The Packer Pundit

Packers shut out of Hall semis list
Press-Gazette wire services
Former Packers General Manager Ron Wolf, former Packers safety LeRoy Butler and Packers historian Lee Remmel did not make the list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007. The Hall of Fame selected the semifinalists Thursday. Former Pro Bowl offensive lineman Bruce Matthews was one of three newly eligible players to make the list of semifinalists. Also chosen were Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis and Minnesota Vikings guard Randall McDaniel. Matthews, who played for the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans, holds the record for most games (296) and seasons (19) by an offensive lineman. Davis, the Broncos' star running back of the late 1990s, rushed for 2,008 yards and was the league MVP in 1998. He was also the MVP of the 1997 Super Bowl. He holds the Broncos' franchise record with 7,607 yards rushing. McDaniel played 14 seasons for Minnesota and Tampa Bay and started in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls. By mid-January, the list will be reduced to 15 modern-era candidates. Each year, three to six new Hall members are selected from the list of 15. To be considered, a player must have been retired at least five years. The Class of 2007 will be determined Feb. 3, in Miami, the day before the Super Bowl. -- Story



KGB getting blocked out
It seems unthinkable that the Green Bay Packers' defense has 31 sacks, but seven-year veteran and pass-rush specialist Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila only has three. Gbaja-Biamila had 13 1/2 , 12, 10 and 13 1/2 sacks respectively in seasons 2001-'04. His goal is to get one a game. While he wishes it were different, Gbaja-Biamila still feels a sense of accomplishment when Aaron Kampman, Corey Williams and Cullen Jenkins get to a quarterback. "It's probably the first time I've kind of been behind, but this is good because everybody else is stepping up," Gbaja-Biamila said. "It is a team sport so when we go out there, a guy can't just focus on me. They've got to focus on Aaron, and especially when we've got somebody on the inside like Jenks or Corey Williams. It makes it hard to say who they're going to pick up."

Keep it positive
The Packers have 36 offensive plays this season that have resulted in negative yardage, the fewest in the NFL. "Our running backs are doing an excellent job getting back to the line of scrimmage if somebody's coming free," Packers center Scott Wells said. "Brett (Favre) is doing an excellent job getting rid of the ball." The Packers' offensive line and everyone else who blocks have also allowed only 11 sacks in nine games. Green Bay has had four games, including most recently against Minnesota, without allowing a sack, and have won three of the four. "We just expect not to give up sacks," Wells said. "Every Monday we address it. We put up the number of sacks, QB hits and pressures, and I think against the Vikings we had no sacks, one pressure and five hits. The hits and sacks are really the ones you want to eliminate."

Patriots crafty on third
The Packers are preparing themselves for aggressive moves from New England coach Bill Belichick on third-and-long situations. "Bill is a very good technician," Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "He really doesn't change much. He becomes really creative on third down. First and second down, he's pretty basic, but on third down he gets very creative with his different packages that he uses."

RBs back in fold
Running back Vernand Morency (back, questionable) and fullback Brandon Miree (elbow, questionable) practiced again on Thursday, and Morency, in particular, showed more positive signs toward playing against the Patriots. "It looks like he's going to be able to play," said Jagodzinski. "Things could change from now until Sunday but he looked good in practice."

Hunting buddy
What is in Ingle Martin's future now that he's sitting behind not only a legend in Brett Favre but also first-round draft pick Aaron Rodgers, the heir apparent? For now, Martin has to be content with improving as much as he can on the scout team and making sure the starting quarterback hits his target on his hunting trips. Now that Doug Pederson and Craig Nall are gone, Favre has found a hunting friend in Martin, the third-string rookie quarterback out of Furman. It may be just a half day a week to get away, but deer hunting is a welcome escape from football, and a chance for Martin to get to know Favre. "I came in here saying, 'I'm going to stay out of his way.' He's done it for so long, he's the guy," Martin said. "But he's been great, starting from the first minicamp. He tells me little things like, 'Hey, look at this, you're doing this, you're doing that on this read.' I just try to take in everything I can."

