Offseason Moves During Postseason Play

Before we get started the news on Jordy Nelson is not good. He has at least 2 fractured ribs and while the BS coming out of 1265 Lombardi Avenue says he might still play Sunday against the Cowboys anyone with fractured ribs would not be playing. In fact he might miss the rest of the playoffs.

Even though the referees at the time didn't consider the hit penalty worthy I would hope the NFL fines Leon Hall a hefty sum for 2 infractions - leading with the crown of his helmet and hitting a defenseless receiver.

In a surprise move, at least to me, the Packers released defensive lineman Mike Pennel Monday. Pennel played very well last season becoming a valuable member of the rotation, but this year he was suspended the first 4 games by the NFL for performance enhancing drugs and the final 4 games for the same reason and in the middle 8 games was a non-factor.

So far the Packers haven't signed any players to reserve/futures contract. However, the rest of the North Division has been busy.

After being embarrassed by the Packers in the season finale and then again by the Seahawks on Wild Card Weekend the Detroit Lions (9-8) have a made the first moves of the offseason with the signing of 9 players to reserve/futures contracts.

This wouldn't be remarkable or even news worthy to a Packer Backer, except for the fact three of them were ex-Packers, who were waived with an injury settlement this past season.

Favorite son and Head Coach Mike McCarthy's favorite wide receiver Jared Abbrederis was one of the signee's along with tight end Kennard Backman, both draft picks from 2015 and one of General Manager Ted Thompson's famous undrafted free agents also in 2015 guard Matt Rotheram.

I wonder if any the other 6 were former Seahawks. It seems the Lions management goes by the philosophy of "if you can't beat them then be them by signing their ex-players".

However, upon further analysis only running back Mike James was from another team having been let go by the Tampa Bucs, which almost made the playoffs. While the rest tight end Khari Lee, outside linebacker Steve Longa, offensive lineman Brandon Thomas, wide receiver Andrew Turzilli and defensive back Charles Washington were on the Lions practice squad last year.

While the Lions think they need players from other teams the lowly Chicago Bears (3-13) evidently think their talent was fine, despite winning just 3 games, so when they signed 10 to reserve/futures contracts they picked 8 from their practice squad (receiver Dres Anderson, cornerback De’vante Bausby, running back David Cobb, center Cornelius Edison, cornerback Jacoby Glenn, tackle William Poehls, cornerback Rashaad Reynolds and guard Cyril Richardson). The other 2 signees are former Giants 2012 No. 2 pick wide receiver Rueben Randle and defensive lineman Kapron Lewis-Moore, who as on the Ravens practice squad last season.

The Vikings, who started off 5-0 and ended up 8-8 with no No. 1 draft pick (traded to the Eagles for quarterback Sam Bradford), signed 11 to reserve/futures contracts.

From the practice squad they re-signed wide receiver Moritz Boehringer (2016 Vikings No. 6), tackle Austin Shepherd (2015 Vikings No. 7),  tight end Kyle Carter (2016 Vikings undrafted free agent), cornerback Tre Roberson (2016 Vikings undrafted free agent), wide receiver Cayleb Jones (2016 Eagles undrafted free agent), tackle Marquis Lucas (2016 Bills undrafted free agent), defensive tackle Sterling Bailey (2016 Colts undrafted free agent), safety Cedric Thompson (2015 Dolphins No. 5) and former Titans' 2014 No. 2 pick cut by the Titans in 2015 as well as the Patriots and Chiefs last year running back Bishop Sankey.

They also signed former Bengals 2013 No. 7 tackle Reid Fragel, who was released by the Bengals, Browns, Falcons, Bucs, and last year by the Chiefs; kicker Marshall Koehn released by the Dolphins at the beginning of the season; and punter Taylor Symmank, who was invited to the Vikings rookie camp last year, but was not signed.

In other Vikings news quarterback coach Scott Turner followed his father the former offensive coordinator Norm Turner, who quit earlier in the season, out the door when Minnesota fired him Monday.

In other personnel news 6 other ex-Packer signed reserve/futures contracts. Cornerback Robertson Daniel re-signed with Baltimore. He began the season on the Ravens practice squad last year, He was activated to the 53-man roster on Oct. 22, but was cut on Nov. 6th and re-signed to the practice squad; defensive tackle Eric Crume, who spent the entire season on the Panthers practice squad re-signed with Carolina; center Josh Allen, who was cut by the Bucs and re-signed to their practice squad on Dec. 27 re-signed with Tampa Bay; guard John Fullington also spent the entire season on the Saints practice re-signed with New Orleans and outside linebacker Andy Mulumba was cut by the Chiefs on Sept. 3 and didn't catch on with another club signed with Oakland.

Finally tight end Jake Stoneburner, who was with the Packers in 2013 has re-signed with New Orleans. He spent 2 seasons with the Dolphins, but was cut before training camp this year. He was picked up by the Rams on Aug. 4, but was cut on Aug. 30. He was then signed by the Saints to their practice squad on Sept. 14.

And finally in other coaching news, Packer Hall of Fame inside linebacker Johnny Holland (1987-93) was fired after his first season as inside linebackers coach for the Browns when Gregg "Bountygate" Williams was recently hired as the new defensive coordinator.

Prior to the current season Holland was a coaching nomad serving as linebackers coach for the BC Lions in the CFL (2014-15), Raiders linebackers coach (2012), Texans linebackers coach (2006-10), Lions linebackers coach (2005), Lions defensive assistant (2003-04), Seahawks linebackers coach (2001-02), Seahawks assistant special teams coach and assistant strength and conditioning coach (2000), Packers linebacker coach (1999), Packers special teams coach (1998) and Packers defensive quality control coach (1995-97).