Free Agency Opinions

by JRemien12 on Jan 31, 2012 2:17 PM CST

Hey guys,

Just wanted to see if I was on the same page as some of you as far as the free agency situation goes. Of course, being of the fanatic nature I was calling for Finley as well as Grants' heads after the loss to the Giants, but after several weeks of consideration and reading, I feel as though I have a more fair assessment of who I'd like to see retained and who I'd like to see let go.

Keep:

Jarrett Bush- An incredible liability at times in the secondary, but a great and undervalued special teams player.

Finley (I am 51-49 on this one)- An amazing talent, but seems to be a head-case and unable to focus at times.

Scott Wells- Has been as solid as anyone on the oline in past years, and seems to have gotten better with age.

Howard Green- not an expensive veteran that we can afford to keep and will provide some sort of stability to our jumbled and inconsistent dline.

Let Go:

Ryan Grant- Love the guy but seems as though he has lost a step. Had a good end of the season, but didn't show me enough to warrant a resigning.

Matt Flynn- If possible, I would love to resign or tag him and then get some actual trade value for him, but I feel that is almost out of the realm of possibility at this point. He is going somewhere, and it is not fair to him to let his talent sit.

Erik Walden- I have absolutely no issue with letting Walden go. He was an incredible letdown this year as well as a distraction off the field.

Pat Lee- As much as it hurts to let such a high pick go so early in his career, I am actually okay with letting Lee walk. He has yet to prove anything on the field, and has been surpassed by both Shields and Bush in their respective current positions. Almost reminds me a bit of Ahmad Carroll, but Lee doesn't get as much of a chance to mess things up on the field.

Let me know your thoughts and GO PACK.

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Keep: JerMichael Finley. Yeah, he had drop issues — I get it. But he’s never had those issues in years past, and he’s someone who opens up things for others. He’s worth keeping, and when he fixes the drop problem, he’ll start looking like a top 5 TE.

Scott Wells – Like you said, he’s been consistent, and I think continuity on the OL is the most important thing for us.

Jarret Bush/Pat Lee – I don’t like Bush much because of how much of a liability he is on defense. The amount of 20+ yard plays he let up in his extremely limited playing time this season is absolutely horrible. I can’t remember the exact amount (think it was around 6 to 7), and I’d post the link from JSOnline but I’ve reached the 20 article a month limit. That being said, he’s been very good on special teams. Lee is also a liability on defense but I thought his special teams play improved a lot this season (returning kicks aside). I’m pretty sure he and Bush tied for the lead in tackles on special teams at 12 a piece. I guess it just comes down to how much each guy wants.

Let go: Ryan Grant – He seemed to regain his old form in the latter half of the season. Problem is, his old form isn’t much more than average. I’d rather we go with Starks, Green, and Saine.

Erik Walden – He was totally worthless this season. Never got any push, and couldn’t hold his gap to save his life.

Howard Green – He’s really only a NT, and we’ve already got two of those in Raji and Pickett. Hopefully, Guy will be ready to contribute a little bit more this season.

Matt Flynn – I’d love to do the tag and trade too but I doubt it happens. Hopefully, we’ll get a 3rd or 4th round compensatory pick for him.

Bush/Lee – Obviously, which ever one of the two we don’t keep, as I think one will probably stay as strictly a special teams guy.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 31, 2012 4:35 PM CST reply actions

Not as impressed with Lee as Bush

IMO, I think that Bush is a much better CB than Lee as well as a better ST player. Definitely be fine with Lee walking but they should sign Bush.

"I'm here to talk about the economy today -- about the need to get four quarters of strong, consistent performance. That wasn't another Jay Cutler joke, I swear. It could be, but it's not."

by Kuhl on Jan 31, 2012 6:46 PM CST up reply actions

If House can play (team seems high on him according to JSOnline), then either Bush or Lee would basically just be a special teams player anyway. I don’t agree that Bush is probably a better ST’s player now but he’s also been with us a year or two longer than Lee. I think Lee could improve more on ST’s and we likely wouldn’t have to spend as much on him as we would Bush. I guess I don’t really mind either way, but if Bush is back I hope to God he never sees defensive playing time.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 2, 2012 4:07 PM CST up reply actions

Bush is awful but he occasionally can make a good play

Lee is all of the bad without any of the good.

"I'm here to talk about the economy today -- about the need to get four quarters of strong, consistent performance. That wasn't another Jay Cutler joke, I swear. It could be, but it's not."

by Kuhl on Feb 2, 2012 5:03 PM CST up reply actions

Yeah, that’s true. And I meant to say don’t disagree that Bush is a better ST’s player now.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Feb 3, 2012 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

yes, I could see TT drafting another 3/4/5th round CB if Bush is going to cost too much to resign, maybe even a small name FA

by Tracker J Dunn on Feb 3, 2012 4:28 PM CST up reply actions

Finally, an intelligent fanpost from a dude who doesn't comment much

I was getting worried about you lurkers. I pretty much agree with everything you said. Nice job. Anyone you’d like to go out and get in free agency?
Also, I was thinking; What if we franchised Flynn, and traded him and a 2nd/3rd rounder to Miami for Cameron Wake? Very unlikely, and has a 99% chance of not happening, but that would be pretty sweet.

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 31, 2012 6:51 PM CST reply actions

Miami probly wouldn't do that trade IMO

football does not build character, it reveals character.

by sheehan on Jan 31, 2012 7:23 PM CST up reply actions

We'd have to put more in the deal

But I’d be fine with giving up 3 or 4 high picks to net him. We need a star pass rusher, it’s pretty much the last hole on our roster, besides DE.

