Monday Packer Hits: Taylor, Favre, Collins, and Matthews

by Brandon on May 18, 2009 7:00 AM CDT in News Comment 6 comments

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2006 file photo, Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews, top, sacks Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter during the first half of a college football game in Los Angeles. Matthews is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

More photos » by MARK J. TERRILL - AP

7 months ago: FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2006 file photo, Southern California linebacker Clay Matthews, top, sacks Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter during the first half of a college football game in Los Angeles. Matthews is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

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It turns out the Packers have an extra $1 million to spend under the 2009 salary cap. I'm lousy at finding good salary cap numbers. They had somewhere between $18-22 million available before the start of free agency. They certainly didn't spend it on any big name free agents. But two 1st round draft picks will eat up some of it. Hopefully they use the rest to sign current players, such as WR Greg Jennings, to extensions.
The Packers were one of the few teams in on free agent DE Jason Taylor. Despite the switch to a 3-4 defense, the 4-3 alignment will still make some appearances. I could have seen Taylor filling the role previously played by DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in the new 4-3 alignment.
Brett Favre's keeping it classy, and ready to "kick [GM Ted Thompson's] ass twice a year." I said earlier that I didn't think it was about revenge, but Favre is sure making it hard for me to believe it.
So remember when it came out last week that S Nick Collins was staying away from minicamp, but it wasn't about the money? Well it turns out it's all about the money. I'm sure you're all surprised...Actually I think players have to look out for themselves in the NFL. The teams will cut them at the drop of a hat. When the player has some negotiating power, he should use it. But at least they can be honest about it.
The steroid rumors still bother LB Clay Matthews.
I expect the rookie wage scale to be a big issue when the teams and the union start talking again about the collective bargaining agreement. But I don't think it'll be the biggest issue, which always remains how much the players get paid vs. the owners.
Two teams are interested in signing WR Plaxico Burress. Why? Has the signing of a problem player ever worked out? Obviously the pending gun charges are serious, but even before the arrest, he was suspended last September for being a lousy teammate. Great quote from his ex-teammate WR Steve Smith when Burress missed the Monday morning receivers' meeting: "I don't see him a lot, so I thought it was a normal day. I didn't know if he was going to come or not."

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If Favre wants to kick TT’s ass so bad, why doesn’t he just do it the old fashioned way and wait for him at recess by the jungle gym?

by juggernaut400 on May 18, 2009 1:51 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

That is what a bully would do

by Brandon on May 18, 2009 10:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can Favre just hurry up and cut the crap

Sign the contract so you can come to Lambeau and give Woodson a few INTs. I don’t care what he does in regards to the Vikings anymore, I just want him to cut the will he or won’t he drama queen BS and man up. It got old back in 2003.

by HomieHippo on May 18, 2009 10:39 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

just for clarificatory purposes

Favre said that junk last year, at least in a report i read…still, i bet he harbors some petty bitterness.

"stay (green and) gold"

by Green and Bold on May 19, 2009 12:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

If Aaron Rodgers would win a Super Bowl here

Would that make Favre’s contributions seem less important? What I’m trying to say is that in light of the recent “stuff” with Favre, for lack of a better word, would he be looked at in a different light by Packer fans?

If he had stayed retired as a Packer and then Rodgers would win a Super Bowl, Favre would still be looked at as a legend, but the fact that he’s pulling all this anti-Packer (Thompson) animosity I think it would lower his opinion even farther, and maybe even perhaps, lower his own ego.

battlekow: Bill is having an oppo-gasm

by Michael M on May 19, 2009 6:24 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs