Nick,
Amen!

In theory, Funchess should already be on Guteys shit list for having sat out 2020, and then he sits out OTA's. Why? Because Funchess was the extra weapon brought in for Rodger's last year. Without Funchess last year it helped Rodger's and the talking heads to perpetuate the idea Gutey wouldn't bring in weapons for Rodger's.

Oh yea! Funchess...I'd be concerned...very concerned!

His decision to sit out the OTAs is questionable for sure, but he may have good reason for doing so. Aaron Rodgers is making a power play right now, and if Funchess was the only veteran receiver to show up for OTAs, he would almost certainly be in the doghouse with Rodgers and would not have a lot of passes thrown his way in practice, assuming that Rodgers actually returns to the team. I think Funchess is in a tough situation, and I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt, at least for now.

Are unions that dead? The NFLPA urged players not to participate in voluntary OTAs.

I agree with the comment below that the WRs are in a tight spot between AR and management. Ultimately, the QB decides where the ball goes.

It is a sad day if the accountant decides who the 5th WR is. In the case of ties, yes, but it should not be dispositive. While WR5 is down the line, IDK that Funchess won't prove to be WR 2/3 (or WR 7 for that matter).

Yeah, but as you never played any down anywhere, is maybe because Funchess worked harder his whole life to get in the NFL. Im pretty sure he is probably better in most things in life than you and smarts its one of them for sure.
Of course he has a history of great catches, not bad droped and thats why the Packers give him a contract. Can you see the differnce to you. So its easy to see who is good in al lot of things in life and who is just watching others do something......

He majored in bad drops at Mich. Shocked he went so high. He played on a big ten team that was on tv a lot so his name got mentioned a lot but he wasnt very good.
Once in a while he could make a play but he is not the answer probably wont make the team

I liked the Fuchess signing when it happened, but I am rapidly coming around to your viewpoint HankScorpio. Funchess has not helped his position with the organization by opting out of last year entirely and then skipping OTA's this year. His contract also puts a target on him given the Packer's need for additional cap savings.

Funchess will need to clearly outplay the other WR candidates or he is gone. He has the ability to do that, but joining a new team, a new scheme and a new to him QB (whether Rodgers or Love) makes the road more difficult. And if one of the other WR candidates really steps up, maybe nothing he does will save him.

There is no QB in NFL who has more help den AR, even he is 20 % of the SC. But always nice to see the neandertal universe trolling without any smarts.
Maybe you can start this year to watch a game. It may not easy at the beginning but maybe you may understand it after a couple of years. But somewhere you have to start. And its a good time, we have a lot of good draft picks and of course is LOVE the best of them.
If you are vaxxed, if you have a passport for it, you can even go in the stadium......

ESB not showing is ridiculous. Yes he’s got talent with the ball, but in his third year often looked lost and had concentration lapses that make me wonder if he wants it or just feels he’s entitled to it. He needs a wake up call or he will lackadaisy himself out of here.

ESB should be cut he has done nothing for what his third year now. They can take funchess and Sternbumer with him. The three dont light up the world. Time for some speed and consistency.

The Broncos, Patriots, Lions and Seahawks were the most militant teams about not participating in OTAs. There are articles from April 14 about not attending. It is about lower injury rates rather than Covid so much.

https://nfltraderumors.co/broncos-players-collectively-decide-not-to-att...

While I agree with you that I find it hard to believe it’s a true coordinated action across all 5, it’s possible some coordinated. LaFleur denied that pretty directly. If other reasons were given in private that’s a rather half hearted stand even if it is one. The alternative is that LaFleur is not telling the truth or bending it so far as to break it in effect.

For example if what he heard from each individual was something like “well I’m not here in support of Rodgers but I don’t know if anyone else is taking such action,” that would equate to no one mentioning coordination, which is what he actually denied. I don’t see that as LaFleur’s style though.

Overall though, I doubt the team will reveal reasons (however valid) for non attendance by a player at a voluntary event. That would seem inappropriate. Any insight would have to come from a player. I’m not confident that, since they haven’t said anything publicly thus far, that any individual will, for obvious reasons.

Bailey Gaither is something else, PackEyedOptimist! No question. I like him to make this 53 man roster. Or, is it the 55 now? Either way, he's a great talent to keep on board, especially as a backup slot/gadget who doubles as a high quality KR/PR. Even more so given how important the gadget player is to Matt LaFleur's offense. We are going to want to keep at least two of them on board.

