McKenzie sits out Packers' mandatory minicamp

[Guest Vitamin X]

As promised, McKenzie skips Packers minicamp

 

By ARNIE STAPLETON, AP Sports Writer

April 28, 2004

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Cornerback Mike McKenzie fulfilled his pledge to boycott the Green Bay Packers' first offseason minicamp Wednesday, the first formal step in his demand to be traded.

 

McKenzie wasn't the only notable absence: Tim Couch and Joe Johnson also stayed away -- for very different reasons.

 

Couch's representatives continued talks with Packers chief negotiator Andrew Brandt on a contract that would allow the top pick in the 1999 NFL draft to come over from Cleveland to back up Brett Favre. Meantime, the Packers re-signed backup quarterback Doug Pederson, who took most of the snaps Wednesday.

 

Johnson didn't get an invitation, an indication the Packers are about to give up on the disappointing defensive end who provided next to nothing for $10 million over the last two seasons.

 

McKenzie is threatening to retire unless he's traded.

 

Coach/general manager Mike Sherman said he can start fining McKenzie on Friday, when draft picks and rookie free agents join the veterans for the final three days of workouts.

 

``I'll treat him like any other player that I've had in the past and take care of it with discipline,'' Sherman said. ``I normally don't share that with you guys, so I don't plan on sharing it this time. So, if he's not here at the mandatory minicamp, I'll deal with it in-house.''

 

McKenzie is working out in Memphis and won't be attending any portion of the minicamp, his agent, Brian Parker, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

 

The Packers are taking seriously McKenzie's threat to walk away from the nearly $11 million and three years left on the $17.1 million contract he signed before the 2002 season. A hour-long telephone conversation with Sherman earlier this month failed to repair the relationship.

 

Green Bay used its top two picks in the draft last weekend on cornerbacks, taking Ahmad Carroll in the first round and Joey Thomas in the second.

 

If the Packers don't trade McKenzie and he sits out the season, they would wipe his $2.75 million salary off the books, but they'd be without their top defender in a year of high hopes.

 

The Packers, who had hoped to swing a deal for McKenzie during the draft Saturday, won't let the issue become a distraction, Sherman said.

 

``We plan to win with Mike or without Mike, either way,'' Sherman said.

 

Michael Hawthorne started in McKenzie's spot at practice Wednesday.

 

Anyone need a cornerback or an overrated defensive end?

[Cartman 0]

Pats and Pack should swap bitchy CB's

 

Of course a draft pick or two would have to be coming the way of the Patriots as well.

 

[Guest Vitamin X]

Fuck that.

 

Ty Law is well-known for being a headache, whereas McKenzie has only recently been one. McKenzie is also just as good if not better than Law also.

[Guest OctoberBlood]

Bengals could use him, but blew - we got rid of one dickhead, no need to replace him with another.

[Guest Redhawk]

I'm lost here....why does McKenzie want out?

[Dr. Tom 0]

Because Al Harris has better hair, obviously...

[NoCalMike 0]

McKenzie is also just as good if not better than Law also.

LO F'N L.........

[Vern Gagne 0]

I'm lost here....why does McKenzie want out?

He wants is contract renegotiated.

[MrRant 0]

He's making 11 million this year though.

[Cartman 0]

McKenzie is also just as good if not better than Law also.

LO F'N L.........

Yea that was over the top funny.

[Guest Dynamite Kido]

The Steelers will take him or Ty Law......or they'll just stick to the secondary that has gotten them this far.

[Damaramu 0]

My mom(who is a giant packers fan) was like "NO! We need McKenzie! I like the Predator heads!"

She keeps saying they remind her of the Predator with there hair hanging out from under the helmet.

[Guest Vitamin X]

McKenzie is also just as good if not better than Law also.

LO F'N L.........

Yea that was over the top funny.

Please then explain exactly HOW Ty Law would make a better addition to a team than Mike McKenzie.

 

Mike McKenzie-

1. Pro Bowler (though obviously not as many times)

2. Entering sixth season, 6-0, 194 lbs.

3. Competiton faced? Vikings (Randy Moss), Bears (Marty Booker/David Terrell), Lions (Johnnie Morton pre-KC/Az-Zahir Hakim?)

4. Bitching about contract and defensive shake-ups after pass defense gave up 4th and 26th play last postseason that would lead to being knocked out of playoffs.

