The Packer Pundit

Pack YouTube Channel

2008-08-19T20:41:00.002-04:00

Hey I just found this sweet Packer YouTube Channel for all you YouTube vlog lovers. The name of the channel is Packerlinkup. These postings are done by a Packer fan who updates Green and Gold news on a daily basis in a format he calls 2-A-Days. He's just new (starting July 27th) and I'm hoping all you Packer fans that read my blog will check it out!

Here's a sample --

Unlucky Rodgers

2008-08-17T09:12:00.005-04:00

I'm begining to think Aaron Rodgers is the most unlucky guy in the world.

Let's review --

*Coulda-shoulda-woulda been the #1 Overall pick in 2005 yet fell to #24 because no other team from 2-23 needed a QB.

*Gets his Majik/Favre injury oppertunity versus the Patriots in 2006 when Favre goes down in the 2nd half with a rare injury. Aaron gets hurt in game... out for season.

*Gets 2nd Favre injury moment versus Cowboys in 2007... gets injured again.

*Favre finally retires and Aaron given #1 job. Favre punk's Aaron and "get's the itch" to return.

*Media all say Favre is the better QB and should not be back-up. Aaron struggles in scrimage before sold out Lambeau with Favre in the luxury booth watching. Many passes dropped and Jennings quits on pass in end zone that gets picked.

*Favre traded to Jets... Aaron has to open to a Nationally televised crowd. Pre-game promos and football talking heads talk about Favre the whole game.

*Brett opens for the Jets 2 hours before the Packers play and has a descent game... it was okay (5-6 for 48 yards and a touch). Aaron lays an egg at San Fran. Lee drops easy pass in end zone that would have gone miles in giving Aaron cred with his team for scoring after a huge turnover (Woodson's pick). Driver also misses what could have been a touch on the first series.

Aaron can't buy a Break!

Got Favre?

2008-08-16T08:52:00.006-04:00

After writing my utter disdain for all things Favre in my last post and waxing eliquently on the Favreish Carpet Bombing the media has given us this August, (Heck... even Barack Obama thinks the media fawns way too much over Brett Favre) once again, I came across this article about the Packers and their plans for Favre's merchandising.

Favre marketing proposal
included merchandising,
appearances, blog

CBSSports.com / August 15, 2008

The Green Bay Packers' proposed $20 million marketing deal for Brett Favre included a merchandise line, autographs, personal appearances and even a blog, according to a report in The Sporting News' online newsletter Friday.

And though Favre turned down the deal in favor of returning to play -- and was traded to the New York Jets last week -- the Packers are expected to offer him a similar agreement once he retires for good.

"We do want to have a long-term relationship with Brett," Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy said in a news conference after Favre was traded last week. "He will always be a Packer and he's very important to this organization."

According to the a draft of the agreement obtained by Sporting News Today and its sister publication, The Business Journal Serving Greater Milwaukee, the Packers' proposed 10-year deal for Favre included a line of clothing, merchandise and collectibles. The Packers Pro Shop would have become the exclusive distributor of autographed Favre memorabilia, and Favre would sign 300 items a year for the team's use. Favre also would have been required to make 10 personal appearances each year -- including two private hunting or golfing trips -- and a blog would have been created for Favre on the team's website.

The Packers began putting together a marketing deal for Favre soon after he announced his retirement in March. They are expected to revisit the idea once Favre really retires. In a chat with fans on packers.com last week, Murphy said he intends to reach out to Favre "at the appropriate time" to finalize a formal relationship. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said last week that he would consider bringing Favre back to work with the team's quarterbacks in training camp after his playing days are over.

"He's a Green Bay Packer," McCarthy said. "He wants to come back here, he wants to be welcome back here."

Favre! Favre! Faaarve!!!

2008-08-14T21:17:00.007-04:00

Gosh I'm getting tired of hearing about Brett Favre.
Seriously, it's exasperating.

Brett Favre flies in jet to Green Bay. Brett Favre flies in jet to Mississippi. Brett Favre flies jet to J-E-T-S Jets Jets frickin' Jets!!! Now, a week after the Trade that sent 4 to Broadway (that's what they're calling it but it's actually The Meadowlands in ummm... New Jersey) and we're STILL being force fed Trainie Camp Tidbits about Brett Favre and his frickin' arm getting frickin' fatigued.

Bite Me!

Call me a playah-hatah...
I don't care.

Just please...
enough already about...

Oh...
And in case you missed this --

WSAW-TV Aiming
to Carry as Many
Brett Favre/New York Jets
Games This Season as Possible
Story Link
WSAW-TV NewsChannel 7 has asked CBS to send as many New York Jets games as it can to the Wausau market for the 2008 NFL Season. CBS has the rights to broadcast most of the AFC Games. Although most games are assigned by the network, affiliates can ask to carry games where there is a local interest in a particular team over ones currently assigned.

"We are going to be like a second home for Favre and the Jets,” says NewsChannel 7 General Manager Al Lancaster. “Our goal is to bring as many games to Northcentral Wisconsin as possible."

Kill me now!

Finally!!!!!

2008-08-07T21:23:00.003-04:00

The long... painful... torturous...
Favre/Packer/Bataan Death March is over.

I don't know which side to come down on... nor do I care.

I refuse to read the comment sections of the Journal Sentinel or the Post Gazette as they have become a pissing match between Favre sicophants who want to (actually read this) kill Ted Thompson... and those Favre haters out there that can't... no... refuse to 'turn the page' on Brett's last pass.

They kept calling it a "He said / She said" ordeal... never once explaining who was the she or paying us the curtesy of telling us which side of the divorce is going to get to keep the kids... us fans.

It's a sad, sad day in PackerNation.

It's the most un-civil of civil wars... and nobody wins.

Brett Favre is a Jet.
Get used to it.

It's just a game.
It's not the end of the world.

Once last point.

Can we please all just support the next QB and call ourselves Packer fans again?

Please?

Go Packers!
Go ARod!

Oh and Brett... we'll see ya in the Super Bowl in Tampa!

When Favre's Attack

2008-07-19T18:41:00.005-04:00

I was watching one of those Hollywood news shows when it occured to me that the Packer front office (Teddy and the gang) are playing this whole "Favre Retirement Do-over" thingie all wrong. Ya see if they were smart, they'd take advantage of this summers blockbuster movie themes (Batman, Hulk and Ironman) and turn this whole Farveacle farce into Box office gold!

How's 'bout --

That's right... I went there!
I can hear Mister Movie-tone now...

One man...
One tractor...
All he wanted was to go home and mow his lawn...

Oh... oh... oh...
And we can get Teddy to play the part of the Silver haired Surfer.

Ummm... okay maybe not so much.

How about Brett Favre starring in a musical featuring songs by Abba???

Bart Starr Un-Retires

2008-07-18T23:01:00.007-04:00

Non-Associated Press
Friday, July 18, 2008
By Patrick "Packer Pundit" Stuckey

Legendary Hall Of Fame Quarterback and former Packer Coach, Bryan Bartett Starr, has made it known to Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers, that he is unretiring from the NFL and is planning to compete for the current 2008 team. Said the former player, "Hey... if Brett Favre can unretire... why the heck can't I? Lately I've had 'the itch'... and this shooting pain just below my left elbow when I do this." (motions)

The former Packer great made a surprise appearance on WGRA's channel 23 "What's New Tuscaloosa" a morning talk show in rural Alabama.

When asked how a 74 year old man can hope to make the team, Starr responded, "I've been tossing the ole' pigskin to a couple middle schoolers at a local Alabama grade school. My arm feels great! Well... except for that shooting pain and that itch thing."

Starr was asked about his change of heart. "I'm only guilty of retiring a couple decades too soon. If coach Lombardi would have re-signed Paul Hournung and Jim Taylor, talked to Weeb Ewbank about the opening at ball boy and kissed my patootey... I'd have never retired!"

In a strange twist to the story, Packer GM Ted Thompson has filled a grievance with the NFL charging the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Rams of tampering.

An open letter to Brett...

2008-07-15T17:47:00.004-04:00

Dear Brett,
May I call you Brett or do you prefer 'his holyness' or perhaps 'his magnificance'? I hate to tell you this Bretty... but you're really hurting your legacy amongst die hard Packer fans.

Yeah... yeah... yeah... I know about those 100 or so sicifants 'Favre 4 Ever' protesters that showed up at Lambeau, but c'mon... what that tells me is that over 35,000 Packer fans stayed home!

I just don't think you and your Kiln, Mississippi Kabala have any idea of what 'Divaesque' crap you've put us fans through lately.

Shall we review?

3 years ago you hold new coach Mike McCarthy and PackerNation hostage with your 'Should I stay or should I go' rendition of on again -- off again retirement clues. I can still remember your press conference held one Saturday morning just before the draft, as you were hosting a golf tournament. We fans were teased with "Brett's holding a preseer to announce his plans". ESPN and the NFL Network went live to hear you say... "I don't know what ya all are doing here... I haven't made up my mind yet." Are you that clueless Brett? Did you not know about (or engineer through your brother's wife' 2nd cousin's haidresser) that the whole world was watching??? I find that hard to believe.

Then... at the end of that year you took those photographs with your linemen, and tearfully said good-bye after the Bear game in week 16. Speculation went rampent. Brett Favre has played his last game. But alas, that off-season you came out early saying you'd be back.

And back you were... one of your best seasons ever.
Heck... I bet most of Packer fans already forgave you for your ill advised 'Doh' moment versus the Giants. I know I did (after about 5 weeks).

So here we were. Brett Favre having a career year... taking the Pack to within Overtime of the Superbowl... Quarterbacking one of the most exciting... young offenses in the NFL and playing like a kid again throwing snowballs at Donald Driver and giving your receivers 'Fireman carries' after touchdowns... surely... surely and absolutely Brett Favre would be coming back???

No... be it tiredness... anger over not signing Randy Moss... or pouting because nobody begged you back. You said it plainly and clearly... "I know can still play... I just don't think I want to anymore."

Brett... we don't owe you anything except cheers if you comeback... and a warm spot in our hearts if you don't. We certainly don't owe you the future of this franchise... we didn't owe Vince Lombardi that either when he moved on.

Brett... get over yourself.
Either stay retired... or come into camp and prove you're still the best Quarterback on the team.

Sincerly,
A Packer Fan... not a player fan

An open letter to Ted...

2008-07-15T17:29:00.004-04:00

Dear Mr. Thompson,
On behalf of PackerNation, we get it.

We get the fact that Brett retired in March and the team moved on.

We get the fact that since he retired Aaron's our QB now.

We get the fact that this also prompted you to draft 2 QB's.

We get the fact that you're in a bad spot, having to replace a first ballot hall of famer, and most Packer fans still haven't gotten over your not resigning Mike (where is he now) Wahle and Marco (injury prone) Rivera.

Yes... yesss Teddy we get all that.

What we (I) don't get, is why the heck you can't just call Brett on the phone yourself instead of going through surrogate's (James Campen)? What up dawg? Did you already use up all your minutes this month?

As badly as Brett has behaved (see open letter to his "Diva-ness" above) you have made a public relations shamble of this whole debacle and made yourself and the Packer organization out to be amateurs!

Surely you could have... no... SHOULD have seen this coming way back in March.

Did you have no back-up plan for the back-up plan?

Because of both your and Brett's ginormous egos, PackerNation and Message Board commenters are now torn between two camps.

The We Hate Brett Favre and it's time to move on now camp.

And the Ted Thompson is Satan and Rodgers is an Injury prone bum camp.

I've got to tell you Ted (and Brett) it stinks being a Packer fan lately!

Sincerely,
A concerned and agitated fan

Packer 2nd Day Picks

2008-04-27T18:12:00.001-04:00

3rd Round Pick 91
TE Jermichael Finley / Texas

Positives: Has a lanky frame with tapered muscles and can probably add another 20 pounds of bulk without the added weight affecting his overall quickness...Long strider who builds his acceleration, getting into his patterns with no wasted motion...Has the functional lateral movement to work across the middle and shows good plant-and-drive agility in transition...Can separate underneath better than in the open field, showing good flexibility to adjust to the ball in flight...Plays with good emotion and, while a bit too talkative at times, he takes well to hard coaching...Has been mostly durable throughout his career...Turns on the ball quickly when the quarterback is pressured and uses his size well to shield defenders...Showed marked improvement reading defenses as a junior, doing a nice job of finding and settling into the zone's soft area...Has large, natural hands, with good timing and arm extension to compete for the ball at its high point...Shows no flinch going up for the ball in a crowd...Very fluid getting his head and body adjusted to make off-target catches and has good balance to keep his feet in bounds when working near the sideline...Has good quickness in his release, using his hands forcefully to beat the press...Can avoid contact and separate after the catch but doesn't have the speed to beat defenders in the open...Needs to be more crisp in his long routes (soft angles), but does a nice job of uncovering and sitting down underneath...Better cut blocker than when working in-line, as he is better making hits on the move (can get pushed back when trying to anchor)...Still needs route refinement, but has improved adjusting his patterns to get open...Shows the ball skills to position, extend and pluck the ball outside his frame...Above-average leaper who has no problem high-pointing the ball...Can break some arm tackles, but is best when he executes head fakes to escape after the catch...Has very good balance to track the ball in flight.

Negatives: Marginal blocker who lacks the strength to anchor and gets too narrow in his base, allowing edge rushers to slip off his attempts to sustain (has some hip stiffness)...Also ineffective blocking in-line, as he lacks the lower-body strength to prevent bull rushers from pushing him back into the pocket (must do a better job of sliding his feet and using his hands, as his technique work and lack of power gets him in trouble)...Has minimal amount of starting experience and needs to mature, both physically and mentally before he can contribute at the next level...Has adequate timed speed, but does not show the second gear to separate after the catch...Has a decent short-area burst, but will need to add more bulk and strength, as he does not always generate good yardage after the catch (will try to break arm tackles rather than elude, as he is still trying to develop the savvy moves needed to get open consistently)...Will sometimes lean into or out of his breaks...Will "double catch" or trap the ball in a crowd, resulting in drops.

Compares To: RANDY McMICHAEL-St. Louis...Some compare him to Browns' tight end Kellen Winslow, but Finley lacks the burst and explosion off the snap that Winslow displays when eating up the defender's cushion. Finley will bring instant value in a double-tight end package, as he can line up in the slot, wide or in motion. He lacks the bulk and strength to be a punishing blocker, but has the frame to eventually develop. He might have the best hands of any tight end in this draft.

4th Round Pick 102
DE Jeremy Thompson / Wake Forrest

Positives: Has adequate upper body muscle thickness, well-developed arms, tight midsection and adequate thighs...Has the strength to anchor and hold ground at the point of attack vs. double team activity...Shows good initial quickness off the snap and is effective at squeezing the edge to close on the pocket...Shows good balance in chasing down outside running plays...Shows good body control in his over-all movements, as he demonstrates the balance needed to easily bend and maneuver in traffic...Gives good effort and plays the cut blocks well, using his hands to keep the opponent off his legs...Flows to the ball with good flexibility and has no balance issues when needed to change direction in an instant...Smart player who has no problems with digesting a complicated playbook...Makes quick reads and reaction to pressure, but needs to be more alert to ball location...Practices and plays hard, showing both effort and purpose...Can handle tough coaching...Has a quick first step, showing a good feel for blocks and the ability to play the run from a wide alignment...Can extend and lock on to his opponent and squeeze down the line of scrimmage...Keeps his outside arm free for leverage and generally plays with a low pad level...Shows power and extension, with the ability to sink his hips and roll them for power, especially when taking on tight ends....Has the functional strength to anchor and neutralize at the point of attack, using his hands well when trying to stack...Good wrap-up tackler who will also make the effort-type hits...Still a work in progress, but showed improved press, rip-and-push and pull moves as a senior than he did his first three seasons...Usually shows good hand position to grab and hold on to the blocker...Despite lacking a massive frame, he plays with a good anchor and wide base and has the foot speed to scrape down the line of scrimmage...On the move, he can redirect when pushing the outside run, taking proper angles to neutralize the cutback action...Might be a decent fit as a linebacker, as he is not the type who will bite on misdirection and gets a good read on the quarterback when dropping back to play in the zone...Has room on his frame to add more bulk without it affecting his overall quickness...With his arm length and hand strength, he is effective at combating blockers trying to attack his body.

