The Packer Pundit

He Fought the Law
And the NFL Won
Hopefully Koren Robinson
Can come out a Winner too
By Packer Pundit / Patrick Stuckey
It's ironic in that I was fixin' to write a post about how our special teams and especially the return game... have vastly improved this year. Unfortunately... a big part of that resurgence... Koren Robinson... is suspended and lost for the season due to his own 'inner demons'.

Now as a fan... it's frustrating and unfortunate. Koren was showing some real spark out on the field and you could tell he was close to breaking a long one. Brett Favre was showing confidence in him as a receiver... and Koren made a couple of clutch catches in some key moments. Now all that's wasted... and this year's disaster at wide receiver is starting to resemble last year's disaster at wide receiver as Thompson hopes to fill the void with a bunch of rookies and no names.

As a caring... feeling human being... I'm forced to look at this mess from a different perspective.

Alcoholism is a serious... and often times deadly... self inflicted disease. Those of us on the outside are left asking ourselves 'why?' as a friend or family member allows their life to wasted down the bottom of a bottle... or up their nose... or other vises. All we can do is Pray that they hit bottom and climb back up before it's too late and they destroy themselves... or an innocent (driving under the influence).

Hopefully Koren has hit his bottom. Hopefully he can find solace in the knowledge that we are praying for him. He has friends... Brett Farve for one... who shared a similar addiction to pain killers. He has a home here with the Packers. God speed Koren! Keep your rudder straight and brake some long ones for us... next year!






Packers Sign WR Francies From Practice Squad,
Re-Sign WR Brewster
The Green Bay Packers Wednesday signed wide receiver Chris Francies from their practice squad. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson made the announcement. In addition Wednesday, the club re-signed wide receiver Carlton Brewster to take Francies' place on the practice squad. Francies, a 6-foot-1, 193-pound rookie out of Texas-El Paso, originally signed with the team as a non-drafted free agent this past May and spent the season's first six weeks on the practice squad. His last name is pronounced "FRAN-sis." Francies will now wear No. 83 and Brewster has been assigned No. 19.

Deanne Favre unveiling new items
for breast cancer awareness
Deanna Farve, founder of the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation, is unveiling a new collection of items for breast cancer awareness today. The new collection of items was developed by Favre due to the positive response to last year’s pink hat campaign by the Green Bay Packers. Proceeds from the sale of the items will help raise money for her foundation and the work it does in the prevention and early detection of breast cancer.

Government skeptical of threat against NFL stadiums
A Web site is claiming that seven NFL football stadiums will be hit with radiological dirty bombs this weekend, but the government on Wednesday expressed doubts about the threat. The warning, posted Oct. 12, was part of an ongoing Internet conversation titled “New Attack on America Be Afraid.” It mentioned NFL stadiums in New York, Miami, Atlanta, Seattle, Houston, Oakland and Cleveland, where games are scheduled for this weekend. The Packers play at Miami at noon Sunday. The Homeland Security Department alerted authorities and stadium owners in those cities, as well as the NFL, of the Web message but said the threat was being viewed “with strong skepticism.” Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke said there was no intelligence that indicated such an attack was imminent, and that the alert was “out of an abundance of caution. The department strongly encourages the public to continue to go about their plans, including attending events that involve large public gatherings such as football games,” Knocke said. The FBI also expressed doubt about the threat.

Packers are thin at receiver
The Green Bay Packers have only two available receivers who have ever caught a pass in an NFL game. Much like the running back position a year ago, the depth of the receiving corps has been decimated. Gone are Koren Robinson and Robert Ferguson, the Nos. 3 and 4 receivers, respectively, leaving behind a pair of inexperienced backups, Ruvell Martin and practice-squad call-up Chris Francies. With Robinson lost because of a one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy and Ferguson out indefinitely — and perhaps all season — with a foot injury, the Packers came out of their bye week scrambling to assemble a cast of receivers for Sunday's game at Miami. Martin, a first-year player who failed in two attempts to make the San Diego Chargers' roster in 2004 and 2005, has played in three of the Packers' first five games but hasn't caught a pass. Francies, a rookie free agent out of UTEP, was promoted Wednesday to the active roster for the first time in his career. It leaves the Packers with only Donald Driver and rookie starter Greg Jennings as proven receivers. Combine that with a running game that ranks 26th of 32 NFL teams, and it could make the Packers even easier to defend.

Musical cornerbacks
Starting cornerback Charles Woodson did not practice Wednesday due to a sore quadriceps muscle, and though the Packers likely are to play rookie Will Blackmon for the first time this season, he probably wouldn't be a candidate to start if Woodson can't go. Blackmon broke his foot in May 21 minicamp practice and missed the rest of the offseason and all of the preseason. He didn't make it through a full practice until last Thursday. That means if Woodson can't play, nickel cornerback Patrick Dendy likely would start and Blackmon would play Dendy's nickel spot. Blackmon was listed as questionable on the injury report due to a shin injury, which coach Mike McCarthy said was the result of Blackmon's rehabilitation for his foot. Until Wednesday, Blackmon's injury had always been listed as his foot.

