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          Packers Mailbag: Still working to re-sign Randall Cobb

          • Rob Demovsky, ESPN Staff WriterFeb 28, 2015, 08:00 AM ET
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              Rob Demovsky is an NFL reporter at ESPN and covers the Green Bay Packers. He has covered the Packers since 1997 and joined ESPN in 2013. Demovsky is a two-time Wisconsin Sportswriter of the Year as selected by the NSSA. You can follow him on Twitter at @RobDemovsky.
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          It was another busy offseason week for the Green Bay Packers, who released linebacker A.J. Hawk and continued to try to get their own free agents re-signed. As always, we'll answer questions about some of this week's hot topics. Future questions can be submitted via Twitter with the hashtag #PackersMail.

          Demovsky: There has been a lot of angst this week about the status of Randall Cobb. There was a report that the Packers had conceded that Cobb's price was going to be high. While it's true that no deal is imminent, nothing has changed since last Friday, when we reported that, according to multiple sources, re-signing Cobb and tackle Bryan Bulaga remains the Packers' focus right now. ESPNWisconsin.com's Jason Wilde essentially reported the same thing this Friday based on his conversations with sources close to the situation.

          Demovsky: As much as the Packers would like to have a tight end with Jermichael Finley 's ability to stretch the field, that's not going to happen. It's not about Finley's age or money, but the fact that the Packers' doctors will not clear Finley to play again. And based on the fact that Finley hasn't attracted the attention of any other teams in nearly a year, most other teams' medical people probably feel the same way. I saw Finley recently and although he wouldn't discuss his future, he seemed to be in a good place in his life without football.

          Demovsky: No. It was not about money with A.J. Hawk, unlike when the Packers cut him in 2011 only to re-sign him under a more salary-cap friendly deal the next day. This time it was about performance. They have made the decision to upgrade their inside linebacker position and as dependable and reliable as Hawk has been for nine years, having missed only two games in that stretch, they have decided to move on for good.

          Demovsky: Joe Thomas was having a nice training camp until a knee injury knocked him out. But to think that he could come back as a starter would be a huge stretch. After all, he played in only one preseason game - and only four defensive snaps in that game - before the injury. The Packers didn't see him on the field again until they re-signed him to the practice squad midway through the season. Also, Thomas played a low level in college at South Carolina State, was undrafted last year and needs some seasoning. He'll have a shot to make the roster, but it's a long shot, and it won't be as a starter.

          Demovsky: First of all, the Packers have not closed the door on John Kuhn. In fact, his agent met with the Packers at the combine and there seems to be some mutual interest in bringing him back. As for Hawk, yes, he and Aaron Rodgers are close, but Rodgers has been around long enough to understand that this can be a tough business. I do not expect this to be an issue with him. He's a professional. He gets it.

          Demovsky: Sure, they could keep both Tramon Williams and Davon House. They have plenty of cap space. But they probably won't. They know they need to find a way to get Casey Hayward on the field more. He's too productive. He tied Williams for the team lead with three interceptions despite playing just 37.8 percent of the defensive snaps last season.