Smaller Faster Longer Leaner

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

It also helps now. With a decent amount of room and lots of contracts up the Packers have significant space in the year while the cap is still flat. Its not expected to go up significantly until next year. It might give them an single year edge versus teams who have less space and less contract flexibility.

However, given Rodgers and Matthews presence, I am not sure we see a Woodson like signing. The highest paid players in 2007 were probably Favre and KGB.

How much is significant though? If you are talking about a 10 mil+ jump, then signing players like Jones, Starks, Shields, Neal, and other key contributors should be a higher priority. For instance, why lose a talented WR like James Jones who has great character and chemistry with his teammates when it probably will only require a mid range contract to keep him? Not saying you don't want to sign James Jones, I'm just wondering if it makes sense to lose these type of players if the cap is supposed to increase significantly.

[Teamcheez1]

With 53 WR's hitting free agency (according to PFT), there shouldn't be a lot of bidding for James Jones services.

[pbmax]

How much is significant though? If you are talking about a 10 mil+ jump, then signing players like Jones, Starks, Shields, Neal, and other key contributors should be a higher priority. For instance, why lose a talented WR like James Jones who has great character and chemistry with his teammates when it probably will only require a mid range contract to keep him? Not saying you don't want to sign James Jones, I'm just wondering if it makes sense to lose these type of players if the cap is supposed to increase significantly.

I am thinking nothing above the transition tag value kinda deals (average of top 10 at position). So no Woodson (who got near, though not top, of the market from the Pack), but maybe a Pickett level guy or two.

And this is assuming Rapoport is not getting his info from a wishful agent. Still unsure if Ted believes this.

[mraynrand]

With 53 WR's hitting free agency (according to PFT), there shouldn't be a lot of bidding for James Jones services.

"I'll give you five bucks for that"

[wist43]

We're not going to sign anyone... Raji and Wilson are gone for sure. Neal will probably be too... Jolly might be done; Pickett might be back.

The 2 guys I want to see us resign are Neal and Shields. Even if we keep Neal though, we're still a dysfunctional mess up front... TT won't fill any holes in FA, so that leaves the draft and undrafted FA's - as always.

Perry and Jones underperformed in spectacular fashion last year, and nobody else really fits a 3-4... it's just a demoralizing mess.

[mraynrand]

We're not going to sign anyone... Raji and Wilson are gone for sure. Neal will probably be too... Jolly might be done; Pickett might be back.

The 2 guys I want to see us resign are Neal and Shields. Even if we keep Neal though, we're still a dysfunctional mess up front... TT won't fill any holes in FA, so that leaves the draft and undrafted FA's - as always.

Perry and Jones underperformed in spectacular fashion last year, and nobody else really fits a 3-4... it's just a demoralizing mess.

[bobblehead]

I don't think we will though.....I would like to know how someone make a statement that this team is going to do this and that a month before free agency? Seems like bs to me.

Because wild speculation is what we do at this point of the year.

[MadScientist]

MM disputing the smaller notion:
http://www.packersnews.com/article/2...tting-smaller-

[Joemailman]

MM did say they're always looking to get more athletic and longer. If you replace Raji with guys who are 6-5/6-6 and 315-320, you're not really going small, but you might be able to generate more pass rush. The days of lining up NT's at DE might be over.

[mraynrand]

MM did say they're always looking to get more athletic and longer. If you replace Raji with guys who are 6-5/6-6 and 315-320, you're not really going small, but you might be able to generate more pass rush. The days of lining up NT's at DE might be over.

Ra' Ra' !! Go Team!

[run pMc]

MM did say they're always looking to get more athletic and longer. If you replace Raji with guys who are 6-5/6-6 and 315-320, you're not really going small, but you might be able to generate more pass rush. The days of lining up NT's at DE might be over.

This.

I think this is the direction they are headed, and I think they'll be better for it. I'm also hoping Datone Jones and Josh Boyd make the proverbial leap in Year 2.

[Carolina_Packer]

Marcell Dareus anyone? With Schwartz moving to Buffalo to become DC, he will run a 4 man front. That does not mean they are looking to shed their NT Darreus, because he could obviously play one of the two inside tackle spots...if Schwartz sees him as a fit there. What if they strictly see him as a NT? What if they are looking for a way to get rid of Darreus for that reason? His contract is up after 2014, and he's just shy of turning 24. Raji is going to be 28 in July. If you could get him from Buffalo at a reasonable price and then pay him less than you would B.J. Raji and get a guy who is 4 years younger, would you be interested?

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/marcell-dareus/

[smuggler]

Dareus is my NT on my madden team. Traded Raji for him.

[wist43]

MM did say they're always looking to get more athletic and longer. If you replace Raji with guys who are 6-5/6-6 and 315-320, you're not really going small, but you might be able to generate more pass rush. The days of lining up NT's at DE might be over.

But Raji's strength was his burst into gaps, i.e. he was not a NT - yet, Spraypaintedhair used him as a NT and burned him out.

Spraypaintedhair had Jones, Perry, Daniels, and Worthy available to run in waves but they sat their asses on the sideline and watched while 1 of them was on the field with Raji in that idiotic 2-4.

TT has invested 1st round picks in Raji, Perry, Jones, Matthews, and Hawk; and 2nd round picks in Worthy and Neal. What has Capers done with that talent?? Sans Matthews, he's misused every one of them - the other exception being Hawk, who is the poster child for pedestrian.

A good DC would find better ways to take advantage of those players - it is why Capers needs to be fired.

[Carolina_Packer]

Marcell Dareus anyone? With Schwartz moving to Buffalo to become DC, he will run a 4 man front. That does not mean they are looking to shed their NT Darreus, because he could obviously play one of the two inside tackle spots...if Schwartz sees him as a fit there. What if they strictly see him as a NT? What if they are looking for a way to get rid of Dareus for that reason? His contract is up after 2014, and he's just shy of turning 24. Raji is going to be 28 in July. If you could get him from Buffalo at a reasonable price and then pay him less than you would B.J. Raji and get a guy who is 4 years younger, would you be interested?

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-b...arcell-dareus/

After further review, I guess Pettine ran a hybrid defense last year, and Buffalo was listed as having run a 4 man front on ESPN. It's intriguing that he's just shy of 24, he's in his last year under his rookie deal and that Buffalo is changing DC's. It depends on whether Schwartz sees Dareus as a fit, which might be a given since he's the third overall pick from 2011, but what if he was no longer in their long term plans?