Nelson a Top 4 WR in Packers history

| 04/12/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Understated personality belied fire, passion, production in Jordy’s career

GREEN BAY, Wis. – From Kansas State walk-on to shoo-in for induction into the Packer Hall of Fame, Jordy Nelson was excellence personified during his 11-year NFL career.

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Last week, Nelson called it quits after an amazing run.

He announced his decision on Twitter, writing:

“Packers Fans, my family and I would like to say THANK YOU for your support over the last 10 yrs. We have been blessed to call Green Bay our home and WI will always be a part of our lives. We have many great memories and it’s the people we will miss the most. Until next time …”

Nelson, who turns 34 on May 31, spent his first 10 seasons with the Packers. It’s where he and Aaron Rodgers became one of the NFL’s most feared quarterback-receiver duos in history.

Rodgers and Nelson combined for their 65th touchdown pass in 2016 to eclipse the franchise record held by Brett Favre and Antonio Freeman.

The touchdown tandem raised the back-shoulder throw to an art form. Even when opposing cornerbacks knew it was coming they were defenseless to stop it.

It seems like only yesterday that Rodgers, standing tall in the pocket, would pat the football once, twice … and then fire it to a wide-open Nelson on a deep crossing route for six points.

Or Rodgers, buying time in the red zone, would prance and dance and finally unleash a bullet to Nelson in the back of the end zone, or at the pylon. Again, the same result: Touchdown.

The images remain firmly ingrained in Packers’ fans minds.

Some think Rodgers’ greatness mitigated Nelson’s dominance, almost as if to say, “Nelson couldn’t do it without Rodgers.”

How did that work for Rodgers in 2018?

The fact is this: Rodgers and Nelson were terrific individual players who teamed up to be unstoppable for nearly a decade.

Nelson’s retirement signals the end of an era. It was with a wistful glance that I looked back on the Sports Illustrated cover in 2011. It was titled, “The Perfect Pack!”

It featured Green Bay’s embarrassing array of weaponry.

Jermichael Finley, James Jones, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson stood tall in the back row. In the front, a kneeling Aaron Rodgers was flanked by Randall Cobb and Greg Jennings.

To this day, the photo makes fans shake their heads at the Packers’ amazing passing game and 15-1 record. All that was missing were the Super Bowl rings it should have wrought.

Alas, enough talk of falling short.

Nelson’s soaring achievements deserve praise in this space:

** Nelson is the only player in team history to record three seasons with 13-plus touchdown catches (2011, 2014 and 2016).

** He ranks fourth in NFL history with three seasons of 13-plus touchdowns and 1,250-plus receiving yards. The receivers ahead of him are Jerry Rice (six), Randy Moss (five) and Terrell Owens (four).

** He ranks second in Packers history in TD receptions (69), third in receptions (550) and fifth in receiving yards (7,848).

The fact that Nelson was named to the Pro Bowl just once (2014) says more about the ridiculous nature of the Pro Bowl than it does Nelson’s achievements.

Nelson caught 98 passes for 1,516 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014. After a preseason knee injury erased his 2015 season, Nelson responded with a 97-catch, 1,257-yard, 13-touchdown season to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2016.

The Packers will be forever indebted to Nelson.

“We want to congratulate Jordy on an incredible career that included achievements that will result in his eventual induction into the Packer Hall of Fame,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said. “He is one of the greatest receivers in franchise history and played a vital role in the team’s success with not only his play on the field but also for what he provided as a great teammate and leader. We wish the best to Jordy, his wife, Emily, and the rest of their family.”

I recall hosting an Event USA player reception party attended by Nelson and his wife, Emily, in his first season in Green Bay.

Nelson was so low-key, polite and unassuming I couldn’t believe he was an NFL receiver. And he and Emily couldn’t have been nicer to everyone in attendance.

That persona didn’t change despite all the catches and touchdowns and wins throughout the years.
Nelson was as genuine as they get in the NFL.

In Nelson’s 2008 rookie bio in the Packers’ media guide, he said he enjoys, “working on the family farm, listening to country music and watching SportsCenter.”

To this day, along with a ton of charity work, Nelson still enjoys getting dirty on the family farm, listening to country and watching SportsCenter.

It’s how Nelson was raised. Simple, honest, hardworking and true to his faith and family, he ranks among the Packers’ greats on and off the field.

Don Hutson, James Lofton and perhaps Sterling Sharpe are the only receivers in Packers’ history I would put ahead of Nelson. Hutson and Lofton are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sharpe might be if his career hadn’t been cut short by injury.

It’s an incredible list made even more so by Nelson’s presence.

 

 

Matthews, Cobb had Packer HOF careers

| 04/12/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Packers-Bears – NFL’s oldest rivalry – will kick off 100th season on Sept. 5

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Clay Matthews and Randall Cobb were two of the most attractive opposites in Packers’ history.

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Despite their differences in style, stature and position, the future Packer Hall of Famers played integral roles in Green Bay’s success for the past decade.

While Father Time slowly eroded their prowess as the hits, injuries and seasons took a toll, there’s no debate Matthews and Cobb were key catalysts on some of the Packers’ greatest teams.

Green Bay doesn’t win Super Bowl XLV without Matthews.

It’s that simple.

And Green Bay’s offense doesn’t rack up video-game numbers during a remarkable early to mid-2010s run without Cobb.

Last week, the Packers’ Matthews-Cobb era came to a close.

That’s when the Rams overpaid Matthews by signing him to a two-year, $16.75 million contract, and the Cowboys inked Cobb to a one-year, $5 million deal with their fingers crossed.

On Monday, the NFL announced that the league’s oldest rivalry – Packers versus Bears – will kick off its 100th season on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Soldier Field.

Perhaps Cobb’s knack for making clutch plays and especially against the Bears will be missed in the Thursday night opener. Maybe Mattews’ ability to hit and harass Mitchell Trubisky will be conspicuously absent.

Maybe, but I doubt it.

