Madison - I got a chance to spend a few minutes with coach Mike McCarthy after the University of Wisconsin pro day Monday at the Dave McClain Athletic Facility.
McCarthy was in a relaxed mood despite what has been a hectic post-season schedule with only limited time for vacation.
Last week, the Packers finalized a five-year, $33.75 million deal with LB A.J. Hawk right before the deadline for all league business to end until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. The deal came about 24 hours after the Packers released Hawk and left open the possibility another team could sneak in and sign him.
McCarthy admitted he was a little nervous.
"I wish the timing was a little quicker," he said with a laugh. "But I love A.J. Talk about a team guy, hes exactly what you want. Hes the same guy every day. Works his butt off. Obviously, hes a good player. Im glad we got him."
I asked McCarthy if his expectation was that Hawk would be a three-down player again next year given that former starter NIck Barnett and key backup Brandon Chillar are expected back from injuries.
"I hope so," he said. "Thats up to the players. If he plays the way he did this year theres no reason he shouldnt be (a three-down player). (Desmond) Bishop played very well, too. We line up tomorrow, its A.J. and Bishop, and thats the way we finished."
Asked where that leaves Barnett, McCarthy said it depends on how he comes back from wrist surgery.
"We have to see how he comes off the wrist," McCarthy said. "Same thing with Chillar. Thats his third shoulder surgery. You know how these things go. I'm glad we arent playing this week. The season we had, I spent too much time with the doctors."
It has been assumed all along that Barnett would be the odd man out because of his $6.9 million salary cap number, but McCarthy's statement indicates there are concerns about Chillar's ability to be healthy and that could be a factor in who stays and who goes. It's hard to imagine Barnett being a backup and special teams player, however, and if someone is willing to trade for him, you'd have to think the Packers would do it because of his high cap number.
Keeping all four seems unlikely because they account for more than $16 million in salary cap money.
The Packers don't have to make that decision right now. Their main interest is the draft because there's nothing else to work on while the players and owners negotiate a new CBA.
McCarthy doesn't usually go to the Wisconsin pro day, but he said he needed to get out of the office.
"Ted (Thompson) comes every year, and every year, hes like 'Hey, do you want to go?'" McCarthy said. "Just based on what we were doing that day - to be honest with you we were (reviewing) two-back runs this morning, so I said, Hell, Im going to Wisconsin."
McCarthy said he was very impressed with the Badgers class, which includes two likely first-round picks in DE J.J. Watt and OT Gabe Carimi. Both took part in positional drills and nothing else.
One guy, McCarthy took particular interest in was TE Lance Kendricks. It doesn't seem likely the Packers would take a tight end in the draft with Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, Tom Crabtree and Spencer Havner on the roster, but McCarthy said Kendricks would fit in his offense.
"(He) would look good in green and gold, just the way they use him," McCarthy said. I know UW offensive coordinator) Paul Chryst a little bit, they do a lot of the same things we do. Hes athletic. Hes got a bright future ahead of him."
McCarthy said his coaches were splitting days working on scheme evaluation and the draft. He said the current labor situation is unfortunate, but it may work in favor of his team because it's giving his players more time to rest. His plan was to hold off on the start of the off-season program until mid-April, about three weeks later than normal.
So with every day the negotiations go on, the scales balance out a little more against the rest of the league.
"The hypotheticals, Im not even worried about that," McCarthy said of how the future will play out. "I just want to make sure were ready, staff-wise. We played six playoff games. Im telling you, thats a lot of football.
"Im worried about it. Im looking at our training camp schedule already. Ive already adjusted that. Im in tune with it."
I'll post later on what it was like for the Wisconsin prospects at pro day and what coaches like McCarthy and Bears offensive line coach MIke Tice look for in the drills.
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