All NFL teams have to get their rosters down to 80 players by Tuesday's deadline. With 86 players on the roster for Friday's game versus the Colts, the Packers today released veteran TE Spencer Havner, WR Brett Swain, and undrafted rookie OT Theo Sherman. Both Havner and Swain were victims of the upgraded quality and number of players at their respective positions, as well as injuries which have hampered them last season and this camp.
There will be three more cuts by Tuesday. The more difficult cuts for Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy will come after the last preseason game versus the Chiefs.
Showing posts with label Brett Swain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Brett Swain. Show all posts
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, July 30, 2011
For Packers, it's ch-ch-ch-changes
Since the moves recounted in the last posts here at PackerFansUnited.com on Thursday, the Green Bay Packers have:
About the only key Packer free agent left on the board is James Jones (yes, John Kuhn is still unsigned as well, but will likely return to the Pack). According to reports, and following Minnesota's signing today of former Atlanta receiver, Michael Jenkins, Jones is now being pursued by the Jets and Cardinals, as well as the Packers. But you just don't know how much GM Ted Thompson is going to be willing to pay. I'd still say the odds are Jones does not return to the Pack.
One advantage of the new CBA and the whirlwind week of training camp start-up activity is that player holdouts, whether veteran or rookie draft picks, are virtually nil as far as the Packers goes. Given the changes on the squad already, and with many players coming back off injured reserve, there is a real awareness that there's not much time to compete for a job. Players have to make the most of every moment they have right now. The Packers will field the best players, of course, for the final squad. To make it onto that elite, defending Super Bowl Champion roster, they have to shine...now. Expect one of the most competitive training camps you've ever seen.
Stay tuned to PackerFansUnited.com for ongoing updates. And follow us on Twitter for even more timely news flashes and commentary.
- Released 11-year veteran right tackle and Wisconsin native son, Mark Tauscher. (Thank you, Tausch, for being a great Badger and Packer. Look forward to seeing you in the Packers Hall of Fame!)
- Released veteran linebacker Brandon Chillar, who had the bad misfortune of apparently sustaining a serious hamstring injury 2 weeks before the start of camp
- Lost DE Cullen Jenkins in free agency to the Eagles
- Lost FB Korey Hall in free agency to the Saints
- Did not re-sign S Atari Bigby as demonstrated by the team awarding his #20 to rookie RB, Alex Green.
- Signed their remaining draft picks, OL Derek Sherrod, RB Alex Green, and DB Davon House
- Re-signed TE Spencer Havner and WR Brett Swain
- Commenced training camp, held their first meetings, scheme installation, and evening practice
About the only key Packer free agent left on the board is James Jones (yes, John Kuhn is still unsigned as well, but will likely return to the Pack). According to reports, and following Minnesota's signing today of former Atlanta receiver, Michael Jenkins, Jones is now being pursued by the Jets and Cardinals, as well as the Packers. But you just don't know how much GM Ted Thompson is going to be willing to pay. I'd still say the odds are Jones does not return to the Pack.
One advantage of the new CBA and the whirlwind week of training camp start-up activity is that player holdouts, whether veteran or rookie draft picks, are virtually nil as far as the Packers goes. Given the changes on the squad already, and with many players coming back off injured reserve, there is a real awareness that there's not much time to compete for a job. Players have to make the most of every moment they have right now. The Packers will field the best players, of course, for the final squad. To make it onto that elite, defending Super Bowl Champion roster, they have to shine...now. Expect one of the most competitive training camps you've ever seen.
Stay tuned to PackerFansUnited.com for ongoing updates. And follow us on Twitter for even more timely news flashes and commentary.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Packer bliss
Is it just me, or does the day after a Packers victory just have an afterglow that doesn't compare with anything. Well...OK...maybe there are a few things but that's a little TMI (too much information, for you acronym-challenged out there), thank you very much.
We are blissing out today not only because of the Packers win, but because we hit the trifecta yesterday: the victory by the Pack, a loss by Da Bearz (a humiliating loss...regrets to my friend, Billy Da Bearz Fan...but even he knows that's true), and a heartbreaking loss by Ol' #4 and his fellow ViQueens. Ahhhhh....it's great to be a Packers fan!
We'll return later on to talk a bit, maybe, about yesterday's victory. But mainly, we'll be looking ahead to the game coming up on Sunday. The rematch. The game that will show whether the Packers are in fact to be counted among the better teams in the league, or whether they still have a ways to go.
But a few things to chew on in the meantime.
Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters today that TE Jermichael Finley will likely miss the ViQueens game because of a knee sprain suffered yesterday. WR Brett Swain was apparently also injured yesterday and will have knee surgery; he's done for the season. WR and returner Jordy Nelson is still out "a couple more weeks" according to McCarthy with the knee sprain he suffered last week. So that takes the Pack down to just 5 healthy receivers and tight ends. Not much room for more knocks to the depth chart there. To that end, McCarthy said, "We'll acquire another receiver definitely. We're working through (that) right now. Personnel department is looking at their options. We'll probably make a decision in the next 24 hours." McCarthy noted that moving up Jake Allen from the practice squad is a "definite possibility."
