Free Trader Ted - NOT

As I said when free agency started the FAKE NEWS put out by the Trump...er...Thompson Administration made everyone salivate thinking about the quick fixes The Ted was going to sign to fix the Packers defense. Everyone took the feelers sent out by Trump....er....Thompson as gospel truth, except me, and once again the fools got fooled.

Going into the free agency the top positions needing attention were on defense. with cornerback, outside linebacker and inside linebacker the top positions. Running back and offensive line and the re-signing of tight end Jared Cook were the priorities on offense.

First The Ted went on a spending spree with his $43,568,612 cap room by signing 3 of his own free agents, former No. 1 pick bust Nick Perry to a 5 yr. $59 million dollar contract, current bust at left and right tackle Don Barclay to a 1 yr. $1.3 million dollar contract and the day before re-signing punter Jacob Schum to an undisclosed contract presumed to be worth $615,000.

So before free agency began outside linebacker was shored up with the re-signing of Perry and his team-leading 11 sacks, but it became unshored when Julius Peppers and his 7.5 sacks left to return to the Panthers.

The offensive line was shored up if you think Barclay is a good player, but it became unshored when center JC Tretter signed with the Browns and today when former Pro Bowl right guard T.J. Lang signed with the Lions.

FAKE NEWS - Packers Edition

            “There certainly are some indications that the Packers might be a little more aggressive in free agency this year,” Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network. “From what I am told, I would think the Packers are going to try to get some free agents this year, along with trying to re-sign Jared Cook.”

            If anyone, and I mean anyone, including the "Tedders" and "Ask Vic", who drink so much Ted Thompson Kool-Aid their tongues are a permanent purple (think about that Tedders as you wear your green and gold proudly, but underneath it all you are, yuk, purple as you pledge your allegiance to a man blindly like shorn sheep) think The Ted is going to change his stripes now you are sadly mistaken.

Super Bowl Deja Vu and Other Packers Matters

Before I get to the Packers the Super Bowl came and went with the Patriots winning. I thought the Falcons had a very good chance to win, but I saw a parallel to the Packers when the Falcons gave up a late score in the first half when the Falcons defense eased up as if The Dom was their Defensive Coordinator.

I was watching the game at The Cellar and when the Patriots kicked that field goal to make it 21-3 I made the announcement the game had turned and the Patriots were going to win.

This, That And The Other

This:

We now live in a Trump World of "Alternative Facts" and the NFL and Packers are caught in the middle of a good example.

On January 24, 2017 it was announced on Packers.com that Executive Vice President/General Manager & Director of Football Operations For Life Ted Thompson (I'm praying for the end of time) has signed 8 players to reserve/futures contract (all of which were on the practice squad at the end of the season).

However, on NFL.com (the official website of the NFL) on January 23, 2017 (it's funny or tragic how the NFL announcing something about the Packers before the Packers do) that the Packers had signed 8 players to reserve/futures contracts, but not the same eight players.

The official NFL.com transaction of Jan. 23 listed Reggie Gilbert, Antwan Goodley, Derrick Matthews, Lucas Patrick, Brian Price, Dez Stewart, Jermaine Whitehead and Jacob Flores being signed.

The official Packers.com transaction of Jan. 24 listed Reggie Gilbert, Antwan Goodley, Derrick Matthews, Lucas Patrick, Brian Price, Beau Sandland, Jermaine Whitehead and Jacob Flores being signed.

As you can see Dez Stewart is not on the list submitted by the Packers as being signed (he was released from the practice squad on December 2, 2016 when Joe Callahan was re-signed).