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 31, 2012 7:31 PM CST up reply actions

Another star pass rusher*

Across from Clay

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 31, 2012 7:32 PM CST up reply actions

Possible free agency moves

Yeah, I usually do a lot more reading than posting, but hopefully I’ll be able to sneak some more thoughts in on a regular basis. As for Flynn, like I said it would be awesome to get something for him, but it seems like a fantasy at this point.

But to comment on your question about possible additions, I don’t see us needing/adding anyone too significant in the offseason. As lackluster as that sounds, I am a huge fan of the fact that as an organization we have yet to make a serious bid on any big name free agent not named Woodson in a long, long time. I feel as though us building from within puts a lot of emphasis on our coaching staff, and at this point I am completely comfortable with that.

One thing I would really like to see this offseason is for Nick Collins to get back and start for us again. It may be a lot easier said than done, but I think he is much more important to our D than I had originally thought—or that he had ever gotten credit for. As for free agency additions, I will go ahead and dream a little bit and give you a list of 5 guys that I would love to see in playing in Lambeau.

Not in any order

1) D’Quell Jackson-CLE- Very underrated guy who has a great motor and is a tackling machine, doesn’t fill an obvious need, but I feel as though he would be an upgrade to Hawk and Bishop.

2) LaRon Landry-WAS- I can dream right? This guy is an amazing hitter, although I can not speak for his coverage skills I feel like he could come in and possibly replace Collins if need-be.

3) Cliff Avril-DET- I have had my eye on this dude for awhile, and he can play. I would love to see the Packers pursue him this offseason and aim on getting him on the other side of Matthews as a 3-4 end

4) John Skelton-ARI- I don’t think that this guy is a free agent, but in the right situation, I think he could be a quality player. Sure he had Fitz to throw to, but he has great intangibles and is a good decision maker. I would like to have a backup with some experience under their belt after Flynn leaves.

5) Pierre Thomas/Chris Ivory-NO- Both of these guys are the kind of high-motor running backs that I enjoy watching. Neither of them are very big, but I feel like in our offense the last thing we need is a big bruising back. I think in our offense we need someone who can catch 4-5 passes a game, run 8-12 times effectively, and block well in the backfield. A trade for either one of these two in the NO stable of running backs could be feasible if we were willing to go out and throw some offers their way.

by JRemien12 on Jan 31, 2012 8:39 PM CST up reply actions

Avril

If he were to come here, it would be as a OLB opposite to Matthews, not as a DE. That being said, Avril won’t be in a Packer uniform next season. He’s gonna get good money from some team that wants to keep him as a 43 DE. Good money means around 10+ million per season. That would destroy our cap room, both now and for future signings.

Skelton isn’t going anywhere either. Cardinals have him for two more years I do believe, and I would be surprised if they entertained trade offers for him.

If Ted goes into free agency this year, I don’t think it will be for some big money free agent.

by Shoes31 on Jan 31, 2012 9:20 PM CST up reply actions

FA

The only position that I could see the Packers address in FA is at Safety. If Collins neck doesn’t check out I can see Thompson finding a FA Safety w/ some upside. Might be a FA or trade. A DE or OLB will have to be addressed in the draft. Its gotta be someone that comes as a value and therefore not a big name, just a guy that can come in and contribute for a few years.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 31, 2012 10:36 PM CST up reply actions

I think if we were to trade for a player, it would be on the defensive side of the ball.

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Feb 1, 2012 1:10 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Got to pick up Scott Chandler from Buffalo...

That dude was scary good this year and seems to have flown under the radar for his entire 5 year NFL career. A monster (size) TE with decent speed and glue hands.

by LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG on Feb 1, 2012 5:58 PM CST reply actions

Can he put it together for a whole season though? That is my concern. He seems to show up big in a few games and then disappear in many others. I don’t know if that is his QB or him…

He’s got some serious talent though. Is he a FA??

By the way, nice to see you posting real football stuff in another thread. Makes us think you are just a normal guy not trying to troll…much better way to go about things.

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

by TrevorR on Feb 2, 2012 7:58 AM CST up reply actions

yea let sign a 6th TE

makes sense

aaaaaaaaahh, I gotta go!!

by b3nihana on Feb 2, 2012 1:02 PM CST up reply actions

possibly..
-if they don’t re-sign Finley
-if Quarless isn’t ready for next season
-if they let Crabtree go.

I think two of those are real possibilities.

by Tracker J Dunn on Feb 3, 2012 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

agreed with trevor

though I don’t think even Thompson would try to get a 6th TE

by packermussupreme on Feb 2, 2012 2:30 PM CST reply actions

Fairly certain he means as a replacement for Finley.

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

by TrevorR on Feb 3, 2012 7:41 AM CST up reply actions

Screw that.

Trade Rodgers for 5 first round picks and Matt Forte, start Flynn, fire TT/MM, move Raji to OLB opposite of CMIII, and draft 3 tight ends.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Feb 4, 2012 11:36 PM CST reply actions

Can we bring in Favre to teach Flynn how to throw correctly too?

Rodgers is such a dumb QB with an awful throwing motion

"I'm here to talk about the economy today -- about the need to get four quarters of strong, consistent performance. That wasn't another Jay Cutler joke, I swear. It could be, but it's not."

by Kuhl on Feb 5, 2012 12:59 AM CST up reply actions