Nov. 25, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA: St. Louis Rams running back (39) Steven Jackson runs the ball in the first half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

While we wait with baited breath for Steven Jackson to announce where he’ll play in 2013, let’s remember back to 2009 when the now former-St. Louis Rams running back nearly ended up in Green Bay.

Torry Holt was one of the most dynamic wide receivers in the 2000s, but in 2009 he was age 33 with his best days behind him.

It was a very tumultuous time in St. Louis’s history. The Rams were coming off an appalling 2-14 season which saw head coach Scott Linehan axed after four games. Linehan never earned the respect of the team leaders Torry Holt, Marc Bulger, and the aforementioned Jackson, and the entire season was marked by mutiny.

When interim head coach Jim Haslett failed to shift the momentum, St. Louis made sweeping changes. Billy Devaney was promoted to general manager, and within a month the team also had a new head coach. Steve Spagnuolo, fresh off a championship season as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, was brought in for the rebuild.

With these pillars now in place, the Rams looked to expunge their bloat and rebuild the roster with young talent on cheap contracts. St. Louis released Torry Holt in early March, and team officials began discussing internally the possibility of trading their franchise running back.

At this time, Green Bay was right in the middle of its transition out of the Brett Favre era. Aaron Rodgers, while extremely impressive in his first season under center, was not enough for the team to overcome its various deficiencies. Head coach Mike McCarthy hired Dom Capers to remodel the defense while GM Ted Thompson made a few calls to see who might upgrade the other side of the ball.

With Aaron Rodgers a full season into his career as a starter and Driver and Jennings forming one of the NFL’s best wideout tandems, the Packers believed their offense was about to take off.

The Packers offense wasn’t without talent, however. Besides Rodgers, Green Bay boasted two 1,000 yard receivers in Greg Jennings and Donald Driver and a 1,200 yard back, Ryan Grant. Not wanting to dilute the air attack, Thompson made a formal offer to the Rams for the suddenly available Steven Jackson. The compensation details vary depending on the source, but the offer did include Grant and draft picks.

What appealed to Green Bay was not only Jackson’s powerful running style, but also his utility in the passing game. Jackson had just caught 40 passes out of the backfield for 379 yards, the first of a five-year streak of 300+ yard receiving seasons that continues through today. The running back also demonstrated reliable pass blocking, something that Grant had not developed (and never would). Thompson felt that with Jackson, Green Bay could vault into the upper echelon of the league.

Dec 30, 2012, Seattle, WA, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (39) is tackled by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant (79) during the third quarter at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

But it was not to be. The Rams ultimately decided to hold onto their star player, hoping that he would be part of the turnaround in St. Louis.

As we know now, the Packers ended up a playoff team without Jackson in 2009, and a Super Bowl Champion a year later. The Rams, on the other hand, have yet to win their division, make the playoffs, or even break .500 in the years since their near trade with Green Bay.

Now with a championship under his belt, Thompson can’t be too upset the Rams kept Jackson. He’ll have even less reason to care if Jackson signs with the Packers – at discount – later this week.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.

Dec 25, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant (25) rushes with the football in front of Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

In a turn of events that seemed to come in slightly below the radar, James Starks is out and Ryan Grant returns. Tuesday news surfaced that James Starks suffered a season ending knee injury in the Sunday’s game against the Vikings. Wednesday morning ESPN Milwaukee broke the story that Ryan Grant is returning to Green Bay.

James Starks going down just as he was beginning to get going is disappointing. Starks and Alex Green proved to be a decent one – two punch against the Vikings on Sunday gaining 124 yards on 27 carries collectively. It seemed the Packers ground game was moving in the right direction.  But for the Packers and Starks this is just another injury to add to an already long list.

The move to bring back Ryan Grant is pragmatic if nothing else. Grant knows the offense having played for the Packers from 2007-’11 gaining over 4000 yards during his previous tenure with green and gold.  Last season Grant split time with James Starks and rushed for 559 yards on 134 carries for a 4.4 yard average. Bringing back Ryan Grant the Packers know they have someone they can plug in and he can hit the ground running… well that’s the hope anyways.

Grant turns 30 this Sunday, an age that in many cases is the point of no return for an NFL running back.  With the exception of a cup of coffee he had with the Washington Redskins in which he carried the ball once for 5 yards in 3 games Grant has been out of the game all season long. Provided he has kept himself in shape, if nothing else he should have fresh legs going into the playoff run.

The Packers opted not to re-sign Grant for the 2012 season. It may have been that his asking price was too high for a 29 year old running back, or the Packers may have simply felt his skills were diminishing.  Grant worked out for a number of teams including the Bears, Lions, Patriots, and Redskins as previously mentioned but was not able to find a permanent home this season. He’s been called a one cut back and maybe he’s lost a step. But in week 14 there are not a lot of Adrian Petersons on the waiver wire.

With all that said, Grant may have a little left in the tank. Not to mention he does have a little unfinished business in Green Bay that may fuel his fire. In 2010 Grant was on injured reserve for the Super Bowl run. He did get a ring, however he would probably admit that it would have been more rewarding had he been on the field. Grant also had a deflating fumble in last year’s first round playoff loss to the Giants that set up a touchdown score that all but put the game out of reach. Ryan Grant would most likely want to conclude his Packer story differently.

Jan 15, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; New York Giants middle linebacker Chase Blackburn (93) picks up a ball fumbled by Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant (25) during the second half in the 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field. The Giants won 37-20. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

For now it’s a game of wait and see.  With the playoff push in full swing the Packers hope that Ryan Grant in tandem with Alex Green can give them the firepower in the backfield they need to make a Super Bowl run.  Time will tell, but the addition of Grant seems like a good fix for a desperate situation.

