OTS: Packers & Bills Talking Deal For Marshawn Lynch
(Joe Arrigo)
RUMOR:
n.
A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth.
Unverified information received from another; hearsay.
On Wednesday afternoon I received word that the Packers and Bills were in trade discussions that included Bills running back Marshawn Lynch, Donald and/or Pat Lee and a swap of draft picks. Also, A.J. Hawk has asked for a trade and has but his house up for sale.
First the Lynch rumor. I have learned the Packers and Bills have been in discussions that had the Packers sending Donald and/or Pat Lee along with a 4th round pick (that could move up to a second rounder based on performance) to Buffalo for Lynch and a 7th round pick (that could move to a 6th based on performance). The sticking point at 5:30 pm (pst) was Lynch wanting a new deal (or years added on) to his contract while the Packers (GM Ted Thompson) wanted to wait to address his contract situation until after the season.
If a deal were to be completed I was told the Packers would cut new practice squad running back James Johnson based on his attitude and the Packers plan on cutting (and resigning to the practice squad) Dimitri Nance after a couple weeks and then sign him to a futures contract. I was also told that they may keep Nance and when rookie James Starks is eligible to come off the P.U.P. list, place him on I.R. to shelf him for the year and ensure they keep him on the roster.
As of 9pm (pst) I received an e-mail from a source who said that the Bills now want OLB Brad Jones and Pat Lee for Lynch and a late round conditional pick and that the deal was "dead at the moment, but the two teams agreed to talk again Thursday." The Bills say that Lynch is not on the market, but I was told that he is indeed on the market and that the Bills are playing "hard ball with the Packers". I was also told that "a couple Packers called Lynch and he wants to be a Packer".
Keep in mind that when he was coming out of the NFL draft Lynch visited Green Bay and loved it and wanted the Packers to draft him. He loved the city, tradition and coaches and facilities. Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy and the Packers coaching and scouting staff also liked Lynch and were set to draft him if he slipped to them. As we all know the Bills selected him at #12 overall and the Packers took Justin Harrell at pick 16.
If the Packers and Bills do make a deal, the soonest either team would make it is Tuesday, September 21st since they play each other this Sunday and the have to wait until all the weeks games have been completed.
A.J. Hawk, as I tweeted earlier today, has requested a trade, but was not going to make it public or push the issue. Hawk feels that he is underutilized in Green Bay and wants a chance to be a 3 down linebacker. As I also reported (Tweeted) Hawk put his house on the market. If one was to read the "tea leaves" they may say that Hawk for Lynch not only makes the most sense but would also make each team better. As of now, none of my sources say that Hawk is in any deal for Lynch.
While Hawk has not been the impact player deserving of the #5 overall pick in a draft, he is a steady, assignment ready player that is built to be a 4-3 "Mike" backer or a 3-4 Inside Backer (the same position Nick Barnett plays). With Brandon Chillar signing a new deal and the Packers staff wanting to give Desmond Bishop a legit chance as the other "inside backer" it may be time they deal Hawk, who is due $10 million dollars in 2011.
ANOTHER PACKERS RUMOR:
I was told that the Packers did call Dallas and inquire about running back Marion Barber but Dallas was ( a ) asking to much for Barber and ( b ) leery of dealing Barber to Green Bay since he knows their whole playbook, line calls and audibles and the two teams play each other later in the year.