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Packers secure deals with two free agents on Monday

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Packers GM Brian Gutekunst at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

Bryan Bulaga’s long run with the Packers in Green Bay would appear to be over.

The Packers agreed to a two-year deal with former Badger tackle Ricky Wagner on Monday morning.  Wagner was a fifth round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2013 and signed a five-year free agent deal with the Detroit Lions in 2017.  Detroit decided not to pay the $9 million due in 2020, releasing him March 13th in a cost cutting move.

The Packers were able to sign the West Allis, Wisconsin native right away because of his release in Detroit.  While with the Ravens and Lions, Wagner started 87 of 102 career games.

Bulaga started all 16 games for the Packers last season but is expected to get a considerable bump in pay elsewhere. [Read more…]

Dorsey steps down in Cleveland

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Former Browns GM John Dorsey

Cleveland Browns general manager John Dorsey resigned just two days after the team fired coach Freddie Kitchens.

Dorsey’s decision to step down came after he refused to take a reduced role within the organization that was offered to him by owner Jimmy Haslam.

Dorsey had revamped the Browns during his two seasons as GM, but his hiring of Kitchens backfired as the Browns fell well short of expectations and missed the playoffs for the 17th straight season.  That is the NFL’s longest current non-playoff drought.

The Haslems have fired five coaches and five lead football executives since buying the team from Randy Lerner in 2012.

The Browns are in the middle of a coaching search, but could find a rough road with the departure of Dorsey, who worked previously for several years in the Green Bay Packers front office.

 

Browns to add safety Morgan Burnett

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Morgan Burnett (WRN File Photo)

The Cleveland Browns have come to an agreement with veteran safety Morgan Burnett.  ESPN is reporting the deal with the former Green Bay Packers safety is for two years.

Burnett will reportedly compete with recently acquired Eric Murray to fill a need at safety after trading Jabrill Peppers to the Giants in the Odell Beckham Jr. deal.

Burnett became a free agent when the Pittsburgh Steelers released him Monday.  The Steelers signed Burnett a year ago to a three-year, $14.25 million contract that included a $4.25 million signing bonus.

Burnett previously played eight seasons with the Packers.  He started all 102 games he played in for Green Bay, collecting nine interceptions, 44 passes defensed, 7.5 sacks and 717 tackles.

Campen leaves Green Bay for Cleveland

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James Campen

Green Bay offensive line coach James Campen has left the Packers to take the position of associate head coach/offensive line coach with the Cleveland Browns.

Campen joined the Packers as a player in 1989.  He joined the Packers coaching staff under Mike Sherman in 2004 as assistant offensive line coach/quality control.

When Mike McCarthy was hired in 2006, Campen moved to offensive line coach and held that position until last year.  Going into 2018, Campen continued coaching the offensive line but was promoted to run-game coordinator for the offense.  He spent 15 years as an assistant coach and five as a player with the Packers.

Campen was under contract with the Packers for the upcoming season, which means he needed to get permission to take the Browns job.

The Browns also hired Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Todd Monken to fill the same role in Cleveland.  Monken has interviewed with Matt LaFleur for the same position with the Packers last weekend.

 

McCarthy reportedly contacted by the Browns

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Mike McCarthy

According to a Toronto Sun report, the Cleveland Browns have reached out to Mike McCarthy about their head-coaching vacancy.

McCarthy was fired by the Green Bay Packers back on December 3.

Browns GM John Dorsey is familiar with McCarthy from their days working together in Green Bay.  McCarthy went 125-75-2 in his 13 seasons with the Packers, winning a Super Bowl in 2010.

The Browns also have a pair of former Packers personal people in their front office in assistant GM Eliot Wolf and Vice President of Player Personnel Alonzo Highsmith.  They’re both very familiar with McCarthy’s work as well.

The Browns will consider McCarthy, but they’ll also interview interim coach Gregg Williams, who went 5-3 in his eight game stint.

 

Packers release Callahan, Browns pick up option on Randall’s contract

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Joe Callahan

The Green Bay Packers are parting company with 24-year-old backup quarterback Joe Callahan, announcing his release from the team on Monday.

Callahan spent parts of two seasons with the Packers after signing as an undrafted free agent in 2016.

The Packers made the move after the reported signing of undrafted free-agent quarterback Tim Boyle out of Eastern Kentucky.

Randall’s option picked up in Cleveland

The Cleveland Browns have exercised the fifth-year option on defensive back Damarious Randall, acquired in a offseason trade with the Green Bay Packers.

The Browns sent quarterback DeShone Kizer and swapped fourth and fifth round draft picks with the Packers back in March, in exchange for Randall.

Randall was the Packers 30th overall pick in the 2015 draft.  After playing corner for the Packers for three seasons, he’s expected to play free safety for the Browns.  Randall started 30 games with the Packers and appeared in 39 games.  He had four interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.

 

Stave signs free agent deal with Cleveland

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Joel Stave

Joel Stave will take another shot at the National Football League, this time with the Cleveland Browns.

Stave, who played at Wisconsin from 2012 through 2015, signed with the Browns on Monday.

Stave started 41 games at Wisconsin, finishing with a 31-10 record.  He passed for 7,635 yards and 48 touchdowns, both ranking him number-two in program history.

The Whitnall High School product signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2016 as an undrafted free agent.

 

Janis signs with the Cleveland Browns

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Jeff Janis – Photo Courtesy of Mike Clemens

Free agent wide receiver and special teamer Jeff Janis is the latest to leave the Green Bay Packers and joined the Cleveland Browns.

After four years in Green Bay, the former 7th round draft pick signed with the Browns on Friday.

Janis could get a chance as a receiver in Cleveland, but it’s most likely that his most prominent role will continue to be on special teams, where he flourished with the Packers.

In four seasons as a receiver with the Packers, Janis had 17 catches for 200 yards and a touchdown.

Cleveland, which is led by former Packers college scouting director John Dorsey as the Browns general manager, lured both Eliot Wolf and Alonzo Highsmith to join the Browns front office.  Then, the Packers traded cornerback Damarious Randall to Cleveland for backup quarterback DeShone Kizer.

 

 

 

 

Thomas calls it quits in Cleveland (AUDIO)

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Barry Alvarez says Joe Thomas is the best lineman to play at Wisconsin

Former Wisconsin Badger Joe Thomas announced he is retiring after 11 seasons in the NFL.

The 10-time Pro Bowler with the Cleveland Browns made the decision after spending several months contemplating his future.

Thomas had played 10,363 consecutive snaps before tearing his left triceps during an Oct. 22 game against Tennessee.  It’s believed to be the longest run in pro football history.

The Brookfield, Wisconsin native played for the Badgers from 2003 to 2006.  He won the Outland Trophy as college football’s top interior lineman in 2006 and his former coach, Barry Alvarez, said Thomas may have been the best offensive lineman to every play at Wisconsin.

Thomas was selected by the Browns with the third overall pick in the 2007 draft.

The Browns plan to enshrine the number 10,363 to recognize his consecutive snaps streak in the team’s Ring of Honor at a home game this season.  The former Badgers shouldn’t have to wait too long before he is elected as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame down the road in Canton.

AUDIO: Barry Alvarez says Joe Thomas is probably the best offensive lineman to ever play at Wisconsin :19

AUDIO: Joe Thomas exemplified what being a Badger was all about :20

Wolf is headed for Cleveland

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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…]