The Packer Pundit

Packers Hall Of Fame To Induct Brooks, Butler
Two former Packers greats, wide receiver Robert Brooks and defensive back LeRoy Butler, will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame at the 37th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, to be held the evening of July 21, 2007, in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Brooks, who retired from the Packers following the 1998 season, authored a distinguished 7-year career (1992-98) for the Green and Gold and ranks 11th on the club's all-time receptions list with 306 catches for 4,225 yards and 32 touchdowns. One of the most popular and productive players in the team's history, Brooks in 1995 endeared himself to Packers fans by leaping into the stands to share his elation following his touchdown receptions, building upon a move first performed in 1993 by fellow inductee, LeRoy Butler. Brooks' often-executed move (he scored 13 touchdowns in '95) soon was dubbed the "Lambeau Leap" and is now firmly entrenched in Packers lore. A third-round draft selection out of South Carolina in 1992, he possesses the team's single-season record for receiving yards, 1,497 in 1995, at the time becoming just the fifth player in team history to record a 1,000-yard season. He amassed 102 receptions that season, which remains the third-highest single-season total in Packers history, and set a team, single-season record with nine 100-yard receiving games. He also ranks second on the team's all-time postseason list in both completions (45) and yards (651) and holds the NFL postseason record for highest career punt return average, 15.3 yards per return (14 returns for 214 yards). Butler (first name is pronounced luh-ROY), who retired from the Packers following a 12-year career (1990-2001), played more games, 181, than any other defensive back in team history, and only six players overall saw action in more contests - Brett Favre (239), Bart Starr (196), Ray Nitschke (190), Forrest Gregg (187) and William Henderson (187). The productive Butler, a second-round draft pick in 1990 out of Florida State, often displayed his knack for the big play by forging 38 interceptions - fourth-most in club history and only one short of third-ranking Herb Adderley (39), a long-time member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame - and authoring 201/2 quarterback sacks. He led or tied for the team lead in interceptions in five different seasons (1990-91, '93, '95, '97), a feat surpassed in Green Bay history only by Bobby Dillon's seven times (1952-58) and equaled by Willie Wood's five years (1961-63, 1965, 1970). A premier player, he was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee following the 2000 season and made four Pro Bowl appearances, including starting assignments in three successive years (1996-98). His overall excellence at the position was underscored in '98 when his third consecutive hallmark season also earned him selection to the Associated Press All-Pro team for the fourth year in a row and the fifth time overall (he was named for the first time in 1993). In addition to the induction of Brooks and Butler, the Hall of Fame will formally induct this year's FAN honoree, Rich Barbera.



Michels overcomes post-career blues
Press-Gazette
Former Green Bay Packers tackle John Michels, who played on the Packers' Super Bowl teams a decade ago, discusses his post-career depression on "Outside the Lines" at 8:30 a.m. Sunday on ESPN and 11 a.m. Sunday on ESPNEWS. Michels, a first-round pick in 1996, had his career cut short by a knee injury in 1999. The thought of no longer being able to play left him suicidal. "I remember one day when he walked upstairs, and he just looked like it was over," his wife, Melissa Michels, says on the program. When she heard a loud pop, she thought he had killed himself. "That's how broken he was, because I would've believed it," she says. Michels reached out to former teammate Ken Ruettgers, who also battled depression after retiring. They formed the organization Game's Over to help retired players with emotional needs. Michels, 33, is in his third year of medical school at the University of Southern California, studying radiology.



McKenzie meets with Tennessee
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Jan. 26, 2007
Green Bay Packers pro personnel director Reggie McKenzie interviewed Friday for the Tennessee Titans' general manager position, sources said. The Packers gave the Titans permission last week to interview McKenzie, a native of Knoxville, Tenn., who attended the University of Tennessee. McKenzie is one of a handful of candidates the Titans are interviewing for the position formerly held by Floyd Reese. McKenzie has privately expressed a strong interest in the job because of the proximity to his hometown and the increased responsibility he would have. The Titans aren't giving their general manager final say on the head coach, but they are allowing him control of the personnel department. -- More



Green Bay suffers with safety concerns
Collins has a job; other spot shaky
By RICK BRAUN / Packer Plus writer
Posted: Jan. 23, 2007
Not since Darren Sharper and LeRoy Butler lined up together in the 2001 season have the Green Bay Packers felt completely comfortable with their starting tandem at safety. In March of 2004, the Packers went shopping in free agency and plopped down their MasterCard to purchase Mark Roman away from the Cincinnati Bengals. They figured Roman would be an upgrade over Antuan Edwards and/or Marques Anderson, who had manned the strong safety spot alongside Sharper in 2003. Sharper eventually left when the Packers waived him in March of 2005 after they decided his salary-cap number was too high and he would not accept a negotiated pay cut. That left the Packers using a second-round pick on Nick Collins, who had a solid but unspectacular rookie season alongside Roman. Collins showed great range and speed and wasn't afraid to stick his nose in and make big hits. The Packers figured they had their free safety for the future. But by the end of the 2005 season, general manager Ted Thompson also decided he wanted to upgrade Collins' running mate. Roman had been under fire in his two seasons in Green Bay after not really making any impact plays and having his share of missed tackles. Thompson decided to go with someone he knew. Marquand Manuel had been picked up by the Seattle Seahawks off waivers from the Cincinnati Bengals days before the 2004 season. At the time, Thompson was the Seahawks' vice president of football operations. -- More