Ryan Grant spent five years with the team prior to this season and was resigned Wednesday to take the roster spot vacated by the injured James Starks. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The Green Bay Packers, as reported by ESPN, signed Ryan Grant this morning to fill the hole left by the loss of running back James Starks.

It was reported last night that Starks was lost for the season from a knee injury suffered in Sunday’s game against the Vikings. The injury to Starks came as a big surprise to most, not only because he rushed three times for 9 yards after the injury occurred late in Sunday’s game.

Grant, the oft-injured running back who led the team in rushing over the past few years, knows the system and should be able to step in and replace Starks in the lineup.

Grant was with the Packers from 2007 to 2011 but the team didn’t re-sign him after last season for various reasons. Team officials believed they could get along with the running backs they had on the team – Starks, Alex Green and John Kuhn. However, a rash of injuries this season, in addition to that suffered by Starks this past Sunday, have forced the Packers’ hand. They couldn’t rely only on the services of Green and Kuhn to carry the load.

Grant was signed earlier this year by the Washington Redskins after being out of football but played in just one game before being cut.

The Packers are hoping Ryan Grant will be able to step in quickly for the injured James Starks. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Last season Grant rushed for 559 yards and two touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 268 yards for the Packers.

In the five seasons that Grant played with the Packers, had 924 attempts for 4,016 yards (4.3 yard average) and 25 touchdowns. Grant is also a valuable receiver, having caught 92 passes for 726 yards.

Just how much Grant has left in the tank is yet to be seen, but he was about the only available running back on the street that the Packers could sign – his familiarity with the system and his popularity among players on the team should make his rejoining of the team seamless.

Ryan Grant is upended in a 2009 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Grant, a player without a team, has been working out with the Detroit Lions. Raymond T. Rivard photograph.

In the middle of August, the Green Bay Packers had found what they hoped was the answer to their pathetic running back situation and the name associated with the answer wasn’t Ryan Grant – it was Cedric Benson.

While the jury is still out and will be out for a while on the Benson experiment, there’s one thing for certain – Ryan Gran will never play another down for the Packers.

Today the news out of the Detroit Lions camp that Grant was working out for the team from the Motor City came as no surprise. In fact, it was about that time that we here at Lombardiave.com speculated that Grant would eventually land a contract with the Lions because of that team’s own lack of a reliable stable of runners.

The real question at this point is whether it will be Grant or Steve Slaton getting the call to become a member of the team. A decision will be made at some point soon and should it be Grant, that too, will not be surprising given the Lions’ near signing of Grant back in early spring. Grant had scheduled a visit to Detroit, but cancelled at the last minute, raising speculation that he may have been headed back to the Packers. That didn’t happen either.

Frankly, I would like to see Grant get picked up by an AFC team and certainly not one as good as the Lions from the Packers’ own division, but it is what it is.

In the meantime, below is a look at the post we wrote way back when about Grant going to Detroit.

Ryan Grant: Is he headed to Detroit?

With the news that Jahvid Best, the Detroit Lions’ best bet for starting back, will not be uniform for the start of the 2012 regular season – he’s been relegated to the physically unable to perform list – is there a former Packer in the team’s future?

Throw in the fact that behind Best for the Lions are perpetual underachiever Kevin Smith and bad boy Mikel Leshoure and one might think that Ryan Grant might be a possibility.

You might remember that Grant had a visit to Detroit embedded into his GPS in May, but that trip was cancelled for inexplicable reasons. At the time, many thought it was because they believed he was headed back to Green Bay.

That didn’t happen either.

Instead, the Packers decided to go with two backs returning from serious knee injuries – Alex Green and James Starks, as well as second-year man Brandon Saine and rookie undrafted free agent Marc Tyler.

That was all well and good until the wheels in Green Bay started falling off. Saine went down to injury, Green wasn’t quite 100 percent and Starks hasn’t been all the Packers want. In their first preseason game, Tyler looked pretty good, but his stock dropped when he fumbled on the Packers’ final possession as they were attempting to score as the clock was winding down.

Immediately, the thought turned to Grant – he’s the back who knows the system and would be the perfect fit.

But not for Ted Thompson. Instead he went out and got Cedric Benson for a song, clearly looking to move in an entirely new direct, left Grant without a team.

Enter the Lions who have as bad of a situation in their backfield as the Packers. A logical choice for Detroit would be Grant, but no move has been made in that direction.

Could it still happen? Sure. There’s plenty of time to get him into camp and acclimated to their system. Obviously, that wouldn’t be something Packers fans would like to see.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

Could Ryan Grant be looking for holes to run through with the Lions? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

With the news that Jahvid Best, the Detroit Lions’ best bet for starting back, will not be uniform for the start of the 2012 regular season – he’s been relegated to the physically unable to perform list – is there a former Packer in the team’s future?

Throw in the fact that behind Best for the Lions are perpetual underachiever Kevin Smith and bad boy Mikel Leshoure and one might think that Ryan Grant might be a possibility.

You might remember that Grant had a visit to Detroit embedded into his GPS in May, but that trip was cancelled for inexplicable reasons. At the time, many thought it was because they believed he was headed back to Green Bay.

That didn’t happen either.

Instead, the Packers decided to go with two backs returning from serious knee injuries – Alex Green and James Starks, as well as second-year man Brandon Saine and rookie undrafted free agent Marc Tyler.

That was all well and good until the wheels in Green Bay started falling off. Saine went down to injury, Green wasn’t quite 100 percent and Starks hasn’t been all the Packers want. In their first preseason game, Tyler looked pretty good, but his stock dropped when he fumbled on the Packers’ final possession as they were attempting to score as the clock was winding down.

Immediately, the thought turned to Grant – he’s the back who knows the system and would be the perfect fit.

But not for Ted Thompson. Instead he went out and got Cedric Benson for a song, clearly looking to move in an entirely new direct, left Grant without a team.

Enter the Lions who have as bad of a situation in their backfield as the Packers. A logical choice for Detroit would be Grant, but no move has been made in that direction.

Could it still happen? Sure. There’s plenty of time to get him into camp and acclimated to their system. Obviously, that wouldn’t be something Packers fans would like to see.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.

The summer of Opposite Ted continues as Ted Thompson has dipped into the free agent market to pluck running back Cedric Benson.

The official reports from various media outlets confirmed Friday that Benson was in Green Bay for a visit on Friday and that a contract signing was completed today.

Many in Packer Nation were up in arms with this decison, some saying that Benson is nothing but a headache and the Packers would be better off just striking a deal with former Packer Ryan Grant. While Benson is better known for his events off the field rather than on the field, I feel he is a better option than Grant at this point in both of their careers.

Grant, who made some great plays while with the Packers seemed to really tail off after his ankle injury in the ’09 opener against the Eagles.

Now you could say Grant didn’t have enough attempts to even be a great runner being in the Packers pass-happy offense. I believe Grant had plenty of attempts to flourish last year, but he seemed like he couldn’t find the holes when they were open.

In 2007, 2008 and 2009 Grant excelled at finding the hole and bursting through it. Another telling point about Grant is the fact that it’s not only the Packers who haven’t had interest – there are 31 other teams who see the same thing Ted Thompson does. I believe Benson brings a nice set of tools to this offense.

Packer fans will remember Benson as the former Chicago Bear who was lazy and really couldn’t run all that well. That Benson seemed long gone when he suited up for his second season with the the  Cincinatti Bengals in 2009, rushing for 1,251 yards and six touchdowns.

Benson has turned into a tough downhill runner as he has matured. That presence of a violent runner is what the Packers have been missing these last two years. There were times last year where the team couldn’t convert on third and 1 or fourth and 1. The Packers short yardage man was mainly John Kuhn, so when he came in everyone knew why he was in there and who was getting the ball.

With Benson the Packers could put both in and surprise the defense with the ball carrier, because Benson has the ability to get that 1 yard.

I feel Green Bay is the right place for Benson to be and stay out of trouble. He’s been in trouble with every team he’s been with, but those teams didn’t have strong veteran leaders in the locker room.

Guys like Woodson, Rodgers, and Driver among others should keep Benson in line.

Let’s relax before we condemn Benson coming here to Green Bay, Ted Thompson knows what he’s doing and I’m sure once again he’ll prove most of us wrong.

With news breaking Friday night that the Green Bay Packers had brought running back Cedric Benson in and that signing him was “probable,” it sounds like probable is now turning to reality.

According to a post by Paul Imig on the FOXSportsWisconsin.com website today, his sources, which include Packers running back Alex Green, indicate that Benson could be in camp and ready for practice Monday morning.

“I was informed today that Cedric Benson will be coming in, so that’s a great thing for us,” Green told Imig Sunday afternoon. “It’ll help the team out. He’s a great running back. That’ll be a great thing for us to learn from and get a better feel for the running back position.”

You might remember that Benson was originally selected by the Chicago Bears and stayed in the Windy City for three years before falling into disfavor. In his three years there, Benson never reached 700 yards rushing in a single season.

However, when he landed in Cincinnati, his fortunes turned. He ran for 1,000 yards three straight years and helped the improving Bengals to a Playoff berth last year.

Benson can only be an upgrade to the Packers’ pathetic running game. Though both James Starks and Ryan Grant combined for more than 1,000 yards in rotation last year, the Packers continually relied on its passing game to carry the team. When the Packers decided not to re-sign Grant and go with Starks and second-year runners Alex Green and Brandon Saine, they  thought they had enough horses in the stable. However, Starks had a horrible outing last Thursday night at San Diego, Green still isn’t back completely from his injured knee and Saine has been out of action for the past week.

Ted Thompson had to do something and with the availability of Benson, I believe he made another good move.

Bringing in Benson takes some pressure off the rest of the running backs. Like the defense which was addressed in the offseason, the need to add another body in the backfield was a no-brainer. With Benson there may be some downside, but it’s definitely worth the risk.

I like what Imig said in his post:

If Benson is able to do a good job in pass protection for Packers MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and can help resurrect Green Bay’s struggling running game, this could turn out to be a significant signing for a team that hopes to win its second Super Bowl in three seasons.

October 9, 2011; Jacksonville FL, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Cedric Benson (32) is grabbed from behind by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle C.J. Mosley (99) in the fourth quarter of the game at EverBank Field. The Bengals beat the Jaguars 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Phil Sears-US PRESSWIRE

Cedric Benson – Green Bay Packers. Could they become synonymous?

Well, the news as originally reported early Friday evening by Chris Mortenson of ESPN that Benson was in Green Bay and was poised to be signed by Ted Thompson.

Though as of late last night the deal hadn’t been sealed, it looked impending and was described as “probable.”