The Packers were right to let Matthews and Cobb walk in free agency. They were past their prime at positions that demand youth’s agility, explosiveness and ability to stay healthy.

During a lengthy conversation with a Rams fan last week, I smiled when he said Matthews remains a dominant pass rusher. He suggested the presence of Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler, Samson Ebukan and Cory Littleton will force opponents to single-block Matthews, and then look out.
I politely noted Matthews hasn’t been “that guy” in a couple of years. The Clay Matthews that burst onto the scene in 2010 with the flowing gold locks and a lion’s closing speed doesn’t exist, unless it’s in highlights.

That aside, Matthews will endure as one of the team’s greatest players.

“We want to thank Clay for all that he has contributed to the Packers over the past 10 seasons,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said. “As the franchise’s all-time sack leader and an integral part of Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV championship, he will be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the organization.

“Clay will always be a member of the Packers family. We wish him, his wife, Casey, and the rest of their family all the best moving forward.”
As for Cobb, his shiftiness in the slot, his knack for making the tough catch while absorbing punishment over the middle, and especially his ability to stay healthy is in decline.

Cobb, who will be 29 in August, struggled with a hamstring injury and played just nine games in 2018. He had 38 catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns. Those were his lowest totals since his rookie season when he caught 25 passes for 375 yards and a touchdown in 2011.

Aaron Rodgers noted that Cobb’s absence, especially as the team’s only pure quote/unquote “slot receiver” was crippling.
“When Randall’s healthy, I think our offense has been different because we have a true slot guy who can make plays in the slot constantly,” Rodgers said.

Perhaps it was an endorsement of Cobb. More likely it was criticism of the fact that Green Bay, a pass-happy team, didn’t have one of the most essential tools in the kit – a slot receiver.

It was Cobb or nothing.

It’s why I’m pretty sure Gutekunst will select a receiver with a similar skill set to Cobb, and in a comparable spot in the draft (Cobb was the 64th pick overall).

Cobb’s departure, in addition to Jimmy Graham’s age (32), make it necessary for the Packers to draft both a slot receiver and a tight end with two of their top four picks.

Potential play-makers at edge rusher and safety would be sensible with the other top two picks.

The board likely will dictate which players are selected when, and it’s still possible Green Bay could draft an offensive lineman in the first two rounds.

The Packers can only hope whomever they draft will be as professional and productive as Cobb during their career.

Cobb is one of five receivers in Packers history to have four straight 60-plus catch seasons (2014-17). The others are Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Freeman, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.

He ranks sixth in franchise history in catches (470) and 11th in receiving yards (5,524) and touchdown catches (41).

When Matthews and Cobb eventually retire, Packers’ fans will relish the thought of recalling their greatness and celebrating their induction into the Packer Hall of Fame.

Meantime, they hope Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith and whoever is the next slot receiver make sure Matthews and Cobb aren’t missed in the season opener at Chicago – and beyond.

 

Packers’ ‘D’ gets help in free agency

| 04/12/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Edge rushers Za’Darius, Preston Smith & safety Amos give hope

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ draft-and-develop mantra has given way to a new order of business: signing top-end free agents, killing it in the draft and developing them together.

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That much was clear on Day 2 of the NFL’s legal tampering period last Tuesday. In a 24-hour span the Packers added two edge rushers, a safety and an offensive lineman in free agency.

Edge rushers Za’Darius and Preston Smith, plus safety Adrian Amos, give Green Bay’s defense a trio of seasoned veterans who have played well and are entering their prime. The same can be said of offensive lineman Billy Turner, whom the Packers signed to presumably win the starting right guard job.

Packers’ fans should be ecstatic. In fact, a majority of callers to Sports Line – my radio show Monday-Friday from 4-6 on WDUZ The Fan – are as excited as they’ve been in years.

They ought to be.

From 2011-2018 the Packers spent the third-fewest dollars in free agency, according to ESPN. In that span, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hitting his prime, GM Ted Thompson was reluctant to play in what he called “shark-infested waters.”

Perhaps winning the Super Bowl in 2010 led Thompson to believe his way was the best way – maybe the only way – to simultaneously build a champion and sustain success.

Thompson had it half right. The Packers continued to field winning teams, but none that rose to Super Bowl heights during an eight-year period best described as “close, but not quite.”

In contrast, GM Brian Gutekunst’s rather brief tenure might be best described as, “so far, so good.”

Last week, Gutekunst went where his predecessor feared to go. He dived headlong into the free agent pool and made a splash by coming up with three “sharks” to add to the Packers’ defense.

If you think these guys won’t bring an edge to the defense, literally and figuratively, think again. The Smiths have proven to be relentless and athletic, while Amos spells his nickname “SMASH” in diamond letters on a chain around his neck.

That attitude has been absent far too long on defense.

Gutekunst downplayed the notion that he went “all in” because Rodgers, 35, isn’t getting any younger.

“No, I don’t think so,” Gutekunst told reporters. “Obviously, this is Green Bay, Wisconsin; we’re in a win-now mode all the time. I thought we needed to add to our defense significantly, and I think these guys will. So, I don’t think it’s any different than it ever has been.”

Hey, it’s the GM’s story. He can tell it however he wants.

What matters is the result.

Will the Smiths and Amos be significant additions?

There is good reason to think so.

Za’Darius and Preston Smith, at 26, are entering their prime while bringing size, athleticism and experience.

The Packers have released Nick Perry, 28, and Clay Matthews, 32, almost certainly will be playing elsewhere this season.

Za’Darius, the more explosive of the pass-rushing Smiths, will be expected to take over Matthews’ role. Preston, on the other side, is a decent pass rusher who can set an edge against the run. He is expected to take over for Perry. Kyler Fackrell and whichever pass rusher the Packers draft will provide depth.

In the past four seasons, Za’Darius and Preston have only missed a total of six games (all by Za’Darius). Meantime, Matthews and Perry combined to miss 21 games. Over that period, Matthews and Perry had 47 ½ sacks to the Smiths’ 43.

