Packers sign long-snapper Gafford

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Packers sign long-snapper Gafford

In a move that perhaps could mean the end for veteran Rob Davis, the Packers signed free-agent long-snapper Thomas Gafford. The move was not announced by the team but showed up on the transaction sent out to NFL teams at the end of league business on Wednesday.

Gafford, who played his college football at Houston, was with the Packers during the 2006 training camp. At the time, he was viewed as a potential replacement for Davis.

The Packers have not yet re-signed Davis, who has been their long snapper since 1997. Davis has expressed an interest in returning for another season but if he doesn't play, he likely would accept a position in the Packers' player development department. He assisted in that area last season while he was playing.

A pair of free agents visited the Packers on Wednesday, according to a source with access to the league transaction wire. Linebacker Brandon Chillar and defensive end Corey Smith both toured the Packers' facility.


-- Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com

[KYPack]

Davis had a bad day in the wind at Chi.

He goes, and we are now the youngest team in the league for sure.

[The Leaper]

Davis has been slipping for a couple of years now. He's still an adequate long snapper, but he is no longer the elite one he once was. The accuracy and strength on his snaps have declined considerably, and as KY points out it was very evident in the windy Chicago game.

As a long time veteran, he also would cost about twice as much as a younger long snap specialist.

I think with Favre's departure, this is probably as good a time as any to move Davis into a front office role where he can deal with the players full-time in that capacity...as he has earned a lot of respect in the Packers locker room.

I agree KY...we have a chance to be the youngest team in the league again in 2008 after losing two guys that were pushing 40. We certainly will be in the top 5 youngest teams. That is why I can't agree with the people who want to dump KGB and other veterans for more kids. We have enough kids as it is...we need to hold onto some of our veterans at this point.

[RashanGary]

Chillar was here on Wednesday. That's interesting.

Everythign I read he's a spitting image of Poppinga. Same general size. Same general strengths. Same general weaknesses. I went to the ST Louis board adn they said he became a solid starter last year. Up until last year they said they felt he was a weak link but he took a step forward. They now feel he's a solid starter that will be tough to replace.

He sounds like a slightly improved Poppinga. Patler had a post in a different Chillar thread that said just a slight upgrade to Poppinga's coverage skills might be enough. I thought that was pretty spot on. Our SLB is only a 2 down LB so it's not like he has to be a stud in coverage. He should be adiqaute though. If this guy is as tough as Poppinga and covers a little better (like the write ups suggest) he might be the perfect fit. He also comes from a bad team so he might be underrated.

[RashanGary]

Signing Chillar would be a pretty nice improvement to our LB corp IMO. Poppinga moves to backup/ST guy and I think he's perfect in that role. Then you have Bishop developing in the wings. Hopefully he takes steps foward and maybe we pick up another draft pick to develop

Hawk/Barnett/Chillar (starters)
Poppinga (top backup/ST)
Bishop/Draft Pick (developmental/ST)

I think that's a pretty solid LB corp.

[LL2]

Whoo Hoo! TT is making some nice post Favre era moves to keep the Pack competitivE! :roll:

[Bretsky]

2 free agent signings in the first couple weeks :lol: