Lazard Situation...

[Deleted member 6794]

I agree with the above poster who said it probably wasn't a fit personality-wise with the team, I'm sure he also wasn't keen watching Cobb take his snaps and being urged to return kicks and then dealing with the whole weirdness with Aaron Rodgers and the hand signals or whatever else that makes it a barrier to approach him. Anyway, I don't think anybody is changing anyone's minds here.

If Amari truly believe it were his snaps in the first place you would know about the reasons it didn't work out.

Not just that, they made no attempts to showcase him for a trade. At least give him a game or two where you target him 10 times to see if he can increase his trade value. No, didn't even get more opportunities then. In the middle of a losing streak with an offense that looked like complete garbage, we threw him at most 3 balls a game.

Why would the Packers force the ball to Amari just for the sake of targeting him when it was pretty obvious there were better options available?

Nah, just think we screwed up developing him is all. He was pushed down the pecking order to appease Aaron when Cobb was brought back.

Amari was pushed down the depth chart because he didn't contribute not to appease Rodgers and Cobb.

I think if you're a third-rounder it's important to keep them developing to see if they can take advantage of their opportunities and let them find their game. Bury them on the depth chart if you have to, but at least give them three years.

There's no reason to keep a player on the roster if there are enough better options available. Even if he was a third rounder only 1.5 years ago.

 

[GreenNGold_81]

If Amari truly believe it were his snaps in the first place you would know about the reasons it didn't work out.



Why would the Packers force the ball to Amari just for the sake of targeting him when it was pretty obvious there were better options available?



Amari was pushed down the depth chart because he didn't contribute not to appease Rodgers and Cobb.



There's no reason to keep a player on the roster if there are enough better options available. Even if he was a third rounder only 1.5 years ago.

Time will tell, if he develops into a reliable WR for Houston then we've made a mistake. Again, you won't convince me that Aaron didn't simply prefer Cobb out there which significantly impacted Amari's development here. Regarding practice, my guess is Aaron wanted Cobb with the 1's when he was on the field even in practice.

 

[OldSchool101]

That might be true… and says a LOT. Don’t forget… Gute Traded back UP into the 3rd round just to draft Burks.

Yes. We know now it was another miss. Oren is truly a physical specimen. I still believe he was a big college Safety at Vander that transitioned later in his college tenure. He never fully adapted to ILB in the NFL and it wasn’t help that he was injured twice inside 2 seasons.

Sometimes we try to fit a round peg into square holes. We saw his size and likely loved him in that Star position. Interestingly enough he’s still contributing for SF and he was a good ST player due to great physical attributes. Probably should have went Rounds 5-7 though in retrospect.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Time will tell, if he develops into a reliable WR for Houston then we've made a mistake. Again, you won't convince me that Aaron didn't simply prefer Cobb out there which significantly impacted Amari's development here. Regarding practice, my guess is Aaron wanted Cobb with the 1's when he was on the field even in practice.

I'm not denying that Rodgers preferred to have Cobb out there. We have a completely different opinion on the reasons for it though.

 

[Schultz]

I actually believe if Amari never ever returned a punt for the Packers he would still be on the roster (practice squad most likely).

 

[tynimiller]

I actually believe if Amari never ever returned a punt for the Packers he would still be on the roster (practice squad most likely).

I don’t agree with the PS but I do agree them forcing him to continue to do something he wasn’t meant to do clearly ruined him here

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I actually believe if Amari never ever returned a punt for the Packers he would still be on the roster (practice squad most likely).

Maybe, but I think they were trying to find a niche for him, until he could potentially become an effective WR. So one might say that they gave him an opportunity and a second chance. Had he actually had success returning punts, he'd probably still be on the roster. We have seen the Packers do that with several players, but if they fail on special teams, no real reason to keep them around.

 

[OldSchool101]

Had he actually had success returning punts, he'd probably still be on the roster. We have seen the Packers do that with several players, but if they fail on special teams, no real reason to keep them around.

