I decided to pass on cooking up a batch of training camp stew for Tuesday, even though the Green Bay Packers practiced twice. The Stew will return Thursday night, [...]]]> Folks, I got to the line of scrimmage, saw the look of the defense and decided I didn’t like the play. That’s right – I’m calling an audible.

I decided to pass on cooking up a batch of training camp stew for Tuesday, even though the Green Bay Packers practiced twice. The Stew will return Thursday night, though, so fear not.

Instead, we’ll be using this space to answer – or, at least, attempt to answer – some early training camp questions. The Packers are only 10 days into camp, so obviously there are many questions left unanswered.

Here are some of the bigger ones, at the moment:

• What does a potential Bryan Bulaga shift to left guard mean for the rest of the line?

It could shake things up considerably. Again, it is early, but if Bulaga is to make the switch to left guard, that only furthers my thinking that either Daryn Colledge or Jason Spitz – players who were both looked at as future building blocks, once upon a time – won’t be on the roster come opening day.

Since Spitz can play both guard spots and center, you have to think Colledge is gone if Bulaga moves over (even more so if he ends up being the starter). A guard on some team will suffer a significant injury before the preseason ends because, well, that always happens. Colledge brings value, as he’s started a significant amount of games, and could bring back decent value in a trade (a fourth or fifth rounder or a player at a spot of need, like d-line or corner).

Who, then, would be the offensive linemen for the 2010 Packers? The starters, from left to right, would be Chad Clifton, Bulaga, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton and Mark Tauscher. Marshall Newhouse, Spitz, T.J. Lang and Breno Giacomini would then be locks to serve as backups, with the team possibly keeping Evan Dietrich-Smith if it wants 10 linemen (not a necessity when you consider the versatility of players like Spitz and Lang).

All I know for certain is this: Allen Barbre is gone, baby, gone.

• What’s going on in the backfield?

Sure, Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson are safe. But outside of those two, the situation is fairly clouded.

First, the running backs. The field would be set if rookie James Starks’ hamstring wasn’t a somewhat significant concern. As of now, though, it is. Starks is currently on the PUP list and it doesn’t really sound like he’ll be ready in the near future. Quinn Porter has been one of the big stories in camp so far and Kregg Lumpkin hasn’t been bad.

If those two continue to do well, I could see a scenario in which the team places Starks on I.R. at some point soon if the injury continues to bother him. Is it premature to end Starks’ season so soon? Maybe, but remember the Packers have done this before with young players even if the injury isn’t necessarily something that would keep them out the entire year (see: Pat Lee last season). At that point, it would be a two-man battle, with the early edge going to Porter. But Lumpkin’s resiliency – he’s been with the team in some form or another for over two years now – would definitely give him a shot.

Now, the fullbacks. Everyone’s just assumed (myself included) that Quinn Johnson would be assured of a spot on this team and that Korey Hall and John Kuhn would be left to fight for the other. I’m beginning to re-examine that. Johnson seems to have some potential, yes, but I wonder how good a fit he is for this team. He’s not a great pass catcher; rather, he’s more of a pure, bruising fullback, well-suited for a power running game.

Um…but the Packers aren’t really a power running team, as much as they may claim they want to be. The fullbacks have to be multi-dimensional in this offense. Kuhn and Hall have both shown to be that type of player. If Johnson isn’t, maybe the team would be better off letting him go. Either way, this thing is a three-way battle – not two.

• What should we make of Brandon Chillar no longer being listed at ILB on the depth chart?

There are two potentially major ramifications from this. The first is that Desmond Bishop finally appears to be in the mix at inside linebacker. He no longer needs to complain to the press, because he just might get his shot, finally.

The second is that the Packers appear to be coming around on the idea of using a Chillar/Brad Jones platoon at ROLB (as of now, it appears Clay Matthews will stick at LOLB once his hamstring heals). I have to admit, I love that idea, as well. The two compliment each other so well, on the surface. Chillar is more of a pure athlete, which can be utilized in both rushing the passer and pass coverage. Jones is a bit bulkier, which is great for playing the run. Jones has some ability as a pass rusher, as well. Plus, both will stay fresh if the reps are being split.

And I wouldn’t count Chillar out at ILB totally, either. He knows the position and, again, he’s such a good athlete, he could play some downs there, too.

(Now, we move to the lightening round…)

• Does the placement of Josh Bell on I.R. mean Sam Shields is guaranteed a spot on the roster?

