1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:20,720 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,720 --> 00:00:23,440 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by Wes hod Kowitz, 3 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,120 Speaker 1: and we are very pleased to have special guest Larry 4 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 1: mccaren with us as well. We are here at the 5 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,480 Speaker 1: Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, coming to you from 6 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: the NFL Scouting Combine and guys. Yesterday we heard from 7 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:41,960 Speaker 1: Packers GM Brian Goodacunstan head coach Mike McCarthy, and one 8 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: of the big topics of conversation was the new contract 9 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:49,320 Speaker 1: extension that the Packers are working on with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. 10 00:00:49,640 --> 00:00:52,000 Speaker 1: Goudacon has made it pretty clear that this is something 11 00:00:52,040 --> 00:00:55,120 Speaker 1: they would like to get done this offseason. West We 12 00:00:55,160 --> 00:00:58,200 Speaker 1: talked about it in a previous show that the Packers 13 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: want to do this with two years left done Aaron 14 00:01:00,600 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: Rodgers contract, the same time frame in which they executed 15 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:08,040 Speaker 1: his last extension. In what are your thoughts on where 16 00:01:08,040 --> 00:01:10,480 Speaker 1: this is headed? It makes total sense for the Packers 17 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,160 Speaker 1: from that perspective. Obviously, is Good said, this is the 18 00:01:13,160 --> 00:01:15,559 Speaker 1: best player in the NFL. It's not going to be inexpensive. 19 00:01:15,600 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: It's something that you have to get done. The The 20 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:19,560 Speaker 1: interesting part of it though, is that you do have 21 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,280 Speaker 1: the two years left on the deal. So what does 22 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: that allow you to do. It allows you to spread 23 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:24,400 Speaker 1: out the signing bonus, It allows you to be more 24 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,760 Speaker 1: manageable with the cap hit. We all saw what Jimmy 25 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: Garoppolo's cap hit ended up being with the San Francisco 26 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:32,120 Speaker 1: forty Niners when a player is going into unrestricted free agency. 27 00:01:32,319 --> 00:01:34,640 Speaker 1: Then you also saw what the Jacksonville Jaguars did in 28 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:37,160 Speaker 1: extending Blake Bordles and how they were able to reduce it. 29 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:40,320 Speaker 1: So having that under control, but also taking care of 30 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers, the franchise quarterback, is really the penultimate thing 31 00:01:44,160 --> 00:01:46,320 Speaker 1: I think on this offseason, in addition to trying to 32 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: figure out, you know, what direction the team's going to 33 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,680 Speaker 1: take in two thousand eighteen. Yeah, and now, Larry you 34 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:53,960 Speaker 1: said yesterday, this is obviously a no brainer. The Packers 35 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:59,120 Speaker 1: are going to extend Aaron Rodgers. He is going to stay. Yeah, 36 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: of course, right, So, but this is kind of a 37 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: tricky thing because you want to get this done, but 38 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: you also want to leave at least some financial flexibility 39 00:02:08,320 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: to continue to upgrade the team and make another run 40 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 1: of the Super Bowl. Oh absolutely. And there's a couple 41 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: of points about the whole thing. Number one, the markets changed. 42 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,720 Speaker 1: They have to do this. I mean Aaron Rodgers, believe 43 00:02:19,760 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: it or not. At one time when he signed his deals, 44 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,119 Speaker 1: highest payer player in the league, and now he's under 45 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:25,920 Speaker 1: page So they got to do something to keep the 46 00:02:25,960 --> 00:02:28,880 Speaker 1: big guy happy, which they are doing. The other thing 47 00:02:29,560 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: is it's all as Brian Gudun said yesterday very appropriately, 48 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: it's all part of the puzzle. They got to know 49 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:40,799 Speaker 1: how this piece fits before they can make a lot 50 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: of other decisions as far as people they asked to 51 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:47,280 Speaker 1: take pay cuts, people they may not be able to afford. 52 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 1: All those types of issues can be determined to some 53 00:02:51,240 --> 00:02:54,359 Speaker 1: extent when they find out how big a piece of 54 00:02:54,400 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: the salary cap pie he's going to go to one 55 00:02:56,639 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers, and he certainly deserves it. Yeah, and it's 56 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:02,959 Speaker 1: on russ Ball to structure this contract in the way 57 00:03:02,960 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: that's going to work for the packers, as he has 58 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: done over the years many times. And good Kun said 59 00:03:09,160 --> 00:03:11,920 Speaker 1: they're looking at all kinds of different scenarios in terms 60 00:03:11,919 --> 00:03:14,080 Speaker 1: of how this could play out and what the immediate 61 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:16,520 Speaker 1: cap hit is going to be on this new deal 62 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:19,280 Speaker 1: and what sort of flexibility would give them in order 63 00:03:19,320 --> 00:03:22,640 Speaker 1: to make other moves. You don't know exactly how this 64 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: is going to play out and when the contract is 65 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 1: going to be signed. As I talked about last week, West, 66 00:03:27,480 --> 00:03:29,800 Speaker 1: it's hard to believe that for me anyway, that Aaron 67 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:32,640 Speaker 1: Rodgers would sign this deal before Kirk Cousins, who's the 68 00:03:32,639 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: top quarterback in free agency heading into free agent? Hey, 69 00:03:39,480 --> 00:03:44,720 Speaker 1: I mean exactly, I'm just being real here. I mean, 70 00:03:44,720 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: if i'm if I'm Aaron Rodgers, if Kirk Cousins is 71 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: gonna calculate if he's going to become the top guy 72 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: and and surpassed Jimmy Garoppolo's deal, and Garoppolo's deals surpassed 73 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:59,200 Speaker 1: Matthew Stafford. Can you believe those two names are in 74 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: the same sentence? Yeah, crazy quarterback. I'm sorry, No, No, 75 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 1: that's okay. But you're right. But as the salary cap 76 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: goes up and the importance of the quarterback position certainly 77 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,119 Speaker 1: doesn't diminish in this league, you've got to take care 78 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: of your guy when you have your guy, absolutely, and 79 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 1: you look at how the cap has swelled, you know, 80 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,360 Speaker 1: in the last five years. I always tell that story 81 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: over and over again. The day I started on the Packers, 82 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:25,920 Speaker 1: be two thousand and twelve, it was a hundred and 83 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: twenty million dollars in the cap. The way it's going 84 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: right now, hundred and seventy eight million is what it's 85 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: looking like going into two thousand and eighteen. What does 86 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: that mean? It means the price of pokers going up 87 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:37,720 Speaker 1: for quarterbacks and you have to be in lockstep with that. 88 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 1: And because of that, with all these teams we saw 89 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: going back to the Joe Flacco deal with the Baltimore Ravens, 90 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: with all these teams trying to find the guy, and 91 00:04:45,120 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: then when you feel like you have a guy that 92 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,520 Speaker 1: can be the guy, you're gonna get paid. So what 93 00:04:49,720 --> 00:04:53,320 Speaker 1: the measures are not only just for the Cousins contract, 94 00:04:53,360 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: but you have Drew Brees out there yet. Agi McCarron's 95 00:04:56,000 --> 00:04:58,000 Speaker 1: a name that you're not hearing talked about here at 96 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: all because nobody wants to get in trouble. But that's 97 00:05:00,320 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: gonna be a very interesting one to follow in March fourteenth, 98 00:05:02,760 --> 00:05:04,960 Speaker 1: and much like in two thousand thirteen when the Packers 99 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:07,599 Speaker 1: took Carrion Rodgers, that extension in the lead up to 100 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:10,600 Speaker 1: the two thousand thirteen NFL Draft days before, hours before it. 101 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:12,839 Speaker 1: I think you're gonna see all those pieces fall and 102 00:05:12,880 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: then everything go from there. Yeah. And the other thing 103 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: that the Packers will certainly be watching Packers fans is 104 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: what Minnesota is going to do at quarterback. They decided 105 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:24,720 Speaker 1: not to franchise Case Keenum, Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford. At 106 00:05:24,720 --> 00:05:27,080 Speaker 1: this point, they're all headed to free agency. There's word 107 00:05:27,120 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: that the Vikings are going to get in on the 108 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins thing. You got any feeling, Larry as to 109 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: what the Vikings are gonna ultimately do at quarterback zero, 110 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: And to be honest, don't care. All I know we're 111 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:44,600 Speaker 1: not m financially. The world is coming to it alright. 