Packers Trade Rumors

Meredith fourth '09 draft pick to sign contract
"The Green Bay Packers have signed half of their eight draft picks now that offensive lineman Jamon Meredith is under contract. Meredith, who signed on Thursday, was the Packers' second of two fifth-round draft picks this year and the highest pick to sign so far. They still haven't signed first-rounders B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews, fourth-rounder T.J. Lang or fifth-rounder Quinn Johnson."
Jennings agrees to deal; only details remain
"Greg Jennings played it coy when asked after Tuesday morning's minicamp practice whether he was on the verge of a new contract with the Green Bay Packers. "What did you hear? Who's your source?" the Packers star receiver joked with a gaggle of reporters at his locker. "It could be. And it could not be." Turns out, it was. An NFL source confirmed Tuesday evening that Jennings and the Packers had indeed reached an accord on a multi-year contract extension, although the source said there were still some final details being ironed out. WITI-TV, the Fox affiliate in Milwaukee, first reported that the deal was "done" via a Twitter post late Tuesday afternoon, but the source said the contract ..."
Jennings close to deal
"The Green Bay Packers are in contract negotiations with Greg Jennings and are close to agreeing to a new deal, the veteran wide receiver said Monday after minicamp practice. Jennings warned that a breakdown was still possible. Nevertheless, this was the first time he had publicly been so optimistic about a potential new contract with the team since he began seeking a new deal at the conclusion of the 2008 season. "We've been working on some things. We're coming pretty close, as far as my understanding is, to some type of a deal," Jennings said. "But when I say close, we could still be far . . . if that makes sense. But I think we're coming close. You just never know how long 'close' can ..."
Tauscher's replacement will be green
"The Green Bay Packers won't anoint a new starting right tackle until August, but they'll go to training camp with a pretty good idea about the identity of Mark Tauscher's successor. There already are strong opinions within Lambeau Field about which of the three leading candidates will take the job held by Tauscher, an unrestricted free agent unlikely to be re-signed, since Week 3 of the 2000 season. There is Breno Giacomini, whose work on the scout team as a rookie convinced many by the middle of last season he was a viable option. There is Allen Barbre, a college tackle who is back at his natural position after two mostly disappointing seasons as a reserve guard. And there is T.J. Lang, ..."
Driver, Packers discuss new contract
"A day after it was reported that veteran receiver Donald Driver is skipping the Green Bay Packers' organized team activities because he wants the team to redo his contract, his agent said he has been involved in negotiations with the team. "We have had some talks about Donald's contract," Jordan Woy, Driver's long-time agent, said in an e-mail to the Press-Gazette on Friday. Driver, 34, has two years remaining on a deal that is scheduled to pay him base salaries of $3.9 million this season and $4 million next season. The team last reworked Driver's contract on Aug. 2, 2007. At that time, the Packers added a year to his deal, extending it through the 2010 season, and increased his pay, in ..."
Driver absent, working out in Houston
"Wide receiver Donald Driver has joined safety Nick Collins in taking issue with his contract, according to sources. Both joined cornerback Charles Woodson, who has never been a regular to off-season practices, in being the only veteran players absent for the start of organized team activities. But in an email, Driver's agent, Jordan Woy, said Driver's contract is not at issue. "Donald is training in Texas," Woy wrote. "It is not a mandatory camp and the Packers understand this." Driver, after having his contract reworked in '06 and '07, is due to make $6.1 million this season and $7 million in 2010, the final year of his contract, between base salary and bonuses. Driver's average salary ..."
S Nick Collins stays away, seeking new deal; perhaps WR Donald Driver, too
"Nick Collins has taken his unhappiness over his contract to another level. The fifth-year safety, who made his first Pro Bowl last season, has skipped the first two days of the Green Bay Packers' organized team activities. The OTAs are voluntary, but Collins' absence sent the message that he's not going away quietly. A source first told the Press-Gazette on April 24 that Collins wouldn't report for any voluntary workouts until the Packers expressed a willingness to start talking about an extension. Collins did take part in the team's annual Tailgate Tour earlier this month, but his agent, Dave Butz, wouldn't say on Thursday when - or whether - Collins planned to take part in the OTAs, ..."
Is IR system in line for a change?
