Packers News, Transactions - 2025 off-season - McManus Signed - 3 Years/$15 million

[Kerb Hohl]

Thank god. He already arguably cost us a trip to an NFC Championship game, and we're not in a position to let a crap kicker "work himself out of it" for the 2nd season in a row. Another L for Bisaccia and I have to wonder how long dude keeps his job if the special teams suck once again this year.

1. Here we are, yet again, finding out that the coach of special teams actually barely moves the needle.

2. Given that there are only 10-15 legitimately great kickers on this planet, I'm fine if they think something else is better, but we were stuck with Carlson last year once the season got near the end and we're either going to pick up a kicker that has had to "work stuff out" before or already sucks. I'm fine trying to see if we can luck into the a legitimate top kicker if they didn't think Carlson was, though.

Maybe it's just me, but if the unit that you're being paid Top-5 assistant money in the league to coach up just sucks year after year, then ultimately the only logical conclusion is that you're not worth the money you're being paid. Especially considering Carlson was the guy Bissacia lobbied for.

I guess I just laugh when success of a kicker gets attributed to a ST coach and people think it's going to truly turn stuff around.

They've had a top-heavy or young roster in recent years, probably explaining some of the ST issues. I'm not making excuses for Rich, I don't care if they fire him...I just think it falls under the same category of MLB manager. Fans love to think firing or making a big hire will change things and these coaches barely make a difference.

[paulpressey25]

I guess I just laugh when success of a kicker gets attributed to a ST coach and people think it's going to truly turn stuff around.

Agreed. I wouldn't put Carlson's troubles on the coach. That's on him. Mason Crosby didn't have good or bad seasons due to the ST coach.

That said, the ST coach can and should be held accountable for blocking schemes, coverage patterns, use of personnel, etc.

[TroyD92]

Carlson's kicks were almost never dead center. The guy was playing with fire constantly.

[Kerb Hohl]

I guess I just laugh when success of a kicker gets attributed to a ST coach and people think it's going to truly turn stuff around.

Agreed. I wouldn't put Carlson's troubles on the coach. That's on him. Mason Crosby didn't have good or bad seasons due to the ST coach.

That said, the ST coach can and should be held accountable for blocking schemes, coverage patterns, use of personnel, etc.

I agree. Obviously, management needs to hold a coach accountable, look for somebody better, whatever...I just don't think they make the difference that some do.

[paulpressey25]

Carlson's kicks were almost never dead center. The guy was playing with fire constantly.

The guy was playing with my emotions every time he lined up for a PAT.

[MickeyDavis]

I'm guessing they keep Joseph for now and bring in a couple of kickers to tryout tomorrow.

[emunney]

Carlson's kicks were almost never dead center. The guy was playing with fire constantly.

I hesitate to say I never understood the pick because it was pretty clear that the justification was that Bisaccia knew him and thought he could fix him. But from a distance it always seemed like a shot in the dark. Long track record of inaccuracy and a strong but not special leg.

[ReasonablySober]

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Pats 4th round pick last year.

[Turk Nowitzki]

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Pats 4th round pick last year.

He was horrendous last year. Worse than Carlson.

[Treebeard]

Perhaps they also want a kicker who can consistenly put kickoffs into the end zone. Somebody made the point yesterday that teams may well be content to have the opponent start at the 30, rather than risk a return past the 30.

[MVP2110]

The other thing to remember with Joseph is his veteran status. So if he's on the roster week 1 his salary is fully guarenteed for the season. Not that it's alot but it's something

[MickeyDavis]

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[Treebeard]

Diehardpackerfan has a posting the Kristian Welch has been released.

(I thought he might make it on the 53 - maybe to the PS?)

[Turk Nowitzki]

Clifford and Pratt both released. Probably a good chance we'll see Pratt back on the practice squad assuming he goes unclaimed.

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[Kerb Hohl]

So the idea is maybe there's some upside with Willis if you can improve his passing ability and if Love is out for that magic zone of 3-4 games where your backup QB ends up "mattering" - we are going to basically pound the rock with the zone read and hope to stay above water?

[MVP2110]

I'm a bit bummed they released Pratt

But if the Packers can get Pratt to the PS then it's no harm no foul. He was never ready to help them this season but he has alot to work with to develop. I personally wouldn't have risked losing him but if they can get him to the PS then it's essentially the same outcome

[MVP2110]

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[MickeyDavis]

I love that we're not afraid to cut bait.

[MVP2110]

Bill Huber is reporting the Packers want to re-sign Sean Clifford to the Practice Squad and elevate him for week 1 and possibly week 2 to be Love's backup until Willis learns the playbook. He also says that the Packers will likely move on from Michael Pratt and let him go elsewhere. Honestly extremely dumb imo. Pratt outplayed Clifford in the preseason and is 4 years younger. It's the 3rd string QB so likely won't matter but this is just terrible process

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[Ron Swanson]

I have no idea what more they expected to see from Pratt after spending a draft pick on him then. Like, you knew he was a project, yet he literally goes out and outplays Clifford snap-for-snap across 3 preseason games anyways, and you still prefer Clifford over him? Stupid. Like, it's a 7th round pick so no great loss, but what was the thought process here? Clifford is awful with zero upside.