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The NFL Draft will go on, without the fans

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Roger Goodell and Mark Murphy during Shareholder’s meeting

The NFL announced Monday that the annual draft will go on as scheduled, April 23-25, but it will do so without without fans.  The league says it will cancel all public events that were originally scheduled in Las Vegas in an effort reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended Sunday that all gatherings of 50 or more people be postponed or canceled for at least the next eight weeks in order to help curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

“This decision reflects our foremost priority, the health and safety of all fans and citizens,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday in a statement.  “While this outcome is disappointing both to the NFL and to the Las Vegas community, we look forward to partnering with the Raiders, the City of Las Vegas and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority for a future NFL Draft as well as evaluating opportunities for other major NFL events in Las Vegas in the future, including the Super Bowl.”

While the sports world has shut down a number of events, the NFL is continuing with the start of its new league year as scheduled, which opens at 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday.  But teams can begin negotiating with players today (Monday) as part of the league’s legal tampering window.

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…]

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

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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…]

Nelson suffers torn meniscus

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Former Wisconsin Badger defensive back Nick Nelson suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during a private workout with an NFL team.  Nelson suffered the injury during a workout that occurred inside the McClain Center on the UW Campus.  He is expected to be out three to four months.

Nelson has been projected to be picked between the second and fourth rounds in the NFL Draft, which is set for April 26-28.

Nelson said the injury isn’t serious and he expects to be ready to go for the start of NFL Training Camps.

Nelson started all 14 games for the Badgers last season and set a UW single-season record for passes broken up with 21.  He helped Wisconsin finish fifth nationally in passing yards allowed (163.6 per game).

 

Packers release RB’s Michael and Jackson, pick up option on Clinton-Dix

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Packers workout last season at Ray Nitschke Field.

Just two days after drafting three running backs, the Green Bay Packers thinned out their backfield with the release of veteran Christine Michael and Don Jackson. Monday’s move leaves converted wide receiver Ty Montgomery as the only running back currently under contract, and reiterates General Manager Ted Thompson’s assertion over the weekend that Montgomery is “absolutely…our starting running back.”

Michael was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks during last season, and went on to play nine games for Green Bay. After rushing for 172 yards and one touchdown on 47 carries, the Packers re-signed Michael in March for $800,000. Jackson, an 2016 undrafted free agent, worked his way from the practice squad to the active roster, but was eventually placed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.

What’s left is Montgomery, a second-year back, and three rookie draft picks: BYU’s Jamaal Williams in the fourth round, Aaron Jones of UTEP in the fifth, and Utah State’s Devante Mays in the seventh.

Green Bay also announced Monday they have picked up the fifth-year option on safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. The 2014 draft pick made his first Pro Bowl in 2016 after posting a career-best five interceptions. Clinton-Dix, who has never missed a game and played every defensive snap last season, is scheduled to make $1.5-million in 2017 and $5.9-million in 2018.

AUDIO: Jamaal Williams says his running style resembles former Packer RB Eddie Lacy :27

AUDIO: Ted Thompson explains why Green Bay drafted three running backs :23

Packers make Biegel’s dream a reality, complete ten-member draft class

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Vince Biegel

From Wisconsin Rapids to the Wisconsin Badgers and now to the Green Bay Packers, the cheesehead dreams of Vince Biegel became a realization on Saturday. The Packers selected the former UW outside linebacker with the first pick of the fourth round (No. 108 overall).

The 6’3″, 246-pound Biegel completes the trifecta of playing football at every level possible within the state of Wisconsin, an accomplishment he says has been a tremendous opportunity.

Biegel battled a foot injury during his senior season in Madison, but was a three-year starter with 191 career tackles and 21.5 sacks. Known for his pass rushing prowess, the second team All-Big Ten selection has also proven to be a disruptive stopper against the run.

The selection of Biegel completed a run of four consecutive draft choices on the defensive side of the ball. [Read more…]

Packers select DB Kevin King with first selection in the draft

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The Green Bay Packers used their first selection in the draft on a defensive player for the sixth consecutive year when they selected University of Washington defensive back Kevin King (#20).

King’s selection comes on day two of the draft, the first pick of the second round.  With the Packers defense ranked 31st in passing yards a year ago, general manager Ted Thompson decided the time is now to fix the problem.

The Packers are in dire need of a number one corner after losing Sam Shields to a concussion in the first game of the season at Jacksonville and he never recovered, spending the season on injured reserve before being released. [Read more…]

Two Badgers go on Day 1 of the NFL Draft

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T.J. Watt – 42

Wisconsin outside linebacker T.J. Watt and left tackle Ryan Ramczyk both thought they would hear their name called a little earlier, but when the smoke cleared, both ended up as first round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Watt and Ramczyk became the seventh and eighth Badgers in the last ten years to become first-round picks.  Watt was taken with the 30th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers and Ramczyk was chosen 32nd overall by the New Orleans Saints.

The pair became the 30th and 31st first-round picks in UW history. [Read more…]

Packers trade out of NFL’s first round

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From left, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, general manager Ted Thompson and president Mark Murphy look on in the draft room at Lambeau Field on Thursday night. Photo courtesy of the Green Bay Packers/Evan Siegle

The Green Bay Packers moved out of the first round, sending the 29th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for the Browns first pick in the second round, number-33 overall.  The Packers also get the Browns pick in round four, which is the first pick of day number three.

It’s the 20th time that Ted Thompson has traded down since taking over as the Packers general manager.

The Browns used the 29th pick on University of Miami TE David Njoku.

Trading down means the Packers won’t have a first round pick for the first time [Read more…]

Packers hold 29th pick in tonight’s NFL Draft

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The Green Bay Packers have many needs heading into the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft tonight.  Cover corner and a pass rusher top the list.

After losing Sam Shields, the Packers struggled in the secondary last season.  They also struggled to rush the passer and will enter the season without one of their top pressure players in Julius Peppers, who signed a free agent deal with Carolina.

They’re hoping Clay Matthews can stay healthy this season after he had one of his worst seasons.

They could go the corner route right away, and if the player or players they want aren’t available at that position, then a pass rushing outside linebacker could be on the agenda.  State football fans would love to see them take Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt, although Missouri’s Charles Harris is considered to be a better bet. [Read more…]