I think it's been proven that TT's done a great job in the draft, however, it seems that OL and DL are not his strengths. He's whiffed on a number of linemen and perhaps needs better scouts for those areas.

Originally Posted by: rabidgopher04 

First... lets look at Neal's posting of photo after photo of how "buff" he is.. thus it surprises me none that he might dip into the supplement/PED arena to add a little extra shred to his frame.

Second, I don't think Ted has an issue in evaluating defensive line talent, rather more that he has tried to address it more so in the second/third day of the draft more often than hitting it early in the draft.

For as much as I was disappointed in Harrell in his inability to stay healthy (and work to keep his body in top shape) the pick wasn't a truly horrible pick. Harrell had the upside if we could have gotten it out of him and helped him prepare better. The one season he actually worked his ass off he tweaked his back in the gym.. bad luck.

Neal, as mentioned previous, flashed potential to be a solid NFL lineman, but he as well had a injury history along with him. Now it seems he also has other baggage, I wouldn't cut him, but Neal has a ton of work to get back into good standing.

Jolly was a hit on the field.. just couldn't keep his nose clean.

I don't think Ted can't draft defensive and offensive line players.. I just think it sometimes he believes to much that we can turn water into wine. That said, and I will say it for the hundredth time, I don't have much faith in the developmental skills of James Campen.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 

What injury history did Neal have? Iirc, the only rap on him was that he "took plays off," but it turned out that it was because his college team never took him out of the game and he had to pace himself.

Originally Posted by: nerdmann 

Neal rehabbed after knee surgery during his redshirt season and missed five games with a turf toe injury in 2006. In 2007 he began to make his presence felt by making 3.5 tackles for loss and two sacks as reserve in 13 games. When finally receiving the chance to start the past two seasons, he accumulated 68 tackles, 21.5 for loss and 11 sacks.

Neal's injury history prompted coach Joe Tiller to call Neal "a tease" during spring 2008 practices, but Neal's toughness won't be questioned by scouts, as the former top Indiana high school recruit played through a torn labrum the last three games of 2007 and fought constant double-teams as a senior. His inconsistent motor and use of his brute strength to disengage from blocks won't impress scouts, but his general athleticism will earn him a spot somewhere in the middle third of the draft.

2005: Redshirted while rehabbing after knee surgery.

Colleague Bob McGinn's excellent story, which features Neal's mother insisting he didn't test positive for a performance-enhancing drug, There's always the chance that Neal tested positive for an attention disorder deficit drug, which many critics of the drug program say slips through the cracks. I have no idea if there's even a slight hint that's the case, but I've talked to players before who have said they have ADD and would not take the medication because they were afraid they would test positive.

As for Neal's future, I think it all depends on his explanation to Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. If they feel he was an abuser of PEDs then I would think they would let him go.

He's carrying more weight than his body is probably capable of doing and he may not be suited for this defense.

Unless the Packers land a blockbuster defensive lineman in the draft, I don't see any way in hell they release Neal this year.

Originally Posted by: Nonstopdrivel