January

Jan. 1, 2009   

Packers want more cohesiveness on O-line

We hear the Packers are planning on a more stable situation on the offensive line next season, with the same five starters from beginning to end, health permitting. But with healthy competition expected at the next training camp at every position on the line including left tackle, where Chad Clifton had previously been entrenched, team insiders can only speculate on who the five starters will end up being. One player who isn’t expected to be part of the mix is longtime ORT Mark Tauscher, a free agent who we hear is unlikely to return after suffering an ill-timed season-ending injury in early December. According to our sources, the best guess on probable starters are: Clifton at left tackle, Daryn Colledge at left guard, Mike Wells at center, Jason Spitz at right guard and rookie Breno Giacomini replacing Tauscher at right tackle. Giacomini didn’t play an offensive snap in his first year, but word is the team really likes his size and physicality.

December

Dec. 25, 2008   

Rodgers' comeback failures spoil solid debut season

The way we hear it, the Packers have no reservations whatsoever about the long-term commitment they have made to QB Aaron Rodgers, whose performance as a first-time starter replacing Green Bay legend Brett Favre should be placed way down the list of things that went wrong in what turned out to be a terribly disappointing 2008 campaign.

Team insiders won’t dispute that there are a lot of things to like about Rodgers, particularly his mobility, football intelligence, work ethic, poise and, most recently, his ability to effectively cope with brutal weather, which was the case in the Week 16 Monday-night loss to the Bears at a frozen Soldier Field.

On the other hand, the former first-round draft pick also has had his share of growing pains, especially his ill-timed fumbles, occasional bad reads and his tendency to hold on to the ball too long.

But there’s one negative aspect of Rodgers’ game up to now that sticks out like Packers DT Ryan Pickett at a little people convention  — his 0-8 record in comeback situations.

Put simply, it’s an unseemly stat in the eyes of many members of Packers Nation because Rodgers’ predecessor made thrilling comebacks one of the feature attractions of his dazzling repertoire.

It might be a different story had Favre’s penchant for comebacks not kicked in right away as a member of the Packers.

Unfortunately for Rodgers, Favre wasted no time working his comeback magic, displaying it for the first time in Week Three of the 1992 season, his first year in Green Bay, in relief of Don Majkowski against the Bengals.

The rest, of course, is history.

On another matter, one problem this season that has been pointed out a lot lately is an apparent lack of leadership perhaps contributing to Green Bay’s demise, with Favre’s departure no doubt contributing to that void.

But longtime team insiders will tell you that Favre was not an instant leader, and that it would be unfair to get down on Rodgers for not providing more leadership so relatively early in his career as a starter.

Is it possible the team might seek out some potential veteran leaders in free agency to fill the bill?

The way we hear it, don’t hold your breath.

Dec. 19, 2008   

Secondary concerns could be primary focal point in Green Bay

Updated at 12:55 p.m. EST Sunday, Dec. 21

After Atari Bigby was placed on injured reserve, it seemed likely that Pro Bowl CB Charles Woodson would continue starting at strong safety the rest of the season. Instead, the Packers have decided to start Aaron Rouse at that spot in their Monday-night matchup with the Bears to see what he can do. But what about next season? Team insiders think that’s a good question, with more than a few debates behind closed doors expected in the coming weeks regarding the future of a secondary that has regressed significantly, starting with the Week 12 shellacking by the Saints. As for FS Nick Collins, a fellow Pro Bowler who was outstanding in the first 10 games, it’s been hard for daily team observers to ignore the significant drop-off in his play since the Monday-night debacle in New Orleans. In recent weeks, one notable problem is the extent to which Collins has been out of position on numerous routes. A big reason, we’re told, could be the nagging thigh and shin injuries he’s been quietly battling in the season’s final month.

Dec. 12, 2008   

Reasons abound for Packers' defensive decline

A.J. Hawk

Even before the Packers’ defense delivered arguably the worst effort in team history — allowing the Texans a mind-boggling 549 yards in a season-killing 24-21 defeat in Week 14 — rumors had begun circulating that defensive coordinator Bob Sanders could be in danger of losing his job.

“I didn’t get the job done,” said Sanders after the Week 14 debacle. “That’s the bottom line.”

While Sanders might indeed be treading on shaky ground with the end of the Packers’ disappointing season close at hand, the bottom line, according to team insiders, is that there are numerous reasons for the defense’s decline this season. The biggest factor is a rash of injuries that have either ended the seasons of key contributors (starting DRE Cullen Jenkins, starting MLB Nick Barnett) or significantly limited others (most notably CB Al Harris, SS Atari Bigby and starting LBs A.J. Hawk and Brandon Chillar).

The early loss of Jenkins for the season has been particularly painful, as his inside pass-rushing ability has been sorely missed.

That said, almost every team in the league has had to deal with its share of injuries, and there are more than a few close Packers observers who believe the adjustments Sanders has tried to make — specifically, moving Charles Woodson from the left corner to strong safety to replace the banged-up Bigby and moving Hawk from the weak side to the middle to replace Barnett — were ill-advised.

Team sources believe Woodson — who, along with FS Nick Collins, was playing at a Pro Bowl level until the secondary’s wheels started to come off in the 51-29 Monday-night loss to the Saints in Week 12 — has done well enough in coverage at the SS position for the most part, but his run support has not drawn good reviews.

At the same time, Tramon Williams, who has replaced Woodson on the left corner, has struggled mightily since taking on that starting role.

As for Hawk, a former first-round draft pick who has been told by Sanders and his assistants that he needs to step up his game, there are some observers who believe the team would be better off with Desmond Bishop, who has displayed more playmaking ability, in the middle instead.

Dec. 5, 2008   

Jackson could become bigger factor in Packers' backfield

Updated at 9:45 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 8

The Packers may go with more of a two-back system in the final weeks, with Brandon Jackson sharing the rushing load with Ryan Grant, who has had his moments but is nowhere near the force he was a year ago at this time. With Grant out with a sprained thumb suffered late in the first half of the Week 13 loss to Carolina, Jackson made his presence felt with the kind of big-play burst — 12 touches for 86 yards, including runs of 24 and 32 yards — that Grant hasn’t consistently provided this year. According to team observers, the ham­string pull Grant suffered in training camp seems to have taken away some of the explosiveness he showed last season. Word is the team feels the contrasting styles of Grant and Jackson, who is more elusive as well as being a better receiver, could become an effective combination. In Week 14, however, Grant handled the workload solo, carrying 19 times for 104 yards.

November

Nov. 27, 2008   

Strong safety position a weak link for Packers

Updated at 8:45 a.m. EST Monday, Dec. 1

It would appear the Packers’ secondary, which had been performing so brilliantly heading into the Week 12 Monday-nighter in New Orleans, has more concerns than just a damaged psyche after getting torched by Saints QB Drew Brees in a 51-29 defeat. We hear the Packers suddenly are flying by the seat of their pants at the SS position, where struggling starter Atari Bigby and, to a much greater extent, backup Aaron Rouse currently are hindered by ankle injuries necessitated some creative tweaking — like shifting Charles Woodson from the left corner to strong safety last week vs. the Panthers. While Woodson, RCB Al Harris and FS Nick Collins have excelled for the most part this season, team insiders are in agreement that Bigby, who missed most of the first half of the season with a pulled hamstring, hasn’t come close to the promising form he displayed in what appeared to be a breakout campaign in 2007.

Nov. 21, 2008   

Packers CB Harris making up for lost time

Even when CB Al Harris was sidelined after tearing his spleen in Week Three, the secondary was the strength of this year’s Packers, establishing itself as one of the league’s best playmaking units. But with Harris surprising team insiders with his near-flawless play (heading into the Monday-nighter in New Orleans) since returning to the starting lineup in Week Nine, Green Bay’s secondary has gotten even better. Although he wasn’t facing the greatest WR corps in the Titans, Vikings and Bears, Harris — displaying a newfound chip on his shoulder both on and off the field — allowed just one 10-yard reception in those three games. The way we hear it, whether the 33-year-old Harris chooses to admit it or not, his extra edge could be due to the increasing pressure he feels from steadily improving nickel back Tramon Williams for the starting RCB job. Team insiders envision Williams as a starting corner in the not-too-distant future.

Nov. 14, 2008   

Packers' Hawk has big shoes to fill in the middle

Already struggling mightily against the run this season, the Packers’ defense could ill afford to lose starting MLB Nick Barnett, who we’re told is facing at least an eight-month rehab stretch after tearing his ACL in the Week 10 loss to the Vikings. Team sources believe Barnett was probably playing his best game of the year when he went down for the count early in the third quarter. Although Barnett, the team’s leading tackler four of the last five years, wasn’t playing nearly as well as he was a year ago at this time — he was the team’s leading tackler entering Week 10 but did not have a sack or an interception — his speed, knowledge of the defense and nonstop intensity are expected to be sorely missed. Former first-round draft pick A.J. Hawk has moved over from the weak side to replace Barnett, but word is second-year pro Desmond Bishop could still see plenty of playing time in the middle.

Nov. 7, 2008   

Packers' run defense in need of major repair work

Updated at 9:35 a.m. CST Monday, Nov. 10

It’s looking like a playoff run similar to last season could be hard to come by if the Packers’ run defense doesn’t show major improvement down the stretch. Allowing at least 176 yards rushing in six of nine games — including 220 vs. the Vikings last week — just isn’t going to cut it. Team sources believe a combination of reasons could be responsible for the defense’s shortcomings in rushing situations. At the top of the list are the losses of DT Corey Williams, who was traded to the Browns this past offseason, and DE Cullen Jenkins, who suffered a season-ending torn right pectoral muscle in Week Four. It also hasn’t helped, that many of the team’s key defenders — most notably DT Ryan Pickett, DE Aaron Kampman and OLB A.J. Hawk — have been playing hurt. In addition, it’s worth noting that the Packers have just happened to face a large number of really good running backs on a fairly regular basis.

October

Oct. 31, 2008   

Packers DT Cole's value rising with free agency on horizon

It’s not likely the name of Colin Cole instantly rings a bell when the topic of NFL defensive tackles comes up. But the way we hear it, in discussions among league personnel heavyweights, Cole’s name is being brought up a lot more frequently as of late, considering how consistently well he has been performing on the Packers’ defensive line. Taking advantage of increased playing time, the 6-1, 320-pound fourth-year pro really has surprised daily team observers with the steady inside pass rush he has been providing. In addition to being among the team leaders in QB pressures, we’re told Cole also has been the team’s best D-lineman in terms of gap discipline. Cole’s game is coming together at just the right time, as he’s scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in March and could have his share of suitors on the open market — provided the Packers don’t first decide to lock him up long term.    

Oct. 24, 2008   

Favre's image takes another hit in Green Bay

As the club rests during its bye week, the imposing specter of Brett Favre continues to hang heavy over a Packers team that we hear hasn’t taken too kindly to Jay Glazer’s FoxSports.com report that Favre provided 60-90 minutes’ worth of inside information to the Lions before the Week Two game earlier this season between Green Bay and Detroit. Even though Favre has insisted that the Lions’ general manager at the time, Matt Millen, called him, and that he never intentionally tipped off the Lions’ coaching staff, the story continues to simmer in Green Bay. Team insiders tell us that there’s no denying the fact Favre’s legacy has taken a further hit in the eyes of some of his former teammates, irrespective of his denials. In the meantime, we hear the respect in the locker room for current Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, who has performed impressively despite a nagging shoulder injury, has never been greater. 

Oct. 17, 2008   

Packers' trade for Gonzalez falls apart at last minute

The way we hear it, the Packers were only a heartbeat away from pulling the trigger on a trade with the Chiefs for Tony Gonzalez — until Chiefs GM Carl Peterson decided at the last minute that he wanted more than the third-round pick the Packers were offering for the nine-time Pro Bowl tight end. After Peterson upped the ante, reportedly requesting a second-round pick, the Packers pulled back on a deal that we’re told Gonzalez had enthusiastically agreed to. Word is the Packers’ interest in Gonzalez wasn’t due to any dissatisfaction with current starting TE Donald Lee, who we hear was willing to welcome Gonzalez aboard with open arms. The bottom line was the team’s belief that the 32-year-old Gonzalez still had plenty of gas left in the tank and would have provided a significant upgrade at tight end, with Lee still figuring prominently in the offense as the No. 2 guy.

Oct. 10, 2008   

Packers' Collins credits film study for improved play

The Packers’ defense has had its share of problems so far this season. But one position that has never been stronger is the free safety spot, which has been handled masterfully by fourth-year pro Nick Collins despite persistent back problems.

Collins has three interceptions, one fewer than he had his first three seasons combined, and is finally living up to the steady playmaking promise that he had only flashed on occasion before this season.

For one thing, Collins is doing a much better job this season of holding on to passes, a big problem previously. This season he has displayed excellent hands and done a great job of diagnosing plays.
 
The way we hear it — straight from Collins’ mouth in a recent phone interview — film study has been the key to his noticeable improvement.

“I have taken a lot more time to study film,” Collins told PFW. “I watch film regularly with the veteran guys (CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris, the latter currently out with a spleen injury). They let me know how to read the routes of the different receivers we’re going to be facing, and I’ve been doing a great job of picking up on things.”

Collins said Woodson, in particular, deserves a major assist for his newfound success.

“Oh, man, he’s been just like an older brother to me,” Collins said of Woodson, who has been providing further inspiration due to the fact that he, too, is gutting it out at less than full strength with a broken toe suffered in Week One. “He’s always there to correct me when I make a mistake and to offer me encouragement when I do something good. He’s always trying to bring out the best in me.”

As for his back, Collins said it could continue to be a problem but that it’s something he can manage.

“I think I’m going to have to deal with it for the rest of the year,” Collins said. “Hopefully the bye week (Week Eight) will calm things down a bit. A little injury isn’t going to stop me. I’m a warrior. Our trainers are doing a nice job of getting me ready every Sunday.”

Nobody puts more work into getting ready for games than Collins, who has earned a reputation as a devoted note taker.

“It’s something I’ve been doing since my rookie year,” he said. ”Not just for me, but also to help out the younger guys.”

Oct. 3, 2008   

Packers' D-line could be in trouble without Jenkins

Cullen Jenkins

The injuries to QB Aaron Rodgers (throwing shoulder) and CB Al Harris (spleen) might have received more ink, but neither of those is nearly as costly as the season-ending torn right pectoral muscle suffered by starting DRE Cullen Jenkins in the Week Four loss in Tampa Bay.

“A devastating loss,” a team source told PFW. “He was playing unbelievable. He really didn’t look good this summer and in the preseason, but he was flat-out great in Weeks Three and Four.”

The way we hear it, it will take more than one player to replace Jenkins, who was excelling at both right end in the Packers’ base defense and left tackle in nickel situations.

The primary replacement for Jenkins at right end is promising but unproven fourth-year pro Mike Montgomery. “He’s a tough kid,” the source said. “He mixes it up and is very aware. He’s all right. I really can’t say anything bad about him.”

It’s also quite possible that athletic fourth-round rookie Jeremy Thompson, who performed well at the end of training camp, could see more action on the edge.

The team also replaced Jenkins on the roster with ex-Jaguar Kenny Pettway, who was a passenger in the SUV in which Jaguars OL Richard Collier was shot 14 times and paralyzed on Sept. 2. But Pettway is expected to primarily replace DL Jason Hunter, a key special-teams performer who we’re told could be out for a while with a hamstring injury.

Jenkins and Hunter were most often the tackles in the Packers’ nickel defense, and for the time being, the team has only three pure tackles in Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole.

“Montgomery will probably be tried some inside,” the source said, “and Hunter will be back there when he gets healthy enough.”

Much-needed reinforcements inside could be on the way soon, with 2007 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell, who is serving out his stint on the physically-unable-to-perform list, eligible to return following the sixth game of the season.

Harrell has had a hard time staying healthy since joining the Packers, but sources tell us he currently is in his best shape since joining the team and could be in a position to provide a boost at just the right time.

September

Sept. 26, 2008   

Williams replaces Packers CB Harris for foreseeable future

Updated at 9:25 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 29

It appears the Packers have dodged a bullet after learning that veteran CB Al Harris, who suffered what initially was considered a potential season-ending spleen injury in the Week Three loss to the Cowboys, will probably end up missing only 3-4 weeks. In the meantime, the Packers are planning on second-year pro Tramon Williams being the starting right corner for the foreseeable future. “He’s not a starter, but he could grow into one,” a team source said of Williams, who was signed by the Packers in late November 2006 after being cut by the Texans and effectively replaced Jarrett Bush as the team’s nickel back last season. “He’s pretty fast, and he’s no coward.” Williams had an interception, which he returned 39 yards, in Week Four. Team insiders, however, aren’t nearly as sold on the very athletic but inexperienced Will Blackmon, who is expected to be Williams’ primary replacement in the nickel role.

Sept. 18, 2008   

Packers rookie Lumpkin has Grant-like potential

Updated at 9:33 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 22

It was only one play, but undrafted rookie RB Kregg Lumpkin’s 19-yard burst over left guard on the Packers’ first TD drive in their Week Two victory over the Lions provided another promising glimpse of a young back many team insiders believe is capable of breaking through the woodwork the same way Ryan Grant did last season. “In my humble opinion, I really believe the sky’s the limit for Kregg,” Packers RB coach Edgar Bennett told PFW. “It all starts with the foundation, his passion. I just love the way the kid practices. He goes out every day with a mindset to get better. Brandon Jackson is the same way. When you have kids with that kind of mindset, you can’t go wrong.” Bennett marvels at Lumpkin’s natural tools. “He has very quick feet for a back with his size. And he’s very aggressive, with great physicality.” In Week Three’s loss to the Cowboys, Lumpkin was active but didn’t have any carries.

Sept. 12, 2008   

Packers' tackles excel vs. Grade-A competition

Updated at 8:56 a.m. EDT Monday, Sept. 15

In the case of Packers starting OTs Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, it is becoming clearer all the time that the more menacing their matchups are, the better they perform. Overshadowed by QB Aaron Rodgers’ impressive pro starting debut against Minnesota was a brilliant performance by Clifton, who aside from three first-quarter penalties, couldn’t have performed any better against Vikings high-profile DE Jared Allen. Clifton limited the league’s highest-paid defensive player to a lone pass deflection and not a single QB pressure — an effort very similar to the masterpiece Tauscher turned in vs. NFC sack leader Patrick Kerney in the playoffs last season vs. Seattle. Clifton, however, was victimized for a sack in the Packers’ Week Two win.

Sept. 5, 2008   

Flynn grabs Packers' backup QB role over disappointing Brohm

After all was said and done, we hear it was just a clear-cut case of seventh-round rookie Matt Flynn outperforming second-round rookie Brian Brohm for the No. 2 QB job behind Aaron Rodgers to start the season. Word is Brohm, a three-year starter at Louisville, looked pretty good earlier in the offseason, but, according to one source, “The longer he played, the worse he got. He became more and more indecisive, and he started throwing too many flutter balls.” Flynn, meanwhile, kept getting better and better and has really impressed the coaching staff with his confidence and presence. “He’s still a work in progress with limited arm strength,” the source said of the LSU product who has been compared by Packers head coach Mike McCarthy to Carolina’s Jake Delhomme. “But he’s been durable and has shown real moxie. He’s a very good ad-libber, and his mobility is a plus.”   

August

Aug. 29, 2008   

Packers' DT situation remains cause for concern

A thick cloud continued to hang over the Packers’ interior defensive line through three preseason games, with sources in Green Bay indicating that GM Ted Thompson could be looking seriously into a trade for some reinforcements. For starters, former first-round draft pick Justin Harrell, who was being counted on to make his first real impact this season, might not even play in 2008 after undergoing surgery on his back earlier this week. Meanwhile, Johnny Jolly could be facing a league suspension after getting slapped with a felony drug charge earlier this summer (a hearing that was initially scheduled for this week on his drug charge has been moved to Sept. 16, which figures to delay any suspension) and also has been bothered by a hip injury. If all that weren’t bad enough, DT Ryan Pickett, the line’s undisputed anchor, is just now starting to test a hamstring that sidelined him the first month of training camp and, according to team insiders, might have adversely affected his conditioning. We hear Thompson started putting out feelers for help after witnessing his D-line’s lackluster effort in the preseason game vs. Denver, as the unit’s gap discipline proved to be a particular eyesore. The Packers appear to have surpluses at wide receiver and the offensive line that could be appealing to potential suitors. But more likely than not, one or more of their nine 2009 draft picks would be the most likely bait should a deal actually materialize.

Aug. 22, 2008   

Keep an eye on injuries to Packers' Wells, Hawk

We hear the Week One availability of two key starters on opposite sides of the ball — fifth-year C Scott Wells and third-year WLB A.J. Hawk — could be a growing concern. Wells, who missed almost two weeks of practice and the Packers’ preseason opener with what was diagnosed as a lower abdominal strain, suffered the same injury on the other side of his body after playing most of the first half in the team’s second preseason game. Hawk, a former first-round draft pick who is being counted on this season to become more of an impact playmaker, currently is sidelined with a sprained chest injury suffered after tackling Bengals TE Ben Utecht in the preseason opener. Hawk’s uncertain status — word is he has been told to rest the injury until further notice — is particularly noteworthy, considering that he previously had never missed a single practice, let alone a game, in four years at Ohio State and two years with the Packers. With Wells and Hawk being replaced in the starting lineup for the time being by Jason Spitz and newly acquired Brandon Chillar, respectively, team insiders tell us the Packers believe the center and WLB positions are in capable enough hands. Regarding Spitz, who graded out as the team’s best guard in 2007, a longtime team insider told PFW, “There are some in the organization that actually believe center is the best position for him.” As for Chillar, the Rams’ starting strong-side linebacker much of last season, word is he has looked very good this offseason operating primarily on the strong side, but not quite as good as holdover starter Brady Poppinga, who team insiders believe had one of the best training camps of any player.

Aug. 16, 2008   

KGB's knee a quiet cause for concern

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila

Although we hear it’s hardly a situation that has reached the panic stage, word is the Packers are more than a little concerned about DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, whose participation in training camp was severely limited by continued soreness in his right knee following arthroscopic knee surgery in late May. The 30-year-old Gbaja-Biamila was arguably having his best season at the pro level last season before injuring the knee in mid-November. From that point on, the Packers’ outside pass rush was never the same the rest of the season. Said one longtime team insider, “KGB was never seriously hurt before that injury (he’s missed only two games since 2001), and a lot of the problem could be that he’s having a hard time mentally handling the situation.” Whatever the case, we hear Packers coaches are keeping their fingers crossed that, as the regular season gets closer, Gbaja-Biamila will get a better grip on his situation and turn it up a notch. “They better hope that happens,” the insider said. “His outside rush is key.”

Aug. 3, 2008   

Grant a suddenly happy camper after new deal

Updated at 10:20 a.m. EDT Sunday, Aug. 3

At least the Packers don’t have to worry about RB Ryan Grant being an added distraction. Less than one week after being “as angry as I’ve ever seen him,” according to his agent, Alan Herman, Grant became a very happy camper on Saturday, agreeing to a new, incentive-laden four-year contract that could earn him up to $30 million. After leaving an extremely bad taste in the mouths of Grant and Herman with an initial contract offer that would have included only a $1.75 million signing bonus, new Packers contract negotiator Russ Ball sweetened the pot with a $3 million roster bonus and another $1.25 million through base salary ($750,000) and another roster bonus ($500,000) that will enable Grant to earn $4.25 million in 2008. The consensus among team insiders is that Grant’s new deal results in a “win-win” situation for both Grant and the Packers. If Grant picks up where he left off last season and rushes for 1,500 yards in ’08, his salary will jump to $4 million in ’09. In addition, after months of haggling over a projected six-year deal, the 25-year-old Grant settled for a four-year deal that could lead to another hefty new contract when this one expires. As for the Packers, who have cap money to burn (a reported $30 million prior to the Grant deal), all of Grant’s earnings this year will count against the cap immediately, and the inclusion of roster bonuses instead of a signing bonus frees the team of any future prorated charges, should Grant get hurt or fail to produce. With Grant’s deal done, the Packers now have 21 of 22 starters under contract through at least 2009, the lone exception being starting ORT Mark Tauscher, who will become a free agent after the ’08 season.

July

July 25, 2008   

Favre trade talks pushed into high gear

Even before NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly put the squeeze on the Packers to treat the Brett Favre trade talks with a sense of urgency, our Packers sources tell us the team already had begun aggressively seeking out potential trade partners. That said, we’ve gotten wind of only one specific Favre trade proposal by the Packers at this writing — a third-round draft pick and a warm body from the Ravens, which, we were told, the Ravens turned down. But with Goodell choosing to add his two cents to the ongoing saga, the trade of Favre to another team has become a very fluid possibility, with the Packers reportedly contacting 20 or so teams about Favre, with the exception of the team’s NFC North rivals and the Colts, Cowboys and Patriots, all of whom are obviously well-equipped under center at present. As has been the case from the get-go, the most intriguing potential trade partner continues to be Tampa Bay, even though the Packers play the Bucs in Tampa Sept. 28, and the Bucs were a playoff team, which Packers GM Ted Thompson had earlier indicated would remove them from consideration. After all is said and done, though, the most important factor continues to be Favre’s actual state of mind, and there are as many insiders in league circles who think he will decide to stay retired as there are those who think he’s itching to return. “He’s not thinking cogently at all right now and seems as conflicted as ever,” one inside source said of Favre, who we’re told still doesn’t appear to be in any hurry to file the reinstatement papers necesary for him to return to the NFL. “I know it’s not the answer you’re probably looking for, but, with the Packers’ training camp fast approaching, it still looks like anything can, and probably will, happen.”

July 18, 2008   

No news is good news on Jolly, Grant

A noteworthy byproduct of the continuing Brett Favre saga is how completely it has been overshadowing other potentially serious team issues — most notably the felony drug-possession charges recently levied against DT Johnny Jolly and the uncertain contract status of RB Ryan Grant, a possible no-show in training came if he doesn’t, at the least, sign a one-year, $370,000 tender offer as an exclusive-rights free agent. “Wish I could help you,” a frustrated team observer told PFW regarding the tight lid the Packers’ organization has put on media relations as of late. “It’s all Brett, all the time right now.” Team sources have thought for some time now that a long-term deal for Grant could involve some pretty delicate negotiations, considering that his emergence at the pro level is primarily based on only one half-season in a starting role. That said, although it could go right down to the wire, the smart money is on Grant securing a new deal before camp opens. Meanwhile, the suddenly uncertain status of Jolly — who could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine, if convicted, for possession of codeine syrup — makes an interior defensive line already decimated by a host of injuries (including Jolly’s shoulder) an even bigger cause for concern.

July 11, 2008   

Favre wants to play again, but will it be in Green Bay?

Brett Favre

Updated at 1 a.m. EDT Sunday, July 13

Full-blown speculation had been the order of the day on the subject of whether or not Brett Favre actually was planning on ending his retirement before it really even started — until Saturday. That’s when Packers GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy addressed the flurry of reports regarding Favre, confirming that the veteran quarterback, after an offseason of indecision, was ready to scrap his retirement plans and commit to playing football in 2008. Thompson and McCarthy indicated that they would welcome Favre’s return but that his role was not defined, considering the team had predicated its offseason planning around Aaron Rodgers being the starting quarterback. The Favre camp has asked the Packers to release the QB, but that seems unlikely. Now, the burning questions are: What will Favre’s role be if he comes back as a Packer? Or, will he leave Green Bay for another team? Stay tuned.

June

June 25, 2008   

Taylor looks like unlikely fit in Green Bay

In more than a few ways, a deal that would dispatch disgruntled DE Jason Taylor from Miami to Green Bay actually makes a lot of sense. Taylor would be playing for a strong playoff contender, which he has mentioned as a major criterion in his career moving forward. In addition, the Packers would be fortifying a pass rush that lost some of its potency down the stretch last season and could use another end to possibly replace Cullen Jenkins, who might be better-served moving inside, where injuries to DTs Johnny Jolly, James Harrell and Daniel Muir have taken a toll. But the way we hear it, while the Packers have indeed given such a trade some consideration, the odds of Taylor landing in Green Bay are extremely slim. Word is it could be a different story if the Packers had any real concerns about the recovery from offseason knee surgery by veteran situational sack specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. “But there’s nothing wrong with ‘KGB,’ " a longtime team insider told PFW. “I just don’t see it happening. It’s too unlike (Packers GM Ted) Thompson, and Jenkins is a better base end than tackle.” Another fly in the ointment is Taylor’s apparent preference to play on a team in a major TV market that is close to either Florida or California.

