The Packers have released 27-year old inside linebacker A.J. Hawk to avoid paying him $10 million bucks in 2011.  They will likely try to re-sign him to a much smaller contract.  Hawk played in all 16 games for the Packers and he had 111 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss, 1/2 a sack, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble recovery.  Hawk has played in 80 games in his five years with the Packers and he had 511 tackles, 25 passes defensed, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 8 interceptions.  The Packers better make sure they re-sign Hawk because he would be a hard player to replace.

UPDATE:  The Packers have re-signed A.J. Hawk to a 5-year deal worth between $30-$35 million bucks.

The Packers have waived 25-year old linebacker Rob Francois.  Francois played in 3 games for the Packers this year and he had 1 tackle.  The Packers have activated rookie RB James Starks off the Physically Unable to Perform List.  This is good news for the Packers as they could use some help at running back behind Brandon Jackson & John Kuhn.

The Packers have released 35-year old cornerback Al Harris.  Harris has not played this year due to injury.  Harris played in 102 games in his 8 years with the Packers and he had 298 tackles, 87 passes defensed, 4 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 14 interceptions (2 returned for TDs).  The Packers probably think that Harris doesn’t have much left and it will be interesting to see if some other team lets him continue his career.

The Packers have released OLB Jeremy Thompson.  He played in 6 games for the Packers last season making 1 whole tackle.  In 2 years with the Packers, Thompson played in 15 games in which he made 9 tackles.  Thompson intends to retire due to numerous spinal chord concussions so it made perfect sense to let him go before he injured himself permanently.

The Packers have released 26-year old DE Michael Montgomery and 27-year old safety Matt Giordano.  Montgomery played in 10 games for the Packers last season and he made 2 whopping tackles.  Montgomery played in 56 games in his five years with the Packers and he made 123 tackles, defensed 3 passes, had 5 sacks and he forced 1 fumble.  Giordano played in 5 games for the Packers last season and he made 2 tackles.  The Packers won’t miss either of these players who were just taking up roster space.