The Packer Pundit

Bye Week Provides Extra Time
For Fundamentals, Miami
The Packers used their three practices during the bye week to work on essentially three things - corrections from their previous two losses, initial preparation for the Miami game on Oct. 22, and fundamentals. The last of those was perhaps the most important, as they relate to the Packers' two biggest downfalls thus far in 2006, turnovers on offense and big plays on defense. Hanging onto the ball and staying in the proper position are as fundamental as it gets for Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and he welcomed the opportunity to stress those this week. "To me, that's what fundamentals are, and when you have the opportunity to correct something, you need the environment to emphasize something as much as possible," he said. "That's what this week was all about."

Blackmon back soon?
Rookie cornerback Will Blackmon, who missed all of the June organized team activities and all of training camp with a broken foot, returned to practice and did individual drills early in the week and joined in on some of the team periods Thursday. Blackmon, a fourth-round draft choice out of Boston College, originally attempted to return to practice during the week leading up to the season opener, but a setback with the injury due to his rehab kept him out until this week. "We're just bringing him along," McCarthy said. "He's doing more and more each day, and I'm hoping Monday we can get him full time. We'll see if he can go through a whole week of practice."

Injuries
Receiver Koren Robinson (knee) and cornerback Charles Woodson (quad, ribs) both missed practice on Thursday, but neither player is believed to be seriously hurt. Among other injured players, Brandon Miree (eye), Jason Spitz (throat), Nick Collins (head) and Chad Clifton (shoulder) all returned to practice during the week. Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (ankle) was still very sore, according to McCarthy, and his availability for Miami is uncertain. Abdul Hodge (knee) was still on crutches this week, but McCarthy said he could return to practice next week or the week after.





Getting ready to pack?
By Todd Korth / PackerReport.com

"I'm not saying the whole city is racist; that's not what I'm saying. But, we do get stereotyped here," Barnett told the Wisconsin State Journal in a June 21 article. "Like, when (the members of the council) were watching the video of my club. They looked at the way people were dressed and said, 'How do you get that element in your club?' 'Well, what do you mean by element? Just because they're black? Is that the element you're talking about?'"

The fact that Nick Barnett has his beleaguered nightclub up for sale should not be seen as a sign that he wants out of Green Bay. At least, that’s what Barnett is saying to the media. “It’s definitely not about leaving the team,” said Barnett, whose contract expires after the 2007 season. Barnett put his downtown nightclub, FiveSix Ultra Lounge, up for sale on Sept. 1 for $1,18 million, about a year after he opened it with longtime friend Shamon Jamerson. He recently reduced the price to $848,888. In early June, the middle linebacker landed in a political whirlwind after the Green Bay City Council denied his renewal for a liquor license. Council members cited numerous police calls and complaints from neighbors regarding late-night activities at the club, including at least 15 fights.

Barnett, who is black, subsequently spoke out on what he felt was unfair treatment by the city and said the denial of the license renewal smacked of racist overtones. At about the same time, another Green Bay downtown establishment – Hip Cats - that had a litany of problems was absolved June 26 by a city committee, which recommended that the club's liquor license be renewed. On June 29, in what's perceived as damage control on the city's part, Mayor Jim Schmitt called for the city council to rescind the earlier decision about Barnett's liquor license. "It's making the city look stupid," Chad Fradette, president of the city council, told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. -- More


Related Links --

Nightclub sale not a harbinger
By Jason Wilde / madison.com -- Story

Barnett says sale of nightclub not a sign
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com -- Story

Barnett, Packers on good terms
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com -- Story






Players OK with overtime
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
An extra day of work put a serious crimp in their travel plans, and two practices in pads weren't exactly something they enjoyed. But as the Green Bay Packers players went into their three-day bye week off time, no one was complaining too much about coach Mike McCarthy's schedule. "Hey man, we're 1-4. What are you going to do?" veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher said Thursday, after the team's final practice of the week. "It's hard to make suggestions to the coach. What are you going to say? 'Hey, we're 1-4, maybe you should back off?' That's not going to happen."
-- More



Despite bye, team works in pads
McCarthy doesn't think he can afford to lighten load
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
There aren't many teams in the National Football League that practice in pads the week of their bye, but Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy did it twice this week before sending his players off for a three-day weekend. By contrast, Minnesota Vikings first-year coach Brad Childress, whose team also has a bye this week, had his team in for a weight-lifting session Tuesday morning and then let them go until Monday. McCarthy doesn't think he has that luxury with the youngest team in the NFL and a 1-4 record. On Tuesday, the players corrected mistakes from the St. Louis game, on Wednesday they corrected mistakes from the Philadelphia game and on Thursday they began preparations for the Miami game Oct. 22. "This is my initial schedule, and I stuck to it based on where we are as a football team," McCarthy said. "If there was an adjustment to be made, it would have been more time off." -- More



