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Jones reports to minicamp but future remains uncertain (AUDIO)

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Josh Jones

Green Bay Packers safety Josh Jones reported to minicamp on Tuesday but stood on the sidelines and watch because of a hamstring injury.

Jones had been a no-show during the rest of the teams offseason program, including OTA’s.  Those sessions were voluntary.  Jones said he spent the last several weeks training in Florida, which is where he injured his hamstring.

Instead of working out with his teammates, Jones said he prefers working with his trainer in Florida, and he wanted to spend more time with family, especially his young daughter.

When asked if Jones wanted to be traded, Jones referred reporters to Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst.

Gutekunst met with reporters following Tuesday’s workout and left the door to a trade open. [Read more…]

Jones skips OTA, reportedly seeking a trade (AUDIO)

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Josh Jones (27)

Josh Jones wasn’t happy with a lack of playing time last season and that frustration continued when the Green Bay Packers signed free agent safety Adrian Amos and selected Maryland’s Darnell Savage in the first round of the NFL Draft.  Expecting that his playing time won’t increase much with those personnel moves, Jones opted to skip the start of OTA’s this week.

Coach Matt LaFleur made sure to mention to reporters on Tuesday that OTA’s are “voluntary” under the league’s collective bargaining agreement, but it’s simply unheard of in today’s NFL for a player to miss the teams off-season program without a legitimate reason.

LaFleur said he has not spoken with Jones and told reporters that Packers GM Brian Gutekunst would handle the situation.  LaFleur didn’t answer how he would handle the situation if Jones misses the teams mandatory minicamp, which starts on June 11.

Jones still has two years left on his original rookie contract, leaving him little bargaining power. [Read more…]

Packers go defense on day one of NFL Draft

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers using both of their two first round draft picks on the defensive side of the ball should be no surprise.  Afterall, the organization, which general manager Brian Gutekunst has been a part of for that entire time and beyond, has gone the defensive rout in the first round for the 8th straight year.

The Packers made Michigan edge rusher Rashan Gary the 12th overall pick in Thursday’s opening round.  Gutekunst later traded up from 30 with Seattle to select Maryland free safety Darnell Savage at number-21.  To make the move, it cost the Packers two fourth-round selections, numbers 114 and 118 on Saturday.

The last time the Packers used a top pick on an offensive player was Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod in 2011.

The Packers have had their eye on Gary for years. [Read more…]

Madison is excited to be back with the Packers

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After being drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, offensive lineman Cole Madison never reported to Training Camp.

Madison told reporters on Tuesday at the Green Bay Packers voluntary minicamp that his absence was necessary to focus on “mental health” without the distraction of football.

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Madison said.  “I love football, but at that point it was my health, and my life was on the line.  I had to go help myself before my football career.”

It had been widely reported that Madison’s mental healthy issues had to do with former Washington State quarterback and teammate Tyler Hilinski’s suicide in January of 2018.  But Madison said his mental health concerns started before his teammates death.

Madison said he didn’t think about football for much of last year.  He didn’t even watch games. [Read more…]

Would the Packers go high with a quarterback in the draft?

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GM Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers hosted Missouri Tigers quarterback Drew Lock for a formal visit last week at Lambeau Field.  The Packers also reportedly wanted to bring in Duke’s Daniel Jones, but a scheduling conflict prevented that from happening.

What are the chances the Packers select a quarterback in the early rounds of the 2019 NFL Draft?

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst was asked bout the possibility during his pre-draft visit with reporters at Lambeau Field on Monday.  He explained that the visits are important for medical evaluations as well as follow-ups from the NFL scouting combine.  Of course Gutekunst said teams sometimes like to throw out a smoke screen or two.

Aaron Rodgers just signed a four-year contract extension that will carry him to his 40th birthday.  What would he think if the Packers selected a quarterback early on?  Would he be offended that the Packers could be looking for his successor so early in the game? [Read more…]

Packers introduce four free agent acquisitions

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Za’Darius Smith

The Green Bay Packers introduced their four free agent acquisitions on Thursday.  Pass rushers Za’Darius Smith and Preston Smith, as well as safety Adrian Amos and offensive lineman Billy Turner signed new deals with the team this week.

The Packers doled out $182 million for the four, a figure that doesn’t include incentives and escalators.

Za’Darius Smith got $66 million in his deal, averaging $16.5 million a season.  That is second on the Packers roster, only to quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

With big money deals, come high expectations.