No. But he’s dangerously close to getting one (a good thing, if you ask me).

• Still think there’s no chance the team keeps four tight ends?

I wouldn’t say there’s “no chance” anymore, as Tom Crabtree seems to have some potential. But I’d still be awfully surprised.

• Why are some people still suggesting Jordy Nelson and James Jones are battling for the third receiver spot?

Because they are idiots. It’s Nelson’s job. Lock that up.

-Chris Lempesis

The Green Bay Packers practiced just once Monday, but there was still quite a bit going on. Let’s get to that now, shall we?

As always, a thanks to the fine folks [...]]]> And we’re back with yet another heaping helping of training camp stew, your nightly recap of the most interesting bits of information from today’s practice.

The Green Bay Packers practiced just once Monday, but there was still quite a bit going on. Let’s get to that now, shall we?

As always, a thanks to the fine folks at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Green Bay Press Gazette and Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee (a newcomer to the Stew, yes, but Wilde rocks, no question about it).

• The biggest news to come out of Monday’s practice was the update on Clay Matthews’ hamstring injury, suffered during the “Family Night” scrimmage Saturday. According to head coach Mike McCarthy, Matthews will be out at least a couple of weeks (maybe closer to three). Matthews told reporters it’s in the same area of the same hamstring he injured last summer. He also said he won’t push himself in rehabbing the injury like he did last time around.
• The injury, while it will cause him to miss a significant amount of practice time, doesn’t concern me all that much – especially if Matthews takes a smarter rehab approach this time. Frankly, I’d rather not have him play in any preseason games, anyways. One thing I am curious about, though, is how it will alter his recent position swap. Remember, Matthews had spent a lot of his time in camp at a new spot, left outside linebacker, with Brandon Chillar playing the right side. You have to wonder now if the Packers will continue that switch once he returns.
• The other big news Monday comes in the form of first round pick Bryan Bulaga sharing starting snaps at left guard with Daryn Colledge. It sure seems like Bulaga – who has impressed McCarthy quite a bit, from the sounds of it – has a legitimate chance to beat out Colledge for the gig. I’m not sure how I feel about this. Part of me really likes the idea of Bulaga strictly focusing on his left tackle duties, so he can fully learn the position and be ready if/when he’s called to play when Chad Clifton injures his (fill in the blank). Having him play left guard could leave him unprepared in that instance. On the other hand, if Bulaga is flat-out better than Colledge – certainly a possibility – maybe he should be the guy there. After all, the goal is to have the best players out there, right? Definitely something new to focus on as camp progresses.
• There’s more fallout from this potential switch, too. Jason Spitz – who left practice with a calf injury – may end up serving as a “Sixth Man” of sorts for the line this season, as he can play both guard spots and center. Originally, Spitz and Colledge were going to battle it out at LG. T.J. Lang – the guy I originally had filling that “Sixth Man” role – will likely get his work on the right side alone now. We’ll be taking a look at the offensive line situation at some point this week, for sure.
• Now, on to some things that actually happened in practice…
• Kicker Mason Crosby followed up his strong scrimmage performance by hitting six of eight kicks. One was missed from 43, but that was apparently due to a poor hold from Chris Bryan. The other miss was from 53. So, in the end, you could say Crosby was, essentially, six of seven. Not bad – or, at least, not any worse. I’ll take it.
• A.J. Hawk would have had himself a sack of Aaron Rodgers…you know, if people were allowed to hit No. 12. Hawk was a major standout in the scrimmage. It sounds like he might be building on that just a little bit. That’s a positive as, again, it’s a make-or-break year for him in Green Bay.
• Some one-on-one reports: Justin Harrell dominated Lang at one point and Jarius Wynn crushed Allen Barbre at another. It’s really nice to see Harrell contributing in any form (now that I’ve said that, back injury coming in three…two….). As for Barbre’s loss…well, let’s just say he’d be wise to give his realtor a call right about now. He’s not long for this roster.
• Am I concerned about the Rodgers-led offense being 0-for-5 in the two-minute drill so far in camp? Not really – but I wouldn’t mind seeing something more than zero. It’s hard to win when you have to settle for three points everytime, you know?
• Finally, an apology to Donald Driver: We failed to mention his two-year contract extension Friday. We should have. The extension keeps him in green and gold through the 2012 season and Driver himself said he’ll definitely retire as a Packer. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Mr. Driver, we have been extremely fortunate to be able to root for you for the past 11 years. You’re nothing but a class act and you always make us proud to be Packers fans. Here’s hoping you see, not only the end of that deal, but one more, too.

