Johnathan Franklin

[Freak Out]

Way to early to give up on Franklin. That might be my Pac 12 bias coming to the fore, but I think he will develop into a good pro player.

[Brandon494]

Obviously, Ted Thompson cared. He must think Franklin could develop into a decent player. Quite honestly, I see a Brandon Jackson-like third down back at most.

I hope he can pass block like Brandon Jackson but hes a far better runner for sure.

[Smeefers]

I'm willing to give him this year on the roster, if I had a say in it anyway. He's my 53rd man. You can't tell me stonebrenner or some of the other 3rd stringers produce that much more than him. If he's still sucking ash come preseason next year, then I let him go.

[George Cumby]

I'm willing to give him this year on the roster, if I had a say in it anyway. He's my 53rd man. You can't tell me stonebrenner or some of the other 3rd stringers produce that much more than him. If he's still sucking ash come preseason next year, then I let him go.

This.

[George Cumby]

None of these nabiscos would complain if it was say Kuhn fucking up on returns.

LOL!

[MadtownPacker]

Well then, he had three brain farts yesterday.

First, thinking he was Cordarelle Patterson and running out from 9 yards deep, making it all the way to the 10.

Second, running away from and watching a kickoff hit in the endzone and bounce out slowly when he should have caught it and downed it. Could have been a Viking TD had they gotten to it.

Third, the should-I, shouldn't-I indecision at the end of the first half.

The first one I have to chalk up to rookie excitement and as you mentioned wanting to be like Patterson. I can't really hold it against him for wanting to do something great. Maybe he felt like Rodgers and I did, that there was no way they where losing that game.

The second one is that one that was the I didn't like very stupid error and when I as a fan feel like jumping into the TV you would think a guy who plays pro would have the reaction also. So agree with you on that one.

The third was not a big deal IMO.

[MadtownPacker]

Is it now God's call whether they return those?

I believe he was referring to TT.

[pbmax]

I hope he can pass block like Brandon Jackson but hes a far better runner for sure.

I think the Bengals game showed that, so I agree. Its was only one game and he is a surprise entrant, but he looked good.

I think his role in the Bruins offense, single back in a spread, is going to mean he has a lot of adjusting to do the Packers running offense. The only thing the Packer's aren't running right now are the Packers Sweep and the Counter Trey.

[King Friday]

Franklin has natural running ability. You can't coach it. Perhaps he'll never figure it out between his ears or become a true fit in our system, but you don't draft a kid like that in the 4th round and then dump him after one mediocre preseason...especially if your name is TT. They stuck with Alex Green for how long...and he never looked half as good as Franklin did as a runner when he got a chance at playing time against Cincinnati. Green was the right guy to let go...and we did.

[Patler]

Obviously, Ted Thompson cared. He must think Franklin could develop into a decent player. Quite honestly, I see a Brandon Jackson-like third down back at most.

Well sure he does, just as he cared about keeping Rodgers as his QB and Ross as his return man/5th receiver. I don't have a problem with a noncontributor until the roster becomes decimated with injuries. Keeping Newhouse as a healthy scratch for 14 weeks before going on IR was a good move his rookie year. I hope it works as well for Franklin and that Franklin follows a Brandon Jackson-like development, but with more staying power than Jackson seems to have had.

[George Cumby]

Well sure he does, just as he cared about keeping Rodgers as his QB and Ross as his return man/5th receiver. I don't have a problem with a noncontributor until the roster becomes decimated with injuries. Keeping Newhouse as a healthy scratch for 14 weeks before going on IR was a good move his rookie year. I hope it works as well for Franklin and that Franklin follows a Brandon Jackson-like development, but with more staying power than Jackson seems to have had.

I think we kicked that one around the room before. Had Jackson stuck around, he probably would have had a nice little career. Instead he tried to go for big money and "pffft....." I hope some of these vets look at guys like Jackson and Jennings and consider giving the Pack the hometown discount. I would imagine that James Jones is happy that he didn't get a whole lot of interest and is playing on a contending team.

[Patler]

I think we kicked that one around the room before. Had Jackson stuck around, he probably would have had a nice little career. Instead he tried to go for big money and "pffft....." I hope some of these vets look at guys like Jackson and Jennings and consider giving the Pack the hometown discount. I would imagine that James Jones is happy that he didn't get a whole lot of interest and is playing on a contending team.

I think you have hit on what it is that makes the Packers so good at playing with their own homegrown talent. They are are very good at identifying what abilities each player has and scheming ways to use those abilities without relying on the players to do more than they are able to.

[Brandon494]

Looks like Hyde will take over the KR duties...

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/micah-hyde-expected-to-be-named-new-kickoff-returner-b99129774z1-229643501.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

[NewsBruin]

I think we kicked that one around the room before. Had Jackson stuck around, he probably would have had a nice little career. Instead he tried to go for big money and "pffft....." I hope some of these vets look at guys like Jackson and Jennings and consider giving the Pack the hometown discount. I would imagine that James Jones is happy that he didn't get a whole lot of interest and is playing on a contending team.

Granted, it's easy to say all this after the fact, but I was kinda disappointed with us picking Brandon Jackson from the get-go. The evaluations were almost exactly something like, "Moderate speed, decent in the passing game, not quick at all, will not find a hole in time, will not break a long run, will not break most pro tackles, not a pro-level returner." I mean, if that's the general consensus, why waste a second-rounder on a running back who can't run the ball?

Soo...if you've made it through your first NFL contract, you caught a 14-yard pass in a Super Bowl victory, and you know (or your agent's told you) that you're not going to be looking at a ten-year career, TAKE THE MONEY. Brandon Jackson got $4.5 million from Cleveland and almost immediately drew a "Go directly to IR" card. For TWO GAMES with the Browns, he made just a little less than double what he made in four seasons with the Packers ($2.8 million). Then he signed for another year in 2013, but at ~$700K with no bonus, and was cut in camp.

I mean, I love cheering for Green Bay, but if I were a player looking at contract #2, I'd seriously consider the short-term over hometown discount. I mean, we love our Packers, yes, but what dependable annual income would you honestly consider an ex-Packer would net? Could a former second-stringer count on $200K/year on fish fries, community banquets, car dealership signings, football camps, and local carpet-store commercials? $100K? $50K? For how many years? Do you think he reduced his ex-Packer earnings by any significant amount by playing two games in three years with Cleveland?

Brandon Jackson went "for big money," got it, and quickly got hurt. I don't think he has many mornings dragging himself out of bed that he wishes he could have stayed with Green Bay for less money.

[mission]

OK, so he's not a kick returner right now, but did you guys watch the Bengals game? He obviously has talent. He brings another dimension that Alex Green and Brandon Jackson could only dream of. Brandon Jackson at most? Come on. BJ was a 'barely-can-run, but he can protect Rodgers and we have nothing else' running back you kiddin?

We had this exact same thread actually before that Bengals game if I remember right and everyone said he was a bust. And I said he'll be just fine. Dude is good, he's just not going to get any opportunities right now the way our backs are pounding the rock. Go back and watch that Cincy game if you don't remember.