Packers Offseason Moves- Latest: Gutekunst Hired as GM, signed to 5-year deal (Joe Philbin-OC, Mike Pettine-DC)

[nate82]

 

I think we all know generally what happened and the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. They waited until they were eliminated on Monday night/Tuesday morning and figured they would shut Aaron Rodgers down. He was probably cleared by the doctors and taken off of IR with juuuuust a little bit of hesitation by both football operations and medical operations. When they were eliminated, they probably put him back on IR without knowing or caring to look up the rules for placement on IR. They never reported another injury Rodgers wasn't re-injured. He didn't reinjure his collarbone. He didn't injure anything that would require placement on IR. He wasn't removed from the game and in McCarthy's post game presser or responses, simply said Rodgers was sore. Had they not been eliminated, a sore Rodgers would not have been placed on IR. They simply wanted the roster spot. I don't understand placing Rodgers on IR. Callahan was already reacquired and the more prudent move would have been to simply make Rodgers the 3rd QB or inactive on game day. At this point, there was no street free agent worthy of protecting on the 53-man roster at the risk of lying about Rodgers placement on the IR. I am ashamed that Ted Thompson essentially did something that the Patriots gets accused of. I think it's a lot more egregious than some Packers fans are minimizing it to be. This isn't about Rodgers playing or not, the Packers had ample reason to justify Aaron not playing. This is about manipulating the 53-man roster and violating the rules while doing it. Placing Aaron Rodgers on waivers doesn't seem like a prudent punishment, but I think the Packers should be punished in some manner.

 

I don't think they will lose a draft pick and will probably just get fined for this one. It is not like the Packers are the Patriots where they are always straddling the line of legal or illegal. Coming at this as a non Packers fan I think the teams that brought this issue up might be pushing for changes to the IR system in the NFL which is needed btw.

 

The one interesting thing here is if Rodgers feels slighted by the Packers front office that they are not doing enough to win he could possibly push this with the players union and get a release. I haven't seen or read anything that would indicate Rodgers would do this but it wouldn't surprise me if this were to happen. The Packers management has really put themselves in a bind here with this ho-hum way that they have dealt with Rodgers IR placement.

 

Again I don't see the NFL forcing Green Bay to release Rodgers and I don't think they will take a draft pick away. I think the Packers will just have to pay a fine on this one unless the players union gets involved and then this could get a little more tricky where the NFL is forced to take some kind of action and that action is probably forcing Green Bay to release Rodgers. If you are into the NFL conspiracies then this would be a perfect one as it would allow the NFL to move a star player into their new market of Los Angeles. If the Chargers or the Rams were to get Rodgers I think this would be something the NFL would be salivating over.

[pacopete4]

If the NFL did try to step in and release him, I’d be done with the nfl for life. It’s already the most ridiculously run sports and this would be the icing on the cake for me.

[lcbj68c]

I want to clear up procedural confusion...Rodgers would not be released as a free agent and free to sign with a Los Angeles market. He would be on waivers and subject to waiver order, meaning he would most likely be a Brown or Giant under his existing contract. While I would hate to see it (waiver penalty) happen, I'm kind of wanting it (embarrassing investigation) to occur so Ted Thompson would be forced to retire. Can't believe that a professional GM, who's job it is to manage a roster either doesn't know the rules or didn't care enough to do the right thing. I hear arguments that "every team does this", yet that's not truthful. Every team puts players on IR that are injured and unable to play. Rodgers was not injured, he was sore. And would have played had they not been eliminated from playoff contention. Should have just been inactive on game day.

 

**Edited for clarity and words not misinterpreted.

[pacopete4]

Hold on. Let me get this straight. You want the Packers to lose their HOF QB just so TT isn’t the GM anymore? Lol, I’ve heard it all now.

[Brewer Fever]

Anyone who fell for this illegal IR nonsense got ESPN'd and should be ashamed.

 

Also, Merry Christmas

[lcbj68c]

Hold on. Let me get this straight. You want the Packers to lose their HOF QB just so TT isn’t the GM anymore? Lol, I’ve heard it all now.

 

Not what I said. Go back and re-read.

[Jenkins5]

Mark Murphy has zero spine to move on from TT & not give him new contract. He has never had to make a big decision since taking over. Bob Harlan left him the franchise as is. He is just content with the way things are on the field.

