The Packer Pundit

Call of duty
It's a reflex, really, fueled by a sudden burst of adrenaline and mixed emotions — concern for his teammate, commitment to his team and excitement about finally getting an opportunity. As soon as it becomes apparent that something has befallen the legendary ironman who'll seemingly be in front of him on the depth chart into perpetuity, a switch flips in Aaron Rodgers' mind, and he begins what is for many other backup quarterbacks a frequent occurrence. The headset comes off. The helmet goes on. The search for a football and a sideline warm-up partner begins. He has to get loose, get focused, get ready. Because he's ... got more standing around to do. More clipboard holding. More headset-and-ballcap time instead of helmet-and-playing time. "I've done that (routine) probably seven or eight times," Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers third-year backup quarterback said, "and only one time have I ended up going in." Until Thursday night. This time, it was different. Very different. [More]


McCarthy makes no excuses for 'D' breakdowns
GREEN BAY (AP) -- Some members of the Green Bay defense apparently didn't heed the message delivered at a team meeting on the eve of the Packers' showdown at Dallas on Thursday night. Coach Mike McCarthy was blunt Friday in assessing where a part of the blame rested for his team's 37-27 loss to the Cowboys. "The secondary as a whole did not play very well. That was probably our worst performance of the year," McCarthy said. The Packers allowed season highs for points, total yards (414), passing yards (309) and touchdown passes (four) as they fell to 10-2, a game behind NFC front-runner Dallas. [More]


McCarthy proves he was
right man for job
To get a better understanding of the job Mike McCarthy has done as coach of the Green Bay Packers, compare him to the other head coaches who were hired in the upheaval that followed the 2005 season, when more than a fourth of the National Football League's teams changed leadership:

Brad Childress is 12-16 with the Minnesota Vikings.

Rod Marinelli is 9-19 with the Detroit Lions and had just three victories last year.

Scott Linehan is 11-17 with the St. Louis Rams.

Eric Mangini is 13-15 with the New York Jets and made the playoffs last year, but he has just three victories this year.

Gary Kubiak is 11-17 with the Houston Texans.

Sean Payton is 15-13 with the New Orleans Saints and was the Associated Press coach of the year in 2006, but the Saints are a disappointing 5-7 this year. [More]


Packers Sign QB Nall
Release S Underwood
The Green Bay Packers have signed quarterback Craig Nall and released safety Marviel Underwood. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, made the announcement Saturday. Nall, originally a fifth-round pick by Green Bay in 2002, spent four seasons (2002-05) with the Packers. A 6-foot-3, 230-pound player, he played with the Buffalo Bills in 2006 and has spent time with the Bills and Houston Texans in 2007. He will wear No. 16.