By Greg A. Bedard of the Journal Sentinel
March 4, 2010 5:25 p.m. |(4) Comments
Green Bay Some thoughts on free agency, the Packers and the combine as we draw closer to the start of the new league year:
* I understand that Packers fans want to get all revved up about the start of free agency, just like their friends that support other teams. Its really fun to think about what a guy like Julius Peppers would look like on the other side of Clay Matthews. Or Antrel Rolle roaming the secondary next to Nick Collins. I get it. I really do. But my advice to Packers fans is this: Just stop. Please. For your own mental health. There is absolutely no reason for you to expect anything out of the initial rush of free agency. The Packers do not get involved during the first weekend of free agency. They may call a few guys and tell them theyre interested, but there will be no urgency. Most of the Packers coaching staff is given off after the combine and arent due back in the offices until Monday. Now, theyre still around town and can be brought in to help sell someone if needed, but thats not the method of operation for general manager Ted Thompson. Unless Thompson suddenly changes course, he will sit out the opening weekend and see how the market it sorts itself out once the silly money is gone.
* Youre probably looking for rumors about which guys the Packers will be interested in. You wont find any. The Packers are one of the few teams maybe the only team that DOES NOT tamper with players before free agency starts. Packers also do not like to be played against other teams, so they lay in the weeds. So any rumors you might hear about the Packers being interested in this guy or that guy, ignore them for the most part. The one player the Packers called shortly after free agency started one of the few times they have done that -- was former Dallas Cowboys end Chris Canty last year. The Packers never hinted at any interest before that time.
* There was much less wheeling and dealing this year at the combine for a couple of different reasons. For one, there was so much uncertainty about which players would be re-signed by their teams and, most importantly, teams really wanted to see what the restricted free-agent tenders would look like. Thats where most of the action is expected to be since those RFAs, for the most part, have proven they have NFL ability and are still young. In that way they are a safer bet than a player a team might draft in the second or third round. Even in a deep draft like this one.
* With some teams cutting player costs, there should be a lot of value late in the free agency period, so that could play into the Packers hands. Youre already seeing some blood-letting around the league. Teams that have good pro personnel departments should be able to find the right guys for their teams at reasonable prices.
* That being said, teams that are creative with their accounting and have a clear, concise and aggressive plan of attack could really improve their teams in a short amount of time in this strange off-season with no salary cap. The feeling is teams that dont think outside the box could be left kicking themselves.
* Ever wonder why it seems like the Packers do nothing and then all of a sudden quickly get things done, especially on the contract front? According to people that have and are dealing with the Packers, the chief cause is that Thompson changes his mind so many times during the process. He moves so methodically and doesnt like to be rushed, but he can also be indecisive. He can flip flop on a trade or the strategy for a contract negotiation multiple times during the course of it, and can often put negotiator Russ Ball, and deal-seekers Reggie McKenzie and John Dorsey in tough spots. Thompson can play coy about, say re-signing Aaron Kampman, for weeks, and then suddenly walk in one day and want it to happen.
* On that subject, two sources said the Packers were still deciding on their restricted free-agent tenders as late as Tuesday this week, one day before they were sent out.
* One source said it appeared the Packers werent really organized on free agency not even their own unrestricteds last week at the combine.
* But another cautioned, saying thats just a smokescreen, that inside his head, Thompson knows exactly what hes doing. Even if he doesnt inform his inner circle.
* Sean Jensen at the Chicago Sun-Times says hes hearing the Philadelphia Eagles will be first in line for linebacker/end Aaron Kampman once free agency starts.
* Former Packers player finance chief Andrew Brandt offers some insight on the two midnight deals he did with Kampman and Chad Clifton.
* The Buffalo Bills believe they got a steal in tackle Jamon Meredith, the Packers fifth-round pick whom the Bills signed off the Packers practice squad. Interesting given the Packers lack of players that even have the potential to play left tackle. Of course, the Bills havent seen Meredith try (unsuccessfully) to make it through training camp practices.
* Bills also feel that quarterback Brian Brohm, who was also taken from the practice squad, has a chance to compete as a starting quarterback. They just want to get his confidence back up.
* Thompson definitely made the right choice on defensive tackle Corey Williams, when Thompson decided to let someone else give Williams his big contract when he was traded to Cleveland. In a word, Williams has been lazy in Cleveland and is still trying to live off the sack numbers he posted with the Packers when he was getting single blocked alongside Kampman, Cullen Jenkins and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
* Cardinals LB Karlos Dansby to the Dolphins, and the Bears taking offers for TE Greg Olsen were the two loudest rumors I heard in Indianapolis at a remarkably quiet combine.
* A 3-4 defensive line coach told me that Idaho guard Mike Iupati jumped off the film so much at the Senior Bowl that the coach didnt want to watch linemen anymore, he just wanted to watch Iupati maul people. While some think Iupati could play tackle in the NFL, that likely wont come for a couple years. Hes the type of guy that needs to be made comfortable in one spot. Once he masters that, then you can try to move him. Coach said hed lobby to take Iupati in the top 20.
* A 3-4 coach told me he wanted nothing to do with Michigan linebacker Brandon Graham because his short stature and short arms will make it hard for him to get off blocks.
* Line coach said Penn State DE Jared Odrick is a try-hard kid that wont make plays in the NFL. Cant two-gap like you need in the 3-4.
* Couldn't tell you how many people raved about TE Jermichael Finley. People around the league expect him to be a Pro Bowler this season. Scouts also like LB Brad Jones and wonder how they missed him.
Well have more on draft prospects in April as the three-day draft gets closer.
Well be back within the next day with a list of players to keep an eye on in free agency in regards to the Packers once the restricted free-agent tenders are made public by the NFL this evening, and teams cut ties with some of their higher-priced talent.