Undrafted FAs

[BallHawk]

Juwan Simpson I really like. He played really well when Ryans was there, and fell a bit this year in productivity. He was another one of hte guys I was suprised wasn't drafted.

He has character issues, same with Rory Johnson. Both have issues with weed I guess. I don't mind gambling on hoping a guy cleans up when you aren't burning picks on them, so hopefully they both will wake up and push for a spot.

Well, there aren't many places to gamble in Green Bay, except....Dear God.....

Michelle's House!

[Farley Face]

If I was a undrafted guy at TE I'd be calling up GB and begging for a deal.

Technically you just need one of these undrafted free agents to make a big splash this year and you can lose the sig Bretsky. I'm rooted for you

[Farley Face]

If I was a undrafted guy at TE I'd be calling up GB and begging for a deal.

Technically you just need one of these undrafted free agents to make a big splash this year and you can lose the sig Bretsky. I'm rooted for you

rooting that is.

[Bretsky]

If I was a undrafted guy at TE I'd be calling up GB and begging for a deal.

Technically you just need one of these undrafted free agents to make a big splash this year and you can lose the sig Bretsky. I'm rooted for you

Ted is completely breaking me; hey, TT SIGNED FREE AGENTS

DO THOSE COUNT ??

[MJZiggy]

If I was a undrafted guy at TE I'd be calling up GB and begging for a deal.

Technically you just need one of these undrafted free agents to make a big splash this year and you can lose the sig Bretsky. I'm rooted for you

Ted is completely breaking me; hey, TT SIGNED FREE AGENTS

DO THOSE COUNT ??

YES

[Joemailman]

Actually, most publications had Jones as a 4th or 5th round grade. Then again, many of the same publications had Clowney as a 3rd round grade. So, we got the 5th round grade guy in round 3 and the 3rd round grade guy in round 5.

The sense I was getting also was that Jones was moving up a lot of boards as the draft approached (for whatever reason guys move up boards.) So if you have a 4th or 5th round guy with upward momentum, seeing him in the middle of the third isn't at all weird.

Sporting News had Jones at #82 overall on their Board. TT took him at #78. In their mock draft, Sporting News had him going in the 6th round, so they apparently thought he would be overlooked by teams. TT obviously felt he would not last until the 4th round. I wonder how many people who don't like the Jones pick didn't like the Jennings pick last year.

[Joemailman]

Juwan Simpson I really like. He played really well when Ryans was there, and fell a bit this year in productivity. He was another one of hte guys I was suprised wasn't drafted.

He has character issues, same with Rory Johnson. Both have issues with weed I guess. I don't mind gambling on hoping a guy cleans up when you aren't burning picks on them, so hopefully they both will wake up and push for a spot.

Rory Johnson
OLB, Mississippi

War Room analysis
Strengths: Is smooth and athletic. Bends knees and maintains good balance to break down and make open-field tackles. Shows the instincts to sniff out plays quickly. Shows the agility, athleticism and speed to cover tight ends all over the field -- even down the seam. When aggressive, shows the hands and strength to take on blockers, shed them and make tackles. Does a good job of attacking backside holes on short-yardage plays. Makes plays in the backfield.

Weaknesses: Is a major character risk because of a history of drug use, bad grades and questionable work ethic. Played only one year at Ole Miss after transferring from junior college. Rarely is aggressive, allowing too many blockers to come to him. Is an upright, catch tackler. Rarely makes an impact play.

Bottom line: Johnson has Day 1 talent but has too many on- and off-field issues to consider that early. He figures to shine during pre-draft workouts. Johnson has the talent to be a solid starter at weakside linebacker, but his lack of consistency and aggressiveness suggest he never will fulfill his NFL potential.



Sporting News had him rated higher than 9 OLB's who got drafted. This guy has talent, if he ever gets his head straightened out.

[esoxx]

Actually, most publications had Jones as a 4th or 5th round grade. Then again, many of the same publications had Clowney as a 3rd round grade. So, we got the 5th round grade guy in round 3 and the 3rd round grade guy in round 5.

The sense I was getting also was that Jones was moving up a lot of boards as the draft approached (for whatever reason guys move up boards.) So if you have a 4th or 5th round guy with upward momentum, seeing him in the middle of the third isn't at all weird.

