Packers sign another FA, invite four more for tryouts
By Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel
Apr. 28, 2009 4:04 p.m.
Green Bay -- Among the rookie free agents the Green Bay Packers will bring in for their minicamp this weekend are a pair of linebackers and an offensive tackle.
They have signed Texas A&M''s Cyril Obiozor, a 6-4, 267-pound defensive end who will play linebacker in the NFL. He started at end each of the last two seasons at A&M and had 6 1/2 sacks and 16 tackles for loss. His workout at pro day, where he ran the 40 in 4.75 seconds, impressed scouts enough to give him a chance as a free agent.
In addition to Obiozor, the Packers have invited Iowa State linebacker Michael Bibbs, Youngstown State tackle Tyler Booth, Troy cornerback Trevor Ford and Louisiana Tech punter Chris Keagle for tryouts this weekend, according to NFL agents and published reports.
The 6-1, 241-pound Bibbs, a junior college transfer, started out as a safety at Iowa State before moving to linebacker this past season. He was highly recruited out of Atlanta and had signed to play at Arkansas but ended up going to Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Mississippi.
In 19 games at Iowa State, Bibbs made 67 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss, and had two interceptions. He reportedly has run the 40-yard dash in 4.73 seconds.
The 6-5 1/2, 319-pound Booth played left tackle, right tackle and left guard during four seasons with Youngstown State. He missed all of the 2007 season with a knee injury.
This past season he started all 12 games at left tackle. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.19 seconds at his pro day.
The 5-11, 186-pound Ford ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash and had a 37-inch vertical jump at his pro day.
Keagle earned all-WAC honors in two of his four seasons punting for the Bulldogs. He averaged 39.6 yards on 266 punts during his four seasons..
He averaged more than 40 yards per punt during his last two seasons.
UPDATE: The University of Maryland has issued a press release that says offensive tackle Dane Randolph has been invited for a tryout with the Packers this season.
Randolph stands 6-5 and weighs 305. He benched 225 a total of 29 times and ran the 40-yard dash in 5.15. He started seven games last year at right tackle.
It was reported in the JS this morning that his teammate, OT Dean Muhtadi, had agreed to attend camp on a tryout basis.
Also, the Missourian is reporting that former Missouri safety Cornelius "Pig" Brown was invited for a tryout. Brown did not play for the Tigers last season. He suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon at the end of the '07 season.
He is listed by Missouri as 5-11, 205 pounds. He was a second-team all-Big 12 selection in '07 and shares the NCAA record with a 100-yard fumble return.
ANOTHER UPDATE: Two more tryout guys have been uncovered.
Virginia inside linebacker Jon Copper and Virginia Tech center Ryan Shuman will be in Green Bay this weekend.
The 6-foot, 230-pound Copper is a former walk-on who started all 12 games last season and had 101 tackles, including 5 1/2 for loss, and 2 1/2 sacks. He is 24 years old.
Shuman, 6-3, 289, started out playing guard but became the line's leader at center late in his junior year. Ran the 40 in 5.17 seconds and bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times.