B.J. Sander cut

[woodbuck27]

It is not uncommon for punters to bounce around for 3 or 4 years before getting established in the NFL. Sander could still end up with a career as a punter.

I'm wondering what his Degree and Major was in College?

Come to Canada and learn how to punt in a cold weather stadium.

[retailguy]

It is not uncommon for punters to bounce around for 3 or 4 years before getting established in the NFL. Sander could still end up with a career as a punter.

I'm wondering what his Degree and Major was in College?

Come to Canada and learn how to punt in a cold weather stadium.

Major was "turf science". I don't think that encompasses tundra...

[Merlin]

I can't blame Sherman for picking up Sander. He won the Ray Guy award and the 2004 draft was short of punters. What is Sherman's fault is that after the 2004 preseason, it was obvious that Sander couldn't cut it. He should have let him go and cut his losses.

John Ryan, wow. He is going to be good. I was at the Packer family night watching him warm up. He was punting from the 25 and dropping the ball at the 3. Get his hang time up there a little more and lookout. He has touch and a leg. Now he just needs experience.

[woodbuck27]

TUE., AUG 22, 2006 - 2:12 AM

Comment woodbuck27:

For what it may be worth to you. Alot of this article may be similiar to others but it's interesting I find to get different writers takes to learn of that writer. Also - some interesting quotes here.

the Article follows;


Packers: Green Bay punts on Sander

JASON WILDE
608-252-6176
jwilde@madison.com

GREEN BAY - Midway through practice one day late last week, B.J. Sander emerged from the Don Hutson Center, greeting a familiar face on the sideline with a smile and a friendly how's-it-going? salutation.

When the same question was asked in kind, Sander said, "Well, I'm still here."

Not anymore.

Cutting ties with one of the most controversial draft picks in recent team history, the Green Bay Packers released the punter Monday in a move that even his competition had to admit was surprising in its timing.

In Saturday night's preseason victory over Atlanta, Sander took the first punt and boomed a picture-perfect 61-yarder with 5.1 seconds of hang time. When Jon Ryan's turn came, the CFL import dropped the snap in his end zone and had to scramble to get away a 42-yard desperation kick to avoid disaster.

But rather than the turn of events tightening up the competition between the two, general manager Ted Thompson decided to let Ryan prove himself, much like when Thompson cut veteran Billy Cundiff Thursday to give the kicking job to unproven Dave Rayner.

"I was just thinking,

'Let's put them out there and let's see what we've got,' rather than go through the last two preseason games where everybody's splitting kicks," Thompson said.

"When you're the sole guy, you're in the glaring spotlight.

"(Ryan and Rayner) haven't had NFL experience like that, and in order to decide if they're going to be the guys, we need to put them in the spotlight and see how they perform. It'll be interesting to watch them go through this experience."

That spotlight will shine on Ryan Monday in Cincinnati - ironically Sander's hometown - when the Packers face the Bengals on "Monday Night Football." Ryan admitted he was surprised Sander was released.

"To be honest, after Saturday's game, which was not my best game with dropping the snap, I was not really expecting that today," said Ryan, who has averaged 45.4 gross and 39.8 net yards on his five preseason punts, compared to Sander's 40.6- and 34.8-yard averages.

"For right now, I'm the guy. But by no means do I have the spot yet. There's a lot of punters out there. I still have to prove myself, I still have to earn the job."

Special teams coordinator Mike Stock said he feels Ryan has "a tremendous upside, great potential, and we're going to see if he can seize the moment."

Asked what Ryan must do to seize the moment, Stock said, "First of all, he's going to have to catch the ball and punt it. And second of all, he's going to have to show his distance and hang time. He's going to have to be a consistent performer."

That's something Sander was never able to be.

Taken in the third round of the 2004 draft by former coach/GM Mike Sherman, Sander was so bad his first training camp the team was forced to sign journeyman Bryan Barker, despite having given Sander a four-year, $1.96 million contract and $583,000 signing bonus.

Last year, Sander ranked 30th in the NFL in gross average (39.2 yards) and 31st in net average (33.9 yards), as his numbers worsened late in the year as the weather became a factor. He missed the final two games after he suffered an impact fracture at the top of the tibia in his left (kicking) leg when he was hit in the Dec. 19 game at Baltimore.

Attempts to reach Sander Monday were unsuccessful. But he had to have been blindsided by the news, given what he said in an interview last Thursday.

Asked what his advantage was over Ryan, Sander said,

"The experience I bring, and when I go out there, you know what I'm going to give you - I'm going to give you that 40- to 45-yard kick and it's going to be hung up in the air.

"Jon's got a huge leg. There's no doubt about that. But if you kick the ball 65 yards, your coverage team has to cover that. If you don't hit the ball 65 yards with a 5.0 (hang time), you're giving that return man an awful long time back there."

