The Packer Pundit

Packers Sign QB Todd Bouman
The Green Bay Packers Tuesday signed quarterback Todd Bouman and placed quarterback Aaron Rodgers on injured reserve. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson made the announcement. Bouman, a 6-foot-2, 226-pound veteran in his ninth NFL season out of St. Cloud State, had played the previous three years with New Orleans, where he worked from 2003-04 with Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy, then the Saints' offensive coordinator. Acquired by New Orleans in a 2003 trade with Minnesota, Bouman spent his first five years with the Vikings, who originally signed him as a non-drafted free agent in 1997. An experienced signal-caller, Bouman has played in 42 NFL games with six starts, and has completed 129 of 230 passes (56.1 percent) for 1,683 yards, with 11 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, a 75.3 passer rating. His last name is pronounced BAU-man. Rodgers, the team's first-round draft choice in 2005, broke his foot during the second half of Sunday's contest vs. New England and finished the game. Also Tuesday, the club released defensive tackle Scott Paxson from its practice squad.







Rodgers may face a long rehab
He may be out until next spring
By Rob Demovsky / greenbaypressgazette.com
Aaron Rodgers isn't sure how or when he broke his left foot but the bigger issue facing the Green Bay Packers' backup quarterback is whether it will impede his development. Rodgers will have surgery this week to have a screw implanted into the fifth metatarsal bone. He'll miss the rest of the season. The injury occurred at some point in the third quarter of Sunday's 35-0 loss to the New England Patriots, when he relieved an injured Brett Favre. Rodgers finished the game despite feeling considerable discomfort. The injury is similar to the one sustained during the offseason by cornerback Will Blackmon. The rookie broke his right foot in a minicamp practice on May 21 and didn't return until mid-October. If Rodgers faces the same rehabilitation period, he may not be ready when the players begin their offseason program in mid-March. "Obviously, it's a setback," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. "The ultimate point of development for him right now is, he needs to play. So if he misses the opportunity to play again, that's an opportunity wasted." Rodgers said Dr. Patrick McKenzie, the Packers' team physician, will do the surgery. -- More







No. 3 QB Martin Will Make Most
Of Practice This Week
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 11/21/2006
For a young quarterback sitting at No. 3 on the depth chart, there may be nothing more valuable, yet harder to come by, than getting snaps in practice. The only way to improve, develop and catch up to the speed of the pro game is to get as many live snaps as possible. But in the regular season, with only three practices per week and two quarterbacks higher in the pecking order, practice snaps are at a premium. That's why a week like this could be a prime opportunity for the Packers' No. 3 QB, Ingle Martin, to get some serious work. With starter Brett Favre possibly limited in practice while he rests his injured elbow and newly signed No. 2 Todd Bouman learning the offense on the fly, Martin might be called upon to handle more of the repetitions. And whether those reps come with the regular offense or the scout team offense, Martin wants to make the most of them. "I definitely look at it as an opportunity," said Martin, a rookie fifth-round draft choice out of Furman. "If the coaches say they need me to take 10 reps at practice on Wednesday, I have to look at those 10 as everything for me. It gives me a chance to prove myself and show them how far I've come and show them what I'm able to do. "Obviously it's completely different than how it's going to be in the game, because practice is not as fast. But to show them I understand what they're trying to do on offense is the important part." In his limited work thus far, Martin has shown improvement since appearing in two preseason games and completing 8 of 12 passes for 58 yards with one interception. Most of Martin's practice time has come with the scout team, where he simulates as best he can the opposing quarterback the Packers will face that week. He, along with the No. 2 quarterback most weeks, runs those plays against the Packers' first- and second-string defenses to give them the "look" they're going to see on Sunday. -- More








