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It’s that time again. The time when we run down the list of the Green Bay Packers’ unrestricted free agents.
No, this is not a wish list of all free agents because, well… hahahahahahahahahahahahaha! The mere thought of Ted Thompson signing an actual free agent away from another team is laughable.
He might pick up some guy who’s been released by another team, such as he has with tight end Jared Cook or linebacker Julius Peppers in recent years, but those aren’t technically free agents. They don’t count against the compensatory draft pick formula. Guys like that can also usually be had on the cheap. Just look at the one-year, $2.75 million deal Cook signed last offseason.
The Packers basically have three things to do during the offseason as long as Thompson is around.
- Re-sign several of their own free agents, often overpaying to do so
- Draft some players and sign a bunch of undrafted rookies
- Jerk us around
Here’s how we see the first order of business playing out, in reverse order of importance for unrestricted free agents.
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I am so sick of TT
TT first priority is getting the waterboy signed. We don’t need the rest, will pick up players in the draft.
I Would like to see what other teams would give for Matthews. Unfortunately Al Davis is dead, he would likely give us a 1st and a 3rd. Certainly agree with Perry and Cook, both make the team better. I would also argue that Hyde, although slower than old people fuck, is a 1c because of his fundamentals. He at least understands where he is supposed to be on the field and what the offense is trying to do unlike some of the other warm bodies being thrown to the wolves.
#3 Jerk us around. Funny
We already know TT won’t sign free agents (other than the undrafted kind) no matter how bad the secondary is.
So don’t be surprised and don’t expect it.
But he will continue to bring in players for visits and then not sign anyone, it’s like asking for that candy bar when you’re 5 at the grocery store line 99,999 times in a row it’s a no, but you keep asking anyway.
We ask is he actually going to sign someone this year????? But we already know the answer.
The Datone Jones experiment is a failure and he is a bust. Tretter can play guard, so Lang and Barclay can go elsewhere.
By no means! Tretter is a capable starting center, a decent backup tackle, but no way he plays guard. He does not have the strength for that.
Come on now MJ, you know that isn’t the Packer way. Those guys need to play 3 positions minimum. I’d take Tretter over Barclay any day. Based on Thompson’s history, Lang is as good as gone, like Wahle, Rivera and Sitton.
Depends on what you want them for. Tretter is a good starting center, and adequate replacement at LT. Barclay is an adequate replacement at C, G. Tretter can be a starter in one position, whereas Barclay is 100% back up. Tretter is not getting any bigger, as to play G. He’s been in the league for some years now, and this seems to be as strong as he gets. Tretter would be inadequate for G, and Barclay has shown he is a downright awful OT. With Spriggs being the replacement at OT and G, then Barclay makes more sense since he backs up for G and C, so between the two they cover the entire line. And let’s not forget we have the other RT replacement in Kyle Murphy, also for the cheap for many years. So, Tretter, as much as I value him at C for our running game, is likely gone. Some other team will make an offer that we, because of the aforementioned guys, do not really need to match.
You probably want to sign a long snapper (for low cost) who never gets his name called out after a snap unless he makes a tackle on a punt. Goode fits that requirement. There is a reason the team let go of Lavato after last year for Goode. Goode gets the ball in the hands of the punter on FG and punts quicker than many. It can make a difference in a blocked kick.
Lacy may not get a big offer from other teams. Lacy in college had toe or foot problems. Lacy has had multiple seasons with ankle problems. One report this year indicated a problem with Lacys foot. Does Lacy have chronic ankle and/or foot issues because of weight?
Lang is a warrior who may be breaking down. Last year shoulder surgery, this year hip surgery and broke foot twice. Probably went back out to early because that is who he is. Every offensive line needs someone like Lang. I would like to see Lang stick but it only takes one team to overpay and the Packers know best how fast Lang is breaking down. Barclay needs to go. I like Tretter as a center or emergency tackle not sure if he has the bulk to be a guard in pass protection. He would sure be a good in the run game, but has he made it through a season without a knee issue.
Would Peppers be worth it if he would sign as a true pass rush specialist for close to a league minimum and receive a $100,000 to $200,000 bonus for each sack, similiar to what Freeney received from Arizona in 2015?
Keep the faith brother.
Curious Howard, what was your take on Spriggs, albeit a small sample size? Plus what were your impressions of Montgomery and Cook’s blocking prowess?
Spriggs struggled in the run game when in space. Didn’t seem to change direction well in the open field to make blocks. I think Spriggs can be rocked back by a power rush, but he seems to regain his anchor and hold up after the initial punch from the defense. I thought he would be better against speed rushers in pass protection and the run game. I think by adding some more good weight in the off season will help with power rushers, probably needs some better footwork against the speed rushers on the perimeter. Even though he struggled some at guard, he performed better than I thought he would. He has some strength that I did not expect. He may be capable at guard. I do worry about taller guards getting their knees wiped out.
Cook was a better blocker than I thought he would be based on some film I saw when he was with the Rams. Don’t think he will be a great blocking TE, but I don’t remember seeing him get blown into the backfield like R. Rodgers has over the last couple of years. I would be sure both Cook and R Rodgers lost some battles but it did not jump out like previous years. Maybe because less run plays and reduced snaps for Cook (injury) and R Rodgers (Cook).
To me there was no better back in the NFL in pass pro than Lacy in 2014. Lacy struggled a little in 2015 but Starks showed he could perform. Ty is not close to Lacy in 2014 or Starks in 2015. Ty will probably improve over the offseason with more experience as a running back but I still think MM will want to have another back that MM and Rodgers can trust in pass pro and that is usually not a rookie. Rip can do it but another back or two are still needed.
Eddie Lacy’s fat mouth is watering rite now…
He has now made it to that “2nd contract” where he can “get paid” & then have one of those career ending fluke injuries he can’t wait to have…its about the $$$
Cause its money that drives the gravy train. No pun intended
As for the rest. Surprised Lang was 6th. NFL’s best RG? I understand he is 29, but don’t upset the apple cart Monty
I just heard this morning that it appears more than Eddie’s mouth has been fat while he’s been off. If true, he may have eaten his way out of a golden opportunity. I question if his ankles can hold up. I think he has one ‘prove-it’ year left on his rookie contract, but he’ll have to make the team to do so. And now that appears to be in question.