Packer Update

Defense will miss Jolly's big talent and big energy

The regular season doesn’t start for another two months, but the Packers have already suffered a significant loss. The NFL on Friday suspended Johnny Jolly indefinitely for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. The veteran defensive end will not play in 2010. The exact cause of the lengthy suspension is not yet known. What is known, however, is that stopping opposing offenses has just gotten more difficult.

Jolly wasn’t always the most disciplined player in the world, but his unique blend of size, strength and athleticism made him extremely difficult to handle at the point of attack. And while the former Texas A&M star offered little as a pass rusher, he was as good as anyone at batting balls down at the line of scrimmage. He also brought a tremendous amount of unbridled enthusiasm to the huddle – something that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Ryan Pickett will likely open the season as Jolly’s replacement, but you can bet the coaches are keeping their fingers crossed that either oft-injured veteran Justin Harrell or one of the rookies emerge during camp. That’s because Pickett simply isn’t built to play outside in a 3-4. The proud veteran won’t embarrass himself at the position, but the end result will probably be very similar to what B.J. Raji provided last season.

So what’s Jolly’s future with the Packers? Here’s the statement issued by GM Ted Thompson following the league’s announcement:

“Johnny is a good player that loves everything about the game of football. We appreciate the contributions he has made to the Packers the past four seasons. His focus and priorities now lie elsewhere – our thoughts are with him during this difficult personal time.”

Our take? Thanks and best of luck, but you ain’t coming back here. And it’s too bad. Jolly is a very solid player and an excellent teammate who likely derailed a promising and lucrative professional career due to outright stupidity. He isn’t the first athlete to do that, and unfortunately, he won’t be the last.

I'M WITH STUPID

The Packers paid Ryan Pickett $25 million in March, and while fellow defensive lineman Johnny Jolly was far more deserving of that kind of money, general manager Ted Thompson decided long ago not to tempt fate with the talented but troubled former Texas A&M star. There have been character questions surrounding Jolly since his high school days, but he was worth rolling the dice on in the sixth round. And the gamble certainly paid off for Green Bay. Jolly was a useful player for his first three seasons in the league and he blossomed into a very productive player in ’09. But Thompson knows when to hold them and knows when to fold them, and it might be time to do the latter now.

Jolly was arrested on drug charges back in July 2008. Since then, his trial has been delayed numerous times. The 27-year-old has steadfastly professed his innocence – and he could well be telling the truth – but his actions as of late do not make him look good to either the judicial system or to his employers. Here’s a snippet of a story in Friday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: “A hearing was delayed on May 5th because Jolly’s lawyer, Michelle E. Beck, said he was in the hospital for complications from appendicitis. Beck had a letter from a doctor. Beck said Jolly was released later that afternoon. Prosecutors today presented judge Mike Anderson with a flyer that said Jolly would be hosting a party at a Houston club, The Blue Door, on May 7th. Jolly was pictured on the flyer with his hat tilted, flashing a sign with one hand.The prosecutor also presented recent photos from a website that showed Jolly at various parties with alcoholic drinks in his hand. Under the terms of his bond, Jolly is to abstain from drugs and alcohol.” And while stupidity isn’t a crime, it certainly isn’t a trait that NFL teams admire.

It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Jolly in the weeks and months to come. Thompson has no intention of signing him to a long-term extension, but now you have to wonder if the Packers will even want him around in 2010. While it would be difficult to cut ties with such a productive player – not to mention such an energetic leader – the possibility can no longer be ignored. If the coaches are convinced that rookie Mike Neal is ready to contribute, it wouldn’t be a shock to see Thompson pull the offer and let Jolly walk.

Jolly good season

Johnny Jolly’s personal foul penalty in the first quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Vikings was dumb, and even worse, it was incredibly selfish. In the biggest game of the season, the fourth-year defensive end was thinking only of himself when he head-butted Chester Taylor, and in the process, allowed Minnesota to continue a drive that would ultimately result in a touchdown. The former Texas A&M standout compounded that gaffe by not showing even the slightest bit of remorse following the game. Jolly has been skewered in the press ever since. And deservedly so. But he also deserves something else – a heck of a lot of credit for his play this season.

Jolly has been surprisingly effective in his first season at a new position. “The kid’s already one of the better 3-4 ends in the league,” opined a scout for another team. “He’s strong, quick and powerful and his motor is always running. He and [Ryan] Pickett always stand out when I watch video. Those two big guys are why Green Bay has been so tough to run against in the past four or five weeks.” Drug arrest and stupid penalties not withstanding, Jolly is a quality young player at a position that’s extremely difficult to fill. You can be sure that GM Ted Thompson will be weighing the pros and cons when he sits down with his entire staff after the season and decides what to do with the [maybe] unresticted free agent-to-be.