Packers’ Road To 53
The Green Bay Packers had to release 22 players today to get to the 53-man roster limit.
Perhaps the biggest surprise among those players is safety and return man Will Blackmon.
Blackmon has been injured for much of training camp and that certainly didn’t help his chances of making the roster, but he was considered the Packers top return man, especially after Jason Chery didn’t impress when he got all of the opportunities in that role in the final exhibition game.
Chery was also released.
The other surprise was tight end Spencer Havner, who opened training camp as the Packers No. 2 tight end. Havner was outplayed by veteran Donald Lee and first-year player Tom Crabtree was also impressive. The Packers kept four tight ends. Jermichael Finley and rookie Andrew Quarless round out the group.
Offensive linemen Allen Barbre, a starter at the beginning of last season, was released along with defensive tackle Anthony Toribio, defensive end Ronald Talley, wide receiver Charles Dillon, linebacker Alex Joseph, defensive end Jarius Wynn, tackle Chris Campbell, linebacker Maurice Simpkins, wide receiver Chastin West, punter Chris Bryan, wide receiver Patrick Williams, linebacker Robert Francois, cornerback D.J. Clark, safety Anthony Levine, tackle Breno Giacomini, guard/center Evan Dietrich-Smith, quarterback Graham Harrell, linebacker Cyril Obiozor and running back Kregg Lumpkin.
Lumpkin’s release means fullback John Kuhn will serve as the Packers third halfback, unless the team picks up a back off the waiver wire.
Check back for updates.
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It kind of surprised me that they released Blackmon but then again, it didnt. He’s never really been healthy and im pretty sure thats why the cut him. I had read that Spencer Havner had also been released, that also is a surprise to me. I thought Crabtree or Lee was gonna get cut but i guess the front office liked Crabtree’s blocking ability. and Lee is a good teammate that can be trusted. Although he drops some passes, i guess he impressed in preseason. and the rest of the cuts were expected except Jarius Wynn. I really thought he was gonna make the team but i guess not.
all bullshit..blackmon and fucking the matador Barbre are on IR.
Someone please tell me how in the hell did they just cut Spencer Havner???
On second thought, Spencer was just the odd man out. I understand that they kept two blocking and two pass receiving TE’s…too bad though, he’s the one exception to the rule I would’ve found a way to hold onto because of his versatility and special teams play. He’ll find a home for sure.
I thought Evan Dietrich-Smith was a shoe-in too because of his versatility on the line. Did he miss a lot of blocks?
The rest of the list I’m OK with…
I was reading on another blog that Havner didn’t have the athleticism to consistently get open all by himself. all of his catches last year were due to him being overlooked in coverage or a mistake by the defense. True or not, I can’t really say. It is a valid explanation, though.
Just heard the Detroit Lions claimed Havner off waivers. I just hope he doesnt come back to haunt us!!!
If we expect Special Teams to be….special, it’s not getting done with Jordy Nelson returning punts and kicks.
I like Zombo because he appears tough albeit nothing super special, but I could do without Poppinga. I don’t like our depth at all at OLB.
I’m also concerned with our depth in the secondary. Pat Lee has shown next to nothing. Underwood is hurt. Al is on PUP.
Kind of sad that Justin Harrell made the team. I can’t say I was impressed with Jarius Wynn, however.
There are LOTS of questions regarding this team right now. I’m optimistic, however.
Too bad about Blackmon. Guy just could not stay healthy. We can’t wait around another year for his knee to get better.
Only surprising cut was Spencer Havner. The guy has proven he can be a serviceable TE in this league. I thought Donald Lee would be cut. The guy must have been good at practice because he did nothing in the preseason.
Too bad about Blackmon. Guy just could not stay healthy. We can’t wait around another year for his knee to get better.
Only surprising cut was Spencer Havner. The guy has proven he can be a serviceable TE in this league. I thought Donald Lee would be cut. The guy must have been good at practice because he did nothing in the preseason.