Friday Packer Hits: OTA Edition

by Brandon on May 29, 2009 7:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

On Thursday, the Packers held one of their few OTA practices that is open to the public.

What does Aaron Kampman's reluctance to talk about his switch to linebacker, Nick Collins' absense due to the death of his father, and Donald Driver's unexplained absense have in common? They all appear to be unhappy about their contracts. Actually, I don't begrudge any of these guys. They need to go get their money while they still can ask for it. The NFL is a cold league that will cut you tomorrow if you get hurt and it will save the team a dime. But obviously not everybody thinks the way I do. Although in Collins' case, while his agent might think a new contract is a priority, Nick has had other priorities lately. But it wouldn't have killed Driver to show up for OTA while his agent kept pressing on a new contract.
A typical Mike McCarthy press conference; everyone is working hard and improving. Although he does provide a bottom line answer as to how the practices are going:

Now, the defense had 22 mental errors yesterday and the offense had nine. That's not OK, but that's what this time of year produces.
CB Tramon Williams finally signed his 2009 contract. He'll get $900,000 next season. The idea that he might have held out was crazy, but he did receive nearly twice what the Packers initially offered. If he repeats his 2008 performance in 2009, he'll get some serious interest next season as a restricted free agent.
Hey, there was actually some football going on at practice:
1. Clay Matthews is the starter at right OLB, but 2nd year player, and former DE, Jeremy Thompson is the top backup.
2. DE Cullen Jenkins is sitting out with an ankle injury, so the Packers went with a jumbo defensive line of Raji (337 lbs.), Pickett (330 lbs.) and Harrell (310 lbs.). That's nearly 1000 lbs. Opponents are going to have a tough time moving that load off the line.
3. 3rd year player Allen Barbre will get the first crack at winning the starting RT job. Before this season, Barbre has rarely played and only at left tackle and left guard.

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I understand the “They need to go get their money while they still can” argument. But other sources have reported that Driver has done this three of the past four years? Can that be right?

And if so…

Driver is great. And great with the fans. But is he playing better now than he was the last time his contract was reworked?

by RichBeckman on May 29, 2009 11:54 AM CDT reply actions

They may be big, but . . . .

Justin Harrell will get hurt, and nobody expects Pickett to play “end” in a 3-4, and even if he did to stay on the field for more than 30 snaps. Jenkins’ return will help, and John Jolly hopefully won’t be in jail so that he can play too. Ultimately I believe that Jolly, Jenkins and Raji/Pickett will be the starters.

As for Driver — he’s at the age where he only has one more shot at a payday. He needs to play hardball, before TT shoves him out the door.

by ktenreb on May 29, 2009 1:43 PM CDT reply actions

He needs to play hardball

He is under contract!
He signed it!
He needs to just live up to it!
If he wanted to “play hardball,” he should have allowed his contract to expire and done it then.
Now, he has two years remaining on his current agreement.

Driver, like Favre, is getting old (whether he, or you, likes it or not) and is nearing the end of his career.
During that career, he has been VERY generously rewarded (he has made WAY more than what would keep me and mine comfortable for the rest of my life) by the Packers, who owe him NOTHING more!
What Driver needs to do is show up for OTAs and camp, and just, to paraphrase Laura Ingraham, SHUT UP AND PLAY!

The Bears still suck!

by NorthStarr on May 30, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Don’t know anything about the DD situation. But I love how you right away say Harrell will get hurt hahaha. I hope he doesn’t because he looks to be the prototypical 3-4 DE but odds are good he will. I agree with you I think it will be Jenkins, Jolly, Raji. I do think though on running downs, we could sometimes have Jenkins, Raji, and Pickett in their at the same time, and I think it could actually be effective. Also, it’s exciting to see that Thompson is the top OLB backup. That must mean that he is looking good, and will provide more depth at the OLB position.

by packallday555 on May 29, 2009 7:43 PM CDT reply actions