The Packer Pundit

Green Bay the underdog
It might not qualify as the reincarnation of "Mission Impossible" but the Green Bay Packers recognize that they have little margin for error Monday night in Philadelphia. Oddsmakers have made the Packers an 11-point underdog, the largest spread they have encountered in a regular-season game since Nov. 27, 1988. That's when the Chicago Bears, a 13-point favorite, held the Packers to 22 yards rushing in a 16-0 victory at Soldier Field. "The way Philadelphia has played offensively and the way the Packers' pass defense has been is pretty much what got that number going," said Jason Been, a Milwaukee native and oddsmaker for Las Vegas Sports Consultants. "Plus, the Packers' history in Philadelphia. It has not been pretty."

Henderson in no mood to talk about job status
William Henderson refused to address the possibility he is on the verge of losing the starting fullback job, a position he has held since 1996. The Packers are giving strong consideration to starting Brandon Miree, who was promoted from the practice squad on Tuesday. Henderson made a brief appearance in the locker room on Thursday, noticed a large group of reporters gathered around Miree's locker and looked annoyed by the fact the gathering had spilled in front his locker. He quickly grabbed some clothes and got dressed to the side, all the while refusing to answer questions about the possible change.

Offensive line issues
The Packers continued to work all three rookie guards — Daryn College, Tony Moll and Jason Spitz — in with the No. 1 offense in practice, and didn't give any indication whether Spitz would return to the starting lineup after missing the last two games with a thigh bruise. If Spitz returns to the lineup, it could be at right guard instead of the left-guard spot he held before the injury, because Colledge has performed well in his absence. Meanwhile, another issue developed when center Scott Wells dropped out of practice midway through with an injury. The Packers wouldn't say how Wells got hurt or what the injury was, and he was not added to the injury report. It's possible he could be added today.

Guarded guards
The Packers' three rookie guards - Daryn Colledge, Jason Spitz and Tony Moll - each claimed Friday they didn't know which two will start Monday's game. Each said he saw time with the No. 1 line in practice. "The normal rotation we've been doing - getting in a couple plays here, a couple plays there," said Spitz, who worked at each guard spot as he comes back from a deep thigh bruise that kept him out of the past two games. It would appear Colledge is set at left guard, meaning either Spitz or Moll will start on the right side. Presumably, Spitz would start if deemed healthy. "I'm very confident that it doesn't matter who it is; we're going to get the job done," Moll said. "If it's Daryn and Jason in there, I'm fine with that."

Transaction
The Packers re-signed linebacker Tim Goodwell to their practice squad. Goodwell had been with the Packers during training camp.

Extra points
Defensive end Aaron Kampman went through the full practice after missing two days because of a slight concussion suffered in Sunday's game. ... Tight end David Martin was back at practice after missing Thursday's workout due to illness. ... Center Scott Wells said he "tweaked" his knee late in practice Thursday and had to drop out, but returned Friday.

Packers
Out: Defensive tackle Kenderick Allen (foot)
Doubtful: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett (ankle), did not practice
Question: Guard/tackle Junius Coston (knee), practiced; guard Jason Spitz (thigh), practiced; cornerback Will Blackmon (foot), did not practice
Probable: Running back Ahman Green (rib, hamstring), practiced; defensive end Aaron Kampman (head), did not practice; tight end David Martin (illness), did not practice

Eagles
Doubtful: Cornerback Roderick Hood (heel), did not practice; cornerback Lito Sheppard (ankle), did not practice
Questionable: Safety Brian Dawkins (concussion), did not practice; receiver Donte Stallworth (hamstring), did not practice; running back Brian Westbrook (knee), did not practice
Probable: Guard Shawn Andrews (shoulder), practiced; receiver Reggie Brown (shoulder, quadriceps), practiced; safety Sean Considine (hip), practiced; defensive end Darren Howard (knee), practiced; safety Michael Lewis (quadriceps), practiced; running back Reno Mahe (ankle), practiced; linebacker Matt McCoy (stinger), practiced; tight end L.J. Smith (shoulder), practiced; tackle William Thomas (foot), practiced; defensive tackle Darwin Walker (quadriceps), practiced

Status definitions
Out: Definitely will not play.
Doubtful: At least a 75 percent chance the player will not play.
Questionable: A 50-50 chance the player will not play.
Probable: Virtual certainty the player will be available for normal duty.







