News From The Pack

Packers President Mark Murphy cast a "Yay" vote on the NFL's new overtime rules at the league meetings in Orlando on Tuesday.   It was overwhelmingly approved 28-4. The rules now state that if the team that wins the overtime coin toss settles for a field goal, the opposing team will have a chance on offense to tie or win the game.  Any touchdown scored will also end the contest and if both teams kick field goals, the overtime reverts back to sudden death.   The league calls the change "modified sudden death" and for now, applies only to post-season games.  Murphy and head coach Mike McCarthy believe the rule should also be imposed for regular season overtime games and the league may take that up in meetings scheduled in May.  Interesting to see the Vikings among the 4 teams that voted no.  They were bounced out by the Saints in the NFC Divisional round in January when the Saints won the flip and advanced to the conference championship by kicking a field goal in overtime.  The Bengals, Bills and Ravens were the other teams to turn down the plan.   New overtime rules weren't the only topic of discussion at the meetings which conclude today.  Murphy serves on the league's Management Council Executive Committee and there was plenty of talk about the current labor situation.  Already into an uncapped year and 11 months away from an expiring collective bargaining agreement, Murphy said the owners and players association have to find some common ground on a new CBA and the return of a salary cap will help the Packers stay competitive.

The NFL Owners meeting is taking place this week in Orlando, Florida and the major topic of discussion is a change in the overtime rules.   As it stands now, every game goes into sudden death overtime with the first team to score, wins.  More than half of all overtime games are decided on the coin toss essentially, with the the team getting the ball first, scoring at least a field goal.   In last year's NFC Divisional Playoff game, the New Orleans Saints eliminated the Minnesota Vikings by taking the ball on the first posessiona and kicking the field goal, denying the Vikes a chance to touch the ball offensively.   The NFL's competition committee has come up with a propoasal that would alter overtime rules.   Teams that win the toss and score a touchdown would end the game, but if they settle for a field goal, the opposition would get at least one posession to tie the game with a kick or win it with a touchdown drive.  If both teams score three, it would become a sudden death game from that point on.  The overtime rules changes would apply only to playoff games and that's where Packers head coach Mike McCarthy has concerns.  He doesn't think there shoud be two sets of rules for games for regular season and playoff games. What if a team needs to win the final game of the regular season just to qualify for the post-season and it goes into overtime and they lose on the coin flip and a field goal?  I agree with McCarthy.   I'm fine with the rule change to give at least both teams a shot at the ball, but the league should not have two sets of rules for regular season and playoff games.

The Packers will have an extra choice in next month's NFL draft.  The league awarded compensatory choices to teams that lost free agents last year.   Green Bay will get an extra 5th round pick after defensive tackle Colin Cole signed a free agent deal with the Seattle Seahawks.  The league awarded a total of 32 picks and Green Bay's choice will be the 169th overall.  The Packers will now have 8 selections, two in the 5th round and one in each of the other 7 rounds of the draft, scheduled for April 22-24.

General Manager Ted Thompson was all smiles at this weekend's 6th annual Fan Fest at Lambeau Field.  He announced Friday night that long term contract extensions were reached with safety Nick Collins and nose tackle Ryan Pickett.  Collins had earlier accepted the one year tender offer of 3.3 million dollars for 2010 in the hopes that a longer deal could be reached. Pickett was slapped with the franchise tag by the team just before free agency began, guaranteeing him 7.8 million for the season but he also signed on long term.  With the earlier signing of Chad Clifton to a three year, 19.6 million dollar deal, and reports that Mark Tauscher is all but locked up on a new two year contract, it's clear Thompson opened the checkbook for his own free agents, rather than shop the open market for other NFL players.  The week long spending spree will approach 80 million dollars for the 4 veterans.   Thompson must feel his team is close to becomming a serious contender in 2010, and he had to solidify his bookend tackles and remain strong up the middle for the league's second ranked defense.  While a few holes remain to be filled, an outside linebacker to replace Aaron Kampman and another defensive back, Thompson appears poised to address those issues not with other team's castoffs, but through the draft next month.

The Packers unveiled their 2010 off-season schedule Wednesday and it only confirms what I've known for years, there IS no off-season in the NFL anymore.  Time was the Packers would be out of the playoff hunt, finish the regular season in December and while we'd convene for the draft every spring, fans and the media wouldn't see those guys again until July's training camp.  The team's off-season weight training and exercise program begins on Monday and turnout will be high.  After this year's three day draft in April, the Packers will conduct their rookie orientation camp from April 30 to May 2.   The organized team activities come next, running from May 17 through June 17.  Finally, the mandatory mini-camp will take place on June 21-23.  That may be the first we see of Daryn Colledge.  The veteran offensive lineman is hinting at staying away from a portion of the voluntary workouts, unhappy over having to accept the Packers restricted free agent tender offer for 2010, rather than get a long term deal worked out.  Safety Nick Collins followed that path a year ago and he's still waiting on a lucrative and multi-yeara extension.  Colledge didn't set the world on fire last year along the offensive line, and he could face a strong challenge from his buddy, Jason Spitz.  After beating out Scott Wells for the starting center job last summer, Spitz developed back issues that eventually required surgery.   Wells performed just fine in his absence and the Packers might want to keep Wells where he is, forcing Spitz to guard and the most likely move would be one person to his left, Colledge's job at left guard.  Colledge had better be careful for what he wishes for.

Fan Fest arrives this weekend.   A few tickets remain for the Packers major off-season love festival for the fans.   Current management and players along with several ex-Packers will be inside the Lambeau Field atrium for meet and greets.

Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins has agreed to sign the one year, restricted free agent tender offer from the Packers.   It will guarantee him 3.3 million dollars for the 2010 season.  The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Collins decided to sign the tender in the hopes a long term extension can be reached.  This was a good faith gesture on the part of Collins and it's a good bet the Packers will reward Collins with a lengthy and lucrative new deal before this season is over.  Collins returned to the Pro Bowl last year after intercepting 6 passes, second on the team behind Charles Woodson.   He's the second key veteran locked up by the Packers.  Chad Clifton signed a three year, 19.6 million dollar contract last Friday.  The Packers have also dipped into the Arena League for a wide receiver and kick returner.  Charles Dillon was signed on Tuesday.   He played for Washington State in college and last year, caught 54 passes for the Spokane Shock of AF2.

A key return and a big departure spiced the opening weekend of NFL free agency for the Packers.  On Friday, Chad Clifton flirted with the Washington Redskins but shortly after his visit out east, the Packers put up a three year offer for 20 million dollars.  Clifton quickly signed it saying he always wanted to finish his career in Green Bay.  The Packers needed Clifton back because there is no clear cut alternative at left tackle on the roster.  On Sunday, Aaron Kampman bid the Packers farewell by signing a four year, 26 million dollar contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.  Kampman will get 11 million guaranteed.  Aaron had a solid 8 year run in Green Bay, making the pro bowl twice and racking up 54 career sacks.  While he never publicly expressed his dislike with the team's switch to the 3-4 defense last year, it was clear he was uncomfortable playing outside linebacker.  Kampman often struggled in space and longed to get his hand back on the ground and play defensive end.   He'll get that opportunity in Jacksonville, a team desperate for pass rushing help.  They only sacked opposing quarterbacks 14 times last season, the third lowest total in league history.  Kampman had an unquestioned work ethic and his presence in the locker room will be missed.   Rookie Brad Jones filled in for Kampman after he went down with a knee injury against San Francisco, and while Jones did record 4 sacks, he'll need to add bulk and strength this off-season.

For the first time in 17 years, the National Football League is without a salary cap.  That's a significant occurance and one more sign that armageddon could arrive in one year if a new collective bargaining agreement isn't reached and a lockout or strike takes place in 2011.   The cap went away at midnight Eastern time last night as the NFL's free agency season began.   The Green Bay Packers protected all of their restricted free agents with tender offers but 4 veterans are now on the open market as unrestricted free agents.   Negotiations have apparently taken place to retain Chad Clifton, Mark Tauscher and Aaron Kampman.   Ahman Green is the 4th but I'm not sure the Packers will be as agressive with him.   Clifton and Kampman may have other suitors.   There are reports Clifton will visit with the Washington Redskins this weekend.   Veteran left tackle Chris Samuels retired earlier this week and owner Daniel Snyder is not bashful about spending money, but the Packers have few options at left tackle without Chad.  As for Kampman, he probably longs to return to the defensive end position with his hand on the ground in a 4-3 front, where he produced Pro Bowl seasons for the Packers.  There are whispers he could be on the Chicago Bears radar.   Chicago is expected to make a serious run at Julius Peppers of the Carolina Pathers with a big money offer, he's due to visit the windy city today. If a deal can't be struck, they make look at Kampman as Plan B.  The Packers want to retain Kampman's services as an outside 3-4 linebacker.  While it looked like he struggled adjusting last season, he did lead the team in quarterback pressures until he blew out his knee against the 49ers.   Tauscher is likely to come back, he felt the Packers were more than fair with him last year, waiting until his surgically repaired knee was well and he clearly made a difference for the leaky offensive line once he returned to the starting lineup.  Among available free agents at other positions, you wonder if the Packers might jump into the Dunta Robinson sweepstakes.  He was a solid corner for the Houston Texans and may be the best, and most expensive defensive back on the market.  Safety Antrel Rolle of Arizona plays another position of need.  Ryan Clark of Pittsburgh might be a second level free agent to help bolster the secondary.  Back to the point I made at the top, with an uncapped year now in place, it will be very interesting to see if NFL owners are big spenders, or big savers, because there is no salary floor either.  Should be a fun shopping spree this spring.

The Packers fax machine is humming as the deadline for extending offers to restricted and exclusive free agents arrives on Thursday.   It's a certainty the NFL will head into an uncapped 2010 season with the free agency season opens Friday.  Teams must extend contract tenders to players to retain negotiating rights, allowing them an opportunity to match offers from other teams or decline and receive draft picks as compensation.  The Packers have 9 restricted or exclusive rights free agents and there are reports offers have been flying, to Tramon Williams and most recently to Will Blackmon.  The oft-injured defensive back and return man was given the lowest tender of 1.17 million dollars.  If the Packers don't match, they'd receive a pick in the round Blackmon was originally drafted, the 4th.   The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week that Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz were also tendered offers, but no confirmation came from their agents.  Also on the list is safety Nick Collins and Atari Bigby, fullback John Kuhn and defensive end Johnny Jolly.  Running back DeShawn Wynn was not given a tender which will allow him to be signed by anyone without compensation.  Kuhn might also fall into that category but expect tenders for the others by tomorrow afternoon.

The NFL combine is in the books and GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy had effusive praise for Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.  While he didn't throw at the combine, the former Heisman winner did have a solid workout, showing his athletic ability and surprising speed.   NFL teams are still treading lightly over whether he can develop into a competent professional quarterback, and they seem to have no idea where he'll be eventually drafted in April.   The Packers paid close attention to offensive tackles and defensive backs, likely targets in the early rounds. There was also a slight change in coaching staff responsibilities.   Mark Lovat is now the lead strength and conditiioning coach and veteran assistant Dave Redding will stay on to assist for one more season before retiring.