Packers Re-Sign Crosby, Swain, and Havner

by Brandon on Jul 30, 2011 1:59 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Free Agency

The news that the Green Bay Packers had re-signed K Mason Crosby to a five-year contract was broken earlier this week, but I wasn't sure that they would re-sign TE Spencer Havner or WR Brett Swain. The news was announced on Packers.com:

While Havner has been moved back from linebacker to tight end, he's currently listed as a tight end. After a promising 2009 season as a blocker and goal line receiver, he got the preseason off to a bad start with a motorcycle accident, and he had trouble staying healthy all season long. After a brief stint with the Lions, he was re-signed during the 2010 season, and was knocked out for the rest of the season almost immediately. Since the Packers drafted two more tight ends, it didn't seem like there would be room for him. Obviously, he's being given another chance. With only two full backs currently in camp, there might be some room for him as a special teams tackler and short yardage blocker.

Swain's return was only in doubt if the Packers re-signed WR James Jones, who's return would have made it nearly impossible to keep Swain. He'll still have to fend off the challenges from the various undrafted wide receivers and practice squad players returning, but he has an excellent chance at sticking with the team.

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These guys were Restricted FAs, right?

13.

by Wiedmann on Jul 30, 2011 2:15 PM CDT reply actions

i think so

by dchoubak on Jul 30, 2011 3:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I wonder if Havner is an emergency LB too maybe in this situation. Not sure why we’d even be remotely interested in him as a TE with the guys we have right now.

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by TrevorR on Jul 30, 2011 3:39 PM CDT reply actions

Probably camp body & not much else

He is familiar with the system, so in this abbreviated offseason, that does give him a leg up on some of the other guys who are just now becoming Packers. I’d say it’s pretty doubtful he makes the final 53, though.

13.

by Wiedmann on Jul 30, 2011 3:42 PM CDT up reply actions

Finley is not yet ready

I read that Jermichael is not ready for the start of camp, so maybe this is a best for both parties type thing. The Packers get a body for camp and Havner gets both a final chance to impress the Pack and a chance to sell himself to other teams?

by NYCPac on Jul 30, 2011 4:57 PM CDT up reply actions

http://www.packers.com/news-and-events/article_spofford/article-1/Grant-full-speed-for-first-practice/47a16b9b-8238-44a5-8b3b-1732f9e1adbd

Finley, who hurt his knee in Week 5 at Washington last October, says he’ll be doing some individual drills and running "routes on air" on Saturday night, but he’ll be held out of team drills.

by king.nothing on Jul 30, 2011 5:03 PM CDT up reply actions

I read on JSOnline..

That its just precautionary more than anything else. Least thats the way it sounded…

I also read that Finley has dropped 15 lbs! I don’t know about anyone else, but this tells me that Finley is no longer a TE. He played at less than 250 the previous years, and if he’s down to 235 or so, he certainly aint playing TE on the LOS, next to an OT. This would also help explain all the TE that were drafted. Using the “real” TE and FB in the same manner, w/ Finley basically only playing as a WR. He would also basically be taking Jones role and probably starting over Driver, IMO. I just don’t know exactly what to make of that news, other than he is going to be strictly a WR. Hope this was the plan of McCarthy and Thompson and not something Finley did on his own to force them to play him at WR!

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jul 30, 2011 5:40 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow....

cool info, thanks!

That is weird. He wasn’t really used much as a blocking TE before though was he? And he always said he liked to be upright instead of in a 3-point so maybe they are catering to his strengths more by doing this with him.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 30, 2011 6:30 PM CDT up reply actions

found it...

Been looking for it and had trouble finding it. Figure someone would want a link.

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/126454813.html

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jul 30, 2011 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

I like how Mac is taking it easy going into practice....

not like the Ravens, who had like 11 people leave practice on their first day.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 30, 2011 8:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Nice work Stroh…see you CAN improve with this posting links thing. Thanks for taking the extra effort to post the link, interesting article.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jul 30, 2011 9:22 PM CDT up reply actions

I had just read it w/in the last day

So I had a good idea where it was and how to find it. Unlike others where I say something that I read months or years ago. Then I’m NOT going to go looking all over the internet trying to find it, just so I can say “SEE, here it is”. Nothing has changed…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jul 30, 2011 10:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Okay I take it back…Stroh you haven’t improved yourself anywhere. Sorry for trying to give you credit you haven’t earned!

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jul 31, 2011 9:09 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs

Woh! Seriously? That is nuts…I totally missed that news. Yikes, this is a pretty big revelation. He better not be messing around due to an uncoming contract or something. What made him stand out was that he WAS a TE and bigger. Hmm…not sure if I like this news or not. I guess if he’s lighter and maybe even a little faster he could be a pretty dangerous WR still though.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jul 30, 2011 9:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Filnley as a WR?

He would be a really dangerous WR. Like I said, I just don’t quite know what to make of this. Is he still a TE or is he really a WR now? If he’s a WR, I would think of a Vincent Jackson type… Basically the same size now. 6’5 235 give or take. I hope like hell that this was something that he had discussed w/ Thompson and McCarthy. If he did it on his own, I don’t think its gonna go over too well w/ the HC and GM.

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by Strohman on Jul 30, 2011 10:24 PM CDT up reply actions

It would make a TON of sense with all the TEs they have been bringing in though, I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out why we need a half dozen guys for a position that has 1-2 guys at most on the field. If Finley is moving to WR then that changes everything.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jul 31, 2011 9:08 AM CDT up reply actions

Just read another article

Last nite and Finley said he was still a TE. McCarthy asked him if he was planning on blocking anyone this year. Had to kinda laugh at that… Still suggests that this wasn’t something McCarthy wanted or knew about, so count me as not being entirely pleased w/ Finley. Course when he makes a big play, you can be assured I’ll have forgotten all about it. Seems exaggeratated a little tho. I guess he weighed in at 240, down about 7 or 8 lbs, not 15.

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by Strohman on Jul 31, 2011 10:19 AM CDT up reply actions

On the Packers.com interview video it sounds like Finley...

said it just kinda happened during his rehab and shrugged. Said something like, “well I’m stronger now than last year so its all good” or something of that nature…..

Probably not something Mac is happy with….

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 31, 2011 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions

That's what it sounds like to me.

It seems like he was really working hard to come back from the injury.

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by Omaha Sun on Jul 31, 2011 1:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I kind of wonder....

since he has said in the past that he likes playing upright on the line instead of in a stance….

If he intended to lose weight while the lockout was in place and he couldn’t really be supervised to force the coaches hand at playing more receiver and less blocking?

Not that Mac would let that work… but the thought crossed my mind.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 31, 2011 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions