Wells not thrilled, Preston released
Not surprisingly, veteran center Scott Wells' reaction to losing the starting job to Jason Spitz was less than favorable.

"You think I'm happy?" Wells said after today's practice.

Wells had been the Packers' regular starting center since the 2006 season. He's been with the team since 2004, when he was a seventh-round draft pick out of Tennessee.

He had seemingly performed well this summer after missing the entire offseason due to shoulder surgery, but it appears the Packers had their mind made up to go with Spitz.

"They told me I played well," Wells said. "That's all I can say. If you want further explanation, you need to talk to somebody other than me."

The question now is whether or not the Packers try to trade Wells. They released their other backup center, free-agent signee Duke Preston, according to NationalFootballPost.com, which could mean they plan to keep Wells as the backup. That might not sit well with Wells.

"Nobody wants to be a backup," he said. "That's not why we're in this business. You want to play."

Scott Wells 2009: $1.5 million (+ $200,000 roster bonus)
Brady Poppinga 2009: $1.9 million (+ $800,000 roster bonus)

Insurance can be pricey, but I think both of these guys stick for at least another season, especially in Wells case after Duke Preston was cut today. That is unless they think Dietrich-Smith is a viable enough option at backup center to trade Wells to another team.

"RainX" wrote:

Posted by ESPN.com's Kevin Seifert

Green Bay's effort to get bigger and more athletic on the offensive line has produced at least one touchy consequence: What to do with Scott Wells, the classy and now ex-starting center?
Jason Spitz has supplanted Wells in the starting lineup, the result of a training camp competition that ended this week. The decision ended Wells' four-year run as a starter, the last three at center. Based on my experience, it's rare that you see a demoted longtime starter retained as a backup. That's especially true for players as young as Wells, who is 28 and might fit in as a starter elsewhere in the NFL.

From a pure football standpoint, it makes sense to keep Wells on the roster. He can play guard, is better than most backups that will be available in the coming weeks and knows the offense. But the Packers will have to judge if those benefits are worth the risk of creating a potentially uncomfortable situation.

In the short term, at least, it appears the Packers plan to keep Wells around. Tuesday, they released veteran Duke Preston, the most likely alternative to serve as a backup center and guard, according to the National Football Post. Preston's early departure suggested the Packers had little regard for his abilities, but it also left Wells as the top backup at all three positions.

Let's just say it will require an exceptional effort on Wells' part to make that arrangement work in the long term. According to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Wells didn't hide his disappointment Tuesday.

Wells: Nobody wants to be a backup. That's not why we're in this business. You want to play."


Of course, if the Packers plan to trade Wells, they wouldn't say so beforehand. If a deal were to occur, it's more likely to come closer to the start of the regular season. But for now, he's a backup with the Packers.