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Kramer: Good karma about Lombardi film

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:51:00 -0600

For more than 40 years, former Packers guard Jerry Kramer tried unsuccessfully to get his book about legendary coach Vince Lombardi made into a movie. So its understandable he finds it hard to believe its finally going to happen.

Packers Fan Fest Kicks Off Friday

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:17:00 -0600

Star players such as Donald Driver and Nick Collins, Packers legends like Bart Starr and Ron Wolf, and 'Football 101' sessions with the coaches highlight the schedule. Tickets are available.

Packers Fan Fest Set For Friday, Saturday; Tickets Available

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:06:00 -0600

Packers Story: Coaches To Lead '101' Sessions, Third Jersey Unveiled, FAN Hall Of Fame Honoree Named

Packers fans are gearing up for this weekend's Fan Fest and will have a multitude of opportunities available to soak in their favorite team during the two-day event.

Friday's kickoff event includes interviews with Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, as well as the unveiling of the team's third jersey to be used this season and the naming of the 12th member of the Fan Hall of Fame. Packers coaches also will meet fans at the end of the evening.

Saturday will feature informative "101" programs that present different segments of the game. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will lead a "Defense 101" presentation to discuss the team's '3-4' defense. Joe Philbin (offense) Shawn Slocum (special teams) and Mark Lovat (strength and conditioning) will lead "101" sessions on their respective areas. Other "101" sessions will feature assistant athletic trainer Kurt Field..

Podcast: Seifert on LT and Vikes

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:00:00 -0600

Kevin Seifert believes there is a good chance that LaDainian Tomlinson signs with the Vikings. Seifert doesn't think that Tomlinson will impact Brett Favre's decision.

Who will start on Packers' offensive line?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:08:00 -0600

Which five players will open the 2010 season as starters on the Packers’ offensive line? It’s a bit early to speculate on that, with offseason workouts, OTAs, minicamp, training camp and the preseason still ahead of us, not to mention next month’s NFL draft.

But if I was a betting man – and I’m not – here is my projected starting lineup:

Left tackle: Chad Clifton
Left guard: Jason Spitz
Center: Scott Wells
Right guard: Josh Sitton
Right tackle: T.J. Lang

At left tackle, the Packers will likely draft someone in the hopes of grooming him to be the future starter. But the Packers aren’t paying Clifton more than $7 million this season to sit on the bench. Clifton, who will soon turn 34, serves as a key safety net until the Packers find their next starting left tackle. For now, Aaron Rodgers’ blind side is secure.

At left guard, the thought is Spitz will battle Daryn Colledge for the starting job. Before he got hurt last season Spitz was the starting center, but since Wells played so well, why not move Spitz to the so-called weakest position on the line? Colledge has endured an up and down career, and this won’t be the first time his starting job is in jeopardy. He graded out as the worst starter last season and the Packers might be growing impatient with his inconsistency. Colledge’s agent hinted that his client might not fully participate in the off-season program, which would be a mistake. Some free advice for Colledge: now is not the time to let pride ruin your career opportunities. Get into the Packers’ weight room and workout facilities beginning Monday, and fight for your job. Even if you don’t beat out Spitz, you are showing other teams your value.

At center, everyone was ready to write off Wells last season, especially after he opened the year on the bench. But when Spitz went down, Wells took full advantage of the opportunity to show his stuff. He’s not the biggest man on the field, but the guy is tenacious and has heart.

At right guard, Sitton has established himself and barring an injury, he should be entrenched in that spot for the forseeable future.

At right tackle, we learned that Allen Barbre wasn’t the answer and Breno Giacomini has yet to arrive and may never get there. Mark Tauscher saved the Packers’ season, in my humble opinion, and deserves the chance to keep his job. However, he’s an unrestricted free agent and so far there has been no indication the Packers intend to bring him back. Coach Mike McCarthy said at the combine he would like Tauscher to return, but he said the same thing about Aaron Kampman, and we all know how that turned out. My guess is the Packers are hoping Lang emerges as the long-term answer at right tackle. He could play left guard but the Packers are well-stocked at that position. He could play left tackle, but that’s not his best position. Thus, putting him on the right side seems like the most obvious move. I would suggest bringing Tauscher back, if for no other reason than as an insurance policy. The Packers can’t afford to suffer another early-season train wreck along the offensive line like last year, but after writing out a big check to Clifton, maybe the Packers have reached their limit for paying 30-something offensive linemen.

Worth reading

*Pete Dougherty talked to the agents of some of the Packers’ restricted free agents (RFAs), and the general feeling is most will participate in the offseason program. Colledge might be the exception. “It’s definitely something we’re considering, yes,” said Jeff Sperbeck, Colledge’s agent, to Dougherty.

The first key deadline for restricted free agents who do not sign their tenders is April 15, which is the final day they can sign with another team. So far Collins is the only Packers’ RFA to sign his tender.

*The Packers released their offseason schedule and there are no surprises. Voluntary workouts begin March 15, the rookie orientation is the weekend after the draft (April 30, May 1-2), the organized team activities take place as usual in May and June, and the mandatory minicamp is June 21-23. The opening day of training camp hasn’t been set, but circle Saturday, July 31 on your calendar. That is when the Packers will start practice, assuming their first preseason game is on Saturday, Aug. 14. Teams are allowed to open camp two weeks prior to the first exhibition game.

Coming Up

*Fan Fest will take place at the Lambeau Field Atrium Friday and Saturday. The Packers will unveil what I expect to be classy looking alternative uniforms that will be worn in one game this season.

--Mike Vandermause, mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com

Holt: Chicago is 'obvious' destination

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:50:00 -0600

Many of you saw free agent receiver Torry Holt on NFL Live this week and wondered if he has retired and moved into television work. The answer is no.

Holt, in fact, is openly lobbying for Chicago to sign him so he can reunite with offensive coordinator Mike Martz on a team that could use a veteran's presence among its receivers. Holt told ESPN Radio in Los Angeles that the Bears would be an "obvious" choice and said he has expressed as much to them.

(Thanks to sportsradiointerviews.com for spotting the appearance and transcribing.)

Here's part of what Holt had to say:

"It sounds like that would be the obvious choice and that would be a quick pick-up. But again, they have to do their evaluations, they've got to see if I can even fit with what they're trying to do. [They've] got a lot of young receivers there. They're trying to groom those young receivers and trying to get those young receivers an opportunity to play.

"If I come in as a vet, I'm going to challenge those guys for a starting spot, and probably more than likely, beat quite a few of them out for a position to play on that football team. So I guess that's something that they would have to evaluate.

"But if you think of it, it would be a natural fit with coach Martz being there. I know the system, I was in the system for many years and had a lot of success within that system. So it sounds quite natural, but coach Martz doesn't make the final decision. Some of the other people in the organization are going to make the final decision.

"It's going to have to come from the head coach and [general manager Jerry] Angelo and that staff on pulling the trigger to bring me in. So I'm just kind of waiting to see, but I did express to them early on -- the week that I got released from Jacksonville -- that I do have some interest in playing there in Chicago. I feel I could go there and help and contribute to that football team to trying to get things turned around and be a playoff contender. So we'll see how it goes."

Holt, 33, played under Martz in St. Louis from 1999-2005. I'm not sure what kind of money Holt is looking for, but I can't imagine him not helping the Bears in some capacity. I like the bravado he expressed and think it would be a good fire-starter for some returning players.

Martz has suggested that Devin Hester will play in a slot role, leaving Earl Bennett as one outside receiver. Johnny Knox and Devin Aromashodu would conceivably compete for the other outside position. Both showed substantive flashes last season, but I don't think either is established enough to ignore the presence of a player like Holt on the open market.

How I See It: NFC North Stock Watch

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 11:00:00 -0600

Falling

Bryant McKinnie, Minnesota left tackle. Julius Peppers' arrival in the NFC North is another hit in a tough offseason for McKinnie. In a nationally televised matchup last December, Peppers dominated McKinnie so thoroughly that the Vikings eventually benched him. In that game, Peppers notched one sack, had three quarterback hits and also batted down a pass. As Chicago's top free-agent pickup, Peppers will now face the Vikings -- and potentially McKinnie -- twice a season. Peppers has played on both the right and left side of the defensive line in his career, but the Bears are sure to be tempted to match him up on McKinnie when the teams play in 2010.

Rising

Gunther Cunningham, Detroit defensive coordinator. Good players make for good coaches. So you can expect Cunningham to be a better coordinator in 2010 after an overhaul of the defensive line that might not be done yet. The Lions already are better at two positions, with Kyle Vanden Bosch taking over for defensive end Dewayne White and Corey Williams succeeding nose tackle Grady Jackson. If the Lions draft a defensive tackle No. 2 overall, they will have pulled together a more-than-competitive defensive front that will create more havoc in the backfield and get more heat on the quarterback. The first place to address any woebegone defense is up front, and Cunningham will be the beneficiary in 2010.

Tomlinson schedules Jets trip

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:06:00 -0600

LaDainian Tomlinson's agent has ensured some leverage as he negotiates a potential contract Thursday with Minnesota.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Tomlinson has tentatively scheduled a visit Friday to the New York Jets. The timing forces some urgency on the Vikings as they discuss terms with agent Tom Condon. So it seems Tomlinson will either agree to at least the framework of a contract Thursday or he'll move on to the Jets.

Asked Wednesday night if he could foresee himself signing quickly with the Vikings, Tomlinson said, "possibly." Stay tuned.

The possible OT rule change

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:40:00 -0600

Let me point you in the direction of this discussion between ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton and NFC West blogger Mike Sando, one that has special significance to NFC North fans.

As you might be aware, NFL owners are expected to vote on a proposed rule change for overtime playoff games. As Mike wrote: "Both teams would get at least one possession in overtime unless one team scored a touchdown on the first possession. This would prevent a team from moving quickly into range for the winning field goal before the other team had a chance to get its offense on the field."

The change would only impact playoff games, but as I'm sure you're aware, both Minnesota and Green Bay saw their postseasons end in overtime. The rule change wouldn't have helped Green Bay, which lost when Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby returned a fumble for a touchdown.

But in instances like the NFC Championship Game, the new rule would have given the Vikings an overtime possession after New Orleans kicker Garrett Hartley's 40-yard field goal.

Clayton suggests there is less than a 50 percent chance of the rule passing. Would you be on board with this change? Should it extend to touchdowns as well? Are you OK with overtime rules changing in the playoffs? Or should the rule extend to the regular season as well?

No mass boycott in works by free agents for offseason schedule

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 06:21:00 -0600

The Green Bay Packers restricted free agents likely arent headed for a mass boycott of the offseason workout and practice programs, though guard Daryn Colledge might skip some or all of that voluntary work.

Black and Blue all over: Busy Thursday

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:34:00 -0600

It should be an interesting day here in the NFC North.

As we noted Wednesday night, free-agent tailback LaDainian Tomlinson has arrived in the Twin Cities and will meet again with Vikings coaches Thursday. If he likes what he sees, it's not out of the question Tomlinson will agree to terms by the end of the day.

It's also pro day at Nebraska, where Detroit officials will get a first-hand look at defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh.

We'll be here to take you along for the ride. For now, let's catch up on news around the NFC North:

Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Tomlinson's visit: "The Vikings need to pull a Don Corleone and make him an offer he can't refuse. They get him, and they get better."
Mark Craig of the Star Tribune: "My general rule of thumb on picking up discarded 31-year-old running backs is quite similar to the one governing ax-wielding hitchhikers at midnight: Don't do it! But LT certainly would deserve the benefit of the doubt if the Vikings sign him. Especially since he would be coming in as a third-down back and backup to Adrian Peterson."
Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams testified Wednesday that he took StarCaps to lessen fluid buildup around his knees and ankles.
Buffalo will host Minnesota defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy on a free-agent visit. Here's more from ESPN.com colleague Tim Graham.
Green Bay guard Daryn Colledge might skip the Packers' offseason workouts, but Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that most players are likely to participate.
Detroit general manager Martin Mayhew was at Oklahoma State's pro day, where left tackle Russell Okung worked out. Murray Evans of The Associated Press has more.
Lions center Dominic Raiola: "[I]t's a little more exciting around here and you can sense there's a little more buzz to the offseason." Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News checks in with Raiola on the Lions' offseason.
Chicago signed free-agent fullback Eddie Williams.

Out With the New, in With the Old? 2010 Packers Are Set for Change

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:57:00 -0600

Tradition. It's something that is basically branded on the Green Bay Packers. From the old to the new, from the skinny to the thin, from the loud to the quiet, the Green Bay Packers are the "backbone" type team of the NFL, and if football is their game, tradition and loyalty are their life.

It came as a slight surprise today to hear that the Packers are now making a small wardrobe change. No, Mike McCarthy isn't getting a larger sweater. This time it's for the players.

Decades it's been, yes decades, since the Packers have even considered changing uniforms. People have speculated before claiming that "The Packers' old green and gold is beginning to grow weary." For those people, I have seven simple words for you: you don't know what you're talking about.

However, the latest news that has entered the newsroom and is fresh off of NFL.com is that the Green Bay Packers are set to bring back the old Acme Packers uniforms. Finally, the navy blue is back, and judging by the picture to the right, it may be something a little more modern.

Unfortunately, the beautiful gold 'Acme Packers' on the front won't be featured, and instead of a sweater type jersey, it will be more of a throwback type style. Still, it's a change that I personally welcome, and it's a change that will hopefully raise a few eyebrows.

For years we've been the 'green' team. Catchy headlines, quirky shirts, and the odd green flag here and there. Now though, the color blue is back in business, and the avid cheesehead fans may have to paint their beloved yellow hats blue for the occasion.

Looking over the other 31 teams in the NFL, there a few that standout that have lost their historic roots somewhere along the line. The Pittsburgh Steelers still favor the Terrible Towel, the San Francisco 49er fans are still seen in old school Joe Montana jerseys and the Kansas City Chiefs haven't changed one bit. Nor have the Packers, and quite frankly, Vince Lombardi would be smiling in his grave at the mere thought of it.

Although the Packers are set to alter the Acme Packer jerseys, President/CEO Mark Murphy says to take a chill pill, and not to worry.

“Some teams use different colors, like the Bears have had an orange jersey, but for us, what really makes sense is to have an historical jersey and uniform,” Murphy said, according to the team’s Web site. “What’s exciting about this is it’s so different. The colors are different, and I think our fans will really enjoy this.”

If you're a Packers fan, chances are you know Green Bay's storied history. You know who Vince Lombardi is, you know who Ray Nitschke is, and you sure know our uniforms from every stitch to every seam.

Welcome the old jerseys back, someone has to keep the league in touch with its roots, right?

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Should the Packers target McCluster in the draft?

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Green Bay could get Ole Miss star even after going O-Line in first round.

Colledge considering skipping offseason program

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Packers lineman not happy with his situation

Alabama pro day results

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

The national champs put their draft prospects on display Wednesday.

NFL scouts watch UW-Whitewater kicker Schebler

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:37:00 -0600

Under the watchful eyes of a half-dozen pro scouts Wednesday, UW-Whitewater kicker Jeff Schebler performed solidly but not spectacularly. That there were multiple scouts around to watch him made up for any disappointment he might have had for not kicking lights out at the Dave McClain Center.

Tomlinson has 'heard what I like to hear'

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:21:00 -0600

Just to update you on the latest: Free-agent running back LaDaininan Tomlinson dined Wednesday night with Minnesota officials and at least one player in downtown Minneapolis. Tomlinson also spoke with several media outlets, including the Star Tribune and WCCO.

Tomlinson

He told the Star Tribune that he understands the role he would have with the Vikings and could "possibly" sign Thursday if all goes well. He said he has "heard what I like to hear" and that one of his agents made the trip with him. Tomlinson has a second visit lined up with another team but wouldn't identify it.

Meanwhile, he told WCCO that it would be a "blast" to play with quarterback Brett Favre and said he is confident he would coexist well with starting tailback Adrian Peterson.

"I definitely can," Tomlinson said. "I would be coming here for him. He's in the prime of his career. I've done what he's trying to do, except win a championship."

