ROUND 4 PICK 109 (f/NO through MIA) - OT DAVID BAKHTIARI (COLORADO)

@Packiderm posted:

You know Bacteria wants out. His buddies are gone. He's married his hottie. He's gotten paid. The Packers are projected not to compete for a Lombardi for at least a couple of years. Barring and injury to himself or the rest of the line getting decimated, I expect him to be traded when it benefits the Packers the most Compensation/capwise.

Entirely plausible. They could also hang onto him, wait for injuries across the league to pile up, then move him prior to the trade deadline for a much higher pick then they would have gotten trading him in August.

Does June 1 factor into this?

Would the Jets be interested?

I’m not sure they can afford the dead money cap hit this year. If not then I think he’s here all year.

@packerboi posted:

So there are some rumblings if Bakh is becoming a problem child going into the season?

First, there was the interview he did a couple of months ago insisting that the Packers are in total rebuild mode and using the word "they" vs us in referring to the team.

For a refresher on that story, In April, Rodney wrote as follows:

It’s fair to wonder whether the decision-makers in Green Bay regret cutting that big check after listening to Bakhtiari’s remarks on a recent Bussin’ with the Boys podcast. It may only have been offseason banter between three friends, but what the 11-year veteran from Colorado said to co-hosts and ex-NFL players Will Compton and Taylor Lewan was very troubling.

Bakhtiari seemed upset with the organization for trading close friend Aaron Rodgers to the Jets, so much so that he continually referred to the Packers as “they.” The decision to use that particular pronoun sure came off as a deliberate attempt by Bakhtiari to distance himself from the franchise that drafted him a decade ago and has paid him in excess of $140M.

Even more troubling was the way Bakhtiari spoke about the Packers’ chances to win next season. He uttered the word “rebuild” multiple times, even though general manager Brian Gutekunst and coach Matt LaFleur have gone out of their way to avoid using the R-word. While you could argue that Bakhtiari was just being truthful, there’s no defending what he said about midway through the podcast when explaining why the Packers held the leverage in trade talks with the Jets.

“The Packers are rebuilding whether you think so or not,” Bakhtiari surmised. “[Some people will say] ‘Could they be good, I really don’t know.’ More people are going to think they’re [the Packers] going to be more bad than good, right? That’s fair to say. Then, they [the Packers] will say, ‘We’re going to suck anyways, we want what we want, and we’re not going to bend to anyone, so we’ll just eat it [Aaron Rodgers’ $58.5M guaranteed contract]. Stay unretired, we’ll pay you [Rodgers].'”

Bakhtiari was just getting warmed up. He went on to speculate from the Packers’ point of view why they were in no rush to trade Rodgers and would be willing to hold out for as long as possible to get the right combination of draft picks.

“If we’re going to do it, it’s going to be on our terms,” Bakhtiari continued. “If not, what we’re going to be Super Bowl contenders anyways? We’ll eat it, you [Rodgers] can hang on the side, pay you your money, we’ll suck anyways, and get the picks.”

Then, he posts this last night which many are considering a rip on the Packers communication staff for putting this together:

Jason Wahlers is the VP of Communications.

@JTWahlers did you sign off on this??.. https://t.co/dNvkZEXQZI

— David Bakhtiari (@DavidBakhtiari) May 12, 2023

Now, it's entirely possible this is much-a-do about nothing. But you also wonder if we are going to witness Josh Sitton 2.0 if Bakh isn't fully onboard with "The Packer way" in what most assume is going to be his last season as a Packer (he has a huge cap hit in '24). If Zach Tom, who filled in nicely at LT, has a really strong camp... Is Bakh traded by September?

He’s gone after this year. He doesn’t have to be an ass about it. Bust your butt, be a good soldier and someone will pay him like a king next year. Spoiled babies, these athletes. How about he win something first.

So fucking excited about this season I am going to training camp for the first time in about 7 years(I used to go every year), and my first game in about  5 years. Watching Love and all those young receivers. Droool!

When Bakhtiari said "they" he was referring to the FO.

I think this a nothing-burger. Bored? Had a few pops? Who knows what his relationship is like with Wahlers?

DB is very vocal about turf fields, he's not going to NYJ.

If the Packers had any thoughts about maybe trading him, they wouldn't have converted his base to bonus - it gave them no cap relief.

It's fairly well known that the Packers social media presence/content is terrible.  The video is, frankly, dumb.  I don't see the big deal.

@H5 posted:

When Bakhtiari said "they" he was referring to the FO.

I think this a nothing-burger. Bored? Had a few pops? Who knows what his relationship is like with Wahlers?

DB is very vocal about turf fields, he's not going to NYJ.

If the Packers had any thoughts about maybe trading him, they wouldn't have converted his base to bonus - it gave them no cap relief.

The more he talks the more I think this is BS. He is beginning to sound like a disgruntled employee. We shall see.

He's 1 of 3 players over 30.

Old guy yelling at clouds.

Only three guys at least 30 of which Bak is one (Preston, O'Donnell), which makes me wonder if the locker room and team got a bit complacent and too comfy the past couple of years for those older guys. Since they were "Rodgers' guys," they didn't have to worry much about losing their jobs. Bak would probably love to go somewhere else this year, but he's pretty limited in finding a contender with natural grass. Maybe TN? Miami? 

@H5 posted:

He's 1 of 3 players over 30.

Old guy yelling at clouds.

If  he ends up as a problem child, IMO that would be another key factor. I just don't know who he'd relate to as much with a team now in average age at 24 years old and especially young on offense.

I would guess he and Jenkins are buds but who knows. In the who's who at the Kentucky Derby, his squad of friends were all dudes no longer here or not Packers to begin with.

And to Fandame's point, MLF and Gute may feel like for the right price, Bakh is now expendable.

Agree with @Goalline though, he needs to keep some of his old man yelling at cloud comments off twitter and interviews to avoid ruffling feathers at 1265.  Keep your head down, do what you can to help a young Jordan Love, and be a good mentor. The Packers have thrown him plenty of dough over the years to at least give the team that.

@H5 posted:

He's 1 of 3 players over 30.

Old guy yelling at clouds.

Ahem.  30 is not old. 

@Fandame posted:

Only three guys at least 30 of which Bak is one (Preston, O'Donnell), which makes me wonder if the locker room and team got a bit complacent and too comfy the past couple of years for those older guys. Since they were "Rodgers' guys," they didn't have to worry much about losing their jobs. Bak would probably love to go somewhere else this year, but he's pretty limited in finding a contender with natural grass. Maybe TN? Miami?

Titans to fake shit this year:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/02...rface-nissan-stadium

@Blair Kiel posted:

Titans to fake shit this year:

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/02...rface-nissan-stadium

Thanks for the correction. TBH, their field was always a mud pit later in the year, so you'd always see guys slipping and sliding. Maybe Bak could go to Arizona: natural grass, warm weather, and he's used to his QB playing sandlot style...

Bak is too valuable to move this year.  Gute has staked his career on Love and needs to give him every chance to succeed. LT is one of the most important positions in that regard.  Too many young QBs have their careers ended by not protecting them.

Bak might wish to be playing for a contender, but I think teams want another year back from surgery to see if he makes it all the way back. His value is not as high right now.

If Bak's comments of "they" is "troubling", what are his comments of "we" and "we're"?

As far as that stupid video shit (and Twitter, too)...

*

Gutekunst isn't looking to help the Jets this season. That directly affects our 2024 draft capital.

Doesn't some of Bakhtiari'angst at the social media team stem from getting involved with them a season or two ago? I seem to remember him recording something that wasn't used and he got pissy about it. I think it might have been about OBJ, but I'm not anywhere near certain.

Bakh, Aaron, and all those guys bust each others chops because they are good friends.

Dave is tight with Jason Wahlers who is the Packers VP of communications. Tom Fanning, same. He was just giving Jason some shit. People who read that as Bakh being disgruntled, don't know Dave. That's how he acts towards people he likes.

I expect Bakh to have a great season. The OL is a strength of this team and will only help J-Love have success this season.

We will see what the future holds and what next year brings, but 2023 will have Bakh at LT and that makes the team stronger.

How do you know so much about the individuals within the walls of 1265?

@Goalline posted:

How do you know so much about the individuals within the walls of 1265?

Wouldn't you like to know😏

No, isn't it kinda common knowledge that Wahlers and Tom Fanning handle pretty much all communications for the Packers? Well, Sarah Quick too.😌 Wahlers though, is at like every presser. You will see coaches and players look over to the side after certain questions are asked. That's Wahlers they are looking at. Aaron used to give Tom Fanning a ton of crap during his pressers. Asking Tom for info and then saying: "Thanks Tom."😌

I will miss Aaron's pressers. J-Love did well in his first one as the man, but he is not near as skilled at public speaking as Aaron was/is. Jordan will get better at it over time, but Aaron was the master with the media and communicating.

@FreeFromWhatYouAre posted:

Wouldn't you like to know😏  YES

No, isn't it kinda common knowledge that Wahlers and Tom Fanning handle pretty much all communications for the Packers?  NO IT ISN'T

When I brought up a person name with connections to the Packers and said I worked with him, some years ago, it was ignored on this forum.  I could not prove it - but it WAS (and is) TRUE.  It told me what I probably should not say. 

So since you bring all this up, I, for one would like to know how you know who is sitting off to the side providing information when they are not visible to the public, and what peoples specific roles are within the organization.  Not to mention how you know what and how they think.  Do you work at 1265 Lombardi Ave?

@Ghost of Lambeau posted:

When I brought up a person name with connections to the Packers and said I worked with him, some years ago, it was ignored on this forum.  I could not prove it - but it WAS (and is) TRUE.  It told me what I probably should not say.

So since you bring all this up, I, for one would like to know how you know who is sitting off to the side providing information when they are not visible to the public, and what peoples specific roles are within the organization.  Not to mention how you know what and how they think.  Do you work at 1265 Lombardi Ave?

GOL, who do you know at 1265?

Ghost of Vince? 

@Goalline posted:

GOL, who do you know at 1265?

I know someone who knows someone that works at 1265 also . I can't elaborate either . I talked with Andrew Brandt once and told him he was doing a tremendous job for us a long time ago. I swear. Got his autograph and all.  I gave Tyrone Williams some advice one year about his weak tackling and watched him on TV totally improve the next two years. His last two. Talked to KGB about the way he was sticking his leg way out on his pass rushing moves ,afraid he was going to break his ankle, He never broke it so maybe I did some good there,   I swear !!!!     

That’s cool! I don’t know a single soul connected to the Packers.

@Goalline posted:

That’s cool! I don’t know a single soul connected to the Packers.

WE KNOW. Your sworn to secrecy aren't you?   

@Goalline posted:

That’s cool! I don’t know a single soul connected to the Packers.

I do! All three of my kids are owners (thanks to Mom and Dad)

The person I had indirect ties to was former assistant coach and scout Red (John) Cochran thru his son Russ Cochran with whom I have worked with for the last 25 years (or so).  We are both engineers of different types who work for McDonnell Douglas/Boeing.  Russ showed me (and let me try on) his dad's SB ring - my fingers are not big enough .  He has always showed me pictures of his days with the players in the Lombardi years among other things.  Paul Hornung would always invite Russ to times when he would be honored for something and he would get a picture with him.  We talk a lot about the Packers, the draft, the games, etc.  When I was retired for a year and a half before they wanted me back, we communicated often - actually there was an informal group of us who do that.  I was with him at work when his dad died.  That was a sad time when it happened.   But I mentioned him earlier because the scouts were kicked out of the draft room (including Red), and I thought that might add to why they picked who they did back then.  I would not have known about that to this day without Russ talking to his dad and asking "how is the draft going"?  And then Russ visited me at work and told me about it.  But all that is years ago now.  And I have never mentioned Russ since. 

I hope Bak plays next year as Free points out. We need to protect Love the best we can while he gets his feet wet. Now topic back on track !   