Gutekunst is confident the Smiths will be a good fit in Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme.

“I think in Mike’s defense if you can have guys on either side that are interchangeable that can do a variety of things and be versatile, it really makes it tough for the opponent,” Gutekunst said. “And both of these guys can do that. I’m sure you guys have studied Za’Zardius and he certainly can line up outside and rush with speed and power from the outside. But he’s also done a lot of 3-technique work. Preston is an exceptional athlete that can do a lot of things on the edge and inside as well.

“It’s shaping up and we’ll see how it goes, how Mike wants to use these guys. But I think the versatility is really going to help us along the front, all the way.”

Za’Darius signed a four-year, $66 million deal, Preston inked a four-year, $52 million deal and Amos signed a four-year, $37 million deal.
Amos, 25, started 56 of 60 games played in Chicago, where he was a fifth-round pick in 2015.

Last season, Amos started 16 games on the Bears’ third-ranked defense. He had two interceptions, nine passes defended, one sack and 73 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked Amos as the eighth-best safety in the NFL.

The Amos addition paves the way for Green Bay to draft a potential play-making free safety to line up opposite him. In Chicago, Amos was the orchestrator while Eddie Jackson was the ball-hawk. A similar situation with Amos and a young, talented safety would be a huge upgrade in Green Bay.

After landing the defensive trio, Gutekunst wasn’t done.

The Packers also signed ex-Broncos offensive lineman Billy Turner, according to multiple reports. Turner, who has the athleticism new head coach Matt LaFleur prefers among offensive linemen, has started at both guard and tackle.

Turner described himself as, “A big dude that can run and is powerful.”

In other moves, the Packers re-signed tight end Marcedes Lewis to a one-year, $2.1 million contract. It gives LaFleur options at tight end, where the injury-slowed Jimmy Graham and the inexperienced Robert Tonyan were the notable holdovers.

Lewis, 35, was largely ignored last season. Lewis’ re-signing suggests LaFleur intends to use his tight ends. It also sets up a scenario where Gutekunst can draft a highly rated tight end to work into the offense with Graham, Lewis and Tonyan.

The Packers also tendered receiver Geronimo Allison at $2.1 million, meaning they have the right of first refusal for any offer Allison might receive from another team.

Meantime, Randall Cobb is visiting the Dallas Cowboys today, while Jordy Nelson is talking with the Seattle Seahawks.

Clearly, the Packers need to add a slot receiver. With Golden Tate off the market, and Cobb appearing to be a goner, it seems likely Green Bay will draft a slot receiver.

With all of this activity, the Packers are $17.5 million under the salary cap. If a capable veteran slot receiver or linebacker becomes available look for Gutekunst to take a serious look.

Packers must learn from coach-QB rift

| 04/08/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Rodgers responds to Bleacher Report; OL Cole Madison to join team today
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ best news lately is the NFL’s 100th season will feature the league’s oldest rivalry, Packers at Bears, in the Thursday, Sept. 5, season opener.

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It’s a terrific start to what’s going to be a special season.
The next-best news is that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur began implementing his program in earnest today. The Packers’ offseason workout schedule begins with LaFleur at the helm.
As a side note, offensive lineman Cole Madison will report to the Packers. The fifth-round pick had off-the-field issues a year ago and elected to take the season off. It appears to have been a wise decision, with Madison’s health the most important factor.
Now, it seems, he’s ready to contribute to the Packers.
All that good news couldn’t have arrived at a better time.
The winds of change already swept through Lambeau Field when former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was fired after a dismal Dec. 2 loss to lowly Arizona at home.
Now, it is LaFleur’s time to take the team in a winning direction.
Last week, two stories circulated that painted the Packers in a disappointing light. In an ESPN article, McCarthy said the Packers couldn’t have handled his firing any worse.
He focused long and hard on the “how” and “when.”
He said the messenger was cold and the timing (in-season) was a mistake.
What McCarthy didn’t discuss was the “why?”
Maybe this will clear it up.
McCarthy was fired on Dec. 2 because his team would fail to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He was fired because he couldn’t control his quarterback. He was fired because he was flailing about instead of fixing the stagnant offense.
Then, in a Bleacher Report article that was unflattering at best, Aaron Rodgers was portrayed as a prima donna and McCarthy as running a program that lacked discipline and innovation.
Rodgers on Monday called the article a smear campaign.
Rodgers responded vehemently to the allegations that he called McCarthy “a low-IQ football coach” and that Packers president Mark Murphy told him “not to be the problem” during a phone conversation in which Murphy told Rodgers of LaFleur’s hire.
He also said he never held a grudge against McCarthy because his coach, when with the 49ers, allegedly said he believed Alex Smith was the better quarterback.
Rodgers, to ESPN Milwaukee, said:
“The two main things I think I really want to talk about and just clear up, which are really central themes to the article, the first is the Mark Murphy conversation because part of the article seems to want to say the Packers are worried about me as the leader of the football team moving forward.
“And before I get into what actually happened in the conversation with Mark, I want to say two things: One, if they knew that, why would they offer me a contract last year? And two, which goes into my second central thesis point that I’m going to take down, is if I really disliked Mike (McCarthy) so much, why would I re-sign knowing that if I play and we do what we do around here – we made the playoffs eight straight years and then I got hurt and we missed the playoffs – it’s going to be me and Mike my entire career. So if I really disliked him that much, do you think I’d re-sign. Is the money that important to me? I’ll tell you it’s not. Quality of life is important.”
Rodgers added that Packers fans should be grateful for everything that McCarthy accomplished in his time here.
“We had a hell of a run,” Rodgers said. “We had 13 years, four NFC Championships, one Super Bowl, eight straight playoffs, 19 straight wins … So instead of trashing this guy on the way out, let’s remember the amazing times that we had together.
“Packers fans, remember this, especially those of you who live in Green Bay: Mike lives here. Mike has young kids here. So Mike has to be here. Think about how difficult that is for him.
My favor that I would ask of you, strongly, is if you see Mike, shake his hand. Tell him thanks for the memories … show him the respect that he deserves.”
Fair enough. Rodgers has tried to graciously move on from the Bleacher Report article, and to make an effort to repair/maintain his relationship with McCarthy.
It’s the right thing to do.
Still, all eyes will be on Rodgers to see if he’s truly buying into LaFleur’s scheme. What choice does he have but to be aboard? And why wouldn’t he be?
When all is said and done this is what matters: LaFleur has an opportunity to write his own history here. He enters the job with open eyes, and if that wasn’t entirely true before last week’s double-barreled barrage of disappointment, it ought to be now.
Perhaps some good can come of this.
Let’s hope so because the Bears aren’t messing around. They intend to capture the NFC North title in back-to-back seasons, beginning with the Thursday night opener.
It will be here sooner than you think.
Meantime, the Packers are beginning operations under a new coach, and GM Brian Gutekunst is just 17 days away from overseeing the Packers’ draft for a second time.
There’s a lot to look forward to.
It’s time to leave the past in the past.

