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Greg Jennings is now a member of the Minnesota Vikings

Almost four years after one beloved Green Bay Packer left for the Land of 10000 Lakes (and zero Lombardi Trophies), another member of the Green and Gold will don the purple.

That’s right, per Adam Schefter of ESPN now former Packers WR Greg Jennings has signed a five-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings.

After trading away Percy Harvin to the Seahawks,  the Vikings were in the market for a new deep threat for Christian Ponder and they got one in Jennings.

Initial reports of the dollar figures are 47.5 million  over 5 years with 18 million guaranteed. Jennings is the second high profile member of the Packers to join the Vikings since 2009 (Brett Favre) and this move undoubtedly will not sit well with many Packers fans.

The games against the Vikings will be a lot more interesting starting this season but consider this: now Aaron Rodgers will have another chip on his shoulder  to absolutely maul Minnesota.  An anonymous Packer player texted Mike Freeman of CBS Sports that he’s happy for Jennings but that “he went from prime rib to Burger King.”

That first Packers/Vikings game can’t get here soon enough.

As for the Packers, they will be fine.  With Randall Cobb, Jordy Nelson and James Jones they still have one the best groups of wide receivers in the league.    GM Ted Thompson likely will select a wide receiver at some point in the draft and Green Bay is still developing Jarrett Boykin.  Read more... (294 words + 1 image, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

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It’s free agency time in the NFL, also known as the the perfect opportunity for Packers fans to take a nap for two weeks.

Sure, it’s been mildly entertaining trying to figure out if the Packers did, or did not, sign Steven Jackson. And it’s been somewhat amusing following Greg Jennings and his mysterious tweets as he navigates the free agency waters, possibly back to the Packers.

But none of those things bring as much joy to my heart as mocking and ridiculing the Packers NFC North opponents for their offseason signings, roster cuts and trades.

Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings traded Percy Harvin to Seattle for a first round draft pick and a couple other draft picks. They also cut veteran defensive back Antoine Winfield and resigned right tackle Phil Loadholt.

Isn’t it cute how Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is trying to act like Ted Thompson? Suddenly the Vikings are all about the draft and getting younger.

Let’s see how long Spielman is able to stick with this philosophy. Remember that the Vikings quarterback is Christian Ponder and owner Zygi Wilf has a new stadium opening in a couple years that he’ll want filled to capacity with drooling rubes in helga horns and goldilocks braids.

What if Ponder continues to stink and the Vikings take a step backward? Is Wilf patient enough to give Spielman enough of a leash and allow this draft and develop philosphy to take shape?

I doubt it.  Read more... (584 words + 1 image, estimated 2:20 mins reading time)

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Thompson appears to have made another tough but good decision in letting Greg Jennings test the free agent market

After the 2010 season, Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones was not offered a new contract and became a free agent.  Having just come off of a Super Bowl win, it was widely speculated that Jones would see some decent demand throughout the league.  Jones was looking for something in the neighborhood of $5 million/year.  Not a single offer came his way.

Packers GM Ted Thompson emerged and offered Jones a three year deal worth $9.4 million.  Jones signed that deal and he was back in Green Bay.  This past season, Jones led the NFL in touchdown catches with 14.  For $3 million, that type of production was a very good return on investment when you consider that the team was without two of their top receivers in that of Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson for much of the season.  You need only remember that several higher-paid receivers were not nearly as productive as Jones, and many of them also had good quarterbacks.  Thompson clearly came out on top on the Jones decision.  Read more... (1019 words + 3 images, estimated 4:05 mins reading time)

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Jennings is still searching for and pondering his future as we near day two of free agency

As I sit here writing this and at this very moment, Greg Jennings may be signing his next contract.  With that in mind, I’m not going to talk about which team I think he’s headed to or which team is the best fit.  That could be obsolete by the time I click “publish”.  What is NOT so obsolete are increased chances that Greg Jennings may return to the Packers.

It’s still likely that Jennings signs elsewhere.  After all, we’re only a few hours into the official start of free agency.  However within these short few hours, the Miami Dolphins have already signed free agent receiver Mike Wallace.  Several other teams have already signed other players, albeit at different positions.  Very few rumors have emerged as to where Jennings may land or even which teams are interested in him.  That tells me that many NFL teams don’t see Jennings as a top-tier free agent.

So what does that mean?  It means that while it’s still likely that Jennings will sign elsewhere, the likelihood that he returns to Green Bay is much higher than it has been in the court of public opinion over the past few months.

NFL Network’s Charlie Casserly speculated that teams are likely a bit weary of Jennings’ health outlook and his age.  Jennings is 29 (he turns 30 during this next season) and is not old nor washed up by any means.  But having missed time over the past two seasons, the concerns about his durability are piling up.  Read more... (499 words + 3 images, estimated 2:0 mins reading time)

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Oregon State WR Markus Wheaton

Green Bay Packers NFL Draft prospect profile: WR Markus Wheaton

Player Information:

Markus Wheaton, WR Oregon State
5-11, 189 pounds
Hometown: Chandler, AZ

STATS

NFL Combine:

40 time: 4.45
Vertical: 37″
225-pound bench: 20 reps
20-yard shuttle: 4.02
60-yard shuttle: 11.16

News and Notes:

Three-year starter … Holds the Oregon State school record for career receptions … During his four-year career, Wheaton caught 227 passes for 2,994 yards and 16 touchdowns … Also in the running game on jet sweeps and end arounds … Was a first-team All-Pac 12 selection as a senior in 2012 … Caught 91 passes for 1,244 yards and 11 touchdowns as a senior … Carried the ball 83 times during his college career … Sprinter on the track team … Beat Oregon speedster De’Anthony Thomas in the 100m dash in May 2012 with a time of 10.58

 What they’re saying about him:   Read more... (766 words + 1 image, estimated 3:04 mins reading time)

• NFL.com: ”His quickness is blatant and dangerous. Whether taking off from the slot or outside, his feet are literally a step ahead of his defender on everything from speed outs, crossers, to jerk routes. Displays the flexibility to grab throws behind him or over his shoulder when running deep. He’ll also extend away from his body to bring in high or wide throws, and will stutter on the sideline to ensure he makes the catch in-bounds. Possesses some thickness to his frame, and is willing to lower his shoulder to get the extra yard – often diving under defenders to get as many as possible. Wheaton also dabbled in track while at OSU, reminding scouts of his elite speed.”

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Surviving Sundays with no Packers Football

Adam Czech usually puts together this post on Sunday, but he had other commitments this week, so I’ll do my best to pick up the slack.

Last Sunday, Adam called into attention the injury woes of the Packers’ recent first-round picks. Bryan Bulaga, Derek Sherrod and Nick Perry missed a combined 33 regular-season games last year. It’s a concern to a certain degree, but at the same time, all three players will be expected to compete for a major role with the team in 2013.

On the flip side, the Packers have struck gold recently in round two. This past week, the team decided not to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Greg Jennings, a second-round pick in 2006. Jennings played seven years with the Packers, made two Pro Bowls and helped the team to Super Bowl XLV.

This year’s draft may lack elite talent in the top-half of the first round, but it’s an extremely deep class in the first few rounds. The NFL went to a three-day format in 2010, featuring round one on Thursday and rounds two and three on Friday.

Let’s take a look at the Day 2 gems Ted Thompson has brought to Green Bay:  Read more... (897 words + 1 image, estimated 3:35 mins reading time)

• 2012: Casey Hayward (2nd, No. 62)
• 2011: Randall Cobb (2nd, No. 64)
• 2010: Mike Neal (2nd, No. 56) and Morgan Burnett (3rd, No. 71)
• 2008: Jordy Nelson (2nd, No. 34) and Jermichael Finley (3rd, No. 91)

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With the NFL rumor mill ablaze during the combine, multiple sources have reported/claimed/inferred/guessed/made up/straight up fabricated news that Greg Jennings was a candidate for the franchise tag (Jennings did not receive the tag after all that) and that the Packers were getting sick of Jermichael Finley’s off the field antics and on the field inconsistency are were looking to part ways with the tight end, whether that be from trade or ultimately by cutting him.

• Option 1: Packers do nothing; Greg Jennings enters free agency and Jermichael Finley plays out his contract: This is probably the most realistic situation given Jennings’ recent comments and the historical inactivity of general manager Ted Thompson when it comes to free agent signings.  Jennings believes he’s worth $12-14 million and I’m certain the Packers disagree with that; while Jennings isn’t likely to get a contract average even close to that, he will probably get some higher offers than what the Packers are willing to offer.  On the other hand, it appears as if the Packers are still mixed on their feelings about Jermichael Finley; his up and down performance coupled with his off the field antics (such as throwing his quarterback under the bus), have apparently left some in the Packers’ front office sour.  Unfortunately, Finley also possess the capability to single-handedly break a defense and the Packers will likely give the mercurial tight end one more year to prove he’s worth the money.  Probability: Very likely

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