The Packer Pundit

Blackmon Back
Better late than never, rookie Will Blackmon apparently will be on the spot Sunday. Cornerback Charles Woodson continued to rehab a quadriceps injury above his left knee. He remains questionable on the injury report. Second-year man Patrick Dendy is the top choice to replace Woodson opposite Al Harris in the base defense. Dendy took over for the released Ahmad Carroll as the nickel back and had an adequate performance in the Week 5 loss to St. Louis before the bye week. Blackmon, meanwhile, spent the last two days working in the nickel role and could get significant playing time in his belated pro debut this weekend.


Woodson Returns To Practice
Cornerback Charles Woodson returned to practice on Friday for the first time since injuring his leg two weeks ago against St. Louis, and Head Coach Mike McCarthy said he's "hopeful" Woodson will be able to play Sunday. If Woodson does play, McCarthy said it would be a game-time decision whether to continue using him as the No. 1 punt returner, or whether he'd play strictly cornerback and the punt return duties would go to receiver Greg Jennings. "That's something we'll talk about Sunday," McCarthy said. "We'll go through pre-game, see how he feels. But I think anytime you can put the ball in Charles Woodson's hands, it benefits your football team. So we'll talk about that more."

Kick return job
Running back Vernand Morency will be the No. 1 kick returner on Sunday, with fellow running back Noah Herron also available for the duty. Since joining the Packers during Week 2, Morency has been the second option on the kick return unit alongside Koren Robinson. But Morency now moves into the primary spot in a game he'll be playing in front of his home crowd. Morency, one of several Packers from South Florida, was born and raised in Miami and said he'll have several friends and family members in attendance.

Ready and waiting
On Sunday it will be 14 days since the Packers last played a game, and while the rest has done some good, it also has made the entire team anxious to hit the field again. "I'm excited to be able to play another game," defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila said. "I feel fresh." The bye week did allow for extra scouting and preparation for Miami, but it appears the players have had their fill of working on one opponent. "I know they're not looking forward to practicing anymore on the Miami Dolphins," McCarthy said. "I think we all have a time clock as far as preparation that goes on in each player and coach's mind. We're very routine oriented, and we've spent a lot of extra time. So from that factor, we're ready to get down there and get after the Dolphins."






Packers Injury update
RB Ahman Green on Thursday declared himself fit for Sunday's game at Miami. Green has practiced three of the last four days without incident after missing the previous two games because of sore hamstrings. Green still remains questionable on the injury report, however. His carries will be limited to about 15 to 20 in the game.

-- WR Robert Ferguson has yet to be ruled out for the rest of the season, but a decision could be forthcoming. Ferguson has been on crutches the past two weeks after suffering significant damage to the Lisfranc part of his right foot returning a kickoff in Week 4.

-- FB William Henderson managed to practice again despite having swelling in a calf. The backup is questionable for Sunday.

-- DT Cullen Jenkins remains sidelined with a badly sprained ankle and isn't expected to play Sunday. Jenkins, a key contributor in the line rotation, is officially doubtful for the game.

--LB Ben Taylor was out another day, and the versatile backup likely won't play for the second straight game because of a hamstring injury. He, too, is on the injury report as doubtful. -- LB Abdul Hodge, the rookie who's been backing up Nick Barnett in the middle, also figures to be a no-go for the second consecutive game because of a serious knee injury. He hasn't practiced for more than two weeks.

Dolphins Injury update
-- CB Andre' Goodman wore a red (no contact) jersey again, and is expected to start in place of Travis Daniels Sunday against Green Bay.

-- CB Travis Daniels, for the second day, couldn't make it through practice because of his sore knee. He was extremely pessimistic about his playing status Sunday.

-- FS Jason Allen, the first round draft pick who has hardly played this season, is working with the first team dime package unit, along with backup SS Yeremiah Bell, who is playing the 'star' or shadowing the tight end.

-- DE Kevin Carter, who sat out Wednesday's practice with a sore knee, returned to practice and is expected to play Sunday.

-- WR Marty Booker completed all of practice for the second straight day and is expected to start Sunday's game against Green Bay. Booker missed last Sunday's 20-17 loss to the New York Jets because of a pulled muscle in his chest. -- LB Derrick Pope shed the red jersey and practiced without limitations Thursday. After missing four straight games, he should be a boon to special teams this week.