-Chris Lempesis

Some guys battle for spots on the depth chart. Others battle for spots on the roster. Either way, the battles are often friendly, yet extremely intense.

The 2010 Green Bay Packers will have a handful of such battles in training camp this year. [...]]]> One of the best parts of training camp involves the battles waged between teammates.

Some guys battle for spots on the depth chart. Others battle for spots on the roster. Either way, the battles are often friendly, yet extremely intense.

The 2010 Green Bay Packers will have a handful of such battles in training camp this year. And over the next couple of days, we’ll be highlighting those battles (and giving our thoughts as to who has the pre-camp edge).

Since the offense will be the driving force for this year’s team, it seems best to start there.

Quarterback and running back have been crossed off the list, however, as those positions seem to be fairly set (sorry, Kraig Lumpkin lovers, it’s true).

So, that said, let’s begin with the hogs up front on the offensive line where there are a couple of battles to be waged:

Left guard

Type of battle: Starting spot

Combatants: Daryn Colledge (28 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 308 pounds, fifth year) and Jason Spitz (27 years old, 6-feet, 3-inches, 318 pounds, fifth year)

Thoughts: Of all the battles in camp, this is one of the tops to keep an eye on. Colledge and Spitz, good friends off the field, are both at a crossroads, career-wise. Each has gone through numerous ups-and-downs over the past four years and it’s time for both to step up and prove they can be consistent NFL players.

Colledge’s ups-and-downs have been quite literal. In 2006 and 2008, he was definitely one of the team’s best o-linemen. In 2007 and 2009, however, he was flat-out terrible. It’s an even-numbered year – does that mean he’s going to experience another upswing? For Colledge, it’s less an issue of talent than it is an issue of techique and confidence. He’s still far sloppy at times, which leads to far too many penalties (or worse, him getting flat-out overpowered). His confidence seems to wane easily, as well. His disastrous time at left tackle in ‘09 seemed to ruin him for the year, even after he moved back to his more familiar left guard spot. In every area, he needs to be more sure of himself.

For Spitz, it’s an issue of staying healthy. His back injury, while apparently cleared up now, still causes concern (back injuries are never, ever, ever good and can linger for an entire career). Spitz is clearly a talent, though; remember, many were predicting him to be one of the breakout players on last year’s team. While the team seems intent on having five backups for five starters (i.e., no more shifting and sliding in the event of an injury), Spitz is still capable of playing both guard and center, which is always a plus. And he’s got that nasty demeanor, something the line still needs more of.

Early edge: Spitz. There are just too many issues with Colledge. Spitz’s back is, for now, healthy, and that – combined with an advantage in talent – gives him the nod. Colledge may be playing somewhere else before the season starts. T.J. Lang would then likely serve double duty as backup left guard/backup right tackle should that happen (he’s going to be the “sixth man” for the o-line this season).

Overall roster spot

Type of battle: Um…roster spot

Combatants: Allen Barbre (26 years old, 6-feet, 4-inches, 300 pounds, fourth year), Breno Giacomini (24 years old, 6-feet, 7-inches, 318 pounds, third year) and Evan Dietrich-Smith (24 years old, 6-feet, 2-inches, 308 pounds, second year)

Thoughts: In my mind, eight spots are already locked up on the o-line (Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga, Lang, the winner of the Spitz/Colledge battle and Marshall Newhouse). I really believe the loser of the Spitz/Colledge battle could be traded, leaving three players to battle for two spots on the roster (no way this team keeps more than 10 o-linemen this year).

A season that began with so much promise ended with so much disappointment for Barbre. Handed the starting right tackle job in camp, Barbre had a very good preseason. Turns out, he wasn’t so good when the opposing d-linemen actually gave a you-know-what. Barbre was repeatedly wrecked in pass protection and, despite some promise as a run blocker, was benched when Tauscher returned mid-season. The team’s confidence in him appears to be as low as it’s ever been.

Giacomini is entering a crucial season. Blessed with tremendous size, he’s spent the past two seasons redshirting in order to get stronger and learn the right tackle position (remember, he converted from tight end to right tackle midway through his collegiate career). Allegedly, Giacomini has had a very good offseason and just might be coming into his own. If the light turns on, Lang will have competition for the “right tackle of the future” title.

