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Posted March 6, 2008
Search for critical backup to Rodgers begins
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers' search for a backup quarterback started Monday night when they learned Brett Favre was retiring and could lead in any number of directions for what's a key position with the ironman Favre no longer playing.
The Packers are taking the next couple of days to solidify their plan and begin exploring options in free agency and the trade market to find a backup for Favre's successor, Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers need a No. 2 quarterback with some starting experience, but could go for several types of players available.
They could go for a mentor-type veteran with extensive starting experience who's near the end of his career. That could include Mark Brunell, with whom they've made preliminary contact.
They could go for a younger, less accomplished player with relatively limited starting experience, such as Tim Rattay.
They could go for a young prospect who might have some promise, such as Quinn Gray, a fourth-year pro who had four starts for Jacksonville last season and was released this offseason.
"First, you have to be able to play the game," General Manager Ted Thompson said of the qualities he's looking for in Rodgers' backup. "But if you have some experience, that's good. If you have some ability to be a mentor, that's probably good. I don't know if any of them are absolute requirements. The main thing is you find a good player."
Brunell (age 37) is one of several older, mentor-type quarterbacks available who have extensive starting experience, along with Trent Green (37), Kelly Holcomb (34) and Gus Frerotte (36).
The Packers this week talked to Brunell's agent, Bruce Tollner, and expressed at least some interest in a player the Packers brought into the NFL in the fifth round of the 1993 draft. Brunell has 150 starts in his career with Jacksonville and Washington, including nine starts as recently as 2006. But his skills have diminished to where he's strictly a backup after spending last season as the Redskins' No. 3 quarterback. They voided his contract in February to get under the 2008 salary cap.
Tollner said Brunell wants to play this year and has three other teams that have called and, like the Packers, are sorting out their priorities for their backup spots.
"The ideal role (for Brunell) is to mentor or be there supporting the No. 1 guy and having the ability to step in and win games," Tollner said. "That fits with a few different teams right now that I'm communicating with, and I think it makes a lot of sense at (the Packers)."
Among the other free agents the Packers might consider is Aaron Brooks, who was a starter for coach Mike McCarthy when both were with New Orleans from 2000 to 2004. The erratic Brooks, who had his best seasons playing for McCarthy, was out of football after his play became undisciplined in recent years. However, his history with McCarthy makes him at least a possibility.
Other free-agent possibilities include two former high first-round picks who were busts. Joey Harrington, 29, was the third pick overall in the 2003 draft and has started for Detroit, Miami and Atlanta. He has a career passer rating of only 69.4 points but has the reputation of being a solid locker-room presence. David Carr, who was a bust with Houston as the first pick overall in the 2002 draft and was cut by Carolina this year, is available, though his struggles handling the pass rush have been particularly bad and could eliminate him.
Thompson, who also could look to trade for a backup, wouldn't discuss any free agents he might be considering. He suggested he'll likely be patient in his search, but there's always a chance he'll move much more quickly because the position has become a priority.
"It's more important to try to find the right guy and the right fit for the locker room and for the team," Thompson said.
In the meantime, one of the Packers' free agents, special-teams standout Tracy White, visited the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. The Steelers and Broncos have shown strong interest in White, who also plays linebacker, though if Denver signs former Detroit linebacker Boss Bailey, its interest in White could decline.
Also, Detroit defensive end Corey Smith had a free-agent visit with the Packers on Wednesday, and St. Louis linebacker Brandon Chillar is expected to visit today.
Search for critical backup to Rodgers begins
By Pete Dougherty
pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers' search for a backup quarterback started Monday night when they learned Brett Favre was retiring and could lead in any number of directions for what's a key position with the ironman Favre no longer playing.
The Packers are taking the next couple of days to solidify their plan and begin exploring options in free agency and the trade market to find a backup for Favre's successor, Aaron Rodgers.
The Packers need a No. 2 quarterback with some starting experience, but could go for several types of players available.
They could go for a mentor-type veteran with extensive starting experience who's near the end of his career. That could include Mark Brunell, with whom they've made preliminary contact.
They could go for a younger, less accomplished player with relatively limited starting experience, such as Tim Rattay.
They could go for a young prospect who might have some promise, such as Quinn Gray, a fourth-year pro who had four starts for Jacksonville last season and was released this offseason.
"First, you have to be able to play the game," General Manager Ted Thompson said of the qualities he's looking for in Rodgers' backup. "But if you have some experience, that's good. If you have some ability to be a mentor, that's probably good. I don't know if any of them are absolute requirements. The main thing is you find a good player."
Brunell (age 37) is one of several older, mentor-type quarterbacks available who have extensive starting experience, along with Trent Green (37), Kelly Holcomb (34) and Gus Frerotte (36).
The Packers this week talked to Brunell's agent, Bruce Tollner, and expressed at least some interest in a player the Packers brought into the NFL in the fifth round of the 1993 draft. Brunell has 150 starts in his career with Jacksonville and Washington, including nine starts as recently as 2006. But his skills have diminished to where he's strictly a backup after spending last season as the Redskins' No. 3 quarterback. They voided his contract in February to get under the 2008 salary cap.
Tollner said Brunell wants to play this year and has three other teams that have called and, like the Packers, are sorting out their priorities for their backup spots.
"The ideal role (for Brunell) is to mentor or be there supporting the No. 1 guy and having the ability to step in and win games," Tollner said. "That fits with a few different teams right now that I'm communicating with, and I think it makes a lot of sense at (the Packers)."
Among the other free agents the Packers might consider is Aaron Brooks, who was a starter for coach Mike McCarthy when both were with New Orleans from 2000 to 2004. The erratic Brooks, who had his best seasons playing for McCarthy, was out of football after his play became undisciplined in recent years. However, his history with McCarthy makes him at least a possibility.
Other free-agent possibilities include two former high first-round picks who were busts. Joey Harrington, 29, was the third pick overall in the 2003 draft and has started for Detroit, Miami and Atlanta. He has a career passer rating of only 69.4 points but has the reputation of being a solid locker-room presence. David Carr, who was a bust with Houston as the first pick overall in the 2002 draft and was cut by Carolina this year, is available, though his struggles handling the pass rush have been particularly bad and could eliminate him.
Thompson, who also could look to trade for a backup, wouldn't discuss any free agents he might be considering. He suggested he'll likely be patient in his search, but there's always a chance he'll move much more quickly because the position has become a priority.
"It's more important to try to find the right guy and the right fit for the locker room and for the team," Thompson said.
In the meantime, one of the Packers' free agents, special-teams standout Tracy White, visited the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. The Steelers and Broncos have shown strong interest in White, who also plays linebacker, though if Denver signs former Detroit linebacker Boss Bailey, its interest in White could decline.
Also, Detroit defensive end Corey Smith had a free-agent visit with the Packers on Wednesday, and St. Louis linebacker Brandon Chillar is expected to visit today.
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