"When the NFL adopted its system for placing players on season-ending injured reserve, the main issue was stashing. Teams had long been allowed to place players on injured reserve and bring them back later in the season. But some felt that clubs were circumventing the rule by placing players who weren't truly injured on IR, opening a roster spot for someone else. Thus, a competitive advantage was scored. Colts president Bill Polian remembers high-profile coaches and personnel executives, such as Don Shula and Jim Finks, pushing for a change to combat stashing, and it finally came in 1993, when the league made two significant adjustments. At that time, players placed on injured reserve would ..."
Hunter given release
"Defensive end Jason Hunter, who three years ago made the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent, has lost his position on the team to another undrafted free agent. The Packers needed a roster spot to make room for four tryout players they deemed worthy of signing after their rookie orientation camp last weekend, so Hunter was released Monday. Signing deals with the club were: 6-foot-1, 188-pound cornerback Trevor Ford; 6-5, 300-pound offensive tackle Dane Randolph; 6-3, 295-pound defensive lineman Dean Muhtadi; and 6-4, 232-pound punter Adam Graessle. Before the camp, the Packers had 77 signed players on their roster, so they needed to cut one in order to sign the four newcomers. It ..."
Hoping for big break
"If the Green Bay Packers are going to bring the tight end position back to prominence as it was when Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson chewed up defenses, they're going to have to do it the hard way. Last year, they had a shot at Purdue tight end Dustin Keller in the first round of the draft but traded back into the second round towide receiver Jordy Nelson. This year, they passed on the draft's only legitimate tight end prospect, Oklahoma State's Brandon Pettigrew, in order to take highly rated nose tackle B.J. Raji. Returning starter Donald Lee gives coach Mike McCarthy solid insurance at tight end and 2008 third-round pick Jermichael Finley gives him someone who in a year or two could ..."
B.J. Raji confirms positive drug test in college
"B.J. Raji confirmed widespread reports that he tested positive for marijuana while he was a player at Boston College. The Green Bay Packers' top draft pick this year, No. 9 overall, confirmed the reports while lamenting that fans might have a bad impression of him because of a false report that he also tested positive at the NFL scouting combine this spring. In the weeks leading up to the draft, SI.com reported Raji had tested positive for marijuana at the combine and previously at Boston College. Later, when the tests from the combine were given to teams in the week before the draft, it turned out the report about the test from the combine was wrong. "It's a shame," Raji said of the false ..."
Pickett facing shuffle
"It's unclear whether anyone has told veteran Ryan Pickett about it, but there's a very good chance he could be playing some defensive end for the Green Bay Packers this season. The 330-pound Pickett isn't any smaller than the Packers' first-round pick, Boston College nose tackle B.J. Raji, but general manager Ted Thompson and defensive coordinator Dom Capers think he's athletic enough to play end in their defense. Pickett has been a nose tackle only with the Packers, but in Capers' 3-4 defense the ends line up over the tackle and focus on playing the run. "I am excited about Ryan Pickett being able to play more than one position," Capers said. "The first thing you learn is if you run out ..."
Packers eye punter
"The Green Bay Packers already have two punters on their roster but that might not stop them from adding a third in the next 48 hours. Shawn Slocum, their new special-teams coordinator, left the distinct impression on two of the top three punters in the draft that the Packers aren't necessarily satisfied with holdover Jeremy Kapinos and free agent Durant Brooks. On April 8, Slocum was in Dallas for a 1-hour 15-minute workout with Southern Methodist's Thomas Morstead. Earlier, he had a telephone conversation with Texas A"
RBs Brown, Coffee worth a look in middle rounds
"The Green Bay Packers don't figure to take a running back in the first round of Saturday's NFL draft, but there's a good argument General Manager Ted Thompson shouldone sometime this weekend, preferably earlier rather than later. The Packers head into the weekend with a primary halfback in Ryan Grant, but he's already 26 years old at a short-shelf-life position, and the Packers won't know until September whether he's more the punishing slasher who resurrected their run game in 2007 or the pedestrian back who played all last season with an injured hamstring. They also have a third-year backup in Brandon Jackson, who excited them with his gains last offseason but hasn't shown whether he's ..."