Woodson's week
For the first time in almost a month, cornerback Charles Woodson will get almost an entire week of practice. Woodson hasn't missed any game action, but he has spent the early portions of game weeks resting or rehabilitating his injured knee. He returned to practice on Thursday and is expected to go again today, giving him two full days of practice. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders called Woodson "a true pro," because he has worked hard on film study and in the meeting room during his time off from practice.






Patriots' Ground Attack Features Multiple Weapons
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 11/16/2006
The Packers have had to gear up to slow down plenty of potent running backs thus far in 2006. Detroit's Kevin Jones, St. Louis' Steven Jackson, Miami's Ronnie Brown, Arizona's Edgerrin James and Minnesota's Chester Taylor are among the feature backs Green Bay already has faced this season. But this week presents a somewhat new challenge for the Packers because the New England Patriots don't really feature one running back. Between veteran Corey Dillon, rookie Laurence Maroney and third-down specialist Kevin Faulk, New England seemingly has a fresh set of legs behind quarterback Tom Brady on every play and a powerful backfield that keeps defenses guessing who's coming at them. "I think all our backs have been solid and we've gotten production out of all those guys," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "It's a good group to work with and they've been pretty consistent all year." Dillon and Maroney handle nearly all the running plays and have combined for 974 yards and nine touchdowns on 228 carries. For comparison's sake, the only single back with close to that many rushes is Kansas City's Larry Johnson with 217, and he ranks third in the NFL with 891 yards. The Patriots' duo really does share the load. Only once all season has either back had 20 carries in a game, and that was Dillon in Week 2. Maroney has the only 100-yard effort, with 125 yards against Cincinnati in Week 4, but the two have combined to go over 100 in four other contests. To defensive players, it doesn't matter much which back is carrying the ball, but they're almost certain to see little drop-off from the first quarter to the fourth because no single back is taking a game-long pounding. Both Dillon and Maroney weigh better than 220 pounds and run with plenty of power. Maroney, a first-round draft choice out of Minnesota, is the faster of the two. -- More






LBs are a collision
of personalities
By Jason Wilde / madison.com
They couldn't be more different, the Green Bay Packers' three starting linebackers. But in one important way, all three members of the Nick Barnett-A.J. Hawk-Brady Poppinga trio are exactly alike. "I think we're all different personalities, but the one thing we all have in common is that when it comes to playing football, we're all very competitive, we play hard and we want to make big plays. And we're willing to do whatever it takes to do that," Poppinga explained Thursday. "And that's what's led us to this point in time." This point is a pretty good spot, as they have keyed a defensive resurgence that has allowed the Packers to win three of their last four games.

Barnett, the mike (middle) linebacker, enters Sunday's game against New England at Lambeau Field with 78 tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and one fumble recovery. Hawk, the starter at will (weak-side), has 90 tackles (tops on the team), 3 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. And Poppinga, the sam (strong- side), has 47 tackles, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble. But more on their play in a moment. First, let the always- turned-up-to-maximum- intensity Poppinga explain what he means about the differing personalities of Barnett, the Packers' 2003 first-round pick; Hawk, the No. 5 overall pick in last April's draft; and himself - he has made an incredible comeback from a torn ACL in his only start as a rookie last year. -- More




The education of a coach
McCarthy sees improvement in himself and Packers
By LORI NICKEL / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 16, 2006
There will be 100 players on the sidelines of Lambeau Field Sunday. Some 40 assistants. And two head coaches in charge of them all: Bill Belichick of New England, possessor of three Super Bowl rings, and the rookie Mike McCarthy of Green Bay. To pit them directly against one another wouldn't determine much. There are too many other heads and hands involved that will determine the winning team. But on the growth chart that is McCarthy's first season as an NFL head coach, this game could be a good place to see how his vision and plan for the Packers is beginning to measure up. In Week 1 against Chicago, it was clear the Packers were not anywhere near the same level as the Bears. But in this, the 10th game, the Packers will be able to see how much they've truly improved and how they stack up against the disciplined and experienced Patriots. That is what matters most to McCarthy, anyway. Not what the critics say, but what shows up on the game tape in NFL film rooms Monday morning. "In our business, if you win, everything works out, but the thing about coaches, it's not just winning," McCarthy said Thursday. "Coaches can have a clear understanding of why you're winning because we get the film. "What that guy is teaching on that board has to show up on that game film. That's really the ultimate compliment. Trust me, the other coaches know it. That's the respect you get or you give in this league." -- More







