Interesting nugget from Greg Bedard’s post at JS Online last night.
Johnny Jolly is straddling the line between being competitive and being a punk. He got into it a couple of times in practice, including once when he took some swings at Tony Moll. You know it’s bad when Mark Tauscher has to say something to you. And get this: Jolly got in Tauscher’s face and the two had to be separated. Something’s wrong when that happens.
No kidding. I remember seeing Jolly up close once early last year. He had made the team, but wasn’t playing much and certainly wasn’t a star. But he was strutting around like he’d one the Pro-Bowl, wearing movie-star shades and fifteen pounds of glistening gold jewelry. Although others were signing autographs, Jolly seemed to busy to be bothered. (That said, it might just be that no one wanted one from him.)
Jolly wouldn’t be the first professional athlete with a fondness for bling and he’s certainly proven himself to have been a good value in the 6th round. But I’m with Bedard — if you’re picking fights with Mark Tauscher you’re a punk. (Not to mention the reports of drug possession.)
If Jolly implodes — or gets into additional trouble — the Packers will really be in trouble. It’s looking more and more likely that the really questionable move Ted Thompson made this offseason might have been trading Corey Williams rather than trading Brett Favre. We’ll.
Tons of good stuff in the Bedard post, including an update on the battle for the #2 QB spot and an injury update on AJ Hawk.
packergeeks 
August 14, 2008 at 11:58 am |
Jolly is going to be suspended (might get away with it). His value to the team is going to be limited to games before the Comish levees his judgement. Cut him now ? The team cuts are coming and maybe they can find an adequate backup. Cuts of 5 on the 24th and down to 53 on the 30th. Mayba a trade with Dallas? They seem to like drug-addled thugs on their team.
The Corey Williams trade was based on Thompson’s refusal to talk long-term contract with him, as I understand. That was indeed a mistake (hindsight). As soon as Jolly was arrested T.T. should have been looking for defensive line help. At best, the Packers now have an out-of-control thug who gets lucky and avoids legal issues and will become a poison in the locker room. Mark Taucher is not a hot head and if he gets into it you know there is a problem.
McCarthy’s strength in controlling the team will be tested.
August 14, 2008 at 12:11 pm |
From Packers.com
“LB A.J. Hawk did not participate because of a chest injury that he sustained in Monday night’s game. Head Coach Mike McCarthy did not say when he anticipated Hawk returning, but said if the team was playing a regular-season game, Hawk would probably not be able to play.”
I don’t like the sound of that statement. Isn’t it almost always,”if this were a regular season game he would play”?
August 14, 2008 at 12:29 pm |
Ron – I highly doubt he gets suspended. If Marshawn Lynch can hit someone with his car – lie to the police about it – and not get suspended, I can’t see how Jolly possessing Codeine warrants a suspension.
August 14, 2008 at 12:45 pm |
Yeah, that makes it all better. Illegal possession of a controlled substance is at least a misdemeanor and possibily a felony if the amount siezed was great enough (I think I heard 200 grams?). I’m not sure of Texas law but they tend to be wieghted towards the felony side. His lawyer is busy trying to delay hearings as much as possible. Don’t forget the NFL drug policy is rigid. The Comish does seem to have a soft spot for murder and mayhem, however. Witness the above mentioned Lynch, PacMan and the ever popular Ray (All-Pro) Lewis.
August 14, 2008 at 12:51 pm |
Well, Ray Ray was before his time, but you are spot on about Lynch and PacMan. As Corey and I talked about on the podcast last night (cough – plug – cough) I was all on board with Goodell’s ‘Clean Up the NFL’ act when he began – but now we all know it’s a big sham.
August 14, 2008 at 1:41 pm |
I think we are getting a little bit ahead of ourselves, here. I’m not going to say that I am pleased with this story about Jolly, but its not nearly enough to write him off as a punk.
Anyhow… having a guy with a nasty streak on your defense is not such a bad thing.
Fights happen in training camp, let’s not overreact too much.
August 14, 2008 at 2:27 pm |
3D,
Lombardi 101: You NEVER build a team around trouble makers.
Extract the cancer before it goes too far. Jolly has demonstraed anti-social behavior for sometime. Do you think the inevitable 15 yard penalties will hurt the team effort? If he can’t control himself with teammates how do you think he will do in a game?
August 14, 2008 at 2:44 pm |
[…] Jolly is picking fights with really respected veterans. But that would be easy. Besides, every Packer blog I’ve read today has covered these stories […]
August 14, 2008 at 2:54 pm |
RLC: Fights happen in training camp. That’s just the way it is. You can’t cut every player that participates in a training camp fight. There is even a school of thought that believes that fights are a *good thing* in training camp. Not saying I believe it, but there are plenty of people who know more than you or I who do.
August 15, 2008 at 8:06 am |
I’m sure MM sees them as part of training camp, too. After Sherman, we needed a coach with “a pair”.
August 15, 2008 at 8:09 am |
Plus I’ve been up to the practices, seen a few skirmishes break out, and after it’s broken up it’s right back down to business. MM had nothing to say either time. No penalty laps. No time outs. Are you all in LA or what?