Profootballtalk.com is reporting, via “league sources,” that Koren Robinson is going to be cut, maybe as soon as today. I hope they’re wrong, but it makes a certain amount of sense.
Robinson isn’t getting younger and the Packers are. With Jordy Nelson the top pick in this draft, James Jones in the third round last year, and Greg Jennings in the 2nd the year before — the Packers have invested heavily in young receivers. Robinson has helped on special teams, but aside from the one spectacular play (when he caught the ball on the ground and lunged for the first down before being touched by a defender), he has not contributed much as a receiver. I don’t think the Packers were counting on him to play to the level of his draft position — 9th overall in 2001, the pick right before the Packers took Jamal Reynolds (ouch) — but probably expected more than he’s given.
I expected him to be better and I still think under the right circumstances he can be a solid NFL receiver. And I hope he can stay sober.
UPDATE: The answer to the question posed in the headline is yes. It’s official. See Greg Bedard here and the Packers release here.
UPDATE II: Just as I was going to post some more thoughts about Robinson’s release, we got a comment from — I’m writing the entire name under protest — joshywoshybigfatposhy. As it happens JWBFP captures exactly what I’m thinking right now. Even if the move makes some sense from Ted Thompson’s perspective, it’s a bit unsettling. Something about it just doesn’t sit right with me. Anyway, I’ll let JWBFP do the talking:
I’m curious why Koren, at least at this point. I would think there are players with less value than him now, and given his circumstance, he’s never really had much consistent time to prove his worth to the Packers. I think any player would tell you that anything less than a full season w/training camp isn’t enough. He has decent size for our system as well.
I also have a sense that he’s staying on track with his treatment and at least portrayed a good attitude about things. Maybe I’m being naive, but I would think he could, at the very least, help with the other young receivers until it’s obvious he’s last in line talent-wise — as someone to show tell them where bad judgment gets you, and someone to show them how hard it is to gain back the trust of the league/players/coaches.
One of a few possibilities would make this role obsolete, and they may all be true for all I know: 1. He’s really not doing well/doesn’t work hard enough/isn’t a good leader; 2. The Packers don’t feel their receivers are at-risk enough to need an example like Robinson around; 3. They feel as if their “log-jam-competition” method is getting out of hand, and no longer applies at receiver.
packergeeks 
May 9, 2008 at 4:47 pm |
I’m curious why Koren, at least at this point. I would think there are players with less value than him now, and given his circumstance, he’s never really had much consistent time to prove his worth to the Packers. I think any player would tell you that anything less than a full season w/training camp isn’t enough. He has decent size for our system as well.
I also have a sense that he’s staying on track with his treatment and at least portrayed a good attitude about things. Maybe I’m being naive, but I would think he could, at the very least, help with the other young receivers until it’s obvious he’s last in line talent-wise — as someone to show tell them where bad judgment gets you, and someone to show them how hard it is to gain back the trust of the league/players/coaches.
One of a few possibilities would make this role obsolete, and they may all be true for all I know: 1. He’s really not doing well/doesn’t work hard enough/isn’t a good leader; 2. The Packers don’t feel their receivers are at-risk enough to need an example like Robinson around; 3. They feel as if their “log-jam-competition” method is getting out of hand, and no longer applies at receiver.
It looks like it’s official. Still stumped on this one.
May 9, 2008 at 5:07 pm |
I think the explanation for the early cut is that the team is doing Koren a favor by giving him as much time as possible to try out with other teams. No question that he is not the last player on the totem pole talent-wise, but it is not surprising that with the long list of good young receivers on our roster, TT could be pretty confident he wouldn’t end up making the team. If so, the best thing to do for KR is to release him before training camp, and before other teams have solidified their WR rotation. This gives him a much better chance to find a team with a need at WR (maybe Tenn?) and gives him the time to make a solid impression on that team before they make final cuts.
I wish KR well. I thought he did well, for what he was asked to do. And he seemed to really straighten up in Green Bay.
May 9, 2008 at 5:23 pm |
Koren without his speed is just another guy and I am guessing that his chronic knee issue has negated his speed. The Pack probably cut him to give him a chance to land somewhere else. They have a history of doing that and I would think that it would build some goodwill amoung players.
May 9, 2008 at 5:45 pm |
Good points on doing him a favor. I could see Tennessee picking him up. (I could also see Tennessee having Andy in for a tryout at this point.) Let’s hope he doesn’t end up in Chicago — they could certainly use a decent receiver or two.
May 9, 2008 at 5:58 pm |
I’m a bit surprised and a bit confused, they really seemed to want him despite his suspension and then he’s gone. But as many have said, the Pack does have a reputation for trying to help guys out even when they cut them. I hope he stays dry and finds a new home on the NFL.