We really don’t know that much about Dietrich-Smith, other than the fact that the coaches seem to like him. We do know that he can play center, though, and if the coaches really are intent on this “five backups for five players” philosophy – fingers crossed that they are – it makes sense to keep Dietrich-Smith around in the event Wells gets hurt.

Early edge: Giacomini and Dietrich-Smith. Giacomini’s intriguing upside, and the fact that he’s only in year three as opposed to year four, gives him an edge over Barbre. Dietrich-Smith can provide depth at two spots – center and guard – and fits in with the new philosophy. In the end, it just feels like the team’s ready to move on from Barbre.

I’ll be back Wednesday to close out the offensive battles.

-Chris Lempesis

Before this week’s over, it will begin.

The two-a-days. The position battles. The fights. The heat – my God, the heat.

No more guessing will be necessary. Okay, there will still be some guessing – but not as much. Before this week’s over, training camp for [...]]]> (Before we begin: Our “Friendly Fire” training camp battles series begins Tuesday.)

Before this week’s over, it will begin.

The two-a-days. The position battles. The fights. The heat – my God, the heat.

No more guessing will be necessary. Okay, there will still be some guessing – but not as much. Before this week’s over, training camp for the 2010 NFL season will officially get underway. We will finally start to get some answers regarding this year’s version of our beloved Green Bay Packers in what appears to be one of the most highly anticipated seasons in recent memory.

(I’ll give you a moment to let the chills subside.)

With today marking the start of training camp week, it seemed like a good time to tackle the question everyone has been asking, in one form or another, for roughly six months now: What kind of team will the 2010 Packers be?

It’s a topic Gene and I discussed at length in a recent phone conversation and one that will have to be addressed again before the start of the regular season. But, frankly, I couldn’t wait – I had to give my take now.

In short, this team’s going to be good. Strike that – really freakin’ good. Many have gone so far as to say the Pack will be in Dallas on February 6. As of now, I can’t argue with that standpoint that much. At the very least, they’ll have a major say in who makes it to the Taj MaJerry for Super Bowl XLV – that much seems certain.

To quote Judas himself: The pieces are in place.

While they will not live-or-die with it, the 2010 Packers will make their mark via the offense, a unit that already rivals those of the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts as one of the best in the league.

Aaron Rodgers is on the verge of top-five status as a quarterback. At his disposal? An extremely talented group of playmakers, one that’s still (for the most part) young and improving. The receivers need to be more consistent and this is the year that happens. It’s year five for Greg Jennings, year four for James Jones and year three for Jordy Nelson. This is the section of the career arc where wideouts solidify themselves and the Packers just happen to have three guys hitting that moment all at once. Oh yeah – Donald Driver, healthy knees and all, is still there too, ready to continue defying time.

Most quarterbacks would be more than satisfied with those four alone. Rodgers? He has more, in the form of an ultimate X-factor: Tight end Jermichael Finley. Much has been written about Finley finally growing up, both as a man and as a player, ready to take his place as an elite tight end. That’s happening this year. I’ve said it to anyone who would listen and now I’ll tell you: If he puts up 75-1050-12 this season, well, don’t be surprised.

Then there’s the forgotten man – running back Ryan Grant. Grant is dogged by many Packers fans. Hell, I’ve done it myself a time or two. But Grant turned a corner in the second half of 2009. He ran harder, more determined. That’s going to carry over. And Grant has never killed this team with fumbling – can’t say the same about the running back on the team that plays out my way, the only back with more yards than Grant since week eight of the 2007 season, by the way.

The 2009 Packers were, especially early in the year, brought down by poor offensive line play (and, boy, don’t the “experts” like to bang that hammer over and over, huh?). But none of these “experts” ever mention that the group improved dramatically in the second half. Tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher were brought back and each has at least one more run in them. Rookie Bryan Bulaga – seriously, how the hell did that guy fall to pick No. 23? - will provide crucial depth as he can seemingly play either tackle spot should one of them get hurt.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, our days of watching Daryn Colledge at tackle are over. And, finally, head coach Mike McCarthy seems intent on having five starters and five backups. No more sliding guys over should an injury occur. If the right tackle’s hurt, in goes the backup. Done and done. Hallelujah.

