Minor NFL Transactions: 6/10/19
Here are today’s minor moves:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: OL John Jerry
- Released: OL Rod Taylor
Green Bay Packers
- Claimed (from Jaguars): TE Pharoah McKever
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DT Caraun Reid
Packers Wrap Draft Class
The Packers have wrapped up their 2019 NFL Draft class. On Monday, the club signed tight end Jace Sternberger, according to an announcement from his agent. 
Sternberger, a third-round pick, started his collegiate career at Kansas but wasn’t given much of an opportunity. He left to sign with JUCO program Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and put together a solid game tape that elicited attention from top schools such as Florida State and Boise State. When Jimbo Fisher moved on to the Aggies, he brought Sternberger with him.
In Sternberger’s one and only season at Texas A&M, he caught 48 passes for 832 yards, good for a 17.3 yards per catch average. He also reeled in ten touchdowns, proving that he can be a difference-maker in the red zone. For now, Sternberger will be stationed behind veterans Jimmy Graham and Marcedes Lewis.
Here’s the full rundown of the Packers’ class, courtesy of PFR’s tracker:
- 1-12: Rashan Gary, DE (Michigan): Signed
- 1-21: Darnell Savage, S (Maryland): Signed
- 2-44: Elgton Jenkins, OL (Mississippi State): Signed
- 3-75: Jace Sternberger, TE (Texas A&M): Signed
- 5-150: Kingsley Keke, DT (Texas A&M): Signed
- 6-185: Ka’dar Hollman, CB (Toledo): Signed
- 6-194: Dexter Williams, RB (Notre Dame): Signed
- 7-226: Ty Summers, LB (TCU): Signed
Mark Murphy On Matt LaFleur’s Role In Hiring Process
The door to future controversy in Green Bay was pushed open a bit last month when a report emerged from Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggesting that new Packers HC Matt LaFleur was not the sole decision-maker in filling out his first coaching staff. The report noted, for instance, that LaFleur wanted to hire Darren Rizzi as his special teams coach, but that the Packers offered Rizzi less money than he was seeking, so Rizzi ultimately signed on with the Saints.
Silverstein also suggested that LaFleur was “strongly encouraged” to retain defensive coordinator Mike Pettine, and that other assistant coaching decisions may not have been left up to LaFleur. When combined with Green Bay’s already unusual power structure, in which LaFleur, GM Brian Gutekunst, and director of football operations Russ Ball all report directly to team president and CEO Mark Murphy, it would be easy to foresee some discord in the club’s front office down the line if Silverstein’s report is accurate.
Murphy, of course, insisted that LaFleur had full autonomy in the hiring process, and he elaborated on that point yesterday in his weekly piece for the Packers’ official website (while taking a shot or two at Silverstein’s journalism). Murphy said:
“Coach LaFleur had complete control over the hiring of his coaching staff. The report was the result of an article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel based on interviews with 20 anonymous sources. I told the author that Coach LaFleur had complete control to hire his assistants, but he included comments to the contrary from an anonymous source. The editors said they wanted to present a “balanced” view of the hiring process. Interestingly, they never asked Coach LaFleur if he was able to hire his assistants, something he would have confirmed. The article was obviously very disappointing, and I find the increasing use of anonymous sources very problematic. I served as an athletic director for over 16 years and directly supervised hundreds of coaches, and never once told a coach who he or she should or should not hire. Hiring assistant coaches is one of the most important factors in the success of a head coach, and I’ve always felt it is foolish to restrict them in any way. “
Obviously, Murphy would not say anything different, and this could all be a non-issue if LaFleur’s first campaign as a head coach is successful. But if the 2019 season is another disappointment, then you can be sure that Silverstein’s report will be frequently cited and that the Packers’ structure will be called into question.
LaFleur is undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles today, which will force him to run things differently than he had during his first several months on the job.
Matt LaFleur To Undergo Surgery
Matt LaFleur‘s hands-on approach in his first year as Packers HC will have to be tabled for a while. The torn Achilles LaFleur suffered this week will require immediate surgery, with Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com reporting he will go under the knife Sunday. The 39-year-old coach was active in his first weeks leading the Packers, taking on an “enormous” load. But with the recovery from this surgery necessitating a potential six-month timetable, LaFleur’s methods will have to change. The coach was overseeing practice from a golf cart this week. This will certainly mark an interesting period for the Packers, LaFleur managing Achilles rehab while going through his first year as a head coach.
Packers Lose Undrafted Rookie To Retirement
- The Packers’ 90-man roster just got trimmed by one. Tight end Davis Koppenhaver, an undrafted rookie from Duke, “has decided to step away from the game and pursue a career outside of football,” a source told Michael Cohen of The Athletic (Twitter link). Koppenhaver never topped 157 yards during his time at Duke, so this isn’t too big of a loss for Green Bay.
LaFleur Taking Hands-On Approach With Rodgers
The Packers have a huge season ahead of them. After an outstanding run of success, things got stale in Green Bay under Mike McCarthy, which resulted in his firing. The team desperately needs a boost of energy, and they’re hoping they found it in new coach Matt LaFleur. The 39-year-old is apparently wasting no time taking charge in his first offseason at the helm, as Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette writes that the young coach is “taking on an enormous load” during OTAs. Dougherty says that LaFleur is hovering around the quarterbacks and coaching them up at every opportunity, which he describes as a notable departure from McCarthy, who left that up to his quarterbacks coach.
LaFleur is apparently sitting in on all the quarterbacks meetings, and Aaron Rodgers importantly is happy with the way he’s being coached up. Dougherty writes that Rodgers “appears to be embracing” LaFleur’s hands-on approach. That’s surely music to the ears of Packers fans, but Dougherty does caution that there’s some level of concern about everything he’s putting on his own plate and how much his devotion to the quarterbacks “will take away from LaFleur’s panoramic view of the team once camp and the season start.” That being said, a reinvigorated Rodgers is by far the most important thing to the team right now, so it certainly doesn’t sound like a bad thing.
Favre, Rodgers Share Tributes For Starr
Legendary Packers quarterback Bart Starr sadly passed away earlier this morning. Not long after the news broke, fellow legendary Packers quarterback Brett Favre posted a touching tribute to Twitter. “Bart Starr was the most kind, thoughtful and classiest person you could ever know. I consider myself extremely lucky to have called him friend and to have been mentioned in the same breath. Deanna and I are praying for Cherry and the Starr family,” his tweet read. Both Starr and Favre started in Green Bay for 16 seasons, and each etched their names in the record books. Current Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers also shared a photo of Starr on his Instagram account. From everyone at PFR, all of our thoughts are with the Starr family.
Packers Legend Bart Starr Dead At 85
Legendary Packers quarterback Bart Starr has died at the age of 85, according to a team press release. The Hall of Famer was synonymous with the Packers organization and was the only QB to ever lead his team to five NFL titles in a decade. 
“He called the right thing at the right time and he executed it,” said Boyd Dowler, Starr’s favorite receiver. “He never made a bad read. He never made a stupid throw. If somebody was open, he’d get you the ball. He knew what it took to win and he went about doing it. He was a tremendous competitor and he was so consistent.”
Starr played 16 years for the Packers, tying him with Brett Favre for the franchise record. He was the MVP and victor of the first two Super Bowls ever played and captured the league MVP trophy in 1966.
Starr is survived by his wife Cherry and his son, Bart Jr.
Packers Entered Claim For Jets' Leggett
On Tuesday, the Buccaneers beat out four other teams to land former Jets tight end Jordan Leggett off waivers. We now know the identities of those other four clubs, thanks to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter): the Bills, Packers, Steelers and Titans all placed claims on the 2017 fifth-round pick, but the Bucs won out due to their higher waiver priority.
Packers S Josh Jones Seeking Trade
In 2017, the Packers selected safety Josh Jones in the second round of the draft. Two years later, the defensive back is seeking a trade. As ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reports, Jones is skipping the Packers’ OTAs with the hope of forcing a trade.
A source told Demovsky that Jones “believes it would be best for both him and the Packers if they parted ways.” The 24-year-old continues to work out with a trainer in Florida as he prepares for training camp. Jones had previously reported to the start of offseason workouts back in April.
“I have not talked to him,” said head coach Matt LaFleur (via the Associated Press). “I’m just going to focus on the guys that are here. That’s something that I know [general manager Brian Gutekunst] has a good handle on that situation.”
Jones has spent his entire brief career in Green Bay, although he’s yet to emerge as a full-time starter. The safety seemingly took a step back during his sophomore season, finishing with 55 tackles, one sack, and two passes defended in 13 games (five starts). Pro Football Focus ended up ranking Jones 70th among 93 eligible safeties.
The Packers invested heavily on the safety position this offseason. The team inked former Bears safety Adrian Amos to a four-year, $36MM deal. The Packers later traded up in the first round to select Maryland safety Darnell Savage Jr..