Packers interested in hosting World Cup soccer at Lambeau
"Green Bay Packers officials have told World Cup officials that they are interested in allowing Lambeau Field to be used as a venue for the global soccer event. A U.S. committee is lobbying international soccer authorities to host the World Cup tournament in 2018 or 2022. The committee said it received 58 bids from a list of 70 major stadiums across the country, including 30 National Football League venues. Candlestick Park in San Francisco was the only NFL stadium to decline the opportunity. "We were appreciative the USA Bid Committee considered Lambeau Field as a potential site," said Mark Murphy, Packers president and chief executive officer. "We told them we were interested in pursuing ..."
Cut from the cloth of Butler
"LeRoy Butler, one of the two greatest safeties in the history of the Green Bay Packers, actually was a cornerback as a senior at Florida State and in his first two National Football League seasons. Some personnel people see an eerie resemblance between Butler and Ohio State's Malcolm Jenkins, the top-rated cornerback in this draft, as well as Oregon's Jairus Byrd, another so-called tweener. Jerry Angelo, general manager of the Chicago Bears, said the comparison between Butler and Jenkins was on the mark. "He's like a LeRoy Butler," Angelo said. "Kind of tough like that. Good athlete. What kind of speed did Butler have?" At the 1990 combine, Butler measured 5 feet 11 inches, weighed 193 ..."
Trade unlikely, but Packers have plenty of options
"Quality offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs should be available with the ninth pick. As personnel departments across the NFL assemble their final draft boards, about the only thing they agree on is that there are no difference-makers in this year's draft. Instead of the five to 10 franchise players usually available on draft day, scouts say there are a bunch of very-good-but-not-great players, that the difference between the first pick and the 20th pick will be negligible. That seemingly makes this a perfect draft for Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson. With the Packers holding the ninth overall pick and so much parity among the top players, ..."
NFL draft preview: Is Orakpo the Packers' answer at LB?
"Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin just led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl XLIII title, so they know a thing or two about the personnel it takes to make a 3-4 defense work. And what words of wisdom do the Steelers' director of football operations and head coach have for the Green Bay Packers as they search for linebacker help - in part from prospects who played defensive end in college - in the 2009 NFL draft, which begins Saturday? Good luck. "I think the outside linebackers, the hybrids, are the most difficult guys to evaluate and draft because what you're looking at (on film) and what you're asking them to do are two different things," Tomlin said at the annual NFL meetings last ..."
Mike Vandermause column: With the 9th pick, the Packers ...
"Who should the Green Bay Packers take with their first-round draft choice on Saturday? If Boston College nose tackle B.J. Raji is still on the board, it's a no-brainer. The Packers need a big bruiser in the middle of their 3-4 defense, and the 337-pound Raji fills the bill. But there's one problem for the Packers. Questions about Raji's character have been answered, which reduces the chance he will be available when they use the No. 9 overall pick in the first round. Raji is by far the best defensive tackle among a thin crop of college prospects and could get snatched in the first five picks. If that happens, the Packers will settle for their backup plan, which in all likelihood involves ..."
Thompson could look for depth at linebacker
"Ted Thompson's two biggest days of the year are just a week away. "He's a draft-driven guy and he does a good job doing it," an executive in personnel for another National Football League team said at midweek. "They're a pretty solid team and they've got a bunch of picks. Why do you need to be aggressive in free agency when you don't have a lot of needs?" The personnel man views the Packers as a team without many holes entering the draft next weekend. "Their No. 1 need is an outside linebacker who can rush the passer," the scout said. "The 3-4 is going to be good for them. It's a nice changeup, especially for the NFC North and the NFC where you don't see a lot of 3-4 teams. Then I think ..."
FB John Kuhn seems likely to return
"NFL teams have almost three more weeks to make offers to restricted free agents, but the agent for fullback John Kuhn believes his client will return to the Green Bay Packers. Agent Kevin Gold said Kuhn has been working out with the Packers since their offseason program began March 16. Kuhn visited the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this month, but Gold doesn't anticipate an offer forthcoming. "It's possible someone could come out of the woodwork, but the way it looks now is he's going to stay there," Gold said Monday. "He likes it there and would like to stay there long term." Gold said he had another conversation with the Bengals over the weekend after the Minnesota Vikings matched the ..."
