Zero2Cool
16 years ago
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It's not all that unusual for a new draft pick to walk into an NFL locker room and find an old teammate in his midst.

But on a fairly young team like the Packers, the odds are a little greater, and strangely enough this year no less than half of the 2009 draft picks - four of the eight - have former college teammates on Green Bay's current roster.

First-round pick B.J. Raji and 2006 draftee Will Blackmon played two years together, 2004 and 2005, at Boston College. Fifth-round pick Quinn Johnson was in the same LSU backfield as quarterback Matt Flynn during the Tigers' 2007 national championship season. Sixth-rounder Jarius Wynn played the 2007 season at Georgia with non-drafted free agent running back Kregg Lumpkin. And seventh-round pick Brad Jones played two seasons (2005-06) at Colorado with kicker Mason Crosby.

It's all coincidental, and the veteran players certainly aren't doing any lobbying to bring their former teammates here. But they do take some pride in, and get excited about, the pending arrival of guys they used to go to battle with.

"I talked to B.J. right when he got picked," Blackmon said. "I called him up and I told him, 'Let's go!' He said, 'I've been ready,' and I said, 'I've been trying to tell people around here you're real good,' and he's like, 'Well, I'm going to come and show what I can do.'

"He's definitely going to be worth the pick."

Despite being drafted three years ago, Blackmon played two seasons at BC with Raji because Raji was a freshman in 2004 before losing a year of eligibility in 2007. As a junior in 2004, Blackmon was playing cornerback and remembers seeing the new defensive tackle in the middle go to work.

"He played as a freshman, so he actually got in there early, being he was a big guy and really, really strong," Blackmon said. "He gave us that presence in the middle to stop the run. We did a good job that year, and you saw it carry through the rest of his career. We were ranked nationally in defense against the run."

Blackmon sees him blending in well in his new surroundings too, including with the other defensive linemen, some of whom are known for their loud locker room antics.

"He's a character," Blackmon said. "He has a sense of humor. He'll fit right in here. He talks, he has fun, he jokes around, he works hard. Personality-wise he'll fit perfectly in this locker room."

The same was said for the other draftees as well.

"He's a hard worker and has a motor all the time," Lumpkin said of Wynn, who came to Georgia from Georgia Military College. Because they played on opposite sides of the ball, Lumpkin sometimes had to carry the ball in Wynn's direction in practice, a task that wasn't easy.

"He has great quickness off the line, he's powerful, and he has great instincts," said Lumpkin, who added he hasn't talked to Wynn since the draft but plans to see him during rookie orientation this weekend. "I think he's a total package, just an all-around great athlete."

That's the word on Johnson and Jones too. During LSU's national title run, Flynn actually never handed the ball off to Johnson and only threw him three passes, but the bruising fullback started four games and was a special-teams regular in 2007 before becoming the full-time drive-blocker that keyed the Tigers' ground game last season.

Jones was a reserve and then starting outside linebacker at Colorado for Crosby's final two seasons there and now comes to Green Bay as a three-year starter with a ton of experience. Crosby thinks that makes him a potential sleeper for a final-round selection.

"I think for being in the seventh round, we possibly got a really good pick there," Crosby said. "I know he works hard, he works hard in the weight room. He's a very strong, fast guy. I think he has a lot of versatility as far as playing that outside position. He can get down and rush the passer. I really think for our new defensive scheme he's going to be a good fit."

Crosby said he didn't actually speak to Jones when he was drafted but he got his number from a mutual friend and sent him a congratulatory text message, with an offer of help if he needs anything when he arrives this weekend. Crosby said he'll probably invite him over for dinner during rookie orientation, and he looks forward to having an old teammate around.

"A Colorado guy -- you can't go wrong with those kind of guys," Crosby said with an obvious smile. "It's kind of nice. We haven't had another Colorado guy since I've been here, so it's going to be good."


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gakko
16 years ago
Wasn't Marques Colston a 7th round pick and an immediate star? You really never know.
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Zero2Cool
16 years ago

Wasn't Marques Colston a 7th round pick and an immediate star? You really never know.

"gakko" wrote:

Very true.
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beast
16 years ago

Wasn't Marques Colston a 7th round pick and an immediate star? You really never know.

"SlickVision" wrote:

Very true.

"gakko" wrote:



Yeah but for every Colston you have tons of high draft pick busts...