Negatives: Has good change of direction agility when he stays low in his pads, but his frame does get tall at times, causing him to look sluggish trying to turn the corner...Needs a clear lane to get to the quarterback and is not known for generating much pressure in his backside action (just one QB hurry for his career)...Lacks the strength and power to bull rush...Plays hard, but is an inconsistent competitor who will take plays off and his stamina affects his play late in games...Shows good extension at the point-of-attack, but stays engaged with his opponent too long...Struggles to shed blocks at times, as he gets caught up too much in the battle, losing sight of the ball...Has the ability to plant his foot and redirect with burst, but will round off his cuts at times...Struggles to sink his hips and hold the point-of-attack in one-on-one confrontations...Can sit in the gap, but is late to shed...Wraps up and drags down the ballcarrier rather than dropping his hips and exploding with his legs...Lacks quickness off the edge, making him generally too late to pressure the pocket...Displays an inconsistent motor and manages his game poorly... Lacks size and strength to hold the point for very long...Mostly plays the gaps, slanting and using his shoulder to hold the point...Uses a single stiff arm to press offensive tackles' shoulders to get upfield, but lacks the ability to turn his hips and flatten to the quarterback...Needs to maintain a low pad level to be effective, but he gets too tall in his stance, letting blockers wash him off the snap...Must learn how to slip through and avoid blockers rather than stay there and battle them throughout the play.

Compares To: JASON BABIN-Seattle...Thompson had an efficient senior season and while he plays with a good motor, he is just marginal when it comes to locating the ball. Some teams feel that his lateral agility and foot speed are better suited for linebacker. But he is a situational player, at best. He fails to impact the pocket much and has just one QB pressure in 46 games. He gets too caught up in the one-one-one battles and needs to learn that there are times you must avoid blockers rather than engaging them.

4th Round Pick 135
G Josh Sitton / Central Florida

BIOGRAPHY: Full-time starter the past three seasons after seeing action with the first team as a freshman. All-Conference selection as a senior.

POSITIVES: Nice-sized college tackle who.s at his best in a small area. Plays with good quickness, keeps his feet moving, and stays square. Makes effective use of angles, walls opponents from the action with good body positioning, and strong at the point. Jolts opponents at the point with good hand-punch.

NEGATIVES: Struggles sliding out laterally and displays limited blocking range. Tends to lean on opponents and rarely finishes blocks.

ANALYSIS: Sitton is a heavy-footed small-area blocker with intriguing size. His natural strength gives him an advantage, but he must immediately pick up the pace of his game and learn to do the little things well.

5th Round Pick 150
T Breno Giacomini / Louisville

Positives: Has a developing frame that needs at least a good year in the training room to fully develop, but he can add at least another 25 pounds of bulk without the weight affecting his timed speed...Has a thick lower body with good calf and thigh development, but does need to show better knee bend...Lacks technique and upper body strength, but did a good job of using his size to lean into and occupy defenders...Has rare timed speed for an offensive tackle and moves around well for a big man, especially when getting into the second level...Needs to stay lower in his pads, but has a good concept for taking angles and did a very good job of stalking second-level defenders the later stages of 2007...Has good, light feet in his kick slide and does a good job of playing off edge rushers, keeping good position to prevent backside pursuit...Shows good mental awareness and is a smart player who has lined up at multiple positions, as he picks up things well and rarely blows an assignment...An above-average student in the classroom, he is starting to develop good nastiness, staying after blocks and finishing with aggression...Has shown a quick burst off the snap and good relationship with the guard and tight end to execute combo blocks working in-line...Has been described as the nastiest offensive lineman on the team and will not hesitate to get after defenders, even after the whistle...Possesses outstanding football character and is a hard worker in the weight room who does extra work on his own...Switched positions multiple times without a complaint and responds well to tough coaching...Has explosive initial quickness, as he gets out of his stance in time and changes directions well for a player his size...Shows good foot quickness, as his nimble feet allow him to move well in the open field and in his kick-slide...Can be a little lethargic, at times, but has good feet overall for a big man...When he uses his hands to lock on and control, he can ride the defender wide with adequate leg drive...Has the big hands and long arms to reach out and keep defenders off his outside shoulder...With his natural hands, he could be an inviting target on tackle-eligible plays.

Negatives: Has had a rapid weight growth the last two years, but still has not developed neck and trapezoid muscles and has thin hips. That sometimes affect his anchor, as he does not sink his pads well, leaving him higher in his stance, which results in bull rushers having success driving him back into the pocket...Because of his tall stance, he flashes just adequate knee-bend and is a bit of a waist-bender...Needs to improve his hand quickness, as he lacks functional strength with his punch...As an in-line blocker, he needs to show better shuffling agility, as he is not the type who can skate, lacking strong movement at the X's...Needs to roll his hips better, as he does not turn quick enough to get proper body position and placement...Works to stay after his blocks, but needs to sustain better, as defenders can slide off and often get in run-off mode vs. him when he fails to keep his hands active in attempts to get good placement...Has only adequate ability as a run blocker, as he lacks the leg drive and power to generate much movement in-line...Even when he bends at his knees, he must do a better job of exploding through his blocks better...Possesses only adequate ability to pull and trap, as he might get out of his stance and into space quickly, but his pad level is very high and he will lose balance on the move...Shows a tendency to get eluded and slipped by defenders when pulling or trapping...Must be quicker when trying to adjust to downfield movement...Has the ability to advance to the second-level well, but needs better body control at the point-of-attack (did show improvement taking angles later in the 2007 season)...Allows defenders to get underneath him at the second level...Has only adequate ability as a pass-blocker, as he does display light feet in his pass set, but his hands can be a little slow to get into the defender's body... Displays too much latch and lean with his athleticism and needs to be quicker with his hands to strike a blow rather than pushing and leaning into his man with his body...Works to keep his hands inside, but lacks the violent punch needed to deliver a good blow and takes too long to recoil.

Compares To: TYSON CLABO-Atlanta...Like the up-and-coming Clabo, Giacomini is still a work in progress and might need a year or two before he can contribute. But it is evident that he is a rare athlete with good speed and a developing frame. Put him in the weight room for a year, work on his zone blocking technique and along with his quickness, you could unearth a solid right tackle with good reach blocking skills. He's certainly worth a long look, as few tackles have his athletic ability. It is just experience and technique that he is lacking...Had a pre-game incident vs. Kentucky that leads to some questions about his maturity.

7th Round Pick 209
QB Matt Flynn / LSU

Overview
Matt Flynn was a top quarterback prospect coming out of the state of Texas and hoped to be the featured quarterback at LSU. He was listed third on the depth chart behind Marcus Randall and JaMarcus Russell during his freshman season with the Tigers.

Flynn again lost the battle for the starting job -- to Russell -- the following season, spending the 2005-06 campaigns as the caddy for the first choice in the 2007 NFL Draft. With Russell bolting a year early for the professional ranks, the senior passer was primed to take over full-time signal-calling duties in 2007.

A right ankle injury vs. Virginia Tech would sideline Flynn for the Middle Tennessee State clash in '07. Even before the injury, he saw some of his playing time deferred to Ryan Perrilloux. Even when Flynn returned to the lineup the following game, the coaching staff was so pleased with the performance of Perrilloux, they decided to alternate the two behind center, based on situations. A problem with that decision arose, as Flynn struggled to maintain his rhythm while shuttling in and out of the lineup.

At Robert E. Lee High School, Flynn was one of the top-rated quarterbacks in the state of Texas and ranked the No. 20 quarterback in the country by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report and ESPN.com. He was a member of the Super Prep Texas 124 team, adding Dallas Morning News Texas Top 100 and the Tyler Morning Telegraph All-East Texas Football Team honors.

As a senior, he completed 124-of-206 passes for 1,679 yards and nine touchdowns with 305 yards rushing and 12 scores. He showed his dedication and toughness by leading the Red Raiders to a semifinal appearance in one of the toughest classifications in Texas despite playing his last four games with a broken foot.

As a junior, Flynn connected on 101-of-199 passes for 1,650 yards, 13 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He guided his team to a Class 5A playoff appearance, but lost to eventual state champion Mesquite.

Flynn enrolled at Louisiana State in 2003, spending the season performing on the scout team. Listed third on the depth chart at quarterback in '03, he spent most of that season as the holder for field goals and placements. He managed some playing time on offense (appeared at quarterback in four of 12 contests), hitting on 4-of-10 attempts for 99 yards and a touchdown.

As a sophomore, Flynn participated in 13 games, lining up at quarterback in seven of those games. He threw for 457 yards, seven touchdowns and an interception on 27-of-48 tries (56.2%). He earned his first career start vs. Miami in the Peach Bowl, earning Game MVP honors. In the North Texas clash, he became the first non-starter in school history to throw three touchdowns in a quarter.

In 2006, Flynn again served as the team's holder in all 13 games and appeared under center in 10 contests. He completed 12-of-20 passes (60.0%) for 133 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed 13 times for 86 yards (6.6-yard average) and a score.

As a senior, Flynn started five of the team's first six games. An ankle injury in the second game vs. Virginia Tech would limit his mobility the rest of the season. He was successful on 202-of-359 throws (56.3%) for 2,407 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He added four scores with 215 yards on 100 rushing attempts (2.2-yard average) and amassed 2,622 yards in total offense.

Flynn has appeared in a total of 50 games at Louisiana State, including 33 as a quarterback, starting 12 games at that position. He completed 245-of-437 passes (56.1%) for 3,096 yards, 30 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He carried 128 times for 340 yards (2.7-yard average) and five scores. On 565 plays, he amassed 3,436 yards in total offense. He fumbled three times and was sacked 35 times for losses totaling 258 yards.

Career Notes
Flynn's 2,407 yards passing in 2007 rank seventh on the school list behind Rohan Davey (3,347 in 2001), JaMarcus Russell (3,129 in 2006 and 2,443 in 2005), Matt Mauck (2,825 in 2003), Tommy Hodson (2,655 in 1989) and Jeff Wickersham (2,542 in 1983)...His 202 pass completions in 2007 rank fifth on LSU's single-season chart, topped by JaMarcus Russell (232 in 2006), Matt Mauck (229 in 2003), Rohan Davey (217 in 2001) and Jeff Wickersham (209 in 1985)...Only Rohan Davey (367 in 2001) attempted more passes in a season than Flynn's 2007 total of 359...His 21 touchdown passes in 2007 rank fourth on the Tigers' single-season list, surpassed by JaMarcus Russell (28 in 2006), Matt Mauck (28 in 2003) and Tommy Hodson (22 in 1989)...His average of 200.6 yards per game passing as a senior rank 10th on the school's annual record chart...Flynn came off the bench to throw three touchdowns in the fourth quarter of the 2005 North Texas game, becoming the first non-starter in school history to accomplish that feat in one quarter...Despite several turnovers down the stretch, he produced at least three touchdown passes in five of his final six games with the Tigers... Flynn's 353 yards passing vs. Alabama in 2007 rank 10th on the school's single-game list, the most by an LSU quarterback since Rohan Davey threw for 359 yards vs. Arkansas in 2001...His four touchdown passes vs. Ohio State in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game set a school bowl-game record.

High School
Attended Robert E. Lee (Tyler, Tex.) High School, playing football for head coach Mike Owens...One of the top-rated quarterbacks in the state of Texas and ranked the No. 20 quarterback in the country by Tom Lemming's Prep Football Report and ESPN.com...Member of the Super Prep Texas 124 team, adding Dallas Morning News Texas Top 100 and the Tyler Morning Telegraph All-East Texas Football Team honors...As a senior, he completed 124-of-206 passes for 1,679 yards and nine touchdowns while also displaying his ability on the ground with 305 yards rushing and 12 more scores...Showed his dedication and toughness by leading the Red Raiders to a semifinal appearance in one of the toughest classifications in Texas, despite playing his last four games with a broken foot...As a junior, Flynn connected on 101-of-199 passes for 1,650 yards, thirteen touch-downs and nine interceptions. That season, he guided his team to a Class 5A playoff appearance, but lost to eventual state champion Mesquite.

7th Round Pick 217
WR Brett Swain / San Diego State

No bio on Brett.

Yeah... he's that good!
Practice Squad... table for one!

Analyzing Day One

2008-04-26T23:18:00.004-04:00

Well the early results are in and the consensus of Packer opinion (wow... that's an oxymoron) is that Ted Thompson really sucks! (13-3) Not only does he suck (youngest team in football... and that was WITH Favre on the roster) but Thompson also is an egomaniac (40+ million under the salary cap) and is probably responsible for Global Warming and the price of gas costing nearly $4.00 a gallon!

Boo Hiss Double T!

You dastardly devil... why if it wasn't for you the Packers may have won our division and gone to the NFC Championship game. Ya Big Jerk!

He probably had something to do with our team not really having any glaring needs this draft so he could pick for 'best available' rather than 'some reach of a pick for need' instead. Ya Big Dummy!

Yes evil Ted Thompson!

Let's break this mutha' down --

Jordy Nelson

Ya know what?

I betya Teddy had this guy pegged early on.

He's been known to 'reach a bit' with wide receivers. (Yeah... you all thought Greg Jennings was a good pick 2 years ago. Bite me!)

And...
AND...
We picked up an extra pick in the 4th round.

Thompson sucks!
I mean it this time!

Yeah Sure...
Mel Kiper didn't exactly have him high on his board (see insert) but c'mon... the dude caught 122 passes last year!

ONE HUNDRED AND
TWENTY-TWO PEOPLE!
BITE ME!

He had 1,660 some freakin' yards too!

ONE THOUSAND
SIX HUNDRED AND
SIXTY SOME
FREAKIN' YARDS!

All that against the very soft Big 12... Texas... Oklahoma... OK State.... Kansas... Nebraska... etc.

Boy what a loser!

Oh... and he plays Quarterback and Safety... and he returns punts... like 89 yards for a touch versus Texas.

And lastly Packer fans...
He's Not Justin Harrell!

Brian Brohm
This pick actually went over better for Packer fans. Now we had Steve Young lamenting what this will do to the psyche of Aaron Rodgers (wow... another oxymoron). Steve see's alot of himself in Aaron. Having to replace a legend. (No not Robbie Bosco at BYU) I take Steve's point... Aaron finally gets the job and already he's got some rookie looking over his back.

Well as Chris Farley used to say... "Laddy-frickin' Dee!"
This is the NFL... as in Not For Long! There are NO guarantees and Aaron should welcome the competition. Besides... former Texan GM Charlie Casserly, a fair judge of football talent and management, said the Packers will still be shopping for a vet to backup Rodgers while Broam gets red shirted this year. Makes sense to me.

Aaron is a tad fragile.

We're resting our season hopes on 1 game (Dallas) from Aaron last year.

Aaron is a tad fragile.

Brohm was highly rated going into this draft and he gets to sit under M&M's tutelage for a year or two.

Aaron is a tad fragile.

And remember Packer fans... Thompson's mentor Ron Wolf *genuflect* almost always drafted a QB every year.

Stupid, Evil, Egomaniac Thompson!

Patrick Lee Video

2008-04-26T21:04:00.001-04:00

Couldn't find any action shots but here's a nice video of the Patrick. Seems intelligent and likeable... wow... I'm starting to sound like Mel Kiper.

