Offseason could bring big changes for Packers

January 14, 2013
 
Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones (89) sits on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013. The 49ers won 45-31.

GREEN BAY— One by one, Greg Jennings took down the photos of his wife and children that lined his locker, careful not to rip them as he removed the tape. Below him, two plastic bins were filled with shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and deodorant.

Still numb from the rout in San Francisco that ended their trying season, the Green Bay Packers headed into an offseason sure to bring change — some of it big. Jennings and Donald Driver, key parts of the team that won the Super Bowl two years ago, are all but gone, and Charles Woodson may have played his last game for Green Bay.

"At the end of the day, you know the Packers are going to do what's best for the Packers. And that's not going to change whether you're No. 4, No. 80, No. 85, No. 77. That's going to be the case," Jennings said Sunday, referring to Brett Favre, Driver and Cullen Jenkins, as well as himself. "And as the other half of the businessman sitting down at that table, I have to do what's best for myself and my family."

Jennings finished with career lows in receptions (36), yards per catch (10.2) and total yards (366) after missing half of season with a torn muscle in his groin. He remains Aaron Rodgers' favorite target, however, and he reminded everyone why with one big catch after another when he returned from the injury. He led Green Bay with six catches and a score in Saturday night's 45-31 loss to San Francisco in an NFC divisional game.

But the Packers have perhaps the deepest receiving corps in the NFL, and breakout seasons by James Jones and Randall Cobb have made Jennings, an unrestricted free agent, expendable.

Green Bay Packers players sit on the bench during the fourth quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.

"Everybody in this locker room is trying to win Super Bowls, but everybody in this locker room is trying to take care of their family as well," Jones said. "Football is our job and football is how we do it, and we understand that we've got four or five No. 1 receivers that are going to want money at some time. So we know it's going to be hard for this organization to pay everybody what they want, which (stinks) ... because I wish we could stay together for the rest of our career and go on a run and win some Super Bowls."

Driver is Green Bay's all-time leading receiver, and is adored by fans. But he will be 38 next month, and had only a bit role in the offense after restructuring the final year of his contract. His eight catches for 77 yards were his lowest totals since his rookie season, and he was inactive for four games, including the NFC wild-card, possibly his final game at Lambeau Field.

Driver would like to play until he's 40, and thinks he can still help a team. But he said he'll talk with his wife and children before making any decisions on his future.

"If (Saturday) is my last game, then it was a true honor just to put that uniform on once again," said Driver, who played on special teams Saturday. "I wore that uniform for a long time and it's truly a blessing to be wearing the green and gold."

Woodson, linebacker A.J. Hawk and big tight end Jermichael Finley are all under contract for next year. But they're all due raises, too, and the Packers have to begin making tough decisions because they need to lock up long-term deals with Jones, Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji. The three, considered cornerstones of the franchise, all will be free agents after next season.

Woodson, the 2009 defensive player of the year, is one of the most-respected players in the Packers locker room — by players and coaches alike — and he's still disruptive. But he turned 36 in October and missed nine games with a broken right collarbone, the same one he broke in the Super Bowl. Youngsters Casey Hayward and M.D. Jennings made big impressions this season, and the Packers may decide they're enough to make up for Woodson's absence.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy stands on the sideline during the fourth quarter of an NFC divisional playoff NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in San Francisco, Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.

The Packers were repeatedly torched by Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers, and Hawk looked particularly overmatched.

Then there's Finley. He set a franchise record for receptions by a tight end this year, and few Packers were better down the stretch. But he's mercurial, and general manager Ted Thompson may decide he's not worth the big bump in payroll.

"We just finished losing, man," Finley said. "Hopefully I'm here forever. I'm good for next year, as far as I know."

Regardless of what the roster looks like, the Packers have to find a way to finish better next year. This was the second straight year they were bounced out in the divisional round, and neither game was close.

In fact, finishing was a season-long problem for Green Bay. The Packers fell to 2-3 after blowing an 18-point halftime lead at Indianapolis. They also struggled to put away less-than-mediocre teams like New Orleans, Jacksonville and Detroit. After securing the No. 2 seed with a rout of Tennessee, the Packers gave it up to San Francisco by losing to Minnesota in the regular-season finale.

And after Mason Crosby's 31-yard field goal midway through the third quarter tied Saturday's game at 24, the 49ers steamrolled the Packers, scoring three straight touchdowns.

"We didn't finish. That's the bottom line, we didn't finish," Jones said. "We had a chance to do something great and get back to the Super Bowl. (But) we didn't finish our season strong. So got to start all over."

NOTES: RB Cedric Benson, who played only five games before a season-ending foot injury, hopes to return next year. "Absolutely. I don't have a preference to be anywhere else," he said. "This is what I know and I'm excited about winning Super Bowls, too, and everybody around here is as well." ... RT Bryan Bulaga, who suffered a season-ending hip injury Nov. 4, expects to be ready for next season. "It's a little bit far out in advance to tell what I'm going to be doing, but I'm pretty confident training camp is a good goal."

Brown County Board to honor Donald Driver

Green Bay Packers' Donald Driver tries to fire up the crowd before the first half of an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Dec. 23, 2012, in Green Bay, Wis.

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Brown County Board this week will honor Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver for his community contributions.

The board will recognize the Packers' all-time leading receiver for his work with The Donald Driver Foundation, which deals with issues related to homelessness and education. Driver has also hosted the annual charity softball game with Packers players.

Supervisor Bernie Erickson tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette (http://gbpg.net/TV8iXY ) Driver has given of himself, his money and is a fan favorite, so it's a great opportunity to honor him while he's still in Green Bay.

Driver will be 38 next month and had only a bit role in the offense after restructuring the final year of his contract. County officials say the event is on Driver's schedule, but that's not a guarantee he will attend Wednesday.
 

Chiefs introduce Dorsey as new general manager

New Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey speaks to the media at a news conference Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo.


KANSAS CITY, Mo. - John Dorsey called becoming the general manager of the Kansas City Chiefs the "perfect storm." The word "serendipity" may have been more appropriate.

The longtime Packers personnel man met his wife, Patricia, on a blind date orchestrated by former Chiefs executive Lamonte Winston several years ago. Patricia had attended the University of Kansas and lived in Kansas City, and Dorsey remembers being smitten by her.

"I'll be honest with you, the moment I met her, I knew I'd marry her. That's the truth," he said. "And I could see that she didn't walk away from me, so that was good."

Dorsey was also smitten by Kansas City.

Even though he played for the Packers during the 1980s, and got his start in their scouting department, he still considered the Chiefs his "dream job." So when chairman Clark Hunt called looking for a replacement for the fired Scott Pioli, Dorsey couldn't turn down the chance.

Dorsey was officially introduced as the Chiefs' new general manager on Monday.

"I was like, 'If this could possibly work out, would we be at peace with this whole thing?'" Dorsey said. "Once Trish was at peace with it, and I was at peace with it, that was a good thing. And then we had to make sure Clark Hunt said yes. And my gosh, when he said yes, I looked right at her, and I said, 'You would not believe what that phone call just was.'"

It was the culmination of more than two decades of work in Green Bay, where Dorsey was instrumental in putting together drafts that helped the Packers win nine division championships, three conference titles and Super Bowls in 1996 and 2010.

"I didn't know a lot about him other than his reputation," Hunt said. "I can't tell you how excited he was. He said, 'This is the opportunity I've been waiting for.'"
New Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey, left, poses with new head coach Andy Reid during an NFL football news conference announcing Dorsey's hiring Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo.

Dorsey takes over a team that was 2-14 last season, the worst finish in franchise history and tied for the worst record in the NFL. There are problems at quarterback, holes up and down the roster and several top players about to become free agents.

But he also inherits a franchise that will have the No. 1 pick for the first time, and that has plenty of salary cap space to begin plugging all those holes.

"We would like to be consistently competitive in this division, this conference and ultimately the Super Bowl. That's why we're here, to do the job," Dorsey said. "I'm going to do everything within my God-given ability to make sure we have a competitive team in the NFL."

Dorsey will have final say over all personnel matters, but he'll likely get plenty of input from new coach Andy Reid, whom he worked with in Green Bay during the 1990s.

The former Eagles coach was introduced as Romeo Crennel's replacement a week ago.

"I'm happy to work with John again," Reid said. "I've known John for a long time, and I have a lot of respect for him. He's a talented individual with a strong work ethic."

He's also a "people person," Hunt said, someone who can bridge divides.
New Kansas City Chiefs general manager John Dorsey, left, poses with Chiefs' chairman Clark Hunt during an NFL football news conference Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Kansas City, Mo.

Hunt interviewed Dorsey for about six hours last Tuesday. The discussions continued for several days before Dorsey, who had bypassed other GM overtures in the past, finally decided to move into the hot seat in Kansas City.

"In his interview, although it went on for a while, he showed a high degree of enthusiasm the whole way," Hunt said, "which showed to me that Kansas City was a priority for him."

Dorsey said he spent an hour with the personnel staff Monday, and that his next order of business is to evaluate the current roster. He wants to meet with the coaching staff to discuss their philosophy, and then outline a plan for free agency and begin meeting about the draft.

The draft, of course, is where Dorsey burnished his reputation.

He began his career as a college scout in Green Bay, and later rose to director of college scouting. During his years with the Packers, Dorsey helped to scout and draft quarterback Aaron Rodgers, defensive tackle B.J. Raji, linebackers Clay Matthews and A.J. Hawk, and wide receivers Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings and Randall Cobb.

"John has been a loyal member of the Packers family and the Green Bay community for more than half of his life," Packers GM Ted Thompson said in a statement. "The Chiefs have hired a good man, and John has earned this opportunity."

Dorsey didn't get into details about what the next few months will hold for the Chiefs, though there are several personnel decisions that must be made soon.

Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe and left tackle Branden Albert are among several key players who can become free agents, and could potentially be franchised. Other players will also be available on the free-agent market, though Dorsey warned about the flaws of building a team in that way.

"I like to be selective in free agency," he said. "I always believe you can still get value within that philosophy, and you can still acquire players."

The Chiefs are also in desperate need of an upgrade at quarterback, where Matt Cassel was benched last season and Brady Quinn fared little better.

Kansas City has only drafted one quarterback in the past six seasons — Ricky Stanzi in the fifth round. The Chiefs also haven't picked a quarterback higher than the third round since 1992, and in the first round since choosing Todd Blackledge in '83.

"Any time when you begin to build a franchise, let's be real, the quarterback is a very important part," Dorsey said. "As you note the last couple weeks in the playoffs, the quarterback position is a very important position to the long-term success of the organization."
 

Associated Press