Offseason to-do list: Packers who could be released

Unrestricted free agents? Check.

Restricted free agents? Double check.

You might think that’d just about cover it for the Green Bay Packers’ offseason to-do list - outside of the draft, of course (don’t worry, we’ll be ALL over that soon enough at OBOD).

If you think that, I’ve got three words for you: Not. Even. Close.

As we all know, numerous players – already under contract – get released every offseason by their respective clubs. Injuries, bloated salaries, decreased performance, disputes with coaches – any number of reasons can be the cause.

The Packers certainly have some players who could be considered worthy of being dumped. Sure, the front office might give the old, “It’s not you, it’s us” line, but we all know it’s the player who is at fault.

After studying the Packers’ roster, I’ve come up with five players who could be in trouble. Again, I’ll include as much salary information as possible. And this time, I’m ranking them in order of least-to-most in danger.

As always, enjoy.

5. Middle linebacker A.J. Hawk, four years – Frankly, Hawk is the perfect person to kick off this list. He hasn’t been an out-and-out bust, but he hasn’t been anywhere near as good as he should have been as the No. 5 overall pick of the 2006 draft. The Packers always seem to think Hawk is just one good game away from turning it all around. Not going to happen. The flaws in his game aren’t likely to change as, at some point, a man just is what he is. He takes poor angles on tackles, tackles too high, has poor pad level and struggles mightily in coverage. He’s capable of playing solid for stretches, but never long enough to make a real impact. Take last season, for example: Yes, he had 89 tackles. But he also only had two interceptions and one sack (he’s terrible as a blitzer, too, by the way). Those playmaking stats should be much higher if you’re recording the amount of tackles Hawk is. He’s due $4.1 million next season and a whopping $10 million in 2011. He hasn’t earned that money. Not even close. Verdict: Ask him to take a hefty pay cut for next season. If he’s unwilling to do so, shake hands, thank him for his service and send him on his way

4. Kicker Mason Crosby, three years – Remember how I said, in regards to Hawk, that at some point a man just is what he is? Well, the same goes for Crosby. Three years into his career, we pretty much know what he is. If the kick is under 30 yards, he’s money (a perfect 32-for-32 for his career). If it’s under 40 yards, he’s not bad (27-for-33 for his career). If it’s anything longer than that, though, pretty much anything goes (26-for-44 for his career, a 59 percent average). This past season was particulary bad for Crosby as he made just 75 percent of his kicks, including a horrendous 6-for-13 showing on kicks of over 40 yards. He struggled with his confidence early on and just never really seemed to get it back. My theory with kickers is that they are similar to closers in baseball. Once the confidence is gone, they never fully recover it. Ryan Longwell and Neil Rackers are two examples of guys who ultimately did get their confidence back after bad stretches, but they are the exceptions. Crosby is due $550,000 next season in the last year of his rookie contract – if he makes it to next season, that is. Verdict: Bring in serious, legitimate competition for the kicker job in training camp and let the best man win

3. Tight end Donald Lee, seven years – This past season was the second disappointing campaign in a row for Lee as he finished with just 37 catches, 260 yards and one touchdown (down from five in 2008). Aaron Rodgers clearly doesn’t favor him as much as Judas did, Jermichael Finley has supplanted him as the hands-down No. 1 tight end and Spencer Havner is developing into a nice little red zone threat. Those factors have led to a major decrease in confidence and an increase in drops. He has two years left on his contract. He’s scheduled to earn $2 million next season and $2.2 in 2011. That’s an awful lot to pay for a backup tight end. Verdict: Shake hands, thank him for his service and send him on his way

2. Outside linebacker Brady Poppinga, five years – Despite three very average seasons – and the fact that even the youngest Packers fan knows he can’t cover a corpse – Ted Thompson saw fit to give Poppinga a five-year, $16.84 million extension in the summer of 2008. How did Poppinga repay him? Well, in 2008 he recorded 69 tackles with exactly zero playmaking stats. Poppinga began this past season as a starting OLB, but was quickly replaced by some kid named Matthews. Whether he was a starter or a backup, he made almost no impact, finishing with a paltry 23 tackles and one sack. He’s apparently a good lockerroom presence, yes, but look at his salary numbers for the next three seasons: $1.95 million (2010), $2.05 million (2011) and $2.3 million (2012). Oh yeah, he’s also due a $300,000 roster bonus in each of those three seasons. In other words, a cheaper “good lockerroom presence” can likely be found. Verdict: Shake hands, thank him for his service and send him on his way

1. Cornerback/safety/bain of EVERYONE’S existence Jarrett Bush, four years – How on Earth could we end this list with anyone else? I could list all the times Bush was torched this season and all the stupid mistakes he made. But I’ll tell you a little story instead: I got a late start on my way to Adam’s house to watch the Pittsburgh game. I heard Bush get burned by Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace for a long touchdown on the Steelers’ first offensive play on the radio. Wayne Larrivee, Green Bay’s excellent play-by-play man, commented after the score that Wallace, a rookie, isn’t the most polished route-runner. Larry McCarren, the team’s excellent color man, said something to the effect of, “Well, he doesn’t really have to be. Just find No. 24 (Bush) and go make a play.” Larrivee let out an understanding groan and pretty much just said, “Yeah.” When the team’s broadcasters – men who are PAID by the Packers – talk openly about how bad you are, Jarrett, YOU ARE BAD. The $1.1 million salary next season and $1.4 million salary in 2011 could be spent on something – ANYthing – more useful. Oh, and Jarrett, if you need someone to move your stuff, Adam, Gene and I are more than willing to come to Green Bay and lend a hand. It would be our honor. Verdict: Shake hands, thank him for his service and send him on his way

That’s all for our look at the players who could be released. Tomorrow we’ll close out our post-season, pre-draft to-do list with a look at some possible free agents available in Green Bay’s areas of need. Make sure to check us out.

-Chris Lempesis