GM TT REVIEW/OFFSEASON PACK FAS & DRAFT MOVES-WATCH

[Fritz]

On partials coment that CJ is over rated-I really dont belive he is, i mean its not like its just his mesurables are amazing, he plays amazing i mean even in the bowl game he pulled off like 140 yards? agains VT. But the thing that sticks out to me the most is his attitude, hes not some TO Randy wana be, hes the real deal, speed size talent attitude, he really sounds like a good kid, only wish we could get him

'Cause he isn't a millionare yet. He is still king of the campus and probably pops a fresh poonaner daily.

Eh, idk i think his mom has brought him up well, i mean hes surronded by a good family i dont see him going bad like to or moss

It's possible. We'll see.

But can't you be getting this so-called "fresh poonaner" daily AND still be brought up well?

[Scott Campbell]

Anyone would have been an improvement over Sherman... I took a wait and see approach at TT's arrival.

Still have a wait and see approach... It'll take more than one good draft in a row to win me over - and then there is the matter of letting Wahle walk, punting Walker, drafting Rodgers, and the weak offensive and defensive schemes.

Wait and see...

I agree for the most part with Wist.

I'm impressed by what Ted has done so far. However, there's a big difference between just being better than Sherman, and building a consistent contender. Were 3 years in, and it's about time for that next big leap.

Honeymoon is over. It's time to win the division.

[TopHat]

FUTURE IS NOW: GET THE HELP!

http://www.packerchatters.com/op-ed/view.php?id=368

The last pieces of the puzzle, Our future is now! by Bernie Capasso - PackerChatters.com

Ted Thompson has been the GM for a little over two years now. For the last two years he was clearing our salary cap problem and acquiring new, mostly younger, players for the Packers future. Well the Packer future has arrived. I suspect that the moves that Thompson will make this off season will be with the full intentions of getting the team to the Superbowl “this” year and hopefully be a contender with the current team in future years also. When you rebuild, the formula is usually to first set your defense, then your offensive line, running backs, receivers and then your QB. Thompson’s first draft pick was the Packers future QB, but that only happened because Rodgers fell in Thompson’s lap. But, I would like to address our current needs and what I suspect Thompson will do to get the Packers back in the Superbowl hunt for 2007.

First off we need to finish building the Defense.

1. We obviously need a free safety to take over Manuel spot. We need an immediate impact player at FS I do not think TT will “draft” a safety to fill this void. If he does it would probably have to be the first round. Even with a 1st rounder it could easily take a year for a rookie to become adapted to the NFL. I think TT takes care of the safety problem through FA. My first choice would be Deon Grant second would be Ken Hamlin. With Grant back there we would probably have one of the top secondaries in the NFL. Manual, Underwood and Blackmon should provide the depth we would need for the nickel and dime packages.
2. We need to resign Jenkins or get a DE that can take his place. Again we could tap FA...or grab a DE in the first or second round. As far as I am concerned if these two problems are addressed our Defense is complete and it is time to start working on our offense.

The Offensive Needs:

1. Running back (Color Green gone) It looks like other NFL teams are interested in Green and TT will not get in a bidding war when he could use that money for our future starting RB. I think TT will draft our future featured back in the 1st or 2nd round.
2. Guard. We need to get an experienced solid starting vet in there and let the rest our promising offensive lineman fight it out for he other two spots. I think Thompson will grab an experienced lineman in FA.
3. A Wide receiver. I think this will be addressed in the draft as this draft is filled with quality WRs. This position is a very big question mark. Depending on The Robinson situation and the outside shot that Fergie could stay healthy long enough to remember that he sometimes has to fight for passes, we may not be in “THAT BAD” Shape in the WR department. But I think we have to draft one for insurance.
4. A Tight End. Again I think this will be addressed in the draft. Our GM and HC say we are set at the TE position. I don’t think anyone (including themselves) believe that....

[HarveyWallbangers]

Re: FUTURE IS NOW: GET THE HELP!

2. Guard. We need to get an experienced solid starting vet in there and let the rest our promising offensive lineman fight it out for he other two spots. I think Thompson will grab an experienced lineman in FA.

I didn't know we were going to a three OG lineup.

[TopHat]

UPDATED

EDITING.

8) 8)

[TopHat]

Re: FUTURE IS NOW: GET THE HELP!