June 13, 2008   

Harrell's injury woes persist

Justin Harrell

If you’re looking for the most disappointing aspect of the Packers’ just-concluded OTAs, look no further than 2007 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell, who was shut down after injuring a disc lifting weights and undergoing minor back surgery in mid-April. In a perfect world, plans call for Harrell to be part of a quality three-man DT rotation this coming season, along with veteran Ryan Pickett — who normally comes out on passing downs and plays exclusively on the left side — and Johnny Jolly, who was coming on strong last season before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 10. But Harrell, who has been hurt more often than not since becoming the 16th overall pick in the 2007 draft, is now falling behind the curve for the second straight season. Still recovering from a torn biceps suffered in his final season at Tennessee, Harrell didn’t participate in any contact drills during Green Bay’s pre-training-camp activities last season. Never close to being in the kind of shape he needed to be, according to daily team observers, Harrell later came up lame with an ankle injury that forced him to miss five games in midseason. Although he did flash some decent run-stopping skills in his time on the field in ’07, he showed no ability at all as a pass rusher. The Packers now must hope he is better-equipped to bounce back from injury than he was last season. If there’s any good news, it’s that both Harrell and Jolly are expected to be fully ready for training camp at the end of July.       

May

May 29, 2008   

Changing of the guards could be constant

The early word this offseason is that as many as five different players could be shuttled in and out of the guard positions on a fairly regular basis in 2008 — primary 2007 starters Jason Spitz (ORG) and Daryn Colledge (OLG), athletically gifted fourth-year pro Junius Coston, promising second-year pro Allen Barbre and fourth-round rookie Josh Sitton. We hear Barbre — whose rookie action was limited as he adapted full time to the OG position after playing tackle in college — could be destined for the biggest boost in playing time. In early OTAs, Barbre was rotating at left guard with Colledge, who told team insiders that he welcomed the competition, and that he was feeling much stronger this season after spending much of his time since the end of the ’07 season in the weight room. But with all five linemen being extremely versatile, different combinations could be on tap throughout the season. “Barbre’s strength is his toughness and aggressiveness,” a longtime team insider told PFW. “Coston might have the most pure ability; he really runs well when he’s healthy. And don’t overlook this Sitton kid.” Sitton reminds many Packers onlookers of Mark Tauscher when the team’s starting right tackle first came on the scene as a seventh-round pick in 2000. “The more I see of Sitton, the more he looks like a player,” the team insider said.

May 16, 2008   

Rookie QBs look like real deal

Forget about a fringe veteran like Daunte Culpepper. Same goes for Craig Nall, who clung to a roster spot as the No. 3 quarterback last season. Moving forward, team sources tell us the Packers appear to have complete confidence in the abilities of a pair of rookies — second-round pick Brian Brohm and seventh-round pick Matt Flynn — as the backup signalcallers behind Aaron Rodgers. “They’re very satisfied with both guys,” said one longtime team insider who got an up-close look at Brohm and Flynn in Green Bay’s minicamp in early May. “Brohm has a pretty good arm, a little better than Flynn’s,” the insider told PFW. “He looked healthy — which has been an issue — and he showed some mobility. As for Flynn, (Packers GM Ted) Thompson was shocked he was still available in the seventh round. He looked pretty decent. As big a thing as any with both guys is that they were winners in strong college programs.” The numbers don’t lie. Brohm posted a 24-9 record as a starter at Louisville, including an Orange Bowl victory following the 2006 season. Flynn, who waited patiently behind JaMarcus Russell before becoming the starting QB at LSU, had an 11-2 mark as a starter and led the Tigers to the national championship last year. Could either rookie QB, particularly Brohm, immediately challenge Rodgers, who has yet to start a game at the pro level? We hear that’s extremely unlikely. Since checking in March 17 for the start of the team’s offseason workout program, we’re told Rodgers has established a strong, confident presence in the locker room that has the team’s coaches genuinely excited about his future. 

May 9, 2008   

Punting battle may be brewing

With none of the Packers’ 2008 draft picks expected to make a major impact right away, we hear the newcomer most likely to quickly make his presence felt could be undrafted free-agent P Ken DeBauche, who was signed to a contract after an impressive early-April workout in Green Bay. Word is DeBauche, who has been working to improve his craft under the direction of former NFL special-teams coach and Milwaukee native Gary Zauner, has looked good enough to mount a serious challenge of incumbent Jon Ryan for the starting punting job. Ryan actually had a pretty solid season in 2007 (his 37.6 net average ranked 12th in the NFL), but a few late-season meltdowns, particularly a wretched effort against the Bears in Chicago in Week 16, might have put him on notice. Two other factors that we hear might help DeBauche’s cause: (1) He also excels as a holder; and (2) He’s a local kid who played three sports at Bay Port High School, just outside of Green Bay, and would figure to be a big fan favorite.

April

April 25, 2008   

Leadership-by-committee in store for Pack

Not surprisingly, the void Aaron Rodgers is being asked to fill at the QB position following the retirement of Packers legend Brett Favre is a red-hot topic in Green Bay and beyond. At the same time, the Packers’ void in leadership without Favre — as well as fellow retiree and longtime long-snapper Rob Davis, whose strength in the locker room was his greatest quality — hasn’t been discussed nearly as much. It’s important to note that Davis is still likely to provide plenty of valuable leadership in his new role as the Packers’ director of player development. But clearly, new on-the-field leaders are needed. According to team insiders, there are probably three veteran starters for sure — WR Donald Driver, ORT Mark Tauscher and DLE Aaron Kampman — who can be counted on to take on greater leadership roles. Said one team insider: “Driver is a seventh-round pick who came from nowhere. He’s as tough as they come and is very community-oriented. Tauscher is also tough as nails, having overcome a torn ACL. He’s not afraid to speak his mind, and he’s constantly in the weight room. Kampman is another guy who came from dirt. He doesn’t dodge the media and is very religious, which should appeal to that particular sector of the team.” Other Packers players who were mentioned as leaders to a lesser extent: DT Ryan Pickett, MLB Nick Barnett and steady C Scott Wells.

