NICK COLLINS, TONY GONZALEZ, AND A "TO DO" LIST

So the word has already spread that Nick Collins hasn't shown up in Green Bay for the beginning of the offseason program. That is interesting considering he is currently under contract, and Tramon Williams, who has yet to sign his exclusive rights tender to remain with the team, is taking part in the strength portion of the program. Collins obviously wants the Packers to look into extending his contract now, after a Pro Bowl season in 2008, rather than risking his production going down in the new 3-4 and losing out on money. However, Aaron over at Cheesehead TV doesn't think that signing Collins should be in the top six (that's as far as he goes) of Ted Thompson's offseason priorities. I agree, but think that they should try to get it done at some point, but not rush and overpay because he still needs to prove he will be the same player in the new defense. Resigning Greg Jennings is the obvious choice at the top of Aaron's list, as well as Ted Thompson's according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

Moving down along CTV's list at number four is trading for Tony Gonzalez, which Packergeeks has also posted about today. The Packers have been talked about as one of the top possible destinations all along, since the rumors of a Gonzalez trade came about during the 2008 season. Packergeeks says that Thompson should be willing to give up a second rounder for Gonzalez, but I completely disagree. Gonzalez is still a top notch tight end, definitely still in the top 5 in the league. But he is 33 years old, and only has a few more years left in his career. While some help at the tight end position could benefit the offense, with the switch to the 3-4, the defense and bringing in players that fit the new mold is a much greater need. The offensive tackle spot needs to be figured out before we go out and trade a second rounder for a tight end. I wouldn't mind possibly a third rounder, because in the first two rounds we could go for a defensive front seven player and a tackle (or possibly two front seven-ers), but any earlier is paying too high of a price for a position that isn't nearly the glaring need that these others appear to be.

LOOKING FOR A LITTLE DEPTH ON THE BACK LINE

Former Browns safety Mike Adams is in Green Bay today to visit with the Packers. He is the first player outside the organization that the team has had in for an official visit. The Pack already has Atari Bigby and Nick Collins looking to start in 2009 with Aaron Rouse, Charlie Peprah, and Jarrett Bush also listed as safeties. Adams, however, would bring another cover safety into the mix, which the Packers could use knowing that Bigby and Rouse (the top 2 listed as playing strong safety opposite Collins) prefer to play closer to the line of scrimmage.

PRO BOWL

I don't remember the last time I actually watched a Pro Bowl. Not that I really watch the NBA or MLB All-Star games either. There was a period of time where the All-Star games were so important to a sport. Usually, that was because it was the only time that fans got to see certain players (TV, the internet, and the increase in number of franchises in each sport has dramatically changed that). They're just not interesting anymore. They used to be competitive games where the players really fought to show who was the best. Now they've become just another situation for front office people to worry about the players they have invested millions of dollars in getting injured. So, I'm not ashamed to admit I didn't watch the Pro Bowl yesterday. Instead, I spent six hours in a car.

Al Harris and Nick Collins were the only representatives of the Packers in the game, and they each did well. The Journal Sentinel's Greg A. Bedard did an interview with Nick about his first pro bowl experience. Collins recorded one tackle while on defense, and two as a special-teamer (maybe we should send him on coverage and he should do that for us next year since our Special Teams finished 26th in the league in 2008). Harris had three tackles and knocked away a pass intended for Denver's Brandon Marshall in the end zone that saved a touchdown (pictured above). And don't forget Charles Woodson was elected, but decided against playing. It's interesting to see three players from a below average defense get recognized for such good individual seasons, yet their unit as a whole struggled so much. Congratulations to these three for having the types of seasons they did, and maybe some day All-Star games can get their swagger back.