Strength in numbers?
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
The thought of having to face the NFL's No. 1 offense without nose tackle Ryan Pickett certainly isn't appealing to the Green Bay Packers, but if there's any position they have the depth to overcome such a significant absence, it's in the interior defensive line. Pickett practiced Friday for the first time this week and was upgraded to questionable for Monday night's game at Philadelphia after spraining his right ankle in Sunday's victory at Detroit. After practice, Pickett admitted it was a struggle. "It was pretty rough. It wasn't smooth. So who knows about Monday?" said Pickett, who did individual and team drills. "It'd be a slim chance right now. I don't know. But there was a great improvement from (Thursday) night to today, so if it just keeps improving, I might take a shot at it." -- More




Packers Trying To Ignore,
Change History In Philly
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Head Coach Mike McCarthy said he wasn't even aware that the last Packers head coach to win a game in Philadelphia was Vince Lombardi. Middle linebacker Nick Barnett said that every year in the NFL, it's a different team and a whole new season. Those are probably the healthiest ways to ponder, or not ponder, the Packers' losing streak in Philadelphia that dates back to 1962. Since a 49-0 shellacking administered by Green Bay that year, the Packers have dropped eight straight in a place named, not so appropriately to Packers fans, the City of Brotherly Love. To even try to understand how this losing streak was constructed is to only invite frustration, if not bewilderment. The Packers certainly haven't been the poorer team every time they've played there in the last 44 years. Is it just bad luck? -- More







Big Bang Theory
Poor communication blamed for mistakes
By BOB McGINN / journalsentinel.com

"A lot of the stuff we've messed up on is communication. Calling the wrong check. Making the wrong checks. Thinking you're supposed to cut when you're not supposed to cut." -- Nick Barnett

The Green Bay Packers, three weeks into the regular season and more than six months since the start of coach Mike McCarthy's off-season workout program, have been bedeviled by a pattern of damaging mistakes in pass coverage under first-year defensive coordinator Bob Sanders. Green Bay has allowed 16 passes of 20 yards or more, more than three times their total of five after three games last season. The Packers are on pace to give up 85 such gains over a full season. From 1995-'05, the most 20-plus passes allowed by Green Bay in a season was 60 in '95. The lowest yield was 36 last year. Of the 16 long passes, middle linebacker Nick Barnett estimated that about 14 were at least partially the result of mental breakdowns. The critical pre-snap interaction among players has not been good, according to Barnett. -- More







Packers still are confident in Collins
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers' defensive backs in general and safeties in particular having harbored a good share of the blame for the team's No. 31 ranking in pass defense in the NFL after three games. Among the issues is whether second-year safety Nick Collins has made any improvement from his rookie year, when the second-round draft pick had a promising season. This year's Collins has played a major role in at least three of the 20 explosive passes (16 yards or more) the Packers have allowed, including twice getting beaten on jump-ball throws in one-on-one coverage against New Orleans, and being largely responsible for 42-yard touchdown pass against Detroit. But the Packers coaches and players maintain that Collins is a star in the making, despite those early season problems. They say he's one of the best overall athletes on the team and point to his sound tackling (he leads the team with 25 tackles), team-high five passes defensed and his ability to chase down players to prevent even bigger plays as assets that are lost in his costly big-play errors. Even a scout for another NFC North Division team this week, while discussing various matters with a reporter, brightened up when asked about Collins. The scout, who's never bashful about criticizing players, said he'd trade the Packers a second-round pick for Collins in a heart beat, and that even promising second-year safeties are going to look bad at times. The Packers sound just as convinced Collins still will be an outstanding player soon, perhaps as early as this year. -- More




Harris suddenly looks vulnerable
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers quietly are wondering whether their best cornerback the last three seasons has begun the inevitable decline that hits even the NFL's best players. The first sign came in the regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears, when veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad made Harris look surprisingly slow in his coverage and pursuit. It came as a shock, because no one would confuse Muhammad with a speedy receiver. On the way to a big day, Muhammad caught at least three passes against Harris, including a 27-yarder in which he ran by Harris, and drew a pass interference penalty on Harris that was declined because the play resulted in a 13-yard completion. Though Harris bounced back with a solid game against the New Orleans Saints, he gave up at least four completions to Roy Williams of the Detroit Lions and had two holding penalties. With three penalties, he's halfway to his total from last season and on pace to top his 12-penalty season of 2004. Packers coach Mike McCarthy offered a hint the team was concerned about Harris' play when he said this week Harris has been "not as consistent as he would like." -- More