The majority of the question marks lie with the defense, which finished last season No. 2 in the league (No. 1 against the run) before being Upper Peninsula-tire fire torched in the wild card loss. The depth appears to be lacking in certain spots, I’ll admit, mainly at cornerback and outside linebacker. But overall, the confidence is high in that group.

Even without defensive end Johnny Jolly, the unit will continue to stop the run this season. That’s due to the talent and scheme, yes, but I’ve always believed that playing the run in the NFL is mostly about a mentality, a mindset, an imposing of your will. This particular set of Packers defenders finally gained that mindset last season. That won’t be lost.

A big reason for that is the presence of inside linebacker Nick Barnett. Some fans spent years dogging Barnett, underrating his skills. Well, we saw what happened when Barnett got hurt in 2008 – the defense just isn’t the same. He’s the guts of the operation there. And it never hurts to have the considerable guts of one B.J. Raji in front of you. Can’t wait to see how good Raji’s going to be once healthy for a full season.

If you want to score on this defense, you’ll have to do it through the air. That could happen, of course as, again, the corner group provides some cause for concern - especially when you factor in the possibility of Al Harris missing the first six weeks on the PUP list (a near-lock, in my mind). It’s impossible to know if one of the untested youngsters, Pat Lee or Brandon “Crusin’ Chubbies” Underwood, will be able to step up. Will Blackmon will be a corner/safety hybrid this season, so he’s another option if he stays healthy. But I won’t lie to you – we’re just going to have to hope here for now.

But all hope is not lost. The reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Charles Woodson, still plays corner for this team (talk about defying time). As does Tramon Williams. A top five corner tandem? I’d say so, wouldn’t you?

And the last line of defense? Nick Collins and either Morgan Burnett or Atari Bigby. Yeah, not bad at all. So, in other words, yes, you may be able to pass on this team somewhat. But don’t think you won’t get picked off a time or two, because you almost certainly will.

The pass rush also has some doubting. We all love Clay Matthews, but some are unsure of Brad Jones. I’m not one of those people. I think Jones will be fine. He struggled at times, but also showed many flashes…as a rookie seventh round pick. And there will be some mixing and matching at Jones’ spot, too, as the Packers will rely on their depth in order to target the right plays at the right times.

And it’s the guy doing the mixing and matching that, ultimately, gives me the most confidence in that group: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers.

After a wretched 2008, Capers lifted the defense to new heights in ‘09. He did so with a group of players he largely didn’t know, a group of players going through a scheme change. If he could get those types of results seemingly on the fly, imagine what he could do this season, with an entire offseason of fully knowing the talent at his disposal. In some ways, the defense could just be getting started, a scary thought for Green Bay’s opponents. And fear not: Capers learned his lessons about being too soft on experienced QBs last season. That won’t happen this time around – bank on that.

I won’t say much about the special teams; I did that Thursday. The group has to be better. It could be a major design flaw if it isn’t.

Alright, enough with the background stuff, let’s really answer the question: What kind of team will the 2010 Packers be?

Answer: They’re going to be a team that scores in bunches. That will put major pressure on the opposition to keep up. The run defense will ensure that opponents will not be able to turn games into grind-it-out, clock dragging affairs. So, in order to hang with this team, opponents will have to look to the passing game. And although there are some questions in the secondary, there are also some big-time playmakers who can kill you. Even if opponents have success throwing the ball and matching the team score-for-score, that won’t ensure victory. Remember, Nasty Ben threw for over 500 yards and still needed a last-second touchdown pass to beat the Pack last season.

Throw in a good veteran coach (McCarthy) who has officially seen every up-and-down a coach can see – and a coach that now has full confidence in his group of maturing youngsters - and you come away with a formula that, simply put, should work. Injuries can wreck such a formula, but those can never be predicted. It’s pointless to try.

But what isn’t pointless is the excitement you should feel as a fan of this team today. This year’s going to be a special one.

And before this week’s over, it will begin.

-Chris Lempesis

At 11:01, the Packers can reduce the RFA tenders made to safety Atari Bigby and cornerback Tramon Williams to 110 percent of the 2009 salaries for each player. The Packers reportedly sent letters to those two – along [...]]]> As we near 11:01 p.m. Lambeau Time, the Green Bay Packers have a pair of decisions to make.