Asked if all the scrutiny he faced his first two years steeled him for the competition with Ryan, Sander said,

"I think so. I know what it's all about, I've been here, I've seen what goes on and I know what it takes to be here. I just go out and do my thing and let the guys upstairs make their decision.

"But without a doubt, whether it's here or somewhere else, I know I have the talent to be here, whether or not the (Packers) front office thinks that."

[woodbuck27]

Posted August 22, 2006

Chris Havel column: Sherman whiffed in 2004's 3rd round


By Chris Havel

Joey Thomas, Donnell Washington and B.J. Sander, also known as Strike One, Strike Two and Strike Three, share a dubious place in Packers history.

The cornerback, nose tackle and punter — and I use those titles loosely — might represent the single-worst third round in the team's 70 years of drafts.

Sander, the final (ugh!) leg of this hapless trio, was released on Monday.

It isn't Sander's fault that ex-Packers coach and General Manager Mike Sherman traded up to select him in the third round of the 2004 draft. What was he supposed to do? Hang up when the Packers called prematurely?

Then again, Sander never realized his potential or capitalized on his opportunity, and for that, he has no one to blame but himself.

It is one thing to lose out to a punter that is consistently booming 60-yard moon shots. It is another to lose out to a guy that mishandled a snap in the end zone during the most recent preseason game. In Jon Ryan's defense, the former Winnipeg Blue Bomber had the good sense to pick up the ball, collect his thoughts and get off a 42-yard punt. Sander was pressed to get off a 42-yarder with a perfect snap and a stiff tailwind.

Sander's release nudges the Packers another step closer to the end of an error.

It leaves just nine of 27 Sherman draft picks on the roster.

Whereas Sherman conducted four of the past six Packers drafts, former General Manager Ron Wolf hasn't conducted a draft in six years. Still, Wolf has twice as many of his draft picks (six to three) in the starting lineup.

Wolf selected William Henderson, Donald Driver, Bubba Franks, Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. Sherman selected Aaron Kampman, Nick Barnett and Scott Wells.

Whereas one tremendous third round helped lay the groundwork for the Packers' Super Bowl teams in the mid-1990s, a horrendous third round set the team back for years.

In 1995, the Packers selected Darius Holland, William Henderson, Brian Williams and Antonio Freeman in the third round. Holland was a stiff, but the others were key cogs on tremendous teams.

As awesome as the 1995 third round was, the 2004 third round was awful.

Thomas, an intelligent kid from Montana State, was too smart for his own good. He spent too much time second-guessing the coaching staff and quarreling with Ahmad Carroll and not enough time in the weight room.

Washington, a slug from Clemson, showed fleeting interest in football and even less in hard work. He was either too injured, too out of shape or too inept to practice.

Sander is another story.

The Packers drafted him to be the guy, but he ended up simply being a guy, and definitely nothing resembling Ray Guy.

My advice to Sander is to make the most of the next chance. It might be the last. My advice to the Packers is to keep looking for someone to compete with Ryan. He is the only punter on the roster, but it feels like this is far from settled.

Chris Havel can be reached by voice mail at (920) 431-8586 or by e-mail at chavel@greenbay.gannett

[red]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections

if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections

out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson

so he was either 1/7 in 4 years

or 1/5 in 3 years

both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

[mraynrand]

"Whereas Sherman conducted four of the past six Packers drafts, former General Manager Ron Wolf hasn't conducted a draft in six years."

---

Ron Wolf was in charge in 2001. Every article that year said exactly the same thing - Sherman was learning from Wolf in his final draft; Sherman of course was giving input, but the decisions were up to Wolf. Yet, people continually get this wrong. I wonder if old Ron Wolf, realizeing what an absolute stinker the 2001 draft was (not to mention the 1999 draft) is trying to spin it so he doesn't have to take the blame. For the record, Wolf's final draft was 2001. Sherman was responsinble for 2002,3, and 4.

Wolf's last three round one picks were Vonnie Holliday, Antuan Edwards, and Jamal Reynolds. Sherman's three round one picks were Javon Walker, Nick Barnett, and Ahmad Carroll.

[red]

"Whereas Sherman conducted four of the past six Packers drafts, former General Manager Ron Wolf hasn't conducted a draft in six years."

---

Ron Wolf was in charge in 2001. Every article that year said exactly the same thing - Sherman was learning from Wolf in his final draft; Sherman of course was giving input, but the decisions were up to Wolf. Yet, people continually get this wrong. I wonder if old Ron Wolf, realizeing what an absolute stinker the 2001 draft was (not to mention the 1999 draft) is trying to spin it so he doesn't have to take the blame. For the record, Wolf's final draft was 2001. Sherman was responsinble for 2002,3, and 4.

