Packers lock up Bishop

No, the Green Bay Packers have not instigated an ecclesiastical junta in the Diocese of Green Bay. Rather, they have according to reports nailed down a four-year $19 million contract extension with LB Desmond Bishop.

Yay!

Bishop has been a top performer on special teams and in preseason games for the last several seasons. Finally, with the rash of injuries which decimated the Packers' linebacking corps, he got his chance to show what he can do as a starter. And he's done well. Now, he's going to get paid well, too, although some suspect that he might have been able to bank more funds if he'd gone to free agency in the off-season. Apparently, he wants to stay in Green Bay. And why wouldn't he? The Packers' defense -- despite the numerous injuries that hit that unit throughout the course of the regular season -- has become a dominating feature of the Pack. It is well coached. And the players that have been plugged in have each excelled in ways unexpected, in large part due to the coaching of defensive coordinator Dom Capers and his assistants. Kudos have to particularly go to linebackers coach Kevin Greene for the tremendous job he's done with the revolving cast of characters at the linebacker spots.

One wonders whether this move to sign Bishop long-term is a security blanket in case the Packers decide to part ways with Nick Barnett, who will be coming off yet another season-ending injury, or whether it will be a negotiating tool in an attempt to get A. J. Hawk to renegotiate his contract, which calls for him to jump from $4.623 million this season to a base salary of $10 million next season. Hawk has arguably had his best season as a pro. He's been as solid a performer as they come, and is the primary signal caller at linebacker. Since reportedly adjusting his workout routine, Hawk even seems to be quicker than before and able to even handle short pass coverage better than in prior years. No doubt he's the kind of quality person and player that the Packers would like to keep on hand for the long haul. But at what price? That remains to be seen. The Packers will have a crowded field at linebacker going into next season, with all the players coming back from injury (e.g., Barnett, Poppinga, Chillar, Jones...remember them???) and the players that were given opportunities no one expected at the start of the season, such as Frank Zombo and Erik Walden as well as Bishop.

There will be some interesting decisions coming down the pike for players and team alike.

But for now, congrats to Mr. Bishop. He's played like he's had something to prove, and prove it he has. He's earned his keep.

A great performance on Sunday vs. Michael Vick and the Eagles would be a wonderful way for Bishop to confirm the faith the Packers have placed in him.

Packers OTAs notes

The news coming out of Green Bay during the first part of the Packers organized team activities (OTAs) has been a bit sparse. I guess no news is good news. No major injuries. No big contract hassles (at least, yet). So we have to get our bits and pieces where we can.

The Green Bay Press-Gazette is often a good source for the latest goings on when other sources seem a bit too quiet.

So, here's a quick review in case you need a little Packers fix as we begin the month of June.

Jeremy Thompson or Clay Matthews?
While the assumption has been that rookie Clay Matthews will be the starter at right outside LB, second-year player Jeremy Thompson is excited by the change to the 3-4 defense and the opportunity it is giving him to make the change from defensive end to linebacker. As the Press-Gazette article points out, until Matthews Thompson was the only player Packers GM Ted Thompson had traded up to draft: "Ted Thompson sent a fifth-round pick to the New York Jets in order to move up 11 spots in the fourth round to take the defensive end from Wake Forest." But more importantly, especially for Thompson (that would be Jeremy, not Ted), "Instead of backing up left outside linebacker Aaron Kampman, Thompson worked as the starter on the right side during organized team activities that began last week." Granted, Matthews currently has a hamstring injury, but Thompson "was working ahead of Matthews even before the rookie pulled his hamstring near the end of the first practice last Wednesday." Anyway, read more about this linebacking competition here.

