Best move. Which one?

[Jimz31]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.

[dargonking999]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.

henry

[The30YardSlant]

Re-signing Leonardo Carson :D

[Rack Bauer]

Ferguson.

Rivera would be #1 if he were 5 years younger.

[jimmy40]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.I'll be happy when they do something about RT.

[Cajuncowboy]

Ferguson. I think with him there along side Glover we can really get pressure on the QB. Something we haven't done in a while. Also, it will really help Ellis.

Now we need a DE and McKenzie at RT and Jerry can go to bed tonight. But not until.

[Portland Fanatic]

Ferguson.

Rivera would be #1 if he were 5 years younger.

Age bothers me too, but he's still playing at a very hight level...I hope to get at least 2-3 good years out of him.

[Dale]

I'm gonna say Rivera. As important and necessary as Ferguson is, Rivera came from left field and I think will really prove essentially in allowing us to get the most out of the Bledsoe investment.

Here's a guy who's considered a top-five guard and has been to Hawaii the last three years, lined up with a guy who has been to Hawaii in like eight of the last 10 years.

And, heck, let's forget Bledsoe for a second. Julius should be doing cartwheels in his living room today.

[laythewood28]

bledsoe.

[Waffle]

I like Free Agent move 1A, 1B, and 1C the best so far.


Seriously, I'll tell you what I really think about Week 7! :)

[Cajuncowboy]

And, heck, let's forget Bledsoe for a second. Julius should be doing cartwheels in his living room today.

If he is and he breaks that shoulder, it's your fault now, Dale! :p:

[jimmy40]

Ferguson. I think with him there along side Glover we can really get pressure on the QB. Something we haven't done in a while. Also, it will really help Ellis.

Now we need a DE and McKenzie at RT and Jimmy can go to bed tonight. But not until.Lol, won't do any good, keeping 9 month old grandaughter and she has infections in both ears. No sleeping around here. :( McKenzie would help pass the time though.

[Cajuncowboy]

Lol, won't do any good, keeping 9 month old grandaughter and she has infections in both ears. No sleeping around here. :( McKenzie would help pass the time though.

Duh. I was feeling so good about today, I was thinking it was the good ole' days again. :o

Fixed it. :p:

BTW, sorry to hear about your grandaughter. I hope she is feeling better soon.

[Jimz31]

I'm saying Rivera because it's the O-line. We NEED a better O-line in order to score points, open holes for JJ, and protecting Bledsoe (which is essential).

[Tio]

Willie Blade...











'nuff said...

[Chuck 54]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.
Getting a CB who might have a clue how to play the position in the NFL!!!

[MinnesotaCowboy]

Ferguson......uh, well maybe Henry.......uh, Riveria........how bout Bledsoe....I am now confused but very happy! :confused: :)

[AsthmaField]

Although I really like the Henry and Ferguson deals, for whatever reason, I got the most excited over Rivera.

Probably because I was expecting the other two and Rivera was sort of a bonus pickup.

I love the intangibles he brings to the OL and the fact that our backups are now Peterman and Gurode who will be very good substitutes.

[CanadianCowboysFan]

Ferguson. We needed a big fat guy at DT and got one.

[The30YardSlant]

Ferguson. We needed a big fat guy at DT and got one.

A big fat guy? Hell we could have signed Hostile and called it a day :D

[hockix]

Dixon, Wiley, George, Vinny all gone.

[hockix]

Seriously, we needed Ferguson badly.

[Cbz40]

Bledsoe......naw, Henry.....Certainly an upgrade to what we had and could prove to be an excellent move. Ferg.........We have needed a run stuffer for several years now, should eat up some blockers to free up Glover to put pressure on the QB.

I will go with Rivera......JJ can now run to the left, to the right, and up the middle. I like Riveras mean streak......yea!!!!! My kind of OLman

[Hostile]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.Not re-signing Vinny.

Does that count?

[Hostile]

A big fat guy? Hell we could have signed Hostile and called it a day :DAt least I wouldn't be telling the coaching staff we need to draft a guy who can run 30 yard slants.

[jimmy40]

Not re-signing Vinny.

Does that count?Until we signed Bledsoe. :D

[MiStar]

Rivera, it going to be fun to watch Julius tote the ball this year.

[Dye]

big ferg. him being able to play both nt and dt gives us the flexiblity to go 3-4 to 4-3.

[Hostile]

Until we signed Bledsoe. :DJimmy, I think we're long lost brothers.