Patrick Lee Profile

2008-04-26T20:50:00.002-04:00

A knee injury slowed Lee's development his junior season. He started four games and totaled 25 tackles with six pass deflections. He then made the most of becoming a full-time starter his senior season. He totaled 55 tackles -- 40 solo -- with four interceptions, 10 pass breakups, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble. His work earned him second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors from The Associated Press.

Lee has a great build and has the speed -- 4.42 in the 40-yard dash -- to go with good strength. He capitalizes on his size by being very physical. His statistics make it clear he knows how to get to the ball. He moves his hips well and he has the physical tools all NFL teams are looking for in a corner. Having started just one season, most scouts believe his upside is huge.

That potential upside is also a concern, with his experience so limited. He doesn't have great hands and some scouts would have liked to see him do more against the run. He needs experience in multiple coverages and that may cause it to take longer for him to grasp several pro schemes. Some teams may be concerned about his past injury history but that shouldn't be a huge concern. At worst, Lee figures to be a standout on special teams. But he may become a top-notch corner. That potential will likely have him off the draft board by the end of the third round.

Brian Brohm Video

2008-04-26T20:37:00.003-04:00

Packer's 2nd round pick

Brian Brohm Profile

2008-04-26T20:32:00.002-04:00

Brian Brohm was born on the 23rd day of September, 1985 in Louisville, Kentucky. Brian Brohm was named one of the top five quarterbacks in America by Rivals.com and was selected to participate in the 2004 U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio, Texas.

Brian Brohm is currently the starting quarterback for the University of Louisville Cardinals, a member of the Big East Conference. A 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback from Louisville, Kentucky Trinity High School, Brian Brohm was named the 2005 Big East Offensive Player of the Year while leading the Cardinals to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the 2006 Toyota Gator Bowl.

Brian Brohm is a 2007 Heisman Trophy and Davy O'Brien candidate. Brian Brohm is rapidly becoming one of the great Cardinal quarterbacks. Coming off a knee injury that sidelined Brian Brohm for the final two games. Strong-armed and accurate thrower who has mastered the Cardinals' offense and has the ability to make all the throws that a QB needs to make in the offense. Brian Brohm is smart, heady player who has been around the game of football his entire life. Brian Brohmtakes great care of the football.

Brian Brohm ranks 11th on the school's touchdown passes chart with 25. He has thrown for 3,702 yards, which also stands 11th in school history. Brohm has five 300-yard games in his career, all coming during the 2005 season. Brohm currently holds the school record with a 68.4 completion percentage. Brohm has thrown just seven interceptions in 399 attempts. Brohm owns an 8-2 record as the starting quarterback.

In 2005, Brian Brohm passed for 2,883 yards and 19 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending knee injury in a game against Syracuse on November 25, 2005. He was forced to miss Louisville's last regular season game, a December 2 match-up against Connecticut, and was still in rehabilitation when the Cardinals lost to Virginia Tech in the 2006 Gator Bowl.

Brian Brohm was drafted in the MLB draft following his senior year in high school. Brian's brother Jeff was also drafted out of high school and played in minor leagues during the summers of his college career.

Brohm announced his decision to attend the University of Louisville on January 20, 2004, picking the hometown Cardinals over scholarship offers from the University of Kentucky, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Alabama, Nebraska, Purdue, Illinois and others. Brohm enrolled at Louisville in the fall of 2004 and immediately began competing for the starting quarterback spot with Stefan LeFors.

His first season, Brohm was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year, despite not starting a single game. Brohm completed 66 of 98 passes for 819 yards and six touchdowns. After entering the game for at least one series per game as a true freshman, Brohm followed in the footsteps of father, Oscar, and brother, Jeff, by becoming a starting quarterback at the University of Louisville in 2005. His brother, Greg, also played at Louisville as a receiver.

In 2005, Brohm passed for 2,883 yards and 19 touchdowns before suffering a season-ending knee injury in a game against Syracuse on November 25. He was forced to miss Louisville's last regular season game, a December 2 matchup against Connecticut, and was still in rehabilitation when the Cardinals lost to Virginia Tech in the 2006 Gator Bowl.

Brohm injured his thumb in Louisville's September 16, 2006 victory over the Miami Hurricanes. He returned as starting quarterback in Louisville's October 14, 2006 victory against Cincinnati. He had been replaced at starting quarterback by sophomore backup Hunter Cantwell for the previous two games. Before his injury, Brohm was one of two candidates at U of L for the 2006 Heisman Trophy, along with senior running back Michael Bush. The pair, both born and raised in Louisville, were dubbed "The Derby City Duo."

In the 2007 Orange Bowl, Brohm earned MVP honors by leading Louisville to its first ever BCS victory, 24-13 over Wake Forest. Brohm completed 24 of 34 passes for 311 yards, the third highest total in Orange Bowl history.

Though The Sporting News projected Brohm as high as the top pick in the 2007 NFL draft , and many other experts had projected him as going no later than the first round, Brohm announced on January 15, 2007, after a long period of speculation, that he would return to the University of Louisville for his senior year.

After the 2007 Orange Bowl, he stated that "Right now, coming back and trying to win a national title looks very appealing." Almost all analysts believe that Brohm has NFL talent, however they disagree about his draft status and whether he should have stayed for his senior season. Following the announcement of his now former head coach Bobby Petrino as new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, further speculation occurred that Brohm might skip his senior season, which would inevitably be under a new head coach, and enter the draft.

The fact that the 2008 draft is infused with top-prospect quarterbacks whose playing styles are very similar to Brohm's (most notably Kentucky's Andre Woodson, Michigan's Chad Henne, USC's John David Booty, Penn State's Anthony Morelli, Hawaii's Colt Brennan, and Tennessee's Erik Ainge) was also a key argument for Brohm's possible entry in the 2007 draft, where the other first round-bound quarterbacks include the more diverse characters of Brady Quinn and JaMarcus Russell. However, Brohm eventually decided to pass up the potential millions he could earn from the NFL, and instead chose to return for his senior season for another shot at helping the Cardinals to a BCS National Championship. Brohm will have to learn the new offense from the new head coach Steve Kragthorpe, who previously coached at the University of Tulsa. However, ESPN is ranking Brohm as the #1 senior in the '08 draft class, saying his "big arm, prototypical size, quick release, [and] expert touch" help him stand out.

Jordy Nelson Video

2008-04-26T19:18:00.002-04:00

Profile

89 Yard Punt return versus Texas

Aqib Talib of Kansas gets served!

Cool hi-light video

Jordy Nelson Profile

2008-04-26T19:15:00.003-04:00

One of the most imposing wide outs in the country... Is the complete package, combining outstanding size, blazing speed and excellent hands... Is a threat to score whenever he touches the ball... A Biletnikoff Award finalist and consensus All-American in 2007.

2007: A consensus All-American who was named to nine first team All-America squads... Set 11 different K-State receiving records during monster 2007 season... Swept first team All-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press, the league’s coaches, Rivals.com, the Kansas City Star and the Waco Tribune-Herald... Also earned honorable mention from the league’s coaches as a punt/kick returner despite just returning five punts on the season... One of three finalists for the Biletnikoff Award... Is the complete package, combining outstanding size, blazing speed and excellent hands... Threat to score whenever he touches the ball... Holds K-State’s single-season reception records with 122 catches and 1,606 yards... Holds the school record for 100-yard receiving games in a season with 8... Broke the Big 12 record for receptions by a senior in a single-season... Finished career second in school history for receptions with 206 and yardage with 2,822... Just the fifth player in school history to eclipse the 2,000 yard mark for a career... Ranked second in the Big 12 and nationally in receptions and yardage... Third in the Big 12 and 20th nationally with 155.2 all-purpose yards per game... Is one of just two receivers in the nation with more than 1,600 yards this season... Had six games of at least 10 receptions for at least 100 years... Rewrote the school’s single-game yardage mark in two games, racking in 209 yards against Missouri State and 214 yards at Iowa State... Broke school record for receptions in a game against Missouri State and Fresno State with 15... Caught one touchdown and also threw for another against the Bears, his second of the season... Followed that up with a 12-reception, 116 yard game at Texas... Also took a third-quarter punt 89 yards for a touchdown against the Bears, the longest in the Big 12 this season... Followed that game with a 10-reception, 137-yard performance against Kansas... Caught 12 passes for 176 yards and a career-best 3 touchdowns at Oklahoma State... Took a punt back 92 yards for a touchdown against Baylor... Collected 14 receptions for 214 yards and 1 touchdown at Iowa State... Collected 15 receptions for 165 yards and one score against Fresno State.

2006: Appeared in all 13 games, starting nine, despite struggling with injuries all season long... Still managed to lead the Wildcats in both receptions and receiving yards for the second straight year... Hauled in 39 catches for 547 yards and a touchdown... Averaging 14.0 yards per reception... Hauled in four or more receptions in seven games... Also completed a 28-yard pass against Texas... Had a career-best eight catches at Kansas for 64 yards... Came up big in the Texas Bowl vs. Rutgers with four receptions for 81 yards, including catches of 33 and 31 yards... Totaled three catches, including a crucial third down reception that closed out the Texas win, for 15 yards... Also recoverd a late-game on-side kick attempt by the Longhorns... Caught his first touchdown pass of the season at Colorado, a 74-yarder during which he broke several tackles... Finished the Colorado game with a career-high 117 yards receiving on five catches... Snagged five passes for 71 yards in the win over Marshall.

2005: Started all 11 games... Earned second team All-Big 12 honors from the Kansas City Star... Picked up honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades from the coaches and The Associated Press... Selected as K-State’s most improved offensive player... Led the Wildcats in both receptions (45), receiving yards (669) and receiving touchdowns (8)... Also paced K-State in scoring with 54 points (9 TDs)... Ranked tied for third in the Big 12 in touchdown catches (8), seventh in receiving yards per game (60.8) and 11th in receptions per game (4.1), despite playing in an offense that attempted the league’s fewest passes (318)... His 45 receptions were the second most ever by a Wildcat sophomore, while his eight receiving touchdowns rank seventh on K-State’s all-time single-season chart... Became the only K-State receiver in school history to catch a TD pass in each of the first seven games of a season... Was also the only Wildcat to have at least one catch in every game... Had 10 receptions of 20 yards or more, with four of 40 yards or longer... Totaled a season-high 107 yards on just three catches, including a 73-yard touchdown grab, at Oklahoma... Caught three passes for 98 yards, including a season-long 80-yard TD, at Texas Tech... Recorded a season-best seven receptions for 78 yards, including a 10-yard TD grab, vs. Missouri... Was also a steady player on special teams, recording a pair of solo tackles and recovering a blocked punt in the end zone vs. Texas A&M... Hauled in first career touchdown (seven yards) in first-ever start vs. Florida International.

2004: Did not see any playing time as a member of the secondary.

2003: Redshirted.

High School: Played four years, lettering three, at nearby Riley County High School... Started at both quarterback and defensive back... Connected on 62 percent of his passes for 1,029 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior... Also rushed for 1,572 yards, averaged 9.8 yards per carry and scored 25 touchdowns... Named first team 3A All-State at quarterback by the Topeka Capital-Journal... Was a second team all-state selection for all divisions at both quarterback and defensive back... Named Flint Hills Player of the Year by the Manhattan Mercury... A two-time All-Mid-East League first teamer... Played in the 2003 Kansas Shrine Bowl... Passed for 1,045 yards and rushed for 730 yards and 16 touchdowns as a junior... Also lettered and started in basketball and track... Averaged 17.2 points on 58-percent shooting as a senior... Set school career records for blocks (161), steals (225) and assists (325)... Named first team all-state for all divisions by the Topeka-Capital Journal... Was the Manhattan Mercury’s Flint Hills Player of the Year... Won 3A track titles in the 100, 200, 400 and long jump at the 2003 state meet... Set division records in the 100 meters (10.63) and 200 meters (21.64).

Personal: Born May 31, 1985, in Manhattan, Kan... Parents are Alan and Kim Nelson... Enjoys working on his parents’ farm... Majoring in secondary education... Career goals include teaching and coaching.

Packer Draft News

2008-04-26T12:41:00.002-04:00

Packers might trade away top pick
Let's assume, after months and months of analysis leading to widespread consensus, that the best players go first in the National Football League draft. If that happens today, and if Ted Thompson doesn't stun his peers by moving up in the first round, the Green Bay Packers will be out of luck trying to secure a legitimate first-round player with the 30th pick. [More]

Plenty of options with 30th pick
Picking at No. 30 marks the lowest the Packers have picked in the first round since taking Iowa offensive lineman Ross Verba 30th in 1997, the year after winning Super Bowl XXXI. In his first three drafts in Green Bay, general manager Ted Thompson's first-round pick has been at No. 24 (California quarterback Aaron Rodgers in 2005), No. 5 (Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk in '06) and No. 16 (Tennessee defensive tackle Justin Harrell last year). "History tells you that every time you pick, no matter where you're at, there's a good player to take,'' Thompson said. "Now, the margin of error is less when you're picking at the end of the round, every round. But if we do our job, I think we'll be able to pick a good player." [More]

Thompson Eyes Adding Competition To Roster
As General Manager Ted Thompson has said many times, a draft pick is a long-term investment for a football team, and that's why he believes in taking the best player available with each selection, not reaching to fill specific needs. In the short-term, though, there's a key element akin to that philosophy as well. Bringing in the best available players will create the best possible competition for spots in the lineup, or on the roster as a whole. That competition does, or can do, several things for the coming year. [More]

To make room Packers clear Favre from roster
Brett Favre no longer holds a spot on the Green Bay Packers' roster and his $11.4 million salary cap charge is off the team's books. The Packers took care of that Friday by placing him on the reserve/retired list so they could have another roster spot with which to sign a rookie free agent after the National Football League draft this weekend. It was mostly a matter of procedure and the Packers could have done it as soon as Favre announced his decision to retire March 4. [More]

Draft Coverage

2008-04-25T19:57:00.002-04:00

I'll be posting as many relevant articles I can find on the Packers draft and I'll be hunting down as many videos as possible so we can all get a good look at the Class of 2009.

Favre Madden '09 Coverboy

2008-04-25T19:53:00.002-04:00

Well it's official... our favorite retired QB is now the coverboy for next years' Madden curse. Ya gotta love it! Well at least if he gets hurt on his John Deere it wont affect his consecutive game streak!

Favre on Letterman

2008-04-25T15:46:00.002-04:00

Brett Favre on David Letterman
Video runs about 9 minutes --

Pack to Retire #4

2008-04-18T15:03:00.000-04:00

Packers initiating 4 closure
Number retirement will be held Sept. 8
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 17, 2008
Brett Favre and ESPN are guaranteed to be the big winners on Sept. 8 at Lambeau Field. Aaron Rodgers and his Green Bay Packers teammates? They're not so lucky. They'll have to do more than just show up to put this one in the victory column.

At least they'll be able to plug into the wave of electricity crackling through the stands when Favre's number is retired during a halftime ceremony. In what stands to be one of the biggest moments in the stadium's history, the Packers announced Thursday that they would bestow their greatest honor on the future Hall of Fame quarterback on opening day. It is an honor only five other players in team history have received.

President Mark Murphy and general manager Ted Thompson decided that they wanted to retire Favre's number early in the season and the most logical dates were the season opener against Minnesota or the second home game against the Dallas Cowboys. Both will be nationally televised, but Murphy said the Vikings game, on ESPN's "Monday Night Football," made more sense.

[More]

2008 Packer Schedule

2008-04-15T15:06:00.003-04:00

Packers still popular choice
Four games will be played in prime time
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: April 15, 2008
The way the National Football League set up the schedule and the television networks laid claim to Green Bay Packers games, it's conceivable both are either very high on Aaron Rodgers or expecting a comeback by Brett Favre. Don't count on the latter, but with a Monday night opener at home against Minnesota and a Sunday night grudge match at home against Dallas two weeks later, the NFL and its broadcast associates are well-positioned to document the start of a new era in Green Bay, and a celebration of an old one. All told, the Packers will play four prime-time and two national doubleheader games, and should they be in playoff contention down the stretch could find themselves playing in two more night games late in the season. They don't quite have the buzz factor of the nine teams that boasted five prime-time games, but interest will be high early on. [More]

Favre Wants Traded???