Harrell, Harrell, wherefore art thou, Harrell?
Actually, third-year player and injury magnet Justin Harrell has been present and accounted for all during OTAs and, apparently, doing well. Quoting defensive line coach Mike Trgovac, the Press-Gazette reports, “He’s been very focused. He has a look about him that he wants to succeed. He’s working extremely hard.” According to Harrell, he's feeling the best he has been since being in GB. Given his injury history, however, that might be a hard thing to judge. In addition, the young man -- whom all reports from the get-go have said is the type of guy you really want to root for -- is battling a weight issue currently. Still, Harrell realizes this is a do-or-die year for him with the Packers. As the #16 pick overall three seasons ago, Harrell has been a bust. But Trgovac and the new coaching staff also is giving him a fresh start. "He’s done everything we’ve asked him to do. I know he’s had injuries in the past, but we haven’t seen them,” Trgovac is quoted as saying. Read more about Harrell here. At this point, if Harrell is able to get through the season uninjured and make contributions at all it will be a bonus that not many -- at least not many fans -- expected. If he can't stay healthy, Harrell will be out of chances and will remain the albatross around Ted Thompson's neck.

And what about Mr. Kampman?
One of the big mysteries of the offseason was and is how DE Aaron Kampman felt about making the switch to outside linebacker. Ordinarily, Kampman was very open with the media. But he hasn't been talking about this switch, which has led some to assume that he is not a happy Packer. Well, he spoke yesterday with the media in the locker room. Still didn't say much. And what he did say is hard to get a read on.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel provides the necessary quotes from Kampan: "New techniques. New terminology. All in all, it's learning the new system. It's all new." And . . ."I'm one of 11 in this defense. . . . This is a big transition for everyone. For whatever reason a lot of people want to know what I think." And . . ."I'm learning it. I don't have a whole lot else to say. I'm learning it."

So...is he happy? You decide. Kampan's a pro, a Pro Bowler to be exact. He was the best pass rusher the Packers have had over the last few seasons. Can he make the move? Coach McCarthy told the press that Kampman has been working very hard at learning the new position and scheme, as you'd expect of him. He's been working closely with new linebackers coach, Kevin Greene. And, as radio voice of the Packers, Wayne Larrivee, said on 620WTMJ radio this morning, if anyone can assure Kampman of the possibility of making the switch effectively, it's Greene who himself had been a successful defensive end before being asking to also make the switch to linebacker...where he achieved perhaps even greater success later in his career. Good point. They are two different players, granted. But it has to be encouraging for Kampman to be able to tap into someone like Greene who can assure him that it can be done because he did too.

You can read another take on the Kampman situation -- as well as the non-story about Donald Driver's supposed desire for a new contract -- here.

And how's Mr. Rodgers doin'?
According to reports, QB Aaron Rodgers is looking just fine, thank you. He's looked very sharp in the OTA practices. And perhaps just importantly, he -- and his teammates -- know clearly that this is his team. After racking up the numbers he did last year, Rodgers clearly established himself as one of the best QBs (at least for his first season as a starter) in the league. The number of wins didn't reflect that performance, although that was more a result of the defensive collapses than Rodgers ability or lack thereof. If you want a quick update on Rodgers, check out this article.

So...is this enough to help you get your fix for the moment? If not, keep checking back here at PackerFansUnited.com. There will be more...as regular readers (that's you, isn't it???) know very well.

A successful first day for the Pack

Now that Day One of the 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, we can make a quick assessment in terms of how the Packers fared: great!

Getting nose tackle B.J. Raji and outside linebacker Clay Matthews addressed two of the biggest defensive needs of the Packers. As was heard on more than one occasion from the TV pundits today, as well as after the season ended, QB Aaron Rodgers wasn't the reason the Packers wound up with the record they did last year; it was the defense.

The Pack got two players today who could both potentially start immediately. And to hear new defensive coordinator Dom Capers talk about Raji after the pick, he seemed almost giddy at the prospect of having both current nose tackle Ryan Pickett and Raji as part of his lineup. In addition, Ted Thompson made it clear in his press conference that they really liked Clay Matthews and when it became apparent that he was still available at #26 the Pack pulled the trigger on a deal with New England to move up and get him. New linebackers coach Kevin Greene spoke afterward about the potential that Matthews now adds to the linebacking corps. Greene seems quite enthused about what he sees.

All in all, kids, you have to rate the Packers' picks on Day One as A+.

