July

July 18, 2008   

No news is good news on Jolly, Grant

A noteworthy byproduct of the continuing Brett Favre saga is how completely it has been overshadowing other potentially serious team issues — most notably the felony drug-possession charges recently levied against DT Johnny Jolly and the uncertain contract status of RB Ryan Grant, a possible no-show in training came if he doesn’t, at the least, sign a one-year, $370,000 tender offer as an exclusive-rights free agent. “Wish I could help you,” a frustrated team observer told PFW regarding the tight lid the Packers’ organization has put on media relations as of late. “It’s all Brett, all the time right now.” Team sources have thought for some time now that a long-term deal for Grant could involve some pretty delicate negotiations, considering that his emergence at the pro level is primarily based on only one half-season in a starting role. That said, although it could go right down to the wire, the smart money is on Grant securing a new deal before camp opens. Meanwhile, the suddenly uncertain status of Jolly — who could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, if convicted, for possession of codeine syrup — makes an interior defensive line already decimated by a host of injuries (including Jolly’s shoulder) an even bigger cause for concern.

July 11, 2008   

Favre wants to play again, but will it be in Green Bay?

Brett Favre

Updated at 1 a.m. EDT Sunday, July 13

Full-blown speculation had been the order of the day on the subject of whether or not Brett Favre actually was planning on ending his retirement before it really even started — until Saturday. That’s when Packers GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy addressed the flurry of reports regarding Favre, confirming that the veteran quarterback, after an offseason of indecision, was ready to scrap his retirement plans and commit to playing football in 2008. Thompson and McCarthy indicated that they would welcome Favre’s return but that his role was not defined, considering the team had predicated its offseason planning around Aaron Rodgers being the starting quarterback. The Favre camp has asked the Packers to release the QB, but that seems unlikely. Now, the burning questions are: What will Favre’s role be if he comes back as a Packer? Or, will he leave Green Bay for another team? Stay tuned.

June

June 25, 2008   

Taylor looks like unlikely fit in Green Bay

In more than a few ways, a deal that would dispatch disgruntled DE Jason Taylor from Miami to Green Bay actually makes a lot of sense. Taylor would be playing for a strong playoff contender, which he has mentioned as a major criterion in his career moving forward. In addition, the Packers would be fortifying a pass rush that lost some of its potency down the stretch last season and could use another end to possibly replace Cullen Jenkins, who might be better-served moving inside, where injuries to DTs Johnny Jolly, James Harrell and Daniel Muir have taken a toll. But the way we hear it, while the Packers have indeed given such a trade some consideration, the odds of Taylor landing in Green Bay are extremely slim. Word is it could be a different story if the Packers had any real concerns about the recovery from offseason knee surgery by veteran situational sack specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. “But there’s nothing wrong with ‘KGB,’ " a longtime team insider told PFW. “I just don’t see it happening. It’s too unlike (Packers GM Ted) Thompson, and Jenkins is a better base end than tackle.” Another fly in the ointment is Taylor’s apparent preference to play on a team in a major TV market that is close to either Florida or California.

June 13, 2008   

Harrell's injury woes persist

Justin Harrell

If you’re looking for the most disappointing aspect of the Packers’ just-concluded OTAs, look no further than 2007 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell, who was shut down after injuring a disc lifting weights and undergoing minor back surgery in mid-April. In a perfect world, plans call for Harrell to be part of a quality three-man DT rotation this coming season, along with veteran Ryan Pickett — who normally comes out on passing downs and plays exclusively on the left side — and Johnny Jolly, who was coming on strong last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 10. But Harrell, who has been hurt more often than not since becoming the 16th overall pick in the 2007 draft, is now falling behind the curve for the second straight season. Still recovering from a torn biceps suffered in his final season at Tennessee, Harrell didn’t participate in any contact drills during Green Bay’s pre-training-camp activities last season. Never close to being in the kind of shape he needed to be, according to daily team observers, Harrell later came up lame with an ankle injury that forced him to miss five games in midseason. Although he did flash some decent run-stopping skills in his time on the field in ’07, he showed no ability at all as a pass rusher. The Packers now must hope he is better-equipped to bounce back from injury than he was last season. If there’s any good news, it’s that both Harrell and Jolly are expected to be fully ready for training camp at the end of July.       