The Packers’ running game is in disarray. James Starks, the rookie phenom who helped lead the Packers to their most recent Super Bowl, hasn’t been the answer, Brandon Saine is watching from the sidelines with an injury, Alex Green is being eased back into playing shape after last year’s knee injury and Marc Tyler looked decent in Thursday’s preseason opener until he fumbled on the final play of the game.

Though still unsigned, the Packers don't seem interested in bring Ryan Grant back. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

The Packers could have brought back Ryan Grant, the Packers’ main man the past four years, but don’t seem willing to go in that direction. He remains unsigned.

Enter Benson, who at 29 is coming off three straight 1,000 yard seasons at Cincinnati and may be considered a retread by many. This is the age at which most running backs hit the wall and show decline. Apparently the Packers are willing to take that chance. Maybe Ted Thompson knows something we don’t about the bruising between-the-tackles back. Maybe he just thinks it’s time the team bulk up its running game  and take some pressure off the league’s MVP.

Whatever the reason, it will be interesting to see what Benson can bring to balance the Packers already-vaunted passing attack. The hope is that it can make it an even better offense – and judging from the initial look at the Packers running game Thursday night, it just might need that boost.

It will be fun to watch.

Aaron Rodgers will be key in the Packers attack against the Lions once again this season. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

In going through the Detroit Lions‘ schedule this year, Sidelion’s Zac Snyder and I exchanged questions and answers about the Packers.

Our Q&A session was recently published on the Fansided.com’s Lions site and is offered up here for your review.

Don’t hesitate to slide on over to Snyder’s excellent site for a plethora of valuable information about the much-improved Lions – or you can take the shortcut and read the Q&A below and then go to Sidelion to see what’s new after you’re done reading.

Detroit Lions 2012 Schedule Preview: Green Bay Packers

Jordy Nelson is just one player who will be looking to take his game one step higher after his breakout season in 2011.

Zachary Thompson of FantasyCPR and I sat down for a Q&A this past week – talking about the Green Bay Packers and what things look like for the coming season.

Geared toward the fantasy fans out there, FantasyCPR has been talking with all 32 NFL Fansided.com blog editors about their teams to get a feel for the best players and how to rank teams and players for the coming season.

The goal of this website is to deliver consistent fantasy analysis to help fantasy players win.

If you have comments or suggestions about the site, contact Fantasy CPR at fantasyCPR@yahoo.com, and follow them on twitter @fantasyCPR.

So, take a trip over to the site for all your fantasy needs and while you’re at it, check out the Packers preview here or scroll down for the full Q&A.

Green Bay Packers – Fantasy Football Preview 2012

Fantasy football leagues are activating across the country and draft dates are being set and obsessed over. Last season, one offense everybody loved owning and a defense they loved playing against was the Green Bay Packers. The Pack are looking to bring back the offense and overhaul the defense. Ray Rivard of Lombardi Ave. was willing to join us and help us get some insider information on the cheeseheads’ outlook for this season.

Zach Thompson, FantasyCPR: The Packers offense was awesome last year. Aaron Rogers emerged as one of the top QB’s in the league to be sure. Is there any reason to think he won’t reduplicate that statistical performance this year?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: If Aaron Rodgers doesn’t match or exceed hisperformance of 2011, it will be a huge disappointment. Rodgers has the same weapons coming back with him in 2012 and there isn’t any reason why this team can’t continue to produce huge numbers on the field. In fact, without injuries, you can be sure to see Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson continue to put up 1,000 yard-plus seasons. When those two players have backups like James Jones and Donald Driver behind them – players who could be starters on most other teams - this is one high-powered offense. And it’s all led by Rodgers. His skill and uncanny ability to avoid pressure has made Rodgers a step above the best QBs in the league. I can only see him improve in 2012.

Z: Last year, virtually any Green Bay WR was worth owning just because he was on the same field with Aaron Rodgers? Jordy Nelson made the leap to a top 20 WR. Do you see Randall Cobb or any other receiver emerging this year as a every-week go-to guy?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: Many, including myself, see this as a breakout year for Randall Cobb. I believe the league has only seen a scratching of the surface with this receiver. His work on special teams is known, but he will bring much more to the field this year. You will see him on the field more often this season and his touches rise significantly. If the Packers can’t get the ball into his hands at least 5-10 time per game, it will be disappointing. And depending on how much Donald Driver contributes, you might see either Diondre Borel or Tori Gurley make the 53-man roster and make contributions. They are young guys with huge upsides. I would also like to say that tight end Jermichael Finley will work to improve his play this year and will continue to stretch the field for a
Packers offense that will be difficult to stop.

Z: While we’re on receivers, was Jordy Nelson’s breakout a fluke or do you think he’ll match or exceed those numbers this year?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: Jordy Nelson is no fluke. His teammates like to joke that he’s the white guy on the team who actually has speed and jumping ability. Nelson gets open and his ability to accelerate past defensive backs is fast becoming his biggest strength. Simply put – he’s a stud who can beat anyone matched up against him.

Couple that with the fact that he can catch the ball over the middle when needed and you’ve got the complete package. His only knock is that he drops too many passes. However, his success overshadows that. If you have a chance to take Jordy Nelson in your fantasy draft, don’t pass him up. He will score lots of points for you.

