Green Bay Packers veteran pass rusher Aaron Kampman has repeatedly declined to discuss being shifted to outside linebacker from defensive end in the team’s new 3-4 scheme, and reports have surfaced that Kampman is not happy with the change.
According to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, there’s growing evidence that Kampman is not embracing his slated role under new defensive coordinator Dom Capers’ direction.
“[Kampman] has got to buy into it first,” an NFL source told the Press-Gazette.
Per the Journal-Sentinel, Kampman was originally scheduled to talk with reporters Thursday before changing his mind. The two-time Pro Bowl selection has declined all interview requests since the Packers switched from the 4-3 to the 3-4 as their primary defense.
“I think there’s always hesitancy when you’re asked to do something different,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “Aaron was very comfortable in the old scheme. … I don’t want to be redundant, but I think this defense is going to help Aaron Kampman. I think this is going to create more opportunities for him, the diversity of the scheme.”
According to Bedard, Kampman looked “very awkward and stiff” when he was dropping back into pass coverage.
With Kampman refusing to discuss the position change, it has apparently created an awkward situation for his teammates who are being quizzed about what’s going on.
“I’m not Kampman’s spokesman, so I can’t comment for him,” outside linebacker Brady Poppinga said. “If you want a comment from him, you’re going to have to go talk to him.
“I have nothing to say for ‘Kampy’. If you want to talk about me, we can do that. I can’t speak for anybody else. I’m not a spokesman.”
Kampman, who’s playing under a four-year, $21 million contract, has registered 50 1/2 career sacks in seven NFL seasons.
The former Iowa standout has recorded 37 sacks in the past three seasons, including a career-high 15 1/2 three years ago.
Reports: Kampman Unhappy With Position Change
Posted by NBC Sports on May 29, 2009, 11:10 AM EST
32 Responses to “Reports: Kampman Unhappy With Position Change”
If he’s really unhappy and isn’t going to end up playing well in the new role, then I hope the Packers can trade him before training camp, since his value will steadily drop after that since he’s in a contract year now.
Jeremy Thompson, by all reports, looks very good playing the position right now in OTAs and looks like he was built for the position.
I like Kampman, but if he’s going to be unhappy and not transitioning well, there’s no reason to force him to stay on the team and then just let him walk into Free Agency next year and get nothing but a compensatory pick.
Greg Ellis redux.
Maybe he knows that defense is busted and is going to get dominated all year.
Kampman is 29.
Kampman is listed at 265 lbs.
There were several games last year when he was stonewalled — I remember one, against Dallas.
Although well-conditioned, his “motor” has likely peaked.
Could this be his last year in GB ?
Leaving the OLB positions to Matthews and Thompson ??
unfortunately I just don’t think kamp will fit in the 34. teams will expect him to play the line of scrimmage every time. if he drops in coverage they will just go after him. don’t see how that won’t become a liability. he probably has great trade value at this point tho. love kamp but just don’t think he can realistically play a versatile linbacker role
Kampman and Driver better be careful. Teddy Thompson didn’t draft either of them. He’ll trade them both for draft picks in a heartbeat.
Let’s see….a Pro-Bowl player has a problem with what the coaching staff and GM are doing…yet the newspapers are setting it up as his problem…not the coach/GM…And the head coach is talking like who cares…
Anyone see a pattern here?
idiotic reporting here. there is nothing in this “report” to suggest that he’s unhappy with the position change. he’s just not speaking with the media.
it would be nice if PFT could stick to the facts. you’re losing your credibility very quickly…..if you ever had any…
What in the **** is going on in Green Bay these days?
Donald Driver unhappy about his contract, Aaron Kampman unhappy about his position change, Nick Collins father dying… it’s like Favre put a curse on the team.
Way to go TT and McCarthy. First Favre and now Driver and Kampmon. Everybody wants to blame the player but it’s those 2 ass clowns that are going to ruin the Packers. Fire TT, and hire Holmgren as the GM. Then, since I am running the franchise, we can hire Cower as the head coach and get things back on track.
Just another reason why the Thompson/McCarthy regime continues to fail. Their best defensive player, who is a stud, is now going to be required to play an unnatural position for him. Why would you make this move and keep a guy who is one if the top 3 defensive ends in the league and a natural DE? I am not advocating trading him, but this is bad for him and the Packers to have yet another player unhappy. Jared Allen, DUI and all, netted two 1st round picks.
Besides the problem with the Packers defense wasn’t the scheme, it was the lack of talent. Beyond Kampman, Woodson and maybe Collins, the rest of the defensive talent is sub-par. Nice job amassing all those busts Ted. How about getting more guys who aren’t injury prone?
