Packers aren't pursuing RB Turner

[packers11]

http://www.packersnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070402/PKR01/70402101/1989

Posted April 2, 2007

Packers aren't pursuing RB Turner


The Green Bay Packers aren’t pursuing San Diego Chargers running back Michael Turner, but the Tennessee Titans are making a strong push.


Turner’s agent, Bus Cook, said Monday afternoon his client had just left a meeting with the Titans, one of several teams interested in signing or trading for LaDainian Tomlinson’s backup.

A restricted free agent, Turner received the highest possible tender from the Chargers — one year, $2.35 million — meaning any team that signs him would owe San Diego first- and third-round draft picks as compensation. But San Diego is believed to be willing to deal Turner for less because he will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season.

The Packers need a running back after the departure of Ahman Green, who signed with the Houston Texans. But Cook, who also represents Packers quarterback Brett Favre, said Green Bay has not contacted him about Turner.

A fifth-round pick out of Northern Illinois in 2004, Turner has rushed 941 yards and five touchdowns on 157 carries in three NFL seasons.

— Pete Dougherty, pdougher@greenbaypressgazette

[wist43]

No surpise here... TT isn't going to give up a draft pick - EVER!!!!

Peyton Manning, for 7th rounder??? FORGET IT!!!! TT would laugh at the Colts...

[vince]

No surpise here... TT isn't going to give up a draft pick - EVER!!!!

Peyton Manning, for 7th rounder??? FORGET IT!!!! TT would laugh at the Colts...

TT has given up numerous draft picks in recent years - in fact he's probably the league's biggest wheeler and dealer on draft day...

Of course, he always makes deals for more draft picks, but he does make a lot of deals...

[MJZiggy]

I see less deals coming this year.

[packers11]

I see Randy Moss in the near future... T.T. needs to save that 3rd round pick for good ol Randy...

[packrulz]

I heard on ESPN radio the Pack was considering swapping 1st round picks and giving up some other picks for Turner, for whatever it's worth. TT has supposedly been in contact with San Diego.

[LL2]

I heard on ESPN radio the Pack was considering swapping 1st round picks and giving up some other picks for Turner, for whatever it's worth. TT has supposedly been in contact with San Diego.

Just an FYI...Packer rumors are not worth anything.

[wist43]

I heard on ESPN radio the Pack was considering swapping 1st round picks and giving up some other picks for Turner, for whatever it's worth. TT has supposedly been in contact with San Diego.

Yeah, I wouldn't get all atwitter at the prospect... TT isn't about to trade a pick for a player.

Too many reporters, with too few actual sources... start spreading rumors around just to have something to report and to stir the pot.

All I expect from TT leading up to the draft is for him to extend Williams and/or Barnett, and maybe sign a couple of low level FA's... He's not going to do anything to appreciably upgrade the team between now and the draft.

[red]

I heard on ESPN radio the Pack was considering swapping 1st round picks and giving up some other picks for Turner, for whatever it's worth. TT has supposedly been in contact with San Diego.

i would think that if the agent for the player says the packers haven't said anything, then they haven't

if a team even reads a players name and the agent finds out about it then the agent will say the team is interested to try and get a frenzy going

[retailguy]

This isn't happening and neither is Moss. Thompson is really happy with the guys we have, I believe this....

It's the guys we got, plus draft picks, plus anyone with talent that'll work for $5.50 per hour that comes available. Otherwise, forget it...

[ND72]

local appleton espn radio station said they had a "quick" phone call with Ted Thompson, and he stated there has been ZERO talk about Michael Turner. I would give up somethign in a second faster for this guy over a randy moss. he's more worth it and could help for more than MAYBE 1-2 years.

[packrulz]

Posted April 3, 2007

Packers are interested observers in race for Turner

By Tom Pelissero
tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com

The Packers haven't entered the Michael Turner sweepstakes, but where San Diego's backup running back lands could determine whether another veteran ends up in Green Bay.


Turner, a restricted free agent, was in Tennessee on Monday to visit one of several teams that have inquired about signing him or trading for him.


