A Flurry of Personnel News But Not The Big One Elizabeth

Head Coach Mike McCarthy had a press conference today and he made three big, huge, humongous announcements. I started to grab my chest and stumble around the room, but...........

First, "Ted (Thompson) is back.  don't know where the heck some of these articles come from. I don't see any change in him as far as his vision ... he's working, I don't see any change in that."

Second, "This is no time for drama. Dom Capers is an outstanding football coach. That doesn't change. He had a tough challenge in front of him this year, and once again that coaching staff dealt with a lot. I think clearly if you look at the way the team was motivated, the way they were prepared, the things we were able to do, the adjustments we made, it's all part of it. So, a lot of good things came out of that."

Third, "Associate head coach/offense Tom Clements will move on to some other interests." Clements' contract is expiring. I guess he is the reason the Packers defense sucked so much.

In a span of just a few minutes McCarthy didn't make my day, ended my Held Hostage countdown and sent me into a funk that may just last the rest of McCarthy's tenure as head coach.

I knew it, I knew it. I knew that running the table and making it to the conference championship was going to bite me in the ass. To add injury to insult and injury Eliot Wolf is interviewing with the Colts to be their General Manager. "I still may be coming to join you, honey."

So now that speculation was done Packers Executive Vice President, General Manager & Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson woke up Tuesday morning and started to do some work signing his practice squad to reserve/futures contracts.

The Ted (we live in a Trump World now) immediately locked up such stalwarts as center Jacob Flores, guard Lucas Patrick, tight end Beau Sandland, wide receiver Antwan Goodley, defensive tackle Brian Price, linebacker Derrick Matthews, linebacker Reggie Gilbert and safety Jermaine Whitehead.

Gilbert and Patrick are undrafted free agents who were in training camp and spent the whole season on the practice squad.

Price was an undrafted free agent who was cut after training camp, re-signed to the practice squad before being signed to the active roster for 2 games, active for one and had no tackles. He was cut again and re-signed to the practice squad on October 18.

Whitehead was an undrafted free agent by the 49ers in 2015 and ended up with the Ravens where he was active for 2 games and on the practice squad. He was cut before training camp and signed by the Packers. He then cut after training camp and re-signed to the practice squad before being signed to the active roster for 2 games against the Falcons and the Colts He was cut after getting out of his lane and knocking down a teammate on the opening kickoff against the Colts allowing a 99-yard TD. He was forgiven and re-signed to the practice squad on November 9.

Sandland was the 7th round draft pick by the Panthers who was cut from their practice squad and signed to the Packers practice squad on November 11.

Flores was an undrafted free agent who was also in camp. He was put on injured reserve with a knee injury. He was waived with an injury settlement and re-signed to the practice squad on October 26.

Matthews was a Redskins 2015 undrafted free agent that was cut from their practice squad in 2015 and cut again before rookie camp in 2016. He was invited to the Packers rookie camp and was invited to camp where he was cut. He was re-signed to the practice squad on November 23.

Goodley was a 2015 undrafted free agent of the Cowboys. He was cut by the Cowboys and was signed to the Seahawks practice squad last year. This season he was again on the Seahawks practice squa, but was cut and signed with the Packers practice squad on December 27.

At the end of the season the Packers had only 9 players on the practice squad after activating wide receiver Max McCaffrey for the game against the team that shall not be named.

The only practice squad player not re-signed was cornerback Bene' Benwikere, who was signed on January 17. Benwikere was a 2014 No. 5 draft pick of the Panthers and spent three seasons with them appearing in 27 games starting 14, including four starts this season when he was suddenly released. He was claimed off waivers by the Dolphins and was inactive for 3 games. He was cut, re-signed to the practice squad and cut again.

Another offseason has begun and the moves that the Packers need to make weren't and won't be made in my opinion. Heaven help us all.