PACKERwatch

The Packers have officially re-signed hard-hitting safety Atari Bigby.  Bigby was what is called an exclusive rights free agent, meaning that he hasn’t been in the league long enough to test the waters in unrestricted free agency or restricted free agency.  Bigby has been signed to a 1-year deal, and when it expires at the end of next season, he will have played in the league for 3 years and will therefore be eligible for restricted free agency, which basically makes him much more accessible to other teams than he currently is.  His base salary for the 2008 season will be about half a million dollars, in addition to performance bonuses.

Two other key exclusive rights free agents, Ruvell Martin and Ryan Grant, have not yet been resigned.  It seems inevitable that Grant will be re-signed, but there is a small chance that the Packers might decide to let the wide receiver Martin go.  In my opinion, that would be a dumb move, because Martin’s presence makes it possible for the Packers to use their 5 WR set that was very effective last season.  Additionally, Martin’s salary would not hurt Green Bay at all because the team has so much cap room, especially with Favre’s departure.

Green Bay added some depth and a possible starter to their linebacking corps when they signed former St. Louis Ram Brandon Chillar to a 2-year, $5.4 million deal that will have Chillar wearing green and gold for the 2008 and 2009 seasons.  Chillar will compete for the starting job at strong-side linebacker with last year’s starter, the solid but underwhelming Brady Poppinga.  Poppinga has not yet been re-signed, but the Packers are rumored to be close to a deal to bring Poppinga back on board for another season with the Packers.  That will set up a training camp battle between Poppinga and Chillar.  Whichever player doesn’t get the starting job will probably still play an important role as a backup and a special teams player.

Quinn Gray, QB–Gray was a reliable backup for the Jacksonville Jaguars who is young and has a lot of potential.

 Brandon Chillar, LB–Chillar, who has played for the St. Louis Rams since being drafted in the 4th round of the 2004 NFL draft, is a very agressive linebacker who could add some depth at linebacker and maybe even challenge Brady Poppinga for a starting job.  Even if Chillar were to remain a backup, he would undoubtedly make a significant impact on special teams.  If Tracy White, Green Bay’s special team standout and backup linebacker, signs with Denver or Pittsburgh (both of whom are very interested in White), then Chillar will be even more attractive to Green Bay.

Mark Brunell, QB–Brunell, a former backup to Favre, could return to Green Bay and serve as a mentor and backup to the young quarterbacks on Green Bay’s roster.  The Packers have made contact with Brunell to discuss this possibility.

 Eric Johnson, TE–Eric Johnson is a relatively young player with a good deal of upside at a position where the Packers desperately need some depth.  Currently, Donald Lee and the injured Tory Humphrey are the only tight ends on Green Bay’s roster.  Regardless of whether the Packers sign a tight end in free agency, they will likely draft at least one tight end in April as well.

Corey Smith, DE–Corey Smith is a speedy pass rusher who could play opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila in passing situations.  If the Packers are willing to pay relatively big money for a player who would not be playing on the majority of defensive snaps, then Smith would be an excellent addition to the Packers defensive line.

The man, the myth, the legend, Brett Favre, is walking away from the game he loves after 15 years as a starter in Green Bay.  This is truly the end of an era in Green Bay.   The Favre Era is over.  It was at times magnificent (Super Bowl XXXI), at times disappointing (Giants-Packers Championship), at times heart-breaking (Irv Favre’s death), at times joyously uplifting (Favre’s subsequent MNF performance against the Raiders), and most of the time, just plain fun.  Becuase that’s why Favre played the game:  it was fun.  From playful trash talk with opposing players to the spontaneous overflow of emotion Favre exhibited after his first Super Bowl touchdown, it has always been about a love of the game for Favre.  And Packers fans loved watching him.

 Brett Favre will always be remembered, immortalized in the Hall of Fame and in the hearts and memories of those lucky enough to watch him play.  We’ll miss you Brett.

On Friday, the Cleveland Browns and the Green Bay Packers announced that Corey Williams will be headed to Cleveland, just a week after he was tagged as a franchise player for Green Bay and received a large pay increase.  The Browns are reportedly going to give Green Bay a late 2nd-round pick in the draft in exchange.  With the Packers depth at defensive tackle, Williams’ departure isn’t as big as it would be for other teams.  Although I would have liked to see a slightly earlier pick in the draft (the Broncos had similar need at DT and an earlier pick), this still looks like an ingenious move by Ted Thompson.  Why?  Because one of the conditions of the trade is that Cleveland picks up Williams’ new contract.  By signing Williams to his large new contract, Thompson prevented the defensive tackle from leaving for free agency, where the Packers would have gotten no compensation for his departure.  Now, Cleveland will be paying the high price tag for the contract that the Williams signed with the Packers.  Basically, the Packers were able to get what is in essence a free second-round draft pick for a player they would have lost to free agency anyway.  This is a really smart move by Thompson.

It does, however, assume that the Packers defensive front will not be riddled with injuries this year, and that apparent bust Justin Harrell steps up his game when he does get playing time.  The Packers might even spend a late draft pick on a defensive tackle to add depth.

Still, this move seems to have been a great deal for all parties involved, and the Packers will now be able to have a few more options come April and the NFL Draft.