112 00:05:44,640 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 1: With that, we're going to toss it to a break 113 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 1: back with more on Packers Unscripted from the NFL Scouting 114 00:05:49,800 --> 00:06:06,600 Speaker 1: Combine right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike Spofford, 115 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: along with Wes Hodkowitz and Larry McCarron, coming to you 116 00:06:09,200 --> 00:06:12,800 Speaker 1: from downtown Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine. Now, as 117 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: we talk about the Packers salary cap situation heading into 118 00:06:16,279 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 1: teen West, one of the other topics that came up 119 00:06:19,440 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: and talking with general manager Brian Goodacunts yesterday was Jordy 120 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,560 Speaker 1: Nelson and Randall Cobb and their cap numbers, along with 121 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: obviously the extension to given to Davante Adams at the 122 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:33,360 Speaker 1: end of the regular season. Packers have a lot of 123 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: money in invested right now at wide receiver. Gouda Kuntz 124 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: wasn't making any proclamations as to what's going to happen, 125 00:06:40,000 --> 00:06:42,880 Speaker 1: but he sounded to me like a GM who is 126 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:46,359 Speaker 1: very determined to make this work because he likes what 127 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: the Packers have in Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, and 128 00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:51,960 Speaker 1: he said he doesn't want to see really good football 129 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: players walk out the door. Yeah, And I think Mike 130 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:56,440 Speaker 1: McCarthy echoed those comments as well in terms of just 131 00:06:56,480 --> 00:06:58,800 Speaker 1: being able to look at the situation, the landscape of 132 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: the NFL receiver and keeping in mind what a lot 133 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,200 Speaker 1: of these guys are making now on the market. Jarvis 134 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: Landry being the newest of that group with the Miami Dolphins. 135 00:07:06,600 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: They knocked out the biggest thing they had to right 136 00:07:08,720 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 1: at the end of the season with Davante Adams and 137 00:07:10,840 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: getting that extension done. Jordy Nelson was up front right 138 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:15,520 Speaker 1: from the beginning, saying that he's going to make more 139 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 1: money than Elson ever did on a contract. Jordi did 140 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 1: a lot of contracts underneath value. If you go back 141 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,520 Speaker 1: to his first extension back in two thousand eleven, I 142 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: believe it was, and then the next one he did 143 00:07:24,640 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: and believe it was two thousand and fourteen. By doing that, 144 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: it allowed the Packers to get ahead of those things, 145 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: and that's one reason why they're in the position they've 146 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,000 Speaker 1: been in where the cap hasn't really come into question 147 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: a lot. Randall cob toughier for him, another injury kind 148 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 1: of riddled season, but they know what he can do, 149 00:07:39,800 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: and he's still only gonna be twenty eight years old 150 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:44,960 Speaker 1: going into two thousand eighteen. That unit, the chemistry that 151 00:07:45,000 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 1: they have with Aaron Rodgers, you can't produce that overnight. 152 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,160 Speaker 1: And I think that's something that both Good Cuts McCarthy 153 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: really value. Yeah, and we'll see what happens financially, Larry, 154 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:54,720 Speaker 1: as you talked about, maybe there will be some pay 155 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:57,320 Speaker 1: cuts with some guys and whatnot. But I don't like 156 00:07:57,400 --> 00:07:59,800 Speaker 1: to put words in the quarterback's mouth, but I gotta 157 00:08:00,080 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: leave he wants this receiving Corps, Davante Adams, Jorty Nelson, 158 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 1: Randall Cobb and others. He wants to keep it intact 159 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,200 Speaker 1: here coming back from that colibone injury. Yeah, well I 160 00:08:10,280 --> 00:08:13,240 Speaker 1: found it interesting. I was reading an article just by 161 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,880 Speaker 1: chance the other day and one of the Cowboy executives, 162 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: I see enough he's related to Jerry Jones. I don't 163 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: know how that was talking about Tony Romo and when 164 00:08:24,800 --> 00:08:27,960 Speaker 1: you have and not that Tony Romo is even in 165 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers Lee's but when you have the