Dear Ted, Please Sign Jairus Byrd.

Wade
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Veteran Member

11 years ago

If the Packers fix one glaring problem in free agency, that's one less problem they have to solve by draft-and-develop.

Not counting the OL (where everyone is tired of my opinion anyway), I see five starter positions of substantial need right now. In no particular order, these are:

Safety
Inside linebacker
Nose tackle
Tight end
Defensive end

Do people seriously think this draft is so deep that all of these can be taken care of through the draft or "re-signing Packer FAs"? TE, maybe can be done by re-signing Finley and/or Quarless (though I'd be fairly surprised at either happening) and still I'm a big fan of letting Lattimore seriously compete at ILB.

But IMO there is no way the Packers get their problems solved in one year's draft, no matter how "deep" it is.

Yes, there's always the possibility that a big name like Byrd will end up like Joe Johnson, rather than ending up like Reggie White, Ryan Pickett, or Charles Woodson.

But, IMO, right now the non-OL part of the team has between three and five starters who are not much better contributors than Joe Johnson ended up being. And if no one from other teams is signed via FA or trade, the non-OL parts of the team will enter the 2014 season with at least two starters making Joe Johnson-quality contributions.

Even if no one gets hurt this year.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

QCHuskerFan
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Member

11 years ago

#22

Why not? Is it just because he wants so much money? Having enough money to get him is not the problem. We could if we wanted to and it wouldn't even really put us in a bind.

Is it because he is not good enough because he is probably the surest, quickest fix. Drafted D-backs usually don't shine right away.

Is it because FAs tend to not live up to their hype? Yeah, a lot of them don't but sometimes you have to say what the hell and go for it. We need a safety and if we got Byrd our secondary would improve dramatically.

Resign Shields get Byrd, sign a mid tier FA LB and draft a D-lineman (Louis Nix) and that right there goes a long way toward fixing our problems. Even if Byrd takes too much money to sign the mid tier LB then you draft one. either way its a major improvement with just 4 moves.

Originally Posted by: sschind

All of the above.

Signing Byrd would put both safeties in the top 10 on the Packers salary roll. Is safety that important that you dedicate that much to 2 of your players? Conventional wisdom says 'No'. Would it put us in a bind today? No. Is signing Byrd to big money more important than Jordy extension, Bulaga extension (maybe), EDS or a TE? I don't think so. My opinion.

The Second most expensive position in the NFL is typically OT. The Packers do not have one in their top 10. That will change soon. Would you rather protect ARod or go cheap and double up on S? Keeping ARod upright is probably our best Defensive strategy!

If you just look at the numbers:
Byrd 2013- 48 tackles, 1 Sack, 4 Int, 6 PasDef
Jennings 2013- 74 Tackles, 1 Sack, 0 Int, 1 PasDef
Burnett 2013- 96 Tackles, 0 sack, 0 Int, 6 PasDef
The last 3 years, Byrd's tackles have gone from 98-76-48. Now, it's not like Buffalo has become a Defensive powerhouse and didn't need him. Buffalo was the #28 Rushing Defense. Is he scared to get hurt and lose the big contract? Do we need another player in the Backfield that doesn't tackle? I am not advocating our S were good. Just let's be careful what we wish for.

I see signing Byrd like drafting a Punter in the 1st round. Not worth the money. But it's just my opinion.

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Zero2Cool
100% (Exalted)
Elite Member

11 years ago

#23

I see signing Byrd like drafting a Punter in the 1st round. Not worth the money. But it's just my opinion.

Originally Posted by: QCHuskerFan

Good stuff, but the portion I cropped out I have say if it's the Packers drafting in the 1st round, I'd rather it be a damn punter because they have to be on the low end of the salary.

I'm still bitter over the crap 1st round luck Packers seem to have.

musccy
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Veteran Member

11 years ago

#24

Originally Posted by: Wade

S - upgrade, but two of the "top" safeties in the draft are projected around the 21st pick
ILB - agreed, upgrade needed
TE - you touched on, this may not be a position of need if we restock from within
DL - Texaspf and I may be the only ones that feel this way, but I actually don't think the Packers are in that bad of shape on the DL. I actually still have a slight glimmer of hope that Raji can not be useless, many see the potential in Daniels, and out of Boyd, Worthy, DJones, you have a core that I feel you can build from.

Just my opinion, but I only see two glaring needs for immediate upgrade, and a few more positions where only moderate upgrade is needed (DL, WR if Jones leaves).

nerdmann
100% (Exalted)
Premier Member

11 years ago

#25

Originally Posted by: musccy

ILB-Barrington could take a step up. If he shows he can cover, then he could be the answer.
TE-Bostick has potential as a passcatching type dude. I'd like to see what Stoneburner can do too. Quarless is who he is and may leave.
DL-I'd like to see them make some moves here.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

steveishere
100% (Exalted)
Veteran Member

11 years ago

#26

Not sure I'd even call TE a NEED. Yeah, it's nice to have a good pass catcher there but the offense will still run smooth without one. I guess you could say we need to get another receiver whether it be at TE or WR but I wouldn't say it's a very high priority.

nerdmann
100% (Exalted)
Premier Member

11 years ago

#27

Originally Posted by: steveishere

We've got Kevin Dorsey. Then there's Chris Harper too, although he's kind of a long shot imo.

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”

texaspackerbacker
100% (Exalted)
Veteran Member

11 years ago

#28

The only all out necessity is Safety. I doubt Ted will get us Byrd or Ward, but I really wish he would. The money is clearly there to do it.

Any help we get in the D-Line is gravy after Daniels, Worthy, D. Jones, Boyd, and Jolly. I'd like to see us get Allen or one of those others mentioned, but it ain't an urgent need.

A first round pick ILB would be nice too, but Lattimore or maybe Barrington would be upgrades from B. Jones too. No absolute necessity there also.

It's looking more and more like we will go with Perry/Mulumba opposite Matthews - improvement would be nice, but not urgent.

We have endured this mediocre O-Line and still had a first rate offense. Another year of that combined with better defense spells G-R-E-A-T.

Same with WR and TE. I really do hope we retain Quarless, though - the second highest priority after Shields.

Expressing the Good Normal Views of Good Normal Americans.
If Anything I Say Smacks of Extremism, Please Tell Me EXACTLY What.

play2win
100% (Exalted)
Senior Member Topic Starter

11 years ago

#29

Originally Posted by: QCHuskerFan

Yeah, and Byrd did that in only 11 games... I would like to see what this kid can do on a team with a chance to win it all. Should he come to GB, I think we would have that chance. I don't know how you could not want one of the best Safeties in the NFL on your team. ??? Figure too, it would more than likely make Burnett a better player, having another Safety of Byrd's calibre playing along with him in the Packers secondary.

We had LeRoy Butler, and that didn't stop Ron Wolf from getting Eugene Robinson. That was a huge part of our success, having that quality of Safety play from both players. Collins had Burnett helping him, along with the $11M Charles Woodson. Burnett has had no one since the loss of Collins 3 years ago.

Somehow, when we have 2 good Safeties, we are legit contenders and we win Superbowls.

Pack93z
100% (Exalted)
Select Member

11 years ago

#30

I don't care if it is Byrd or another veteran.. but I think we need a "mentor" on the backend of this defense.

People say this position or that position are difficult in the NFL.. personally in today's game I don't know a position that would be harder to play than safety. You are getting attacked from every angle and you better be able to diagnosis and react quickly... or have the speed to makeup for a mistake made. Compound that on a team currently that applies little pressure.. it is a losing proposition. Add in the target rules.. spinning heads.

I don't think our safety prospects on this team are bad, but they are short on two things.. experience and elite speed. Without experience they have to try and erase incorrect reads.. and they don't have it in plenty to do so. So they have to rely on experience.. will they be ready this season? Don't know. But I don't think we can gamble that they will be.. hence why I believe they need a guy that can glue them together.. if he has a nose to make plays, all the better.

Even if we hit on a blue chip safety this draft.. I can't believe they will resolve the issues we currently have in the back end.. especially if we can't figure out how to generate more pressure up front.

"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"

QCHuskerFan
100% (Exalted)
Member

11 years ago

#31

Originally Posted by: play2win

He did it in 11 games because he had a foot injury that didn't heal very fast. As long as we can count on Byrd being healthier as he gets older, no problem! That's typical of players, right?

I do want one of the best safeties on our team. I want to live where it never snows. I want to have swimsuit models around my luxurious pool. I want to be filthy rich. I want to never have health issues. I want world peace. Wait. You mean I can't always get what I want?

Signing Byrd would put all 4 DBs in the top 11 on our salary cap. Not wise.

We also win Super Bowls when we have a Hall of Fame QB. Shouldn't be hard to do that every year, right? Hope no one else learns our secret...

BAD EMAIL because the address couldn ot be found, or is unable to receive mail.

DoddPower
100% (Exalted)
Veteran Member

11 years ago

#32

I want to live where it never snows.

Originally Posted by: QCHuskerFan

Well, that's certainly an easy one to fix. Come out here to Southern CA! It doesn't rain or snow here! lol.

sschind
100% (Exalted)
Senior Member

11 years ago

#33

Well, that's certainly an easy one to fix. Come out here to Southern CA! It doesn't rain or snow here! lol.

Originally Posted by: DoddPower

You guys got them there super models all over too right? That's 2 birds (not Byrds) with 1 stone.

QCHuskerFan
100% (Exalted)
Member

11 years ago

#34

You guys got them there super models all over too right? That's 2 birds (not Byrds) with 1 stone.

Originally Posted by: sschind

Sign me up. 58 degrees yesterday. 5" of snow predicted for tonight. I hate the Midwest.

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sschind
100% (Exalted)
Senior Member

11 years ago

#35

Resign Shields get Byrd, sign a mid tier FA LB and draft a D-lineman (Louis Nix) and that right there goes a long way toward fixing our problems. Even if Byrd takes too much money to sign the mid tier LB then you draft one. either way its a major improvement with just 4 moves.

Originally Posted by: sschind

I should clear up something with this. I guess what I was trying to say along with resigning Shields go out and get a top tier FA and a mid tier FA and draft the other spot. I don't really care if we get Jones, and a LB and draft Pryor or Dix. Or sign a LB (Woodley?) and a mid tier S and draft a DL.

I don't really care if we don't get Byrd if we can get a top safety in the draft. I don't care if we don't get Jones if we get a good DL in the draft.

All I am saying is that we have 4 positions on defense (three now with Shields back) that need to be addressed and I hope Ted Thompson does not try to address them all with the draft or with mid to low level FAs (depending on the FA of course) Go after 1 blue chipper at one position (Houston or Jones may be easier than Byrd and if so I got no problem with either one of them instead) find a decent mid level guy for another and draft for the other in the 1st round.

At least 3 starters,possibly all 4 addressed and our defense will look much better.

DoddPower
100% (Exalted)
Veteran Member

11 years ago

#36

Sign me up. 58 degrees yesterday. 5" of snow predicted for tonight. I hate the Midwest.

Originally Posted by: QCHuskerFan

CA is not a bad place to be. One doesn't even really need to check the weather. It's almost always hot and sunny. If I want snow, I can drive to the Sierra Nevada mountains. If I want the beach, I'll drive to Santa Barbara. Add in some beautiful cities like San Diego, San Francisco, San Luis Obisbo, some trips to the desert, and an agricultural mecca, and it's not too shabby. I'm still an Appalachian Boy, though. 🙏 🙏

buckeyepackfan
100% (Exalted)
Veteran Member

11 years ago

#37

Sunshine and 60 today here in good old Ohio,

tomorrow rain, then freezing rain, then 6 -10" of snow, temps dropping to 0-10 above.

GOTTA LOVE IT!!!!!!

I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!

play2win
100% (Exalted)
Senior Member Topic Starter

11 years ago

#38

Just a little after 4pm on the first day of FA and almost all of the top FA Safeties have signed with other teams, except for Byrd.

49ers signed FS Antoine Bethea

Eagles signed FS Malcolm Jenkins

Broncos signed FS TJ Ward

Along with that, both DL discussed were also signed away, Lamarr Houston to CHI and Arthur Jones to IND.

C'mon Ted! Sign him! 3-time Pro Bowl Player, 3-time All-Pro, 2-time AFC INTs leader...

buckeyepackfan
100% (Exalted)
Veteran Member

11 years ago

#39

Jarius Byrd on his way to New Orleans to visit Saints.

Not looking good for Packers.

I was addicted to The Hokey Pokey, but I turned myself around!

Zero2Cool
100% (Exalted)
Elite Member

11 years ago

#40

Jarius Byrd on his way to New Orleans to visit Saints.

Not looking good for Packers.

Originally Posted by: buckeyepackfan

Whew, you had me for a second there!

With Jarius Byrd going to visit Saints, do you think that opens it up for Jairus Byrd to visit Packers?

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