Packers sign offensive lineman Preston
"The Green Bay Packers have made another foray into free agency, and not surprisingly it's another minor one. An NFL source said on Thursday evening that the Packers have agreed to terms with offensive lineman Duke Preston, a versatile veteran who can play any of the interior line positions and possibly right tackle. Preston is the second signing by Packers General Manager Ted Thompson since free agency began last month. Thompson also signed former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Anthony Smith earlier this month. The 6-foot-5, 326-pound Preston, originally a fourth-round draft pick (No. 122) out of Illinois by Buffalo in 2005, has 20 NFL starts under his belt and has played in 59 games over the ..."
Thompson dedicates cap space to preserving roster
"Three weeks into free agency, Ted Thompson has declared his hand. The Green Bay Packers' general manager has signed only one free agent, a bargain one at that in backup safety Anthony Smith, and still has about $29 million in salary-cap space. With the chances of spending significant money on a free agent now all but gone, it's safe to say almost all of the cap room Thompson saved this year will go to contract extensions for players on his long list of 17 potential free agents in 2010. He's had plenty of time to prioritize that list, so what remains is finishing some contracts. "We'll do this in time," Thompson said this week. "Not tomorrow, but over the course of the next few months, ..."
Collins, Williams await offers
"Green Bay Packers defensive backs Nick Collins and Tramon Williams are both waiting for the club to make them financial offers they think are worthy of their signatures. Collins is waiting at home in Florida and Williams is in town working out with the rest of his teammates. Collins is absent as he and his wife await the birth of their third child, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. But he and his agent are frustrated with the lack of attention Collins has received heading into the last year of his contract, the source said. The Packers have made it known that they have other players they have to address first before they get to Collins, and before that they want to ..."
Collins skipping offseason program, looking for new deal
"Nick Collins doesn't want a new deal before reporting to the Green Bay Packers' offseason strength and conditioning program. But the Pro Bowl safety would at least like the team to start talking to him about one. With no negotiations on the horizon, Collins is staying home in Florida and not attending the team's offseason workouts, which kicked off Monday, an NFL source said Thursday evening. Collins, 25, was named an NFC starter at safety for the Pro Bowl last month after registering 99 tackles and seven interceptions last season, returning three of those INTs for touchdowns. He has played and started 63 of a possible 66 games during his four NFL seasons, with 11 career interceptions. ..."
Packers match Titans' offer for corner
"The Packers matched an offer sheet from the Titans for restricted free-agent cornerback Jarrett Bush, the player's agent, Derrick Fox, said Monday. The Titans, looking to bolster their depth at cornerback, had signed Bush to an offer sheet Friday, giving the Packers seven days to match. Bush, an undrafted free agent out of Utah State, signed with Green Bay in 2006 after he was waived by Carolina. He appeared in 46 games for the Packers, primarily on special teams. He's also played nickelback and cornerback and returned two punts. Last season he had 11 tackles after making 30 in 2007. The Titans lost return man and reserve cornerback Chris Carr, a free agent, to the Ravens over the weekend. ..."
Montgomery keeps looking, but hasn't ruled out Packers
"Defensive end Michael Montgomery might visit one more NFL team but is looking to sign soon so he can take part in a formal offseason workout program, one of his agents said Thursday. Montgomery, an unrestricted free agent who played defensive end for Green Bay for the last four years, hasn't ruled out re-signing with the Packers even though he's not a good fit for the 3-4 defense. At 6-foot-5 and 273 pounds, he has the size and abilities of a pure 4-3 defensive end. He's light for a defensive end in the 3-4, and if he signs with the Packers he'll have to add substantial bulk and strength to play that position. He doesn't have the athletic ability to play outside linebacker in the 3-4. ..."
Veteran 3-4 safety Smith joins Packers
"The Green Bay Packers' first free agent signing of the offseason is an effort to help their conversion to a 3-4 defense. An NFL source said safety Anthony Smith agreed to a contract with the Packers on Friday. Smith, 25, played in the Pittsburgh Steelers' 3-4 defense the past three years and is well known to the Packers' new safeties coach, Darren Perry, who was Smith's defensive backs coach with the Steelers in 2006. Details of the contract weren't available. The Packers activity in free agency shows they were looking to bring in a safety with experience in the 3-4 as a possible fallback starter, and for protection at safety in the future. Starters Nick Collins and Atari Bigby will be ..."
