The OTS: Draft Edition (4-25-12)

This is the OTS (On The Sidelines)  “draft edition” Packers rumors. Let’s get to rumors and the draft!!

 

Now let me preference this edition is on the eve/day of the draft and rumors, misinformation and smokescreens are running rapid at this time. The OTS are Packers rumors that I obtain through various sources that I have come to know through my years doing radio. They are sources in NFL in various capacities and do have direct knowledge of what is being discussed  by decision makers and front office personnel. Please keep in mind what a rumor is, hence what the OTS is:

RUMOR:

n.

A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth.
Unverified information received from another; hearsay.

 

Let me start with the release of Nick Collins. This was not an easy thing for Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy to do, but when it came down it they just didn’t feel comfortable with letting back on the field for the Packers. The risk was too high for the team, but more importantly they had his future as a human being in mind, not saving or adding cap space. They are hoping Collins retires and have talked to him about being a part of the organization.  I also heard that Collins has yet to be cleared by ANY doctor and is trying to get clearance.

 

I am hearing that the Packers would like a DE in round 1 (notably LSU’s Michael Brockers) and would like to add the OLB in round 2. The theory is the DL crop is thinner then the OLB crop and they could get an impact OLB in round 2.

 

I was told that the Packers have talked to the Browns about a deal to move up should Brockers be there at #22. The talk was a swap of 1st round picks (22 for 28) and the Browns 7th for the Packers 4th and 6th rounder. My scout (an AFC scout) told me that it could still happen if Brockers is not there and an impact OLB is there (Quinton Coples or Courtney Upshaw).

 

I received a few DM’s on twitter about a rumor that has the Rams dealing RB Steven Jackson to the Packers. I checked around and I was told that the Packers and Rams have talked about a deal that would send a 3rd rounder to the Rams for Jackson (and have been for 3 weeks). Jackson is owed $7 million each of the next 2 years and would provide a legitimate and complete running threat that Packers have lacked since Ahman Green. I was also told from an NFC Scout that it is 50/50 that this deal happens and NOTHING is eminent at this time.

 

I hear all the Shae McCellin talk to the Packers is a smokescreen. He’s intriguing but 4 concussions is scaring some teams off a bit according to my source, an AFC Scout.  He also said that he is not Clay Matthews and that Matthews was a far better player overall coming out of USC.

 

A couple names to watch in the 1st round for the Packers are:

 

LSU DE Michael Brockers

 

Syracuse DE/OLB Chandler Jones

 

Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw

 

Alabama ILB/OLB Donta Hightower

 

USC OLB/DE Nick Perry

 

Boise St. RB Doug Martin

 

Michgan St DL Jerel Worthy

 

Illinois OLB Whitney Mercilus

 

A rumor I heard from an NFC Scout was the Packers could take USC’s Nick Perry and keep him as a DE. They feel that he has the frame to add weight (285) and still be effective. They are also concerned about him dropping into coverage and playing in space as an OLB, but think he is athletic enough to do it.

 

An AFC Scout told me that he thinks Thompson will be “moving around a lot in this draft both up and down in any round.” He said that is because of the amount of picks they have and the roster space (of player that they will actually carry) it makes sense for him to be “overly aggressive to get the guys he wants.”

 

He also told me that “for a 15-1 team, people think they have a ton of wholes, but I’d love to have that problem (being 15-1)”. He added “let me tell ya’, where they need to get better, this is a draft suited for them to do so and knowing Ted like I do, he’s gonna add some gems.”

 

An NFC Scout told me that he thinks the Packers will add a RB “with-in the first 3 rounds either via trade or draft pick.” He said that “that Martin kid from Boise St would be a good fit there and would give them surprising depth at RB.”

 

The Packers were never in on Asante Samuel according to my NFC Scout. I know some thought that they might be, but from everything I have heard they never had interest in him.

 

I heard that the Packers had some late work on two Oklahoma Sooners, OLB Ronnell Lewis and WR Ryan Broyles. Both are 2nd and 3rd day picks and should be available when the Packers pick in those rounds.