At 11:01, the Packers can reduce the RFA tenders made to safety Atari Bigby and cornerback Tramon Williams to 110 percent of the 2009 salaries for each player. The Packers reportedly sent letters to those two – along with Johnny Jolly, who signed his tender late Monday night – informing them the offers would indeed be decreased.

Bigby, tendered at $1.759 million, would only drop $55,000, down to $1.704 million. For Williams, the dip would be significantly more, from $3.168 million down to just over $584,000.

There’s also a great difference with regards to the respective situations of Bigby and Wiliams and how the Packers should handle them.

With Bigby, it’s fairly simple: Drop the offer and let him sit – make that rot – if he so chooses.

Outside of one good year, 2007, Bigby has shown his deficiencies time and time again. He’s not the great run support guy some make him out to be; rather, he’s merely solid (and even that’s not all the time). He’s capable of making plays in coverage, but he’s caught out of position or just plain flatfooted quite a bit, too. His football smarts also leave something to be desired.

Of course, those average skills are only on display when Bigby is, you know, healthy, something he’s struggled with for much of the past two seasons.

And then there’s this: Morgan Burnett.

Burnett, the team’s third round pick out of Georgia Tech, has been turning heads throughout the minicamps/OTAs as he’s consistently displayed his innate knack for finding the ball – a big reason the Packers surrendered their fourth-round pick to move up and get him.

With Bigby sitting out in his search for a new deal, Burnett has worked almost exclusively with the starting defense. As Bigby continues to make a home on his couch, Burnett will only continue to gain confidence. I said at the time of his drafting that I thought Burnett would be starting by week four. That target date keeps moving up, even if Bigby signs his tender. Simply put, I think Burnett is a better option.

So, Atari, continue to listen to super agent/super scumbag Drew Rosenhaus – the defense will only be better for it.

Things will be much, much trickier with Williams.

Williams, despite his ups-and-downs, has shown himself to be a very capable starter in the NFL. He’s got upside, too, and could develop into a Pro Bowl-type guy in time. That gives him a lot of leverage, as does the fact that Charles Woodson turns 34 in October and Al Harris, 36 in December, is coming off major knee surgery and very well could miss the first six weeks of the season.

And Green Bay has no Morgan Burnetts waiting in the wings at corner, but rather an injury-prone Pat Lee, a paying-for-sex-prone Brandon Underwood (allegedly) and a – gulp – Jarrett Bush-prone Jarrett Bush.

A small paycut likely means little to Bigby, but a massive monetary decrease thrown Williams’ way will likely be taken as a sign of great disrespect from the organization. After all, reaching Dallas is the goal this year and the organization has clearly shown that by dishing out roughly $80 million to Ryan Pickett, Nick Collins, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher. If the Packers have paid that much – in a capless 2010 – why are they suddenly being so cheap with an up-and-coming player at a position with little depth?

If that is indeed Williams’ viewpoint, I can’t say I disagree with him too much. He’s right; he should get a raise.

But here’s the part I take issue with: the Packers gave him a raise – of $2.6 million. They didn’t have to tender him as highly as they did – they could have dished out a first-round tender instead of a first-and-third tender, as it’s likely no one would have surrendered that - but by doing so they showed him how much value he holds to the team. He should – like Collins before him – sign the tender, get into practice and continue to work towards a long-term extension. My best guess is that the team wants to re-up him, but it wants him to bend a little, too.

And signing the tender is the best way to do that. Meet them halfway, Tramon – I’m pretty sure it’ll be in your best interest.

-Chris Lempesis

Woodson, who turns 34 on October 7, has three years left on the seven-year, $52.7 million (if he hit all the various incentives) contract he [...]]]> Earlier this week, a report surfaced from Josina Anderson of FOX31 in Denver (huh?) that reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson had approached the Green Bay Packers about a new contract.

Woodson, who turns 34 on October 7, has three years left on the seven-year, $52.7 million (if he hit all the various incentives) contract he signed with Green Bay in 2006. His base salaries for the final three years (there are various incentives he can hit, as well): $7.5 million, $5.5 million and $6.5 million.

Woodson texted Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee to refute Anderson’s claims, saying he hasn’t spoken with the team at all. I doubt he has, but I’m pretty sure his agents have. And while I don’t think he’s looking for an extension, I can almost guarantee Woodson is asking for a hefty raise.

That makes perfect sense if you’re Woodson, doesn’t it?

