Offseason Blueprint for the Green Bay Packers

Wide receiver Randall Cobb, a pending free agent, will be Priority A for the Green Bay Packers in the offseason.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb—Steven Bisig, USA TODAY Sports.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb—Steven Bisig, USA TODAY Sports.

The 2014 season for the Green Bay Packers ended in excruciating disappointment, blowing a two-score lead on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship game with less than five minutes to go. It was a collapse of epic proportions, no doubt about it.

Still, the Packers won the NFC North for a fourth consecutive year, qualified for the playoffs for a sixth consecutive season (tied for the longest streak in the NFL), improved their win total by five games (including playoffs) over the previous campaign and had their deepest run in the postseason since winning Super Bowl XLV.

The Packers are clearly headed in the right direction. The job now becomes to maintain that momentum and build on it, however slightly.

If the NFL is a ladder, the Packers have already climbed 30 of 32 rungs. There's only two more to go.

Wholesale change is not needed. But there are several things the Packers need to do in the offseason to find themselves hoisting the Lombardi Trophy once again.

 

Find a New Special Teams Coordinator

Whether it happens by firing, resignation or retirement is immaterial, but the time has come for the Packers to move on from Shawn Slocum.

The timeframe for change may have been pushed back following the death of head coach Mike McCarthy's brother, but it shouldn't be long before the Packers get back to business.

One internal candidate is Ron Zook, the team's assistant special teams coach in 2014 and former head coach at the universities of Florida and Illinois.

McCarthy will have to determine how much of the special teams shortcomings were the fault of Slocum and how much were Zook's, however. He may want to go outside of the organization for new help and a fresh perspective.

 

Clear Salary-Cap Space

The Packers are financially in good shape heading into 2015, especially considering that they have one of the highest-paid players in the game (Aaron Rodgers) and the highest-paid linebacker (Clay Matthews) under long-term contracts.

They'll be carrying nearly $10 million in unused salary-cap space from 2014 into 2015, combined with an expected rise that's expected to bring the cap to somewhere between $138 and $141 million.

Current figures from OvertheCap.com put the Packers at roughly $122 million committed to 2015 with the potential to clear more than $7 million more by releasing linebackers Brad Jones and A.J. Hawk.

Parting ways with either player won't come without a cost. Each of them will cost about $1 million in dead salary-cap space in 2015, but the $7 million in savings makes it worth it, particularly in light of poor seasons by both players.

 

Extend Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga

The money saved from cutting Hawk and Jones will be put to good use by extending the contracts of Priorities A and B for the Packers in the offseason, their impending free agents at wide receiver and on the offense line.

It will be interesting to see the haul Cobb makes. The five-year, $43 million deal signed by Victor Cruz of the New York Giants is the highest for a slot receiver in the NFL, although most other slot types don't stack up to that kind of money.

There will also be obvious comparisons to Jordy Nelson, whom the Packers extended just this past offseason, giving him a four-year, $39 million deal. Do the Packers want to committ more money or more years to the younger but less experienced Cobb?

Meanwhile, the Packers were genius to make Bulaga a right tackle in the offseason, a position that generally commands significantly less cash than their left tackle brethren. Bulaga, however, could be in a position of power.  All it takes is one team to think he's worthy of franchise left tackle money to drive up the asking price.

 

Tender Don Barclay and Sean Richardson

The Packers have just three choices to make on their restricted free agents and two of them are rather easy.

Barclay may have spent the season on injured reserve with a torn ACL, but he's worth bringing back on a one-year deal expected to be worth roughly $1.5 million, especially if Bryan Bulaga happened to leave.

Richardson, meanwhile, may be just the fourth-best safety on the Packers roster, but after becoming team's leading tackler on special teams in 2014, he's more valuable than the casual fan might realize. And the value only goes up if longtime special teams ace Jarrett Bush departs in free agency.

As for wide receiver Jarrett Boykin, he represents a more difficult decision. After going from 49 receptions in 2013 to a mere three in 2014, his production dropped off precipitously. Keep in mind, the Packers also drafted three wide receivers in last year's draft, each of which is itching for a bigger role, not to mention Kevin Dorsey and any other rookies the team brings in.

 

Exercise the Fifth-Year Option on Nick Perry

It's slightly odd that NFL teams have to make a decision on whether to exercise their fifth-year option on first-round draft choices after just their third year in professional football, but really, there's little risk involved in doing so.

Perry may not have made a big-time impact in 2014, but at least he finally took a step forward in the health department, missing a reasonable one game due to injury.

With just nine sacks in 32 career regular-season games, Perry's production has been less than expected, but he showed a glimpse of what he could offer in the big divisional round playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys, coming up 1.5 sacks.

Last year's fifth-year option for Washington linebacker Ryan Kerrigan was $7.04 million, which should be in the same neighborhood the Packers would have to pay Perry in 2016. But the catch is that they could always release him following next season if he doesn't pan out and not be forced to pay the $7 million anyway. The risk is nil and the incentive is worth it.

 

Fill Out the Rest of the Roster

There are difficult decisions to be made among several unrestricted free agents other than just Randall Cobb and Bryan Bulaga, perhaps none tougher than at cornerback.

The contracts of Tramon Williams, Davon House and Jarrett Bush are all set to expire in March, and the Packers probably can't afford to keep all three of them. But by the same token, they aren't advised to let all three walk away either.

Nose tackle is another position in flux. The Packers are reportedly already in discussions with Letroy Guion on an extension, but the more perplexing decision is what to do with 2009 first round draft choice B.J. Raji, who spent the season on injured reserve.

Other notable free-agents-to-be include quarterback Scott Tolzien and fullback John Kuhn.

 

Address Key Positions in Draft

Assuming they aren't involved in free agency or a trade, the obvious position of need is at inside linebacker, where the Packers figure to add talent in the upcoming NFL Draft.

Now they just need to identify which player they'll target and which round they'll do it in. Will they go after a Bernardrick McKinney? A Shaq Thompson? An Eric Kendricks? A Denzel Perryman? A Paul Dawson?

The rest of the team's needs will flesh themselves out following free agency. For example, if Bryan Bulaga were to leave, offensive tackle would become a much higher priority.

The Packers could also use a stout defensive lineman, a red-zone target at tight end, depth at cornerback and a backup quarterback.

 

Brian Carriveau is the author of the book "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," and editor at Cheesehead TV and its "Pro Football Draft Preview." To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (44)

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Evan's picture

January 23, 2015 at 01:15 pm

I fully expect Cobb to be back. Bulaga I'm less confident in, but still would be surprised to see him go - it's just not TT's MO.

As for Raji, if no one really wanted him last off-season, I can't imagine anyone wanting him this off-season. I see another 1-year deal with the Packers in his future. He'll still have the chance to cash in before he hits 30 next off-season, if everything goes right for him.

House vs. Tramon. TT's history says House (I can't imagine he'll command much), though I hate to see Tramon go. I see House very much like Quarless or Starks last off-season. He'll test the market but ultimately come back.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 24, 2015 at 12:52 pm

Yeah, i completely agree with everything you said.

I don't see either Cobb or Bulaga leaving, and hope not, but there is always a chance that one will.

I feel exactly the same about Raji. If he didn't command much interest last year, why would he get a lot of interest this year after he missed the entire season. I can see them bringing him back on a 1 year deal again.

Again with House and Williams i agree with you. Most years I would say that Williams would be gone and House will stay. But could this be the year in which Thompson changes? Last year he went out and signed Peppers which is against his norm. So does he keep Williams and let House go? House was injured a lot this year, and was inconsistent. When he played well he played great. When he played bad he was really bad.

Knowing how close the Packers are to getting to the Super Bowl, do they resign Williams to a cheaper 1-2 year deal?

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dullgeek's picture

January 23, 2015 at 01:25 pm

IMHO Cobb and Bulaga are (by far) the two most important re-signs for TT. As much as a weapon as Cobb is, the Packers OL was a also a weapon this year. I can't decide which is more important, but as many great plays as I saw Cobb make, the thing that keeps coming back in my mind is how dominant the OL was this year, and what an incredible luxury that was for the Packers.

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HankScorpio's picture

January 23, 2015 at 04:51 pm

I completely agree about the o-line. Bulaga has had problems with health and speed rushers. He still missed some time this year but it was early. And he didn't have have any really poor performances.

