Surprise of day: Green Bay is releasing former Pro Bowl DT Mike Daniels, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 24, 2019
Wow
Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Silverstein: Why Mike Daniels is no longer the right fit for Packers
Silverstein piece from April.
I still am not a big fan of this move I am of the opinion that you can never have enough defensive lineman. But, if the angry bald man doesn't think he fits the scheme I am good with it.
This makes no sense. Must be something going on behind the scenes. DL depth is not exacty strong........
It's a bit shocking because we weren't expecting it, but Mike Daniels is 30, coming off a foot injury, due over $10 million this season and never really fit what Mike Pettine wanted to be on defense.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) July 24, 2019
They save more than $8 million this year. Shocking, but not surprising.
Thought Silversteeen was nuts back in April.....guess not.
Kenny Clark about to get paid ? Lowry signing had interesting timing.
Josh Sitton Redux ?
Montravius about to arrive !! Kenny Clark said he's been the biggest surprise this off season !!
Whatever the case, Gutekunst and Pettine are building by their preferred design.
The #Packers shopped DT MIke Daniels around the NFL before releasing him, an NFL source said. His $10M cap number was a hindrance. He’s considered a third-down inside rusher now by #Packers and others.
— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) July 24, 2019
I don’t think scheme fit was a motivator, you don’t ditch players you think are of value just because their measurements aren’t perfect. He’s 30, coming off a foot injury which are tough for heavy DL, and his cap number was high. High effort and character guy, but our DL depth is solid and that $8.3M savings could be used elsewhere. Tough business, glad they did it before camp though so he can get on with another team. Supposedly they have been trying to trade him.
One of the strongest players on our DL becomes the weakest link in just two seasons.... Good testament to the size & talent Gutey has loaded that DL with in the same span.
I can't disagree with this move, especially with the $8M cap savings, and descending production and health. How many DL can we keep? This roster is loaded, even without Daniels. Kingsley Keke was a great pick. Tyler Lancaster is huge and looking to get to the QB more this season. Montravius Adams is improving, Lowry is high production, Brown and Simon competing, and the superstar of our DL, Clark, needs an extension.
Every player left on this DL is bigger, faster and more versatile than what Daniels was bringing
And I was all over this from the April article...I see things before others do. I'ts a gift...but causes jealousy
Can't wait for lots of upside surprise to this season...buckle up buttercups
I never did like you, Oldschool. You suck.
Yeah, this is gonna be fun!!!!
Trophies posted:One of the strongest players on our DL becomes the weakest link in just two seasons.... Good testament to the size & talent Gutey has loaded that DL with in the same span.
I can't disagree with this move, especially with the $8M cap savings, and descending production and health. How many DL can we keep? This roster is loaded, even without Daniels. Kingsley Keke was a great pick. Tyler Lancaster is huge and looking to get to the QB more this season. Montravius Adams is improving, Lowry is high production, Brown and Simon competing, and the superstar of our DL, Clark, needs an extension.
Every player left on this DL is bigger, faster and more versatile than what Daniels was bringing
I certainly wouldn't say they are loaded. Clark is outstanding and Lowry is solid. The rest are unproven at best.
If Silverstein's reporting is accurate and the team views him as a rotational player the move makes perfect sense given his cap number.
Lancaster graded out as a pretty stout rotational player as well. Not a starter, but he looks like he could be a promising rotational guy off the bench. We’ll see what we have in Keke, but he looks more like a pure interior rush guy. Adams still has a chance to be a boom player even though thus far he has been a bust. We’ve seen some flash from him though, he’s certainly physically gifted.
YATittle posted:Wish we could’ve got a draft pick
With that contract no way. Someone will sign him and he will be lucky to get half of what the Packers were going to have to pay him. I wonder if they discussed a reduced salary.
Trophies posted:I can't disagree with this move, especially with the $8M cap savings, and descending production and health. How many DL can we keep? This roster is loaded, even without Daniels.
