While the NFL Network continues counting down the Top 100 Players of 2012, I decided to re-post a little countdown of my own (hopefully mine will be a bit less laughable). I’ve watched the Packers since 1978, and in those 33 years I’ve seen some great players and some not so great players wear the Green and Gold. Before I get to the best of the best, I thought it would be fun to focus on the worst of the worst. I only included players...
With Andrew Quarless (knee) not expected back until at least Halloween, the Packers will need one of their young tight ends to emerge as Jermichael Finley‘s backup. And while D.J. Williams and Tom Crabtree will certainly be in the mix, the feeling here is that Ryan Taylor will ultimately win the job. I was impressed by the former North Carolina star before he ever donned a Green Bay uniform,...
Mike McCarthy spoke to the media following the final rookie orientation practice of the weekend. His most significant comments dealt with the status of three players coming off major injuries. According to the coach, tight end Andrew Quarless will be “challenged” to be ready for training camp. The former Penn State star suffered torn ligaments in his right knee against the Giants last December. On a more positive note,...
Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended Anthony Hargrove for 8 games last week for his part in the Saints bounty scandal, and just like that the Packers are in danger of lacking sufficient depth on the defensive line for the second year in a row. As of now, Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji and second-round pick Jerel Worthy figure to be the starters when the season opens in September, with C.J. Wilson,...
The Packers will likely spend close to $200 million in the next 12 months to extend quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews. That’s why the team is being very careful with its money this offseason. While GM Ted Thompson would love to keep ascending offensive lineman T.J. Lang and Pro Bowl wide receiver Greg Jennings – both scheduled to become unrestricted free agents in 2013 – he may have to...
General managers insist it takes at least three years to grade a draft, but that doesn’t stop the media from giving out report cards less than 24 hours after Mr. Irrelevance is announced and Mel Kiper Jr. climbs back into his basement. It’s absolutely ridiculous. Nobody knows how Jerel Worthy will play in the NFL – not even the scouts who studied him 24/7 for the past six months. How big...
Given the opportunity to clarify Donald Driver’s future with the team, both Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy chose to say as little as possible about the veteran receiver. “I would never speculate on something like that,” Thompson told local reporters over the weekend. “He’s dancing right now. Doing good, too.” Added McCarthy, “No reason to speculate. I’m just going to follow Ted’s answer to that question.” Perhaps I’m reading too much...
Ted Thompson watched his defense go from good to historically bad in 12 months and he wasn’t going to sit back and do nothing. Green Bay’s normally conservative GM signed twice-suspended Anthony Hargrove as a free agent in March and then traded up two times in the draft to procure help for his team’s feeble pass rush and leaky secondary. It remains to be seen how these springtime moves...
General manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy seem to make room for a few undrafted free agents every year, so the odds are pretty good that at least one of the 14 rookies signed on Saturday night will still be around when the final 53-man roster is set in early September. The most intriguing player from that group might be offensive lineman Jaymes Brooks, who started 42 games...
Watch Mike Daniels play against Oklahoma in last December’s Insight Bowl and you’ll immediately know why GM Ted Thompson spent a fourth-round pick on a defensive lineman who will probably never see more than 30 snaps in a game. The former Iowa star won’t be a starter because he’s too short (6’0) to play end in a 3-4 and too light (290) to play nose tackle. What he will...
How bad was the Green Bay defense last season? Bad enough to get general manager Ted Thompson to trade up twice in round two – something he had only done three times in the previous seven drafts. The objects of his affection were Michigan State defensive end Jerel Worthy and Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward. Coupled with first-rounder Nick Perry of USC, the Packers have added two potential starters and...
Ted Thompson has to select both an outside linebacker and a defensive end early in this draft. One down and one to go. First round pick Nick Perry will be an instant upgrade opposite Clay Matthews, but the Packers are still woefully lacking talent on the defensive line. Fortunately, there are a number of quality players still available at that position. Among them are Clemson’s Brandon Thompson, Penn State’s Devon Still, Michigan State’s...
The Green Bay Packers struck gold when they selected a Southern Cal linebacker Clay Matthews in the first round three years ago. GM Ted Thompson is hoping for a bit of déjà vu with Nick Perry, another extremely athletic ex-Trojan who was picked 28th overall in Thursday’s draft. Perry will be expected to start opposite Matthews in 2012 and provide the second edge rusher that Dom Capers’ defense so...
I used to hate it when some “old person” would tell me how much better things were when they were young. Movies were better back then. So was music. And, of course, there was no comparison when it came to sports. I would just roll my eyes and swear to myself that I would never become one of those geezers when I grew up. Well, I’m all grown up...
I have absolutely no idea which player the Green Bay Packers will choose in the first round, and anyone who tells you differently is lying. Ted Thompson is as tight-lipped as any general manager in the league and his staff is every bit as secretive. Therefore, nothing he does should really surprise anyone. In fact, I’d only be surprised if our picks actually turn out to be the same. So...
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