Sporting News had Jones at #82 overall on their Board. TT took him at #78. In their mock draft, Sporting News had him going in the 6th round, so they apparently thought he would be overlooked by teams. TT obviously felt he would not last until the 4th round. I wonder how many people who don't like the Jones pick didn't like the Jennings pick last year.

I liked the Jennings pick last year. I'm not blinded by WHO makes the pick, I could care less.

[BallHawk]

I wonder how many people who don't like the Jones pick didn't like the Jennings pick last year.

Probably the same group. Small school, never heard of him, not SEC or Big 10, too slow and all that bullshit...

[esoxx]

Yeah, probably...

[HarveyWallbangers]

Johnson set to tackle challenge
Character issues dog free agent linebacker
By BOB McGINN

Green Bay - If 2007 is to be remembered as the draft for character in the National Football League, linebacker Rory Johnson will go down as one of the big losers.

Thirty-two linebackers were selected in the seven rounds but only seven had a faster 40-yard dash time than Johnson. With a 4.58-second clocking and a 38-inch vertical jump, he stood out athletically from most of the crowd.

But when the 18-hour 5-minute draft ground to a halt late Sunday afternoon, Johnson was without a job. However, he wasn't caught by surprise.

On Monday, Johnson admitted that he failed one test for marijuana during his two years at Hinds College, a two-year school in Mississippi. He also admitted that he failed one test for marijuana during his only season at the University of Mississippi.

"It was a long, wasted weekend," Johnson said. "I knew I'd probably be a later round but I didn't think I was going to be a free agent."

The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions were the only teams to express interest in Johnson after the draft. He took a two-year deal from the Packers that contained a $2,500 signing bonus.

"We just felt like it was OK to take a chance as a free agent," general manager Ted Thompson said. "We just feel like the risk there is OK."

Johnson, a third-year junior, said he no longer used marijuana.

"Yeah, I stopped," he said. "I have no choice if I want to do what I love doing. I believe it was just a learning step."

Johnson, who turned 21 last month, said he was aware that as long as he remained in the NFL he would be subjected to random drug testing. If Johnson runs afoul of the substance-abuse policy, the Packers would have egg on their face for signing him and Johnson's career would be finished.

"I'm just happy and thankful that they did give me a chance," said Johnson, whose only tie to Green Bay is assistant special teams coach Shawn Slocum, the Rebels' linebackers coach in 2005. "For him to even give me a shot like this, I'm just very grateful for it."

Johnson, 6 feet and 240 pounds, played two seasons in junior college but wasn't enrolled at Ole Miss until last August. He started seven of 12 games on the weak side next to middle linebacker Patrick Willis, the 11th pick in the draft. He also put his hand down as an end on passing downs.

In good-natured fashion, Johnson wouldn't concede that Willis was a better player than him. And he expressed confidence that he would make the Packers' 53-man roster.

"I'm aggressive, hard-nosed and love going to the ball," he said. "I just play hard. I like earning my stuff better than it getting handed to me."

Johnson finished with 94 tackles (three for loss), one-half sack and five turnover plays. At the combine, he scored 18 on the Wonderlic intelligence test.

Clearly, Johnson is the most recognized player among the seven undrafted free agents known to have agreed to terms with the Packers. Thompson expects to sign eight or nine.

"We didn't intend to but somehow we got 11 picks this time," Thompson said. "That cuts down on the free agency thing. If you draft seven, naturally there would be more."

From the early contingent, guard Pat Murray of Truman State (6-3, 315) got an $8,000 signing bonus, linebacker Juwan Simpson of Alabama (6-2½, 227) received a $2,500 signing bonus and quarterback Jerry Babb of Louisiana-Lafayette (6-2½, 225) got $2,000.

Simpson started 32 games from 2003-'06 and finished with 243 tackles (18 for loss), four sacks and three interceptions. He pleaded guilty in '06 to a charge of handgun possession without a license and agreed to enter a court-based drug treatment program to resolve a possession of marijuana charge. A charge of receiving stolen property was dropped.

