinion. "I want the fans to think we're working very hard and doing the best we can to help the Green Bay Packers, and I desperately want that image to be portrayed. But I can't react and do things for the sake of the populace. It has to be a thought-out decision that makes sense for the Packers."
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/index.php?ntid=126427&ntpid=1