Packers sign Chillar

[TennesseePackerBacker]

The Green Bay Packers are on the free agent scoreboard.

They have agreed to terms with St. Louis linebacker Brandon Chillar on a two-year, $5.2 million contract, according to a source close to the negotiations. The Packers have not announced the deal.


full article

http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/archive/2008/03/19/chillar-takes-packers-offer.aspx

[K-town]

Does this mean someone's going to have to change their signature?

ESPN has this guy as the best of the remaining (young) free agents.

Here's that link:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=3297724

[Partial]

wow. In before hell freezes over.

[MadScientist]

wow. In before hell freezes over.
Well there's another snowstorm coming, on the first day of 'spring' no less. Is that close enough?

Good to see TT pick up a guy in FA with a reasonable shot at starting and upgrading the position. Hope he turns out like Pickett and Woodson have in that regard.

[HarveyWallbangers]

This might be the first time that Ted Thompson has signed or drafted a player that I wanted them to get--besides A.J. Hawk.
:D

http://packerrats.com/ratchat/viewtopic.php?t=11471&highlight=brandon+chillar

I guess I liked Pickett too.

[Joemailman]

Somebody better check on Bretsky.

[Partial]

Bretsky... are you still with us??

The news might have taken him out!!

[SkinBasket]

This might be the first time that Ted Thompson has signed or drafted a player that I wanted them to get--besides A.J. Hawk.
:D

http://packerrats.com/ratchat/viewtopic.php?t=11471&highlight=brandon+chillar

I guess I liked Pickett too.


That highlight thing is nifty. I didn't know you were a computer dork.

I hope he's better than Poppinga and not just the same guy with a different name.

[Lurker64]

Funny how just yesterday Green Bay dropped out of the running for Chillar (http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers/19561).

The NFL offseason is a funny time. This will be an interesting camp battle to watch.


That highlight thing is nifty. I didn't know you were a computer dork.

I believe the forums do that automatically when you find a thread via the search function. It will always highlight the word or words that you searched for.

[Brohm]

Nice. Some competition for Popps as well as setting the bar at a reasonable level on contract extension.

[TennesseePackerBacker]

This is a pretty big signing for a very cheap price. Not only does it bolster the depth of our OLB's, but also bolsters the depth of our special teams as well.

wtg teddy

[GoPackGo]

Way to go TT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[twoseven]

Very happy about this signing!

I said before Chillar agreed to terms that I wanted the Chillar situation and/or the draft to play out BEFORE Brady gets a new deal.

Is it safe to ask why we would extend Poppinga now that Chillar has signed? Shouldn't Pop now outplay this guy before we throw more money at him? Chillar is three years younger than Pop.

[swede]

I'm glad this kid got signed.

It'll take him awhile to get paid.

TT will stand there with the change jar heaving a big sigh every time he pulls out a quarter and drops it in Chillar's hand.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Very happy about this signing!

I said before Chillar agreed to terms that I wanted the Chillar situation and/or the draft to play out BEFORE Brady gets a new deal.

Is it safe to ask why we would extend Poppinga now that Chillar has signed? Shouldn't Pop now outplay this guy before we throw more money at him? Chillar is three years younger than Pop.

Shrewd move, I think. Here's my speculation. The Packers went into the offseason thinking that they'd bring in some FA competition for Poppinga... for the right price. They went after a few guys, but the price was too high. Chillar was dragging his feet and looked like he'd sign elsewhere, so they looked into a long-term contract with Poppinga. (Maybe deciding they'd bring in competition via the draft.) My speculation is that Poppinga thinks he's worth more than the Packers think he's worth, so they went back to plan A. They signed this guy, they'll let Poppinga and Chillar fight it out for a starting gig, and then they will look to sign the starter when their contracts are up in two years. Or maybe they'll have a young guy ready to step into a starting role at that time.

[Packnut]

This move will allow Popp to lineup at DE on 3rd down if he should lose his starting job at LB.

