The Packer Pundit

PACKER'S RB FISHER OFF TO RAMS
Green Bay - The Milwaukee Journal Sentinal reports free agent running back Tony Fisher accepted a one-year deal for not much more than minimum salary from the St. Louis Rams. His deal contained a modest signing bonus. Fisher will be a backup with the Rams after four seasons as the Packers No. 3 running back.

Signed as an undrafted free agent from Notre Dame in '02, Fisher was the No. 3 running back for most of the last four seasons. He played 30.3% of the downs in 2004 and 38.9% in '05, when his 430 snaps were the most for any of the team's backs."Obviously, Green Bay was my first choice but they really didn't do anything," Fisher said. "The coaches all said they wanted me back but, obviously, it's not up to them. It's not even Andrew. Andrew just does the talking when Ted says so." (edit) OUCH

"I can't speak for everybody. There could be a great deal of uncertainty on what's going on. Nobody knows what the direction is. Either you're rebuilding or you're not rebuilding. It's crazy." (edit) OUCH AGAIN

"He (Thompson) might just want his people in there. Considering a lot of us didn't come from his drafts or him bringing us in, maybe he wants to go in another direction." Fisher, who said he never received an offer from Green Bay, decided to take the Rams' offer and cancel scheduled visits with Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He will back up Steven Jackson.

"Nobody knows what Marshall Faulk might do," Fisher said. "I'll do the third-down stuff. Play a little fullback; I'll do tailback and special teams. I'm going to be versatile throughout the whole system. "I loved it in Green Bay. I love the fans and I was always out in the community. Unfortunately, things didn't work out the way I would have liked for it up in Green Bay."

Starting five of 60 games, Fisher finished with 235 carries for 880 yards (3.7-yard average) and four touchdowns, and 125 receptions for 900 yards (7.2) and five touchdowns.

MIKE FLANAGAN SIGNS WITH TEXAS
Houston - The Texans bolstered their offensive line by adding veteran center Mike Flanagan on Thursday. Flanagan and the Texans agreed to a deal worth close to $9 million over three years. His arrival likely gives the Texans their new starting center. With four-year starter Steve McKinney moving to left guard, Flanagan is expected to take over the same position he held for most of his 10-year career with the Green Bay Packers.

When Flanagan, 6-5 and 301, arrives in Houston, he will be reunited with former Packers coach Mike Sherman. Sherman was an assistant line coach with the Packers from 1997-98, and their head coach from 2000-05. Flanagan and Sherman also spent the 1994 season together when Flanagan was a player at UCLA and Sherman coached the offensive line.

Flanagan, 32, has been one of the most respected centers around the NFL when he has been healthy. He was invited to his first Pro Bowl following the 2003 season, but he was hampered by injuries the past two seasons. He missed most of the 2004 season because of tendinitis in his knee. He suffered a sports hernia last season but started all but two games. Before that, he was considered one of the most durable players for the Packers. (edit) He was??? Since when??? Since his Rookie Year when he broke his leg in the 2nd Pre-season game and missed like the next three years??? Until his 2004 season was cut short by tendinitis, Flanagan had started 87 consecutive games, including five postseason contests.

Source: Megan Manfull - Houston Chronicle