Six Injured Players Who May Not Return Next Season

by Brandon on May 30, 2011 7:00 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers Analysis

After reading this article on players who may not return in 2011 for the Green Bay Packers, it lead me to focus on six players who are all under contract for 2011, paid like starters (whether they deserve it or not), and returning in 2011 from a season ending injury. I don't know how all these players are doing in rehab this offseason, so I'm just speculating on their health. It really doesn't matter if their physically able to play now anyway. The key for them will be their health in August. But it appears that the organization might have moved on without them.

All salaries are from JS Online. The list is from the most likely to depart to the least likely to depart.

RT Mark Tauscher. $3.681 million in 2010. It seemed unlikely he'd return to football after his season ending injury in 2008, but the team was so desperate after the failure of RT Allen Barbre that he returned mid-2009. It was a good move to re-sign him in March 2010, but that was before they knew they'd be able to draft RT Bryan Bulaga in the first round. Now they've added a second first round tackle (Derek Sherrod) in consecutive years. Maybe he's informally retired, and it will be made official after the lockout is lifted. If he does want to return, releasing him and re-signing him to a veteran minimum contract might be a good idea.

LB Nick Barnett. $5.4 million in 2010. With the emergence of LB Desmond Bishop, and the new contracts given to both Bishop and LB A.J. Hawk, he's a starter without a position. It's a great that the team to has three quality starters to choose from, but they probably can't afford to keep them all. He can still play, so he's worth a mid-round pick, but his base salary might be untradeable.

LB Brandon Chillar. $4.281 million in 2010. He received a big contract extension in 2009 on the assumption that he'd replace Hawk in coverage on passing downs. But after Hawk's 2010 season, and his own new contract, it's not clear what role Chillar will be next season. Mike McCarthy pointed out that this was Chillar's third shoulder surgery, so his ongoing health might be the issue that leads to his release. Maybe the coaches plan on using him as the top backup, though he wasn't great during a 2010 preseason cameo at outside linebacker. They certainly won't keep Barnett and Chillar, but I'm not convinced they'll keep either player.

DE Justin Harrell. $2.151 million in 2010. It goes without saying that the injury prone player has to come back healthy this season. Do they even want to risk millions of dollars on another injury, and another lost season? Should they release him before he is hurt again? Or maybe it's worth the risk to keep him through another training camp?

LB Brady Poppinga. $2.4 million in 2010. With so many options at outside linebacker, and he hasn't been a starter since 2008, it seems like he's an easy player to release. But the coaches love him, and he could emerge from training camp as the top backup outside linebacker. Would they keep him over someone like LB Erik Walden?

RB Ryan Grant. $5.766 million in 2010. That's a big salary for someone who only played in one game last season. I expect he'll be back as the starter. But if you think RB James Starks has moved ahead of him, then it makes no sense to keep a six million dollar backup.

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Comments

Agree with most of them

the Grant comment is just silly. They are not going to cut a 1200 yd rusher because they think they may have a guy who showed potential in 1 or 2 games and also has had injuries. GB needs 2 good RBs this year in case of another injury.

On the other hand, I don’t see him being resigned when his contract runs out.

"I'm tired of pretending I'm not a rock star from Mars."

by Kuhl on May 30, 2011 2:00 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

agreed

And Grant should be the starter opening day. But it wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Starks is starting later in the year over Grant.

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by Strohman on May 30, 2011 2:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Also agree

Starks has potential, but really he only had 1 good game in the playoffs and now people think he should be starting over Grant. Crazy. I dont even like Grant myself but I still think hes a clear number 1 ahead of Starks currently.

by Tyler1210 on May 30, 2011 4:47 PM CDT up reply actions

Starks gave us the threat of a running game when we had none...

And he played against the cream of the crop defensively in his first year. Didn’t fumble.

The man showed HUGE potential and unless you weren’t watching the games… you would see how some fans are happy he is around.

Yes Grant is obviously the starter, but down the road Starks is going to be getting the carries and many Packer fans are happy to see a change from Grant (myself included)

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by Chief Oshkosh on May 31, 2011 2:19 AM CDT up reply actions

Agree with that completely

I could definitely see Starks taking over midseason, but I think Grant is the clear number one to start the year.

