It is time...to move on to 2015.

I had a friend tell me about a story that ran in the GBPG and asked if I thought the GB would recover from the collapse. 

I think GB will. I think Bulaga and Cobb need to return for continuity. I've thought for a long time GB would be favorites the next three years to win the SB. Hasn't changed. 

As a kid growing up in the Bay Area I watched a lot of Raider football. In 1972 the Raiders lost to the Steelers in the divisional round on the immaculate reception. Possibly the single greatest kick in the nuts, heartbraking playoff loss a team could possibly have to deal with over an offseason. Worse than what GB is dealing with now IMO. 

All Oakland did was come back from that loss and go to three straight AFC Championship games. And lose every damn one of them. After 4 years of monumental failure they finally got over on Minny in 1976. 

My point is good teams come back from losses like Seattle. They don't dwell on this stuff like fans and the media tend to do. GB is a good team and I think they know they are a good team. But they do need framework guys like Bulaga and Cobb. I think it's important for TT to understand this team isn't one of his typical squads and the standard off season rules MO shouldn't apply. He probably needs to step out a little past his comfort zone on Cobb and Bulaga to keep them put. I think it's wise that he do so. 

I also think the main competition for GB is taking a step back next year. And no one from the AFC is making a major jump in 2015. GB doesn't need to get better (ILB excluded), they just need to come back ready to play.

They're going to be fine. Onto 2015. 

Agree completely. IMO TT also understands this next 3-5 year window will likely mark Rodgers' apogee until his inevitable decline occurs. If there is anytime for Ted to loosen up a bit on his proven formula it is now. I am of the view that the Peppers' signing shows that the Packer brain trust is aware of this and may stretch the envelope by its standards in order to capitalize on and improve the critical mass of talent in the organization.

quote:

"why catch this ball? We're just going to choke the game away any way."?

Not that this should surprise anyone but officially...

Packers' Alonzo Highsmith staying put

January, 27, 2015

Jan 27

6:30

PM ET

By Rob Demovsky | ESPN.com

 

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Green Bay Packers denied the Washington Redskins' request to interview senior personnel executive Alonzo Highsmith for a similar position in their scouting department, according to a league source.

It was not a surprise given that Packers general manager Ted Thompson appears set on keeping his top scouts together.

Earlier this month, the Packers promoted Eliot Wolf to director of player personnel. Wolf, Highsmith and college scouting director Brian Gutekunst are Thompson's top advisors and serve important roles all aspects of the personnel department.

New Redskins general manager Scot McCloughan formally requested permission to interview Highsmith last week. Thompson was able to deny the request because Highsmith was not up for a general manager position.

Highsmith, 49, has been with the Packers for 16 seasons. He was promoted to his current position in 2012 after serving as an area scout. McCloughan worked in the Packers’ scouting department from 1994 to 1999.

Can't really move on without a complete and total autopsy to determine why the patient choked and MM's press conference today is a good step in that direction. An interesting piece in today's JSO about Chad Morton getting the best of his former boss. That play was really the turning point in the game and Zook and Slocum need to be gone, preferably yesterday.

Honestly. There won't be any moving on until after the Super Bowl. The MJS has two articles ripping the scab off. Including the one about an ex-Packers ST assistants role in the debacle.

I would be surprised if this happened. One FA similar to Peppers and Woodson? Maybe. Change the formula? They have not strayed at it and got the team one play (of more than a few) away from another SB. It proves that their formula works. I do not see them straying far from the proven formula of building a team.

You and I are saying pretty much the same thing. I'm not advocating junking the TT model, not by any means. But the Peppers' signing clearly was anomalous. I'm making the same point Chilli did, basically that this team is right there, primed to win, and that if judiciously spending a few more shekels than would have typically been the case under Ted to keep Bulaga, or a contributing FA, or whoever, then make it happen. This team's core (Rodgers, Matthews, Sitton, Lacy most notably) are at peak or peaking, take advantage of that.

If anybody wants to read that depressing article, here you go (NOTE: If you've moved on, I would skip it):

http://www.jsonline.com/sports...879z1-290020551.html

Good article and more evidence of coaching details that cost us, as well as players making bad judgement calls (Hawk and Bostick)

Below is very true: 

"Davon might have caught him," said Morton. "It's all about A.J. Hawk. He's really in a bad spot. I think you let (Ryan) get whatever and live to play another down."

MM has to make some changes on the staff.   Unfortunately I think some of this goes to him.

"I don't like the alignment," the NFC coach said. "There should be a guy to contain. That's not good football not to have two guys covered.