2. Guard. We need to get an experienced solid starting vet in there and let the rest our promising offensive lineman fight it out for he other two spots. I think Thompson will grab an experienced lineman in FA.

I didn't know we were going to a three OG lineup.

TOP HAT: WHILE BC SUGGESTS A OG NEED, THE FA/DRAFT THREAD QUOTES A RELIABLE SOURCE [ABOVE] THAT THE PACK ARE LOOKING AT GETTING AN EXPERIENCED TACKLE.

[TopHat]

HARD COLD FACTS: FREE AGENCY CRUCIAL

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/NFC/NFC+North/Green+Bay/Features/2007/mann021607.htm

Pack needs a lot more than Favre to contend by Court E. Mann PFW

Bolstered by a late-season surge, Brett Favre is coming back. Encouraged by a four-game winning streak to close out the 2006 campaign, the first-ballot Hall of Famer is spitting in the face of retirement for at least one more season. Inspired by finishing out of the playoffs by a mere tiebreaker, the three-time MVP is ready for one last run at the Super Bowl. "I am so excited about coming back," Favre said in his formal announcement to the Biloxi Sun Herald. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging. My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch. I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team." "He definitely feels good about it," Scott Favre, Brett's older brother, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He's still playing good and he sees the future is brighter. I think that (four-game win streak) pretty much summed it up. Winning those four games late kind of changed everybody's mindset. I told him, ‘You pick up a couple players, everybody stays healthy, who knows, you might make a run at it next year.’” Did I miss something here? Since when did the 8-8 Packers become the ’72 Dolphins? Look, Favre is more than entitled to play whenever and wherever, whether his team is 16-0 or 0-16. However, the notion that this Packers team is inches away from contending for a Super Bowl title is bright-eyed, bushy-tailed optimism seen through cheddar-stained glasses. Yes, the NFC is the junior varsity. Yes, the Saints were 3-13 a year ago. It’s not completely ludicrous to imagine the Packers sneaking into the NFC tournament in 2007. It’s also not all that probable either. How quickly we forget that Green Bay won a grand total of one game against winning teams in 2006. In eight games against teams .500 or better, the Packers were 1-7 and outscored by a margin of 228-116. Their one win was a bizarre season finale which pitted an admittedly distracted Bears team against a focused Packers squad motivated by the spectacle of Favre’s possible swan song. How easily we bypass the fact that the other three teams left in the dust by the surging Packers in this “rejuvenating” win streak were the sunken Vikings, the hapless Lions and the dynasty formerly known as the 49ers. How distant in our memory is the three-game losing streak that preceded this surge. And the 3-5 record the Packers posted on their prestigious home turf, including three drubbings by the Bears (26-0), the Patriots (35-0) and the Jets (38-10). I don’t mean to be unnecessarily harsh. Green Bay most certainly made strides last season, and there is reason for optimism. But to hear the talk, in the wake of Favre’s comeback revelation, that they’re on the cusp of greatness is a little much. One NFL pundit to remain nameless went as far as suggesting the NFC North is wide open. Evidently that team from Chicago with a Super Bowl berth, two straight division titles and more wins than anyone in the conference over the past two seasons is waving the white flag for the Green and Gold. More realistically, the Packers will need to exploit the rest of the North — as they did this year in sweeping the Lions and Vikings — to compete for a wild-card spot. Considering the depth and competition in the NFC East and the NFC South, that will be no small task, especially with a schedule that trades the NFC West and the AFC East for the NFC East and the AFC West. Goodbye Cardinals and Bills, hello Chargers and Eagles. Long story short, it’s going to take a lot more than Favre and a promising, young nucleus to make this team a legitimate contender. And considering the Packers already have last year’s rookies playing prominent roles all over the field, adding another round of youngsters, even an impact class, isn’t likely to help. Another young receiver or lineman will not provide sufficient punch for the NFL’s 31st-ranked red-zone offense. Hence the Randy Moss conjecture, however sordid and unlikely it seems. Veteran linebacking and safety help is needed for a defense that seems to be measuring itself far too often on success against the Niners, Lions, Vikings and skeleton Bears. A complete overhaul is in order for a special-teams unit that ranked dead last for the second straight season. That stat paints a scary, yet telling, picture regarding the team’s overall depth. Let’s not forget that the Packers were remarkably healthy a year ago, losing only one game total to its starting defense.
So the onus is on the Packers’ front office to get it done when free agency opens on March 2, and GM Ted Thompson has the cap space to make it happen — even if his history suggests reluctance to do so and a preference for leaning more heavily on the draft. “We feel like if we're doing things to help the team get better, whatever it is, whoever the quarterback is, whether it's Brett or whomever it might be, we're going to try to get better,” Thompson said. “And if we can do that in free agency, we'll do that.” If Thompson can follow through on that, perhaps then I’ll smell what the Cheeseheads are cookin’.

