Vonnie Holliday

[vince]

If Vonnie still has enough left in the tank to get on the Packers' list, I'd say he'd be at the bottom of it. He could still be serviceable, but it's hard to say what he's got left in the tank. He'll be 34 this season.

11 years grinding out in this league. Lotta miles on those tires.

He had enough left in the tank last year for 46 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Some guys know how to take care of themselves and manage to extend their careers.

Given his reliability and being a proven team player, I certainly wouldn't be too upset with the move. However, there are likely 5 DE spots at most. Hopefully, we sign a guy like Olshansky in his prime who can come in and have a solid impact at least. That leaves one spot left on the roster for either a guy like Holliday or a draft pick who shows great upside ability.

I like and admire Holliday for what he's done and what he has stood for as a player. That last DE spot on the roster could be for a young guy who can grow into something special as opposed to a guy whose best days are in his past.

[Fritz]

Not bad numbers for a guy from the Don Hutson era...dang, that dude seems like he's been around forever. Maybe Esera Tualo can play the nose, too!

As for the idea of trading Favre back when - I put a little more stock into the importance of a franchise having an occasional icon, so I don't think I'd have traded Favre at that point. However, I think the Packers did not "owe" Favre what he, his family, and some posters seem to think when he retired-started-to-unretire-retired-unretired. But we've beaten that topic to a pulp.

I do think Jamaal Reynolds was an awful draft pick - one of those guys who mysteriously and magically puts on twenty or thirty pounds in no time so he can look/seem bigger for the pros. But I don't blame him. He wasn't a jerk or anything. I blame Ron Wolf - not for making a bad pick - everyone does that - but for trying to shift the blame to Sherman. Whether Shermy was in on-the-job training or not at that point, Wolf was still the guy with the nameplate on his desk that said "General Manager." His responsibility. But Wolf seems very much to care about his image. Too bad, because his body of work on the whole was impressive, despite some first-rate first round duds like Reynolds, Antwan Edwards, and John Michels.

[Patler]

Edit.

[bobblehead]

If Vonnie still has enough left in the tank to get on the Packers' list, I'd say he'd be at the bottom of it. He could still be serviceable, but it's hard to say what he's got left in the tank. He'll be 34 this season.

11 years grinding out in this league. Lotta miles on those tires.

He had enough left in the tank last year for 46 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Some guys know how to take care of themselves and manage to extend their careers.

Given his reliability and being a proven team player, I certainly wouldn't be too upset with the move. However, there are likely 5 DE spots at most. Hopefully, we sign a guy like Olshansky in his prime who can come in and have a solid impact at least. That leaves one spot left on the roster for either a guy like Holliday or a draft pick who shows great upside ability.

I like and admire Holliday for what he's done and what he has stood for as a player. That last DE spot on the roster could be for a young guy who can grow into something special as opposed to a guy whose best days are in his past.

I agree with most of what you said, but we do need a reliable starter now, and if Holliday could fill that role for a year or 2 I would have no problem bringing him in.

[Zool]

I do love the term "upside ability"

[Little Whiskey]

I know your point. Just had to get a jab in there. I've thought we traded the wrong one since the day the deal went down.

That trade wouldn't have bothered me, depending on what they did with the results of it. I never get too attached to any player.

Could you imagine the backlash on THAT one?! Wow, lol ... last off season on the forum would have been a light one compared. Not that I disagree -- most of you guys know where I stand -- but that could have never happened for lots of the wrong reasons (which you also know).

I'm not sure how you think that GB should have traded favre instead of hasselbeck? just look at the games played over that same time period. Hasselbeck missed 25 games since he left GB. (includes the 9 from last year since he still would have been our starter). then look at the rest of the stats. (47 more TD's and 5000 more yards) They made the right trade.

[Guiness]

I remember when Holliday was traded - coming of a year where he played with a brace for a torn pectoral muscle.

As Patler said, he was the odd man out on the DL with Cletidus and Johnson staying, but think how much better off we'd have been if we'd kept him. Those two positions have been revolving doors, and he's done yoeman's work in KC and Miami.

[vince]

I agree with most of what you said, but we do need a reliable starter now, and if Holliday could fill that role for a year or 2 I would have no problem bringing him in.

