Trading for Rosenfels makes sense

Quarterback has experience to be a solid backup to Rodgers

It appears that quarterback Gus Frerotte, who recently met with the Green Bay Packers, will sign with the Minnesota Vikings, according to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The 36-year-old Frerotte would back up Tarvaris Jackson.

That doesn't mean a whole lot to the Packers, who obviously are not very serious about Frerotte. But it does mean that the door is open a little wider to land Texans quarterback Sage Rosenfels, who reportedly had been drawing a lot of attention from the Vikings.

Rosenfels, who turned 30 on March 6, would be an ideal fit behind Green Bay starter Aaron Rodgers. He has seven years of experience under his belt in the NFL and has the ability to help the Packers win games if Rodgers sustains an injury that would sideline him for an extended period of time.

Texans head coach Gary Kubiak says that he is open to trading Rosenfels, but "it would have to help us a ton."

Maybe Ted Thompson and the Packers can find a way to package a deal, including a draft pick or two, for Rosenfels. It appears that Green Bay has little interest in the quarterbacks currently available in free agency, but yet would be better off with a veteran behind Rodgers, who is taking over for the retired Brett Favre.

The fact that Houston signed Quinn Gray, another quarterback that Green Bay met with this offseason, may make the possibility of a trade for Rosenfels that much better.

Why not deal one of the Packers' second round picks to Houston for Rosenfels? The Texans and Packers would both win in that scenario.

It would be difficult to imagine the Packers heading into the 2008 season without an established veteran behind Rodgers. That kind of a quarterback would pose little threat to Rodgers yet possess the experience to lead the Packers in case of injury.

Rosenfels, selected in the fourth round of the 2001 draft by Washington, has started a total of seven games in his career, and has thrown for 15 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. He currently is the backup to Matt Schaub. But the Texans signed Gray to a one-year contract for $645,000 a few weeks ago, which have left some football experts wondering if the Texans will deal Rosenfels.

"I know what people are saying, but signing Quinn has absolutely nothing to do with it," Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle. "I've been a two-quarterback type of guy, but what happened to us last season scared the heck out of me, and I don't want to go through that again."

We'll see. The Packers need to build depth at the quarterback position, and acquiring Rosenfels would be a good move. Let's face it, Green Bay has most of the starting positions filled, and a rookie quarterback, even if drafted high, will hardly be effective in case of disaster for Green Bay in 2008.

Thompson and the Packers should think hard about making a move to get Rosenfels.