Seems like McGinn put Barclay on the fence based on one preseason game. The surgery was a big deal but it's hard to imagine he doesn't make the 53. Hayward has been injury prone and Rollins and Gunter are playing well but I gotta believe Haayward's on the 53 as well.
A very likely outcome, certainly wouldn't surprise anyone, especially with Hayward being injury prone.
Well I'm looking forward to see Randall in a game setting. Gunter is playing well though.
Exactly. McGinn's gotta write something to rile the faithful. But even suggesting that Barclay and Hayward might not make the 53 is a little goofy.
You're right he may be a little overpaid. This is really only an issue now because Rollins and Gunter have impressed, and Randall should also impress. But none of these three have played a down in a real NFL game. I'm not being fatalistic or negative, I love what Gunter and especially Rollins are showing. But I think TT signed Richardson as maybe an insurance policy. And you rightly point out his versatility - S/LB/STs - and an intangible is desire. I really think Richardson wants to be a Packer and I like his attitude. And finally, your analysis leads to the question of - if Richardson gets cut, then who do they keep? From the list you provided I'll take Richardson. He's a known commodity (ok not a commodity but you know what I mean) and can be there if any of the rookies experience any rookie shakes in their first season, which is almost certain to happen. Same logic in keeping him around last year before seeing how HHCD panned out.
I agree that the secondary is looking very good. And I hope they are "loaded" but in Gunter, Rollins, and Randall we have 3 players who have never played a snap in a real NFL game. So it's a little early IMO to say the secondary is loaded. At $2.5 mil Richardson isn't cheap - but TJV points out his versastility and I'll point out his veteran presence. If all goes well and the rookies live up to the promise we've seen (Gunter and Rollins, we haven't seen Randall yet), then Richardson becomes an insurance policy that never has a claim. I don't see that much downside in keeping him, actually the opposite. I still remember the complaining in this forum about 1) taking Randall in the first round when most didn't know his name and then 2) taking a guy, Rollins, in the 2nd round who played one year of college ball at DB. I know that hindsight is 20/20 but I think the decision to pay Richardson was the right one and by NFL pay, inexpensive insurance.
That's true. Mcginn was reaching with this column.
Oh wow I didn't know he wrote something that boneheaded. you'd think McGinn would realize the for the most part, FA acquisitions just don't work and are very expensive. Yeah they got an older, tired Allen from the Vikes. That worked out better for the Vikes than da Bearz and is probably another reason Trestman is gone - if he had anything to do with the decisions to sign them.
"Good bet" sounds about right. There are reasons he's not a lock.
Datone Jones, in my eyes, is a lock based on his draft status.