He runs the 40 in 4.56 and has a Wonderlic score of 27.

Babb, a four-year starter, completed 583 of 1,027 passes (56.8%) for 6,241 yards, 30 touchdowns and 38 interceptions. His NFL passer rating would have been 69.0.

The most recent signings were defensive lineman Daniel Muir of Kent State ($15,000 signing bonus), defensive end Larry Birdine of Oklahoma (bonus undisclosed) and fullback Ryan Powdrell of Southern California ($15,000 signing bonus).

Muir (6-2, 307) was a four-year starter at end and tackle. He runs 4.89, bench-pressed 225 pounds a whopping 37 times and had 15 sacks. He also had offers from Indianapolis and Washington. He said the Packers planned to use him at both positions.

"Green Bay showed the most interest," said Muir, who visited the Packers before the draft. "You can tell they really did their homework. I thought I had the best opportunity to make the team there."

Birdine (6-3, 265) played off the bench in 2003 and '04, sat out all but one game in '05 with a torn biceps and started 13 games in '06. His sack total was 14. He also had offers from New Orleans and the Jets.

"Justin Harrell and I were roommates at the combine and each of us tore our left biceps," Birdine said. "I kind of figured Green Bay was a great place to be. (Packers scout) Alonzo Highsmith and I had a great relationship over the years."

Powdrell (5-11, 255) caught four passes for 72 yards in the first two games as the Trojans' starting fullback before suffering a dislocated and fractured ankle. He sat out the season but was healthy at his pro day, when he ran 4.8 and bench-pressed 22 times.

"It came down to Tampa Bay and Green Bay," said Powdrell, who also had about five other offers. "I went to Green Bay because of their fullback situation and I really liked Edgar Bennett. He called me all day long (Sunday)."

After two junior-college seasons, Powdrell backed up at linebacker in 2004 and '05 before moving to fullback last spring.

[Rastak]

So why the heck is a guy like this undrafted?



Mozes goes undrafted, signs with Minnesota

More on Mozes! http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/mozes_dan

OVERVIEW
A former offensive guard, Mozes' move to center in the third game of the 2005 season coincided with the team's offense suddenly springing to life. The Mountaineers ranked 50th in the nation in total offense (388.92 ypg.) during his senior year, but finished fifth nationally in that category (461.38 ypg.) in 2006.

His dominance creating holes for the running attack saw WVU rank second in the nation with an average of 303.0 yards per game during his final season. The team also improved its scoring, averaging 38.85 points per game (third in the nation), compared to 31.08 points per game (31st nationally) from the previous year.

The four-year starter was regarded as the best center in college football in 2006, winning the Rimington Award. In doing so, he became the first Mountaineer since postseason honors were handed out in 1916 to win a national award. Mozes added more trophies to his mantle piece, as he and tailback Steve Slaton became the school's first tandem to earn consensus All-American first-team honors in the same season.

Mozes was also a finalist for the Outland Trophy and a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award as a senior. Awards are nothing new to this talented center, as he was a freshman All-American his first year at the school, a three-time All-Big East Conference choice, adding conference academic accolades four times, and was a second-team All-American as a junior.

Mozes was the team captain and three-time small school all-state selection at Washington High. He added All-Interstate Conference honors three times and was named Washington Observer-Reporter Defensive Player of the Year, recording 10½ sacks and 95 tackles as a senior, showing no ill effects from right shoulder surgery after his junior year and left shoulder surgery after his sophomore campaign.

[run pMc]

Rastak,
that's a good question. My guess is it has to do with the negatives, namely:

Has had a history of shoulder and hip problems that might need further medical evaluation

I wonder if he didn't pass some teams' medical evaluations. He might also a little on the small side at 6'2" and 293 (with short arms) for a lot of teams. I suspect that caused him to have a lot of trouble with bull rushers:

struggled to contain pressure at Senior Bowl practices

Sounds like a Pat Williams would eat him alive, but he also sounds like he has enough potential and experience to make him worth a late round pick.

[Freak Out]

Has that WR from Hampton or New Hampshire I think....? David Ball been signed?

[bigcoz75]

Has that WR from Hampton or New Hampshire I think....? David Ball been signed?

yep by Chicago