GREEN BAY — A ho-hum free-agency period for the Green Bay Packers could get a lot more interesting — at least in the eyes of the green-and-gold faithful — if the team explores adding the two players with experience in Dom Capers’ 3-4 defensive scheme who became available Monday:

Ex-Packers and Miami Dolphins defensive end Vonnie Holliday, and ex-Dolphins and Washington Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor.

The Dolphins released Holliday Monday after the 11-year NFL veteran declined to restructure his contract with a $1.5 million roster bonus looming, and the Redskins did the same to Taylor, who refused to allow the club to insert a clause into Taylor’s contract that would have required him to participate in more offseason workouts at Redskins Park.

After not being a serious player in the competition for ex-Dallas defensive end Chris Canty — Canty signed a six-year, $42 million deal ($17 million guaranteed) with the New York Giants Sunday — and losing longtime backup defensive tackle Colin Cole to Seattle, the Packers need to add depth on the renovated line in Capers’ 3-4 scheme.

Both Taylor and Holliday played for Capers in 2006 and ’07, when Capers was Miami’s defensive coordinator, and a league source said Monday night the team is intrigued by both players.

The 6-foot-5, 285-pound Holliday, 33, was the Packers’ first-round draft choice in 1998 (19th overall) and played his first five seasons with the club before departing following the 2002 season, when then-coach and GM Mike Sherman opted to re-sign defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt to a long-term deal.
Holliday eventually signed with Kansas City, then moved on to Miami, where he had spent the past four seasons. Last season, Holliday started 15 of 16 games and registered 46 tackles (30 solo) and 3.5 sacks. In 2006 under Capers, Holliday had 66 tackles (46 solo) and seven sacks, one off his career high.

Holliday did not respond to a text message or a voice mail left Monday evening, and agent Cary Fabrikant, said the Packers had yet to contact him about his client.

The Packers expressed an interest in the 6-foot-6, 245-pound Taylor when the Dolphins decided to trade him before last season, but Taylor wound up being traded to the Redskins for a second-round pick this year and a sixth-rounder in 2010. In 13 games in Washington (eight starts), Taylor had 35 tackles and 3.5 sacks.

A six-time All-Pro pick, Taylor, 34, was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2006. His 120.5 career sacks are the most among active NFL players, and he worked at both end and outside linebacker in Capers’ scheme in Miami. Taylor still makes his offseason home in South Florida.

Meanwhile, the Packers reportedly have expressed at least some interest in several lower-profile defensive linemen, including San Diego’s Igor Olshansky and Baltimore’s Marques Douglas. The Packers are likely to lose another backup defensive lineman, unrestricted free agent Mike Montgomery, who visited the Atlanta Falcons and appears ill-suited to play in the 3-4.

Packers restricted free-agent fullback John Kuhn was also testing the market Monday, visiting the Arizona Cardinals. Kuhn, who received the low tender of $1.01 million last week, is also scheduled to visit the Cincinnati Bengals. He started three games at fullback.

Kuhn is one of five Packers’ restricted free agents who are allowed to sign offers with other teams that the Packers can match. Safety Atari Bigby was given the highest tender of the group, a second-rounder worth $1.545 million in base salary for 2009, while Kuhn, wide receiver Ruvell Martin, defensive back Jarrett Bush and defensive end/outside linebacker Jason Hunter all received the low tender.

“When (the Packers) tendered me at the low (level), I figured I would get a phone call from a couple of teams and it was great Arizona was one of them,” said Kuhn, who played for coach Ken Whisenhunt with Pittsburgh. “I would like for it to be (decided) as fast as possible because it’s one of those things it has to go back and be determined by the Packers, whether they match or not.”