Hoping to net a safety
"If the Green Bay Packers are able to lure former Pittsburgh Steelers safety Anthony Smith to their organization, they will be adding a strong, athletic player whose biggest shortcoming might be his lack of maturity. Smith, 25, visited the team's facilities Wednesday and expressed interest in being a part of the Packers' transition to a Steelers-like 3-4 defense, a pair of NFL sources said Thursday morning. The Packers have had talks with Smith's agent about a contract, but other teams were interested and no deal had been reached as of Thursday evening. The Packers have shown a recent interest in safeties, bringing in Cleveland unrestricted free agent Mike Adams and Smith over a two-day ..."
Holliday, Taylor on defensive wish list
"A ho-hum free-agency period for the Green Bay Packers could get a lot more interesting - at least in the eyes of the green-and-gold faithful - if the team explores adding the two players with experience in Dom Capers' 3-4 defensive scheme who became available Monday: Ex-Packers and Miami Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday, and ex-Dolphins and Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor. The Dolphins released Holliday Monday after the 11-year NFL veteran declined to restructure his contract with a $1.5 million roster bonus looming, and the Redskins did the same to Taylor, who refused to allow the club toa clause into Taylor's contract that would have required him to participate in ..."
Starting right outside LB probably won't be Peppers
"The starting right outside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers' new 3-4 defense probably isn't on their roster. That means they're looking hard at a deep draft and thin crop of free agents to fill the position. In free agency, their top candidate is Dallas linebacker Kevin Burnett, though there are two or three teams pursuing him as hard. The Packers appear to have "strong interest" and want to bring in Burnett for a visit, agent Ricky Lefft said, but Lefft started contract negotiations with Oakland on Wednesday and was expecting to begin talks with San Diego later in the day. Burnett visited both teams this week. Burnett hadn't set up a visit with the Packers as of Wednesday afternoon, ..."
Linebacker's option play
"The Green Bay Packers have set up a tentative visit Saturday for free agent linebacker Kevin Burnett, but it's possible the Dallas Cowboys veteran will have a new home before that. Burnett's agent, Ricky Lefft, said Wednesday night that he did not know if his client would still be unsigned by the weekend given interest shown by other teams. But he was leaving open the possibility of a meeting with the Packers, who have shown some interest in the free agent. From the look of things, it appears the Packers are not willing to rush into anything and aren't interested in going to extremes to get Burnett signed. Given Burnett is built somewhere between a middle and outside linebacker the Packers ..."
Browns' safety Mike Adams visits Packers, but gets no offer
"As the Green Bay Packers sift through the remaining free-agent defensive linemen worth trying to sign, they also are looking at lesser areas of need like safety. The Packers on Tuesday had Cleveland safety Mike Adams in for a visit, his agent confirmed. Agent Peter Schaffer said Adams was taking a trip to the New England Patriots after his trip to Green Bay. The Packers are looking to augment their defensive roster with players for their new 3-4 defense either because they've played in it or have the skill set to fit it better than some current players. The Packers appear to be looking at Adams as a likely backup and special-teams player, or as a fallback starter. Their starters at safety ..."
Team may try to bring in linebacker Burnett
"As thin as the Green Bay Packers are on the defensive line, it should never be forgotten that their priority in building a successful 3-4 defensive scheme is to find playmakers at the outside linebacker positions. It is there where 3-4 teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers have stocked up on well-rounded athletes who can both rush the passer andinto coverage. To that end, the Packers are eyeing a couple of free agents who could offer instant help, the most notable being Dallas linebacker Kevin Burnett, a former second-round draft choice who will be entering his fifth season in 2009. Of all the remaining linebackers, Burnett might have the most potential because of his athleticism and untapped ..."
Market thin at D-line
"In just a matter of days, the NFL free-agent defensive line field has been whittled down to its ordinary core, leaving the Green Bay Packers to sift through the remains and decide whether they can find a bargain. The leftovers are slim enough that the Packers will make a play for a safety before they take on the task of building up a rather thin defensive-line group. In the next day or two, they will visit with Cleveland unrestricted free-agent safety Mike Adams, a part-time starter last year whose strength is coverage. According to an NFL source, the 5-foot-11, 195-pound Adams is scheduled to meet with Packers officials to discuss the possibility of joining their organization. Adams came ..."
