TopHat
06-26-2007, 07:33 AM
Excellent stuff about K-Rob, Jones, Shermans' drafts, OL, Johnson,future CEO, Hodge, Current Trade Rumors, et al.
http://forums.packersnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=14668
June 25, 2007: Pete Dougherty transcript
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So, I have a question. I read an analyst talking about the packers and he said "the questions with green bay's offense have no answers, now that william henderson is gone who is going to block for their new running back?". This guy was a writer for ESPN or sportsline I forget, and i have to ask, Is that embarressing? Writing about sports for a living and having no clue what you are talking about? I meen what a joke seriuosly. If he actualy knew about football he would realise that he wasnt even our starter, and when our starter got hurt and henderson had to come in our running game was worse. I also heard on sportscenter someone saying "with kampman on one end and KGB on the others they form a good DE tandem" hey news flash guys who talk about sports for a living - KGB lost his starting job oh i dont know 8 months ago!!! Who are these guys seriuosly?!?!?! If i got paid good money to talk about sports, i would make sure i know what im talking about. Anyways, are the packers working on an extension with K-Rob? thats what i heard, im all for it, i think he is getting his life back on track(i hope anyways) and i think everyone forgets hes young, fresh, pro bowl kick returner and a former 1000+ yard plus reciever. I'll take him on my team anyday.
PETE DOUGHERTY: Ok everybody, let's get started. Yes, the Henderson comment in inexplicable, but I didn't see it. As far as Robinson, I haven't heard about an extension for him and don't think it's likely, though I could be wrong. If I remember right they signed him to a two-year deal, so they still have a ways to go on that, and he's not even been allowed back in the league yet -- that will happen if he stays out of trouble and then petitions the commissioner in October. It's hardly a given he'll even be on the team this year, depending on how the other guys are playing when he comes back.
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In the last posting of the previous weeks chat you mentioned that locals Andrew Brandt and Jason Wied would be interested in the CEO job, and outside candidates Rich McKay and Bruce Allen could be in the picture. I live in Tampa, and know both of the 'outsiders'. Selecting either of them would be the single most disastrous thing to happen to the Pack Org since Dan Devine. Those two are nut cases. Hopefully Mike Reinfeldt will come back or Mike Holmgren will consider the job If not, go with the locals. Please tell me McKay and Allen are not really in the hunt
PETE DOUGHERTY: I never said McKay and Allen are in the picture, those were guys former Atlanta GM and Wolf right-hand man Ken Herock thought would be good candidates. I've seen nothing to suggest the Packers are interested in either, but that will be up to the Executive Committee when it commences its search. Holmgren doesn't seem to fit the qualities Harlan has talked about -- extensive administrative experience in the NFL -- but you never know.
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It's been 3 years since Sherman's last draft; there are 10 guys he got with his picks or as rookie FA's listed as starters by their teams: Kampman, J. Walker, Al Harris, Barnett, Wells, Jenkins, V. Leach, P. Lenon, C. Williams, S. McHugh. Some weren't kept by GM Thompson, but that's still more than 3 starters per year which is a great draft, and 3 played in Pro Bowls. Sherman failed to keep H. Hillenmeyer, T. Sands, and T. Glenn. There are 15 others who've been on rosters the last 2 years, and/or are now. Some have been starters or key back-ups, and a few may yet prove out: C. Cole, K. Barry, N. Davenport, A. Chatman, C. Nall, A. Carrol, J. Thomas, C. Johnson, S. Morley, BJ Sander, J. Horton, T. Fisher, B. Steele, B. Bedell, K. Peterson. All but Cole were not kept by Thompson. Sherman always drafted late, having won 12-12-10 games respectively; yet, how many other teams did as well? Is his drafting fairly considered?
PETE DOUGHERTY: You make a good and fair point about how late he was always drafting, and he definitely hit on the some picks, most notbably Walker and also Kampman and Barnett. But look at his '03 draft, Barnett is the only guy in that draft worth a darn, no one else is still on the team, and Hillenmeyenmeyer is with the Bears. That's a bad draft. The problem with Sherman's drafts was he traded up too much, and the guys he traded up for failed too often. That meant he spent two picks on one player and got nothing out of it. He did it for James Lee, Donnell Washington, Kenny Peterson and most notably, B.J. Sander. They spent eight picks on those four players.
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I have been following the draft pretty closely ever since the Colts won the Superbowl. I have to admit I have never heard of James Jones going into the draft. Many "draft experts" have made it clear that they think he was one of the biggest reaches of the draft. After hearing about how well he has played so far in mini-camp and also hearing Mike McCarthy say his play should only be elevated when the pads come on, have you seen enough to tell you that this kid is 3rd round value yet? Or are we just gonna have to wait until the season to know that Ted Thompson pulled another "Greg Jennings"? Also, If James Jones produces well as a rookie this season (along with a few other rookies that should produce early), is this finally enough credibility to put Thompson in the "above average" category of G.M.s?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I haven't seen enough of Jones to know, though I'd have to say that Jennings looked better at this point last year than Jones has this year. Jennings was quick and got open a lot even in the minicamps, if I remember correctly. Jones does catch the ball well, he's a hands catcher and doesn't let the ball get to his body, that's the thing you notice about him. The Packers are speaking well of him, but you'd expect nothing less no matter what.
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I recently started a post in the talk football forum comparing the rosters prior to the 2004 season (Sherman last season as GM) to the roster today. I broke down all the positions and based projections on whether we are better off or worse at each postition. My criteria was based on:
- Fit for current scheme
- Leadership quality and locker room presence
- Age and potential
- Salary cap vs value
Overall, I think we are a much better team at most positions and either better or even at every position on defense. I think the area we are most improved is in the back ups and special teams. What is your assesment of the look of the roster prior to the 2004 season and the look of the roster prior to the 2007 season? I think we have better team chemistry, better potential and youth, better depth but not as much experience. Some of that goes hand in hand but I feel we are a better team than we were prior to the 2004 season.
PETE DOUGHERTY: I disagree with your assessment of the offenses. That's the year Walker broke out, and the Packers don't have a playmaker of his caliber, and Gren was still a really good back, we can't say that about Morency and Jackson. Plus, Favre is three years older. And the offensive line was excellent that year, one of the best in the league. The line now could be a year away. So while I'd agree the defense is better, I'd say the offense isn't close to as good on paper. But that's only on paper. Maybe Jackson ends up being good, or Jennings has a huge year. Those are maybes or projectsions. Back in '04, Green wasn't a projection, and Walker had started showing real signs of breaking out the second half of '03, and the line was already good in '03. So I'd say things looked better going into '04.
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Since it's been over a year since the Pack traded Javon Walker to the Broncos for a 2nd round pick it seems like a good time to discuss whether that was a good move or not and how it has affected the team long term. I think the Packers were determined to send the message after Mike McKenzie that they wouldn't extend a player with 2 years left but now that Al Harris had his contract enhanced it seems that isn't always the case. Last year GB was lousy in the red zone and we are certainly desparate for playmakers going into '07. In Walker we had a Pro Bowl reciever that we are now trying to replace with 2nd rd pick Jennings, 3rd rd pick Jones, and maybe 5th rd pick Clowney--all this with Favre's career winding down. In hindsight might we have been better off just giving Walker the contract he desired in the first place? And with all that went on before Walker was traded do you think GB is regarded as cheap by players (free agents) around the league. Your thoughts please...
PETE DOUGHERTY: Yes, they would have been better off giving Walker the extension in the offseason of '04. I understand why they didn't, but even at that point the economics of the game were changing and players were getting upgraded contracts after one great season. By the time they traded him the relationship was wrecked and he was so soured on Green Bay he wasn't coming back, so I don't blame them for making the deal. But yes, they should have some how worked that out. Some players might consider the Packers cheap, but I doubt, say, Nick Barnett or Al Harris think that, or Charles Woodson. And if they offer another player a big contract in free agency next year, I doubt he'll consider them cheap. I think the agents know Thompson isn't going to be a regular in high-stakes free agency, but he's paid some of his own guys plus Woodson and to a lesser degree Pickett.
