The Dilemma of First Round Money: A. J. Hawk and The Green Bay Packers

First, he has a name fans love: HAWK, HAWK, HAWK.

He played on a college team always in the mix and in the running.

But Green Bay Packer linebacker A. J. Hawk just does not have the sideline to sideline speed and instincts demanded of a top linebacker.

Hawk, drafted No. 5 overall by the Green Bay Packers in 2006, and given a $37 million contract, doesn't have the abilities required of a first round draft pick. He is another of Packer GM Ted Thompson's draft mistakes on defense.

Hawk should not start for Green Bay this year because current backup linebackers Brandon Chillar and Desmond Bishop are far superior in coverage, speed, instinct, and smack power.

Thompson appears to draft defensive players purely on stats. Like many average football fans, Thompson looks at tackles made and seems to translate that into ability.

The problem, of course, is understanding how more talented teammates can crush a pocket or blow up a running play while not being the player who makes the tackle. The most talented defensive player on a team may not even be in the top five tacklers on the defense, particularly in college where defenders may face odd offensive schemes seldom seen in the NFL.

A. J. Hawk benefited greatly in college when he played on an Ohio State team with a great defense. Hawk has never had great sideline-to-sideline talent: he made tackles because they were there for him to make. Defensive lines that can stop or slow a running back are setting up tackles for linebackers. Linebackers who chip and slow a running back or who can cover tight ends and receivers out of the backfield set up tackles for other linebackers.

Why Thompson drafted Hawk fifth overall in the 2006 draft is a question astute Packer fans have been asking since the pick was made. A. J. Hawk is a good player: getting him in the third round would have been a steal. Drafting him in the second round would have been a good value pick.

But there are other linebackers, namely Chillar and Bishop, who deserve to start in Green Bay over Hawk. If Hawk starts, it is only because Thompson believes he has to start Hawk to justify Hawk's draft choice and salary.

Hawk could be a stellar starter on another team who has a front four that can rush the quarterback and stuff the line of scrimmage. Green Bay does not have defensive linemen who can rush the QB. Green Bay will rely upon a lot of blitzing and stunts from linebackers and defensive backs this season, meaning the players on the field who aren't blitzing will need to have speed and instincts to cover running backs and wide receivers. Hawk does not fit that mold.

Thompson's defensive player drafts have been horrible. Hawk does not have the talent to have been drafted fifth overall. Justin Harrell, another of Thompson's first round draft picks, had a history of injuries but Thompson selected him as the first overall pick of the Packers in 2007. One of Thompson's first round pick this year, USC linebacker Clay Matthews, is injured.

Thompson just doesn't know or understand defensive players.

Green Bay fans are all excited about the Packers 2-0 preseason record. The Detroit Lions went 4-0 last preseason and look where that got them.

Ted Thompson is a general manager who believes in building by the draft. He is not active in the free agent market. I agree with his philosophy as long as the person making the final decisions on the draft knows what he/she is doing.

Thompson has failed on most of his first round draft choices. He also failed to understand the revenue stream Brett Favre meant to the Packers: whether you love or hate Favre, he generated bucks for the franchise.

Generating revenue dollars for a small, publicly-owned franchise like Green Bay is imperative. Thompson failed to understand whether Favre was a superstar, a dickhead, or a superstar dickhead diva, he generated bucks. Had Thompson resigned Favre, thePackers might have gone 6-10 with Favre, instead of Aaron Rodgers, at the helm and still generated lots more dollars.

For the good of the Green Bay Packers, someone needs to take control of the franchise and understand sports is about generating dollars. The Packers need new voices in marketing and public relations. This old Ted Thompson grumpy, bad PR crap is killing a franchise that must be front and center in terms of marketing and PR, if not winning, every single year to survive.