To meet the 75 man roster limit, Justin Harrell was placed on reserve/physically unable to perform and DeShawn Wynn was cut.

Wynn showed flashes last year, but never convinced the staff he could play through injuries. Right now the Packers have a lot of depth at running back, so this is not to big of a shot.

Harrell on the other had, was a first round draft choice from last year and the Packers were really looking for him to contribute this year. In fact, according to this story, Harrell may never play for the Packers again. "I'm just trying to get myself ready for when they release me," Harrell admitted, "and like I said, just be ready to go."

I think the loss of players to the interior defensive line may be the underplayed story of this pre-season. Last year the Packers were able to rotate players in to keep everyone fresh. With the loss of free agent Corey Williams, Harrell basically going on the DL, and Johnny Jolly coming off shoulder injury and a drug arrest, the interior line looks suspect.

Without the D-line to put pressure on the quarterback, the Packers will have to rely on linebacker and d-back blitzes, which put more pressure on those positions coverage.

Last year I was not so hot on my pre-season Packers Prediction. Let's hope my 2008 Packers Prediction is a little closer to the mark.

Prediction: 12-4

Here is how:

Sept. 8th, Minnesota Vikings: Lose
Just like the contests between these two teams last year was all about the match ups, this first meeting this year will be all about match ups as well, specifically the Vikings run defense against the Packers running game. Ryan Grant held out, is slightly injured, and the Vikings have a stellar run defense. The Vikings will force the Packers to pass, and as much as I like Aaron Rodgers, this will be his first game, and he will be less than perfect. Adrian Peterson and the Vikings offense will be on the field too much for the Packers defense to contain, and they will score enough to beat the Packers.
0-1

Sept. 14th, at Detroit Lions: Win
The Lions are kind of the opposite of the Vikings: they have a good pass offense and a poor running game. Their run defense is not close to the Vikings, and the Packers have a better pass defense than run defense. The Packers defense should give the offense enough opportunities to score. That and the Lions are just really not that good.
1-1

Sept. 21st, Dallas Cowboys: Lose
I hate to say it, but the Packers lose this one. We finally get the Cowboys at Lambeau, finally get some chance at revenge, and the Packers are going to lose this one. The Cowboys are too good, and the Packers will not have come together enough at this point in the season.
1-2

Sept. 28th, at Tampa Bay: Win
Tampa Bay has a great defense, but not much of an offense. They were in the Brett Favre derby, I wonder how that makes their starter Jeff Garcia feel?
2-2

Oct. 5th, Atlanta Falcons: Win
The Falcons were not really that good even with Vick, and now with no quarterback they are rebuilding.
3-2

Oct. 12th, at Seattle: Win
So far, this is the best team I have the Packers winning against, and with the Packers on the road too. The Packers have just had Seattle's number for the past few years, and they sure showed it in the playoffs last year. Seattle might win this on paper, but on the field the Packers get it.
4-2

Oct. 19th, Indianapolis Colts: Lose
Man, another Lambeau loss. There is no way around it in my mind. The Colts may be slightly on the down turn, and by now in the season the Packers should be gelling, but they cannot match the Colts, the Colts just have too much offense.
4-3

Oct. 26th, Bye Week
The Packers get a break, I'll take one as well. I will finish up tomorrow.

Nov. 2nd, at Tennessee Titans: Win
This will be a tough game. The Titans were 10-6 last year, in a very tough division with the Jaguars and Colts. However, the Packers will be coming off a bye, and I think by now the Packers running game should really be coming together. The second half of the season is when the running game really pays off.
5-3

Nov. 9th, at Minnesota Vikings: Win
I predicted the Packers to lose the first meeting, at Lambeau, why would the Packers win now, in the Dome? Because the Packers running game will be strong, and Aaron Rodgers should have a pretty good command of the team and the system bye now. On the flip side, Adrian Peterson and Tarvaris Jackson are both young and will probably start to fade as the season goes on. That and the Packers have pretty much handled the Vikings in the dome the past what, 5 years?
6-3

Nov 16th, Chicago Bears: Win
The Bears look pretty bad this year. Seriously, The Bears look REALLY bad this year. The Bears looked pretty bad last year, but they still beat the Packers twice. What changed? Our quarterback. Favre looked bad against, wait, he looked REALLY bad against the Bears last year, and I forgot how much I hate loosing to The Bears.
7-3

Nov. 24th, at New Orleans: Win
This is a tough call. On the road, on turf, against a pretty good New Orleans team. The question is, which team do we face, the '06 team or the '07 team? I'm guessing the '07 team, but it is kind of a coin flip.
8-3

Nov. 30th, Carolina Panthers: Win
The Panthers used to be a very good team. 2 years ago this match up would scare me. Now, I think the Panthers are on the way out. Delhomme is too old, DeAngelo Williams I don't think is stepping up to a starting running back, and while they have a rookie to share time with Williams, rookies don't usually do too much in the NFL. The Panthers D is good, but I think the Packers offense outmatches the Panthers offense.
9-3