[Partial]

Does anyone think Popp is capable of being a 3rd down pass rusher? I've got to say I've been unimpressed with him at getting to the QB so far.

[falco]

more than anything, this means the pack isn't SOL if one of the LB's goes down this year...last year could have been ugly

[RashanGary]

When I asked a St. Louis forum what they thought of Chillar they said up until last year they thought he was a weak link. After last year they said he was a solid starter that would be hard to replace. The impression I got is that he'd be a slight upgrade to Poppinga. Like others said above, I think the biggest improvement comes in depth. Now we have a capable LB that we can trot out if one of the starters goes down. Also, if Poppinga becomes a FT ST's player, I think that helps us too.

[twoseven]

Shrewd move, I think.

Here's my speculation. The Packers went into the offseason thinking that they'd bring in some FA competition for Poppinga... for the right price. They went after a few guys, but the price was too high. Chillar was dragging his feet and looked like he'd sign elsewhere, so they looked into a long-term contract with Poppinga. (Maybe deciding they'd bring in competition via the draft.) My speculation is that Poppinga thinks he's worth more than the Packers think he's worth, so they went back to plan A. They signed this guy, they'll let Poppinga and Chillar fight it out for a starting gig, and then they will look to sign the starter when their contracts are up in two years. Or maybe they'll have a young guy ready to step into a starting role at that time.
"Shrewd move" has TT written all over it, I think.

I also wonder how much Fitz's prolonged contract signing stall affected this decision...(from the rumormill) "the Cardinals signed long snapper Nathan Hodel to a four-year deal because they thought the Fitzgerald contract was done, and that the new Fitzgerald deal would give them enough cap space to sign Hodel. But the Fitzgerald holdup put them in a position where they didn’t have the cap space, so the Cardinals released receiver Sean Morey"..."also reports that the Fitzgerald situation has put the team’s pursuit of outside linebacker Brandon Chillar on hold. The Cardinals want Chillar now. They hope he’ll still be available when they have the cap room to sign him, after the Fitzgerald deal becomes official."

[KYPack]

Pretty consistent scouting reports on Chillar. He’s the “Anti-Popp” great against the pass, spotty against the run.
6' 3", 242 pounds. Drafted in 2004 - (Pick 130 overall). Out of UCLA Birthdate: October 21, 1982 Age: 25 Chillar is a gifted athlete, which doesn't always translate to gifted football player. He was a track standout in high school, and this athleticism has certainly helped him on the field. He has the speed to play the position, but just does not seem to have the football instincts to be a standout-type prospect yet. Chillar needs to hit the weight room and add strength to the speed that he already has. He does not seem to have the killer instinct at the line of scrimmage to be effective on the run. He is clearly able to cover on pass defense better than most, which is his strongest asset. Chillar needs some time to add muscle and some hands-on coaching at the next level to excel.
A good athlete who is still working on the finer points of playing the position in the NFL. Has the potential to be a good cover linebacker. Still needs work on pursuit and tackling angles.

This combo could help us. Giving Popp an adversary that has good cover skills may give him a chance to pick up a tip or two. Or maybe it will work the other way, Chillar will figure out how to fill and add run stopping to his repertoire.

[Freak Out]

So does this mean we might be able to stop the TE every now and again?

[twoseven]

Pretty consistent scouting reports on Chillar. He’s the “Anti-Popp” great against the pass, spotty against the run.
6' 3", 242 pounds. Drafted in 2004 - (Pick 130 overall). Out of UCLA Birthdate: October 21, 1982 Age: 25 Chillar is a gifted athlete, which doesn't always translate to gifted football player. He was a track standout in high school, and this athleticism has certainly helped him on the field. He has the speed to play the position, but just does not seem to have the football instincts to be a standout-type prospect yet. Chillar needs to hit the weight room and add strength to the speed that he already has. He does not seem to have the killer instinct at the line of scrimmage to be effective on the run. He is clearly able to cover on pass defense better than most, which is his strongest asset. Chillar needs some time to add muscle and some hands-on coaching at the next level to excel.
A good athlete who is still working on the finer points of playing the position in the NFL. Has the potential to be a good cover linebacker. Still needs work on pursuit and tackling angles.

