PACKER INSIDER- EARLY VIEWS OF TT'S FIRST DRAFT

[Deputy Nutz]

Mike Pucillo RFA Bills
Billy Yates ERFA Patriots
Stephen Neal RFA Patriots
Joe Andruzzi UFA Patriots
Brandon Moore ERFA Jets
Jonathan Goodwin RFA Jets
Dave Yovanovits RFA Jets
Eric Wilson ERFA Dolphins
Maake Kemoeatu RFA Ravens
Bennie Anderson UFA Ravens
Casey Rabach UFA Ravens
Melvin Fowler RFA Browns
Chad Beasley RFA Browns
Paul Zukauskas UFA Browns
Milford Brown RFA Texans
Rick DeMulling UFA Colts
Tupe Peko UFA Colts
Mike Compton UFA Jaguars
Carlisle Cooper UFA Broncos
Ronald Stone UFA Raiders
Chris Dielman ERFA Chargers
Terence Metcalf RFA Bears
Tyrone Hopson UFA Lions
Marco Rivera UFA Packers
David Dixon UFA Vikings
Anthony Herrera ERFA Vikings
Brandon Newton ERFA Vikings
Blaine Saipaia ERFA Rams
Darnell Alford UFA Rams
Chris Dishman UFA Rams
Tom Nutten UFA Rams
Jeremy Bridges ERFA Cardinals
Cameron Spikes UFA Cardinals
Chris Gray UFA Seahawks
Kyle Kosier RFA 49ers
Eric Heittman RFA 49ers
Rob Murphy UFA 49ers
Martin Bibla RFA Falcons
Michael Moore RFA Falcons
Roberto Garza UFA Falcons
Steve Herndon UFA Falcons
Tutan Reyes RFA Panthers
Rich Tylski UFA Panthers
Cosey Coleman UFA Buccaneers
Ben Noll ERFA Cowboys
Matt Lehr UFA Cowboys
Jermane Mayberry UFA Eagles


Like I said, not a real talented bunch.

[woodbuck27]

"I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?" MJZiggy


Noone was available to replace what Mike Wahle brought to the table for us.

This man had to stay Ziggy.

[Noodle]

I said this in another post, but will repeat it here -- had we gone with a linebacker in last year's draft with the 1st round pick (I say Ruud, B says Thurman, but you get the point), we could have taken Leinart this year as Favre's replacement. And I think most observers would agree that Leinart is a better prospect than ARod.

But I cut TT the same slack with last year's draft that I cut Sherman. It is hard, hard work when you're picking at the bottom of each round. So I'm not willing to say he's a draft dunce just becaue he hasn't killed it yet with his first draft.

[Bretsky]

A good thought Noodle and even with LB help it's very possible we'd have been drafting in the top 10 this year. I'd rate Leinart as a far better prospect than Rodgers. Cutler as well. TIme will tell.

Hopefully those players develop and Rodgers turns out ok as well.


B

[KYPack]

"I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?" MJZiggy


Noone was available to replace what Mike Wahle brought to the table for us.

This man had to stay Ziggy.

Cleveland lost both their starting guards that same year.

They signed Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman.

I thought we shudda signed one of those two guys or Pork Chop Womack from Seattle.

Other FA's that would have helped were out there.

A personnel director for an AFC teamsaid he'd take Andruzzi, DeMulling, Anderson, Carlisle, Lehr and Stone over Klemm, for instance.

There were several rookies that should have been picked, I wanted Dan Buenning from Wis. He was a 3rd round pick and became a starter for Tampa.

Coston was the highest guy we picked at a guard. I knew we weren't getting players and missing out on guys that could help at the time it happened. It pissed me off then, & it still does.

[Bretsky]

"I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?" MJZiggy


Noone was available to replace what Mike Wahle brought to the table for us.

This man had to stay Ziggy.

Cleveland lost both their starting guards that same year.

They signed Joe Andruzzi and Cosey Coleman.

I thought we shudda signed one of those two guys or Pork Chop Womack from Seattle.

Other FA's that would have helped were out there.

A personnel director for an AFC teamsaid he'd take Andruzzi, DeMulling, Anderson, Carlisle, Lehr and Stone over Klemm, for instance.

There were several rookies that should have been picked, I wanted Dan Buenning from Wis. He was a 3rd round pick and became a starter for Tampa.

Coston was the highest guy we picked at a guard. I knew we weren't getting players and missing out on guys that could help at the time it happened. It pissed me off then, & it still does.

GOOD THOGHTS ON ALL OF THIS

[MJZiggy]

Thanks KY. That's the kind of info I was after.

[Bretsky]

Thanks KY. That's the kind of info I was after.

THOSE WERE ALL OK TO DECENT OPTIONS

I'm not sure we have any decent options if the rookies don't pan out this year either.

WITH THE 35MIIL I'D HAVE LIKED AT LEAST ONE DECENT VETERAN OPTION

[MJZiggy]

Ok, B, that's fair enough. Keeping in mind we had no $$ last year, that might explain how we wound up with Klemm, but then let's look at this year. Which guard did you want this offseason?

[Bretsky]

Ok, B, that's fair enough. Keeping in mind we had no $$ last year, that might explain how we wound up with Klemm, but then let's look at this year. Which guard did you want this offseason?

Step Back a minute; some of the guards listed from 2005 came quite cheap so I'm not giving TT a flyer on not covering his bases.

I'll look up the list in 2006; again there were no stars to be had, but there were several decent options that would cover us in case the youngyans bomb.

[OKC PackerFan]

I think TT took a gamble with the guard situation last year, tried to remedy it cheaply and it didn't pan out. With Klemm, he didn't play well as a guard but seems to be a serviceable backup at LT behind Clifton. If you remember last year he did a serviceable job replacing Clifton in the Carolina game.

[swede]

Bretsky--

I can't disagree with much that you've said. I disliked the ARod pick also, even if he eventually proves to be the Trent Dilferesque QB he looks to be developing into, a merely serviceable guy well-suited to a defensive team.

This was not a good draft. There are no "time will tells" about it. I will excuse TT for this somewhat below-average draft by offering a feeble excuse and a conspiracy theory. The feeble excuse is that he was drafting for the first time as GM in Green Bay. The conspiracy theory is that he was engineering Sherman's demise in Green Bay.

I think it was rightly pointed out that Will Whittacker cannot be held responsible for continuing to start despite his poor play. It's not Will Whittacker that signs the talent or picks the starters. Whittacker's being the best option is evidence that TT was not a very good talent GM in 2005. Remember, though, that the sum of his decisions helped put the team on a solid financial footing for the future.

Blue Dawg's Polar Weasel theory is that he didn't intend to be a good talent GM until Sherman was gone.

[hoosier]

I asked this question some weeks ago and don't know that anyone knew the answer so I will try again: When it became apparent that Wahle was not intending on resigning in GB, who on the free agent market was available to replace him?

If memory serves it was Wahle, Rivera and a bunch of nobodies. The difference between Whittaker and some other mediocre player (Cosey Coleman or Rick DeMulling) is meaningless compared to the difference between any of those guys and Wahle. If Thompson decided that he couldn't or shouldn't overpay Wahle and Rivera, I don't see how replacing them with someone other than Whittaker would have made any real diff.

[Bretsky]

I think the differences between Whittaker and some of the Guards on that list, like Andruzzi and Coleman, are dramatic.