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Packers begin search for their next coach

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Packers President Mark Murphy

Whether or not Green Bay Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy should have waited until the end of the season to fire Mike McCarthy as opposed to his doing so after last Sunday’s 20-17 loss to the Arizona Cardinals is still being debated.  But Murphy admitted during a news conference on Monday that Sunday’s listless performance was the last straw and a move had to be made.

“In evaluating the season, I really felt that change was needed and kind of Mike’s tenure had run its course,” Murphy said.  “And quite honestly the performance on Sunday night to me made it very clear that a coaching change was needed.”

Contrary to what has been widely reported over the last several weeks, Mark Murphy said quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn’t get Mike McCarthy fired.

Rodgers was asked on Monday if he was the reason for Mike McCarthy’s dismissal. [Read more…]

Packers dealing with more injuries as they prepare for Vikings

By

Mike Daniels

As the Green Bay Packers get ready to face the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, they may have to add some defensive line help.

Defensive tackle Mike Daniels left Thursday’s game at Seattle with a foot injury and Monday, coach Mike McCarthy said Daniels would likely miss a couple of weeks.  Down to four healthy defensive lineman, McCarthy said he and GM Brian Gutekunst were already discussing their options to potentially add another lineman.

Tight end Jimmy Graham also left that game with a broken thumb.  Coach Mike McCarthy said Graham plans to try to play on Sunday against the Vikings and will use the week to experiment with different splints to find out what works best for the game.

The Packers also lost backups Raven Greene and Bashaud Breeland to injury during last Thursday’s game.  McCarthy said the week will offer more clarity on who may be able to go Sunday night in Minnesota. [Read more…]

Packers deal Montgomery & Clinton-Dix before the trade deadline

By

Ha Ha Clinton-Dix

Twenty Four hours ago, Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery said he had a hard time trusting his teammates and he wasn’t sure what his role was on the team.  Fast forward one day and Montgomery was sent to the Baltimore Ravens for a 7th round draft pick in 2020.

Montgomery fumbled a kick return after being told not to bring the football out of the end zone.  Criticism quickly followed from Montgomery’s teammates and the Packers returner said its hard to trust anyone now.

Montgomery was selected in the third round out of Stanford in 2015.  In 36 career games, he caught 129 passes for 827 yards and three touchdowns.  He has rushed for 849 yards and seven touchdowns.

Montgomery will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.  His departure means the Packers no longer have a single player from that 2015 draft class on the active roster.  Linebacker Jake Ryan is the only member of that class still a part of the organization, but he’s on injured reserve. [Read more…]

Packers do more fine-tuning of roster

By

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

After trimming their roster to 53 players on Saturday, then signing eight players to their practice squad on Sunday, the Green Bay Packers made some additional moves on Monday.

The Packers signed LB Korey Toomer after he was released  by the San Francisco 49ers.  The Packers also placed former UW-Whitewater wide receiver Jake Kumerow on injured reserve.  He could return to the Packers in eight weeks if the Packers choose to designate him.

The Packers also signed RB Darius Jackson, who was released by the Dallas Cowboys and signed to their practice squad.  Jackson was a sixth round pick in 2016.  He rushed 21 times for 72 yards during the exhibition season but doesn’t have a carry in a regular season game.

The Packers filled out their 10-man practice squad by bringing back safety Marwin Evans.  They also added former Alabama defensive back Tony Brown.

Packers take two corners early, try to make up for 2015

By

Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers selected back-to-back corners in the 2015 draft but Damarious Randall and Quinten Rollins turned out to be major disappointments.  Randall is now with Cleveland and Rollins is recovering from a torn Achilles.

In great need of corner help, the Packers spent back-to-back picks at the top of the draft, with a little wheeling and dealing mixed in.

GM Brian Gutekunst selected Jaire Alexander (CB) out of Louisville with the 18th pick in the first round.  He came back the next day and selected Iowa’s Josh Jackson with the 45th overall pick.

Gutekunst started the day on Friday not thinking about taking another defensive back, but when Josh Jackson was still on the board, that changed things.

Jackson had a fantastic season at Iowa last season.  He led the nation with eight interceptions.  He had two last season that he returned for touchdowns against the Badgers. [Read more…]

Gutekunst era in Green Bay off to a flying start (AUDIO)

By

Packers GM Brian Gutekunst

New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst could have stayed put and safely made the Packers first round selection at number-14 overall.  After all, they still had at least a handful of solid defensive difference makers on the board at the time.  Players like Derwin James (DB-Florida State) and Tremaine Edmunds (LB-Virgina Tech) went with the 16th and 17th picks.

But Gutekunst, willing to rock the boat for the long-term good of the organization, sent the 14th overall pick to New Orleans, in exchange for the Saints number-one pick (27th) this year, the 147th pick this year (5th round) and the Saints 2019 first round draft pick.

Gutekunst said he knew when he went down to 27, that he would have a chance to get back up in the first round and that he did.  The Packers sent the 27th pick, along with third (number 76) and sixth round (number 186) picks to Seattle for the 18th pick in this draft as well as a seventh round pick (number 248) this year. [Read more…]

Packers send Randall to Cleveland for Kizer

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Damarious Randall is dealt to Cleveland.

It didn’t take new General Manager Brian Gutekunst long to make his first potential impactful deal with the Green Bay Packers.  Gutekunst send defensive back Damarious Randall to the Cleveland Browns on Friday for quarterback DeShone Kizer.

The NFL Network also reported that the deal included the Packers and Browns swapping 4th and 5th round draft picks, giving the Packers the opportunity to draft at the front of both rounds.

Kizer gives the Packers another young quarterback to compete with Brett Hundley for the backup job behind Aaron Rodgers.  He started 15 games for the winless Browns last season.

But the move also takes away the team’s top defensive playmaker in the secondary to finish last season.  Randall did miss the last two games of the season with a knee injury.  After being benched and sent to the locker room in a Week 4 game against Chicago, he turned things around and went on to lead the team with a career-high four interceptions. [Read more…]

Packers looking to add to WR group

By

Brian Gutekunst

New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst and head coach Mike McCarthy met with reporters on Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

It would appear that the Packers would like to have wide receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb back and it could come with some financial concessions.

“They still have value,” McCarthy said.  “There’s no question about it.  Their leadership, their instincts, their awareness as players, it increases as their years go on.  You’re always going to measure the physical part of it. That’s the science and chess match of this whole thing.  Jordy and Randall can still play.  But we need to improve.”

Nelson finished last season with 53 catches for 482 yards.  His six touchdown receptions came in the first five games with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback.

Cobb had 66 receptions for 653 yards and four TDs in 15 games.

For Nelson, Gutekunst believes his six touchdowns in the first five games with Aaron Rodgers is a more accurate indication of what he can do for the Packers offense.

The Packers signed Davante Adams to a new contract and they’re hoping to add depth at the position, whether it’s through the draft or the use of free agency.

The Scouting Combine continues today.  Running backs and offensive linemen will work out for NFL scouts today.

 

 

Packers awarded compensatory picks

By

Packers G.M. Brian Gutekunst

New Green Bay Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst will have some additional draft picks when the April Draft rolls around.

The Packers were awarded four compensatory picks for the 2018 Draft on Friday: one in the fourth round (No. 133 overall), two fifth-round picks (172 & 174) and a sixth-round pick (No. 207).

The Packers’ will now have 12 draft picks, their most since 2006.

The four compensatory picks were awarded to the Packers as a result of losing players in free agency the previous year.  The Packers lost tight end Jared Cook, safety Micah Hyde, guard T.J. Lang, running back Eddie Lacy, center J.C. Tretter and pass rushers Julius Peppers and Datone Jones.  The only free agent gained under the NFL’s formula for awarding draft picks was guard Jahri Evans.

A total of 32 compensatory draft picks were awarded to 15 teams.

The Packers were one of four teams that received four picks, joining Dallas, Cincinnati and Oakland.

Unlike in the past, compensatory draft picks can now be used in trades.  That rule went into effect prior to the 2017 draft.

The Packers have seven of their own picks, four compensatory selections and a seventh-round pick that came from Buffalo in a 2016 trade for linebacker Lerentee McCray.

Wolf is headed for Cleveland

By

Eliot Wolf

When the Green Bay Packers hired Brian Gutekunst as their next general manager, they passed on Eliot Wolf.  Now Wolf is taking his expertise with him to Cleveland, joining John Dorsey and the Cleveland Browns.

Wolf was a 14-year veteran of the Packers scouting team.  He had an offer to remain with the Packers and could have joined Reggie McKenzie and Jon Gruden in Oakland as well.  But in the end, after meeting with the Browns on Tuesday, he decided that would be the best place for him.

Wolf served as the Packers director of football operations from 2016 to 2017.  He most likely would have been named as an assistant GM in Green Bay, working alongside Gutekunst.  But Wolf being passed over for the position that his father Ron Wolf once held, likely played a factor in his decision to move.

It’s not a matter of whether or not Wolf becomes a GM in the NFL some day.  It’s more a matter of when.  Wolf was qualified for the Packers opening and will continue to get other opportunities moving forward. [Read more…]