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Happy Thursday, folks! Please excuse the lack of cheese curds from yesterday - it was a combination of a slow news day and lack of access to a computer early on that prevented them from going up. With that in mind, we've got a few extra bits and pieces today to get you caught up.
There's lots of free agent talk and speculation in today's batch, including two relatively big-name NFL players whose 2014 contracts were terminated recently.
Aaron Rodgers' collarbone injury raises question of longevity - JSOnline
Rodgers will not stop using his mobility to extend plays until he can't any more. It's that simple. He doesn't take many unnecessary hits when he's running because he usually knows when to get down or out of bounds. I think this is a pretty negligible concern, personally.
Packers' trips to Super Bowl yield impressive individual performances - JSOnline
They rank Rodgers' game in Super Bowl XLV as the best by any Packer in a Super Bowl, and I'm not inclined to disagree.
Re-signing Shields won't come cheap for Packers | Packersnews
Yikes. One scout says that Sam Shields could get as much as $8.5 million per year on the open market. Would you be okay with Green Bay paying him that kind of money to get him to stay?
Next OLB Coach needs natural fits - ESPN
It's true that Kevin Greene had almost exclusively college defensive ends to work with, but that's the price of running a 3-4 - few college teams run that defense, so every NFL team using that defense deals with the same thing in young players.
Green Bay Packers Annual Checkup: Jarrett Boykin | FOX Sports Wisconsin
If James Jones departs in free agency, look for Boykin to continue to step up as the third wideout.
Falcons cut Asante Samuel, Stephen Nicholas | SBNation
I was actually stunned at how little Samuel was making (only $3.5 million with another $1.75 million in incentives).
Matt Cassel will void contract with Vikings, per report | SBNation
It seems likely that Minnesota will bring a QB in early in the draft this year, but I wouldn't bet on Cassel getting another opportunity to start in the NFL in 2014.
CBS will air 8 Thursday Night Football games in 2014 | SBNation
WAIT WAIT WAIT. WE'LL HAVE TO WATCH FOOTBALL INSTEAD OF THE BIG BANG THEORY? J/K, that show sucks anyway.
