The Packer Pundit

Packers upgrade Woodson
Charles Woodson has a good chance of starting at left cornerback for the Packers on Sunday at Buffalo after practicing Friday and being upgraded from doubtful to questionable on their injury report. Woodson injured his left knee last week against Arizona, and though he finished the game, it was sore enough early in the week that coach Mike McCarthy listed him as doubtful (at least a 75 percent chance the player will not play). But after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday, Woodson got through Friday's workout without any problems. "He looked pretty good," McCarthy said. "He went limited reps, and we're hopeful he'll go Sunday. Post-practice treatment will tell us about it, but he looked like he felt fine."

Jennings update
Though rookie receiver Greg Jennings has a good chance of playing after missing the last 11/2 games, he has some soreness in his injured ankle that leaves his status in question. Jennings missed last week's game because of a mid-ankle sprain and returned to practice Thursday. He also practiced Friday. The Packers are hoping he's ready to return to the starting lineup, but his ankle was sore Friday, so that left a little doubt. "On Wednesday, I felt real good, but I kind of tweaked it again," Jennings said. "I don't know if that set me back, but I became a little more conscious of it." He's listed as questionable (50 percent chance of playing) on the injury report. "Tentative," was how McCarthy described Jennings in practice Friday. "We're hopeful he'll go."


Jenkins ready
Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins appears ready to return to the defensive line rotation after missing the last two games because of an ankle injury. Jenkins practiced Thursday and Friday. "I'd say it's safe to say he'll go," McCarthy said.



Miree downgraded
McCarthy downgraded fullback Brandon Miree from doubtful to out for Sunday because of his hyperextended left elbow. McCarthy said he's not sure whether it's a short-term injury or one that could keep him out several weeks. "Next week will be a big week for him," McCarthy said. "Because of the type of injury he has, it could be short term or long term based on the progress he makes in the next three or four days, from what I'm told."






Packers
Out: Running back Vernand Morency (back), did not practice; fullback Brandon Miree (elbow), did not practice.
Questionable: Cornerback Charles Woodson (knee), practiced; linebacker Abdul Hodge (knee), practiced; defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (ankle), practiced; receiver Greg Jennings (ankle), practiced; defensive tackle Johnny Jolly (ankle), practiced.
Probable: Running back Ahman Green (knee), practiced; defensive tackle Corey Williams (knee), practiced.

Bills
Questionable: receiver Sam Aiken (hamstring), did not practice; defensive end Ryan Denney (hamstring), practiced; Guard Tutan Reyes (shoulder), did not practice.






Mike McCarthy column:
Key to dealing with officials?
No drama
In last week's column, I mentioned the meeting I have with the officials before every game to discuss certain concerns or points of emphasis for that week. The interaction with the officials continues on the field during the game. Officials are proactive in communicating with coaches during the game, and they're doing a good job. Sometimes, the referee will come over and explain a complex or potentially controversial situation before he announces it, like the multiple field-goal attempts and penalties that came at the end of the first half against Miami. Other times, the sideline officials will relay messages to the coaching staff from other members of their crew. I talk to the sideline officials from time to time, asking them questions or telling them to watch for this or that. When we played at Philadelphia, I was trying to get them to watch for "launching" by the Eagles' defensive backs, where they leave their feet and hit helmet to helmet, after (Packers receivers) Donald Driver and Greg Jennings took shots. After seeing the film, it turned out the hits were legal and they weren't launching, but I wanted to be sure the players would be protected. Some coaches try to work the officials, like a basketball coach walking up and down the bench, and they can become rather abusive. Some coaches got so bad that they've laid down rules regarding word selection and what you're allowed to say. If it's not disrespectful and done out of a competitive nature, they understand that, and they'll maintain two-way communication with you. -- More






Backs form dynamic duo
Green, Morency have big days
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Nov. 2, 2006

"When we have a game with two running backs rushing over 100 yards in the NFL, that's big. It takes me back to my days when I was playing football at Nebraska, with the Cornhuskers. That's what we did on a daily basis. To do it here on this level, it's a real big thing. Give all the credit to them O-linemen and them tight ends and the receivers blocking down field, to open up some holes and get us up to the second level against the DBs." -- Ahman Green

