An interesting article about who to keep and who to cut loose... http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/aug05/350388.asp I wouldn't want to be in charge of cutdowns. Some tough calls here...
I just clicked on it again, and it works fine for me. I wonder if you need to register? I guess I can copy and paste the article here... Give me a minute.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Green Bay's hand: Hold 'em or fold 'em? Packers must ponder who to keep, cut Packer Plus annually makes a guess at how the 53-man roster will shake out when final cuts are made on Sept. 4, and here are the guesses for 2005. The number in parentheses is the number of players kept at each position. QUARTERBACKS (3) ? Keep: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers, Craig Nall. ? Cut: J.T. O'Sullivan. Favre and Rodgers are no-brainers for different but obvious reasons. Favre is the future Hall of Famer who is the quarterback of the present and a glorious past. Rodgers is the perceived quarterback of the future. That leaves Nall and O'Sullivan fighting for the final spot, and Nall appears to be well ahead of O'Sullivan, who arrived in the Mike McKenzie trade last season. Nall's performance in real-time action last season was not much short of phenomenal. He hasn't been spectacular in camp thus far, but his knowledge of the offense is superb and he'll probably start the season as the No. 2 quarterback. O'Sullivan led the Packers to the game-winning field goal in the exhibition opener against San Diego but has a penchant for abandoning the pocket too quickly. RUNNING BACKS (5) ? Keep: Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport, Tony Fisher, William Henderson, Nick Luchey. ? Cut: Joey Harris, Walt Williams, Vonta Leach, Derrick Johnese. The incumbent five hold onto their jobs, but more so because there really aren't any challengers who have stood out thus far. The rushing game has been anemic thus far in pre-season, but as the offensive line gets settled things are expected to improve. Green is approaching an age where running backs typically slow down. Fisher entered camp as a lock but was awful in the scrimmage against Buffalo when he repeatedly missed blitz pickups, then fumbled in the pre-season opener. Williams missed nearly two weeks of camp with a sprained ankle. He's the one back who could present a challenge down the stretch of camp if Fisher doesn't pick it up. Harris fumbled on his first carry of the pre-season. He and Johnese are probably battling for a practice squad offer. Henderson and Luchey might have been pushed a bit by Leach, but Leach suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee and won't be a factor the rest of camp. TIGHT ENDS (3) ? Keep: Bubba Franks, David Martin, Ben Steele. ? Cut: Sean McHugh, Steve Fleming, Tory Humphrey. Franks remains unsigned and if he doesn't sign soon the Packers may need to find a real starter on the free agent market. Martin can't stay healthy and is now on his second stint of missed practices. Steele has had a terrible camp when it comes to catching the ball with simply way too many drops. McHugh was actually signed to the Packers' 53-man roster for Week 1 last year after being waived by Tennessee. He is supposedly a top blocker after having been a fullback at Penn State, but that hasn't been apparent thus far. Fleming and Humphrey are undrafted rookies who need a lot more seasoning. WIDE RECEIVERS (5) ? Keep: Javon Walker, Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson, Antonio Chatman, Terrence Murphy. ? Cut: Andrae Thurman, Jamal Jones, Chad Lucas, Craig Bragg, Sam Breeden, Vince Butler. There's some talk that the Packers could keep six at this position, but they haven't in recent years. As long as there is no trade of Ferguson, as has been rumored, the top five are pretty cut and dried. Chatman has solidified his position as the No. 4 receiver. Murphy has been impressive at times but injured too often. He's now out at least two weeks with a sprained medial collateral. Ferguson has expressed a desire to get the ball more, and could get his chance with Murphy out. Murphy hasn't gotten to show much because of his injuries but will make the squad. He showed a lot in the minicamps and his second-round status also serves as insulation. That leaves six on the outside looking in. Figure Bragg for a practice squad position. Thurman had a bad drop on a third-down pass from Craig Nall in the third quarter last week. He's had his moments, but not enough to come out ahead in the numbers game. Free agents Lucas, Jones, Breeden and Butler have had a few moments in practice, and Jones caught a key pass in the winning drive against San Diego, but all are fighting for a practice squad spot at this point. OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9) ? Keep: Mike Flanagan, Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher, Scott Wells, Adrian Klemm, Kevin Barry, Grey Ruegamer, Brad Bedell, William Whitticker. ? Cut: Matt O'Dwyer, Atlas Herrion, Joe Hayes, Junius Coston, Chris White, Steve Morley. Flanagan, Tauscher and Clifton are the certainties as far as starters go, and Bedell, Wells and Barry are solid as backups. Whitticker has moved into contention for a