2008-04-03T20:03:00.002-04:00

Brett Favre retired? Maybe not
By Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 4, 2008 [Story Link]

League sources say his representative has put out feelers that the former Green Bay Packers superstar, who has not yet turned his retirement papers into the league, may want to keep playing. Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who announced his retirement last month after 17 seasons, could be weighing a comeback with another team. According to NFL sources, Favre's agent has quietly inquired with teams about their interest in trading for the three-time NFL most valuable player. Favre, 38, has yet to give written notice of his retirement to the league or the players' union, although that's neither required nor irrevocable. It's also not uncommon for players to delay in doing so, particularly if they are not in immediate need of their pension money.

Reached today, agent James "Bus" Cook said he was not aware of Favre's interest in resuming his career.

"That's news to me," Cook said. "I don't think that has anything to do with anything. He's retired, period, point blank."

Favre's rights still belong to the Packers, who could trade him to another team.

Ted Thompson, general manager of the Packers, dismissed the report. "We don't know anything about it, and it's inconceivable," Thompson told the Associated Press.

The league sources said Favre's decision to retire was partially influenced by his frustration that the Packers didn't make a more aggressive attempt to sign Randy Moss. The team twice had a chance to do so, first in spring 2007 -- before New England acquired the All-Pro receiver from Oakland -- and again this off-season.

Favre retired a day after the Patriots re-signed Moss to a three-year, $27-million deal. Cook, who, along with agent Tim Dipiero, handles contracts for Moss, denied any link between the receiver and Favre's decision to retire.

"As far as Randy's deal with New England, there were never any negotiations with Green Bay," he said.

"As far as I know, Brett retired because he was tired and burned out."

One of Favre's closest friends on the team, wide receiver Donald Driver, said he was convinced Favre was finished with football -- but couldn't completely rule out the possibility of a Michael Jordan-style comeback for Favre.

"I don't know," Driver told the Associated Press. "It'd be hard to say."

Pack Re-signs Martin

2008-04-01T18:16:00.002-04:00

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Wide receiver Ruvell Martin signed a one-year, $445,000 contract with the Green Bay Packers as an exclusive rights free agent, his agent said Tuesday. The signing was first reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on its Web site. The Packers do not announce routine transactions, and Martin was expected to return as he was not eligible to negotiate with another team.

Martin, who will become a restricted free agent after the 2008 season, played in 15 games and made 16 catches for 242 yards and four touchdowns among a group of receivers that included Pro Bowler Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Koren Robinson. Martin is the biggest of the Packers' wide receivers at 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds and caught two touchdown passes against Minnesota on Nov. 11.

After being a four-year starter at Division II Saginaw Valley State, Martin was signed as an undrafted free agent by San Diego, but failed to catch on there despite two training camps and a stint in NFL Europa.

The Packers signed him to their practice squad for seven weeks in 2005, and Martin won a spot on the 53-man roster in Green Bay in 2006. That season, he caught 21 passes for 358 yards and a touchdown. [Story]

Grant Due Big Payoff

2008-03-21T04:53:00.002-04:00

Grant runs toward a big hike in salary
By Pete Dougherty / greenbaypressgazette.com
Ryan Grant will work with the Green Bay Packers in the offseason without a contract, but to get him to training camp the Packers will have to sign him to a contract well above the NFL minimum for a second-year pro. Grant, who rose from the bottom of the Packers' depth chart to become one of the NFL's most productive runners in the second half of last season, has not signed a contract but nevertheless is taking part in the team's offseason workout program, which started Monday. His agent, Alan Herman, said Grant will take part in all the team's minicamps and workouts this spring, but that he will not sign the $370,000 minimum tender for an exclusive-rights player who has only one accrued season in the NFL. Grant is looking for a longer, far more lucrative deal after he rushed for 956 yards and averaged 5.1 yards a carry despite being the team's primary halfback for only the final nine games of the season. Herman said he has talked to Packers officials about a contract, but that they haven't begun negotiating.

"I'm optimistic we're going to move along here and get something done," Herman said Wednesday. "Nothing has begun in terms of the process. But listening to everything that's coming out of Green Bay in terms of the club taking care of their own, I'm optimistic, and that's why Ryan is there at this point. He's participating in the offseason program and we're looking forward to — let me put it this way, it's the golden opportunity for the Packers and Ryan Grant to get together on something that will keep him there for the rest of his career." [More]

Good Story on Rodgers

2008-03-20T17:29:00.004-04:00

Rodgers doesn't have to be Favre to rev Packers' engine
Chris Jenkins / Associated Press

"I'm stepping into a team that's established already. Obviously, I'm expected to play well. But I'm not expected to maybe carry a team that doesn't have a lot of talent around the quarterback." -- Aaron Rodgers

GREEN BAY -- Imagine somebody handed you the keys to a shiny new Ferrari. OK, for the sake of properly matching metaphors to today's discussion, let's make it a Corvette. Your first thought might be to worry about wrapping $60,000 worth of sports car around the nearest tree. But that feeling would fade a few miles down the road, and you'd settle in and enjoy the ride.

Which brings us to Aaron Rodgers, the man who has just been buckled into the driver's seat of one of the league's best-performing offensive machines. As the Green Bay Packers begin offseason workouts this month, Rodgers is sure to grind some gears and stall the engine as he adjusts to life as the new starting quarterback.

But the road trip might turn out to be more fun than Packers fans imagine.

Brett Favre is gone, leaving fans to fret that their team will never be the same. That's true, of course, but it's not necessarily something to fear.

Clearly, Rodgers isn't going to become Favre 2.0.

Can't be. Shouldn't try.

With the Packers' offseason quarterback school in session, it's unlikely that coach Mike McCarthy spent time drilling Rodgers on his underhand shovel pass technique. There will be no film study session on the finer points of throwing into triple coverage.

Throwing Hail Marys off the back foot? Sorry, no longer part of the playbook.

But here's the best thing about Rodgers' new reality: With the talent he'll have around him next season, he won't have to be the next Favre for the Packers to pick up where they left off. [More]

Pack to retire #4... Duh!

2008-03-20T06:28:00.004-04:00

And now for the weather. It will be high in the mountains and low in the valleys.

Tonights forecast... Dark!
Duh!

Packers to retire Favre's number during season
By Don Walker / journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 19, 2008

The Green Bay Packers are wasting little time finding a way to show Brett Favre some love. Mark Murphy, the team's president and CEO, said Wednesday that the team will retire Favre's No. 4 sometime this coming season. "Our plan and his is to retire his number sometime this season," said Murphy. "And we will make a decision after the schedule comes out."

Murphy, who said he spoke with Favre about the matter, stressed that any plans are preliminary, with many details yet to be worked out. "Our initial thought is to retire his number during a game. But what more might be entailed will be worked out," he said.

Favre officially retired on March 4 and there was no doubt the Packers planned on retiring his number. [More]

Chillar takes Packs' offer

2008-03-19T14:56:00.002-04:00

By Tom Silverstein / Story Link
March 19, 2008

The Green Bay Packers are on the free agent scoreboard.

They have agreed to terms with St. Louis linebacker Brandon Chillar on a two-year, $5.2 million contract, according to a source close to the negotiations. The Packers have not announced the deal.

The 6-3, 242-pound Chillar, who some scouts think headed the second tier of free agent linebackers behind Chicago's Lance Briggs and Arizona's Calvin Pace, had 85 tackles, 2 ½ sacks, four passes defensed and three forced fumbles in 15 games - 14 of them starts - with the Rams last year.

Chillar, 25, fits what the Packers seek in a strong-side linebacker. He has size and explosiveness for playing the run and decent short-area speed for covering tight ends. He is not a top-notch cover man, but he has the ability to line up over the tight end and affect his release.

His signing creates competition at the strong-side linebacker spot, but also allows the Packers to use both he and Poppinga in various roles. He will compete with Poppinga for the starting job, but the Packers have the option of using Poppinga as a pass rusher, a role they have experimented with from time to time in the past.

Chillar received a hard sell from the Rams the last couple days, but he ultimately decided his future was best served in Green Bay. The Arizona Cardinals were also heavily pursuing Chillar and were thought to be offering more money.

The Packers remain committed to Poppinga and have engaged in preliminary talks about a contract extension. If he loses his job to Chillar he would still be a vital part of the special teams and a potential pass rush specialist. Poppinga was a defensive end for most of his stay at BYU and has some pass-rush ability.

In addition to Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Poppinga and Chillar, the Packers have at linebacker Tracy White, Desmond Bishop and Abdul Hodge, the latter of whom has made some strides in his recovery from surgery on both knees.

Eddie Murphy predicts Loss

2008-03-15T19:45:00.002-04:00

Helloooooooooo...
Calling Mr. Oliver Stone???

We've got us a con-spir-a-see!

This is bigger than a second shooter in the grassey knoll.
Way more incriminating than a stained blue dress.

And the Packer Pundit has the staight skivy... word!

Check out this video from Eddie Murphy's 1988 movie "Coming to America" where he actually predicts the outcome of the Packers/Giants NFC Championship game 20 years later!!!

Bite me Nostradamus...
Now that's some straight up predizzle fershizzle!

Poppinga / Packers Talking

2008-03-15T19:38:00.003-04:00

By Bob McGinn / journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 14, 2008

"Honestly, there'd be no reason to leave this place. Obviously, I love Green Bay. I love the community. I love the team. I love everything that this place represents." -- Brady Poppinga

The Green Bay Packers recently took the first step designed to lock up linebacker Brady Poppinga on a long-term contract. Their contact with Michael Hoffman, the agent for Poppinga, is the latest example of how general manager Ted Thompson attempts to build a football team.

With just about every club in the National Football League having signed at least one player in the first two weeks of unrestricted free agency, the Packers have signed none. Thompson prefers to use the draft as his primary source of player procurement. Then, after those young players prove themselves, he seeks to retain them with new deals. Poppinga described as "very preliminary" the Packers' call to Hoffman, but Poppinga hopes it will culminate with a substantial new contract.

"First, I'd have them eventually give me an offer and then we'll go from there," Poppinga said. "I understand what the market is and all the different elements involved. That all will work itself out." Although Poppinga would become unrestricted next March with the expiration of his original four-year contract, he expressed no desire to test the market. [More]

New Favre Book from SI

2008-03-11T21:11:00.002-04:00

Sport's Illustrated is coming out with a hardback homage to our favorite QB from Kiln. The book is called (aptly) Brett Favre: The Tribute.

The selling price is $16.77 from amazon.com and they offer a combined purchase of the new commemorative SI Brett Favre Retirement Special edition for $24.76. A perfect St. Patrick's day stocking stuffer for that special Packer fan of yours!

Packers Free-agent watch

2008-03-11T21:06:00.002-04:00

By Jason Wilde / madison.com

GREEN BAY -- The Green Bay Packers' free-agent foray hasn't grabbed many headlines -- that little announcement last week about one of their players retiring got most of the attention, for some unknown reason -- but general manager Ted Thompson and his staff aren't sitting out the signing period. So far, the team has played host to three free agents: Detroit Lions defensive end Corey Smith, St. Louis Rams linebacker Brandon Chillar, and the latest, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Quinn Gray on Monday and Tuesday.

The Packers are in the market for a veteran backup to new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the wake of Brett Favre's retirement last week. The Packers were also set to bring Cincinnati wide receiver/returner Tab Perry to Lambeau Field for a meet-'n'-greet on Tuesday.

Gray played in eight games (starting four) in place of an injured David Garrard last season for the Jaguars, completing 80 of 144 passes (55.6) for 986 yards, with 10 touchdowns, five interceptions and 10 sacks for a passer rating of 85.6. He also ran 19 times for 57 yards. The Packers saw him in person in the preseason, when he was 3-for-5 for 44 yards and an 88.8 rating in an exhibition game in Green Bay on Aug. 23. The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Gray turns 29 on May 21 and entered the league as an undrafted free agent from Florida A&M in 2003. He is expected to visit the Oakland Raiders after his trip to Green Bay, according to a report on the NFL Network.

Perry, meanwhile, was a restricted free agent but the Bengals opted not to tender him, meaning he is free to sign with any team. The Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens have also expressed an interest in him, and the Bengals could also bring him back if he's willing to return for less than the $927,000 he would have received under the minimum restricted free-agent tender. The Dolphins reportedly made an offer to Perry during his visit there last week. The 6-3, 208-pound Perry, 26, played in just four games the past two seasons because of a hip injury but entered the league as a sixth-round pick in 2005 out of UCLA. For his career, he has caught 10 passes for 109 yards -- including just one catch for 7 yards last season -- but did return 64 kickoffs for 1,562 yards (24.4-yard average, with a long of 94 yards) as a rookie in '05.

Chillar and Smith both visited last week but remained unsigned as of Tuesday afternoon. Meanwhile, an NFL source said the Packers have re-signed long-snapper Thomas Gafford, whom they had in training camp two years ago. Although the team has yet to announce the signing, Gafford snapped well in camp in 2006 and was seen at the time as a possible replacement for veteran Rob Davis, who is an unrestricted free agent and has yet to be re-signed by the club.

The 39-year-old Davis, who has been the Packers' long-snapper since 1997, would like to play another season, but if the Packers decide to go younger at the position, Davis could move into the front office in the Packers' player development department. He helped run the player programs with scout Tim Terry while playing last season. [Story Link]

Wrangler Jeans Retirement

2008-03-10T06:23:00.003-04:00

I found this parody video of two guys imatating the Brett Favre retirement presser, flipping it on it's ear and making it about Favre retiring from making Wrangler Jeans Commercials. It's pretty well done and the guy playing the Faux Favre kinda looks like him and he really does a great job with Brett's down home Mississippi accent.

One word of warning... they do drop 1 "F" bomb.

Kimberly High School Reacts to Favre Retirement
How surreal is this. High school students in (Appleton I beleive???) watching (during school hours) and reacting to Brett Favre's retirement and press conference. Run time 2:30

Mr. Rodgers Speaks

2008-03-09T18:43:00.002-04:00

Rodgers preparing to assume control
By Lori Nickel / journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 8, 2008

"I'm not Brett Favre. If (fans) want me to be the next Brett Favre, I'm not going to be him. I'm Aaron Rodgers. That's who I am. I'm going to be the best quarterback I can be and he did it his way and I'm going to do it my way, and hopefully I can be successful."

Green Bay - If you'd never known or cared about Aaron Rodgers before Brett Favre's retirement last week and you studied him for the first time on Saturday, the impression he gave was that of a young, laid back Californian unfazed by the onslaught of hype that is about to hit him. In his first press conference Saturday in Green Bay as the Packers starting quarterback, Rodgers said he was on the beaches and golf courses a week ago, figuring he would be back for a fourth-straight year as Favre's backup and not at all concerned over what another stalled year would do to his career. When he found out he was finally getting his shot? "I was excited," said Rodgers. "But to be honest, it was just another day. I had plans to play golf and see my buddy in L.A. and that's pretty much what I did." [More]

Favre's Take on Rodgers

2008-03-09T09:58:00.002-04:00

Here's video of Brett's take on Aaron Rodgers from his Press Conference. I've included the transcript below.

Video runs 3:03

(Some guys when they walk away can't get near the team they left. Do you see yourself being involved with this team in the upcoming year, or with Aaron Rodgers?)

