Jersey Al's Packers Blog

According to Pete Dougherty of Packernews.com, the Green Bay Packers today have signed the following players to the practice squad:

Green Bay Packers Practice Squad:

• Graham Harrell
• Robert Francois
• Breno Giacomini
• Anthony Levine
• Chris Campbell
• Maurice Simpkins
• Chastin West
• James Johnson, RB, from Cincinnati

The Packer sooooooo need  a defensive lineman as emergency insurance, yet Kareem Copeland of PackersNews.com told me on twitter that he asked Thompson about this and he seemed unconcerned? Huh? Wynn, Toribio and Talley all gone and you’re not concerned about what happens if one of the 6 DL on the roster gets injured and can’t play?

Also, how ironic is it that after two years on the #Packers roster, Giacomini easily makes it onto the practice squad?

Simpkins really made an impression in the Chiefs game. While he was far from perfect, his effort was outstanding, unlike Obiozor, who I thought looked like he didn’t care. Well, Simpkins gets to stick around.  Read more... (354 words + 5 images, estimated 1:25 mins reading time)

The Green Bay Packers have reduced their roster to the League-required 53 man limit. As there are every year, there were a few surprises. No longer on the Packers 53-man roster today are:

• OL Allen Barbre
• DT Anthony Toribio
• DE Ron Talley
• RB Kregg Lumpkin
• OLB Cyril Obiozor
• S / RET Will Blackmon
• WR / RET Jason Chery
• WR Charles Dillon
• TE Spencer Havner
• OL Evan Dietrich-Smith
• LB Alex Joseph
• LB Robert Francois
  
• DE Jarius Wynn
• OT Chris Campbell
• OT Breno Giacomini
  
• LB Maurice Simpkins
• WR Chastin West
• WR Patrick Williams
• S Anthony Levine
• CB D.J. Clark
• P Chris Bryan
• QB Graham Harrell
  

Let’s take a quick look at some of these moves.  Read more... (932 words + 5 images, estimated 3:44 mins reading time)

Final Green Bay Packers roster predictions for 2010.  Now that the Green Bay Packers have completed the preseason, here is my best guess at predicting the 53-man roster they will enter the regular season with. Anything you see in RED are additions and/or changes from my preliminary predictions before the Chiefs game.

Quarterbacks – 2

Aaron Rodgers           yes

Matt Flynn                   yes

Graham Harrell          cut – PS (will probably be claimed)

The only question here is, will Harrell last on the practice squad? Having had Brian Brohm picked up off their practice squad last season, Harrell is another QB with a good college football resume. It’s very possible  another team would take a chance on him. Would the Packers be tempted to do what most NFL teams do and keep 3 QBs on their roster? I’ll vote no.

Running Backs – 5

Ryan Grant                  yes

Brandon Jackson       yes  Read more... (1929 words + 6 images, estimated 7:43 mins reading time)

Preliminary Green Bay Packers roster predictions for 2010.  My final predictions will come after the Packers – Chiefs preseason game has been played.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers           yes

Matt Flynn                   yes

Graham Harrell          cut – PS

The only question here is, will Harrell last on the practice squad? Having had Brian Brohm picked up off their practice squad last season, Harrell is another QB with a good college football resume. It’s very possible  another team would take a chance on him. Would the Packers be tempted to do what most NFL teams do and keep 3 QBs on their roster?

Running Backs

Ryan Grant                  yes

Brandon Jackson       yes

Kregg Lumpkin           yes

Quinn Porter                IR

James Starks                PUP

John Kuhn                    yes

Korey Hall                    no / trade

Quinn Johnson           yes  Read more... (1496 words + 6 images, estimated 5:59 mins reading time)

Call him the Florida Flash.  By now, most Packers fans know that Sam Shields can outright fly. Shields himself knows that putting that speed to use on the playing field will be his ticket to outpace other candidates for a spot on the 53-man roster. Let’s just say that after his 98 yard interception at the family night scrimmage, Shields has made a good first impression.

I generally like to do my undrafted free agent evaluations before training camp starts, so I can make more of a “blind”  evaluation uninfluenced by camp performances (I like the challenge). While in the previous weeks I covered the wide receivers, running backs and offensive linemen free agents, there just hasn’t been time to get to the defensive UDFAs.

But there are a couple of defensive UDFAs in camp that are worthy of a “better late than never” evaluation, and we’ll start with Sam Shields.  Read more... (1074 words + 6 images, estimated 4:18 mins reading time)

After several years and much hard work, the Green Bay Packers and Mason Crosby today found the answer to his kicking problems – no defense. Yes, it seems that with no rush, Crosby is just fine, thank you.

Without a rush, Crosby was able to go five for five in field goals attempts at Tuesday night’s practice. When the Packers went to their full-team two minute drills, Crosby was given the opportunity to “win the game” with a last second 39 yard field goal. Of course, he missed.

Sadly, that wasn’t the shocking part. What ensued is fairly incredible. The Packers allowed Crosby to line up and take the kick again, but this time with NO DEFENSE. And of course, Crosby makes it.

Believe it or not, I’m not here to kill Mason Crosby. He’s certainly trying his best (we hope). No, I’m here to kill the Packers’ coaching staff and how they have handled Crosby. They have pandered to Crosby like he’s their supermodel girlfriend. Anything he wants. Anyway he wants it. No competition. Nobody to push his sorry ass and make him fight for his job.  Read more... (458 words + 6 images, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

In the second of this multi-part series, I will examine the only Green Bay Packers 2010 undrafted free agent running back (Quinn Porter) and his chances of making the 53-man roster or practice squad.

(You can find Part 1 of this series HERE)

Will Porter’s spin of the wheel land the Packers a big jackpot or will they hit bankrupt and go away empty-handed?

In each of the last five  years, at least one UFA has made the Packers’ 53-man roster. Will Porter be the one to continue the trend in 2010? Lets take a closer look at Porter and what he is up against.

Part Two – OFFENSE – Running Backs

The Packers kept three running backs last year, stashed Kregg Lumpkin on the practice squad, and of course kept the now infamous trio of fullbacks.  While many are assuming they won’t do the same this year, I say it’s just as possible as it was last year.  Read more... (1071 words + 6 images, estimated 4:17 mins reading time)