Looking to the second day of the draft, the Pack goes into it with six possible picks, barring trades. Other needs that will likely be addressed: offensive tackle, defensive end, defensive back, running back and punter. No doubt Thompson would also like to pick up a receiver along the way, as well as attempt to add additional depth on the D-line and at linebacker depending upon the players available.

Thompson has always been good at getting production and value out of the later rounds. If he does as well with those tomorrow as he did today, this could shape up to be one of the better drafts the Pack has had under Thompson.

Go Pack Go!!!

Kevin Greene joins coaching staff

Although this will be his first full-time coaching gig, former linebacker Kevin Greene says now is the time to get on this side of the game. The opportunity to join his former coach in Pittsburgh and Carolina, Dom Capers, as part of the new defensive coaching staff at Green Bay was too good to pass up. Greene will coach outside linebackers. Assistant head coach/linebackers Winston Moss will have his title restructured to reflect that in addition to still retaining his assistant head coach title he will coach inside linebackers.

While Greene may not have a lot of coaching experience -- he did have some volunteer coaching experience with a variety of teams over the past five summers -- you can't question his linebacker credentials as a player. He was one of those guys that always brought an attitude and backed it up with his tough-as-nails play. As an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel points out, "Greene personified the 3-4 outside linebacker in Capers' blitz-happy defense, finishing third on the NFL's all-time sack list behind Bruce Smith and Reggie White. His understanding of the position will help potential outside linebackers Aaron Kampman, Brady Poppinga, Desmond Bishop and Jeremy Thompson adjust to a new position."

In the move to the 3-4, Greene's background could be invaluable. Linebackers play a much larger role in this defensive scheme and the Packers are going to have to maximize the play they get from that unit in order to be successful. If nothing else, having Greene in your face should up the intensity for those players.

You can read a really good article about Greene here.

Peter King says Favre done
In an interview on ESPN's Pardon the Interruption yesterday, Sports Illustrated's Peter King -- a favorite texting buddy of Brett Favre -- said he thinks Brett is done. He said Brett knows that he can still play. According to King, Jets' doctors recommended strongly, though, that if Brett wanted to continue to play he should have surgery to repair his shoulder. Brett said no. For King, that told him Brett had decided to hang it up. The only other possibility was if Brett could play "where he really wanted to be." When pressed by PIT co-host Tony Kornheiser as to where that would be, King didn't say Green Bay. Instead, he said Minnesota. The follow-up question about why Minnesota, of course, was not asked. But we all know that would only be to be able to play the Packers twice and stick it to GM Ted Thompson.

What's the likelihood of this happening? Possible, one supposes, although not probable. The Packers had a provision in their trade deal with the Jets that if the Jets traded Favre to the ViQueens that the Packers would get three first round draft picks from the Jets as "poison pill" compensation. But, if the Jets cut Brett, any team would be free to sign him. However, as King noted in his interview, any team doing so would just be picking up a one-year bandaid at best; and would any team really want to do that?

Let's just hope that King is right and Brett decides, once and for all, to hang up the cleats. It's what he should have done last year when he first announced his retirement. He could have gone out with a lot of class and dignity and the undying affection of Packer fans everywhere. Instead...well...you know.

The drama isn't done yet. But in the next few months one would hope so.

2009 Draft
It's mid-January, Super Bowl week, and the best that most Packer fans can do these days is start thinking about the NFL draft.

For those who want to get an early start on the speculation, check out Mel Kiper's early line on the 2009 picks with his initial mock draft. At this point, he has the Pack taking CB Malcolm Jenkins out of Ohio State. You can see all of Kiper's picks here.

While starting to find replacements for Al Harris and Charles Woodson is not a bad idea, given the move to the 3-4 scheme, one might think that the Packers' need for linebackers and nose tackles might take a higher priority. One other definite need going into this draft will be to find solid offensive tackles. LT Chad Clifton started to show definite signs of wear and age this last season and RT Mark Tauscher is a question mark after his season-ending knee injury, as well as his age.

We'll keep you posted on other mock drafts as they pop up.