I'm sure that we will talk. I'm sure Mike and I will talk. But they have coaches and because I've played 17 years and had a great career here doesn't make me an expert. The way I've done things has worked for me. It may not work for the next guy. The last thing I want to be is one of those guys who hangs around and, because of my status, they keep me around. They don't know how to tell me no. Will I be a Green Bay Packer for life? Sure. That doesn't mean I come in and give my opinions and things like that. I wish the Packers well. I wish Aaron well. I think he'll do a great job. I think he has the talent. I've heard it for the last three years that hopefully he's learned from Brett. What that means I don't know. He's his own player, he has his own style and that's what he needs to stick to. Hopefully, what he's learned from me are things away from playing, how to handle certain situations and be a teammate and things like that. I think here in the last couple of years, that's where I've noticed, in my case, things maybe changing a little bit. You can credit it to age or whatever, but I was never really a vocal person. That hasn't changed. I always enjoyed playing the game and having fun and cracking up and things like that and I didn't do that as much. I maybe was not as good a teammate from that standpoint as I once was. Not to get away from your question, but I think that had some bearing on my decision as well. I don't even want to think about next year. Will I watch games? I'm sure I will. Will I be involved? I always made the joke about being here for the honorary coin toss. Well, that time may come. So I may be back for something like that. But as far as giving advice, I don't think that will happen.

-- clip --

I wish Aaron the best of luck. I think once again he'll do a fine job. It can be done. I know everyone's made comments that, boy, big shoes to fill. The only shoes he has to fill is himself. He doesn't need to play like Brett Favre. It's all about the cast around you, it's about the coaching staff. If you stay focused on the fact that it's not about you -- they obviously drafted him because he has the talent, mental capabilities -- he'll be fine. Hopefully one day he's sitting here where I am and able to experience what I've been able to experience.

[Full Transcript]

1st Look Favre SI Cover

2008-03-09T09:21:00.003-04:00

Packers Fans Rush to Buy
Special Sports Illustrated Favre Issue
The Harry W. Schwartz Bookstore on Oakland Avenue is one of the few stores that started selling -- and still have remaining copies -- of the Sports Illustrated Special Collector's Edition commemorating retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre. Several Barnes & Noble bookstores in the area sold out on their first day of sales.

"I got six," said Favre fan Denise Borchardt, who, along with three friends, bought more than 20 issues, collectively. "One for my dad and each for my daughters and some friends at work. We love Brett. He's given us a lot of joy over the years."

Those years are shown one by one over 80 pages, highlighting the best moments and record-breaking career of the 2007 SI Sportsman of the Year.

"There's nothing more special than Brett Favre," said fan Dean Skwierawski. "Nobody'll beat Favre, I don't think. That's once in a lifetime."

Even so, fans are looking forward to a new era under number 12, Aaron Rodgers.

"He's got a young team to work with, a good young team he's been left with, so yeah, he'll do well," said fan Laura Rathmann. Still, she added, "We love you, Brett."

Sports Illustrated says its print run of 850,000 copies will be sold for $7.99 at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Wal-Mart, Walgreens, ShopKo, Roundy's, and at Amazon.com.

Farve Retirement Video

2008-03-08T04:15:00.000-05:00

Run time approx. 2:30

SI special edition on Favre

2008-03-08T04:00:00.000-05:00

Packers quarterback Brett Favre is going back on the cover of Sports Illustrated — this time for a commemorative special edition that hits newsstands and book stores Monday. The magazine says the 84-page tribute will honor Favre's career after his retirement this week after 17 seasons in the NFL. It will be the third time since December the magazine has featured Favre. The other two were in weekly editions that required extra printings because of their popularity.

About 850,000 copies of the Favre commemorative edition will be sold nationwide. It will cost $7.99.

SI group editor Terry McDonell says the commemorative edition will have essays, photos chronicling Favre's 16 seasons in Green Bay and a tribute from players and fans.

Video 9-20-1992

2008-03-06T19:55:00.003-05:00

This is how it all began... Brett Favre's first game as a Packer and the rest is HOF History!
Video runs 7:30.

Check out OJ Simpson in the booth with Bob Costas and Buddy Ryan. Also... Brett looks like a baby in his post game interview... and you have to enjoy the irony when Costas ask Bret about Majkowski's injury saying... "You're the man now." How very true those words proved to be.

The Brett Favre Song

2008-03-06T19:48:00.002-05:00

Believe me... this will be the best 70 seconds you spend today!
Enjoy these 3rd graders singing "Brett Favre the Green Bay Packer"

The Brett Favre Presser

2008-03-06T19:36:00.000-05:00

(Opening statement)
Seems like just yesterday we were here. Well, I think we all know why I'm here. First of all, sorry I'm late. But I am officially retiring from the NFL and the Green Bay Packers, and as much as I've thought about what I would say, and how ... I promised I wouldn't get emotional ... it's never easy ... you know, it's funny, I've watched hundreds of players retire, and you wonder what that would be like ... you think you're prepared ... but I was telling Deanna on the way over here, God has blessed me with so many great things. Ability, wonderful family. And as I was flying up here today I thought about so many different things and how I wanted to say some of the things that I felt like I need to say, but he gave me an opportunity to use my abilities, and I seized that opportunity ... I thank him for that.

I'd like to thank the Packers, for giving me the opportunity as well. I hope that every penny ... I hope that every penny that they've spent on me, they know was money well-spent. It was never about the money or fame or records, and I hear people talk about your accomplishments and things ... It was never my accomplishments, it was our accomplishments, the teammates that I've played with, and I can name so many. It was never about me, it was about everybody else. It just so happens the position I played got most of the attention. But the Packers have been, ... it's been a great relationship, and I hope that this organization and the fans appreciate me as much as I appreciate them.

I can't leave without saying thanks to Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren for giving me a chance when no one else would. I'd like to thank Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson, Bob Harlan, Tom Clements my recent quarterback coach, Darrell Bevell. Mike was my quarterback coach in '99. Andy Reid, Marty, ... Steve Mariucci, Mike Sherman, Ray Rhodes, Tom Rossley, and I could go through so many different names and players and seasons. It's been everything I thought it would be, and then some. And it's hard to leave. You think you're prepared for it. I know there's been comments and issues in the press lately about why I'm leaving, whether or not the Packers did enough, whether or not Ted and Mike tried to convince me to stay. None of those things have anything to do with me retiring, and that's from the heart.

I've given everything I possibly can give to this organization, to the game of football, and I don't think I've got anything left to give, and that's it. I know I can play, but I don't think I want to. And that's really what it comes down to. Fishing for different answers and what ifs and will he come back and things like that, what matters is it's been a great career for me, and it's over. As hard as that is for me to say, it's over. There's only one way for me to play the game, and that's 100 percent. Mike and I had that conversation the other night, and I will wonder if I made the wrong decision. I'm sure on Sundays, I will say I could be doing that, I should be doing that. I'm not going to sit here like other players maybe have said in the past that I won't miss it, because I will. But I just don't think I can give anything else, aside from the three hours on Sundays, and in football you can't do that. It's a total commitment, and up to this point I have been totally committed.

As I look back on my career, no regrets. No regrets, whatsoever. Sure, I would have liked to have won more games, would have liked to have gone to a Super Bowl this year, would have liked to have thrown less interceptions, more touchdowns, but no regrets. I played the game one way, the only way I knew how.

I can't leave without saying thank you to the fans. When I laughed and when my family laughed, they laughed. When I cried, they cried. When I cheered, they cheered. When I threw an interception, well, you know. But it was a perfect fit for me. Little ol' Southern Miss, southern boy from Hancock County who had big dreams, no different than any other kid, to play here, and there's no better place to play. I had a conversation with Ron Wolf yesterday, and we had that discussion. To be thought of as one of the best players to play in this league, and to be mentioned within an organization that has players like Reggie White and Bart Starr and Paul Hornung and Willie Davis and Willie Wood and Herb Adderley and Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, Vince Lombardi. To be mentioned with those people, ... I'm honored. Really ... I am honored. I hope everyone knows how special this is and I truly appreciate the opportunity, and as they say all good things must come ... come to an end.

But I look forward to whatever the future may hold for me. Deanna and our two girls, Brittany and Breleigh, I sincerely thank you Deanna and my family for being there and supporting me, going back and forth and switching schools and putting up with all those things. I know you probably have some questions, I'll try to answer them as best I can, but hopefully I addressed a lot of the issues and spoke from the heart.

(There are still many fans in denial about this. They think Brett is tired now, but after time passes, maybe he'll change his mind. It sounds like that won't happen, but can you address that?)
I think last year and the year before I was tired and it took awhile but I came back. Something told me this time not to come back. It took awhile once again. Once again, I wondered if it was the right decision. But I think in my situation, and I had this conversation with Mike and Ted, that it's a unique situation in that at 17 years I had one of the better years in my career, the team had a great year, everything seems to be going great, the team wants me back, I still can play, for the most part everyone would think I would be back, would want me back. That's a unique situation going into an 18th season. There's no guarantees next year, personally and as a team, and I'm well aware of that. It's a tough business and last year and the year before I questioned whether or not I should come back because I didn't play at a high enough level. Other people questioned that. I really didn't question my commitment. I just wondered, 'Could I not play anymore?' I know I can play. But this year, and this is not the first year but it really to me and Deanna was more noticeable, the stress part of it. It's demanding. It always has been, but I think as I've gotten older I'm much more aware of that. I'm much more aware of how hard it is to win in this league and to play at a high level. I'm not up to the challenge anymore. I can play, but I'm not up to the challenge. You can't just show up and play for three hours on Sunday. If you could, there'd be a lot more people doing it and they'd be doing it for a lot longer. I have way too much pride, I expect a lot out of myself, and if I cannot do those things 100 percent, then I can't play.

(From a mental standpoint, how much impact did that last play have on your thought process? How much did you think about it as you walked off the field?)
I didn't really think about it when I walked off the field. Would I have liked to have finished that game and season differently? Absolutely. But one play, one game, one season doesn't define me. As upset as I was at the end of that game, I really didn't think about my future at that particular time. I didn't know what I was going to do and know that I had to get away and think about it. And I've heard remarks from family and friends that you don't want to go out on a play like that. I hear that every year, regardless of the play: You've got to go out on top or you've got to go out this way or you've got to go out that way. I'm going out on top, believe me. I could care less what other people think. It's what I think and I'm going out on top. It's been a wonderful career and, once again, I have no regrets. As I think back about my career, and I've said this numerous times, the losses and the bad plays, the ups and downs, all to me were important. I would hate to think that we were perfect all the time. You would never appreciate how tough it is to get there. And through every loss and every bad play, it made the plays like the first play in the overtime game against Denver so much sweeter. As time passes, I don't know what I will do. I'm not really worried about it right now. I'll take it as it comes. Poeple say, 'Do you have a plan?' No, I don't. This is all I've ever done. I'm proud of the fact that I've done it this long and at a high level. This is a new phase in my life. I don't know what that exactly means, but it's been a pretty good ride.

(When you talk about the strain of the offseason commitment or the strain of living up to your high standards on Sundays and leading such a young team, did those weigh any differently?)
The off-season -- the minicamps, the training camp and just individually your off-season preparation -- has been difficult. As I looked at this upcoming season, I said, I probably could get myself prepared to play. That really didn't have that much of a bearing on my decision. It's tough on everybody. But it was more the in-season strain. And Mike knows this, there were numerous Saturdays (before) home games where I was here at 8:30 at night watching film. I had never done that before. It was never enough for me. And Deanna knows this, after numerous games I would come home and after a couple of hours I had the computer out and I was watching film of the upcoming opponent instead of enjoying the win we just had. At some point, you've got to relax and enjoy and I found myself not enjoying it as much. It's fun to win but you've got to enjoy it and relax a little bit. That more than anything was taking its toll on me.

(Some guys when they walk away can't get near the team they left. Do you see yourself being involved with this team in the upcoming year, or with Aaron Rodgers?)
I'm sure that we will talk. I'm sure Mike and I will talk. But they have coaches and because I've played 17 years and had a great career here doesn't make me an expert. The way I've done things has worked for me. It may not work for the next guy. The last thing I want to be is one of those guys who hangs around and, because of my status, they keep me around. They don't know how to tell me no. Will I be a Green Bay Packer for life? Sure. That doesn't mean I come in and give my opinions and things like that. I wish the Packers well. I wish Aaron well. I think he'll do a great job. I think he has the talent. I've heard it for the last three years that hopefully he's learned from Brett. What that means I don't know. He's his own player, he has his own style and that's what he needs to stick to. Hopefully, what he's learned from me are things away from playing, how to handle certain situations and be a teammate and things like that. I think here in the last couple of years, that's where I've noticed, in my case, things maybe changing a little bit. You can credit it to age or whatever, but I was never really a vocal person. That hasn't changed. I always enjoyed playing the game and having fun and cracking up and things like that and I didn't do that as much. I maybe was not as good a teammate from that standpoint as I once was. Not to get away from your question, but I think that had some bearing on my decision as well. I don't even want to think about next year. Will I watch games? I'm sure I will. Will I be involved? I always made the joke about being here for the honorary coin toss. Well, that time may come. So I may be back for something like that. But as far as giving advice, I don't think that will happen.

(You said you didn't have an exact plan. What are some things you're looking forward to doing?)
Nothing. Nothing. Ron Wolf asked me yesterday, 'What are you going to do?' I said, 'Nothing.' And I'm going to stick to that until I want to do something else.

(With so many accolades and honors, how do you want to be remembered?)
You know, I think we all want to be liked and we want good things said about us, positive things said about us. As I stated earlier, I hope people appreciate me, the way I played the game, as much as I appreciate them. The way I approached the game, the way I played it, to me all was important. The statistics part of it were never that important. They have been earlier in my career. I was never really a statistics guy, and that's coming from a guy that ran the wishbone and wing-T in high school and was signed as a safety in college. So statistics never were never a big part of my makeup and I think people know that. I'm well aware of the statistics, the records that I have right now. I think those were meant to be ... That's why they keep records, for those to be broken. I'm sure it makes for good TV when the next guy comes through. But I hope my legacy is a lot more than that. If I have to be remembered because of statistics then I did something wrong along the way. I really believe that I left a lot more than that. I can't make people like me or say good things about me but I hope that I left a pretty good impact on people. As I've heard, that the way he's played the game, with as much fun as he's had, is all important and I agree with that. It's a game and I played it spontaneously, nothing was ever choreographed. And I've always said this: the money they pay is icing on the cake. It had no bearing on the way I played. I played the game regardless a certain way. And I hope that's what people appreciate about me.

(Playing in 275 straight games and the pride you took in that, how hard was it to admit to yourself that commitment just wasn't there anymore?)
Well, yes and no. It's been 275 games, at some point it's got to end. I think there will be people, including myself, saying, 'Hey, you can still do it.' But I don't want to be one of those guys that you say, 'Well, he stuck around too long.' Who knows when that will be? Relatively healthy for the most part. There are little things here and there that bother me. The thing that I'm most impressed about in my career is the fact that I've played in all those games. Whether it be consecutive or not, the fact that I played in that many games is amazing. Might as well leave when I've still got my health for the most part. As far as a career goes, it's been wonderful. So it's been everything I thought it would be and then some. None of those statistics come without playing and there's nothing left to prove, there really isn't. There was nothing last year to prove. I've known that. I have a lot of pride but it wasn't that difficult. It's more important for me to play the game a certain way and be (in it) completely, than it is to admit to myself that maybe I don't have it anymore.

(Waking up this morning, knowing you were coming up here to do this, what have the emotions been like? What's today been like?)
I'm not going to lie to ya. There was a lot ... I flew up here by myself, Deanna was already up here. I thought of so many different things. At first I got up and drove Breleigh to school. We were late as usual. I just went about my day up to that point as I always do. In the back of my mind, I knew in just few hours I was not going to be a Green Bay Packer anymore. That was hard. Breleigh understands but I didn't let on that something was bothering me. But as I got closer and closer, there was a knot the size of a basketball in my throat. There were so many things... Again, I'm not a person that likes to get up and speak. I thought about writing some things down that I wanted to say. I didn't want to leave anyone out. I wanted to say the right things. I wanted to come across as genuine. I wanted to leave gracefully. The more I thought about all those things, the worse it got. I have to admit that there's a little bit more of a relief right now. It went over somewhat smoothly. Time will tell. But it was a tough day. And Jeff (Blumb) and I went round and round. He wanted me to come up right away, the Packers wanted me to come up. If it was me, I would have just done something later. Which to me later meant they'll forget about it and it will be over and done with. But I'm glad it's done. It was tough, it will be tough. Today was extremely difficult. But I believe it's the right thing.

(You're one of the most competitive people, and other athletes who have retired have talked about needing something to fuel their competitive desire. Have you thought about that and how you transition that way?)
I think every individual is different. I will say this, I have listened to advice in the past, directly or indirectly. People said play as long as you can - make them drag you off the field. If I play much longer, they will. So my situation has been different. Not too many people have played 275 games, not too many people have had the career that I've had. It's easy, I think, for other people to say, 'Do this' or 'Do that' There aren't many people who have been in my situation. Because of that I'm so thankful, but I have to be cautious looking at it from their standpoint. Will I find something to do that's equal to throwing a touchdown pass at Lambeau Field? I doubt it. Will I find something that's as equal as playing in the Super Bowl or playing a game in general? I doubt it. I'm not even going to try.

As I said earlier, there really isn't a plan. I know that this place and what it's meant to my career is really special, and to think that I can find something to replace that and feel the same, I'm no fool. I know there's nothing out there like that. So I'm not even going to try. But life does go on and I will do something, whatever that may be. But it will be nice for awhile, I think, to feel like I don't have to live up to certain expectations, not only that other people have of me, but I have of myself. I can just kind of as they say, ride off into the sunset, whatever that means. Just try to relax for once in my life and enjoy it. And I'm going to steal a quote from Deanna, and I thought about this on the way up, 'See life through the front windshield, not through the rearview mirror.' I think that is so true, so important. And people who know me and play with me and coaches that I work with, I can recite almost every play I've ever ran, called, think about near every game I've played in, and that's going back to high school. So as I look back, I can't say, 'What if? I don't quite remember that game or that play.' But there are things in life I can't say that about. There are things I missed. And you can't get those things back. From this day forward, I hope to kind of see things through the front windshield.

(Coach Holmgren released a statement that talked about how proud he was to see you grow as a person even more than on the football field. Can you talk about who you were and how you've grown and who you are today?)
I think my career in life has been well-documented. We have lived my life in the public and that's OK. If I had to deal with it again, I would do it here in Green Bay. The people here have been phenomenal. I'm not just saying that because I'm here in front of you guys. We have been supported as if we were native. But, you know, for me it's been 16 wonderful years. And I look back and I was watching at home last night, I actually broke down and watched some of the footage. How could you not? I realize what it's like to die. As I'm watching TV last night, I said, 'This is what it's like when you die.' They're honoring me and saying all these things and showing all these games. It's good, but I've come a long ways. Some of those old interviews, I thought I had it all figured out, which I didn't. But fortunately I was able to overcome a lot of my - I don't know what you want to call it - insecurities or whatever, one thing about it is I can play football. And because of that I'm still here. Throughout that process I've become a better person, a more likeable person I hope. And as my skills maybe diminished, maybe I've picked up the slack in other areas. I'm about as proud of that as anything I've done on the field. I'm not perfect by any means. I'm not going to say that, not even close. Nor will I ever be. As I look back at my career and as I watched footage last night, I have come a long ways, in a positive way and I'm truly thankful for that.

(I have a question for Deanna if you wouldn't mind going up to the microphone. I just wanted to ask what retirement means to you and your family and the work you've done in Green Bay and with other organizations, in retrospect and looking forward?)
Brett: I promised her she wouldn't have to speak.

Deanna: I'm not real crazy about being up here. It's been very rewarding to be part of this community and to be a part of the charity work going on because it always seemed like a team effort. The people here are very appreciative, grateful, for everything we've done and I hope we'll continue in some form or another with our charity work here, but I don't think it will be the extent it has been.

Brett: We're going to take a break for a year.

Deanna: We have decided to take a break from all events this year, so the softball game we normally have in June we won't have. I know that will disappoint a lot of people, but honestly we are really tired right now.

(Is there anything anybody in the organization could have said to you to change your mind and get you to play one more season?)
Once again I think that there have been a lot of things in the press this week that aren't true. Believe me, I've questioned my decision. I believe it's the right decision. And there's nothing that they can do or say to change that. They can make me wonder. But I think that's part of it. But once again, I think it's the right decision. It's a hard decision. I know for the last couple of years, I mean, I'm sure there a lot of people who said, 'Finally.' Good or bad, he made a decision. Believe me, it was hard. Very hard. Because that decision is made don't think I won't question it. But that's life. For people who've never had to make a decision like the one I've had to make, I can't begin to explain to you how difficult it is. But I made it and I have to be at peace with that.

(As you reviewed this decision, are you saying that in order to match your standard, you had to put so much more into it and as a result you weren't getting as much fun out of it?)
I had so many people saying, 'You look like you had a lot of fun out there this year,' and I did. But what they don't see, that's three hours during the course of a week and I'm no different than most people. I can act the part and I know I expect a lot out of myself and certain things are expected of me within this organization and I tried to live up to those all the time. And Brett Favre got hard to live up to. And I found myself during games at times, tough situation, people always kind of made this joke or other guys on the team, even Mike at times would turn to me and say, 'All right Brett. This is where you're at your best. Pull us out.' I'm thinking, 'Uh! ... ' Now I wouldn't do that, but I'm thinking that. I'm thinking, 'Boy it sure would be nice to be up about 14 right now.' It's just hard. It got hard. I did it, but it got hard. I don't think it would get easier next year or the following year. It hasn't up to this point. It's only gotten tougher and something told me, it's gotten too hard for you. I could probably come back and do it, suck it up, but what kind of a toll would that take on me, my family or my teammates? At some point it would affect one of those, if not all of them. Maybe it has already. I don't know. I can't speak for my teammates, but maybe it's affected my play. If I even question for a second that toll that it takes has affected at least one play, then it's time to leave. You can't second-guess any decision you make on the field or wonder did the pressure or stress get to you. I think if you're starting to question that at all, then it's probably time to go.

(Guys talk about the locker room, plays, and games. What will you miss the most?)
Well, in my discussions with former players, every one of the guys I've talked to has said the things you miss, you miss the games but it is the guys. And I haven't heard too many guys say I miss meetings or miss practice. But I may be one of those rare people who miss that to a certain extent as I'm involved in it. Sitting in meetings or practice, I have to admit, I thought about being elsewhere, but it's easy to do that when you're in the moment. But the friendships you make along the way, they come and go to a certain extent. But they are special and that I think I'll miss, grinding together. Football, I think is very unique in that of all the sports because you have to rely on one another so much more than the other sports and it's a physical sport, which I think in turn mentally challenges you more so than any other sport. And I am a little biased, but I will miss that. Sitting in those meetings with the receivers and figuring out how we're going to beat the upcoming team and challenging each other and doing it in a fun way, slapping our big linemen on the butt, which I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon. But all that stuff, man that's just what it's all about. And I will miss that stuff.

(What's the most memorable play or most memorable game you'll take with you?)
I hate when that question's asked. I don't have one. I really don't. I know if you ask anyone who's covered the Packers or Brett Favre over the years, ask them their top five plays or games, they're going to give you some, as I probably could, too. But it's too hard. They all meant a lot to me. For obvious reasons, some may mean a little more. But I think most people who have never played professional football would kill for one opportunity to play if they could and I had thousands and thousands of plays. But the thing that is unique about me is that every one of those plays meant something to me, and I really mean that. I never took a play off and to me it came natural to me. And to sit here and name a few plays that meant more, there were some that were more exciting, there were some that other people could say, 'That's my favorite.' That's fine. But the fact I got a chance to take a snap under center in Green Bay or in professional football was something special. And the fact I've done it for that many years and have so many plays, they're all special.

(You've been embraced so wholeheartedly by the entire nation. Why do you think you've had that privilege?)
Well, I think, I'm probably the wrong person to ask that. But if I had to guess I would say, and I hear this from time to time, he's like one of us. Well, I am. I just play professional football. Now that is a little different job than most people. But we are regular people and things have happened to our family, maybe it being that we're in the public eye, things we've had to deal with, tragedy, obviously has (been) dealt with within the community and the world when other people are able to deal with it privately. So I think people say, 'You know what, death does happen to Brett Favre and Deanna Favre. Cancer does happen to them.' It's not all about making a lot of money and being on TV all the time. There's more to it than that. And I think, I hate to say that we're appreciated because of that because we would love to change some of those things. But it's life and we've had to deal with it with the public and we're thankful for that because it has helped. And I think coming across as, to me as genuine as possible. Deanna told me on the way over her that her sister had called her, Christy, and said that Marshall Faulk was wondering what I was going to wear. Well, Marshall, here I am. This is about as dressed up as you're going to see. I thought about wearing a suit, I really did. I thought about shaving. But, what you see is what you get. And I hope that I never change. I don't think I will. I hope that people appreciate that side of me because it is real, obviously. And it's the way I played the game. I've always said that people watching in the stands I could see them saying, 'If I could play, that's the way I'd want to play.' And that is important to me because that's the only way I know how to play it. That's the only way I know how to dress. That's the only way I know how to act. Right or wrong, it's the only way and I think people do appreciate that.

(You were so close to the Super Bowl. Do you feel the 2008 Packers are capable of another Super Bowl run, and did that make this decision more difficult for you?)
Sure. This is a good football team, and I think I could be sitting here next year saying, I could be pulling a Tiki Barber - what if? But you know, that's the chance you take. I've been to the Super Bowl, been fortunate to play on some great teams. Once again, I have no regrets and there are no guarantees. And in our discussions, we've said that over and over again. All we can make at this point are predictions, what we think will happen. And not too many people thought the Packers would be 13-3 this year, me included. But who knows? But there are no guarantees. And hopefully the Packers do go on and have great success. And if that is the case, I hope I don't say, you made the wrong decision. I don't believe I'll do that. I really don't. But this team is really close, and that makes it a little bit tougher, it makes it tougher to leave. Boy, we were right there. But that was last year we were right there.

So the Packers wanted me, I know I can play, the fans, I guess they love me. They were camped out at my gate, the media. All these great things. Why would you retire? That's a tough question. It's a tough decision. But once again, I think I made the right decision regardless of whether we were 13-3 and on the cusp of another Super Bowl. And I keep going back to, I've done everything there is to do, and then some, and then some. I would have liked to have won more Super Bowls, but you know what? I'm not disappointed about that. I gave it my all. I think people who know me know that. And I don't know if I had any more to give. There will be no what-ifs. When I think of high school and I think of college, I think I could play a little bit better at times. I didn't really appreciate (it), because high school, before you know it, it was over. College, before I knew it, it was over. I had 17 years and those experiences in high school and college to make sure I didn't say what if in professional football. And I don't think I will say what if.

(Does it feel as though you're leaving on your own terms?)
Sure. Yeah, we all would like to leave on our own terms. What those terms are, I've heard so many times, 'Man, I'd like to see him go out like Elway.' Well, Elway was different. He'd never won a Super Bowl, until they beat us. We could have went 3-13 this year, and I was going out on top. People may argue against that, but look at my career. I shouldn't have to make an argument. And maybe I'm the only one who's so well aware of how blessed I really was. And I want to say this again. I know I get credit for the wins, yards, touchdowns, even interceptions. But it was about everyone else. Coaches, players, fans. I want to say that again: Our accomplishments. I never thought it was fair, the attention that the quarterback gets. Being labeled as, he has 160 wins. What about everyone else? And as I walk away, I'm walking away on top, my head high, chin up. And it is on my terms. It is on my terms. Which is a good way to go out.

(The toughest job in sports is to play quarterback in the NFL, and there's even more to that in your situation in Green Bay. Can you talk about carrying the hopes and dreams of this community and franchise for 16 years and restoring the team to glory after so many down years?)
I go back to what I said when I look back at old clips. It's a good thing I didn't know any better. I watch those interviews, and it's painful to watch. But in a lot of ways that was good for me. I had talent, probably thought I had more. I probably thought a little more of myself than I should have. But I was talented to a certain degree, but I was so naïve. Believe me, I knew all about the Green Bay Packers, and all those great players that have played here before. Knew all about the tradition. But I thought, what the heck. What's the big deal? Now, if I had to go back with the same mentality right now that I have and start over again, I probably wouldn't make it, because I'm so much more aware of how difficult it is to win, to prepare. I'm well-aware of the expectations. Back then, it was like, bring them on. No big deal. And that mentality helped me, as I looked back. It's painful to watch, but it helped me.

It is a unique franchise. I'm telling you something that we all know. There's only a few in professional sports that are like this one. It's a tough job. I don't know how tough other jobs are, because I've never done them. But I know to be the quarterback, period, is tough. To be the quarterback in Green Bay, and to have success, is very difficult. But I'm proof it can be done. As I look back, and dreaming as a little kid, I hate to admit it I always dreamt of being a Dallas Cowboy, and winning Super Bowls and being Roger Staubach. Think of all the kids, and there's probably some here in Wisconsin who have dreamed of being Brett Favre and doing the things that he's done, as I look back on my career, those dreams have been surpassed a thousand times over, and that is rare that I've been able to do that. Because I was no different than anyone else with those dreams.

I wish Aaron the best of luck. I think once again he'll do a fine job. It can be done. I know everyone's made comments that, boy, big shoes to fill. The only shoes he has to fill is himself. He doesn't need to play like Brett Favre. It's all about the cast around you, it's about the coaching staff. If you stay focused on the fact that it's not about you -- they obviously drafted him because he has the talent, mental capabilities -- he'll be fine. Hopefully one day he's sitting here where I am and able to experience what I've been able to experience.

(For all of your contributions on the field, are you just as grateful and proud of your off-the-field accomplishments, the impact you've had with Make-A-Wish kids, your foundation, and other charities?)
If you really think about it, that stuff is so much more important than football. But at times we lose sight of that. Deanna and I this past Sunday were down in Gulfport, Mississippi. Ronnie Hebert, that name probably doesn't ring a bell to anyone in here, but he was a figure on the Gulf coast for 65 years, in fact. As my dad coached Legion ball for 28 years, the summer in Gulfport, Ronnie Hebert was a bat boy, was mentally challenged. Deanna surprised me several years ago at our dinner, charity dinner, bringing Ronnie up. He passed away this past week, suddenly. He had a long, fun life. Never saw him disappointed. But I've had so many people say to me, boy, you made a great impact on Ronnie and great impact on Make-A-Wish kids, and so on and so forth. But it's the impact they had on me. That's what it's all about. For me, football has been wonderful in a lot of ways, but the fact that I've been able to touch other people's lives, and Deanna has said this I don't know how many times, that you don't realize the impact you have on people, I really don't. I've never really thought about it. All I've thought about was playing football and playing it a certain way, and whatever comes along with that, great. Whether it be money, commercials, reaching out to people, charity, whatever. It's because of football, I'm well aware of that. But because of football, I've been impacted by a lot of people and charities.

We were in Phoenix a couple weeks ago visiting the Children's Hospital, boy, that's tough. It's really, really tough. And I'm very thankful that I've got two daughters who are (in) great health, and up to this point life has been pretty good. Difficult at times, but I think we can all say that, but it's been pretty good. And I can't say that for other people. But I am, once again, I'm not perfect, never will be. I'll probably get in trouble with Deanna at times, with my girls at times, but I do have a different outlook on life, much more than 16 years ago. But I am very proud of the things that we have done off the field. Could we have done more? Sure. Could we all do more? Absolutely. But we have impacted other people's lives in a positive way I would hope, and we are thankful for that.

