Green Bay Packers Rumors: Erasing Some Early Offseason Misconceptions

Green Bay Packers Rumors: Erasing Some of the Early Misconceptions of the Offseason

As it is with any professional franchise, rumors of moves and deals have been swirling around the Green Bay Packers since Super Bowl XLV ended less than a month ago.

While it is always fun to ponder the "what ifs" of an offseason, most rumors are exactly that—misconceptions about what a given team might do.

The Packers have certainly had some interesting ideas floated around this offseason.

While I don't claim to have any insider knowledge, it's pretty easy to debunk these seven rumors.

Signing Nnamdi Asomugha

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OAKLAND, CA - NOVEMBER 28: Nnamdi Asomugha #21 of the Oakland Raiders stands on the sidelines during the closing minutes of their loss to the Miami Dolphins at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on November 28, 2010 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra S

While there are plenty of reasons why this rumor has grown legs, you only need one reason for why it won't happen.

Money.

Asomugha is sure to demand a deal in the neighborhood of the $30 million guaranteed the Jets gave Darrelle Revis last summer, and that could cripple the Packers financially.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a contract in that range would mean at least a fourth of the Packers' projected salary cap would be tied up in three cornerbacks—Asomugha, Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams.

But this doesn't just affect next season's cap.

Next summer, Jermichael Finley, Josh Sitton and Jordy Nelson are just some of the big games scheduled to become free agents, and the Packers would be hard pressed to find the money needed to secure their services.

Asomugha would be a nice addition if you're a short-term thinker, but Packers GM Ted Thompson doesn't fit that mold.

Putting the Franchise Tag on Cullen Jenkins

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 01: Cullen Jenkins #77 of the Green Bay Packers addresses the media during Super Bowl XLV Media Day ahead of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 1, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Green B

Many thought the Packers would use the franchise tag to keep Jenkins around for at least another year, but the deadline to apply such a tag passed today.

Once again, it probably came down to money.

Because the total price of a franchise tag is calculated by averaging out the five highest salaries at that player's position, Jenkins would have been expensive to tag.

According to Silverstein, the price for tagging Jenkins, a defensive lineman, would have been in the range of $12 million.

While that doesn't guarantee Jenkins won't be back next season, it certainly seems like one foot is out the door.

Remember, the Packers tagged Ryan Pickett a year ago to give them more time to negotiate a four-year, $28 million extension that was signed less than a month later.

Trading Ryan Grant

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GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 10: Runningback Ryan Grant #25 of the Green Bay Packers rushes the football during the 2010 NFC wild-card playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals at the Universtity of Phoenix Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona. T

Talk of Grant being a potential trade option is more fan speculation than real rumor, but there are plenty of reasons why this isn't going to happen.

First, if Grant was in fact traded, the Packers would be taking a huge leap of faith with James Starks.

He's only played in seven NFL games his entire career, and Starks' injury history alone is reason enough to keep another experienced back on the roster.

But even if the Packers did find a team that was interested in Grant, he probably wouldn't demand fair value in return.

Grant is due to make over $6 million next season—a rather high number for a back who's never been to the Pro Bowl—and he virtually missed the entire 2010 season with an ankle injury.

There won't be many teams lining up to give away first, second or even third-round picks for Grant given those variables.

Without a fair market for a player still valuable to the Packers, Grant shouldn't be and won't be going anywhere this offseason.

Retirements

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Donald Driver #80 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after catching a 24 yard pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by

Most Packers fans wouldn't consider any potential retirements to be rumors per se, but you'd be surprised what you can read on the Internet.

"The Packers could take a step back next season, as Donald Driver and Charles Woodson are rumored to be retiring."

Wow. Time to do your research, folks.

36-year-old Donald Driver recently stated that he wants to "play until he's 40," so it's safe to say he'll be back for his 13th season in Green Bay.

Charles Woodson is recovering from a broken collarbone and will be 35 next October, but he was talking about future championships in a recent interview with ESPN Milwaukee's Jason Wilde.

Either both of them are pulling Brett Favre-themed retirement jokes on us, or both will be suiting up for the Packers come September.

I think I'd take the latter.

Trading Matt Flynn

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Matt Flynn #10 of the Green Bay Packers looks on against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on January 15, 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Unlike the possibility of Woodson and Driver retiring, the Flynn trade rumors actually make some sense.

Several teams have inquired with the Packers about his availability, and trading him now would mean Green Bay doesn't lose Flynn for nothing when he becomes a free agent in 2012.

However, the people that think the Packers are going to get a top pick for Flynn have another thing coming.

You have to think about it hypothetically.

Let's say the Packers didn't have Aaron Rodgers and Flynn had his two-game performance (one solid game vs. New England, one below-average game vs. Detroit) for a team like the Titans.

Would you be okay with Green Bay shelling out a first, second or third-round pick for Flynn to come be your starter? Absolutely not.

At this point, Flynn just doesn't have the marquee value to warrant the Packers unloading their insurance policy to the concussion-prone Rodgers.

Signing DeAngelo Williams

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CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 24: DeAngelo Williams #34 of the Carolina Panthers runs with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 24, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty I

Adding Williams was a big rumor during the regular season when Grant went down, but he's slowly come back into the fold after the Panthers decided against franchise tagging him.

However, the Panthers did offer Williams a tender, making him a restricted free agent for the time being.

Yet the new CBA, whenever it is signed, could make that tender null and put Williams back into the free agent pool as an unrestricted free agent later on.

While that's surely a lot to swallow at this point, one thing should be clear:

DeAngelo Williams won't be a Green Bay Packer next season.

An NFL team with serious issues at running back (the Packers aren't one of them) will overpay for Williams to be their No. 1 back.

Brandon Jackson Is Gone Because of His New Agent

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ATLANTA - OCTOBER 15: Agent Drew Rosenhaus poses with Reuben Droughns #22 of the New York Giants after the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Georgia Dome on October 15, 2007 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Giants defeated the Falcons 31-10 for their fourth s

Maybe you've heard, but the man on the left in the picture, Drew Rosenhaus, is Brandon Jackson's new agent.

For a superstar player, that can be great news for you and terrible news for your team's front office.

Rosenhaus is notorious for getting the absolute most money possible for his clients, regardless of whether or not it's warranted for that given player.

However, many of you also know that Jackson is far from a superstar.

He was given ample opportunity to show NFL teams that he was ready for a lead back role, and he did very little. Jackson was eventually passed on the depth chart by a sixth-round rookie.

While Rosenhaus might push Jackson's value up a smidgen, no team understands the importance of Jackson as a third down back like the Packers do.

He might still be gone, but it will be because Jackson wants to go, not Rosenhaus.