Packers bringing back Marcedes Lewis

The veteran tight end returns on a one year deal. 

Big Dog is back in the fold. From ESPN

Lewis indicated after the season he planned on playing in 2020. From his final media availability back in January:

"I think mentally and physically, I was in a really good place this year. I'd love to come back. When I wake up in the morning, I still love it." 

Lewis went from playing 190 offensive snaps (17.7%) in 2018 to 487 (45.2%). He caught five times as many passes (15) for four times as many yards (139), highlighted by a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay's 31-13 win over the New York Giants in Week 13.

 

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8 points
 

Comments (52)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
TarynsEyes's picture

March 18, 2020 at 08:26 pm

Praise Gute in ....3...2...1

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Jonathan Spader's picture

March 18, 2020 at 11:10 pm

PRAISE GUTE!

2 points
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Lphill's picture

March 18, 2020 at 08:26 pm

And run stuffer Michael Pierce to the Vikings, Way to go Gute .

-12 points
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Tundraboy's picture

March 18, 2020 at 08:55 pm

Damn

2 points
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stockholder's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:17 pm

He's waited to long now for a DL. This draft is a poor draft for DL. None will dominate. And he's forced to draft Defensive "need" at ILB. The success to the first pick is BPA. Not best Athlete. OR Need. The other GMs know. And how quickly the money being spent says it all. The reason the Ravens have been so successful is because they draft BPA regardless. . Pierce Filled a big need for them. .

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:48 pm

Shelton to Detroit..Reader gone...Q Jefferson...looks like he will go to the draft? Maybe Derek Wolfe as a DE.

0 points
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stockholder's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:53 am

I sense draft picks being thrown away in trades.

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Thegravedigger's picture

March 18, 2020 at 11:08 pm

Damn six thumbs down for this? We need a big boy up there! Did anybody watch last season? I know in gute we trust and blah blah but the big block eaters are getting scooped up. And alot of teams are signing fullbacks again. The running game is alive and well. And if pettines gonna run the 2 3 6 all day then the 2 big boys need to hold there own. So far only kenny clark is doing that.

2 points
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Leatherhead's picture

March 19, 2020 at 01:16 am

If we’re going to run the 2-3-6, then those 6 have to play the run too.

As regards Lewis, this is another sign that we’re planning on running more and passing less.

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jannes bjornson's picture

March 19, 2020 at 04:57 pm

Two down lineman is a recipe for failue.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

March 19, 2020 at 01:48 am

I didn't give it a thumbs down. Pierce got more than many foresaw. I lost my enthusiasm for Pierce when I heard he signed for 3/$27M with $18M guaranteed. That's probably fair, but too tough for GB to match.

Fans may have to wait until after the draft for Gute to move on a run stuffing DT.

7 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 19, 2020 at 07:45 am

That’s a heck of a lot for a player with his skill set.

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

March 19, 2020 at 04:58 pm

The crows brought in a better player, Calais Campbell.

0 points
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GBPDAN1's picture

March 19, 2020 at 03:42 am

BG didn't go after a much needed run stuffing DL because he over paid Dean Lowry

1 points
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Timeout's picture

March 19, 2020 at 12:54 pm

The contract he received seemed a little rich for what he accomplished. Wasn't it like $7million per year?

0 points
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IshpemingPackAttack's picture

March 18, 2020 at 08:28 pm

BIG DOG!!!!!! He definitely carries the G.

6 points
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Mike Rossmeier's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:00 pm

Delanie Walker would have offered more receiving plus blocking, but maybe too expensive.

-4 points
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taarons420's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:17 pm

he's 100 years old.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:50 pm

Did you like the Kendricks move ,years back? This would be Worse.

1 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 19, 2020 at 07:39 am

Delaney Walker would have been a more offensive option. Plus he has significant injury questions. Lewis is a better blocker. This suggests that they have faith In Sternberger. Frankly, this is a sensible move.

Lewis is very good at what he now does and it’s time for the young TEs to step up offensively. Walker would not have aided that and Lewis complements them and is content in that role. Lewis is also credited by them as being a coach type. Good move.

4 points
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SCLI's picture

March 19, 2020 at 04:27 pm

You want a guy who's 35 & played only 8 games over the past 2 seasons? No thanks.