Z: What about the running game? Do you see one back emerging as a feature-back or will it continue to be a time-share? If you think it’sa time-share, what Packer running back would you draft to be on your fantasy team?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: The Packers running game is the wild card for any fantasy team. The Packers are a pass-first team, that’s not a secret. However, the Packers have not been totally incompetent on the ground either. Ryan Grant is gone, and the Packers will have two backs, James Starks and Alex Green, coming back from significant knee injuries. That is a concern. However, Starks is being looked to as the featured back heading into his third year. Green had a huge upside before his injury, so how he comes back is a huge question mark. He could be one of those players who comes out of nowhere to make a big mark, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Z: Is there a player on the Packers offense you think will have a breakout year?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: Randall Cobb, hands down. I feel the Packers will call his number more this year and give him the opportunity to show his skills. He was limited last year on offense because of the team’s depth, but with an aging Donald Driver still on the team I see Cobb being more of a factor.

Z: Green Bay’s focus this offseason appears to have been on rebuilding and strengthening their defense, specifically pass defense. Do you think they did enough? And who do you think makes the biggest impact among the new additions?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: Defense was the focus in both free agency and the draft – and rightly so. Ted Thompson did a great job in bringing in players who should contribute immediately – namely Nick Perry, Jerel Worthy, and Casey Hayward. I see all three of these players fitting in immediately with the defense, but I see Worthy as the player who will bring the most to the team in the early going. The Packers’ biggest hole last season was their defensive front. They couldn’t stop teams because they couldn’t pressure the QB.

The loss of Cullen Jenkins was bigger than most thought. With the addition of Worthy, the Packers will add to a line that already includes BJ Raji and Ryan Pickett. Though suspended for eight games, Anthony Hargrove will also help the team the second half of the season – if he makes the roster.

Z: Last one, give me your realistic expectation for the Packers this season, and then your perfect scenario. What is the one key for them taking home the Lombardi Trophy again this year?

Ray Rivard, Lombardi Ave.: Realistically the team wins at least 12 games -they will need that many wins to take the division. Ideally, they win 14 or 15 again this year and destroy the competition in the Playoffs
en route to another Super Bowl championship.

However, to do that, the team has got to make large improvements on the defensive side of the football. I think management has put the pieces in place for that to happen. Now it’s up to the coaching staff to put these players in the right schemes to make it happen. It’s funny talking about defense being the difference for a team like the
Packers. While the offense will continue to do what it does best, it will be the defense that will be the difference in the fight for a championship. If the defense doesn’t come through, the team will be left watching like they did last year.

Nov 20, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers running back James Starks against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the first half at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 35-26. Mandatory Credit: Mary Langenfeld-US PRESSWIRE

Happy 4th of July everyone! What day could be better than to talk about the future of the Packers’ running game?

Last season featured the running back tandem of Ryan Grant and James Starks. Both players played effectively and were enough to keep opposing defenses at least on their feet.

Now with Grant being a free agent, how will the Packers’ running game look this year? Since no major moves were made to add another running back, most can assume it will have James Starks being the featured back and Alex Green, who is coming off injured reserve, to be his back-up. Playing time for these two backs may depend on training camp, though. Alex Green, last year, never really got to show what he was made of because of his injury so this could be his break-out season.

One player I would like to see more of is 2nd year veteran Brandon Saine out of Ohio State. He was undrafted last season and did not even play a snap for the Green Bay Packers until week 12. Although his touches were limited, he made the most out of his opportunities and may play a larger role then most may think for the Pack this coming season. Saine’s main attribute and where he will probably see the most playing time this year, will not be running the ball but catching it out of the backfield. In his limited touches last season, Saine caught 10 catches for 69 yards. It’s not staggering but it shows that he has the potential to become a threat as a receiver coming out of the backfield. Do not be surprised if he becomes a primary third down back for the Packers in 2012.

It’s hard to say how the backfield will exactly look with training camp still to come, but it’s never too early to start thinking about. Although the Packers are known for their prolific passing game, do not be surprised if the Pack can assemble a better running game then last year which could add just another dimension to the Packer offense.

Ryan Grant is most likely moving on to another team, but has yet to be signed. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Ryan Grant, the former number one running back with the Green Bay Packers, has fallen off not only the Packers’ radar, but everyone else’s – or so it seems.

But in an interview recently with the National Football Post, Grant’s agent, Alan Herman, said. In fact, that Grant will be playing for a National Football League team before it’s said and done – but it most likely won’t be for the Packers.

The Packers’ leading rusher before his season-ending injury in 2010, Grant made a comeback last year and played side-by-side with fellow running back James Starks. In fact, running as a tandem for the team, Starks and Grant put up nearly identical numbers – Grant had 559 yards and two rushing touchdowns on 134 carries, while Starks had 578 and two touchdowns on one less rushing attempt before ending his year with a knee injury against Tampa Bay.

The Packers also lost last year’s rookie Alex Green midway through the year to a knee injury and ended the year playing Grant and rookie Brandon Saine.

Considered the best free agent running back available, Grant’s agent has said there have been some offers, but they haven’t been attractive enough for him. One of the teams interested is the Detroit Lions, but others mentioned have been the Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and even his former team, the New York Giants.

Whomever takes a chance on Grant will get a 29-year-old running back who doesn’t have a lot of mileage on his legs. In my estimation, Grant has at least a couple more seasons in the tank. He can be a value to both the running game and the passing attack.

However, for the Packers, they must feel confident in moving ahead with Starks and Green, with Saine also in the mix – and because the role of the running back is becoming somewhat diminished in today’s pass-first offenses, re-signing a premier running back hasn’t become a priority for many teams.

But for Grant and his agent, they aren’t worried.

“He’s not upset. He’s not nervous,” Herman said. “We’re going to be patient and wait for the right opportunity.”

Could Cedric Benson end up as a Green Bay Packer?

We all know the Green Bay Packers have one of the best, if not the best passing game in all of the National Football League.