Daylight savings time hit most of the Unites States Sunday morning. In tiny Green Bay, Wis., it seemed like time was turned back more than just one hour. It felt like a decade. During the Packers' 31-14 victory against Arizona, it seemed like it was 1996 again, when the two-headed monster of Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens ran all over foes. Against the overmatched Cardinals, the duo of Ahman Green and Vernand Morency had their day in the sun. Green posted his second consecutive 100-yard game, running for 106 yards on 21 carries (5.0 average) and two touchdowns. Morency notched the first 100-yard day of his career, finishing with 101 yards on just 11 carries (9.2), highlighted by explosive bursts of 38 and 23 yards. Green and Morency turned the clock back even further, as they became the first pair of Packers to each have a 100-yard day in the same game since Dec. 1, 1985. That day, Eddie Lee Ivery (109) and Gerry Ellis (101) topped the century mark during the infamous "Snow Bowl." -- More






Mr. Favre
Hall of Famer regularly faces QBs
Who grew up watching him
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Nov. 4, 2006
If he weren't such a kid at heart, Brett Favre might feel a bit awkward that the quarterback he'll be facing today in Buffalo is 12 years younger and was a fifth-grader in Santa Monica, Calif., when the Green Bay Packers legend began his career. Then again, 25-year-old J.P. Losman is pretty close to the typical quarterback Favre faces every week. The average age of the 31 other starting quarterbacks in the National Football League is 28. Only eight are older than 30 and only Minnesota's Brad Johnson (38) is older than the 37-year-old Favre. Already this season Favre has faced Rex Grossman (26), Drew Brees (27), Joey Harrington (28) and Matt Leinart (23) and in the coming weeks will face Tom Brady (29) and Alex Smith (22). Almost all of those players grew up watching Favre transform the Packers from a team the rest of the nation didn't care about to one of the most popular franchises in the game. "I had a lot of guys I watched, but Brett was tops on the list, him and John Elway," Losman said in a phone interview Friday. "I just like watching different styles. It's hard to pick one guy, but as far as excitement and somebody you wouldn't mind having their life, it would be Brett Favre." It has to be strange to be a generation removed from your competition, but the graying Favre doesn't seem to have a problem with it. He wishes more quarterbacks would speak their mind instead of saying what they think people want to hear and he could stand not having to pose for pictures or getting asked for his jersey by opposing players once in awhile. But for the most part he understands that the guys he's playing against are mostly fans of his. -- More




Kampman is more than just a hard worker
By Rob Demovsky
greenbaypressgazette.com
Bob Kampman couldn't come to the phone right away. "Just a minute," said the worker who answered the phone at Kesley Lumber on Friday morning. "He's up on top getting some insulation down for a customer." That should begin to tell you something about Bob's son, Aaron, the Green Bay Packers' defensive end. "Aaron is a direct reflection of the influence of his parents on his life," said Joe Urcavich, pastor at Green Bay Community Church and the Packers' team chaplain. To understand Kampman's road from small-town boy to the NFL, it's necessary to go back to his hometown of Kesley, Iowa, population 80, where Bob Kampman was born in 1952. He worked on his father's 200-acre farm, where they grew crops and raised cattle, chickens and hogs. In 1982, three years after his third child, Aaron, was born, Bob bought the lumber yard, which he practically has run by himself. "When we were growing up, my dad had no employees," Aaron said. "It was him. He was the secretary, the CEO, the janitor. He did it all." The business has grown to where Bob has two employees. But back then, he didn't need any workers. He had his three hard-working boys. -- More



Bodiford comes out of nowhere
Prep coach helped new receiver
Go from homeless to NFL
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
Shaun Bodiford spent most of his high school years living homeless in Federal Way, Wash., bouncing from friend's house to friend's house, playing some football but mostly living day to day. It's an incredibly long trip from that homeless life to the NFL. He surprisingly made the Detroit Lions' 53-man roster this year as an undrafted rookie out of Portland State, and after the Lions tried to sneak him through waivers two weeks ago, the Packers claimed him the next day. The 5-foot-11, 186-pound wide receiver probably will return punts and kickoffs for the Packers on Sunday against Buffalo. "It makes you value things more when you come in through the back door," Bodiford said this week. "You're not drafted, you went through a hard background in high school. Getting to the NFL is what fueled me through everything. I was like, I can do this, I know I can do it." -- More






