**Not-so-offical Green Bay Packers Off-season Thread** (2 Viewers)

[Aaronstory]

Free agent safety in for a visit now. Seen as a special teamer and a cover safety. I know nothing about him other than he played in the 3-4 in Cleveland.The only good part about this...as a good special teamer...he might pave the way for Jarrett Bush to finally be shown the door.

Bush was tendered, so unless another team signs him, he'll mostly likely be on the 2009 roster. I don't know how cutting a tendered player works. I'd assume it can't be done until restricted free agency ends (April 17th?), but at that point his tender offer would become a guaranteed contract.

They can still cut him with very minimal financial impact.

 

[bcr8f]

I will say this about Holiday, the packers could have supported him some through injuries, a pectoral muscle and hamstrings, if I recall, and not pushed Cletidus Hunt in his face. Had they he might have stayed and grown with the team.

This reminds me, just thinking of the name Cletidus Hunt I am reminded of just what Mike Sherman did and how fortunate I feel now to have someone else in charge. The name Cletidus gives me shivers and nausea. Thompson may not be perfect, but he does all right.

The issue was pay. After Sherman offered Joe Johnsin a huge contract they couldn't pay Holiday.

It was more than the Joe Johnson contract.http://tundravision.blogspot.com/2009/03/i...e-holliday.html

Both Greg Bedard and the boys over at CheeseHeadTV made mention today of the possibility of bringing in former Packer Vonnie Holliday, recently cut by the Miami Dolphins and looking for a job at the ripe old age of 33. The idea of bringing back ol' Vonnie seems to be intruiging, if for no other reason, because we just lost Colin Cole and missed out on Chris Canty.

My guess is we have the roster spot available.

Taking two other players into consideration are Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Justin Harrell. Harrell, of course, is Ted Thompson's own Jamal Reynolds, an apparent reach and bust in the first round. But, even more interesting is that Harrell's roster spot this past season was made available by cutting KGB.

The timing has some irony.

At the end of the 2002 season, the Packers were gearing up to sign Holliday, but didn't want to buck up as much as Vonnie was hoping for. He had a very strong 2001 season, and an injury-plagued 2002 finished with a surge for Holliday. New GM Mike Sherman didn't meet the offer of the Chiefs, who gave Holliday a $21.3 million, 5-year contract with $4 million guaranteed.

(sidebar: compared to the deals signed by Haynesworth and Canty, that almost seems laughable, doesn't it?)

Where does the irony come to all of this? We can debate whether or not Holliday might have been worth that huge of a contract, and we know that such contracts later became the bane of Mike Sherman's tenure as GM. But, Holliday's departure led directly to a number of other events that have affected the Packer defensive line all the way to this day.

The Packers turned around and gave a pass-rush specialist, Kabeer Gbaja Biamila, a ton of cash. The $37 million dollar, seven-year deal forced KGB to become a full-time player, and painfully exposed him as a one-dimensional player for the next five seasons. Expensively so.

He also signed an underachieving defensive tackle named Cletidus Hunt to a six-year, $25 million dollar contract. I really don't have to remind you how that situation turned out for the Packers.

Sherman then also turned around and signed another inconsistent defensive linemen in Grady Jackson, another couple-of-plays-a-game guy that struggled with his weight.

The investments made previously in Joe Johnson and Jamal Reynolds quickly proved to be failed plans, leaving the Packers even further behind in the 2003 season. KGB made the Pro Bowl that year based purely on his sack statistics, but was a liability on most of the defensive snaps not involving those 10 sacks. The depletion of the line with the departure of Johnson and failure of Reynolds to develop left the Packers defensive line very vulnerable.

Now, looking back on that contract that Sherman wouldn't match for Vonnie Holliday, it does make you think how much different our line may have been if he would have shelled out. The line reached perhaps its lowest point in the 2005 season. It was during these years that Holliday was having some of his best seasons playing along the interior for the Chiefs and the Dolphins.

Interestingly enough, with the exception of a guy named BJ Sander, it is Mike Sherman's swings-and-misses along the defensive line that spelled the end of his days as GM of the Packers. The ill-advised selection of Jamal Reynolds, the free agency pickups of Grady Jackson and Joe Johnson, the overpaying (and subsequent overuse) of KGB and Cletidus Hunt, draft picks Kenny Peterson, James Lee, Donnell Washington, Corey Williams, ...the list goes on.

And now, the idea that Vonnie Holliday could return to the Packers to finish out his career, just months after KGB was cut from the team, makes you almost wonder if there wasn't some sort of curse hovering over this team since 2003. For years, things just haven't seemed to work out along that line, whether it be injuries, lack of production, or just plain failure to launch.

Would the signing of Holliday have changed some of the subsequent moves, like Hunt or KGB? Would the Packers have been set at DE for years with Kampman and Vonnie, allowing Cullen Jenkins to remain inside with Ryan Pickett? Would KGB have remained in his destructive role as a pass-rush specialist, instead of becoming a full-time mediocre defensive end?

Those are questions we'll never know the answer to. But, if you are looking to improve our DL, bring in some veteran leadership to a new scheme, and add "Packer People" to the roster, you could do worse than bringing back Vonnie Holliday.

