The Packer Pundit

The Following Packer Puff Pieces™ are stories I found while surfin' the Packer Net this week but just didn't have the time to post links to.

So let's go Surfin' now --
Everybody's Learnin' how --
C'mon Surf the World Wide Web with me!




Carroll Walks Fine Line
By Jason Wilde / Madison.com

There are times when all Al Harris can do is look at Ahmad Carroll and shake his head. Harris, the Green Bay Packers' veteran cornerback, remembers coming up with the Philadelphia Eagles and having Pro Bowlers Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor and Brian Dawkins teach him how to be a true professional. In turn, Harris has been trying to impart that same knowledge to Carroll, his locker-room next-door neighbor and the team's resident problem child. And while Harris was a quicker and more willing learner, he's convinced that Carroll will eventually "get it," as he puts it.

"I may be a little biased because I look at him like a little brother, but he's getting there," Harris said between training-camp practices Tuesday. "He's (not even) 23 years old, man. You have to work with him. A lot of guys got drafted this year that are 23. This is his third year in the NFL. I think it's night and day from his rookie year. He's more professional. He's getting there. The thing is, we were raised on the field by two different types of people. Troy and Bobby and Dawk, they didn't push their influence on me. He's going to have to pick it up, like I did. It'll happen. It will." MORE>>

Making His Value Known
Cole shows Packers his merit
By Lori Nickel / journalsentinel.com

It's not always about money. Some know their worth is best measured in other ways. But the fact is, Ryan Pickett is a $14 million free-agent defensive tackle with a reputation and a recognizable name, and he was brought in to replace Grady Jackson and assume the anchor position for the Green Bay Packers' defense. Starting next to him on the defensive line, where a lot of the dirty work goes unnoticed, is relatively obscure second-year tackle Colin Cole. He re-signed with the Packers in March for $500,000.

If Cole bemoaned the pay discrepancy privately, he wouldn't dare (say so) publicly.

"They're going to sign guys every year, and I'm not a guy who is going to expect to be given anything," Cole said. "Last year was just my first year playing full time, so I didn't expect them to sell the house on me and expect that I was going to be 'the guy.' I knew coming in that I would have to prove myself again. It doesn't make a difference. If I go out there and perform the way I know how to, the chips will fall the way I hope."

The drastic inequity in their salaries all goes out the window for three hours on Sundays anyway. (Edit: Yeah... unless some dumb reporterette makes an Issue of it and keeps throwing it up in his face... Duh!) MORE>>

Ruvell Martin Puts Size To Good Use
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com


At 6-foot-4 and 217 pounds, wide receiver Ruvell Martin knows he must use his body to his advantage. He doesn't need anyone on the Packers coaching staff to tell him it's his best asset, and that he has to make it look that way on the field.

"We have an understanding I'm a big body out there and I'm expected to play that way," Martin said. "I expect myself to play that way. Once that ball is in the air I feel like it's mine, and when it's not I get pretty upset, because I feel like I should be able to make all those catches."

Martin is one of six receivers on the roster with one or fewer years of NFL experience battling for anywhere from two to four roster spots. His ability to win a lot of jump balls is a reason the Packers brought him onto the practice squad midway through 2005 and are giving him a legitimate shot in 2006 to make the final roster. MORE>>

Opportunity Knocks For Rayner
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com

Ever since he arrived in Green Bay this spring, Dave Rayner has been trying to shake the label "kickoff specialist." Well, now's his chance. With the release of Billy Cundiff on Thursday, the Packers are giving Rayner, a second-year pro who spent his rookie season in 2005 kicking off for Indianapolis, the best opportunity he could have asked for to be a full-time kicker in 2006.

"I didn't get a whole lot of feedback since I've been here, but I think this is kind of their way of saying, 'Hey, we have confidence, we think you're the guy,'" Rayner said after Thursday evening's practice. "Obviously I have to continue to kick well and show them they made the right decision, but I think it is a vote of confidence from the coaching staff, the general manager and everybody." MORE>>

Colledge ought to stay at left tackle
That's best place for 2nd-round pick
By Chris Havel / GB Press Gazette

Daryn Colledge has gone from starting left guard to a second-team backup in what has been a frustrating first 17 days of training camp. The second-round draft pick is down in the depth chart, but he isn't out of the Green Bay Packers' plans.

Coach Mike McCarthy's best move is to move Colledge back to left tackle, his natural position, and the sooner the better. I applaud the Packers' attempt to transform Colledge from a tackle to a guard, but not as much as I disagree with it. McCarthy has shown the ability to make changes if he feels it is necessary, thus the reshuffling of the offensive line. Now, he needs to show he isn't stubborn by going the whole nine yards and moving Colledge to left tackle behind Chad Clifton. Colledge is no more a left guard than Junius Coston is a left tackle. The 6-foot-4, 299-pound lineman from Boise State has the long arms, quick feet and patient demeanor to be a truly special left tackle. He is strong enough to stone a bull-rushing defensive end, and clever enough to neutralize a pure speed rusher. MORE>>