He will never see the final year of his contract, anyways – he’ll be rapidly approaching 36 at that point - so that $6.5 million due him in 2012 likely doesn’t hold a whole lot of value in his eyes. My guess is that his agents are trying to get a good chunk of that 2012 money pushed up to this season (and, possibly, a bit tacked on to his 2011 salary). So make his salaries, say, $10 million for next season and $6.5 million for 2011. If he’s still going at 36, he’ll likely be a mere role player, so a $3 million salary will probably be okay by Woodson.

And, make no mistake, it’s going to be really difficult for the team to turn him down on this one.

First of all, Woodson is coming off the best year of his career. You can likely knock at least two wins off the 2009 total if Woodson was playing somewhere else. I’d say three, but that’s just me.

There’s also that little issue of the team’s nerve-rattling lack of depth at the position, as of now, an issue only made worse by the fact that Tramon Williams still hasn’t signed his RFA tender (more on that Friday).

And if those two factors play right into Woodson’s hands, this last one does even more so: Ted Thompson has finally starting paying up. 

Thompson has dished out a total of roughly $80 million in new deals for Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Ryan Pickett and Nick Collins this offseason. He’s taken advantage of 2010 being an uncapped year, certainly, and if he’s willing to do that, Woodson’s agents will likely ask, what’s a couple million more for a guy who was arguably your most valuable player last season?

And if that’s what they are asking the Packers for – a raise, not an extension – I think the team should definitely suck it up and hand over the money. If your ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl this season – and it sure seems to be for this team - you want to make sure everyone is in the best head-space possible heading into camp. Paying Woodson ensures that one of your most crucial players is happy heading into one of your most crucial seasons in recent memory.

Thompson often preaches about how the Packers “take care of their own.” While he began his career somewhere else, Woodson has become such a player to the organization. That being the case, Thompson needs to add a little more to his checks.

-Chris Lempesis

Enough about the pretty boys – let’s talk about the grunts, the hogs, the guys in the trenches. After all, they’re the real reason games are won and lost.

With that said, here’s part three of OBOD’s all-time 53-man roster: the offensive line.

(Note: I [...]]]> The first two parts of our series covered the “skill players” on offense.

Enough about the pretty boys – let’s talk about the grunts, the hogs, the guys in the trenches. After all, they’re the real reason games are won and lost.

With that said, here’s part three of OBOD’s all-time 53-man roster: the offensive line.

(Note: I did not worry so much about whether the player played on the right or left side. I strictly focused on finding the best players at each position.)

Offensive tackle

Starter: Forrest Gregg (1956, 1958-1970) – Gregg was the anchor of Green Bay’s legendary rushing attack, playing in 187 consecutive games. That stood as the franchise record until Brett Favre broke it in 2003.

But did Brett Favre earn “finest player I ever coached” status from Vince Lombardi? No, he did not – Gregg did.

With good reason. Thought to be undersized at 6-feet, 4-inches and 249 pounds, Gregg used his otherwordly athleticism to key the Packers to an average of 151 yards per game on the ground during Lombardi’s time as head coach.

That was enough to earn him nine trips to the Pro Bowl and a 1977 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Starter: Robert “Cal” Hubbard (1929-1933, 1935) – A tackle in college at Centenary and Geneva, Hubbard moved to d-line while playing for the New York Giants. After being traded to Green Bay in 1929, Hubbard moved back to his natural position.

It was there that he shined. Hubbard helped turn the Packers’ running game into a force as they won world championships in each of his first three seasons.

He was an All-Pro every year from 1931-1933, a member of the NFL’s All-50 Year Team (1970) and a 1963 inductee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Perhaps the coolest thing about Hubbard, though, is this: After his career was over, in 1958, Hubbard became the American League’s umpire-in-chief. His work in that role was so good that, in 1976, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And, yes, he is the only person ever to be in both hallowed halls. 

Backup: Bob Skoronski (1956, 1959-1968) – Gregg was so good at right tackle, it’s often forgotten who manned the left side for the Lombardi Era Packers. That man was Skoronski.

While never a standout, per se, Skoronski was a tough, solid, durable tackle, playing in 146 games during his time in Green Bay. He played in both Super Bowl wins and five world championships (and earned one Pro Bowl spot). Clearly, Lombardi understood his value.

On an offense with so many stars, it was Skoronski who served as offensive captain from 1965-1968.

Backup: Chad Clifton (2000-Present) – Some will be surprised by this selection, no doubt. After all, we often look at the things Clifton struggles with (injuries, false starts, etc.)