[Tio]

A big fat guy? Hell we could have signed Hostile and called it a day :DWhat, is noone gonna respond to this extremely funny comment made by HH?

[Hostile]

What, is noone gonna respond to this extremely funny comment made by HH?What am I, invisible?

[jimmy40]

Jimmy, I think we're long lost brothers.Well, your long lost nieces and nephews would like to come visit for awhile. :D

[BlueWave]

Bledsoe. He has always been one of my favorite players in the entire NFL. No one gives the effort Bledsoe will give. I hope he ends his career the same way Elway did, mid-thirties and two rings.

[Hostile]

Well, your long lost nieces and nephews would like to come visit for awhile. :DHey, as long as they bring their own toothbrush.

[Tio]

What am I, invisible?I can't read what you say, I have you on ignore...oh wait...HH has you on ignore....


This is difficult...

[Badattitude]

I'm not excited...I'm worried....And it's getting to me..and upsetting my whole family...


















Nah Im just sh^^^ing ya...Ferguson by far.

[jimmy40]

Bledsoe. He has always been one of my favorite players in the entire NFL. No one gives the effort Bledsoe will give. I hope he ends his career the same way Elway did, mid-thirties and two rings.I'd feel a whole lot better about Bledsoe with Mike Williams at receiver.

[Reed]

Last night on the fan in new york, a sports anaylst from some newspaper was saying that the cowboys are genius for the henry signing. Said corners are way over payed in todays fa with the new new rules. Said this is probably the best move by any team in fa. Said henry was a great signing and a good corner.

[Champsheart]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.

Very tough question. All of them are important pieces. I like them all.

But if I could only go with one I think I have to go with Rivera though.

I love watching Julius rip defenses apart, and I am ready to see holes on the right side, and not just the left.

[Champsheart]

I'd feel a whole lot better about Bledsoe with Mike Williams at receiver.

Sounds good to me! :)

[Hostile]

I'd feel a whole lot better about Bledsoe with Mike Williams at receiver.So, when are you and the kids arriving? I do great BBQ ribs, that okay for dinner?

[BlueWave]

Sounds good to me! :)

We essentially already have Mike Williams in Keyshawn. Same type of player and often draw comparisons. What we need is a guy like Peerless Price to stretch the field on the other side.

Bledsoes best year recently, is when he had Eric Moulds on one side, and Peerless Price on the other. He rewrote the Bills passing record books that year (2002). We have Glenn, but he will get hurt at some point (he always does). We need another speed option.

[Hostile]

We essentially already have Mike Williams in Keyshawn. Same type of player and often draw comparisons. What we need is a guy like Peerless Price to stretch the field on the other side.

Bledsoes best year recently, is when he had Eric Moulds on one side, and Peerless Price on the other. He rewrote the Bills passing record books that year (2002). We have Glenn, but he will get hurt at some point (he always does). We need another speed option.His best years were with Ben Coates at TE, regardless of who played WR. MW makes sense for a lot of reasons.

[jimmy40]

So, when are you and the kids arriving? I do great BBQ ribs, that okay for dinner? I have to come with them? :eek:

[jterrell]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.
Henry as far as bang for buck tho Ferguson may look the best next season.

[Hostile]

I have to come with them? :eek:Where else am I gonna get cole slaw?

[jimmy40]

Where else am I gonna get cole slaw?
I do toss a mean slaw.

[Joe a Cowboys fan]

Safeway has 3 kinds of cole slaw and 4 kinds of potatoe salade, I am amazed. Ferguson is my#1 because he will play DT for us if we play a 3/4, a 4/3, a 2/5 or any other way you can think to arange the line.

Rivera is #2 because now Dallas can go for MW and another DT/DE in the first round. I want us to be deep, deep, deep in DL. (%

Drew will be ok as our old man 2nd QB. Just keep camp honest and I am not worried. Especially if we take a flyer on a certain QB who was kicked off his [Florida]team late in the draft.

Ribs soind good too at the moment. Bad Hos, you are making me very hungry.

[Hostile]

Safeway has 3 kinds of cole slaw and 4 kinds of potatoe salade, I am amazed. Ferguson is my#1 because he will play DT for us if we play a 3/4, a 4/3, a 2/5 or any other way you can think to arange the line.

Rivera is #2 because now Dallas can go for MW and another DT/DE in the first round. I want us to be deep, deep, deep in DL. (%

Drew will be ok as our old man 2nd QB. Just keep camp honest and I am not worried. Especially if we take a flyer on a certain QB who was kicked off his [Florida]team late in the draft.

