Packers Daily Links: Tryout Being Held for Free Agent Kicker

The Green Bay Packers haven’t brought in competition for kicker Mason Crosby for five seasons, as Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes, but that could change soon. “On Monday, the Packers will try out Michael Barnard, a 27-year-old free agent from New Jersey who is being eyed as training-camp competition for Mason Crosby,” writes McGinn. Barnard was a kicker at the Division III level of college football as recently as 2008, and an average one at that. But he’s reportedly been working on his craft since that time and has received tryouts with the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

General manager Ted Thompson attended the University of Wisconsin pro day on Wednesday where he watched running back Montee Ball. Thompson provided brief reaction to Ball’s performance and improved 40 time to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by saying, “We don’t get too caught up about the time, but we like the competitiveness and that showed today.” It’s admirable that Ted Thompson maintains a good working relationship with the in-state University of Wisconsin and keeps attending its pro day year after year, especially because the Packers have hardly signed a player from Wisconsin during Thompson’s tenure.

More on the Wisconsin pro day comes from the Wisconsin State Journal with articles on Montee Ball, center Travis Frederick and cornerback Marcus Cromartie.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com also has a report on the Wisconsin pro day as well as those of Massachusetts and Mississippi State where the Packers were reportedly in attendance.

More on the pro day circuit comes from Packer Report.

Former Packers running back Jim Taylor was interviewed for an article at the Green Bay Press-Gazette where he talked about his recovery from a stroke suffered a few years ago. “We’re still very active and just enjoy having a good quality of life,” Taylor is quoted as saying by reporter Wes Hodkiewicz. “Leaving out and doing an 8-mile hike at 5:15 a.m. and coming back and having a big breakfast of eggs, chicken sausage and flapjacks, and fruit and really getting your day started right. Before you sit down from breakfast at 8 o’clock, you got some oxygen to your brain cells.” If Taylor is regularly making 8-mile hikes at 77 years old, I’d say he’s going just fine.

The issue of offering quarterback Aaron Rodgers a contract extension is examined in-depth by NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com.

As Aaron Rodgers approaches 30 years old, AllGreenBayPackers.com starts to show concern that Rodgers will soon be reaching his zenith.

Free agent breakdowns on wide receiver Greg Jennings and linebacker Erik Walden appear at Acme Packing Company where they also discuss the contract situation of linebacker Clay Matthews.

The Packers hired Alonzo Dotson as a scout, as noted by JSOnline, Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Press-Gazette.

Packer Report has a pair of articles on free agent defensive linemen and leadership in Green Bay.

A variety of blog posts appear at Lombardi Ave., including pieces on B.J. Raji’s contract, free agent running backs, tight end Jermichael Finely and the upcoming free agent period.

The annual checkup series continues at Fox Sports Wisconsin with defensive lineman B.J. Raji.

Video: Fox 11 has footage from the Wisconsin pro day workout where general manager Ted Thompson was in attendance…

Brian Carriveau is the author of “It’s Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America,” and editor of Cheesehead TV’s “Pro Football Draft Preview.” To contact Brian, email carriveau@uwalumni.com.