No it isn't.
If you noticed Mike Daniels, in say the last 2-3 seasons, a pattern also was emerging. He would usually look like he was playing with his hair on fire in September and early October, and then noticeably fade in November and December. Maybe that was injuries or number of snaps. But he would really slow down and you just stopped seeing him make impact plays.
Still, a very underrated player in his early years. The NFL is a nasty business
Browns GM John Dorsey asked about DT Mike Daniels. Mentions that the wire doesn't come out til 4. "I don't like to talk about other teams' players, but he's a good player."
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) July 24, 2019
Also confirms Duke Johnson reported to camp.
It should be noted, had Mike Daniels injured himself in TC (he was coming off of a serious foot injury), his 10 million dollar salary would become guaranteed. That had to be a big factor in why they released him before TC.
I think he has been THE guy on the DL for two long and has been taking most of the abuse. CM and Perry have been banged up or ineffective while there have been a lot of scrubs getting PT before Clark and Lowry emerged. Daniels has been the guy getting the doubles and the team has asked him to play a lot early in games and early in the year. Adding Z. Smith and Gary means we have more options for interior rush.
Unfortunately, sympathy has no place in the modern game. He was a great Packer, he may still have a lot left in the tank, but we need to trust that this didn't happen without Pettine giving his sign off.
Pettine's D has made solid improvements over the Domfense. I have faith this will be a good thing and was well calculated.
Anybody that feels bad for a guy that the Packers made a multi-millionaire needs to go back to where they came from. 
As I've mentioned all offseason, with the additions of the Smiths and rookie Rashan Gary, there was going to be limited opportunities for Daniels to be used as an interior pass rusher. Thus, the Packers would be paying him $10M to essentially be a 1 or 2 down player.
— Michael Rodney (@PackersNotes) July 24, 2019
10 mil to be a very part-time player wasn't gonna work...
And there's Michael Wadney, there to remind everyone of his omniscience....
Oh, I liked him too, but when he started talking about smashing other players who didn't perform in the face, then the guy didn't show up....? That's when I became less of a fan of his. If a guy is going to say something like that, at least show that urgency in your own performance. Didn't happen.
Pretty solid player whose numbers fell off last season, and if the foot is still an issue, probably the prudent move by Gutekunst. Blake Martinez will probably be the beneficiary of the next extension, if they can pull that off.
PackerHawk posted:Trophies posted:I can't disagree with this move, especially with the $8M cap savings, and descending production and health. How many DL can we keep? This roster is loaded, even without Daniels.
No it isn't.
Guess I like what I've heard on Montravius Adams, and Kingsley Keke. Adams could be turning a corner here this season. Keke has some unreal film. The guy reminds me of a young Santana Dotson. In just 5 games, Tyler Lancaster had more tackles and the same number of TFL compared to Daniels, who played 9. I do think they prefer bigger players up front who can readily switch positions.
I would have liked to have kept him for quality depth, but I can see where the value might not be there given his foot problems.
I see us keeping 6 DL: Clark, Adams, Keke, Lancaster, Lowry and one of Looney, Brown or Simon.
Interesting development. I know a few months back we had a running commentary on this and guys like Brian Bulaga and Tramon Williams and Mike Daniels were mentioned as possible cap casualties and at that time it seemed like a crazy thought that a guy like Daniels could be cut.
Guess it wasn’t such a radical idea after all
Yeah, I thought Silverstein's article was garbage too... ha! Again, would have liked having him for depth, but not at the cost of a Blake Martinez extension. Tough business, indeed. I think we will be just fine with the players we have there now.
Who knows? Maybe they just keep 5 DL this year, freeing up another roster spot elsewhere. Easy to do with Z and Gary ready and able to switch in at DE.
Trophies posted:Oh, I liked him too, but when he started talking about smashing other players who didn't perform in the face, then the guy didn't show up....? That's when I became less of a fan of his. If a guy is going to say something like that, at least show that urgency in your own performance. Didn't happen.