1 points
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taarons420's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:16 pm

can't run this offense with this TE group.
none of them are a mismatch.
none of them provide any sort of play-disguise.
lewis can block but is zero threat as a receiver.
tonyan can run pass patterns but can't block.
when jace sternberger (with all 3 of his career receptions) is your team's #1 TE... your TE group is awful.

this offense is going to end up looking just like last year's offense.
3 wide 75% of the time.
finesse.
soft.
yuck.

-14 points
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Leatherhead's picture

March 19, 2020 at 01:22 am

Didn’t we win 14 games with this offense last season?

7 points
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taarons420's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:36 am

Did you watch?
You want to tell me that offense was anything other than stale?

-6 points
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Leatherhead's picture

March 19, 2020 at 08:58 am

Of course I watched. We did a good job of protecting the ball, we executed in the red zone, we kept our QB healthy. We won 14 games.

5 points
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scullyitsme's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:49 pm

Jesus, it’s a backup tight end, lighten the f up. All the doom and gloomers above me couldn’t wait to be the first to spew crap. Tells you a lot about them. As red Forman would say, they need a boot in the ass.

11 points
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Samson's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:57 pm

It's embarrassing how ignorant toooo many Packer fans seem to be.... They fail to even realize that the whole picture of season 2020 has just started... They're part of the "I want everything today crowd".

7 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

March 18, 2020 at 10:26 pm

I think some are seeing what the developing picture is looking like. The ignorant ones are those who can't let others have their say.

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jannes bjornson's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:01 pm

And they don't vote in the Elections.

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TarynsEyes's picture

March 18, 2020 at 10:22 pm

How about putting a boot in your own ass and let people voice their opinions without you and others crying over it incessantly.
: )

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Leatherhead's picture

March 19, 2020 at 01:26 am

He can’t help himself, Taryn. He would much rather attack other posters than talk football.

1 points
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taarons420's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:35 am

This offense needs two capable TE's on the field.
Lewis is, essentially, TE starter #2... with TE starter #1 being a 2nd year player coming off a season where he missed more games than he had catches and will, most likely, have an abbreviated offseason (due to a pushed-back season).

I know every team has holes but this hole is cavernous and very well could prevent the Packers from taking the next step.

If you were to combine TE and WR, the Packers might have the worst overall group in the NFL.
Counting on rookies (no matter how talented) usually doesn't work.

-4 points
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AgrippaLII's picture

March 19, 2020 at 10:15 am

So we don't have a big name number one TE...Sternberger can still catch the football and will have to be accounted for by the defense. He won't keep the Packers from taking the next step...the inability to neutralize the other team's running game is what is going to prevent the Packers from taking the next step.

0 points
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Tedlyflyfisher's picture

March 18, 2020 at 09:49 pm

Glad to have him back. Great guy. Now let’s get Sternberger lots of snaps.

12 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 19, 2020 at 07:41 am

The only way to see what Sternberger and Tonyan can do is to play them. I’m tired of seeking expensive late career rentals. Time to put up or shut up. In the meantime we have our blocking TE.

1 points
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Thegravedigger's picture

March 18, 2020 at 10:57 pm

I like the signing. But what i dont like is all of these runstuffing tackles being signed up. I dont know what the wait is. Michael pierce signed a 3 yr 27 mil deal. With, of course, the vikes. They need to sign one of these big boys so the top picks can go either go to wr ilb or ot. They need to fill one more of those holes in free agency to close this gap. Because right now we are worse off than we are last year. And i think it was nagler who made a good point saying that with the coronavirus crappening all over the off-season and training camp and the rest of our lives, jace sternberger will again be behind the eight ball when it comes to being on the same page with a- rodg. So add tight end to the list.

1 points
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JQ's picture

March 19, 2020 at 12:37 am

The revised off-season could also hamper Michael Pierce. From ESPN:

“Pierce weighed 390 pounds when he reported to last year's June minicamp, and he was sent off the practice field by coach John Harbaugh."

4 points
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egbertsouse's picture

March 19, 2020 at 08:23 am

Ignoring the humiliating pounding the defense took in the NFCCG, It looks like Dom Pettine is sticking with his small-ball approach. I guess they plan on stopping the run with 225 pound LBs and hybrid safeties.

-3 points
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Timeout's picture

March 19, 2020 at 01:09 pm

I agree, except Capers had BJ Raji, Ryan Pickett and Howard Green..

1 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:07 pm

Benito Jones, Mississippi...