Nelson a Top 4 WR in Packers history

| 04/01/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Understated personality belied fire, passion, production in Jordy’s career
GREEN BAY, Wis. – From Kansas State walk-on to shoo-in for induction into the Packer Hall of Fame, Jordy Nelson was excellence personified during his 11-year NFL career.

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Last week, Nelson called it quits after an amazing run.
He announced his decision on Twitter, writing:
“Packers Fans, my family and I would like to say THANK YOU for your support over the last 10 yrs. We have been blessed to call Green Bay our home and WI will always be a part of our lives. We have many great memories and it’s the people we will miss the most. Until next time …”
Nelson, who turns 34 on May 31, spent his first 10 seasons with the Packers. It’s where he and Aaron Rodgers became one of the NFL’s most feared quarterback-receiver duos in history.
Rodgers and Nelson combined for their 65th touchdown pass in 2016 to eclipse the franchise record held by Brett Favre and Antonio Freeman.
The touchdown tandem raised the back-shoulder throw to an art form. Even when opposing cornerbacks knew it was coming they were defenseless to stop it.
It seems like only yesterday that Rodgers, standing tall in the pocket, would pat the football once, twice … and then fire it to a wide-open Nelson on a deep crossing route for six points.
Or Rodgers, buying time in the red zone, would prance and dance and finally unleash a bullet to Nelson in the back of the end zone, or at the pylon. Again, the same result: Touchdown.
The images remain firmly ingrained in Packers’ fans minds.
Some think Rodgers’ greatness mitigated Nelson’s dominance, almost as if to say, “Nelson couldn’t do it without Rodgers.”
How did that work for Rodgers in 2018?
The fact is this: Rodgers and Nelson were terrific individual players who teamed up to be unstoppable for nearly a decade.
Nelson’s retirement signals the end of an era. It was with a wistful glance that I looked back on the Sports Illustrated cover in 2011. It was titled, “The Perfect Pack!”
It featured Green Bay’s embarrassing array of weaponry.
Jermichael Finley, James Jones, Donald Driver and Jordy Nelson stood tall in the back row. In the front, a kneeling Aaron Rodgers was flanked by Randall Cobb and Greg Jennings.
To this day, the photo makes fans shake their heads at the Packers’ amazing passing game and 15-1 record. All that was missing were the Super Bowl rings it should have wrought.
Alas, enough talk of falling short.
Nelson’s soaring achievements deserve praise in this space:
** Nelson is the only player in team history to record three seasons with 13-plus touchdown catches (2011, 2014 and 2016).
** He ranks fourth in NFL history with three seasons of 13-plus touchdowns and 1,250-plus receiving yards. The receivers ahead of him are Jerry Rice (six), Randy Moss (five) and Terrell Owens (four).
** He ranks second in Packers history in TD receptions (69), third in receptions (550) and fifth in receiving yards (7,848).
The fact that Nelson was named to the Pro Bowl just once (2014) says more about the ridiculous nature of the Pro Bowl than it does Nelson’s achievements.
Nelson caught 98 passes for 1,516 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2014. After a preseason knee injury erased his 2015 season, Nelson responded with a 97-catch, 1,257-yard, 13-touchdown season to win NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2016.
The Packers will be forever indebted to Nelson.
“We want to congratulate Jordy on an incredible career that included achievements that will result in his eventual induction into the Packer Hall of Fame,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said. “He is one of the greatest receivers in franchise history and played a vital role in the team’s success with not only his play on the field but also for what he provided as a great teammate and leader. We wish the best to Jordy, his wife, Emily, and the rest of their family.”
I recall hosting an Event USA player reception party attended by Nelson and his wife, Emily, in his first season in Green Bay.
Nelson was so low-key, polite and unassuming I couldn’t believe he was an NFL receiver. And he and Emily couldn’t have been nicer to everyone in attendance.
That persona didn’t change despite all the catches and touchdowns and wins throughout the years.
Nelson was as genuine as they get in the NFL.
In Nelson’s 2008 rookie bio in the Packers’ media guide, he said he enjoys, “working on the family farm, listening to country music and watching SportsCenter.”
To this day, along with a ton of charity work, Nelson still enjoys getting dirty on the family farm, listening to country and watching SportsCenter.
It’s how Nelson was raised. Simple, honest, hardworking and true to his faith and family, he ranks among the Packers’ greats on and off the field.
Don Hutson, James Lofton and perhaps Sterling Sharpe are the only receivers in Packers’ history I would put ahead of Nelson. Hutson and Lofton are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Sharpe might be if his career hadn’t been cut short by injury.
It’s an incredible list made even more so by Nelson’s presence.
 
 

Matthews, Cobb had Packer HOF careers

| 03/26/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Packers-Bears – NFL’s oldest rivalry – will kick off 100th season on Sept. 5
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Clay Matthews and Randall Cobb were two of the most attractive opposites in Packers’ history.

