Trade for Antonio Brown?

[jerichoholicninja]

Can't think of a team that has had two elite WR's and won an SB in recent history. I mean, even the top WR's in the game never seems to be in the winner's circle at the end of the day. Maybe there is something to that.

 

There is a lot of truth to that. Despite the league being incredibly skewed to offense, top flight WR's really aren't that important. Or I guess more importantly, it's not necessary to highly invest resources into a top flight WR. The passing game now is all about scheme. A great offensive coach can win games a barely average QB.

[Point Beer Is Best]

I guess my opinion is that there are too many holes to fill to justify giving up early round picks for Brown.

 

Agreed. Now, if there's an elite EDGE that suddenly becomes available? Then I'm open to moving some early draft capital.

[adambr2]

Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne probably qualify, that would probably be the last ones. However I would say any team having 2 elite WRs in itself is a rarity. Driver wasn't elite any more when we won SB45, but we had pretty darn good WRs.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Yeah Driver was never elite. He was a model of consistency and a professional but he was never a top flight WR. Jennings and Nelson were the horses on that squad by the end of the season. Jones was getting his too. Driver was an ideal WR2.

[Point Beer Is Best]

Well now Art Rooney has said he “can’t envision” Brown playing for the team in 2019.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

Well now Art Rooney has said he “can’t envision” Brown playing for the team in 2019.

 

 

Rooney can't envision Brown returning for training camp this summer.

[LouisEly]

That 1996 Packers team had checks and balances in place. It was absolutely loaded with guys that would have put a malcontent squarely in his place. Sean Jones, Reggie White, LeRoy Butler...this team has absolutely nothing like that right now.

Yep, outside of Mike Daniels the rest of the leaders on the team (Rodgers, CMIII, Williams, Bulaga, Bak, Cobb, Perry) are lead by example guys, and several of them won't be around next year.

 

Brown is the type of guy who needs to get X number of targets a game to not be a malcontent. Rodgers has always been a spreader - it's fairly common that the Packers have 7/8 guys who catch passes in a game and only once this decade have the Packers had two 1000 yard receivers in a season. I don't know that Brown is going to get enough balls to not be a malcontent.

 

Brown is going to expect to be the guy wherever he goes, and he isn't going to be the guy in Green Bay - that's Adams. I don't know that Brown can handle not being the guy.

 

Along that note, the Packers do need to bring a couple of free agents that are locker room leaders.

[HiAndTight]

Hard pass. Fans fall in love with guys like this any time they hit the open market. The type of turmoil GB just went through this past season does not lend itself to a guy like this. All the youth and development does not need this guy around. The "Don't touch me, I'm the franchise" story is everything I needed to hear to pass on Antonio Brown.

 

He will end up in Washington or some other crap hole and fade into nothingness, oblivious to how good he had things in Pitt.

 

 

 

Not gonna argue with any aspect of what you said EXCEPT for the fact that fans fall in love with guys like this any time they hit the open market.

 

Guys like this don't hit the open market while still in their prime but every 5 or so years. Brown has been Jerry Rice like. He's not a normal player.

 

 

 

Your concerns about blowing up the locker room and all that are very important, especially with a Diva who is already here at a more important position.

[HiAndTight]

Andre Rison has sort of been overstated by Packers fans over the years. He was a desperate late-season acquisition after injuries to Brooks, Freeman and Chmura and I believe Jackson as well. He caught 13 passes that year. He did have the signature play in the Super Bowl, but nostalgia has made that a bigger move than it really was. By the time they got most of their bodies back he was basically a role player and he walked that offseason.

 

This isn't that at all, you'd be bringing Brown in to be a cornerstone. If they did not have Adams, I'd be more inclined, but at a position where you already have a rising star who IMO is top 5 at his position, you don't get the same incremental value adding Brown.

 

If you want a name that intrigues me, Golden Tate. I can't stand him, but I think he would fit with them well and fill a void.

 

 

Agreed, not like Rison at all. This would be the biggest personality and...probably biggest talent the Packers have traded for or acquired in the Super Bowl era other than Reggie.

 

Golden Tate would definitely fit this team very well...he's a more logical choice, a much safer one and his yac yards would benefit the offense.

 

I'd really like to see a WR'er with a quick first step who can get open over the middle and runs smooth routes to get Rodgers some easy passes. Someone like Greg Jennings....who I think has been underrated due to his sisters comments. So it definitely doesn't have to be Brown.

[CheezWizHed]

Jennings has two problems with Packer fans:

1) He peaked well, but burnt out quickly*.

2) He left for the Vikings. Not only giving the feeling of being a traitor, but it was quite visible when he bombed there.

 

*fact checked myself. He lasted longer than I remembered with five 1000+ yard seasons and two 900 yard seasons bookending those 5 years. But his drop-off with the Vikings was pretty stunning. And it was the Vikings...

[HiAndTight]

They need guys who can connect with Rodger's playing style...I don't think burning money and high picks on Brown is the best investment. James Jones is a great example. The dude just knew where to go and how to get open when Rodgers scrambled. They lacked that this year.

 

I am not sure if bringing in a vet is the answer or just giving the current guys more time to get used to Rodgers playing style and the playbook. I think we got a little spoiled watching Rodgers toss to the same guys constantly because mental errors by receivers and not being where they should be was not very often.

 

 

Ok, but when you're talking about James Jones or even Jordy post-ACL, you're talking about guys who don't get much seperation, OR who need time to run a route and get open. I think that's the last thing that Rodgers needs right now. Rodgers with Jones when he came back from Oakland had to make perfect throws and throw Jones open because he just couldn't get open by himself anymore. It was almsot all backshoulder throws and quick hitters.

 

 

That's not to say we should or shouldn't sign Brown...I'm kinda torn on that. But it was painful to watch the offense when Jordy went down and then even when he got back, it was almost all on Rodgers. And given the year Rodgers is comiing off of...which was probably his worst year throwing the ball, I just want to see him get some easier throws.

 

Again, doesn't have to be Brown and those guys might be on the team right now.

 

 

Also, a little off topic, you look at Rodgers when he gets a nicked up....he almost gets better. I think his talent at extending plays is greater than what the results have been the past couple years. When he's been banged up, he's gotten into a rythem, he's clicking right away, he's not passing up the 7 yard completion and bouncing out of the pocket looking for that big play. If there's one change to this offense, I hope that's it. Because when he's getting THAT going and when we're good chunks on 1st and 2nd, that's when those big plays can come.

 

I am a TINY bit concerned about Rodgers being too stubborn to change....though it may extend his career and it may make the team better, great players like he and Favre, they get greedy.

[HiAndTight]

Jennings has two problems with Packer fans:

1) He peaked well, but burnt out quickly.

2) He left for the Vikings. Not only giving the feeling of being a traitor, but it was quite visible when he bombed there.

 

 

Well...I think some comments he made were an even bigger issue. His sister mainly and them him. He's still upset that during a game vs the Redskins, his last year here some CB said something to him about that and Rodgers made some comment like, "you guys should sign him." He talks about THAT one singular incident being why he's got a bit of a problem with Rodgers. How he was supposed to be there for him and.....whatever. Sounds nonsensical to me and it seems like something Rodgers could have said sarcastically, especially given that it was the Redskins however long ago when they went after every other FA.

 

 

Not disagreeing with either of the points you made, I agree with both, but I think the comments were an even bigger issue.

[LouisEly]

For WR free agents, I'm looking at Adam Humphries. He looks like a rising star, and a perfect slot receiver to take over for Cobb. Also returns punts. Not sure how much he'll cost. Kind of an under-the-radar guy, might not take a big contract.

 

I've always liked Jordan Matthews. Put up really good numbers his first three seasons, but not so much the last two years. Only 28 targets this year, despite playing in 14 games and three starts. Could be a bargain find.

 

If I'm trading for a WR, DeSean Jackson wants out of Tampa. He only has one year left on his contract at $10M. Durability is a little bit of a concern, but he led the league in yards/reception last year and three out of the last five years. He also has a lot of experience returning punts, and returned a few this past season. The young WRs can learn behind him for a year, and I would think it wouldn't take more than a 5th round pick to get him out of Tampa.

[HiAndTight]

For WR free agents, I'm looking at Adam Humphries. He looks like a rising star, and a perfect slot receiver to take over for Cobb. Also returns punts. Not sure how much he'll cost. Kind of an under-the-radar guy, might not take a big contract.

 

I've always liked Jordan Matthews. Put up really good numbers his first three seasons, but not so much the last two years. Only 28 targets this year, despite playing in 14 games and three starts. Could be a bargain find.

 

If I'm trading for a WR, DeSean Jackson wants out of Tampa. He only has one year left on his contract at $10M. Durability is a little bit of a concern, but he led the league in yards/reception last year and three out of the last five years. He also has a lot of experience returning punts, and returned a few this past season. The young WRs can learn behind him for a year, and I would think it wouldn't take more than a 5th round pick to get him out of Tampa.

 

I like Matthews, but I want a little diversity at the position. We're pretty good on the big bodied, 50/50 ball type WR'ers....which is what Matthews is to a degree.

 

Jackson on the other hand does strike me as a great fit. I could see him in bunch sets running quick screens and quick hitters.

[CheezWizHed]

If we had hired McDaniels, I'd expect we start signing/drafting smaller WRs as that seems to be the Patriots MO. Anyone have an idea what LeFluer might be looking for? One concern that I had about hiring him was that he never was on one spot very long.

[homer]

If we had hired McDaniels, I'd expect we start signing/drafting smaller WRs as that seems to be the Patriots MO. Anyone have an idea what LeFluer might be looking for? One concern that I had about hiring him was that he never was on one spot very long.

 

If we look at where he's been they've had some smaller slot guys: Taylor Gabriel in Atlanta, Jamison Crowder in Washington for example. Cooper Kupp is 6'2" but he is a really good slot guy too so at the very least he effectively uses that position. I'd imagine if Cobb is let go they'll sign someone. I like LouisEly's idea of signing Humphries.

[CheezWizHed]

FYI, I just read a Packerswire article that said something similar.

[OnTheBlack]

If we had hired McDaniels, I'd expect we start signing/drafting smaller WRs as that seems to be the Patriots MO. Anyone have an idea what LeFluer might be looking for? One concern that I had about hiring him was that he never was on one spot very long.

 

If we look at where he's been they've had some smaller slot guys: Taylor Gabriel in Atlanta, Jamison Crowder in Washington for example. Cooper Kupp is 6'2" but he is a really good slot guy too so at the very least he effectively uses that position. I'd imagine if Cobb is let go they'll sign someone. I like LouisEly's idea of signing Humphries.

 

 

Yeah, but aren't the majority of slot guys smaller? If you have a guy with the quickness and ability to catch the ball over the middle, you usually try to use them on the perimeter first. I'm guessing Julio Jones could have thrived in the slot....

[CheezWizHed]

I think the point isn't slot=small. More that you need quicker (as opposed to fast) guys that can cut and change direction easily. Cobb was never fast, just shifty.

[OnTheBlack]

I think the point isn't slot=small. More that you need quicker (as opposed to fast) guys that can cut and change direction easily. Cobb was never fast, just shifty.

 

 

No they don't have to be small..they just tend to be. It's similar to slot corners. If a guy has the athletic ability to play corner and is 6'2, you're more likely to keep them outside. Then again Fitz has moved inside to the slot and put up some monster numbers despite his athletic ability really dropping off in the past few years. Does ANYONE realize his top 3 years catch wise were the past three prior to this year?

 

As for Cobb...I agree, he wasn't ever fast, he was shifty and had good quickness, I just wonder how good he really is right now. Could he be a guy who benefits greatly from the new system that we know likes a lot of WR screens and quick hitters?

 

I just don't have any feel for what he's got left in the tank. It seems like the stagnant offense and him being on the other end of some of Rodgers bigger misses might make him look worse than he really is.

[LouisEly]

Center of gravity has a lot of influence on ability to change directions, thus why slot receivers tend to be shorter and shorter running backs have the ability to cut and change directions quickly.

[CheezWizHed]

I wonder if Moore would actually make a decent slot guy. His cone and shuttle speeds were excellent but Pro Day 40 yd dash was just OK.

[OnTheBlack]

I wonder if Moore would actually make a decent slot guy. His cone and shuttle speeds were excellent but Pro Day 40 yd dash was just OK.

 

 

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't like Moore at all. He just does not have good hands. He catches almost everything with his body. It looks like they hit on Scantling and St. Brown though.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

Kumerow strikes me as a guy that could see a lot of time in the slot if they bring him back next year.

 

I wouldn't discount the idea of bringing Cobb back on a team-friendly deal either. I think he could thrive in an offense that relies more on quick hitters, slants, and well-executed WR screens. They need to determine if he's washed, though. He's only entering his age 29 season, so age shouldn't be a factor, although it seems like he's been kicking around forever.

[superfly]

I don't know if Brown will be the guy, but this is exactly the type of move I expect the Packers to be looking at this offseason.

 

This is how I feel. Mack was available, now potentially Brown. Not sure if they should get him, but this is the TYPE of move I'm looking for. However they do it, need to bring in a couple true impact players this year.

 

I always worry about the prima donna WR, but truth is none of us knows any of these players beyond what we see in the media. Packers would need to do their due diligence to see if he would be a problem. That would start with "Are you ok not catching 150 passes every year?" Because they do have Adams, who would have to be on the same page with this move as well.

 

I am still absolutely IRATE that we didn't force the Mack deal. If we had Mack we would have been playing in that playoff game, not the Bears.

 

Can't think of a team that has had two elite WR's and won an SB in recent history. I mean, even the top WR's in the game never seems to be in the winner's circle at the end of the day. Maybe there is something to that.

 

Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders were pretty darn good WRs when both were in their prime. I know Peyton was barely alive when they won it, so it's not really fair to discount their talent. It's an interesting point you make, but I don't think it necessarily has any correlation between winning SB's or not.