All in all, it's been a rather quiet free agent period for the Green Bay Packers when it comes to adding pieces.
Several players departed, and rightfully so. But GM Brian Gutekunst, a little hamstrung dollar-wise, has been careful. Perhaps the most impactful signing was wide receiver Devin Funchess. He's a big target (6-4) who was a second-round pick by Carolina in 2015. In three seasons there, he hauled in 164 passes for 2,265 yards (13.81 yards per catch) and 21 touchdowns. Signed by Indianapolis last season, he broke his clavicle in Week 1 and missed the rest of the season.
It's a reasonable one year deal for Funchess, who gives the Packers experienced depth to go along with Davante Adams.
Wide receiver is one of the deepest pools of talent we've seen we've ever seen, so look for a quality pick to be available anywhere from the second to the fourth round. This means Green Bay can still shore up other areas (inside linebacker, offensive line, tightend) at the end of the month in the annual NFL draft.
Speaking of the draft, Covid-19 has altered that as well. The NFL says teams can meet at their facilities as a group, if that is safe, or all parties will video conference. Either way, the draft will be online for the 32 teams, which will eliminate bringing in players to sit for uncomfortable hours in the green room, waiting to be called (that was the case for Aaron Rodgers in 2005, who dropped from first to 24th and has made teams pay for it since!)
R.I.P Tom Dempsey, the professional place-kicker born without one fingers on his right hand and toes on his right foot. Dempsey, born in Milwaukee, set a then-NFL record with a 63-yard field goal while a member of the New Orleans Saints. His 63-yarder game as time expired at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans, beating the Detroit Lions 19-17. This was when the goal posts were on the goal line, and not at the back of the endzone.
I recall reading how Alex Karras, star defensive tackle with the Lions, said he and his teammates were laughing when the Saints lined up to attempt such a long field goal. Dempsey's record stood for 43 years, until Matt Prater topped it with a 64-yarder in 2013 (but that came at Denver, were thin air has helped kickers for years!)
Dempsey, 73, had battled Alzheimer's and dementia since 2012. He was living in a care facility and was diagnosed with Covid-19 on March 25th and died on Saturday.
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