P-Rez25

The Packers' first acquisition of the offseason was a much-needed one.



Coming two weeks before the start of free agency, the club hired Russ Ball as vice president of football administration/player finance. Ball replaces Andrew Brandt, who resigned last month, as contract negotiator and salary-cap manager.


Ball, 48, has worked in the league for nearly two decades. He came on high recommendation from Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and personnel analyst John Schneider, both of whom were colleagues of Ball with other teams.


Ball previously was New Orleans' vice president of football administration for six years, but he deferred to general manager Mickey Loomis with most of the team's contract negotiations. So, Loomis called Ball's departure to Green Bay a promotion.


With the Packers, Ball will be under the direction of general manager Ted Thompson but, like Brandt, will oversee all financial matters with personnel.


"Russ will be carrying a big portion of the water here," Thompson told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "It's good to have (the hire) over with and done and know that he's going to be part of our team."


Ball couldn't ask for a better situation to come into from a financial standpoint. The Packers are coming off a surprisingly successful season, have only one pending free agent of significance (defensive tackle Corey Williams) and will have about $25 million in cap money with which to play in the offseason.


The team doesn't seem to be compelled to re-sign Williams since it's well-stocked at the tackle positions.


Having knocked on the door to the Super Bowl, however, Thompson might eschew a longstanding philosophy of building through the draft to make a huge splash or two in free agency to put the club in position to contend for the league title.


With input now from Ball, the Packers could free up more cap money with decisions they make on a couple of their veteran players.


Fading tight end Bubba Franks, who has a salary-cap number of nearly $4.5 million in 2008, could be cut. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, strictly a pass-rush specialist, might have to take a pay cut from his scheduled salary of $6.15 million.


Notes, Quotes
• Quarterback Brett Favre still hasn't made public his intentions for next season, but a decision seemingly is imminent.


Head coach Mike McCarthy has tried to keep in weekly contact with Favre, who is mulling his future while at home in Mississippi. The two talked in person during Super Bowl week in Phoenix, where both received end-of-season league awards.


Favre, 38, informed the team a month after the 2006 season ended that he would continue playing. With the Packers' having played their final game this past season Jan. 20, a 23-20 overtime loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship, an announcement in the next week would seem realistic.


• It wasn't quite going all the way from worst to first, but the Packers made a significant leap in the 2007 special-teams rankings compiled by Rick Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News.


Green Bay tied Tampa Bay for seventh place in the wide-ranging, objective ratings system. The Packers were assessed in the compilation of points for 22 categories as having the worst special-teams units each of the previous two seasons.


The marked improvement reflected the all-around strength of Green Bay's special teams in the past season. The Packers' units scored four touchdowns.


• The Packers finalized the signing of 13 players to future contracts Feb. 7.


Players brought back after spending a portion of the season on the practice squad were receiver Chris Francies, running back Corey White, offensive tackles Chris Patrick and Cliff Washburn, guards Ryan Keenan and Cameron Stephenson, defensive tackle Alfred Malone, linebacker Spencer Havner and defensive back Joe Porter.


Also signed were quarterbacks Jerry Babb and Dalton Bell, punter Ryan Dougherty and receiver Johnny Quinn.


Quote To Note: "I've played 170-some straight games here, and I'd like to think that it would be just as hard replacing me as it would Brett Favre or anybody else who's played so many games here." -- Long snapper Rob Davis, 39, who is due to become an unrestricted free agent, on his desire to play another season with the Packers.


Strategy And Personnel
Coming off an unexpected season to remember in which it went 13-3 in the regular season and advanced to the NFC Championship before falling to the Giants in overtime, the league's youngest team will have little turnover. The only starter unsigned for next season is defensive tackle Corey Williams, who, barring the team putting the franchise tag on him, will land his desired big contract elsewhere.


The initial focus for the Packers going forward is individual development in the team's offseason program, which starts in late March.


TEAM NEEDS/OFFSEASON STRATEGY


Of the seven unrestricted free agents, the lone player drawing attention is defensive tackle Corey Williams. The young player has established himself as a formidable pass rusher on the inside and is adept to play on the edge as well.


Williams is in the top tier of the league's impending UFAs, so he'll have no shortage of suitors. The Packers can all but prevent Williams from leaving by placing the franchise tag on him by Feb. 21, but notoriously judicious GM Ted Thompson doesn't seem to be inclined to shell out the exorbitant one-year tender of $6.4 million when he has plenty in reserve at tackle.


1. Outside linebacker: Brady Poppinga, starting strong-side 'backer for two years, arguably is the weak link of the defense and can't cover the tight end. The team has next to nothing in reserve behind him.


2. Cornerback: Age is working against Pro Bowlers Al Harris, 33, and Charles Woodson, 31, whose best days in coverage seemingly are behind them. No time like the present to get their replacements identified and prepared to take over at a moment's notice.


3. Tight end: Donald Lee is the only reliable player at the position. Former starter Bubba Franks is prone to injury and could be a salary-cap casualty because of a cap number of more than $4 million.



Medical Watch: Better than most teams, the Packers ended the season in relatively good health, which was critical to their deep postseason run.


Notable veterans that were beset with but played through nagging injuries included cornerback Charles Woodson (toe, knee), left tackle Chad Clifton (knee) and receiver Koren Robinson (knee). None of those players, however, was expected to undergo surgery in the offseason.


The team will be waiting on the return of defensive tackles Johnny Jolly (shoulder) and Colin Cole (forearm) from late-season injuries, which could keep both sidelined at the outset of offseason workouts in the spring.


FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• LS Rob Davis, the team's oldest player, is a good bet to still be playing in Green Bay when he hits the big 4-0 late in the 2008 season. He remains one of the best at his specialty and commands the respect of a locker room filled with much-younger players.


• TE Ryan Krause, a better receiver than blocker, offered little after being promoted from the practice squad at midseason. His return to the team probably hinges on whether Bubba Franks, a potential cap casualty, is back.


• QB Craig Nall returned to the team late in the season as the No. 3 guy at the position. Nall, though, isn't interested in continuing to serve as the caddie for both Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers.


• CB Frank Walker, the team's lone addition of note in the offseason last year, probably won't see a second season in Green Bay. The writing was on the wall when he was deactivated for the NFC Championship loss to the Giants, his former team.


• T/G Tyson Walter spent the entire season on injured reserve because of a toe injury. The versatile, rugged veteran is worth bringing back to compete for a backup spot.


• LB Tracy White was limited late in the season by an ankle injury. The special-teams ace figures to be back in a Packers uniform.


• DT Corey Williams is the only unrestricted free agent of significance and stands to get rich quick on the open market. As valuable as he's been the last two years as an interior pass rusher, team management doesn't view him as irreplaceable because of the depth at tackle.

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS


• DT Colin Cole, a run stuffer, figures to stay put and will try to rebound from a season-ending broken forearm he sustained in the Thanksgiving Day game.


• RB Vernand Morency, relegated to a situational role after missing the entire preseason with a knee injury, isn't a must-have for next season but probably will be in the offseason competition for the backup jobs.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS


• SS Atari Bigby thrived as a relentless, fearsome first-year starter but will have to rectify inconsistencies to remain in the lead role.


• RB Ryan Grant proved to be a godsend for a previously anemic running game the second half of the season and can write his ticket as a franchise back by racking up proficient performances for a full season.


• WR Carlyle Holiday, a converted quarterback, missed all but the season-opening game with a knee injury but, when healthy, has shown to be a dynamic situational receiver.


• TE Tory Humphrey might be down to his last strike to overcome an injury history that includes a season-ending broken leg suffered on the first day of training camp last year.


• FB John Kuhn made his mark as a lead blocker down the stretch of the season, setting up an offseason battle with Korey Hall for the starting job.


• WR Ruvell Martin has been a capable, tall target as a possession receiver but will be in a crowded battle to stick with the team as the No. 4 or No. 5 guy.


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