Montgomery signs 2-year deal; Hunter also re-signs
By Pete Dougherty • pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com • March 18, 2009
Michael Montgomery is returning to the Green Bay Packers to take his chances in the team’s 3-4 defense, even though on paper he’s a bad fit for the new scheme.
Montgomery was an unrestricted free agent, but this week he agreed to a two-year contract with the Packers, his agent, Eric Armstead, said Tuesday.
Montgomery was a sixth-round draft pick of the Packers in 2005 and decided he was better off changing to a new defense with the franchise he’s grown up in rather than going to a new team to remain in a 4-3 scheme. The defensive end had visited Houston, and Armstead said a third team also wanted to bring in his client for a visit.
Teams playing the 3-4 generally want their defensive ends to be at least 6-foot-4 and 300 pounds. Montgomery has the height at 6-4, but at 275 pounds he’s light for the position and will have to add bulk and strength.
“I’ve been watching him since he was in college,” Armstead said. “He’s a very good athlete. He plays basketball like an athlete, and he’s a (true) football player. I don’t want to put too much into him being 275. He’s strong, he works out all the time. He’s a football player.”
Hunter also stays
Jason Hunter, who will move to outside linebacker in the Packers’ 3-4, signed his restricted free-agent tender with the Packers on Monday, according to the team’s Web site.
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