Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers cleared the final hurdle to a possible first-round selection of running back Marshawn Lynch when the team's medical staff signed off Friday on what has been described by National Football League club officials as a congenital disc abnormality in his lower back.
General manager Ted Thompson departed from his normal protocol of not inviting potential top picks to the team's facility in this case mainly because he wanted Lynch's back examined.
On Saturday, agent Doug Hendrickson indicated that, although it was his understanding no magnetic resonance imaging test was performed on Lynch, the Packers were satisfied and passed him on his physical.
"It was first reported at Cal back in '02," Hendrickson said Saturday. "No team is really concerned about it. All he does is exercises for it to strengthen it."
Lynch, a junior from the University of California, is a consensus pick as the No. 2 running back in the draft behind Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson. For months, he has been a popular projection for the Packers with their 16th overall selection.
Green Bay was the ninth and final team that Lynch visited this month. Others were Detroit (second pick), Cleveland (3), Atlanta (8), Buffalo (12), St. Louis (13), Tennessee (19), Kansas City (23) and Baltimore (29).
Officials from four of those teams told the Journal Sentinel after visits by Lynch that their medical staffs had cleared his back. A personnel director for an AFC team that met with Lynch visit said, "We checked it out and we're fine with it. It's like a disc. We gave him an MRI. He said he was able to do all his lifts and it hasn't precluded him from doing anything."
Lynch underwent an MRI at the combine in late February. Based on those findings, another personnel director said he would be off his board. That team reversed its conclusions after a visit in which its doctors performed their own tests.
Lynch should be the obvious pick for us, assuming he's still available. I just hope we actually get him, as Thompson isn't always in favor of the obvious pick.
I honestly dont think GB is gonna take Lynch. Drafting a HB 1st into a zone blocking scheme is a wasted DP IMO. Most mocks have him as a cinch at 16, Im sorry Storm, but I dont think its gonna happen, and I dont think it should happen.
Its like all the mocks that have the Bills taking a CB. Their system doesnt value that position that high, so it wont happen. Same with GB. Zone blocking teams find their HB's in the 3rd-4th rounds, second at the earliest.
I honestly dont think GB is gonna take Lynch. Drafting a HB 1st into a zone blocking scheme is a wasted DP IMO. Most mocks have him as a cinch at 16, Im sorry Storm, but I dont think its gonna happen, and I dont think it should happen.
Its like all the mocks that have the Bills taking a CB. Their system doesnt value that position that high, so it wont happen. Same with GB. Zone blocking teams find their HB's in the 3rd-4th rounds, second at the earliest.
With the RB's they have IMO if they are faced with one they have to, the only other wrinkle I can see them tossing in there is maybe Olsen, but I think this is a pick they can't mess up.
I wouldn't say the BIlls don't value CB though, they just haven't had the need for one as much as they have now. The spent a second on Youboty last year and many had him as a one, the problem will be McGee and the fact that they know he is nothing more then a 3rd CB and a return guy.
With the RB's they have IMO if they are faced with one they have to, the only other wrinkle I can see them tossing in there is maybe Olsen, but I think this is a pick they can't mess up.
I wouldn't say the BIlls don't value CB though, they just haven't had the need for one as much as they have now. The spent a second on Youboty last year and many had him as a one, the problem will be McGee and the fact that they know he is nothing more then a 3rd CB and a return guy.
Gotta disagree with you about McGee last year, McGee was by far their best CB last year, and often took #1 WR responsibility's. Youbooty will be fine. He got redshirted early, but broke in late in the season as a nickle back. But the Bills run the same D as the Bucs and Bears, and those teams rareley draft CB's in the first 45 picks.
Its the same with the Packers and their blocking scheme. IDK what their line looks like, but if the piece's were in place, they could take a guy like Henry in the 3rd, or mabey even Hunt in the 4th and get 1,300 yards. I would like to see them get athletic lineman that fit that scheme. Mabey trading down and getting Staley, and/or mabey Kalil (perfect zone blocking C) in the second.
You know, after re-thinking it. I think the Pack would take AD if he fell to them. Their is too much value their even if it isnt a positon of value.
We may be a zone-blocking team, but we're not Denver just yet. Or line is very iffy as it stands, and we need a solid threat in the backfield more than any other position right now. Herron, Morency, and that guy Chicago cut aren't going to scare anyone. Our defense should be outstanding this year, but our offense isn't going to do much until we perfect the blocking scheme a little better.
Packers: Lynch's back not sore spot
Packers: Lynch's back not sore spot
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