Thanks.

Backup Plan

2008-03-06T04:35:00.003-05:00

Well I guess it's time to face reality. Brett Favre is retiring. I guess I told myself that as long as he didn't announce it at a Press conference (he's holding one today at 12 noon eastern) then maybe he'll change his mind. This of course, is the equivalent of my sticking my fingers in my ears and shouting LA-LA-LA-LA-LA real loud when I didn't want to hear the bad news someone is telling me.

So with that in mind... it's time to formulate a Packer Backup Plan.

Let's face it... Aaron has significantly played in just 3 games in his career... and he's had substantial injuries in 2 of them. LA-LA-LA-LA-LA! See... still not working. Obviously, the Packers need to find a good quality QB to back up Aaron if he falls somewhat short of talent... or longevity.

Here's a list of some of the candidates. (It's kind like America's Next Top Model only not as sexy and with no makeovers!)

IMHO (In my Humble Opinion) the best candidates are...
David Carr (ekkk)
Gus Ferotte (ewwww)
Dante Culpepper (I heart fumbling Quarterbacks)
Trent Green (He's like Favre's age... but a possibility)
Joey Harrington (Manageable and wont cause locker room friction)
Byron Leftwich (Back to ekkk and ewwww)
Craig Nall (Duh... sign him but we still need another)

Ouch! The list is short and not very satisfying.

We could wait around to see what 20 or so Quarterbacks the Tampa Bay Bucs cut... or try to work out a trade for an established QB like... Kurt Warner? Not very likely to happen.

Or we could just direct snap to Ryan Grant!

LA-LA-LA-LA-LA!

Rodgers ready to lead Pack

2008-03-06T04:20:00.000-05:00

By Pat Yasinskas / ESPN.com

"You can't replace a legend and I know that going in. All I can do is try to be the best quarterback I can be. I'm not going to let anyone outwork me and I'm going to be accountable to my coaches and teammates. I know it's a challenge, but I've got a good team around me and I had three years to learn from Brett, who is the greatest quarterback ever.'' -- Aaron Rodgers

They had been teammates for a full year before Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers started talking the same language. It was sometime in minicamp or training camp of 2006 when Favre reached out to the man he knew would someday replace him as quarterback of the Green Bay Packers. "That's when Brett came to me and he really encouraged me in a couple areas where I could improve my mental toughness and the way I would deal with adversity,'' Rodgers said Wednesday by telephone from California. "He told me it was important to think about body language and attitude all the time because everybody's watching you at all times.'' That's even truer now than it was then. With Favre's retirement Tuesday, Rodgers suddenly is the king of the cheeseheads. His every move will be scrutinized by just about everyone in Wisconsin. Come September, he'll become the first player to start at quarterback for Green Bay since Favre took over in 1992. [More]

McCarthy's Packers Now

2008-03-05T17:48:00.002-05:00

By John Czarnecki / Foxsports.com
All the reports said that Packers coach Mike McCarthy was surprised and taken aback when Brett Favre said he was retiring. They should have added that McCarthy probably was also relieved. The Packers are now McCarthy's team; he no longer has to share it with Favre. You may interpret this is as a knock on McCarthy, but, honestly, Favre was bigger than the youthful head coach, who received a lot of credit for last season's 13-3 record.

Favre was an institution in Wisconsin. He was the only player with a parking spot inside Lambeau Field and you rarely saw him dressing in the locker room. Favre, 38, wasn't one of the guys. He was above the fray and ever since Mike Holmgren moved west to Seattle he was the Packers. And the fans apparently loved every minute of it; every one of them living vicariously through him on game days. Mike Sherman had an offensive coordinator, Tom Rossley, who tried to rein Favre in and that coach never got another NFL job. Do you really think there was a receiver in Green Bay who thought McCarthy knew more about how to beat the Bears than Favre did? When the Packers were in a huddle and Brett changed a play, do you believe any player got in his face?

All head coaches love to be in control; it's a huge part of their personality and job description. There is no question there were times when Favre thought he knew best. And with his approach to a two-minute drive or his opinion on how to manage timeouts, there was a certain challenge to McCarthy's role as the ultimate authority. This isn't meant to blame anyone. It was simply that way. I mean, when Favre was winning a Super Bowl for the Packers, McCarthy was Steve Bono's quarterback coach in Kansas City. None of these little things were ever an issue because he was Brett Favre. He was on a level equal with the game. He was a folk hero; he was a legend who was still playing on Sundays. It's why Terry Bradshaw told me again on Tuesday that Brett was the greatest quarterback he's ever watched. [More]

And now... Aaron

2008-03-05T06:57:00.003-05:00

It's almost 7 a.m. here on the East Coast... the Day After, and I've still not come to grips with Brett Favre's retirement. I've been watching the non-stop NFL Network love fest with Brett and I still can't believe it's all come to an end. It's bad... very bad.

But is it all bad?

Let me prefice this all by reminding you all that I'm a big Brett Favre fan. I present for evidence the first names of my three children... Brett... Favre... and ummm... little Kiln. And worse... I had all girls! So I don't want to hear it from anybody when I say...

Aaron Rodgers juuust might be better at running M&M's offense.

Now forgot about how well Aaron did versus the Cowboys last year. He was a change-up pitch to Brett's 103 mph fastball and I'm sure caught the 'boys off guard. Still, he was impressive. Aaron isn't as flashy as Brett... nor does he take Farve-like risks. But he is accurate (didn't he complete like 27 passes in a row versus USC) and unlike Brett... Aaron will take off with it and get you 10 to 20 crucial drive sustaining yards with his feet.

Of course DUH! If Brett Favre decides to un-retire... I'm gunna write a post about how great it is that he's returning and how we can win the Chanpionship riding on #4's back. But those are not the facts Jack. It is what it is... and Aaron is our future.

Oh... and just one more thing... Favre... like Moses... led us to the promised land. Do you all recall who replaced Moses when he died?

His brother Aaron.
I rest my case.

What the F-F-Farve???

2008-03-04T15:25:00.003-05:00

This is a dream right?
A Nightmare?
A horrible and tragic Nightmare?

Excuse us Packer fans but we are currently in shock. Step 1 of the 5 steps of Grief. And it all hit us like a ton of bricks at 10 am, when it was announced that Brat Night has been canceled at Fuzzy Thurston's Shananigans Bar.

Oh... and Brett Favre is retiring.

I feel like Ashton Kutcher is laughing his ass off at me right now and at any second he's gunna come out from hiding in some ice cream truck / control center and tell me that I'm being Punk'd.

Any second now...

Go ahead Ashton...

I'm waiting...

Crap!

I'm still in shock and at a loss for words... well almost.

Thank you Brett Favre...
Thank you for all the joy and excitement you brought to us for 16 seasons.

What really bites is that just yesterday I got this really cool idea for a posting for when Brett Favre announced he was playing again. I was going to write the headline... "BRETT FAVRE SEES HIS OWN SHADOW... 6 MORE MONTHS OF FOOTBALL". I even created this really cool looking ground hog with a Packer helmit on it. Yes... it's all about me!

What's step 2... oh yeah... denial... Aaron Rodgers will take us to the Super Bowl!

FBI Probed Max McGee?

2008-03-02T18:38:00.000-05:00

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Hard-partying Green Bay Packers receiver Max McGee, who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history, had a gambling habit that the FBI tracked after his career ended, newly released records show. Agents investigated McGee for about a year, from late 1972 through September 1973, before dropping the case for lack of evidence, according to records released to The Associated Press under the federal Freedom of Information Act. Information in the late player's file appears to show the FBI thought he was a bookmaker but determined he wasn't, said I. Nelson Rose, a professor at Whittier Law School in Costa Mesa, Calif. Given that there are no federal laws against making a bet, the FBI wouldn't have had anything to charge McGee with, Rose said Friday.

"I'll be damned," McGee's former teammate and longtime friend Jerry Kramer said, when told of the file released to the AP last week. Likewise, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday he did not know about the FBI's probe of McGee. "You know he was betting. Everybody knows that," Kramer said Friday from his home in Boise, Idaho. "I kind of thought it was more of a social thing than serious gambling." [More]

Cory Williams Sour Grapes

2008-03-02T15:34:00.000-05:00

Williams says he's happy to be gone
By Tom Silverstein / journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 1, 2008
There was no way Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson was going to pay defensive tackle Corey Williams the money he wanted, so his options were to make Williams play for the one-year, $6.363 million franchise tender or trade him for the best offer he received. Thompson didn't blink and sent Williams to Cleveland for a second-round pick in a trade that was reported Thursday night but became official Saturday after all the paperwork was completed.

"I don't know if anybody was trying to win the deal," Thompson said Saturday. "I think it was probably a good deal for the Browns and I think hopefully it will be a good deal for us."

Now for the third time since becoming general manager in 2005, Thompson goes into a draft with three of the top 60 picks, this time with an opportunity to cash in on one of the deepest drafts in some time. The temptation will be to use his two second-round picks to move up from 30th in the first-round to get a potential star player. But he can also put the Packers over the hump with those three picks the way Ron Wolf did in 1995 with the selection of Craig Newsome, Brian Williams and Antonio Freeman.

"I'm not talking about that," Thompson said of whether he would like to move up in the first round. "You like having more picks, but we gave up a pretty good player, too. I think there will be players who warrant being picked there. The only question is whether we're good enough to find them."

Thompson turned three picks in the top 58 in '05 into Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins and the now-retired Terrence Murphy. In '06, he turned three picks in the top 37 into eight selections that netted him A.J. Hawk, Daryn Colledge, Greg Jennings, Jason Spitz, Will Blackmon and Johnny Jolly. This time, building depth isn't as important as finding core starters for either this year or the very near future.

"You want all your picks to be good," Thompson said. "You sweat over every one. You'd like to get good players with these picks."

It became apparent early on in negotiations with Williams that the numbers were too high for the Packers, and rather than let him go to free agency, they slapped the franchise tag on him, requiring any team interested in signing Williams to give up two first-round picks in compensation.

Williams clearly was not happy with that decision or the Packers' choice not to give him a lucrative long-term deal. "I wanted out of Green Bay and I'm glad Cleveland called me," Williams said during a news conference in Cleveland. "I feel like I am wanted here. It feels like home to me, and I've only been here one day. I already feel like I got the love that I have been looking for. I'm happy and excited about it."

Asked why he sought a ticket out of Green Bay, Williams said, "There's a bunch of different reasons and I don't care to talk about it right now. I just wanted out." Williams' agent, Blake Baratz, said he had a pretty good idea what Williams would fetch on the open market, and the Packers' offer wasn't close. He didn't know if Williams would be forced to play for the one-year tender, but Thursday he was informed he had permission to negotiate with Cleveland on a long-term deal. According to Baratz, the two sides came up with a six-year, $38 million deal that includes $18 million in guarantees and bonuses. Williams will make $9 million this year, $23 million over three years and $27.5 million over four, none of which will count against Green Bay's salary cap, How much of the contract is truly guaranteed isn't known.

"When they were looking at Corey, they were considering the other contracts they had given guys like Cullen Jenkins ($4 million per year) and Ryan Pickett ($3.5 million per year)," Baratz said. "That was the kind of deal they were offering. We thought he could do better." Signing Williams to a long-term deal would have made it harder for the Packers to re-sign ends Aaron Kampman and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Pickett and Jolly, all of whom have contracts that expire after the 2009 season. "We were in position and felt comfortable in tendering Corey the franchise number," Thompson said. "We were less comfortable given our structure about a longer-term deal." Thompson said he didn't see a need to rush out and sign a replacement for Williams because of the depth the Packers have at the position. He refused to say that the onus was on 2007 first-round pick Justin Harrell to fill the void.

"I think we're more of a group thing," Thompson said. "It will be a combination."

Other Notable / Quotable Cory Williams statements --

Williams is now singing a much different tune than the one he had before the NFC championship game loss to the New York Giants. [Link]

“I love being here in Green Bay,” Williams said. “I love all my teammates. The atmosphere, just being here, there's nothing like it. The only thing I can say about that is I just want to be treated fair. If that means where I would have to take a little (pay)cut or whatever, like I said, I just want to be treated fair.”

“I've had a great ride here. If it comes to an end, one thing I can say when I leave here is that I had a great time. I felt like I was loved here, they cared about us, and hopefully wherever else I end up at, I hope I have the same feeling about them that I had about here in Green Bay."

Nice One Cory... you just mouthed-off yourself into Mike McKenzie and Jevon Walker territory... good ridance to ya!

The Cory Williams Trade

2008-03-01T09:45:00.002-05:00

In case you hadn't already read or heard, The Packers traded Franchise Tagged DT, Cory Williams, to the Cleveland Browns for their 2nd round pick (#56) in this years deep... deep draft! Let's re-examine this trade, and see the brilliance that is Mssr. Theodore Thompson.

First off... damn straight Skippy... the Pack franchised Cory after not being able to come to an agreement on a contract beyond 2007. It was the right move... and the smart move. By all accounts DT's are hotter this year than a Jessica Alba movie *drool*. The Raiders gave little known 'Run-stuffer' Tom Kelly 50 Big Ones (millions) for 7 years with 18 Biggies guaranteed! Yeah... Tom 'who the eff?' Kelly! That's setting the bar at Olympic standards baby! Thomas had 27 tackles and 1 Sack last year! Bitch Please? Can you even imagine what Cory with his 35 tackles and 7 sacks could command? We're talking Mad money here peeps! Bill Gates neighborhood!

Okay... maybe not Bill Gates neighborhood... maybe Bill Gates gardner's neighborhood... but still... a damn nice 'hood regardless!

Now franchising Cory allowed the Packers the option of keeping him for another year at a mere 6 million, or... trading him. Keep in mind how rediculously we are blessed at DT. So trading him was the wise and prudent thing right?

Well... let's examine what double T got for Cory.

Coincidently, the Browns also got Shaun Rogers from the Lions for some dude (Leigh Bodden?) and their 3rd round pick (#88) and... the Jets got Kris Jenkins from the Panthers for the Jets 3rd (#69) and 5th (#133) round picks. Oh... originally the Lions were going to trade Rogers to the Bengals for their 3rd (#72) and 5th (#138) but it fell through for the Browns trade. I don't think I need to remind you Packer fans of the talents of Mssr. Rogers and Jenkins... their rep speaks for itself.

Sooooo... using the handy dandy draft pic evaluation chart (see below)

(Click to enlarge fool!)

...we can see that the Packers got the value of 340 (look at the damn chart people... this isn't brain surgery) where as the Lions only got a 150 for the pick and Bodden??? Had they of stuck with the original trade to the Bengals... they would have gotten a mere 267 (3rd - 230 plus 5th 37). Now the Panthers got a value of 284.5 for Jenkins (3rd - 245 plus 5th - 39.5)

Dude... Thompson clearly got the best deal of the day!

Gawd I need to get a life!

Analyzing "The Play"

2008-02-24T08:00:00.007-05:00

It's been what... a month since the loss to the Giants?
Okay... 34 days... 14 hours... and 21 minutes... but who's counting?
In any case... I now feel comfortable in analyzing "The Play" that lost the game that chilly January evening... 34 days... 14 hours... and 22 minutes ago.

First off we need a name for "The Play". You know... like the "Emaculate Reception"... "The Thrilla in Manila" or even... "The Music City Miracle".

How'z 'bout... ummm...

Farve's Frozen Flub Up?
(originally I wasn't going to go with 'Flub'... yeah... I went there!)

Pack/Eagles' 2004 Playoff game Part Two?
(yeah... I went there again!)

Whatever... in any case... let's revue the play.

