Morning Buzz: Packers play free-agency game
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers and the NFL 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 some strong stuff from Tom Silverstein on how the Packers do business.
Either the Green Bay Packers are extremely cocky or they know the free-agent market as well or better than anybody in the NFL.
Since the start of free agency Thursday, they have met outside linebacker Nick Perry at his asking price, spit in the eye of cornerback Micah Hyde, low-balled guard T.J. Lang and running back Eddie Lacy, played tight end Jared Cook for a sucker and signed tight ends Martellus Bennett and Lance Kendricks at incredibly friendly prices.
It’s all in a week’s work for general manager Ted Thompson and his negotiator, Russ Ball, who together hold a lot of valuable cards and know how to play them, even while failing in their bid to produce a Super Bowl champion over the last seven seasons.
I spoke with Michael Cohen about how the Packers will go about plugging the hole at right guard:
After visiting the Buffalo Bills and Pittsburgh Steelers, Jayrone Elliott announced on Twitter that he was returning to the Packers:
Tom wrote about Elliott’s return and Datone Jones taking a visit with the Minnesota Vikings.
Elsewhere, Dave Birkett writes that T.J. Lang was close to becoming a Seahawk:
In Birkett’s piece, Lang gives a very interesting quote about the Packers and free agency:
"I think just throughout the years they were able to get some guys back in town because they used the whole, we’re good, we’re competitive, we compete for championships every year. Do you want to play with the best quarterback in the NFL-type thing, you’re going to have to take a little less money, and I think it just kind of wore some guys out the last couple years and watching guys leave," Lang said. "But it was a luxury that for a long time they were able to have. And they’re still going to be fine, they’re still going to compete, they’re still going to be a hell of a team, but it is what it is. It’s just a business and the older you get, the more you play, the more you understand it."
Rob Demovsky writes on Eddie Lacy being stuck in a waiting game, along with many other big-name running backs:
Packers fans are doing their part in trying to get Lacy to return:
A former Packers tight end made a visit to the Seahawks:
Cheesehead TV has put T.J. Watt on the cover of their annual draft guide:
Lance Kendricks’ contract numbers are in:
The Power Sweep highlights a former Badgers offensive lineman for the draft:
The NFL Network can not stop talking about Adrian Peterson and the Packers:
Martellus Bennett seems to have the dynamic down between the Packers and the Bears:
Everyone wants the Packers to be more aggressive in free agency: