Down To The Dirty Dozen » Brats & Beer

September 3, 2006
posted under: Mike Sherman, Najeh Davenport, Packers, Ted Thompson

The biggest name and the biggest surprise in yesterday’s roster reduction announcement by Ted Thompson was running back Najeh Davenport, a fourth-round draft pick back in 2002. Even before he set foot in Green Bay, Davenport made national headlines after a night out on the town in Miami led to him taking a dump in some undergrad’s laundry hamper. But, that was the sort of thing that too frequently made the news during Mike Sherman’s tenure as general manager: underachievers on the field overachieving off it. To be fair, Davenport did average almost 5 yards a carry and scored seven touchdowns during his career as a Packer; however, with a penchant for injuries and general lack of conditioning he was never going to be an every-down back, so while I’m surprised they let him go I’m certainly not sad to see Green Bay trying to younger, hopefully more capable, talent behind Ahman Green.

The cuts yesterday leave the Packers with about 12 players on the roster who were brought in by Sherman, a mighty fast roster clearing considering Thompson took over as GM just two years ago. Of all the players Sherman acquired the only ones left include starters Nick Barnett, Al Harris, and Aaron Kampman, as well as DL Colin Cole and center Scott Wells. Robert Ferguson is still listed as a starter at wide receiver but that could change any minute now (it had better), and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Fergy involved in a last minute trade considering the Packers have six receivers on the roster.

Defensive tackles Corey Williams and Cullen Jenkins have had solid camps and one of them might also be used as trade bait in the next week or so. Tight end David Martin and fullback Vonta Leach might also go on the block in the next week or so, but it’s doubtful Green Bay would get much for them so they might just become roster casualties. The survival of Ahmad Carroll also has to be considered questionable given his past performances, though it would take Jason Horton or someone else to really step up I think to convince Thompson to cut bait with Mr. Hands To The Face this season.

This is now very much Ted Thompson’s team — his players, his coaches — so success or failure is all on his shoulders now. Let’s hope he and Mike McCarthey really do know what they’re doing.