The Packer Pundit

3rd youngster joins receivers
Bodiford claimed from the Lions
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers' receiving corps for Sunday's game against the Arizona Cardinals could include Donald Driver and three guys who a week ago never had caught a pass in an NFL game. The Packers appear likely to be without injured starter Greg Jennings. With Koren Robinson suspended and Robert Ferguson on injured reserve, the Packers likely will start first-year receiver Ruvell Martin and play undrafted rookie Chris Francies as their No. 3 receiver. Their fourth receiver could be Shaun Bodiford, another undrafted rookie who was claimed Monday on waivers from the Detroit Lions and replaced Ferguson on the roster. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Jennings' ankle injury was diagnosed as a sprain, but he either didn't know the severity of it or refused to divulge it, perhaps as a way to keep the Cardinals off guard. Jennings was injured late in the first half of Sunday's 34-24 win at Miami. He caught a pass for a 14-yard gain, then was drilled by Dolphins safety Jason Allen and did not return. Jennings was on crutches after the game, but X-rays were negative. -- More






Fourth-down gamble helped defeat Miami
By Lori Nickel / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 24, 2006
Occasionally, it's a no-brainer. Mostly, it's a gamble. Aside from the practical considerations, there's an art in knowing whether a football team should go for it on fourth down. After the facts of field position, score and time remaining separate the punts from the potential fourth-down attempts, a coaching staff must weigh the risk vs. the reward in going for it on the final down. On Sunday, the reward ended up being Green Bay's second victory of the season. The Packers decided to play to win against Miami and not sit on a three point lead on the road. On fourth and 1 in the fourth quarter, Green Bay could have punted and let its defense take over. But the Packers decided to go for it despite lining up three rookie linemen and a depleted receivers unit. With his team on Miami's 40-yard line, coach Mike McCarthy called for a commonly used play from receiver Donald Driver, a reverse run. Driver ran about 30 yards behind the line before he avoided a tackle and curled up the sideline for a 6-yard gain. The importance of the play cannot be overstated. Four snaps later, Brett Favre threw the clinching touchdown to David Martin. It gave the Packers a 10-point lead with 5 minutes 45 second left and put the Dolphins in the rearview mirror. Had the Packers punted on fourth down, who knows? -- More



Cornerback Duo Gets It Done
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
posted 10/24/2006
When the Packers acquired big-ticket free agent Charles Woodson in the off-season to play cornerback opposite Al Harris, performances like Sunday's at Miami by the two veterans were exactly what the team had in mind. While Woodson and Harris both had their moments during the season's first five games, their collective play at cornerback against the Dolphins was the most productive of 2006. Woodson impact was felt in multi-faceted, as he recorded six tackles and a sack, broke up four passes and made the game's biggest defensive play, snagging an interception on the second play of the third quarter and returning it for a touchdown to give the Packers momentum they never really relinquished. Meanwhile Harris wasn't as dynamic or noticeable, but he took his customary job of guarding the opponent's top receiving threat and dominated. He held Miami's explosive Chris Chambers without a catch for the first three quarters, and Chambers finished with just two catches for 29 yards. "They've each had a lot of good plays here and there, but certainly (Sunday) together they were effective in the success that we had," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "The playmaking ability that each of those guys has is what you want each and every week." -- More






Ferguson goes on IR; is he finished?
Injuries end season for 3rd straight year
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
Robert Ferguson's season — and possibly his career with the Green Bay Packers — is over. The Packers on Monday placed the oft-injured wide receiver on season-ending injured reserve after determining his sprained right foot wouldn't heal in time for him to contribute this season. It's the third straight year Ferguson hasn't been able to finish the season. He's missed 11 of the Packers' last 54 regular-season games because of injuries. "It's frustrating because every year it just seems like he gets worn down playing special teams," said Ferguson's agent, Brian Overstreet. Ferguson, 26, sustained what was diagnosed as a Lisfranc, or mid-foot, injury. Overstreet said Ferguson probably won't need surgery but is in significant pain and is using crutches. -- More


Though healthy, Henderson sits out
Fullback, 35, sees his role reduced
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
For the first time in his 12-year NFL career, Green Bay Packers fullback William Henderson was a healthy scratch in Sunday's 34-24 win over the Miami Dolphins. Though Henderson had a calf injury in practice last week, he was upgraded to probable from questionable after Friday's practice. He wasn't left off the 45-man game-day roster because of the injury, Packers coach Mike McCarthy confirmed Monday. Henderson's role has been greatly reduced since the Packers promoted fullback Brandon Miree from practice squad on Sept. 26. Miree started the Oct. 2 game against Philadelphia, and Henderson probably would have been inactive against the Eagles had running back Ahman Green been able to play. Henderson wasn't going to make that trip, then caught a flight to Philadelphia on game day when Green's hamstring injury flared up. "He goes out there, and he's the same guy every day," McCarthy said of Henderson. "You admire that from a coaching standpoint, but there are other things that factor into playing, (such as) special teams. We've got some young guys that are playing at a high level. It was not an easy decision." -- More



Clifton a security system
By Jason Wilde / madison.com

"Anytime you get a win, it's great, but we want to see Chad in there because he's a great player," admitted Colledge, who normally plays left guard but was a left tackle in college. "I'm glad I had an opportunity to fill his shoes and do a decent job. But who knows if Brett would've even gotten hit if he'd have been out there?"

The Green Bay Packers got a glimpse Sunday of what life without Chad Clifton would be like. It wasn't pretty. Clifton refuses to view his grueling daily routine as anything more than doing his job and is unwilling to admit his presence in the lineup is any more vital to the team's success than anyone else's. His actions - and the train wreck that was Daryn Colledge's one-on-one blocking attempts early in Sunday's 34-24 victory over Miami with Clifton a surprise pregame scratch with the flu - prove otherwise. Twice in the Packers' first three possessions, Colledge was beaten around the end by Miami's Jason Taylor, blind-siding quarterback Brett Favre into a pair of sack-fumbles. The first was recovered by the Dolphins to set up their first touchdown; left guard Jason Spitz pounced on the second to prevent more damage. That didn't happen the rest of the game because coach Mike McCarthy shifted his protection schemes to assist Colledge, rolling Favre out and giving him help from the tight ends and backs. By having to do so, though, it limited what the Packers could do offensively. -- More








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