2019 Packers Off Season Thread - Cut Day Saturday

[Balls2TheWalls]

I make the trade if we can trade the Saints pick. No interest in #12 for him.

[WeekapaugGroove]

Silverstein on the Murphy/Gutekunst/LaFluer dyanamic:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/01/13/silverstein-gutekunst-puts-packers-priority-proper-perspective/2551925002/

Silverstein's not a fan of the current structure....

Unfortunately for the football side of things, Murphy has decided to maintain a presence and stay in control of the day-to-day operation. He confirmed Wednesday that new coach Matt LaFleur would report to him instead of general manager Brian Gutekunst, guaranteeing that the old Bob Harlan-Ron Wolf structure would remain closeted.

If ever there was a time for Murphy to back away and hand the football operation over to Gutekunst it was right then, after the hiring of LaFleur.

I don't really agree with Silvrestein that this was the right time to chance the structure. If Gute was going to be in charge of LaFluer then he should have made the hire in the first place. Murphy making the hire THEN putting Gute in charge of him doesn't really make sense to me. For one that would have to be something that is discussed in the interview process because it's not good practice to hire a guy then immediately change who they report to and essentially add a layer of management. I don't think a coach has an issue with this structure; it's really the GM that is impacted. Ultimately once the hire is made neither the GM or President should be meddling in the day to day; you let the guy coach and run his staff and you let the GM manage the roster.

[Treebeard]

Silverstein on the Murphy/Gutekunst/LaFluer dyanamic:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/01/13/silverstein-gutekunst-puts-packers-priority-proper-perspective/2551925002/

Silverstein's not a fan of the current structure....

Unfortunately for the football side of things, Murphy has decided to maintain a presence and stay in control of the day-to-day operation. He confirmed Wednesday that new coach Matt LaFleur would report to him instead of general manager Brian Gutekunst, guaranteeing that the old Bob Harlan-Ron Wolf structure would remain closeted.

If ever there was a time for Murphy to back away and hand the football operation over to Gutekunst it was right then, after the hiring of LaFleur.

I don't really agree with Silvrestein that this was the right time to chance the structure. If Gute was going to be in charge of LaFluer then he should have made the hire in the first place. Murphy making the hire THEN putting Gute in charge of him doesn't really make sense to me. For one that would have to be something that is discussed in the interview process because it's not good practice to hire a guy then immediately change who they report to and essentially add a layer of management. I don't think a coach has an issue with this structure; it's really the GM that is impacted. Ultimately once the hire is made neither the GM or President should be meddling in the day to day; you let the guy coach and run his staff and you let the GM manage the roster.

I have to admit, I'd prefer they had the GM as the top guy on the football side, but obviously, I don't know the inner workings of these particular individuals. For me, from 200+ miles away, Murphy doesn't do much to create a sense of direction or confidence. For a guy who's operated around top-level football for all of his adult life, he just comes across as the president of the DePere Rotary Club who owns an Ace Hardware store. Maybe away from the microphones, he's the sharpest guy in any room; but it doesn't show in public...

[WeekapaugGroove]

Silverstein on the Murphy/Gutekunst/LaFluer dyanamic:
https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nfl/packers/2019/01/13/silverstein-gutekunst-puts-packers-priority-proper-perspective/2551925002/

Silverstein's not a fan of the current structure....

I don't really agree with Silvrestein that this was the right time to chance the structure. If Gute was going to be in charge of LaFluer then he should have made the hire in the first place. Murphy making the hire THEN putting Gute in charge of him doesn't really make sense to me. For one that would have to be something that is discussed in the interview process because it's not good practice to hire a guy then immediately change who they report to and essentially add a layer of management. I don't think a coach has an issue with this structure; it's really the GM that is impacted. Ultimately once the hire is made neither the GM or President should be meddling in the day to day; you let the guy coach and run his staff and you let the GM manage the roster.

