Packers cut Ryan, Hodge
In a pair of surprising moves, the Packers have parted ways with punter Jon Ryan and backup linebacker Abdul Hodge.
The team has not announced any transactions, but former Redskins punter Derrick Frost is on the practice field this afternoon, and Ryan and Hodge are not. UPDATE, 2:52 p.m.: The Packers announced the signings of Frost and long snapper Brett Goode and the releases of Ryan and Hodge. General Manager Ted Thompson will discuss the moves after practice, the team said.
The former meshes with an Internet report earlier today by the Washington Post, which reported the Packers had signed Frost, who was cut by the Redskins on Saturday after losing a training-camp battle to rookie sixth-round draft pick Durant Brooks.
Hodge was enjoying an impressive comeback after missing all of last season following double knee surgery, but he apparently was the odd man out when the Packers needed a roster spot for long snapper Brett Goode.
The bigger news is the signing of Frost and the release of Ryan, who was coming off a much-improved second season with the Packers.
According to the Post, Frost was scheduled to try out for the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, but the Packers signed him today without a tryout. Frost, who began his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2003, punted for the Redskins the past three seasons. Last year, Frost averaged 41.0 yards and netted 36.4 -- compared to a 44.4 gross average and 37.6 net for Ryan.
On 144 punts over two NFL seasons, Ryan averaged 44.5 yards gross and 37 net. He had a pair of poor punts in the preseason opener Aug. 11 against Cincinnati but otherwise was fine, averaging 48 gross yards on 23 punts, with seven downed inside the 20 and a long of 72.
Goode, a 23-year-old out of Arkansas, was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars in June. He replaces rookie J.J. Jansen, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a left knee injury in the Packers' preseason finale on Thursday.
* DT Ryan Pickett (hamstring) is practicing for the first time since training camp began, and C Scott Wells (back) and DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) also are back. Not practicing are: S Atari Bigby (ankle), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring), LB A.J. Hawk (chest), G Josh Sitton (knee), WR James Jones (knee) and LB Tracy White (ankle). UPDATE: T Chad Clifton and DE Jeremy Thompson also left practice for treatment.
-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com and Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
The team has not announced any transactions, but former Redskins punter Derrick Frost is on the practice field this afternoon, and Ryan and Hodge are not. UPDATE, 2:52 p.m.: The Packers announced the signings of Frost and long snapper Brett Goode and the releases of Ryan and Hodge. General Manager Ted Thompson will discuss the moves after practice, the team said.
The former meshes with an Internet report earlier today by the Washington Post, which reported the Packers had signed Frost, who was cut by the Redskins on Saturday after losing a training-camp battle to rookie sixth-round draft pick Durant Brooks.
Hodge was enjoying an impressive comeback after missing all of last season following double knee surgery, but he apparently was the odd man out when the Packers needed a roster spot for long snapper Brett Goode.
The bigger news is the signing of Frost and the release of Ryan, who was coming off a much-improved second season with the Packers.
According to the Post, Frost was scheduled to try out for the Seattle Seahawks on Tuesday, but the Packers signed him today without a tryout. Frost, who began his career with the Cleveland Browns in 2003, punted for the Redskins the past three seasons. Last year, Frost averaged 41.0 yards and netted 36.4 -- compared to a 44.4 gross average and 37.6 net for Ryan.
On 144 punts over two NFL seasons, Ryan averaged 44.5 yards gross and 37 net. He had a pair of poor punts in the preseason opener Aug. 11 against Cincinnati but otherwise was fine, averaging 48 gross yards on 23 punts, with seven downed inside the 20 and a long of 72.
Goode, a 23-year-old out of Arkansas, was waived by the Jacksonville Jaguars in June. He replaces rookie J.J. Jansen, who was placed on injured reserve after suffering a left knee injury in the Packers' preseason finale on Thursday.
* DT Ryan Pickett (hamstring) is practicing for the first time since training camp began, and C Scott Wells (back) and DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee) also are back. Not practicing are: S Atari Bigby (ankle), S Charlie Peprah (hamstring), LB A.J. Hawk (chest), G Josh Sitton (knee), WR James Jones (knee) and LB Tracy White (ankle). UPDATE: T Chad Clifton and DE Jeremy Thompson also left practice for treatment.
-- Tom Pelissero, tpelisse@greenbaypressgazette.com and Rob Demovsky, rdemovsk@greenbaypressgazette.com
posted by PackersNews.com at
2:15 PM
14 Comments:
wow
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:04 PM
Holy crap, I'm really surprised they cut Ryan. Not too surprised they cut Hodge, but I liked him over Tracy White.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:32 PM
i cant believe this. Ryan has always been pretty good and I thought hodge was making an awesome comeback
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:34 PM
I have less and less faith in TT all the time.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:35 PM
Just when you think TT can't do anything to prove he is a bigger idiot, he cuts Ryan (for the most part, very dependable) for a Redskin reject. Ted, you have already proven you are stud, start making GOOD decisions!
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:47 PM
Ryan pretty much sealed his fate with the two shank kicks in game 2 - preseason. If it had been the regular season he would have been gone the next day.
Where are you going to play Hodge?
Barnett doesn't come off the field. If he does, Bishop replaces him. Hodge can't play special teams nor can he play outside LB. He'll probably be a good backup at the middle LB for someone. There's no room for him in GB.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:51 PM
Hodge instead of Bush???? Bush maybe the worst player in the NFL, unless Ahmad Carrol is still in the League.
I do't really care as much about Ryan because he has missed a number of punts that I can remember off of the side of his foot but it seems to be an odd move because he hadn't done to much wrong in the preseason. Maybe his biceps were too intimidating for Thompson.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:52 PM
"I have less and less faith in TT all the time" Knee-jerk reaction from ignorance.
Who cares whether YOU have, or not? YOU don't have the inside info and a staff of personnel people doing your ground work.
It's just a punter and a long-snapper, for a punter and an oft-injured LB -- probably a good move.
By
BarryC, At
September 1, 2008 3:52 PM
Ryan might have more "upside", but all I want in a punter is someone consistent that doesn't shank it, and Ryan had more than his fair share of shanks. That preseason game obviously sealed his fate. And who could forget that Chicago game with two blocks and a 13 yarder?
On the other hand, he is the best scrambling punter I have ever seen. That play vs Minny was AWESOME last year, where the other ten guys on the punt unit knew the fake was called off but Ryan went for it on his own, juked like five guys, and made it. That was great.
Can't argue the case for Bush. I suppose if the coaches like him as a core ST guy and he is a emergency safety, then fine, but he has blown his last chance at playing CB IMO.
By
Zack in Santa Barbara, At
September 1, 2008 3:58 PM
Not "just a punter" -- remember, Ryan was the holder, too. Now the team will be transitioning in a new long-snapper and a new holder, during the regular season. Not good.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 3:59 PM
Maybe the Packers will put Ruvell Martin as the holder rather than trying to change both the long-snapper and the holder for Crosby.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 4:11 PM
ted is a total phukin idiot..and anyone who has supported the mess of 08 is in the same crap heap. he has had a terrible draft, and dumped some of our best players as well and shut the door, on our best player....the team sucks, will suck, deal with it, you loved ted and gave him this noose.
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 6:10 PM
barry c is a total kockliksuknutbuttlicktedslather
By
Anonymous, At
September 1, 2008 6:12 PM
-
Make as many ridiculous comments as you like.
4-12 to 8-8 to 14-4.
Nothing else needs to be said.
By
Dougman9, At
September 1, 2008 6:48 PM
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