Green Bay Packers: 3 ways they can solve their linebacker situation
3. Sign Brian Cushing
Cuuuuuuuuuuuush! Sorry, I couldn’t help it.
Alright, I know what some of you are probably thinking. I too understand Cushing is no longer the “Cuuuuush” of the past with his jaw-dropping hits. The 31-year-old has also served PED suspensions over the coarse of his career, tainting some of what he has accomplished.
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However, Cushing is still a physical, veteran linebacker who can come in and help a fairly young and thin group. The Packers most likely don’t need a three down linebacker out of whoever they bring in. If they do, Martinez is better in pass coverage anyway.
Back to Cushing, he can step in and play two downs no problem. 31 isn’t an insanely high age to still be playing the game at. Therefore, Cushing still has enough in the tank to come in for one season and give the Packers two downs for every four the defense is on.
Heck, if the Packers would rather throw Burks into the mix from the get-go, Cushing could even serve as a rotation player. Keep him in during high percentage run downs and let him find the ball and attack.
Signing Cushing would be for depth more so than an impact player. However, that’s really all the Packers need, a player with experience that can give them a few downs here and there. As Cushing wouldn’t be the greatest fill-in, he wouldn’t be the worst.