The Packer Pundit

Early Returns
Special teams coordinator Mike Stock confirmed on Thursday that defensive back Charles Woodson will be the Packers' No. 1 punt returner for the season opener. Rookie receiver Greg Jennings will be the second option. Woodson has been listed as the top punt returner on the depth chart all summer, but he got only one chance to return a punt in the preseason, a 3-yard effort at San Diego nearly a month ago. On the other side, the Bears will feature prized rookie Devin Hester as their punt returner. Hester was drafted in the second round out of Miami almost solely for the purpose of improving the Bears' return game, which fumbled several punts in 2005.

Four's company
It's unlikely the Packers will have all four of their tight ends - starter Bubba Franks, primary backup David Martin, No. 3 Donald Lee and No. 4 Tory Humphrey - active Sunday. Still, don't be surprised if the team keeps all four on the roster for a while. "I don't know if it's a necessity, but it's hard to let good players go, and we feel we've got four pretty good football players," said offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, who has only four wide receivers - rather than the customary five. "They can do a lot more than just play tight end.

Hands-on for Harris Cornerback
Al Harris is getting some extra work in during practice these days, hanging out with the quarterbacks and centers when they practice their exchanges early in practice. Rather than just flipping the ball back to the center after each snap and drop-back, Harris has the quarterbacks throwing the ball to him so he can improve his pass-catching - and, as a result, hopefully increase his interception total.

Match-up has some history
Packers right defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and Bears left tackle John Tait are familiar with one another, having gone head-to-head twice last year after Tait moved from right tackle in 2004 to left tackle in 2005. But their first individual matchup actually took place in a Western Athletic Conference game in college, when Gbaja-Biamila was a junior at San Diego State and Tait a senior at BYU in 1998.

In the big leagues
Adjacent to the Packers' main locker room is an auxiliary locker room where the players fighting to make the team in training camp reside. Four of those players made it out of the auxiliary room and into the main locker room when the 53-man roster was announced - defensive end Jason Hunter, receiver Ruvell Martin, punter Jon Ryan and kicker Dave Rayner. The only problem was that while they were assigned lockers in the main room, they had to temporarily keep the name plates from the auxiliary room, which are considerably smaller than the regular name plates above the lockers. But on Thursday, all four players came into the locker room to see that the smaller name plates had been taken down, and the new full-sized ones put up, matching everyone else's.

"It feels like I've finally moved up," Hunter said. "When I first looked at mine, I said it's smaller than everybody else's. They must have just taken it off the auxiliary locker room and threw it up there. When I came in today and saw the big one, I feel part of the locker room. It feels good being here."

Rayner said he and Ryan wondered if keeping the smaller name plate for another week was meant to be a message. "I think that we've made it, sort of," Rayner said. "But if you mess up, you go back to the small name tag. "It's kind of official I guess. They told us when we first got here they had to make them, so it might be a week. But it's pretty cool."





Packers Heart Cap Sales
Surpass 60,000
Sales of the red Packers Heart Cap have surpassed 60,000, the Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance announced today. "We're very pleased with the response fans have had to the Heart Cap," said Kate Hogan, the Packers' director of retail operations. "The caps have sold well both online and in the stores and we've been hearing great feedback from fans on the caps and the campaign." Each sale of the cap, priced at $15, will result in a $5 donation going to charity. Caps are available online at www.packersproshop.com, as well as at the Packers Pro Shop, Packers Pro Shop Extra Points and concession stands on game days. Participating American Family Insurance agents also have caps available for purchase. -- More


Xoom Entertainment
sets up shop in Orlando
Green Bay Packers running back Ahman Green and sports memorabilia entrepreneur Mustafa Saied have teamed up to create a new production company in Orlando that will focus on feature films and music recording. Called Xoom Entertainment, the new company will be based on the backlot of Universal Studios Florida. Saied, of Miami Lakes, produces licensed sports memorabilia that is marketed through retailers in select markets and online at http://www.xoomlens.com/. Saied will serve as CEO of Xoom Entertainment. In a written release, Saied says Xoom is set to make a major announcement in the coming weeks regarding its inaugural projects. Xoom currently is working with Dream Factory Production, a 5-year-old production company also located on Universal's backlot. -- More


Final roster cuts not at all shocking
Veterans among the casualties
By Rick Braun / Packer Plus writer
In the end, even the surprises in the Green Bay Packers' final roster cuts down to 53 weren't that surprising. Najeh Davenport, Kenny Peterson and Cory Rodgers were the biggest names among the 19 players the Packers cut last Saturday, but no one could really say they didn't see that as a possibility. -- More


Kramer leads way for retirees
By Don Walker / journalsentinel.com
Led by former Green Bay Packers lineman Jerry Kramer and other National Football League legends, a national fund-raising program will be launched today to help retired NFL players in need of financial assistance. The catalyst for the program, to be called the Gridiron Greats Relief Fund, began earlier this year when Kramer's Super Bowl I ring, which had been missing since 1981, materialized at an auction sale. The auction house returned the ring to Kramer. Kramer then put his replica ring up for auction. The replica sold for $22,000 to a Green Bay man. The proceeds were used to launch the Gridiron Greats Relief Fund. -- More


Simms an unwitting adviser to Favre
By Bob Wolfley / jsonline
When Phil Simms of CBS Sports offered his opinion on a satellite radio show last April, he had no idea the object of his advice was listening to him. Simms was even more surprised to learn the person he was talking about decided to follow that advice. In recent interviews, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre has said it was the advice from Simms, CBS' lead game analyst, during a radio interview that helped the quarterback return for his 16th season in the National Football League. During a conference call Thursday afternoon held by CBS Sports to promote the network's NFL games this season, Simms was asked about the advice he offered. "Somebody said to me, 'Hey, Brett Favre heard what you said about him.' I went, 'Uh-oh. What did I say?' I was trying to retrace all the thoughts I had." -- More





Packer season starts Sunday
Associated Press
For the Green Bay Packers, this year isn't about Brett Favre and his gunslinging. At least it's not supposed to be. While Cheesehead Nation spent the offseason fretting about whether Favre would return for another season, general manager Ted Thompson spent much of his time - and his free-agent money - trying to build a better defense. -- More


An old foe returns: The Tampa-2 defense
Packers have seen plenty of it as the Bucs' Cover-2
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren't back in the Green Bay Packers' division. It only seems that way. All three of the Packers' opponents in the NFC North will run the old Buccaneers' version of the Cover-2 defense, now known as the Tampa-2. That's not good news for the Packers, who have had their share of struggles against the defense hatched in the 1990s by Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy when he was running the Bucs. The Packers probably will see the best example of it Sunday, when the Chicago Bears come to Lambeau Field. The Bears' third-year coach, Lovie Smith, learned the defense from Dungy and Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin while serving as Tampa Bay's linebackers coach from 1996 to 2000. He took it to St. Louis, when he was the defensive coordinator of the Rams from 2001 to 2003. In both places, the defense gave the Packers fits. -- More


Packers rookie guards face tough test
By Chris Jenkins / Associated Press
Brett Favre tried to get his two rookie guards' attention in the middle of practice earlier this week. Addressing Jason Spitz and Tony Moll in the huddle, Favre said the speed they will see from Chicago Bears defense in the season opener on Sunday will be significantly faster than what they were seeing in practice. "I don't know if our guys can simulate what Tommie Harris and Alex (Brown) and all those guys can do," Favre said. "That's where experience comes in, whether or not you handle it, at least you know what it's going to be like." -- More


Midway Monster
Rookies Spitz, Moll are stalking a big Bear
By Lori Nickel / journalsentinel.com
Rookie guards Jason Spitz and Tony Moll of the Green Bay Packers have played against Rod Coleman of Atlanta, Jamal Williams of San Diego and Albert Haynesworth of Tennessee in the exhibition season. Maybe that experience against some of the better defensive tackles in the National Football League will help prepare them for Chicago's Tommie Harris in the season opener Sunday. -- More