In line to be left out in the cold
"One of the reasons the Green Bay Packers are $30 million under the salary cap is that they refuse to set the market in free agency and prefer to let the market establish itself. It means that sometimes the object of the Packers' desire is at the bank cashing a check from somebody else before they even have their checkbook out of their pocket. But that strategy has kept them from overpaying players. The Packers very well could be left in the dust again this year with their own free agent, Colin Cole, and someone else's, Dallas' Chris Canty. Both free agents appear to have at least two suitors with as much or more interest than Green Bay, and it will be up to the Packers to decide whether ..."
Canty passes on Giants; Cole stirs interest around NFL
"Chris Canty's visit to the New York Giants on Saturday failed to result in a contract, so the door remains open for the Green Bay Packers if they're willing to pay within the free-agent defensive end's financial parameters. Canty's agent, Brad Blank, said he spoke with Giants officials Saturday and the contractual gulf was large enough that they no longer are in the bidding. Canty isn't scheduled to fly from New York to Seattle until early Sunday evening, and has several other teams, including the Packers, wanting him to visit as well. "Seattle's up now," Blank said. "That can change (though). One phone call from the Packers or Broncos or San Francisco or Tennessee, or someone I haven't ..."
Packers keep Bigby with 2nd-round tender
"The Green Bay Packers have offered starting safety Atari Bigby a second-round tender in restricted free agency, an NFL source said, in effect removing him from the free-agent market. The NFL's deadline for tendering restricted free agents was 3 p.m. Thursday, and the Packers on Thursday evening announced they'd tendered five of their seven restricted free agents: Bigby, receiver Ruvell Martin, safety Jarrett Bush, fullback John Kuhn and outside linebacker Jason Hunter. They did not tender tight end Tory Humphrey and receiver Shaun Bodiford. The second-round tender for Bigby is worth $1.545 million. Though Bigby is free to sign with another team, the Packers have the right to match the ..."
With $30M in cap room, look for new deals, not new players
"Having about $30 million in salary-cap room isn't likely to change the Green Bay Packers' approach to free agency, but they may be more active than last year because of their switch to the 3-4 defense. General Manager Ted Thompson has put the team's cap in excellent shape by being careful in free agency. With a long list of potential free agents on his roster after the 2009 season, the smart money says he'll use most of that cap room to extend the contracts of current Packers players. However, with a roster built to play a 4-3 defense, Thompson could target relative bargain-type free agents to ease the transition to the 3-4. "It kind of depends on the quality of the guys and whether we ..."
Pick hard to predict at No. 9
"The top three left tackles in the National Football League draft won't be available for the Green Bay Packers to take with the No. 9 selection based on a Journal Sentinel poll of executives representing 25% of the league. The cross section of eight scouts, four from NFC teams and four from AFC teams, painted a picture in which the Packers might well be looking at Boston College nose tackle B.J. Raji to buttress their new 3-4 base defense. "I haven't even started working on that," general manager Ted Thompson said Friday at the NFL combine. "When you're picking at 9 your draft board's a little bit different than when you're picking at 30. But I feel pretty strongly . . . there's going to be ..."
Popular coach's ouster may invite trouble
"In 2004, the Green Bay Packers went through a soap opera with Mike McKenzie as the leading man. The 2003 Packers had a real shot at the Super Bowl. They were playing as well as anyone in the NFC when they closed the season on a 6-1 rush to win the NFC North with a 10-6 record. The regular season ended with the incredible moment at Lambeau Field where fans went nuts because of something that happened a couple thousand miles away in the Arizona desert when the Cardinals knocked the Minnesota Vikings out of the playoffs with a last-play touchdown. Had that not happened, the Packers still would have missed the playoffs even with their 10-6 mark. The idea that the Packers were a team of destiny ..."
Redding hired as strength and conditioning coordinator
"The Green Bay Packers have hired longtime NFL strength coach Dave Redding as their new strength and conditioning coordinator, an NFL source said Wednesday. Redding spent most of his 23-year NFL career working with Marty Schottenheimer, Packers coach Mike McCarthy's mentor in the business, and McCarthy worked with Redding in Kansas City during the mid-1990s. The Packers did not officially announce Redding's hiring, but the source said McCarthy was sold on Redding's experience, which allowed him to win out over assistant strength and conditioning coach Mark Lovat, one of the other four finalists for the job. Lovat will be retained, the source said, as will assistant Mondray Gee. Redding, who ..."