Coming into the season, I was on the fence about his importance. Now, I really want him back. I would love for this o-line back, intact.

Getting Barclay back to be the 6th o-line would be a nice bonus. They might even be able to run more effectively out of a jumbo formation with him.

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TarynsEyes's picture

January 23, 2015 at 01:35 pm

Comparing Kerrigan getting $7+ mill for his 5th year option as a justification to do same with Perry is ridiculous...Perry is no where near the player Kerrigan is and isn't worth now and would be hard pressed to prove it in 2015.Let him earn his spot this season with no option pick up and let him actually earn a re-sign after the 2015 or late in season if warranted.

His replacement is in this draft...no need to waste future money on a guy who is JAG.

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balding_pastor's picture

January 23, 2015 at 02:13 pm

The article indicates that there's no wasted $'s potential. It's merely an option to exercise. If Perry comes into his own he'll play for $7 mil rather than being a free agent. No harm, no foul if he doesn't.

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TarynsEyes's picture

January 23, 2015 at 02:50 pm

If his 5th year option is picked up and Perry gets injured...again...I believe that option money becomes guaranteed....perhaps I'm wrong but ...

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 23, 2015 at 04:48 pm

You are correct, Taryn. The option year (2016) is guaranteed for injury sustained in 2015. The risk is probably very small. If Perry gets injured in 2015, it would have to make him unable to play in 2016 (that is, as I understand it, not medically cleared, and not that he has lost skill due to the injury. It would have to be career ending type of injury, or one that took more than a year to heal, to make the option guaranteed. It is not guaranteed for skill or cap purposes.

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KenEllis's picture

January 23, 2015 at 01:50 pm

Excellent analysis Brian. I mean thanks for the thoroughness.

I would add that TE/ILB are not very deep or talented positions in this draft, so given that TT was active in veteran free agency last season, perhaps that is where the team could look rather than just relying on the draft.

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L's picture

January 23, 2015 at 02:12 pm

Your article pretty much echos my thoughts exactly Brian. See my post under the Offensive Rankings thread.

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balding_pastor's picture

January 23, 2015 at 02:15 pm

If they can sign house for 5 Mil/year, then they should. Tramon has been a fine player but 32 yr old CB's aren't part of a draft and develop plan.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

January 23, 2015 at 04:56 pm

Wow, $5 million per year for House? For how many years? How much should be guaranteed? I like House, but I am not sold on him given that Capers likes to put his CBs out on an island a lot.

So, 4 yrs., $20 million, with a $7 million signing bonus? I was thinking more along the lines of 3 yrs., $10 million with a $3.5 million signing bonus. But we need either Tramon or House to come back since we only have Shields, Goodson, Hayward and Hyde signed, some of whom I question whether they can play outside CB.

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HankScorpio's picture

January 23, 2015 at 05:16 pm

The cap is expected to take a big jump again this year. So I would not be surprised to see a whole bunch of seemingly player-friendly deals across the league. Cap inflation = salary inflation.

House has some tape down for other teams to look at. I'm not sure it would entice a team to commit $5 mil per. But as they say, it only takes 1 and CB is a premium position. When you have extra cap room fall into your lap, it is a good strategy to invest the surplus in premium positions.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

January 23, 2015 at 10:54 pm

Sure stinks we lost Rolle. Kid has talent.

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NickPerry's picture

January 24, 2015 at 12:24 pm

Especially after what we saw out of Rolle and Goodson in the Preseason, Rolle was by far the better player.

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jimtalkbox's picture

January 23, 2015 at 04:23 pm

Definitely need to re-sign Cobb and Bulaga.

FIRE SLOCUM.

I think House is sort of a "no brainer" too. He seemed to match up against the bigger receivers better than anyone else on the roster.

Dropping both Hawk and Jones at ILB may be a bit of a gamble as that would leave the roster awfully thin at that spot, especially in terms of experience. I used to theorize that Hawk would play much better if he had a better complement next to him (the way he used to have Bishop), but he may have declined beyond that point.

If TT has another draft like last year's, it may quickly become "Super Bowl or Bust" time!

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HankScorpio's picture

January 23, 2015 at 05:21 pm

Hawk could not afford to lose any athleticism and it seems like he has. That's makes him not only expendable but someone that is no longer a NFL-caliber player, IMO.

