The Packer Pundit

No roster players are sent to NFL Europe
The Green Bay Packers signed street free agent Antonio Malone this week and designated him as one of five players they are allocating to NFL Europe this spring. General Manager Ted Thompson said Wednesday that NFL rules changed this offseason and teams can send a maximum of five players to NFL Europe and receive roster exemptions, whereas in past years that number was 10. The Packers used their five allocations on young players who received no game experience this year rather than on any of the young players from their 53-man roster. The four other players they've assigned to NFL Europe are linebacker Tim Goodwell, whom they signed as a street free agent Monday, and three players who finished last season on their practice squad: receiver Carlton Brewster, defensive back Alvin Nnabuife and tackle Adam Stenavich. Malone and Goodwell were with the Packers in training camp this season but cut before the start of the regular season. NFL Europe has helped the Packers develop a few starters over the years, the most recent being defensive end Cullen Jenkins. Jenkins, who became an effective starting defensive end at the end of this season, played in NFL Europe in the spring of 2004. Others who became starters after playing in NFL Europe were former guard Marco Rivera, who played in Europe after his rookie season of 1996 and later became a Pro Bowler, and receiver Bill Schroeder, who was a starter for the Packers from 1999 to 2001. NFL rules require each team to allocate at least three players to NFL Europe unless it has extenuating circumstances such as a coaching change or severe salary-cap problems. The team then can defer some or all those allocations and make up the difference the next year.

Clements Leaving?
Though several Alabama newspapers have listed Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements as a candidate to become new Alabama coach Nick Saban's offensive coordinator, Thompson said the school has not contacted him about Clements and he has no indication it has talked to Clements about the opening. Saban would not be required to ask the Packers for permission because colleges are not bound by NFL contract rules in that regard, but it's a courtesy that almost all college coaches follow. Other reported candidates include Rice offensive coordinator Major Applewhite and Southern Cal offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.


Allen's Rehab Progressing Well
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 01/11/2007
Just two weeks after finishing a grueling 16-game schedule, the offseason is about rest, relaxation and recuperation for most players. But for injured players who weren't a part of the regular-season grind in 2006, like defensive tackle Kenderick Allen, there's an entirely different focus. "I'm looking forward to putting on some cleats and running," said Allen, who hasn't done so since late September, when a serious foot injury at Detroit's Ford Field prematurely ended his season. After a long four months, Allen is about to begin what he hopes are the final rehabilitation stages for his foot. In February, he'll begin running and hopefully doing football-specific drills again, with the idea that he'll be back to full strength by the time the Packers' offseason conditioning program begins on March 19. At the time of the injury, Allen had no idea he was in for so much down time. In the first quarter at Detroit on Sept. 24, Allen's foot got caught in the turf and turned awkwardly. He finished the game but soon found out he had stretched some ligaments connecting two of the metatarsal bones in his mid-foot, known as a Lisfranc sprain, and he was placed on injured reserve. It was a tough blow for a guy playing for his third team in four years and trying to make a name for himself in the NFL. After playing in 29 games over three years with New Orleans (2003) and the New York Giants (2004-05), mostly as a reserve, Allen signed with the Packers last April. He and his 5-year-old son Nicobe quickly developed an affinity for Green Bay's hometown feel, and as they settled into the community it appeared Allen was settling into a role in the Packers' defensive tackle rotation. An abdominal injury forced him to miss one week of training camp and one preseason game, but he closed the preseason with three solo tackles in a start against Tennessee. He followed that up with two solo tackles off the bench in the season opener versus Chicago. Then came the injury in Week 3, which forced him to keep all weight off his foot for nearly two months. The good news was it didn't require surgery, which Lisfranc sprains often do, but he was on crutches for six weeks and then in a protective boot for another week and a half. Then came the orthotics for his shoes, followed by the running he now does in the pool that will soon progress to real ground. In the meantime, it was difficult to watch his defensive teammates for the final 13 games of the season, whether they were struggling early or playing like one of the league's best units in the final month. "It's actually hard to watch all of it," Allen said. "Regardless if they're struggling or doing good, you want to be part of it. We all put in the same amount of work through two-a-days and through training camp, so when they were making plays I was like, 'Man I wish I could be making some plays.' When they weren't doing so good, it was like, 'Man, I wish I was out there to pump them up and do a little better.' -- More