This combo could help us. Giving Popp an adversary that has good cover skills may give him a chance to pick up a tip or two. Or maybe it will work the other way, Chillar will figure out how to fill and add run stopping to his repertoire.
I assume this review of him was from before he was drafted almost four years ago? Little confused by comparison to Pop, they seem opposite. Chillar's good against the run and not against the pass, whereas Pop seems to handle coverage better than stopping the run in comparison to Brandon. He sounds like he's a hard hitting tackler, I like the numerous forced fumbles he put up last year.

[Bretsky]

Bretsky... are you still with us??

The news might have taken him out!!


Back from hostpital after suffering breakdown

We're on the Board

Free Agency is already more successful than last year; we got rid of the dud we signed last year and filled depth at LB

[Freak Out]

Who else can we steal from the Rams?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Who else can we steal from the Rams?

Frerotte

[Freak Out]

Who else can we steal from the Rams?

Frerotte

No......isn't there a lemon law in the NFL?

[The Leaper]

Huh? TT signed someone?

This really helps the depth at LB...we were lucky with injuries there last season.

[oregonpackfan]

Somebody better check on Bretsky.

Rumor has it that Bretsky was taken to the Emergency Room with heart palpitations. :)

[MadtownPacker]

Yup, free agency is finished for us now that 1 player has been signed.

Time to start the draft countdown. Not a bad move at all though.

[Joemailman]

Somebody better check on Bretsky.

Rumor has it that Bretsky was taken to the Emergency Room with heart palpitations. :)

I thought it took 2 or more lesbians to make B have heart palpitations.

[MJZiggy]

No when that happens, something else palpitates.

[green_bowl_packer]

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2005/02/04/arts/Homer_Kwan_2.184.jpg

Hodge you're cut!

[Scott Campbell]

Ted's cheap. Ted won't sign free agents.

[Lurker64]

Hodge you're cut!

Not necessarily. Hodge is a MLB, Chillar is a SLB. I expect the camp battle will be between Bishop and Hodge for the backup MLB spot, with the winner probably being decided on special teams, and both only being kept if they're outstanding on special teams.

[KYPack]

Pretty consistent scouting reports on Chillar. He’s the “Anti-Popp” great against the pass, spotty against the run.
6' 3", 242 pounds. Drafted in 2004 - (Pick 130 overall). Out of UCLA Birthdate: October 21, 1982 Age: 25 Chillar is a gifted athlete, which doesn't always translate to gifted football player. He was a track standout in high school, and this athleticism has certainly helped him on the field. He has the speed to play the position, but just does not seem to have the football instincts to be a standout-type prospect yet. Chillar needs to hit the weight room and add strength to the speed that he already has. He does not seem to have the killer instinct at the line of scrimmage to be effective on the run. He is clearly able to cover on pass defense better than most, which is his strongest asset. Chillar needs some time to add muscle and some hands-on coaching at the next level to excel.
A good athlete who is still working on the finer points of playing the position in the NFL. Has the potential to be a good cover linebacker. Still needs work on pursuit and tackling angles.

This combo could help us. Giving Popp an adversary that has good cover skills may give him a chance to pick up a tip or two. Or maybe it will work the other way, Chillar will figure out how to fill and add run stopping to his repertoire.
I assume this review of him was from before he was drafted almost four years ago? Little confused by comparison to Pop, they seem opposite. Chillar's good against the run and not against the pass, whereas Pop seems to handle coverage better than stopping the run in comparison to Brandon. He sounds like he's a hard hitting tackler, I like the numerous forced fumbles he put up last year.