Hunter isn't in pass-rush rotation
Kampman, KGB will remain on the field in passing situations
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers kept defensive end Jason Hunter on the 53-man roster because they were intrigued by his pass-rush ability, but it looks like they're not quite ready to use the undrafted rookie as one of their primary rushers on obvious passing downs. Starting defensive ends Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila are expected to stay on the field when defensive coordinator Bob Sanders goes to his main nickel (five defensive backs) or dime (six defensive backs) lineups during Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field. That doesn't mean Sanders won't use Hunter to spell either Kampman or Gbaja-Biamila, but for now, he's a backup even in obvious passing situations. "That's the way we practiced it in the offseason, in training camp and in the preseason," Kampman said, "so I don't see why it would change now." -- More


Carrying the burden
Team unsure how much to play Green
By Lori Nickel / journalsentinel.com
Green will officially mark his comeback Sunday against Chicago, and although by all accounts he is healthy, his legs are strong and he is in excellent shape, it's improbable that he will carry every rushing attempt. How much he can handle, at this point, is the big question for everyone. "We'll find out," coach Mike McCarthy said this week. "I mean, I've never gone through a game with him. . . . With Ahman's history, we're going to push it as far as he can go. But he looks great. He's worked extra on his conditioning coming off the Monday night game, so time will tell." -- More


Bigger piece of the puzzle
By Todd Korth / Packer Report
With a young offensive line and a star running back coming off a major injury, the Packers will need as much help as possible in running the football Sunday against the Chicago Bears, and for the rest of the season. Coach Mike McCarthy and his staff have turned to the team’s tight ends to help clear the way. The Packers kept four tight ends, one more than usual, on their 53-man roster and one on the eight-man practice squad not out of necessity but to help employ a smash-mouth attack against opposing defenses this season. Expect to see the Packers use at least three tight ends per game, and possible all four in various formations, including two-tight end sets, split out wide, or even as fullbacks in the backfield. -- More


It's early, but these teams nothing special
Packers struggle to cover punts
By Rob Reischel / Special to Packer Plus
The special teams coach has changed. The punter and kicker are new, as well. Both primary returners figure to be different. And the coverage units will have a new look. Even though the Green Bay Packers have blown up their special teams units from a year ago, there's no indication the 2006 version will be any better than last season's atrocious groups. A year ago, Green Bay finished 32nd - or dead last - in the Dallas Morning News rankings. As the Packers prepare for their season-opener Sunday against Chicago, perhaps the only position of strength comes via rookie punter Jon Ryan. The rest of the groups have plenty to prove following either rough or nondescript pre-season work.-- More


Hutson, Luckman tower
over Packers-Bears rivalry
Even after more than 50 years, no one's surpassed their stats
By Eric Goska / Press-Gazette correspondent
More than 60 years have passed since Don Hutson last caught a pass as a member of the Green Bay Packers. Even so, the legendary end remains the team's all-time leading receiver in its long-standing rivalry with the Chicago Bears. More than 50 years have elapsed since Sid Luckman last faded back to throw in the NFL. Today, the passing pioneer holds the honor of having thrown for more yards against the Packers than any other Bears player. Many of the greatest names in football took part in the Packers-Bears series, which dates to 1921. That Hutson and Luckman remain at the top only underscores their talents. -- More





Favre scrambles from
negative thoughts
QB's not sure what to expect
By Rob Reischel / Special to Packer Plus

"When you have an experienced team on all the areas of offense, defense and special teams and this guy takes charge of his group and when you think of the good teams, there's always a guy on special teams who seems to make the play all the time or gets the crowd going. No different than when we had Reggie (White). When we needed something . . . Reggie we got a sack or someone else came through with the big play. That's the experience part of it and we need guys to step up like that and in a hurry."