Dolphins still think Favre is a weapon
By Carl Kotala
Gannett News Service
DAVIE, Fla. — There has been a lot of talk in the national media that Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre just doesn't have it anymore. But from where the Miami Dolphins sit, there is plenty to be wary of, defending the guy who is on pace to break Dan Marino's all-time passing records by the time he's through. "He's a big-play guy," Miami linebacker Zach Thomas said. "He still has his arm. He has a rocket, and he'll definitely fling it. He reads coverages really well. "He's a very smart quarterback. That's why he's a Hall-of-Famer, one of the best quarterbacks to play the game. It doesn't look like he's lost a step at all. His mechanics ... he throws it a little off, but it's always there, it's always on target." Favre and the Packers (1-4) are hardly the playoff contenders they once were. With each loss, it seems at least one or two national experts suggest it's time for the 16-year veteran to step aside and let young backup Aaron Rodgers take over. However, first-year Packers coach Mike McCarthy hasn't shown any inclination to bench Favre, who will start his 227th consecutive game — an NFL record for quarterbacks — when Green Bay visits Miami at noon Sunday. -- More






Packers Looking For A Few Good Receivers
Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers are scouring their roster for help at receiver after finding none in free agency. "I don't want to call it panic mode, but when you're lacking receivers and you wonder 'OK, what are we going to do downfield?"' tight end David Martin said Thursday. "Just go out there and take it play by play. Things will happen, the game will fill out itself." The Packers are looking anywhere for help with receiver Koren Robinson suspended for a year and Robert Ferguson's lingering foot injury. Without a proven No. 3 receiver, the Packers are likely to get their tight ends more involved in the passing game. Martin, a former college receiver, and starting tight end Bubba Franks each have more career receptions than the remaining healthy Packers wideouts -- a group that includes No. 2 receiver Greg Jennings, a rookie, and first-year player Ruvell Martin, who will likely become the Packers' No. 3 receiver. "David's a pretty natural receiver and a pretty good route runner," tight ends coach Ben McAdoo said. "A lot of that has to do with his experience." -- More



Improved Line, Ground Game To Be Tested
By Mike Spofford, Packers.com
posted 10/20/2006

"They're really talented, and we've got our work cut out for us. They're proficient at stopping the run, especially winning on first down." -- Jason Spitz

The Packers are likely to find out just how improved their offensive line and running game are this week. Despite losses in their last two games, the Packers have shown steady progress in the development of their offensive line, and as a result the ground game has nearly produced consecutive 100-yard rushers (Vernand Morency had 99 yards in Week 4, Noah Herron had 106 in Week 5). But those areas face a stiff test this week at Miami, where the Dolphins have one of the league's most experienced defensive fronts. They rank third in the NFL in allowing just 3.0 yards per rush, a full yard below the league average of 4.0. "We're playing a pretty stout defense this week," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "They hold the point really well and they've got so much experience up on that front, that's what makes them so darn good." The starters in that veteran group - Jason Taylor, Kevin Carter, Keith Traylor and former Packer Vonnie Holliday - all have between eight and 16 years of experience. Carter is questionable for Sunday with a knee injury, but two of the key backups are Dan Wilkinson and David Bowens, who have 20 years of experience between them. -- More



Is Green running on empty?
How much does the running back have in his tank?
We might find out Sunday at Miami
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com

"From what I've seen in practice — and that's not quite the same as a game, but we try to make it as close as possible — is a guy that's still explosive and still powerful as a runner, I think he can still be productive. I truly believe that." -- Running backs coach Edgar Bennett

The Green Bay Packers might be about to find out if Ahman Green has anything left. The Packers' running back appears set to start Sunday's game at Miami, and it will be his first appearance in almost a month. He last played on Sept. 24 against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. He sat out the next two games due to a hamstring injury and had the benefit of last week's bye. Since Green last played, the Packers' offensive line has made gigantic strides in its understanding and execution of the zone-blocking scheme first-year coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski have introduced. In Green's absence, backups Vernand Morency and Noah Herron were productive. Morency narrowly missed a 100-yard game against Philadelphia, rushing 26 times for 99 yards, and Herron secured the first 100-yard game of his career against St. Louis by getting 106 yards on 20 carries. -- More






Miree has knack
His first love's football, but films are in picture
By RICK BRAUN
Packer Plus writer
Posted: Oct. 18, 2006
Brandon Miree seems to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. Because of that, he's now a starter in the National Football League after a year on injured reserve and a year on practice squad. Another thing Miree seems to have a knack for is story telling. And because of those knacks, Miree has a hobby - maybe even a future career - that not too many other NFL players have: Filmmaking. That's right. Miree is an aspiring filmmaker. In fact, he's no longer just aspiring to be a filmmaker, he already is a filmmaker. Miree has shot and performed in a short film called "Do Not Call" in February. The film is now in the editing process and Miree eventually hopes to have it shown at some film festivals. "It was about a guy who gets harassed by telemarketers and gets himself on the do-not-call list," Miree said. "Eventually his girlfriend leaves him, and his roommate moves out to another city and at the end he's begging the telemarketers to call him back. So it's one of those little turn of events." It's a modest beginning, but Miree has his eyes set on bigger things down the road. Interestingly, Miree was not a film major at Pittsburgh. He kind of stumbled into it after graduation. -- More