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LJ would seem to be the ideal (if he can run in the zone scheme -- can he?). If so, what do you think it would take to get him? And, given your answer, would our GM do it?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'm guessing Johnson would at a minimum cost a first-round pick, and probably more -- a first and a third or fourth, perhaps. Johnson will turn 28 in November, which is getting up there a little bit for a running back. I'd be very surprised if Thompson would spend both that much draft bounty plus the big contract it would take to sign him. That's just my take, I don't know that for a fact. But he might have only a couple more really good years left in him -- remember Green, for instance, starting dissipating gradually beginning at about 28 or 29. I'm guessing Johnson's age makes the move too risky for Thompson at this point.
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I hear that representatives of the Packers have been visiting the handful of players expected to be in the Supplemental Draft next month at those players' recent Pro Days. Do you have any reason to believe that the Packers have any serious interest in any of the players available? Or is their presence at these players' pro days just a matter of doing their due diligence on them?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'd suspect more the latter, it's not clear any of these guys will get taken with a first-day pick, so there are no major prospects here. But they might put late bids on a guy or two if they kind of like them to see if they slip through.
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How severe was the injury that held Abdul Hodge out of all the OTAs? And what are your thoughts about his readiness to step in for Nick Barnett if Barnett is suspended for any games this season?
PETE DOUGHERTY: It was severe enough to keep him on the sidelines all offseason, so it wasn't just a minor injury. So he hasn't had a chance to improve at all from last year. He played really poorly in the one game (Seattle) he started last year after Barnett hurt his hand, so I'd be a little concerned if I were the Packers, because he'd be farther ahead if he'd practiced all offseason.
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Mr. Dougherty, Of the rookies left to sign to their rookie contracts which one do you think will be the hardest to get signed?
PETE DOUGHERTY: It's always the first-round pick. But I'd bet he'll be on the field for the first or second practice of training camp.
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Mr. Dougherty, I was wondering have you noticed how Coach McCarthy has grown in his job as head coach from last season?
PETE DOUGHERTY: Tough thing to put your finger on. He's much more comfortable dealing with reporters, etc. He's also comfortable enough to make a relatively important change in the training camp schedule and give the players Wednesdays off from practicing -- they'll still have meetings and walkthroughs, but no on-the-field practice.
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Since you studied the draft, play GM Ted Thompson for a minute just for fun. Would you have taken Harrell as your pick? Or would you have taken someone else? I would have taken CB Leon Hall from michigan at that point. thanks for the chat.
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'm hardly a draft expert, I only know what scouts told me about prospects, and many of those opinions differed quite a bit. Actually going by kind of a consensus of what they said, Harrell might have been the guy I'd take. But I would have seriously considered WR Dwayne Bowe and maybe DE Jarvis Moss. One scout I talked to really, really liked Moss and thought he might be a big-impact type guy. From what scouts told me, it sounds like Hall would have been for a team that plays more zone than the Packers do -- he didn't appear to be as good a bump-and-run guy as they'd want for their defense. Maybe the scouts who told me that were wrong, though. Lynch and Revis would have been the guys I wanted, but they were gone by No. 16.
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Thanks for taking my question. The Chicago Tribune floated a rumor that John McDonough Cubs president who is a likely lame duck based on when the Cubs sale happens, could be a candidate for packers CEO. What say you?
PETE DOUGHERTY: Harlan has said they need some one with extensive NFL experience. McDonough has none that I know of, so I'd think that would eliminate him.
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Because of some big hits in the beginning of Training camp last year, Hodge has got a lot of HYPE generated about him with talk of him replacing Barnett MLB and Barnett moving outside at times.
From watching him when he has got a chance to play and in pre season last year I dont see him as anything more thn a back up and special teams player. He looks like a between the tackles MLB that has some ability against the run. His play in space, lack lateral movement and speed seem to hinder him with side line to side line play and coverage. Am I missing something or is he what I think.