“All that really hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m going to do my best,” Za’Darius Smith said.  “I’m going to do what I can do.  Coaches know what I’m capable of doing, so I’m going to continue to work hard.  Like I said, stay after practice, do the little things right.  What I’m bringing to this team is leadership, accountability.  I’m going to do the right thing and I’m going to continue to put up big numbers hopefully.”

Za’Darius Smith had 8 1/2 sacks in a contract year for the Baltimore Ravens last season. [Read more…]

Packers reshaping their defense on second day of negotiating period

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers made it clear on Tuesday that outside linebackers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry most likely won’t be a part of their plans moving forward.

The Packers agreed to deals with two pass rushers named Smith and added a safety as well.  The deals can be finalized when the NFL year opens on Wednesday at 3 p.m. CT.

The Packers came to terms with former Baltimore Raven pass-rusher Za’Darius Smith, who had 8.5 sacks last season.  His deal is worth a reported $66 million over four years, including a $20 million signing bonus.

The second Smith is former Redskin Preston Smith, who gets a four-year deal worth a reported $52 million with a $16 million signing bonus.  Smith recorded 24.5 sacks in his first four seasons with the Redskins but only four of those came in 2018.

The Packers were also looking for safety help and agreed to a four-year, $37 million deal with former Chicago Bear Adrian Amos.  He started all 16 games for the Bears last season and finished with two interceptions.  He has started 56 of the 60 games he’s played in with the Bears.

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst also added former Denver Bronco offensive lineman (guard/tackle) Billy Turner.  His deal is worth a reported $28 million over four years.

Kuhn to retire as a Packer

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Former Packers fullback John Kuhn – UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Former Green Bay Packers fullback John Kuhn will retire as a Packer.

The longtime fan favorite played nine of his 12 seasons for the Packers, starting with the 2007 season.  Kuhn played his first season (2006) with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He finished with the last two seasons (2016 & 2017) in New Orleans.

“John was a terrific football player and tremendous teammate who contributed to many years of success for the Packers,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said in a statement.  “He was a true professional whose work ethic and leadership set a great example both on the field and in the locker room.  We want to thank Kuhn and his family for all they did for the Packers and in the community as well as wish them nothing but the best.”

During his time with the Packers, Kuhn rushed for 601 yards on 196 carries and scored 15 touchdowns.  He was a three-time Pro Bowler with the Packers and was selected first-team All-Pro in 2014.

 

Packers GM says the team’s plan includes TE Jimmy Graham

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Jimmy Graham

It would appear that tight end Jimmy Graham will be in the Green Bay Packers plans for the upcoming 2019 season.  Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst indicated as much during his session with reporters at the NFL Scouting Combine on Wednesday.

“Jimmy had a productive year for us last year,” Gutekunst said.  “Was really, really proud of him.  He fought through a lot of things just to be out there.  Guys who have played as long as he has don’t have to do that.  His professionalism was on display each and every day, and I look forward to seeing what he can do for us this year.”

Graham finished the 2018 season with 55 catches for 636 yards and two touchdowns.  He routinely missed Wednesday practices during the second half of the season because of a knee issue.

Graham is scheduled to collect a $5 million roster bonus March 15.

Gutekunst was also asked about veterans Clay Matthews, Randall Cobb and Nick Perry, but didn’t offer any insight into their futures with the Packers.

LaFleur needs to get Rodgers back to his elite self

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New Packers head coach Matt LaFleur

Green Bay Packers President & CEO Mark Murphy said several weeks ago that the teams search for a new head coach wouldn’t center around quarterback Aaron Rodgers approval, but they would welcome the quarterback’s input.

But who was Murphy kidding.  The number one job for new 39-year-old head coach Matt LaFleur is to get the Packers back into the playoffs with a chance to win championships.  To do that, LaFleur needs to figure out how to get Rodgers to return to the elite form that he possessed not to long ago.

Murphy and his management team know that as well.  Even before he offered the job to LaFleur on Monday, general manager Brian Gutekunst was told to call LaFleur to have a discussion.  That phone call was the start of the relationship building process between the two and it will need to grow leaps and bounds in the coming months as the Packers push towards the 2019 season.

At his introductory press conference on Wednesday, LaFleur acknowledged that it’ll be important to build a relationship with every player on the team.  But he also knows it starts with Rodgers. [Read more…]