April 2009 - Posts

• New Packer tryout Randolph becomes victim of circumstance

  Posted Apr 30 2009, 07:24 AM by Brian Carriveau

  

  Maryland offensive tackle Dane Randolph was hoping for a better outcome. The Green Bay Packers offered him a tryout at their rookie orientation minicamp this weekend, but he longed for more.
  

  Unfortunately, he found out NFL teams aren't spending as much money in a poor economy.

  Randolph is the subject of an in-depth article at the Washington Post that follows his anticipation of signing with an NFL team and the subsequent disappointment of learning that teams aren't doling out as much money as they had in the past now that America is in a recession.

  "The economy was changing the draft. Scouts were telling the agents that NFL teams aren't signing as many undrafted free agents this year," writes Washington Poster reporter Les Carpenter. "They think they will keep costs down this way, not handing out any signing bonuses. In the past, most teams signed about 15 players. But by noon on Monday, one club had signed six, another just one. Several were signing just eight and nine."

  In years past Randolph would have been a shoo-in to sign a contract as an undrafted free agent. If teams signed up to 15 players, Randolph would be sure to be one of them.

  As it stands, the best the Maryland product can hope for is to be offered a contract by the Packers after impressing on a tryout basis this weekend.

  "I want to have the mentality that this is the last chance," Randolph told the Post. "I don't want to take it too lightly at the end knowing I have another one the next week. I want to make them sign me." 

  The Packers don't have a lot of time to make a decision on Randolph. There's no exclusivity in a tryout. After this weekend, Randolph has another tryout lined up with the Baltimore Ravens.

  To date, the Packers have signed 11 undrafted free agents but have two roster spots remaining on their 80-man limit. With a good performance this weekend, Randolph has a chance, albeit a slim one.
  

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• Packers Daily Links 4.29.09

  Posted Apr 29 2009, 11:49 AM by Brian Carriveau

   

  

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  Brett Favre has been released by the New York Jets. This could mean something, this could mean nothing, but it's interesting in that Favre reportedly requested this. "The move means that if Favre were to return to the NFL, he would be free to sign with any team and because the Jets relinquished his rights, they would not be owed any compensation if Favre signed with another team," writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "The terms of the Packers’ trade with the Jets last August said that the Jets would have to give up three first-round draft picks if they traded Favre to another team in the Packers’ division." At this point, who the hell knows what will happen.

  Could Favre be thinking of joining the hated Vikings? Ol' Bag of Donuts coins the term "Brettsagevaris Jackfavrefels."

  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel takes a look at the Packers' depth chart now that the rookies, both draft choices and undrafted free agents, have been added to the team. Last I counted, the Packers have 86 players on their roster, but only 78 of them are signed. The roster limit is 80, but the drafted players typically don't sign until July. It's not until that point that the Packers have to trim down to that 80-man limit. Expect the team to sign one or two of the tryout players this weekend. I think last year they signed one. But also expect the Packers to cut a handful of the undrafted free agents they signed as well. There's no way they're going into training camp with 13 wide receivers.

  Acme Packing Company handicaps the tryout players at this weekend's rookie orientation minicamp. They think the players with the best chance of landing a contract are punter Chris Keagle, tackle Dane Rudolph, or center Ryan Schuman.

  Bob Wolfley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that the draft received high television ratings in Milwaukee this past weekend (Hat tip: Packers Gab).

  Those taking part in the Live Blog for the draft this past weekend including Packers Lounge know I didn't like the pick of LSU fullback Quinn Johnson. I think the Packers already have a bruising fullback on their roster in John Kuhn and a receiving threat in Korey Hall. Johnson better bring it in training camp. Being a special teams demon is only going to help his cause.

  Cheesehead TV wonders who's going to play right tackle for the Packers. I was surprised to learn that Josh Sitton is going to be the right guard. I would have figured the mauler that Sitton is would be a perfect fit for right tackle like he was at Central Florida paving the way for Kevin Smith. Heck, if it ain't gonna be Tauscher, I've gotta figure the rookies Lang and Meredith have as good a chance as anyone.
  

  The Packer Plus crew profiles each of the new draft choices from a Packer point of view. Good stuff. Read it:

  • B.J. Raji
  • Clay Matthews
  • T.J. Lang
  • Quinn Johnson
  • Jamon Meredith
  • Jarius Wynn
  • Brandon Underwood
  • Brandon Jones

  Quick programming note, the updates are going to be spotty through the weekend. This railbird is going to the Kentucky Derby (!). I'll have my laptop with me, but opportunities for blogging may be limited. However, I'll give you all a tip. I Want Revenge is going to win the Derby. He's the favorite, so you're not going to win any money betting him, but make sure to place in your exotics.
  

   

  Enjoy "Midnight Rider" by the Allman Brothers Band...
  

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• Let's do the right thing.

  Posted Apr 29 2009, 08:24 AM by Dan Haddinger
  Hey Ted, Since I know you're a constant reader here at Railbird, I wanted to do 2 things. First, congrats on the draft. It was one of your more impressive ones. You're getting praise all-over the internet, and you've even managed to grab Mel Kiper's top grade. That's great. And second, now that you're on top of the football world, riding high on a wave of positive momentum, I want to suggest something to you: Let's sign a high-profile free agent. It won't cost us anything, and the rift you can repair would be a big step in healing the wounds. Ted, I implore you. Be the big man. Reach your arms over the half-way line and sign Brett.

  Talk to his agent. Sign him for a day so he can officially go out as a Packer. It'll be the highest-profile agent you can sign in the off-season and it won't cost anything, except a small swallow of pride.
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• Packers Daily Links 4.28.09

  Posted Apr 28 2009, 06:08 PM by Brian Carriveau

  

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  The Green Bay Packers originally offered local product Joe Lardinois of North Dakota State a tryout at this upcoming weekend's rookie orientation minicamp. But the defensive end changed his mind and decided to take up the Cincinnati Bengals on their offer instead. "It was just a better fit," Lardinois told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "Green Bay wanted me to play outside linebacker (in their 3-4 defense), and I never really played that position before. Although I welcomed the opportunity to play for them, Cincinnati was looking at me as a defensive end, which I played all five years (in college)." I'm glad the Packers gave him a shot, but I doubt anyone's losing any sleep over him choosing to try out with the Bengals.

  In another change of direction story, it appears as if the Packers offered to sign troubled and well-traveled Union College linebacker Willie Williams and later rescinded that offer. Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette writes, "(Union College SID Jay) Stancil just e-mailed again to say the Packers contacted him and have decided not to bring in Williams after all." It sounds like Williams is both an extremely talented and also extremely troubled prospects. One of the top players in the nation coming out of high school, Williams had been 11 times in his high school years and has since played at four colleges. When you're "well-traveled" in college, that's not a good sign.

  Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has updated the list of players either signing as undrafted free agents with the Packers or receiving a tryout. Those signed players we haven't previously mentioned on Railbird Central include Central Michigan offensive tackle Andy Hartline, Idaho State tackle Even Dietrich-Smith, Deleware defensive end Ronald Talley and Texas A&M linebacker Cyril Obiozor. Those receiving tryouts include Western Michigan tight end Branden Ledbetter, Iowa State linebacker Michael Bibbs, Youngstown State tackle Tyler Booth, Troy cornerback Trevor Ford, Louisiana Tech punter Chris Keagle, Missouri safety Maurice "Pig" Brown and Maryland tackles Dane Randolph and Dean Muhtadi.

  Speaking of tryouts the guys at the Green Bay Press-Gazette have a little more on the two quarterbacks the Packers are bringing in, Utah's Brian Johnson and Tulsa's David Johnson. Utah offensive coordinator Dave Schramm is quoted as saying, "I wouldn’t be surprised if he played 10 years in the NFL. He’s just one of those guys, I compare him to Jeff Garcia, that’s so competitive.”

  The odds of the Packers keeping either one of these quarterbacks is slim seeing as they have both Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn on the roster, but there's some promise to these two. Tom Pelissero has the obvious but sometimes overlooked advice, "Step 1 for these two is making a good impression this weekend." I personally wouldn't mind the Packers giving the Utah Johnson a shot. He's a good game manager that knows how to win. He's been a starter for several years including the Sugar Bowl win over Alabama this past January.

