Spooky Special Teams

Time To Replace Tim Masthay

For the first time during the Ted Thompson/Mike McCarthy Era special teams wasn't the weak link on a team that had many weak links. However, punter Tim Masthay's year and a half odyssey of going from the best punter the Packers have had since Craig Hentrich to so Jekyll and Hyde it might be a good idea to find a replacement.

After Hentrich was allowed to leave in free agency in 1997, something former Packer General Manager Ron Wolf said was his biggest mistake, the Packers went through Sean Landeta (1 year-he left in free agency too). Louie Aguiar (2 years), Josh Bidwell (4 years- he left in free agency), Bryan Barker (1 year), B.J. Sander and Ryan Flinn (1 season), Jon Ryan (he was cut by Thompson before his third season), Derrick Frost and Jeremy Kapinos (1 season), Jeremy Kapinos (1 more year) and then Masthay took the job in 2010.

Masthay was fabulous for four and a half seasons until the second half of 2014. He still was having issues last year finishing as the 13th ranked punter. It's time to look for a new punter.

There are 4 punters available in free agency and one is a oldie, but a goodie and another is just a goodie. The top punter available is the No. 2 punter in the league Shane Lechler from the Texans. Also available are No. 9 Bryan Anger from Jacksonville, No. 24 Brad Norman from Carolina and former Packer Jon Ryan, who was ranked 27th.

Shane Lechler Has Some Leg Left

I would go after Lechler, but at age 39 he wants to go to a team that has a chance to win the Super Bowl soon and that leaves the Packers out since Thompson has decided going after a ghost (Super Bowl) is not something that fits his philosophy of being just good enough instead of the best.

The Top Priority Is To Re-sign Mason Crosby

Placekicker Mason Crosby is a free agent and I've heard nothing on his prospects either staying or going. The Packers have until March 9 to sign him or risk losing him. Smart money has Thompson re-signing him.

Ty Montgomery looks like he could be a good kickoff returner and maybe a punt returner. Micah Hyde has done a decent job as the regular punt returner, so I don't see any reason to go after a free agent here either.

Brett Goode With Wife and New Baby

Long snapper Brett Goode is also an unrestricted free agent. Goode had played in 126 straight games from 2008 to last season until he tore his knee between games 14 and 15. Rookie Rick Lovato finished the season and seemed to do fine.

If Rick Lovato Makes The Team It'll Be Like Stealing Milk From a Baby

Thompson can go either way. I guess whoever is cheapest, so it will probably be Lovato and Goode, who has been good from the very beginning, and his beautiful young family will be shown the door.