May

May 29, 2008   

Changing of the guards could be constant

The early word this offseason is that as many as five different players could be shuttled in and out of the guard positions on a fairly regular basis in 2008 — primary 2007 starters Jason Spitz (ORG) and Daryn Colledge (OLG), athletically gifted fourth-year pro Junius Coston, promising second-year pro Allen Barbre and fourth-round rookie Josh Sitton. We hear Barbre — whose rookie action was limited as he adapted full time to the OG position after playing tackle in college — could be destined for the biggest boost in playing time. In early OTAs, Barbre was rotating at left guard with Colledge, who told team insiders that he welcomed the competition, and that he was feeling much stronger this season after spending much of his time since the end of the ’07 season in the weight room. But with all five linemen being extremely versatile, different combinations could be on tap throughout the season. “Barbre’s strength is his toughness and aggressiveness,” a longtime team insider told PFW. “Coston might have the most pure ability; he really runs well when he’s healthy. And don’t overlook this Sitton kid.” Sitton reminds many Packers onlookers of Mark Tauscher when the team’s starting right tackle first came on the scene as a seventh-round pick in 2000. “The more I see of Sitton, the more he looks like a player,” the team insider said.

May 16, 2008   

Rookie QBs look like real deal

Forget about a fringe veteran like Daunte Culpepper. Same goes for Craig Nall, who clung to a roster spot as the No. 3 quarterback last season. Moving forward, team sources tell us the Packers appear to have complete confidence in the abilities of a pair of rookies — second-round pick Brian Brohm and seventh-round pick Matt Flynn — as the backup signalcallers behind Aaron Rodgers. “They’re very satisfied with both guys,” said one longtime team insider who got an up-close look at Brohm and Flynn in Green Bay’s minicamp in early May. “Brohm has a pretty good arm, a little better than Flynn’s,” the insider told PFW. “He looked healthy — which has been an issue — and he showed some mobility. As for Flynn, (Packers GM Ted) Thompson was shocked he was still available in the seventh round. He looked pretty decent. As big a thing as any with both guys is that they were winners in strong college programs.” The numbers don’t lie. Brohm posted a 24-9 record as a starter at Louisville, including an Orange Bowl victory following the 2006 season. Flynn, who waited patiently behind JaMarcus Russell before becoming the starting QB at LSU, had an 11-2 mark as a starter and led the Tigers to the national championship last year. Could either rookie QB, particularly Brohm, immediately challenge Rodgers, who has yet to start a game at the pro level? We hear that’s extremely unlikely. Since checking in March 17 for the start of the team’s offseason workout program, we’re told Rodgers has established a strong, confident presence in the locker room that has the team’s coaches genuinely excited about his future. 

May 9, 2008   

Punting battle may be brewing

With none of the Packers’ 2008 draft picks expected to make a major impact right away, we hear the newcomer most likely to quickly make his presence felt could be undrafted free-agent P Ken DeBauche, who was signed to a contract after an impressive early-April workout in Green Bay. Word is DeBauche, who has been working to improve his craft under the direction of former NFL special-teams coach and Milwaukee native Gary Zauner, has looked good enough to mount a serious challenge of incumbent Jon Ryan for the starting punting job. Ryan actually had a pretty solid season in 2007 (his 37.6 net average ranked 12th in the NFL), but a few late-season meltdowns, particularly a wretched effort against the Bears in Chicago in Week 16, might have put him on notice. Two other factors that we hear might help DeBauche’s cause: (1) He also excels as a holder; and (2) He’s a local kid who played three sports at Bay Port High School, just outside of Green Bay, and would figure to be a big fan favorite.

April

April 25, 2008   

Leadership-by-committee in store for Pack

Not surprisingly, the void Aaron Rodgers is being asked to fill at the QB position following the retirement of Packers legend Brett Favre is a red-hot topic in Green Bay and beyond. At the same time, the Packers’ void in leadership without Favre — as well as fellow retiree and longtime long-snapper Rob Davis, whose strength in the locker room was his greatest quality — hasn’t been discussed nearly as much. It’s important to note that Davis is still likely to provide plenty of valuable leadership in his new role as the Packers’ director of player development. But clearly, new on-the-field leaders are needed. According to team insiders, there are probably three veteran starters for sure — WR Donald Driver, ORT Mark Tauscher and DLE Aaron Kampman — who can be counted on to take on greater leadership roles. Said one team insider: “Driver is a seventh-round pick who came from nowhere. He’s as tough as they come and is very community-oriented. Tauscher is also tough as nails, having overcome a torn ACL. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s constantly in the weight room. Kampman is another guy who came from dirt. He doesn’t dodge the media and is very religious, which should appeal to that particular sector of the team.” Other Packers players who were mentioned as leaders to a lesser extent: DT Ryan Pickett, MLB Nick Barnett and steady C Scott Wells.

