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Can Packers make a splash in free agency? Aaron Jones?

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Brian Gutekunst

The Green Bay Packers still have to cut more than $12.5 million just to get under the adjusted $180 million salary cap before the start of the new NFL year, they’ll need to go beyond that if they hope to make any moves in free agency, including bringing back any of their own, such as Aaron Jones and/or Corey Linsley to name two.

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst spoke with reporters via zoom on Tuesday.  Certainly a long term deal with Jones would be considerably better for the salary cap, but he didn’t rule out using a tag on Jones.

The last time the Packers used the franchise tag was in 2010, on nose tackle Ryan Pickett.  Losing Jones, without exploring every opportunity to keep him, would be a mistake.

Jones is tied for second in the league the last two years with 30 total touchdowns.  His 5.17 yards per carry career average [Read more…]

Packers Among Teams Interested in Watt

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J.J. Watt

The Green Bay Packers are reportedly one of a dozen teams said to be interested in signing former Houston Texans All-Pro J.J. Watt.

ESPN.com’s Ed Werder reported “approximately a dozen teams have shown interest.  SI.com’s Bill Huber reported over the weekend that the Packers are said to be one of those teams.

The former Badger and Pewaukee, Wisconsin native would most likely have interest in the Packers with a chance to win the Super Bowl championship that has eluded him during his 10-year career.

The Packers will have to do some serious cap work just to get under the salary cap by the start of the new league-year on March 17. [Read more…]

Packers add Veldheer for second straight season

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With David Bakhtiari out with a season ending ACL injury and Rick Wagner’s knee issues, the Green Bay Packers added some insurance for the playoffs by bringing back tackle Jared Veldheer for a second straight postseason.

The Packers signed Veldheer off of the Indianapolis practice squad, after he started at left tackle in last week’s Colt’s playoff game against the Buffalo Bills.

Prior to last week’s playoff game, Veldheer hadn’t played a game all season.  His last action came with the Packers in a playoff win over the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers had Monday off and return to the practice field on Tuesday, as they get ready for Saturday’s NFC Divisional playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams.

Six Packers named All-Pro

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Six Green Bay Packers players were named to the Associated Press All-Pro team on Friday, including QB Aaron Rodgers, WR Davante Adams, T David Bakhtiari and C Corey Linsley named to the first team.

Linebacker Za’Darius Smith and cornerback Jaire Alexander were also named second team All-Pro.

The four first-team selections are the most the Packers have had since 1967, which is the last year the Packers had two offensive linemen make the first team (Forrest Gregg and Kerry Kramer).

It’s the fourth All-Pro selection for Rodger, who was previously voted first-team All-Pro in 2011, 2012 and 2014.  He started all 16 games and completed 372 of 526 passes (70.7%) for 4,299 yards and 48 touchdowns with only five interceptions.  His 121.5 passer rating is the second-best single-season mark in NFL history behind only his own 122.5 rating in 2011. [Read more…]

Packers beat Bears, clinch NFC’s No. 1 seed (AUDIO)

By

Matt LaFleur

The Green Bay Packers broke open a close game in the fourth quarter, knocking off the Chicago Bears 35-16 on Sunday at Soldier Field.  The Packers secured the top seed in the NFC, giving them a week off.  They won’t play again until the divisional playoff round either Jan. 16 or 17.

The Packers put 21 points up on the board in the first half and had what looked like another touchdown to start the third quarter, when Marquez Valdes-Scantling dropped what would have been a 53-yard touchdown pass.

After a slow start to the second half, Aaron Jones finally put the game away with a 4-yard touchdown run with 3:47 left.  On the very next possession, Davante Adams caught his 18th touchdown pass of the season, tying Sterling Sharpe’s franchise record.  He also broke Sharpe’s franchise record for single-season receptions.

Aaron Rodgers tossed four touchdown passes, giving him a career-best and franchise-record 48 for the season.  It likely put the wraps on Rodgers bid for his third NFL MVP award.  It also sets the Packers to host any NFC playoff games at [Read more…]

Packers look to win a title without David Bakhtiari

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David Bakhtiari

The Green Bay Packers have shuffled the deck on their offensive line all season long.  They’ll have to do it again on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, as well as the playoffs and even well into next season too after losing left tackle David Bakhtiari with a torn ACL.

The first team All-Pro tackle suffered the injury in practice on Thursday and comes just six weeks after Bakhtiari signed a contract extension that made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the history of the game.

The Packers are expected to move Billy Turner to left tackle and Elgton Jenkins to right tackle, if Rick Wagner isn’t ready to return.  If Wagner can play, then Elgton Jenkins would likely remain at left guard and Lucas Patrick at right guard.  If Wagner isn’t ready, then rookie Jon Runyan and Lucas Patrick would likely man the guard positions.

