12/29/2007
Jackson poised for more action
When he went back during the bye week and watched the tape of the first few games of the season, coach Mike McCarthy felt bad for rookie halfback Brandon Jackson. Thrust into the starting lineup during training camp, Jackson took his lumps when the Green Bay Packers' running game was going nowhere. Since those early-season struggles, the blocking has improved in front of starter Ryan Grant, who heads into Sunday's regular-season finale against Detroit at Lambeau Field just 101 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark, despite not starting his first game until Nov. 4 at Kansas City. But with McCarthy playing it safe with a number of key starters — Grant included — Sunday with an eye on the playoffs, Jackson will see extended action. "This will be an excellent opportunity for Brandon Jackson. I would like to get him a number of carries, and let him have the opportunity to have success — something that he did not have a whole lot of in the beginning of the year," McCarthy said. "I really didn't think it was just him. He has improved since then, which you'd expect from a young player, but the run-blocking unit has come a long ways since the beginning of the season." [More]
Thompson satisfied with Packers' draft
Despite getting almost nothing from his top two selections, general manager Ted Thompson is satisfied with the first-year returns from his third draft class in Green Bay. "I think it's a good group," Thompson said this week after being asked to review the performance of his rookies in the first 15 games. "Most of them have contributed this season in one fashion or another." Justin Harrell, the 16th pick overall, played just 15 snaps in the first 11 games as the No. 5 defensive tackle. Season-ending injuries to Johnny Jolly and Colin Cole created an opening for Harrell, and he has played 117 snaps to mixed reviews over the last four games. [More] NFL fines ref who took down Barnett
After saying earlier in the week that it wouldn't take discipline umpire Jim Quirk, who pulled Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett down from behind in a choke hold during a skirmish during last Sunday's game at Chicago, the NFL announced Friday that it fined Quirk for "inappropriate physical contact with players." Quirk was notified he was fined one game check ($8,150) by NFL executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson. Quirk can appeal the fine to commissioner Roger Goodell. [More]
Published by PackerPundit On Saturday, December 29, 2007 at 6:26 AM.
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