We'll keep you updated Thursday as warranted.

Be a QB, see the world

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:10:00 -0600

John Grisham published a book in 2007 titled "Playing for Pizza," about a veteran backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who joins a semipro team in Parma, Italy, where the pay may not be as good, but the food, the architecture and opera are better than you find around the National Football League.

The Green Bay Packers and the 50-Man Roster

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:43:00 -0600

The NFL Active Roster consists of 53 players, not considering scout team, injury reserve, and the ubiquitous "other" category. Now immediately take away three: kicker, punter and long-snapper. That leaves 50 by my count.

50 of the biggest, baddest, most well-trained physical specimens your franchise will suit up on any given Sunday. Sunday you can only have 45 of those in uniform.

Do the rules need to change? Is this something that should get sorted out in the CBA between the NFL and the Players Association? Certainly, as well as rookie pay. But that's a different story.

Most NFL fans know what the rules are, but few understand the ramifications of those rules and how teams get ready for the draft. So let's break it down into manageable pieces. Let's start with the 50-50 rule: 25 players on offense and 25 players on defense and take it from there.

Offense

There are 11 positions and you need at least one backup for every position. So that's 22 players already accounted for. Some teams carry more WRs, others carry more RBs. It really comes down to those last three players and what the team's needs are. Expect the Packers to carry more O-Linemen than what would be traditional until they get the right mix.

Quarterbacks

The packers are covered here for the long haul with Rodgers and Flynn. Will the Pack pick a QB in this year's draft? Most likely not. Some may knock Flynn, but he did beat out Brohm and he has all the prerequisites necessary to play the position. Gone are the days where Holmgren had one of the most prolific QB factories in the league (Detmer, Brunell, Warner, Hasselbeck), so don't expect a third QB making the active roster.

Running Back

Grant is locked in for years to come and he has proven to be a premier back who can control the clock and abuse defenses. There are a lot of question marks when it comes to a backup and the need to have more of a one-two punch in the backfield. Both Wynn and Jackson have been up and down performance-wise and have struggled with injury. This could be a position where TT and McCarthy are looking for an upgrade or a means to foster some competition with the players they have. Expect a running back pick in the mid-rounds of this year's draft. Fortunately for us, this is one of the deepest drafts for RBs we've seen in a long time.

Fullback

The Packers are fully covered at this position, especially with the new stud Quinn Johnson, who looks to impress this season. No picks here and we may have to let one go from the active roster or trade for some picks in 2010.

Wide Receiver

The Packers have one of the deepest receiver corps in the entire league, but after Jordy Nelson there's a real gap in skills. There should be one pick here, again in the later rounds, even with the signing of Charles Dillon.

Tight End

Can I say enough about Jermichael Finley? Probably not. This kid is the real deal: tall, fast, soft hands, gets off a block well, and stretches the middle of the field. Rest assured he will be giving defensive coordinators fits all season long and help spread the offense out for Rodgers.

After him Lee would be the starter and could start for most NFL teams. Havner is a touchdown magnet. And we have some prospects with Crabtree and Fischnecht. Unfortunately we may only keep two or three on the active roster and there is always the possibility that a Lee trade could be in the works come draft time. I don't expect the Packers even sniffing a TE in this year's draft since we're deep here and the fullback position. No picks.

Offensive Line

There are a ton of questions about the Packers' line this year. Last year's struggles have really brought this to the forefront of, not only the fans, but certainly the coaches and management. We are fairly well covered when it comes to the guard and center positions, but tackle is the primary area of concern. Even with the re-signing of Chad Clifton we must still pursue a reliable backup and a better starter for the right tackle position. Expect the Packers to take two to three offensive linemen in this year's draft. Most scenarios see the Packers taking a tackle in the first round.

Defense

The move to a 3-4 attacking defense has been one of the best moves of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy's tenures. This is perhaps one of the single things that have made Green Bay a perennial playoff contender. In a single season the Packers went from 20th in total defense to second in total defense and leading the league in takeaways. All of which should have Packers fans excited about our prospects for the 2010 season.

Safety

Pro Bowler Nick Collins has been re-signed to a multi-year deal and Bigby has been tendered as a second-round pick so it's likely a deal is close at hand. We have our starters ready to go for the season. The real question now is the backups. The Packers did re-sign Martin but cut Giordano, and Bush is playing double duty. So there does appear to be some significant activity in this regard. I can't speak for Khalil Jones since he's a recent acquisition. Given all of this information it's likely the Packers take at least one mid-round safety, but don't be surprised if that player happens to be the best on the board during the second round, given the field in this years draft.

Cornerback

The much-maligned defensive backfield of the Packers heads into training camp with 10, count 'em "10", cornerbacks (currently) and a lot of questions. We all know what you get when Harris and Woodson are healthy and on the field, perhaps the best backfield tandem in the NFL. Unfortunately, Harris still has some mending to do and he's likely out of the starting rotation until mid-to-late October, perhaps November.

Tramon Williams has shown flashes good and bad when he was thrust into the starting role. He certainly has the speed to make up the ground but struggles with his back to the ball. After Williams there's a precipitous drop in talent, part of which comes from lack of playing time. It's kind of hard to get on the field when Harris and Woodson are playing. But 2010 will offer up a lot of opportunities for one of our young guns to step up and make room for himself on the team. And ultimately the Packers need to think about the future of the organization and plan for the ever more rapidly approaching reitrement, and Hall of Fame induction of two of the best CBs to play the game.

I don't consider Blackmon as a viable contender given his return-specialist duties and lack of size. Pat Lee will have to step up if he has any hope of remaining in the NFL, let alone the Packers, and the same goes for Underwood and Bush. It is very likely the Packers will take at least two CBs in this year's draft including one in the early rounds.

Linebacker

We've got some Pro Bowl talent in our linebacking corps, and with Kevin Greene and Dom Capers mentoring, these guys are only going to get better. ROLB Clay Matthews is a premier talent and headed for a stellar career. You have to give it to the Packers' staff for trading up and taking a chance on him, he certainly delivered. Hawk and Barnett in the middle of the field are always going to play smart, sound football, not as flashy as some would like, but consistent.

With Kampman gone, the mantle falls on Jones, who was quite serviceable playing in substitution at LOLB. Can he get 10 sacks a year and play coverage? Well, that's the real question. Looking past the starters there is a fairly mediocre set of linebackers, most of whom, came from a 4-3 philosophy and don't quite fit the mold of a 3-4 linebacker. Poppinga is decent in coverage but lacks the pure speed to get after the QB.

Playing a 3-4 requires lots and lots of young, fast, smart linebackers who can pin their ears back when asked to and Capers will ask often. As we saw in the latter half of the season Capers employed his "Big Okie" (5-2) package quite often, especially on first and second downs and in the red zone. As the comfort level grows within the defensive scheme expect Capers to start introducing more exotic blitz packages as the season progresses. Does Capers have the linebacker corps he wants? Not yet. So expect the packers to target a LB in the early rounds, if that player is the best on the board. Going into camp they'll need a minimum of 12 LBs, so expect two or three LBs taken in this year's draft.

D-Line

The Packers D-line is adjusting quite well to the 3-4 shift and Raji has a lot of upside to his game. Pickett is likely to get a long term contract playing over center and may retire a Packer. He's a leader in the group and he does his job well of disrupting the running lanes, plus he stays healthy. Jenkins and Jolly are playing well in the new scheme and making plays when they're on the field. The only question that remains is what of Justin Harrell. Unfortunately for the team, he's spent more time on the IR than on the field and most fans have written him off as a bust. Don't think he doesn't know that too and from recent statements from McCarthy he's been making huge strides to becoming the player they had drafted in the first round. One can hope, not just for the team, but for Harrell himself. If he doesn't play the whole season and be productive, it's likely his NFL career is over at the end of the season. As far as picks go, there's always room for another talented D-Lineman in the rotation. Expect at least one pick in the later rounds if the right player is available. Unfortunately, the best picks are gone in the first round.

Draft Targets

Here's the breakdown of who I think the Packers have targeted in this years draft in order of importance:

1-2 Offensive Linemen
1-2 Cornerbacks
1-2 Linebackers
1 Safety
1 Runningback
1 Wide Receiver

So now it's just a matter of running through the mock drafts to see who we can get and when. Don't be surprised if Thompson trades out of the first round for multiple picks. The Packers are a very well-rounded team and are just one or two players away from being an elite Super Bowl contender.

In 43 days we'll all know for sure.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:25:00 -0600

NFL Free Agent Signings List

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:23:00 -0600

Third Jersey To Be Unveiled Friday At Fan Fest

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:02:00 -0600

Packers Story: The "look" will be officially unveiled during the Fan Fest kickoff on Friday afternoon at the Lambeau Field Atrium, but it is official that the Packers are adding a third jersey and uniform for the upcoming season.

President/CEO Mark Murphy would only say that the third, or alternate, uniform would be from the team's first decade of existence - the 1920s - but would not divulge any additional details before Friday.

"Some teams use different colors, like the Bears have had an orange jersey, but for us what really makes sense is to have a historical jersey and uniform," Murphy said. "What's exciting about this is it's so different. The colors are different, and I think our fans will really enjoy this."

In their first decade, the Packers wore navy blue jerseys with golden or canvas-colored pants and a brown leather helmet. The uniform to be unveiled Friday will be a re-creation of a uniform from that era, modified to adhere to current NFL guidelines regarding ..

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:00 -0600

The franchise tag placed on nose tackle Ryan Pickett, with whom the team is trying to work out a long-term contract, doesn't mean B.J. Raji is being phased out at his natural position. The Packers feel there are more than enough reps to be shared by Pickett and Raji, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft last year, as the anchor of the line in the 3-4 scheme. The athletic and versatile Raji will continue to play end, too, in a rotation with returning starter Johnny Jolly. OFFSEASON STRATEGY General manager Ted Thompson advocates building a team from within, so he didn't deviate in an uncommon offseason rife with free agents on the team. Before the start of free agency March 5, Thompson issued qualifying offers to all but one of Green Bay's nine restricted free agents. As expected, Thompson further protected himself by placing high tenders on safeties Nick Collins (first-and-third) and Atari Bigby (second), nickel back Tramon Williams (first), defensive end Johnny Jolly (second) and offensive linemen Daryn Colledge (second) and Jason Spitz (second). The biggest surprise was the Packers' declining to exercise a qualifying offer on incumbent punter Jeremy Kapinos, an exclusive-rights free agent. Though Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy were critical of Kapinos' inconsistent production last season, they don't have a capable replacement. TEAM NEEDS 1. Running back: Given the trend of teams to divvy up the carries between two backs, getting a worthwhile complement to Ryan Grant figures to be a priority. The Packers haven't had that luxury because of the fragile health of Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, the latter of whom didn't receive a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent. 2. Punter: Green Bay kicked underwhelming incumbent Jeremy Kapinos to the street by not issuing a qualifying offer to the exclusive-rights free agent. Tim Masthay, pulled off the street as a free agent in January, has the job by default, but the Packers will be using free agency or the draft for another candidate. 3. Offensive tackle: The Packers potentially have a vacancy at right tackle with Mark Tauscher an unrestricted free agent (LT Chad Clifton was re-signed). Even if the team brings both of them back, which seems likely, they're only short-term solutions at an advanced age -- Clifton will be 34 and Tauscher 33 later this year. MEDICAL WATCH: CB Al Harris continues his rehab for Nov. 30 knee surgery in Florida. Harris is determined to be recovered by the start of summer. FRANCHISE PLAYER: NT Ryan Pickett (tendered at $7.003M). TRANSITION PLAYER: None. UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS --RB Ahman Green is a long shot to return to the club after it brought back its onetime workhorse at midseason and allowed him to become the team's all-time rushing leader. Green is 33, and his explosive running abilities are way behind him. --OT Mark Tauscher is a 10-year veteran who doesn't have age (will be 33 in June) and an undamaged body on his side, but he was getting stronger the latter part of the season on a surgically repaired knee after the team re-signed him in October to rectify things at right tackle. Without a sure replacement there, too, the Packers could keep the veteran bookends intact. UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers) --P Jeremy Kapinos (not tendered as ERFA) had a league-worst net average of 34.1 yards, prompting the Packers to add someone right after the season ended with the signing of Tim Masthay. --RB DeShawn Wynn (not tendered as RFA) landed on injured reserve before Halloween for the second time in his three years as a pro with a knee injury, shortening the leash even more for his future with the team. RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year) --*S Atari Bigby (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) has been a starter since 2007, but his last two seasons have been riddled by an assortment of injuries, which have diminished the impact he once made as a tenacious strong safety. --*CB Will Blackmon (tendered at $1.176M with fourth-round pick as compensation) has been damaged goods for most of his four-year run in Green Bay, including an early-season ACL tear in his left knee that required surgery Oct. 29. When healthy, though, Blackmon is a dynamic kick returner, so the Packers want to retain him. --*OG Daryn Colledge (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) regressed in his fourth season as a starter at left guard. That sets up the possibility that he is the odd man out since the Packers have good depth on the interior of the line and could plug in Jason Spitz or T.J. Lang at Colledge's spot. --*S Nick Collins (tendered at $3.35M with first- and third-round picks as compensation) has warranted the long-term contract extension he has long desired with two straight Pro Bowl appearances and 13 interceptions in that span, but the team isn't inclined to oblige. Giving Collins the first- and third-round tender could create a contentious offseason. --*DE Johnny Jolly (tendered at $2.521M with first-round pick as compensation) still has a legal issue hanging over him stemming from his 2008 drug possession arrest, but he didn't allow that to be a distraction in a highly productive season (75 tackles, team-record 11 pass deflections) as the starter on the left side. --*FB John Kuhn (tendered at $1.176M with no compensation) can't be considered expendable even with the position well stocked with Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson coming off his rookie season. Kuhn is a durable blocker and a viable short-yardage back with six touchdowns the last two seasons. --*C/G Jason Spitz (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) is on the comeback trail from November back surgery. Provided there's not a setback in his recovery, Spitz should have a shot to regain a starting spot, which may have to be at left guard since Scott Wells performed well at center in Spitz's absence. --CB Tramon Williams (tendered at $3.043M with first- and third-round picks as compensation) held down the starting job with Al Harris out the last seven games, but Williams is better equipped in his customary nickel role. EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS --TE Spencer Havner, a key contributor on special teams, was converted from linebacker and became a favorite red-zone target of Aaron Rodgers with four touchdown catches. PLAYERS RE-SIGNED --OT Chad Clifton: UFA; 3 yrs, $20M, $7.5 guaranteed. --*S Derrick Martin: Potential RFA; $1.9M/2 yrs, $355,000 SB. PLAYERS ACQUIRED: --WR Charles Dillon: UFA; terms undisclosed. PLAYERS LOST: --S Matt Giordano (released). --OLB Aaron Kampman: UFA Jaguars; terms undisclosed. --DE Michael Montgomery (released).

NOTES, QUOTES

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:00 -0600

--Nose tackle Ryan Pickett is technically an unrestricted free agent, though he won't be going anywhere since the Packers placed the prohibitive franchise tag on him. Any team that would try to court Pickett in free agency would have to part with two first-round draft picks if Green Bay doesn't match the offer. "It was simply a matter of we feel like Ryan's a good player," general manager Ted Thompson said. "We feel like he's a good teammate, a good leader of that group. I personally like him quite a bit. "This gives us an opportunity to keep having some conversations and try to get something done. We'd like to do a multi-year deal with him, but there are differences where we are in the negotiations, and this was an avenue that we had to at least retain some right to be able to do that in the future." --Thompson suggested that the Packers are falling in line with some other teams and setting their own parameters on what they will spend on players this year in the absence of a league-imposed salary cap. "We will organizationally have a plan, and we will go about that plan," Thompson said. "What those internal thoughts are on what we will do or not do, I don't think it's for public consumption." The salary cap in 2009 was $123 million, which the Packers never came close to touching. Thompson, who is notoriously conservative when it comes to going after high-priced players on the market, added that the NFL's unsettled labor situation won't necessarily preclude him from being active in free agency. "We're going to do what's best for the Green Bay Packers," Thompson said. --McCarthy raved about the progress maligned defensive end Justin Harrell has been making the last couple months. "(The) best he's looked in Green Bay physically," McCarthy said. Harrell, the team's first-round draft pick in 2007, missed the entire 2009 season because of a recurring back injury. He has appeared in only 13 regular-season games as a pro, but the Packers are hopeful Harrell can participate in offseason workouts and be ready to contribute next season. "Justin looks good," McCarthy said. "Justin has been in the weight room. He's not 100 percent back, but the strength coaches have given me nothing but positive reports about him. So, I think we've turned the corner from a medical standpoint." --Defensive end Johnny Jolly is due in court in Houston on March 8 for his rescheduled pretrial hearing on a felony drug possession charge. Jolly, a starter who is a restricted free agent, was arrested in July 2008 and charged with possession of at least 200 grams of codeine.