The Packers aren't one of those teams, Turner's agent, Bus Cook, said Monday afternoon.


But a deal with Tennessee could pave the way to Green Bay for free agent Chris Brown, who was close to a deal to return to the Titans before the team set up visits this week with Turner and Corey Dillon.


"Obviously, the (zone) blocking scheme up there (in Green Bay) fits Chris' style," Ryan Morgan, one of Brown's agents, said Monday afternoon.


"He's a big back, but he's also pretty explosive and has got pretty good wheels. He can make that (first) cut and go."


Like the Titans, who released Travis Henry in the offseason, the Packers need a starting running back because Ahman Green bolted for the Houston Texans. Turner, 25, is the biggest name left on the market.


A former fifth-round draft pick who has 941 yards rushing in three seasons playing behind NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson, Turner received a one-year, $2.35 million tender from San Diego, meaning any team that signs him would owe the Chargers first- and third-round draft picks. But San Diego is believed to be willing to deal Turner for less — perhaps a second-round pick and a player — because he will be an unrestricted free agent after the 2007 season.


"I have to believe Turner will be dealt before the draft. San Diego is right on the verge (of a Super Bowl run)," said agent Doug Hendrickson, who represents another free-agent back, Kevan Barlow.


"Could they play it safe in case something happens to (Tomlinson)? Yeah. But if you have a chance to get value and fill another need (through a trade), you can find another back in the middle rounds to replace (Turner)."


Still, the Packers have shown little or no interest. They're believed to be sizing up the top backs in the draft — Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson and California's Marshawn Lynch are considered first-round locks — and maintained publicly that they're comfortable with starter-by-default Vernand Morency.


It seems they've also kept an eye on Brown — Morgan said he has had a number of discussions with members of the Packers' personnel department, most recently last week — who continues to draw interest from the Buffalo Bills and two other teams Morgan wouldn't name.


Buffalo and the New York Jets reportedly are interested in Turner as well.


Brown, 25, rushed for a combined 1,918 yards for the Titans in 2004 and '05 — including 148 yards and two touchdowns in a 48-27 Titans win in 2004 at Lambeau Field. But he battled injuries and totaled only 156 yards in five games last season. He is dividing his offseason training between Tennessee and Chicago, Morgan said, adding his client will be flexible about contract terms if he can compete for a starting job.


"We're not putting any time restraints on it," Morgan said. "We want to make sure the deal we do is the right deal."


Hendrickson said he hasn't heard anything from the Packers about Barlow, 28, since preliminary talks last month. Buffalo, Tennessee and the Indianapolis Colts remain in the picture, Hendrickson said.


Dillon, 32, reportedly will fly to Tennessee today and visit with Titans officials on Wednesday.

Press-Gazette reporter Pete Dougherty contributed to this report.

[LL2]

I still think the Pack should try to get Garrett Wolfe out of NIU. I think he's a sleeper pick and could be picked in the 4th or 5th rd.

[wist43]

I doubt Wolfe is even on the Packers radar. When was the last time they pulled the trigger on a situational, special teams player??? - despite the fact that they've been desperate for a spark player like this guy for years.

At RB, I think we're looking at Lynch at #16, or further down guys like:

Michael Bush
Tony Hunt
Kolby Smith
Brian Leonard
Dwayne Wright

RB is weak at the top, but there seems to be a lot of 3rd to 5th round depth... I haphazardly pulled this guys out of the lineup b/c of their size - I would prefer a bigger back who can take the pounding.

The question is - is Turner better than these guys - and what is it going to take to pry him away from the Chargers??? Assume SD would take a 2nd rounder for Turner... would the Packers be better off trading their 2nd for Turner, or using the 2nd at another position and taking one of these guys in rounds 3-5???

Personally, I like Turner better than every back in this draft, with the possible exception of Peterson... Lynch may turn out, he may not - at least you know what you're getting with Turner, he's been in the league for 3 years.

Of course, TT is going to do nothing... so, we wait for the draft.

[ND72]

You're forgetting Antonio Pittman, who is considered the best zone runner in the draft.