No more musical guards
It appears McCarthy has decided not to rotate his three rookie guards any more. When asked Wednesday if he had settled on Daryn College at left guard and Jason Spitz at right guard, McCarthy said: "Yes." That likely means Tony Moll, who started the first four games at right guard, is strictly a backup. Against the Rams, Moll didn't start, but he did get some playing time at right guard in place of Spitz, who was coming off a thigh injury.

Favre on Robinson Suspension:
I don't like the way
the league turned their back on him
CBS SportsLine.com wire reports

"I don't like the way the league has, in my mind, turned their back on him. I'm not against banning him for the year. I'd love for him to play, but to boot him out, clean his locker out and say you can't have no contact with this team?" -- Brett Favre

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brett Favre sharply criticized the way the NFL handles substance abuse problems Wednesday, a day after Packers teammate Koren Robinson was suspended for the season, apparently because of a drunken driving charge. The league's policy includes a stipulation against consuming alcohol while participating in its substance abuse program. Robinson apparently violated that before being arrested Aug. 15, when police said the receiver's blood-alcohol content was 0.11 percent, above the legal limit of 0.08. In the eyes of the NFL, the difference between Favre's case and Robinson's was that Favre sought help under the league's substance abuse policy and voluntarily entered a treatment facility after suffering a seizure while in the hospital for ankle surgery. Favre wasn't subject to punishment, only periodic drug testing used for treatment. He also complained Wednesday about being banned himself from drinking when he was in the NFL's program, though he made a conscious effort after his treatment to quit drinking to prolong his career and be a good family man. Still, Favre said the league's decision on Robinson doesn't seem to be in anyone's best interest. "I'm no expert, but I would think you would want for people to reach out to him and be within an organization that can help him as opposed to saying, 'You're banned from the building. To make matters worse, we don't even want you over here, so go think about it and deal with it on your own,"' Favre said. -- More



Favre rips the NFL
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
Brett Favre blasted the NFL's policy that prohibits suspended receiver Koren Robinson from stepping foot inside the Green Bay Packers' facility or having any official contact with club officials. One day after Robinson was slapped with a year-long suspension for again violating its substance abuse policy, Favre on Wednesday questioned the rationale of that part of the suspension. "If you suspend him for a year, fine," Favre said. "That's your call. But to ban him from the building and the support group that can help him? I saw him cleaning out his locker yesterday. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. At least let him come in where guys can say, 'Hey, Koren, can we help you out? You need someone to talk to?' "I'm no expert, but I would think that you'd want people to reach out to him and be within an organization that can help him as opposed to saying you're banned from the building." Favre became as close to Robinson as anyone in the locker room during Robinson's brief tenure with the team. Favre reached out to Robinson shortly after the Packers signed him last month and offered whatever help or advice he could provide while Robinson dealt with his legal and drinking problems. -- More




Favre, Robinson have emotional day
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
At the other end of the line, Koren Robinson was choking up. The Green Bay Packers suspended wide receiver had been silent as he listened to Brett Favre's words being read to him. And now, after a long pause to let it all sink in, there was a sniffle and a sigh. As he spoke, his voice cracked. "That means a lot to me," Robinson said, quietly. "I didn't know he had said all that." On Tuesday, the NFL denied Robinson's appeal and suspended him without pay for one year for his third violation of its substance-abuse policy. On Wednesday, his quarterback stood up for him, ripping the league for the way it has "turned their back" on Robinson and others, who according to NFL rules are not allowed in the team facility until their one-year suspensions are up. "It doesn't make a whole lot of sense, if you ask me," Favre said during his regular bi-weekly news conference. "If you suspend him for a year, fine. That's your call. But to ban him from the building and the support group that can help him? I saw him cleaning out his locker (Tuesday). It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. "It's unfortunate that he has to go through this, but maybe it makes him a better person. Whether or not it makes him a better player remains to be seen. But I don't like the way the league has, in my mind, turned their back on him." -- More






Receiver spot in rough shape
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
Brett Favre was searching for the right word Wednesday, trying to put into perspective the Green Bay Packers' dire wide receiver situation. With Koren Robinson having been suspended for one year on Tuesday and Robert Ferguson out with what could be a season-ending foot injury, the Packers quarterback could only shake his head. "It's definitely ... exciting," Favre said with a half-smirk, knowing full-well that wasn't the word he really wanted. Yes, this is the lineup the Packers will trot out for Sunday's game at Miami: Starters Donald Driver and Greg Jennings; promoted No. 3 receiver Ruvell Martin, who has been inactive for two of the first five games and has yet to catch his first NFL regular-season pass; and undrafted rookie free agent Chris Francies, who was promoted from the practice squad to the 53-man roster Wednesday. Gee, what do you think the Dolphins' defensive game-plan will be Sunday? -- More



