The Packer Pundit

Kampman, Driver Named First-Team All-NFC
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 01/18/2007
Aaron Kampman and Donald Driver are headed to the Pro Bowl in a few weeks with yet another postseason honor. Kampman and Driver have been named to the Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America All-NFC team to go along with their selection as NFC representatives in the Pro Bowl next month in Hawaii. Kampman, a fifth-year defensive end who also earned second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press, posted a career-high 15 1/2 sacks in 2006, tops in the NFC, second in the league, and the third-best single-season total in franchise history. He had four multiple-sack games, all at home, including a pair of three-sack games against New Orleans (Sept. 17) and Minnesota (Dec. 21). Kampman also led Green Bay defensive linemen with a career-high 113 tackles (84 solo), which ranked third on the team behind linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett. He started all 16 games for the third straight season and now has started 58 consecutive games. Other than Reggie White, who made it in 1993 and '95, Kampman is the only Packers' defensive end to be selected first team all-NFC since 1970. Driver set new career highs in receptions and yards for the third consecutive season with 92 catches for 1,295 yards. He scored eight touchdowns, including two on big plays of 82 yards at Minnesota (Nov. 12) and 68 yards at San Francisco (Dec. 10). Driver's yardage total ranked second in the NFC and fifth in the league, while his receptions ranked third in the NFC and fifth in the league. His 191-yard performance at Minnesota was a career-high and was the best single-game total by an NFC receiver in 2006. Driver is the first Packers wide receiver to make the all-NFC team since Sterling Sharpe in 1993. -- Story


Related Story --


Driver, Kampman honored
Green Bay duo makes PFW's all-NFC team
By BOB McGINN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 17, 2007
Wide receiver Donald Driver and defensive end Aaron Kampman, the Green Bay Packers' two representatives on the Pro Bowl team, also are the team's only choices on the all-National Football Conference team. The selections were made by writers and editors at Pro Football Weekly as well as members of the Pro Football Writers of America. Driver finished second in the NFC in receiving yards behind Detroit's Roy Williams (1,310) with 1,295 yards. He ranked third in receptions behind Detroit's Mike Furrey (98) and St. Louis' Tory Holt (93) with 92. Holt also made the team. Other leading candidates were Carolina's Steve Smith, Arizona's Anquan Boldin and Dallas' Terrell Owens. "(Driver) was an excellent player for us through the whole year," general manager Ted Thompson said. "He's always been a very professional football player. I think he's deserving." Driver is the first Packers wide receiver to make the PFW all-NFC team since Sterling Sharpe in 1993. Kampman, who led the NFC in sacks with 15 1/2, was joined at end by Carolina's Julius Peppers. Other top candidates were St. Louis' Leonard Little and New Orleans' Will Smith. "I think Aaron had an outstanding year from a statistical standpoint, which a lot of people look at," Thompson said. "He's a very solid football player. He studies his craft and tries to get better every day." Other than Reggie White, who made it in 1993 and '95, Kampman is the only Packers' defensive end to be selected first team all-NFC since 1970. -- Story



McKenzie's on Titans' list
He is a candidate for GM post
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 17, 2007
Reggie McKenzie, the Green Bay Packers' longtime pro personnel director and a key member of general manager Ted Thompson's scouting team, is being considered for another team's general manager position. The Tennessee Titans, seeking a replacement for departed GM Floyd Reese, contacted and received permission Wednesday from the Packers to interview McKenzie for the job, according to a National Football League source. It marks the second consecutive year McKenzie has been considered for a general manager's position. Last year, McKenzie interviewed with the Houston Texans but lost out to Rick Smith, a Denver Broncos front office official who had worked previously with newly hired head coach Gary Kubiak. The Titans are expected to interview candidates for the job Reese vacated after the season and are thought to have interest in Jacksonville pro personnel director Charles Bailey and possibly Seattle vice president Mike Reinfeldt, a former Packers front office official. It's not known if McKenzie has an interview scheduled. -- More





Houston Texans name Sherman
as offensive coordinator
Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman was named offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans, the Houston Chronicle reported in a copyright story. Sherman served as assistant head coach/offense of the Texans this past season and focused primarily on the offensive line. He was fired in January 2006 after six seasons as head coach of the Packers. Sherman was a finalist for the Arizona Cardinals’ head coaching job earlier this month that went to Pittsburgh Steelers assistant coach Ken Whisenhunt.






Colledge most improved
Rookie left guard rallied with strong finish
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Jan. 17, 2007

"Of course, there's some things I'd like to have done better, but I'm excited with what I've done and more excited for where I can be next year." -- Daryn Colledge

Mike McCarthy, like football coaches everywhere, could find a million things he'd rather do with his day than talk to the media. But the Packers' rookie head coach actually seemed to enjoy himself for a moment during his season-ending press conference. McCarthy was asked who Green Bay's most-improved player was in 2006. And the question made McCarthy perk up. "That's a great question," he said. "I'd say (rookie guard) Daryn Colledge, because you look at Daryn, what he went through in training camp and I clearly thought out of our young players he was most improved and battle-ready. I was very impressed with his performance." He wasn't the only one. Colledge lost his starting left guard job after a disastrous performance in the Packers' first pre-season game in San Diego. But when an injury to Jason Spitz allowed Colledge to move back into the starting lineup in Week 2 of the regular season, he made the most of it. Colledge, a second-round draft choice last April, started the final 15 games of the year at left guard. And he played at a level that will likely lead to recognition by several all-rookie teams. -- More




Cheerleader of the Day --

Andrea
New England Patriots

Nick Name: : Ander
Marital Status : Engaged
Date of Birth : 06/20/1983
Birth State : Minnesota
Hometown : Minneapolis, MIN
High School : Osseo Senior High, Osseo, Minnesota
School : University of Minnesota
Major : Communications, in progress
Team Seasons : R
Career Goal : To be successful, passionate, and love what I do.
Community Service : University of Minnesota Children's Hospital
Performance Background : 20 years of experience in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, and pointe. 3 years dancing for the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Hobbies : Spending time with family and friends, being at the lake, anything outdoors!
Pets : None
Favorite TV Shows : Friends (still)
Favorite Movies : Father of the Bride
Favorite Actor / Actress : Vince Vaughn and Kate Hudson
Favorite Band / Musician : Bon Jovi
Favorite Song : Pour Some Sugar on Me by Def Leopard
Favorite Book : Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Favorite Quote : "Listen to the passion of your soul, set the wings of your spirit free; and let not a single song go unsung."
Favorite Foods : Sushi
Favorite Dessert : Anything with chocolate will do!
Favorite Restaurant : Nami (downtown Minneapolis)
Favorite Color : Pink
Favorite Guilty Pleasure : Ice Cream
Favorite Season in New England : Fall
What is your dream job? : Coaching a professional dance/cheer team.
What is your most prized possession? : My family, my side and my fiancee's side. I'm very lucky!
What is the best gift you ever received? : My marriage proposal!
What is your favorite sport, other than football? : Hockey
If you could be anyone in the world for a day, who would it be? : Lucille Ball
If stuck on a deserted island, what three items would you want to have with you? : My fiancee', a good book, and music
Do you have any hidden talents? : No.