starting guard spot and started in Saturday's game at Buffalo. At 32, O'Dwyer would have to win a starting spot to stick around, and since he hasn't nailed that down already it appears he won't. The Packers would most likely go with youth for the backup spots, with Wells, Klemm, Whitticker and Ruegamer all having the edge on O'Dwyer in that regard. White has come on in camp and been very impressive as an undrafted free agent at center. The Packers are certain to try to keep him on the practice squad. His only way of sticking on the 53-man roster would be as backup center if Wells and Ruegamer won both of the starting guard spots. Herrion played with the No. 1 unit in the scrimmage against Buffalo but has been running with the 2s and 3s since. Morley picked up a decent signing bonus out of the Canadian Football League in 2004 but has been a disappointment after staying on the 53-man roster all of last season. Bedell is the most trustworthy backup the Packers have at left tackle should Clifton go down. He might not play a down all season, but he'll be around. The Packers waived right tackle Brennan Curtin, a sixth-round pick in 2003, last week. DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9) ? Keep: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Aaron Kampman, Grady Jackson, Cullen Jenkins, Michael Montgomery, Corey Williams, Colin Cole, R-Kal Truluck, Cletidus Hunt. ? Cut: James Lee, Seante Williams, A.J. Lindsay, Donnell Washington, Quintene Newhouse, Kenny Peterson. Hunt skipped the June minicamp and has been out most of camp with a knee and shoulder injury. Are the two related? Still, neither Washington, Lee nor Peterson has done enough and they've all had enough chance to show. Hunt is better than any of them and will probably stick. Washington got himself into good shape but his performance on the field hasn't matched his physical stature. Lee hasn't been a whole lot better but at least plays with a little more leverage and pursues well. But he doesn't get off blocks well enough. Peterson never lived up to his billing as the Ohio State weight room record holder. He's had two years and this camp to become a playmaker and hasn't. Entering camp, Truluck appeared to be a long shot, but he was among the most impressive players of the linemen Saturday night in Buffalo. An outside rusher always has a chance in defensive coordinator Jim Bates' scheme. Jenkins made his name as a high-effort player a year ago inside and will now be used on the outside, too, to spell Gbaja-Biamila on running downs. Williams, who played outside a year ago, is the leading candidate to replace Hunt in the middle. Jackson has taken his time coming back from off-season surgery and is basically scheduled to come off the physically unable to perform list in time for the exhibition finale at Tennessee. The Packers are always a better team when he's on the field. Keeping him on the field is the problem. Kampman is probably the team's best all-around lineman and most consistent. He's not just an over-achieving effort guy. Cole, a college teammate of Kampman at Iowa, has moved ahead of both Lee and Washington in the middle and probably will be Jackson's backup when Jackson returns. Montgomery, a sixth-round pick out of Texas A&M, leads the Packers in sacks in the pre-season. Of course, he's been going up against No. 2 and 3 offensive linemen, but he's shown enough to make it as a backup end. LINEBACKERS (6) ? Keep: Na'il Diggs, Nick Barnett, Ray Thompson, Brady Poppinga, Roy Manning, Paris Lenon. ? Cut: Hannibal Navies, Nick McNeil, Zac Woodfin, Jeremiah Garrison. ? Injured reserve: Kurt Campbell. Truth is the Packers might be forced to keep seven linebackers until Diggs returns from a knee injury. At last word they were hoping he'd be back for the exhibition finale. Look for Diggs, Barnett and Thompson to claim the three starting spots. Thompson was the best linebacker on the field for the Packers Saturday but probably has to win a starting job to stay. Saturday's performance gives him an edge over Navies, who had a penalty that cost the Packers a safety on a sack. Poppinga missed the first two weeks of camp with a pulled hamstring but will be given every chance to make the team because of his size (245 pounds) and ability to run. Lenon returns as a reliable backup with a special teams pedigree. Manning was the surprise of camp in the opening couple of weeks as an undrafted rookie. He could develop into a steal and already seems a certainty to make the team. For now, the one big battle seems to be between Navies and Thompson. Whoever loses might lose out altogether because neither has done much special teams work thus far, giving Lenon, Manning and Poppinga an edge for the backup spots. SAFETIES (4) ? Keep: Nick Collins, Marviel Underwood, Mark Roman, Earl Little. ? Cut: Todd Franz, Julius Curry. Some thought the Packers were reaching to take Collins in the second round. But after a few days of observation, former Packer GM Ron Wolf called him one of the players that jumped out at him. Underwood also appears to be a strong pick. Franz suffered a separated shoulder in Saturday's game at Buffalo, and Curry also missed practice Monday, although team spokespersons wouldn't reveal why. Roman has spent most of the past few weeks running with the No. 1 unit but has been slowed by a slight hamstring injury. Little started in Roman's place against Buffalo and had a strong showing. The Packers thinned the ranks a little bit on Aug. 14 when they released Arturo Freeman at Freeman's request. Freeman signed with Tennessee a day later. CORNERBACKS (6) ? Keep: Al Harris, Ahmad Carroll, Joey Thomas, Mike Hawkins, Jason Horton, Chris Johnson. ? Cut: Chris Day, Leigh Torrence, Patrick Dendy. Hawkins looks like a steal as a fifth-rounder and could end up being a starter by next season and maybe even by the end of this season. His skills are that good. Harris has been hampered by a quadriceps bruise but returned to practice on Monday and looked as good as ever. The interesting battle over the final two weeks appears to be between Thomas and Carroll for the starting spot opposite Harris. Thomas finally returned from a hip flexor injury on Monday. Horton stuck around all of last season and has size and speed. He's also a strong special teams player. Although he missed the start of camp on the physically unable to perform list, he's shown a willingness to hit in the last two weeks. Johnson was sort of the Hawkins of camp two years ago but has never been able to stay healthy. His speed makes him a tough decision at cut time. Since they've already kept him around for two years, figure they'll give him a chance at least a few weeks into the season. Speed, after all, is one thing you can't teach. Torrence, Dendy and Day have positives and could be battling for a practice-squad spot. Day was in cap with the Packers a year ago and the Packers thought enough of him to sign him and send him to NFL Europe. SPECIAL TEAMS (3) ? Keep: Ryan Longwell, B.J Sander, Rob Davis. All three are basically running unopposed at the moment, although Sander was considered to be competing with every free agent who could be potentially signed. With two consecutive strong exhibition games, Sander appears to have won the job that was his to lose. Kickers don't get much more reliable than Longwell and Davis is one of the league's best long-snappers.</div>
I think they'll keep Navies and ditch Paris Lenon or Poppinga. You never know... If Poppinga gets released, he'd probably make it to the Practice Squad. If Lenon were released, someone would grab him off of waivers.
Yukkkkkkkk I hate those predictions. Cutting way to much talent. First off I'd like to see Walt Williams get at least a practice squad spot. I personally wish we could trade Craig Nall for a pick and keep JT. I like him enough as our #3. Rodgers is the future and it wouldn't hurt giving him the #2 spot right away. Confidence builder maybe. O" Dwyer well get a roster spot but I think that Bedell will get cut. That seems to be the indication with the local newspaper. Plus O"Dwyer has been working with the first team all week long. I think David Martin or Ben Steele is on their way out. Now that Bubba is back I don't think hanging on to Martin is a good idea. I expect him to get cut actually. If we do keep a 6th WR I would make it Thruman. He's seems to be working hard. He's playing with a broken thumb and has done decent in returns. Kenny Peterson and Donnell Washington are probably gonna make the team. Washington got the start against the Bills and has played well. Peterson is got a lot of upside. I expect him to at least make the practice squad. Navies probably won't get cut. He has some experience starting and with Diggs probably questionable for the season opener he might get the start.
I say we keep Navies as a Back up(or possible starter) rather than Lenon, Navies is the more versitlie of the two and better skilled, If lenon was Worth anything more than a Special teamer he would have proved it last season when Navies went down, cut his behind. I say we try and trade J.T O'Sulliven to the Bears lol.
I dont think you guys could get anything for JT, no team is gonna trade a draft pick for a 4th string QB
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>A crappy 4rth stringer at that!</div> Other than Favre, O'Sullivan is the only Packers QB who's driven the team down the field to score any points this pre-season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pack Attack)</div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>A crappy 4rth stringer at that!</div> Other than Favre, O'Sullivan is the only Packers QB who's driven the team down the field to score any points this pre-season.</div> Thats why I said to trade Nall for a 4th or 5th rounder. He's played well. JT is a good #3. Rodgers #2 and of course Favre #1. As for Navies well I just heard that Lenon might get the start over him agains the Patroits anyways. So it looks to be Lenon has out performed him. Ray Thompson has played very good though and is all but a lock to start for us. Roman is back in the starting lineup as well. NE plans on playing their starters the whole game I heard. I think that is doubtful. Sherman wants to play the first stringers the entire first half. This should be a great test for us. I am excited bout tomorrow's game. Plus it's my Birthday.
Once again us Fans in FL Have no access to the Norse division games Grrrr I really wanted to see that one.
