10/26/2007
Robinson: 'I know I'm going to make it'
One year ago former first-round pick and Pro Bowl receiver/return man Koren Robinson was running freely with his Packers teammates, catching passing from a modern day legend in Brett Favre. A few months later, Robinson wasn't even free to shower when he pleased. Rather than haul in passes from Favre in front of thousands, Robinson was alone in a jail cell, banished from the NFL. The NFL banned Robinson for a year for once again violating the league's drug and alcohol policy as well as its personal conduct policy after he was arrested in Minnesota for drinking and driving and evading police. He was a repeat offender and seemingly another athlete who squandered talent we all wished God had blessed us with. The year away from the NFL was the least of Robinson's problems. The one-time rising star was incarcerated, sent to three different prisons to pay his debt to society. One day he's catching passes from a man who is, in essence, Lou Gehrig in today's sports world, the next he's locked in a tiny cell facing punishment if he so much as talks past 10 p.m. Robinson was recently released from jail and last week he won re-instatement from the NFL for one last chance to show he can play by the rules — the NFL's rules and the rules of life. He's no longer doing menial jobs behind bars. Robinson, instead, has been given what is likely one final chance at righting the wrongs of his football and personal lives. [More]
Robinson insists
'I'm a changed person'
It finally dawned on Koren Robinson last summer that his life was a wreck and he needed to do something about it. A series of bad decisions and stupid mistakes left Robinson's NFL career in jeopardy and his self-esteem in shambles. There was the high-speed chase near Mankato, Minn., in August 2006 when Robinson, coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Minnesota Vikings, was clocked going 100 mph. When police finally caught Robinson, they determined he was legally drunk. There was the driving-under-the-influence citation he received in 2004 while playing for the Seattle Seahawks. There were the 21 cases uncovered in 2004 by the Tacoma News implicating Robinson for various offenses, including four allegations of negligent driving and 13 other traffic-related cases. Among them was a citation for driving 105 mph in a 60-mph zone. Robinson faced an NFL suspension and jail time. He squandered millions of dollars when his contract was voided by the Vikings. He brought shame on his family and disappointed countless people who trusted him. "At first, it was real bad," admitted Robinson during a candid interview in the Green Bay Packers' locker room Tuesday. "I was beating myself up because it was so fresh." [More]Robinson's comeback could kick off
He might return kicks for Packers
Green Bay - Receiver Koren Robinson got a second chance when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell reinstated him last week after a yearlong suspension and now he's hoping for another when the Green Bay Packers play Monday night at Denver. When he joined the Packers after the first week of the season last year, Robinson was handed the team's primary kickoff return duties. In the four games before his suspension came down, he averaged only 21.1 yards per return and was not the same guy who was named to the Pro Bowl as a kickoff returner the year before. Now back from suspension, Robinson appears to be in the same position as a year ago, poised to take over the kickoff return duties, but needing to prove himself to a vastly different special teams unit. All Robinson can do is hope his impact is as significant as it was with the Minnesota Vikings in 2005, when he electrified their special teams. [More]
Wynn officially named No. 1 RB
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — It's official. Until further notice, DeShawn Wynn is unquestionably the Green Bay Packers' starting running back, no matter what durability concerns the team might have about the rookie seventh-round pick. Coach Mike McCarthy made that clear after Wynn took part in all phases of Thursday's practice after suffering "neck spasms" earlier in the week that threatened his availability for Monday night's game against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field. "He's in the No. 1 slot right now. He has an opportunity to take it and do something with it," McCarthy said in Green Bay following practice. "We'll see what he can do." [More]Defensive Line In Flux; Wynn Returns
The Packers' defensive line is in a state of flux right now with injuries to starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins and reserve defensive tackle Justin Harrell. Jenkins, who injured an ankle taking a high-low hit from two Redskins back on Oct. 14, was limited in practice on Thursday and, according to Head Coach Mike McCarthy, "did not have as good a day as we had hoped." His status for Monday night's game is in question, though there are still two days of practice plus the travel day for him to improve. Meanwhile Harrell, the rookie first-round draft choice, had an offensive lineman roll up on his legs during Tuesday's practice, spraining his ankle. He did not practice Thursday and already has been ruled out of this week's game after having played the previous two contests. [More]
Packers Look To Continue
Road Success
This week's trip to Denver begins the first of three pairs of back-to-back road games for the Packers in 2007, but playing six of their next nine games on the road isn't intimidating at all to this team. "Fortunately for us -- obviously we're thinking about this game first -- but we're a pretty good road team," linebacker Nick Barnett said. "We've been on the road and been pretty successful. It's a tribute to the schedule and the coaches keeping us focused on the game, and the character in this locker room. So we just take it week by week, but we usually don't have a problem on the road games." That's certainly true thus far during the Mike McCarthy era. In his first 10 road games as an NFL head coach, McCarthy is 7-3, including a four-game winning streak dating back to last year's victory in San Francisco on Dec. 10. [More]
Published by PackerPundit On Friday, October 26, 2007 at 4:46 AM.
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