If the Packers beat the Bears on Sunday, they’ll secure the top overall seed in the NFC playoffs which will include a first round bye.  That will give the Packers more time to prepare their offensive line for a Super Bowl run.

Packers Have Seven Players Voted To 2020 NFC Pro Bowl Team

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David Bakhtiari

The Green Bay Packers had seven players named to the 2020 NFC Pro Bowl team on Monday.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers headlines the squad as the starting quarterback.  It marks the ninth Pro Bowl selection of his career, tying Brett Favre and the late Forrest Gregg for the most Pro Bowl selections as a Packer.  Rodgers leads the league in passer rating (118.0), passing touchdowns (40) and fewest interceptions thrown (four – min. 350 pass attempts).

Davante Adams was voted to his fourth straight NFC Pro Bowl squad, making him only the second Packers WR to earn four-plus consecutive Pro Bowls.  James Lofton made six straight appearances from 1980-85.  Adams leads the league in receptions per game (8.2) and receiving yards per game (98.8) and ranks No. 2 in receiving TD’s with 14.  He posted those numbers despite missing 2+ games because of injury.

David Bakhtiari earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl and his second straight as an original selection.  He’s joined by fellow offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins, who earned his first selection.  Jenkins became the Packers first offensive lineman to start a game at guard, center and tackle in the same season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. [Read more…]

Packers lock up Bakhtiari for four years with record deal (AUDIO)

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#69 David Bakhtiari blocking during Sunday’s win over Jacksonville

It was a goal for David Bakhtiari to be the highest paid left tackle in the National Football League.  When the ink dried on the contract extension that he signed late Saturday night, the Green Bay Packers offensive lineman had just become the highest paid offensive lineman in league history.

Bakhtiari’s new deal, as reported by ESPN, is for four years and worth up to $105.5 million.  It includes $2 million in incentives and a $30 million signing bonus, all payable by the end of the current 2020 season.  The deal averages $23 million over the four years, surpassing the deal Laremy Tunsil signed with the Houston Texans in May ($22 million per year).  ProFootballTalk.com first reported the news of Bakhtiari’s extension during Sunday’s 24-20 win over Jacksonville.

“That was something that I’ve been chasing for a while,” said Bakhtiari after the game.  “In having the talks with my family, to have that monetary validation for all the hard work that I’ve put in really meant a lot and that was something that I can hold on to and have that title for the rest of my life.  That is something special that I’ve been chasing really ever since I got in the league.  I have goals, very lofty ones, and I always wanted to say that I was the highest-paid offensive lineman in NFL [Read more…]

Packers sleepwalk their way to 4-point win over Jacksonville (AUDIO)

By

Matt LaFleur

The Green Bay Packers went to bed Sunday night with a 7-2 record through the first nine games of the NFL season, but easily could have gone the other way.  After losing to the 1-win Vikings at home two weeks ago, the Packers were facing a 1-win Jacksonville Jaguar team that had the Packers on the ropes until the very end.  The defense got a late stop and the Packers prevailed 24-20.

The Jaguars had the ball at the Packers’ 36 yard line with 1:37 to play with a chance to score a go-ahead touchdown.  This time, the Packers suspect defense clamped down and came up with a huge stop to preserve the victory.  Rashon Gary and Preston Smith came up with key sacks on that final drive to end Jacksonville’s comeback efforts, sending the Jaguars (1-8) home with their eighth straight loss.

Aaron Rodgers passed for 325 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for a score, but the Packers quarterback also threw [Read more…]

Packers bounce back to beat Texans in Houston

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Davante Adams

One week after suffering their first loss of the season in Tampa, the Green Bay Packers rebounded to rout the Houston Texans 35-20 on Sunday in Houston.

With four starters sidelined, the Packers turned to wide receiver Davante Adams, who combined with quarterback Aaron Rodgers for a big day.

Rodgers passed for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while Adams set career highs with 13 receptions for 196 yards to go along with two touchdowns.

The Packers jumped out to a 21-0 lead at halftime and had a 28-7 advantage after three quarters.  The offense converted on seven of their 12 third down opportunities with all seven coming on Adams receptions.

Rodgers also hit Malik Taylor and tight end Jace Sternberger for their first career regular-season touchdowns.

The Packers started the game without David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones on offense and Kevin King and safety Darnell Savage on defense.  They lost safety Raven Green with an oblique injury and linebacker Krys Barnes with a shoulder injury. [Read more…]