No, these are current reviews of him. Chillar is a cover backer who struggles against the run. The "Popp" comments are mine. The hard hitting tackler guy is Brady P. Between the two of 'em, hopefully we get the perfect SAM.

[HarveyWallbangers]

No, these are current reviews of him. Chillar is a cover backer who struggles against the run. The "Popp" comments are mine. The hard hitting tackler guy is Brady P. Between the two of 'em, hopefully we get the perfect SAM.

That's not what I've heard. They say his coverage skills are lacking, but he's good enough in short areas and bumping TEs at the line that he can get away with his coverage liabilities in the Packers scheme.

JSO writes:


Chillar, 25, fits what the Packers seek in a strong-side linebacker. He has size and explosiveness for playing the run and decent short-area speed for covering tight ends. He is not a top-notch cover man and didn't play in the Rams' nickel package last year, but he has the ability to line up over the tight end and affect his release.

ESPN writes:


He can jam a tight end off the line and trail him downfield. He can play all three linebacker spots, but he isn't athletic enough to excel at one. He's a downhill player who isn't as effective moving laterally or dropping into coverage. He struggles to transition and close on the ball in off coverage and zone.

[Iron Mike]

I wonder if he'll get a TV show with WLUK's "Ned The Dead?"

"Chillar Theater" :P

http://www.geocities.com/televisioncity/3257/Nov28th/NED03.jpg

[Joemailman]

Ted's cheap. Ted won't sign free agents.

Sure, now he'll sign free agents. Now that he's finally succeeded in driving Favre into retirement.

[Bretsky]

Yup, free agency is finished for us now that 1 player has been signed.

Time to start the draft countdown. Not a bad move at all though.


Reached the the wallet, shook the dust off, and found something effective enough to remove the super glue holding it shut :lol:

[Bretsky]

Ted's cheap. Ted won't sign free agents.


This one shows he's a huge spender

At least he found the wallet

[Bretsky]

No when that happens, something else palpitates.


When that occurs I have to go visit the doc for that Levitra thing with da 4 hours :twisted:

[mmmdk]

TT signed a FA?? Really??? That brought the Chillar down my spine. :D

[RashanGary]

I could see the KC TE being next.

[Fritz]

Again, given my geographic situation - Detoit - I compare this signing to the Lions' approach.

Linebacker is apparently a position of weakness in this draft. So TT gets a solid, young FA to compete with Poppinga. He can then focus more in the draft on positions of need in which the draft is deep - corner, offensive line, tight end.

Millen has a big need at corner - a position deep in the draft, and a position in which a first year player can make an impact. So what does he do? He trades his big d-loineman for a pick and an apparently moody corner, and signs a couple of creaky free agents. Now he thinks he's fixed his problem at corner and won't have to draft one early on at all.

In the meantime, he lets slip two of his own linebackers to free agency. Granted, neither Lehman nor Boss Bailey was a champ (pun alert), but now Millen is short a linebacker or two in a draft that is short on linebackers.

I have been and remain a TT fan.

[Oscar]

As far as KC's Wilson. He is 6-2 and goes 251 with 4 yrs. While Troy Humphrey is 6-2 250 with 3 yrs. Has anyone heard how he has recovered from injury? I thought the coaches were kinda high on him early on.

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

Chillar is a great signing. Now we have some insurance in case someone gets hurt. Is he that much an upgrade over Popp? I doubt it, but it keeps us from having to spend a mid-round pick on a linebacker who would have essentially served the same propose. I would still like to find an upgrade in the draft, but it doesn't have be this year now and if we lose Popp next year you still have Chillar so you basically lose nothing.

I like this a lot better than just giving Popp a long term deal.

[The Leaper]

I like this a lot better than just giving Popp a long term deal.

Of course it is. Chillar is 4 years younger than Pop.

