Matt Breen

Nice compromise. Gives Jordan a couple of years to show what he can do.

I'll start by saying that - in all honesty - I don't think anyone knows how good Love is going to be. I don't. But I'm cautiously optimistic, but we shall see. However, regarding Love, if the club thinks he's going to be something special, and they intend to pick up his fifth-year option (which will cost around $20m), perhaps they do look at an extension now. Maybe something with $40m in guarantees and five years. Structure the contract so that the team can cut bait after two years or something like that. This is a complete rough idea - but something like: 2024: $20m guaranteed 2025: $20m guaranteed 2026: $25M non-guaranteed 2027: $25M non-guaranteed 2028: $25M non-guaranteed Perhaps this is unrealistic. Maybe it's too much or too little. I honestly don't know what sort of contract it would take to sign the guy at this point of his career. With this structure, Love gets the security of $40m, and the knowledge he has 2-3 years to grow into his role. In exchange the Packers get him at a discount if he plays well. If not, they take a good sized hit - but not too crippling. They can cut bait after 2025 if things don't pan out. Perhaps it would be really dumb to put up so much guaranteed money on a guy with such a small track record. And I don't know if there's any recent precedent to compare it to. Most guys who get a big deal - or even a medium sized deal - have some sort of track record before getting an extension. Waiting to see how the 2023 season goes before offering such an extension is probably wise - but it will certainly raise the price if Love looks good. An extension now gets him locked in at a favorable rate. Of course, this all hinges on the Packers picking up Love's 5th year. Which is no guarantee. They may prefer to make Love prove things this year - knowing they can franchise him next year if needed. But if that happens, the price of a good quarterback rises dramatically. Just an idea.

Well, the club certainly added some players that will have an opportunity to contribute in 2023. The two TEs was a neat idea. Will be fun.

Yeah, lots to like about him. Very athletic. Still learning - so he can get better. Can line up inside and outside. Should be able to handle the pass rush and help with run defense.

Packers can go so many ways. Having two picks in the upper half of round #2 is so sweet. I think it all comes down to who falls to them. I'd be thrilled with a bunch of different players. I think that with our 1st round pick we can expect someone to step in and contribute significantly from day one. JNS, a TE, an OL, Branch, an Edge rusher. I could also see the club trade back if the opportunity came up. Trade back 10 spots and get an additional #2 - that sort of thing. They could potentially get someone like Branch or Kincaid or Mayer in the early 20s, and get the extra premium pick. Or we could trade up - as people have noted. Deal one of our #2s and a 3rd for a low 1st - that sort of thing. Of course, all those deals are easier said than done as it takes two to tango - but I'd be looking to nab some value if the chance came up.

I think adding JSN would open up the game for the other receivers. And if we could get a TE that can step up and play right away - we're gold. I think the front office is going to want to help out Love as much as they can so they can figure out if he's the long term guy. And let's face it - they don't want to look like idiots. If Love comes in and bombs bad - they look like fools for picking him - and forcing out Rodgers (at least that will be the narrative). Doesn't mean the team has to get JSN. But it sure is tempting to load up on some offensive skill players.

Yes, it would. But I also see a position woefully thin at talent and depth. It’s a big need and JNS seems to be a guy worth the pick. I’ll say the same thing about safety and TE.

Well, the Rodgers trade is done and the draft is almost here. Assuming we would get one of the Jets second rounders, I had originally had the Packers going after Branch in the 1st, a TE (Musgrave or Washington) and Edge guy (McDonald IV) in the 2nd, and a WR in the 3rd (Reed or Rice). However, the trade does give me reason to change thing. The move from #15 to #13 is important, because the there was a lot of talk of the Patriots (who have the 14th selection) being very interested WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. So I was skeptical he'd get past New England. Well, no more. JSN is really a perfect for for GB. He can come in and fill the slot receiver role to perfection. So here's my predictions (again, these are who I think the club will select - not necessarily who I want them to pick). 1st (13) - WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba 2nd (42) - TE Luke Musgrave or Darnell Washington 2nd (45) - Edge Will McDonald IV 3rd (78) - S Quan Martin The 2nd round picks could be easily flip-flopped. Also, if the Packers see some like Branch or either TE Michael Mayer or Dalton Kincaid dropping into the lower first round or early second round - wouldn't be shocked to see them package one of their #2s and another pick to move up to grab them (assuming they like that player quite a bit more than Musgrave or Washington). Looking forward to the draft. Glad to have the Rodgers stuff behind us.

I'm good with this. Glad to have it done.

I think White is a fascinating prospect. Unlike a lot of EDGE rushers, he's a bigger player (285lbs). And he played DT at times. That should make him solid against the run. I also wonder if there's room to grow. The guy started as a TE. So he's probably still learning. Reports say he's got a great motor and work ethic. Still, perhaps as he's a bit older, he's peaked as an athlete. Might not be big upside. But whatever - if the team likes him - he's certainly an option. I'm guessing in round 2 he'll be there. I predicted the club will take Will McDonald Jr. - but there's not a lot separating the two. McDonald is more of a true pass rusher. Should be a fun draft.

In Brewer history, no player has put fear into opposing pitchers more than Prince Fielder. Not Ryan Braun, Russell Branyan, Gorman Thomas, Richie Sexson - no one. Fielder could crush the ball out of the park every time he stepped to the plate - and everyone knew it. It made his at-bats electrifying. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Prince Fielder was born in Ontario, California, on May 9, 1984. His father was slugging first baseman, Cecil Fielder. Despite being a natural right-hander, Cecil had Prince learn to hit left-handed as a kid. Fielder grew up around baseball and was a fixture in the Tigers clubhouse. He even took batting practice and hit an upper-deck home run at the age of 12. He attended high school in Florida - his prodigious power attracted the attention of college and professional scouts. The Brewers drafted Fielder in the first round - seventh overall selection - of the 2002 draft. No one doubted Fielder’s ability to hit the ball - but some questioned if his body type (5’11” and weighed 250+ pounds) would allow him to play at the highest levels. Many scouts wondered if he could even handle 1B - and thought he was destined to be a DH. The Brewers felt that Fielder was athletic enough to play regularly in the field. No matter what anyone thought about Fielder’s glove - he quickly proved he could hit. He smashed a grand slam in his first professional game - and never stopped hitting. At Ogden - Rookie Ball - he clubbed 10 HR and hit .390 in 41 games. The baseball world quickly took notice - the 18-year-old kid could hit. Fielder’s progress through the minor leagues was steady and consistent. He pounded between 23 and 28 HRs and never hit below .272. The Brewers felt they had a star slugger on their hands. In 2005, the 21-year-old Fielder got a 39-game trial in Milwaukee. The team was sold after he hit a respectable .288 on 59 ABs - plus a pair of HRs. The only problem was that the Brewers had a good first baseman on the roster - Lyle Overbay. That issue was addressed when the club dealt Overbay to the Toronto Blue Jays in the offseason. First base was now Fielder’s. And the young man did not disappoint - hitting 28 HRs with a .271 batting average. He was seventh in Rookie of the Year voting. But it was the following season - 2007 - where the big man broke out. That year he smashed a club record 50 HRs (a record that still stands) and produced an OPS north of 1.000. Fielder’s plate discipline also developed at this time - and over the next five years, he averaged more than 100 walks a season. By the way, Fielder’s powerful bat was essential to his success because he was not an asset in the field. At his best, Prince was still a below-average first baseman. But Fielder’s glove is not what allowed him to anchor the Brewer lineup for six seasons. It was his potent bat. In that time, he hit between 28 and 50 HRs each season, averaging more than 100 RBI a year. His batting average was always steady - between .260-.300. He was also an iron man - averaging 160 games played during his six full seasons. During his time in Milwaukee, Fielder was named to three all-star teams, won two Silver Slugger awards, and three times finished either third or fourth in the MVP voting. But most importantly, in 2008, Fielder helped lead the Brewers to their first playoff appearance in 25 years. And then, in 2011, the club captured the NL Central title and reached the NLCS (losing to the Cardinals). The offseason ended Fielder’s tenure in Milwaukee - something most fans expected as the big first baseman was a free agent. The Brewers - most people believed - wouldn’t be able to compete financially with the bigger market clubs. And they were right. Fielder signed a 9-year, $214M contract with the Tigers in January 2012. While Fielder continued to produce in Detroit (including hitting a career-high .313 in 2012), his power began to slip. In 2013, he hit .279 and 25 HRs. Not bad, but not up to his standards. In the off-season, Fielder was traded to Texas - and things went badly out of the gate. In the first 42 games of the year, he hit .247 and only three home runs. He then missed the rest of the year after undergoing neck surgery. Fielder rebounded in 2015, hitting .305 to go with 23 HRs. But the following season was a disaster as he was plagued by back and neck problems. In July, he was diagnosed with herniations in his neck. Within a month, he announced his playing career was over. Fielder was just 32 years old. The end of Fielder’s career was abrupt - especially considering he had been an iron man with the Brewers. Fielder concluded his career with 319 HR and more than 1,000 RBI. If he had stayed healthy, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that he could have hit another 100+ home run. Perhaps even have gotten to 500. That would have put him into Hall of Fame contention. Prince was one of the most feared power hitters in the majors at his best. He holds the Brewers' team record for home runs and RBIs in a season and ranks third in career HRs - despite only playing six seasons in Milwaukee. Fielder is the youngest player in National League history to hit 50 home runs in a season and captured two Home Run Derby titles. Perhaps Fielder’s greatest legacy is being a key cog in rejuvenating the Brewer franchise in the late 2000s and into the 2010s. Because of his massive power, every at-bat of Fielder’s at Miller Park was a legitimate threat to go sailing out of the stadium. Fielder was inducted into the Brewers Walk of Fame in 2022. Fielder, by the way, had a contentious relationship with his father, Cecil, much of it because of his parent’s bitter divorce. Also, Prince resented his father’s often overbearing attempts to control his career - and thus, he wanted little to do with Cecil. Upon his retirement, Fielder focused on his family - his wife and him raising their two sons in Florida. Both boys - who are taller than their father - are considered quality baseball players - so there may be another generation of Fielders in the major leagues. Please share your memories of former Brewer Prince Fielder. View full article

Trading down is always a great strategy - but it's easier said than done. Gotta have other teams willing to play along. I think the Packers have a lot of needs - so a lot of guys are enticing to us (which gives us flexibility). So if you can drop down 5-10 picks and still get a guy like Mayer or Branch or whomever - and pick up more picks. That's gold. But the situation has to be almost perfect for that to happen. And there's always a risk the guy you think will be there will get taken before you pick. It's why it's so good to be flexible - and be happy with getting anyone of several players.

Yeah, Rodgers seems to throw around statements like this - just to make things more dramatic.

I asked ChatGPT for a mock draft. It can't do it. It won't predict the future. And its knowledge base is limited up through 2021. So no luck.

So, the latest buzz is that Jets owner Woody Johnson is the main person holding up the Rodgers. The clubs - reportedly - had agreed to compensation before the Packers gave the Jets permission to chat. The problem that arose was that Rodgers came out saying 'I was 90% retired' before his isolation retreat thingee. That made Woody Johnson freak out, because he's concerned Rodgers is one-and-done. And thus he wanted to back off the deal that had been agreed upon. The deal the Packers supposedly agreed to was a 2nd in 2023, and a 1st in 2024. But now the Jets don't want give up the 1st round pick next year. And the Packers aren't budging on the matter. Thus the standoff. I don't know how much of this is true - just paraphrasing various things I've read the past day or so.

It is odd. A while ago he was the top WR. The stuff on Johnston is - I think - that he he still needs some work. Just a lot of areas he can improve (which - you might argue - is a good thing). Great athlete, but has been dinged by injuries, had his share of drops, not the most polished route runner - stuff like that. Really intriguing player because he's probably the guy who has the potential to be a monster if he puts it all together.

Thank you.

JSN looks like he’ll be the first receiver off the board. I agree with others - I doubt he drops to us. He seems like a guy who is going to catch a 100 passes every year.

We always love a story about a guy with limited skills who not only reaches the biggest stage of his profession - but also thrives on it. Former Brewers 3B Casey McGehee is one of those stories. Image courtesy of Brewer Fanatic Casey McGehee was a guy with limited athleticism (compared to his peers) and no tool that he could ride to success. He was a waiver wire pickup - almost an afterthought - who went on to play eight years in the majors and several more in Japan. He was born in Santa Cruz, California, on Oct. 12, 1982. He attended Fresno State and was drafted in the 10th round of the 2003 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs. The right-handed hitting McGehee was not a top prospect. He hit for a decent average and had a solid arm but lacked power, was slow, and was limited defensively. McGehee played mostly 3B, but the Cubs did give him a shot at catcher - without much success. He was classic organizational fodder. By 2008, McGehee had reached AAA and even got a September callup with the Cubbies. But Chicago didn’t see a place for him. Aramis Ramirez was entrenched at 3B, and McGehee didn’t offer defensive versatility. Thus, he was waived after the season - and claimed by the Brewers. The move to Milwaukee was a career changer for McGehee. He made the club out of spring training as a reserve infielder but soon saw more action due to injuries. By June, he played regularly - moving between third and second bases. And not just playing but playing well. For the 2009 season, McGehee hit a robust .301 and surprised everyone by socking 16 home runs in only 355 at-bats. He had never hit more than a dozen home runs in the minors. For his performance, McGehee was fifth in voting for the NL Rookie of the Year. Going forward, the third base job was his. In the 2010 season, he was proved to be the high water mark for Casey McGehee. He played in 157 games, blasted 23 HR, drove in 104 runs, hit a solid .285, and was voted the team’s most valuable player. The 2011 season saw the Brewers capture the NL Central crown, but it was a disappointing year for McGehee. His batting average (.223) and power (13 HR) cratered. Plus, he struggled defensively, leading NL third basemen in errors. The Brewer infield defense that season - featuring McGehee, Yuniesky Betancourt, Prince Fielder, and Rickie Weeks - was brutal. Looking to replace the recently departed big bat of Prince Fielder, the Brewers signed FA 3B Aramis Ramirez from the Cubs. Without a position, the Crew sent McGehee to the Pirates for reliever Jose Veras. The next few years were a roller coaster for MeGhee. He struggled in 2012 and then went to Japan in 2013 to reestablish his value - hitting .292 with 28 HR. The Marlins brought him back to the States the following year, and he was their regular 3B - hitting .287 - but with only four home runs. His successful season led to a trade to the Giants, but the magic was gone. McGehee was bad, which led to a midseason release. He hooked back up with Miami later that year and then took a minor league deal with the Tigers in 2016 - leading to a short but dreadful stint in Detroit. After that, there were two good seasons in Japan - and then retirement. In 2022, McGehee was named head coach of Union University, a private Baptist Christian college in Jackson, Tennessee. Casey McGehee had a short - only three years - but memorable stint with the Brewers. He was one of those guys who had AAAA player written all over him when Milwaukee claimed him off waivers from the Cubs. But when he got the chance to play - he seized the opportunity - and ended up having some really good years at a time when we needed someone at 3B. In three years in Milwaukee, he hit .267 with 52 HR. He always played hard - and the fans appreciated his efforts - even as his bat faltered. Unfortunately, McGehee’s lack of athleticism caught up to him as he got a bit older - something not uncommon for players of his caliber. To his credit, when he faltered, he never stopped trying to adjust to the game. This led to several additional seasons in the Big Leagues, plus some success in Japan. Some highlights of McGehee’s Brewer career include hitting .301 as a rookie, driving in 104 runs in 2010, and a four-hit game that same year. Please share your memories of former Brewer 3B Casey McGehee. View full article

Three weeks away from the draft, here's my prediction for the Packers first three rounds. This is assuming the Packers get the Jets #2 pick (either #42 or #43). Important: this is who I think the club will pick - not necessarily who I believe we should pick. 1 (15) - S Brian Branch, Alabama. Would step right in at safety, which is a massive hole right now. That the club hasn't added anyone only reinforces this pick. Also, there is no other safety in the draft who is as solid and dynamic than Branch. If OL Peter Skoronski or WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba is available at this spot, I'd be sorely tempted to take them as well. But I think both will be gone. 2 (42/43) - TE Darnell Washington, Georgia or TE Luke Musgrave, Oregon St. Either player would fill a huge hole in the roster from day one. I think Musgrave is the likely selection as Washington will probably be gone (as will the other top TEs, Michael Mayer and Dalton Kincaid). 2 (44) - Edge Will McDonald IV - Iowa State. Not big, but he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher - which the team can always use. 3 (78) - WR Rashee Rice or WR Jayden Reed, Michigan State or WR Marvin Mims, Oklahoma. There's some quality WRs that should be available at this point in the draft. Each of these guys offers solid value and fills a need. This is all good fun. I'm filling a lot of 'needs' with this draft, but if an exceptional talent is available at other positions, then all bets are off.

I get the feeling the Ravens are in the same boat with Jackson as we are with Rodgers. They are just tired of it all and want to move on. I read some stuff that the Ravens were miffed that Jackson never came back at the end of last year. Maybe I'm wrong. I just get a vibe that these two might need to break up. So like someone said, maybe they'll take a couple of first rounders and be done. Of course, that sort of screws 2023 - but I'm sure they are thinking it's for the best in the long term.

Closure such as this…

Draft is a few weeks away. At this point, I'm thinking we will have one of the #2 picks of the Jets. Which is great. That gives us #15, #42 or 43 (depending on which #2 we get from the Jets), and #45. That's three pretty sweet picks. The Packers could go a lot of ways - I think WR, TE, Edge, and Safety are premium needs - but if an OL or DT they loved dropped - they could do that. I guess it all depends on who is available. The good part is that I think we can nab a quality person at each of these spots to fill an immediate need. We are not going to fill every need - but we can at least get a few positions covered. Should be fun. Just need to wrap up the Rodgers trade.