Fate allows Hodges to stay close-knit
By Dylan B. Tomlinson
Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers
It was seven years ago when Bret Bielema stood in the Hodge family home in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., and made two promises. Bielema, then the linebackers coach at the University of Iowa, was in Florida recruiting Abdul Hodge. "Before he left, he said, 'I'm going to sign you, and then I'm going to come back for your little brother,'" Abdul Hodge said with a laugh. "We all laughed at the time, because Elijah was so small at the time, but he came through with both of us." Abdul Hodge signed with Iowa. Five years later, when Bielema was the defensive coordinator at the University of Wisconsin, he went back and signed Elijah, who no longer was so small and had blossomed into a major NCAA Division I recruit. Bielema had gone from Iowa to Kansas State and then to Wisconsin, but never forgot about Abdul Hodge's younger brother. "That really seems like a long time ago," Elijah Hodge said. "You always remember something like that. I don't even know if I was a freshman (in high school) at the time." Seven years later, Abdul Hodge is a rookie linebacker for the Green Bay Packers. Elijah Hodge is a sophomore at Wisconsin, where he is playing for Bielema, who is in his first season as the Badgers' head coach. "It's pretty cool how it all worked out," Elijah Hodge said. "You always think about something like this happening, but things don't usually work out that way." -- More






NFL's ban may hurt, not help, Robinson
By Chris Havel
Koren Robinson shouldn't look at it as a one-year suspension without pay. He should think of it as the chance of a lifetime. Make that the third chance of a lifetime. He shouldn't consider it punishment. He should see it as an employer taking action to help an employee, because he can't help himself. Robinson, 26, is blessed with immense talent. He also is cursed with a serious addiction. Until he understands that and takes measures to deal with it, he is destined to become just another statistic, and I am not talking touchdown catches. The NFL rejected Robinson's appeal earlier this week. The only surprise was the haste with which new commissioner Roger Goodell acted. To suggest Goodell's motivation to move quickly was self-serving, or that he was trying to send a message, is speculation. It also is irrelevant. So is questioning the Green Bay Packers' judgment for signing Robinson. It is what it is. Rather, it is what it was. None of this is new ground. The rules are the rules. Robinson repeatedly violated them. He should pay the consequences, and hopefully he will find a way to stay clean. -- More

NFL Draft '07: Scouting Saturday for talent
By TFY Draft Preview
Posted Oct 20, 2006
Texas vs. Nebraska 12PM EST/ABC
A terrific cross-division contest in the Big 12. Almost a dozen draft eligible players who will take the field hold first day grades. Nebraska has the top offense in the conference while the Longhorn defense is number one in the league. The Cornhusker pass rushing tandem of Adam Carriker and Jay Moore have been disappointing this season. Carriker has just a single sack while Moore has added three. Earlier in the year against USC both players were handled by top rated Trojan tackle Sam Baker. This week they face-off against another edge blocker in Justin Blalock, a big wide-bodied lineman who will play either right tackle or guard at the next level. Blalock's star has been on the rise and he's moving up boards. Carriker, at first considered a potential top 32 selection, has fallen deep into the second frame. He needs a big game against the Longhorn tackle to stem his sinking grade. -- More

Meet Tiffany
Cincinnati Bengals
Cheerleader

HOMETOWN: Cincinnati, Ohio

BIRTHDAY: May 2

CAREER INFO: Student

EDUCATION INFO: Graduate of Oak Hills High School; Attending Cincinnati State

YEARS AS A BEN-GAL: 2

MOST MEMORABLE BENGALS GAME: When the Bengals beat Pittsburgh in 2005 to win the AFC North

MOST MEMORABLE BEN-GAL MOMENT: When I got knocked down by Chris Perry during the 2005 Pittsburgh game

FAVORITE BENGALS PLAYER: Chris Perry

FAVORITE THING TO DO IN CINCINNATI: Go shopping at Kenwood Towne Center and go to Reds games in the summer

FAVORITE SPORT TO PARTICIPATE IN: I love to play basketball

INTERESTS/ HOBBIES: Golfing and going to the movies

FAVORITE MOVIE: Anchorman

PETS: I have a 14-week-old Malti-Poo named Bentley a.k.a. Bender Rodriquez.

FAVORITE VACATION SPOT/ GETAWAY: I love Atlantis in the Bahamas

WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME TO RELAX? Lying at the pool and reading magazines

PERSON I WOULD MOST LIKE TO MEET AND WHY: Kelly Ripa. She has everything; great personality, looks, career, husband and kids.

PERSON WHO I ADMIRE MOST: Both my mom and my Grandma Jo; they have always been there for me.

THREE WORDS THAT DESCRIBE ME: Adventurous, outgoing and fearless

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO YOUNG KIDS ABOUT BECOMING A CHEERLEADER? Always work hard and try your best

BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN TO ME: Always be myself

GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT: Making the Ben-Gals