Morning Buzz: Packers enter legal tampering period

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a strong cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We’ll start with Michael Cohen’s look at the Packers to-do list as they prepare for the start of the new league year on Wednesday and the beginning of free agency.

From Michael:

The short period of time between now and 3 p.m. Wednesday is when a cardiologist would be most likely to worry about Russ Ball, the executive vice president and director of football operations for the Green Bay Packers. Broad as Ball’s job description may be, his focus at the moment is narrow: All of his energy is dedicated to negotiating contracts, a job for which he is well-known.

When the buzzer sounds on Wednesday afternoon, a new league year begins for the National Football League. Old contracts expire, free agency ignites like wildfire and general managers across the country start shaping their rosters in pursuit of a Super Bowl.

In the interim, Ball’s to-do list includes the following:

» Submit qualifying offers for any restricted free agents the Packers wish to re-sign.

» Submit minimum salary tenders to retain any exclusive rights free agents the Packers would like back next season.

» Stay in contact with agents representing Packers players in line to receive extensions or new deals.

» Jockey with 31 other teams to make verbal agreements with unrestricted free agents during the NFL’s legal tampering period from Monday into Wednesday.

Tom Silverstein looks at Brian Gutekunst’s expected approach to free agency:

I spoke with Pete Dougherty to get his instant reaction to the Damarious Randall trade:

Pete looks at the work that needs to be done at cornerback after Friday’s trade:

I chatted with readers immediately after the news broke about the trade:

Elsewhere, Rob Demovsky writes on starting to get an idea of Gutekunst’s identity:

The Packers are reportedly set to make a run at a soon-to-be former Rams cornerback:

Eye In the Sky takes a look at the Packers newest quarterback:

Tom Grossi was blindsided by Friday’s trade:

The Packers reportedly have interest in a particular offensive lineman prospect:

Chris Peterson looks at what Friday’s trade tells us about the future of the team:

Packers fans have no chill:

Great Aaron Jones highlight video:

Speaking of Jones, is he the back fantasy players should be targeting?

The Ten Yard Line wonders if the Packers will make an offer for Kyle Fuller:

Colin Cowherd keeps talking about the Packers: