Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Robinson Suspended for 1 Year, Ferguson Likely Done for This Year

Oy! The NFL finally handed down its long-anticipated suspension of Packers' receiver Koren Robinson. Robinson received a one-year suspension. According to the league statement, he can be reinstated no earlier than Sept. 18, 2007. Here's the statement as posted on Packers.com.

So, that's not good. Robinson was starting to emerge as an integral part of the Packers offense. Now...not.

Add to this bad news the other news that receiver Robert Ferguson is likely lost for the rest of the season with his right foot injury and the Packers are now down to three wide receivers: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and Ruvell Martin. Either the team will have to promote someone from the practice squad, hire a street free agent, or swing a trade. It's also possible that they could move TE Donald Lee to those formations calling for four receivers.

Despite the fact that Randy Moss wants out of Oakland, it's hard to imagine that Packer GM Ted Thompson would want to make Oakland's problem our own. Given the trends in personnel, it would seem that the most likely quick fix would be that the team would move up one of the two receivers currently on the practice squad, either Chris Francies or Calvin Russell, unless they are able to claim a better prospect from another team.

Yep...starting to smell a lot like last year...