[ND72]

Linebacker is apparently a position of weakness in this draft. So TT gets a solid, young FA to compete with Poppinga. He can then focus more in the draft on positions of need in which the draft is deep - corner, offensive line, tight end.


Agreed big time. Good move by Teddy, and doing what him & McCarthy have said since their first day here, create compeition.

[KYPack]

No, these are current reviews of him. Chillar is a cover backer who struggles against the run. The "Popp" comments are mine. The hard hitting tackler guy is Brady P. Between the two of 'em, hopefully we get the perfect SAM.

That's not what I've heard. They say his coverage skills are lacking, but he's good enough in short areas and bumping TEs at the line that he can get away with his coverage liabilities in the Packers scheme.

JSO writes:


Chillar, 25, fits what the Packers seek in a strong-side linebacker. He has size and explosiveness for playing the run and decent short-area speed for covering tight ends. He is not a top-notch cover man and didn't play in the Rams' nickel package last year, but he has the ability to line up over the tight end and affect his release.

ESPN writes:


He can jam a tight end off the line and trail him downfield. He can play all three linebacker spots, but he isn't athletic enough to excel at one. He's a downhill player who isn't as effective moving laterally or dropping into coverage. He struggles to transition and close on the ball in off coverage and zone.

I've watched no tape on this guy. Those comments I got were off the internet. Your stuff and mine seem like comments on two different guys.

We'll have to watch and see. The final verdict will be in by September.

[Fritz]

Chillar is a great signing. Now we have some insurance in case someone gets hurt. Is he that much an upgrade over Popp? I doubt it, but it keeps us from having to spend a mid-round pick on a linebacker who would have essentially served the same propose. I would still like to find an upgrade in the draft, but it doesn't have be this year now and if we lose Popp next year you still have Chillar so you basically lose nothing.

I like this a lot better than just giving Popp a long term deal.

Sounds to me like if they could put both guys into one uniform and send him/it/them onto the field, we could have the next Lawrence Taylor, minus the bad habits.

[swede]

Ted's cheap. Ted won't sign free agents.

Sure, now he'll sign free agents. Now that he's finally succeeded in driving Favre into retirement.

I told you TTT spells disaster.

[swede]

Chillar is a great signing. Now we have some insurance in case someone gets hurt. Is he that much an upgrade over Popp? I doubt it, but it keeps us from having to spend a mid-round pick on a linebacker who would have essentially served the same propose. I would still like to find an upgrade in the draft, but it doesn't have be this year now and if we lose Popp next year you still have Chillar so you basically lose nothing.

I like this a lot better than just giving Popp a long term deal.

Sounds to me like if they could put both guys into one uniform and send him/it/them onto the field, we could have the next Lawrence Taylor, minus the bad habits.

Heh heh.

I agree with PFnMD, even if the guy is just a little better than Poopy we're a little better and a little deeper at the position and it helps take the pressure off of finding a linebacker until the later rounds of the draft.

[MJZiggy]

Ted's cheap. Ted won't sign free agents.

Sure, now he'll sign free agents. Now that he's finally succeeded in driving Favre into retirement.

I told you TTT spells disaster.I thought that was Merlin???

[Sammy4Pack]

Two FA signings in 2 years. Ted is on a roll.

I like the addition.

[MJZiggy]

Hey Sammy, welcome to the forum. Always good to get new opinions.

[RashanGary]

Two FA signings in 2 years. Ted is on a roll.

I like the addition.

Bigby, Jarrett Bush, Donald Lee, Frank Walker, Brandon Chillar, Tramon Williams, Tony Palmer, Koren Robinson, Ruvell Martin, etc. . . .



He takes flyers on a bunch of street FA's. Some pan out. Some don't, but over time the team just keeps getting better. I think it's similar to NE bringing in a bunch of lower tier guys over the years and getting major production out of them. Until last year they were not involved in big name UFAs and they never won the SB while going after them.

