Shawne Merriman!

[Patler]

I have no idea and neither do you. Based on words you win. BTW Cullen Jenkins was not directly signed by the Packers out of college -- he was signed by another team and cut. The Packers picked him up. Wilkerson was cut during the 1996 season.

The point is being cut is not always due to poor play.

What is wrong with giving the guy a tryout?

OK, who signed and cut Jenkins? I am 99.99% sure (as the commercial says ) that the Packers were the first to sign Jenkins out of college.

There is nothing "wrong" with doing as you suggest, I just think it is a waste of time. Besides, as I said, I am more interested in whoever the unknown is who would have to be cut to bring Merriman in.

I am no more interested in him than I am in Aaron Kampman, who is also available.

[mission]

OK, who signed and cut Jenkins? I am 99.99% sure (as the commercial says ) that the Packers were the first to sign Jenkins out of college.

There is nothing "wrong" with doing as you suggest, I just think it is a waste of time. Besides, as I said, I am more interested in whoever the unknown is who would have to be cut to bring Merriman in.

I am no more interested in him than I am in Aaron Kampman, who is also available.

Packers definitely signed him in 03 out of Central Michigan.

And absolutely no to any tire kick whatsoever of Merriman. How has this got to 3 pages? Whose reps is he gonna take???

[Patler]

From Jenkins' Packer bio:

Jenkins' Last college season - 2002.
Packers signed Jenkins - May 2, 2003.

2003: Spent the season out of football after Green Bay waived him in the first mandatory roster reduction, Aug. 26... 2003 Draft: Originally signed with the Packers as a non-drafted free agent on May 2.

COLLEGE: Was a four-year letterwinner (1999-2002) at Central Michigan, starting his last three years... Majored in elementary education... Senior season (2002): Recorded 40 tackles (20 solo), seven tackles for a loss, 4½ sacks and two passes defensed in 12 games... Junior season (2001): Started every game and finished with 48 tackles (28 solo), 10 stops for a loss and five sacks... Sophomore season (2000): Recorded 49 tackles and two sacks following limited action as true freshman in 1999.

2003 NFL draft - April 26-27, 2003

Who signed him and released him between April 27 and May 2?
Could have happened, but would be odd. (Not to mention that he would then not have been signed "as a non-drafted free agent " as his bio said. He would have been a waiver claim, I believe, if he had been signed by someone else and released.)

[rbaloha1]

Packers definitely signed him in 03 out of Central Michigan.

And absolutely no to any tire kick whatsoever of Merriman. How has this got to 3 pages? Whose reps is he gonna take???

Ok stand corrected. CJ was cut by the Packers once before being resigned. Mistakes are made.

Why is it a waste of time to fly SM for a physical and tryout? SM can take reps from CJ Wilson, Jarius Wynn, Mike Neal and other scrubs.

[Lurker64]

Ok stand corrected. CJ was cut by the Packers once before being resigned. Mistakes are made.

Why is it a waste of time to fly SM for a physical and tryout? SM can take reps from CJ Wilson, Jarius Wynn, Mike Neal and other scrubs.

Merriman is an outside linebacker, not a defensive lineman. He wouldn't take reps from Wilson, Wynn, etc. He would take reps from Matthews and Perry (also Walden, Moses, So'oto, etc.)

If you want to sign him and convert him to a different position than the one he excelled at early on in San Diego, and the one he played in Buffalo, then it'll be even more difficult to actually get anything out of him. Guys don't always do well changing positions late in their careers.

[Patler]

Ok stand corrected. CJ was cut by the Packers once before being resigned. Mistakes are made.

Why is it a waste of time to fly SM for a physical and tryout? SM can take reps from CJ Wilson, Jarius Wynn, Mike Neal and other scrubs.

For the same reason that it would have been a waste of time to bring in Kris Jenkins last year, or Aaron Kampman now.

What indication is there that he has anything to offer 5 years after he last performed well?
Why has anything changed from what has happened the last 4 seasons?

EVEN IF, he played decently in TC, would you really want to count on him to make it through the season? I think he would be too much of a risk, unless he is willing to take a vet minimum contract, with no bonus, so he would qualify for the reduced salary cap feature for veterans, like Benson did.

[rbaloha1]

Merriman is an outside linebacker, not a defensive lineman. He wouldn't take reps from Wilson, Wynn, etc. He would take reps from Matthews and Perry (also Walden, Moses, So'oto, etc.)

If you want to sign him and convert him to a different position than the one he excelled at early on in San Diego, and the one he played in Buffalo, then it'll be even more difficult to actually get anything out of him. Guys don't always do well changing positions late in their careers.

Merriman could play as a backup to whomever in obvious pass rush situations. Roster spot could be opened up by replacing one of the d-line scrubs.