Long-term prospects are in his hands
"Keith Jackson or Tyrone Davis? Paul Coffman or David Martin? That's the question the Green Bay Packers are anxious to find out when it comes to Jermichael Finley. Finley, an incredibly raw 21-year-old who would be entering his senior year at Texas if he hadn't left school early, just completed a largely unfulfilling rookie season. But the multitalented Finley just might be the key to where the Packer tight end position is headed. Will Finley eventually develop into a solid contributor that can put up big numbers, ala Jackson and Coffman? Or will he spend his career teasing, frustrating, and then breaking your heart, like Davis and Martin? "I don't plan to break anybody's heart," Finley ..."
Longtime strength coach hired
"Mike McCarthy is going old school to get his weight room back up to speed. McCarthy chose National Football League coaching veteran Dave Redding to replace strength and conditioning coach Rock Gullickson, a league source said Wednesday. Gullickson was fired along with five defensive coaches on Jan. 5. Redding will be 58 by the time training camp starts in August. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers, who will be 59, is the only assistant older than Redding. Redding was coach Marty Schottenheimer's strength coach for all but two years from 1982-'06, serving in Cleveland ('82-'88), Kansas City ('89-'98), Washington (2001) and San Diego ('02-'06). McCarthy was a quality control assistant and ..."
As always, corps strength provides lift
"During his laughable years as the Detroit Lions' general manager, one reason Matt Millen became a punch line was his love affair with wide receivers. On three occasions, Millen grabbed a wideout with a top-10 pick and two failed miserably. Packer general manager Ted Thompson isn't quite as affectionate when it comes to wide receivers. But he's close. In all four of his drafts, Thompson used first-day picks on a wide receiver. Jordy Nelson (2008), Greg Jennings (2006) and Terrence Murphy (2005) were all taken in the second round, while James Jones was a third-rounder in 2007. Altogether, Thompson has selected eight receivers. The good news for Packer fans is Thompson has fared awfully well ..."
Defensive staff beginning to take shape
"Dom Capers, the Green Bay Packers' new defensive coordinator, made his mark in the National Football League as the coach of the Carolina Panthers. His staff of position coaches is now taking on a Carolina flavor, also. Although the Packers have yet to officially announce the new hirings, Mike Trgovac and Kevin Greene have been added to the defensive staff, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Trgovac was the Carolina defensive coordinator for the past six seasons but decided he needed a change of scenery. He had been offered a contract to return as the Panthers' defensive coordinator but instead will join the Packers as defensive line coach. Trgovac was the Packer defensive line ..."
Looking to keep their edge
"When the Green Bay Packers began their 2008 season, one thing to watch was whether or not age would start to show in the cornerback corps. How was the question answered? For the most part, quite nicely. Charles Woodson was voted a starter in the Pro Bowl (but will not play because of an injury), and Al Harris has been added to the roster as an injury replacement after being voted as an alternate. Woodson, who played with a broken big toe much of the first half of the season, was replaced by Tampa Bay's Ronde Barber. And when Philadelphia's Asante Samuel later was removed because of an injury, Harris was named as his replacement. In other words, the Packers appear to be in good hands with ..."
Family swayed decision
"Personal reasons kept the Green Bay Packers from adding another member to their coaching staff. Much like Gregg Williams, who turned down Mike McCarthy's offer to be the Packers' defensive coordinator to take the same job with the New Orleans Saints, veteran defensive line coach Bill Johnson said Wednesday he chose the Saints over the Packers for family reasons. "It was as simple as that, really it was," Johnson said at the Senior Bowl. "I can't tell you how impressed I was with the entire operation they have up there in Green Bay. But in the end, New Orleans was a better fit." Johnson said that both his grown children live in Atlanta. He also is a Louisiana native (Neville) and graduated ..."
McCarthy adds offensive assistant
"Coach Mike McCarthy is hiring John Rushing, one of his minority coaching interns from last summer, as an offensive quality control coach for the Green Bay Packers, a source close to Rushing said Thursday. Also, former Oakland Raiders defensive line coach Keith Millard is scheduled to interview with McCarthy, according to a report on Insidebayarea.com. Millard, 46, had a nine-year career in the NFL as a defensive lineman that included seven years with the Minnesota Vikings and part of the 1992 season with the Packers. He was a defensive line coach for Oakland the past four years and apparently is not returning to the Raiders, who still don't have a head coach. Rushing, 36, spent the last ..."
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