It always amazes me that fans has that special expertise that allows them to make snap decisions that coaches and managers need additional time to evaluate. It’s an amazing gift.

McCarthy has a history of coaching young QBs. The biggest jump seems to be between the first and second seasons. That’s when Rodgers seems to improve the most, and that defintely when Hassleback made his huge leap. Why give up on a prospect after one training camp? It makes no sense.

And I guarantee that the Packers are not going to cut Brohm. No NFL team cuts a second round pick after one training camp. I know this is a tough nugget to swallow, but the reason no team cuts their second round pick is not because every single GM in the NFL is some egoistical, stubborn, meat head.

Anyway, cuts just came down – time to move on from this post…

posted 08/30/2008

The Green Bay Packers released 19 players and placed three on injured reserve. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the transactions Saturday.

Released Saturday were wide receiver Jake Allen, cornerback Scorpio Babers, defensive tackle Conrad Bolston, center Brennen Carvalho, safety Tyrone Culver, linebacker Spencer Havner, tight end Joey Haynos, running back Noah Herron, guard Ryan Keenan, linebacker Danny Lansanah, defensive tackle Alfred Malone, running back Vernand Morency, defensive tackle Daniel Muir, cornerback Joe Porter, wide receiver Johnny Quinn, wide receiver Taj Smith, wide receiver Brett Swain, tackle Orrin Thompson and fullback Corey White.

Defensive tackle Rodney Allen, center Junius Coston and long snapper J.J. Jansen were placed on injured reserve.

**

WATCH LIVE:
GM Ted Thompson press conference
Sunday, Aug. 31
2:00 p.m. CDT
____________________________________________________________

Both Herron and Norency gone. That’s a surprise. That means Lumpkin stays over them. Also Wells, Pickett, Sitton, and KGB. They occupy rosster slots and have played very little in the pre-season.

Living in New England, I haven’t been able to see a whole lot of the games, but from what I’ve been able to see and other information I’ve been able to gather, Flynn’s been pretty good. It’s indisputable that he’s been better than Brohm. He appears to be fairly poised for a rookie. He may indeed turn out better than Brohm, perhaps turn out even better than Rodgers. It’s pretty hard to give up on that.

On the other hand, you have available experienced quarterbacks. Bear in mind that they are available because no one else wants them. There’s usually a reason for that. I don’t even know who is available: Craig Nall? Vinnie Testaverde? John Hadl? Any QB that is brought in at this point is going to be a) off the NFL scrapheap, and b) unfamiliar with the Green Bay offense. In short, you’re not going to get a whole lot of production out of any of these guys.

Let’s face it, if Rodgers goes down, the Packers do not have a great situation at QB. They’re not going deep into the playoffs without him, regardless of whether its Brian Brohm’s, Matt Flynn’s, or a more experienced thumb up Scott Well’s ass. In fact, they’ll be unlikely to even hit .500 in that unfortunate circumstance. And I just don’t think it’s worth it to give up on Matt Flynn to ensure going 7-9, rather than 5-11.

So, being a second rounder takes precidence over acutal performance? That sounds rather stupid to me. Brohm has not delivered. I’m sure the team that offers retired QB’s $20 mil to sell T-Shirts can afford to absorb the second round guarentee money.

Let’s say you’re right. Fine, then try to trade or cut Flynn. I would disagree with this but it still accomplishes what has to be done. You can’t have two QB’s coming in together and develop them both. At best, one is a backup for Rodgers for the foreseeable future and the other becomes trade bait two or three years in the future.

I think one the problems here is that everyone is still speaking in the abstract. We are way beyond the abstract here. The consequences are crystal clear: (1) keep Flynn and develop him; (2) bring in a veteran cast off. (Brohm is not part of the equation. At all.)

That’s the choice.

If Brohm would have been drafted in the 7th round and Flynn in the second, it would be a really easy decision. But that’s not how things have shaken out.

And I also think people are also underestimating how well Flynn has played. (It doesn’t fit nicely into the narrative that McCarthy and Thompson are stubborn). I’m not exaggerating when I say he has looked as good as any Packer rookie QB that I can remember (at least in the last 25 years). If anyone disagrees, I’d love to see a list of names. Why give up on that guy before we know how good he can be?

And people seem to be overestimating the talent level of scrap heap QBs. Flynn looked every bit as good as “experienced” dudes like Pederson who have manned the pines in GB. Experience is great, but 12 TDs and 17 INTs is just not bowling me over, here.

I’d like to see someone argue that the Ravens don’t regret cutting Derek Anderson for Anthony Wright. Anyone want to carry that flag? Sometimes a known mediocrity really isn’t as good as a intriguing prospect.

That’s the first step: admitting that in some cases its a bad thing to give up on a talented prospect in the interest of “experience.” Once you make that leap then we can really get to the critical question: has Flynn shown enough that they should hang on to him. No question in my mind that he has.

Then, again, maybe you think that the Raven cutting a future Pro Bowler for Anthony Wright was a stroke of genius.