April 18, 2008   

Longtime long-snapper ready for new role

Aside from the obvious case of Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre at quarterback, the Packers’ starting lineup in Week One of 2008 is expected to look pretty much the same as the one that finished up what turned out to be a storybook season in ’07. There is one other player, however, who had been a key part of the mix in Green Bay for almost as long as Favre who will not be back in ’08 — at least not on the field. We’re speaking of 12-year veteran long-snapper Rob Davis, who has retired but will continue to work for the Packers as director of player development — a role for which he has been groomed for some time now. While Davis was a very steady long-snapper most of his career with the Packers — his 167 games played ranks third in team history behind Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187) — daily team observers definitely noticed a decline in his play last season. Davis didn’t make any tackles on punt returns (as he had done on occasion in the past). He also had his share of protection problems and had trouble responding to various run combinations. The front-runner to replace Davis is recently signed Thomas Gafford, who previously had lost a training-camp battle to Davis in ’06 but, according to team insiders, impressed the incumbent with his ability at that time. We hear Gafford will likely compete with 1-2 other players for the long-snapping job this summer, including a possible late-round draft choice.  

April 4, 2008   

Packers target backup for Rodgers in draft

There are many in league circles who thought the Packers might have acquired a veteran clipboard carrier by now via trade or free agency to back up new starting QB Aaron Rodgers, whose durability has to be a major concern, considering he’s already suffered two season-ending injuries in limited play. But the way we hear it, it appears the Packers might have been planning all along to find a quality backup for Rodgers in the upcoming draft. They believe the ’08 draft is deep enough at the QB position to unearth a first-day talent similar to Trent Edwards, who turned out to be a great third-round pick for the Bills in ’07. One online draft prognosticator actually has the Packers selecting Louisville’s Brad Brohm with their first pick near the end of the first round (30th overall). But our sources have a hard time envisioning that scenario. “If they take a QB No. 1, the position would become more of an open competition, and I don’t think they want to put Rodgers in that kind of situation,” one veteran team insider told PFW. But drafting a quarterback such as Delaware’s Joe Flacco or Michigan’s Chad Henne with their second or third pick is a much different story. “That’s got potential,” the source said, “especially with the ammo they have that could allow them to move up (the 56th and 60th overall picks, in the second round).”

March

March 26, 2008   

New deal for Grant hardly a stretch

On coincidentally the same day that Brandon Chillar signed a new deal with the Packers, PFW asked Chillar’s agent, Alan Herman of Sportstars Inc., just how far down the road he envisioned a new contract for fellow client Ryan Grant. With the Packers having cap money to burn — more than $35 million including the cap charge for Brett Favre, who at this writing had yet to turn in his retirement papers — and Grant coming off a breakthrough campaign in which he was one of the league’s most dynamic running backs the second half of the season, Herman confirmed that it hardly takes a genius to connect the dots. “From all the rhetoric that I’ve seen about the Packers preferring to take care of their own before they reach free agency, and also looking at what Ryan accomplished last year, I would like to think the timing is right to get something done for a significant period of time,” Herman told PFW. At this writing, the Packers had yet to officially open talks with Herman, who the day after talking to PFW told the Green Bay Press-Gazette that Grant would not sign his $370,000 minimum tender for an exclusive-rights player with only one accrued season in the NFL. Grant is planning on full-scale involvement in the Packers’ spring offseason program, however, and while team insiders believe there could be some pretty lively discussions at some point between the Packers and Grant’s agents over the actual value of a running back who has been an elite performer for only half a pro season, the odds still seem pretty strong that a new deal will be struck later this offseason. Said Herman: “Ryan absolutely loves Green Bay — the team and the players — and we plan on fostering as good a working relationship with the Packers as possible toward reaching a long-term agreement that will benefit both sides.”

March 21, 2008   

Chillar figures prominently in LB mix

GM Ted Thompson, who has become known for very carefully picking his spots in free agency, decided to make ex-Rams LB Brandon Chillar only the second unrestricted free agent signed by the Packers in the last two seasons Wednesday. Chillar, the Rams’ starter at strong-side linebacker the past two seasons, signed a two-year deal worth $5.4 million, with an additional $1 million available in incentives, according to Sportstars Inc., the agency representing him. Chillar had appeared to be leaning toward signing with the Cardinals, which would have landed him closer to his California roots, but with Larry Fitzgerald’s whopping new deal in Arizona not yet officially finalized for salary-cap purposes, the Packers swooped back into the fray with an offer Chillar couldn’t refuse. “The quality and talent in Green Bay, as well as the opportunity to play there, was enough to sway him,” Sportstars agent Alan Herman told PFW. “It was more than enough to make him willing to leave his beach board out in California and pick up a snowboard in Green Bay.” Team insiders tell us Chillar will have a legitimate shot at challenging incumbent Brady Poppinga for the starting SLB job. Interestingly, the team just recently began “preliminary” talks for a new contract with Poppinga, who becomes an unrestricted free agent next year. More competition at strong-side linebacker and more pop in the team’s pass rush were considered top priorities in Green Bay entering the offseason. Indirectly, the Chillar signing might have satisfied both needs, with Poppinga, who played end in college, possibly expanding his role and becoming a part-time pass-rush specialist.

March 12, 2008   

Revamped QB position a work in progress

While we’re told the Packers’ braintrust believes that former first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers is more than ready to step into the QB spotlight now that Brett Favre has finally retired, there is no hiding the continued concern in the organization about Rodgers’ ability to take punishment — one of Favre’s most endearing qualities. Despite his extremely limited play the last three seasons, Rodgers has been sidelined on two different occasions with a broken foot and a pulled hamstring, and even if there were no concerns at all about his durability, the need for possible reinforcements is huge, with UFA Craig Nall the only other option at present under center. While we hear the Packers are considering re-signing Nall, we’re also told the search for proven backup help has been ongoing, with numerous options being rumored via both free agency and trade. At the top of the list is ex-Jaguars QB Quinn Gray, who team insiders tell us has been on the Packers’ radar screen long before Favre officially called it quits. Other UFAs still on the Green Bay grapevine include Mark Brunell, Gus Frerotte, Tim Hasselbeck and perhaps even Daunte Culpepper, although there are doubts about how well Culpepper would fit in the Packers’ system. Trade possibilities include Sage Rosenfels (Texans), Chad Pennington (Jets) and J.P. Losman (Bills), with Rosenfels considered the most likely option, probably in exchange for a mid-round draft pick. Speaking of draft picks, we hear the Packers are also a very good bet to spend at least of one of their ‘08 selections — possibly a first-day pick — on a signalcaller to round out the depth chart.