I came to the same conclusion about Jones two years ago.

If I was GM, I'd get rid of both and take my chances with what I could find in FA and the draft. Or just off the street. There is little room to regress in replacing those two, IMO.

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jimtalkbox's picture

January 23, 2015 at 05:32 pm

You're probably right. Either way is pretty risky.

BTW, your username cracked me up.

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badaxed's picture

January 25, 2015 at 10:57 am

X2

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NickPerry's picture

January 24, 2015 at 12:41 pm

Hawk and Jones have to go, especially Hawk. It was sad at times watching him on the field this year. Hawk dropped to 230 to try and gain a little speed by being lighter which didn't work. Now WR who weigh 180 can block him with ease and TE's run right by him like he's standing still.

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MarkinMadison's picture

January 23, 2015 at 08:16 pm

One thing left out of the discussion is Peppers' contract. It's a completely different defense with Peppers, BUT we found out at the end of the year that he is most effective as a part-time player. Can you afford to pay him $12M to be a part-time player? I don't think it is a no-brainer.

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MarkinMadison's picture

January 23, 2015 at 08:16 pm

One thing left out of the discussion is Peppers' contract. It's a completely different defense with Peppers, BUT we found out at the end of the year that he is most effective as a part-time player. Can you afford to pay him $12M to be a part-time player? I don't think it is a no-brainer.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

January 23, 2015 at 10:57 pm

I think you've gotta see if he's willing to restructure his contract, let Ted get clever with the numbers. If that's an option.

He brought something to this D, I think he has a year or two left as a part time impact player. Here's hoping hes back.

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stockholder's picture

January 24, 2015 at 08:20 am

Much rather see Peppers, Cobb, Buluga. Than Raji , Jones, Bostick, Bush,Flynn. We need players to push the starters.

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L's picture

January 27, 2015 at 12:10 pm

I'd like to see Raji on the side with Peppers, Cobb, and Buluga as he could still be a nice addition at NT where he's proven in the past to play much better at. A freak injury cost him that opportunity this last year, but if he's well healed then he could prove to be a nice addition in 2015-16.

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L's picture

January 27, 2015 at 12:11 pm

I'd like to see Raji on the side with Peppers, Cobb, and Buluga as he could still be a nice addition at NT where he's proven in the past to play much better at. A freak injury cost him that opportunity this last year, but if he's well healed then he could prove to be a nice addition in 2015-16.

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4thand1's picture

January 24, 2015 at 08:59 am

Every f-in year its a different elephant in the room . Fixed the defense, the running , now special teams needs an over haul. With that being said, a healthy Rodgers would have covered up for the ST's. Rodgers staying healthy is the only way the Packers have a chance to win it all. Keep this o-line together!!!!

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canadapacker's picture

January 24, 2015 at 11:01 am

It is the NFL and every year only 2 teams compete for the Superbowl. Every year only 6 teams from each Division make the playoffs. We have been there every year for the past 4 years and that should continue. After that it is a matter of injuries and how you draw. I am really pizzed that we lost this year ( but we were not predicted to get by Seattle) because we played of the chart for 55 minutes defensively. I am more unhappy with our loss to the Giants in 2011 when we had gone 15-1. But I think that our roster is stronger this year than ever before. We need to get some inside linebackers and definitely a new special teams co-ordinator. I predict when MM gets back from his brothers funeral that he and TT get Slocum to resign.

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Zola Davis's picture

January 24, 2015 at 09:13 am

It would not surprise me to see Hawk re-structured and brought back as a tutor for Barrington and a first or second round pick. While Hawk doesn't have the physical talents that he once had (maybe), he did get the front seven lined up correctly. And yes, Hawk would, like Burnett, play better with a better sidekick; that dog no longer hunts if you need to draft high and still can't produce.

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badaxed's picture

January 25, 2015 at 11:00 am

NO! NO NO! HAWK MUST GO!

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KenEllis's picture

January 25, 2015 at 01:16 pm

You can't sacrifice a roster spot for a guy to be a "tutor."

Hawk's time came and went a couple of years ago.

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badaxed's picture

January 25, 2015 at 02:28 pm

Those "Tuto" gus are called "coaches". we already have enough of these guys. Some of which are bums.

