We were just talking about lack of depth at the outside linebacker position earlier today. The Green Bay Packers are supposedly interested in outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Friday.
Well, lo and behold!
The two guys we were talking about being perpetually injured — Clay Matthews and Nick Perry — are injured. So are Jayrone Elliott and Vince Biegel.
That leaves the Packers with 2016 third-round pick Kyler Fackrell, a guy who has underperformed, Reggie Gilbert, a former undrafted free agent who has been pretty solid, and some guys.
Can you imagine the Packers starting Fackrell and Gilbert at outside linebacker in week 1 against Seattle?
So what the hell is Matthews’ problem now?
I think his problem is he plays football. His body doesn’t like him playing football.
If you wanted to throw down a wager on this as-of-yet undisclosed injury, you’d most certainly bet on the hamstring. Clay Matthews is a goddam walking hamstring injury.
He managed to play one serious and a play on Saturday night in Denver before being replaced by Elliott. Then Elliott got injured.
Oh, and Perry too.
The thing is, the big loss isn’t even Matthews. It’s Perry, who is the Packers’ best run defender and now their best pass rusher.
His 11 sacks led the team in 2016. Matthews hasn’t had double-digit sacks since 2014.
That said, the Packers’ pass rush is certainly better with a Clay Matthews on the field over a Kyler Fackrell or Jayrone Elliott.
Yeah, the packers are bringing Brooks in out of necessity at this point. This also tells me that the Packers may think this could be a long term injury, also given the fact they tried to keep in on the downlow before Fackrell spouted off about it which led to MM being asked about it.
What did Fackrell say Kato?
Listen to it here https://t.co/lw9iSfR0gb.
Thanks …i did see that before, i just didn’t read that much into it, who knows.
Thx empac
No problem fellas.
Clay was on an outside rush and just let off the gas. Did not grab anything. I would also think hamstring looking at the play.
PED’s, Roids? Matthews is burned out . . . TT is burned out. That motherfucker cannot draft a decent ILB, OLB, D lineman to save his CTE filled life . . . This is going to be an interesting year . . .
When TT drafted Fackrell I could not believe it. This guy is a joke. Prepare for some rough football ahead. This team has ZERO DEPTH.
We will see in the first game. The Seahawks arguably have the weakest line in the NFL, so if the packers pass rush doesn’t have any success against their line it it going to be a tough season
Some of us wondered if Matthews was still off the PEDs — scared straight by the NFL investigation and in fear of losing his beef jerky contract — or if his poor performance last year, the risk of being cut or irrelevancy had induced him to get back on the juice.
This injury has us leaning towards “Still off the juice, Bob” as soft tissue injuries, especially hamstrings carrying more weight than a body ever otherwise would have, are trade mark of no longer being on the juice. Matthews still has not lost much weight though — if the roster weights are to be trusted and probably they should not be — so he probably was on the juice through the off season but discontinued with increased testing risk.
Some of us wonder if you are off your meds every time you start posting here. Making accusations of PED use when you have zero proof and a bunch of assumptions.
At least Mr. Diva CMIII will have more time for commercials and Instagram selfies – that’s what really matters you know. Now they are just a Bakhtiari injury away from flushing down the 2017 season…
The Packers are going to completely screwed with zero pass rush and problems on the offensive line.
I have very little optimism this year.
Yep, and with TT (The Frugal GM) still there, doubt will remain a constant in player personnel and procurement for starters and for depth . . .
Unless something unusual happens, like playing 16 games and registering double digit sacks, I think we thank Clay for his service and cut him at year end. There would be no cap hit nor any dead money. He and Cobb cost far more than they contribute. Time to move on- better draft and develop better.
^^THIS^^^
I’ll do one better, any player who makes over 8 million, and under performs can take a hike. Any coach or GM, or President can also take a fucking hike, i don’t even want to know what they make. If we get to the end of the season and i hear the word successful, coupled with “made the playoffs 9 straight years i’m going to blow a gasket.