So true Blank.

I wish that cliche would die already.

"zombieslayer" wrote:

Green Bay -- During the open locker room session, I got a chance to ask quarterback Aaron Rodgers if was frustrated that Thompson hadn't acquired Lynch, his former college teammate, and this is what he had to say:

"No. I mean I like our guys. I think we can win with them. Obviously, youd never turn down a talented player. I like our guys. I dont have any frustration."

He paused, and then added:

"Thats not my decision. Thats (the front offices) decision. So, I think I just realize you can have requests or wants or needs, and Im not saying Lynch was one of them because I never once said anything to the personnel department about Lynch. You guys asked me, and I said, 'Bring it on. You cant have enough players.' But thats not my place. I play, they make those decisions, coaches coach."

I also talked to linebacker Desmond Bishop, who also played with Lynch at the University of California and he said that Lynch told him after the trade that he would have been happy to come to Green Bay. Bishop said Lynch did not know how aggressively the Packers pursued him.

"JSOnline.com" wrote:

Green Bay -- The Packers were involved in the Marshawn Lynch trade talks with Buffalo and made an offer, but they apparently weren't willing to top Seattle's offer.

An NFL source familiar with the trade talk said that Seattle, Green Bay, Philadelphia and New England were involved in discussions with Buffalo. All of the teams apparently tried to include players in the trade, but Buffalo was looking for draft picks.

According to that source, it was his understanding that Thompson offered a fourth-round pick next year and a player for Lynch. The source said the ones he offered were not low level players, meaning they were probably borderline starters or top backups.

You can speculate on who the players were, but I won't because I really don't know.

In order for Thompson to get Lynch, he would have had to best Seattle's offer of a fourth-round pick in 2011 and a conditional sixth-round pick (could be a fifth) in 2012.

His fourth wasn't good enough because presumably Seattle will finish with a far worse record and thus will have the higher pick. The Packers are expected to finish in the top third of the league and could be picking in the high 20s each round

Thus, Thompson's fourth is more like a fifth especially when you consider it's position will likely be bumped back by compensatory picks in the third round. To get Lynch, he probably would have had to offer a third, since Buffalo was adamant about getting more than just a standard fourth. If he offers a fourth and a fifth, it's still not as good as Seattle's deal because both picks are so low in their rounds.

It's not surprising that Thompson didn't want to give up two draft picks anyway. He values those more than anything else and if he were to give up his third, he'd risk losing out on a player like Jermichael Finley (2008), Morgan Burnett (2010), James Jones (2007) and Jason Spitz (2006), all of whom came from that round.

And don't forget he used the two thirds he had in '09 -- one of them obtained in the Brett Favre deal -- to trade up and get linebacker Clay Matthews. If he gives up his third next year, it not only precludes him from getting a Finley or Burnett, it makes it much more difficult to move up in the first or second.

There are risks involved with Lynch, but not as bad as you would think. According to a source, at the end of this year, he'll be out of the woods in regards to NFL "probation" stemming from his off-the-field trouble. If he does something dumb again, the next step under the personal conduct policy would be a four-paycheck fine, not a suspension, the source said.

Another source with ties to the Bills said that Lynch was not a problem in the Buffalo locker room and there wouldn't be a risk of him breaking up team chemistry. Lynch has 1 1/2 years left on his contract and is in no position to demand a renegotiation, so things will probably be quiet on that front, too.

Time will tell if Seattle got a steal, the Packers blew a golden opportunity and Buffalo did the right thing. Whether Lynch would have been the final piece of the puzzle for the Packers is something that will be debated for months to come.

I feel most sorry for Woodson. He has played at such a high level for us and played hurt, but his window foe a Super bowl is closing. He loves GB. He's also a very good person. @#%^$$# injuries. Maybe we can still get Williams?

"PackerTraxx" wrote:

Patty, on 06 October 2010 - 01:05 PM, said: 
Does anyone know what has to happen for a deal to happen?

Word from Seattle has it the Seahawks had talks for abou 3 weeks themselves over Marshawn Lynch. Just because we Packers fans think football starts and ends with Green Bay does not actually bear true. Get outside the town limits and read what is going on in the other 31 NFL cities. You might be surprised.

When a team shows interest in a certain football player alarms go off. A GM wants to run a tight lipped office but things get out. You have medical people you have to talk with, you have lawyers involved, players agents are alerted. Even down to staff members of each team involved. That is a lot of people and word can and does get out.

Ted Thompson does a good job in keeping close to vest his moves but even he can be read with careful study. I am talking draft stuff right now. Over the course of scouting you get trends and tendencies and with a little hard work it is possible to figure what players he tends to want in each draft. I believe the same thing can be said about Thompson with his intentions to make a move. It is rare that a GM, even one as astute as Thompson is in hiding or covering his actions, to make a move without someone leaking word about it.

A lot of rumors have a basis behind them and are not just fabricated lies as has been said in this thread. I do not believe Joe sets around and just conjers up trades or moves. I do believe he has contacts that he uses to confirm what he reports to us. I use to have a strong network of individuals in every NFL city. I talked with them on an almost daily basis. We got feed back from each other. It was very informative and led me to be correct on players the Packers were going to select during the draft if they were available. And that is the key. They had to be on the board when Green Bay selected. Otherwise they had to go a different player.

Remember when we traded for Ryan Grant? I had good word that the Packers were talking hard for a RB but it was believed to be D. Ward and not Ryan Grant. I had informed sources telling me that a deal was imminent but I stayed quiet because I just did not trust my guts that we would get Ward from the Giants.

When I read a rumor I take it like it is apiece of candy. I may not like the rumor or I might be interested. When I see a rumor I start the wheels turning and do areseasrch for myself. I check out the NFL team involved and immediately check out the local papers to see if there are any hints of something brewing. For a fact, I do not believe any rumor I read. I take the rumor and study it. Then if there is a possibility of it having any legs I get interested.