Packers Lose Free Agent CB Pat Lee to Oakland Raiders

Free agent cornerback Pat Lee signed with the Oakland Raiders Wednesday, re-uniting with Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie.

The Green Bay Packers may have been ready to move on from cornerback Pat Lee, but one former front office man of the team obviously was not.

According to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, Lee agreed to a one-year deal with the Oakland Raiders and GM Reggie McKenzie, who helped draft Lee in the second round as a personnel man for the Packers in 2008.

DB Patrick Lee agrees to terms 1yr deal in Oakland. Reunites with GM Reggie McKenzie from 1st 4yrs in GB

In four years with the Packers, Lee appeared in just 32 games and had just 21 total tackles and zero interceptions.

While a complete bust as a cornerback, Lee did become a valuable special teams player over the last couple of seasons. He led the team in special teams tackles with nine in 2011 after notching seven the season before. Teamed with Jarrett Bush, who re-signed with the Packers Tuesday, as outside gunners covering kicks, Lee helped slowly make the Packers a much-improved unit against punts and kicks last season.

Lee's impact on defense, however, has been nearly non-existant. He played just 21 total snaps on defense in 2011 despite playing arguably his best game as a professional in the Packers' Super Bowl win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. In four NFL seasons—one of which was lost to an injury—Lee played just under 200 total defensive snaps.

Now that Lee has walked in free agency—something most expected—the Packers are likely to lean more on 2011 fourth-round pick Davon House, both as a cornerback and special teams player, next season. House was limited by injuries for most of his rookie season and never appeared ready to contribute in 2011.

Lee's career in Green Bay never materialized in part because of injuries, too. Knee problems put him on injured reserve 12 weeks into his rookie season, and another knee injury the next year cost him the entire 2009 season.

In Super Bowl XLV, Lee played over 30 snaps after both Charles Woodson and Sam Shields went down early with injuries. Lee held his own as the Packers held off the Pittsburgh Steelers late.

Now with Oakland, Lee will compete in the secondary with two other free-agent pick ups (Shawntae Spencer, Ronald Bartell) and two second-year players (DeMarcus Van Dyke and Chimdi Chekwa) for playing time and a roster spot.

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Comments (14)

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FITZCORE1252's EVO's picture

March 21, 2012 at 02:08 pm

Beat it... Waist of a 2nd rounder.

GBP 4 LIFE

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lebowski's picture

March 21, 2012 at 02:16 pm

Addition by subtraction. Good riddance.

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jack in jersey city's picture

March 21, 2012 at 08:39 pm

yep- good riddance. this guy has done next to nothing for this team. buh bye!

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Mojo's picture

March 21, 2012 at 02:36 pm

The Pack are all over free-agent news today and yet they still haven't done anything.

Regarding Lee, too bad it didn't work out. Good luck in Oakland. Reggie must have seen things we didn't. Also, with so few draft choices, free agency is like Oakland's draft.

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packsmack25's picture

March 21, 2012 at 02:56 pm

That guy never had a chance when they IRed him that second year. Tough to learn a position when you aren't allowed to go to practices. He basically went 2 years without playing football.

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pkrNboro's picture

March 21, 2012 at 03:10 pm

I'll miss his kick off returns...

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jeremy's picture

March 21, 2012 at 05:01 pm

Exactly, Pat Lee played very well on the kick coverage teams, he may even have been the best player the Packers had in that capacity. I understand that most Packer fans are going to get a fresh beer at that point of the game and don't notice. However, the good riddance comments illustrate some commenters lack of knowledge to the importance of all phases of the game.

I'm glad to see Zack write a very fair article. My respect for him is growing post by post.

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lebowski's picture

March 21, 2012 at 05:22 pm

Well, you missed the sarcastic joke pkrNboro was trying to make first of all. When Cobb was out and Lee had to return kicks, he was a disaster. And a second round pick better do more than make a few tackles on special teams.

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pkrNboro's picture

March 21, 2012 at 06:10 pm

I feel absolutely dirty when you see right through me like that!

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Rocky70's picture

March 21, 2012 at 07:21 pm

Now I'm confused. I thought 'jeremy' was the one being sarcastic.

Really, Pat Lee was a major fail as a Packer. Players drafted in the 2nd round are meant to start in the NFL.

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PackersRS's picture

March 21, 2012 at 08:19 pm

Just because he was a fail as a 2nd rounder (no doubt), doesn't mean he was a bad player.

For his role, he was a good player, and somebody will have to take on his job and perform at least as well as he did, or else our ST will suffer.

Doesn't mean I wish him back. But "good riddance" is short-sighted.

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chris k's picture

March 21, 2012 at 07:24 pm

Lee's performance worthy of a 7th rounder or undrafted bum.... Take care PLee

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Irish Cheesehead's picture

March 21, 2012 at 07:46 pm

Finally Lee is gone!

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redlights's picture

March 22, 2012 at 04:16 am

See!! They should have done a tag and trade; I knew it!!

Seriously, he was a bust as a 2nd rounder, but hope the best for him. Maybe he becomes a Ryan Pickett and fluorishes with his second team.

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