The Packer Pundit

Packers' trade likely not last move at RB
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com
Posted: September 2, 2007 / Story Link >>
Though the Green Bay Packers traded for running back Ryan Grant on Saturday while also cutting their roster to the regular-season limit of 53 players, they could add and release a player at that shaky position this weekend. General Manager Ted Thompson and his scouting staff were busy Saturday night watching videotape of players released by other teams, most notably looking for running backs, tight ends fullbacks and linebackers. Thompson did not make himself available for comment Saturday and won't meet with reporters to discuss his roster until 1:30 p.m. today. Thompson traded a conditional draft pick for Grant, a first-year pro who played in college at Notre Dame, spent 2005 on the Giants' practice squad and last year on their non-football injury list because of a hand injury. The conditions for the trade were undisclosed, but most such deals specify the player must remain on the new team's roster for at least several games for the trading team to receive the pick. In this case, the pick probably is a seventh-rounder. That contingency means the Packers could release Jones at no cost if they claim a running back on waivers today they like better. They no doubt looked hard at available running backs Saturday night — they have until 11 a.m. today to make any waiver claims — because of the uncertain status of their top three halfbacks: rookie Brandon Jackson, third-year pro Vernand Morency and No. 3 Noah Herron for this week's regular-season opener against Philadelphia. The Packers have expressed relative optimism all will be available this week, but NFL teams are notoriously ambiguous with injury information to keep their upcoming opponent guessing. Jackson sustained a concussion in practice last Monday and hasn't practiced since. Morency has been out since he strained his patellar tendon on the first day of training camp and had graduated to running sprints on the side during practice last week. But even if he's cleared to play this week, which by no means is a given, he will be rusty and not in football shape, which would limit his ability to contribute in the opener. Herron sustained a sprained knee last week in the preseason finale at Tennessee, and though the Packers suggested the injury wasn't serious, his status for this week also is uncertain. Because of those problems, seventh-round draft pick DeShawn Wynn made the roster even though he missed the first three preseason games because of a thigh injury and played only OK in the exhibition finale at Tennessee last week. Grant for now is the fifth halfback on the roster after the Packers cut undrafted rookie Corey White. However, there's a chance the Packers will find a halfback on waivers they like better than Grant. One potentially intriguing running back available was Antonio Pittman, a fourth-round pick out of Ohio State who was cut by running-back deep New Orleans on Saturday. Another possibility is Mike Bell of Denver. The Broncos are considering moving the second-year pro to fullback and did not release him on final cuts, but if he balks at the move, the team could end up trading or cutting him. As an undrafted rookie last year, the 6-foot and 220-pound Bell gained 677 yards, averaged 4.3 yards a carry and scored eight touchdowns. He has the added attractive quality of playing in the same zone-blocking run system in Denver that the Packers use. Korey Hall is the only fullback the Packers kept on their roster after they cut Brandon Miree, and the Packers could add a player at that position as well. Here's a look at the rest of the Packers' roster after the cut to 53 players Saturday, though there likely will be at least a change or two today.

Tight ends (2)
Players kept: Donald Lee, Bubba Franks.

Comment: It's almost a given Thompson will add a third tight end via the waiver wire today. The Packers liked Zac Alcorn's hands as a receiver and talked highly of him in the offseason but were disappointed he never rose up and seized a job. Seventh-round draft pick Clark Harris never played well and doesn't appear to be a strong candidate for the practice squad.

Quarterbacks (2)
Players kept: Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers

Comment: Favre's durability makes it an easy decision for Thompson to go with only two quarterbacks instead of three. Undrafted rookie Paul Thompson remains extremely raw but is a practice-squad candidate, because he has size (6-foot-4), a good arm and good mobility. Ingle Martin is practice-squad eligible but might not have made a big enough jump from his rookie season to warrant signing to the practice squad.

Offensive line (9)
Players kept: Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, Mark Tauscher, Tony Moll, Junius Coston, Allen Barbre, Tony Palmer.

Comment: No surprises here or changes likely. Moll, a backup tackle and guard, has a neck-shoulder stinger that has sidelined him since Aug. 7, and the date for his return is uncertain. Palmer has a hamstring injury and also is expected to return soon. With Tyson Walter landing on injured reserve because of a foot injury sustained in the exhibition finale, Spitz becomes the top backup for center Scott Wells.


Wide receivers (5)
Players kept: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Ruvell Martin, Carlyle Holiday.

Comment: Though the Packers practice today and Monday, they probably won't know until Wednesday at the earliest whether Driver's sprained foot has healed enough to allow him to play this week. Holiday made the team in part because he's a special-teams core player, and he's also the emergency quarterback after playing that position in college at Notre Dame.

Defensive line (11)
Players kept: Aaron Kampman, Ryan Pickett, Corey Williams, Cullen Jenkins, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Johnny Jolly, Justin Harrell, Michael Montgomery, Daniel Muir, Colin Cole, Jason Hunter.

Comment: Thompson went unusually heavy at this position, where teams usually keep nine or 10 players. He kept six defensive tackles, including Muir, who was the only undrafted rookie to make the roster and showed versatility late in camp by playing some defensive end. That glut leaves open at least an outside possibility for a trade. Perhaps more likely, they'll have to release a defensive lineman or defensive back if they add a tight end or perhaps linebacker. Though Muir would appear to be a candidate for release, he might have shown enough promise to keep ahead of third-year pro Colin Cole. Hunter made the roster over another interesting undrafted rookie, Larry Birdine. With Montgomery out for probably several more weeks while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his knee, Hunter is the No. 4 defensive end. He's also a special-teams regular. Birdine is a strong practice-squad candidate.

Linebackers (5)
Players kept: Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga, Desmond Bishop, Tracy White.

Comment: The Packers went light at this position, where they usually carry six players. It's difficult to envision them going all year with only five, so this is another position they could add a player, either today or early in the season. White is a special-teams core player who can play any of the three linebacker spots in a pinch. Bishop mainly is a middle linebacker. Undrafted rookie Rory Johnson never played well after returning from a strained abdomen and was cut. He might be a practice-squad candidate. Versatile Spencer Havner was a mildly surprising cut, though he had a back injury that kept him out of the preseason finale.

Defensive backs (10)
Players kept: Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Nick Collins, Atari Bigby, Jarrett Bush, Frank Walker, Will Blackmon, Aaron Rouse, Charlie Peprah, Tramon Williams.

Comment: Thompson went a little heavy here also by keeping Williams as a sixth cornerback. He's a potential release after the Packers pick up any waiver claims today. Walker, Thompson's only free-agent signing of the offseason, made the roster with a strong close in the preseason. Bigby's emergence as the starting safety opposite Collins made former starter Marquand Manuel expendable. Peprah beat out Tyrone Culver for the final safety spot.

Specialists (3)
Players kept: Jon Ryan, Mason Crosby, Rob Davis.

Comment: The Packers tried to trade kicker Dave Rayner but couldn't find any takers. Crosby, a sixth-round draft pick, beat him out, because he showed a little more natural talent with his compact swing and comparable leg strength.