D.J. Smith

Packers cut LB Desmond Bishop

June 17, 2013 By Bill Scott

Desmond Bishop

In a move that has been rumored since the NFL draft, the Green Bay Packers parted ways with linebacker Desmond Bishop Monday by releasing him.

Rumors surfaced during this past April’s draft the Packers were looking to trade the linebacker for a draft pick but nothing surfaced. Last week, Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel had a story the the team was still looking to trade Bishop and would release them if they couldn’t.

Bishop played six seasons with the Packers playing in 69-games, including 26-starts. He was on injured-reserve all of last season when he suffered a hamstring injury in the preseason.

The Packers also released linebacker D.J Smith earlier this off-season. Smith was also on the IR last year after suffering a knee injury in week 6. A.J Hawk and Brad Jones will likely enter camp as the top-2 inside linebackers on the depth chart.

Packers release Saine and Smith

April 24, 2013 By Bill Scott

The Green Bay Packers have released RB Brandon Saine and LB D.J. Smith today (Wednesday).

Brandon Saine

Saine signed with the Packers as a non-drafted free agent out of Ohio State in July 2011, appearing in 14 games during the 2011-12 season. He rushed for 69 yards on 18 carries (3.8 avg.) and caught 10 passes for 69 yards (6.9 avg.) as a rookie in ’11. Saine appeared in six contests in 2012 before sustaining a season-ending knee injury at Houston in Week 6.

Smith, who was drafted by the Packers out of Appalachian State with one of the team’s three sixth-round picks in 2011, played in 22 games with nine starts from 2011-12. He posted 80 tackles (61 solo), two sacks, one interception and six passes defensed in his two seasons with the club. Smith appeared in six games in 2012 before suffering a season-ending knee injury at Houston in Week 6.

Packers re-sign LB Brad Jones

March 21, 2013 By Bill Scott

Brad Jones took his tour around the NFL in free agency, then he returned to Green Bay to talk with the Packers and a deal was struck. Jones

Brad Jones

decided to resign with the Packers, despite receiving significant interest from a number of other NFL teams.

Jones was a big piece of the puzzle for the Packers defense last season after both Desmond Bishop and D.J. Smith were lost to season-ending injuries. Jones played alongside A.J. Hawk in the Packers base defense and it was Jones that served as the lone linebacker in the dime. Jones’ final numbers were 77 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 4 pass break-ups in 12-games.

Jones was a 7th round draft pick in the 2009 NFL draft by the Packers out of Colorado.