I'll Just Throw This Out There

I believe that Ryan Grant is an average running back. He is frustrating to watch in that he is not at all flashy, and rarely breaks tackles. He is an average receiver. He has average speed. It takes him an average of 10 games to get to his peak. He averages 2.9 yards a carry (not actually). He is the type of back that does nothing to scare another team, yet at the end of the year he has 1,200 yards and 8 TDs. By starting him and giving him 98% of the carries, the Packers are basically saying to the opponents "We are going to run it three times in the first quarter to keep you honest, and if we get up by three TDs we will run. Otherwise, you can expect a heavy dose of A-Rodg. Please plan accordingly." I don't necessarily hate this offense, even though it is predictable. But it would be nice to have some kind of threat or at least a change of pace. The majority of the teams that run effectively do it with more than one back. Brandon Jackson has shown some flashes, but isn't given much opportunity, and hasn't shown he can stay healthy when given 2 carries a game. Ahman Green was arguably more effective than Grant, but again, was not given an opportunity.

I think you know where I am going here. And because every sports talk radio program in the country is bringing it up, I figured I would give you the opinion of a card carrying member (it went through the wash and then was stolen, but still) of Packer Nation. Would the Pack consider signing LDT or Westbrook's corpse? How about Thomas Jones when he gets executed (figuratively) by the Jets later this week?

We need to make a few assumptions in order for this to work. First, lets assume that Ted Thompson knows how to use a phone. Or that at least he has gotten it fixed since he signed Woodson. Second, lets assume that those backs are willing to share time, and willing to do so at a reasonable price for a year or two in order for a shot at a title, and believe that the Packers have a chance to do that (which while not exceedingly likely, is not insane). Third, the backs are healthy enough to play part time (not a guarantee with Westbrook, who should probably retire before his brain completely leaks out of his head).

If all those conditions were met, the Packers definitely have to consider it. What could it hurt? Grant is already probably past his prime. And the Pack will be looking to the future either this year or next for a RB early-ish in the draft. If you aren't giving those backs 20 carries a game, I think they would be nice options to split time with Grant for a year. Windows in the NFL are extremely short, and I think the Pack has an opportunity to go for it in the next year or two. It might fail miserably, but I think it is a chance they should consider.

On the player's side, they need to take a look at Shaun Alexander (both famous in the OJSFA AND for some reason on a bag of Doritos the other day in a Seahawks uniform) and realize that they aren't going to get a huge payday from anyone. Also, off the top of my head, I can't think of a team that needs a running back bad enough to sign them to start.

LDT, Westbrook and Jones, even at 80% are just as good as Grant, and an upgrade over Jackson. If they aren't going to go there for whatever reason (someone could throw money at LDT, although I would be pretty surprised), I think they need to think about a back in the first half of the draft. It isn't their biggest need by any means, but it is a position that generally requires either a strong time share or a dominant star, and the Packers have neither.

Or they could just let A-Rodg throw it 50 times a game and try to break all of His records just to "get revenge" on Him. Either way I guess.

Why are the Packers being pricks to Ryan Grant?

It turns out there is another very important player on the Packers who is having a contract issue. Ryan Grant, who stormed his way into the ESPN Fantasy Football Hall of Fame with him performance last season, is still unsigned. If he doesn't report, the Pack will go with Brandon Jackson, who has started ZERO games in his career. Word on the street is that McCarthy has been walking around at half mast over how Jackson has looked lately, so it doesn't appear that the Pack is willing to budge a whole lot on Grant. The situation is sort of bizarre though. Grant started 8 games last season, and in his career. But he was really, really good in most of those. He is 25 years old. But again, he came out of the blue, and has only really played a half season. He is a "restricted rights" free agent, meaning he plays for the Packers or nobody, and the only leverage he has is to not sign at all and not play, and make no money. Arguably, he has no leverage at all. Especially since the Pack seems happy with Brandon Jackson. Another problem he has is that Favre is overshadowing everything, every is sort of ignoring Grant, so there isn't much outward pressure on the Pack to do anything. Grant is seeking 6 yr/40mil, with incentive based bonuses (including apparently $10mil if he runs for 2000 yds). Personally, that doesn't seem overly ridiculous, and if he runs for 2000 yds (which has been done like 4 times ever) then he is probably worth the 10mil. BUT, the position of RB is not one that teams should overpay for unless that player is irreplaceable, because they can quickly become replaceable (see Shaun Alexander). Right now I would argue that only LDT and A Peter would be worth long term investments. The rest are a tweaked ankle away from losing a step, which in the NFL means you fucking suck. Every year there are two or three guys that come out of the blue when the big time starter gets hurt, and run for a shitload of yards. Those players either become the starter themselves, or fade into oblivion. (see Ryan Grant, Ernest Graham, Ahmad Bradshaw, Justin Fargas, Dorsey Levens, Ahman Green, Edgar Bennett, Terdell Middleton, etc.). Of course the NFL isn't like baseball where everything is guaranteed, so they could just cut his ass after two years if he sucks, but they would lose out on the bonuses they gave up, which I assume would be sizable. I think the Pack should be fair, but not overpay. Right now, I according to Grant they aren't being fair. I think they will be fine without him. Alot of times the RB isn't as important as the O-line (Shaun Alexander, Larry Johnson). But whatever the Pack is offering is alot more than Grant could make by taking his degree from Notre Dame and being a bank teller. I'm just sayin'.