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Name: Scott Reilly - BigE
Email: BigE@idatasports.com
Date: Wed Jun 19 16:54:34 2002

Headline: Packers Add the Final Pieces

The Green Bay Packers put together the final pieces of the puzzle this week with two more free agent signings. First and foremost, the signing of LB Hardy Nickerson was a bold move, by an organization poised to make a serious run at the Super Bowl this year. Torrance Marshall is going to be a Pro-Bowler some day, but the time is now for the Packers, and Nickerson will provide the them with a huge presence on the field and in the locker room.

Nickerson, 36, has played in the NFL for 15 seasons, and has been to the Pro-Bowl five times. The Packers won a bidding war with the Eagles, although other factors came into play. Nickerson made it widely known that he wanted to play for a Super Bowl contender, and certainly the Packers and Eagles fit the criterion. But insiders say that Nickerson wanted to play with Brett Favre, a player who he admired while going against him as a Buccaneer.

Nickerson was a fifth round draft choice out of the University of California. The 6-2, 237-pound linebacker was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played six seasons there. He then signed as a free agent with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played the next seven seasons, including five seasons finishing with Pro-Bowl selections. Nickerson spent the next two seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Although he was injured in 2000, Nickerson returned to his all-pro level in 2001, recording franchise record 230 tackles. Nickerson was consistent all year long, posting double-digits in tackles in every game last season.

Later in the week the Packers signed former Washington Redskin RB Ki-Jana Carter. Carter, 28, has a long history of injuries, but seemed to fill in nicely as Stephen Davis' back-up last season. Carter finished the season with 308 yards on 63 carries, for an average of 4.9 yards per carry. It looked as though Carter started to find his niche as a professional, after two serious injuries forced him to miss two entire seasons. One Game in particular, Carter was handed the ball at the 12-yard line. Carter was hit in the backfield, and by all means should have been stopped for a loss. But Carter broke the tackle and scampered in for a touchdown, showing the speed that made him the first pick of the 95 draft.

Both of these moves will fill the small holes the Packers have on their roster, after finishing last season 12-4. Is there any doubt that Hardy Nickerson is going to be looking pretty good in the Green & Gold? If the Jaguars don't have such a poor record last year this guy was going to the Pro-Bowl. This move is the move that could push the Packers over the top. The Packers should be very fast this season, which will allow genius defensive coordinator Ed Donatell's defense to flourish.

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