Martin now
a tight fit
for patient Packers
Sixth-year player finally
catching on in Green Bay
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus

"I know since I've been here, after my rookie year, everybody heard what I could do but they never really saw it. I come in here every year trying to show everybody what I can do. If I can keep this going, I'll show people." -- David Martin

David Martin heard the noise. Then again, how could he avoid it. Fans would ride Martin for his inconsistency and injury history. Talk show callers screamed (do they do anything else?) for his ouster. Even Martin himself often wondered about his job security. Now, six years into his Green Bay career, the Packers' tight end has begun to silence his critics. At the same time, he's rewarding the Green Bay organization for its patience. -- More






McCarthy's future hinges on Sanders' success
By Chris Havel
greenbaypressgazette.com
Mike McCarthy's most important decision of his National Football League coaching career occurred months ago. When the Green Bay Packers' coach named Bob Sanders his defensive coordinator on Jan. 21, McCarthy placed his future to a great degree in the hands of a man he had known for several weeks. McCarthy's instincts may be proven correct. He cited several reasons for selecting Sanders. He appreciated Sanders' candor, admired his work ethic and respected his pedigree. Sanders, 52, a Jim Bates disciple, brought continuity. The Packers were working on their fourth defensive coordinator in five years, and McCarthy valued Sanders' ability to build upon Bates' scheme. McCarthy's reasoning seemed logical. In 2005, Bates inherited a patchwork defense with few legitimate playmakers, and somehow elevated it from 25th in yards allowed to seventh overall and first against the pass. Those rankings were misleading in that opposing teams typically grabbed early leads and milked the clock by running the ball. Rarely did opponents have to pass to overcome a deficit. -- More




Favre trades six-shooter for pea-shooter
By Mike Woods
It's an admission he won't publicly admit to, for it flies in the face of everything he has said and the image he has created. You remember when Packers quarterback Brett Favre decided to return after setting a Guinness World Record for soul searching amid a torrent of offseason criticism that said he needed to take a right-wing approach to quarterbacking. The first thing he told the world upon his return was, "I ain't changing a thing, I am who I am, so why don't you all go find another nit to pick,'' or words to that effect. But the gunslinger no longer is carrying just a six-shooter. He also has a pea-shooter, and he's finding it can be equally potent. He's starting to feel more comfortable with it, starting to understand the merits of its worth. Just don't expect him to admit it. Yet the actions, as is always the case, carry more weight then the words. The gunslinger looks to be evolving into a game manager. Not that there's anything wrong with that. Granted, Sunday was just one game. But if you've been paying attention, it's been a slow progression since the opener. True, he threw a couple of picks against the Bears in the opener, but it came at a point in the game when the Packers were hopelessly behind, and it's hard to find fault in him taking chances at that juncture. -- More







NFL Draft '07: Scouting Saturday for talent
By TFY Draft Preview
Though no single game of national importance stands out on the schedule this weekend, Saturday's grid is dotted with outstanding individual match-ups. Notre Dame prospects are on the radar as is a knockout battle between two ACC stars.

Washington vs. Arizona
One of the better stories at quarterback this season has been the transformation of Washington signal caller Isaiah Stanback. A strong-armed athlete who can make all the throws, Stanback is finally turning his raw talent into football skill. To the delight of Husky fans he has led his team to a 3-1 start and a bowl berth seems possible. To the surprise of scouts Stanback has shown he is more then a great athlete struggling to play quarterback. Stanback has improved his accuracy, decision making and overall game this season. He is slowly rounding into a complete passer on a weekly basis. -- More







Owens will make trip to Tennessee
Panthers' Wallace fined for hit on Simms
Redskins' Brunell expects to play Sunday
Poor start an unexpected jolt for champs
Capers returns to Houston with Dolphins
Colts get Wayne back, might play Sunday

Meet Nicole
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders

Year as Falcons Cheerleader: Rookie
College: Xavier University of Louisiana / Emory University School of Law
Major/Degree: B.S. Business Administration (Xavier) / Juris Doctor (Emory)
Career/Profession: Attorney

BACKGROUND:
Married or single: Single

Dance/cheer background: St. Katherine Drexel/Sacred Heart Junior High cheerleader (four years), St. Louis Catholic High School Sweethearts dance team (four years), Xavier University Gold Star dance team (two years), performed at Super Bowl '94 and Orange Bowl '96 with American Dance/Drill Team Co., performed with Culture Shock Atlanta 2001-2005