Packers Free-agent watch
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers' free-agent foray hasn't grabbed many headlines -- that little announcement last week about one of their players retiring got most of the attention, for some unknown reason -- but general manager Ted Thompson and his staff aren't sitting out the signing period. So far, the team has played host to three free agents: Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, St. Louis Rams linebacker Brandon Chillar, and the latest, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray on Monday and Tuesday.
The Packers are in the market for a veteran backup to new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the wake of Brett Favre's retirement last week. The Packers were also set to bring Cincinnati wide receiver/returner Tab Perry to Lambeau Field for a meet-'n'-greet on Tuesday.
Gray played in eight games (starting four) in place of an injured David Garrard last season for the Jaguars, completing 80 of 144 passes (55.6) for 986 yards, with 10 touchdowns, five interceptions and 10 sacks for a passer rating of 85.6. He also ran 19 times for 57 yards. The Packers saw him in person in the preseason, when he was 3-for-5 for 44 yards and an 88.8 rating in an exhibition game in Green Bay on Aug. 23. The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Gray turns 29 on May 21 and entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M in 2003. He is expected to visit the Oakland Raiders after his trip to Green Bay, according to a report on the NFL Network.
Perry, meanwhile, was a restricted free agent but the Bengals opted not to tender him, meaning he is free to sign with any team. The Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens have also expressed an interest in him, and the Bengals could also bring him back if he's willing to return for less than the $927,000 he would have received under the minimum restricted free-agent tender. The Dolphins reportedly made an offer to Perry during his visit there last week. The 6-3, 208-pound Perry, 26, played in just four games the past two seasons because of a hip injury but entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2005 out of UCLA. For his career, he has caught 10 passes for 109 yards -- including just one catch for 7 yards last season -- but did return 64 kickoffs for 1,562 yards (24.4-yard average, with a long of 94 yards) as a rookie in '05.
Chillar and Smith both visited last week but remained unsigned as of Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, an NFL source said the Packers have re-signed long-snapper Thomas Gafford, whom they had in training camp two years ago. Although the team has yet to announce the signing, Gafford snapped well in camp in 2006 and was seen at the time as a possible replacement for veteran Rob Davis, who is an unrestricted free agent and has yet to be re-signed by the club.
The 39-year-old Davis, who has been the Packers' long-snapper since 1997, would like to play another season, but if the Packers decide to go younger at the position, Davis could move into the front office in the Packers' player development department. He helped run the player programs with scout Tim Terry while playing last season. [Story Link]
GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers' free-agent foray hasn't grabbed many headlines -- that little announcement last week about one of their players retiring got most of the attention, for some unknown reason -- but general manager Ted Thompson and his staff aren't sitting out the signing period. So far, the team has played host to three free agents: Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, St. Louis Rams linebacker Brandon Chillar, and the latest, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray on Monday and Tuesday.The Packers are in the market for a veteran backup to new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the wake of Brett Favre's retirement last week. The Packers were also set to bring Cincinnati wide receiver/returner Tab Perry to Lambeau Field for a meet-'n'-greet on Tuesday.
Gray played in eight games (starting four) in place of an injured David Garrard last season for the Jaguars, completing 80 of 144 passes (55.6) for 986 yards, with 10 touchdowns, five interceptions and 10 sacks for a passer rating of 85.6. He also ran 19 times for 57 yards. The Packers saw him in person in the preseason, when he was 3-for-5 for 44 yards and an 88.8 rating in an exhibition game in Green Bay on Aug. 23. The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Gray turns 29 on May 21 and entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M in 2003. He is expected to visit the Oakland Raiders after his trip to Green Bay, according to a report on the NFL Network.
Perry, meanwhile, was a restricted free agent but the Bengals opted not to tender him, meaning he is free to sign with any team. The Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens have also expressed an interest in him, and the Bengals could also bring him back if he's willing to return for less than the $927,000 he would have received under the minimum restricted free-agent tender. The Dolphins reportedly made an offer to Perry during his visit there last week. The 6-3, 208-pound Perry, 26, played in just four games the past two seasons because of a hip injury but entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2005 out of UCLA. For his career, he has caught 10 passes for 109 yards -- including just one catch for 7 yards last season -- but did return 64 kickoffs for 1,562 yards (24.4-yard average, with a long of 94 yards) as a rookie in '05.
Chillar and Smith both visited last week but remained unsigned as of Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, an NFL source said the Packers have re-signed long-snapper Thomas Gafford, whom they had in training camp two years ago. Although the team has yet to announce the signing, Gafford snapped well in camp in 2006 and was seen at the time as a possible replacement for veteran Rob Davis, who is an unrestricted free agent and has yet to be re-signed by the club.
The 39-year-old Davis, who has been the Packers' long-snapper since 1997, would like to play another season, but if the Packers decide to go younger at the position, Davis could move into the front office in the Packers' player development department. He helped run the player programs with scout Tim Terry while playing last season. [Story Link]
Published by PackerPundit On Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 9:06 PM.
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