Poppinga Needs To Go
By Aaron Nagler on Aug 05, 2009 with 29 Comments
Seriously.
Let me get this straight – TWO, not one, but TWO fights had ALREADY broken out and Brady Poppinga thought it was a good idea to decleate an unprotected Kregg Lumpkin? I understand the ‘heat of the moment’ and all that, but in a practice against your own teammates that is just stupid and it echos Poppinga’s egregious 3rd down penalty against the Titans last year when the defense had the Titans stopped but, thanks to Poppinga’s bone-headed retaliatory punch to the helmet of a Titan offensive lineman long after the whistle had blown, the Titans were given new life and proceeded to drive for a field goal. Wait, how many points did the Packers lose that game by? Exactly.
And all this after Poppinga’s assertion this off-season that he had learned his lesson after that episode and that he was going to be playing smarter this year. Don’t get me wrong, in a game, have at it, knock the guys lights out. But that hit, at that point in time, coming RIGHT AFTER McCarthy had addressed the team about keeping things in control, is just monumentaly stupid.
Filed Under: Brady Poppinga
The preceding comments were sponsored by the president of the Desmond Bishop fan club…ha!
Of course, Bishop plays inside and Poppinga outside, but I take your point.
Just messing with you, Aaron. Seriously, I’m largely in agreement…Poppinga, Montgomery, Bush, Lansanah, Humphrey–to me, these guys are all the same. They have all reached their full potential and they’re all not very good. I keep asking how many years you invest in guys like this before you give up and replace them with somebody who’s younger, and frankly has more potential (upside). You can only carry so many marginal backups for the sake of special teams for so long. We don’t know how good Brad Jones can be…we DO know that Poppinga has a screw loose, though. When do you make the choice to replace? Now would be fine with me.
Even without the “monumentaly stupid” penalties Poppinga has to go. He’s just not that good.
so we love the intensity and meanness we are seeing in camp, but want to boot out the one guy providing most of it?
I totally agree that Poppinga isn’t a star and at some point we need to see about an upgrade or fresh young talent. But I just don’t see much intensity from the other linebackers maybe sans Bishop. And I for one think the fights and ever increasing intensity level are beneficial to a good season, or at the very least a fast start.
Not to mention hes gonna be a back up behind Kampman anyway, and therefore not a huge liability during the season.
Bonehead plays aside, when was the last time Poppinga made a positive play? Too few and far between IMO. I’ve never been a fan of this dude.
There are a lot of reasons to get rid of Poppinga, starting with the fact that he’s really not a very good football player. Yes, I like the intensity he brings, both in games and in practice, but while the line between intensity and recklessness may be fine, it does exist. Poppinga has not demonstrated sufficient value to this team to allow him to cross that line.
Packnic – Poppinga is the ‘one guy providing most of it’? We’re reading different stuff coming out of practice. And I’m all for ‘providing intensity’ but I’m sorry – that was just inconciveably stupid on Poppinga’s part.
Shouldn’t you be blaming Dom Capers who told the defense to knock the offense’s teeth out no matter McCarthy said?
Turns out the Packers camp is Fight Club rather than Club Med.
Obviously, Capers got all this intensity from spending a year w/Belichick.
Im all for letting the guy go. Hes not starter material. I’m just saying lets keep him through camp to keep the intensity up.
If a rouge hit from one bench player to another 5th stringer is what it takes to make this team play like it gives a shit, I say sacrifice Blumpkin to the football gods!
I don’t understand the brew-ha-ha. And, I didn’t see the play. But, are we playing touch football?? It’s my understanding the defense is not allowed to tackle. When he “de-cleated” Lumpkin did he tackle him (wrapped his arms around him and threw him to the ground) or did he just run through him, prior to the whistle?? If he tackled him Popinga is an A-hole. If he ran through him before the whistle–good play. But, if he ran through him after the whistle, A-hole again. When you put on pads…expect to get hit…protect yourself. Lumpkin shouldn’t be slowing down until the whistle blows.
Capers was always intense, that’s why I like him. If Poppinga was any good I’d give him a pass. His name should be Mr. Outaposition.
Does anyone else notice how skinny Kampman is?
Bad Knees – everything you’re saying is true, in a game situation. ‘running through’ a defenseless receiver from your own team, after your own HC has JUST told you to cool it, is stupid. Period.
