If you are looking for an example of phrase the Packers’ front office uses most often when evaluating players, look no further than A.J. Hawk. The Packers are always looking for “Packer people” and in A.J. Hawk they found one, whether or not he is traded in the near future.
Hawk has been the center of the storm it seems since the No. 5 pick in the 2006 draft didn’t play a down on defense against Philly last week. This week it appeared the Packers were showcasing him for a trade by playing him almost every snap from scrimmage. The reason for his playing time the first two games may never be known for sure but Hawk has handled it with pure class.
If this quote isn’t the quote of a class act, then I don’t know what is: “In my situation right now, that’s how it is. But I don’t feel like I’m out there trying to prove myself to anybody. That wouldn’t help me play as good as I want to. I know for the team to be at is best, I need to be at my best.”
I know “class acts” don’t make tackles and sack the quarterback, but at least we know that as long as Hawk is a Green Bay Packer we will be getting his best. Quite the opposite of many other high-profile NFL players who may have been in the same situation. Even if it would help us I would hate to see the Packers trade a guy like Hawk for a guy like Marshawn Lynch. There has to be a better option.
I like what I saw in the two carries Dimitri Nance had and the fact that he was even active means the Packers see something in him. The trade deadline isn’t for a few weeks so I hope the Packes don’t do something desperate like the Vikings are about to do.
I also don’t want to see Larry Johnson here. For one, we don’t have a roster spot to “rent” for a few weeks before we find out what the Redskins released him for, so exposing somebody you like for a guy like Johnson is not worth it. Nance has much more upside even in the short term.
The Packers still need to be able run the ball, you can’t just abandon the running game. Because of the weather you can not count on the pass in December and January in Green Bay, so no matter who is getting the ball, if the Packers are going to get where they want to get, somebody will have to step their game up.
There are only 12 teams in my fantasy league and I can’t find anybody decent to replace Reggie Bush, how the hell are you going to do it for real in a 32 team league? Losing Ryan Grant is going to be one hellavu tester. Having a lot of guys with the same attitude of A.J. Hawk on the roster makes me feel a lot more confident that we can overcome Grant’s loss. Packer people.
More to come…