1) Introduction: Cullen Jenkins entered the NFL the hard way, despite having a famous brother in New York Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. Cullen went undrafted in 2003 and after spending a season in Europe, Jenkins made the Green Bay Packers roster and improved so much that he replaced long time Packer Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and was awarded a 4 year $16 million contract extension. The 2010 season is the last on that contract and it looks unlikely that Jenkins will be on the team next year, with 2nd round draft pick Mike Neal and suspended Johnny Jolly coming back into the lineup.
2) Profile:
Cullen Darome Jenkins
Position: DT
Height: 6-3 Weight: 292 lbs.
Born: January 20, 1981 in Detroit, MI
College: Central Michigan (school history)
3) Expectations coming into the season for that player: Starter. Cullen Jenkins was again expected to anchor the edge in Dom Capers’ 3-4 defense, a position that is essential for the success of the defense but without much recognition or accolades. At the beginning of the season, Jenkins was the only lineman that was able to produce consistent pressure on the quarterback while still being stout enough against the run and rarely left the field.
4) Player’s highlights/lowlights: The most dominant performance of Jenkins’ 2010 was probably a 2 sack performance against the San Francisco 49ers in week 12. Jenkins was a dominant inside force, coming up 2nd to outside linebacker Clay Matthews III in sacks with 7. His lowlights are the spate of injuries that derailed much of Jenkins season, beginning with a broken hand in the first game and a calf injury that cost him four games at the end of the regular season. Jenkins’ inside pass rushing abilities were well respected and he probably could have 3-4 more sacks overall if he had been able to use his hands effectively.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success – Moderate. Jenkins started out the season as the only defensive lineman who could consistently produce pressure on quarterbacks up the middle. But with the progression of nose tackle B.J. Raji near the end of the season, and the defense subbing in Howard Green on running plays lead Jenkins’ role to be reduced somewhat due to his injuries and he became more of a pass rushing specialist than an every down linemen.
6) Player’s contributions during the 6-win end-of-season run – Moderate. Jenkins missed most of the end of the regular season to a calf injury that he sustained during the 49ers game. With his injury the Packers went with their “big 3” personnel set (Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji and Howard Green) which was surprisingly successful enough that Capers began using the set more often, decreasing playing time for Jenkins. During the post-season, Jenkins remained a frequent member of the defense but was sharing more time with Howard Green, CJ Wilson and Jarius Wynn.
Season Report Card:
(A) Level of expectations met during the season
(B) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(B-) Contributions to team’s success during the playoff run (last 6 games)
(B) Overall Grade for the year.
——————Thomas Hobbes is a staff writer for Jersey Al’s AllGreenBayPackers.com.
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I agree with the assessment and can’t help but feel the contract talks will not be so easy as this assessment.How much weight Jenkins has in negotiations will decide heavily on Jolly and how he can move his weight around.Tipping the scales away from him is Neal and Wilson trying to get on the see-saw in a more active roles.Being 31 and injury prone,I hope he doesn’t expect the Packers to sign him to a HUGE final contract.
All indications are that the Packers will let Jenkins go. With Raji, Neal, Wilson, Green, Jolly, Pickett & Wynn, I think they are comfortable saving the money and not signing the older player. TT has shown this to be his M.O. in many cases.
I’m not comfortable with your commenting on Defensive lineman while using terms like “hoe much weight” he has in negotiations, “decide heavily”, “Tipping the scales”, and “HUGE final contract”.
These guys are often sensitive enough about their weight. 🙂
Amazing how the term”wide body” and isn’t “big enough”at 300 for that spot is ok.Same the PC,it is what it is and they know their money is based on their “size” along with ability.Without the “heavyweights”football is soccer with wrist slapping.Geez.
Besides I wasn’t insulting them,just using word association in fun.
I was just playing around, hence the ” 🙂 “.
Moving forward
Excellent evaluation! We cannot sign him for the money he will probably get in free agency.I think it’s a smart risk because of his injury history and the presence of Neal and Jolly .I really enjoyed his development and was glad when he got his well deserved contract.It’s sad to see him go .
I think it will be purely a $$ decision…
SUPER BOWL!!!!
Don’t agree with the “A” grade for Level of expectations met during the season.
Cullen Jenkins should be expected to be a dominant, 3 down player all season long. That includes staying healthy- even if it is something that can’t necessarily be controlled.
I’m a huge Cullen Jenkins fan. I coined “Big Sexy”, for the love of god. But I couldn’t with a clear conscious grade Cullen with an A on expectations with all the time he missed due to injury (again) and his sometimes becoming invisible during games, much less the fact that his ability to play the run suffered this season and he wasn’t seeing the field as much as in the past.
Cullen Jenkins is, unfortunately, still chasing down the one season where he really puts it all together and has a full, Healthy season where he plays up to his ability and potential.
Oppy, I mostly agree that “A” for expectations might be too high, thanks to the injury-riddled season. On the occasions when Jenkins was healthy, though, he played some very good ball. I think Thomas’ overall grade is tight on the mark.
First, Thomas this is great stuff and you are giving an old guy an emense amount of pleasure as we go into the off-season.
Jenkins – your eval is on target. I’d go even further and say his injuries have been a problem for the last 3 years. He has missed far too many games to justify a huge salary increase. I like him a lot and his attitude has always been that of a real Packer. The “Cap” will be back, probably, and that will determine whether Jenkins returns. That and the FA market may not be the “Paradise” the agents think it will be this year of change. The structure of the NFL is going to change this year. Only time will tell if it is going to be for the good.
On to the next player! Thanks for your hard work Thomas.