0 points
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greengold's picture

March 19, 2020 at 12:35 am

I’m surprised by many comments in here.

Benefits signing Mercedes Lewis include exceptional run blocking, solid route running, size, strength and hands to secure contested catches, team leader, experienced and able to run block and pass block top talents, AND, he gave the Packers a very affordable price tag. This man is on a mission for a RING, not $$$.

Those wanting Pierce, I was right with you, but $9M/yr is a big nut, and you’re giving THAT for a player who offers run stop only. Little pass rush is a bit of a red flag.

Last I looked, Ndamukog Suh is still out there and he’s better than Pierce. GB can still be a player in FA, and Suh fits that same mold of a vet who made his cash and is more focused on winning a ring. He might WANT to play with GB.

Maybe they do prioritize DL in draft. Figure, GB has more than enough draft capital to add an additional R3 with their Day 3 stash.

Regardless, I really wanted Lewis to return AND DL in FA if at all possible. There are good ones in draft going back further than some might think. Lewis stabilizes AND mentors our other 2 young TEs. Knows team & system. Dirt cheap! Great signing. Packers still have cap room to play. No Worries.

10 points
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taarons420's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:41 am

15 catches
156 yards
10.4 yard average
1 td

what's the point?

-4 points
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greengold's picture

March 19, 2020 at 12:24 pm

Then you don't watch blocking... at all.... never mind.

0 points
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jannes bjornson's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:11 pm

He doesn't fit their fantasy profile. For them it's not about winning, it is the boxscore.

0 points
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taarons420's picture

March 19, 2020 at 05:21 pm

playing a TE who can ONLY block is like holding up a giant neon sign that reads "we are running the ball on this play".

might as well just put a 3rd OT on the field.

0 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 19, 2020 at 07:43 am

3years, 27 million? I think it’s pretty surprising that anyone still thinks we are in that market this year. We are not with our cap position. That’s as much a part of the game as talent evaluation.

3 points
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Thegravedigger's picture

March 19, 2020 at 07:23 pm

Pierce was to expensive. I agree there. But suh at age 34 is not going to be the block eater we need. Theres a reason he keeps bouncing from team to team. He took a lot of plays off 2 years ago for the rams and they went to the Super bowl. Im eyeing snacks harrison. Hes 3 years younger and is more of a block eater. Even mike pennell. Gilbert brown jr. Does big gil have a son? They need a 330 pounder.

0 points
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Minniman's picture

March 19, 2020 at 03:09 am

TGR would be a good one to comment here but I wonder if the packers aren’t thinking of Kenny Clark etc impending contract and keeping some cash in case next years salary cap isn’t as large as everyone seems to predict.

All the proverbial eggs seem to be in the draft basket this year - it’s make or break

0 points
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Coldworld's picture

March 19, 2020 at 07:50 am

I’m sure Clark factors into it, but any GM worth having has to think multi years. Ultimately, you can’t build a team without draft success simply by buying vets especially early in FA. A lot of ridiculous contracts so far. People seem to forget that splashes like last year have consequences. We simply are not in the game for more contracts of tens of millions a year this season. I’m glad we got Amos and the Smiths. I think we need to remember how far we have come.

2 points
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dobber's picture

March 19, 2020 at 01:25 pm

I've started to hear some talk about a possible extension for Bakhtiari that would cut his cap hit in 2020. We'll see what happens and, if so, it would interesting to see how it impacts their ability to retain Clark, King, and others.

1 points
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Razer's picture

March 19, 2020 at 08:09 am

I like Lewis. I like what he brings to the O-line, locker room and TE group. We don't like the "finesse" label on our offense and Marcedes Lewis adds grit and run-it-down-your-throat attitude. We'll draft another TE development player and build a decent TE group over the course of next year.

I would have like to see Tyler Ervin resigned, He was the turning point for special teams and a nice addition to the WR/RB arsenal.

Overall, Gutekunst has done well, given the pocket change he has to work with. Draft will be huge.

6 points
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stockholder's picture

March 19, 2020 at 12:29 pm

I don't like this signing. He's old. 1 screw up and he's history. He telegraphs the run. And if Arron Rodgers trusts him too much, he'll break your heart. His time takes away from Bob and Jace. This team needs a Jermicheal Finley so bad. Why has it been so long? Why do we have to be the team that picks Bones, after they got headed in the right direction?

-2 points
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