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Things were looking up for the Green Bay Packers' special teams a year ago. Under the tutelage of a new coordinator, those units were showing signs of life, improving in several categories and becoming at least not a drastic disadvantage, even if they were not a true strength.
Then 2016 happened, and we're back to where we were a few years ago at the end of Shawn Slocum's tenure with the team.
Meanwhile, one of the biggest Packers-related wild cards of this year's free agency period is on the offensive line, as a super-versatile player without a secured starting role looks to cash in with a big contract. How will the Packers handle the market for JC Tretter?
In today's Cheese Curds, we find a look back at what happened on special teams and an examination of Tretter's potential value, along with much more.
JC Tretter may be a luxury the Packers can't afford | Packersnews.com
The big question is whether someone will pay Tretter to be their starting center. If that happens, he's as good as gone. That's no sure thing, however, but bringing him back to be a sixth man on the line probably isn't happening.
Offensive countdown: 2016 by the numbers | Packers.com
Counting down from 10 to 1, we find a few interesting numbers. For example, 4 is the number of field goals from 50-plus yards that Mason Crosby attempted last season, including the playoffs (but not including the one that was erased by a Cowboys timeout).
One step up, one step back for Green Bay Packers' special teams - ESPN
Woof. After improving the special teams from 32nd to 17th in an annual ranking, Ron Zook oversaw a 2016 group that fell back down to the bottom tier of the league at 29th.
Matt Bowen, Taken Right Before Brady in 2000 NFL Draft | The MMQB with Peter King
Bowen is now one of the better film and scheme analysts at ESPN, but he started off his career in the NFL five minutes before Tom Brady's began.
Larry Fitzgerald says the Cardinals playing in the Hall of Fame Game is the ‘worst news ever’ - SBNation.com
Well good news! He might not have to play after all, if the same people who ruined the turf for Packers-Colts are in charge of the field again this season.
Mike Zimmer: Vikings 'have to run the ball better' - NFL.com
More than one APC writer feels that the best way to do that is to let Adrian Peterson walk away.