March 7, 2008   

Packers didn't 'beg' Favre to keep playing

Did the Packers try as hard as they could to convince Brett Favre to reconsider his stunning retirement announcement earlier this week? According to both Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, and his brother, Scott, the answer would be “no” to that question. In an emotional press conference in Green Bay late Thursday morning, Favre emphatically said the fact there might not have been much of a sense of urgency on the Packers’ part had nothing to do with his decision. That said, team insiders tell us the Packers probably could have tried harder to get Favre to come back for another season. Said one team insider: “Did they want him to come back? Yes. But let’s put it this way: They certainly didn’t beg him, and Brett likes to be begged.” As for the possibility that Favre might have been turned off by the fact the Packers did not make an attempt to land WR Randy Moss before Moss re-signed with New England — as had been rumored on a few national Internet sources — our team sources have no knowledge of that being any kind of a factor whatsoever. Based on the fact that Green Bay’s receiving corps came on so strong last season without Moss and has emerged as one of the league’s deepest and most talented units, the consensus actually seems to be that acquiring Moss wouldn’t have made any difference in Favre’s final decision.        

February

Feb. 27, 2008   

McCarthy sings Grant's praises

Did Packers head coach Mike McCarthy have any idea at all that RB Ryan Grant was going to turn into one of the league’s more dominant running backs after he inserted him into the starting lineup for the first time in Week Eight this past season? “I knew Ryan was going to play that well; I just didn’t know it in Week One,” McCarthy told PFW at the Combine in Indianapolis late last week. “No, I think Ryan was a great surprise for us. He came in, and we really liked what he did in the preseason. I thought he’d be a core special-teams player and be able to contribute. But I think he’s another excellent example of a young player that took advantage of a great opportunity and was very productive. He’s another player I’m looking forward to being around in the offseason program who can maybe add a few pounds, add some strength. It will be exciting to see how he builds off of this past season.” Expounding on the RB corps in the Indiana Convention Center lobby after addressing the national media, McCarthy told PFW that 2007 seventh-round rookie RB DeShawn Wynn, who spent the second half of the ’07 season on injured reserve, has been raising eyebrows with his rehab efforts at team headquarters. “(Strength and conditioning coordinator) Rock Gullickson is really fired up about DeShawn,” McCarthy said. “We think he still could have a very promising career.”

Feb. 22, 2008   

Williams' tag takes sources by surprise

Updated at 6:25 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 22

Team sources had clearly expected the Packers to release TE Bubba Franks, who had gone steadily downhill since signing a five-year, $17.5 million contract in 2005 and would have been on the books for $3.5 million in ’08 — a ridiculous expenditure for a player who had become a backup tight end who primarily was used as a blocker. But the Packers’ decision to give DT Corey Williams the franchise designation, the team’s first franchise/transition tag since giving Franks the transition tag three seasons ago, came as a bit of a surprise, considering the $6.363 million they will be forced to dole out for a player who has plenty of company at his deep DT position. The bottom line, as it turned out, was that the Packers felt they had enough money at their disposal to keep Williams around — about $20 million under the cap after the Franks and Williams maneuvers, to be specific. After getting nowhere in talks with Williams’ agent on a long-term deal, Packers management may be willing to take the risk that Williams, who has been a quality inside pass rusher the last couple of seasons, won’t be turned off and, consequently, turn into a less productive player the same way that Franks did. “We thought it was a simple decision,” Packers GM Ted Thompson told PFW at the Combine. “Corey is a good, young, durable player who has lots of versatility and is real good in the locker room. It’s a device that allows us to have some control as far as keeping him around. We just thought it was the right thing to do.” Another possible scenario, we hear, is that the Packers could sign Williams to the one-year tender and then trade him.

Feb. 15, 2008   

DT Williams appears too pricey at deep position

Packers GM Ted Thompson said earlier this week that he hasn’t ruled out the possibility of using the franchise tag on DT Corey Williams, the team’s most noteworthy unrestricted free agent. But the way we hear it, with Williams very possibly looking like the best defensive tackle available in free agency — provided the Titans re-sign or franchise Albert Haynesworth — the Packers would have a real tough time matching the double-digit guaranteed money Williams would probably receive on the open market from another team. This especially appears to be the case, considering how deep the Packers appear to be at defensive tackle, with Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and ’07 first-round draft pick Justin Harrell also in the mix. If Williams departs for greener pastures, the Packers will be banking on Jolly, who was playing well before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the 10th game in ’07, being fully healed in time for the next training camp. While the process is expected to be slow but sure, we hear Jolly should be ready to go full tilt by late July. As for Harrell, much bigger things are expected in ’08 after a full offseason in the team’s conditioning program.

Feb. 1, 2008   

Cap expert Brandt will be missed

Updated at 9:35 p.m. EST Tuesday, Feb. 5

While waiting for QB Brett Favre to make up his mind about next season, and as the final details were being worked out in a new five-year contract for head coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers’ organization was thrown a curve Jan. 28 when vice president of player finance Andrew Brandt announced his resignation. Although nobody saw the move coming, team insiders who said Brandt was genuinely disappointed after losing out to Mark Murphy for the team’s president and CEO post are hardly surprised by his decision to seek new challenges after advancing as far as he thought he could go in the Packers’ front office. Brandt’s replacement as the team’s salary-cap manager — we hear vice-president of administration-corporate counsel Jason Wied will handle contract negotiations for the time being until a new hire is made — will definitely have his work cut out for him. By locking up a number of key players long-term before their contracts expired — such as DE Aaron Kampman, OT Chad Clifton and WR Donald Driver — and structuring Favre’s contract so that the team will actually gain between $10-14 million in cap room when he finally does decide to retire, Brandt has created one of the league’s most cushy salary-cap situations at present. Not only is the team about $24 million beneath the salary cap at present, it also has only one key player, DT Corey Williams, eligible for unrestricted free agency.