The Green Bay Packers got an impressive performance out of its offensive line this season. The unit started the year with a "new" starter at center - JC Tretter, who was taking over for an PUP-listed Corey Linsley - and a new one at left guard. The shakeup after the release of Josh Sitton and Lane Taylor being tabbed as his replacement sent many Packers fans into a tizzy, but Taylor played well throughout the season and made that move essentially a non-issue for most of the year.
The Packers then got fairly lucky on the injury front across the front five. Tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga each played every game, as did Taylor. When Tretter went down with an injury himself, Linsley had just returned to full strength and was able to step in without missing a beat.
Then there's Lang. He missed three games in the middle of the season with a broken foot, an injury which he recently revealed did not heal fully by the time the season ended. Further complicating issues was the fact that he re-injured it late in the Packers' NFC Championship loss.
This spring, Lang and Tretter will be free agents, along with key backup Don Barclay. The line could look quite different on the interior next season, so keep an eye on those players' negotiations.
Micah Hyde, T.J. Lang earn Stand-Up Guy Awards | Packers.com
Congrats to these two great Packers, who were given these awards by the Green Bay chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America organization.
Lang on injured foot: 'It never fully healed' | Packersnews.com
T.J. showed why he got that honor on Monday, as he openly discussed the status of his injured foot and how it was bothering him every since it was first hurt around the middle of the season.
Eddie Lacy's future will affect what Packers do at running back - ESPN
We'll get into a deeper look at the Packers' 2017 free agents starting next week, but ESPN kicks it off by examining a few of the top players on offense who will be hitting the open market in a few weeks.
Credibility of Green Bay Packers' Jordy Nelson soars, playing hurt - ESPN
It's not like Jordy Nelson really needed much more clout in the locker room, but the respect level other players have for him turned up another notch with the way he fought through his broken ribs on Sunday.
2016 NFL awards | Best Player, ROY, more | PFF
Congratulations to David Bakhtiari, who was named PFF's Best Pass Protector for 2016. Stunningly, Bakhtiari was responsible for fewer pressures than the quarterback he blocked for, and only allowed four hits or sacks on Aaron Rodgers all season.
Pro Bowl Skills Showdown adds a WR Drone Drop competition - SBNation.com
This might actually be worth watching on Thursday night, so we'll be sure to have an open thread for the event. The game? Well, we'll still have an open thread, but I expect that will have less insterest.
Senior Bowl weigh-ins are very serious, very weird, and uncomfortably silent - SBNation.com
Personally, I'm a bit happy that the media is not all in attendance for the weigh-ins at the Scouting Combine. This sounds like a really awkward process for everyone involved.