I'm Back and Pissed Off

It's been a while since I've posted anything and there are two reasons - well actually more than two, but I will only share just two of them - I've fallen behind in my analysis of the Green Bay Packers.

 

First, not much was happening and I had already gave my analysis of the draft and the undrafted free agents, so any further comments during the lull could wait until the "Organized Team Activities" got underway this week.

 

Second, I am a working sports reporter and we have been in the middle of softball, baseball, track and girls soccer conference, regionals and sectionals and I've been very busy.

 

But today a story out of the Falcons griped my butt forcing me to return to the fray - even though technically it has nothing to do with the Packers.

 

Some idiot named Prince Shembo was cut by the Falcons (May 29) after being charged with killing his girlfriend's little dog. Great - zero tolerance on animal cruelty - is a good thing, but this action was only the tip of the iceberg of an attitude towards women by the NFL (and other sports leagues and organizations)

 

LET THE COMPETITION BEGIN: CORNERBACKS

The Packers rookie camp is in full swing and I thought it would be a good time to examine the roster for the 2105-16 season.

 

I will start with the defense since General Manager Ted Thompson decided to use its first two picks on defensive backs after letting cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Devon House leave during free agency and special teams ace/cornerback Jarrett Bush remain unsigned.

 

Let's start with the crux of the matter the cornerback situation. Coach Joe Whitt has six-year veteran Sam Shields returning on the left side, but has to replace Williams on the right side. House was the top reserve off the bench with four-year backup Casey Hayward and two-year Demetri Goodson behind him.

 

Hayward is an interesting case. He began his career as a second round draft pick and made a big splash intercepting six passes as a rookie mainly from the slot corner spot. His sophomore season was a total loss beginning the season with a hamstring injury that never healed. Last year he was surpassed by House as the top reserve and this year he enters the final year of his rookie contract at a crossroads. He either takes over at right corner or will probably be allowed to try free agency next year.

 

Goodson was a project when he was drafted in the sixth round after playing football for only two seasons and was active for six games, including the last four, but never took a snap on the defense only playing on special teams. He had five solo tackles with two coming in the final game.

 

Tay Glover-Wright

Added to the mix is Tay Glover-Wright, a two-year guy who played on the practice squad last year and three-year veteran Micah Hyde, sort of, but Hyde's best position is in the slot, which is also Hayward's best position.

 

CHEATERS NEVER WIN UNTIL THEY DO

I'm going to step out of my Packers in-dept analysis mode for a day and address "Deflategate". Normally, I couldn't care a hoot about what's going on outside of Lambeau Field, but driving through town I caught the Sean Hannity Show on the radio and, while I never listen to that cretin because he gripes my butt.............All Things Considered wasn't on yet and he wasn't taking shots at Democrats like he does every single minute or every single day and he was talking about "Deflategate".

 

Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen

Hannity's point was Tom Brady would never be fined or suspended because the report didn't exactly say he did anything and to a lesser point Brady is good for the game, so the NFL would never sanction him because in essence he is too big to fail, which, ironically, Hannity is against if somehow it hurts the Democrats and he always seems to find a way to turn anything that happens into something to hurt the Democrats. But not today.

AND NOW FOR THE FINAL WORD AT LEAST FOR NOW

The draft isn't over until it's over and then it really isn't over until the undrafted free agents are signed and as right now (Sunday night May 3rd) we have a list of the guys signed or about to be signed.

 

Malcolm Agnew

First a break down of their positions. There were five wide receivers, four running backs, three linebackers, two guards, two defensive backs, a tight end, an offensive tackle and a nose tackle. In addition, there were seven players invited to the Rookie Camp for a tryout. Of those there was a quarterback, two offensive linemen, two defensive backs, a tight end and a defensive lineman.

 

I actually know one of the signees, running back Malcolm Agnew from Southern Illinois University. He is the son of Ray Agnew - an 11 year veteran who played defensive tackle for the Patriots, Giants and Rams - and the brother of fullback Ray Agnew III - who also played at SIU and had a tryout with the Browns and is now with the Cowboys.

John Crockett