Packers Morning Buzz: Was signing tight end Jimmy Graham a mistake?

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com.

We'll start with analysis from Pete Dougherty and Eric Baranczyk regarding Packers tight end Jimmy Graham's red-zone issues.

Pete and Eric write:

Brian Gutekunst, the Packers’ general manager, knew the risks of signing Graham to a three-year deal that averages $10 million and is paying Graham $13 million this season. Graham is in his early 30s, which is always a concern, and after averaging 89 receptions and 11.5 touchdowns in his final four seasons at New Orleans, his averages had dropped to 57 catches and six touchdowns in three years with Seattle.

But Graham also been miscast with the Seahawks, a more run-oriented team that often used him as a blocker even though he’s basically a glorified receiver. And he caught 10 touchdowns last season, so he at least was a big factor for the Seahawks in the red zone.

But Graham has only one touchdown catch this season. A double-digit score total is quickly falling out of his reach.

Yes, he has often drawn extra coverage in the red zone, which has helped some of the Packers’ other receivers. And he ranks second on the team in receptions (22).

But defenses have been routinely jamming and chipping him at the line of scrimmage, and it has worked. He’s just not explosive and athletic enough anymore to avoid or shrug off those shots and get downfield. And when he had the chances to come through Sunday with a shorthanded receiving crew and against single coverage, he just didn’t have it.

You can read the whole column, which gets into other topics, here:

Pete and Eric also handed out their first "F" of the season in their weekly grade card:

Ryan Wood writes about the Packers' support of kicker Mason Crosby after his Detroit disaster:

Pete served up more insights in his weekly "4 Downs"' column:

Jim Owczarski writes about why Packers running back Aaron Jones hasn't been elevated to a lead role over Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery:

Jim and Tom Silverstein put Green Bay's talent level under the microscope in their Packers Podcast:

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Detroit's Matt Patricia talks to Albert Breer about how it felt to go up against Aaron Rodgers for the first time as a head coach:

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ESPN's Rob Demovsky writes about a more introspective Aaron Rodgers:

Former Packers receiver Greg Jennings didn't like Rodgers' "body language" during the Lions game:

Something for the Packers to keep in mind against the 49ers on Monday night:

The gang at "Good Morning Football" discussed which NFC North team is most dangerous:

Brett Favre saluted Drew Brees for moving ahead of him en route to the NFL record for career passing yardage: