Packers Sign Again: RT Mark Tauscher Resigned
by Brandon on Mar 13, 2010 11:59 PM CST
in News
19 comments
From Jason Wilde at ESPN Milwaukee:
One day after doling out contract extensions to safety Nick Collins and Ryan Pickett, and one week after bringing back veteran left tackle Chad Clifton, the Packers agreed to terms on a two-year deal with veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher Saturday, an NFL source said.
I was losing faith earlier this week and thinking that RT Mark Tauscher would not be resigned. I had assumed they would be crazy to go into 2010 without the veteran right tackle, but they started last season without him so it was possible they would try it again.
This is a signing for 2010, which really should be the first focus. I'm all for looking ahead, and even using their 1st round pick to fill an expected opening at cornerback for 2011 (maybe CB Al Harris might not make it back next season) or offensive tackle for 2012 (maybe this is Tauscher's last contract).
They've spent a lot of money in the last two weeks. Hopefully that's something they had been planning to do and it won't create a problem in the future. But 2010 could be a Super Bowl season, and they can't afford to have any right-tackle sized problems. It's hard to repeat, and the Saints are looking to become the first NFC team to play in back-to-back Super Bowls since the 1996-1997 Packers. The Vikings are going through the annual Favre drama. The Cowboys will be there again, but the Eagles sure ended 2009 with a thud. The Cardinals are going through a changing of the guard. The NFC looks wide open in 2010, and with the resigning of Tauscher, it appears that the Packers doing everything they can to seize the opportunity.
19 comments | 0 recs |
New Alternate Packers Uniforms - Flashback to 1929
by Brandon on Mar 13, 2010 11:21 PM CST
in News
7 comments
I'm a big fan of Green Bay Packers history. This website's name is a taken from the team's original name. I own this old themed jersey, and the only official Packers jersey I own is a Ray Nitschke No. 66. But I'm not a fan of throwback jerseys worn in current games. I didn't like it when the Packers did it in the 1990s for a season or two, and I'm not a fan of the 2010 effort either. Follow this link to JSOnline to see it. Maybe I'll feel differently when I see it on the field next season.
7 comments | 0 recs |
Ken Dyer dies; broke neck while tackling Green Bay Packers RB John Brockington
Condolences to the family of Kem Riley, whose Bengals career ended when he broke his neck while attempting to tackle Packers running back John Brockington in 1971.
Reaction to Recent FA Signings
by texwestern on Mar 13, 2010 10:30 PM CST
in Free Agency
1 comment
With the first 8 days or so of free agency under our belts, I think it's time to take a closer look at some of the big signings that will affect the Packers in 2010 and beyond.
I'll start with the big news from this weekend, which is the signing of S Nick Collins and DT Ryan Pickett to long-term deals. Personally, I love the way Ted Thompson approached these contracts. Knowing that there's no salary cap this season, Ted loaded the contracts up for the 2010 season, allowing drastically diminished cap numbers for Collins and Pickett in the 2011-2013 seasons. Granted, that's assuming there's no lockout next year and that the salary cap is reinstated. I see no way that the NFL or the players union will allow a year without NFL football, and by next year at this time, we'll have a deal done. If that is the case, the structure of these contracts should pay off immensely.
If I calculated this right, here are the total numbers for the guys including this year:
Collins: four years (through 2013), $26.7 million total, $14 million in 2010
Pickett: four years (through 2013), $28 million total, $10 million in 2010
Add Chad Clifton's 3-year, $19.4 million deal to the mix, and we have solidified three major UFA's that we have all identified as being crucial to the team in 2010. I know that I said earlier this off-season that I didn't think Clifton was a very important signing, but I've long since softened on that stance and acknowledged his importance.
1 comment | 0 recs |
Sizing Up the Draft: Outside Linebackers
by Green and Bold on Mar 13, 2010 7:41 PM CST
18 comments
When the Packers transitioned to the 3-4 defense during the 2009 off-season, it instantly increased the importance of the outside linebacker position tenfold. Within the scheme, the OLB is arguably the most important play-maker on the defensive side of the ball, and must be capable of excelling in pass coverage, against the run, and, perhaps most importantly, in the pass rush department.
