The Packer Pundit

5 Packers Get Opportunity To Play In NFL Europa
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 02/07/2007
When players come out of college, bounce around to different teams a bit, and then land on a practice squad, all they really want is a chance to play. NFL Europa (formerly called the NFL Europe League) gives them that chance, and the upcoming trip overseas is an opportunity five Green Bay Packers are looking forward to this spring. Wide receiver Carlton Brewster, linebacker Tim Goodwell, cornerback Antonio Malone, safety Alvin Nnabuife and offensive lineman Adam Stenavich, most of whom spent at least a portion of 2006 on Green Bay's practice squad, have been allocated by the Packers to play in NFL Europa in 2007 to get their first true game experience since their college days. "It gets you back into playing, so you'll be ready when training camp comes around," Stenavich said. "It's 10 games, so it's almost like a college season as far as playing experience and things like that." All five players will find out which of the six teams they'll be playing for in late February. Then they'll head to Tampa, Fla., in early March for a three-week training camp with their NFL Europa team. They fly overseas in early April to begin the season, which concludes with the World Bowl in mid-June. -- More




Barnett, Packers open to extension
By Pete Dougherty
greenbaypressgazette.com
The Green Bay Packers are open to extending linebacker Nick Barnett's contract this offseason and have had amiable preliminary talks with his agent. However, the chances of finishing a deal anytime soon depend in large part on Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs signing a long-term deal with Chicago early this offseason, and also the kind of deal General Manager Ted Thompson and Barnett are willing to accept based off that. Barnett has one year left on his rookie contract at a salary of $691,000, but he has wanted to extend that since last season. The Packers, like many NFL teams recently, appear more willing to be proactive regarding extensions for core players who have a full season or more left on their deals. Barnett's agent, Charles Price, has been talking regularly with Packers Vice President Andrew Brandt since late last year. "We have common starting ground in that they'd like to have Nick for the long haul, and he'd like to be there for the long haul," Price said Tuesday. "That's pretty much all we've established at this point. There's an incredible starting position, and after talking to Andrew Brandt, we both feel good about working together to get this done." -- More




GM not changing his plan of attack
Favre signing just one piece of the puzzle
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Feb. 8, 2007

"We feel like if we're doing things to help the team get better, whatever it is, whoever the quarterback is, whether it's Brett or whomever it might be, we're going to try to get better, and if we can do that in free agency, we'll do that. And we'll try to do that. It doesn't always work out. It takes two to tango."
-- Ted Thompson

Brett Favre made Ted Thompson's off-season a whole lot sweeter last Friday. Now, it remains to be seen whether Thompson will return the favor. Favre, Green Bay's legendary quarterback, announced he'd return for a 17th NFL season. Now, it's up to Thompson, the Packers' general manager, to make it worthwhile for Favre. Green Bay's offense lacked playmakers in 2006 and was extremely ordinary. The Packers ranked 22nd in football in points per game (18.8) and were an abysmal 31st in red zone offense. Thompson said he didn't make Favre any promises that he'd upgrade the offense and that Favre didn't ask for any. But if the Packers are to move from an 8-8 team to a potential playoff outfit, they'll have to find more offensive playmakers - either in the draft or free agency. -- More




Favre's decision comes quickly (for him)
QB excited about Packers' chances
By RICK BRAUN / Packer Plus writer
Posted: Feb. 8, 2007
The decision came earlier this year than in the previous two years, but the end result was the same and that was what mattered most to the Green Bay Packers. Brett Favre told Packer general manager Ted Thompson last Friday that he would be back for a 16th season with the Packers and a 17th season overall. Favre withheld his decision in 2005 until informing then-coach Mike Sherman in March, just before the team's Fan Fest. In 2006, with a new coach coming in Mike McCarthy, Favre waited and waited and waited . . . and then waited some more. Finally, around the third week in April he called McCarthy and said he was coming back. This time around, the decision came relatively quickly, not even five weeks after the Packers wrapped up their season on Dec. 31 with a 26-7 victory over the Chicago Bears that gave the Packers a four-game winning streak and an 8-8 record. Favre chose his close friend Al Jones, a reporter for the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun Herald, to break the news. "I am so excited about coming back," Favre said in a story Jones posted on the paper's Web site late Friday morning. "We have a good nucleus of young players. We were 8-8 last year and that's encouraging. My offensive line looks good, the defense played good down the stretch," Favre said. "I'm excited about playing for a talented young football team." -- More




McCarthy had good feeling
Coach excited to have leader back
By ROB REISCHEL / Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Feb. 8, 2007

"I was just very excited that Brett was coming back to be the leader of our football team. Obviously, he's done it for so long and I thought he was exemplary in that role this past season and was excited to move forward with that." -- Mike McCarthy

Mike McCarthy had a feeling. And a good one, at that. McCarthy, Green Bay's head coach, spent more than an hour on Jan. 25 talking about the future with Brett Favre. And when McCarthy hung up the phone, he had a pretty good feeling his quarterback wasn't ready to call it a career. "We had a very long, positive conversation," McCarthy said. "And when I got off the phone, I felt that he was definitely leaning toward coming back." Favre proved McCarthy correct last Friday, when he informed the organization that he would indeed return for a 17th NFL season. Green Bay, which went 8-8 in 2006, finished the season with a four-game winning streak. And Favre's return means the most important position on the field will remain a constant. -- More