And if there's a chance that signing him will break a six-year jinx along the line...?

So says a blog. The problem really goes back to giving Sherman the GM job something he should have refused. Still Holiday wanted to stay but the money wasn't there. The worst part was moving up in the draft to take Jamal Reynolds giving up Hasselbeck and Seattle taking Hutchinson with GB's original spot.

I never wanted Holiday to leave and hope he comes back.

 

[Phase of the Game]

I will say this about Holiday, the packers could have supported him some through injuries, a pectoral muscle and hamstrings, if I recall, and not pushed Cletidus Hunt in his face. Had they he might have stayed and grown with the team.

This reminds me, just thinking of the name Cletidus Hunt I am reminded of just what Mike Sherman did and how fortunate I feel now to have someone else in charge. The name Cletidus gives me shivers and nausea. Thompson may not be perfect, but he does all right.

The issue was pay. After Sherman offered Joe Johnsin a huge contract they couldn't pay Holiday.

It was more than the Joe Johnson contract.http://tundravision.blogspot.com/2009/03/i...e-holliday.html

Both Greg Bedard and the boys over at CheeseHeadTV made mention today of the possibility of bringing in former Packer Vonnie Holliday, recently cut by the Miami Dolphins and looking for a job at the ripe old age of 33. The idea of bringing back ol' Vonnie seems to be intruiging, if for no other reason, because we just lost Colin Cole and missed out on Chris Canty.

My guess is we have the roster spot available.

Taking two other players into consideration are Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Justin Harrell. Harrell, of course, is Ted Thompson's own Jamal Reynolds, an apparent reach and bust in the first round. But, even more interesting is that Harrell's roster spot this past season was made available by cutting KGB.

The timing has some irony.

At the end of the 2002 season, the Packers were gearing up to sign Holliday, but didn't want to buck up as much as Vonnie was hoping for. He had a very strong 2001 season, and an injury-plagued 2002 finished with a surge for Holliday. New GM Mike Sherman didn't meet the offer of the Chiefs, who gave Holliday a $21.3 million, 5-year contract with $4 million guaranteed.

(sidebar: compared to the deals signed by Haynesworth and Canty, that almost seems laughable, doesn't it?)

Where does the irony come to all of this? We can debate whether or not Holliday might have been worth that huge of a contract, and we know that such contracts later became the bane of Mike Sherman's tenure as GM. But, Holliday's departure led directly to a number of other events that have affected the Packer defensive line all the way to this day.

The Packers turned around and gave a pass-rush specialist, Kabeer Gbaja Biamila, a ton of cash. The $37 million dollar, seven-year deal forced KGB to become a full-time player, and painfully exposed him as a one-dimensional player for the next five seasons. Expensively so.

He also signed an underachieving defensive tackle named Cletidus Hunt to a six-year, $25 million dollar contract. I really don't have to remind you how that situation turned out for the Packers.

Sherman then also turned around and signed another inconsistent defensive linemen in Grady Jackson, another couple-of-plays-a-game guy that struggled with his weight.

The investments made previously in Joe Johnson and Jamal Reynolds quickly proved to be failed plans, leaving the Packers even further behind in the 2003 season. KGB made the Pro Bowl that year based purely on his sack statistics, but was a liability on most of the defensive snaps not involving those 10 sacks. The depletion of the line with the departure of Johnson and failure of Reynolds to develop left the Packers defensive line very vulnerable.

Now, looking back on that contract that Sherman wouldn't match for Vonnie Holliday, it does make you think how much different our line may have been if he would have shelled out. The line reached perhaps its lowest point in the 2005 season. It was during these years that Holliday was having some of his best seasons playing along the interior for the Chiefs and the Dolphins.

Interestingly enough, with the exception of a guy named BJ Sander, it is Mike Sherman's swings-and-misses along the defensive line that spelled the end of his days as GM of the Packers. The ill-advised selection of Jamal Reynolds, the free agency pickups of Grady Jackson and Joe Johnson, the overpaying (and subsequent overuse) of KGB and Cletidus Hunt, draft picks Kenny Peterson, James Lee, Donnell Washington, Corey Williams, ...the list goes on.

And now, the idea that Vonnie Holliday could return to the Packers to finish out his career, just months after KGB was cut from the team, makes you almost wonder if there wasn't some sort of curse hovering over this team since 2003. For years, things just haven't seemed to work out along that line, whether it be injuries, lack of production, or just plain failure to launch.

Would the signing of Holliday have changed some of the subsequent moves, like Hunt or KGB? Would the Packers have been set at DE for years with Kampman and Vonnie, allowing Cullen Jenkins to remain inside with Ryan Pickett? Would KGB have remained in his destructive role as a pass-rush specialist, instead of becoming a full-time mediocre defensive end?

Those are questions we'll never know the answer to. But, if you are looking to improve our DL, bring in some veteran leadership to a new scheme, and add "Packer People" to the roster, you could do worse than bringing back Vonnie Holliday.

And if there's a chance that signing him will break a six-year jinx along the line...?

