Freaking Out

Jordy Nelson "tweeked" his other knee and everyone is laughing it off except me. The national press and the local press breathed a sign of relief when Nelson announced that"It's not the ACL. No one needs to freak out."

Say It Ain't So, Jordy

Well, excuse me, but I am freaking out. I remember just a year ago when Jordy tore the ACL knee and missed the entire season and single handily took down the Packers offense and the suddenly inaccurate Aaron Rodgers, except on Hail Mary passes.

 

I don't think anyone thought Jordy had knee issues last year, but if you recall nobody hit him below the waist it just gave out with no opposing player anywhere near him. And now the other 31-year old knee suffers an injury. Like I said Jordy is too valuable to this thin in reserves (Thank you very much Ted Thompson) Packers offense, so I reserve the right to freak out.

 

Also the Packers receiving corps wasn't as good as everyone thought it was. Randall Cobb and Davante Adams didn't take up the slack of Nelson not being on the outside and James Jones hit a wall halfway through the season. Jared Abbrederis was late coming on and Mike McCarthy doesn't trust Jeff Janis. Ty Montgomery got injured and then Adams got hurt as did Wired Up Cobb.

 

The first Physically Unable to Perform or PUP List of the 2016 season had three receivers on it Jordy, Montgomery (ankle) and one of the two high profile free agents Thompson signed tight end Jared Cook (foot surgery). Joining them are expected starting inside linebacker Sam Barrington who is still not ready to compete despite suffering his foot injury early last season, starting center Corey Linsley with an undisclosed injury or rehab and starting right guard T. J. Lang also with an undisclosed reason although many are speculating he has not recovered from surgeries on both his shoulders.

 

Is it just me or does three wide receivers on the PUP list not worry anyone. That leaves Cobb, Adams, Abbrederis and Janis taking most of the snaps along with practice squader Ed Williams and unsigned rookie free agents Geronimo Allison, Jamel Johnson and Herb Waters to take the slack. And as we found out last year the Packers aren't good at slack taking up.

 

Anquan Boldin

On the first day of camp with the wide receivers on the gimp it was announced Anquan Bolden has signed with the Lions. I think Thompson should have taken a flier on him like he did with Jones last year. If Nelson's injury is more serious than we think then a veteran (Oh, shit, that's a word Thompson hates) wide receiver would have been a good acquisition.

 

Roddy White

Another veteran former Falcons All-Pro Roddy White is still available as is Jones for that matter in case a stop-gap is needed. I hear Victor Cruz from the Giants might even be available. I even wager a guess that if Thompson called Greg Jennings, who retired a day ago, and asked if he wanted a fourth chance he would jump at it. Jennings might have one more year left in him. There are options if Thompson would only take them.

 

Devin Hester

Other news on the acquisition/release front former Bears kick returner/sometimes wide receiver Devin Hester was released by the Falcons. I guess his career is over. However, if Davis, who was drafted as a kick returner as was Montgomery continues to have injury problems this year maybe you put in a $100 claim and kick his tires even though he is coming off toe surgery. He did pass his physical for camp. I think if he returns one punt for a touchdown against the Bears that would be worth the price.

 

Here's To Homecomings Greg Jennings

If signing Greg Jennings or Devin Hester doesn't prove I'm in a "Freaky" mood then how about this. An extremely talented wide receiver Josh Gordon has been reinstated by the NFL and the Browns seem not too thrilled to have him back. How about the Packers trading for him and signing him to an incentive driven contract. Instead of shying away from problem players (his issue is alcohol) maybe it is time with the state of the wide receivers to take on a project and prove the coaching staff can handle issues.

 

Welcome Back The Packers Might Be Your Ticket Out

I won't say take on Greg Hardy, like I suggested last year, because he is a disgusting human being and doesn't just play one on Sunday. But I think the upside of acquiring Gordon is worth the risk.

 

Just to prove I'm consistent on this issue last year I suggested the Packers draft La'el Collins in the seventh round, who was a top five talent that fell out of the draft on a bogus character issue, which in fact I thought was bogus at the time. However, the Cowboys jumped on him after the draft and he started the last 11 games at left guard as a rookie on the best offensive line in the league.

 

As bad as Jerry Jones is about personnel issues he takes chances that pay off at times. I would have signed him in a New York minute. I could have sold him on coming to Green Bay to play with Aaron Rodgers and follow in the footsteps of Fuzzy Thurston, Jerry Kramer, Gale Gilingham and be able to move Josh Sitton back to right guard.