Ricky Jean Francois Signs With Packers

[HarveyWallbangers]

I don't believe we've had this much money to play with. When people criticize Thompson, they point to him not signing outside FAs. However, he generally resigns his own, and it hasn't left him much to play with. This year, a lot of our own guys got away. Thus, instead of resigning a Jared Cook, T.J. Lang, and Eddie Lacy, he signed Bennett, Kendricks, Francois, and House--outside of using a good chunk of change on resigning Nick Perry.

[Sparkey]

They say Francois is better than his statistics show - what does that even mean? That he doesn't do much, but he looks good doing it? I'm lukewarm about this signing. Let's wait and see; Hopefully he will be a positive part of the rotation.

BTW, didn't Guion get $1 million a year? Based on that, $3 million for somebody not expected to be significantly better is not all that cheap.

Good signing. A guy that plays his position and hold his ground, taking up blockers so the linebackers can make the play. Exactly how a 3-4 defense is played.

[BZnDallas]

Now this is the kind of FA signing I like. This alone is not much, but added with the draft and possibly a little more FA activity and I really think it will help. Now if the o-line sucks and Rodgers goes down, none of it will matter.

Definitely agree with you and GBGary. I wish we would have been making more of these signings through the years. Not sure what has changed, ARs comments? Fans getting unruly? Ted getting old and less stubborn? Who knows! But I'm glad he's finally going there. #gopackgo

[pbmax]

Definitely agree with you and GBGary. I wish we would have been making more of these signings through the years. Not sure what has changed, ARs comments? Fans getting unruly? Ted getting old and less stubborn? Who knows! But I'm glad he's finally going there. #gopackgo

They don't usually lose this many guys. Harv is right, they let a lot of pricey players walk, plus Shields isn't coming back.

The Packers have been second lowest in League on number of active signed players the entire offseason. There were not enough draft picks to fill the holes.

I said earlier and Dougherty wrote about it for packersnews.com that Ted decided his vets needed upgrades, especially on defense.

I think he still sees those upgrades as coming from within, but they needed depth as well. Only exception so far was TE and CB. I think House might start.

[BZnDallas]

That's pretty good analysis PB. And a lot better reason for TT to make these signings. We did lose a larger number of role players than in years past. Which is also a change of pace for TT. I agree with him that the players lost signed bigger deals than I wanted TT to sign them to. So for that and for utilizing FA to plug holes, I tip my hat.

[gbgary]

i don't think tt's changed. he's been plugging holes with FA. not really looking for upgrades so much. a lot of lateral moves. bennett is a slight upgrade, rjf may be too over pennel, who knows about house or kendrick. there's nothing all-in about this so far.

[MadScientist]

i don't think tt's changed. he's been plugging holes with FA. not really looking for upgrades so much. a lot of lateral moves. bennett is a slight upgrade, rjf may be too over pennel, who knows about house or kendrick. there's nothing all-in about this so far.

All in tends to mean sacrificing the future for (hopefully) results now. TT will never be that guy. The change is more of realizing there are more holes than can be filled in the draft / UDFA, and being better prepared for inevitable injuries (e.g. getting two TE's that are better than R.Rodgers.) Replacing Lang and Shields still needs to be done.

The Packers have enough talent to win, as long as there are no glaring holes to be exploited.

[red]

I don't believe we've had this much money to play with. When people criticize Thompson, they point to him not signing outside FAs. However, he generally resigns his own, and it hasn't left him much to play with. This year, a lot of our own guys got away. Thus, instead of resigning a Jared Cook, T.J. Lang, and Eddie Lacy, he signed Bennett, Kendricks, Francois, and House--outside of using a good chunk of change on resigning Nick Perry.

We've always had the cap room to sign one or two of these types of guys (rig, house) every year

Every season we seem to leave 4 or 5 million in cap space on the table, and just keep kicking it down the road. Last season we left almost 10 million in free cap space.

2 or 3 of these types of players last preseason might just have gotten us another super bowl win

[gbgary]

"All-in" tends to mean sacrificing the future for (hopefully) results now.

not necessarily "sacrificing" the future but taking a bite out of it yes. Rodgers and company aren't going to be around much longer so go for it while they're still good. the future gm can fix it later when Rodgers is gone and nuclear winter sets in. there's absolutely no reason to be penny pinching now.

[Rutnstrut]

not necessarily "sacrificing" the future but taking a bite out of it yes. Rodgers and company aren't going to be around much longer so go for it while they're still good. the future gm can fix it later when Rodgers is gone and nuclear winter sets in. there's absolutely no reason to be penny pinching now.

Except that TT is happy with being good for x number of years and not quite getting there as opposed to trying to be great. I like to call it hi grade mediocrity.

[Carolina_Packer]

We've always had the cap room to sign one or two of these types of guys (rig, house) every year

Every season we seem to leave 4 or 5 million in cap space on the table, and just keep kicking it down the road. Last season we left almost 10 million in free cap space.

2 or 3 of these types of players last preseason might just have gotten us another super bowl win

You're right, Red. We have had the cap room to get these types of players. Perhaps the approach/philosophy changed a little after last year's debacle with DB injuries and only young depth that wasn't ready to contribute at a high enough level. I know people like scape goating the DB's, and there are reasons and excuses and the reason they weren't very productive IS because of injuries and youthful depth. That is partially on TT and MM in the roster building. They clearly needed a better mix of experience and youth. The pass rush also wasn't very consistent last year, which didn't help the DB's.

Also, as long as you have a need to fill, the cap hit is acceptable, and you are not stunting the growth of a promising young player, I'm cool with these types of signings. What do you do if coming out of camp the guy you sign for 1 year, 3 million is under-performing (not because of injury) compared with a young, developing player. For instance, if Christian Ringo comes in and tears it up, and RJF lays an egg in camp, but you can only keep one, do you clearly cut RJF since Ringo is an ascending player? I'm not saying that will happen, I'm asking what happens if that does happen? I suppose it would be more of a hard ship if you had more cap money committed than one year, but still, you have to have a roster spot and a role for the free agents that you sign, and hope that you don't have to cut an ascending player.

[Pugger]

All right, I go away for a couple of days and Ted signs another FA? We can't say Ted didn't dip his toes in this year...

[gbgary]

All right, I go away for a couple of days and Ted signs another FA? We can't say Ted didn't dip his toes in this year...

just plugging holes he created. we're still in minus column though (more player out than in).

[pbmax]

just plugging holes he created.

Interestingly, Cowboys dumping a bunch of players this year too in FA.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/03/27/cowboys-declare-method-to-the-madness-of-defensive-exodus/

[gbgary]

Interestingly, Cowboys dumping a bunch of players this year too in FA.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ensive-exodus/

they have cap issues. Packers don't.