The Packers will be getting Chad Clifton back into practice this week, and Jason Spitz will also be evaluated. Mark Tauscher and newly-signed Ahman Green will be evaluated to see how they fit into the game plan for the Vikes. McCarthy indicated that going into this week of practice the Packers will go with the offensive line that finished the Browns game: rookie LT T.J. Lang (who again acquitted himself quite well), LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Josh Sitton and RT Allen Barbre. Of special note from yesterday was the fact that for the first time this year Aaron Rodgers was not sacked. Yes, you read that right. No sacks.
The Packers defense has been nothing short of great over the last several games. Granted, not exactly the highest calibre teams on the planet. But still. Here's a few stats to mull over.
Is that enough of a mouthful to chew on for a while?
We are blissing out today not only because of the Packers win, but because we hit the trifecta yesterday: the victory by the Pack, a loss by Da Bearz (a humiliating loss...regrets to my friend, Billy Da Bearz Fan...but even he knows that's true), and a heartbreaking loss by Ol' #4 and his fellow ViQueens. Ahhhhh....it's great to be a Packers fan!
We'll return later on to talk a bit, maybe, about yesterday's victory. But mainly, we'll be looking ahead to the game coming up on Sunday. The rematch. The game that will show whether the Packers are in fact to be counted among the better teams in the league, or whether they still have a ways to go.
But a few things to chew on in the meantime.
Head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters today that TE Jermichael Finley will likely miss the ViQueens game because of a knee sprain suffered yesterday. WR Brett Swain was apparently also injured yesterday and will have knee surgery; he's done for the season. WR and returner Jordy Nelson is still out "a couple more weeks" according to McCarthy with the knee sprain he suffered last week. So that takes the Pack down to just 5 healthy receivers and tight ends. Not much room for more knocks to the depth chart there. To that end, McCarthy said, "We'll acquire another receiver definitely. We're working through (that) right now. Personnel department is looking at their options. We'll probably make a decision in the next 24 hours." McCarthy noted that moving up Jake Allen from the practice squad is a "definite possibility."
The Packers will be getting Chad Clifton back into practice this week, and Jason Spitz will also be evaluated. Mark Tauscher and newly-signed Ahman Green will be evaluated to see how they fit into the game plan for the Vikes. McCarthy indicated that going into this week of practice the Packers will go with the offensive line that finished the Browns game: rookie LT T.J. Lang (who again acquitted himself quite well), LG Daryn Colledge, C Scott Wells, RG Josh Sitton and RT Allen Barbre. Of special note from yesterday was the fact that for the first time this year Aaron Rodgers was not sacked. Yes, you read that right. No sacks.
The Packers defense has been nothing short of great over the last several games. Granted, not exactly the highest calibre teams on the planet. But still. Here's a few stats to mull over.
- Against the ViQueens (and Adrian Peterson!) the Packers allowed just 63 yards rushing; against Detroit, 78 yards rushing; versus the Browns, 58 yards.
- Across those three games, the defense has allowed only 1 rushing touchdown.
Is that enough of a mouthful to chew on for a while?
Monday, April 20, 2009
Who else is the Pack checking out?
Much of the hubbub surrounding the draft, of course, concerns first round picks...top 10 picks especially. But let's face it: most of the players in the league aren't first-rounders. Most starters, let alone backups, come farther down the line. Let's see, what examples might we think of quickly? How 'bout Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Donald Driver, Ray Nitschke, Mark Tauscher, and Greg Jennings, to name just a few. Guess those guys turned out OK.
So, while we discuss who the Packers might take with their #9 pick -- or whether they will trade down -- it might also be helpful to take a look at some of those other players whom the Packers have checked out. Some of these players may be post-draft free agents. Heck, the Packers still have two of those on the roster from last season, WR Brett Swain and LB Danny Lansanah. So, you never know where a gem may arise.
With that in mind, sports writer Tom Silverstein with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, takes a look at some of those players whom the Packers might pull the trigger on during or after the draft.
Among some of the more intriguing possibilities listed:
While you can get the draft scout details via the above individual links, be sure to also check out Silverstein's article about all the prospects the Packers are keeping tabs on. It's a good read. You can find it here.
Thompson's hits and misses
No doubt each Packer fan has his or her own list of Packer GM Ted Thompson's good picks and those that really were...hmmm...not so good shall we say (this is a family blog, after all!).
But if you need some help refreshing your memory, or perhaps adding to either of your lists, the Green Bay Press-Gazette ran an article over the weekend headlined, "The studs and duds of Ted Thompson's Packers drafts". Guess that pretty well says it all, doesn't it?
