10/11/2007
Spitz To Step In For Injured Wells
The versatility of the Green Bay Packers' young offensive linemen is proving to be valuable. On Sunday night against Chicago, Jason Spitz took over for Scott Wells at center late in the third quarter after Wells was poked in the eye on a third-down running play. On Monday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy announced that Wells has a fractured orbital bone and will in all likelihood miss Sunday's game against Washington, forcing Spitz into his first start at center. But the second-year pro, whose 14 NFL starts to this point have all come at guard, is up to the task. The four offensive series he played at center on Sunday constitute by far his most extensive experience at the position, but with Wells nursing a mild hamstring strain the past couple of weeks, Spitz has taken a significant share of the practice snaps at center and feels ready. "I've got enough reps during the preseason and during the regular week to work on my snaps, so that's not an issue," said Spitz, a third-round draft choice in 2006 out of Louisville. [More]
Packers LB Barnett charged with
2 counts of disorderly conduct
Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett was charged Tuesday with two counts of disorderly conduct stemming from an altercation with two women in a bar this summer. Barnett, 26, was summoned to appear in Outagamie County Circuit Court on Dec. 11, according to the criminal complaint filed by special prosecutor Raymond Pelrine. Barnett, a first-round pick in 2003 who has started since his rookie year, knew last month that charges would be forthcoming. [More]
Robinson awaiting reinstatement
GREEN BAY — Even though his cell phone has call waiting, Koren Robinson wasn't taking any chances Wednesday afternoon. "I've got to keep my phone lines open," Robinson said. And having waited a year for this call, who could blame him? With his one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy expiring Oct. 17, Robinson was waiting to hear from Roger Goodell's office Wednesday to learn when he would be meeting the commissioner in New York City about his reinstatement. Robinson said he had spoken with the NFL's management council earlier in the day, and he was looking forward to meeting with Goodell to tell the commissioner about the progress he's made in the past 12 months. [More]
Favre takes blame for pick
GREEN BAY — Obviously, looking back, Brett Favre wishes he'd never thrown the pass. But the Green Bay Packers quarterback said Wednesday that his biggest mistake on the game-changing interception he threw in last Sunday night's 27-20 loss to the Chicago Bears was not changing the play at the line of scrimmage before the snap. So when Favre said it was a "bad decision," he actually made two. "In hindsight, I wouldn't have thrown it, I would have thrown it away (instead), but more importantly, I would have checked to a different play, and I've been doing a good job of that all year long," Favre said. [More]
Harrell Gets His Feet Wet
When defensive tackle Justin Harrell took the field last Sunday, it had been 12 months and 21 days since he had played in a regular-season game, and it felt every bit that long to the 2007 first-round draft pick. "You never want to sit on the sideline," said Harrell, whose last meaningful game action came for the University of Tennessee, on Sept. 16, 2006, against the Florida Gators before having surgery on his torn bicep. "Being a competitor, you want to go out there and try to help your team win. With all the success the team was getting, you know you're a part of it but you really don't feel like you're a part of it until you're out there doing things." Harrell got off to a slow start in training camp, coming back from the injury, and he was inactive the first four weeks of the season. He made his debut in the defensive tackle rotation against the Bears last Sunday and was solid, though unspectacular. Harrell played nine snaps on defense and provided a good push at the point of attack on at least some of them. He beat his blocker to bring down running back Cedric Benson for a 1-yard loss on his only tackle. [More]
Hawk off to quiet but solid start
GREEN BAY — A.J. Hawk knows it comes with the territory. When you enter the NFL as the fifth pick in the draft, when you're viewed as the next face of the Green Bay Packers when (if?) Brett Favre finally retires, folks are going to expect a lot. And rightfully so. "That's good. People had better have high expectations for me," the Packers' second-year will linebacker said. "Because whatever they expect of me, believe me, I expect a lot more. But I also understand my job. I understand what I'm doing here." And what he's done through the Packers' first five games has been, well, uneventful. While he hasn't made any game-changing, glaring mistakes, he hasn't made any game-altering, great plays, either. He enters Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins at Lambeau Field with 41 tackles — third on the team behind middle linebacker Nick Barnett (51) and safety Atari Bigby (45) — and without a sack, interception, pass breakup or forced or recovered fumble. [More]
Jackson breaking ground
Rookie running back returns to practice
Green Bay - Green Bay Packers rookie running back Brandon Jackson took part in practice Wednesday and said he has been cleared to play against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Whether coach Mike McCarthy plays him is another matter. Jackson, who opened the season as a starter, missed the last two games with an unusual shin injury that he suffered against San Diego on Sept. 23. It took him a full two weeks to overcome the discomfort in his leg, but he said he made it through practice without any problems. [More]
Jones moves on after fumble
But is focus of 'strip' drill
Green Bay - In almost every practice, the Green Bay Packers use the "strip" drill, where two defenders try to rip the ball away from an offensive player. But on Wednesday, one player had three defenders grabbing at the ball he tightly held between his arms. That same player was the only one asked to do the drill again. So while both his coach and quarterback said they have "moved on," and the player himself declined to answer questions about the previous game, the two fumbles wide receiver James Jones had in Sunday night's loss to the Chicago Bears obviously haven't been forgotten. [More]
Deal at trade deadline is unlikely
NFL rosters — the meat of them — are shaped during the early spring free-agent period, the April draft and some pre-training camp moves. But there's one more chance for teams to make a major move prior to the league's trade deadline at 3 p.m. Tuesday. After that, only street free agents and waiver claims are available. The Green Bay Packers appear to have a glaring need at running back, even after drafting two and trading for one at the end of training camp, but it appears unlikely General Manager Ted Thompson will pull the trigger on a deal before trading ends next week. The Packers rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game — ahead of only the Kansas City Chiefs — and 28th in rushing average. But they likely will stick with their contingent of running backs that includes rookies Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, first-year pro Ryan Grant and third-year pro Vernand Morency. [More]
The versatility of the Green Bay Packers' young offensive linemen is proving to be valuable. On Sunday night against Chicago, Jason Spitz took over for Scott Wells at center late in the third quarter after Wells was poked in the eye on a third-down running play. On Monday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy announced that Wells has a fractured orbital bone and will in all likelihood miss Sunday's game against Washington, forcing Spitz into his first start at center. But the second-year pro, whose 14 NFL starts to this point have all come at guard, is up to the task. The four offensive series he played at center on Sunday constitute by far his most extensive experience at the position, but with Wells nursing a mild hamstring strain the past couple of weeks, Spitz has taken a significant share of the practice snaps at center and feels ready. "I've got enough reps during the preseason and during the regular week to work on my snaps, so that's not an issue," said Spitz, a third-round draft choice in 2006 out of Louisville. [More]Packers LB Barnett charged with
2 counts of disorderly conduct
Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett was charged Tuesday with two counts of disorderly conduct stemming from an altercation with two women in a bar this summer. Barnett, 26, was summoned to appear in Outagamie County Circuit Court on Dec. 11, according to the criminal complaint filed by special prosecutor Raymond Pelrine. Barnett, a first-round pick in 2003 who has started since his rookie year, knew last month that charges would be forthcoming. [More]Robinson awaiting reinstatement
GREEN BAY — Even though his cell phone has call waiting, Koren Robinson wasn't taking any chances Wednesday afternoon. "I've got to keep my phone lines open," Robinson said. And having waited a year for this call, who could blame him? With his one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy expiring Oct. 17, Robinson was waiting to hear from Roger Goodell's office Wednesday to learn when he would be meeting the commissioner in New York City about his reinstatement. Robinson said he had spoken with the NFL's management council earlier in the day, and he was looking forward to meeting with Goodell to tell the commissioner about the progress he's made in the past 12 months. [More]
Favre takes blame for pick
