Packers say bye-bye to Bubba

General manager Ted Thompson wasted little time in telling the world that Green Bay is looking for tight ends this off-season.

The Packers released Bubba Franks, who caught 256 passes for 32 touchdowns in eight seasons. He made the Pro Bowl three consecutive times from 2001-03, mainly because he was one of the league's best blockers at the position, he became a TD machine in the red zone and there weren't many topnotch TEs to choose from.

Franks was the 14th overall selection in the first round of the 2000 draft, somewhat of a reach out of necessity by then GM Ron Wolf after the Mark Chmura shenanigans forced his hand.

Franks was a genuinely good guy and positive presence in the locker room, but he lacked the speed and athleticism to create plays down the field. He was the starter when healthy, which wasn't often enough the past three seasons, although he lost his No. 1 spot to the vastly improved Donald Lee in 2007, making it a foregone conclusion to many that he might not make the team next fall.

Franks' departure shaves a $500,000 roster bonus due in March and a $3 million base salary for 2008 off the books.

So, that leaves Lee and another often injured performer, Tory Humphrey, as the holdovers.
That also means that Green Bay could be exploring signing a veteran free agent such as Alge Crumpler, who was recently cut by Atlanta.

If not, Thompson obviously has his eyes on picking a potential replacement from a deep draft class.