PETE DOUGHERTY: That's what I saw last year also. But they liked his instincts, so perhaps as he gets more experienced he'll play a little faster, anticipate better, etc. But it looks like he's strictly a middle linebacker, not a two- or three-position guy. Don't know if he'll become starting quality or not.
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So far with the rookies who is your favorite to talk to and why? It seems like this draft has again produced some good locker room personalities and I like the direction TT is moving with this team. I would much rather a injury prone guy like Will Blackmon who is a great locker room guy and is trying as hard as possible to get better than a guy with all the talent in the world who is an off field distraction and poor locker room presence.
PETE DOUGHERTY: I can't say I've talked to any of the rookies that much -- I don't know if I've talked to Harrell at all, he was never in the locker room when it was open to reporters. I talked to Rouse for a while because I did an extremely personal story on him and his family and upbringing, and he addressed all questions head on, didn't flinch or anything. Seemed pretty mature for a young guy from a tough background.
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Besides the kicker battle (which I am not too interested in) what do you see as the most competitive battles in training camp and why? As I review the roster I only see Clifton, Favre, Driver, Collins, Hawk, Barnett, Kampman, Harris, Woodson and maybe Colledge as players who have their job locked up. Also, do you think Clark Harris could beat out Rob Davis for the Long Snapper job? (Yes I am that desperate I am asking about long snapping)
PETE DOUGHERTY: Harris hasn't looked good snapping, so Davis looks safe to me. The battles at safety (Manual, Rouse and Underwood), No. 3 corner (Blackmon, Walker and Dendy) and No. 3 receiver (Jones, Martin, Holiday, maybe Ferguson) will be worth watching. Plus, I guess Harrell and Williams at DT, and Jackson and Morency at RB, though they could end up splitting time. I think there's a lot more jobs locked up, or close to it. The entire O-line, Jenkins at DE, probably Poppinga at LB, Jennings at WR.
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Do you have any information on Harrell's injury? I know McCarthy said he would be available come training camp but that is the same thing he said about Blackmon who missed the majority of the season last year. I always get worried with injuries because coaches never tell you how serious an injury is until they have already put the player on IR. I would hope the TT and his staff did enough research before the draft on Harrell to know he would be able to contribute this year but I just get nervous since I last heard he should of been ready to go in the OTA's. Also, have you seen any indication in the drills that he has participated in to think this guy could be a stud?
PETE DOUGHERTY: You're right to be extremely wary of injury information, teams underplay injuries all the time. Blackmon is only one of numerous examples. Going by the time line of Harrell's injury and other guys who have had it, he should be good to go at training camp, he'll be close to 10 months removed from surgery by then. His bench-press reps went up from like 17 or 18, to the low 30s from February to his campus workout, so that suggests he was getting stronger and healthier in the offseason. He only did some individual drills, so no, there's no way to tell if he's any good.
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Thanks for taking my question. With all the turmoil around theBears, (TankJohnson, Briggs, Rivera) do you think that they can be caught by GB this year?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'd bet against it. They still have Urlacher and get back Harris and Brown on defense. That rookie TE in the first round might help their passing game a little. Grossman should get a little better with his judgment, so no. I'd still pick the Bears as a prohibitive favorite to win the division barring an injury to Urlacher.
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Do you think that Ron Wolf would have interest in becoming the head cheesehead in Packerland? I think that the organization needs someone who has won in the past, and he seems like he will always be connected to GB in one way or another. I'm not so sure that he'd want to leave Annapolis for another tour of duty in WI, but he would certainly bring credibility to the post and get the fans excited. Maybe he's a little too close to TT to send him packing if need be though...
PETE DOUGHERTY: I think Wolf is 68, so he could only be president for two years and then would reach mandatory retirement age of 70 (it's in the Packers' by-laws). He also said he doesn't think he's qualified for the job.
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Could it be LJ!?!?!?!?!
PETE DOUGHERTY: Don't know. Could be. Maybe Culpepper. Or maybe there's nothing to it. Looks like that's all the questions, and time's up. Thanks for the queries and take care.
http://forums.packersnews.com/viewtopic.php?t=14668
June 25, 2007: Pete Dougherty transcript
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So, I have a question. I read an analyst talking about the packers and he said "the questions with green bay's offense have no answers, now that william henderson is gone who is going to block for their new running back?". This guy was a writer for ESPN or sportsline I forget, and i have to ask, Is that embarressing? Writing about sports for a living and having no clue what you are talking about? I meen what a joke seriuosly. If he actualy knew about football he would realise that he wasnt even our starter, and when our starter got hurt and henderson had to come in our running game was worse. I also heard on sportscenter someone saying "with kampman on one end and KGB on the others they form a good DE tandem" hey news flash guys who talk about sports for a living - KGB lost his starting job oh i dont know 8 months ago!!! Who are these guys seriuosly?!?!?! If i got paid good money to talk about sports, i would make sure i know what im talking about. Anyways, are the packers working on an extension with K-Rob? thats what i heard, im all for it, i think he is getting his life back on track(i hope anyways) and i think everyone forgets hes young, fresh, pro bowl kick returner and a former 1000+ yard plus reciever. I'll take him on my team anyday.
PETE DOUGHERTY: Ok everybody, let's get started. Yes, the Henderson comment in inexplicable, but I didn't see it. As far as Robinson, I haven't heard about an extension for him and don't think it's likely, though I could be wrong. If I remember right they signed him to a two-year deal, so they still have a ways to go on that, and he's not even been allowed back in the league yet -- that will happen if he stays out of trouble and then petitions the commissioner in October. It's hardly a given he'll even be on the team this year, depending on how the other guys are playing when he comes back.
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In the last posting of the previous weeks chat you mentioned that locals Andrew Brandt and Jason Wied would be interested in the CEO job, and outside candidates Rich McKay and Bruce Allen could be in the picture. I live in Tampa, and know both of the 'outsiders'. Selecting either of them would be the single most disastrous thing to happen to the Pack Org since Dan Devine. Those two are nut cases. Hopefully Mike Reinfeldt will come back or Mike Holmgren will consider the job If not, go with the locals. Please tell me McKay and Allen are not really in the hunt
PETE DOUGHERTY: I never said McKay and Allen are in the picture, those were guys former Atlanta GM and Wolf right-hand man Ken Herock thought would be good candidates. I've seen nothing to suggest the Packers are interested in either, but that will be up to the Executive Committee when it commences its search. Holmgren doesn't seem to fit the qualities Harlan has talked about -- extensive administrative experience in the NFL -- but you never know.
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It's been 3 years since Sherman's last draft; there are 10 guys he got with his picks or as rookie FA's listed as starters by their teams: Kampman, J. Walker, Al Harris, Barnett, Wells, Jenkins, V. Leach, P. Lenon, C. Williams, S. McHugh. Some weren't kept by GM Thompson, but that's still more than 3 starters per year which is a great draft, and 3 played in Pro Bowls. Sherman failed to keep H. Hillenmeyer, T. Sands, and T. Glenn. There are 15 others who've been on rosters the last 2 years, and/or are now. Some have been starters or key back-ups, and a few may yet prove out: C. Cole, K. Barry, N. Davenport, A. Chatman, C. Nall, A. Carrol, J. Thomas, C. Johnson, S. Morley, BJ Sander, J. Horton, T. Fisher, B. Steele, B. Bedell, K. Peterson. All but Cole were not kept by Thompson. Sherman always drafted late, having won 12-12-10 games respectively; yet, how many other teams did as well? Is his drafting fairly considered?
PETE DOUGHERTY: You make a good and fair point about how late he was always drafting, and he definitely hit on the some picks, most notbably Walker and also Kampman and Barnett. But look at his '03 draft, Barnett is the only guy in that draft worth a darn, no one else is still on the team, and Hillenmeyenmeyer is with the Bears. That's a bad draft. The problem with Sherman's drafts was he traded up too much, and the guys he traded up for failed too often. That meant he spent two picks on one player and got nothing out of it. He did it for James Lee, Donnell Washington, Kenny Peterson and most notably, B.J. Sander. They spent eight picks on those four players.
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I have been following the draft pretty closely ever since the Colts won the Superbowl. I have to admit I have never heard of James Jones going into the draft. Many "draft experts" have made it clear that they think he was one of the biggest reaches of the draft. After hearing about how well he has played so far in mini-camp and also hearing Mike McCarthy say his play should only be elevated when the pads come on, have you seen enough to tell you that this kid is 3rd round value yet? Or are we just gonna have to wait until the season to know that Ted Thompson pulled another "Greg Jennings"? Also, If James Jones produces well as a rookie this season (along with a few other rookies that should produce early), is this finally enough credibility to put Thompson in the "above average" category of G.M.s?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I haven't seen enough of Jones to know, though I'd have to say that Jennings looked better at this point last year than Jones has this year. Jennings was quick and got open a lot even in the minicamps, if I remember correctly. Jones does catch the ball well, he's a hands catcher and doesn't let the ball get to his body, that's the thing you notice about him. The Packers are speaking well of him, but you'd expect nothing less no matter what.
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I recently started a post in the talk football forum comparing the rosters prior to the 2004 season (Sherman last season as GM) to the roster today. I broke down all the positions and based projections on whether we are better off or worse at each postition. My criteria was based on:
- Fit for current scheme
- Leadership quality and locker room presence
- Age and potential
- Salary cap vs value
Overall, I think we are a much better team at most positions and either better or even at every position on defense. I think the area we are most improved is in the back ups and special teams. What is your assesment of the look of the roster prior to the 2004 season and the look of the roster prior to the 2007 season? I think we have better team chemistry, better potential and youth, better depth but not as much experience. Some of that goes hand in hand but I feel we are a better team than we were prior to the 2004 season.
PETE DOUGHERTY: I disagree with your assessment of the offenses. That's the year Walker broke out, and the Packers don't have a playmaker of his caliber, and Gren was still a really good back, we can't say that about Morency and Jackson. Plus, Favre is three years older. And the offensive line was excellent that year, one of the best in the league. The line now could be a year away. So while I'd agree the defense is better, I'd say the offense isn't close to as good on paper. But that's only on paper. Maybe Jackson ends up being good, or Jennings has a huge year. Those are maybes or projectsions. Back in '04, Green wasn't a projection, and Walker had started showing real signs of breaking out the second half of '03, and the line was already good in '03. So I'd say things looked better going into '04.
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Since it's been over a year since the Pack traded Javon Walker to the Broncos for a 2nd round pick it seems like a good time to discuss whether that was a good move or not and how it has affected the team long term. I think the Packers were determined to send the message after Mike McKenzie that they wouldn't extend a player with 2 years left but now that Al Harris had his contract enhanced it seems that isn't always the case. Last year GB was lousy in the red zone and we are certainly desparate for playmakers going into '07. In Walker we had a Pro Bowl reciever that we are now trying to replace with 2nd rd pick Jennings, 3rd rd pick Jones, and maybe 5th rd pick Clowney--all this with Favre's career winding down. In hindsight might we have been better off just giving Walker the contract he desired in the first place? And with all that went on before Walker was traded do you think GB is regarded as cheap by players (free agents) around the league. Your thoughts please...
PETE DOUGHERTY: Yes, they would have been better off giving Walker the extension in the offseason of '04. I understand why they didn't, but even at that point the economics of the game were changing and players were getting upgraded contracts after one great season. By the time they traded him the relationship was wrecked and he was so soured on Green Bay he wasn't coming back, so I don't blame them for making the deal. But yes, they should have some how worked that out. Some players might consider the Packers cheap, but I doubt, say, Nick Barnett or Al Harris think that, or Charles Woodson. And if they offer another player a big contract in free agency next year, I doubt he'll consider them cheap. I think the agents know Thompson isn't going to be a regular in high-stakes free agency, but he's paid some of his own guys plus Woodson and to a lesser degree Pickett.
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LJ would seem to be the ideal (if he can run in the zone scheme -- can he?). If so, what do you think it would take to get him? And, given your answer, would our GM do it?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'm guessing Johnson would at a minimum cost a first-round pick, and probably more -- a first and a third or fourth, perhaps. Johnson will turn 28 in November, which is getting up there a little bit for a running back. I'd be very surprised if Thompson would spend both that much draft bounty plus the big contract it would take to sign him. That's just my take, I don't know that for a fact. But he might have only a couple more really good years left in him -- remember Green, for instance, starting dissipating gradually beginning at about 28 or 29. I'm guessing Johnson's age makes the move too risky for Thompson at this point.
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I hear that representatives of the Packers have been visiting the handful of players expected to be in the Supplemental Draft next month at those players' recent Pro Days. Do you have any reason to believe that the Packers have any serious interest in any of the players available? Or is their presence at these players' pro days just a matter of doing their due diligence on them?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'd suspect more the latter, it's not clear any of these guys will get taken with a first-day pick, so there are no major prospects here. But they might put late bids on a guy or two if they kind of like them to see if they slip through.
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How severe was the injury that held Abdul Hodge out of all the OTAs? And what are your thoughts about his readiness to step in for Nick Barnett if Barnett is suspended for any games this season?
PETE DOUGHERTY: It was severe enough to keep him on the sidelines all offseason, so it wasn't just a minor injury. So he hasn't had a chance to improve at all from last year. He played really poorly in the one game (Seattle) he started last year after Barnett hurt his hand, so I'd be a little concerned if I were the Packers, because he'd be farther ahead if he'd practiced all offseason.
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Mr. Dougherty, Of the rookies left to sign to their rookie contracts which one do you think will be the hardest to get signed?
PETE DOUGHERTY: It's always the first-round pick. But I'd bet he'll be on the field for the first or second practice of training camp.
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Mr. Dougherty, I was wondering have you noticed how Coach McCarthy has grown in his job as head coach from last season?
PETE DOUGHERTY: Tough thing to put your finger on. He's much more comfortable dealing with reporters, etc. He's also comfortable enough to make a relatively important change in the training camp schedule and give the players Wednesdays off from practicing -- they'll still have meetings and walkthroughs, but no on-the-field practice.
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Since you studied the draft, play GM Ted Thompson for a minute just for fun. Would you have taken Harrell as your pick? Or would you have taken someone else? I would have taken CB Leon Hall from michigan at that point. thanks for the chat.
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'm hardly a draft expert, I only know what scouts told me about prospects, and many of those opinions differed quite a bit. Actually going by kind of a consensus of what they said, Harrell might have been the guy I'd take. But I would have seriously considered WR Dwayne Bowe and maybe DE Jarvis Moss. One scout I talked to really, really liked Moss and thought he might be a big-impact type guy. From what scouts told me, it sounds like Hall would have been for a team that plays more zone than the Packers do -- he didn't appear to be as good a bump-and-run guy as they'd want for their defense. Maybe the scouts who told me that were wrong, though. Lynch and Revis would have been the guys I wanted, but they were gone by No. 16.
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Thanks for taking my question. The Chicago Tribune floated a rumor that John McDonough Cubs president who is a likely lame duck based on when the Cubs sale happens, could be a candidate for packers CEO. What say you?
PETE DOUGHERTY: Harlan has said they need some one with extensive NFL experience. McDonough has none that I know of, so I'd think that would eliminate him.
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Because of some big hits in the beginning of Training camp last year, Hodge has got a lot of HYPE generated about him with talk of him replacing Barnett MLB and Barnett moving outside at times.
From watching him when he has got a chance to play and in pre season last year I dont see him as anything more thn a back up and special teams player. He looks like a between the tackles MLB that has some ability against the run. His play in space, lack lateral movement and speed seem to hinder him with side line to side line play and coverage. Am I missing something or is he what I think.
