Chillar takes Packs' offer
By Tom Silverstein / Story Link
March 19, 2008
The Green Bay Packers are on the free agent scoreboard.
They have agreed to terms with St. Louis linebacker Brandon Chillar on a two-year, $5.2 million contract, according to a source close to the negotiations. The Packers have not announced the deal.
The 6-3, 242-pound Chillar, who some scouts think headed the second tier of free agent linebackers behind Chicago's Lance Briggs and Arizona's Calvin Pace, had 85 tackles, 2 ½ sacks, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles in 15 games - 14 of them starts - with the Rams last year.
Chillar, 25, fits what the Packers seek in a strong-side linebacker. He has size and explosiveness for playing the run and decent short-area speed for covering tight ends. He is not a top-notch cover man, but he has the ability to line up over the tight end and affect his release.
His signing creates competition at the strong-side linebacker spot, but also allows the Packers to use both he and Poppinga in various roles. He will compete with Poppinga for the starting job, but the Packers have the option of using Poppinga as a pass rusher, a role they have experimented with from time to time in the past.
Chillar received a hard sell from the Rams the last couple days, but he ultimately decided his future was best served in Green Bay. The Arizona Cardinals were also heavily pursuing Chillar and were thought to be offering more money.
The Packers remain committed to Poppinga and have engaged in preliminary talks about a contract extension. If he loses his job to Chillar he would still be a vital part of the special teams and a potential pass rush specialist. Poppinga was a defensive end for most of his stay at BYU and has some pass-rush ability.
In addition to Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Poppinga and Chillar, the Packers have at linebacker Tracy White, Desmond Bishop and Abdul Hodge, the latter of whom has made some strides in his recovery from surgery on both knees.
March 19, 2008
The Green Bay Packers are on the free agent scoreboard.They have agreed to terms with St. Louis linebacker Brandon Chillar on a two-year, $5.2 million contract, according to a source close to the negotiations. The Packers have not announced the deal.
The 6-3, 242-pound Chillar, who some scouts think headed the second tier of free agent linebackers behind Chicago's Lance Briggs and Arizona's Calvin Pace, had 85 tackles, 2 ½ sacks, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles in 15 games - 14 of them starts - with the Rams last year.
Chillar, 25, fits what the Packers seek in a strong-side linebacker. He has size and explosiveness for playing the run and decent short-area speed for covering tight ends. He is not a top-notch cover man, but he has the ability to line up over the tight end and affect his release.
His signing creates competition at the strong-side linebacker spot, but also allows the Packers to use both he and Poppinga in various roles. He will compete with Poppinga for the starting job, but the Packers have the option of using Poppinga as a pass rusher, a role they have experimented with from time to time in the past.
Chillar received a hard sell from the Rams the last couple days, but he ultimately decided his future was best served in Green Bay. The Arizona Cardinals were also heavily pursuing Chillar and were thought to be offering more money.
The Packers remain committed to Poppinga and have engaged in preliminary talks about a contract extension. If he loses his job to Chillar he would still be a vital part of the special teams and a potential pass rush specialist. Poppinga was a defensive end for most of his stay at BYU and has some pass-rush ability.
In addition to Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Poppinga and Chillar, the Packers have at linebacker Tracy White, Desmond Bishop and Abdul Hodge, the latter of whom has made some strides in his recovery from surgery on both knees.
Published by PackerPundit On Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 2:56 PM.
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