Packers Sign Draft Pick Rouse; Release Barry, Bourke

[packers11]

https://www.packers.com/news/releases/2007/06/08/1/

Packers Sign Draft Pick Rouse; Release Barry, Bourke

posted 06/08/2007

The Green Bay Packers Friday signed safety Aaron Rouse and released offensive linemen Kevin Barry and Josh Bourke. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson made the announcement.

Rouse, a 6-foot-4, 223-pound rookie from Virginia Tech, is the second of 11 selections to sign with the team. Chosen in the third round (89th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft, he joins college teammate David Clowney, a fifth-round pick signed Monday, as the first rookies under contract.

Beginning his collegiate career at linebacker, Rouse made the switch to strong safety as a junior. In 2006, he earned the team's President Award, given to the most outstanding leader on defense. In 52 games at Virginia Tech, he made 24 starts and recorded 217 tackles and five interceptions.

Barry, a 6-foot-4, 322-pound veteran out of Arizona, played in 59 games with eight starts. He originally signed as a non-drafted free agent in 2002.

Bourke (pronounced "BERK") is a 6-foot-7, 314-pound tackle in his second year from Grand Valley State. He also had joined the team as a non-drafted free agent, in 2006.
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[Partial]

I thought they were high on Bourke?

[packers11]

let the competition at SS begin

[Bossman641]

I thought they were high on Bourke?

Agreed, I thought they were high on him as well. I thought he was the only other true LT cause I just saw that Barbre has only been practicing at LG. Maybe his injury is worse than thought, and they are concerned about that.

[pittstang5]

I thought they were high on Bourke?

Agreed, I thought they were high on him as well. I thought he was the only other true LT cause I just saw that Barbre has only been practicing at LG. Maybe his injury is worse than thought, and they are concerned about that.

Same here - thought they were high on Bourke as well. They must like what they have in this Orrin Thompson guy.

Well, we all new Barry wasn't going to make it.

[Joemailman]

I think it was taking Bourke longer than expected to come back from last year's injury. Barbre probably made him expendable.

[CaliforniaCheez]

I liked the way Bourke played and he was kind of a personal favorite to make the team. He is released early.


Barry scored only 8 on the Wonderlic. He never could play any position than RT and was suprised Ted gave him a new contract last year. Of course at the time Ted did not know what he would get in the draft.

In previewing the draft I thought Rouse might be a good fit for the Packers. I thought he might be a about a 5th round pick, though. I'm happy that his agent got it done.

A fifth round pick and a third round pick.

What's with the 6th and 7th round agents???

[HarveyWallbangers]

I liked the way Bourke played and he was kind of a personal favorite to make the team. He is released early.

When did you even see Bourke play? I think he played two preseason games and no regular season games in the NFL.

[gbpackfan]

I think Bourke was placed on IR last year. The Packers were REAL high on him at the end of training camp in 2006. Wow, very surprising. Maybe some of the other kids have stepped up.

Good luck to them both. I'm pretty sure Sherman will pick up Kevin Barry. HA HA.

[CaliforniaCheez]

It was during the preseason of course. I noticed he did very well during Family Night. He was considered too tall but I thougght he used his long arms well to keep defenders away and not get into him. His range was good so speed on the outside did not beat him.

I thought he did much better than the average rookie free agent.

Every year there are a couple of guys who are underdogs to make the roster that I cheer for. This year there are many good players that will be cut.

Coston has to feel much better today than he did yesterday.

[Kiwon]

No, say it ain't so.

No more Barry? No more U-71? For real?

Sherman will probably take a look at him in Houston. U-71 was a personal fav of his.

[BallHawk]

At least he can tell his grandkids that he had a formation named and designed after him.

[Patler]

The Packers were high on Bourke, as recently as late January. From JSO:

Josh Bourke, tackle: The 6-7, 314-pound Bourke was a pleasant surprise at left tackle in the little amount of work he got before injuring his right leg and back at the end of training camp. Signed as a rookie free agent from Grand Valley State, he still has a lot to learn about the game.

"He's got good feet and he has a little bit of a nasty streak," general manager Ted Thompson said.

His lower back is the issue he's dealing with now.

"We liked him from what we saw until the point he got hurt," McCarthy said. "He's a tall guy, he's a small-college guy. He's done a good job in the weight room. He needs to get fully healthy; he's not 100% healthy. Definitely we're going to give him a chance."

BUT...just a week or so ago, as a footnote in another article, it mentioned that Bourke was still not 100%, but they were hoping he would be by TC. I have a feeling that this week convinced them that he was not healed completely, so there really was no reason to keep him around. If he recovers, they can always re-sign him if they still want him.

[Jimx29]

[Jimx29]