The Packers hit gold in the 2009 NFL Draft, trading up and stealing ex-USC linebacker Clay Matthews III. However, just as it appeared they had a formidable duo on the outside, they lost a key piece of the puzzle. The departure of Aaron Kampman, though he wasn't necessarily ideally suited for the position, was a significant blow. Brad Jones filled in fine as a rookie, but there are concerns that he lacks the play-making ability needed at the position.
The need for a play-making, pass-rushing OLB became apparent in the latter part of the last season. Though the Packers' defense finished first in the league for yards allowed, it was obvious that they had some significant deficiencies with their pass defense. Ben Roethlisberger and Kurt Warner left the defense exposed and coordinator Dom Capers searching for answers. It was clear that something needed to change.
While some may argue that drafting defensive backs is a good way to shore up the pass defense, and this is certainly true to an extent, the best corners in the world can't defend wide-outs forever if no one is getting to the quarterback. There is little surprise that after a franchise quarterback, pass-rushing phenoms are some of the most prized possessions around the league.
So with all this in mind, let's turn to the 2010 NFL Draft to see what prospects the Packers could be targeting.
18 comments | 0 recs |
Collins and Pickett signed to long term contracts!
by pumpkinking on Mar 12, 2010 6:51 PM CST
24 comments
Thompson made the announcement today that both players have been re-signed thru 2013. No numbers on the Collins deal that I saw but Pickett's looks like 4 years, $28 million.
Regarding Collins: "The Packers always try to be proactive in our discussions with our current players and we are pleased we were able to come to an agreement with Nick," said Thompson. "Nick has been an impact player for us, and we look forward to having him continue his career as a Packer."
Regarding Pickett: "We have continued to talk to Ryan and his representatives and are pleased we were able to sign Ryan to this extension," said Thompson. "He has been a key part of our success on defense, and we look forward to having Ryan be a part of our future in Green Bay."
UPDATE: Collins deal is three years, $23.4 million Link here.
UPDATE 2 from Brandon: The Press-Gazette has Collins at four years, $26.7 million. I wrote my thoughts about it in the comments.
24 comments | 2 recs |
Flashback to the April 2007 Draft: Defensive Line Busts
by Brandon on Mar 12, 2010 7:00 AM CST
in Draft
49 comments
Everyone reading this post is probably quite aware that the Green Bay Packers wasted their 2007 1st round draft choice on DE Justin Harrell. You might have even forgotten he was still on the roster as one beat writer did recently. The news that the Rams are looking to trade fellow 2007 1st round DL bust Adam Carriker made me realize how bad a year that was to draft a defensive lineman in the 1st round. Here's the complete train wreck:
No. 4 overall, DE Gaines Adams. He underachieved in Tampa, was shipped off to the Bears for a 2nd round pick last season, and tragically passed away last January.
49 comments | 0 recs |
Will The Packers Resign RT Mark Tauscher?
by Brandon on Mar 11, 2010 11:47 PM CST
in Free Agency
38 comments
I've assumed RT Mark Tauscher would be resigned for 2010 because it appears he wants to keep playing, and last season was a disaster without him. But he remains unsigned and Mike Vandermause is penciling in OL T.J. Lang at right tackle. Lang is a good player, but I'd rather he provide depth as a backup next season because there's no one else behind him on the depth chart.
The draft is one option because It's a great one for offensive lineman, and it looks like Idaho's G Mike Iupati (as one example) will be a good one. There isn't much left in free agency beyond Tauscher either. The only offensive lineman it looked worth pursuing was OL Rex Hadnot, but the Cardinals just signed him for 3 years and $9 million.
Can the Packers afford to go into next season without Tauscher? Or is it time to draft for depth and let the Lang era begin.
38 comments | 0 recs |
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