Packers practice hard during bye week
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers might be the only team in the NFL that practiced in full pads during its bye week. First-year coach Mike McCarthy took an unusually aggressive approach to the Packers' off week, holding practices in full pads on Wednesday and Thursday before giving the players a three-day weekend. Though McCarthy rested some key veterans and injured players, he had almost his entire squad on the field Thursday for what was a regular season-type of practice. "This was my initial schedule, and I stuck to it based on where we are as a football team," McCarthy said. "If there was an adjustment to be made, it would have been more time off." McCarthy's bye-week practice schedule was one-day longer than most years under previous coach Mike Sherman. In 2001, and from 2003 to 2005, Sherman kept the players around through Wednesday and then gave them four days off. Twice, in 2000 and 2002, he practiced through Thursday like McCarthy did this season. -- More







Morency can't hang on to ball, job
Back fumbles his big opportunity
By RICK BRAUN
Packer Plus writer
Vernand Morency had it all in front of him on Sunday. The second-year running back was coming off a 99-yard performance six days earlier in the Green Bay Packers' 31-9 loss at Philadelphia. When it was determined that Ahman Green would be unable to play for a second consecutive game because of sore hamstrings, Morency was in the starting lineup for the second straight game. And things started out just fine.

On the first play, Morency caught a pass for 5 yards. On second down, he took another pass for 4 yards. On third and 1, he blasted through the left side for 3 yards and a first down. It was becoming clear that Morency would play a big part in the Packers' game plan.

On the next play, he ran over right guard for 2 yards. That's four plays, four touches for Morency. Unfortunately, at the end of that play as Morency hit the pile, the ball popped free and St. Louis' Victor Adeyanju recovered at the Packer 37. Six plays later, the Rams had a 7-0 lead.
-- More



Herron takes chance and runs with it
Third-string back picks up 106 yards
By RICK BRAUN
Packer Plus writer
After losing two fumbles in the first three games, running back Noah Herron found himself needing either injury or another negative development to get back into the rotation. Herron got one of each on Sunday and has vaulted himself back into consideration for serious playing time. Herron entered the game in the first quarter of the Packers' 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams Sunday because Ahman Green was inactive with hamstring injuries and replacement Vernand Morency fumbled the ball twice in his first five touches. From there, Herron showed no sign of ever letting Morency get back onto the field. Herron ran for a career-high 106 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries as the Packer running game turned in its best performance of the season. "It was nice," Herron said of his individual performance, "but I'd exchange the victory for it. It's always a good career mark, but at the same time, we want to win. Individual stats, those don't really matter if you get the loss." -- More




Nothing new: Herron aware of his limitations
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com

"I'm not going to break one 80 yards, I'm just not. Not many people are. 'A.G.' might be one of the few that can really do that. That's something I don't even worry about. I've never really broke long runs ever in my career. I just focus on the things I do well, and that's make plays." -- Noah Herron

When he was a rookie with the Pittsburgh Steelers, running back Noah Herron gravitated toward Jerome Bettis, the grand old man of toting the football, who was nearing the end of the road after defying the National Football League's laws of size and speed for so many years. They talked often about their similarities and the label Herron faced because his speed didn't match the standards for NFL running backs. During a heart to heart, Bettis imparted some wisdom that Herron has held close to him ever since. "I might not be fast," Bettis told Herron, "but I know my way around the football field better than anybody." Herron knew what Bettis was talking about because from the time he was a high school running back in Mattawan, Mich., to his days at Northwestern to the NFL draft in 2005, he carried a label of being too slow for the next level. So he has always tried to use his talents as effectively as he can. It's the main reason he ran for 5,544 yards in high school, left Northwestern as the school's fifth all-time leading rusher and picked up 106 yards and a touchdown in 20 carries for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. -- More

Meet Amanda
Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleader

Years As An Eagle Cheerleader: 4

College: Moravian College

Major/Degree: Psychology/Spanish

Career/Profession: Assistant Manager/Personal Fitness Trainer at L.A. Fitness
What's your sign? Gemini ...the coolest sign!
If I Had A Superpower, it would be ... the ability to fly.

My dream vacation would be ... a Caribbean cruise to Belize so I could explore the ancient Mayan archeology, see the wildlife and relax on its tranquil beaches.

Favorite Eagle: I have been a fan of Donovan McNabb since his days at Syracuse University. My dad, a graduate of Syracuse, has had season tickets for years. I even got Donovan's autograph when he was a red-shirt freshman!!

Reality Show You'd Want To Be On: Fear Factor because fear is not a factor for me ...

If I'm on a deserted island, I'd have to take ... my fiancé ...If I have to be on a deserted island, I want some company!!

What I love about Eagles fans is ... they are the craziest fans in the NFL!! No, really ...they are!!

Favorite Cereal: Frosted Mini-Wheats

I've Never Been Able To Say No To ... anything chocolate!

On a Saturday night, I'll Be ... out to dinner with Bill, my fiancé.

I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for ... the advice and support of my parents.

My best friend would say that I am ... an extremely busy, but loyal, person.

Favorite Childhood Memory: Going to my grandmother's house with my sister every Saturday night and watching Star Search.

If I Had One More Hours In The Day, I Would ...: love to be productive and actually get something accomplished, but I would probably end up sleeping the extra hour!