Like you said you never really know.

But it is kind of cool we're getting some guys that know each other. Also there is UDFA 6'2", 231 pound WR (maybe TE) Jamarko Simmons from Western Michigan who broke 3 of Greg jennings records and is quoted as saying he think of Jennings as a bother and that Jennings' father (a Pastor I think) has really helped him with his hot headiness.


:wav: :rr: 😎 :cheers:
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Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (3h) : February 5, 2002 (age 23) ok no. packers.com is wrong
Zero2Cool (3h) : Micah Robinson is only 19??
Zero2Cool (5h) : 6 first rounders on Packers defense now
Zero2Cool (17h) : LB Isaiah Simmons. Signed. Called it!!! Oh yeah!
Martha Careful (17h) : ty bboystyle...fat fingers
bboystyle (17h) : Tom*
Martha Careful (28-Apr) : RIP Packer Safety Tim Brown
beast (27-Apr) : Yeah, but also some of the wording suggestions Jax only pranked called the QB, not the others... and if he had an open spreadsheet & 3 calls
beast (27-Apr) : Thank goodness he's not leaving the Turtle in the Red Tide
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Cowboys 1st round pick Tyler Booker will indeed be bringing his pet turtle to Dallas with him
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : that contained all prospects info and contact
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : beast, according the Falcons statement Jax came across it on an ipad. If I had to guess, probably an open spread sheet or something
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Simmons put up an emoji with cheese.
beast (27-Apr) : Not sure anyone is interested in Isaiah Simmons... Collin Oliver might of taken his potential slot
beast (27-Apr) : I'm going with Jax Ulbrich is not telling the whole truth... he accidentally came across it? Why would a defensive coordinator have a QB #?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : He's not that great, but final piece of the script.\
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : If we add Isaiah Simmons, book your Super Bowl tickets
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Colts 1st round TE Tyler Warren also got prank called, was that Jax Ulbrich as well?
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Jax Ulbrich, Jeff Ulbrich’s son, released an apology for his role in the Shedeur Sanders prank call.
Martha Careful (27-Apr) : apparently he did not participate in practice or play on the east west shrine game nor the NFL combine. The kid was a mediocre spoiled brat
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : Yeah that one that was a super wounded duck that Sanders supporters are highlighting to prove a point
Zero2Cool (27-Apr) : Shough is the guy who missed guys at combine isn't he?
beast (27-Apr) : It's not official until I'm dead! I have a chance still! (Not really)
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : I could feel my body decomposing in real time when I read that
Mucky Tundra (27-Apr) : @MIKEYSAINRISTIL Tyler Shough will officially be the last person drafted to the NFL born in the 1900’s
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : saw the tweet, he meant the city
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : Was that for the team or the city?
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter · 3m Draft grade is in: Green Bay gets an A. The people, the city, the venue were all superb. NFL Draft’s next
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matt LaFleur says Jaire Alexander is participating in #Packers offseason program, which has been conducted virtually during this first week
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : ✅ ...
buckeyepackfan (26-Apr) : Check
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Matthew Golden cahanged 81 to 22??
TheKanataThrilla (26-Apr) : Sam Howell to Vikings...guess no Aaron
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : 1 round 7 min, with one extra minute if there is a trade. 2nd round 4 minutes, 3rd -3, 2 thereafter IMO
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Agree
dfosterf (26-Apr) : Great idea imo
dfosterf (26-Apr) : 1st round to 7 minutes with one extension
dfosterf (26-Apr) : NFL comissioner wants to shorten the 2st
Mucky Tundra (26-Apr) : @jalenreagors They’re discussing if Sheduer can go back to college on NFL Network LMFAOOOOO
beast (26-Apr) : Great point Martha
beast (26-Apr) : Buddy Ryan used to say if a candy bar goes missing, there are two to blame, Rex and Rob 🤪 jk 😁
Martha Careful (26-Apr) : Bum Phillips used to say there are two ways to get better. Get better players or get players to play better. We have a new DL coach
Zero2Cool (26-Apr) : Yes. Look at the losses last year. They can win.
beast (26-Apr) : Can Packers win with their current DL?
bboystyle (26-Apr) : waiting for a pass rusher.
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes between picks in the 3rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 3rd. Hate this phone
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 4rd
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 5 minutes in the 4
dfosterf (25-Apr) : 7 minutes between picks in the 2nd round
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