guy at quarterback, 166 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 1: you kind of get it's a collaboration and go and 167 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 1: work together, and you sit down and say how far 168 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,480 Speaker 1: do you want to go? And you know what that 169 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: does for those around you? How much can you work 170 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 1: with us? And I think Aaron Rodgers will always go 171 00:08:49,800 --> 00:08:53,720 Speaker 1: down as a team player. He wants quality around him, 172 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: and I think he'll do what every candid his end 173 00:08:57,600 --> 00:09:00,640 Speaker 1: to make it a camp friendly deal so they packers 174 00:09:00,760 --> 00:09:04,559 Speaker 1: can address other people. And certainly they got a situation 175 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: rising in the wide receiver group, as you guys have detailed, 176 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: where they're paying everybody at the top three guys, they're 177 00:09:11,840 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: paying them top receiver money. So what's gonna happen there. 178 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: We don't know. I thought yesterday the comments from Brian 179 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:22,480 Speaker 1: and Mike said one thing, they like these guys, but 180 00:09:22,559 --> 00:09:27,040 Speaker 1: they're still leaving their options open and seeing what develops. Yeah, 181 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: the Packers definitely want to improve as well. They're here 182 00:09:30,280 --> 00:09:33,560 Speaker 1: at the draft to maybe find the next Jordy Nelson 183 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: or the next Davante Adams, who three or four down 184 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: the year, three or four years down the road, we 185 00:09:38,400 --> 00:09:40,439 Speaker 1: might be talking about as the as the guy getting 186 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:43,480 Speaker 1: the next contract and for the future, maybe from the 187 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: second round of the from the second that that's that's 188 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:48,560 Speaker 1: been a pretty good one. We'll we'll see what happens there. 189 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: But um, but I think I think the Packers are 190 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,560 Speaker 1: going to try to do whatever they can to keep 191 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:56,360 Speaker 1: this group together because when you look at the first 192 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,920 Speaker 1: five games of West, the Packers are four and one. 193 00:10:00,080 --> 00:10:03,520 Speaker 1: Jordy Nelson had six touchdown catches in those five games. 194 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:05,760 Speaker 1: I mean, there was nothing wrong with the offense at 195 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:07,960 Speaker 1: that stage. No, there wasn't, and Aaron Rodgers was looking 196 00:10:07,960 --> 00:10:10,240 Speaker 1: like a legitimate m VP candidate at that point in time. 197 00:10:10,280 --> 00:10:12,120 Speaker 1: There were four and one going into that game against 198 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings, The thing that stands out to me 199 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: the most when you look at that, really that partnership 200 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:18,960 Speaker 1: between Nelson and Rodgers is the fact that that is 201 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,200 Speaker 1: the longest tenured quarterback receiver duo in the league and 202 00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:24,960 Speaker 1: it's not even close. So for him, and he said 203 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:26,320 Speaker 1: it at the end of the season two, he still 204 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:28,680 Speaker 1: thinks there's a lot of Jews left with Jordy Nelson. 205 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:30,680 Speaker 1: Randall Cobb, I thought really did come on at the 206 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: end of last season was really an important piece against 207 00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 1: the Carolina Panthers. So to see what they can get 208 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: and obviously it's a big caveat, and there's always hypotheticals 209 00:10:38,400 --> 00:10:40,200 Speaker 1: with injuries, but to see what they have with those 210 00:10:40,240 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 1: three guys giving it one more shot, I think it 211 00:10:43,040 --> 00:10:45,080 Speaker 1: might be worth it. But again, those are all decisions 212 00:10:45,080 --> 00:10:46,960 Speaker 1: that Brian Goody Clints is probably gonna have to make 213 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: here in the next two weeks figuring out that vision 214 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: for two thousand eighteen. Yeah, and you mentioned the Carolina 215 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: game and Larry. If anybody is wondering about Randall Cobb 216 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:55,600 Speaker 1: and where he is, all you have to do is 217 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: look at that touchdown catch on that little scramble play 218 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:01,800 Speaker 1: with Aaron Rodgers down and Arolina. Randall Cops still brings 219 00:11:01,800 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: a lot to the table. Yeah, he does. And the 220 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: thing he brings his suddenness. And ironically enough, since we're 221 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,880 Speaker 1: here at the scouting combine, that's one of the things 222 00:11:12,960 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: they think they can measure, but they really can't because 223 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,440 Speaker 1: there's a difference in that because you think about it 224 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,720 Speaker 1: when you can pre plan it and you see where 225 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: the cones are at and you're they're measuring change in direction. 226 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:27,959 Speaker 1: But mentally you can pre program yourself to get around 227 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:30,960 Speaker 1: him and things like that. But in the heat of battle, 228 00:11:31,400 --> 00:11:33,599 Speaker 1: when we've seen it's like Randall Cops got eyes in 229 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:35,920 Speaker 1: the back of his head. He just makes moves. You 230 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: don't know where those moves come from. And it's like 231 00:11:38,200 --> 00:11:40,839 Speaker 1: he's got terrific vision and he can translate it to 232 00:11:40,880 --> 00:11:44,280 Speaker 1: the quickness of his feet. But you can't plan that. 233 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:47,240 Speaker 1: That's a reaction type suddenness. And while they've tried to 234 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,120 Speaker 1: measure it today, they're not converted. The next few days 235 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 1: they're not going to be able to not like Randall 236 00:11:51,760 --> 00:11:54,560 Speaker 1: Cop dosn't. Yeah, and you mentioned it West. The second 237 00:11:54,640 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: round has been really that that was where Ted Thompson 238 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:00,079 Speaker 1: found all of his wide receivers. You go back to 239 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:03,320 Speaker 1: Greg Jennings. James Jones obviously was the third rounder, but 240 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:07,200 Speaker 1: Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams all second round picks. 241 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: Do you see the Packers maybe making a move Brian Gudakunsta, 242 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 1: you know, going along those same lines. Not this year, 243 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 1: but I think it's still in the cards for them 244 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,280 Speaker 1: potentially look at that position again. They have had success 245 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: in the middle rounds too. When you look at a 246 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,400 Speaker 1: guy like James Jones, but right now and I think 247 00:12:22,440 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: you look at some of the other needs they have 248 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:26,080 Speaker 1: depending on what they do at fourteen, I'd be surprised 249 00:12:26,080 --> 00:12:27,559 Speaker 1: if it's this year, but I guess you never really 250 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:30,439 Speaker 1: quite know. Yeah, and Larry just quickly your thoughts. We've 251 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 1: been talking about the guys at the top, but the 252 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,240 Speaker 1: Packers have some other receivers who are still looking to 253 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 1: grow in their careers. Trevor Davis, Geronimo Allison, guys like that. 254 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:43,800 Speaker 1: What did you see from them in as you look ahead? 255 00:12:44,360 --> 00:12:47,480 Speaker 1: Young guys trying to go n Morrells and Michael Clark, 256 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:51,520 Speaker 1: I mean, guys with some interesting raw tools, but then 257 00:12:51,800 --> 00:12:53,320 Speaker 1: you got to get out there and do it and 258 00:12:53,360 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 1: you got the thing. We watched so consistently with young 259 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:00,920 Speaker 1: guys regardless of position, but especially a wide receiver living 260 00:13:01,120 --> 00:13:04,640 Speaker 1: and learning on the job. So many times guys that 261 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: were drafted the Packers even drafted in the second round, 262 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: it took him a year. Now, those guys come with 263 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: a lot of bona fides and a pedigree and all 264 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,959 Speaker 1: that stuff. And some of the guys we we're talking about, 265 00:13:16,000 --> 00:13:19,640 Speaker 1: we're undrafted free agents, and so living and learning on 266 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:22,720 Speaker 1: the job and how quickly you can do that basically 267 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:25,440 Speaker 1: determinant what kind of career you're gonna had in the 268 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:29,160 Speaker 1: NFL because of the patients level is only so much. Yeah, 269 00:13:29,200 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: we'll give you a couple of scholarship years so you 270 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,200 Speaker 1: can live and learn on the job, but man, we 271 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: gotta see performance at some point. That's what I saw. Yeah. 272 00:13:36,240 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: With that, we'll toss it to a breakback with more 273 00:13:38,440 --> 00:13:42,040 Speaker 1: from the NFL Scouting Combine on Packers Unscripted right after this. 274 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Packers unscripted from downtown Indianapolis at the 275 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: NFL Scouting Combine, Mike Spofford with Wes Hodkowitz and Larry McCarron. Guys, 276 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: we've been talking all about offense for the first couple 277 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:08,400 Speaker 1: of segments of the show. Here let's switch gears to 278 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:11,400 Speaker 1: the defensive side west Mike McCarthy said that we were 279 00:14:11,400 --> 00:14:15,360 Speaker 1: all in a lunch downtown here with some other reporters 280 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:19,280 Speaker 1: that cover the Packers with Brian Goodacunsten, Mike McCarthy, and 281 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: one of the really interesting lines that Mike McCarthy used 282 00:14:23,320 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: with regards to the defense, he says, Hey, I'm sick 283 00:14:25,520 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: and tired of the defense on this team being like 284 00:14:27,920 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: the step child, and uh, upgrading the defense. That's one 285 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,200 Speaker 1: of the biggest reasons, one of the biggest things the 286 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:36,240 Speaker 1: Packers are looking for here in India. It's a two 287 00:14:36,280 --> 00:14:39,760 Speaker 1: sided approach. Mentally, it's telling the players that are coming back, 288 00:14:40,040 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: you're not the step child. You're in this thing too. 289 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:45,280 Speaker 1: And two, it's finding the tools and the resources to 290 00:14:45,360 --> 00:14:47,560 Speaker 1: pair with those guys to get the most out of them. 291 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 1: So I think you look at a lot of the 292 00:14:49,400 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: bright spots that defense last year that didn't exactly translate 293 00:14:52,400 --> 00:14:54,880 Speaker 1: to a statue or to production. I mean the year 294 00:14:54,920 --> 00:14:57,800 Speaker 1: that Kenny Clark had Blake Martinez was number two in 295 00:14:57,800 --> 00:14:59,680 Speaker 1: the league and tackles, I mean, you did have a 296 00:14:59,720 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: relati Si the productive season out of Clay Matthews, but 297 00:15:02,080 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: overall it just wasn't enough. So now telling them and 298 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,160 Speaker 1: having that challenge, it was there since January four. He 299 00:15:08,200 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: went out there. He said, we need the defense to 300 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,000 Speaker 1: be just as good as the offense. That's the mentality. 301 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:13,760 Speaker 1: They're not in the back seat. We don't want them 302 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:15,320 Speaker 1: to be in the back seat. And if you go 303 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,280 Speaker 1: back and look at it, I think there's been five 304 00:15:17,320 --> 00:15:20,200 Speaker 1: times since two thous I should say since the Green 305 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: Bay Packers have finished in the top ten and total 306 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 1: offense and total defense. Three of those times they ended 307 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:26,800 Speaker 1: up in the Super Bowl. The odds are really in 308 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:29,040 Speaker 1: their favorite thing. Get that accomplished. Yeah, and Larry, I'm 309 00:15:29,040 --> 00:15:31,040 Speaker 1: not sure if you heard it the same way I did. 310 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: But one of the other comments that I thought was 311 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: really poignant from Mike McCarthy was when he talked about 312 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: the defense being like the thermostat of the team. And 313 00:15:39,480 --> 00:15:42,320 Speaker 1: what I heard from that is that as a head coach, 314 00:15:42,400 --> 00:15:46,040 Speaker 1: he's looking for some consistency and some reliability on the 315 00:15:46,080 --> 00:15:49,080 Speaker 1: defensive side, because the offensive side is where things maybe 316 00:15:49,120 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: are going to swing a little more wildly. You can 317 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: have your big, huge offensive days and then other days 318 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,040 Speaker 1: where things just don't go right. The defense is the 319 00:15:56,040 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: one that needs to kind of be the steady hand. 320 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: That's what the head coach is looking for. Actually, I 321 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: think I would disagree on this. I don't look at 322 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: that comment as a steady hand. When he talked about thermostat, 323 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: I mean, he's talking about aggression and things like that 324 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,240 Speaker 1: goes back to defense has got to be better than 325 00:16:16,240 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: the offense. That's what he said a couple of months 326 00:16:18,880 --> 00:16:22,560 Speaker 1: ago or whenever at the season under okay to me, Okay, 327 00:16:22,560 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: the locker room, who's the kings of the barnyard On 328 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,080 Speaker 1: a lot of teams, when you talk about physical, tough, 329 00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:32,680 Speaker 1: that's on the defensive side. Those guys kind of strut 330 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:35,400 Speaker 1: around the locker room and they look at the offense like, hey, 331 00:16:35,440 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: you know what, anytime we want, we can line you 332 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:40,760 Speaker 1: up and kick your button. I mean. And then on 333 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: a lot of teams, guys, a lot of teams, that's 334 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:46,960 Speaker 1: the way it is. The rough and tumble guys are 335 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:51,000 Speaker 1: on defense now, fortunately for the Packers, and it's helped them. 336 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:54,160 Speaker 1: They got some rough and tumble dudes on offense. And plus, 337 00:16:54,320 --> 00:16:58,600 Speaker 1: leadership starts with performance and the offense is performing at 338 00:16:58,600 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 1: a higher level than the defense. And you know, and 339 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: that's when you get this step child there. You need 340 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: defensive guys like mc daniels, got that chest out, bring 341 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,399 Speaker 1: it on, And I think that's what and when you 342 00:17:09,480 --> 00:17:12,080 Speaker 1: talk about it's kind of like where a special teams 343 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:14,680 Speaker 1: are an indicator of a team's attitude because how had 344 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: they cover, how had they play? Things like that? That 345 00:17:17,480 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 1: was the sense I got when you look at a 346 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:22,040 Speaker 1: thermostat of football team, Hey, are we a rough and 347 00:17:22,080 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: tough outfit? I mean, are we gonna out hit people? 348 00:17:25,400 --> 00:17:27,640 Speaker 1: We're gonna do things like that, you know, the the 349 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: core of the game. Usually your defense can be an 350 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,639 Speaker 1: indicator that I might be wrong. But that's where I 351 00:17:32,640 --> 00:17:34,960 Speaker 1: told him, Yeah, and Wes, you brought up guys like 352 00:17:35,040 --> 00:17:38,320 Speaker 1: Kenny Clark and Blake Martinez. We talked with Mike McCarthy 353 00:17:38,359 --> 00:17:40,840 Speaker 1: about you know, those are the types of guys who 354 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: are making that next step in their careers. They did 355 00:17:43,880 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 1: the second year jump that we've always talked about. But 356 00:17:46,400 --> 00:17:48,840 Speaker 1: now the next step is for them to become the 357 00:17:48,840 --> 00:17:52,080 Speaker 1: core players on this team, the next Mike Daniels, the 358 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,520 Speaker 1: next Clay Matthews or Nick Perry, guys like that and 359 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,840 Speaker 1: Clark and Martinez. There's gonna be a lot on those 360 00:17:57,880 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: two guys in team based on what he did last season. 361 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:02,720 Speaker 1: And let's be honest, Mike, the Green Bay Packers in 362 00:18:02,720 --> 00:18:05,360 Speaker 1: two months time could take Marcus Davenport, they could take 363 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:09,119 Speaker 1: some of these top guys at number fourteen in the draft. Ultimately, 364 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 1: where they're gonna go in two thousand eighteen is gonna 365 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: be driven by those second and third year players. History 366 00:18:13,160 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: has proven that. You go back and look at the 367 00:18:14,600 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: success Mike Petton had with the New York Jets. A 368 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,680 Speaker 1: lot of it, especially in those early years, was making 369 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:22,360 Speaker 1: do with what he already had in creating stars out 370 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:24,440 Speaker 1: of that the Darrell rivas Is of the world. I'm 371 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,600 Speaker 1: not saying that they need to Marius Randall to become 372 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:29,040 Speaker 1: that player, but the more you get out of those guys, 373 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,680 Speaker 1: the more you can harness that ability is ultimately I think, 374 00:18:31,680 --> 00:18:33,720 Speaker 1: going to take this defense to where they wanted to be. Yeah, 375 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: and Larry, do you subscribe to the theory as well? Obviously, 376 00:18:36,560 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: the Packers are here, the free agency's coming up there 377 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:41,600 Speaker 1: here for the draft, They're going to make player acquisitions 378 00:18:41,640 --> 00:18:44,520 Speaker 1: to improve the team. But do you also subscribe to 379 00:18:44,600 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: that theory that the greatest improvement is going to come 380 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,840 Speaker 1: from the guys who are already in the locker room. 381 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:53,800 Speaker 1: That's usually been the case. History says as much. And 382 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:57,800 Speaker 1: to expect a draft class, even one, if it winds 383 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: up numbering twelve two weeks fact, it's gonna totally change 384 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: everything about the team for the better. Well, those are 385 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 1: awfully big expectations. Now, can you hit on a few? 386 00:19:10,480 