Tweet
I get the feeling from this article that the Packers think they'll have three good RBs from the guys on the team (probably Jackson and Morency and possibly Herron and Wynn). However, it seems that they'll be looking to make a move at TE eventually.
So far, trades are on hold
By ROB REISCHEL
Green Bay - The situation at tight end appears bleak. The outlook at running back might not be any better.
Yet, for the time being, the Green Bay Packers seem content playing the hand they've dealt themselves.
The rest of the football world might be wondering why the Packers are sitting still. But for now, Green Bay wants to get a closer look at the DeShawn Wynns and Zac Alcorns of its roster.
"We're not in a rush. We're not. We're not," insisted Reggie McKenzie, Green Bay's director of player personnel. "I know (the fans) are and you guys (the media) are, but we're not.
"Let everybody else find out on Sundays. That's the way we feel about it, so we're going to wait a couple weeks. We're not going to panic. We just have to see what happens this pre-season."
Vernand Morency, the front-runner to be Green Bay's No. 1 running back, suffered a patellar tendon injury on the first day of practice and hasn't returned. Morency will definitely miss Saturday night's pre-season opener at Pittsburgh and could be out up to a month.
In Morency's absence, rookie second-round draft pick Brandon Jackson has received most of the work with the No. 1 offense, and the Packers want to see exactly what they have with him. So for now, Green Bay has no plans to add another back to the mix.
"Not at present, no," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. "Obviously we're disappointed Vernand is not going to be able to play in maybe the first couple of pre-season games. We'll see how he goes after that. We also have some young fellows here we need to see play, and need to see practice, so that affords them an opportunity."
Corey Dillon is perhaps the most intriguing veteran running back not in a camp. Dillon, who's played 10 seasons in the NFL, ran for 812 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns last season. Dillon has said he's retired, but most aren't buying the retirement talk. Still, there are questions whether Dillon has anything left.
Dallas' Julius Jones and Carolina's DeShaun Foster are former starters who could lose their jobs by the time the regular season rolls around. And for the right price, they could be had.
Right now, though, Green Bay wants to get a good look at its group, which in addition to Jackson includes Noah Herron, Corey White and Wynn. (P.J. Pope dropped out of the mix when he had arthroscopic surgery Monday after injuring his knee in the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday. He could be out anywhere from four to eight weeks).
"Our guys are better than anybody who's out there," McKenzie said of the current free agents. "The only thing that's questionable is you've got so many young guys. You just need to let them play and see what they're like.
"We don't have a set starter. That's what we're trying to figure out, who's going to be our go-to back? We feel like we've got the talent back there. We're not worried about that part. We're worried about picking out, 'OK, who's going to be the guy to always go with the first group all the time?' "
Green Bay has that same problem at tight end, where the group of Donald Lee, Bubba Franks, Zac Alcorn, Clark Harris and Joe Werner hasn't wowed anyone.
McKenzie said the crop of tight ends still on the street did nothing for him. But a trade remains possible.
McKenzie said there were five teams with a surplus of tight ends that the Packers have targeted as potential trading partners. A reporter asked whether Denver, New England and San Diego were among those teams and McKenzie said "Yep." McKenzie said the Packers weren't pursuing a trade with Dallas, then McKenzie put an end to the guessing game.
New England has a blossoming star in Ben Watson and signed free agent Kyle Brady this off-season. That could make David Thomas - a third-round draft pick in 2006 - available for the right price.
Denver gave free agent Daniel Graham a five-year, $30 million contract in March. But the Broncos also love second-year man Tony Scheffler and have 10-year veteran Stephen Alexander on the roster.
San Diego's Antonio Gates is the best tight end in football and isn't going anywhere. The Chargers do have outstanding depth, though, with block-first Brandon Manumaleuna and rookie fourth-rounder Scott Chandler.
Another team of interest could be St. Louis. The Rams signed Randy McMichael in free agency this off-season to go with Joe Klopfenstein and Dominique Byrd - who were both first-day choices in 2006.
"We'll keep searching and calling on teams and monitor the pre-season," McKenzie said. "But at this point, it's normal. There's not a guy we want to jump out and get.
"Nobody's ready to get rid of anybody yet and then they get somebody hurt in the first pre-season game. That's understandable."
So for the time being, Green Bay will give its younger players a chance to shine, then determine its next move accordingly.
"We'll see more and we'll see if anybody steps up here," McKenzie said. "It's week to week, even day to day, especially with the young guys.
"We want a couple of games under these guys' belts. We just want to try and figure out our guys."
By ROB REISCHEL
Green Bay - The situation at tight end appears bleak. The outlook at running back might not be any better.
Yet, for the time being, the Green Bay Packers seem content playing the hand they've dealt themselves.
The rest of the football world might be wondering why the Packers are sitting still. But for now, Green Bay wants to get a closer look at the DeShawn Wynns and Zac Alcorns of its roster.
"We're not in a rush. We're not. We're not," insisted Reggie McKenzie, Green Bay's director of player personnel. "I know (the fans) are and you guys (the media) are, but we're not.
"Let everybody else find out on Sundays. That's the way we feel about it, so we're going to wait a couple weeks. We're not going to panic. We just have to see what happens this pre-season."
Vernand Morency, the front-runner to be Green Bay's No. 1 running back, suffered a patellar tendon injury on the first day of practice and hasn't returned. Morency will definitely miss Saturday night's pre-season opener at Pittsburgh and could be out up to a month.
In Morency's absence, rookie second-round draft pick Brandon Jackson has received most of the work with the No. 1 offense, and the Packers want to see exactly what they have with him. So for now, Green Bay has no plans to add another back to the mix.
"Not at present, no," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said. "Obviously we're disappointed Vernand is not going to be able to play in maybe the first couple of pre-season games. We'll see how he goes after that. We also have some young fellows here we need to see play, and need to see practice, so that affords them an opportunity."
Corey Dillon is perhaps the most intriguing veteran running back not in a camp. Dillon, who's played 10 seasons in the NFL, ran for 812 yards and a career-high 13 touchdowns last season. Dillon has said he's retired, but most aren't buying the retirement talk. Still, there are questions whether Dillon has anything left.
Dallas' Julius Jones and Carolina's DeShaun Foster are former starters who could lose their jobs by the time the regular season rolls around. And for the right price, they could be had.
Right now, though, Green Bay wants to get a good look at its group, which in addition to Jackson includes Noah Herron, Corey White and Wynn. (P.J. Pope dropped out of the mix when he had arthroscopic surgery Monday after injuring his knee in the intrasquad scrimmage Saturday. He could be out anywhere from four to eight weeks).
"Our guys are better than anybody who's out there," McKenzie said of the current free agents. "The only thing that's questionable is you've got so many young guys. You just need to let them play and see what they're like.
"We don't have a set starter. That's what we're trying to figure out, who's going to be our go-to back? We feel like we've got the talent back there. We're not worried about that part. We're worried about picking out, 'OK, who's going to be the guy to always go with the first group all the time?' "
Green Bay has that same problem at tight end, where the group of Donald Lee, Bubba Franks, Zac Alcorn, Clark Harris and Joe Werner hasn't wowed anyone.
McKenzie said the crop of tight ends still on the street did nothing for him. But a trade remains possible.
McKenzie said there were five teams with a surplus of tight ends that the Packers have targeted as potential trading partners. A reporter asked whether Denver, New England and San Diego were among those teams and McKenzie said "Yep." McKenzie said the Packers weren't pursuing a trade with Dallas, then McKenzie put an end to the guessing game.
New England has a blossoming star in Ben Watson and signed free agent Kyle Brady this off-season. That could make David Thomas - a third-round draft pick in 2006 - available for the right price.
Denver gave free agent Daniel Graham a five-year, $30 million contract in March. But the Broncos also love second-year man Tony Scheffler and have 10-year veteran Stephen Alexander on the roster.
San Diego's Antonio Gates is the best tight end in football and isn't going anywhere. The Chargers do have outstanding depth, though, with block-first Brandon Manumaleuna and rookie fourth-rounder Scott Chandler.
Another team of interest could be St. Louis. The Rams signed Randy McMichael in free agency this off-season to go with Joe Klopfenstein and Dominique Byrd - who were both first-day choices in 2006.
"We'll keep searching and calling on teams and monitor the pre-season," McKenzie said. "But at this point, it's normal. There's not a guy we want to jump out and get.
"Nobody's ready to get rid of anybody yet and then they get somebody hurt in the first pre-season game. That's understandable."
So for the time being, Green Bay will give its younger players a chance to shine, then determine its next move accordingly.
"We'll see more and we'll see if anybody steps up here," McKenzie said. "It's week to week, even day to day, especially with the young guys.
"We want a couple of games under these guys' belts. We just want to try and figure out our guys."
Comment