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canadapacker's picture

January 24, 2015 at 10:52 am

We definitely need some help in the linebacker department. Last year the Mock drafts many had us taking Shazier and he would have been a helluva pick had he fell to us, the way that he played in Pittsburgh ( except he did get hurt a bit). But Clinton Dix has turned out well. But we do need some interior speed as was shown by AJ's play. Barrington may continue to develop but we need somebody of impact inside which we havent had and what we thought Hawk would provide. I forsee Hawk, Williams, Boykin, Bostick, Bush and Kuhn all to be done ( along with Slocum). I am hoping that Rajii ( on another 1 year) and Guion back in the middle. That leaves us with the freedom to see if a flex tight end falls to us. TT is good at picking up from the lower rounds and injuries aside, special teams come from there . I highly doubt that Hawk, Bush and Kuhn will be brought back because they have been good Packers through and through, this is about winning and they have all lost a step.

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egbertsouse's picture

January 24, 2015 at 11:22 am

I expect to see the same old stuff we see every year: A couple of big money contracts (Cobb, Bulaga)restructure marginal players (Hawk, Jones, Bush, Raji, Williams) to get them on the cheap, a bunch of bargain bin FA's, a shot-in-the-dark 1st round pick trying to land a guy others have missed, Ted loading up on 4-7th round draft choices hoping to hit a diamond, and more BS from MM on "accountability" and necessary improvement on ST.

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badaxed's picture

January 25, 2015 at 02:25 pm

I see you have read TT's autobiography.

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Denver's picture

January 24, 2015 at 11:35 am

"Bernardrick McKinney? A Shaq Thompson? An Eric Kendricks? A Denzel Perryman? A Paul Dawson?"

All of the above.
Only slightly kidding....

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cheesehead1's picture

January 24, 2015 at 12:10 pm

I don't care how they do it, but fix the ILB position once and for all. Don't want to see anyone lose their job, but we need a new ST coach. And finally, as well as our defense played for "most" of the game, when it came down to crunch time, they faltered just like in last years loss to SF. Still have to make upgrades to make it an elite defense. Hope TT has something up his sleeve.

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Nashville Packer's picture

January 25, 2015 at 10:10 am

I'd like to see Raji and Guion back. That was the original plan going into the season and I think that combo would have made a difference in the run game. With Raji's injury, it doesn't seem like it would be expensive to bring him back.

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TKWorldWide's picture

January 25, 2015 at 02:49 pm

I have let go of the idea that it would take an early round pick to "fix" a position. Last year one of GB's areas of concern was center. When TT "waited" till the 5th to take Linsley, did anyone think he'd turn out to be as good as he was? I didn't.

Sometimes early picks disappoint, sometimes late picks surprise. I enjoy the offseason dealings as much as anyone, but I'm letting go of my "GM" duties. Now I just watch and hang on for the ride.

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RCPackerFan's picture

January 26, 2015 at 07:09 am

Going into last year, i don't think many in the organization thought that the Center position was a real concern. I think they let EDS go thinking that Tretter was their replacement for him. Which if he didn't get hurt he likely would have been. If they didn't have Tretter waiting I don't know if they let EDS go.

But major kudos to seeing the ability in Linsley and drafting him. How many times do we hear people say draft for need, we have to draft for need and it doesn't work out.

The center position wasn't a truly need position in some peoples eyes because they had Tretter. Yet, Thompson drafted him, more likely because he was the best player on the board at that time.

And as it turns out he was a steal of a pick in the 5th round.

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Big Moe's picture

January 25, 2015 at 07:15 pm

All of you have provided a good deal of logical and insightful comments, unfortunately I'm still in denial and may not snap out until the draft, WTF happened last week, please oh please! someone wake me from this nightmare, htf, wtf F,f,F***. sorry all, I just needed to vent to those who understand.

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FITZCORE1252's picture

January 25, 2015 at 07:59 pm

I fully understand how you feel. That one is going to seeing for awhile.

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Big Moe's picture

January 26, 2015 at 11:25 am

I tried to explain how bad this was to a non football fan, and I just couldn't find the words to explain.

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Tundraboy's picture

January 26, 2015 at 03:42 pm

Only Packer fans know how we feel

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