INSIDE SLANT

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:38:00 -0600

The blunt words came first. An alleged harsh action soon followed. Tired of the inadequacies they put up with the full 2009 season, the Packers gave punter Jeremy Kapinos the boot. The team elected to not give Kapinos a qualifying offer as an exclusive-rights free agent before the March 4 deadline, meaning the first-year player is a full-fledged free agent. The struggles of Green Bay's special teams, including Kapinos, was a sore subject both general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy addressed with reporters the previous week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. "He's a young punter," McCarthy said of Kapinos at the time. "There's some things he can do to improve physically, and my understanding is he's gone about that process already. But, he definitely needs to improve." Kapinos won't get that shot with the Packers to redeem himself for a league-worst net average of 34.1 yards last season. He placed just 15 of his 66 kicks (22.7 percent) inside the opponent's 20-yard line, and he had 10 touchbacks. "The punting performance was not what it needed to be," McCarthy said. "Too many touchbacks, not enough balls inside the 20, punts that are being returned at a 60 percent clip as opposed to 40, 45, where you would like to be. Those are the things that when you can say that's one individual can improve that, we need to hold that accountable and improve in that area." Kapinos didn't take the news well, especially his perception of being the fall guy for the Packers' special-teams deficiencies. They were rated 31st out of the 32 teams in the annual special-teams analysis compiled by The Dallas Morning News' Rick Gosselin. "I assume somebody needs to be held accountable or sacrificed for the net (average) and (inside-the-)20 production," Kapinos said in text messages to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "While I do admit I needed to improve and I was at fault for some of it, I won't agree with anyone I was the lone liability," Kapinos added. "I think it's very irresponsible to place the blame on one person. (Special teams) won't improve if that's the philosophy. I would hope there is a sense of accountability across the board." By not retaining Kapinos, with whom they would have had exclusive rights to re-sign, the Packers have a significant vacancy to fill in the coming weeks. The only punter on the roster is Tim Masthay, a street free agent signed after the season. Masthay, a Kentucky product, was an undrafted rookie who spent time with the Indianapolis Colts last summer but was out of football during the season. Meanwhile, the Packers readied for the start of free agency March 5 by submitting qualifying offers to eight of their nine restricted free agents. Green Bay placed high value on most of them, tendering Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins at the most restrictive first-and-third-round level, nickel back Tramon Williams at the first-round level and four players at the second-round level: safety Atari Bigby, defensive end Johnny Jolly and offensive linemen Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz. The Packers are reportedly in talks with Collins' agents on a long-term contract that he has openly desired since last offseason. "We're working on it and have been (for) some time," Thompson said. "But, the cake is not done until it's done." Green Bay also gave linebacker-turned-tight end Spencer Havner a qualifying offer as an exclusive-rights free agent. Injury-prone running back DeShawn Wynn was the only restricted free agent not to be tendered. Rather than pay him the tender of $1.176 million, the Packers would like to bring Wynn back at a minimum salary of $545,000. The Packers have five unrestricted free agents, including nose tackle Ryan Pickett, whom they designated as their franchise player. Linebacker Aaron Kampman was the first big name to depart, agreeing to a deal with Jacksonville on Saturday.

Tomlinson should encounter no surprises

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:14:00 -0600

It's expected that free agent running back LaDainian Tomlinson will have some questions for Minnesota officials when he visits the team's practice facility Thursday. But it's hard to imagine he doesn't already have a decent idea of how he would be used -- and not used -- in the Vikings' offense.

Tomlinson

Tomlinson spoke Tuesday with Vikings coach Brad Childress, and they will continue their discussions. Childress, speaking to Twin Cities reporters Wednesday, said that role shouldn't be a mystery.

"I would think he knows," Childress said, "but I always want to over-communicate clarity so we won't hopscotch around that. We'll have to show him what his role will be."

In the opening frenzy of free agency, first visits almost always lead to a contract agreement. Tomlinson's situation is a bit more difficult to read. If he wants to be a lead back in 2010, Minnesota isn't the right fit. If that's his goal, he might need to wait until a team loses its starter to injury in training camp or early in the regular season.

We could know the answer in less than 24 hours. Stay tuned.

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Green Bay Packers Round-by-Round Possibilities

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:05:00 -0600

The Green Bay Packers are one of the hottest teams coming into the 2010 NFL season, and going into the NFL Draft they will look to add to an already explosive offense by giving quarterback Aaron Rodgers a few more weapons to play with.

Their defense is strong since there has been a focus on drafting defense the past few years, but the only pressing needs are in the secondary.

The following are the best case, worst case, and most likely scenarios for the first four rounds in April's Draft, plus a shot-in-the-dark guess at whom the Packers may pick in the fifth round.

First Round, No. 23

Best Case: Taylor Mays, S, USC

Mays' impressive overall performance at the NFL Combine has moved him back into the mid- to late first round, and he would fill an immediate need as the new center fielder of the defensive backfield.

Worst Case: Jahvid Best, RB, California

This is really not a "worst case" since Best may be a very dynamic back in the NFL, but with so many other running backs available in the later rounds, it would be disappointing to not be able to land a top-tier safety or offensive lineman in the first.

Most Likely: Charles Brown, OT, USC

The Packers need to protect Rodgers, so landing a top-notch lineman in the first round is the best route to go as long as there are any first-round-caliber linemen left when they pick at No. 23.

Second Round, No. 56

Best Case: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers

The Packers could use a complement at cornerback opposite of Charles Woodson, and if McCourty can fall this far into the second round, he would be a fantastic addition to the defense.

Worst Case: Dexter McCluster, RB, Ole Miss

Again, not a bad pick in the second round at all, as McCluster would add a new dimension to the offense. He could also help in the special teams return game, which is a need of the Packers too.

Most Likely: Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest

Ghee showcased tremendous speed at the NFL Combine and could easily complement Woodson on the opposite side of the defense.

Third Round, No. 86

Best Case: Montario Hardesty, RB, Tennessee

Hardesty is a complete running back and would be able to give Ryan Grant much-needed breathers throughout games in order to keep them both fresher in the second half of the season.

Worst Case: Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson

The speedy Ford could electrify the crowds at Lambeau Field, and his ability to return kicks and punts would make him a contributor on special teams too.

Most Likely: Mitch Petrus, OG, Arkansas

Petrus proved at the combine that he is one strong athlete since he out-lifted all other participants in the bench press. He's another solid addition to protecting Rodgers for many years.

Fourth Round, No. 119

Best Case: Anthony Dixon, RB, Mississippi State

Dixon is a 240-pound beast that runs like a 210-pound running back; he's great value in the fourth round to complement Grant in the backfield.

Worst Case: Myron Rolle, S, Florida State

Rolle's stock fell with his mediocre performance and speed at the combine, but if he falls that far, he would indeed be a steal for the Packers and not so much of a "worst case." There are many who still question his commitment to how long he will play in the NFL.

Most Likely: Major Wright, S, Florida

Wright will help in the secondary, and since Atari Bigby seems to get the injury bug often, Wright can step in a fill a need.

Fifth Round, No. 156

Going this deep into any mock draft gets really difficult, so instead of giving a best, worst, and most likely scenario, let's just pick one player.

Dezmon Briscoe, WR, Kansas

Briscoe might have been the biggest disappointment out of all the wide receivers who were in Indianapolis for the combine, and if he falls this far, then at least the Packers can groom him under both Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.

Driver is especially not getting any younger, and Briscoe could be his eventual replacement.

Later Rounds

The rounds past the fifth have just too much speculation, including the Packers' compensatory pick at the end of the fifth round, so unfortunately the mock stops here.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Packers set offseason dates

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:38:00 -0600

The Packers will hold their rookie-orientation minicamp the weekend after the NFL draft and their full-squad mandatory minicamp from June 21-23, the team announced this afternoon.

The Packers released their full offseason schedule, as follows:

Offseason workout program: Begins March 15

Rookie-orientaton camp: April 30 to May 2. Practice times to be determined, open to the public only if the weather permits the team to practice outside.

Organized-team activities: May 17 to June 17. Times to be determined, one practice per week is open to the public.

Mandatory minicamp: June 21-23. Times to be determined, all practices open to the public.

Training camp: Late July, exact date to be determined.

-- Pete Dougherty, pdougher@geenbaypressgazette.com

Packers Set Offseason Schedule

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:59:00 -0600

Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have set the bulk of their offseason schedule leading up to training camp for 2010.

Following the start of the offseason strength and conditioning program on Monday and the NFL Draft in April, the Packers will hold their annual rookie orientation from April 30-May 2.

Organized team activities (OTAs) then begin on May 17 and will run through June 17, with the team holding three on-field OTAs per week, with one week off, during that five-week span. The offseason schedule then concludes with a three-day, full-squad mini-camp from June 21-23.

Training camp is slated to begin in late July, but the team's exact reporting date has not yet been set. Players generally report to training camp 15 days prior to the first preseason game.

***
Key offseason dates

Beginning of Packers' offseason program: March 15

NFL Annual Meeting: March 21-24; Orlando, Fla.

NFL Draft: April 22-24

Rookie orienta..

Clarifying Minnesota's UFA allotment

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:11:00 -0600

Jake, Aaron and others notified the mailbag soon after Tuesday's SportsNation chat, and it's important to note both were correct: Kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd was not classified as an "unrestricted" free agent when Minnesota signed him Monday, meaning that as of today, the Vikings have two slots to sign a free agent who does fall under that category under the NFL's Final Eight rule.

Lloyd, in fact, was a restricted free agent that Carolina chose not to offer a tender. That made him available to sign with any team but left him out of the "unrestricted" classification. The Vikings can sign two unrestricted free agents with contracts comparable to the ones signed by running back Chester Taylor (Chicago) and offensive lineman Artis Hicks (Washington).

I misstated his status during our chat. As always, thanks to those of you who straightened me out.

Mock 3.0: Kiper and McShay join forces

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:30:00 -0600

Let’s continue our (spontaneous) Draft Wednesday theme by taking a look at ESPN.com’s latest mock draft. (It’s 3.0 for those of you keeping track.) This one combines picks from analysts Mel Kiper and Todd McShay. You need an Insider subscription to view the entire list and accompanying analysis, but I can give you a sneak peek of the three NFC North-related picks.

Detroit Lions (No. 2)
Kiper: Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
McShay: Suh
Seifert comment: This assumes St. Louis takes Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford No. 1 overall. What a coup that would be for the Lions.

Green Bay Packers (No. 23)
Kiper: Iowa tackle Bryan Bulaga
McShay: Rutgers tackle Anthony Davis
Seifert comment: Big discrepancy here. McShay has Bulaga going at No. 6 to Seattle. I myself have absolutely no idea, but it sure sounds like Bulaga’s stock has moved above the No. 23 overall pick. I’m guessing the Packers will pounce if he falls this far.

Minnesota Vikings (No. 30)
Kiper: Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty
McShay: UCLA defensive tackle Brian Price
Seifert comment: At this point, the Vikings will take the best available player. But all things equal, a cornerback ranks higher than defensive tackle on their need list.

Signing tender means very little for Nick Collins

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:21:00 -0600

Packers safety Nick Collins signed his restricted free agent tender this week, which Mike Florio of profootballtalk.com describes as “a move that basically means nothing.”

The only offseason obligation Collins has in signing the tender, which will pay him $3.3 million in 2010 salary, is that he must attend the Packers’ mandatory minicamp in June. Collins is seeking a long-term contract with the Packers and still could choose to skip any of the team’s voluntary workouts and not be subject to fines.

But Collins’ representatives have indicated a new contract could be in the works soon. Collins has earned Pro Bowl berths the past two years and adapted well to the Packers’ 3-4 defense. He began lobbying for a new contract as far back as a year ago. It appears just a matter of time before the Packers comply with his wishes.

As a restricted free agent, Collins would have netted the Packers first- and third-round draft picks if any other team tried to sign him.

Three months ago I said it was time for the Packers to show Collins the money, and nothing has changed my opinion.

Worth reading

*Pete Dougherty reported Tuesday the Packers will unveil alternative jerseys for one game this season.

The third uniform will complement the Packers’ home and away outfits, and will include a navy blue jersey and khaki pants. These uniforms could be worn in as many as three games per season over the next five years.

The new uniform will be unveiled at Fan Fest on Friday. But if you want an idea what they will look like, check out our Packers’ Out of Bounds blog for a colorized version of Packers great Johhny Blood wearing the uniform in the late 1920s.

While fashion is not my forte, I must admit these uniforms look striking, and I would agree with Packers President Mark Murphy, who told Dougherty: “It really looks good.”

*In my latest column, I predict Brett Favre will return in 2010, and the Vikings and Packers will stage a heated battle for the NFC North crown. Forget about the desperate free agent moves of the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions. Those teams won’t get a sniff of first place in the division.

*Rob Demovsky chatted with readers on Tuesday. Check out the transcript right here.

*In our Packers notebook, we learn Robert DeNiro will play Vince Lombardi in a film about the Packers’ coaching legend set to be released in 2012. And the Packers dipped into the af2 football world to sign receiver Charles Dillon.

Coming Up

Fan Fest is scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. Friday. The event will continue at the Lambeau Atrium on Saturday.

Green Bay Packers Sign Wideout Charles Dillon. What Does He Offer The Pack?

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:34:00 -0600

Who is Charles Dillon?

Green Bay Packers General Manger and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson yesterday confirmed that the team has signed wide receiver Charles Dillon.

Dillon, a 6', 202 pound receiver is not a priority when it comes to positional need in Green Bay, who has one of the upper echelon receiving corps in the NFL. Still, Ted Thompson must have plans for Dillon come 2010, if the young arena footballer makes it through training camp.

Signed from the Spokane Shock of the AF2 arena league, Dillon amassed some impressive numbers in his first year with the 2009 Arena Cup champions. Dillon caught 75 passes, recorded 868 yards and had 18 touchdowns, helping his team to a 15-1 record.

However, it wasn’t just Dillon’s receiving numbers that earned him a tryout with Green Bay. Dillon’s uncanny ability to get into the end zone really made him standout, and he was utilised as a running back during short yardage situations near the goal line. Although he only had six rushing attempts for 15 yards, Dillon found the end zone on three rushing occasions.

Dillon has electrifying speed and agility to match. He ran a 4.45 in 2008, and when compared to this year’s receivers coming out of college, he ranks among the quickest. To match his speed, Dillon’s explosiveness and knack for breaking tackles relates well to his powerful 20 yard shuttle drill. Dillon’s 4.13 second shuttle would rank him seventh out of the rookies competing in this year’s combine.

Before hitting the arena league stage, Dillon played his college football at Washington State before declaring himself for the 2008 draft. Although he was not drafted, it didn’t take long for Dillon to end up with an NFL franchise. Shortly after the draft Dillon got a call from GM Bill Polian, informing him he had been signed by the Indianapolis Colts.

Dillon impressed with the Colts, but his season was cut short due to injury. He was placed on injured reserve and later cut by Indianapolis.

Who knows what the future may hold for Charles Dillon. However what Green Bay does know, is its receiving corps will have the familiar look of Driver, Jennings, Jones and Nelson all locked in. There is however one spot available, currently held by Brett Swain. Swain, coming off an ACL tear will be nervously looking over his shoulder, with the Packers signing Dillon and potentially any rookie wideouts being drafted next month.

Dillon’s impact as a kick/punt returner may just give him the nod ahead of Swain, not to mention his ability to play wide receiver as well as running back. With the uncertainty of Will Blackmon’s return from injury, Dillon has a good shot of making the team come August.

With free agency still continuing and the NFL draft in April, the Pack may still look for a versatile player who can contribute primarily to special teams, with the ability to also contribute defensively or offensively.

Dillon certainly fits that bill.

Charles Dillon by numbers:

11.6 – average yards per catch

17 – Number to be worn for Green Bay

21 – Touchdowns scored with Spokane Shock in 2009

23 – Years old

52 – Receptions with the Washington State Cougars

526 – Receiving yards with the Cougars

835 – Kickoff return yards from 40 attempts at Washington State.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:10:00 -0600

Safety Collins signs one-year tender offer

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:20:00 -0600

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins intends to participate in the teams off-season conditioning program, and if everything goes well in the next week or so hell be doing it with a lot of cash stuffed in his pocket.

DMN: New Packers uniforms? Say it ain’t so

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Also, Leinart will have competition, and the T.O.-Ocho pairing.

DeNiro Pegged For ‘Lombardi’

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:59:00 -0600

The movie will be based in part on Jerry Kramer’s and Dick Schaap’s famed “Instant Replay” book and is set to air before Super Bowl XLVI.

Collins signs tender with Packers

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:28:00 -0600

In what agent Alan Herman called a good faith gesture aimed at kindling negotiations toward a long-term contract, Nick Collins took himself off the free-agent market Tuesday by signing as one-year, $3.3 million qualifying offer.

Kampman gets signing bonus, Clifton roster bonus

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:50:00 -0600

Free agent defensive end Aaron Kampman might have lost some bargaining power because of the major knee injury he suffered last year, but it didn't stop him from netting a $10 million signing bonus.

Notebook: Robert De Niro to play Vince Lombardi in new film

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:24:00 -0600

Robert De Niro is set to play legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi in a film to be released on the weekend before Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.

Packers sign af2 receiver Dillon

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:13:00 -0600

The Packers on Tuesday signed a street free agent, receiver Charles Dillon of Washington State, who last season played arenafootball2.

Dillon, 6-foot and 202 pounds, was cut by the Indianapolis Colts in training camp in 2008.

Last season, he played for the af2 champion Spokane Shock and in 13 games caught 75 passes for 868 yards (11.6-yard average) and 18 touchdowns.

-- Pete Dougherty, pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com

Vandermause: Bears, Lions still irrelevant

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:02:00 -0600

Noisy teams in March -- as the Bears and Lions have been -- usually are quiet the following January, meaning the Packers can keep their primary focus on reigning NFC North champion Minnesota.

Packers Sign WR Dillon

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:35:00 -0600

Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed WR Charles Dillon. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson announced the signing Tuesday.

A 6-foot, 202-pound first-year player, Dillon spent time with the Indianapolis Colts during training camp in 2008. A former Washington State letterman, he spent the 2009 season with the Spokane Shock in af2.

He will wear No. 17.

New alternate uniform is a throwback to the 20s for the Packers

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:35:00 -0600

The Green Bay Packers have reached deep into their past to add an alternate color scheme to their traditional green-and-gold uniforms.

What's a Packer to Do? Get More Protection, Or Create More Mayhem?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:14:00 -0600

The Packers have needs all over the team. They need a new kicker, OLB, OT, DB, SS, etc.

The truth is, they're not going to fill them all in the offseason. Period. Ted Thompson only works in draft. Though Teddy can make draft picks like no other in the NFL, we have to acknowledge that even he can't make every pick count.

Last season there were two picks that were so solid, it's arguable that he couldn't have made better ones. B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews have changed that defense.

Not far behind them are his picks of T.J. Lang and Brad Jones. But those two have not yet been proven to be as solid as Raji or Clay.

Those draft picks were four out of eight drafts last season. This is a really good draft picking session, no question. But the point is that only half look like they're going to make players at all.

What's my point? NOT EVERY DRAFT PICK IS GONNA WORK!

The Packers have to acknowledge that there are still going to be holes in the team by next season. I hate to admit it, but we're still seasons away from becoming a complete team.

Ted Thompson must acknowledge his most dire needs in this draft and realize that his drafting skills won't fill all the positions by next season. With that being said, I want to propose my idea for our first draft picks.

Most columnists are insisting on an OT to protect Rodgers. While there's no disputing the dire need at left tackle, I believe we can get a legit LT in the second round.

T.J. Lang and Chad Clifton both came from the second round. And heck, Mark Tauscher was a seventh round pick!

We can afford to wait on the offensive tackles. We'll draft one in the second round, and Clifton can show him a few tricks and rotate with him for at least a year.

So what should our first pick be then?

I overwhelmingly think that our first pick should be a good pass rushing OLB.

Brandon Graham fits this ticket almost too well. Here's why we need another good pass rusher. The Packers produced 37 sacks last season, a huge improvement from 27 sacks from the previous season. Imagine if we got another major pass rushing threat on the team.

By next season, Clay Matthews and Brad Jones will be healthy at the start of next season (they weren't last) and a lot more experienced. They'll rack up their own sack numbers for sure.

Then you add another pass rusher like themselves, I'm looking at about 50 sacks for next season!

This is so critical for the packers for one reason: There was simply not enough pressure.

Look at Brett Favre: he got seven TDs and wasn't sacked once. Kurt Warner had more TDs than incompletions and was only sacked once.

Burger King (Ben Roethlisberger) was sacked a whopping five times, but if one looks closely enough, when he wasn't sacked, he had at least five seconds to hold onto that ball. Is it any wonder that he had 500 yards?

And one person Packer fans typically forget: Alex Smith.

As the Packers dominated the first half, Smith was sacked three times and was constantly running for his life. By the second half, the sacks had stopped and not surprisingly, Smith got three TDs.

Pass rushing is the No. 1 concern for next year my friends. After we pick up an OT in the second round, we need to draft two more DB to add depth to our secondary, and then we'll have a system that teams simply won't have an answer for.

We'll fix our pass protection problems and unleash a plethora of pass rushing attacks of our own.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Robert De Niro Set To Play Vince Lombardi In Upcoming ESPN Film

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:30:00 -0600

Eric Roth to Finalize Script

Tribeca Productions Joins ESPN Films, Andell Entertainment, and the NFL to Produce Film

Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro is attached to play legendary coach Vince Lombardi in the theatrical motion picture "LOMBARDI" being developed by ESPN Films, Andell Entertainment, and the NFL.

Additionally, Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth (Forrest Gump, The Good Shepherd) has come on board the project which will chronicle Lombardi during the years he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the worst team in the National Football League into five-time NFL champions.

The producing group of ESPN Films, Andell Entertainment, the NFL, and Chris Olsen will be joined by De Niro and Jane Rosenthal’s Tribeca Productions.

ESPN/Andell have Lombardi’s life story rights through his estate and Vincent Lombardi, Jr. as well as the rights to the renowned sports book Instant Replay written by former Packer great Jerry Kramer and Dick Schaap.

“Having an icon portray an icon on film is amazing, and with a writer as talented as Eric working on the script, the results could be magical for NFL fans,” said Ron Semiao, senior vice president, ESPN Films-Motion Pictures.

Jane Rosenthal, co-founder of Tribeca Productions and the Tribeca Film Festival, said, “We've had an extraordinary relationship with ESPN for five years through the Tribeca Film Festival, and now we're able to extend that association into production."

“There are few actors who could accurately portray the fire, passion and grit of Lombardi and we’re thrilled to have Robert De Niro on our team,” said Charles Coplin, the NFL’s vice president of programming. “With the addition of De Niro, Eric and Tribeca Productions, we have a deep bench to produce a film worthy of the legendary coach and American icon.”

Current plans call for the film’s release on the weekend between the AFC and NFC Conference Championships and the Super Bowl in 2012. CAA collaborates with ESPN Films on theatrical motion picture projects and represents De Niro, Roth, and Rosenthal. Discussions are taking place with directors interested in the project.