He’s a diva. lets run him outta town. Maybe the vikings will take him too!
stiff and awkward. sounds like my first time with my girl saying “that’s not iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit”
let’s get rid of the bum. I mean, we got rid of Favre and look what happened. we won 6 games last year. We can shoot for 3 this year now that Ted has managed to alienate another HOF player. Take your blinders off packer fans and see what this imbecile is doing to the team all in order to build his own ego driven legacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!
His next move will be NO new contract for Donald Driver!
Uh, Tampa fire up that trade line baby. 2nd rounder, Aaron Sears, and Stylez (really?) White should do the trick.
come on florio. this is bogus reporting. i know that any story on the packers ups your site hits but come on.
NOWHERE in the article does kampman say he is unhappy, and there IS NO REPORT saying he is.
rediculous. shame on you.
Oh waaaaahhh…
dom capers u are a moron u dont put ur best pass rusher as a linebacker its jus dumb now we have no pass rush wut so ever thanks for that
thanks again, florio.
for giving all these retard TT/MM haters smething to moan about. i cannot believe how dumb some people are. you all get ’1′s
I don’t know why you would call this bogus? He is totally unhappy, it’s pretty evident.
Peppers for Kampman
TTCHEWSTHEWAD says:
May 29th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
He’s a diva. lets run him outta town. Maybe the vikings will take him too!
********
We’ll take him in a hearbeat.
jyernberg says:
May 29th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
come on florio. this is bogus reporting. i know that any story on the packers ups your site hits but come on.
NOWHERE in the article does kampman say he is unhappy, and there IS NO REPORT saying he is.
rediculous. shame on you.
*******
What is ridiculous, Sven, is that you can’t spell ridiculous.
Trade him for Peppers.
Jeremy Thompson and Clay Mathews can start. Bishop can back up either side. We got a bevy of young players who can compete for the remaining backup spot.
Stiff and ackward dropping into pass coverage — big suprise — a 29-year old 4-3 pro-bowl caliber DE having a problem recreating himself. Who didn’t see this coming? I’d be ticked too. Other than Cullen Jenkins, the only front 7 players that properly “fit” the new system are rookies, and now McCarthy and the Dom are expecting them to learn a blended 3-4/4-3 system. That oughta happen by about game 10 of 2009. And Chilly gets criticized for inflexibility. Lucky the offense is decent and the schedule is easy.
another coach married to HIS system. the system cant play a position, however…
and then there is julianne pfeffers who thinks a 3-4 would be better for him. at least kampman knows better than pfeffers.
Sheldon Brown for Kampman
The Packers would be much better served by running a 4-3 most of the time this year. Kampman and Jenkins outside, Pickett and Raji inside – that’s one of the best DLs in the league. Kampman, like Driver, is a true pro, a real man, and the heart of this team, and deserves better treatment. Anyone who would suggest that he is a diva may as well just hang a sign on themself with “i R stoopid” written on it, because they don’t know anything about the man, the team, or the game. If the Packers aren’t going to use him for what he does so well, they should trade him and I hope for Kampman’s sake that they do. But they’ll be losing a top player and all-around class act.
“Why would you make this move and keep a guy who is one if the top 3 defensive ends in the league and a natural DE?”
top 3? sorry, no.
“We can shoot for 3 this year now that Ted has managed to alienate another HOF player. Take your blinders off packer fans and see what this imbecile is doing to the team all in order to build his own ego driven legacy!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
HOF player? take the blinders off indeed
“His next move will be NO new contract for Donald Driver!”
as it should be. his next move should be a nice raise for greg jennings, who is much younger and better.
i know he dared to defy the wishes of the beloved favre, but ted thompson knows what he’s doing. he’ll have the pack back in the mix this year, much to dismay to those who still are more attached to a former player than the actual team. pathetic.
I know some people hate TT no matter what, but have they seen how many other teams are having contract problems. Nobody knows for sure that Kampman is unhappy it isn’t like he is holding out.
If Donald Driver is in fact holding out, he has had his deal reworked both in 2006 and 2007. So no I don’t feel sorry for Driver. He is getting paid pretty good for his age and position.
TTCHEWSTHEWAD said:
“… Ted has managed to alienate another HOF player.”
Aaron Kampman is a HOFer? News to me.
“It was on the internet so it must be true.”
Some of you Packer fans are just incredibly naive. You let untrue attacks on Brett Favre, Donald Driver, and Aaron Kampman sway your opinions of some of the finest people in the legue.
Why do you fall for this crap and join the attacks on your own players.
Why don’t you stand up to these unfounded accusations. Grow a set and don’t attack these people because they refuse to talk to some dirtbag with a blog.
Wake up your foolish people!!