BUH-BYE BART

National Football Post is reporting that Bart Scott, a linebacker that some Packers fans had hoped Ted Thompson would go after, has agreed to terms with the New York Jets on a deal that would make him about $8 million per year, although the length is yet to be known. Some who have been monitoring the transition to the 3-4 had hoped to sign Scott and move A.J. Hawk to the outside spot opposite Aaron Kampman. That had its own question marks, with A.J. Hawk not being much of a pass rusher.

But don't get too down about it, Packer Nation, there will be a lot more disappointments to come in free agency as long as TT is in charge of making the moves.

HAPPY FREE AGENCY 2009!

So there is obviously a lot to talk about today, but knowing Ted Thompson, not a whole lot will be because of the Packers. But to get things started, the team's official website has an explanation of different rules and such about free agency that many people may not fully understand. It should help.

The Press-Gazette explains how the Pack started with $36 million in cap space. It got knocked down to about $30 million once the teams' tenders went into effect, explained here. The Press-Gazette also included a list of the unrestricted and restricted free agents the team has.

UNRESTRICTED
DT Colin Cole
DE Michael Montgomery
T Mark Tauscher

RESTRICTED
S Atari Bigby
WR Shaun Bodiford
CB Jarrett Bush
TE Tory Humphrey
OLB Jason Hunter
FB John Kuhn
WR Ruvell Martin

Decisions have already been made on some of these players in Green Bay. Nothing with the unrestricteds, however. Atari Bigby has gotten a second round offer, and no team is likely to match that. Shaun Bodiford and Tory Humphrey were not extended tenders, so they now become free agents. Jarrett Bush, Jason Hunter, Ruvell Martin and John Kuhn all received low restricted free agent tenders ($1.01 million). Finally, Tramon Williams, who was an exclusive rights free agent, was also extended a tender.

So now we know about the Packers. What about the rest of the teams in the NFL? The Journal-Sentinel has everybody covered.

And finally, for now at least, the Press-Gazette or Packersnews.com, is in agreeance with me that Thompson probably won't make any splashes. Instead of looking for new players, look for new deals for current players.

ONE MORE THING BEFORE FREE AGENCY

At the combine, a hidden gem was discovered. Watch here. And yes, that is sarcasm you can read in my voice.

REMEMBER THAT GUY?

Yeah that guy. Tony Mandarich. The guy the Packers took number two overall in the 1989 draft, AHEAD OF BARRY SANDERS. He held out to begin his career, and then spent much of his first season on special teams because of it. Mandarich never panned out and left the team after the '92 season. He attempted to make a brief return with the Indianapolis Colts between 1996-98. Not so much. He was once considered the best offensive line prospect ever. Now, he's an admitted former steroid user, alcoholic, and painkiller addict. Mandarich, however, proves that EVERYONE can turn it around, even if it's in a VERY unorthodox way.

Mandarich has been "locked up" and will stay behind bars for "good" until he raises $2,400 for Muscular Dystrophy, and he is calling that goal amount his "bail money." While this is a very different strategy in attempting to raise money, I give him all the credit in the world for doing such helpful and needed charity work. Bravo Mr. Mandarich.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A DD

Ted Thompson has been the GM since early 2005. In each draft that he has been in charge of, the Packers have taken a wide receiver in either the 2nd or 3rd round, which would imply that he is getting ready to replace Donald Driver as he continues to age. However, Thompson recently said Driver was still a "top-flight receiver" and he hasn't seen "any drop-off in (his) play at all." DD is now 34, so he is obviously on the downturn, but his production really hasn't fallen off much. Obviously Greg Jennings was a great find in the 2006 draft and has taken over the number one receiving role (catching 6 more passes and 4 more touchdowns than Driver in 2008), but Driver has still had 4 consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons. He had 74 catches in '08 (Jennings had 80) and he's still averaging almost 14 yards per catch. I tend to agree with Thompson that there has been no drop off for DD, but the time will come soon, and they will need to be ready to replace such a solid possession type of guy. Is James Jones ready to fill the void? What about Jordy Nelson? Or will TT see it fit to pick another WR in '09? Ah, we will find out the answer to that in exactly 2 months (the NFL Draft begins on April 25th).

DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE

Well not quite... But opposites nonetheless. Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette had an interesting column comparing the different outlooks and strategies of Ted Thompson and Ron Wolf. Thompson values draft picks above all else while Wolf was not afraid to delve into free agency and the trading market, two places where the former GM made key acquisitions that helped the Packers to three straight NFC Champioinship Game appearances. Thompson has been known not to do those same things that brought Wolf and the Packers such success, but that does not necessarily mean his ways of thinking won't bring winning with it.

DID YOU KNOW?

Packers cornerback Charles Woodson has his own wine. It's called Twenty Four and it was started in 2001 when Woodson was a member of the Raiders. Oakland's training camp was in Napa Valley, California, well-known wine country, and wine first struck Charles' interest there. Only 22 cases of the first edition were made, but he is slowly trying to increase the production. For the first three years' wine, he has purchased the grapes for the winemaking, but he hopes to one day start his own vineyard. He talks about his investment endeavors here.

SPEAKING OF DON BEEBE...