 

He wouldn’t even have to fire Ted. Contract is up, if anything Ted could retain VP job or one of his other positions to help Wolf a mentor. I’ve always been big TT guy but it has come to point we need a new direction. The Wolf/Thompson tree has been outstanding & has gone to show that those understudies have not followed the build through draft only route. Think Elliot will be far more aggressive. More his dad than Ted.

 

I think MM has proven he is a good coach but think a fresh start would help. You could go Defensive route with either Kris Richards or Matt Patricia (fits more if we want to stay 3-4). Or offensive route with a Josh McDaniels (much more ready now) or Jim Bob Cooter (great young offensive mind).

 

Overall, it’s not like we have been a bad team, we are in contention every year but the talent on this team has decreased each year. We miss more & more on draft day. We let our hits like Hayward & Hyde go. Our depth year after year is undrafted FAs. Teds work has been on a decline. MM would be up to new GM & if they want own guy. We are going to lose all our top candidates like Wolf soon if Mark doesn’t pull trigger

[adambr2]

Anyone who fell for this illegal IR nonsense got ESPN'd and should be ashamed.

 

Also, Merry Christmas

 

I concur. It's an absolute nothing burger. Something which happens every season with regularity and the only reason anyone is complaining and the only reason it's being talked about is because it's Aaron Rodgers.

 

For God's sake, the NFL had to approve him going on IR.

[pacopete4]

Hold on. Let me get this straight. You want the Packers to lose their HOF QB just so TT isn’t the GM anymore? Lol, I’ve heard it all now.

 

Not what I said. Go back and re-read.

 

Maybe after your edit. Lol

[brwrsfan]

There's also the possibility that they can "make up" an injury, who is to say he didn't suffer something minor in the Carolina game? ANY type of "new" injury would suffice. Even if it's just "shoulder soreness" indicating he wasn't fully healed.

[FVBrewerFan]

Whenever I discuss moving on from TT and MM, I always preface it by saying they're good at their jobs, it's just time for a change. This season has changed my mind about that.

 

I mean, it's not like TT has no clue. He has drafted a few good players the last couple years. Yet, when you look at each position group they are getting worse almost everywhere you look.

 

MM I am coming to realize is quite overrated as a HC. First, he has been given a pass entirely on the defense. Capers gets 100% of the blame. Special Teams haven't been that great, Davis still has no clue when to Fair Catch, when to let it bounce, etc. MM is not the Offensive Coordinator, he is the HC, yet I never hear anyone hold him accountable for defense and ST.

 

Then there's the offense. What I've learned is he can be a great offensive coach when he has Rodgers, and enough pieces to make his scheme work. Fact is, any scheme would work. Watching this team with Hundley shows me MM has no idea how to adapt. Hundley clearly wasn't prepared to play, and he never figured out how to build an offense with Hundley at QB.

 

MM strength has always been being in control of the process throughout the year, handling adversity, and having an offense that works. None of that is true anymore. And he has no answers, doesn't even pretend to have answers. All we hear is "we have to get better." Yea, well. we're coming up on week 17 Mike.

 

Tear it down. TT/MM, most of the coaching staff. Matthews, Nelson, Cobb should be cut. (Cobb could stay if they lower his cap substantially.) Use that money and draft picks to add a couple difference makers, and use the rest to build depth.

[LouisEly]

Tear it down. TT/MM, most of the coaching staff. Matthews, Nelson, Cobb should be cut. Use that money and draft picks to add a couple difference makers

Last year, with a healthy Rodgers, Nelson was sixth in the NFL with 1257 receiving yards and led the league with 14 TDs.

 

You want him cut?

 

[FVBrewerFan]

Tear it down. TT/MM, most of the coaching staff. Matthews, Nelson, Cobb should be cut. Use that money and draft picks to add a couple difference makers

Last year, with a healthy Rodgers, Nelson was sixth in the NFL with 1257 receiving yards and led the league with 14 TDs.

 

You want him cut?

 

 

 

Yes. He's $13.5MM against the cap next year. And I don't think the 2018 version of Jordy is worth anywhere close to that.

[docduany]

Sadly I'm in the cut Jordy camp as well. Watch him. Every time he catches the ball he falls down. He inexplicably can't keep his feet. He's lost 2 steps. He's 32. I love Jordy Nelson but the end is here. Can he catch 6 yard touchdowns from Rodgers? Yes he can. Can he create on his own, sadly not anymore.