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and so are we!
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Despite their differences in style, stature and position, the future Packer Hall of Famers played integral roles in Green Bay’s success for the past decade.
While Father Time slowly eroded their prowess as the hits, injuries and seasons took a toll, there’s no debate Matthews and Cobb were key catalysts on some of the Packers’ greatest teams.
Green Bay doesn’t win Super Bowl XLV without Matthews.
It’s that simple.
And Green Bay’s offense doesn’t rack up video-game numbers during a remarkable early to mid-2010s run without Cobb.
Last week, the Packers’ Matthews-Cobb era came to a close.
That’s when the Rams overpaid Matthews by signing him to a two-year, $16.75 million contract, and the Cowboys inked Cobb to a one-year, $5 million deal with their fingers crossed.
On Monday, the NFL announced that the league’s oldest rivalry – Packers versus Bears – will kick off its 100th season on Thursday, Sept. 5, at Soldier Field.
Perhaps Cobb’s knack for making clutch plays and especially against the Bears will be missed in the Thursday night opener. Maybe Mattews’ ability to hit and harass Mitchell Trubisky will be conspicuously absent.
Maybe, but I doubt it.
The Packers were right to let Matthews and Cobb walk in free agency. They were past their prime at positions that demand youth’s agility, explosiveness and ability to stay healthy.
During a lengthy conversation with a Rams fan last week, I smiled when he said Matthews remains a dominant pass rusher. He suggested the presence of Aaron Donald, Dante Fowler, Samson Ebukan and Cory Littleton will force opponents to single-block Matthews, and then look out.
I politely noted Matthews hasn’t been “that guy” in a couple of years. The Clay Matthews that burst onto the scene in 2010 with the flowing gold locks and a lion’s closing speed doesn’t exist, unless it’s in highlights.
That aside, Matthews will endure as one of the team’s greatest players.
“We want to thank Clay for all that he has contributed to the Packers over the past 10 seasons,” Packers GM Brian Gutekunst said. “As the franchise’s all-time sack leader and an integral part of Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV championship, he will be remembered as one of the greatest players in the history of the organization.
“Clay will always be a member of the Packers family. We wish him, his wife, Casey, and the rest of their family all the best moving forward.”
As for Cobb, his shiftiness in the slot, his knack for making the tough catch while absorbing punishment over the middle, and especially his ability to stay healthy is in decline.
Cobb, who will be 29 in August, struggled with a hamstring injury and played just nine games in 2018. He had 38 catches for 383 yards and two touchdowns. Those were his lowest totals since his rookie season when he caught 25 passes for 375 yards and a touchdown in 2011.
Aaron Rodgers noted that Cobb’s absence, especially as the team’s only pure quote/unquote “slot receiver” was crippling.
“When Randall’s healthy, I think our offense has been different because we have a true slot guy who can make plays in the slot constantly,” Rodgers said.
Perhaps it was an endorsement of Cobb. More likely it was criticism of the fact that Green Bay, a pass-happy team, didn’t have one of the most essential tools in the kit – a slot receiver.
It was Cobb or nothing.
It’s why I’m pretty sure Gutekunst will select a receiver with a similar skill set to Cobb, and in a comparable spot in the draft (Cobb was the 64th pick overall).
Cobb’s departure, in addition to Jimmy Graham’s age (32), make it necessary for the Packers to draft both a slot receiver and a tight end with two of their top four picks.
Potential play-makers at edge rusher and safety would be sensible with the other top two picks.
The board likely will dictate which players are selected when, and it’s still possible Green Bay could draft an offensive lineman in the first two rounds.
The Packers can only hope whomever they draft will be as professional and productive as Cobb during their career.
Cobb is one of five receivers in Packers history to have four straight 60-plus catch seasons (2014-17). The others are Sterling Sharpe, Antonio Freeman, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings.
He ranks sixth in franchise history in catches (470) and 11th in receiving yards (5,524) and touchdown catches (41).
When Matthews and Cobb eventually retire, Packers’ fans will relish the thought of recalling their greatness and celebrating their induction into the Packer Hall of Fame.
Meantime, they hope Preston Smith, Za’Darius Smith and whoever is the next slot receiver make sure Matthews and Cobb aren’t missed in the season opener at Chicago – and beyond.
 

Packers’ ‘D’ gets help in free agency

| 03/18/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Edge rushers Za’Darius, Preston Smith & safety Amos give hope
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ draft-and-develop mantra has given way to a new order of business: signing top-end free agents, killing it in the draft and developing them together.