Ribs soind good too at the moment. Bad Hos, you are making me very hungry.Me too. Ribs, slaw, can you bring baked beans?

[Joe a Cowboys fan]

White corn corn bread too, but it is too late for good ice tea with lemon and sugar. %( Sun is down here so no solar tea.

[Joe a Cowboys fan]

Whoops I forgot, just store bought baked beans, Leslie isn't big on baked beans at all.

[Duane]

I'll go with Henry because our corner play opposite of Newman has been horrible and I think we really got a player with him. If he'd played on the Ravens we'd be talking $15M+ signing bonus.

[big dog cowboy]

The move that me the most happy?

That is easy. The move that made me most happy was when JJ decided to be agressive in free agency and fix our team. After that, everything has been gravy!

[HTownCowboysFan]

I'll go with Henry because our corner play opposite of Newman has been horrible and I think we really got a player with him. If he'd played on the Ravens we'd be talking $15M+ signing bonus.

I've got to agree. Once we get a good FS in, this secondary could be damn good.

[ghst187]

[QUOTE=cajuncowboy]Ferguson. I think with him there along side Glover we can really get pressure on the QB. Something we haven't done in a while. Also, it will really help Ellis.
QUOTE]

ditto, IMO Fergi will have the biggest, most direct impact on the success of the entire team...that is unless we draft Mike Williams.

I'm anxious to see Glover next to Fergi....the heat is coming up the gut. The sacks will come to Ellis whether he gets upfield or not

[BlueStar II]

Henry first, with Ferguson a very close second.

[Vman]

The move that made me most happy was when JJ decided to be agressive in free agency and fix our team. After that, everything has been gravy!

My pick would be that we are putting ourselves into a position to draft the best available players with picks 11 and 20.

That's the best move!

[lwehlers]

i really like ferguson and rivera. we added really good quailty players on both of our lines. rivera will make al johnson a much better center and he will help out the right tackle spot. everytime i watch the packers games rivera always did a great job of moving dt out of way for ahmad green. i am still wondering about henry. i never really watched browns games to see what kind of cb he is.

[BEASToftheEAST]

Which move made you most happy....you can only pick one though.
Marco all the way. This guy is the real deal, a proven warrior and champion. The only question about him is his age, but at 33 it's not as if he's a over the hill. He is a great technical blocker, we've all seen how well the Packer O-line has done for A. Green and the Packers over the years. Also, contrast his ability with that of Andre G. and he should make a HUGE impact.

[Qwickdraw]

Ill be happy if/when I hear Darren Sharper and/or Kendrell Bell.

[Vman]

Ill be happy if/when I hear Darren Sharper and/or Kendrell Bell.

Darren Sharper could make me change my mind though. :)

[Eskimo]

The most important and reasonable signing by far has been Ferguson - he will make a big difference on D.

Bledsoe was a decent signing in terms of value and he should prove to have more endurance than Vinny who seemed to wear out as the season went along. He also played very poorly in the 4th quarter of several close games.

Re-signing Leo Carson was also a good move - a solid guy to have in a rotation at DT and may have enough quickness to play some 3-4 DE if we make the switch.

We overpaid for Henry and I would have preferred a 1st round CB given the strength of the crop but he'll be an okay player for us in the end.

I don't like Rivera - too old, too injured and too much money for a non-premium position.

[Rush 2112]

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/4157

Look at all those games Rivera has missed.

Or you could think first!

[Eskimo]

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/4157

Look at all those games Rivera has missed.

Or you could think first!

I'll give Rivera credit - he is tough. However, he has had a few knee injuries. When you couple that with his age and his position and the fact we gave him a $9M SB, I say we made a gigantic and foolish leap of faith.

Maybe you should do your homework. I easily found this article on the web:




Marco Rivera used to dread his father's wake-up call.
19742Packers
Rivera File
Position: Right guard.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 308
Age: 30 (4/26/72).
Years pro: 7.

PERSONAL
Served as one of five NFL player representatives this past May at a White House Cinco de Mayo celebrfation, a guest of President George W. Bush.
Conducted his fourth youth football clinic in Puerto Rico this past May.
Takes an annual fishing trip to Alaska in search of king salmon and halibut.
Married to Michelle, couple has two sons, Dante, 2, and Roman, 9 months. . . . Was an All-New York and all-county selection in football at Elmont Memorial High School in Long Island, N.Y. . . . Earned all-conferenc honors in basketball and lacrosse. . . . Hobbies include playing golf, motorcycling, hunting and fishing.
Rivera, a starter since 1998, is only the seventh Packer player to start five consecutive seasons at guard over the last 44 years. The others are:
Jerry Kramer 1958-'66
Fuzzy Thurston 1959-'64
Gale Gillingham 1967-'71
Bill Lueck 1969-'74
Darrel Gofourth 1978-'82
Ron Hallstrom 1984-'89

While the other kids in his Brooklyn, N.Y., neighborhood would be sleeping in and playing all day, Bill Rivera would be jostling 10-year-old Marco up each weekend by 4:30 a.m.

Marco would wipe the sleep from his eyes, then head to Two Brothers Meats Warehouse, a local butcher shop that Bill owned.

"I was a hard worker myself," Bill Rivera said. "And I didn't want to leave him to play on the street.

"I wanted him to start getting to know at a young age what it means to work and make a few dollars. And that you don't give up or stop working if you cut your fingers."

Or tear the medial collateral ligaments in both of your knees.

Consider Bill Rivera's lesson more than learned. Today, you'd be hard-pressed to find a tougher player in the National Football League than Marco Rivera.

The seventh-year right guard out of Penn State is playing through more pain than most players would dream of. Rivera tore the MCL in his left knee Sept. 22 against Detroit but put on a brace and played through the pain.

As that ligament - which reattaches itself - was about 75% healed, Rivera tore the MCL in his right knee Nov. 17 against Minnesota.

Instead of heading to injured reserve, he put an even bigger brace on that knee, then skunked Warren Sapp the next week.

While quarterback Brett Favre rightfully gets much of the recognition as the team's resident tough guy, Rivera most certainly ranks right in his class.

"I can't say enough about Rivera," Green Bay coach and general manager Mike Sherman said after his team's loss in Tampa. "I think he did a great job of blocking the entire ball game. Here's a guy with an MCL, and he's able to play in this ball game. He did a hell of a job."

"Sometimes there's certain guys in football that get a nick on their finger and they're out," added Green Bay center Mike Flanagan. "Then there's other guys who can play through a lot of pain, and Marco's one of those guys."

According to Rivera, he became that way growing up on the tough streets of Brooklyn and working in his dad's butcher shop. His parents emigrated from Puerto Rico and his father was the epitome of a hard worker.

By the time he was 20, Bill Rivera owned his own butcher shop. He'd put in 80- to 100-hour work weeks and never gripe, no matter how mangled his hands were when he arrived home.

"He used to come home and his hands would be all cut up and torn up and he would never complain or say a word," Marco said of his dad. "He'd just put a little tape on it and keep working. And when he came home, his fingers looked like sausages because they got infected, but he just kept working.

"And basically, I was proud. I never saw him complain. And he told me, 'Why complain, you can't do anything about it? Suck it up and keep working.' And that's what I've tried to do here.

"And then I come here and don't say much. I just do it, play hurt, play sick and just keep doing it. And if the younger players see me and they say, 'Well, Marco's got a torn MCL and he's playing, when I get one, I better play too. I've just got to suck it up and go too.'"

Rivera has done that since breaking into the Packer starting lineup in 1998. He had been an anonymous sixth-round draft choice from Penn State his first two years, remaining inactive all of 1996, then playing primarily special teams for 14 games in 1997.

Rivera won a job at left guard in 1998 and wasn't about to let anything get in the way of him keeping it. He tore his right MCL in a win over Philadelphia Nov. 29 that season, dressed the following week, and returned to the starting lineup by Dec. 13.

Rivera's tough-guy legacy grew last year when he broke his left hand in practice on Dec. 6. Three days later, he was in the starting lineup for Green Bay's divisional showdown with Chicago, and played with a club-like cast. He played that way the rest of the season, switching to a smaller cast for Green Bay's two post-season games.

That adds up to three MCL tears, a broken hand and just one missed start over the last five years. Rivera's toughness is to the point where it's almost taken for granted today.

When asked about Rivera playing through a pair of torn MCL's, left guard Mike Wahle said: "Oh yeah, he did do that."

Others have fresher memories.

"Marco's tough as nails," Packer offensive coordinator Tom Rossley said. "He brings a real attitude to that offensive line, playing through almost anything.

"They're all developing into a group of tough guys. But he's definitely a leader in that group. He brings a toughness to that group and I think Brett and all the guys respect that."

There's no doubt people also respect his level of play. Despite the knee injuries, Rivera typically draws the opponent's biggest and toughest player. In addition to blanking Sapp two weeks ago, he's also enjoyed stellar days this season against defensive tackles like Miami's Tim Bowens and New England's Richard Seymour.

For years, scouts have referred to Rivera as solid, but far from spectacular. But despite the injuries, he's been Green Bay's most consistent lineman all season, playing with a lower center of gravity, pulling more on running plays than in the past and getting out on screens better than he ever has before.

His fellow offensive linemen refer to him as "Mental" because his focus is almost impossible to interrupt. But that focus is also an enormous reason for his success.

"He's playing darned good," Rossley said. "He's playing as good as he has since I've been here. Knock on wood.

"We don't want to jump in there and blow too many horns and whistles, but Marco's doing a great job. The film doesn't lie. We come back the next day and he's done a real good job against some real powerful guys he's had to play over."

Just think for a second where Green Bay's offensive line would be without Rivera? The Packers have already lost starting tackles Mark Tauscher (ACL) and Chad Clifton (pelvis), and center Mike Flanagan (broken thumb) has also missed time. Reserves Earl Dotson and Frank Winters have been called on for emergency duty from a thin group of backups. If Rivera had missed any time, it's a mystery who the Packers would have turned to next and how the line could have functioned.

"He's what a lineman is supposed to be," Flanagan said. "He's a hard *** who comes to play every week."

"If you want to be on a championship team, you've got to have guys suck it up when they're injured," said Rivera, adding that his toughness was taken to another level playing for Joe Paterno at Penn State. "And I think I've still been able to have a solid season.

"It's just one of those things where I keep trying to improve from year to year. And that's basically what I've been trying to do my whole career. Every year I've tried to improve on something I've been weak at the year before."

Weak is a word you'll never see used with Rivera. His father, who planned to pass the butcher shop down to Marco and his brother, Florentino, before they elected other careers, had always set the bar for toughness in the Rivera family.

But perhaps the greatest testament to Marco's toughness is the fact Bill Rivera says that torch has been passed.

"I'm very tough and he takes after me," Bill Rivera said of Marco. "But I will say that Marco is tougher.

"He's a very tough guy and we're all so proud of him. I think a lot of what I taught him he listened to and it's paid off."

[Smith22]

Here's a guy who's considered a top-five guard and has been to Hawaii the last three years, lined up with a guy who has been to Hawaii in like eight of the last 10 years.

And, heck, let's forget Bledsoe for a second. Julius should be doing cartwheels in his living room today.

AMEN!

[TheEnigma]

I'd have to say Rivera

I don't know if any of you realize this but Marco Rivera signed up for a longer contract than 5 years. He may play for 5 years, he may only play for 3, but what will happen is the effects of his work habits, as well as the extra knowledge he brings will continue on with the young pups Gurode and Peterman as well as anybody else we may draft or sign.

Although LA has been to numerous pro bowls, he never really took up that leadership role, 2 years ago his work ethic itself was questioned. The same is not the case for Rivera and I am happy he is on the team.

[KingTuna]

Rivera for me...Shoring up what may be the best O-line in Years to protect Bledsoe.

[SuspectCorner]

ferguson. the cowboys with no passrush is like watching another team pretend to be the cowboys.

[NEWTONBOYS]

Rivera is the key pick up of the day. Gurode has been a large disapointment with so much upside and potential coming out of Colorado. Rivera and the Oline is exactly what we needed to establish our run game which is the best protection for Bledsoe. Blitzing relentlessly and no respect for opponents run games is what changes games and gets pressure on Quarterbacks. This is how the dreaded Eagles do it. Julius and Drew should be both be happy that Rivera is on board. By the way this is my first post after many reads and lurking. I am a diehard Illinois Cowboy fan and I am glad to now be a poster.l

[da_whiz_kid]

Vincent Johnson second round!!!!!!!! Oh wait, not yet...Waiting waiting waiting waiting.......................

[SuspectCorner]

Rivera is the key pick up of the day. Gurode has been a large disapointment with so much upside and potential coming out of Colorado. Rivera and the Oline is exactly what we needed to establish our run game which is the best protection for Bledsoe. Blitzing relentlessly and no respect for opponents run games is what changes games and gets pressure on Quarterbacks. This is how the dreaded Eagles do it. Julius and Drew should be both be happy that Rivera is on board. By the way this is my first post after many reads and lurking. I am a diehard Illinois Cowboy fan and I am glad to now be a poster.l

glad you're here. rivera will bring some skill and leadership to an underachieving line. maybe he can teach flo what the snapcount is all about while he's at it.