"I'm tired of pretending I'm not a rock star from Mars."

by Kuhl on Jun 1, 2011 12:27 AM CDT up reply actions

Harrell

But I wouldn’t be upset at all to see Justin Harrell go. That guy’s gotta be the biggest draft bust we’ve had since Tony Mandarich. What has he played? All of 12 games maybe since we got him in the 1st round and barely 20 solo tackles? The guy is constantly on IR and he needs to go. The rest of the choices just seem like business as usual, but Ryan Grant.. I dunno. I don’t see him being signed back after his contract expires, but I would love to see a dual threat run game (or triple with Kuhn running on short yard situations) this year to add to the air attack.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
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by P-Townfan on May 30, 2011 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

Jamal Reynolds=bigger bust.

Harrell does suck though.

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by Jeigh AK on May 30, 2011 9:10 PM CDT up reply actions

That's actually pretty harsh

To say that Harrell “sucks”. The guy when healthy really showed some flash on the D-line. He very clearly had first-round talent. Now, obviously the qualifier “when healthy” is the key to that entire point, but honestly, saying that Harrell “sucks” because he’s been hurt so often is kind of akin to saying Bob Sanders “sucks”. Now that’s a more extreme example since Sanders is a former DPOY, but I don’t see anyone saying that Sanders is a poor player because he’s frequently hurt.

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by GoGregGo on May 31, 2011 11:22 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Jon Michels and Ahmad Carrol come to mind as bigger busts as well as Reynolds

"I agree but dont agree"

by juggernaut400 on May 31, 2011 11:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Harrell has to go

I can’t figure out how he has remained a Packer this long. He must do something good in practise because he has not done anything on the field. I don’t remember what his contract has paid him over the years but has definitely been too much. Chillar will have a hard time too. A linebacker with chronic shoulder problems is just taking up a valuable roster spot. Mark Tauscher has been great for us over the years but I can’t see him playing another full season. With that said we would be better off with a younger person that is less pron to knee/ shoulder ailments.

cpocraig

by cpocraig on May 30, 2011 8:44 PM CDT reply actions

Harrell must do something good in practise

Well he did make the team out of training camp last year. And after 3 yrs on IR, it must have been something good, otherwise they could have released him and not paid over 2M for him last year. Otherwise, he really hasn’t been on the field to show anything else. Too bad, cuz I think he might have had the ability and size to be a really good 34 DE.

I’m torn between Chillar and Barnett, but at what they’re making I can’t see either being paid that much to be a backup. One should have to take a paycut to stick this year. Tauscher is done, unfortunately… Loved having him on the Packers, but his career is over. He should just retire and I think he will.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 30, 2011 10:33 PM CDT up reply actions

What if Harrell organizes a DL workout?

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by Omaha Sun on Jun 3, 2011 11:08 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Well played

13.

by Wiedmann on Jun 3, 2011 8:17 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree

As much as I love Tauscher, he’s done. 2008 pretty much was a career ender for him with his injury, but good thing we brought him back last year (we wouldn’t have done crap with Barber) so we could win SB XLV. At least he’ll retire a Packer and he now has his ring.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on May 31, 2011 12:14 AM CDT reply actions

The 2011 salaries are more pertinent.

RT Mark Tauscher. $3.681 million in 2010.
2011: $4.1 mil + $281k roster bonus
Verdict: Gone, or re-signed for a much lower amount

LB Nick Barnett. $5.4 million in 2010.
2011: $5.5 mil + $375k roster bonus
Verdict: Trade partner? I could see them hanging on to him, as well as releasing him. I really don’t know. I suppose it all depends on how high the cap is in the new CBA. All things being equal, I think TT would prefer to keep him for depth, in case of injury.

LB Brandon Chillar. $4.281 million in 2010.
2011: $2 mil
Verdict: I think he stays. It’s a little high for a back-up, but he will see time in passing situations, so he’s sort of a pseudo-starter. Depends on how well he’s recovered from his latest injury.

DE Justin Harrell. $2.151 million in 2010.
2011: $650k + $575k roster bonus
Verdict: League MVP for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014.

LB Brady Poppinga. $2.4 million in 2010.
2011: $2.05 mil + $300k roster bonus
Verdict: GONE!

