By Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Sep 05, 2009 at 6:56 PM

The Packers made a flurry of moves on Saturday, the day that National Football League teams had to reduce their rosters to the regular-season limit of 53.

Some of the moves were expected. Some were mildly surprising. Others were downright stunning.

The Packers opened the day by trading offensive tackle Tony Moll to Baltimore for cornerback Derrick Martin. That move wasn't a surprise. Moll, who started 18 games in his three seasons with Green Bay, was bypassed by other lineman.

The shocking moves came later, when the Packers released 18 players -- including safety Anthony Smith, quarterback Brian Brohm and wide receiver Ruvell Martin.

Smith, who signed with the Packers as a free agent from Pittsburgh, was attractive because of his experience in the 3-4 defensive scheme. He intercepted two passes in preseason play and seemed to be pushing Atari Bigby for a starting job.

With Smith gone and Charlie Peprah on injured reserve, the Packers will use Aaron Rouse and Jarrett Bush as backups to Bigby and Nick Collins.

Brohm, who was a second-round pick last season out of Louisville, was shaky early in camp but seemed to show improvement later. The Packers had him ranked behind seventh-rounder Matt Flynn on the depth chart, though. Flynn's recent shoulder injury could prompt the team to sign a veteran backup to protect Aaron Rodgers.

While Brohm struggled in camp, undrafted rookie running back Tyrell Sutton was a consistent performer in camp, but lost out to DeShawn Wynn.

Martin, who was a solid fifth receiver and special teams player the past few years, was a surprising cut. His exit opens a space for Brett Swain, who will play behind Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones and Jordy Nelson.

In other moves, the Packers released wide receivers Jake Allen and Kole Heckendorf, guard Andrew Hartline, linebacker Danny Lansanah, running back Kregg Lumpkin, defensive end Alfred Malone, tackle Jamon Meredith, nose tackle Dean Muhtadi, linebacker Cyril Obiozor, cornerback Joe Porter, tackle Dane Randolph, defensive end Ronald Talley and nose tackle Anthony Toribio.

Defensive end Justin Harrell, a former No. 1 pick plagued by back problems, was placed on injured reserve along with cornerback Pat Lee, tight end Evan Moor and Peprah.

 

 

Drew Olson Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.