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: You hit on a few, you know, the difference between 387 00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: winning and losing and good and not so good, not 388 00:19:15,119 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: a great deal. And you get started on the right foot, 389 00:19:17,960 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: and you get guys kind of rallying and believing, and 390 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: suddenly a guy or two that can make a player 391 00:19:22,920 --> 00:19:26,240 Speaker 1: two can make a big difference. Yeah. Absolutely, With that, 392 00:19:26,280 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: we will throw it to a break back with more 393 00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: on Packers Unscripted from the NFL Scouting Combine right after this. 394 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:47,080 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Packers Unscripted from the NFL Scouting Combine 395 00:19:47,119 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: in downtown Indy, Larry McCarron, Mike Spofford, and Wes Hodkowits 396 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:55,800 Speaker 1: and West before we go, Ted Thompson, former Packers general manager, 397 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:59,240 Speaker 1: actually not here at the NFL scouting combine. I can't 398 00:19:59,280 --> 00:20:02,439 Speaker 1: even imagine. Maybe one was the last time he wasn't 399 00:20:02,760 --> 00:20:11,640 Speaker 1: at a scouting comment. Probably not, but um, but Brian, Yeah, 400 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:15,640 Speaker 1: maybe Brian Goodacoon is telling us that that Ted Thompson 401 00:20:15,760 --> 00:20:18,160 Speaker 1: is is, you know, getting back to his roots, doing 402 00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:21,239 Speaker 1: some scouting projects, still very involved in what's going on 403 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: here with both pro and college side. It's almost like 404 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,640 Speaker 1: the kind of you know, kind of tailored a position 405 00:20:26,680 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: to himself. I've kind of looked at it as almost 406 00:20:28,560 --> 00:20:31,280 Speaker 1: like a special projects type role that he's taken on 407 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,640 Speaker 1: in the lessons. You've heard it so many times when 408 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:35,760 Speaker 1: Goodacus was talking with us, the lessons that he took 409 00:20:35,800 --> 00:20:38,399 Speaker 1: from Thompson are really something that guides him. He's going 410 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:41,320 Speaker 1: to be his own GM. But having Thompson still there, 411 00:20:41,359 --> 00:20:43,080 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna be a big benefit. And he 412 00:20:43,119 --> 00:20:45,120 Speaker 1: also doubled down on that too, saying that this isn't 413 00:20:45,119 --> 00:20:47,439 Speaker 1: gonna be a one year arrangement. It's for the foreseeable future. 414 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,240 Speaker 1: He sees Ted Thompson being a part of that personnel department. Yeah, 415 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:52,359 Speaker 1: and in terms of in terms of getting back to 416 00:20:52,400 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: his roots, you gotta believe that that Ted Thompson, he 417 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,520 Speaker 1: didn't always like going to the podium and all that 418 00:20:57,600 --> 00:20:59,600 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. Larrea, I think he likes even more 419 00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: being in the background, in the shadows right now being 420 00:21:03,680 --> 00:21:06,560 Speaker 1: here I am listen to me. I mean, that wasn't right, 421 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: but I thought it was really interesting when Brian Bruticans 422 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: is up there and we all there's an unwritten rule 423 00:21:12,760 --> 00:21:16,200 Speaker 1: or a written rule fromwhere don't ask ted about any 424 00:21:16,240 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: player because he's not going to tell you, And don't 425 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,359 Speaker 1: even ask him about a position because he ain't gonna 426 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,520 Speaker 1: tell you that either, certainly, and I thought it was interesting. 427 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 1: Yesterday Brian Grudgin's right away was asked about the strength 428 00:21:27,600 --> 00:21:30,760 Speaker 1: of the draft and he actually said something. He actually said, 429 00:21:30,920 --> 00:21:32,840 Speaker 1: I think it looks pretty good in the secondary, in 430 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: the interior, offensive line. He said those things, and I thought, well, 431 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 1: we can tell there's a new guy of the polity. 432 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 1: And now that we actually heard two positions that we're 433 00:21:42,359 --> 00:21:45,159 Speaker 1: probably ball faced live he's just throwing us off, but 434 00:21:45,200 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 1: we actually heard positions mentioned. He's giving me something, yeah, 435 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: for sure. But with that we're going to call it 436 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,800 Speaker 1: a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure 437 00:21:53,800 --> 00:21:57,000 Speaker 1: to follow all of our coverage of the Packers and 438 00:21:57,119 --> 00:21:59,879 Speaker 1: the Scouting Combine on packers dot com. We will be 439 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 1: or the rest of the week and through the weekend 440 00:22:02,520 --> 00:22:06,120 Speaker 1: for Larry and Mike and Wes. Will see you next time. 441 00:22:07,400 --> 00:22:11,040 Speaker 1: M MHM