Yes. The lesson I’ve learned is you can’t be afraid to explore other options. We go out and get Nixon and he explodes onto the scene.

Sometimes a player showing difficulties is a signal to try another option.

 

[gopkrs]

Seemed like Amari could have been used in some capacity other than punter returner, but they just kept taking that square peg and banging it with a rock on the round hole. Did he ohh and ahh me? No, but sure seemed like he could have had some use.

I like your analogy with banging the peg. Pitiful really. I think his college film was just better than he was.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Amari Rodgers was also part of a very good Clemson team and had Trevor Lawrence as his QB. I'm always a bit nervous about guys on really good teams. Are they really that good or do the players around him, make him look better than he is?

For example, Ohio State is a school that puts out solid WR's, RB's and usually a decent OL. Which I contend makes their QB's look better than they are.

So that may have been the case with Amari and/or like some college star athletes, they just can't compete at the next level for various reasons. We also have to keep in mind, he was a 3rd round pick and thus reasons why he was still there at #85.

 

[XPack]

We just have to sign him back. I see no advantages to not doing so.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

We just have to sign him back. I see no advantages to not doing so.

At any cost? What if he wants $15 M/year?

 

[OldSchool101]

At any cost? What if he wants $15 M/year?

Oh No Bueno. He’s not worth that let someone else overpay. I’m out over about $10m tops. I might even just let him go and spend $4-8m/yr for another outside veteran and grab another WR inside our first 3-4 picks. I’m thinking offering 3X$25m area.

 

[tynimiller]

No Bueno. He’s not worth they let someone else overpay. I’m about 60% we can go after a Round 1-2 selection that would be as good or better inside 2 seasons (or less)

Two big type possession guys I like Cedric Tillman and Johnathan Mingo. Tillman will be gone day 2 and Mingo may be there into the fifth possibly.

 

[OldSchool101]

Two big type possession guys I like Cedric Tillman and Johnathan Mingo. Tillman will be gone day 2 and Mingo may be there into the fifth possibly.

Yeah. I know we missed there with J’mon Moore and more recently with Amari, but I agree go take another stab in that first 4-5 Rounds or earlier.
If needed, go sign a reliable veteran WR in that $5m +-area that we think can produce adequately.

I wouldn’t at all be surprised if we select at WR or TE inside 2 Rounds

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Oh No Bueno. He’s not worth that let someone else overpay. I’m out over about $10m tops. I might even just let him go and spend $4-8m/yr for another outside veteran and grab another WR inside our first 3-4 picks. I’m thinking offering 3X$25m area.

Lol...agreed. I was just pointing out to the OP, that it isn't as simple as saying "We just have to sign him back. I see no advantages to not doing so."

I see lots of advantages to not resigning him, especially if Rodgers isn't playing. Money and continuing to improve the quality of the WR room are the 2 biggest.

 

[OldSchool101]

Lol...agreed. I was just pointing out to the OP, that it isn't as simple as saying "We just have to sign him back. I see no advantages to not doing so."

I see lots of advantages to not resigning him, especially if Rodgers isn't playing. Money and continuing to improve the quality of the WR room are the 2 biggest.

Yes, I followed your line of questioning him sir and I wholeheartedly agree.

There’s a half a dozen answers to Lazard that will all have a good chance of out producing Lazard inside 2 seasons at a fraction of his cost.

Now I like Lazard. Allens’ numbers were on the surface reflective of a lower end WR2 (60%;788;13.1;6TD) When considering the fact that he had no competition past Watson, who with all due respect to #9 was a Rookie trying to find his niche. Plus having a Solid QB feeding him the ball? I have him as a Solid WR3 who can fill as WR2 in a pinch. Almost any other team he goes to I’ll be surprised if he breaks 750 yards 6-7 TD’s tops and he’s likely more in that 600/5 TD’s area. That’s an area I feel like we can get very close to in FA or the draft at half his $$.
This will sound tough. But Lazard for me slightly underperformed in near a best case scenario for him. Now I’m not implying he’s bad at all. I am saying when taking all consideration imo he’s worth about $6-8mil annual area depending on particulars and some of that is due to him being primed and a very good blocker.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

We just have to sign him back. I see no advantages to not doing so.

