Here is the latest version of the OTS:



RUMOR:

n.

A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth.
Unverified information received from another; hearsay.

Before I start, I think people need to give Shawn Zobel (Draft Headquarters.com) A LOT of credit and kudos. So far this off season he broke the Mario Williams signing w/ Bills and numbers before the ESPN, Fox & NFL Network insiders. He also broke the Manning to Tennessee presumed deal details and the numbers to Saturday's deal 24 hours before the "real insiders". Salute Shawn!!

Now to the rumors:

The Packers coaches and staff do not think Nick Collins will be able to play again. While he holds out hope that he will be cleared, McCarthy & Thompson will do what is best for his life, not football career.

The Packers seem to like a few Alabama players: Courtney Upshaw, Dre Kirkpatrick, Marc Barron and Dontè Hightower.

I hear that they think Hightower can play OLB in their scheme and if drafted would move him out there.

With the recent signings of Jeff Saturday, Daniel Muir and Anthony Hargrove, a source I spoke to says the Packers may be poised to move up in the draft and select an "elite" pass rusher or DE. The names he said that have been most mentioned with the Packers were Upshaw and Fletcher Cox.

Some don't agree on message boards, but I heard that the Packers think Marc Barron would fit into their secondary just fine. He played with-in the confines of the Crimson Tide defense and was looked upon as the leader of the defense.

I hear the Packers like Cam Johnson, DE/OLB, UVA and feel he'd fit just fine in their 3/4 defense as the pass rusher opposite of Clay Matthews III and should be available in the 2nd and possibly 3rd round.

They also like UVA CB Chase Minnifield. But Minnifield didn't run to well and some scouts think he may have "weak knees".

The Packers are still "in" on Manny Lawson. He has some other suitors around the NFL, but the Packers remain high on his list because he wants to win. I hear he should have a new team sometime this week.

If the Packers sign Lawson, a OLB that can rush the passer on 3rd downs would make sense. Since Lawson hasn't had a history of getting to the QB, drafting a "pass rush specialist" on 3rd down and passing situations would make sense. A guy to watch in that case is USC's Nick Perry. Perry doesn't work well in space but can get to the QB.

The Panthers are shopping RB Jonathan Stewart and the Packers are doing their "due diligence". No word on an asking price.

I hear a few RB's to keep an eye that the Packers have interest in are Lamar Miller, Chris Polk, Doug Martin and Isaiah Pead.

The team does have some concerns about the running game and James Starks health. He has yet to play a full season and Alex Green is coming off a knee injury. While Ryan Grant is an option, they want to get a young "bell cow back" as well I was told.

Look for the Packers to get a deal done with Greg Jennings before any other player. They want to wait to see what Drew Brees gets from the Saints and the cap to jump before they complete a deal with Aaron Rodgers. Also, Clay Matthews and BJ Raji are also on their list to get a new deal.

The Packers like a couple WR, Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles and Wake Forest's Chris Givens.

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Twitter brought me here. I love this. Signing Anthony Hargrove gives us a ton of options in the draft, Lawson would give us even more flexibility.

I would love for Collins to play again, this makes me sad.

I would be very happy with Jonathon Stewart for a low enough price.

All this talk of drafting secondary early in the draft is exciting, but we've had bad luck with corners in the top of the draft.

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I wish I knew what a "bell cow back" is.

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An every down back that can carry the load or a back that is a "complete" back.

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Aka not a "RB by committee" type dude...

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It would be awesome to have a dynamic duo of Rodgers and a top tier running back. No more run by committee.

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Jason Wilde ‏ @jasonjwilde

By the way, the #Packers aren't pursuing OLB Manny Lawson, and never were in the mix, according to an NFL source.

Jason Wilde ‏ @jasonjwilde

I don't know. Still can't figure out the Tweets, etc. He visited. After that, no idea. RT @CarlM065: What's the story on Hargrove?

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Dammit. A few years back, someone made a thread (maybe it was me, don't remember) on future Packer Hall of Famers. Nick Collins' name came up. Would be a bummer if he'll never play again, but his health comes first.

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Leroy Butler and now Collins have both had their careers cut short. They are Packer hall of famers for sure, but not so sure they make Canton. Let's hope our new boy Burnett breaks the injury curse.

And no Darlene "jump the passing route and forget run support" Sharpier does not qualify in my mind for Packer safety greatness.

I was really hoping that Collins/Burnett was going to be our awesome duo like Butler and Robinson made, but apparently it wasn't meant to be.

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Your post comes off as if a report has been published that Nick Collins is not cleared to play again.

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