5. Career Stats through first five seasons- 69 GP, 67 GS, 291 Tackles, 1 Sack, 15 Interceptions with 2 TD's, 82 Passes Defended

 

Ty Law-

1. Pro Bowler

2. Entering ninth season, 5-11 200 lbs.

3. Competition faced? Jets (Santana Moss), Dolphins (Chris Chambers), Bills (Eric Moulds/Peerless Price pre-ATL)

4. Released last season as disciplinary action by coach Belichick, re-signed only to have off-season problems again, this time in the form of running from the police after "Do you know who I am?" card didn't work, caught and now faces being let go from Super Bowl Champions. Obviously not very smart man.

5. Career Stats through first five seasons- 280 Tackles, 2 Sacks, 20 Interceptions with 76 Passes Defended

Career Stats overall- 119 GP, 111 GS, 616 Tackles 4 Sacks, 34 Interceptions with 136 Passes Defended

 

Meaning New England would receive a talented, young similar player who plays much more physical and has had less injury problems as well as no off-field problems to date, whereas Green Bay would receive an aging former Pro Bowler who might have a couple years left in him, who has had more of an injury history and a well-documented attitude/off-field problem. Law has a slight advantage over McKenzie in stats, but look at the competition faced as well. Buffalo, New York and Miami have similar talent at receiver as Minnesota, Detroit, and Chicago, though they might have better quarterback talent with Testaverde/Pennington, Bledsoe/Johnson/Flutie, and Fiedler as compared to Culpepper, Batch/Harrington, and all the fucking Bears' quarterbacks.

[jimmy no nose 0]

The Steelers will take him or Ty Law......or they'll just stick to the secondary that has gotten them this far.

The Steelers never take players who have ever been a problem for another team. They'll just stick with what they have right now most likely. They could definitely use one of them though.

[Cartman 0]

Uhh, Ty Law got released?

 

Also, he used the whole "Do you know who I am" as more fuel to the fire he started with the Patriots. He REALLY wants out and will stopp to stupidity to get out.

 

I would love to know when he was released and re-signed though...That's definitely news to me.

[NoCalMike 0]

Hey, I never said Mckenzie doesn't have the potential to be as good as Ty Law by the end or later stages of his career, but at this point, don't even bother trying. When you are a cornerback stats don't always matter, because I would take a corner with less INTs/tackles, over one that gets thrown on 100 times and maybe comes up with 4-5 INTs during the season, but also gives up a lot of yardage and plays.

[Guest Vitamin X]

Uhh, Ty Law got released?

 

Also, he used the whole "Do you know who I am" as more fuel to the fire he started with the Patriots. He REALLY wants out and will stopp to stupidity to get out.

 

I would love to know when he was released and re-signed though...That's definitely news to me.

I thought he got released last preseason by Belichick and then later re-signed as a result of disciplinary action. I heard it happened to some kind of Pro Bowl player in their secondary, so I assumed it was Ty Law and not Lawyer Milloy due to his attitude problem.

 

I could be wrong though, but I could swear I remember hearing something about that.

 

Hey, I never said Mckenzie doesn't have the potential to be as good as Ty Law by the end or later stages of his career, but at this point, don't even bother trying. When you are a cornerback stats don't always matter, because I would take a corner with less INTs/tackles, over one that gets thrown on 100 times and maybe comes up with 4-5 INTs during the season, but also gives up a lot of yardage and plays.

 

Which is exactly why I think a McKenzie/Law trade-off would benefit the Pats and hurt the Packers, since a lot about building a team has to do with youth and quality. McKenzie is already an outstanding cornerback on a badly designed defensive scheme with no real pass rush outside of KGB. Law is also an outstanding player but on an extremely good defense with a historically great defensive scheme.

 

I think McKenzie is vastly underrated because he's a Packer, it seems that if they get any sort of media coverage it's on our playoff failures (45-17 at St Louis, the T.O. catch, Vick ousting the Pack for the first time at Lambeau, and the now-infamous 4th and 26), Favre, or Green while guys like Franks, McKenzie, Sharper, and Barnett don't get much credit. Everything ESPN/Fox sports/whatever seems to concentrate on is RAMS EAGLES RAMS EAGLES when it comes to the NFC.

 

As a Redskins fan, I'm sure you can understand.

[nl5xsk1 0]

Ty Law's stats (on paper) are diminished because the other teams rarely throw his way. He's a shutdown corner, so the QBs tend to pick on the safeties or the other CB (which makes sense when it's Samuel, or O.T.I.S. or Ty Poole on the other side). It's hard to defend passes when they're not thrown your way.

 

And pardon my chuckling at a Packers fan saying his team doesn't get much love. Yes, most of the attention goes to Favre, but I don't think anyone on the Pack gets overlooked at all.