"It made me angry as a special-teams coach. How can a head coach and a general manager devalue what special-teams coaches do? You've got two special-teams plays that are the difference in Green Bay being in the Super Bowl."

Hawk slid over when Ryan started running and didn't hesitate moving up to stop the punter even as the 306-pound Gilliam was running past him to the vacant corner.

It's likely Hawk didn't have any idea House would turn out to be in position to tackle Ryan from behind. In what looked to be an unsound scheme to begin with, to what degree was Hawk at fault for leaving Gilliam?

"He's got to stay as deep as the deepest receiver," the NFC coach said. "He cannot come up to tackle Ryan. That should be common sense, especially for a guy playing defense."

Wow, YA, how upsetting.

And this is Hawk's major attribute?  His knowledge of the scheme and what correctly to do?

Bugh.  I thought I could quit it.

I still don't consider that fake FG a "turning point".  A colossal gaffe in a tight game?  Abso****inglutely.  But GB continued to play lights out until that fateful 3:53 or whatever left in the game.  I would say it was a bad omen and I knew SEA was going to mount some crazy attempt at a comeback some time in the fourth quarter.  But we really had that game buttoned down until the last 3 and half minutes.  Even with those cheap ass points I didn't think there was any way they would pull it out the way they did.

Rare when one team's coach goes out of his way to publicly diss another team's player like this:

PHOENIX—If there was any lingering doubt that A.J. Hawk could play another season for the Green Bay Packers, surviving on his own smarts and guile—and that's not to say any such doubt existed—Seattle Seahawks offensive line coach Pat Ruel probably put that suspicion to rest.

A former Packers assistant under Mike Sherman in 2001 and 2002, Ruel brought up the topic of Hawk unprovoked at Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday.

As the Seahawks offensive line coach, I had asked Ruel about facing Julius Peppers and Mike Daniels, guys he was pretty familiar with, having just prepared for and faced in the NFC Championship game.

"The guy you probably should ask me about is A.J. Hawk," said Ruel...

"A.J., he doesn't have it anymore," said Ruel. "I hate to say it. He's very instinctive, but we could see it a lot of times in the game. He didn't have enough speed to get there anymore. He's a guy that probably had a great career, and I would say he's pretty close to the end of it."

http://cheeseheadtv.com/blog/s...esnt-have-it-anymore

There's a Slocum interview video on Packers.com that was done just before the Dallas playoff game. Slocum talks at length on a variety of topics such as getting guys ready for the post season, Getting Masthay squared away after a difficult time down the stretch. Playing disciplined ST football. It's really hard to watch. 

He is a modern day caveman. He's ****ing horrible. He needs to be fired. But you can't go Greg Cosell play by play breakdown of the NFC Championship and not walk away feeling all the years MM, TT , and Dom ignored the Hawk / Jones warning signs finally came back and took a great big bite out of everyones ass. Hawk's filthy fingerprints are all over that second half. He left a huge stinking wake of destruction. His ST play. His effort when he had to emergency sub for Clay. He had no business being on that field the final two drives of regulation. The wild haired sun devil would have been a better option. 

GB did all they could to hide Hawk and Jones the last two months of the year and the playoffs. But they were still around. Still lingering. And when bodies were needed they were dressed and ready. 

I've moved on because in my mind Hawk, Jones, and Slocum have already been shown the door. They just haven't been officially notified. But it's coming. 

Excellent post Chillijon....

There may be a small party in the Pack-Man house if Brad Jones and Shawn Slocum are on the bus out of town with Hawk. I think it's pretty obvious at this point that Hawk is finished in Green Bay (and I can't imagine any other team being desperate/stupid enough to sign him). I'm happy about this, but this is a move they should have made years ago.

Didn't AR say something mid season about Hawk's "body is betraying him", alluding to an injury or ???  Now I know he didn't mean Hawk was dealing with an injury, he was just dealing with getting old.

Rodgers wouldn't insinuate Hawk is getting too old to play, he would have meant he had some type of injury. Regardless of whatever type of injury he may have had, it won't make a difference in his status on this roster next year. Not only do they clear up a valuable roster spot by cutting him, they actually will get a nice chunk of cap space in 2015. He's currently due to make $5.1 million, and cutting him would reduce his cap number to $1.6 million (he's a free agent in 2016, too. So that would be the last hit they'd take), that's a no-brainer move to make. Cutting Brad Jones would save the team $3.75 million, bringing his cap number down to $1 million (also a free agent in 2016). $2.6 million worth of dead cap money over 1 season to get rid of the two worst players on the roster and clear up $7.25 million worth of cap space? That's so easy that even Matt Millen could do it. The only way those turds could save their jobs would be to play for the veteran minimum.

I'd also love to see Peppers restructure his contract. Not a pay cut, just a restructuring. He was very good for the Packers in 2014, but is he worth $12 million at 35 (36 in January of 2016)? Of course not. Get that number worked down to about $8-9 million by pushing the rest of the money back another year, and then re-evaluate things again in 2016.

The interceptions for TD's, the forced fumbles and the sacks make him worth the highest amount they can afford. He seems like a guy that wants another shot and would give a discount to get it.

Ted's not just gonna push a bunch of money into the later year.  That'll just lead to a big pile of dead cap space when you inevitably have to cut him.  Ted's never done that and I doubt he ever would.  It's not how he operates.  I think they'll figure out a 'restructuring' which will basically mean a pay cut, but they're not going to kick the can down the road.

Convert next years base to base and guaranteed. That way Peppers gets the cash and Ted get's to distribute it. There will likely be some dead cap from Peppers, but not like Snyder or Jones have done.

If you were to secretly pole the core GB guys as to who needs to be back in GB in 2015 I think the results would be:

Bulaga

Cobb

Williams

Guion

Barclay

I don't know that Raji would have a lot of supporters. I think Tramon would have more than expected. 

Can we trade Jones and Hawk to the Queens or the Bares?

Subtraction by addition?

Disagree.

The Peppers signing was exactly how the Packers view free agency. You don't pay premium prices for average talent - but you do pay for HOF players like Reggie, Woodson, Peppers.

The fact that the vast majority of FAs don't meet that criteria is often mistaken for the concept that GB doesn't play in FA. Not true at all imo, they just don't pay retail for dime- a- dozen guys

And Guion was good value as well - GB paid him a pittance, he took the opportunity and ran with it. TT and the Packers are all about value, in FA and the draft. Most FA's aren't a good value and you can't woo them without overpaying and pissing off the current players.

But look at how the current roster reacted to Peppers - he's worth every penny and isn't causing any other players to wonder about their compensation because he's a HOF talent both on the field and in the locker room

The Packers will keep stocking the cupboards, and if they find value, they will jump on it

He also has the biggest lap in pro sports.

Peppers signed for 3.5 million lastt year, this year his contract calls for 12 million. I bet Pepper plays about 3.5 million next year.

Why would he take SO much less? His base may drop from $12mm to $3mm ish, but the difference goes to guaranteed. 

http://overthecap.com/player/julius-peppers/135/

not totally sure, but I think the pole goes under the skirt

maybe they do it differently in finlandia

The Packers will not pay Peppers 12 million next year. Maybe half that amount.  I would think the Packers and Peppers already have talked to him  about what they will pay him, but the Packers will not pay him 12 million next year.

Silverstein scored an interview with Clay Matthews over the weekend. Good stuff in here including prospects for his playing ILB.

http://www.jsonline.com/sports...783z1-290489241.html

Phoenix — After talking it over with coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers, Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews is expecting to play a good number of snaps inside next year.

And he doesn't have a problem with that.

Matthews had said in recent interviews that he considers himself an outside linebacker and feels he can have his biggest impact on defense rushing the passer. But after meeting with his two bosses the day after the season ended, he said he understands that his best position on the team might be inside.

"We had an exit interview at the end of the year where we get to talk to all the coaches on our way out, assess you, how your season was, the future of the team, the future of yourself," Matthews said. "We talked. Moving forward I see from not only our coach's expectations, but my own expectations (are there) for playing inside.

"I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the change. At the same time, I'm very good at getting after the quarterback off the edge, so I think there's a fine line. So, we'll see. Week in and week out you never knew if I was going to be there 100% of the snaps or only 10. We'll see what that means moving forward.

"I enjoy it (but) at the same time, I specialize at being a pass rusher and an outside linebacker."

Draft a stud ILB to line up along side him and he'll enjoy it even more.

Just wonderful. 

@jasonjwilde: #Packers DT Letroy Guion was arrested in Starke, Fla. late Tuesday night, Capt. Barry Warren confirmed. Blog coming. 

 

@RobDemovsky: Filed to ESPN: #Packers DT Letroy Guion was arrested last night on possession of marijuana, Stake, Fla. police confirm. Details to come.

 

@RobDemovsky: Letroy Guion's agent, Seth Katz, said he was gathering more info. The #Packers had Guion had been in talks about a long-term deal.

These morans should move to Colorado or Washington.