2006 Live DRAFT Thread

[Scott Campbell]

SUNDAY, April 30, 2006, 11:44 a.m.

By Cliff Christl
Return game

The Packers are clearly excited about Cory Rodgers' potential as a return man. "Cory Rodgers probably is the one who would step up to the forefront," said special teams coach Mike Stock. The Packers have drafted three return men so far. The other two are wide receiver Greg Jennings and cornerback Will Blackmon.

Stock said Rodgerd figures in his plans as both a punt and kickoff return man. Jennings and Blackmon are viewed more as kickoff return men.

Stock said he liked Rodgers' hands, toughness and recklessness. "He's a North-South runner," said Stock. Although Rodgers weighs under 200 pounds, he may be able to handle both duties, according to Stock. Then again, Stock said it wasn't important that the same player handle both kickoffs and punts.

Stock made it clear that the Packers are hoping their draft picks will fill their needs in the return game. At this point, he suggested he wasn't banking on any of the veteran players.

[Scott Campbell]

Optimistic? Pulease.... Last year it was the BPA theory. This year it's not Need, it's not Want and it's definitely not BPA. The only thing I see here is accumulating picks and taking LONG TERM gambles. He better be smart about the contracts he offers these guys because I see no one special in this group and that includes Hawk. Hawk is going to command a #5 salary when we could have picked someone with immediate impact for that money. He wasn't even at the friggin draft and this is HIS future. I believe that shows the disrespect he has for the NFL. If saomeone is going to offere you millions of dollars before you even play 1 down for them, YOU SHOW UP. When he said he wasn't attending I thought to myself, there is a personality we don't want.

I think the league likes to parade it's top picks around like a bunch of trained monkeys. I'd have stayed home too.

[Fosco33]

Is Orr available? What's left for the Packers based on need? Special Teams? O-Line? D-Line?

[Scott Campbell]

SUNDAY, April 30, 2006, 11:53 a.m.

By Cliff Christl
Blackmon: A promising project

Will Blackmon might have little experience in man-to-man coverage and some bad habits to break, including a tendency to peek into the backfield, but defensive backfield coach Kurt Schottenheimer likes his athletic ability.

Schottenheimer thinks Blackmon, at 6-foot-0 and close to 200 pounds, could become a physical, press corner. "He has a tremendous ability to drop his weight and get in and out of breaks," said Schottenheimer.

Blackmon played wide receiver as a senior at Boston College, but the Packers are projecting him as a kickoff return man.

[outflow]

Hawk I believe that shows the disrespect he has for the NFL. If saomeone is going to offere you millions of dollars before you even play 1 down for them, YOU SHOW UP. When he said he wasn't attending I thought to myself, there is a personality we don't want.

[Scott Campbell]

SUNDAY, April 30, 2006, 11:57 a.m.

By Cliff Christl
Rodgers as a receiver

The Packers view Cory Rodgers as the leading candidate to take over the team's punt return duties and possibly the kickoff return duties. But wide receivers coach Jimmy Robinson also think Rodgers will compete for a spot as a wide receiver.

Robinson said Rodgers was both a good route runner and had displayed good ball skills. Robinson said second-round pick Greg Jennings was more advanced as a receiver, but that Rodgers wasn't far behind.

[Merlin]

There were 4 players worth taking in the top 5, Williams, Bush, Lineart & Young. Davis was a strong 5 and on the board when we picked. However, if you were going to take Hawk, you should have either traded down in the first or taken someone else and traded for Hawk if that's who you really wanted. He isn't Urlacher (taken 9th) or Lewis (taken 6th) and we took him at 5. As far as being a trained monkey, I agree with you. BUT don't tell me if someone was going to pay you 15-18 Million in guaranteed money that you wouldn't parade around like a monkey for it. Especialy when you haven't proven anything to them yet.

[swede]

Hawk I believe that shows the disrespect he has for the NFL. If saomeone is going to offere you millions of dollars before you even play 1 down for them, YOU SHOW UP. When he said he wasn't attending I thought to myself, there is a personality we don't want.

What? Did you want him parading around like a pimp?

He stayed at home with his family and his gorgeous girlfriend. After he took the call from the Packers he shaved, put on a suit, flew to Green Bay and spoke of the privilege it was to be selected by one of the NFL's great teams.

[Scott Campbell]

I am sorry here but if you are going to trade your #1 receiver for ONE 2nd rounder then trade that selection away for two more later round picks, you had BETTER come up with two starters with those picks.

Newsflash. Our number 1 receiver was and is Driver. Walker wasn't going to play for us. He had something like 4 receptions for 29 yards last year. He wasn't our #1 receiver anymore than Mike McKenzie was our #1 cornerback.

Ted turned a lemon into lemonaide. I know some of you were holding out for more, but this is as much as we could realistically hope to get.

[pacfan]

Optimistic? Pulease.... Last year it was the BPA theory. This year it's not Need, it's not Want and it's definitely not BPA. The only thing I see here is accumulating picks and taking LONG TERM gambles. He better be smart about the contracts he offers these guys because I see no one special in this group and that includes Hawk. Hawk is going to command a #5 salary when we could have picked someone with immediate impact for that money. He wasn't even at the friggin draft and this is HIS future. I believe that shows the disrespect he has for the NFL. If saomeone is going to offere you millions of dollars before you even play 1 down for them, YOU SHOW UP. When he said he wasn't attending I thought to myself, there is a personality we don't want.

I disagree. The NFL Draft is over-hyped. These players are flown all over the nation being interviewed by the various teams that may or may not be interested. Hawk stayed home and watched it with his family. Thats a charactor move that I respect. Its shows a committment to the game, not the cameras.

I think the Colledge pick may be a reach, but I'm glad we have a potential PR guy that is taller than 6'0. I love the Hodge pick, and I think Spitz gives us depth at center/guard. Our special teams last year were horrible, now we have bigger players with more speed.

We have Driver, Gardner and maybe Ferguson at WR. We have Bubba and Donald Lee at TE. We have great tackles but huge questions marks at C and G. We have Green and Gado coming back from injury last year, wil they produce? I don't know. But we have the pieces for a good offense, its up the the coaches to make that work.

Last year we lost 5 games by 3 points or less, so we had some talent last year without Javon.

[Merlin]

For the #5 pick and 15-18 mil, you bet your ass he should have been there. The guy is a poly-sci major. He will give you all he has but his ego will not let you "own" him in his mind which is the same as "coach" him. You watch, he is going to be a project and an expensive one at that.

[Scott Campbell]

There were 4 players worth taking in the top 5, Williams, Bush, Lineart & Young. Davis was a strong 5 and on the board when we picked. However, if you were going to take Hawk, you should have either traded down in the first or taken someone else and traded for Hawk if that's who you really wanted. He isn't Urlacher (taken 9th) or Lewis (taken 6th) and we took him at 5. As far as being a trained monkey, I agree with you. BUT don't tell me if someone was going to pay you 15-18 Million in guaranteed money that you wouldn't parade around like a monkey for it. Especialy when you haven't proven anything to them yet.

I can't imagine how his participation in a nice suit in NY yesterday bears any relevence at all on his potential as a prospect.

[outflow]

Did anyone see the press conference last night and think Hawk's suit was too small? I did.

[swede]

I've given up on ESPN. How long until our next pick?

[Scott Campbell]

Did anyone see the press conference last night and think Hawk's suit was too small? I did.

Maybe his muscles were just too big.