The Packer Pundit

Brett Favre Nominated
For FedEx NFL Player Of The Week
Quarterbacks BRETT FAVRE of the Green Bay Packers, DREW BREES of the New Orleans Saints and STEVE MC NAIR of the Tennessee Titans are the finalists for FedEx Express NFL Player of the Week honors for games played on December 7, 10-11, while running backs WILLIE PARKER of the Pittsburgh Steelers, ARTOSE PINNER of the Minnesota Vikings and LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON of the San Diego Chargers are the finalists for FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week honors, the NFL announced today. Fans can vote for one player in each category on NFL.com from 9am EST on Tuesday through 12pm EST on Thursday to determine the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week. The winners will be announced Thursday afternoon on NFL.com. In addition, NFL fans may cast their votes for the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week using Sprint or Nextel wireless service - an opportunity available only to Sprint customers. This fast, convenient voting method involves texting the word FEDEX to short code 7777. Sprint customers will then receive an interactive text message that links fans to the ballot with the six finalists each week. Data and text messaging rates may apply.

CLICK HERE to vote







Jagodzinski interviews for Boston College job
By Pete Dougherty
Green Bay Press-Gazette
Jeff Jagodzinski interviewed for the head coaching job at Boston College on Monday and is believed to be among six candidates for the job, an NFL source said Tuesday. Jagodzinski, the Packers’ offensive coordinator, was offensive coordinator for Boston College in 1997 and ’98. Boston College Athletic Director Gene DeFillipo called the Packers last Friday for permission to talk to Jagodzinski and traveled to Green Bay for his interview with Jagodzinski. One of the leading candidates reportedly is Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, who formerly was head coach at Brown University. The other candidates reportedly are Jay Norvell, a Madison native and offensive coordinator at Nebraska; Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe; Richmond offensive coordinator Dave Clawson; and Kevin Gilbride, the New York Giants quarterbacks coach. Boston College is looking to replace to Tom O’Brien, who just left the school to become head coach at North Carolina State. -- Story







Prep work
After a normal week of practice this week, the Packers will have to follow a Thanksgiving-week type of schedule next week because they play Minnesota on Thursday, Dec. 21. McCarthy expects to give the team off on Monday before a practice next Tuesday and a walk-through on Wednesday. He expects to practice in pads Wednesday and Thursday this week, however, and not rest the players. Two games in five days will require overtime from the coaching staff, who will have to squeeze in work on Minnesota this week. That'll be easier on the offense because the Lions and Vikings play similar defenses. The Green Bay defense will have to study the contrasting styles on offense between Detroit and Minnesota.

Still work to do
McCarthy would still like to see his defense cut down the big plays, even though the Packers held the 49ers to 19 points and just 12 completions. "We're doing a lot of positive things and still there's a number of things we need to correct," McCarthy said. "We didn't give up very many explosive gains, but 192 yards of the 340 was on explosive gains, so that's what you've got to get nipped." McCarthy said he saw improvement from his secondary Sunday but the revamped defensive line was a contributor. "Communication is a lot better. Their leverage, they're seeing it better," he said. "I think really it started up front. They kept the quarterback in the pocket most of the time. That was an emphasis going into the game, setting the edges on the quarterback, making him beat us from the pocket, and it helped our secondary."

Defense Shut Door On Niners In Second Half
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 12/12/2006
The Packers' defense looked headed down a familiar path on Sunday at San Francisco. Too familiar. Leading 17-6 at halftime, Green Bay allowed a touchdown drive to open the second half, and it appeared the defense's grip on the opposing offense was slipping. It had happened before at Philadelphia, when a 9-7 halftime lead and solid defensive effort early was washed out by a slew of big plays and three straight second-half touchdowns by the Eagles. The scenario was virtually replayed in Seattle, as a 21-12 lead in the third quarter vanished when the Seahawks put together three consecutive touchdown drives. But last Sunday, the early second-half lapse was just that -- a lapse -- and it didn't last long. "We've been in that situation going into the second half before this year and we wanted to make sure we finished it," linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "We didn't want to let them back in the game." The Packers didn't, putting together a defensive effort over a span of five possessions that ranks among the season's best performances. After the 49ers pulled within 17-13, their next two drives began with good field position, at the San Francisco 43 and the Green Bay 49, respectively. But the Packers didn't allow a first down on either drive. The second one ended with Nick Collins' interception on third-and-2 on a pass from Alex Smith to tight end Vernon Davis. The turnover, which the offense converted into a Donald Driver touchdown pass two plays later, seemed to energize the defense as it continued to play tough. The 49ers went three-and-out again on their next two drives. The first one included a tackle for loss by Colin Cole on running back Frank Gore and a third-down sack of Smith by Cullen Jenkins and Aaron Kampman. The Packers got some help from a holding penalty on the second one. Then, after San Francisco got good field position on a kickoff return, the defense allowed consecutive first downs as the 49ers moved into the red zone before Hawk leaped at the goal line to snare another interception, keeping the Packers in control. -- More



Ice Bowl Was Coldest,
But '90 Lions Game Nearly As Frigid
By Lee Remmel / Team Historian
Posted 12/12/2006
The unforgettable "Ice Bowl," the coldest recorded game in pro football history - one that matched the Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys for the 1967 NFL championship in Lambeau Field - has long been the standard against which all other cold-weather games are measured. And presumably will continue to be until such time that a more frigid contest comes along to topple it off its frosty throne (minus-13 temperature, 46-below wind chill at kickoff, Dec. 31, 1967). Whatever the case, there is at least one other game - also involving the Packers - that deserves to be mentioned in the same breath at this point in time. And its "anniversary," poetically, is on the horizon. That Arctic matchup also was staged in Lambeau Field, with the Packers hosting the Detroit Lions on Dec. 22, 1990 - approximately 16 years ago this weekend, which again finds the Lions visiting "Lambeau." The temperature at kickoff on that occasion, according to the Green Bay Weather Bureau, was a brisk 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit, which remains the third-coldest kickoff reading in team history. The wind chill, however, made it feel even colder for the 46,700 fans in the stands. Depending on the wind's changeable velocity, it read between 20 and 30 bone-chilling degrees below zero during the course of the afternoon. For the record, it also should be noted that the Packers were to host a slightly colder game three years later. The latter date was Dec. 26, 1993, and the temperature at kickoff was zero degrees as the Packers entertained the Oakland Raiders and proceeded to blank the shivering Californians, 28-0. It was, incidentally, the day that the flamboyant LeRoy Butler invented the "Lambeau Leap," with a modest assist from teammate Reggie White. Surprisingly, since they presumably should have had an advantage, playing outdoors at home against a "dome" team in the Lions, the Green and Gold ultimately fell victim to the Detroit forces, 24-17. -- More







Meet Nicole
Arizona cardinals
Cheerleader

Years on Team: 3
Birthday: April 28th
Birth Place: Flagstaff, Arizona
College/Major: Graceland University/Wellness Program Management
Occupation: Personal fitness trainer
Hobbies: Running, hiking, traveling, socializing
Most fulfilling accomplishment(s): Graduating Cum Laude from my university while acting as captain of my cheer squad. Also becoming an Academic All-American in track and field, and holding the role of House President!
One word to describe me: Charismatic
Favorites
Quote: “Inner beauty is true beauty!”-Dad
Food: Greek and Mexican
Restaurant: Fleming’s
Movie: Dangerous Beauty
TV Show: South Park
Color: Green