[TopHat]

UPDATE

BEARS FRANCHISED BRIGGS.

RAVENS' DECISION DAY FOR THOMAS IS FEB. 22.

PACKERS UNLIKELY TO TRADE FOR MOSS. Footfall Futures says, "Despite rumors and Favre's public request, the Packers now seem unlikely to trade for Randy Moss. First, there has been almost no internal discussion of Moss by the Packers. Second the Raiders are now rumored to want a second round pick for Moss. It seems very doubtful that Packers GM Ted Thompson, who typicaly looks to acquire draft picks and build through the draft, would be willing to let go of a second rounder for a 30 year-old receiver with a huge contract and a ton of baggage."

[TopHat]

updated

editing.

[TopHat]

UPDATED

8) 8) 8)

[Bretsky]

Re: HARD COLD FACTS: FREE AGENCY CRUCIAL

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/NFC/NFC+North/Green+Bay/Features/2007/mann021607.htm

Pack needs a lot more than Favre to contend by Court E. Mann PFW

Bolstered by a late-season surge, Brett Favre is coming back. Encouraged by a four-game winning streak to close out the 2006 campaign, the first-ballot Hall of Famer is spitting in the face of retirement for at least one more season. Inspired by finishing out of the playoffs by a mere tiebreaker, the three-time MVP is ready for one last run at the Super Bowl. "I am so excited about coming back," Favre said in his formal announcement to the Biloxi Sun Herald. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging. My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch. I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team." "He definitely feels good about it," Scott Favre, Brett's older brother, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He's still playing good and he sees the future is brighter. I think that (four-game win streak) pretty much summed it up. Winning those four games late kind of changed everybody's mindset. I told him, ‘You pick up a couple players, everybody stays healthy, who knows, you might make a run at it next year.’” Did I miss something here? Since when did the 8-8 Packers become the ’72 Dolphins? Look, Favre is more than entitled to play whenever and wherever, whether his team is 16-0 or 0-16. However, the notion that this Packers team is inches away from contending for a Super Bowl title is bright-eyed, bushy-tailed optimism seen through cheddar-stained glasses. Yes, the NFC is the junior varsity. Yes, the Saints were 3-13 a year ago. It’s not completely ludicrous to imagine the Packers sneaking into the NFC tournament in 2007. It’s also not all that probable either. How quickly we forget that Green Bay won a grand total of one game against winning teams in 2006. In eight games against teams .500 or better, the Packers were 1-7 and outscored by a margin of 228-116. Their one win was a bizarre season finale which pitted an admittedly distracted Bears team against a focused Packers squad motivated by the spectacle of Favre’s possible swan song. How easily we bypass the fact that the other three teams left in the dust by the surging Packers in this “rejuvenating” win streak were the sunken Vikings, the hapless Lions and the dynasty formerly known as the 49ers. How distant in our memory is the three-game losing streak that preceded this surge. And the 3-5 record the Packers posted on their prestigious home turf, including three drubbings by the Bears (26-0), the Patriots (35-0) and the Jets (38-10). I don’t mean to be unnecessarily harsh. Green Bay most certainly made strides last season, and there is reason for optimism. But to hear the talk, in the wake of Favre’s comeback revelation, that they’re on the cusp of greatness is a little much. One NFL pundit to remain nameless went as far as suggesting the NFC North is wide open. Evidently that team from Chicago with a Super Bowl berth, two straight division titles and more wins than anyone in the conference over the past two seasons is waving the white flag for the Green and Gold. More realistically, the Packers will need to exploit the rest of the North — as they did this year in sweeping the Lions and Vikings — to compete for a wild-card spot. Considering the depth and competition in the NFC East and the NFC South, that will be no small task, especially with a schedule that trades the NFC West and the AFC East for the NFC East and the AFC West. Goodbye Cardinals and Bills, hello Chargers and Eagles. Long story short, it’s going to take a lot more than Favre and a promising, young nucleus to make this team a legitimate contender. And considering the Packers already have last year’s rookies playing prominent roles all over the field, adding another round of youngsters, even an impact class, isn’t likely to help. Another young receiver or lineman will not provide sufficient punch for the NFL’s 31st-ranked red-zone offense. Hence the Randy Moss conjecture, however sordid and unlikely it seems. Veteran linebacking and safety help is needed for a defense that seems to be measuring itself far too often on success against the Niners, Lions, Vikings and skeleton Bears. A complete overhaul is in order for a special-teams unit that ranked dead last for the second straight season. That stat paints a scary, yet telling, picture regarding the team’s overall depth. Let’s not forget that the Packers were remarkably healthy a year ago, losing only one game total to its starting defense.
So the onus is on the Packers’ front office to get it done when free agency opens on March 2, and GM Ted Thompson has the cap space to make it happen — even if his history suggests reluctance to do so and a preference for leaning more heavily on the draft. “We feel like if we're doing things to help the team get better, whatever it is, whoever the quarterback is, whether it's Brett or whomever it might be, we're going to try to get better,” Thompson said. “And if we can do that in free agency, we'll do that.” If Thompson can follow through on that, perhaps then I’ll smell what the Cheeseheads are cookin’.