[FVBrewerFan]

Sadly I'm in the cut Jordy camp as well. Watch him. Every time he catches the ball he falls down. He inexplicably can't keep his feet. He's lost 2 steps. He's 32. I love Jordy Nelson but the end is here. Can he catch 6 yard touchdowns from Rodgers? Yes he can. Can he create on his own, sadly not anymore.

 

Yea, I don't know hoe team friendly he would be wiling to get, but if he did a 1 or 2 year deal for $4MM each year he would be worth that. Definitely still a red zone target. I have even heard it suggested he put on some pounds and play TE. But even if he doesn't make that drastic of a change, he would still be valuable in the slot I think, with his size.

 

Similar to Matthews, if he could sell himself on the idea of MLB and really commit to it, I would take him back at half his cap number. But that will never happen. Too bad, because that was the best football he played in the last 4 years or so- when he played MLB.

[LouisEly]

Sadly I'm in the cut Jordy camp as well. Watch him. Every time he catches the ball he falls down. He inexplicably can't keep his feet.

Well, when Hundley is throwing you the ball and not Rodgers, and the ball is at your feet or behind you, it's hard to keep your balance.

[docduany]

Watch the early season tape. Watch the Carolina tape. Same story. His early season scores are from medium to short range, and still falling down. Carolina is no different. Aaron clearly gives you a better ball and opportunity. I'd maybe,maybe keep Jordy on a one year 3 million type deal. But I like to adhere to the let them go a year too early philosophy. As I stated, I love Jordy. I think father time and the injuries have just taken over.

[PeaveyFury]

I'd submit that Aaron at Carolina does not equal normal Aaron.

[GAME05]

I think the "cut Rodgers" stuff was mostly said in jest by other GMs. Even if it were technically true, nobody could possibly expect the NFL to force a team to cut a HOF QB. That and Rodgers on the Browns would further hurt NFL ratings, which are down a LOT again this year.

 

I hear that Elliot Wolf is starting to feel impatient and will be keeping his eyes open in the offseason. Like a top baseball prospect ready to come up and replace the soon-to-retire current starter, the Packers will have a big decision to make.

[LouisEly]

Yes. He's $13.5MM against the cap next year. And I don't think the 2018 version of Jordy is worth anywhere close to that.

The cap is estimated to go up ~$10M and the Packers are carrying over $10M from this year (this has been one of my big criticisms of TT - he's had the cap room to make in-season trades for veterans to shore up areas of injuries/weaknesses, but hasn't).

 

http://www.packersnews.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2017/12/26/silverstein-salary-cap-growth-eases-packers-free-agency-risk/980867001/

 

According to a source with access to NFL Players Association salary-cap data, the Packers have 39 players under contract for 2018 at a cost of $145 million. They will carry over $10 million in leftover cap space from 2017 and thus will have an adjusted cap number of around $187 million. It means that they’ll go into the offseason with about $42 million in salary-cap room.

 

Cap space isn't an issue, so it's a matter of talent. I'll take the guy who was 6th in the NFL in receiving yards and led the league in TDs last year (and was leading the league in TD catches this year when Rodgers got hurt on 10/15). Nelson has one year left on his contract; I'm inclined to let it play out. Part of his and Rodgers' effectiveness is their chemistry and ability to see the defense and both know exactly what the other is thinking. Bringing in a new guy who might be a little better will lose that chemistry, and the net effect will be less than having Nelson. That's why it took Adams three years to produce; it takes a while to learn the route tree and get up to Rodgers' game speed.

[pacopete4]

I wouldn’t cut Nelson but I would ask him if he would take about a $3-5M pay cut if needed for a free agent. And give him the assurance that the money would actually be spent on upgrading the team.

[FVBrewerFan]

Yes, they have cap space, yes cap is going up. But cap space gets eaten up very quickly in the NFL. They will need to restructure Rodgers soon. Likely sign Adams to a big contract. And that doesn't even touch the defense yet.

 

Put it this way. If Jordy was a FA would you sign him to a one year contract for a $13MM cap hit? No way! It is a good thing they have money to play with, but I rather buy a couple studs on defense, maybe a TE.

[CheezWizHed]

Go back and watch a lot of times that Jordy "falls down". Often he is going over the middle and a safety is about to clock him. He is going down because the ball is thrown there because the safety is coming or he goes down because he sees it.

 

He rarely "falls down" on the edge.

[wallus]

Per ESPN, Adams signed an extension. No word on any of the details yet.

[FVBrewerFan]

4 years/ $58MM incl $18MM signing bonus. Not official yet, of course.