Packers Gab

Jclombardi reviews Packers offseason headlines.

Guest senior writer jclombardi @ http://lombardiave.com

Kampman leaving:  Florida Times-Union reported late Saturday night that the Jacksonville Jaguars had agreed to terms on a contract with the former Green Bay Packers linebacker.

Clifton returning: Espn. com reported Friday evening that Clifton, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a three-year, $20 million contract that included $7.5 million of guaranteed money.

NFL’s salary caps end: The rules for free agency changed because the owners decided to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, setting up a final year in which no salary cap and the requirements for unrestricted free agency go up to six years.

Bears make big moves to compete in NFC:  Bears signed all-pro DE Peppers and RB Taylor and blocking TE Manumaleuna. By landing one of the league’s top pass rushers and a running back to challenge incumbent Forte, Chicago showed just how serious it is about contending in the NFC. 

Packers cut Montgomery and Giordano:  Packers cut DE Montgomery and safety Giordano.

Favre watch: Favre tells Leno, “I’m just not going to say anything anytime soon.”

Jclombardi reviews Packers tender offers.

Guest senior writer jclombardi @ http://lombardiave.com 

The Packers announced offers to all restricted free agents who will receive tenders including safety Bigby (2nd), cornerback Blackmon (right of first refusal), guard Colledge (2nd) , safety Collins (1st & 3rd) , defensive end Jolly, offensive lineman Spitz (2nd), fullback Kuhn (right of first refusal), and cornerback Williams (1st). Also, the Packers announced that tight end Havner got a year offer as an exclusive-rights free agent. Days ago, S Martin was signed to a two year contract extension. Meanwhile, without offers, running back Wynn and punter Kapinos are free agents to go elsewhere.

The Packers have placed a first round tender on safety Nick Collins:

The highest-tendered Packers restricted free agent will be safety Nick Collins, who, due to his previous salary, is guaranteed an amount of $3.3 million. That figure is higher than the highest tender ($3.268 million), so he will automatically carry a compensation tag of first- and third-round picks. All totaled, the Packers may be committing as much as $14 million in offers to their restricted free agents.

Jclombardi previews Packers 2010 draft.

Guest senior writer jclombardi @ http://lombardiave.com 

Returning from a long tour trip on the road, I am back with 2010 Draft Day preview to help fans get beyond the nauseating carp reported about the combine. The “I got press pass to the combine and join me” wannabes bloggers, “nickel and dime” GM TT, and “classy” Packers press are laughable examples, but it’s time to get quality views about the potential scenarios for draft day.

The Packers have predictable draft needs in several positions listing the top six picks available:

LEFT TACKLE: TOP CHOICES 

COMMENTARY: “Okung is top 10 and Williams and Davis are top 20,” another AFC scout said. “Bulaga is maybe top 20. It’s an excellent, an outstanding group of tackles.” Another view: Veldheer, Division II player from Hillsdale College who finished among the top 10 offensive linemen in all five tests…and measured in at the combine at 6-feet-8 1/8 and 312 pounds, came into the weekend as probably a late second-round to third-round prospect.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY: If available, the Pack may take pass rusher OLB Hughes at 53. Another view–“a few Packers fans with visions of Michigan’s Graham, possibly the top-rated outside linebacker in the draft, going to the Packers at No. 23 and lining up opposite Matthews for years to come.”  Another view–Morgan, Georgia Tech (6-3, 266), one of the best pass rushers in this draft. Pierre-Paul, South Florida (6-5, 270), probably more physically talented than Morgan and Graham.

CORNERBACK: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY:  In all probability, eight cornerbacks or more will be taken in the first three rounds.   If available, the Pack may take either physical Warren or return specialist Cox. “Ideally, Harris rebounds from his injury, Blackmon recovers to reclaim his return job and serve as an emergency corner in sub packages, and Lee [or replacement serves] to back up Williams as the nickel back.”

SAFETY: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY: Some experts pick the Pack to take a solid safety prospect like S Mays from USC. 