Dec. 7th, Houston Texans: Win
If the Panthers are on the wane, I think the Texans are on the rise. There is only one problem, they don't have a running back. They overpaid for a running back with too many miles on him. As much as I respect Ahman Green and appreciate what he did for the Packers, he was old and the Texans paid too much money. In 2 years this match up will scare me.
10-3

Dec 14th, at Jacksonville Jaguars: Lose
Last year the Jaguars were 11-5 in the same tough division the Titans were in. I don't have the Packers loosing since the bye week, and Jaguars look to be a very physical team. I don't think the Packers can handle them yet.
10-4

Dec. 22, at Chicago Bears: Win
Still don't think the Bears are very good, even in Chicago.
11-4

Dec. 28th, Detroit Lions: Win
I fully expect the Lions to have packed it in by now. The Lions players are probably thinking about cleaning out their locker and where they are going on winter break.
12-4

12-4 is a pretty outrageous prediction, especially with a quarterback who has never started a game. Without looking at the schedule I would have thought 10 wins to be a stretch and a gift, but this looks like a pretty soft schedule. Playing Chicago and Minnesota two times each helps.

I am really looking for comments here. Which games am I wrong on? What will the Packers record be?

According to JSonline, Ryan Grant and the Packers agreed to a 4 year deal. See the article for details.

This is great news, and sounds like a good deal for all involved. I will have move in the morning.

Update:

The reason I like this contract so much is because it is very incentive laden. These days running backs are, for the most part, very fragile players. They run at a high level for what seems to be 2-3 years, then break down. Add that to the fact that Grant has already had a serious injury that caused him to miss a year, and I think the Packers are right to be concerned about his longevity.

That said, if Grant runs like he did at the end of the season for the next 4 years, he deserves to be paid a lot, and that is exactly what this contract will do. If he performs well, he can get up to 30 million over the life of the contract. He most likely will not get all of that money, but it is better to have a contract with a big upside if they player performs than to lock them into a small contract and get disgruntled, or pay a big one and get injuries.

I don't like any holdout, but I like how this one was resolved.

I should point out that the injury that caused Grant to miss a year was non-football related. From this NYTimes article:

During the off-season in early 2006, someone bumped into Grant at the nightclub. When he wobbled and reached back to brace himself, his left hand went through Champagne glasses resting on the table. Grant cut an artery, a tendon and the ulnar nerve in his arm. Blood poured out of the wound, requiring emergency surgery. Grant plays down the ordeal now, but he acknowledged Wednesday that doctors were initially unsure if he would regain the use of his left hand.

I don't know how the Favre soap opera will turn out, all I can hope is that something is decided within the week. However, I am starting to warm up to the idea of Favre playing in Minnesota. I know that will make the Vikings pretty good, but it will also make for some very good football. (The Packers would lose the opener. Remember, Favre would probably win more regular season games than Rogers, but he will not win the Super Bowl.)

So, considering Favre will NOT be starting for the Packers, where would you like to see him play?

As the Favre saga continues, most of the arguments have distilled down into, "Who can win more games this year, Favre or Rogers?"

Personally, I take it one more step. The Packers won a lot of games last year, but fell one short. I ask, "Who can win a Super Bowl for the Packers, Favre or Rogers?"

The answer is neither Favre or Rogers will take the Pack to the Super Bowl this year, but Rogers at least has a chance to take the Packers next year.

I appreciate everything Favre has done for the Packers, but I also keep two important points in mind. When the Packers were playing the wildcard team, in Lambeau, in January, in the cold, they lost. That is unacceptable. What is worse, Favre look cold, timid, and broken. He didn't have as bad of a game as I probably remember (his QB rating was around 70), but he did not play well enough to win. To be put in the same breath as Aikman, Brady, Bradshaw, and Starr, Favre needed to pull that game out. He needed to throw the game winning touchdown, no the game losing interception.

That lack of clutch playing when it counts is the second thing to keep in mind. As great as Favre looks snatching victory from defeat against the Chiefs or teams like that during the regular season, he has rarley done it when it matters. Favre has only won one Super Bowl, and it is really not because of a lack of a supporting cast. It is "Favre being Favre" in the playoffs, or coming out too amped, or throwing too many interceptions. Favre has a lot of records, but he does not have a lot of rings.

I don't know if Rogers can win a Super Bowl, but I do know that Favre cannot.

Packers training camp opened today, and it was not a very good day for the Packers.

There was more talk about what was going on off the field then on, and it only looks to get worse.

Ryan Grant is not practicing because of a contract dispute, and he is taking the fight to the media.

Favre is of course in the media, and now is threatening to show up at camp. That is all the Packers need right now.

Arguably the two most important offensive players from last year are on the sideline pleading their case to the media. Not only that, the players cannot concentrate on football because every question is about Favre and what Thompson may or may not have said to him. (Has anyone else noticed that Favre usually has something to add about every 3 days?)

To add to the drama, Johnny Jolly, who I think was huge for the Packers last year until he went on IR, was arrested a while ago in Texas. It is good to see he was in camp, but that is just one more distraction.