WRs Martin, Francies Get Their Chance
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
posted 10/18/2006
In the NFL, one player's misfortune can become another's opportunity, and first-year Packers receivers Ruvell Martin and Chris Francies are more than aware of the opportunity now in front of them. With the suspension of Koren Robinson and the injury to Robert Ferguson, Martin has been elevated to the No. 3 receiver spot behind starters Donald Driver and Greg Jennings while Francies has been signed from the practice squad as the No. 4 receiver. Neither Martin nor Francies has caught a pass in a regular-season NFL game, but both may have the chance to change that on Sunday at Miami. "I understand it's pretty big," Martin said. "I definitely have to go out there and first chance I get start making plays and get the quarterback's confidence in me that I can go out there and contribute." Said Francies: "It's a big opportunity for me. They had to bring a guy up, and luckily it was me. I have to fill a spot and I'll do the best I can."
-- More

More on Martin and Francies below --



No regrets about
signing Robinson
McCarthy says risk was worth taking
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 18, 2006
Being left shorthanded at wide receiver because they thought Koren Robinson would be able to play more than just four games will long be a move for which Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy are second-guessed. But a day after Robinson was suspended for a year for violating the National Football League's substance-abuse policy, McCarthy made it clear that he has no regrets. "I clearly think it was the right thing to do," McCarthy said. "From a professional standpoint, we knew the risk we were taking. It was calculated and the worst scenario happened. But we knew what the possibilities were. "From a personal standpoint, I think he's a young man who made a mistake. I think he has a bright future. He's in the process of trying to correct his mistakes. I clearly do not think it was a mistake at all. His experience here was very positive." -- More



Tight Ends Ready For More Action
By Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 10/18/2006
The Packers have had four tight ends on the 53-man roster since the beginning of the season, and it looks as though they may utilize that depth this week. Thus far, tight ends Bubba Franks, David Martin and Donald Lee have combined for just 22 of the team's 118 pass receptions, in part because they've been asked to play a larger role in pass protection than in running routes at times. But with the offense down to four healthy receivers, two of whom will be looking to make their first NFL catches on Sunday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy indicated the Packers could use more multiple-tight end formations and vary their duties. Fourth tight end Tory Humphrey, inactive for the first two games and used primarily on special teams since, could see more snaps on offense as well. "Everything we do out of three wide receivers, we're also going to do out of two tight ends or three tight ends," McCarthy said. "So it's all carryover. We don't teach plays by personnel, we teach concepts, so we do have that ability." -- More



Waiting for impact
Linebackers seek more big plays
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 18, 2006
It was nothing more than a simple strip of the ball, but the play made Monday night by Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher on Arizona running back Edgerrin James had such a huge impact in the game, everyone in the National Football League seems to have taken notice of it. Perhaps that's why the Green Bay Packers added a strip drill to the early portion of practice Wednesday afternoon. If there's one thing that could overcome the inadequacies of the Packers' defense, it's the kind of game-changing play that Urlacher made when his team was trailing, 23-10, with 5 minutes to play. Other defensive plays contributed to the Bears' victory, but that one turned the game around. So far, the Packers are waiting for their linebacker corps to have one of those moments. Defense is an 11-man game, but the Packers built their starting linebacker unit for speed and explosiveness and they came into this season expecting some momentum-changing plays. -- More






Opportunity knocks for receiver Martin
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
On Sept. 24, Ruvell Martin's NFL dream was about to come true. The Michigan native and Green Bay Packers wide receiver was about to play against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field in front of friends and family. Then, a few hours before gametime, Martin got the news he was dreading. "I'm going home and they put me on the inactive list. That killed me," Martin said with a wistful laugh and a shake of his head. "I knew it was coming, because they had taken me off special teams earlier in the week, but that didn't make the news any easier to take. I was like, 'C'mon, any game but this one.'" -- More



Rookie gets shot at receiver slot
Francies promoted from practice squad
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 18, 2006
In the Green Bay Packers' estimation, there wasn't anybody on the street who could come close to filling receiver Koren Robinson's shoes so the logical choice for filling his roster spot was practice squad rookie Chris Francies. On Wednesday, the Packers promoted Francies, an undrafted free agent from Texas-El Paso, to the 53-man roster to take the place of Robinson, who was suspended for a year Tuesday for violating the National Football League's substance abuse program. The 6-foot-1, 193-pound Francies opened some eyes early in training camp but wasn't able to beat out a more experienced Ruvell Martin for a roster spot and was let go on the final cut. He has spent the last six weeks running routes with the scout team and building up his slender frame for this moment. "He's a bigger receiver; he can run," coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think he has a tremendous up side. He's one of the individuals who has really made progress in the weight training even during the season, which you like to see. It's obviously harder to do that when you're in-season." -- More

Meet Christina

Indianapolis Colts
Cheerleader

Hometown:
Indianapolis, Indiana

Years on Squad:

Occupation:
LAP Home/School Liaison

More about Cristina ...

Favorite Quote / Fun Fact about me:
Everything happens for a reason

Favorite Movie:
Take the Lead

Favorite TV Show:
Friends

Favorite Food:
Sushi or steak!