Pretty solid player whose numbers fell off last season, and if the foot is still an issue, probably the prudent move by Gutekunst. Blake Martinez will probably be the beneficiary of the next extension, if they can pull that off.
PackerHawk posted:Trophies posted:I can't disagree with this move, especially with the $8M cap savings, and descending production and health. How many DL can we keep? This roster is loaded, even without Daniels.
No it isn't.
Guess I like what I've heard on Montravius Adams, and Kingsley Keke. Adams could be turning a corner here this season. Keke has some unreal film. The guy reminds me of a young Santana Dotson. In just 5 games, Tyler Lancaster had more tackles and the same number of TFL compared to Daniels, who played 9. I do think they prefer bigger players up front who can readily switch positions.
I would have liked to have kept him for quality depth, but I can see where the value might not be there given his foot problems.
I see us keeping 6 DL: Clark, Adams, Keke, Lancaster, Lowry and one of Looney, Brown or Simon.
Adams has been a huge disappointment and shown nothing in 2 years. They said the same thing about him looking very improved last summer but he again didn't show up when it mattered. Lancaster looks like a decent rotational backup. Hopefully Keke shows something but this group looks like it has a lot of question marks and not a lot of depth.
Adams was really coming on early before the stress fracture in his foot sidelined him through much of his rookie season 2017. Last season with the new system and all the crap that went on, I look at it as a wash. Kenny Clark mentioned Adams as the one standout player from this year's OTAs. He was a great player at Auburn, and I believe 2019 will be a breakout season for Adams.
I agree with you, and want to see him make a difference in the games throughout a full season. I do think he will.
Trophies,
I like your optimism, but lauding the play of a guy who has yet to participate in a full training camp (Keke) is just plain premature and silly.
Not that I don't hope you are right.
I know that, but, I believe the kid is going to be special in GB. You just can't know the thousands of hours of game film I've watched on the kid...
It was Pettine's and Gutekunst's call to ditch Daniels. Just guessing they like what they've got enough to make that move.
Keke played out of position at Texas A&M, lined up over or outside the Tackle more than 60% of the time. He's an interior rusher. Dominated the Senior Bowl one on one's. Keke had the highest win rate amongst all DL at the Senior Bowl, rushing from inside.
34.5" arms. 4.9 40 time. 6-3 305. Dude's got quicks, and moves. Versatile player.
We will see, won't we?
Trophies posted:I never did like you, Oldschool. You suck.
Yeah, this is gonna be fun!!!!
Agree's with me...THIS IS GOING TO BE FUN...but doesn't like me...see?
JEALOUSY!
That's Ok...I'll pray for you.
Ooops...JC on a Popsicle stick...now I've lost Henry again
Yeah, didn't think I'd need a smiley face or anything...! You're old school. You get it. Super jealous.
I had high hopes we'd see a healthy Daniels this year and he'd be back to what he had been a couple of years ago. It is pretty clear the Packers don't think they'll ever see that version of him again. Sometimes you're right, sometimes you're wrong, hopefully the Pack hasn't underestimated what he still might have left in the tank.
Packdog posted:Thought Silversteeen was nuts back in April.....guess not.
Whatever the case, Gutekunst and Pettine are building by their preferred design.
That's it...right there, you nailed it.
It may work out...it may not, but at least we have some decisive SOB's with a vision of what they want.
YATittle posted:Wish we could’ve got a draft pick
Nobody stupid enough...
If only MM and Helmet Hair had gotten GM gigs... it would have been a bidding war.
Trophies,
I am encouraged you saw so much film of him!
Ah, just encouraged, and I think he was a good value pick. I want to see him produce on the field. The good thing is our front 7 is loaded. Someone's going to be getting loose on any given play to nail the QB or drop a RB for a loss. Seems along with a good pass rush, we have a bunch of solid run defenders too, which will be big for us.