PACKERS NEED BY POSTIONS- BLOGS

[Bretsky]

Each yr the JS will provide some pretty good coverage but it hasn't started yet. My guess is that it's about to kick off when these blogs are starting

Info on RB's here.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/119666384.html

[Smidgeon]

"Things won’t be easy for Starks, who had a fumbling problem in college, but didn’t cough it up once in 81 touches with the Packers."

Wait--I thought Starks didn't fumble in college. Did I mis-remember?

[sharpe1027]

Zero fumbles in 700 carries according to ESPN.

Apparently, ESPN likes to list stat categories that it does not track. According to various other sites, Starks fumbled 19 times in only 700 carries and lost 12 of them. Not so hot.

[Guiness]

Zero fumbles in 700 carries according to ESPN.

0 fumbles in 700 carries. lol boys, good research

[channtheman]

"Things won’t be easy for Starks, who had a fumbling problem in college, but didn’t cough it up once in 81 touches with the Packers."

Wait--I thought Starks didn't fumble in college. Did I mis-remember?

That's what I had thought too. I was sure he never fumbled. And thanks to sharpe, it appears he didn't. Poor writing.

I get a kick out of the comment I read that said Starks ran too high. I really don't care how someone runs if they are effective.

[sharpe1027]

Sorry for the confusion. I looked it up on ESPN and posted before I realized that ESPN just didn't list ANY fumbles. Thus, I added the second line as an edit. I am pretty certain he fumbled quite a bit in college. He even played against the Badgers and fumbled, which I probably should have remembered.

http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/football/news/ftb11-18-2006-wisconsin.shtml

[Bretsky]

NEXT ONE; TIGHT ENDS......interesting to read the contract comments about Finley.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/119739544.html

[Tarlam!]

Packer fans have got to be hoping Finley has a huge season if, indeed, this will be his final one in G&G.

[bobblehead]

Just curious. What in TT's tenure in GB has led anyone to conclude that he will not resign JFinley? what young upcoming star has he let walk that I am not remembering?

[Tarlam!]

Just curious. What in TT's tenure in GB has led anyone to conclude that he will not resign JFinley? what young upcoming star has he let walk that I am not remembering?

TT won't overpay, that we know and the blog suggests Finley will go to the highest bidder. That's not likely to be TT, the blog suggests.

[Patler]

Just curious. What in TT's tenure in GB has led anyone to conclude that he will not resign JFinley? what young upcoming star has he let walk that I am not remembering?

Exactly. Older ones, a few; but young ones signing their second contracts? The closest would be Cory Williams, and he was OK but not a star, and probably was overpaid for what he would have meant to GB. The "franchise and trade" was an effective alternative for that situation.

That said, as the young Packers mature, there will probably be a few that are lost as UFAs, even going in to their second contracts. If they have 3-5 each year who are starters and can get big contracts because they play for a winner, the Packers may not be able to afford them all. Wolf had to let a few get away (Paup, Timmerman, etc.) TT may have to as well. Who they will be may depend on the abilities of the guys with 1 or 2 years experience behind them. If Quarless comes on in 2011, letting Finley go could be a way to save money for signing someone without the same quality reserve to replace them. If Quarless fails to show much, the push to keep Finley around a few more years will be higher.

Then again, Finley might not be all that expensive if he doesn't have a healthy year in 2011.

[get louder at lambeau]

Vernon Davis is the highest paid TE in the game right now. He signed a 5 year contract with $23 million guaranteed and $37 million total value last year. Tight end is not a prohibitively expensive position to keep.

[get louder at lambeau]

I thought of a good example of a young player not getting re-signed by Thompson, that could apply if Finley turns into a diva- Javon Walker.

[Tarlam!]

I thought of a good example of a young player not getting re-signed by Thompson, that could apply if Finley turns into a diva- Javon Walker.

I thought about him, but he was damaged goods. Walker began screaming for a new deal with two years left on his rookie deal, then proceded to blow out his ACL in game 1 of that season. It was also TT's first season and he needed to set an example.

A lot will have to do with whether Finley is a UFA or RFA, but I can see TT slapping him with the highest tag available. I know I would.

[Smidgeon]

Quarless didn't offer much in return? Personally, I think Quarless offered a lot as a rookie TE. His production was way higher than Finley's rookie year, and he worked hard and didn't complain. What's not to like about this kid going forward? I'm excited about the future of this position.