I have to admit, I'd prefer they had the GM as the top guy on the football side, but obviously, I don't know the inner workings of these particular individuals. For me, from 200+ miles away, Murphy doesn't do much to create a sense of direction or confidence. For a guy who's operated around top-level football for all of his adult life, he just comes across as the president of the DePere Rotary Club who owns an Ace Hardware store. Maybe away from the microphones, he's the sharpest guy in any room; but it doesn't show in public...

Yeah I prefer that more traditional structure too. As far as Murphy goes I have no idea if he made the right choices on his two hires but I'll give it time to judge and it he did make the wrong decisions then he should be held accountable.

My point was on timing. It just doesn't make sense to me to put Gute in charge of a guy he didn't hire nor would it make sense to all the sudden tell the coach you just hired that now he reports to the GM when he interviewed thinking he would report to the President. I do executive search recruiting so have some perspective on how some of this could be perceived by a new hire.

As far as meddling in day to day quite frankly Murphy shouldn't do that no matter what the structure was BUT even if the coach reported to the GM the GM would still report to him so he's still over that coach and could choose to meddle as much as he wanted to.

[Dandridgefav]

Murphy said from the beginning he got involved because communication between departments and levels of staff had completely fallen apart. Communication is imperative among the players on the field, the HC know this, the GM knows this, all the football guys know this. Even most all the players get it sooner than later. On the business side - communications is imperative between the various depts such as sales and production. The need for effective and timely Communications is so basic to success in any undertaking involving 2 or more people. If keeping the various lines of communication open and flowing is one of Murphy’s hot buttons to not only maintain communications but optimize them through-out every aspect of the Packer franchise – he is not wasting his time. If he has made it his job to insure a high level of communication is an absolute requirement for all levels of operations across the entire franchise – I say – more power to him. And it seems to me this is Murphy’s primary motivation. Had TT, McCarthy, Ball, scouting, kept communications pure and above other agendas, Murphy might never have involved himself in the way he has or to the degree he has.

I do not think Murphy crossed the previous lines between Business and Football – out of his personal desire to make football decisions, to become a Jerry Jones, but rather to observe from within rather than from the distant outside. His decision to make all dept’s report to him can reduce the stress and restraint among the football guys to tell it like it is if one of the guys they are dis-agreeing with has the power to can you. IN its most innocent exercise, it is the like the parents strategy of having Grandmother in the same room knitting – as the kids – who know she is not there to join their play but they also know she is always watching so don’t even try and steal those cookies (some area of control).

I can only guess how Murphy views his involvement. But he can be seen him as the Dictator seeking to extend the Life of his Love. He has little experience in the science and cares less but is proud of the team of scientists that he hand chose himself. Not interested in the details, he knows he does not know what they do, but he keeps a keen eye on every action of his team to insure the mission he holds with passion to extend the Love of His Life that has recently fell quite ill.

[humanrefutation]

ESPN has a list of the Top 50 NFL Free Agents available in 2019. Some notable names for the Packers to consider.

3. Dee Ford DE/LB
4. Jadeveon Clowney DE/LB
7. Trent Brown OT
8. Landon Collins S
11. Earl Thomas S
13. Tyrann Mathieu S
14. Anthony Barr OLB
19/ Donovan Smith OT
21. Ja'Wuan James OT
22. CJ Mosley LB
24. Za'Darius Smith DE/LB
39. Deone Bucannon S/LB

Ha-Ha is their 49th ranked FA.

[jakecronus8]

ESPN has a list of the Top 50 NFL Free Agents available in 2019. Some notable names for the Packers to consider.

3. Dee Ford DE/LB
4. Jadeveon Clowney DE/LB
7. Trent Brown OT
8. Landon Collins S
11. Earl Thomas S
13. Tyrann Mathieu S
14. Anthony Barr OLB
19/ Donovan Smith OT
21. Ja'Wuan James OT
22. CJ Mosley LB
24. Za'Darius Smith DE/LB
39. Deone Bucannon S/LB

Ha-Ha is their 49th ranked FA.

Bleh. I'd be interested in Mosley and one of the OT's just because I think we can get by and not have to use draft capital to fill those spots. That's all assuming you don't have to break the bank for them. Clowney is destined to be Haynesworth'd in free agency. A safety would be nice but Collins is going to be overpaid and I don't think Thomas is young enough to come back from that injury.

[Matches Malone]

ESPN has a list of the Top 50 NFL Free Agents available in 2019. Some notable names for the Packers to consider.

3. Dee Ford DE/LB
4. Jadeveon Clowney DE/LB
7. Trent Brown OT
8. Landon Collins S
11. Earl Thomas S
13. Tyrann Mathieu S
14. Anthony Barr OLB
19/ Donovan Smith OT
21. Ja'Wuan James OT
22. CJ Mosley LB
24. Za'Darius Smith DE/LB
39. Deone Bucannon S/LB

Ha-Ha is their 49th ranked FA.

Za'Darius Smith is the only one that really stands out as a possible option for us from that list. I think most of those guys are going to get way overpaid and for some of them age will be creeping up on them.

Few guys I think could fit with our team in terms of scheme and salary next season imo would be:

Preston Smith OLB
Adrian Phillips S
Dante Fowler Jr. OLB
Daryl Williams OT
C.J. Uzomah TE

[Balls2TheWalls]

We *NEED* Landon Collins.

[ReasonablySober]

We *NEED* Landon Collins.

Get both him and Earl, sure.

[humanrefutation]

I'd love Collins and we should add at least one of those pass rushers. While we can add pass rushers through the draft, you can never have too many and we are thin at that position, IMO.

[Rockmaninoff]

I'm I the only one interested in Anthony Barr?

Seems like he'd fit well in our 3-4. 23.5 sacks in 2 season at 3-4 OLB at UCLA. 4x Pro Bowl in the wrong scheme with the Queens.

Might be had at a relative bargain.

[Kerb Hohl]

I could see us getting in on a buy-low guy at safety but I don't think we'll spend big on a safety. Jettisoning HaHa even given the other tangible reasons like his contractual/overrated skills suggested to me that we heavily devalue the safety position (and a lot of the league does).

[crkone]

I could see us getting in on a buy-low guy at safety but I don't think we'll spend big on a safety. Jettisoning HaHa even given the other tangible reasons like his contractual/overrated skills suggested to me that we heavily devalue the safety position (and a lot of the league does).

I think getting rid of Haha and Whitehead had more to do with their issues than not valuing the safety position. Packers haven't had a great safety in years and it shows with miscommunication.

[Flames24Rulz]

I could see us getting in on a buy-low guy at safety but I don't think we'll spend big on a safety. Jettisoning HaHa even given the other tangible reasons like his contractual/overrated skills suggested to me that we heavily devalue the safety position (and a lot of the league does).

I think getting rid of Haha and Whitehead had more to do with their issues than not valuing the safety position. Packers haven't had a great safety in years and it shows with miscommunication.

Also, keep in mind we did put a claim in for Swearinger. I think Gute realizes that we need a definite upgrade at safety this year.

[MickeyDavis]

Read on Twitter

[Treebeard]

I could see us getting in on a buy-low guy at safety but I don't think we'll spend big on a safety. Jettisoning HaHa even given the other tangible reasons like his contractual/overrated skills suggested to me that we heavily devalue the safety position (and a lot of the league does).

I think getting rid of Haha and Whitehead had more to do with their issues than not valuing the safety position. Packers haven't had a great safety in years and it shows with miscommunication.

I agree. I think rather than not valuing Safeties or Corners, is that they did a wimpy job of talent screening. TT's picks and other transactions for the defensive backfield in the last few years, there were more whiffs than hits. Too often less skilled players were retained and better ones left. If you give ESPN's FA ranking any credence at all, HaHa ranks poorly, and he was supposedly a leader back there. Gute needs to be really shrewd to upgrade the talent across the board.

[Mags FTW]

Read on Twitter

The Glazer family must REALLY think they have a shot at leveraging their Manchester United ownership into bcoming England's team for them to give up a division home game.

[MickeyDavis]

Chargers and Raiders I understand. A little surprised about the Rams

[tski1972]

no one outside the league office understands why any of these games are played.