Muir / Williams / Bennett
CB Williams, DT Muir Find Their Way Onto Roster
By Mike Spofford / Packers.com
Posted 09/04/2007
Every year there are one or two so-called "longshots" that make the final roster of an NFL team, that make the leap from a seemingly unknown commodity to a player with too much potential to let go come final cutdown time. Such is the case with cornerback Tramon Williams and defensive tackle Daniel Muir for the Green Bay Packers in 2007. What looked like simply extra names at positions with considerable depth and competition before training camp began have made the team's 53-man roster for Sunday's season opener against Philadelphia.
But to hear Williams, a Louisiana Tech product who joined the Packers' practice squad in late November last year, and Muir, a non-drafted rookie free agent from Kent State, talk about making the team, neither spoke in terms of being the "longshot" everyone pegged them to be. Even if true, they felt they couldn't have that mindset, or they'd have no chance to succeed. "Really, I never thought the odds were against me," said Williams, who was released by the Houston Texans in their final roster reduction last September before coming to Green Bay 2 1/2 months later. "When I came in for the practice squad, the coaches made me feel like I was here so I could play, so I always took that approach to it, that I'm here to play."
Neither player was naïve as to the difficulties they'd face. Williams began training camp behind a deep group of reserve cornerbacks that included Jarrett Bush, Will Blackmon, Frank Walker and Patrick Dendy, and he knew getting noticed would be a challenge. Meanwhile Muir was just as aware of the team's depth at defensive tackle, which included the 16th overall pick in the draft, Justin Harrell. But for both players there was a difference between understanding their surroundings, and being intimidated by them. "I've got all veterans in front of me, and they're all good and capable of playing every snap," Muir said. "And you've got a first-round draft pick who's good and capable of playing every snap also. I knew it was going to be a hard road, but I just prayed and played. That's a motto I just kept in my head. 'Pray and play.' I knew if I did that, I'd be fine." More >>
Bennett has no easy task in running the backs
By LORI NICKEL / journalsentinel.com
Posted: Sept. 4, 2007
Green Bay - Edgar Bennett seems no worse for the wear. Eyes look rested. Voice isn't cracking. Not a hint of gray. No telltale signs that his unit is clearly cursed, except when the 38-year-old gets asked (quite frequently) if he could still suit up. Yet it doesn't matter how many of his men go down with injury. It doesn't matter who they give him next - a rookie, a street free agent, heck, a linebacker - he'll have to find a way to get someone ready for the season opener against Philadelphia. "I look at it this way - I get to do what I enjoy doing," said Bennett. "It's just at an accelerated pace." More >>
Published by PackerPundit On Wednesday, September 05, 2007 at 5:27 AM.
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