The Packers got Joe Toledo and they'll probably have 10-15 other no namers that don't cost anything this off season. Two mgiht pan out and 13 fail, but those two for cheap (similar to Donald Lee and Ruvell Martin) are often times just as good as the teams who spend big money. The only difference is we still have money to lock up our core and other teams are pinning themselves against the cap, guaranteeing mediocrity.

[RashanGary]

Patriots History (this is someone elses work)

Stephen Neal : Signed After going undrafted by the Pats, let go, then later signed off the Eagles PS.
Izzo: Street FA in 2001
Vrabel: Street FA 2001
Hochstein: Drafted by the Bucs, Signed off the Bucs PS in 2002.
Harrison: Street FA 2003
Patten: Street FA 2001
Andruzzi: Waived by Packers 2000, signed w/ Pats.
Phifer: Street FA 2001
Traylor:Street FA 2004
Fauria: Street FA 2002

2000 = 1
2001 = 5
2002 = 2
2003 = 1
2004 = 1

That doesn't look real active to me. Below average in the number of signings I would say. The Pats have actually had a lot of success with other team's throw-aways.
Good work by them.

[RashanGary]

If you compare that list to guys like Bigby, Donald Lee, Ruvell Martin, Daniel Muir, Tramon Williams, K Rob, Chillar, Pickett, etc. . .It's pretty similar. There are a bunch of low tier guys who nobody thought would pan out that end up panning out and a few mid level guys. Woodson is acctually bigger than any NE UFA until they splurged last off season and that didn't get them a title either so obviously there is more to it than one big off season. I think this just illustrates that peoples angst and impatients is often rooted in:
1. false panic
2. natural doom and gloom outlook
3. a never let go attitude to the last era of championship football in GB despite the climate change.

It's not based in the reality of recent history. Look at the Giants, Colts, Pats (when the acctually won), Steelers, Ravens, etc. . . They all did with with moderate UFA use. They all have kick ass scouting departments that dig up a bunch of these low tier guys and get a ton of milage out of them but none of them have been on the active lists of UFA's.

[gbgary]

Yup, free agency is finished for us now that 1 player has been signed.





http://www.digitalcorvettes.com/forums/images/smilies/sm_laughing.gif yup...thought it would NEVER happen.

[Bretsky]

Would be nice to get that KC TE yahoo in; I"ve never heard of him but he sounds interesting

[RashanGary]

Would be nice to get that KC TE yahoo in; I"ve never heard of him but he sounds interesting

I agree. He sounds like a really underrated prospect. He seems like the kind of guy who could be a big upgrade to our lacking TE depth and maybe push Lee as the starter. We still have room for a #3 developmental TE too.

[Bretsky]

It would still open up the possibility of a TE high in the draft. If we had three good ones we'd house them on the roster.

That GBN Draft posted was too good to be true though

[MadtownPacker]

Two FA signings in 2 years. Ted is on a roll.

I like the addition.Welcome to the forum.

TT seems to like Rams players. Must be from his Seattle days.

[KYPack]

I question St Lou's ability to evaluate their own talent.

Any team that needs DLine help & let's their own best DLineman walk, doesn't know what they are doing.

Ryan Pickett was their best talent, but they let him go?

Chillar may be a find.

[run pMc]

I agree...at worst, he'll push Poppinga and contribute on ST. He sounds like a much better player than Ben Taylor.

[Merlin]

This move will allow Popp to lineup at DE on 3rd down if he should lose his starting job at LB.

Are you nuts?

[Farley Face]

Would be nice to get that KC TE yahoo in; I"ve never heard of him but he sounds interesting

I agree. He sounds like a really underrated prospect. He seems like the kind of guy who could be a big upgrade to our lacking TE depth and maybe push Lee as the starter. We still have room for a #3 developmental TE too.

Kris Wilson signed with Tampa Bay per Wikipedia. He would have brought us some nice TE/FB/HBack skills, too bad.