The Packer Pundit: 12/2/2006

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12/2/2006

Collins Upgraded To Questionable;
Bigby, Culver Ready To Fill In
Collins125 Although safety Nick Collins on Friday was upgraded from doubtful to questionable because of a hamstring injury, the Packers still are unsure who will make the start on Sunday. Collins sustained the injury in the fourth quarter against Seattle and missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He did return to the field Friday. "I'm more interested to see what they say in the training room now," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said following the team's Friday afternoon practice. "In talking with (head trainer) Pepper (Burruss) after practice, he felt good from what he saw. We'll see with the soreness probably tomorrow morning, but it was good to see him get out there and go. "I didn't count the reps, but he didn't take the whole thing. He was limited. He felt good. Friday's practice as you know, particularly in the back end, they are taught to avoid the collisions. He looked like he broke on the ball well. I was more interested to see him make the adjustments and the things for the particular game plan. He looked like he moved fine."

Barnett ready to go
Barnett125 A lot has been made this week about Nick Barnett's club. But, at least for now, the linebacker isn't referring to Five-Six, his downtown Green Bay night club, but instead the club cast on his broken right hand. After missing just the second game of his four-year career last week, Barnett said the pain in the hand has subsided considerably and he has every intention of being on the field Sunday. "I believe we are going," Barnett said. "I'm very confident in playing. I'm looking forward to seeing how (playing with) the club goes." Barnett has put the cast to the test this week, taking opportunities to bat down passes and drag down teammates in contact drills to see how it feels and to see what he can get away with.

Ryan loses father
Ryan125 Punter Jon Ryan Friday morning received word that his father, who earlier in the fall was diagnosed with terminal cancer, had passed away. McCarthy said that he has spoken to Ryan and is leaving the option of playing on Sunday up to him. "Jon is going through a tough time with his personal situation," McCarthy said. "He did practice today, and I hope you can respect where he's at today in lieu of what he's going through. I think he's held up extremely well. We had a conversation this morning, and we're doing everything in his best interests and his family's best interests." The Packers earlier this season surprised Ryan with a visit from his father at Lambeau Field. "In establishing a program and how you deal with situations, I stand up in front of players, and I've told them since day one, when it comes to personal issues it's clearly family first. That's how we approached Jon's situation. I can't speak for him, but I'm sure he appreciates what we've done. These are things that take a back seat to nothing. That's been our outlook during his struggle." Should Ryan not be on hand Sunday, third-string quarterback Ingle Martin will assume the punting responsibilities. Martin punted 89 times at Furman, averaging 37.7 yards with 33 punts inside the 20-yard line. "I'll be honest, I've been impressed with Ingle Martin," McCarthy said. "I didn't realize he was that good of a punter. Doing it in a game is a different story. We're all aware of that. He definitely has some natural punting talent and ability."

Kickoff Coverage All About Attitude
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 12/01/2006
A solid kickoff coverage team has speed to get down the field, discipline to stay in coverage lanes, and sure-tackling ability. But it also possesses something that has nothing to do with skill, according to special teams coach Mike Stock. "The most important element for us at this time of the year, or anytime of the year, is attitude," Stock said. "We have to go in with the attitude that we're not going to be blocked, and then let's just go down there and cover the kicks." The Packers' kickoff coverage unit has displayed that attitude for much of the season, but the occasional slip-up transformed into an all-around poor performance against Seattle last Monday night. It's a trend that can't continue with the New York Jets bringing the league's leading returner in Justin Miller to Lambeau Field on Sunday. The first notable mistake this season came on the opening kickoff at Buffalo, when Terrence McGee broke free for a 61-yard return and set a bad tone for the day. The following week, Minnesota's Bethel Johnson ran back the second-half kickoff 102 yards for a touchdown, but fortunately for Green Bay it was called back for an illegal block. Then came Monday at Seattle. After bringing down Nate Burleson for just a 16-yard return to the 25-yard line on the opening kickoff, the coverage unit experienced repeated breakdowns. "The first one, we did perfectly well, just like you draw it up, and that's how it should have been the rest of the evening," Stock said. "But they blocked us better than we got off the blocks." -- More

Fans drawn to the '4'
Favre's uncertain future driving up ticket prices
By BOB McGINN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 1, 2006
ticket It's cold, it's snowy and the Green Bay Packers are 4-7 heading into a trio of December games at Lambeau Field. But if you think season-ticket holders are just about ready to all but give away their seats, think again. A certain quarterback with an undeclared future looms large in the fluid world of Packers tickets. The New York Jets on Sunday, the Detroit Lions on Dec. 17 and the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday night, Dec. 21, might not appear to be attractive buys on the holiday entertainment front. The lure of Brett Favre, however, should never be underestimated. "Our sales are surprisingly good considering the team is struggling," said Dennis Garrity, president of Event USA in Green Bay. "I would attribute it to the Brett Favre factor. A lot of people are thinking it might be their last chance to see him. "Our fans are resilient enough that we'd have decent sales with or without Brett Favre. But the Favre factor is very, very significant." On Friday, a survey of two ticket brokers in Brown County and two in Milwaukee County showed considerably more interest in all three games than one might expect. -- More

Is KGB losing value?
Decisions loom for Packers as rusher's sacks fall, salary rises
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com
kgb444 After tying his career high of 13½ sacks in 2004, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila's sack total dropped to eight last year, and this season, with five sacks after 11 games, he's on pace for seven. That decline isn't monumental, but it's noteworthy. Perhaps he's lost a touch of the explosion he had when he was younger, but he's not old for his position and should be more proficient in techniques because of experience. The question is, why hasn't he put up the sack numbers the last 1À seasons that he did from 2001 through 2004, when he averaged 12.25 sacks. "I know it's not lack of effort," Gbaja-Biamila said. "Maybe it's that people just know who you are. This year, I can say honestly compared to most years I've gone against some good tackles." The question will be of more importance this offseason, when General Manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy evaluate the roster and decide what changes to make. Though Gbaja-Biamila's play against the run has improved as his career has gone on, he's not stout at 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, and there have been plenty of times when he's been blown back on run plays directly at him. He's also approaching the high-salary years of the seven-year, $37 million contract he signed as a restricted free agent in 2003. That deal included an $11 million signing bonus but had small to manageable base salaries until next year, when he's scheduled to make $5 million. That $5 million salary is not out of line for a consistent pass rusher, and Gbaja-Biamila remains the team's best speed rusher, though not its leading sacker. Nevertheless, Thompson is beginning to calculate as this season winds down what Gbaja-Biamila's worth is to the Packers in 2007. -- More

Lee wonders what happened
Tight end has been missing in action
By ROB REISCHEL
lee1129 Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Nov. 29, 2006
Donald Lee won't go as far as calling his 2006 season a waste. But Green Bay's fourth-year tight end has no qualms in saying he expected much, much more. Lee led all Packers tight ends in receptions last season with 33. Through 11 games this season, Lee has but four catches. Lee is buried behind David Martin and Bubba Franks on the Packers' depth chart. And even in Green Bay's 34-24 loss at Seattle Monday in which Martin was inactive, Lee was invisible again finishing with no catches. "Am I frustrated? A little bit, man," Lee said recently. "I love being here. I love the Green Bay Packers organization. But it might not be for me. "I'm hoping it is, but it might not be. I've just got to do my best, just hope for the best and see what happens." -- More

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