April 18, 2008   

Longtime long-snapper ready for new role

Aside from the obvious case of Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre at quarterback, the Packers’ starting lineup in Week One of 2008 is expected to look pretty much the same as the one that finished up what turned out to be a storybook season in ’07. There is one other player, however, who had been a key part of the mix in Green Bay for almost as long as Favre who will not be back in ’08 — at least not on the field. We’re speaking of 12-year veteran long-snapper Rob Davis, who has retired but will continue to work for the Packers as director of player development — a role for which he has been groomed for some time now. While Davis was a very steady long-snapper most of his career with the Packers — his 167 games played ranks third in team history behind Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187) — daily team observers definitely noticed a decline in his play last season. Davis didn’t make any tackles on punt returns (as he had done on occasion in the past). He also had his share of protection problems and had trouble responding to various run combinations. The front-runner to replace Davis is recently signed Thomas Gafford, who previously had lost a training-camp battle to Davis in ’06 but, according to team insiders, impressed the incumbent with his ability at that time. We hear Gafford will likely compete with 1-2 other players for the long-snapping job this summer, including a possible late-round draft choice.  

April 4, 2008   

Packers target backup for Rodgers in draft

There are many in league circles who thought the Packers might have acquired a veteran clipboard carrier by now via trade or free agency to back up new starting QB Aaron Rodgers, whose durability has to be a major concern, considering he’s already suffered two season-ending injuries in limited play. But the way we hear it, it appears the Packers might have been planning all along to find a quality backup for Rodgers in the upcoming draft. They believe the ’08 draft is deep enough at the QB position to unearth a first-day talent similar to Trent Edwards, who turned out to be a great third-round pick for the Bills in ’07. One online draft prognosticator actually has the Packers selecting Louisville’s Brad Brohm with their first pick near the end of the first round (30th overall). But our sources have a hard time envisioning that scenario. “If they take a QB No. 1, the position would become more of an open competition, and I don’t think they want to put Rodgers in that kind of situation,” one veteran team insider told PFW. But drafting a quarterback such as Delaware’s Joe Flacco or Michigan’s Chad Henne with their second or third pick is a much different story. “That’s got potential,” the source said, “especially with the ammo they have that could allow them to move up (the 56th and 60th overall picks, in the second round).”

March

March 26, 2008   

New deal for Grant hardly a stretch

On coincidentally the same day that Brandon Chillar signed a new deal with the Packers, PFW asked Chillar’s agent, Alan Herman of Sportstars Inc., just how far down the road he envisioned a new contract for fellow client Ryan Grant. With the Packers having cap money to burn — more than $35 million including the cap charge for Brett Favre, who at this writing had yet to turn in his retirement papers — and Grant coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he was one of the league’s most dynamic running backs the second half of the season, Herman confirmed that it hardly takes a genius to connect the dots. “From all the rhetoric that I’ve seen about the Packers preferring to take care of their own before they reach free agency, and also looking at what Ryan accomplished last year, I would like to think the timing is right to get something done for a significant period of time,” Herman told PFW. At this writing, the Packers had yet to officially open talks with Herman, who the day after talking to PFW told the Green Bay Press-Gazette that Grant would not sign his $370,000 minimum tender for an exclusive-rights player with only one accrued season in the NFL. Grant is planning on full-scale involvement in the Packers’ spring offseason program, however, and while team insiders believe there could be some pretty lively discussions at some point between the Packers and Grant’s agents over the actual value of a running back who has been an elite performer for only half a pro season, the odds still seem pretty strong that a new deal will be struck later this offseason. Said Herman: “Ryan absolutely loves Green Bay — the team and the players — and we plan on fostering as good a working relationship with the Packers as possible toward reaching a long-term agreement that will benefit both sides.”

March 21, 2008   

Chillar figures prominently in LB mix

GM Ted Thompson, who has become known for very carefully picking his spots in free agency, decided to make ex-Rams LB Brandon Chillar only the second unrestricted free agent signed by the Packers in the last two seasons Wednesday. Chillar, the Rams’ starter at strong-side linebacker the past two seasons, signed a two-year deal worth $5.4 million, with an additional $1 million available in incentives, according to Sportstars Inc., the agency representing him. Chillar had appeared to be leaning toward signing with the Cardinals, which would have landed him closer to his California roots, but with Larry Fitzgerald’s whopping new deal in Arizona not yet officially finalized for salary-cap purposes, the Packers swooped back into the fray with an offer Chillar couldn’t refuse. “The quality and talent in Green Bay, as well as the opportunity to play there, was enough to sway him,” Sportstars agent Alan Herman told PFW. “It was more than enough to make him willing to leave his beach board out in California and pick up a snowboard in Green Bay.” Team insiders tell us Chillar will have a legitimate shot at challenging incumbent Brady Poppinga for the starting SLB job. Interestingly, the team just recently began “preliminary” talks for a new contract with Poppinga, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next year. More competition at strong-side linebacker and more pop in the team’s pass rush were considered top priorities in Green Bay entering the offseason. Indirectly, the Chillar signing might have satisfied both needs, with Poppinga, who played end in college, possibly expanding his role and becoming a part-time pass-rush specialist.

March 12, 2008   

Revamped QB position a work in progress

While we’re told the Packers’ braintrust believes that former first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers is more than ready to step into the QB spotlight now that Brett Favre has finally retired, there is no hiding the continued concern in the organization about Rodgers’ ability to take punishment — one of Favre’s most endearing qualities. Despite his extremely limited play the last three seasons, Rodgers has been sidelined on two different occasions with a broken foot and a pulled hamstring, and even if there were no concerns at all about his durability, the need for possible reinforcements is huge, with UFA Craig Nall the only other option at present under center. While we hear the Packers are considering re-signing Nall, we’re also told the search for proven backup help has been ongoing, with numerous options being rumored via both free agency and trade. At the top of the list is ex-Jaguars QB Quinn Gray, who team insiders tell us has been on the Packers’ radar screen long before Favre officially called it quits. Other UFAs still on the Green Bay grapevine include Mark Brunell, Gus Frerotte, Tim Hasselbeck and perhaps even Daunte Culpepper, although there are doubts about how well Culpepper would fit in the Packers’ system. Trade possibilities include Sage Rosenfels (Texans), Chad Pennington (Jets) and J.P. Losman (Bills), with Rosenfels considered the most likely option, probably in exchange for a mid-round draft pick. Speaking of draft picks, we hear the Packers are also a very good bet to spend at least of one of their ‘08 selections — possibly a first-day pick — on a signalcaller to round out the depth chart.

March 7, 2008   

Packers didn't 'beg' Favre to keep playing

Did the Packers try as hard as they could to convince Brett Favre to reconsider his stunning retirement announcement earlier this week? According to both Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, and his brother, Scott, the answer would be “no” to that question. In an emotional press conference in Green Bay late Thursday morning, Favre emphatically said the fact there might not have been much of a sense of urgency on the Packers’ part had nothing to do with his decision. That said, team insiders tell us the Packers probably could have tried harder to get Favre to come back for another season. Said one team insider: “Did they want him to come back? Yes. But let’s put it this way: They certainly didn’t beg him, and Brett likes to be begged.” As for the possibility that Favre might have been turned off by the fact the Packers did not make an attempt to land WR Randy Moss before Moss re-signed with New England — as had been rumored on a few national Internet sources — our team sources have no knowledge of that being any kind of a factor whatsoever. Based on the fact that Green Bay’s receiving corps came on so strong last season without Moss and has emerged as one of the league’s deepest and most talented units, the consensus actually seems to be that acquiring Moss wouldn’t have made any difference in Favre’s final decision.        

