Several players playing their last game at Lambeau on Sunday

Sunday's not the last game this season at Lambeau.

First sentence makes that clear

There shouldn't be any decent compensatory picks coming out of this group.  Pretty much anything at 6th round level or better requires a contract that averages 3.5+ million per year (after the adjustment is made with the salary cap increase).  Maybe Hayward could score a 5 million average per year deal which probably would net a fifth rounder?  House did get that contract last year that was four times the amount that I was expecting.  Not sure how Jacksonville feels about that one now?  As far as I know he was horrible early (one-game benching) but has played much better of late.

But yeah, I'd be surprised if any of these guys were back with the possible exception of Tolzien.  The Packers may have decided it best to keep three QBs on the roster after the disaster a couple years back and, if so, Tolzien fits well with Rodgers and Hundley and would be cheap since he is unproven.  Letting Perry and Heyward go will probably be heartbreaking to Ted considering they were both high picks but I don't see anyway the Packers bring either back.  They have already gotten younger at cornerback, making Heyward expendable, and need to get younger at outside linebacker. 

I can't argue too much with you on your thoughts.  I do think that keeping Crosby is important.  HIs experience kicking in Lambeau conditions and in big games is something that I think is still valuable. 

Hayward is an interesting one to me.  He has shown promise in the past but has been very up and down lately.  But, I think if he can be kept at a decent price I think it might be worth thinking about keeping him.  Unlikely he stays in my opinion but bet the Packers think long and hard about what to do with him.

Yup, pretty solid list.  My thoughts on a few of them:

Hayward has been the biggest disappointment.  Not in that he's a huge bust but that his potential looked so high after his rookie year.  Injuries and a lack of athleticism really held him back.  Micah Hyde looks to be on a similar track regarding high instincts but limited athleticism.  

I feel for Barclay too.  Always had a soft spot for undrafted guys and early in his career, he showed promise as a solid #6 OL.  But seems like the ACL injury sapped the limited athleticism he had.  Maybe one more offseason of recovery will help but not sure he'll be given the chance.  

And Perry.......TT overestimated Perry's athleticism and willingness to transition to 3-4 OLB.  All GMs on 3-4 teams have to project college 4-3 DEs to NFL 3-4 OLBs and TT just missed on Perry.  It's a bummer b/c I think Perry will be a 8-10 sack guy on a 4-3 team (if he's healthy....).   He reminds me of Robert Ayers; Ayers was a pretty bad 3-4 OLB in Denver.  He went to the Giants as a 4-3 DE and has been a pretty good player.  

And bummer on Starks.  You see the talent but he has that lean frame and upright running style that leaves him open to too many big hits.  Throw in ball security and age, and it's time to move on.  

 IMO Hayward's been solid all year. No, he's not been the ball hawk he was his rookie year but he had pretty good coverage again last week against a very good WR corp. This was a month ago by Pro Football Focus who ranked GB's secondary as 7th best in the NFL:

7. Green Bay Packers

Cornerbacks: Casey Hayward (82.2), Sam Shields (81.1), Damarious Randall (79.5)

Safeties: Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (74.4), Micah Hyde (65.0)

Draft and develop. The Packers live and breathe this philosophy, with this secondary group all drafted (or signed as an undrafted free agent, as in Shields) by GM Ted Thompson. Not spectacular, but consistent, the group is led by the veteran Shields, the 11th best cornerback in terms of NFL QB rating allowed at 60.4, and fourth-year slot corner Casey Hayward, the current No. 2 CB in run stop percentage. 

2015 first-round pick Damarious Randall has been competent as a rookie, allowing an NFL QB rating of 79.5 in his coverage, and has only missed one tackle thus far. Clinton-Dix is the constant, as he has yet to come off the field this season, playing all 428 defensive snaps.

Average standard NFL QB rating allowed: 85.8

 

I do think just like Davon House however, he's likely gone because someone will drastically overpay him.

As for Perry, his issue has always been health. When healthy, he's a good run stopper. He could actually come cheap only because he may not get many bites in the NFL.

Starks has fumbled way too much. A sure ticket out of GB if there ever is one.

The Heckler posted:

I can't argue too much with you on your thoughts.  I do think that keeping Crosby is important. 

 

Keep Crosby? 

Oh right,right...Mason.

I was thinking Bill Cosby for a second there... slip em a mickey so we can be the F'er instead of the F'ee all the damn time.

Who is Nick Perry? 

Not that long tenured but I think Peppers is gone, too.

wish it was Adams

hes a bigger turd dropper than Davenport

Perry might be an interesting one to watch if Packers go back to a 4-3. 

Adams better be on a short leash in 2016.  His 2015 closing meeting with MM better consist of "get your **** together in the offseason or you won't make it out of training camp".   Most frustrating part was that Rodgers continued to feed him the ball despite an inability to catch it and run with it.  

Thompson has been bringing in 3-4 body-types on the front 7 since he became GM, and you think they would switch to the 4-3?

Ted also has an interesting call on Raji.

Looked like a world-beater early in the season but I thought his play was starting to dip, then there was the groin injury and then the concussion.  If he wouldn't have gotten hurt he likely would have been a bargain at the 4 million dollar pricetag.  But as it is now he's a guy that has had roughly a good 1/2 season over the previous two years (and even longer than that depending on how the 2013 season is judged).

There are also some pretty big intangible reasons why the Packers would bring him back.  He was a high first rounder and Ted seems to be bound and determined to keep those guys around.  The Packers currently only have 5 DLmen on the roster...two of which will be free agents (Guion in addition to Raji) and another that seems to be playing as much OLB as DL (Datone Jones).  If Raji and Guion both leave it leaves the Packers with a huge shortage on the DLine, although Christian Ringo will likely fit into the 2016 equation.

As far as the negatives Raji will turn 30 before next season begins.  One thing that could really work against him, early in his career he showed excellent ability as a pass-rushing king-sized NT...even when he is at his best now he doesn't show near the pass-rushing ability he did years ago.  If the Packers go into this off-season thinking the pass-rush needs a big upgrade, that is a concept that will work against bringing Raji back.

It's a tough call, couldn't argue either way if the Packers decide to keep him or let him go.

If I were the GM, I wouldn't bring Julius back. For that salary you can get much more of an impact player and a vocal leader on defense, like a Charles Woodson type of player. Someone needs to hold the players accountable and lead by example. 

That little spat on the bench with HaHa, Raji, and Peppers earlier this year doesn't happen when you have true leaders on the defense. It may happen in Dallas, but shouldn't happen in Green Bay. 

I think Adams will not be on the team next year.

Give Peppers one more shot.

Starks probably gone especially with his fumbling this season.

Guion gone too?

GBP1 posted:

I think Adams will not be on the team next year.

I think that is highly improbable.

Yes Adams is  going no were next year. Nelson injury made him a starter in his second year,  the Packer like to give a receiver a starting position in their 3rd year. But he will be on the hot seat next year.

Odds of Adams not finishing up his rookie deal with the Packers is extremely slim. 

Why has no one listed all Inside Backers not named Mathews?

I can see Thompson bringing Adams back just to find out if this years a fluke or if he's really the dud he looks like. Was he this bad in TC?

I don't think there's any question Adams will be back in 2016. The only question is how much he plays.

Of course Adams will be back next year.  You don't walk away from high draft picks like that.   How much he plays is the real question.  

I think Pennel is the future at NT and we should let Raji walk.    That is unless he is willing to take another 1 year prove it deal.   I think after so many prove it deals, everyone has learned that he ain't able to play at the level he thinks he is worth. 

Maybe this is the year ROTTT goes all Chip Kelly on us?

I've never agreed with or understood the entitlement given to high draft picks. It makes zero sense to me to decide anything based on where you were drafted, and it should make no difference whatsoever as to whether or not you make the team or play. We should have learned that lesson with A.J. Hawk, and we are suffering that lesson with Dudvante as we speak.

He should be in camp fighting for a roster spot like everyone else, no more, no less. 

"Only question is how much he plays" ... wow.  That kind of thinking just begs for a wasted roster spot, IMO. 

You may not understand it, but it's reality. 

Right. No choice whatsoever. Keep trotting him out there. Sunday and again in the playoffs. No choice but to suck. Because that is the way it is done with high draft picks.

Awesome.

Right, roster spots and playing time are heavily influenced by draft position. Talent, practice habits, football IQ, etc... have little to do with it.

Pistol GB posted:

I've never agreed with or understood the entitlement given to high draft picks. It makes zero sense to me to decide anything based on where you were drafted, and it should make no difference whatsoever as to whether or not you make the team or play. We should have learned that lesson with A.J. Hawk, and we are suffering that lesson with Dudvante as we speak.

He should be in camp fighting for a roster spot like everyone else, no more, no less. 

"Only question is how much he plays" ... wow.  That kind of thinking just begs for a wasted roster spot, IMO. 

Take the human element out of it and think of players as investments.

Investment X costs more than investment Y because it was sold as a superior product.  Of course you are going to  give investment X more time to mature because of the capital it cost to acquire it. 

it doesn't matter how you put it, pistol will be grinding his axe unless/until Adams has a good game.

Mason Crosby is going nowhere. Adams is going nowhere. I don't think Barclay or Hayward are going anywhere. Raji and Perry is 50/50- depends on price. 

But I Think Peppers is gone. And Thompson will be looking to put together a package to send to Cleveland for Joe Thomas... You heard it here first...

You had me until Joe Thomas. Has the New Years celebration started early?

Hungry5 posted:

Right, roster spots and playing time are heavily influenced by draft position. Talent, practice habits, football IQ, etc... have little to do with it.

How about performance.

That's a personal problem. Talk to your doctor.

Like Davon House, some team will offer Hayward more money than TT is willing to spend. Rollins has too much upside and he's not really a priority anyway.

Performance is part of it.

michiganjoe posted:

Odds of Adams not finishing up his rookie deal with the Packers is extremely slim. 

Tubby Lacy needs to be added that list as well

GB's WR's coach will have his hands full in the off season just teaching Adams how to catch the ball. Adams will be back, but so will Cobb, Montgomery, Nelson, Abbrederis, and Janis. Adams won't be a starter and will have to earn a spot on the roster.  I dreaded hearing that Adams was the guy that was supposed to catch the Hail Mary that RRodgers caught in the Detroit game. I'm not sure what happens to Jones. I know MM likes Jones and GB needed him to step up after Jordy went down,  and he did so part of the time, but will they keep him?   I thought Guion did okay when Raji left with the concussion, so, I think he'll be back. How about Kuhn? Is Ripkowski ready to takeover at FB?

Hayward is gone (see Randall and Rollins).

Peppers can return at much reduced $$.

Raji at the same price or less but someone will probably pay more.

Guion  should return at decent $$ because of his off season screw ups.

I'd like to see Starks back at $1.5 mil/year or less.  He needs to hold onto the ball but he is a good value at that salary.

Adams will be back but all bets are off with him.  Need a contingency if he chokes again.

Perry gone (see INJURED/BAD).

Barclay gone (see BAD).

Tolzien gone (see Hundley).