The article points out that Thompson has selected 43 players in his drafts as Packers GM. Of those, only one -- Nick Collins -- has made the Pro Bowl. Hmmm. And, specifically, the article notes, "Judging each pick by taking into account what the player has contributed, his potential for further growth and where in the draft he was selected, 13 of Thompson’s 43 players should be deemed good picks, while 24 should be called bad picks and for six others (all from last year’s draft), it’s too soon to tell."
For a player-by-player analysis, check out the article here. Whether this gives you hope for this weekend's affair (draft, that is...hey, this is a family blog!) or whether it will once again make you want to throw a shoe at the sight of Ted on draft day (oops...did I say, "once again"?), only you will know.
But in a draft that is seemingly being perceived more and more by pundits as somewhat of a so-so talent pool overall, Thompson's upside and/or downside this time around might not be as steep as in some other drafts. Still, on a team that needs depth particularly across the offensive and defensive lines, you have to hope -- OK, pray too, please! -- that Thompson and his scouts are able to find a few more studs than duds this time around.
So, while we discuss who the Packers might take with their #9 pick -- or whether they will trade down -- it might also be helpful to take a look at some of those other players whom the Packers have checked out. Some of these players may be post-draft free agents. Heck, the Packers still have two of those on the roster from last season, WR Brett Swain and LB Danny Lansanah. So, you never know where a gem may arise.
With that in mind, sports writer Tom Silverstein with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, takes a look at some of those players whom the Packers might pull the trigger on during or after the draft.
Among some of the more intriguing possibilities listed:
- OT SEBASTIAN VOLLMER, 6-8, 312, Houston
- TE/H-back ZACH MILLER, 6-3½, 233, Nebraska-Omaha
- OLB JASON WILLIAMS , 6-1, 241, Western Illinois
- DT VAUGHN MARTIN, 6-3, 331, Western Ontario
- S MIKE MITCHELL, 6-0, 220, Ohio
While you can get the draft scout details via the above individual links, be sure to also check out Silverstein's article about all the prospects the Packers are keeping tabs on. It's a good read. You can find it here.
Thompson's hits and misses
No doubt each Packer fan has his or her own list of Packer GM Ted Thompson's good picks and those that really were...hmmm...not so good shall we say (this is a family blog, after all!).
But if you need some help refreshing your memory, or perhaps adding to either of your lists, the Green Bay Press-Gazette ran an article over the weekend headlined, "The studs and duds of Ted Thompson's Packers drafts". Guess that pretty well says it all, doesn't it?
The article points out that Thompson has selected 43 players in his drafts as Packers GM. Of those, only one -- Nick Collins -- has made the Pro Bowl. Hmmm. And, specifically, the article notes, "Judging each pick by taking into account what the player has contributed, his potential for further growth and where in the draft he was selected, 13 of Thompson’s 43 players should be deemed good picks, while 24 should be called bad picks and for six others (all from last year’s draft), it’s too soon to tell."
For a player-by-player analysis, check out the article here. Whether this gives you hope for this weekend's affair (draft, that is...hey, this is a family blog!) or whether it will once again make you want to throw a shoe at the sight of Ted on draft day (oops...did I say, "once again"?), only you will know.
But in a draft that is seemingly being perceived more and more by pundits as somewhat of a so-so talent pool overall, Thompson's upside and/or downside this time around might not be as steep as in some other drafts. Still, on a team that needs depth particularly across the offensive and defensive lines, you have to hope -- OK, pray too, please! -- that Thompson and his scouts are able to find a few more studs than duds this time around.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Packers wind up draft with a QB, WR and trade
The Packers wound up their 2008 draft by taking another QB and WR, and then trading their final pick in the seventh round for a sixth rounder next year.
With the 209th pick overall, the Packers took QB Matt Flynn from LSU. And with the 217th pick in the draft, the Pack brought a Brett back to Green Bay. No, not the Brett. Brett Swain, a wide receiver from San Diego State.
GM Ted Thompson finished the draft as he began it: with a trade. He traded the 237th pick to New Orleans for a sixth round pick next year.
Rate the Packers Draft
You're invited to rate the quality of the Packers 2008 draft choices in our poll, which you can find in the right hand column under our PackerFansUnited store link. The poll will be open through Friday for your vote. Let the world know how you think the Pack did.
With the 209th pick overall, the Packers took QB Matt Flynn from LSU. And with the 217th pick in the draft, the Pack brought a Brett back to Green Bay. No, not the Brett. Brett Swain, a wide receiver from San Diego State.
GM Ted Thompson finished the draft as he began it: with a trade. He traded the 237th pick to New Orleans for a sixth round pick next year.
Rate the Packers Draft
You're invited to rate the quality of the Packers 2008 draft choices in our poll, which you can find in the right hand column under our PackerFansUnited store link. The poll will be open through Friday for your vote. Let the world know how you think the Pack did.
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