Green Bay Packers: Latest Combine News and Rumors

The NFL Scouting Combine is underway in Indianapolis, and some of the juiciest storylines and developments have happened even before the prospect workouts begin. 

The Green Bay Packers were part of the spotlight Thursday, as general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy both spoke to the media on a variety of subjects, not only related to the draft but to free agency and current personnel, as well.

In addition to evaluating this year's draft class, the combine is a great opportunity for Thompson and Packers vice president of player finance Russ Ball to meet with the agents of Green Bay's impending free agents to discuss contract extensions. 

Let's take a look at some of the news and rumors about the Packers that are emerging at the combine this year.  

Davon House's Agent Will Discuss Contract Extension with Packers at Combine

Mike Roemer/Associated Press

Davon House said his agent is scheduled to meet with Green Bay at the combine to begin talks about a contract extension, via Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 

Thompson and Ball will be tasked with deciding, first of all, whether House deserves the starting job he desires in 2015 and, secondly, if he's worth the price he's set. 

Per Silverstein, it could take upward of $5 million per year to re-sign him.

Though House is only 25 years old, he has started just 14 games for the Packers, and he missed three games in 2014 with a shoulder injury to his right scapula that he suffered against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 14.

"I know I can play," House said in mid-February, per Silverstein. "I truly believe the film says I can play in this league. If my film doesn’t show it, I don’t mind playing special teams. But I think my film shows I’m a starter."

At the combine, Thompson and Ball will have the chance to determine exactly how much House's price tag will be if they want him to start opposite Sam Shields in years to come.  

Packers May Be Eyeing Maxx Williams with 30th Pick

David J. Phillip/Associated Press

Are the Packers planning to draft tight end Maxx Williams with the 30th pick?

Ryan Wood of the Green Bay Press-Gazette certainly thinks that's a possibility, noting that Green Bay would almost certainly have to take Williams, currently the No. 1 ranked tight end in this year's class, at No. 30 (if he's still on the board there) if they want him.

"Williams, who will try to beat his 4.58-second, 40-yard-dash time when he runs in Indianapolis later this week, has the speed to stretch the field vertically," Wood writes. "Green Bay could afford to add another dimension to a passing game that heavily relied on receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb last season."

Williams was scheduled to meet with 21 NFL teams at the combine, according to Wood, including the Packers. Though tight end is not Green Bay's greatest need—2014 third-round selection Richard Rodgers is developing nicely—if Williams is on the board at 30th overall, Thompson may not be able to pass him up.

At that point, he could almost certainly be the best available player on the board who still makes sense for Green Bay. 

Randall Cobb Is Seeking $9M a Year; Agent Will Meet with Packers at Combine

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

According to ESPN.com's Rob Demovsky, Randall Cobb's agent, Jimmy Sexton, and Green Bay are likely to meet at the combine to discuss a contract extension. 

The Packers "hope to work out a long-term deal with the receiver," per Demovsky, and thus are not likely to use the franchise tag on Cobb. 

Demovsky was the first to report that Cobb is seeking a deal averaging close to $9 million per year. 

Cobb is coming off the best season of his career, in which he scored the third-most touchdowns (12) among all receivers.

"We'd like to re-sign all of our free-agent players," Thompson said at the combine Thursday when asked if the team was prioritizing Cobb's contract, per Fox Sports Wisconsin's Paul Imig. But he later expanded on his standard line: "Randall is Randall. He's the same guy all the time. He missed some time in the year before with an injury, but he's been a pretty good player since the day he showed up."

And on Cobb and fellow free agent right tackle Bryan Bulaga, Thompson said, "The fact of the matter is both of those guys are good football players and we'd like to have them on our team."

When the Packers meet with Sexton, we will find out just how much they'd like to have Cobb back.

Mike McCarthy Giving Up Playcalling Was 'His Own Thinking'

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

In his press conference at the combine Thursday, Thompson unintentionally said something interesting regarding McCarthy's decision to give up play-calling that caused many ears to perk up.

"Most of that was his own thinking," Thompson said, via Imig. "We had conversations. I was aware of what he was thinking and that sort of thing."

After McCarthy made the announcement, rumors swirled (beginning with Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio) that his hand may have been forced. McCarthy has long insisted he would never give up play-calling unless he felt the team would be better off for it.

So when Thompson said that "most" of it was McCarthy's own thinking, of course astute reporters jumped on that. Thompson later clarified his comments to a smaller group of reporters, per Imig. 

"

We discuss all sorts of things, but the minute details of the coaching and that sort of thing, I leave that up to Mike. I think that's a good decision on my part. We had nice conversations. He didn't come to me to be challenged and I didn't try and challenge him. We just talked it out. Just like any two friends would. It's an important setup: how the team is treated, how the access is to the head coach, what the different jobs of each one of the coaches is. That's a big thing to kind of work out. He worked it out, and we'll see.

"

So, for now at least, we can be assured that McCarthy was not forced to give up play-calling.

Julius Peppers Will 'Definitely' Be Back with Packers in 2015

Matt Ludtke/Associated Press

When McCarthy addressed the media at the combine Thursday, he didn't reveal many clues about Green Bay's personnel decisions this offseason.

However, he did have something definitive to say regarding Julius Peppers. 

Per Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, when McCarthy was asked if he thought Peppers, who is due to make $9.5 million in base salary in 2015, would be back with the Packers, McCarthy said he "must be the only one who doesn't understand why that question keeps coming up."

"I definitely believe Julius Peppers will be back," McCarthy continued. "It was good to get to know Julius Peppers. I think he looks good in green and gold."

However much more green and gold may agree with Peppers than orange and navy, he was a game changer for the defense in 2014. He posted career highs in passes defended (11) and interceptions for touchdowns (two), and he had 39 total tackles and seven sacks. 

Many have wondered whether he would return, given how much he is owed next season. But on Thursday, McCarthy helped put those questions to rest.