Bailey is the kind of player who I suspect will be a QB's best friend, and he might be too valuable to this Packers team to expose on the PS. Speed. Hands. Route running - the full tree. He's a dynamic player. Not THE fastest, but he has play speed to consistently get the job done and move the chains!

I'm hopeful the makes the team, because he seems to be a very special player. When I watch him, I see a mesh of Cobb/Jordy. Uncanny.

Enjoyed the highlights - Bailey is impressive.

Looks to have good speed off the line, some nice moves and, good hands.

Despite coming from a small school, this guy is actually an accomplished and diverse route runner with good hands who may be surprisingly ready.

I’ve been pushing him as one to watch since we signed him. He can play in the slot and outside. He can also field punts and return kicks. He has the makings of the last receiver on the roster who can fit in anywhere and help on special teams. Definitely one to be watching.

I like Funchess a lot too, jurp! He has skills. Would be nice to see them in action when TC starts. I'll be going up to watch some of those, and I'll share what I see.

Seems the landscape at WR could be changing drastically this year. A lot of good competition for roster positions.

Edit.

Thought the point on ST contributions or lack thereof was appropriate, but let's give the guy a chance and see what he does.

Your comment bears no relation to fact. Funchess is a decent NFL caliber player at least based on his career. Such rubbish hardly helps. How and how much he brings to this team is open to debate, but let’s at least start with established fact.

The 53 is now 55 players this year.

I see little probability 6 WRs will be on the final roster because of the run game focus and use of 2 TEs so frequently when including Deguara... leaving 2 wides on the field for more plays now.

Adams, MVS, Lazard and Amari Rodgers would get most of the plays. ESB and Funchess are definitely on the bubble. Hard to get hired on a thin resume when you skip the job interview.

I think we have to be aware of the possibility of injury. Ignoring any trade or injury, I see Adams, MVS, Rodgers and Lazard as the group written in ink.

I think the next level is likely shaped as much as by the ability to slide into those roles (plus one other I will get too). I also note that the PS will operate like last year, so can hold actual depth initially.

No one replaces Adams. If Adams is out MVS is probably asked to do more and Lazard plays more outside. That requires a back up. I think that’s Funchess. The other factor is that Funchess can do a lot of what Tonyan does. He’s like an extra move guy but more mobile (despite some of the rot stated here). Funchess also allows us to have 3 good blocking receivers in, which would help a lot on option plays and is ideal for mesh patterns with Lazard or Tonyan.

If Funchess is indeed the 5th, it’s perhaps not good for Sternberger, since I think a lot of the heavy blocking comes from Deguara:Daffney and Lewis.

Of those 5 receiver, Lazard plays ST and one would expect Rodgers to. I’m not sure how much we will want them to (outside of Rodgers returning), Lazard is someone we need to keep healthy.
Any 6th receiver has to play ST we and must also be able to credibly line up in the slot and, ideally at option and perhaps outside if pushed .

In reality this could be a PS role perhaps, but it may be our kick or even punt returner if Rodgers isn’t. Gaither and Thomkins can do that, though if the two, Gaither is the much more advanced receiver. Thomkins would be a pure burner at this point. We’ve seen Taylor, but I think both would be better at returner unless Taylor improves dramatically. I believe one of those has the best chance of making the roster.

I’ve missed ESB. He’s possibly the receiver with the most upside not inked in, he has never played STs. He’s not proved capable of consistently running routes or contributing. To beat out Funchess, who is a good route runner, he’s got to be much more consistent as a blocker and as a receiver and have the team accept the fact that he’s not a TE role candidate. Could he? yes, but he’s so far away based on last year and has no longer a contract than Funchess does.

If ESB doesn’t beat out Funchess, the sixth spot is not an option as he doesn’t return or have special teams skills. Under those circumstances I think ESB is gone and a returner/ST type is the most likely next man up. If I had to bet, I’d say Gaither. If Rodgers handles the returns I’d say that Gaither (or whoever) is on the PS to start anyway.

To me, ESB will, unless he is a revelation in camp, require injuries to make it. If Sternberger also balls out, that might help him, but I think Funchess beats them both. Nuata may also push Sternberger as a TE who can block as well as catch. Nuata may not be a deep threat but he may do what Sternberger has done better.

Camp is going to be fun whomever is throwing. Great to see all the battles, but I think the landscape is changing. I’m just hoping for health, a real competition and open minds among the roster builders and coaches. This is what the off season should be about.