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

McCarthy sings Grant's praises

Did Packers head coach Mike McCarthy have any idea at all that RB Ryan Grant was going to turn into one of the league’s more dominant running backs after he inserted him into the starting lineup for the first time in Week Eight this past season? “I knew Ryan was going to play that well; I just didn’t know it in Week One,” McCarthy told PFW at the Combine in Indianapolis late last week. “No, I think Ryan was a great surprise for us. He came in, and we really liked what he did in the preseason. I thought he’d be a core special-teams player and be able to contribute. But I think he’s another excellent example of a young player that took advantage of a great opportunity and was very productive. He’s another player I’m looking forward to being around in the offseason program who can maybe add a few pounds, add some strength. It will be exciting to see how he builds off of this past season.” Expounding on the RB corps in the Indiana Convention Center lobby after addressing the national media, McCarthy told PFW that 2007 seventh-round rookie RB DeShawn Wynn, who spent the second half of the ’07 season on injured reserve, has been raising eyebrows with his rehab efforts at team headquarters. “(Strength and conditioning coordinator) Rock Gullickson is really fired up about DeShawn,” McCarthy said. “We think he still could have a very promising career.”

Feb. 22, 2008   

Williams' tag takes sources by surprise

Updated at 6:25 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 22

Team sources had clearly expected the Packers to release TE Bubba Franks, who had gone steadily downhill since signing a five-year, $17.5 million contract in 2005 and would have been on the books for $3.5 million in ’08 — a ridiculous expenditure for a player who had become a backup tight end who primarily was used as a blocker. But the Packers’ decision to give DT Corey Williams the franchise designation, the team’s first franchise/transition tag since giving Franks the transition tag three seasons ago, came as a bit of a surprise, considering the $6.363 million they will be forced to dole out for a player who has plenty of company at his deep DT position. The bottom line, as it turned out, was that the Packers felt they had enough money at their disposal to keep Williams around — about $20 million under the cap after the Franks and Williams maneuvers, to be specific. After getting nowhere in talks with Williams’ agent on a long-term deal, Packers management may be willing to take the risk that Williams, who has been a quality inside pass rusher the last couple of seasons, won’t be turned off and, consequently, turn into a less productive player the same way that Franks did. “We thought it was a simple decision,” Packers GM Ted Thompson told PFW at the Combine. “Corey is a good, young, durable player who has lots of versatility and is real good in the locker room. It’s a device that allows us to have some control as far as keeping him around. We just thought it was the right thing to do.” Another possible scenario, we hear, is that the Packers could sign Williams to the one-year tender and then trade him.

Feb. 15, 2008   

DT Williams appears too pricey at deep position

Packers GM Ted Thompson said earlier this week that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of using the franchise tag on DT Corey Williams, the team’s most noteworthy unrestricted free agent. But the way we hear it, with Williams very possibly looking like the best defensive tackle available in free agency — provided the Titans re-sign or franchise Albert Haynesworth — the Packers would have a real tough time matching the double-digit guaranteed money Williams would probably receive on the open market from another team. This especially appears to be the case, considering how deep the Packers appear to be at defensive tackle, with Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and ’07 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell also in the mix. If Williams departs for greener pastures, the Packers will be banking on Jolly, who was playing well before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the 10th game in ’07, being fully healed in time for the next training camp. While the process is expected to be slow but sure, we hear Jolly should be ready to go full tilt by late July. As for Harrell, much bigger things are expected in ’08 after a full offseason in the team’s conditioning program.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Cap expert Brandt will be missed

Updated at 9:35 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 5

While waiting for QB Brett Favre to make up his mind about next season, and as the final details were being worked out in a new five-year contract for head coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers’ organization was thrown a curve Jan. 28 when vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt announced his resignation. Although nobody saw the move coming, team insiders who said Brandt was genuinely disappointed after losing out to Mark Murphy for the team’s president and CEO post are hardly surprised by his decision to seek new challenges after advancing as far as he thought he could go in the Packers’ front office. Brandt’s replacement as the team’s salary-cap manager — we hear vice-president of administration-corporate counsel Jason Wied will handle contract negotiations for the time being until a new hire is made — will definitely have his work cut out for him. By locking up a number of key players long-term before their contracts expired — such as DE Aaron Kampman, OT Chad Clifton and WR Donald Driver — and structuring Favre’s contract so that the team will actually gain between $10-14 million in cap room when he finally does decide to retire, Brandt has created one of the league’s most cushy salary-cap situations at present. Not only is the team about $24 million beneath the salary cap at present, it also has only one key player, DT Corey Williams, eligible for unrestricted free agency.