Packers are getting loaded and ready for 2019,
and so are we!
Watch for great deals on tickets and
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That much was clear on Day 2 of the NFL’s legal tampering period last Tuesday. In a 24-hour span the Packers added two edge rushers, a safety and an offensive lineman in free agency.
Edge rushers Za’Darius and Preston Smith, plus safety Adrian Amos, give Green Bay’s defense a trio of seasoned veterans who have played well and are entering their prime. The same can be said of offensive lineman Billy Turner, whom the Packers signed to presumably win the starting right guard job.
Packers’ fans should be ecstatic. In fact, a majority of callers to Sports Line – my radio show Monday-Friday from 4-6 on WDUZ The Fan – are as excited as they’ve been in years.
They ought to be.
From 2011-2018 the Packers spent the third-fewest dollars in free agency, according to ESPN. In that span, as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hitting his prime, GM Ted Thompson was reluctant to play in what he called “shark-infested waters.”
Perhaps winning the Super Bowl in 2010 led Thompson to believe his way was the best way – maybe the only way – to simultaneously build a champion and sustain success.
Thompson had it half right. The Packers continued to field winning teams, but none that rose to Super Bowl heights during an eight-year period best described as “close, but not quite.”
In contrast, GM Brian Gutekunst’s rather brief tenure might be best described as, “so far, so good.”
Last week, Gutekunst went where his predecessor feared to go. He dived headlong into the free agent pool and made a splash by coming up with three “sharks” to add to the Packers’ defense.
If you think these guys won’t bring an edge to the defense, literally and figuratively, think again. The Smiths have proven to be relentless and athletic, while Amos spells his nickname “SMASH” in diamond letters on a chain around his neck.
That attitude has been absent far too long on defense.
Gutekunst downplayed the notion that he went “all in” because Rodgers, 35, isn’t getting any younger.
“No, I don’t think so,” Gutekunst told reporters. “Obviously, this is Green Bay, Wisconsin; we’re in a win-now mode all the time. I thought we needed to add to our defense significantly, and I think these guys will. So, I don’t think it’s any different than it ever has been.”
Hey, it’s the GM’s story. He can tell it however he wants.
What matters is the result.
Will the Smiths and Amos be significant additions?
There is good reason to think so.
Za’Darius and Preston Smith, at 26, are entering their prime while bringing size, athleticism and experience.
The Packers have released Nick Perry, 28, and Clay Matthews, 32, almost certainly will be playing elsewhere this season.
Za’Darius, the more explosive of the pass-rushing Smiths, will be expected to take over Matthews’ role. Preston, on the other side, is a decent pass rusher who can set an edge against the run. He is expected to take over for Perry. Kyler Fackrell and whichever pass rusher the Packers draft will provide depth.
In the past four seasons, Za’Darius and Preston have only missed a total of six games (all by Za’Darius). Meantime, Matthews and Perry combined to miss 21 games. Over that period, Matthews and Perry had 47 ½ sacks to the Smiths’ 43.
Gutekunst is confident the Smiths will be a good fit in Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s scheme.
“I think in Mike’s defense if you can have guys on either side that are interchangeable that can do a variety of things and be versatile, it really makes it tough for the opponent,” Gutekunst said. “And both of these guys can do that. I’m sure you guys have studied Za’Zardius and he certainly can line up outside and rush with speed and power from the outside. But he’s also done a lot of 3-technique work. Preston is an exceptional athlete that can do a lot of things on the edge and inside as well.
“It’s shaping up and we’ll see how it goes, how Mike wants to use these guys. But I think the versatility is really going to help us along the front, all the way.”
Za’Darius signed a four-year, $66 million deal, Preston inked a four-year, $52 million deal and Amos signed a four-year, $37 million deal.
Amos, 25, started 56 of 60 games played in Chicago, where he was a fifth-round pick in 2015.
Last season, Amos started 16 games on the Bears’ third-ranked defense. He had two interceptions, nine passes defended, one sack and 73 tackles. Pro Football Focus ranked Amos as the eighth-best safety in the NFL.
The Amos addition paves the way for Green Bay to draft a potential play-making free safety to line up opposite him. In Chicago, Amos was the orchestrator while Eddie Jackson was the ball-hawk. A similar situation with Amos and a young, talented safety would be a huge upgrade in Green Bay.
After landing the defensive trio, Gutekunst wasn’t done.
The Packers also signed ex-Broncos offensive lineman Billy Turner, according to multiple reports. Turner, who has the athleticism new head coach Matt LaFleur prefers among offensive linemen, has started at both guard and tackle.
Turner described himself as, “A big dude that can run and is powerful.”
In other moves, the Packers re-signed tight end Marcedes Lewis to a one-year, $2.1 million contract. It gives LaFleur options at tight end, where the injury-slowed Jimmy Graham and the inexperienced Robert Tonyan were the notable holdovers.
Lewis, 35, was largely ignored last season. Lewis’ re-signing suggests LaFleur intends to use his tight ends. It also sets up a scenario where Gutekunst can draft a highly rated tight end to work into the offense with Graham, Lewis and Tonyan.
The Packers also tendered receiver Geronimo Allison at $2.1 million, meaning they have the right of first refusal for any offer Allison might receive from another team.
Meantime, Randall Cobb is visiting the Dallas Cowboys today, while Jordy Nelson is talking with the Seattle Seahawks.
Clearly, the Packers need to add a slot receiver. With Golden Tate off the market, and Cobb appearing to be a goner, it seems likely Green Bay will draft a slot receiver.
With all of this activity, the Packers are $17.5 million under the salary cap. If a capable veteran slot receiver or linebacker becomes available look for Gutekunst to take a serious look.
 

Packers’ ‘D’ needs help: Barr, Gipson

| 03/11/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Veteran outside linebacker, safety would strengthen Green Bay’s unit
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In the NFL, the only thing more difficult than defending a talented diva receiver is living with one.