Faith rewarded
Packers' Jennings
Took humble route to NFL
By LORI NICKEL / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 21, 2006
Greg Jennings has always put up big numbers. While at Western Michigan he once caught 16 passes against Virginia. In 2005 he led the nation with an average of 8.91 receptions per game and was second in the nation with 114.45 receiving yards per game. He was just the 11th receiver in NCAA Division I-A history with three 1,000 yards seasons. Yet his older sister by one year, Valyncia, was rarely content. "She knew I was in a smaller conference, and she knew the odds (of making the NFL) are kind of against you," Jennings said. "She felt the need that every game had to be this huge, 400-stat game. She is a stat watcher. I'm not big into stats. But she lets it be known." She can stop worrying now. Despite toiling fairly anonymously at Western Michigan, Jennings had incredible faith that things would work out the way they were meant to. He's not only made it in the NFL, but also made quite the first impression as a Green Bay Packers rookie. He has 30 catches for 511 yards in nine games (he missed one with an injured ankle) and is averaging 17 yards per catch. "He is the future," Packers receiver Donald Driver said. "You have to take your hat off to him because he's playing well. You get a guy that can come in and play like that, as a rookie, it is respectful. I respect him as a man, player and a teammate." -- More






Holmgren Way Marks Its Anniversary
As Packers Duel With 'Hawks
By Lee Remmel / Team Historian
Posted 11/21/2006
Mike Holmgren's mind, it is safe to assume, will be firmly fixed on the task at hand when he and his Seahawks entertain the Green Bay Packers in Seattle's Qwest Field Monday night. If it were not for such a significant assignment, one of many in his bid for a second consecutive berth in the Super Bowl, the Seahawks' head coach could be celebrating an "anniversary" of sorts. Specifically, that would involve remembering the dedication of "Holmgren Way," a street in Ashwaubenon, a bustling village contiguous to Green Bay. The honor was conferred upon him during his seventh and final year as head coach of the Packers. Originally named Gross Avenue, it was formally renamed Holmgren Way during ceremonies conducted on Nov. 20, 1998. Poetically, "Holmgren Way" intersects Lombardi Avenue just one block east of Lambeau Field, a historic junction. Grateful Green Bay/Ashwaubenon residents and Packers fans thus paid public thanks to the monolithic Scandinavian for leading the Green and Gold to back-to-back Super Bowl appearances following the 1996 and 1997 National Football League seasons. And, of course, for providing the Packers faithful with their third Super Bowl victory...their first in 29 years. Also for presiding over a 25-game winning streak in Lambeau Field, the second longest such home skein in the annals of professional football. Time having a habit of flying, it may not seem possible but Holmgren currently is in the eighth and final year of the contract he signed upon arriving in Seattle following the 1998 season - a reportedly $32 million document. As noted, he left behind a substantial legacy in departing Titletown. -- More

Meet Janette
Philadelphia Eagles
Cheerleader

Years As An Eagle Cheerleader: 3

College: Community College of Philadelphia

Major/Degree: Nursing

Career/Profession: Property Management / Gymnastics Instructor
What's your sign? Leo


If I Had A Superpower, it would be? The power to heal.

My dream vacation would be?
To go to Australia.

How does a guy get your attention?
It's intriguing to me when he has total confidence and a sense of humor.

Favorite Eagle: Jeremiah Trotter because of his work ethic.

Reality Show You'd Want To Be On: The Real World because the camera is around you so much, you have no choice but to be yourself. It is so hard for me to be fake. They also get a free trip out of it!

If I'm on a deserted island, I'd have to take ... someone interesting to talk to and lip gloss because I am addicted.

What I love about Eagles fans is ... that you can find one anywhere you go, I absolutely love the passion that they have whether we are winning or losing and it's the fans that makes it so special to be a part of the team!

Favorite Cereal: Honey Bunches of Oats with strawberries

I've Never Been Able To Say No To ... a child's outreached arms.

On a Saturday night, I'll Be ... out with my best girlfriends dancing and having a good time or working.

I wouldn't be who I am if it wasn't for ... my parents, the morals they instilled in me and their guidance and their opinions literally mean everything to me! My younger brother, Michael, also inspires me to be a better person.

My best friend would say that I am ... a great listener, I love to listed to stories and try to figure out why things happen. They would also probably say that I am very understanding and hopefully say that I am one of their most loyal friends.

Favorite childhood memory: When my little brother was born, I was six years old. Maybe that's why I am so protective of him now!

If I had one more hour in the day, I would ... relax and rest, but the smart thing to do would be talk on the phone or go on the computer.