RB Ryan Grant. $5.766 million in 2010.
2011: $3.5 mil + $250k roster bonus
Verdict: He stays. No reason to let him go, unless the last injury has completely ruined his abilities.

I kinda already addressed this point. So far, I’m right about Donald Lee & Johnny Jolly.

13.

by Wiedmann on May 31, 2011 2:04 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Nice breakdown...

and LMAO at Justin Harrell Verdict (though I hope its true!). Yeah I don’t really see any reason to dump Grant yet. If Starks comes on as the obvious #1 this year, then fine for 2012

by PhoenicianPakFan on May 31, 2011 4:05 AM CDT up reply actions

I think he's going to surprise people this year.

Obviously, what I said was a joke, but I think he’s probably going to make the roster this year, and may be even be a vital part of the DL rotation. Of course, with the obvious caveat “if healthy.” I think he’s due some good luck injury-wise.

13.

by Wiedmann on May 31, 2011 8:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Are you sure about Grants salary?

He had escalators that he hit early in his contract that pushed his salary up to the 5M area. I don’t see why those wouldn’t keep it up there just cuz of injury last year. Tried to find this on JSOnline but it didn’t include the yearly salaries I was looking for. Were can I find the ’11 salaries?

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions

The site I got it from is extremely reliable, never have I found an error.

I have it bookmarked on my computer, but I’m in western Utah, right outside of Zion Nat’l Park, and not at my home computer in WI. I just used my personal reference page that I copied from that site:
http://rateyourmusic.com/list/wiedmann/2011_gb_packers

13.

by Wiedmann on May 31, 2011 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions

You'll forgive me for not finding your page on a music site credible.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 9:07 PM CDT up reply actions

It's one more link than you've given.

You really think I would create a list on a webpage with incorrect information to……wait, what’s the benefit for doing that?

13.

by Wiedmann on May 31, 2011 11:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Like I mentioned I was trying to find the salary info but hadn't.

You provide your page on a music site? What purpose does that serve? do you somehow think that makes your OPINION stronger? Why are you being so argumentative?

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on May 31, 2011 11:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Good God, Stroh

I provided you the information of where I got it from because you asked. If I was in Wisconsin right now, I would be able to give you the original page, but since I’m hitchhiking around National Parks in Utah with a Russian chick right now, I can only give you that.

Also, I don’t know what opinion you are referring to. If you mean Ryan Grant’s 2011 salary of $3.5 mil + $250k roster bonus, that’s not an opinion, that’s a fact. I know it to be true, but even if I made it up for the list I put together (for whatever reason), it’s still a fact, a false fact, but a fact nonetheless.

13.

by Wiedmann on Jun 1, 2011 12:29 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

Now I remember why I stopped replying to you

Even when I try to be helpful, and answer any question you have, you still lash out at me. I’m going back into non-reply mode & chastising myself for even thinking civil conversation with you is a possibility.

13.

by Wiedmann on Jun 1, 2011 12:43 AM CDT up reply actions 2 recs

PUT AWAY THE FIREWORKS, DAMNIT!

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by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jun 1, 2011 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions

lights match

extinguishes said match

13.

by Wiedmann on Jun 1, 2011 1:10 AM CDT up reply actions

What did I say wrong?

He provided his webpage from a music site as a source and I’m supposed to take that as credible? Heck I even said you’ll have to forgive me for not finding that credible. He just went off for no reason on it. It doesn’t… All he would have had to say is I’ll find it and post the site when I get home, or I don’t have the info. But providing his page on a music site is only him siting himself. Is that credible to anyone else?

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jun 1, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

WHat kinda shitstorm would it set off if I sited myself as a source?

Christ this entire blog would be in an uproar for a year if I did that…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jun 1, 2011 11:45 AM CDT up reply actions

This is not about you, Stroh.

You and Wiedmann have gotten into some pretty epic firefights. I’d rather not see this thread turn into another one of them.

Is that clear?

Editor at BT Powerhouse, a Big Ten Basketball blog.
Author at Acme Packing Company, a Green Bay Packers blog
Donna Noble has left the library. Donna Noble has been saved.

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on Jun 1, 2011 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions