Packers’ GM defends trades of 2 players
In dealing Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Ty Montgomery, the Packers traded away two players who spoke in varying degrees in recent weeks about their respective futures with the team. What happens on the field always comes first, general manager Brian Gutekunst said Wednesday, though other factors aren’t ignored either.
“So I think you take everything into consideration when you make these kinds of decisions,” Gutekunst said before practice. “But performance comes first. That’s always kind of the major factor in these decisions. But everything’s taken into account. It’s never usually just one thing.”
Montgomery seemed uncertain about his future Monday. He lost snaps in the Rams game after Aaron Jones was elevated to starter. Plus he had a critical fumble on a kickoff return with two minutes left in the game.
“I don’t fully understand what my role is right now, what I’m supposed to be doing, how I’m supposed to help this team,” Montgomery said Monday.
Clinton-Dix led the team with three interceptions, giving him 14 over 71 regular-season games in Green Bay, including 65 starts. Still, the safety position was mired by inconsistency.
“Right now, I’m playing each and every game like it’s my last. I don’t think I’m going to be here next year,” Clinton-Dix said on Oct. 10.
Quarterback notes
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill has been ruled out against the visiting Jets on Sunday, meaning Brock Osweiler will start for the fourth game in a row. Tannehill, recovering from an injury in Week 5 to his throwing shoulder, was limited in practice. He has begun throwing, but improvement in his shoulder has been unpredictable, coach Adam Gase said. The Dolphins are 4-4, and 1-2 with Osweiler starting. His passer rating of 93.8 is slightly higher than Tannehill’s 92.9.
◆ The Jaguars signed free-agent quarterback Landry Jones to take some repetitions during the team’s bye week. Starter Blake Bortles injured his non-throwing shoulder against Philadelphia last Sunday but is expected to play Nov. 11 against the Colts.
Former Seahawks coach Patera dies
Jack Patera, the first head coach in the history of the Seahawks, has died at age 85. The cause of death was not clear, but Patera had been battling pancreatic cancer.
Patera was Seattle’s head coach for parts of seven seasons, beginning with the team’s inaugural season in 1976. Patera’s best seasons came in 1978-79 when the Seahawks went 9-7 in consecutive years, but failed to make the playoffs. Patera was named the NFL coach of the year in 1978 when the Seahawks missed the playoffs by one game.
Seattle never reached the postseason until 1983. Patera was fired after starting the 1982 season 0-2 and finished his career as a head coach with a 35-59 record.