Agree completely on all of this; last year was a strong step toward respectability. But this year TT needs to take a step just as strong or stronger.

I like the idea of getting a starting capable OG in free agency and letting them all fight it out for the two spots.

Obviously we have to upgrade at TE, WR, and S in order to take that step forward.

[TopHat]

FREE AGENCY UPDATE: THOMAS. GRAHAM STILL HEADED TOWARD FA

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm by PFT

GREEN BAY GOING DEFENSE IN FREE AGENCY. We reported recently that the Packers' first target in free agency will be Ravens linebacker/defensive end Adalius Thomas. [heading to 49rss?] We're now hearing that the defensive side of the ball will be the primary, if not exclusive, focus of the team's efforts in free agency. [maybe power OG/OT too] Last year, quarterback Brett Favre spoke openly about wanting the team to make a free-agent acquisition along the lines of defensive end Reggie White. Though there was no Reggie-type player available last year (and there isn't one available this year), quantity could be the key as the Packers improve their ability to keep other teams off of the scoreboard. [and quality WR in deep WR draft]

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17858733&BRD=1675&PAG=461&dept_id=18170&rfi=6

Stallworth is posturing for free agency. Stallworth isn’t eligible to seek offers until free agency begins....In various media interviews he indicated there was interest from the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in addition to the Eagles. The Niners are said to have the most interest in Stallworth, with the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers lesser suitors.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.thomas16feb16,0,5399475.story?coll=bal-sports-football

Thomas wants to stay a Raven. If the Ravens don't use the franchise tag on Adalius Thomas next week, the All-Pro linebacker is still hopeful about returning to the team as a free agent[/b]. Other interested teams - such as San Francisco, New England, Cleveland and Green Bay - have more salary cap room than the Ravens and can offer Thomas substantially more in a long-term contract.


FURTHER, with Briggs tagged, Bears rumblings that Thomas Jones, Mike Brown, or Adawale Ogunleye are being released. With Samuel being franchised by the Patriots, Graham will probably not be a Patriot next year.

[TopHat]

UPDATED

EDITING.


8) 8)

[TopHat]

Re: HARD COLD FACTS: FREE AGENCY CRUCIAL

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFL/NFC/NFC+North/Green+Bay/Features/2007/mann021607.htm

