The Packer Pundit

Fast Start Means First Play
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has spoken often about how important a fast start would be for the Packers' 2006 season. Narrowing the focus to Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, McCarthy's desire for a fast start doesn't just apply to the first half or the first quarter. More like the first series, or even the first snap.

Backup by committee
McCarthy didn't specify on Friday whether Samkon Gado or Noah Herron would be the No. 2 running back behind Ahman Green. He said it depends on what the offense will want to do when Green needs a rest, but he anticipates both Gado and Herron will play.

Davenport signs with Steelers
Davenport, 27, spent his first four seasons with the Packers, collecting 1,068 yards and seven touchdowns in 39 career games. He ran for 105 yards and two TDs last year before suffering a season-ending ankle injury in early October. He was released by Green Bay on Sept. 2 in the team's final roster cutdown.

Packers release Hawkins
As expected, the Green Bay Packers and Mike Hawkins reached an injury settlement, and the cornerback was placed on waivers today. Hawkins was selected with the second of two picks in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL draft by the Packers. He was placed on the season-ending injured reserve on Sept. 2.

Barnett says Urlacher is 'great' but …
Nick Barnett didn't have a vote for Associated Press defensive player of the year in 2005 but if he had, it wouldn't have gone to middle linebacker Brian Urlacher of the Chicago Bears. Barnett said one name that came to mind was safety Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh. Urlacher, 28, won the AP award by capturing 34 of 50 votes cast by a panel of sportswriters. Barnett also said he didn't think Urlacher was the greatest linebacker in the game. "There's some good guys," Barnett said. "He's a good linebacker. I'd say Ray Lewis but he's been hurt the last two years. I like (Takeo) Spikes. I like Mike Peterson a lot. "He (Urlacher) is perfect for that scheme. He flies around. The guy has been making plays for a long time."

Injury list
Tackle Chad Clifton attended practice in uniform Friday but didn't participate because of illness. He was added to the injury report as probable but coach Mike McCarthy said he would play Sunday against the Bears at Lambeau Field. Fullback William Henderson didn't do much in practice Friday, 18 days after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery for cartilage damage. McCarthy called it a game-day decision. Cornerback Will Blackmon was upgraded to questionable but isn't going to play. He returned to practice this week for the first time since suffering a broken foot May 21. He performed individual drills and some seven-on-seven.

Ready to Fly
Hawk will be a fixture in the base defense, the nickel defense alongside Barnett and in various other packages. "Obviously, right now I feel a lot more comfortable than when I first got in here," Hawk said. "I feel good. The whole defense feels confident going into this game." Hawk has spent enough time alongside Barnett in the 4-2 defense that blown assignments shouldn’t be a problem, according to Barnett. "We got a lot of work on it this week and a lot of work last week," Barnett said. "So he’s real good at it. Sometimes I line him up. Sometimes they tell me. It’s just kind of that communication thing."

Extra Points
**McCarthy, on the visit by wide receiver Koren Robinson Sunday: "Ted (Thompson) just wanted to bring him in and talk to him. That's kind of where we left it."

**Jason Spitz and Tony Moll will become the first pair of rookies to start at guard on opening day since Cincinnati's Ken Blackman and Rod Jones in 1996. San Diego in 2004 was the last NFL line to have two rookies starting in an opener.

**The Packers think this is the first time in their history they've started two rookies at guard in any game.

**Since the merger in 1970, the Packers have never started more than three rookies on opening day. Besides the two guards, Green Bay is scheduled to start Hawk and wide receiver Greg Jennings.





