Former Packers still pursuing the dream

[Patler]

I am leaving Favre out because his replacement was on the roster and it was obvious the wanted to move on, retirement, contract or not. But if you include him, I think the move nets positive for Packers.

Here are those who went on to be starters at least: Giacomini, Woodson, Tracy White (starter at least on Philly ST), Scott Wells, Frank Walker (nickel), Erik Walden, Anthony Smith (got a start somewhere), Jon Ryan, Aaron Rouse, Poppinga, Muir, Moll (started as backup to injured), Ruvell, Lumpkin, Kampman, Quinn Johnson, Jennings, Jenkins, Havner, Harris, Ahman Green, Crabtree, Colledge, Cole, Blackmon, Bishop, Barnett.

Remove from consideration those who were not retained because of contract/cap value/FA but would have been retained otherwise: Woodson, Scott Wells, Erik Walden, Kampman, Jennings, Colledge (did he get an offer from the Pack?).

Cut because they were judged didn't fit or couldn't play or not worth roster spot: Giacomini, Tracy White, Frank Walker, Anthony Smith, Jon Ryan, Aaron Rouse, Brady Poppinga, Daniel Muir, Tony Moll, Ruvell Martin, Kregg Lumpkin, Quinn Johnson, Cullen Jenkins (have heard both be was offered deal/was in plans but also was not given option to stay), Spencer Havner, Al Harris, Ahman Green, Tom Crabtree, Colin Cole, Will Blackmon, Desmond Bishop and Nick Barnett.


What do you think? Regrets? Jenkins, Ryan, maybe Giacomini though he is on list to get replaced by Seahawks), Tracy White still hasn't been replaced, Muir started for Colts on some pretty average defenses. Bishop still had gas in tank but hurt, maybe Barnett?

I think of Colin Cole in the group of players they couldn't afford to keep, but would have kept if they could have afforded it. I think they wanted him and made him an offer, but he got a bigger offer from Seattle than the Packers were willing to pay.

They gave up on Dave Tollefson early, and he went on to be a solid contributor for the Giants for a few years. But, I doubt the Packers have any real regrets about it.
They also gave up on Clarke Harris, who is now the Bengals longsnapper. Again, I doubt the Packers have regrets about it.

Jon Ryan might be the one guy they let go without a good replacement on hand. They don't miss him now, but did until they got Masthay.
Jenkins maybe, but the story isn't very clear about what really happened.
I think they still wanted Giacomini. Seattle signed him from the Packers practice squad, although they released him later that season and the Packers didn't reacquire him.

[Joemailman]

They gave up on Dave Tollefson early, and he went on to be a solid contributor for the Giants for a few years. But, I doubt the Packers have any real regrets about it.
They also gave up on Clarke Harris, who is now the Bengals longsnapper. Again, I doubt the Packers have regrets about it.

The Packers didn't quite give up on Tollefson. He was signed by Oakland off the Packers practice squad in 2006 before ending up the NYG for several years. Also, when he became a free agent in 2012, the Packers were one of four teams he visited with.

[woodbuck27]

Ryans took a minute to replace. We missed him, but not anymore. I miss wells even though he has been hurt without our bang up training staff. College was reliably average.

I would say that I may have preferred paying/hanging on to a couple guys on that list, but none of them change much.

Evan Dietrich-Smith is te 10th ranked Center in the NFL bt Pro Football Focus ( sunscription required).

I'm sure Aaron Rodgers wants his Center back. I certainly want for TT to make E D-S a priority re-signing.

I want TT to secure our OL because our defense has a mountain to climb. Aaron Rodgers must as a highest priority be protected.

[bobblehead]

A LOT longer than that.

Getting rid of Ryan hurt the Pack quite a bit for 2 seasons. Frost and Kapinos were just this side of train wrecks. They were damn lucky when they finally found another ginger that came in and played well right away.

I know most will say it's only a punter, I'd say Ryan is biggest loss if you look at a player with a long future who has consistently played well.

Most of the others players, honestly, were borderline players, or the replacement was on the roster. Scott Wells is probably an exception.

aside: Will Blackmon got to start somewhere? Pity that team...

I guess that came off different in text. When I said it took a minute, I meant it as, we didn't replace him instantly...it took time, but we did get it right.

[bobblehead]

Evan Dietrich-Smith is te 10th ranked Center in the NFL bt Pro Football Focus ( sunscription required).

I'm sure Aaron Rodgers wants his Center back. I certainly want for TT to make E D-S a priority re-signing.

I want TT to secure our OL because our defense has a mountain to climb. Aaron Rodgers must as a highest priority be protected.

I don't disagree that I want EDS back for a modest contract. 10th? I doubt that, but I don't focus on many teams centers. I watch tackles mostly. Sadly I think TT won't offer EDS much because he has Tretter and Lang if desperate.

[Joemailman]

It's a tough call. Rodgers would like some continuity, but I don't think EDS will ever be more than average. Tretter is probably the smartest guy on the team (33 wonderlic), so I don't have concerns about his ability to pick up the mental aspects of playing the position. He probably has more upside. Still, he hasn't played except for the scout team for a few weeks.

[pbmax]

Tollefson didn't appear on the list because he spent no time with McCarthy, though it occurs to me my search might have missed 2006, Year 2 of T2 and Year 1 of M3.

Here is who I missed from 2006:

Alcorn, Zac
Allen, Kenderick
Carroll, Ahmad
Culver, Tyrone
Dendy, Patrick
Ferguson, Robert
Gado, Samkon
Henderson, William
Herron, Noah
Hodge, Abdul
Leach, Vonta
Manuel, Marquand
Martin, David
Martin, Ingle
Miree, Brandon
Pope, P.J.
Rayner, Dave
Taylor, Ben
Walter, Tyson

[Patler]

The Packers didn't quite give up on Tollefson. He was signed by Oakland off the Packers practice squad in 2006 before ending up the NYG for several years. Also, when he became a free agent in 2012, the Packers were one of four teams he visited with.

The Raiders signed him after the Packers season ended, when their PS contracts were done. The Packers signed Tramon Williams, Spencer Havner, and their other PS guys to futures contracts at that point, but not Tollefson. Maybe it was Tollefson's choice not to sign with GB, but the Raiders signed him to their off season roster as a FA.

We discussed it at the time here:

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php...off-Packers-PS

[Patler]

It's a tough call. Rodgers would like some continuity, but I don't think EDS will ever be more than average. Tretter is probably the smartest guy on the team (33 wonderlic), so I don't have concerns about his ability to pick up the mental aspects of playing the position. He probably has more upside. Still, he hasn't played except for the scout team for a few weeks.

It's too bad. They had a good plan. EDS signed for 2013 and a 4th round pick in Tretter. If Tretter hadn't been injured, they would know a lot more about his potential at center.

TT has to be getting frustrated with so many injuries screwing up his plans.

[pbmax]

ProFootballTalk @ProFootballTalk 6m
Giants sign Jay Bromley, Terrell Manning http://wp.me/p14QSB-9vcz

[pbmax]

Rob Demovsky @RobDemovsky 40m
Happy to see @NMcDonald65 get another shot with the Cleveland Browns. Enjoyed telling his story a few years ago: http://www.packersnews.com/article/2...spot-on-roster …


I wonder if Greg Bedard and Patler still blame Campen for his failure to develop?

[Patler]

I didn't blame Campen for McDonald. Blamed him for a lot else, though!

I argued that the lovefest from MM toward McDonald that first year was just hype.

[Pugger]

And in the process of cleaning up said mess, Thompson made and continues to make even a bigger mess.

But had Collins not had a career ending injury safety would NOT be the mess it is today. Hopefully Ha Ha will help fix that.

[Pugger]

I didn't blame Campen for McDonald. Blamed him for a lot else, though!

I argued that the lovefest from MM toward McDonald that first year was just hype.

If Tretter works out as our center and Bulaga is back 100% we'll end up with one of the better O lines around.

[MadScientist]

If Tretter works out as our center and Bulaga is back 100% we'll end up with one of the better O lines around.

Maybe, but holding true to Campen's coaching, the o-line will suck donkey balls for the first 2-4 games, before the rest of the offense adapts.