I hope Packers camp can settle down a bit and they can get to football. But if Ryan Grant doesn't sign a contract and get into camp, and if Favre DOES show up to camp, this season is going to be a circus.

Looks like the Brett Favre "will-he-or-won't-he saga" is really starting to heat up. Cnnsi's front page is full of Favre links. Peter King, Perloff, a blog post about the spot Rogers is in, and a photo essay on past QB replacements.

I understand part of this is cnn/espn/js hyping this story up because there is not much football news right now, and Favre sells issues, but seriously, if I wanted drama I would watch soaps with my girlfriend. I want to watch football, and I'm sure the current Packers want to get ready for football, not play a game of "what does Favre feel like doing now."

I read the King article, and skimmed the rest, and at least Peter King has one good take on the situation that I didn't consider before. He says it might be hard for Favre to be traded because he will count 12 million against the Packers salary cap this year. If they cut him he will count $0, and most teams know that. The only reason to trade with the Packers is so they don't have to compete in free agency.

Favre had a great run, and Packers fans around the world appreciate him. By coming back all he is going to do is split the fans into two camps and lose about half of them.

A big reason I have taken a long break from writing about the Packers is because I didn't want to rip Brett Favre, even though I think he deserves some ripping, especially for the way he played against the Giants.

But with the recent news that he is talking about playing again, I need to come down firmly on the side of Aaron Rodgers. It is his team now, and all that Favre is doing with his comeback talk is tarnishing his good reputation.

Favre is an attention whore with his "I don't know if I will come back" shtick for the last what, 5 years? He made up his mind and now he needs to stick with it.

For the most part Brett had very good year last year, but he showed his age in two cold weather games, and that does not cut it at Lambeau. In the regular season, the Pack would probably be better with Favre over Rodgers, but Favre cannot make it through the playoffs to the Super Bowl, so what does it matter. The Packers may as well start grooming a potential Super Bowl champ (Rogers) rather than stick with someone who can't get it done in the post season.

Favre looked all Packers fans in the eye and said good by, its time he stuck to his word.

The Packers released Koren Robinson today.

I was a big Koren Robinson fan, especially the Koren Robinson who played 4 games in the 06 season, but todays move is not that big of a surprise to me.

Koren Robinson was never quite the same player after he came back from his 1 year suspension. It seemed like he lost a step and never really got anything going on kick returns, at least nothing like he had before his suspension. As a receiver he didn't get open as much, and it seemed like he dropped a few balls because he wasn't "in the zone".

Koren made mistakes in his life, but Koren always seemed like a good guy, like his mistakes were not out of malice, but out of a lapse of judgment, so a lot of people were pulling for him to right his career with the Packers.

It seems like that didn't work out. Good luck Koren Robinson.

The Packers just finished their 2008 draft, and I will offer some quick analysis. The complete list of players they drafted is at ESPN, but I will be focusing on their first pick, WR Jordy Nelson.

The conventional wisdom did not have the Packers trading down to take a WR with their first pick, and I am sure most people were a little surprised when they heard the news.

The thing to remember is that Ted Thompson does not draft to need, but rather takes the best player available at the time. He is on record multiple times saying as much, including this quote from his bio on Packers.com: "'A draft is an investment in a player that's going to be here for a number of years,' Thompson said. 'And when you don't take the best player, it'll just come back and bite you every time.'"

When the Packers first turn came up (30th pick overall) Ted must have figured that Jordy Nelson would still be around a little later, so they traded down 6 spots and got a 4th round pick for it.

I don't follow college football that much, so I don't know that much about the young players, but ESPN has this to say about Jordy Nelson:

Nelson isn't a very sexy pick; he doesn't have great speed and isn't elusive. However, this kid knows how to play the game. He is a very good route-runner, has a wide-frame that allows him to catch the ball very well and shield defenders from the ball. He is a high-character player who is going to have a positive influence in the locker room once he establishes himself.

That sounds like a Packer to me, or a Patriot. It sounds like Jordy Nelson will play hard, catch balls over the middle, block on running plays, and has a Packers character.

When drafting the best player rather than drafting for need a team gains a lot of flexibility. The Packers are taking the best player now, and giving themselves a chance to trade for a proven commodity down the line. Lets say Jordy Nelson turns into an NFL starter (or the next Don Bebe) and the Packers find themselves with 6 WR who could start in the NFL. At that time they can trade for a player they need, and they can get one that has a track record in the NFL rather than taking a chance in the draft.

This works because of the fickle nature of the NFL draft. Not every player drafted in the first round will be an NFL starter. Of course even fewer second and fourth round players will be NFL starters, but you will probably get more NFL starters from 4 2-7 round picks than you would from 2 1st round picks. (Excluding picks 1-5, a lot of times they play no matter what for marketing reasons.)

Being stocked with good players means you can trade for need, or let good players go if their market price gets out of whack with their talent.(Javon Walker or Mike McKenzie anyone?)