I agree with that Bobblehead. If the Packers don't sign Olshansky, Wright or Douglas, then Holliday would be a good addition. I'd prefer a younger (and bigger) guy to come in and plug holes at DE though, although I have no doubt that Dom and Ted and the boys can figure that out just fine on their own.

My main point is that I'd also like to see a DE with upside be drafted who can learn, develop and compete. I don't have a ton of faith in Jolly, Jenkins or of course Harrell at this point for the long-term. Even if the best case scenario plays out on the field and they are able stay healthy/out of trouble and/or can be effective (which won't happen for all of them), then you have to deal with the potentially high future cost to keep them - at a position you'd rather not have to pay a ton for.

In addition to a starter, we also need an up and comer with a cheap contract at that position who is ready to step up in a year or two so it doesn't continue to be a need area year after year, and we don't get desparate and feel the need to overpay for an average starter like Johnny Jolly probably projects to be.

One of those guys above plus Holliday this year might put the team in a spot in which they wish they weren't in a year or two with a bunch of guys at the same position who have worn out their welcome through injuries, age, and/or wanting (and getting) more than they should be worth to the team ala Colin Cole.

Being in that situation this year with the change in D is understandable. If we're in that situation again 2 years from now, the natives will be all over Ted with their 20/20 hindsight, claiming they wanted all along whichever DE that hits in this year's draft that we then missed out on.

[SkinBasket]

The Packers don't want him. At least that's what that shit-rag of a publication is reporting on their website. No word on Truluck yet.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/40709877.html

[SkinBasket]

It's fun to read the comments there too. A shit throwing festival involving people believing passing on Holliday is evidence that Ted is a terrible GM versus those who don't think a 34 year old DE is going to make or break our season. Some people seem to get a little excitable by this whole free agency thing. It was only a week ago that everyone was saying how poor a crop of FAs this was this year, now half those people are screaming if Thompson doesn't sign them all, like they're fucking Pokemans.

[3irty1]

I really thought we'd be all over him or at least used the phone. The JS might just have no idea though. It seems like a great fit for Holliday and the Packers. I was waiting for this-- quality guys like Holliday and Taylor to get released after all the lunatic teams spent a billion dollars during the first weekend. The early bird gets the worm but the second mouse gets the cheese. These guys are the cheese.

[imscott72]

It's fun to read the comments there too. A shit throwing festival involving people believing passing on Holliday is evidence that Ted is a terrible GM versus those who don't think a 34 year old DE is going to make or break our season. Some people seem to get a little excitable by this whole free agency thing. It was only a week ago that everyone was saying how poor a crop of FAs this was this year, now half those people are screaming if Thompson doesn't sign them all, like they're fucking Pokemans.

Did you read the article? Despite playing only 56% of the snaps he led all linemen in tackles and sacks. What makes you think he's got nothing left? He loved playing for Capers and loved it in Green Bay, but we can't even talk to the guy? I just don't understand.

[pittstang5]

If that article is true, I too am a little disapointed. Holliday shouldn't be too expensive, would solve a need at the DE position and would bring experience and leadership to all on the DL because he's played in this system before, not to mention that he's very fond of Capers as a coach. To me, it's a no brainer, but I'm a nobody and not working in the NFL.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Did you read the article? Despite playing only 56% of the snaps he led all linemen in tackles and sacks. What makes you think he's got nothing left? He loved playing for Capers and loved it in Green Bay, but we can't even talk to the guy? I just don't understand.

Well, considering DE Matt Roth had more tackles and more sacks (52 tackles and 5 sacks), I'm not sure how much you can trust the article. Of the other two guys that started on the DL, Ferguson likely played even fewer snaps (as he is a run down player) and the DE was a rookie 3rd round draft pick who didn't start every game. The backups likely played even fewer snaps. That team played a rotation, so to make a guy who had less than 46 tackles and just 3.5 sacks out to be some stud is a little much.

Every one on our starting DL had more tackles than Holliday did last year (except for Jenkins--who was well on his way to having many more tackles).

That being said, I do like Vonnie. I'd give him a shot if he had anything left. I didn't watch enough Dolphins games to give an informed decision.

[Partial]

I don't think anyone is saying he's a stud. At the very least, he is one of the three desperately 100% required bodies before going into next season.