@Ghost of Lambeau posted:

The person I had indirect ties to was former assistant coach and scout Red (John) Cochran thru his son Russ Cochran with whom I have worked with for the last 25 years (or so).  We are both engineers of different types who work for McDonnell Douglas/Boeing.  Russ showed me (and let me try on) his dad's SB ring - my fingers are not big enough .  He has always showed me pictures of his days with the players in the Lombardi years among other things.  Paul Hornung would always invite Russ to times when he would be honored for something and he would get a picture with him.  We talk a lot about the Packers, the draft, the games, etc.  When I was retired for a year and a half before they wanted me back, we communicated often - actually there was an informal group of us who do that.  I was with him at work when his dad died.  That was a sad time when it happened.   But I mentioned him earlier because the scouts were kicked out of the draft room (including Red), and I thought that might add to why they picked who they did back then.  I would not have known about that to this day without Russ talking to his dad and asking "how is the draft going"?  And then Russ visited me at work and told me about it.  But all that is years ago now.  And I have never mentioned Russ since.

Working for the Packers is cool , but the nerd in me thinks being an engineer for McDonnell Douglas/Boeing is even cooler. What kind of engineer are you?

C'mon preseason games!

@The Grinder posted:

I hope Bak plays next year as Free points out. We need to protect Love the best we can while he gets his feet wet. Now topic back on track !   

Hope? Why wouldn't Bakh play this season? He is a lock at LT barring injury. If you mean no injuries when you say "hope", then right on!

The OL should be strong this year. I'd like the starting five to be:

Bakh- LT

Elgton- LG

J-Myers- C

Runyan- RG

Z-Tom- RT

I also like Yosh at RT, but I think Tom is going to win the job in camp. I also think they want to see Zach Tom at C some more. I don't think everyone is fully sold on Myers at C. I think Myers is fine at Center, I wouldn't mess with that.

I wish Steno was back as OL coach. I don't think Luke Butkus has a clue what he is doing. The OL was better when Steno was running the show. Steno isn't a fit for OC. And the OC job in Green Bay is running to get coffee and bagels for LaFleur.

Design Engineering - I know a lot of engineering disciplines work on a design.  Boeing has this engineering category and makes them responsible for the fit, form, and function of the item being created. 

I got a 2 degree separation from Tom in PR.  He's tightlipped.  No give aways from him.

@H5 posted:

He's 1 of 3 players over 30.

Old guy yelling at clouds.

Get off my lawn.

@Goalline posted:

How do you know so much about the individuals within the walls of 1265?

In the same manner some know we had a deal with the Broncos but Murphy said no—aluminum foil hats.

@FreeFromWhatYouAre posted:

Hope? Why wouldn't Bakh play this season? He is a lock at LT barring injury. If you mean no injuries when you say "hope", then right on!

The OL should be strong this year. I'd like the starting five to be:

Bakh- LT

Elgton- LG

J-Myers- C

Runyan- RG

Z-Tom- RT

I also like Yosh at RT, but I think Tom is going to win the job in camp. I also think they want to see Zach Tom at C some more. I don't think everyone is fully sold on Myers at C. I think Myers is fine at Center, I wouldn't mess with that.

I wish Steno was back as OL coach. I don't think Luke Butkus has a clue what he is doing. The OL was better when Steno was running the show. Steno isn't a fit for OC. And the OC job in Green Bay is running to get coffee and bagels for LaFleur.

I first hope he plays this season to be the best we could be at the position. He is another year removed from his ACL and ready to roll. I like Yosh alot also and feel he will get better with playing time. Tom is a  tough SOB that will be better at C than sitting on the bench if Yosh does play.  Rasheed looked the part in pre-season last year and should be a key B.U. Like I said before the draft I didn't think OL was a priority early in this draft. Anxious to see what we have in Caleb Jones this year. That guy excites me but I could be just in love with his size. Read alot of doubt about Runyan but did not really see it myself.

      Steno did do a fine job as OL coach and I did not really see that bad a drop-off with Butkus. But I could be dead wrong.  Or rong as you will see here at times !

@The Grinder posted:

That guy excites me but I could be just in love with his size.

This is a judgement free zone sir.  

The Grinder indeed

@Ghost of Lambeau posted:

Design Engineering - I know a lot of engineering disciplines work on a design.  Boeing has this engineering category and makes them responsible for the fit, form, and function of the item being created.

Very cool.