On the flip side, we also understand that the Packers have been successful the past few years with a minimal rushing attack. Save for Ryan Grant, who the team has not brought back to date, the Packers have relied on inexperienced running backs and even a fullback (John Kuhn) as their featured backs the past couple of seasons.

Enter Cedric Benson, the former Chicago Bear and Cincinnati Bengal  who is now looking for a home. The Bengals have decided to go in a new direction, leaving Benson on the outside.

Rumor has it that in addition to the New York Jets and Oakland Raiders, it looks like the Packers may also have more than a passing interest in signing Benson.

Benson rushed for more than 1,000 yards last year and scored six touchdowns, but the Bengals still have no interest.

With the Packers looking to rely on two running backs (James Starks and Alex Green) who are both coming back to the team after having missed most of last year with serious knee injuries, depth is a concern, as is experience. Benson would provide both.

Though simply a rumor, this move would be a good one for the Packers. Given Packers GM Ted Thompson’s recent run through free agency and the draft, it would seem that he has let up on the reigns of building only through the draft. With his most recent history, Thompson may play the field and make an attempt at signing Benson, who could end his career with a team that has only a Super Bowl Championship in its sights.

Time will tell.

Stay tuned …

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Ryan Grant has probably run his way out of Green Bay. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A report today from one of my favorite Packers reporters, Paul Imig, indicates that if things weren’t looking good for Ryan Grant before, it just got worse.

Imig stated today on his Web post that the Packers have assigned the unsigned running back’s locker to wide receiver Diondre Borel. Ironically, Borel is also one of those young stud receivers who could also push Donald Driver, the franchise’s all-time leading receiver, from the roster.

The Packers have shown no interest in signing Grant and it seems no other team has been pounding down his door. There were reports that he was scheduled to pay a visit to the Detroit Lions and some even said he was ready to sign. However, nothing happened and it’s been all quiet on the Grant front since.

This is just another move (or non-move) that is slowly remaking the look and feel of the Packers’ roster.

Stay tuned …

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Ahman Green walks out of Lambeau Field for the final time after the Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in December 2009. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Paul Imig posted an interesting article on his site at FSWisconsin - an interview with Packers all-time leading rusher Ahman Green who said he’s ready to play in the National Football League once again.

He made that statement, despite having carried the football last on Jan. 10, 2010, when he was playing for the Packers against the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC Playoff Game.

What’s interesting is that Green, who was with the Packers for the second time during that last stint, felt he was in as good of condition as any time during his career. Admitting that the Packers had Ryan Grant and some younger legs on the team, Green said he could have carried the load had the team given him the ball.

Not that he was complaining, he was happy to have landed back with the Packers.

Now he wants another shot and is waiting for the phone to ring. The four-time Pro Bowler is hoping there’s some team out there willing to call so he can have the opportunity to show what he can do.

Saying that he’s a “football player,” first and foremost, Green went so far to say that he would play anywhere – not just running back. In order to get a shot to be back on the football field, Green said he would even play special teams just to be part of a team.

“I’ve got at least five years left in me to play football,” Green told Imig today. With his home in Green Bay, the former Packer would be very interested if the Packers called. And given that the team is going to be relying on an unproven group of running backs, it’s not inconceivable the Packers may at least consider bringing Green in for a look-see.

With Ryan Grant unsigned and the tandem of James Starks and Alex Green coming into this season off serious knee injuries, the only healthy running backs on the roster are Brandon Saine and rookie free agents Duane Bennett of Minnesota, FB Nic Cooper of and Winston-Salem State and RB Marc Tyler of USC.

But given the Packers penchant for developing players, there probably isn’t room on a roster as deep overall for a 35-year-old former player.

Yes, the NFL is a business first … unfortunately for Green.

With all that said, we wish Green the best. He could probably be an excellent special teams player for some team and maybe even fill in at running back when needed.

But looking at things realistically, Green said, ”I can’t sit around and wait forever, so if it doesn’t happen, I’ve got to move on with my life.”

Class guy.

Here are a couple of videos for fun

Ryan Grant has been a tough inside runner and a very good receiver out of the backfield for the Packers the past five years. However, it looks like his days in Green Bay are numbered. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Surely Packers brass aren’t going to come out and talk about it, but I feel there are more than a few reasons the team isn’t considering bringing running back Ryan Grant back to Green Bay.

However, for me, the tipping point was the fumble Grant gave up in the Divisional Playoff Game last January against the New York Giants. Though it wasn’t a game-changer and one of a bazillion turnovers the Packers gave up that day, I think the team leaders lost confidence in the running back who provided so much potential, but never really gave the team what they expected from a veteran. Throw in the fact that he will be demanding more than they want to pay him and the Packers will surely just let him walk.

Grant carried the ball 134 times last season for 559 yards (4.2 yard average) and two touchdowns last season. Not statistics one would point to as impressive for the team’s starting running back.

He has spent all five of his professional seasons with the Green Bay Packers and has overall been a valuable and productive player. The team acquired him in 2007 trade with the New York Giants and he was immediately thrust onto the field. He ran for 956 yards that season and then followed that with two straight 1,200 yard-plus seasons. In  2008, he ran for 1,203 yards and had another 1,200-plus season in 2009. An injury in the first game of the season at Philadelphia in 2010 not only hurt his career, but also put the team in a pickle until James Starks came alive late in the season to help lead the Packers to a Super Bowl.

Grant has run for 4,016 yards and a 4.3 yard average during his time in Green Bay and has also caught 92 passes for nearly 1,000 yards.