I fully expect Lazard will ask for too much money for it to make sense for the Packers to bring him back. Most likely there will be at least one team agreeing to pay him that kind of money.

 

[GreenNGold_81]

Yes, I followed your line of questioning him sir and I wholeheartedly agree.

There’s a half a dozen answers to Lazard that will all have a good chance of out producing Lazard inside 2 seasons at a fraction of his cost.

Now I like Lazard. Allens’ numbers were on the surface reflective of a lower end WR2 (60%;788;13.1;6TD) When considering the fact that he had no competition past Watson, who with all due respect to #9 was a Rookie trying to find his niche. Plus having a Solid QB feeding him the ball? I have him as a Solid WR3 who can fill as WR2 in a pinch. Almost any other team he goes to I’ll be surprised if he breaks 750 yards 6-7 TD’s tops and he’s likely more in that 600/5 TD’s area. That’s an area I feel like we can get very close to in FA or the draft at half his $$.
This will sound tough. But Lazard for me slightly underperformed in near a best case scenario for him. Now I’m not implying he’s bad at all. I am saying when taking all consideration imo he’s worth about $6-8mil annual area depending on particulars and some of that is due to him being primed and a very good blocker.

Agree on the numbers, Lazard's year was definitely a disappointment all things considered. Contract year, production at you mentioned, one year older now with rookies nipping at his heels. I think Lazard should wait out the Rodgers situation and if he goes to the Jets sign there. That's the best case scenario for him, as a blocking WR2 or 3.

 

[tynimiller]

Lazard's season wasn't crazy bad for the WR type he is. He is a hign snap WR in today's NFL - he is not an Elite WR1 play breaker or homerun guy. Just like MVS is a perfect home run hitting support receiving option type - Lazard is a perfect possession/blocking type support WR and will and should in this NFL get $10M/year

 

[OldSchool101]

Lazard's season wasn't crazy bad for the WR type he is. He is a hign snap WR in today's NFL - he is not an Elite WR1 play breaker or homerun guy. Just like MVS is a perfect home run hitting support receiving option type - Lazard is a perfect possession/blocking type support WR and will and should in this NFL get $10M/year

Exactly. As we found out over more recent years these guys are getting paid at WR. I think he might even get slightly more than $10mil average, just not in GB. Last year was a must have situation. Obviously his need changes some with our QB choice. I still believe we can find another option either through trade, FA or the draft.

 

[Deleted member 6794]

Lazard's season wasn't crazy bad for the WR type he is. He is a hign snap WR in today's NFL - he is not an Elite WR1 play breaker or homerun guy. Just like MVS is a perfect home run hitting support receiving option type - Lazard is a perfect possession/blocking type support WR and will and should in this NFL get $10M/year

I agree that Lazard most likely will get paid $10 million a year this offseason. He shouldn't though.

 

[tynimiller]

I agree that Lazard most likely will get paid $10 million a year this offseason. He shouldn't though.

But he should according to everything that drives contracts and based on every player comp anyone could find.

Folks just cannot accept the new level of contracts we are seeing for WRs

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Folks just cannot accept the new level of contracts we are seeing for WRs

Folks that are making $40-100K a year, having a hard time understanding how an average worker in his profession, might be paid $10M/year. The travesty of it all!

 

[gopkrs]

What I think is suspect is LaFleur's entire concept of needing receivers that are great blockers. How has that really helped so far? Is our O line so inept that we can't run at all w/o receivers making great blocks? Let's focus on getting O linemen that block really well. I think there is too much emphasis given on Lazard's ability to block. He is a good receiver but really, we could have someone that gets a little more open.