When the Green Bay Packers re-signed Brad Jones, the move created more questions than it did answers. The primary question is whether the Packers are looking at Jones as a starter at inside linebacker.
And if they are, who goes to the bench?
The seemingly obvious answer to that second question is the lead-footed A.J. Hawk. That is, if there weren’t a bunch of other questions.
What about the Packers best inside linebacker, Desmond Bishop? Will he be fully recovered from his torn hamstring when the season starts? We’d hope so, since he’ll have been inactive for an entire calendar year by that time.
Then what about D.J. Smith, who stepped into the starting lineup for Bishop and ahead of Jones? Well, he tore up his knee in week six of 2012, so there’s a good chance he won’t be ready for the start of the season.
Then there are the young guys — Terrell Manning, Robert Francois and Jamari Lattimore. The Packers traded up in the draft last season to grab Manning. Francois was promised he could compete for a starting spot when he re-signed this offseason. Lattimore is one year removed from being an outside linebacker and is likely to make a jump in 2013.
That makes for one giant logjam.
What we do know is this. Since the Packers made Hawk take a pay cut, Bishop is now the highest-paid inside linebacker on the team. If he’s healthy, pencil him into the starting lineup.
Courtesy of his new three-year, $11.25 million deal, Jones is the second highest-paid inside linebacker on the team. He’s getting starter’s money (and so is Hawk, for that matter).
But let’s face it, with the exception of Bishop, none of these guys are good enough for anyone to say, “he’s our starter.”
With Smith likely sidelined for the start of the season, that leaves Jones, Hawk and the three youngsters in a competition for the starting spot opposite Bishop. Although Jones probably has the edge, you can’t rule out any of them at this point.
That means the Packers are going to have a battle royale for the starting inside linebacker spot during training camp. And hopefully, someone will prove themselves worthy of winning the job.
Let’s throw a little money at Urlacher and include him in the mix.
im down with that
Forget Urlacher. He’s old and broken.
Bishop is average at best too. Add ILB to the list of positions TT isn’t good at scouting.
I’m sure things will clear up a bit when the injury bug makes its annual visit.
Same thing at WR. I’m willing to bet that Cobb, Jordy or J. Jones will miss significant playing time this season.
If they bring Urlacher into our lockeroom they will never get that bear stink smell out of it.
If the packers are unsure of what they have at MLB, maybe they consider signing Urlacher. He knows the NFC north and I think he can play in 34. Packers would regain a leader and Brian will bring toughness to a D that lacked toughness. Can’t lose doing this!!
Why shouldn’t there be questions? What do the Packers have, about 25 ILB’s?
I see some insane shit on this board !
Urlacher?
Old, injured, lost-a-step — why would we want that??
He’s NOT the guy he once was.
He never will be that guy again.
He’s 35 — which is about 80 at his position.
What is it about Not For Long…
that.
you.
just.
don’t.
understand???