A capsule look at Packers-Bears game
By Steve Lawerence / Packer report
The Chicago Bears are favored by three points entering Sunday's Week 1 matchup at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. Here are some facts about both of the teams.
Kickoff is set for 3:15 p.m. -- More


Packers want to start regaining
'Lambeau Advantage'
Associated Press
The last time the Green Bay Packers lost their home opener four straight years, from 1986-89, several of their current players were learning how to count numbers in elementary school. To avoid duplicating a dubious streak, the Packers have to find a way to beat archrival Chicago at Lambeau Field on Sunday. The reigning NFC North champion has emerged from the venerable stadium with victories each of the last two years. Those setbacks are a microcosm of a team that has lost its home-field dominance in recent years. Restoring what he calls the "Lambeau Advantage" has been a point of emphasis for first-year coach Mike McCarthy, beginning with the season opener against the Bears.
-- More


Lambeau Season Kicks Off With Visit From Bears
By Sports Network
The NFL schedule-makers didn't waste any time getting a storied division rivalry on the 2006 docket, pegging the Green Bay Packers to host NFC North foe Chicago at legendary Lambeau Field in Week 1. The Bears are fresh off an 11-5 mark and a division title from a year ago, but haven't won a season-opener since a Dick Jauron-led club opened the 2002 campaign with two straight wins. -- More





McCarthy institutes
Day of Rest
By Bob McGinn
journalsentinel.com

"I believe in the 48-hour rule. When they walked off the field today they have 48 hours to get their bodies ready for the game. I don't believe in going out in practice on Saturday . . . (or) Saturday night meetings. You can really wear them out mentally. Saturday night's not the time to be going over your first 15 (plays)."

Determined to keep his team as fresh as possible, coach Mike McCarthy has done away with the Green Bay Packers' long-standing tradition of day-before-game practices.For years, the Packers conducted a mock game 24 hours before kickoff in which players basically stood on the sideline at Lambeau Field and then jogged out to their places when the various units of offense, defense and special teams were called. -- More


McCarthy discusses his expectations
JSOnline.com
Sports Illustrated magazine picks them at 6-10. Pro Football Weekly has them pegged No. 28 in its power rankings. Both publications as well as the Sporting News forecast a last-place finish in the NFC North Division. The Green Bay Packers suffered their worst one-year-to-the-next collapse in their long history under Mike Sherman a year ago. Now, not many pundits expect a whole lot of improvement under Mike McCarthy this season. -- More


Mike McCarthy Press Conference
Transcript: Sept. 8 (Link)


Wells quietly effective
On center stage
By Jason Wilde / madison.com

"Being able to play early on, Brett was able to build a little trust in me. He's comfortable with me; I'm not a new face for him," Wells said. "And being able to really focus on just center this year has helped. Every snap he's gotten has been with me."

You read about them all training camp long - rookie guards Jason Spitz, Tony Moll and Daryn Colledge. We chronicled their every move, told you about every up and down, devoted almost as much ink and airtime to their development as the tabloids do to Paris Hilton's partying, Britney Spears' parenting and Tom Cruise's weirdness. But how much do you know about Scott Wells' training camp? Unless you're his wife, Julie, or his parents, Wayne and Cindy, probably not much. -- More


Thurston has
Worthy story to tell
By Mike Vandermause
GBPressgazette

"Money can only get you so far. It's such an honor to be a Green Bay Packer, and I cherish that every day of my life."

Avid fans might be hard pressed to remember who started at left guard last season for the Green Bay Packers, but they would have no trouble naming the starter at that position 40 years ago. It's somewhat astounding that Fuzzy Thurston retired as a Packer following the 1967 season, yet a generation later he still is well known and beloved by followers of the Packers. Thurston was an integral part of Vince Lombardi's Glory Years Packers teams. Along with Jerry Kramer, he formed one of the most famous guard combinations in NFL history. -- More




Panthers' Smith Sits Out With Sore Hammy
Giants GM Quietly Helps Sept. 11 Victim
Clinton Portis Targets Week 2 for Return
Yahoo to Webcast NFL Outside N. America
Stroud Misses Another Jags Practice
Vanderjagt not expected to kick in opener
Big plays help Steelers seal win late
Detroit coach arrested for multiple offenses


Seeing how the Packer's don't have A Bunch of Hottie Cheerleaders (what up wid dat?) I'm going to Feature a different Babe-a-licious Cheer Girl from different teams.

Meet Adrienne
Eagles Cheerleading Squad

Years As An Eagle Cheerleader: 6

College: University of Delaware

Major/Degree: Elementary Education

Career/Profession: Pre-School Teacher

More
(Including Streaming *gulp* video)