So says a blog.

That blog lays things out much better than"After Sherman offered Joe Johnsin a huge contract they couldn't pay Holiday."

 

[Kleck]

Free agent safety in for a visit now. Seen as a special teamer and a cover safety. I know nothing about him other than he played in the 3-4 in Cleveland.

The only good part about this...as a good special teamer...he might pave the way for Jarrett Bush to finally be shown the door.

Bush was tendered, so unless another team signs him, he'll mostly likely be on the 2009 roster. I don't know how cutting a tendered player works. I'd assume it can't be done until restricted free agency ends (April 17th?), but at that point his tender offer would become a guaranteed contract.

They can still cut him with very minimal financial impact.

For some reason I was under the assumption that the RFA tender offer would become a formal offer/contract, but that's not right. Green Bay still needs to offer Bush a contract, which they have not done yet and technically don't need to. So actually, if Green Bay doesn't offer Bush a contract, he'd become an UFA June 22nd and the Packers would have no financial impact.

 

[sts911911]

I will say this about Holiday, the packers could have supported him some through injuries, a pectoral muscle and hamstrings, if I recall, and not pushed Cletidus Hunt in his face. Had they he might have stayed and grown with the team.

This reminds me, just thinking of the name Cletidus Hunt I am reminded of just what Mike Sherman did and how fortunate I feel now to have someone else in charge. The name Cletidus gives me shivers and nausea. Thompson may not be perfect, but he does all right.

The issue was pay. After Sherman offered Joe Johnsin a huge contract they couldn't pay Holiday.

It was more than the Joe Johnson contract.http://tundravision.blogspot.com/2009/03/i...e-holliday.html

Both Greg Bedard and the boys over at CheeseHeadTV made mention today of the possibility of bringing in former Packer Vonnie Holliday, recently cut by the Miami Dolphins and looking for a job at the ripe old age of 33. The idea of bringing back ol' Vonnie seems to be intruiging, if for no other reason, because we just lost Colin Cole and missed out on Chris Canty.

My guess is we have the roster spot available.

Taking two other players into consideration are Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Justin Harrell. Harrell, of course, is Ted Thompson's own Jamal Reynolds, an apparent reach and bust in the first round. But, even more interesting is that Harrell's roster spot this past season was made available by cutting KGB.

The timing has some irony.

At the end of the 2002 season, the Packers were gearing up to sign Holliday, but didn't want to buck up as much as Vonnie was hoping for. He had a very strong 2001 season, and an injury-plagued 2002 finished with a surge for Holliday. New GM Mike Sherman didn't meet the offer of the Chiefs, who gave Holliday a $21.3 million, 5-year contract with $4 million guaranteed.

(sidebar: compared to the deals signed by Haynesworth and Canty, that almost seems laughable, doesn't it?)

Where does the irony come to all of this? We can debate whether or not Holliday might have been worth that huge of a contract, and we know that such contracts later became the bane of Mike Sherman's tenure as GM. But, Holliday's departure led directly to a number of other events that have affected the Packer defensive line all the way to this day.

The Packers turned around and gave a pass-rush specialist, Kabeer Gbaja Biamila, a ton of cash. The $37 million dollar, seven-year deal forced KGB to become a full-time player, and painfully exposed him as a one-dimensional player for the next five seasons. Expensively so.

He also signed an underachieving defensive tackle named Cletidus Hunt to a six-year, $25 million dollar contract. I really don't have to remind you how that situation turned out for the Packers.

Sherman then also turned around and signed another inconsistent defensive linemen in Grady Jackson, another couple-of-plays-a-game guy that struggled with his weight.

The investments made previously in Joe Johnson and Jamal Reynolds quickly proved to be failed plans, leaving the Packers even further behind in the 2003 season. KGB made the Pro Bowl that year based purely on his sack statistics, but was a liability on most of the defensive snaps not involving those 10 sacks. The depletion of the line with the departure of Johnson and failure of Reynolds to develop left the Packers defensive line very vulnerable.

Now, looking back on that contract that Sherman wouldn't match for Vonnie Holliday, it does make you think how much different our line may have been if he would have shelled out. The line reached perhaps its lowest point in the 2005 season. It was during these years that Holliday was having some of his best seasons playing along the interior for the Chiefs and the Dolphins.

Interestingly enough, with the exception of a guy named BJ Sander, it is Mike Sherman's swings-and-misses along the defensive line that spelled the end of his days as GM of the Packers. The ill-advised selection of Jamal Reynolds, the free agency pickups of Grady Jackson and Joe Johnson, the overpaying (and subsequent overuse) of KGB and Cletidus Hunt, draft picks Kenny Peterson, James Lee, Donnell Washington, Corey Williams, ...the list goes on.

And now, the idea that Vonnie Holliday could return to the Packers to finish out his career, just months after KGB was cut from the team, makes you almost wonder if there wasn't some sort of curse hovering over this team since 2003. For years, things just haven't seemed to work out along that line, whether it be injuries, lack of production, or just plain failure to launch.