 

With the added cap space after releasing Chad Clifton and Nick Collins, the Packers have some cap room to talk about extending Greg Jennings. I was told by a source that the Packers and Jennings both want to get a “reasonable deal done” and the team and Jennings people have been talking about a new deal that would keep Jennings in Green Bay for 5 more years beyond his current deal.

Joe Arrigo: The On The Sidelines (OTS) Rumor Report

For those of you that don’t know, this is the OTS (On The Sidelines) Packers Rumor Report. The OTS are Packers rumors that I obtain through various sources that I have come to know through my years doing radio. They are sources in NFL in various capacities and do have direct knowledge of what is being discussed  by decision makers and front office personnel. Please keep in mind what a rumor is, hence what the OTS is:

RUMOR:

n.

A piece of unverified information of uncertain origin usually spread by word of mouth.
Unverified information received from another; hearsay.

It appears that the free agent shopping spree that GM Ted Thompson went on is over. While the Packers had DE/OLB Dave Tollefson in for a visit, he was only offered a 1 year deal for the minimum. This was reported a few days ago by the Packers beat writers.

Nick Collins, his agent and the Packers decision makers are discussing what the next move is for Collins and the team. While the rumor is Collins received the “OK” to resume his career, the Thompson and Mike McCarthy are not to sure if they want to take the enhanced risk of letting Collins play for the Packers. This is a highly fluid situation and the Packers brass wants whats best for Collins long term (after football) and was told they are 80-90% certain he won’t be a Packer in 2012 and if he is (a Packer)” he needs to get in the sales business after he retires”. I was told from an NFC Scout that he wouldn’t let Collins play for his team because “a neck injury is nothing to play with and the risk doesn’t outweigh the reward.”

I was also told that the team will explore extending Greg Jennings and Clay Matthews during the season and Aaron Rodgers as well. I was told that Thompson and McCarthy view the three players mentioned as the leaders on and off the field.

I was told that the Packers would indeed move up a few slots for a certain few players. They have narrowed their board down to the guys that they feel would be available around the time of their pick, but won’t overpay to move up a few slots.

Keep an eye on running backs early in the Packers draft and also late in the draft. Doug Martin, Chris Polk, Lamar Miller, and Bryce Brown are guys that they interest in.  Brown is interesting since their are question marks with him, but he has ability and low tread on his tires which makes him a little more intriguing.

A few names to watch for in the 1st round are Michael Brockers, Fletcher Cox, Dont’a Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, Whitney Merculis, Steven Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick and Doug Martin.

I was told 2 players high on the Packers board from Oklahoma; Ronnell Lewis (OLB) and Ryan Broyles (WR). Both are guys, that an AFC Scout told me are 2nd (Lewis) and late 3rd to early 5th (Broyles) grades and would be excellent fits for the Packers.

B.J. Coleman is a QB to watch for the Packers. They have requested extra tape on him and view him as a high upside/developmental guy that could be a very good player in time.

The Packers have a lot of interest in Chris Greenwood, CB, Albion Christian. If you followed my mocks, I also have been high on him, but I was told 2 and a half months ago that the Packers really like this kid and hoped he’d stay “under the radar”.

Another name to watch for is Alabama DL Josh Chapman. He can play the NT or 5 tech and has the intangibles that Ted Thompson looks for. He played the 2011 season with tears in his ACL and meniscus and still had a very productive year. An NFC scout told me he is “the most underrated player in this draft and on that Alabama defense”. He told me he has a 3rd-late 4th round grade on Chapman (because of the knee injury).

The same scout told me that Arkansas St. safety Kelcie McCray is another kid that fits what Thompson looks for and is a 5th or 6th round guy.

Chase Minnifield is falling in the draft. Scouts are worried about his knees and speed. The AFC scout that I contacted told me that  Minnifield could fall as far as the 6th round. I was told by one of my Packers sources that they have legit interest in him.