J Stew to need surgery!!!

[PackerPro42]

"NFL Network's Mike Mayock reports that Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart may need surgery on his big toe. The procedure would keep him out four to six months.
Stewart suffered a turf toe injury in November and didn't miss any games. He also ran the forty at the Combine, but performed no shuttle or cone drills. In the meantime, he had MRIs done and doctors recommended he undergo surgery. Individual teams will evaluate whether surgery is required. Expected to be a first-round pick, his stock will fall dramatically with any team who"

Depending on the severity of the toe surgery it is very possible that this could drop him out of the first round. I'm not sure whether it's a chronic condition, but stewart has always had that knock on him for not being able to stay healthy and toe injuries can often times be career altering.


*If this is true, this could put him right in contention for the Packers to snag him.

[SkinBasket]

Just what we need. Another player who won't be ready to contribute until mid-season, if at all this year, for all the TT haters to cry about being a wasted 1st round pick.

I don't like RBs with bionic toes.

[The Leaper]

No thanks. We need a CB or OL prospect.

[wist43]

No thanks. We need a CB or OL prospect.

TT won't draft for need... he's proven that.

[PackerPro42]

Word, and we could use a solid RB to back Grant.

[Deputy Nutz]

No thanks. We need a CB or OL prospect.

TT won't draft for need... he's proven that.

We needed a weakside linebacker, he took Hawk.

We needed a wide receiver, he took Greg Jennings

We needed offensive guards he took Colledge, and Spitz.

We needed running backs. he selected Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn.

Hell, we needed a back up QB for Favre and an eventual starter, he took Rodgers.

He took Harrell. and now with the trade of Williams he parlayed that into a second round pick. He chopped off the need for a defensive tackle at the knees.

Say what you will about the prospects he drafted, that is up for debate, but don't say he won't draft players out of need.

[The Leaper]

Word, and we could use a solid RB to back Grant.

Solid, yes. First round pick, nah.

Brandon Jackson was a 2nd round pick last year...and could very well develop into a solid #2 back this season. Bring in another kid with a 3rd or 4th round pick, and we'll be in good shape IMO.

[The Leaper]

Say what you will about the prospects he drafted, that is up for debate, but don't say he won't draft players out of need.

I agree with you Nutz.

Sure, Thompson doesn't always pick the position of greatest need when his pick comes up...but only a dumbass would do that. His high selections have all filled areas of need...some immediate and some for the future. That is precisely how a GM is supposed to draft, unless you live in Wist's unhappy world where the only success is taking an All Pro with every pick.

[oregonpackfan]

This injury does show Stewart's toughness and dedication to the team. Last year, he played the last two games of the season and the Ducks Bowl game with this nagging toe injury.

He could have chosen to sit on the bench to give his toe time to heal. The Ducks had lost several key starters on offense due to season-ending injury, including QB Dennis Dixon. Stewart chose to play on to help the team win those games.

He may have paid the price, however, in his draft status.

By the way, Stewart is a junior who declared early. He is not that old.

[The Leaper]

I like him...I just don't see using a first day pick on him (or any other RB)considering our needs elsewhere and the potential talent on the board in those areas on the first day.

[Partial]

Word, and we could use a solid RB to back Grant.

I like Stewart a lot. I'd love to take him if he falls. That would be a top 10 prospect in the draft imo at the bottom of the first. Excellent value.

[Deputy Nutz]

I don't think Stewart is quite a top ten prospect, but he is talented. I like his ability to play through pain, I would take that type of character over someone who decides to miss games because of a nagging injury. Although if he is selected I don't expect much contribution from him in 2008. Which is fine, because even if the Packers took a top round corner, they would most likely see more bench than field.

[twoseven]

If the toe is not going to be fixed by surgery I say no way. But if it is then you may have stolen at #30 what could be a bigtime back and you still have two picks in the second round. Harris and Woodson are our CBs all next year barring injury. Not drafting a CB in round one doesn't seem like the end of the world to me considering he's going to be a nickel at best until 2009.

Other than BPA CB, what do we have to select at #30 that we cannot get at #56, #60, #92? Stewart if healthy after surgery would be the power back with speed that we do NOT have, and that Grant and Bjack will never be. If surgery means the toe completely heals and the only knock is you have to wait for him to be ready, I say big deal. Doesn't waiting basically define what Harrell and BJack did for most of 07', they sat on the bench all year because they weren't yet ready to contribute fulltime? Harrell might as well have been recovering from surgery for what he was able to offer the first 3/4 of the year. As for throwing any old draft pick at a power back later on, I say we need to compliment Grant, not put another less talented guy behind him on the depth chart (Wynn).

[BallHawk]

The fact that people want to draft a banged up RB in the 1st round when we have what essentially is a 1,000 yard RB combined with a 2nd round draft pick is absurd. We have needs much more pressing than a #2 RB.

[Lurker64]

The fact that people want to draft a banged up RB in the 1st round when we have what essentially is a 1,000 yard RB combined with a 2nd round draft pick is absurd. We have needs much more pressing than a #2 RB.

Thompson has shown that he can fill needs with late round picks (we had three of Thompson's 6th round picks starting last year, and we got to the NFC championship). I wouldn't be at all upset of Thompson drafts somebody in the first round who has tremendous upside and the potential to be a star if that player has tremendous value, even if we have a lot of talented players at that position. As was pointed out in another thread, Thompson may draft for needs but he often does not draft for "needs" as diagnosed by fans and pundits. I would say actually that the #1 need on this team right now is, in fact, impact players and playmakers regardless of position.

I'm not an NFL scout, but the Packers employ several. If those guys come to the conclusion that Stewart is too good to pass up, and the coaches come to the conclusion that we can make it work with Grant, Stewart, and Jackson, then I'm not going to complain. My guess is that with Grant as the #1, Stewart as the power back, and Jackson as the 3rd down back, that would be a pretty good backfield.