APP Podcast #22 - An Offseason of Upheaval

Front Office changes:

Ted Thompson - steps down as GM, re-assigned to head scout (whoopee-doo)

Brian Gutekunst elevated to GM (44 years old, 19 year scout within the Packer organization)

Russ Ball promoted to something else - sounds like window dressing

New Reporting structure: Gutekunst, MM & Ball all report to Mark Murphy

NOT A FAN AT ALL of this structure - makes no sense...have very bad feeling that Murphy is going to mess this up

Coaching changes:

McCarthy given token “1 year prove it” extension to his contract. This is just window dressing as no coach or GM goes into the last year of a contract as a lame duck

Dom Capers - out as Defensive Coordinator - 5 years too late IMO

Mike Trgovac (Dline) & Scott McCurley (LBs) fired from Capers’ staff

didn't understand the Trgovac firing - his unit did pretty well this past season

Edgar Bennett not retained as OC, Alex Van Pelt contract not renewed (QB coach)

Aaron Rodgers was not happy that Van Pelt was let go for whatever reason

Mike Pettine hired as new DC

Really like this move - Pettine is young, an outsider and innovative. Has a history of top 10 defenses.  Appears much more willing to adapt his scheme unlike Dom Capers.

What I don’t like is the fact that MM forced him to keep so many of Capers’ left over staff on this new defensive staff...doesn’t make sense

Looming Items for Gutekunst

Aaron Rodgers contract extension - this is going to be an interesting negotiation as the recent Jimmy Garoppolo extension with the 49ers was HUGE, and he only as 7 starts in his career.

Right now Aaron Rodgers is due to make a MINIMUM of $30 Million annually with his next contract. Goodness.

The packers simply cannot afford to pay this sort of ungodly sum, even to the league’s best player, and still put quality players around him

Rodgers, if he really cares at all about winning, should take a somewhat team friendly deal ($28MM?) with the same guaranteed $ as Garoppolo.  This will give the Packers a chance to sign some other quality players around him.

Jordy Nelson & Randall Cobb

Both are going into the last year of their respective deals and both players are on the decline.

Jordy has lost at least a step, but still has value with Rodgers in the red zone

Randall Cobb is a dead man walking - if he doesn’t agree to a massive pay cut, he should be (and probably will be)  cut.

If Gutekunst is serious about remaking this roster and injecting  it with youth and speed he should cut both Jordy and Cobb IMO.

Clay Matthews

An aging veteran that should have been traded a few years ago if Ted were smart, but here we sit with Clay due to make $15 Million and he isn't worth half that amount right now.

CM3 still has value on this team, but it would be at a reduced salary and he should move full-time to ILB

I really don’t believe that CM3 will take a pay cut - if he doesn't agree to that he should be cut outright.

Morgan Burnett

Another aging vet that has proven valuable to the defense and very versatile, but his body is breaking down quick

He may command $10MM salary to be extended - Is Burnett worth that much $ on a 3rd contact?