I thought this was sorta funny that the day after I happened to mention former Packer Don Beebe, I found a recent interview with him on MouthpieceSports.com. Especially since he was such a short-tenured Packer (1996-97). It's also related to the combine, which is the biggest thing going on in the NFL right now. Check it out.

BRETT FAVRE AND ESPN GO TOGETHER LIKE...

Well, a lot of people have a lot of different opinions on how to finish that sentence. But this morning, USA Today's Michael Hiestand reported that Favre may be first in line to fill the void created by the firing of Emmitt Smith. The Press-Gazette simply relayed a report of the story. Others have given their opinions. Aaron at Cheesehead TV feels pretty strongly about Brett not taking up this offer.

"Brett, for the love of all that is HOLY, don’t go work for ESPN. You are Brett Favre. Brett freekin’ Favre! You’re not a talking head. You’re not a studio analyst. You are BRETT FAVRE. I mean, could you imagine Bart Starr on ESPN? I didn’t think so.

This would be like Harrison Ford deciding to take a supporting role in a Judd Apatow film. Talk about destroying your legacy… (And yes, Ford has already destroyed his. Hollywood Homicide anyone? For the love of GOD Brett, don’t go down that road!)"

People in Chicago feel a little different, suprisingly. Will Brinson, at MouthpieceSports.com, starts by apologizing for talking about Brett again, saying he is "played out." However, he goes on to admit that Favre is "charming" and offers "praise [to ESPN] if they make this move." He also states quite honestly and truthfully, "he would be replacing Emitt Smith. Which means that it's illiterately impossible to set the bar any lower for on-camera journalism."

I would love to get to see more Brett every Sunday, albeit not on the football field (especially not in a Vikings uniform). I've finally come to the realization that I will just never see the SAME Brett Favre on Sundays, and the pain I felt at the end of the 2008 season never needs to be experienced again. I hope Brett at least considers the offer, although former teammate Don Beebe said last year he didn't think he would. However, I don't think I've ever seen Favre any more dressed up than on the cover of this issue of Men's Journal, and him in a suit may be a strange site. Don't forget, during his Packers retirement press conference, he said "Here I am. I thought about wearin' a suit. I thought about shavin'. But what you see is what you get." I don't know how the powers that be at ESPN would feel about that.

AN OMEN FOR '09?

ESPN The Mag's blog had a cool post this morning. It included that same video I had mentioned in an earlier post. In essence, the post questions who owned February, and makes a strong argument for NASCAR driver Matt Kenseth and rapper Lil Wayne. The mention of Lil Wayne has a clear reason; he blogs for ESPN The Mag (but he did also win 4 Grammy's). Matt Kenseth has won two races including the Daytona 500 this month.

But how in the world could these two be connected? An African-American rapper from the dirty south (via New Orleans) and a Cambridge, Wisconsin native who participates in just about as pasty white a sport as there is. THEY ARE BOTH GREEN BAY PACKER FANS. Yes, I have already mentioned this of Kenseth, but so is Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., aka Lil Wayne.

Wayne mentions his support of the green and gold on more than once instance. He says he wants to get Vince Lombardi's famous quote, about the three important things in life: family, religion, and the Green Bay Packers, tattooed somewhere. Also, he admitted he didn't mind seeing Brett Favre do well at the beginning of the season with the Jets, because as a Packers fan, he was glad when the Packers succeeded, but also when Brett did.

So now, two of the Packers' most famous fans have had a great start to 2009. The Daytona 500, the Autoclub 500, Best Rap Solo Performance, Best Rap Performnace By A Duo Or Group, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album all have landed (kinda, sorta) in Titletown U.S.A. Or at least in the the hands of Packer Backers. So what does this mean for the 2009 Pack? If it's an omen, the green and gold should be looking foward to great success this fall.

MORE COMBINE NEWS... OR SOMETHING ALONE THOSE LINES...

It has been well reported that Texas Tech wide receiver, and the player some consider to be the best in the draft, Michael Crabtree, has a stress fracture in his foot and will be out 6-10 weeks. But that's old news by now. But what might not be old news to you is the way that Deadspin.com is reporting it.

Yes, that's right. If you didn't already follow the link, the title to their two line post about Crabtree's injury is entitled, "Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree Has Stress Fracture In Foot, Will Be Out 6-10 Weeks, Is Still Better Than All Chicago Bears WRs Combined." True AND priceless.

COMBINE INTERVIEW SERVES TO EXCITE MY ANGRY SIDE

Well, I didn't really know what else to title this post. But the Press-Gazette had a post that got me excited on Thursday (sorry I'm a little late.) While I don't believe there really is much of a chance that he slips down to the Packers at number 9, Baylor's left tackle Jason Smith provided some excitement, something an agent usually curses a player doing, during his interview at the combine. It can be summed up in one line, and one line that really makes me like this guy if he's still available at the number 9 spot (although I still believe the defensive front seven needs more work than the offensive line.) "I take a lot of pride in physically assaulting somebody." I love that quote. This is one hell of a football player, although most drafts have him going between pick number two and six. But if somehow he sleeps to the nine spot, Ted Thompson should have a hard decision between grabbing a talent like this while he's still on the board, or addressing the transitioning defense.