PETE DOUGHERTY: That's what I saw last year also. But they liked his instincts, so perhaps as he gets more experienced he'll play a little faster, anticipate better, etc. But it looks like he's strictly a middle linebacker, not a two- or three-position guy. Don't know if he'll become starting quality or not.
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So far with the rookies who is your favorite to talk to and why? It seems like this draft has again produced some good locker room personalities and I like the direction TT is moving with this team. I would much rather a injury prone guy like Will Blackmon who is a great locker room guy and is trying as hard as possible to get better than a guy with all the talent in the world who is an off field distraction and poor locker room presence.
PETE DOUGHERTY: I can't say I've talked to any of the rookies that much -- I don't know if I've talked to Harrell at all, he was never in the locker room when it was open to reporters. I talked to Rouse for a while because I did an extremely personal story on him and his family and upbringing, and he addressed all questions head on, didn't flinch or anything. Seemed pretty mature for a young guy from a tough background.
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Besides the kicker battle (which I am not too interested in) what do you see as the most competitive battles in training camp and why? As I review the roster I only see Clifton, Favre, Driver, Collins, Hawk, Barnett, Kampman, Harris, Woodson and maybe Colledge as players who have their job locked up. Also, do you think Clark Harris could beat out Rob Davis for the Long Snapper job? (Yes I am that desperate I am asking about long snapping)
PETE DOUGHERTY: Harris hasn't looked good snapping, so Davis looks safe to me. The battles at safety (Manual, Rouse and Underwood), No. 3 corner (Blackmon, Walker and Dendy) and No. 3 receiver (Jones, Martin, Holiday, maybe Ferguson) will be worth watching. Plus, I guess Harrell and Williams at DT, and Jackson and Morency at RB, though they could end up splitting time. I think there's a lot more jobs locked up, or close to it. The entire O-line, Jenkins at DE, probably Poppinga at LB, Jennings at WR.
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Do you have any information on Harrell's injury? I know McCarthy said he would be available come training camp but that is the same thing he said about Blackmon who missed the majority of the season last year. I always get worried with injuries because coaches never tell you how serious an injury is until they have already put the player on IR. I would hope the TT and his staff did enough research before the draft on Harrell to know he would be able to contribute this year but I just get nervous since I last heard he should of been ready to go in the OTA's. Also, have you seen any indication in the drills that he has participated in to think this guy could be a stud?
PETE DOUGHERTY: You're right to be extremely wary of injury information, teams underplay injuries all the time. Blackmon is only one of numerous examples. Going by the time line of Harrell's injury and other guys who have had it, he should be good to go at training camp, he'll be close to 10 months removed from surgery by then. His bench-press reps went up from like 17 or 18, to the low 30s from February to his campus workout, so that suggests he was getting stronger and healthier in the offseason. He only did some individual drills, so no, there's no way to tell if he's any good.
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Thanks for taking my question. With all the turmoil around theBears, (TankJohnson, Briggs, Rivera) do you think that they can be caught by GB this year?
PETE DOUGHERTY: I'd bet against it. They still have Urlacher and get back Harris and Brown on defense. That rookie TE in the first round might help their passing game a little. Grossman should get a little better with his judgment, so no. I'd still pick the Bears as a prohibitive favorite to win the division barring an injury to Urlacher.
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Do you think that Ron Wolf would have interest in becoming the head cheesehead in Packerland? I think that the organization needs someone who has won in the past, and he seems like he will always be connected to GB in one way or another. I'm not so sure that he'd want to leave Annapolis for another tour of duty in WI, but he would certainly bring credibility to the post and get the fans excited. Maybe he's a little too close to TT to send him packing if need be though...
PETE DOUGHERTY: I think Wolf is 68, so he could only be president for two years and then would reach mandatory retirement age of 70 (it's in the Packers' by-laws). He also said he doesn't think he's qualified for the job.
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Could it be LJ!?!?!?!?!
PETE DOUGHERTY: Don't know. Could be. Maybe Culpepper. Or maybe there's nothing to it. Looks like that's all the questions, and time's up. Thanks for the queries and take care.