Selfish Harris deserves interference call
By Mike Woods
Timing is everything for a defensive back. Knowing when to make your move and knowing when to back off are just a couple of the keys to survival. With that in mind, you have to wonder about the timing of Packers cornerback Al Harris, whose contract is on his mind as much as the receiver standing across from him. On Sunday, the Packers had just won two straight games for the first time since 2004, quarterback Brett Favre was screwing around with an air horn in the locker room for a second straight week — a true indicator he's finding football fun once more — and the team was feeling good about itself for the first time in seemingly forever. So, you wonder why Harris picked that time to express his unhappiness over his contract to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporter. How selfish is this guy?

I do know this. In December 2004, right after the Packers defeated the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome to wrap up their third straight NFC North Division title, one of the first people you saw in the locker room afterward was Harris, standing on a stool in front of his locker. Out of his mouth came these words: "We want a recount. We want a recount.'' He had been passed over for the Pro Bowl, and after limiting Vikings receiver Randy Moss to two catches for 30 yards in the Packers' 34-31 division-clinching win, he thought it was the appropriate time to turn the spotlight on himself. Look, I understand it takes all kinds, but this was a significant moment for the team and the organization, not Al Harris. -- More



Separate GM helps a coach keep control
By Pete Dougherty
Al Harris' unhappiness is the latest example of why it's almost always better to separate the head coach and general manager's jobs in the NFL. The Packers' starting right cornerback wants to renegotiate his contract, which has three years remaining. It won't become a major issue until the offseason, but regardless, the Packers' front-office setup helps insulate coach Mike McCarthy from any blame if Harris gets upset as the season goes on. That, in turn, helps McCarthy keep credibility and harmony in the locker room, where he must motivate and work with players every day. General Manager Ted Thompson is Harris' fall guy, because in the end, the decision is his. The NFL has become too complicated for one man to be both coach and GM. Managing the roster and the salary cap has become increasingly complex. A changing contractual landscape, in which good players have more leverage when they're unhappy, make it wise to separate both jobs. -- More








Click on Picture to Play

This is an Excellent video by AT&T starring A.J. and Laura Hawk, and interviewed by Dion Sanders. Laura is a Total babe (Note that Dion hugs her 3 times) and A.J. (or Agggge as Laura calls him) is very funny in the role they have him play... well you'll see.

Video is approximately 4 minutes long. I've watched it 5 times already!







Meet Katie
Minnesota Vikings Cheerleader

Education or Profession:
Education: She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Interior Design and Construction Management, with a Minor in Marketing.
Occupation: Currently, Katie is an interior designer for a commercial/residential builder, working with homeowners on new construction high rise condominiums in downtown Minneapolis, and single family homes throughout the metro area.

Professional or Future Goals:
Personal goals: To travel around the world and start a family.
Career goals: To have a successful design career.

Accomplishments:
Graduating from college and attaining a career in Interior Design. Receiving VCF (Viking Childrens Fund) Award, Most Dedicated and Most Creative.

Hobbies:
Katie enjoys working out, hiking, camping, skiing and snow boarding, reading, baking and hanging out with family and friends.

Her experience as a Vikings Cheerleader:
Years on Team: 3
What are you looking forward to most this year as an MVC? Katie is anticipating the opportunity to cheer for one for of the best teams in the NFL at the next Super Bowl.

Fun and Interesting Facts:
Hometown: Eagan, MN
Marital Status: Katie is engaged and planning a wedding for next year!
Children/Pets: None, yet...
Three words to describe self: Enthusiastic, goal-oriented and a perfectionist
Place you would most like to visit: Italy
Favorite Food: She loves her Grandma's meatballs, mashed potatoes and gravy and green bean casserole & she will also never turn down ice cream!
Favorite Vikings Player: Matt Birk or Adam Goldberg because they play an active role both on the field and in the community.
Favorite part of practice: Working next to and hanging out with some of the most amazing women in the NFL.
Fact that many people do not know about you: Katie was one of the first members of a "thematic high school" whose theme focused on the environment. The high school sought to integrate knowledge and methodology from various areas including the humanities, sciences and fine arts.