That’s a major mistake, though.

While never dominant, Clifton has been a steady, solid presence at left tackle for over a decade. He played the key position on a line that was amongst the best in the league at both protecting the passer (think of how few times Favre was sacked in the 2000s) and running the ball (see: Ahman Green’s totals from 2001-2004). Obviously, Favre’s quick release and Green’s massive skill set had something to do with that, as well. But you can’t deny Clifton’s ability to excel.

And remember this: Clifton’s career should have been over after the devastating cheap shot he took from Warren Sapp back in 2002. Not only did that hit not end his career, it seemed to make Clifton a better player. To me, anyone who can bounce back from that has to be on this list.

Offensive Guard

Starters: Jerry Kramer (1958-1968) and Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston (1959-1967) – So far, I’ve been listing these players one-by-one. For this spot, I’m making an exception. Some things are just meant to be together.

Such is the case with Kramer and Thurston.

In short, they were the two crucial pieces in the famed “Packers sweep,” one of the most dominant offensive plays in the history of pro football. It’s true that Lombardi’s vision and dedication to running the play correctly were big reasons for its success. But those things would have meant nothing had he not been able to find two players with the total package, in terms of skills, to be able to execute it.

He found them in Kramer and Thurston. Both players complimented their solid size with outstanding athleticism and toughness. Both players earned two All-Pro spots apiece for their efforts and have retained their status as massive fan favorites 40-plus years after their respective retirements.

Neither is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But, really, you can’t always measure impact or importance by a bust in Canton.

Backup: Mike Michalske (1929-1935, 1937) – After playing fullback at Penn State, Michalske transitioned to guard upon entering the pro game (his first two years were spent with the New York Yankees football team. Yes, that was a football team, too, once upon a time.)

As it turned out, his fullback skills were perfect for his new position. Michalske used his quickness and athleticism to become, arguably, pro football’s first truly great guard (he was the first guard inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1964).

And talk about toughness. Michalske, nicknamed “Iron Mike”, played 60 minutes of almost every game he was in as a Packer, playing on the defensive side, as well. And how many games did he miss attempting such a brutal feat? Nine out of a possible 104. Wow.

Backup: Gale Gillingham (1966-1974, 1976) – Okay, before we go any further, let’s just get this out of the way: I did not select Gillingham because he and I share an alma matter (the University of Minnesota). That’s not how I roll…although, it is cool. We haven’t produced too many great pros at the U lately.

Gillingham was drafted to follow the legendary footsteps of Kramer and Thurston and he did just that.

Gillingham had it all: durability (played in every game in all but one season), versatility (played both left and right guard) and, of course, outstanding success (five-time Pro Bowler).

That’s why he’s on this team.

Center

Starter: Jim Ringo (1953-1963) – By now, we all know the infamous story of Ringo’s raise demands/near instant trade to the Philadelphia Eagles at the hands of Lombardi. Let’s not focus on that here, though.

Instead, let’s focus on who Ringo was, as a player, for the Packers.

Like Gregg, Ringo was considered undersized at 6-feet, 2-inches and 235 pounds. And, also like Gregg, Ringo used his supreme athleticism and technique to find success. Lombardi knew how to use those skills, too, as Ringo was a key figure in the famous “Packers sweep” until he was traded.

The league certainly took notice. Starting in 1957, Ringo was voted to seven straight Pro Bowls and, in 1981, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Backup: Frank Winters (1992-2002) – Ringo was an obvious selection. Finding his backup proved a bit more difficult as I had to choose between Winters and Larry McCarren. McCarren was “The Rock”, a tough-as-nails player who holds the franchise record for games played at the position.

But, I mean, come on – you didn’t really think we’d leave off our site’s namesake, did you?

And it’s not as though Winters couldn’t player, either. Far from it. A hard-working, hard-nosed player, Winters used his smarts and toughness to become an elite center for the great Packers teams of the mid-to-late 90s. He earned a Pro Bowl spot in 1996 and his fun-loving ways and sharp wit – he once joked that “pizza and beer” were the secrets to his longevity – earned him a spot in the hearts of Packers fans everywhere.

Frankly, I can’t think of a better way to close out the offensive portion of our roster.

That’s all for week one. Starting Monday, we’ll begin listing off the defensive players so make sure to head back here.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

-Chris Lempesis