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And the bigger point is in regards to the play at TEN last year – it’s a pattern you don’t like to see and that I want nowhere within a thousand miles of the Packers.
Popps & J. Bush are just the designated ‘punching bags’ offered up by the fan faithful. ….You’ll have to scurry to find their replacement if neither can make the final 53… Luckily, TT & MM will decide their fate based on team needs instead of overly zealous fan emotion.
If Jeremy Thompson did it, they would have given him a warm reception.
This isn’t newsworthy. It’s a skirmish in camp. It could have positive results. From what I’ve heard recently, some team captains will plan camp fights in order to rally the troups. To create some toughness.
Football fights are a joke. It’s like 2 knights in full armor having a slapping match.
Lumpkin needs to take his Lumpkins. This is the NFL kid. Take your punishment.
I wanted in 2008 for us to draft a LB. Seeing the 2007 D, there was 2 clear holes to me: a DT and a LB to replace Poppinga. That being said, I don’t believe you’re advocating his release because of his intensity, Aaron. If a player has that passion, YOU COACH HIM UP! Cel. Sanders obviously couldn’t do it, but Capers and Greene will. If they can’t, then you cut him. Because I think the guy can make a good tackle, and can hold the point of attack. He needs to stop overruning plays and learn to cover better. Coachable. He won’t be a starter, but is the best OL backup.
If Lumpkin was defenseless the coach should have blown the whistle to protect him. Since the coach blew it (or in this case did not blow the whistle)…after the hit Poppinga should have got in the coaches face. “Why the F##k didn’t you blow the whistle? We don’t need injuries”!! And, I agree with you, stupid penalties in games are totally unacceptable.
Lol – Bomdad, couldn’t agree more.
“We don’t know how good Brad Jones can be…we DO know that Poppinga has a screw loose, though. When do you make the choice to replace? Now would be fine with me.”
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That’s reckless if You ask me. Last time I checked Jones has had nagging injuries. Poppinga will be a fine depth player. I’m not saying popinga is irreplaceable, but do we have anyone to replace him right now? No way.
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I’m not sold that he needs to go now. No one else is saying this. You can wait a year until you actually have someone to fill his shoes. He be a MUCH better depth player than a rookie who hasn’t played a snap. Furthermore, that play in practice wouldn’t have got flagged in a game.
I’m not some great advocate of Brad Jones—That was more just to illustrate the point that at some point you have to choose a young person with potential over a guy who is continually average, out of position, and makes bonehead plays.
In fact, I know relatively nothing about Jones, and neither does anybody else since he’s hurt. And 7th rounders who are hurt at the start of camp are in BIG trouble, as far as making the team. I don’t mean to be the #1 Brad Jones fan, cuz I ain’t!
“That was more just to illustrate the point that at some point you have to choose a young person with potential over a guy who is continually average, out of position, and makes bonehead plays.”
I agree. I don’t see the problem in replacing him sooner or later, it’s just you can’t put them in their if they’re not ready. You have to find a healthy balance.
The coolest part, I thought, was that two rookies, TJ Lang and Jamon Meredith went right after Poppinga. I like that in my offensive linemen. Maybe Poppinga’s feeling the competitive heat a bit and thinks he needs to make a bigger impact to insure his spot.
I’m all for keeping Popps as a backup. In the 3-4 we are going to need about 9 quality lbs. Popps might not be a star, but he is solid. I don’t think many of us want to go back to the days where we played guys on par with Diggs/Wayne
Brady has to go, but not for hitting in practice, I kinda think they need more of it. You can’t pussyfoot around all offseason and expect to have a PHYSICAL team come gametime. Truth be told, he’s just an average player. I love his attitude and intensity, but, if his roster spot can get a more talented player a shot,I’m all for it!
GBP 4 LIFE
Check out his interview on 8.6 on packers.com. He’s just not all there. Despite the fact that he’s physical when he’s motivated, he lacks the mentality. Why do you think TT was so high on Matthews – because he’s polar opposites with Brady. A no nonsense guy that puts in the hours and is humbled by the experience.
[...] has the guy got? We will find out tonight. The staff seems pretty high on the kid, and others seem pretty low on Poppinga. Who’s it going to [...]