The Packer Pundit

Happy Birthday to my daughter Erica!



RUNNINGBACK
The Green Bay Packers have some desicions to make this off season. Of the 5 backs they carried at the end of the year, (Ahman Green, William Henderson, Vernand Morency, Noah Herron and Brandon Miree) two are Free Agents (Green and Herron) and Henderson may be hanging up his cleats after 12 years in the NFL.

Ahman Green (30 in February) is hitting that dangerous age for a runningback and he has logged an awful lot of miles. Kinda like your 1977 F150... still rugged and reliable... but you wouldn't mind having a newer model. Herron... who was originally drafted as a Fullback... has been the Packers 3rd down back and when pressed into service (against St. Louis in week 5) is able to get you 100 yards. However... Herron is not known for his speed and is not your ideal 3rd down specialist. Morency... the other back... has been a pleasant surprise. His speed and agility have been a great 'change-up' to Ahman Green's slash and crash style. Vernand had some fumblitis isssues early in the season... but seems to have learned to hold on to the ball. Green also has improved his fumbling habit.

Henderson has been one of the best blocking backs in the NFL. Even making the Pro Bowl one year. If he retires I'm going to miss his 'leaping' abilities after catching a pass in the flat. Miree is a fantastic blocker and a perfect fit for the zone blocking scheme the Pack use. It was Miree's blocks that helped spring a lot of the Packer's biggest runs.

Free Agents
The top two Free Agents at runningback are Ladell Betts (Redskins) and Chris Brown (Titans). Brown has some age and mileage on him and Betts did his best to 'fumble' the Packers out of the playoffs with two costly turnovers (against St. Louis in wk 16 and 'The Biggie' on the opening drive versus the Giants in wk 17). Our old buddy Najah Davenport is also a FA but the Pack already passed on him once. Dominic Rhodes (Colts) would be a nice addition to the Pack as a 3rd down specialist. The pickin's are slim.

Draft
Adrien Petterson (Oklahoma) is the pick of this years litter. He's a Junior but all signs are that he's coming out. He missed most of last year due to injury and seemed a bit rusty in the Fiesta Bowl (outside his 25 yard scamper in OT). Regardless... just cross him off your wish list. It's very doubtful he'll still be on the board when the Packers pick at number 16. Marshawn Lynch (California) and Michael 'Don't call me Reggie' Bush (Louisville) are both legit game breakers. Bush, however, also missed most of last year due to injury.

Keep your eyes on Penn State's Tony Hunt. I'm a PSU alum and I live a mere 40 minutes from Happy Valley (30 if I get all the lights) so I've had a good chance to see Hunt play. He's the 2nd highest ground gainer at PSU (Franco Harris, Curtis Ennis, Larry Johnson, Blair Thomas, John Capaletti are just a few of the Nittany Lions NOW trailing Tony.) Hunt is a great North/South runner and is excellent out of the backfield. He's also known as a devastating blocker so could play either back position. He's also expected to go later in the draft... possibly 3rd round. He's 6'2"... 230 lbs. and runs a 4.60.

Grade
If I were Triple T... I'd resign Ahman Green. He wants to come back and he's earned another contract having gained 1,000 yards behind what was mostly 3 rookies and Wells. Morency needs more carries. Herron... say bye bye. Miree is a yes. So basically... we need to find a good... fleet 3rd down back and another good Fullback. Again... Tony Hunt would be ideal for both. I give the Packers Back's a solid C- with Ahman coming back and an F if he doesn't return and we don't find a premier replacement.







McCarthy Proud Of First Season,
But Regrets Missing Playoffs
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 01/03/2007
Much like his players did two days earlier, Head Coach Mike McCarthy expressed both pride and disappointment with 2006 during his season wrap-up news conference on Wednesday. McCarthy said he was proud of some of the smaller achievements - instituting his program, changing the culture, improving on last season, and making improvements during the year, including a season-ending four-game winning streak. But to a coach whose aspirations are to win a Super Bowl, McCarthy was disappointed the Packers so narrowly missed the playoffs, particularly because the team is as healthy as it's been all season and was playing its best football the past month. "I have mixed feelings," McCarthy said. "I'm proud of the smaller successes that we have accomplished since we all came together here in February, and I'm proud we have those in place and are able to build off them. "But I'm disappointed we didn't get in the playoffs. I'm disappointed that I couldn't lead this team in the playoffs and see what happens. I'll never be completely satisfied until we reach the top. So I'm proud of a number of things we accomplished, but we still have a lot of work to do." During his half-hour question-and-answer session with the media, McCarthy addressed numerous topics involving his players, assistant coaches and the upcoming offseason. Here is a brief summary of some of those issues. -- More



More from McCarthy Press Conference
On Wanting Brett Favre back --



Message clear - Favre wanted
By Jason Wilde / wsj.com
If Brett Favre doesn't return for a 17th NFL season in 2007, it won't be because the Green Bay Packers weren't crystal clear about their desire to have him be their quarterback for another year. Coach Mike McCarthy, speaking at his end-of-the-year news conference, and general manager Ted Thompson, during an interview later Wednesday afternoon, both said they told Favre in no uncertain terms that the club wants him back next season. "(We) told him what we thought about him as a player - just pure player evaluation, nothing to do with what he's accomplished in the past - and where we thought he was today. And we told him we wanted him back," McCarthy said. "He knows exactly how the organization feels about him." Added Thompson: "We told him we wanted him back. We had a series of chats leading up to the end of the season (because) I wanted to make sure that he knew we wanted him back. I don't think there was any real doubt in his mind, but it's always good to say it." Actually, there might have been some doubt earlier in the year for Favre, who during his biweekly news conference on Dec. 6 again floated the possibility that the team might decide it was time to go with 2005 first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers as the starter. "You know, the thing I think we're not thinking about is what direction this team wants to go in," Favre said at the time. "I mean, that sounds crazy and I've said that in the past, but who knows? They may say, 'Brett, it's been great, but we may want to go in a different direction.' " But after Favre finished his 15th year as the Packers' starter having completed 343 of 613 passes (56.0 percent) for 3,885 yards, 18 touchdowns and 18 interceptions for a passer rating of 72.7, McCarthy saw plenty to make him want Favre to return. "I don't think that I need to try to convince him. I think Brett has all the information he needs, frankly," McCarthy said. "I think last year there was more questions in the air as far as the new coach, the new staff, the (new) system, the (new) terminology. There's a lot more things he needed to find out about. The unknown is not nearly as much as it was last year, so I think all the facts are on the table." -- More



McCarthy lays it on line,
awaits Favre's decision
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers are being careful not to set any deadlines for Brett Favre publicly, but coach Mike McCarthy suggested there are several reasons to think Favre's decision on retirement will be nothing like the protracted ordeal it was last year. At his season-ending press conference Wednesday, McCarthy said Favre doesn't want to stretch out his decision. Also, he said Favre isn't facing all the unknowns of last year because of the Packers' coaching changeover and coming off a disastrous 4-12 season. McCarthy and Favre have worked together for a season, and McCarthy, along with General Manager Ted Thompson, met with Favre this week to make their pitch for his return. So unlike last year, when Favre told the Packers at least twice he was going to retire, only to be asked by Thompson and McCarthy to take more time, his initial decision this year likely will be final. All that's left is for Favre to distance himself from the season, discuss the issue with his wife, Deanna, and decide. McCarthy's understanding was that Favre left for his home in Mississippi on Wednesday morning. "All the facts are clearly on the table," McCarthy said. "I think he just needs to go away (to think). He has a lot of things going through his head. I'm not going to speak for him, but he's had a very fulfilled career, to use his words, and it's a decision him and Deanna need to sit down and I'm sure they're talking about. I would think we'll know soon enough." McCarthy said he and Thompson have made clear to Favre they want him back at age 37 — and presumably for his $11 million base salary. Favre has no roster bonus this year. The three met early this week as part of McCarthy's exit interviews with all players. -- More