Now is the time for the Packers to trade away a starter or two for the chance to really improve the team.  If we have a current starter where the backup is just as good (or could be better with some consistent playing time), why not trade them now for another shot in the lottery that is called the NFL draft.  The assumption being made here is that you will have to trade away a starter to get a significant draft choice in return.

So, who is it that is a starter, could be replaced from the current roster, and still has a reasonable backup to cover the spot in the event of an injury?

1. John Kuhn – After 4 years on the roster, we should be able to expect Korey Hall or Quinn Johnson to step up.  Could we expect a third or fourth round draft choice for a starter like John Kuhn?
2. Daryn Colledge – With competition from Spitz and Lang, maybe this is the time to trade away a starter that is likely not to be a starter for much longer.
3. Donald Lee – Other teams may still see Donald Lee as a starting caliber TE even if Packer fans do not.  Much depends on what Ted Thompson’s view of what seems to be real progress made last season by Spencer Havner.  Is there any doubt that Donald Lee’s career has already peeked?

Somehow the Packers will have to made room for a half dozen new rookies on the roster by the fall.  Why not get a draft choice now rather than nothing during the fall cut down process?

Larry

A first round or even a second draft choice should be capable of contributing immediately.  There may not even be NFL football in 2011 and that really hurts 4 key players for the Packers (Harris, Woodson, Tauscher, and Clifton).  This should make the Packers approach 2010 with even more urgency. Where do we need the most help immediately?  On the defense where our team can be beaten regardless of how well our offense is playing!  Our offensive line will be playing at the beginning of 2010 much like they were at the end of the 2009 season.  We clearly need a Left Offensive Tackle but we should not need him to start until an injury occurs.

The first priority should be upgrading the Safety position and I see this as well worth a first or second round draft choice.  Why?  Because we get a top quality player that is on the field for every down.   In fact, this player would be on the field even when Woodson and Harris are healthy and at their best.  Something you could not say about drafting a top quality cornerback.  There are no valid backups on the roster for either safety position.  In addition, it addresses our greatest defensive weakness, big play passes.

This argument depends on TT seeing a Safety as being available at the right time and all the other players available on the Packer draft board are rated roughly the same in capability/potential.  Overall, I would not be disappointed with rounds one and two being an OLB, CB, or an Offensive Tackle.  This year I wouldn’t even mind TT trading down in order to get three second round choices.  I see second rounders as better team players, still having excellent skills, and fewer ego issues.

Larry

I’ve been a “Packer Backer” for over 40 years and I have to admit, I’ve never seen anything like what’s going on with Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. It is absolutely amazing to me how the Packers have handled this entire affair.

It certainly is no secret that Ted Thompson has wanted Brett gone for some time. As long as Brett was with Green Bay it would always be “Brett’s team, with Brett gone, Thompson could finally put his stamp on the team. With Brett departed this could finally be the team that Thompson and McCarthy built. Why do you think they arranged for the retirement ceremony to be the first game of the year, of course, to preempt any attempt by Brett to come out of retirement, I clearly believe if it had been possible, Thompson would have held the ceremony during one of the mini-camps.

Let’s examine the situation, What is Brett Favre really guilty of, that’s right, changing his mind. Indeed what a horrible transgression, no one should be allowed to do that. Wouldn’t it have been interesting when Michael Jordan retired and then came out of retirement if Jerry Krauss had said, “no Micheal, we won’t have you back we have another starter already selected and we’re going with him, you’ll have to come off the bench if you want to stay a Bull.”
Then there are those who have argued that Brett held the Packers in limbo every season with his time consuming deliberations concerning retirement. Exactly what did he hold them up from doing? Any quality management team always has a plan “A” and a plan “B”. If plan “A” is not available then you go with plan “B”. It would be absolutely ridiculous to believe during each season that Brett considered retirement that the Packers didn’t have a plan “B” during those seasons.

I believe the Packers owe Brett better than what they’ve given him, there where many years that Brett simply carried the Packers. True enough, no one man does a team make, and certainly those around Brett contributed to the teams success, but let’s face it, Brett has not always been blessed with extremely talented teams. Cite for me one player, other than Brett and Reggie, that will be a “Hall of Famer” off the the Packers back to back Super Bowl appearances during Brett’s tenure in Green Bay. I wish you the best of luck with that one.

So here we are at an impasse or worse yet a pending trade. Some have argued that Brett has had his time, but if he can still do the job and he gives the Packers the best chance of winning why can’t it still be his time? I don’t understand the logic on that one. That’s like telling “Babe Ruth” well you hit 40+ homers it’s time for you to move on. Some fans have additionally blamed Brett for the loss to the Giants in the Conference Championship. Never mind that we couldn’t stop “Burress” all game long. Never mind that we couldn’t stop their running game or passing game. Let’s not forget the lack of a running game on our own part, one could certainly blame the “O” line for that or even McCarthy for giving up on the running game so early. No, there’s plenty of blame to go around on that one, no one player loses a single game, it is a compilation of events that cause losses. There are always a multitude of plays that could have changed the outcome of a game.