Punters–COMMENTARY: With the Packers looking at punters, especially in the later rounds, the available choices include Dodge from East Carolina or Mesko from Michigan.

Who the Packers talked to at the combine, so far:

• Return specialist Holliday, LSU
• Punter Dodge, East Carolina
• Tackle Black, LSU
• Punter Mesko, Michigan
• Tackle Veldheer, Hillsdale College
• Cornerback Cox, Oklahoma State

Next week, I contribute to a mock draft. I’ll let you know the mock draft’s results for the Packers. 

The Press Gazette reports that Mike McCarthy isn’t worried about 4-3 teams going after Aaron Kampman:

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said he isn’t concerned about 4-3 teams coming after Kampman, even though he acknowledged Kampman “wasn’t out there banging pots and pans cheering and jumping up and down that we went to a 3-4. But he put a lot of extra time in.” Kampman has been in the weight room, McCarthy said, and remains ahead of schedule in his recovery, which the Packers generally peg at nine to 11 months.

Kevin Seifert of ESPN talks today about the Packers offseason needs, and how it relates to the 2010 NFL Draft:

Both of the Packers’ starting offensive tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, are pending unrestricted free agents. At 34 and 33, respectively, neither player has a long career ahead of him. The Packers might have addressed one of the positions by drafting T.J. Lang last year, but they could use additional depth and options considering both positions must soon be turned over. Injuries last season revealed a need for depth in the defensive backfield, especially at cornerback, and the Packers also need to determine whether they will replace outside linebacker Aaron Kampman.

The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that DL Johnny Jolly will have a pretrial hearing on Thursday:

Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly is scheduled for a pretrial hearing Thursday on a felony drug charge. Jolly was the driver of a vehicle in which police found cups of a codeine mixture while in the parking lot of a Houston nightclub in July 2008. The charge of possession of at least 200 grams of codeine in the form of cough syrup, commonly mixed with soda to form a mind-altering drink called “lean”, was dropped in July, then refiled on Dec. 15.

Sporting News reports that Ahman Green expects to still be wearing Packer green in 2010:

Packers free-agent running back Ahman Green, brought back last October as a stopgap, thinks he might return to Green Bay for 2010 as a third-stringer behind Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson.

Green, who turns 33 Tuesday, had 41 carries for 160 yards and a touchdown last year, mostly in short-yardage and third-down situations.

“I’m very happy to be back and the team was happy to have me back,” Green told the Kenosha News. “It sounds like I’ll be back next season. I’m just getting myself in shape and getting ready for 2010.

“I’m a football player so (the role) doesn’t really matter. I know the way the game goes. I know my role … go in there full tilt. Even if it’s just as a third-down guy and special teamer, I’ve played that before too, so I know how to approach it—and be just as professional as a starter.”

Despite a loss in Super Bowl XLIV, the Colts have the inside track on winning Super Bowl XLV according to bodog.com. The Pack are right now 12/1 to win the SB in the 2010 season. Below are all the odds on all the teams making the Super Bowl in Dallas in 2011:

Indianapolis Colts 13/2
San Diego Chargers 8/1
New England Patriots 10/1
New Orleans Saints 10/1
Pittsburgh Steelers 11/1
Dallas Cowboys 12/1
Green Bay Packers 12/1
Minnesota Vikings 12/1
Philadelphia Eagles 16/1
Baltimore Ravens 20/1
New York Giants 20/1
New York Jets 25/1
Tennessee Titans 25/1
Atlanta Falcons 30/1
Cincinnati Bengals 30/1
Arizona Cardinals 35/1
Chicago Bears 35/1
Houston Texans 35/1
Carolina Panthers 40/1
Miami Dolphins 45/1
San Francisco 49ers 45/1
Seattle Seahawks 45/1
Denver Broncos 50/1
Jacksonville Jaguars 50/1
Washington Redskins 50/1
Buffalo Bills 100/1
Cleveland Browns 100/1
Detroit Lions 100/1
Kansas City Chiefs 100/1
Oakland Raiders 100/1
St. Louis Rams 100/1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 100/1