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Antonio Brown is proof. In a way, so are the Packers, but not for the reasons many fans associate receivers with prima donnas.
Brown, the ex-Steelers’ receiver, claims he was unappreciated in Pittsburgh, where GM Kevin Colbert said (and I paraphrase) that it was Big Ben Roethlisberger and “52 kids” on the roster.
Brown, one of the NFL’s all-time greats, is hardly a “kid.”
Neither are the other 51 grown men whose profession is playing football. Colbert has since walked back the comment, but the attitude it reflects is one of disparate treatment and disrespect.
On the other hand, I doubt it’s a coincidence that Brown’s claim of a lack of respect synched up with his contract’s lack of guaranteed money. The fact is Brown was angry because he wanted to get paid and the Steelers weren’t writing the check.
His only recourse was to demand out.
That said Brown was an incredibly talented pain in the butt.
His skill enabled him to force a trade to the Oakland (soon to be Las Vegas) Raiders for third- and fifth-round draft picks. It’s a pittance for a player of Brown’s caliber. He has caught at least 100 passes in seven straight seasons. That streak is in jeopardy not because of any expected drop in Brown’s ability, but because Derek Carr and the Raiders’ offense has been lame.
Obviously, Brown will make it better, but how much better? It’s not enough to make the Raiders a Super Bowl contender. In fact, it begs the question: How much better would Brown have made the Packers had they traded third- and fifth-round picks for him?
That’s a tough one.
The Packers’ offense and Aaron Rodgers instantly would rank among the NFL’s most explosive units. How do defenses stop Brown, Davante Adams and whatever other weapons Packers’ first-year coach Matt LaFleur and Rodgers deploy?
Then again, the Packers’ defense is so substandard would it matter? Could the Packers’ offense score enough points to overcome the team’s other deficiencies?
It’s unlikely.
Certainly not enough points to get to the Super Bowl.
It seems the Packers would be wise to invoke the old adage, “If you can’t sign them, stop them.” How do the Packers do that? They do it by signing a couple of defensive studs in free agency.
My preference would be Anthony Barr and Tashaun Gipson.
Barr, the ex-Vikings outside linebacker, was underutilized in Minnesota. He is an every-down linebacker, but wasn’t asked to “go ‘sic ‘em” very often. His sack totals suffered for it.
In Green Bay, he might feel liberated under defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, who’s been known to bring out the best in players.
Imagine a linebacker corps featuring Barr, Kyler Fackrell, Blake Martinez and two draft picks: One an edge rusher, the other an inside linebacker with sideline-to-sideline speed. I’m talking about the Packers using the 12th pick and either the 30th or 44th to make this happen.
A high-end tight end such as Iowa’s Noah Fant, who is a legitimate 4.40 40-yard dash athlete with excellent hands, would be an excellent pick sandwiched between the defenders.
That still leaves three “top 118” picks for two offensive linemen and whichever player is atop the Packers’ board at 118.
Let’s say the player taken at 118 is a starting-caliber safety.
The immediate question would be this: Who starts opposite the rookie? My advice would be for the Packers to sign free agent safety Tashaun Gipson and get ready for the opener.
Gipson, 28, was released by the Jaguars as a cap casualty last week. The former Pro Bowl safety has 20 career interceptions to with 399 tackles and two defensive scores.
The 5-foot-11, 212-pound safety was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Wyoming by the Cleveland Browns in 2012. He developed into a top safety there, where he played for Pettine in 2015. When Pettine was fired after the season, the Browns also chose not to re-sign Gipson, who didn’t stay unemployed long. Jacksonville swooped in and gave him a five-year, $36-million deal – the contract they voided last week.
It would be terrific to see a Pettine-Gipson reunion in Green Bay. Gipson’s knowledge of Pettine’s scheme could go a long way toward competency in the secondary.
Gipson and Barr would be a great one-two defensive punch.
It would give Green Bay a much better chance at thwarting opponent’s passing attacks. That brings me back to Antonio Brown’s trade to Oakland.
In Green Bay, the Packers’ receivers have been a blessing.
Packers’ fans and Green Bay receivers have been one of the longest-running love affairs in the NFL.
Donald Driver leapt into Packers’ fans hearts with his quick, easy smile off the field and fearless approach on it.
Driver, the team’s all-time leading receiver, didn’t allow it to be about him. It was about Brett Favre and then Aaron Rodgers and always the offensive line and coaches.
From Antonio Freeman to Jordy Nelson and all the great receivers in between, the Packers have been fortunate to have some of the finest people AND pass catchers in NFL history.
James Jones, Greg Jennings, Davante Adams … Robert Brooks, Don Beebe, Randall Cobb … there have been so many talented receivers who seldom, if ever, were viewed as prima donnas.
Sterling Sharpe had his moments, to be sure, most notably threatening to hold out on the eve of the 1994 season opener against Minnesota at Lambeau Field.
The Packers ended up re-structuring Sharpe’s deal, which suggests he had a point, and they defeated the eventual division-champion Vikings, 16-10, in the opener.
Oh, by the way, it was Sharpe’s 14-yard touchdown catch from Favre in the second quarter that gave Green Bay a 10-0 lead and set the stage for a 9-7 season and playoff berth.
Great receivers … whether you love them, hate them or both, you’ve got to have them, and the Packers have been fortunate.
 

Packers’ offense plans to build around run

| 03/04/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Meantime, defense reportedly to add pass rush help with veteran free agents
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ need to develop balance on both sides of the football was painfully obvious last season.

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Green Bay was too “pass happy” on offense and the defense’s inability to sync up pass rush with pass coverage provided way too many easy opportunities for opponents.
As the days go by since his hire in January, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is slowly revealing his plan to fix what’s been ailing Green Bay.
It’s all talk thus far, but I’m encouraged by what I’m hearing.
Offensively, LaFleur intends to have his attack fueled by running the football in his outside zone blocking scheme. The idea is to create cutback lanes, seal the edges and make runs and passes appear almost identical right up to the snap.
Granted, we’ve heard some of this before. The difference is this time it’s coming from a new voice – LaFleur’s – who possesses a history (albeit brief) of successfully blending run and pass.
Defensively, the Packers reportedly plan to invest in a pass rusher or two via free agency. According to ESPN, sources say the Packers “plan to spend on a pass rusher or two and see what’s left in the budget.”
That’s music to Packers fans’ ears. When it comes to drafting and developing, edge rushers are often among the late bloomers. It’s one thing to beat a college-caliber tackle for a sack. It’s quite another to beat an NFL veteran.
The Saints traded their 27th pick in 2018 for the Packers’ 14th overall so they could select edge rusher Marcus Davenport. It appears New Orleans hit on Davenport, but even at that he only managed 4 ½ sacks as a rookie.
The ESPN report regarding the Packers’ desire to sign an edge rusher or two in free agency makes sense. It should provide immediate help and doesn’t preclude taking one in the draft.
Here are several free agent pass rushers who might fit here:
** Trey Flowers (6-2, 265) has 21 sacks and five forced fumbles in three seasons at New England. He also has 39 tackles and 5 ½ sacks in nine playoff games. I can’t imagine the Patriots letting him walk, but if they do Green Bay could be his landing spot.
** Preston Smith (6-5, 265) was the 38th pick by Washington in 2015. He has 24 ½ sacks and five forced fumbles while playing in 64 of a possible 64 games. He would start immediately here.
** Za’Darius Smith (6-4, 272) recorded 8 ½ sacks last season in Baltimore. He has 18 ½ sacks in four seasons.
** Markus Golden (6-2, 260) was the 58th overall pick in 2015. He racked up 12 ½ sacks in 2017 while playing opposite Chandler Jones (11 sacks that year) at Arizona. His production slipped mightily last season, so he’s looking to bounce back.
Edge rushers Dion Jordan, Shane Ray, Derrick Morgan and Vinny Curry also are on the market. All are talented and looking to rebound from subpar seasons.
Now let’s look at the offense.
The Packers have said they want to be more athletic along the offensive line. When I hear “more athletic” I think of linemen who are adept pass blockers, of course, but also are quick and agile enough to outflank defenders and seal the edge.
It appears that type of offensive lineman will be sought in the draft. I won’t be shocked if the Packers draft at least two offensive linemen in the first four rounds. It’s time.
The Packers’ coaching staff also believes running back Aaron Jones fits nicely into this system, and that Jamaal Williams is skilled enough to carve out a role.
Adam Stenavich, the new offensive line coach, said he’s excited by the possibilities.
“With us, it’s a matter of marrying up the run game and the pass game and having a good system in place,” Stenavich told reporters. “Everything plays off of the zone. It’s getting the offense to be cohesive and make one thing look like another and to really focus on coming off the ball and having fun. O-linemen like doing that.”
As for Jones and Williams, he added, “Very excited about our running backs. (Running backs coach) Ben (Sirmans) speaks very highly of them. I can’t wait to watch those guys work.”
Jones led the NFL at 5.47 yards per carry in 2018. He’s explosive with good vision and balance. He needs to stay healthy, which will make him available and accountable.
The Packers haven’t had a 1,000-yard rusher since Eddie Lacy in 2014. That’s mostly because the Packers have lacked the talent and the inclination to run the football.
The Packers dropped back to pass an NFL-high 71.5 percent last season. It led to horrible down-and-distance situations and resulted in Aaron Rodgers leading the league in third-down sacks. Those obvious drive killers have to stop.
A running game should go a long way to fixing that.
 

Packers’ defense has reason for optimism

| 02/25/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Pettine’s return means continuity, respectability for Green Bay’s ‘D’
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ most significant offseason move was hiring Matt LaFleur to replace Mike McCarthy as Green Bay’s head coach.

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It could be argued that LaFleur’s first big decision – retaining defensive coordinator Mike Pettine – rates a very close second.
It eliminates the arduous and unenviable task of starting anew on both sides of the ball, as well as special teams. While Aaron Rodgers and the offense work to implement LaFleur’s system, the Packers’ defense will be building upon the foundation laid by Pettine last season.
The defense’s post-season self-scout was revealing to Pettine. He said there was too much emphasis on teaching players what to do, rather than how to do it.
“We’re looking forward to having guys that are experienced in the system,” Pettine told reporters. “We have a much better sense of who we are and what our skill set is and what we want to get done. The nice thing is you don’t reset it to Year One. You have a little bit of momentum and you’ve built a pretty solid foundation with the guys you’re going to have back.”
So who’s coming back?
The defense can count on Kenny Clark, Mike Daniels, Dean Lowry and Tyler Lancaster up front. At inside linebacker, Blake Martinez leads a razor-thin group, while Kyler Fackrell showed promise as an edge rusher.
In the secondary, Jaire Alexander, Bashaud Breeland and Josh Jackson provide a strong nucleus at cornerback, while it’s Josh Jones and some guys at safety.
It seems likely that Clay Matthews and/or Nick Perry will be released within the next two weeks. It is possible Muhammad Wilkerson – who has stated he wants to return – and Tramon Williams also will be back to lend a hand on defense.
Green Bay’s defense made modest gains under Pettine, which doesn’t sound like much until you factor in all the injuries. That, combined with a new scheme, led to some forgettable showings.
Still, Pettine’s defense made strides in 2018.
The Packers’ defense ranked 12th in passing yards allowed, 13th in third-down percentage and 18th in total yards allowed. Each of those rankings reflects the defense’s improvement from 2017.
It also rose from 26th to 22nd in points allowed.
It’s not a meteoric rise, but it’s tracking in the right direction.
Pettine’s reconstituted staff includes returning defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery and defensive backs coach Jason Simmons as well as newcomers at outside linebacker (Mike Smith) and inside linebacker (Kirk Olivadotti).
“We feel really good about where we are now as a staff,” Pettine said. “We feel like we’re so much further ahead now than we were a year ago.”
Pettine sounded eager to get to work.
“We’re looking forward to getting the guys in here and get rolling,” he said.
So who might be coming in free agency and the draft?
Last week, I wrote about Baltimore edge rusher Za’Darius Smith, who posted 8 ½ sacks last season for the Ravens. Smith, a rangy 6-4, 272-pound pass rusher, is entering his prime.
Another edge rusher of interest could be Washington’s Preston Smith, who ranked eighth among edge rushers in a 3-4, according to Pro Football Focus.
Smith, 6-5, 260, hasn’t missed a game in four seasons. He also has 24 ½ sacks and has a relationship with Olivadotti, who was on the Redskins’ defensive staff, and vice-versa.
Olivadotti’s familiarity with Smith would double as an endorsement should the Packers sign him in free agency.
Now that the compensatory picks are all in the Packers know exactly where they will be picking in the draft.
Green Bay didn’t receive a compensatory pick for the first time since 2009, but they have three additional picks that were acquired via trades.
The Packers’ draft picks are as follows: Round 1 – the 12th and 30th picks; Round 2 – the 44th; Round 3 – the 75th; Round 4 – the 114th and 118th picks; Round 5 – the 150th pick; Round 6 – the 185th and 194th picks; Round 7 – the 226th pick.
Armed with an estimated $44 million-plus beneath the salary cap, and six draft picks in the first 118 selections, the Packers should be able to give the defense a significant boost.