Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson has been an active participant in free agency following a 15-2 season that was cut short with a 37-20 divisional loss to the New York Giants on January 15, 2012. The Packers have signed three noteworthy free agents since free agency started approximately three weeks ago. Those players include Jeff Saturday,Daniel Muir and Anthony Hargrove.
Muir is a 6-2, 312-pound defensive lineman who appeared in three games with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent during the 2007-08 season. Muir would appear in 40 games throughout the next four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. Muir's career stats include 108 tackles with 0.5 sacks and a pass deflection. Muir will turn 29-years-old in September.
Hargrove is a 6-3, 290-pound defensive lineman who was a third-round pick for the St. Louis Rams in the 2004 NFL Draft. Hargrove has been a journeyman who will suit up for his fifth different organization since 2006. Hargrove has 224 tackles and 19.5 sacks in 102 games through seven seasons. Hargrove had 18 tackles with three sacks and one safety with the Seattle Seahawks during the 2011-12 season. Hargrove will turn 29-years-old in July.
Hargrove and Muir were both used in defensive schemes that relied on four defensive linemen. The Packers are expected to work both players into their 3-4 defense as defensive ends since neither player is big enough to play nose tackle.
The biggest question with Hargrove is whether he can stay on the field and avoid trouble from the NFL. Hargrove was suspended for the 2008 season when he violated the NFL's substance-abuse policy. Hargrove could also face a suspension because he was listed as a player who was involved with the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal. Hargrove has issued a statement about a hit that he put on Brett Favre during the 2009-10 NFC Championship Game that can be found here.
I still think this was an affordable risk. Hargrove should definitely be an upgrade over Mike Neal,C.J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. Even if Green Bay drafts another rookie defensive lineman who plays most of the snaps, I feel like a team can never have too many good defensive linemen. The Packers need more than starters; they need depth in their trenches.
Joshua Huffman graduated from Middle Tennessee State University as a marketing major in 2009. He's been a Middle Tennessee resident from 1986-88 and 2001-present. He lived in the Upper Peninsula and Northern Wisconsin from 1988-01 and for approximately eight months in 2009-10 as he completed a 20-game volunteer position with the USHL's Green Bay Gamblers. His favorite sports organizations include the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Cubs, Nashville Predators and Tennessee Titans. He can be found on Twitter HERE.
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