The Packer Pundit

Break is welcomed
Mike McCarthy said he plans to visit his daughter, Alexandra, over the weekend. Some players will stay and relax in Green Bay while others will travel during their mini-vacation. McCarthy said he isn't worried about the possibility of some running into problems off the field. "My message was simple. I told them to be safe and be smart, be smart and be safe,” McCarthy said. “They're men, I think it's important to treat them like men. A number of them are traveling, it is a short break, but I don't have apprehensions about it. That's part of being part of a football team."





Packers gamble with Blackmon and lose
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
When the Green Bay Packers included rookie cornerback Will Blackmon on their final 53-man roster in September, the assumption was that he would be able to play soon. After suffering a foot injury during the Packers' second minicamp on May 21, Blackmon was on the physically-unable-to-perform list throughout training camp. Packers General Manager Ted Thompson had the option of stashing Blackmon on the PUP list where he could have been given an additional six weeks to recover from the injury without costing the Packers a roster spot. Six weeks into the season, Blackmon, who the Packers selected in the fourth round of the draft last spring, has yet to play a down. "That's such an unusual circumstance that he went through with that injury," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "It could have been one day, and it could have been six weeks. No one ever expected it to take this long, but that's where he is." McCarthy is optimistic Blackmon's availability will change next week after the Packers return from their bye week. -- More



Lawmaker wants to put
Packers' foes in fast lane
Police escorts through traffic may be illegal
By Ed Lowe
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
APPLETON — State Rep. Steve Wieckert says he will push to rewrite state laws to enable visiting National Football League teams to continue their pre-game stays in Appleton. First, however, Wieckert, R-Appleton, said he will request a state attorney general's opinion on whether existing statutes allow police to restrict traffic while ushering visiting-team caravans from Appleton to Lambeau Field. A legal opinion offered by Nancy Peterson-Bekx, a former prosecutor and current criminal justice instructor at Fox Valley Technical College, has thrown into question police escort practices in place since NFL teams began staying in downtown Appleton in the early 1980s. Peterson-Bekx said state police agencies cannot disregard traffic laws except when responding to emergencies, or during specifically exempted duties. -- More






No rest for the wicked at 1-4
Packers get extra bye-week work
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Oct. 11, 2006
In most NFL seasons, the bye week means bye-bye. Mike Holmgren once gave his Green Bay Packers an entire week off. Other coaches send players on their way by the early part of the week. The 2006 Green Bay Packers won't enjoy such down time. When you're 1-4 and the youngest team in football, as these Packers are, you need all the work you can get. That's why Green Bay rookie head coach Mike McCarthy had his players practice through Thursday this week, before they were issued a three-day leave. "Well, this year, we're not up to speed as far as where we need to be," defensive tackle Colin Cole said. "The extra work will definitely help us when we come back and we can go full-steam on Miami." -- More



Packers' drive good . . .
Until last drop
Favre's fumble foils comeback bid
By ROB REISCHEL
Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Oct. 11, 2006
Aaron Kampman had seen situations like this end swimmingly for the Green Bay Packers several times before. So had the 70,804 who formed the second-largest crowd in Lambeau Field history Sunday. Here was Brett Favre, who has orchestrated 35 game-winning comebacks in his storied career, leading Green Bay to No. 36 against St. Louis. Only this one didn't have the happy ending Kampman, the rest of the Packers and a highly depressed crowd had hoped for. With Green Bay trailing the Rams, 23-20, and perched at the St. Louis 11-yard line with just 44 seconds left, the ball was stripped from Favre by St. Louis defensive end Leonard Little. Packers rookie guard Daryn Colledge had a chance to secure the fumble, but whiffed and Rams cornerback Jerametrius Butler recovered. That quickly, an apparent Green Bay victory had turned into another crushing defeat. "I thought we were going to win," said Kampman, a defensive end. "I thought for sure. Momentum, crowd, everything was going for sure. But that's how quick a game can change." -- More






Favre remains the man
Coaches not ready to hand Rodgers reins
By LORI NICKEL
journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 13, 2006
The National Football League's youngest team is off to a 1-4 start, so it might be logical to assume that the Green Bay Packers are entertaining the idea of sitting 16-year veteran Brett Favre and letting Aaron Rodgers take over as the starting quarterback. Would Favre ever concede such a move? "No," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said emphatically. "It's because he's too much a competitor. I don't know one guy who is worth his salt who will say, 'Then I won't do it.' He's a competitor. Believe me, that loss right there (to the St. Louis Rams) hurt him as much as any loss he's ever had in this organization." For now, it appears there is no "move on with Rodgers" debate inside the offices at Lambeau Field. Favre remains in charge, and Rodgers remains the understudy, for 2006. But what happens after this bye week? -- More



You know it's a bye week when they start doing a Q & A with the thrid string Quarterback --

Playing Third String:
Q & A With Ingle Martin
Packers.news.com

(Describe the job of the third quarterback on an NFL team.)

Well, on our team, the third quarterback is probably the most important position out there. Obviously Brett Favre does OK sometimes, and Aaron, he's a first-round pick. But myself coming in here, I really feel like I have to get the guys going. My way of writing down the plays on the clipboard really motivates the rest of the team to really try to go out there and win the game. Obviously I have to do a little better job, we're 1-4 right now, so hopefully these next couple games I can start writing down a little better, maybe a little clearer.

(In all seriousness, what is it the coaches ask the third quarterback to do in practice on a daily basis?)

It's just something I have to go out there and be mentally prepared every day because I'm not getting any reps. Go out and watch what Brett does, watch the reads, watch the checks, and I'm the emergency guy so I have to be ready without having any reps. As far as the defensive coaches go, they expect me to give them a good look on the scout team, and I think Aaron and I have done a pretty good job with that this year so far.
-- More






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