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Packers' hunt for 'rush' end finds veteran

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

After auditioning no fewer than a half-dozen candidates for the position of rush end in their dime defensive package, and failing to identify a suitable player of their own for the key role, the Green Bay Packers have turned to veteran Kenny Holmes.

The Packers have reached a one-year contract agreement with Holmes, an unrestricted free agent who played with the New York Giants the last three seasons. Holmes will sign a contract that includes a minimum base salary of $660,000 and $25,000 signing bonus, and could be on the field for this weekend's preseason game.

Holmes, 30, met twice with Green Bay officials this offseason, once as recently as last week, and there have been rumors for more than a month that the Packers eventually would sign the seven-year veteran. One holdup, in addition to the Packers' hopes they could find a rush end on their current roster, was a concern over Holmes' past knee problems.

He had offseason arthroscopic surgery after playing in just nine games in 2003, and had to go through the normal rehabilitation period, and the Green Bay medical staff wanted to see more progress before making a decision on his physical viability for 2004. The team doctors saw enough advancement last week to pass Holmes on their physical exam.

Green Bay is trying to find a complement to standout left end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila for its third-down packages. "KGB" had 10 sacks in 2003, his third straight double-digit season, but the rest of the Packers' defensive linemen combined for just 12½ sacks.

The Packers have used a variety of players at right end in the past few years, and, while no one in Green Bay feels Holmes can play full-time, they hope he is their solution to a situational pass rusher who might net 8-10 sacks in that part-time role.

Holmes was the first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 1997, from the University of Miami. He played four seasons in Tennessee, then signed a five-year, $20 million deal with the Giants in 2001 as an unrestricted free agent.

Twice in his final two seasons with the Giants, however, Holmes was forced to accept salary reduction to avoid being released. His salary was slashed by $900,000 in 2002, but he recouped that money through incentives. Last season, Holmes took a $2 million cut and did not earn that back. The promising part for the Packers is that Holmes flashed some of his old up-field quickness in 2002, registering 5½ sacks in just nine appearances.

In seven seasons, Holmes has 250 tackles, 38½ sacks, 10 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, two interceptions, and 13 pass deflections. He has appeared in 98 games, starting 76 of them.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.