Perry and Matthews are set and get the bulk of the reps. So'oto and Moses are unproven in the regular season. Its fine to give reps to Merriman if he shows pass rush during games and not practice.

[rbaloha1]

For the same reason that it would have been a waste of time to bring in Kris Jenkins last year, or Aaron Kampman now.

What indication is there that he has anything to offer 5 years after he last performed well?
Why has anything changed from what has happened the last 4 seasons?

EVEN IF, he played decently in TC, would you really want to count on him to make it through the season? I think he would be too much of a risk, unless he is willing to take a vet minimum contract, with no bonus, so he would qualify for the reduced salary cap feature for veterans, like Benson did.

How much time and resources are wasted? Backup olbs are questionable.

[rbaloha1]

For the same reason that it would have been a waste of time to bring in Kris Jenkins last year, or Aaron Kampman now.

What indication is there that he has anything to offer 5 years after he last performed well?
Why has anything changed from what has happened the last 4 seasons?

EVEN IF, he played decently in TC, would you really want to count on him to make it through the season? I think he would be too much of a risk, unless he is willing to take a vet minimum contract, with no bonus, so he would qualify for the reduced salary cap feature for veterans, like Benson did.

You are grasping for straws to make a point -- AK proved he can not play in the Packers 3-4.

[Lurker64]

Merriman could play as a backup to whomever in obvious pass rush situations. Roster spot could be opened up by replacing one of the d-line scrubs.

Perry and Matthews are set and get the bulk of the reps. So'oto and Moses are unproven in the regular season. Its fine to give reps to Merriman if he shows pass rush during games and not practice.

In pass rushing situations, you will see two defensive linemen, 5 defensive backs, and Perry and Matthews on the edge. The defensive linemen in the game will be 3-tech types like Raji, Muir, Daniels, and Worthy who are there mostly to push the pocket and play the run. The ILBs (Hawk and Smith presumably) have coverage responsibilities, unless they are assigned to blitz. Where on earth would Merriman play?

We're only keeping 6 DL anyway, and it looks like Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Muir, Wilson, and Daniels. You can't cut Wilson for Merriman there, since Wilson is the best LDE in run-stopping situations of the bunch. I suppose you could cut Muir, but he's absolutely earned a roster spot thus far.

So'oto actually looked pretty good in limited duty in the regular season last year, I certainly wouldn't pick up a guy like Merriman to retard So'oto's development. The difference between the two is that Merriman is a declining player, while So'oto is still getting better.

[Lurker64]

You are grasping for straws to make a point -- AK proved he can not play in the Packers 3-4.

More to the point, nobody has signed Aaron Kampman or Kris Jenkins for the reasons Patler was pointing to. Even 4-3 teams.

[Patler]

You are grasping for straws to make a point -- AK proved he can not play in the Packers 3-4.

I disagree with that. For the games he played that season, he lead the team in QB pressures, and actually seemed to be getting the hang of it a bit. However, it was very clear that he had no interest in continuing the transition.

I would suggest that Merriman has also proven that he can not play any longer. Merriman had 3 quality season, one mediocre season, and 3 miserable ones. Having done nothing since 2007 says it all, in my book.

[rbaloha1]

In pass rushing situations, you will see two defensive linemen, 5 defensive backs, and Perry and Matthews on the edge. The defensive linemen in the game will be 3-tech types like Raji, Muir, Daniels, and Worthy who are there mostly to push the pocket and play the run. The ILBs (Hawk and Smith presumably) have coverage responsibilities, unless they are assigned to blitz. Where on earth would Merriman play?

We're only keeping 6 DL anyway, and it looks like Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Muir, Wilson, and Daniels. You can't cut Wilson for Merriman there, since Wilson is the best LDE in run-stopping situations of the bunch. I suppose you could cut Muir, but he's absolutely earned a roster spot thus far.

So'oto actually looked pretty good in limited duty in the regular season last year, I certainly wouldn't pick up a guy like Merriman to retard So'oto's development. The difference between the two is that Merriman is a declining player, while So'oto is still getting better.

Blah Blah Blah. Its mixing and matching the best talent. So'oto showed nothing in the regular season.

Was Bruce Wilkerson a declining player when signed by the Pacekrs? Was Andre Rison a declining player when signed by the Packers? Was Howard Green a declining player when signed by the Packers? Was Eric Walden a declining player when signed by the Packers?

Bottom Line -- its about winning the super bowl now. If Merriman can still sack the qb its worth it even with declining skills.

The only way to find out is to bring in for a physical and tryout. Not by reading pseudo gm nonsense on a message board.

[rbaloha1]

More to the point, nobody has signed Aaron Kampman or Kris Jenkins for the reasons Patler was pointing to. Even 4-3 teams.

So?

[Guiness]

Kampman played not badly his year at OLB. Certainly didn't stink the joint up.

His time in Jax is another story, of course.