Green Bay Packers: Going ‘all-in’ is the only way to success

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has, at least twice this offseason, encouraged the franchise and its GM, Ted Thompson, to go “all-in” when it comes to making personnel changes this offseason.

Well, with the official start of the NFL Free Agency period just minutes away, it is not really clear what “all-in” means to Thompson and the franchise.

For Rodgers, the method for getting as many weapons back onto the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in Green Bay would require actually signing free agents – be they players already on the roster or bringing in outside free agents.

Clearly, the Packers aren’t going to have the means nor the desire to bring back the majority of their own free agents, but the team did tip its hand a bit this morning as the announcements that OLB Nick Perry would come back on a five-year deal and J.C. Tretter was signing a deal with the Cleveland Browns.

Are those good moves?

Only time will tell, but with those players off the board, Green Bay must now focus on three players I feel would be good to bring back: T.J. Lang, Jared Cook and Micah Hyde.

My guess at this point is that Lang and Hyde are goners … their upsides are a benefit to them and they will be paid (and maybe overpaid) for their services with other teams with needs.

That said, it’s believed the Packers have their target in Cook, the tight end who made a world of difference for Rodgers and the Packers down the stretch this past season.

He signed a one-year deal with Green Bay last offseason and was looked to as the player who could stretch defenses and solidify an already potent offense.

Though he missed six games because of injury early in the year, Cook came back to catch 30 balls and helped the team win eight straight at the conclusion of the year.

Cook also caught what was the biggest reception of the season with the clock running out in the Divisional Playoff game at Dallas. His sliding sideline reception put the Packers in position for a game-winning field goal that extended an already miracle season.

Getting Cook back in Green and Gold would be a huge feather in Thompson’s cap.

There’s plenty of salary cap room to do it, but if Cook isn’t signed today or early tomorrow, there are other teams (Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills) who have big interests in signing him.

Again, time will tell.

Stay tuned …