General Manager Ted Thompson has not ruled out designating a franchise or transition player among the Green Bay Packers’ five unrestricted free agents, though it’s a big step from leaving open that possibility to actually doing it. For instance, considering the age and declining health of tackles Chad Clifton (33 years old), Mark Tauscher (32), it’s hard to see Thompson using a tag ($10.731 million for the franchise, $9.142 for the transition) on either, though the team appears interested in re-signing both and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman is coming off knee-reconstruction surgery, so paying him $9.68 million this year is unrealistic and could make him difficult to trade. The one player who might get consideration is nose tackle Ryan Pickett ($7.003 million franchise, $6.353 million transition) if the Packers don’t sign him by Feb. 25, which is the deadline to use the tags, but even that salary is a stretch for a player who doesn’t participate on passing downs. “Whatever options are available, we’ll look into,†said Thompson, who generally doesn’t rule out any moves before a deadline even if he knows he won’t do it. “You just never know.†Source: Green Bay Press-Gazette