Needless to say, he’s been a valuable player … you could say he is a star. But his star power isn’t enough for the Packers to bring him back.

So, where does that leave the team? Well, not with much experience, that’s for sure. James Starks was a stud during the Packers’ Super Bowl run in 2010, but was injured again last year and hasn’t played an entire season yet. Alex Green, the team’s high draft choice last year is also coming off a knee injury and is yet to be seasoned. Brandon Saine showed some good hands and burst as a rookie last season and the team is most likely looking toward him to offer a third down alternative in 2012. Even fullback John Kuhn has been utilized as a running back in the past – he took over in the backfield in 2010 when Grant went down for the year with an injury and Brandon Jackson did nothing for the team.

Throw in these free agent signings: Duane Bennett from Minnesota, Marc Tyler from the University of Southern California, and Nicholas Cooper from Winston-Salem State, and one can see that the Packers have plenty of bodies, but very little experience.

Consider also that the Packers are a pass-first offense and one can see why Coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson are satisfied with what they have in-house and are not concerned with letting Grant walk.

The main concern for Packers fans, of course, is that Grant is poised to sign with the Detroit Lions. Many say let them have him and his veteran salary. But in the backs of everyone’s minds is the notion that Grant would come back to haunt the team. McCarthy and Thompson don’t seem to be concerned about that.

Would the Packers look for another veteran to sign should Grant move on? I doubt it. With the team’s philosophy of drafting and developing, it’s highly unlikely … there are plenty of horses in the stable to develop. This could be a breakout year for Starks and if Green comes back healthy he could add the potential for a one-two punch the Packers would need. Throw in the pass catching skills that Saine showed out of the backfield last season and the team could be OK at the position.

However, it’s a big “if.” Everyone has to stay healthy for it to come together.

If they don’t, people will point to the neglect of Grant as a mistake. If they do, everyone will ask, “Ryan who …?”

Here are Ryan Grant’s career statistics with the Packers:

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Hopefully, Mike McCarthy will be smiling after the draft.

It’s finally here. NFL. Draft. Day.

After all gnashing of teeth, indigestion and heated arguments, it’s time to throw all the mocks away and get ready for the reality check that is the actual naming of names.

When Commissioner Roger Goodell heads to the podium tonight to announce the first pick of the much ballyhooed first round, we can all start with a tabula rasa – a blank slate.

Frankly, I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of the bazillion mocks, the upsides, downsides, 40-yard dash times, the vertical leaps and the best player available. I feel all those things should kept to those in the war rooms and to let them do their jobs.

Now, as journalists, our job is to take a look at what transpires and then use our worldly knowledge to pick apart team drafts and start assigning grades and opinions about the winners and losers.

As for the Green Bay Packers, it’s time to Trust in Ted. Though we know the general manager is probably in control in the Packers’ draft room, we also know that he is getting information and birds tweeting in his ear right up until the time the phone call is made and the trigger pulled … but you also know that head coach Mike McCarthy is getting his two cents worth in as well. We wonder just how influential he is in the final decision. He’s got to have some say. After all, he is the guy who has to work with these players.

Anyway, get excited. I, for one, am looking forward to this draft. While I feel the team has got to draft defensive players up front, I am really excited to see if the team goes away from what all the experts are saying and pulls players that might not be at the top of everyone’s list. Thompson has been known to do that before. Let’s just forget about Justin Harrell and Mike Neal and move on.

So, without further adieu, here is a look at the Packers potentials for tonight. Take a look.

However, a bit of advice – you might want to ignore it once the teams are on the clock. Just like all the mocks that have been developed over the past few months, this piece will probably be null and void once the action starts tonight. But we’ll see.

You can also see this posting at NFL Mocks.

Q. What are the team needs for the Green Bay Packers heading into the draft?

The loss of Nick Collins could play a major role in how the Packers draft this weekend. Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

A. Defense. Defense. Defense. The Packers ranked dead last among the 32 teams in 2011 and it was no accident. The Dom Capers-led unit was clearly hurt by the losses of defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins and the injury to Nick Collins. They were a unit without leadership and purpose.

Ted Thompson’s first goal will be to restock the defensive line and linebacker positions. If he can also throw in a solid defensive back, he will be even further ahead. With 12 total picks, Thompson might just do some wheeling and dealing, especially in the first couple of rounds, but he could also surprise everyone and deal down to accumulate even more picks. But given the fact that 12 drafted rookies would have a very difficult time cracking the lineup of a team that went 15-2 last season, I highly doubt Thompson would look to add quantity over quality.

Look for the Packers to draft either a defensive lineman or outside linebacker with the first couple of picks; and then follow those picks up with an offensive lineman, a defensive back, a running back and a quarterback in the later rounds. The rest will be simply players to pad the roster and add competitive depth.

Q. Who are some prospects you’d like to see end up with the Green Bay Packers?

USC's Nick Perry could be a great pick if he's still on the board. Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

A. I would love to see the Packers add a defensive lineman such as a Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples or a Courtney Upshaw, but we all know they most likely will be quickly nabbed in the early picks of the first round. However, if a Nick Perry or Whitney Mercilus is still on the board when the Packers pick at 28, Thompson should pull the Trigger. However, we wouldn’t kick a Vin Curry, Andre Branch or a Chandler Jones out of bed either. Peter King says the Packers will pick Michigan State’s defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, which could be a coup for the longterm and a solid pick for the Packers. Another intriguing prospect who might be an interesting defensive pick and who would be a great pick for the Green Bay Packers is Boise State’s Shea McClellin – I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Thompson go after him.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Packers’ need for depth and longterm effect on the line is evident. Left tackle and center are the two most glaring needs, but quality is always most important when considering drafting for the line. Of course, Peter Konz’s name always comes to the forefront, but Thompson’s effort to grab center Jeff Saturday has softened the need for the team to go after a top-rated center right away. Thompson’s ability to pick solid linemen in the later rounds is well-known and he may even be able to land an undrafted free agent who could help the team.

