The NFL is about to enter a very unique offseason and as usual the Packers will likely be quiet, especially in free agency. Here is my take on the Packers Dirty Dozen Thirteen free agents.
Chad Clifton – The 33-year old Clifton is still the Packers best option at left tackle. Cliffy stayed relatively healthy last year but did not start 16 games and at times the Packers missed him dearly, especially when Daryn Colledge was his replacement. Clifton won’t command a big salary so the Packers should be able to re-sign him if they want to, and I would think they would want to.
Mark Tauscher – A year younger than Clifton Tauscher proved to be a savior last year when he joined the team mid-season and stabilized the offensive line after taking over for colossal failure Allen Barbre. Unlike Clifton, however, the Packers might have a better option at right tackle in 2nd year man T.J. Lang, who played left and right tackle but is better suited for right tackle. I hope Tauscher will come accept a similar one-year deal or something to come back and battle Lang for the job. My guess is Tausch wins. Lang can spell him during the season and replace him in 2011.
Aaron Kampman – The Packers don’t really know what they have in Kampman anymore. It is clear he was special in a 4-3 defense but by getting hurt halfway through the season, Kampman never got to really develop in the new defense. He may have been missed late in the year when the Packers struggled against the Steelers and Cardinals when the Packers couldn’t even sniff the quarterback. I would like to see the Packers keep him if only for the intangibles he brings to the locker room.
Ryan Pickett – Pickett is one of Ted Thompson’s few free agent signings and Thompson would be wise to sign him again. You can never have too much depth on the d-line and Pickett is a perfect role model for B.J. Raji. Pickett needs to be signed and it appears the Packers feel the same way as they have begun talks with Pickett’s agent.
Nick Collins – At the beginning of last year I was with the Packers in not jumping in and giving Collins big money, but after another solid year and another Pro Bowl appearance it is time for the Packers to anti-up. Because of the uncertainty of the collective bargaining agreement between the league and the players Collins will be a restricted free agent, however, the Packers cannot afford to send the wrong message here and need to get this deal done and done soon.
Johnny Jolly – The only thing stopping the Packers from paying Jolly may be his legal troubles. We’ll have to see how that plays out, but Jolly is a solid player and the Packers really need to keep him. A couple of bonehead penalties have raised some eyebrows about him and he may be as good as he is going to get, but either way he adds much need depth to the d-line.
Daryn Colledge – This is the one guy the Packers should pay NOT to come back. How he lasted four years mostly in the starting lineup is a testament to how bad Thompson has been at drafting/finding offensive lineman. Colledge is not starting material at left guard and was absolutely horrible in replacing Clifton at left tackle. Colledge’s holding penalty in overtime against the Cardinals was enough to get him fired on the spot if you ask me. He followed that up by getting burned on the game-winning play two plays later. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Jason Spitz – If Spitz is healthy and the Packers aren’t worried about his future availability they should definitely bring him back. Spitz should replace Colledge at left guard and let Scott Wells stay at center. A line of Clifton, Spitz, Wells, Josh Sitton and Tauscher would be just fine with me. Spitz is versatile and the Packers will almost assuredly bring him back if healthy.
Atari Bigby, Ahman Green, Will Blackmon, John Kuhn, Derrick Martin – All of these players will come cheap but only ones I like are Bigby and Green and maybe Kuhn. Blackmon is an injury waiting to happen and not even that good, he won’t help the secondary any, that is for sure. Martin never showed up after coming in with high hopes having played in a 3-4 defense before. Didn’t happen.
I like Green for his leadership and change of pace to Ryan Grant. Green is a short-yardage specialist and can catch the ball and run the screen pass. Bigby is a starter but an average one at best. The Packers secondary needs a major overhaul but I would at least bring Bigby to camp. Ditto Kuhn, who is a beast on special teams and can catch the ball for a fullback that brings back memories of William Henderson If only he could block like Henderson.
I’ve got my list of potential NFL free agents and I’ll go over that Wednesday. The CBA is throwing a wrench into everything and I can’t believe the NFL players are going crazy about losing two years of free agency. Six years for free agency is a return to the seventies and eighties. Most players’ careers are lucky to be six years, not having a chance at the big payday has to be pissing a lot of guys off. It’s going to be interesting.
More to come…