Just wanted to weigh in on a couple things from the start of OTAs:
–First, Aaron Kampman blew off another chance to talk to the media, as Greg Bedard notes. The guys at Cheesehead TV and packergeeks have weighed in on the topic as well. I’m a little more concerned about Kampman than both of them are, and I’d tend to fall more where Bedard does on this. Kampman’s not a guy who typically shies away from the media–he understands his responsibility to talk to the press, and also knows the common sense of answering all the questions about the switch, sating reporters and getting it out of the way. The fact that he hasn’t said a thing about it, frankly, is unusual for him. He’s either trying to send a message before a contract year, doesn’t want to come out and say the wrong thing or genuinely has another reason for not talking. But considering the Packers urged him to talk and he still refused, I’m guessing it’s one of the first two. This, to me, is one of the biggest issues of the offseason. If Kampman walks, the Packers are somewhat covered with Clay Matthews and Brady Poppinga to man the outside spots. But their pass rush is going to be better with a content Kampman, and the linebacker corps in general will be better with more depth. Cheesehead TV also makes some good points about Cullen Jenkins and what the new system means for him. Definitely worth checking out both of those blogs.
–The Packers signed Tramon Williams to a one-year deal, locking up the exclusive rights free agent before his contract situation gets ugly. They’re probably going to have to address a long-term deal with Williams sooner rather than later, but as we’ve said here before, the priorities for extensions are Greg Jennings and Nick Collins, in that order. This buys them a little time with Williams and allows them to evaluate him further before offering a long-term deal.
That’s all for now. We’ll be back with more OTAs melodrama in the coming days.
–Gene Bosling
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