Poppinga pops up
Linebacker's productivity matches passion
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Nov. 15, 2006
Brett Favre walked to the back of the team bus that was headed to the Metrodome Sunday and sat down next to linebacker Brady Poppinga. Favre, who knows a thing or two about intensity, was probably ready to run through a wall by the end of the ride. "All the way, (Poppinga) kept saying, 'I've got to find a way to calm down. I've got to find a way to calm down. I went a month without sleeping,' " Favre said of Poppinga. "And if anyone's ever been around Brady, they know what I'm talking about. To say he's high-strung is an understatement. But guys like that, they bring energy to the team." Poppinga has led the Packers in energy since arriving as a fourth-round draft choice in 2005. Poppinga's production, though, has never quite matched his enthusiasm. That appears to be changing, though. In Green Bay's 23-17 victory over Minnesota Sunday, Poppinga had a huge sack and forced fumble on Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson that set up the Packers' first touchdown. Three weeks earlier, Poppinga had an interception of Miami's Joey Harrington that led to a field goal. Combine that with Poppinga's continued improvement in pass coverage and he's quickly becoming one of Green Bay's more important defensive players.
-- More



No grumbling as Rodgers watches, waits
But quarterback is losing money
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Nov. 15, 2006

"I still think I'm in a great situation. I get to learn and come along at my own pace. After the pre-season, I felt like I was right where I needed to be. I'm not comparing myself to any of the other young guys in the league. I'm just trying to get better every day." -- Aaron Rodgers

With each touchdown pass, solid performance and Green Bay victory, the odds of Brett Favre returning in 2007 appear to go up. While such a scenario thrills the majority of Packer Nation, how would Aaron Rodgers - Favre's supposed heir apparent - feel about that development? "As long as he can continue to play at a high level, I don't think there's any reason for him to walk away," said Rodgers, Green Bay's first-round draft choice in 2005. "I'd be fine with him coming back." If Rodgers is truly sincere, he's a bigger person than many others would be. Rodgers signed a five-year, $7.7 million contract in the summer of 2005 that included $5.4 million in guaranteed money. The contract was packed with escalator clauses, though, that gave Rodgers the chance to make nearly $30 million. So in essence, every time Favre lines up under center, Rodgers is losing money. "I don't really want to talk about that," Rodgers said. "That doesn't bother me." To Rodgers' credit, he hasn't made a peep about sitting, waiting and watching. And he hasn't whined once about the money he could be losing. But with Favre humming along at the age of 37, and appearing as though he could play until he's 40, Rodgers said he has thought about the possibility he might never be the starting quarterback in Green Bay. -- More






Here's a sweet video I found, recorded by a Packer fan outside the Packer's hotel in Minnesota. He was able to video tape most of the team coming out, and getting on the bus befoe the game. It's really interresting to see the contrast in players fashions (Charles Woodson, who the videographer does not identify but is easily known due to his goatee', is dressed in a long red leather coat and matching hat... A.J. Hawk is wearing a sweatshirt and 'signature' ball cap worn pimp style [that's backwards for all you known hip hop speaking peeps... fershizzle]). Video is 5:19 in length and ends with Brett Favre stopping to sign autographs for a couple kids... a nice ending!

Meet Brandy
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleader

Years as Falcons Cheerleader: 2
College: University of Georgia and Mercer University's Stetson School of Business and Economics.
Major/Degree: Bachelor's of Science and Anthropology, Master's of Business & Finance
Career/Profession: Registered Associate at a Financial and Securities Institution, MBA Student, and Georgia Tech Dance Team Coach