We’ve sorted through dozens of articles about the Packers’ latest news, game results, rosters, rumors and other info that’s important to the team and to you. Check it out! By LWOS In 2019, which was Brian Gutekunst’s second season as the Green Bay Packers general manager, he made a big splash in free agency. That off-season, he signed free agents Adrian Amos, Za’Darius Smith, Billy Turner, and Preston Smith. All four free agents became instant contributors. Fast forward to the present and once again, the Packers made a splash. Brian Gutekunst is hoping the free agents who just recently signed with the Packers will be instant contributors as well. By no means are we saying that Brian Gutekunst has been a non-player when it comes to the NFL free agency since 2019. While Gutekunst and the Packers made a big splash in 2019, Gutekunst has signed other free agents. In 2001, during training camp, the Packers signed free agent linebacker De’Vondre Campbell. The veteran linebacker earned All-Pro honors that season. That same year, Gutekunst signed cornerback Rasul Douglas off the Arizona Cardinalspractice squad. He would go on to make an immediate impact by intercepting five passes, returning two of them for touchdowns. While Gutekunst has kept his foot in the water, he hasn’t made the big splashes like he had in 2019. But that all changed this week when he and the Packers signed two major free agents. With them come big contracts and big expectations. The news of the signings brought unexpected excitement to the Green Bay Packers fan base. But to make the signings, they had to say goodbye to some longtime Packers. Players that will be missed. But their departures, either by being released or not being re-signed, opened up cap room to sign the two key free agents. Former general manager Ted Thompson made a lot of crucial draft picks during his tenure. Of course, former quarterback Aaron Rodgers tops that list. But right behind him was selecting David Bakhtiari in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Bakhtiari would go on to become an instant starter in his rookie season and would be a mainstay in the Packers starting lineup. Unfortunately for the two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, his career took a major hit late in the 2020 season. While preparing for a playoff run, Bakhtiari would suffer a season-ending injury. The injury was so severe that it caused him to play in just 13 games in the next three seasons. That injury was the driving force in the Packers releasing him this past week. That wasn’t the only veteran Packer released this past week. Campbell joins Bakhtiari on the unemployed list. Campbell followed up his marvelous season with another solid season in 2022. But he wasn’t able to duplicate what he did in 2021. This past season Campbell’s play took a major slide. He also dealt with injuries, injuries that only allowed him to play in 11 games. While Campbell only spent three seasons with the Packers, Bakhtiari was a longtime leader and most importantly, an upper echelon player for the Packers. His departure, even with his injuries issue, leaves a pretty sizable hole. But his release, along with Campbell’s, wasn’t the biggest release of this week by Brian Gutekunst. The Packers made headlines when it was announced that they had signed former Las Vegas Raiders running back Josh Jacobs. The deal is a one-year deal with three-year options. By signing Jacobs, Gutekunst gets a running back that he has been looking for. Jacobs is a three-down back and one that has been productive during his five-year career. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season three times. That includes 2022 which saw him rush for 1,653 yards with 12 rushing touchdowns. To make room for Jacobs, the Packers released running back Aaron Jones. The release of Jones illustrates how cut-throat of a business the NFL is. Not only was Jones the Packers best running back for the past seven seasons, but he was one of, if not, their biggest offensive weapons. Similar to Jacobs, Jones has rushed for over 1,000 yards three times during his career. Along with being a homerun hitter out of the backfield, Jones also was a playmaker in the passing game. A lot of factors went into the decision to sign Jacobs and release Jones. Age of course is one of the bigger factors. Jacobs is 26 while Jones is 29 and will become 30 during the 2024 season. Most NFL running backs lose a step when they turn 30. While it can be argued that Jones is the better overall player right now, he has had to deal with injuries the past couple of seasons. Jacobs is also the bigger back, which will allow him to play more snaps and allow Matt LaFleur to have his best running back on the field more. While Jones was a playmaker during his Packers career, the biggest thing the Packers might miss from releasing him is his leadership. Gutekunst even called him the “heartbeat of the team” at the conclusion of 2023. That type of leadership will be darn near impossible to replace. Jacobs new contract will bring high expectations. But even if he doesn’t want to, he will be asked to fill a leadership role that Jones once held. As we recently wrote, it appeared that the Packers safety position was in store for a major makeover. That makeover has begun and it might not be over. The first domino to fall was when veteran Darnell Savage signed a free-agent deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Brian Gutekunst selected Savage in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. His Packers career was very comparable to an amusement park roller coaster. He showed some glimpses of why he was selected in the first round. But most of it was filled with lows, the lowest being his benching in the 2022 season. Savage has the talent to be a quality NFL safety. But he struggled to tackle and never consistently made the big plays that were expected out of him. A change of scenery will be good for both parties. It didn’t take long for Gutekunst and the Packers to find Savage’s replacement. They inked former New York Giants safety Xavier McKinney to a four-year deal. While the signing of Jacobs grabbed most of the headlines, the signing of McKinney might be the most important. New defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley discussed the importance of safety in his defense at his opening press conference. McKinney is the type of player that it seemed like Hafley was describing. Pro Football Focus ranked McKinney as the fourth-highest-graded safety from last season. In 2023, the former second-round pick out of Alabama had three interceptions and 116 combined tackles. He is able to line up in multiple positions and is a sure tackler, which makes him an upgrade over Savage. When we broke down possible free-agent safeties that would make sense, we didn’t include McKinney. But it was believed that the Packers would be tight for money. The releases of Jones, Bakhtiari, and Campbell, allowed salary cap room for Gutekunst to make the deal. It is a deal that should help with the transformation of the Green Bay Packers defense.
Your Weekly Packers News Update
Brian Gutekunst Is Hoping The Free Agents Who Just Recently Signed With The Packers Will Be Instant Contributors As Well.
Brian Gutekunst Makes a Bang in the First Week of NFL Free Agency
The Release of Bakhtiari and Campbell
Saying Goodbye to Aaron Jones
Bringing in Safety Help
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"Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada
"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help.
As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game,
particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "
-Kayle
"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time.
One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA.
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-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida
"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"
-Matt
"Hi Amy-
Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future!
Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol!
Go pack go!!"
-Julie Mastrianni
"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service.
My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it.
We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip.
Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."
-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN
"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."
-Frank Chavez, Sacramento
"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."
-Beverley Moore, Lancaster
"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"
-David Anastas, Worchester
"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."
-Dick Koerner, Neenah
"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."
-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario
"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."
-Sam Jones, Sedalia
"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."
-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor
"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."
-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly