The Interest In LB Kevin Burnett and LB Clark Haggans

by Brandon on Mar 5, 2009 8:00 AM CST in News Comment 10 comments

There are rumors that the Packers are interested in a couple of middle linebackers; Dallas LB Kevin Burnett and Arizona LB Clark Haggans. In Burnett's 4 year career, he's started 4 games and has 4 career sacks. Haggans was a starter in Pittsburgh from 2003-2007, but a backup last season in Arizona. Both guys are backups; Burnett may never be anything more than a backup and Haggans days as a starter appear behind him.

I've got nothing against either of them, but I'm not sure what role the Packers have to offer them. Maybe GM Ted Thompson is looking at one of them as insurance in case LB Nick Barnett comes back slowly from his knee surgery. Assuming Barnett is healthy, he would start ahead of either of them and LB A.J. Hawk will start in the middle alongside them. I doubt either would be signed to start at right outside LB; a position I hope they fill early in the April draft. Backup LB Brandon Chillar appears to be similar to both of them; good coverage skills, little pass rush skills, and best suited to play at inside LB. They would, at best, be offered the fourth inside LB spot, which is probably not the first choice for either player.

It seems the Packers interest now is just building the groundwork. Letting the player know that they are interested, and if you can't find a starting job anywhere else, keep us in mind because we've got a backup role to offer. Both players might also improve the special teams kick coverage.

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i love these low risk – medium reward free agents

by Dave Z on Mar 5, 2009 10:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t know much about either besides the things that i have read about them. Burnett is young and from what i have read it sounds like he could become more then a backup to me. The cowboys had ware, ellis, spencer at the OLB, and james, thomas in the middle. Those are all really solid guys. It sounded like he was going to start at ILB until Thomas came in, and he was supposed to until they brought brooking in. Burnett is only 26 yrs, like dave said this is a medium risk FA, and who knows he could come into his own if he became a starter.

by packallday555 on Mar 5, 2009 10:42 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

if he is cheap

they why not.. But my thinking is not only a backup as we saw what happens when Barnett goes down last season. But to boost our special teams! Our kickoff coverage was horrible and who plays ST? the backups so if either of them are better then our backups now then do it.

by bizzle4 on Mar 5, 2009 12:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Burnett could start in alot of places

I’m not sure he’d be up for doing round the clock special teams duty and backing up at ILB. This is why you sign alot of college free agent LB’s, because LB’s make good special teams players.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Mar 5, 2009 4:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I pretty sure Burnett would be signed to start at ROLB if we were to sign him. He played mostly inside and nickel package at Dallas because there were 3 pretty good players ahead of him on the outside (Ware, Ellis, and Spencer). He is naturally an OLB with above average coverage ability.

by juggernaut400 on Mar 5, 2009 7:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah

i didnt really know anything about him just that he was not among the best LBs in Dallas…

by bizzle4 on Mar 5, 2009 7:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

He was listed as the backup for Ware so he definitely wasn’t winning that job.

by juggernaut400 on Mar 5, 2009 7:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Check that

it should be “would be signed to compete for a starting job at ROLB”

by juggernaut400 on Mar 5, 2009 7:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We can't in good concience send Poppinga out as a starter on opening day

but i don’t know if Haggans is the answer. Michael Lombardi was saying his only real skill is pass rushing and that’s diminishing as well.

by jobe on Mar 5, 2009 4:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Burnett

Brunett would likely be the odds on favorite to win the ROLB spot! He had no chance to start in Dallas at either OLB. He COULD come in and be a starter at ROLB for the near future and longer assuming he has pass rush ability. If he does show any pass rush the Packers have the OLB they need for the next couple years anyway. We would still draft someone who would then be groomed to play that spot too…

If he goes to SD he would be a ILB, and a 4/3 he won’t make a name for himself as an OLB. Pass rushing gets you noticed. He should WANT to come to GB to make a name for himself!!!

by Strohman on Mar 5, 2009 8:45 PM CST reply actions 0 recs