Pack needs a lot more than Favre to contend by Court E. Mann PFW

Bolstered by a late-season surge, Brett Favre is coming back. Encouraged by a four-game winning streak to close out the 2006 campaign, the first-ballot Hall of Famer is spitting in the face of retirement for at least one more season. Inspired by finishing out of the playoffs by a mere tiebreaker, the three-time MVP is ready for one last run at the Super Bowl. "I am so excited about coming back," Favre said in his formal announcement to the Biloxi Sun Herald. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging. My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch. I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team." "He definitely feels good about it," Scott Favre, Brett's older brother, told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. "He's still playing good and he sees the future is brighter. I think that (four-game win streak) pretty much summed it up. Winning those four games late kind of changed everybody's mindset. I told him, ‘You pick up a couple players, everybody stays healthy, who knows, you might make a run at it next year.’” Did I miss something here? Since when did the 8-8 Packers become the ’72 Dolphins? Look, Favre is more than entitled to play whenever and wherever, whether his team is 16-0 or 0-16. However, the notion that this Packers team is inches away from contending for a Super Bowl title is bright-eyed, bushy-tailed optimism seen through cheddar-stained glasses. Yes, the NFC is the junior varsity. Yes, the Saints were 3-13 a year ago. It’s not completely ludicrous to imagine the Packers sneaking into the NFC tournament in 2007. It’s also not all that probable either. How quickly we forget that Green Bay won a grand total of one game against winning teams in 2006. In eight games against teams .500 or better, the Packers were 1-7 and outscored by a margin of 228-116. Their one win was a bizarre season finale which pitted an admittedly distracted Bears team against a focused Packers squad motivated by the spectacle of Favre’s possible swan song. How easily we bypass the fact that the other three teams left in the dust by the surging Packers in this “rejuvenating” win streak were the sunken Vikings, the hapless Lions and the dynasty formerly known as the 49ers. How distant in our memory is the three-game losing streak that preceded this surge. And the 3-5 record the Packers posted on their prestigious home turf, including three drubbings by the Bears (26-0), the Patriots (35-0) and the Jets (38-10). I don’t mean to be unnecessarily harsh. Green Bay most certainly made strides last season, and there is reason for optimism. But to hear the talk, in the wake of Favre’s comeback revelation, that they’re on the cusp of greatness is a little much. One NFL pundit to remain nameless went as far as suggesting the NFC North is wide open. Evidently that team from Chicago with a Super Bowl berth, two straight division titles and more wins than anyone in the conference over the past two seasons is waving the white flag for the Green and Gold. More realistically, the Packers will need to exploit the rest of the North — as they did this year in sweeping the Lions and Vikings — to compete for a wild-card spot. Considering the depth and competition in the NFC East and the NFC South, that will be no small task, especially with a schedule that trades the NFC West and the AFC East for the NFC East and the AFC West. Goodbye Cardinals and Bills, hello Chargers and Eagles. Long story short, it’s going to take a lot more than Favre and a promising, young nucleus to make this team a legitimate contender. And considering the Packers already have last year’s rookies playing prominent roles all over the field, adding another round of youngsters, even an impact class, isn’t likely to help. Another young receiver or lineman will not provide sufficient punch for the NFL’s 31st-ranked red-zone offense. Hence the Randy Moss conjecture, however sordid and unlikely it seems. Veteran linebacking and safety help is needed for a defense that seems to be measuring itself far too often on success against the Niners, Lions, Vikings and skeleton Bears. A complete overhaul is in order for a special-teams unit that ranked dead last for the second straight season. That stat paints a scary, yet telling, picture regarding the team’s overall depth. Let’s not forget that the Packers were remarkably healthy a year ago, losing only one game total to its starting defense.
So the onus is on the Packers’ front office to get it done when free agency opens on March 2, and GM Ted Thompson has the cap space to make it happen — even if his history suggests reluctance to do so and a preference for leaning more heavily on the draft. “We feel like if we're doing things to help the team get better, whatever it is, whoever the quarterback is, whether it's Brett or whomever it might be, we're going to try to get better,” Thompson said. “And if we can do that in free agency, we'll do that.” If Thompson can follow through on that, perhaps then I’ll smell what the Cheeseheads are cookin’.

Agree completely on all of this; last year was a strong step toward respectability. But this year TT needs to take a step just as strong or stronger.

I like the idea of getting a starting capable OG in free agency and letting them all fight it out for the two spots.

Obviously we have to upgrade at TE, WR, and S in order to take that step forward.

TOP HAT: NICE! [??]

[RashanGary]

I was disappointed in his first draft but the way the cap is and how many good young players we have is a step in the right direction. i think we'll really find out what TT is made of next season when Favre retires. If we're 8-8 or better the year after Favre, I'm extatic and I think we have the blocks to be special if the right QB or Rodgers turns out.

As for now, I expect us to be 9-7 with Favre next season and play our best football late like young teams do.


I've been a HUGE Thompson supporter. He mgiht fail, but I really believe in most of his approach. We'll find out soon enough.