Packers won't rush KGB decision
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
Among the many decisions General Manager Ted Thompson has to make this offseason is what to do with pass rusher Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. In the last month of the season, Cullen Jenkins took over for Gbaja-Biamila as the starting right defensive end and profoundly improved the Packers' run defense. Assuming the Packers retain Jenkins as a restricted free agent, Thompson will have to decide whether Gbaja-Biamila will be worth his $5 million salary in 2007 playing mainly as a pass-rush specialist rather than as an every-down player. Though it's too early in the offseason to draw definite conclusions, there's reason to think the Packers seriously are considering keeping Gbaja-Biamila at that salary rather than asking him to take a pay cut. A proven rusher such as Gbaja-Biamila, 29, could make at least $5 million in a signing bonus alone if he refused the cut and was released, even though his sack production has declined the last two years. "I think that's fair to say," said Bruce Tollner, Gbaja-Biamila's agent, of his client's worth on the open market. Tollner said the Packers have not called to discuss Gbaja-Biamila's salary and a possible pay cut. There's plenty of time to address that if Thompson chooses — free agency and the new NFL year don't begin until March 2 — but those are issues the team often begins exploring early in the offseason. "I have not talked to the team with regard to that," Tollner said, "and I'd rather not get into my speculations on what they're going to do." The Packers are believed to be close to $25 million under the 2007 cap, so they have no compelling reason to clear cap room immediately other than to maintain their salary structure. They conceivably could carry Gbaja-Biamila's $5 million on their cap well into the offseason and see how a young pass rusher such as Jason Hunter develops and whether they land a comparable rusher at a cheaper price in free agency, or draft a prospect they especially like. However, with the salary cap going up an estimated $7 million this year to $109 million, most teams have substantial cap room, and salaries will continue to escalate. By the end of the first wave of free agency in mid-March, $5 million for a valuable commodity such as a pass-rush specialist might be high, but not outrageous, if they think Gbaja-Biamila's production will rebound if he's playing less and thus fresher when he's on the field. Gbaja-Biamila tied his career high for sacks with 13½ in 2004, but dropped to eight sacks in 16 games in 2005 and six sacks in 15 games this season. There's thought that as Gbaja-Biamila gets older, his effectiveness as a pass rusher, especially in the fourth quarter, will improve with Jenkins replacing him on most run downs. -- Story



Favre has a lot to lure him back
Major records within his reach
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Jan. 10, 2007
Before Brett Favre left Green Bay to begin tractor-riding season, Packers coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson sat down with the future Hall of Fame quarterback. And they told Favre what he meant to the organization and how badly they wanted him back. "(We) both sat down with him, told him what we thought about him as a player, pure player evaluation, nothing to do with what he's accomplished in the past, where we felt he was at today, and we told him we wanted him back," McCarthy said. "So with that, he talked about some of the things that he was thinking through. He knows exactly how the organization feels about him." The Packers clearly believe Favre is still an upper-echelon quarterback in the National Football League. And if Favre decides to return for a 16th season in Green Bay and 17th overall, he can also move to the top of most of the all-time passing charts. Favre broke Dan Marino's record for career completions (4,967) in a Week 14 victory against Detroit. And Favre finished the season with 5,021 total completions. "I'm thankful that I've had a chance to play this long and have an opportunity to break a record that's been held by a guy like Dan Marino," Favre said after setting the record for completions. "That's quite an honor." -- More




Cheerleader of the Day --

Meet Courtney
New England Patriots
Cheerleader

Nick Name: : Mitton
Marital Status : Single
Date of Birth : 02/04/1985
Birth State : CT
Hometown : Somers, CT
High School : Somers High School, Somers, CT.
School : he Hartford Conservatory/Enrolling in local Community College Fall 2006
Major : Dance Performance - May 2005 Further Schooling in Progress - Marketing Major (estimated date of graduation, May 2009)
Team Seasons : 2


Current Occupation : Day spa receptionist
Career Goal : Professional Dancer, Marketing Rep. or possibly nursing
Community Service : Special Olympics, 2006 Patriotic World Tour
Performance Background : 15 years of study in the areas of Jazz, Ballet, Tap and Modern Dance; 8 years performing with the Academy of Dance East Longmeadow, MA dance company
Hobbies : Travel, Reading, Spending time with family and friends...


Pets : Yorkshire terrier, Baxter Golden Retriever,Homer
Favorite TV Shows : Nip/Tuck
Favorite Movies : Casino
Favorite Actor / Actress : Will Ferrell and Diane Keaton.
Favorite Animated Character : Nemo
Favorite Band / Musician : Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Song : Stone - Dave Matthews Band
Favorite Book : A Bend in the Road - Nicholas Sparks
Favorite Quote : "The saddest thing in life is wasted talent." - A Bronx Tale.
Favorite Foods : Pizza
Favorite Dessert : Vanilla bean cheesecake
Favorite Restaurant : The Cheesecake Factory
Favorite Color : Green
Favorite Guilty Pleasure : French, Italian, Garlic, or any other really good bread w/Pasta
Favorite Season in New England : Summer
What is your dream job? : To be an actress.
What is your most prized possession? : My Photo album.
What is the best gift you ever received? : iPod.
What is your favorite sport, other than football? : Basketball.



If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be? : Oprah.
If stuck on a deserted island, what three items would you want to have with you? : Cell phone, water, iPod.
Do you have any hidden talents? : No.