Picking a running back and even a quarterback, in my estimation, is just as important. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers put a premium on a running back who could add to its already somewhat solid stable. Ryan Grant is probably gone, and with injuries to James Starks and last year’s rookie Alex Green, the Packers are left with second year man Brandon Saine. You might see the team try to draft Chris Polk out of Washington, or a Doug Martin out of Boise State.

Would Kirk Cousins be a good pickup for the Packers? Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

At quarterback, the Packers have more of a need than Thompson has admitted. The loss of Matt Flynn moves untested Graham Harrell to number two. The need is evident, but Thompson most likely will draft to develop at the position. A Kirk Cousins from Michigan State is an intriguing prospect, and might be available to the team around the fourth round. But don’t count out a Ryan Lindley of San Diego State or even Russell Wilson from right here in Wisconsin.

Q. What would represent a successful draft in your opinion?

A. If the Packers can nab a solid defensive lineman (defensive end or tackle), an outside linebacker that can be a bookend for Clay Matthews to draw some attention away from him, an offensive lineman, a running back and a quarterback, the Packers will have had a successful draft. I don’t see Ted Thompson moving too far away from the team’s obvious needs, though he says he doesn’t draft that way. According to him, it’s always the best player on the board. Well, in my estimation, that’s fine, but at some point the team has to address the team needs as well. Last year, Thompson decided to go with who he had at defensive lineman and outside linebacker and it came back to bite the team in the long run. Hopefully, Thompson learned a lesson with that tactic and will look at the overall picture more intently this time around.

Q. Give us a bold prediction for your team.

A. My bold prediction is that Thompson will trade up at least five picks to select USC’s Nick Perry in the first round, giving up a couple of later round picks to do so. Much like he did when the team selected Clay Matthews, I feel that if the Packers can hang on to their 28th pick and nab another in the early to mid-20s, they will have two solid first round selections that will have an immediate impact. The team can afford to give up a couple of later round picks to make that happen.

August 2, 2008; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver (left) and head coach Mike McCarthy (right) enjoy a moment during a training camp workout at Clarke Hinkle Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

As we inch closer to another NFL season, many things have been occurring. Free agency, trades, preparation for the draft, and more.

What has been a lighter story have been the voluntary workouts which are held for all teams around this time of year.

For the Packers, their workouts began April 16. This is about a month later than usual due to the new collective bargaining agreement which reduced the length of offseason workouts from 14 weeks to 9 weeks. Strength and conditioning will be the main focus for the Packers in the first few weeks and then they will get a little into the position and team drills.

For many teams – like the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears – there have been noticeable no-shows at the workouts like Drew Brees and Matt Forte. This is due to contract disputes between the players and the teams.

The Packers did not have any real surprises. Donald Driver did not show up but that is because he is currently on “Dancing with the Stars.” Some may also wonder why Ryan Grant did not show up for workouts but this is because he is an unrestricted free agent and the Packers, according to Grant’s agent, have not made any effort to bring Grant back to the team.

With the shortened offseason program, this puts a lot more pressure on to the players to be fully conditioned and ready for when the real stuff begins in July and August. Some players will benefit from the added responsibility and some will crumble. But one thing is for certain – the players with the most desire to win will be ready when training camp arrives.

Hopefully, this means the entire Packer organization.

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Ted Thompson will give a press conference today.

Ted Thompson, the Green Bay Packers’ poster child for the mystery man, might reveal a few nuggets of insight today when he holds a live press conference at 12:30 p.m. today, Thursday, April 19, to talk about the status of the team, the schedule and of course the draft.

But don’t bet on walking away knowing anything more about the Packers draft plans than you already knew going into the press conference. The conference will be streamed live on the Packers official website.

In addition to the topics mentioned above, we’re hoping Thompson will also tip his hand with answers to questions about free agents still not signed – the likes of Ryan Grant, et al, as well as the status of Nick Collins, Donald Driver and Chad Clifton.

But however he decides to answer this most likely will be a press conference where Thompson continues to hone his skills of dodging and weaving questions. The true football politician will be at work today.

So why bother watching if he’s not going to relay any pertinent information?

Because it’s Ted Thompson, that’s why.

Yeah, I’ll be watching. You should, too.

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Is Ryan Grant over the hill? Can James Starks be an every down back in the NFL? Does Ted Thompson need to go out in the draft AGAIN and find someone, or is the ACL in Alex Green’s knee, a knee that was repaired back in November, going to allow him to be the punishing runner Green Bay picked last season?

The real question is, what does Green Bay do at running back next season?

The thought in drafting Green was that he would eventually fold into Mike McCarthy’s offensive scheme. He flashed some of the reason he came so highly touted out of Hawaii in the pre-season, but in week seven was sent to the IR, keeping Packers’ Nation wondering what direction the position was going to go.

It’s obvious that if Green Bay wants to make it back to the post season, they can do it on the arm of Aaron Rodgers and a few tweaks defensively. But not having that “big play” presence standing behind the All-Pro QB will, and has, allowed teams to lock down on the corners, bump our receivers and beat up Rodgers in the pocket when open WR’s are scarce.

So what are your thoughts?