Would the signing of Holliday have changed some of the subsequent moves, like Hunt or KGB? Would the Packers have been set at DE for years with Kampman and Vonnie, allowing Cullen Jenkins to remain inside with Ryan Pickett? Would KGB have remained in his destructive role as a pass-rush specialist, instead of becoming a full-time mediocre defensive end?

Those are questions we'll never know the answer to. But, if you are looking to improve our DL, bring in some veteran leadership to a new scheme, and add "Packer People" to the roster, you could do worse than bringing back Vonnie Holliday.

And if there's a chance that signing him will break a six-year jinx along the line...?

So says a blog.

That blog lays things out much better than"After Sherman offered Joe Johnsin a huge contract they couldn't pay Holiday."

Interesting blog, but it kinda annoyed me with the blaming of the Jamal Reynolds pick on Sherman, when it was Wolf who drafted the guy. Blaming Sherman for that pick is pretty unfair...

 

[sho nuff]

Disappointing that we don't look interested in Holliday...though, the comments on JSonline are hilarious with people acting as if Vonnie would be Reggie like if he was signed. People get so pissed when Ted does not go after someone as if they are better scouting than the Packers.

They are going after LB Kevin Burnett. Been Ware's backup and worked some inside for the Cowboys. I remember only bits about him from the University of Tennessee and recall him being pretty athletic and agressive in his play. Seems he would at least bring some experience that we need at OLB. But nothing to get that excited about.

 

[VTjkru]

Disappointing that we don't look interested in Holliday...though, the comments on JSonline are hilarious with people acting as if Vonnie would be Reggie like if he was signed. People get so pissed when Ted does not go after someone as if they are better scouting than the Packers.

They are going after LB Kevin Burnett. Been Ware's backup and worked some inside for the Cowboys. I remember only bits about him from the University of Tennessee and recall him being pretty athletic and agressive in his play. Seems he would at least bring some experience that we need at OLB. But nothing to get that excited about.

The life of a Packers fan during the offseason, I'm just looking forward to preseason.

 

[ookook]

I would just love it if GB brought back Darren Sharper. I am pretty positive that he could play next to Nick Collins and I get willies thinking of Collins, Woodson, Harris, TWilliams, and Sharper back there.

Oh please no.Sharper is done.

Actually, I think Sharper has looked fine when I have watched the Vikings games. I would not want to spend too much or sign him for too long, but would be comfortable with him.

 

[sho nuff]

I would just love it if GB brought back Darren Sharper. I am pretty positive that he could play next to Nick Collins and I get willies thinking of Collins, Woodson, Harris, TWilliams, and Sharper back there.

Oh please no.Sharper is done.

Actually, I think Sharper has looked fine when I have watched the Vikings games. I would not want to spend too much or sign him for too long, but would be comfortable with him.

I disagree...he looks old and still takes too many chances and gets burnt too often.

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

Disappointing that we don't look interested in Holliday...though, the comments on JSonline are hilarious with people acting as if Vonnie would be Reggie like if he was signed. People get so pissed when Ted does not go after someone as if they are better scouting than the Packers.They are going after LB Kevin Burnett. Been Ware's backup and worked some inside for the Cowboys. I remember only bits about him from the University of Tennessee and recall him being pretty athletic and agressive in his play. Seems he would at least bring some experience that we need at OLB. But nothing to get that excited about.

I'm quite interested in Burnett. Seems like a very athletic guy that could do some damage in the right situation.And there's nothing to get excited about in Free Agency because Reggie White type free agent signing rarely happen. Albert Haynesworth was the big splash this year, and he couldn't hold Reggie's jock.

 

[sho nuff]

Disappointing that we don't look interested in Holliday...though, the comments on JSonline are hilarious with people acting as if Vonnie would be Reggie like if he was signed. People get so pissed when Ted does not go after someone as if they are better scouting than the Packers.They are going after LB Kevin Burnett. Been Ware's backup and worked some inside for the Cowboys. I remember only bits about him from the University of Tennessee and recall him being pretty athletic and agressive in his play. Seems he would at least bring some experience that we need at OLB. But nothing to get that excited about.

I'm quite interested in Burnett. Seems like a very athletic guy that could do some damage in the right situation.And there's nothing to get excited about in Free Agency because Reggie White type free agent signing rarely happen. Albert Haynesworth was the big splash this year, and he couldn't hold Reggie's jock.

Agreed...pretty much what the Bedard article laid out the other day...and he is hardly a TT supporter.

 

[Jeremy]

Disappointing that we don't look interested in Holliday...though, the comments on JSonline are hilarious with people acting as if Vonnie would be Reggie like if he was signed. People get so pissed when Ted does not go after someone as if they are better scouting than the Packers.

They are going after LB Kevin Burnett. Been Ware's backup and worked some inside for the Cowboys. I remember only bits about him from the University of Tennessee and recall him being pretty athletic and agressive in his play. Seems he would at least bring some experience that we need at OLB. But nothing to get that excited about.

The life of a Packers fan during the offseason, I'm just looking forward to preseason.

How many teams' fans are exited about their offseason so far? Washington got Haynesworth, but even their fans have to realize at some point that this strategy of making big moves in free agency isn't working for them. So I would imagine that tempers their enthusiam a bit. Maybe the Jets and Giants fans are excited by their additions. Maybe the Seahawks for getting Housh. There's not a lot of big names out there, so even getting barely above average talent is seen by some as a reason to get excited. Free agency isn't what it used to be. The best talent is tagged, the salary caps seem high enough that few teams get into cap trouble these days. The ones that do slip through usually have questionable character or are past their prime.

Hopefully we can lock up the good players we have and have a good draft. And we might get some nice players yet in free agency to build some depth and help with special teams.

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

Yeah, obviously I see more Bears coverage than anything else here and I think they've just signed one OL I've never heard of.

Minn. is waiting to see if some old guys leave. Not much excitement since Housh bailed. They traded for Sage Rosenfels... awesome.

Detroit is doing stuff but I don't think anyone is excited about it.

 

[BeaverCleaver]

Disappointing that we don't look interested in Holliday...though, the comments on JSonline are hilarious with people acting as if Vonnie would be Reggie like if he was signed. People get so pissed when Ted does not go after someone as if they are better scouting than the Packers.

They are going after LB Kevin Burnett. Been Ware's backup and worked some inside for the Cowboys. I remember only bits about him from the University of Tennessee and recall him being pretty athletic and agressive in his play. Seems he would at least bring some experience that we need at OLB. But nothing to get that excited about.

The life of a Packers fan during the offseason, I'm just looking forward to preseason.

Maybe the Jets and Giants fans are excited by their additions. Maybe the Seahawks for getting Housh.

Insert the word "yes" for "maybe".

 

[Chicago Hooligan]

Even though Jets fans should know better.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

In some good off-season news, my son (4yrs old) received his postcard from the Packers today and has moved up to #73,877 on the season ticket waiting list.

 

[jurrassic]

In some good off-season news, my son (4yrs old) received his postcard from the Packers today and has moved up to #73,877 on the season ticket waiting list.

I would like to do that. How do I get my kid on the waiting list?

 

[Kleck]

In some good off-season news, my son (4yrs old) received his postcard from the Packers today and has moved up to #73,877 on the season ticket waiting list.

I would like to do that. How do I get my kid on the waiting list?

Two options: Go to the stadium (ticket office?) or mail in your request.The club seats waiting list is separate from the general bowl seating waiting list, and is much shorter (5-10 years?). Club seats will run you $200/each though.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Season Ticket Waiting List Lambeau Field has been sold out on a season ticket basis since 1960 and we've been accumulating names on our legendary season ticket waiting list ever since. To add a name to the list, please send a written request and include the name, address, phone number and the number of tickets requested (limit four) to the Packers Ticket Office. Packers Ticket Office P.O. Box 10628 Green Bay, WI 54307-0628 Separate lists are maintained for our Club Seats and Private Boxes. Please express your interest in obtaining these premium seats to the attention of the Packers Premium Seating Department.

I make a practice of including a pre-addressed, stamped envelope as part of the baby gift I give friends, to make it easy for them to get their kids on the list. Makes an especially nice gift to my Bear and Viking fan buddies.

 

[Man in the yellow hat]

In some good off-season news, my son (4yrs old) received his postcard from the Packers today and has moved up to #73,877 on the season ticket waiting list.

I'm 54,000 and change. I did not know the club seats were different. I will check that out.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

one of my favorite Packer ticket stories:

About 10 years ago, my friend is on his way to Door County on his honeymoon and stops in Green Bay for a night to check out the HOF and do a stadium tour. He decides to stop by the ticket office to give them his updated address information for the waiting list. At breakfast that morning, he reads in a local paper that the director of the Packer ticket office just had a baby (this type of news is reported in Green Bay). Enters the ticket office and is talking to the director - congratulates him on his new baby and makes small talk about his honeymoon, the HOF, etc. Ticket director says, "wait a minute, I'll see what I can do for you." My friend is dumbfounded - hadn't asked for any favors or hinted anything. After 5 minutes, guy comes back and says, "o.k., I've got an endzone pair you can have, but they aren't directly adjacent." My friend is still confused, but after a short discussion realizes he has just by-passed 30,000 people or so and had just become a season ticket holder. I have used the seats many times - one is in the row in front of the other, and over a couple seats.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

Recent updates from Rotoworld....

Anthony Smith-DB- Steelers Mar. 5 - 1:42 pm et

The Packers are interested in free agent S Anthony Smith, according to the National Football Post.

The report states that Green Bay may "extend Smith an offer sheet." He was not tendered as a restricted free agent by the Steelers, however, so no offer sheet is needed. The former third-round pick is an unrestricted free agent.

Source: National Football Post

Related: Packers

Igor Olshansky-DL- Chargers Mar. 5 - 2:11 pm et

The Cowboys will host DE Igor Olshansky for a free agent visit on Friday.

The Packers were rumored to be pursuing Olshansky, but haven't contacted his agent. A big-bodied Russian, Olshansky could help replace Chris Canty.

Source: dallascowboys.com

Related: Cowboys, Packers

There are also recent updates about OLB Kevin Burnett and DE Jason Taylor. Green Bay hasn't contacted Taylor at all but they have a scheduled visit with Burnett. Problem is Burnett is currently visitin with Houston, then goes to San Diego and Oakland before his GB visit. If he's good, he won't make it to Wisconsin.

 

[Phurfur]

In some good off-season news, my son (4yrs old) received his postcard from the Packers today and has moved up to #73,877 on the season ticket waiting list.

I'm 54,000 and change. I did not know the club seats were different. I will check that out.

My son was put on the list when he was born in January of 1982. He is currently around 1100 on the list. I put my name on the list at the same time but moved to the "Gold Package" during the stadium expansion and received tickets that year.

 

[Kleck]

In some good off-season news, my son (4yrs old) received his postcard from the Packers today and has moved up to #73,877 on the season ticket waiting list.

I'm 54,000 and change. I did not know the club seats were different. I will check that out.

My son was put on the list when he was born in January of 1982. He is currently around 1100 on the list. I put my name on the list at the same time but moved to the "Gold Package" during the stadium expansion and received tickets that year.

Nice job. If my father was as good as you I'd have been enjoying season tickets for years now.I think I signed up just prior to the '95 season and am around 28k.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

In 2007, Smith infamously guaranteed a victory over the unbeaten New England Patriots and then was beaten for two touchdowns in a 34-13 loss.

oh yeah, I remember that guy ...Packers sign Anthony Smith

 

[Balco]

In 2007, Smith infamously guaranteed a victory over the unbeaten New England Patriots and then was beaten for two touchdowns in a 34-13 loss.

oh yeah, I remember that guy ...Packers sign Anthony Smith

Just read the article. Sounds like the Packers liked him when he was coming out. Knock on him is he is better near the line.

 

[Balco]

Packers interested in Keven Carter:

Journal Sentinel Article

Would be a nice signing. rotational end with versatility.

 

[sho nuff]

Open letter to Tramon Williams...shut the hell up and play football. Ted has shown over and over that if you do it the right way and are as valuable as you think (and you are), he will pay you. If you start running your mouth about holding out and start whining about money in March...you will just piss him off.

As for the Packers...quiet him down and extend him, Harris and Woodson are not getting any younger.

 

[griz145389]

Open letter to Tramon Williams...shut the hell up and play football. Ted has shown over and over that if you do it the right way and are as valuable as you think (and you are), he will pay you. If you start running your mouth about holding out and start whining about money in March...you will just piss him off.As for the Packers...quiet him down and extend him, Harris and Woodson are not getting any younger.

I don't think we have seen enough out of Tramon to warrant big money right now. I am pretty unimpressed with the guy. If we can sign him cheap, great, otherwise I hope we hold firm.Still waiting on a free agency signing that will be able to start for us......

 

[sho nuff]

Open letter to Tramon Williams...shut the hell up and play football. Ted has shown over and over that if you do it the right way and are as valuable as you think (and you are), he will pay you. If you start running your mouth about holding out and start whining about money in March...you will just piss him off.As for the Packers...quiet him down and extend him, Harris and Woodson are not getting any younger.

I don't think we have seen enough out of Tramon to warrant big money right now. I am pretty unimpressed with the guy. If we can sign him cheap, great, otherwise I hope we hold firm.Still waiting on a free agency signing that will be able to start for us......

I agree not the big money....but a bit more than I hear he is scheduled to make. I think Jarret Bush's tender was at something like a mil. Id be pissed if Bush was tendered at that too.Im puzzled by the Burnett thing...they were interested in him coming in...he did not sign anywhere...yet, he never came in for a visit. Speculation was that he too wanted GB to basically give him a monetary offer before getting on a plane to come visit. That was the last I heard on him.Looks like they are interested in Kevin Carter. Meh...older guy...good depth but again nothing exciting. Would rather have Holliday IMO.

 

[The Westin]

Open letter to Tramon Williams...shut the hell up and play football. Ted has shown over and over that if you do it the right way and are as valuable as you think (and you are), he will pay you. If you start running your mouth about holding out and start whining about money in March...you will just piss him off.As for the Packers...quiet him down and extend him, Harris and Woodson are not getting any younger.

The Ryan Grant deal set a precedent for this....the worry is that if TT signs him he will have to deal with this every year. I don't see that, and I'm sure the guy isn't asking for big money but his current contract does not equal his production or his position. He deserves a bigger deal, incentive based....he is most likely a starting corner for us in a few years so TT would be wise to lock him up

 

[Aaronstory]

As I wrote over at CHTV yesterday, I understand why the team hasn't moved - Williams has zero leverage. But that said, if I were Williams, and saw that Jarrett Bush was tendered at just over $1 million and my tender would have me making $460,000, well, I'd be pissed too...

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Its too bad Patrick Lee had such a poor rookie season and is effectively forgotten in the CB competition, allowing a player like Williams to make such demands. When Lee was drafted last Spring (one of three 2nd round picks), many expected him to compete for the #3 CB job behind Harris and Woodson. He'll need a very strong sophomore season to fullfill that draft-day promise.

