Final 53 prediction prior to first cut Tuesday

Harrell would likely be a career back up if he continues playing somewhere.

The bad news is it draws comparisons to Craig Nall.

The good news is it gives us somebody new to get a pancake put on his head.

T L C must have been posting somewhere that Harrell is a better QB than Rodgers.

The JS had a great piece on the DL depth and that is going to be interesting to watch 

Daniels is safe now but the upside of Miller and Boyd can't be overlooked.  CJ Wilson can't rush the passer much but he is a solid run defender. 

You stash Miller or Boyd on the PS and there is a good chance some team will pluck them off.  The other thing to consider is Pickett won't be around forever and Raji is in a contract year so you need some younger guys in the pipeline.   

If it were me I probably PS Boyd and Miller makes the 53 and Wilson gets the ax.   If Worthy comes back there is another guy you have to account for 

Wilson has been very good this summer. He's not getting the boot to keep marginal prospects like Boyd and Miller.

Hey, you stole my line!

The thing about Miller and Boyd, there's nothing they do to set themselves apart from being anything more than rotational players. They remind me of Daniel Muir, a guy who was a good rotational player, but didn't really have a niche to justify a roster spot. That's what Thompson and McCarthy seem to covet with their depth, guys who do SOMETHING well. You're either a starter who does everything well or you're a back-up who contributes something. You can't just be a rotational guy, you better be a good run defender or a good pass rusher or good on STs or a good pass protector or something. Guys like Miller and Boyd probably have solid potential, but what's their niche? Wilson has a niche, Kuhn has multiple niches, Bush has a niche, etc. Some guys get a pass sometimes because of draft position or their contract, but that pass goes away after time. 

Honestly I think that's why Harrell lasted as long as he did. I think he was there to help with preparation and game planning. We kept hearing he was very smart and knew the offense really well and was good in the film room. I bet that was very helpful to Rodgers and MacAdoo and Clements, having another pair of eyes to help with film study. 

@EdWerderESPN: Hearing teams inquiring with Packers about trade for TE. Packers feel position of strength. Brandon Bostick drawing attention.

This seemed like an appropriate place to put this. 

Roster now at 84 if my math is correct including Tavvechio's release earlier today. Need 9 more cuts by tomorrow. My prediction:

Fulton, Hughes, Means, Nixon, Powell, White, Reed, Savage, and Stoneburner get bad news later today.

If they move Bulaga to IR, it lets them keep an extra player until the next cut down.

RB - Lacy, Franklin and Starks are guaranteed. I could see them cutting Green...although given the piss poor run blocking, you might keep 4 RB on the roster + Kuhn. 

Don't see any way they cut any of them now that Harris is done for the year. His injury could very well end up rejuvenating Starks' career. 

Since they cut Pease and IR'd Harris, I think we have the RB group already set. 

My question now is about FB Jon Amosa, should they keep the big bruiser? Mulligan was/is slated for that role, but will he be able to handle it with his elbow jacked up? Could/should they just continue to use either Van Roten or Raji or even a guy like Mike Daniels as the lead blocker to save that spot?  

I'd be very shocked if jolly doesn't make it.  He may not be in the shape necessary to play 40 snaps a game (yet....), but it's clear he can contribute 15-20 easy.  He has more football awareness than any DL on the Packers right now.  His ability to locate the ball and make a play is something this DL hasn't had in awhile.  On top of that, he seems to be a positive force in the locker room.  

Jolly needs to make it. He's disruptive and active in the trenches. I like him better than Pickett.

Jolly competing with every extra guy.  Can never have enough good big people and Jolly is one of those.  Our defense for whatever reason is low energy as a whole.  A bunch of pretty smart guys but it seems like a lot of the time it's Matthews going nuts and 10 guys waiting for him to go nuts.  Rally gets the defense (really the whole team) to rally together like no one else and  is only thirty with not too much wear and tear.  He's also an insanely cheap player for his potential.       

...

Teams might be asking for Bostick, but I really think DJ Williams is the TE they'd be most comfortable trading.  Bostick is only 24 with lots of upside, has good size, and improved the most over the off season.  No way TT wants to give that up.  I'd cut DJ over trading Bostick for a late pick.  Quarless has 0 trade value with the injury risk but if they're entertaining trades it speaks well of how they feel about his recovery.        

Beyond Finley, TE is a muddled mess and hard to say how it all shakes out. Can't hide Bostick on the PS and I'd like to see him stick given Finley's unlikely future with the team.

Interested to see what they do with Banjo. He's a little short, but I like the way he plays the game.

He was the next Ricky Proehl. How could they cut the next Rocky Proehl? I guess they think slow fat white uncoordinated guys who catch everything grow on trees. 

So, at this point do you think all the RB's make the team or do they cut one?   Keep Lacy, Franklin, Green and Starks?   If one gets cut I would think it would be Green or Starks.  Doubt TT would let Franklin go so soon.  

And, TE...cut Stoneburner and who else?

Of course Young "Could be" anything.... including our starting QB in week 2.  You gotta love the reporters tossing out scenarios for the sake of simply putting something down on paper.  

Paul Imig's take on the 53.

I think he's right on with the exception being TEs. I'd keep Quarless and cut Taylor.

I'd also swap Dezman Moses and Palmer.

That one's a coin flip IMO. I think Moses has plateaued and Palmer has upside potential.

I think Moses is hurt with turf toe

That's the first I've seen of Crosby agreeing to a pay cut for this year.

*Edit* My own fault since it's in the Crosby thread.

I think they should IR Moses, give him another shot next year. He's not healthy enough to contribute.

Imig has only 7 OL.  That seems too few.

Sherrod eligible to come back after 6 games. They could go with 7 again if they don't find a player or two they like better after final cuts.

Here's what one NFL personnel director told Bob McGinn about Vince Young after reviewing the KC tape. "He stinks." Couldn't agree more.

The team really doesn't have anything resembling a competent backup QB and wasting three years on Harrell was a horrible mistake. Hopefully AR stays healthy and the organization has some time to fix the mess they created.

So halfway through the season, Rodgers is out, 2 Games later it's clear Vince Young is abysmal, Coleman's not ready, and lil' Timmy Tebow is out there on the street still wanting to pretend to play QB. #nightmarescenario

quote:

[b]Michael Rodney ‏@PackerUpdate/[b]

Here's what one NFL personnel director told Bob McGinn about Vince Young after reviewing the KC tape. "He stinks." Couldn't agree more.

Looks like Ted agrees. Young has been released.

@MikeVandermause

#Packers fill out their 8-man practice squad by signing tackle Aaron Adams (E. Kentucky) and running back Michael Hill (Missouri Western).

I think they'd call Bert first 

Love it.  EDS gets bitch-slapped around here as a second rate football player starting only because there's no other choice.  Bob disagrees and ranks him as the 7th most important player on the team behind Rodgers, Matthews, Burnett, Sitton, Lacy and Cobb.

7. EVAN DIETRICH-SMITH, C

Watching Dietrich-Smith work his hands in the pass-rush drill, you'd have thought it was Scott Wells. Provides a distinct upgrade on Jeff Saturday, the washed-up starter for most of last season. His value is enhanced because of the gulf between him and backup Greg Van Roten. If EDS plays well early, the front office will seek to lock him up long-term. Scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in March.

The curse of the-icon ruined Kevin Kolb's career too. #asexpected