Ted Thompson has pushed Brett out of the organization, it’s clear and simple for reasons I’ve touched on earlier. I have to admit, he’s been very sly about it, he certainly doesn’t want to take the blame for Brett leaving the Packers. Thompson and McCarthy will spin this in a way as they have already done that makes it look as if it was all on Brett. Perhaps the most recent press conference was an indication of that. Perhaps Brett’s mind set is not to be with the Packers because of all the misinformation and back door dealing that management is guilty of. The fact that they tried to buy him off is certainly evidence of this. And why was it that McCarthy could not provide answers regarding why the man who led them to within a game of the Super Bowl last season, can’t simply come back and start. McCarthy’s answer, there’s no short answer for that, and when pressed for a longer answer, replied that indeed the answer was too long. I didn’t’ see anyone leaving the press conference, the press was going no where. But again, Thompson had not prepared McCarthy to answer that one, so we simply didn’t get an answer.

McCarthy for his part is simply a yes man for Thompson, he is a company man who must tow the company line. No Coach in his right mind would side with a player versus management, not if he wants to keep his job.

So the saga moves on, with the likely possibility that Brett will play for another team this season. Management will distance itself from the whole affair and put a nice spin on the entire situation, thus the reason for hiring the new spin doctor. The Packers are a quality team, and I look to them to complete the season at 9-7 or perhaps 10-6. I will continue to support the team that I have supported for so many years, but indeed, the handling of this situation has tarnished the greatest franchise in NFL history. Please forgive me for the length of this Favre V. Packer manifesto, I simply felt the urge to freely voice an opinion.

waybackpackerbacker

Just when you think it can’t get any worse at running back for the Green Bay Packers, starting running back and rookie Brandon Jackson suffers a concussion and will miss Thursday’s preseason finale. Like the the Packers’ woeful running game get any worse. When you are down to DeShawn Wynn at running back, I think it’s time to panic. What general manager Ted Thompson has in mind I have no idea.

I understand you need to have a good defense, but if you can’t get a first down on offense, what good is that? Thompson has built what should be a top ten defense, but in the meantime, and with twenty-million to spend, he did nothing to improve an already average offense, particularly at running back. One has to wonder how many backs the team has to lose before Thompson brings in some help. I’m willing to try out.

How the Packers expect to move the ball is beyond me. The zone blocking scheme doesn’t appear to be working and expecting Brett Favre to stay healthy and throw more than 600 times again this year is ridiculous. Head coach Mike McCarthy is being held hostage by his general manager. I can’t imagine what Thompson is thinking about his running back position, but I know I disagree with it.

Al

Strange start to tonight’s game. Packers offense used 12 plays to go 40 yards, the Jags do the same to go about 30, then a fight breaks out. Brady Poppinga got a great after the play push in. Now both teams have tried and failed on fourth down. Brett and company coming back out.

The Packers need to find a way to run the ball. It seems like there are very few holes for the running backs to run through. The more I see of this zone blocking scheme the more I don’t like it. Bottom line is, it’s not working.

James Jones makes his first big mistake of the preseason by fumbling a first-down catch. Not good. Favre is wild, and has been mad all night. This is not a good matchup for the Packers and the Jaguars are starting to take over.

The Packers defense is still playing well. They have given up a few yards tonight but the pressure on the QB is there and the aggressiveness as well. Desmond Bishop just about killed a guy a minute ago, and pressure up the gut on third down forced a bad pass. Packers take over on their own 20.

Holy smokes! Favre, bing, bing, bing and they are inside the Jags 20. Better finish it off.

Shoot! Jones wide open in the endzone and Favre’s pass got batted down by a lucky d-lineman. Look what I found. Oh well, great drive. Favre was on fire, Bubba Franks makes his case for the starting tight end job with a huge catch and run. Not too shabby. 3-0 Packers.

While the offense looks good, the Packers have just suffered the biggest loss they could possibly suffer outside of Brett Favre when Donald Driver appeared to severely injure his leg. The way he came off the field and his refusal to even touch his foot on the ground leads me to believe it could be a significant injury. The Packers offense just took a huge blow. If they lose another reciever, a.k.a., James Jones, they are in big trouble.

Aaron Rodgers continues to impress. He just ran the two-minute drill to perfection, going 73 yards for a touchdown, and making a tremendous play by hitting Brandon Jackson in the flat while getting hit. Jackson converts a third-and-10 at the Jaguar 12 to first-and-goal and the one and scores a play later. Sweet. 10-0 Pack.

The second-string defense is not looking good tonight, neither is the second-string offensive line. Rodgers is now running for his life on every snap. The Jags are now shreading the Packers’ defense. Soon to be 14-10. Ugly.

Got to close up shop, so take heart in the Packers’ first-string offense and defense tonight and say a prayer for Donald Driver. Other than the Driver injury, the first-strings look good, a little more out of the running backs would be nice, but overall a good performance. The second-string, not so good. 14-10 Jags now and the Packers are about to lose their first preseason game and likely won’t try too hard next week at Tennessee. Rodgers just got crushed again. Get him out of there.

I’m out.