 

[Aaronstory]

Its too bad Patrick Lee had such a poor rookie season and is effectively forgotten in the CB competition, allowing a player like Williams to make such demands. When Lee was drafted last Spring (one of three 2nd round picks), many expected him to compete for the #3 CB job behind Harris and Woodson. He'll need a very strong sophomore season to fullfill that draft-day promise.

I don't think he had a poor rookie season at all. He got hurt, it happens. When he was in there, particularly in the Tampa game, I thought he did well. I hope he gets a chance to crack the dime package in training camp because I think he's better at corner than Blackmon.

 

[bcr8f]

Its too bad Patrick Lee had such a poor rookie season and is effectively forgotten in the CB competition, allowing a player like Williams to make such demands. When Lee was drafted last Spring (one of three 2nd round picks), many expected him to compete for the #3 CB job behind Harris and Woodson. He'll need a very strong sophomore season to fullfill that draft-day promise.

I don't think he had a poor rookie season at all. He got hurt, it happens. When he was in there, particularly in the Tampa game, I thought he did well. I hope he gets a chance to crack the dime package in training camp because I think he's better at corner than Blackmon.

He will if he's healthy. I like Brohm better this year too.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

Its too bad Patrick Lee had such a poor rookie season and is effectively forgotten in the CB competition, allowing a player like Williams to make such demands. When Lee was drafted last Spring (one of three 2nd round picks), many expected him to compete for the #3 CB job behind Harris and Woodson. He'll need a very strong sophomore season to fullfill that draft-day promise.

I don't think he had a poor rookie season at all. He got hurt, it happens. When he was in there, particularly in the Tampa game, I thought he did well. I hope he gets a chance to crack the dime package in training camp because I think he's better at corner than Blackmon.

I would love to see more of the guy this year. Reading between the lines in McGinn's year end grades, it was essentially suggested that his knee wasn't really an issue, but he was moved to the IR with 5 or so weeks to play due mostly to a perception that he wasn't readly for the NFL - not even on special teams.Since Nelson plays a position of strength (a typical Thompson BPA pick) and Brohm was drafted to be a backup, it seems the team has seen very little if any impact from the three first day picks last year, so it would be great to see Lee turn things around.

 

[scrumptrulescent]

Anyone have any Kevin Burnett updates? Is he coming to town or not?

 

[sho nuff]

Its too bad Patrick Lee had such a poor rookie season and is effectively forgotten in the CB competition, allowing a player like Williams to make such demands. When Lee was drafted last Spring (one of three 2nd round picks), many expected him to compete for the #3 CB job behind Harris and Woodson. He'll need a very strong sophomore season to fullfill that draft-day promise.

I don't think he had a poor rookie season at all. He got hurt, it happens. When he was in there, particularly in the Tampa game, I thought he did well. I hope he gets a chance to crack the dime package in training camp because I think he's better at corner than Blackmon.

I would love to see more of the guy this year. Reading between the lines in McGinn's year end grades, it was essentially suggested that his knee wasn't really an issue, but he was moved to the IR with 5 or so weeks to play due mostly to a perception that he wasn't readly for the NFL - not even on special teams.Since Nelson plays a position of strength (a typical Thompson BPA pick) and Brohm was drafted to be a backup, it seems the team has seen very little if any impact from the three first day picks last year, so it would be great to see Lee turn things around.

While Nelson plays a position of strength, I don't think its fair to say he had little if any impact. When Jones and Martin were hurt Nelson played quite a bit of time and made some nice catches.

 

[Aaronstory]

Anyone have any Kevin Burnett updates? Is he coming to town or not?

As of now, he is not.http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/ic/blo...ed-packers.html

There’s no more reason to think free-agent linebacker Kevin Burnett will be signing with the Green Bay Packers now than there was going into last weekend.

Burnett still hasn’t visited the Packers, which is a sign his contract talks with the Oakland Raiders and San Diego Chargers still are alive and the price remains higher than the Packers are willing to go. Burnett also has visited the Houston Texans, though it's unclear whether Houston still is trying to sign him at this point.

Burnett’s agent, Ricky Lefft, has been unavailable for comment since late last week, when he said Burnett might visit the Packers over the weekened. That visit hasn’t materialized, and until it does, the Packers can’t be considered a serious bidder.

The Packers are looking at Burnett as a solid, versatile performer who could play three or even all four linebacker jobs and perhaps challenge for a starting spot at right outside linebacker. If Oakland and San Diego are looking to sign him as a surefire starter, though, they’ll probably be willing to pay substantially more than the Packers.

 

[Love That Joker]

 

[Jeremy]

Burnett signs with San Diego:

Burnett agreed to a two-year contract with San Diego. Burnett's deal is worth $5.5 million with a $2 million signing bonus. Burnett's base salaries are guaranteed whether or not he gets injured or released. So, he receives about $4 million in guaranteed money. Burnett's agent Ricky Lefft said the Cowboys made a late play for the linebacker but the financial package wasn't good enough. Oakland, San Francisco, Tennessee Houston and Green Bay had expressed interest in Burnett, who finished second on the team in special teams tackles with 19. Burnett, as the third down linebacker, had 38 total tackles, two sacks, four quarterback pressures and three passes defended

http://cowboysblog.dallasnews.com/archives...e-chargers.htmlDoesn't sound like the Cowboys fans are too sad to see him go.