  To make room for some of the undrafted free agents, the Packers have waived center Brennen Carvalho who spent all last season on the practice squad.

  Aaron Nagler from Cheesehead TV wasn't surprised the Packers went more towards the "need" theory rather than going the best player available route. "I think it’s much closer to the truth to say that this year we saw a GM who has spent the last three years building his talent base by continually trading back and accumulating picks in the draft who is now picking and choosing to fill the remaining holes on his roster," writes Nagler. In his press conference, Ted Thompson basically said as much hinting that the Packers are no longer in re-building mode.

  Minnesota Vikings coach Brad Childress came out and said he thought the New England Patriots would have picked Florida receiver Percy Harvin had the Vikings not taken him right ahead of them. That, in turn, allowed the Packers to trade up in place of the Patriots and grab USC linebacker Clay Matthews. Donald's Designated Driver writes, "Long live Brad Childress, is this guy the mustachioed gift that keeps on giving or what?"

  The official website of Central Michigan football has more information on newly signed offensive lineman Andrew Hartline. According to the website, "Hartline started all 52 games of his career, tied for the second-longest streak in NCAA history. He earned All-Mid-American Conference first team honors in 2008 after being a second team selection in 2006 and 2007. He was elected a co-captain by his teammates in 2008."

  Bob McGinn profiles new wide receiver Jamarko Simmon, the Western Michigan product that broke a bunch of Greg Jennings' records, which Packer fans have been most impressed with. Simmons is the most impressive undrafted free agent signing along with Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton.

  Packers Lounge has their post-draft podcast available.
  

  Packer Update writes about how the new personnel might just fit a 4-3 defense, all this after having switched the 3-4.

  Mike McCarthy's Feedbag is impressed with Ted "Silver Fox" Thompson.

  Packergeeks wonders if the Packers should sign recently released Steelers linebacker Larry Foote, a starter as recently as last season. User awhayes writes, "Given the uncertainties facing Barnett and his recovery, the uneven play from Hawk, the rookieness of Matthews and the questions re whether Kampman can play OLB, I’d feel more secure knowing we had a proven veteran LB on the team." Good point and one I've been trying to make for awhile. I'm not sold on either Hawk or Barnett.

  If you live in Brown County, and you weren't chosen in the first round of the ticket drawing for Packers tickets, don't worry. After invoices have been received, the Packers expect thousands more to become available.

  Enjoy "Texas" by String Cheese Incident...
  

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• Packers offer try out to inside linebacker, philosopher

  Posted Apr 28 2009, 06:08 AM by Brian Carriveau

  The Green Bay Packers have offered a tryout to Virginia inside linebacker Jon Copper this weekend at their rookie orientation mini-camp.

  Copper reported the information himself through his draft diary blog published by the Washington Post appropriately titled "Long Shots."

  In his writing, Copper waxes poetic about life as an underdog.
  

  "C.J. Mahaney in his wonderful little book 'Humility:True Greatness' wrote, 'humility is our greatest friend,' writes Copper. "I must say that the past 12 or so hours have been humbling, knowing things are out of my hands at this point, and knowing that all my other friends on the team that have come out either got signed or drafted.

  "It's not so much that I care about what the outcomes are; it's just the not knowing what is next that can unsettle me. Patience under Providence."

  In another entry, Copper tuggs at readers' heart strings, making them want the Packers to sign this long-shot to a contract and to be able to root for him.

  "The days leading up to the draft have led me to think about what a career -- even a short career in the NFL -- could do for me and my family," writes Copper. "I would have a sweet retirement pension, full benefits, house(s) and cars paid for, savings for children should we be blessed with them, supporting various charities and worthy organizations. Basically, a brief career in the NFL if managed right would forever change the financial trajectory of my life."

  Congratulations, Mr. Copper. You've got Packer Nation pulling for you. And if you want, there's an opening for you as a guest writer on Railbird Central.

  
  

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