Forecasts of gloom and doom are everywhere.
Expectations haven't been lower since the Lindy Infante regime. And Brett Favre, the man expected to lead the Green Bay Packers this season, wishes he could disagree with the dark forecasts. The thing is, he can't. -- More


Odds of Favre retiring as Packer?:
'99.9 percent'
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers quarterback has insisted for several years he'd retire rather than play for another team, but he opened that door a sliver in an HBO interview with Bob Costas that aired Wednesday night. In Wednesday's biweekly news conference, however, Favre said his answer came after a series of questions from Costas about his future. Costas asked him if he's going to play next year, and Favre said he'll decide that later. Costas then asked if he'd play with another team, and Favre gave his stock answer that he loves Green Bay. "(Costas then) said, 'What happens at the end of the year if you still want to play," Favre said, "and the Packers just say, 'Hey, Brett, we want to go in a different direction. We'd love to have you, but it's time for us to start over,' and I'm sitting at home, thinking, I still can play. Would I consider playing for someone else?' I guess I would. Do I think that will happen? I'm 99.9 percent sure that won't happen. That's it." Favre's comments to HBO made news because it was a change from past answers, and they surely caught the team's attention. But coach Mike McCarthy dismissed it, and betrayed no concerns that Favre is thinking about being with another team or setting a bad tone to the season. -- More


Fontenot Now
On Other Side Of Rivalry
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com

"Being on this side of it will be fun, and I'm looking forward to getting out there on Sunday and doing whatever we can to beat these guys. For me it will be even more rich coming from Chicago, but I've eagerly adapted the traditions here in Green Bay."

Jerry Fontenot is getting his first look at the Packers-Bears rivalry from the other side this week. Fontenot, a coaching intern this summer for the Packers who was retained for the duration of the season as an offensive line assistant, played the first eight of his 16 seasons in the NFL for the Bears, from 1989 through 1996. His loyalties are clearly with Green Bay now, but the first time he walked down the stadium tunnel this summer, he couldn't help but remember his first Packers-Bears game. -- More


Franks Eager To Play Again
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com

"I've been waiting for this game for a whole off-season. This was the last game I played in last year, the first one this year. There's something to say about that. We'll see."

Tight end Bubba Franks didn't get much chance to play against the Bears last year, and it doesn't sit well that Chicago swept the season series while he was out. Franks, who never missed a game in his career until 2005, took a big hit from linebacker Lance Briggs on an incomplete pass on the Packers' first possession of the first game with Chicago last December. It came just one week after absorbing an even more damaging blow from Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins that sent Franks to the hospital for x-rays. -- More


I'm going to start numbering these now starting at...
The 1,001 Jennings Post

Jennings Remains
Modestly Confident
By Jason Wilde / madison.com

"I can't say I've been surprised by anything I've done. I expect what I'm doing out here. I expect more than what I'm doing out here. It's just my nature, I guess. I expect to make an impact. I'm not going to have a ridiculous, great game every Sunday, but I plan on having a lot of 'em."

Coach Mike McCarthy's never seen anything like it. Jimmy Robinson's as surprised as anyone. And Al Harris, never one to praise a wide receiver, even one of his own teammates, can't say enough about the kid. Yes, people are talking about Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver Greg Jennings, and every word of it is positively glowing. -- More





Start with Pickett, add a nickel
That defensive strategy may just work against Bears
By Chris Havel / greenbaypressgazette.com
Ryan Pickett has been watching A.J. Hawk for years. Pickett, who also played at The Ohio State University, doubts Green Bay Packers fans truly understand how good the rookie linebacker is. "They can't see him in practice," Pickett said. "I don't think people realize how special he is. He made a pick in Monday's practice and I was like, 'Wow!' This boy's real athletic, and he knows the game. He's going to be a great player for years to come." Through no fault of their own, Packers fans also may not realize that Pickett is a pretty good player, too. -- More