 

[sho nuff]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.

Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

 

[griz145389]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

Doesn't really matter to me what the reason is. Results should be what matters, and so far this free agency period has been a disappointment.

 

[Aaronstory]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.

Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

Doesn't really matter to me what the reason is. Results should be what matters, and so far this free agency period has been a disappointmentgreat because Thompson hasn't drastically overspent on marginal players.

Fixed.

 

[griz145389]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.

Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

Doesn't really matter to me what the reason is. Results should be what matters, and so far this free agency period has been a disappointmentgreat because Thompson hasn't drastically overspent on marginal players.

Fixed.

Sorry I forgot how important it is to stay way under the cap every year. Because if we spent some money, we wouldn't be so far under the cap, and everyone knows how important it is to stay way under the cap. I am hoping that we can be at least 10 million under the cap this year, but 15 would be even better.

 

[sho nuff]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

Doesn't really matter to me what the reason is. Results should be what matters, and so far this free agency period has been a disappointment.

Results are what matters. And results don't come in March.Ive read quite a bit on Burnett. While Im disappointed we did not pursue him...and I would have liked him. Dallas let him go basically because they never saw him as a starter.Its not like he is some huge talent out there (there is/was very little of that in FA this year IMO). Lots of marginal guys and role players.

 

[sho nuff]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.

Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

Doesn't really matter to me what the reason is. Results should be what matters, and so far this free agency period has been a disappointmentgreat because Thompson hasn't drastically overspent on marginal players.

Fixed.

Sorry I forgot how important it is to stay way under the cap every year. Because if we spent some money, we wouldn't be so far under the cap, and everyone knows how important it is to stay way under the cap. I am hoping that we can be at least 10 million under the cap this year, but 15 would be even better.

I think the Packers ended the season around $5 mil under IIRC.Oh...and notice some things around the league...cap space going into the next offseason may be seen as a premium (that according to Andrew Brandt on ESPN radio Tuesday night).

Now...some of you please don't take this as me just being a TT homer (some of you will). I want them to do more this offseason and feel they missed out on a chance at a decent guy.

I hope they do make a few more moves as I think we need it.

 

[CletiusMaximus]

I am not certain, but my impression is that the Packers did not leave any cap money on the table last year and were able to carry several million forward through the LTBE loophole.

One thing that always bugs me is the misleading nature of the media reports during the early part of free agency. We really have no idea if the Packers were ever interested in Burnett or Canty or Olshansky. It seems that sports writers (just doing their jobs, I understand) begin writing about guys just because someone from the Packers made a phone call to an agent. When the player eventually signs elsewhere, its portrayed as another player who got away from us because Thompson wouldn't spend any money. None of these guys have even been invited to come to Wisconsin and meet with the team, but its portrayed as though it was a huge loss. Is't it much more likely that Thompson never had any real interest in these guys to begin with?

 

[sho nuff]

I am not certain, but my impression is that the Packers did not leave any cap money on the table last year and were able to carry several million forward through the LTBE loophole.One thing that always bugs me is the misleading nature of the media reports during the early part of free agency. We really have no idea if the Packers were ever interested in Burnett or Canty or Olshansky. It seems that sports writers (just doing their jobs, I understand) begin writing about guys just because someone from the Packers made a phone call to an agent. When the player eventually signs elsewhere, its portrayed as another player who got away from us because Thompson wouldn't spend any money. None of these guys have even been invited to come to Wisconsin and meet with the team, but its portrayed as though it was a huge loss. Is't it much more likely that Thompson never had any real interest in these guys to begin with?

Looks like Canty and Burnett were invited to come in. But neither would without talking $$$ first. That from both of their agents.The speculation that the lack of interest in Burnett was financial (mostly by Bedard and the agent) seems odd...as Burnett did not get that much money. I think part of what Bedard says is right on though, TT has a lot of faith in his guys. I see it with some of them...others I think he believes too much in (Lansanah is the main one I think Ted is too enamored with and it cost the team Tracy White).

 

[Aaronstory]

Reading about him and remember how he was in college...I thought he was worth a shot.

Wondering if they felt him more of an inside guy and think they are ok there for now and more interested in outside guys and DEs than another ILB. Who knows...but the interest seemed to go away pretty quick. Some will say $$$...but nobody really knows. Sure is possible.

Doesn't really matter to me what the reason is. Results should be what matters, and so far this free agency period has been a disappointmentgreat because Thompson hasn't drastically overspent on marginal players.

Fixed.

Sorry I forgot how important it is to stay way under the cap every year.

It is when you have the boatload of players the Packers have entering free agency in 2010. Championships are won in December and January, not in March. The Packers are much closer to the 13-3 team of 2007 than the 6-10 team of 2008 and no backup linebaker is going to take them over the top. I'd much rather Thompson used that money to extend Kampman, Jennings and Tramon Williams.