1) Introduction: A.J. Hawk didn’t really look that interested this year. His head wasn’t in a lot of tackles and it showed in his performance. Even though he has been the quarterback of the defense and the players love him, the Packers cannot live with his underwhelming production anymore.
2) Profile: A.J. Hawk
- Age: 31
- Born: 01/06/1984 in Kettering, OH
- Height: 6’1″
- Weight: 235
- College: Ohio State
- Rookie Year: 2006
- NFL Experience: 9 years
- Career stats and more
3) Expectations coming into the season: His leadership qualities were the reason that Hawk was still called upon to not only lead the defense but make plays as well. After finishing with arguably his best season in 2013, Hawk and the Packers were looking for good things.
4) Player’s highlights/low-lights: Hawk couldn’t stay with anyone, he couldn’t get to the passer and he seemed to shy away from contact at times. His career in a decline for a couple years but this was very surprising. He allowed a linebacker-high 4½ passes of 20 yards or more and had only 54 tackles — the second-lowest mark of his career.
5) Player’s contribution to the overall team success: The leadership is about the only thing that he can hang his hat on. After coming off a season in which he still could get to the point of attack and force a play, this season the play was well past him. He did make 10 tackles in a blowout win vs. Chicago but he also recorded three games with just one tackle.
6) Player’s contributions in the playoffs: Nothing spectacular, just one tackle in two games. The play that most people are going to remember is when Hawk failed to cover Seattle’s deepest receiver on the fake field goal touchdown pass. He was helpless as the lollipop pass sailed over his head.
7) Intangibles: He knows defenses very well and is a good team guy. Because of his leadership skills, he may be able to still find work in the NFL, but the Packers will quickly cut him to save the $3.5 million in cap space.
Season Report Card (Player Grades):
(F) Level of expectations met during the season
(F) Contributions to team’s overall success.
(F) Contributions to team during the playoffs
Overall Grade: F
——————Cory Jennerjohn is from Wisconsin and has been in sports media for over 10 years. To contact Cory e-mail him at jeobs -at- yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter: Cory Jennerjohn
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No sugar on this one – and accurate too. Your point about Hawk shying away from contact was very evident and hard to watch. Sam Barrington, for all his faults sought out the runner while Hawk danced around or was being escorted down the field with a blocker. I hope that we don’t have to watch this again next year.
You left out the part where he immediately flopped to the ground at the slightest bit of contact.
If I wasn’t a Packer fan I would have found it amusing watching him run around in circles…..should have been gone years ago Ted!
It is sad to see the all time leader in tackles for the Packers have his career end this way. (I assume he will be gone.) I so wanted him to get a pick six or return a fumble for a TD in Seattle. It would have more satisfying to see this good man end his playing career that way. Instead all we have is the image of him getting burned on the fake field goal. He was easy to cheer for and I wish him well, just please don’t be in a Packer players uniform next year.
Still shocked we asked for a pay cut a few years ago instead of cutting him. Other than a good rookie year, was always underwhelmed with hawk. For his first 5 years in the nfl people kept saying “this is the year he breaks out”. Hopes were always disappointed with this guy, never better than slightly above average. Not nearly the player Barnett or bishop were. Even Hawks biggest fans have to admit that keeping him around bit us in the ass this year. The position was a major weakness all year and our biggest issue headed into offseason. TT rarely makes errors like this, wish we actually knew what the thinking was and who was advocating for hawk.
If there is a F minus he would get that. Hawk should have retired or let go 2 years ago.
I think you were too kind to Hawk.
I mean it.
One of the most overpaid players to ever wear the Packer uniform. Hope he never dons it again.
Accurate assessment and grade. Time to chuck him. Thanks, Since ’61
I was one who was defending him 2013. This season he did not deserve nothing else than cut!
F? Is a Z not allowed?
Sadly, I agree with the “F”. I think that over his career….and he IS the Packers’ all time leading tackler….he’s been better than people have given him credit. But it’s clear that he just cannot run anymore and you can’t really put him on the field without the offense taking advantage of him. A really good Packer, a surefire Packer HOFer, but he totally deserves this “F”.
After a pretty good year last year, the decline of his play was astronomical this year. I’m guessing the decline was due to injuries as well as to Father Time, but whatever the case may be it’s time for a changing of the guard at middle linebacker (though I really like Clay there).
It has been painful the last 4 years to see teams target him. Hope it is over.