Lombardi Story

The story’s narrative arc spans from 1959, when Lombardi was given his first opportunity to be an NFL head coach, taking over the small-town Packers, then the worst team in the NFL, and runs through his transformation of a group of young, talented, but undisciplined losers into five-time NFL champions.

Also, the story highlights the long-standing rivalry that existed between Lombardi and legendary Dallas Cowboys coach Tom Landry, both of whom were assistants on the New York Giants team that lost the 1958 NFL Championship game.

Friendly but always competitive, Lombardi and Landry’s coaching skills were undeniable, their personalities as unalike as possible. The story climaxes with the memorable Ice Bowl when their teams battled in temperatures that reached 13 degrees below zero.

Lombardi achieved his desire of winning an unprecedented three consecutive NFL championships, a feat still not duplicated to this day.

Lombardi’s Packers also won the first two Super Bowls ever played. Since 1971, the trophy awarded to the Super Bowl champion has been named the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

The inspirational, compelling story of Vince Lombardi is driven by a single overarching idea: the moral imperative of paying the price to be great.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Altered Draft Plans for the Green Bay Packers?

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:43:00 -0600

With the recent re-signing of Chad Clifton, the Pack have addressed their short-term need of OT help along the O-line, which couldn't have come at a better time. Especially with the Bears' recent signing of Julius Peppers, which has made the NFC North a real hot spot for defensive units that can get after the QB (see the Minnesota Vikings 48 sacks posted in 2009).

Of course, this is not to say that Clifton is their long-term hope, but he will shore up a glaring hole long enough for a younger player to get some much-needed development time. So where does this leave Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy headed into this year's draft? Well, it does give them a little bit of breathing room to go after the best player on the board, which Ted has historically done.

As far as "needs" are concerned I think everyone can agree that the O-Line still needs a lot of help and shoring up the defensive backfield is just as paramount. When reviewing the 2009 season these were the two units that struggled the most, especially after Harris went down for the season. The O-line did manage to get it together towards the end of the season just as the DBs took a step back. Al Harris probably won't be up to full speed until October and the younger DBs struggled down the stretch with penalties and double moves.

Now part of these defensive struggles can be attributed to the move to a much appreciated 3-4 attacking style of defense, where DBs get all of the risk and reward of the pass rush—or lack there of. We do have some talented, fast young cornerbacks that, hopefully, have been growing their skills under the expert tutelage of Charles Woodson and Al Harris, who aren't getting any younger.

So, where does that leave us headed into this year's draft? Well, the needs haven't shifted much, but we do have an insurance policy with Clifton. This year's draft class is deep with O-Linemen thru the first round and then tapers off quite a bit. And looking over all of the mock drafts, most of the premier O-Linemen are gone before the Pack have a chance to pick. One can hope a Brown or Campbell falls in their lap, but rest assured Ted's probably not going to trade up, despite the 2009 draft. If anything, he may trade out for more picks.

Let's consider that the Pack stay with their picks and throw a curveball in the mix that few analysts have considered. Ted Thompson believes in the young players that he has drafted and he has taken mid-to-late round CBs several times—there are 10 CBs on the depth chart. This is also true for O-Linemen: Looking at today's depth chart, they have 11 O- Linemen headed into camp, already. Ted is not one to give a drafted player a full three years of development before throwing in the towel without merit; see Justin Harrell, who, by the way, McCarthy has been raving about recently.

Defense wins championships, and as I recall, the last score of the season was a 51-45 loss. Now the offense was clearly capable of putting points on the board, but the defense was essentially a no-show. This is true for almost all of the losses the Packers had during the 2009 season. From the Pittsburgh late-game collapse all the way through the Tampa Bay debacle, the offense did their part, but the defense fell through.

Now, playing a 3-4 attacking defense, it's important to have a stable full of young, fast linebackers and you need a minimum of 12 going into training camp. We have 10 and some of those aren't going to make a 53-man roster, as a given. Dom Capers loves to play his "Big Okie" Package (5-2); in fact, in the latter half of the season we saw it at least 40% of the time. Kampan just signed with the Jags, which everyone knew was going to happen. Given that information, the question marks we have with our existing LB corps and the need to get a pass rush (only 37 for 2009), it is probably already decided the Packers are going after another LB or tweener DE/LB with their first pick. And it just so happens that most mock drafts have Sergio Kindle as a late-first-round pick still on the board when the Packers pick with No. 23. Keep in mind, this year's draft is very deep when it comes to quality LBs.

To sum up, I believe that if the right sort of LB is on the board, don't be surprised if the Packers make that pick and then go after O-Linemen and CBs in the later rounds. Sure, that may fly in the face of what analysts have been predicting, but it does make sense when you think about it and factor in Clifton's signing.

Only 44 days to go and then it won't be guessing anymore.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Green Bay Packers: Nick Collins Signs Tender Offer

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 12:43:00 -0600

Packers Safety Nick Collins has signed his tender offer (one year, $3.3 million) today, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. This is great news for the Green Bay Packers and their fans, who expected Collins to take quite a while to sign the offer.

This breaking news is a good indication that Nick Collins will be back in the fold next season and that he seems to be on the same page as the Packers. Nick will probably have a new contract by the time we see him at OTA’s and Mini-camp this summer.

This deal is another indication that Ted Thompson is committed to keeping last year's core in tact and establish continuity going into next season. Way to get this done Ted.

Quotations: Nick Collins’ agent, Alan Herman

“Nick really likes it in Green Bay and wants to stay there. Hopefully, this will help us finalize a deal as we move forward.”

“We hope to get things moving as free agency moves forward over the next week or so.”

This article is found at WiscoSportsTalk.com , along with many other news updates and podcasts revolving around the world of Wisconsin Sports.

Read more Green Bay Packers news on BleacherReport.com

Staying with Packers wasn't an option for Kampman

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 08:49:00 -0600

Packers coach Mike McCarthy spoke in glowing terms about Aaron Kampman two weeks ago at the NFL scouting combine and said in no uncertain terms he wanted him back in Green Bay.

Apparently Kampman didn’t get the message.

At his introductory news conference in Jacksonville Monday after signing a reported four-year, $26 million contract with the Jaguars, Kampman essentially said staying with the Packers wasn’t much of an option.

Kampman acknowledged that the Packers were going to make him a contract offer, but he wasn’t interested in staying in Green Bay.

“The better fit was down here,” Kampman said. “The direction of that organization didn’t include me as much as it had in the past.”

But McCarthy sang a different tune 11 days ago.

“The way he progressed through the year, his performance was definitely on the rise,” McCarthy said of Kampman. “We’ll be a lot better using him in Year 2, because when you put in a new scheme you have to put things into a progression, now when you get in the second year there are certain things you can throw out that you didn’t need in the first year.”

Of course, McCarthy knew there was a chance another team would come calling with a big-money offer and the chance for Kampman to return to the 4-3 defense.

“I can’t control what other teams run on defense or what they come at him with (as a contract offer) in a business standpoint,” said McCarthy at the time. “I just focus on trying to get better, and we can make him better. No. 1, I think our defense will be better next year, and I think he’ll have an opportunity to be better.”

Translation: the Packers would have gladly taken Kampman back and continued to develop him as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but not for the kind of money the Jaguars eventually threw at him.

In the end, Kampman had no choice but to leave the Packers after a notable eight-year career in Green Bay. He couldn’t turn down $11 million in guaranteed cash. And he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to return to his favored end position in the 4-3 defense.

Those factors surely will help Kampman overcome some of the drawbacks of playing in Jacksonville, where they have trouble winning games and selling tickets. Kampman will be joining a team with less talent, a far less ardent fan base, and a head coach whose job status is shaky at best.

Worth reading

Pete Dougherty breaks down the contract of Chad Clifton, who unlike Kampman decided to stay in Green Bay and signed a three-year contract for $19.58 million that includes first-year pay of $7.85 million.

Coming up

The Press-Gazette’s Rob Demovsky chats with readers today at 3 p.m. Come strong with your questions at PackersNews.com.

-- Mike Vandermause, mvandermause@greenbaypressgazette.com

Biggs: Packers sign WR Dillon

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0600

Played in Arena League last year