Wolf's last three round one picks were Vonnie Holliday, Antuan Edwards, and Jamal Reynolds. Sherman's three round one picks were Javon Walker, Nick Barnett, and Ahmad Carroll.

i just posted an article in another thread that said sherman had taken over the gm duties and wolf agreed to stay on to assist him in the draft

it was written by bob mcginn feb 4th of this year.

its almost one big giant interview with wolf about hasselbeck

heres the telling line

"Wolf stepped down in February 2001 but agreed to assist Mike Sherman through the draft"

------------------------

if sherman did give total control of that draft to wolf, even though the line above shoots that down, ten that would have been shermans first huge blunder as a GM.

if you are the GM you don't give control of the draft over to the guy on his way out the door. the texans did that same thing this year, letting their soon to be good old gm do the draft. he baffled the world and took mario williams instead of maybe the greatest college player of all time and a guy with maybe the most potential we've ever seen.

you just don't do it

[HarveyWallbangers]

Wolf was helping him out, but from what I remember it was Sherman's final call. Wolf probably set up the board and gave Sherman tips, but my understanding was that Sherman gave the okay on trades and things like that.

[Patler]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections

if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections

out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson

so he was either 1/7 in 4 years

or 1/5 in 3 years

both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

...and there is a relatively good chance that it will become 0/7 in 4 years or 0/5 in 3 years by the time the final cuts are made. Peterson could be on his way out, too.

[woodbuck27]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections

if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections

out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson

so he was either 1/7 in 4 years

or 1/5 in 3 years

both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

Yup !!

I believe we recover though. Maybe quicker than I once thought.

I think....We need a solid season this.... so some vet's remain in 2007.

Another year of experience for Nick Collins and DE Montgomery,and we get S Marviel Underwood back ( Ahhhh that DAM knee injury very tornup, but he has lots of time to Re-hab it following medicle techniques that are better today.

Guard > OT Junius Coston and/or Will Whitticker will see 2006.

A little concerned for M. Hawkins and his injuries, same goes with Patrick Dendy (Banged up alot those two).

We are a player short of real depth at CB (maybe Jason Horton will be OK through TC into 2006?) . We have a new face in TC and he had a pick... yesterday. So much happening, haha.

Someone.... will step up at CB.

GO PACKERS ! FAITH FOR 2006 and BEYOND !!

[Partial]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections

if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections

out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson

so he was either 1/7 in 4 years

or 1/5 in 3 years

both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

...and there is a relatively good chance that it will become 0/7 in 4 years or 0/5 in 3 years by the time the final cuts are made. Peterson could be on his way out, too.

Which is truly ridiculous. Those should be really awesome back-ups by now. Instead, none of on the roster!

[Patler]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections
if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections
out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson
so he was either 1/7 in 4 years
or 1/5 in 3 years
both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

...and there is a relatively good chance that it will become 0/7 in 4 years or 0/5 in 3 years by the time the final cuts are made. Peterson could be on his way out, too.

Which is truly ridiculous. Those should be really awesome back-ups by now. Instead, none of on the roster!

What makes it even worse is that:

he drafted Anderson in 2002 with his regular pick in the 3rd
he traded a 3rd and 4th to move up for Peterson in 2003
he traded his 2nd for a 3rd (Thomas) and a 4th in 2004
he traded his 3rd and his 4th to move up for Washington
he traded the 4th he got above and his 5th to move up for Sander

So his total investment in the 5 "third round" players REALLY was:
his 3rd in 2002
his 3rd and 4th in 2003
his 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in 2004

[woodbuck27]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections

if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections

out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson

so he was either 1/7 in 4 years

or 1/5 in 3 years

both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

...and there is a relatively good chance that it will become 0/7 in 4 years or 0/5 in 3 years by the time the final cuts are made. Peterson could be on his way out, too.

"out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson"

Wondering if his Home is on "the market".

GO PACK GO ! HOPE FOR 2006 and BEYOND FANS !!

[Zool]

harvel could have taken that one step further

if sherman started drafting in 2001 he had a total of 7 third round selections
if he started picking in 2002 he had 5 3rd round selections
out of those picks ONE, is still on the roster. kenny peterson
so he was either 1/7 in 4 years
or 1/5 in 3 years
both are bad and they don't even take into account all the other picks that went into trading up to get those 3rd round picks.

...and there is a relatively good chance that it will become 0/7 in 4 years or 0/5 in 3 years by the time the final cuts are made. Peterson could be on his way out, too.

Which is truly ridiculous. Those should be really awesome back-ups by now. Instead, none of on the roster!

What makes it even worse is that:

he drafted Anderson in 2002 with his regular pick in the 3rd
he traded a 3rd and 4th to move up for Peterson in 2003
he traded his 2nd for a 3rd (Thomas) and a 4th in 2004
he traded his 3rd and his 4th to move up for Washington
he traded the 4th he got above and his 5th to move up for Sander

So his total investment in the 5 "third round" players REALLY was:
his 3rd in 2002
his 3rd and 4th in 2003
his 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th in 2004

Cmon now, he stockpiled 4 7th round picks in '03 from all that manuvering. Oh and compensatory picks.