GREEN BAY — Obviously, looking back, Brett Favre wishes he'd never thrown the pass. But the Green Bay Packers quarterback said Wednesday that his biggest mistake on the game-changing interception he threw in last Sunday night's 27-20 loss to the Chicago Bears was not changing the play at the line of scrimmage before the snap. So when Favre said it was a "bad decision," he actually made two. "In hindsight, I wouldn't have thrown it, I would have thrown it away (instead), but more importantly, I would have checked to a different play, and I've been doing a good job of that all year long," Favre said. [More]
Harrell Gets His Feet Wet
When defensive tackle Justin Harrell took the field last Sunday, it had been 12 months and 21 days since he had played in a regular-season game, and it felt every bit that long to the 2007 first-round draft pick. "You never want to sit on the sideline," said Harrell, whose last meaningful game action came for the University of Tennessee, on Sept. 16, 2006, against the Florida Gators before having surgery on his torn bicep. "Being a competitor, you want to go out there and try to help your team win. With all the success the team was getting, you know you're a part of it but you really don't feel like you're a part of it until you're out there doing things." Harrell got off to a slow start in training camp, coming back from the injury, and he was inactive the first four weeks of the season. He made his debut in the defensive tackle rotation against the Bears last Sunday and was solid, though unspectacular. Harrell played nine snaps on defense and provided a good push at the point of attack on at least some of them. He beat his blocker to bring down running back Cedric Benson for a 1-yard loss on his only tackle. [More]
Hawk off to quiet but solid start
GREEN BAY — A.J. Hawk knows it comes with the territory. When you enter the NFL as the fifth pick in the draft, when you're viewed as the next face of the Green Bay Packers when (if?) Brett Favre finally retires, folks are going to expect a lot. And rightfully so. "That's good. People had better have high expectations for me," the Packers' second-year will linebacker said. "Because whatever they expect of me, believe me, I expect a lot more. But I also understand my job. I understand what I'm doing here." And what he's done through the Packers' first five games has been, well, uneventful. While he hasn't made any game-changing, glaring mistakes, he hasn't made any game-altering, great plays, either. He enters Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins at Lambeau Field with 41 tackles — third on the team behind middle linebacker Nick Barnett (51) and safety Atari Bigby (45) — and without a sack, interception, pass breakup or forced or recovered fumble. [More]Jackson breaking ground
Rookie running back returns to practice
Green Bay - Green Bay Packers rookie running back Brandon Jackson took part in practice Wednesday and said he has been cleared to play against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. Whether coach Mike McCarthy plays him is another matter. Jackson, who opened the season as a starter, missed the last two games with an unusual shin injury that he suffered against San Diego on Sept. 23. It took him a full two weeks to overcome the discomfort in his leg, but he said he made it through practice without any problems. [More]
Jones moves on after fumble
But is focus of 'strip' drill
Green Bay - In almost every practice, the Green Bay Packers use the "strip" drill, where two defenders try to rip the ball away from an offensive player. But on Wednesday, one player had three defenders grabbing at the ball he tightly held between his arms. That same player was the only one asked to do the drill again. So while both his coach and quarterback said they have "moved on," and the player himself declined to answer questions about the previous game, the two fumbles wide receiver James Jones had in Sunday night's loss to the Chicago Bears obviously haven't been forgotten. [More]Deal at trade deadline is unlikely
NFL rosters — the meat of them — are shaped during the early spring free-agent period, the April draft and some pre-training camp moves. But there's one more chance for teams to make a major move prior to the league's trade deadline at 3 p.m. Tuesday. After that, only street free agents and waiver claims are available. The Green Bay Packers appear to have a glaring need at running back, even after drafting two and trading for one at the end of training camp, but it appears unlikely General Manager Ted Thompson will pull the trigger on a deal before trading ends next week. The Packers rank 31st in the NFL in rushing yards per game — ahead of only the Kansas City Chiefs — and 28th in rushing average. But they likely will stick with their contingent of running backs that includes rookies Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, first-year pro Ryan Grant and third-year pro Vernand Morency. [More]
Published by PackerPundit On Thursday, October 11, 2007 at 5:17 AM.
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