Option 1: Our truck driver Phil (a Steeler fan) pointed out to me how wide open Ryan Grant was. I missed this during the game but his keen 'Truck Driving' eyes caught it. Phil went on to point out the Grant could have run for an easy 20 yards... I'd say at least 8 or 10... and hopefully break free for 10 more yards... he was due!

Option 2: Clearly Brett was looking to Driver on this play 'the whole way'. He probably was more open then the picture shows (note... the pass is already in the air... we don't see what Favre saw 2 seconds before the pass... just the Giant DB breaking on the ball for an easy pick). In any case... as has already been pointed out... had Brett led Driver more... or passed the ball where only Driver could have caught it... we get the first down.

Option 3: Jones or Lee ( can't tell who it is but my guess is Jones) is apparently wide open in the middle of the field. Brett has a clear shot at him but once again... we don't know what he was looking at 2 seconds prior.

Option 4: Look how freakin' open Jennings is on this play! 2 seconds after the pass be damned... he's wide freakin' open. And... the Giant Safety is turned the wrong way as he is headed to the middle of the field. Of course... 2 seconds AFTER the pass so possibly he hadn't turned till he saw Favre release the ball. In any case... Gregg Jenning could have turned this into an easy 20 to 30 yard gain!

Well that's all I got.
It's not as easy to critizise "The Play" as it would seem.
It's not like... 4th and 26!
Yeah I went there... and this time I bought land!)

Crumpler talking to Pack

2008-02-22T14:02:00.002-05:00

Read this today... hmmmmmmmm?

Crumpler will begin talking to prospective teams on Friday at the Scouting Combine, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Crumpler told the paper he has seven teams he may meet with: Green Bay, Buffalo, Detroit, Seattle, Carolina, Tampa Bay and Tennessee. "My agent was getting so many phone calls that I thought it would easier just to go there and meet with everybody, I’m not looking for the red carpet treatment. I’m just looking for a team I can win on. I’m not bitter. It’s not like I have to be in the NFC South so I can play the Falcons twice. I’m more concerned about the team that I’m going to play for.”

Crumpler's Stats

And for some Bubba news...

Franks drawing interest around NFL
As the Packers consider what direction they're headed with the tight end position, recently released Bubba Franks has already began his search for a new home. According to his agent, Eugene Mato, Franks has his eye on a job somewhere else and already has drawn interest from several teams. "Bubba had a great eight years with the Packers and now its time to move on to the next chapter in his football career," Mato said Thursday night. "The demand for his services from other teams speaks volumes about his playing abilities and his character. We have several trips already planned for next week and look forward to getting something done soon." Mato did not make Franks available for comment, but he did release a statement from the veteran tight end.

"I would like to thank the Green Bay Packers organization for allowing me the opportunity to fulfill a childhood dream to play in the NFL for such a storied franchise," Franks said. "It was a wonderful eight years and I will miss it very much. I want to thank the fans for their unconditional support throughout the years. My only regret is that we were not able to win a championship during my tenure with the team." The Packers cut ties with Franks Wednesday and are in the process of scouting possible replacements at the scouting combine in Indianapolis. Franks is free to sign with any team he wants and will be negotiating a deal from scratch. [Story]

Williams Stays / Franks Out

2008-02-20T19:53:00.001-05:00

Packers tab Williams as franchise player
Team also waives Franks
By TOM SILVERSTEIN / journalsentinel.com
The Green Bay Packers just made official the news that Corey Williams had been slapped with the franchise tag and they also announced the release of tight end Bubba Franks. The Franks move isn't totally surprising given his drop-off in play and recent injury problems, but there was no reason financially that they had to make the move. Franks' salary cap number jumped from $2.4 million last year to $4.5 million this year, but the Packers have around $18 million in salary cap money after the move to franchise Williams. Franks is also due a $500,000 roster bonus, which the Packers obviously didn't want to pay. His $3 million base salary would not have come due until the season began.

Franks, a first-round draft choice in 2000, played eight seasons in Green Bay and appeared in 114 games and made 94 starts. He made the Pro Bowl from 2001-'03 and totaled 256 catches and 2,300 career receiving yards. His 32 touchdown receptions are tied for 10th on the franchise's all-time list. "We thank Bubba for everything he has given to our franchise," general manager Ted Thompson said in a release. "He was a productive player on the field, a good teammate in the locker room and a fine representative of the Packers in the Green Bay community."

As for Williams, the deadline for using franchise and transition designations is Thursday, but the Packers went ahead and filed the appropriate paperwork with the NFL Wednesday and the move showed up on the league's personnel wire late this afternoon, according to a league source.
The move all but takes Williams off the market come the start of free agency Feb. 29 and allows the Packers more time to try to work out a long-term deal with their starting tackle. As a franchise player, Williams is free to negotiate with other teams in the NFL, but if a team signs him to a deal and the Packers don't match the offer, the team must give up two first-round draft picks for Williams. In exchange for having his free agency rights diminished, Williams receives a minimum one-year deal of $6.363 million, which is the average of the salary (in salary cap dollars) of the top five players at his position. Williams has the option of signing the deal right away, thereby guaranteeing him the money regardless of whether the Packers cut him or to not sign it and sit out mini-camps and training camp waiting for a long-term deal.

Franchise Tag Williams?

2008-02-19T07:08:00.002-05:00

Clock ticks on Williams decision
By Greg A. Bedard
Monday, Feb 18 2008, 05:26 PM
Green Bay - The deadline for any NFL team to use their franchise and/or transition tag on a pending unrestricted free agent is Thursday. That, in effect, will decide whether defensive tackle Corey Williams will remain with the Green Bay Packers, at least for one more season. If the Packers don't tag Williams, he will get paid - a lot - on the free-agent market, especially with the Tennessee Titans set to tag Albert Haynesworth, the top tackle thought to be available. I've long held that since the Packers didn't sign Williams to a contract extension, they should pat him on the back and let him go. But something just doesn't sit right about this situation. Maybe the Packers shouldn't just let Williams walk away. Maybe they won't.

It's one thing for Packers general manager Ted Thompson to let an aging player go if he thinks the market is overpriced for him. But Williams is 27, will be entering just his fifth season, and has shown the ability to stay healthy. Obviously there's going to be a crazy market for Williams, if he gets to free agency. But the key words there are "market" and "if." If people want Williams' services, and he seems to be an ascending player (maybe a little overrated, but still has shown improvement) why would the Packers just let a player like that go without getting anything in return?

I'm attaching a chart I threw together with the top 10 defensive tackle salaries, which were used to calculate the franchise (top 5 average) and transition (top 10) numbers. To get some sort of perspective on how the players have performed (or not performed) to their contracts, I combined total tackles (one point each) and sacks (two points each) and divided that total by the number of games played. Then I took that number and divided that by their 2007 salary. In Williams' case, I took the salary he would be paid if the Packers signed him to the franchise number. Yes, it's a rudimentary formula, I know. But I think you get the point.

Williams doesn't have great value compared to the others in the chart. But, of course, he wasn't a full-time starter for much of the season. Depending on how you (or the Packers look at it), that could have either hindered or helped Williams' numbers. But these numbers show he belongs in the same conversation with some of those top-flight players. If the Packers have a guy in Williams that has top 10 value, how does Thompson just let Williams walk away and get nothing in return? That’s what perplexes me about this because if anything, Thompson has is very disciplined when it comes to gauging the market and getting good value. Thompson has to know there are about a half dozen teams that would love to have Williams. If the Packers have enough depth and too much money tied into the position already (they do), then why not trade Williams? The Packers could do that by franchising Williams and then trading him for less than the two first-round picks it would cost another team if it signed Williams with the franchise tag. If the Packers can’t find a trade partner, then the worst thing that happens is they keep him for one more season – when the Packers’ attitude will be ‘Super Bowl or Bust’ – and then bid him adieu. Maybe I’m completely off about this, I don’t know. But something just tells me that Thompson would be about the last person to just let a young player go when there’s a willing market ready for him.

Let’s see what happens. Thursday is the day. [Link]

Catchin'Up wid da News

2008-02-19T07:01:00.001-05:00

Thompson finds his money man
Ball to replace the departed Brandt
As a general rule, the people who negotiate contracts for National Football League teams hail from business backgrounds, not football backgrounds. On Wednesday, the Packers announced the hiring of Ball as vice president of football administration / player finance, essentially the same job that he held for the last two years of a six-year stay with the New Orleans Saints.

"He knows the football side of it, he knows the coaching side of it and he obviously understands the administrative side, the business part and the negotiating," said Jim Haslett, the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams who worked alongside Ball from 2002-'05 as the Saints' head coach. "Heck of a football guy. I'm just telling you. You're not going to get a better person. That is a great hire for the Green Bay Packers. They're doing it right." [More]

McCarthy gets his reward
Deal richest for a coach in Packers' history
Mike McCarthy has a new five-year contract making him the highest paid coach in Green Bay Packers history mainly because club management was completely sold on his abilities and didn't want to risk losing him. "We wanted to try to lock him up," team President Mark Murphy said Tuesday. "The respect that the players have for him is very evident. In a very short period of time he's gotten the team into a pretty good position for the future." McCarthy, who was making about $2 million per season, will be making about $4 million now after signing the deal Friday. The team announced it Tuesday. [More]

Mmmm Bikini Girls

2008-01-22T18:04:00.001-05:00

Whilst trolling the Packer Blogs and such I came upon this fascinating web story... Who are the Packers Bikini Girls? Hat tip to sportsbubbler.com for this fine... ummmm... story. (yeah... I only surfed and linked it for the article)

Enjoy --

And their close up please --

Hell Freezes Over(time)

2008-01-21T05:19:00.000-05:00

Screw it!
I knew we weren't a cold weather team.
I mean... did you see the Bears game a couple weeks ago?

Okay... I'm a bit bummed.
Can you blame me... can you blame us?
We had the better team. We had home-field advantage. We had the grizzly seasoned vet and sure fire hall of famer quarterback with the history of winning games in the cold. And we even won the toss in OhTee.

Still with all those advantages... our 2007-slash-08 season came to a crash last night on the frozen tundra that proved to be more foe than friend.

Yeah... I'm a bit bummed.
But not really...

Going into this year I told everybody that would listen that it was going to be a loooong season for our beloved green and gold. We had no running game. (Brandon Jackson? Bitch please!) An 'O' line in flux. (How many times can Colledge lose his job in one season?) A rookie starting at fullback. An unproven tight end and strong safety. No depth at corner back and we looked like crap in the pre-season.

But then... we won our first game.

We won it ugly... but we won it all the same. Then we won the second (over the Giants) and then we even beat the best team in 2006 (14-2 SD Chargers) in the next game. Heck we kept right on winning right up to the Bears game and even had them beat till Favre went all... well Favre on them late in the 4th.

And even when we did lose (da Bears slash 'Boys slash da Bears da sequel) we still came back strong the next week... and the week after. We had more staying power than an 18 year-old on Viagra!

Yes. It was a very good year. One to be proud of.

Still... I am bummed.

I mean... it's like my senior year of high school and the best my sorry ass... 5 foot 8 inch... pimple faced bod could have hoped for was to date Doris the nerdy science girl. But no... I took a shot and asked out both the gorgeous head cheerleader Brianna and the nearly as haaawt drama class chic Desiree. The cheerleader turned me down... but... Desiree and I both had a lot of fun kickin' it back stage.

I kinda feel like Dante from the Movie 'Clerks'...
"We weren't even supposed to be here today!"

Yeah... 2007-slash-08 will bring a lot of good memories...
and some bad.

That's why I'm bummed.
And happy.
And... proud.

Thank you Packers!

1/14/2008

2008-01-14T05:57:00.001-05:00

On To The NFC Championship
One game away. That's how far the Green Bay Packers are from reaching their first Super Bowl in 10 years and their fifth in franchise history after a resounding 42-20 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in an NFC Divisional playoff game on a snow-filled Saturday that seemed to define January football at Lambeau Field. With two-thirds of the NFL's youngest roster playing in its first postseason contest, the Packers showed a level of maturity and level-headedness that belied their youth, rallying from an early 14-0 deficit to absolutely dominate the NFC West champions in front of 72,168 rabid fans, the largest crowd in Lambeau's history. After a record-setting day -- the team established postseason marks for points and rushing yards (234), while Ryan Grant's 201 yards and three touchdowns on the ground also became new playoff standards -- the Packers (14-3) now advance to next Sunday's NFC Championship. They'll either host the New York Giants or travel to Dallas to take on the Cowboys, depending on the outcome of the other NFC Divisional game, in the franchise's biggest game in a decade. [More]

Grant Recovers
Runs Into Record Books
One of the critical factors in Ryan Grant's ability to run the football with such success this season has been his determination to always keep his head up. Doing so has allowed him to see the whole field, find the cutback lanes, and get to where he needs to go. On Saturday, Grant had the all-time best playoff rushing performance in Packers history and to no surprise it had a great deal to do with his penchant for keeping his head up. Only this time it was different. Grant had fumbled the football twice in the first minute and three seconds. Though that wasn't the way he or his teammates envisioned starting the game, Grant had two options. He could (A) go into a shell and let the turnovers slow him down the rest of the game, or (B) act as if it didn't happen and move on to helping his team advance to the NFC Championship game. Two hundred one yards and three touchdowns later, it's obvious Grant chose option B. Not only did he bounce back from the two turnovers that led to a quick 14-0 lead for the Seahawks, he set a franchise record for rushing yards and touchdowns in the playoffs, surpassing the marks of Ahman Green (156 yards at Philadelphia, Jan. 11, 2004) and three other backs (Elijah Pitts, Travis Williams and Edgar Bennett, along with Green) who had scored twice in a postseason contest. [More]

Bigby's Big hit
helps reel in Seahawks
The thermometer read 31 degrees at game time Saturday and the snow kept falling harder and harder until it finally blanketed Lambeau Field and made for near-white out conditions. But as far as Green Bay Packers rookie safety Atari Bigby was concerned, it was ideal fishing weather. And with the game tied 14-14, Bigby decided it was time to cast his rod. On the first play of the second quarter, facing a second-and-19 from his own 15-yard line, Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck floated a pass to tight end Marcus Pollard in the right flat. Bigby charged forward at full speed, and his helmet landed flush on the football, which quickly ended up in Pro Bowl defensive end Aaron Kampman's lap at the Seahawks' 18. "I just saw the guy, he was about to throw him the ball and I ran and gave him all I had," Bigby said. "You know what, it's fun to hit a guy hard. It is fun. I get paid to hit guys real hard, to knock people out. That's great." [More]

Packers 42 / Seahawks 20

2008-01-13T05:14:00.000-05:00

Green Bay advances to NFC Championship Game
Associated Press
Brett Favre somehow spun free from the Seahawks' clutches and stumbled ahead in the snow. Ever the gambler, he flipped a wobbly, underhanded pass that he had no business trying, let alone completing. "That's right!" he shouted. Sure was, for Favre and the NFC championship-bound Green Bay Packers. With Lambeau Field looking like a snow globe, Favre frolicked in the flurries, throwing three touchdown passes as the Packers beat Seattle 42-20 Saturday, the highest-scoring postseason game in Packers' history. This must have been the scene the 38-year-old three-time NFL MVP imagined when he decided to postpone retirement and try for another Super Bowl ring.

Ryan Grant made history, too, recovering from two fumbles that put the Packers down 14-0 after only four minutes to set a Packers' postseason record with 201 yards rushing. He scored three times and Greg Jennings caught a pair of TD tosses. Favre tied his personal best for touchdown strikes in a postseason game. His most memorable pass, though, was his crazy toss that set up another score. In the months ahead, Wisconsin might again become a wonder-land - will Favre come back again? - but for now, fans are guaranteed at least one more game.

The Packers (14-3) will take on the winner of Sunday's game between the New York Giants and Dallas. If the Cowboys win, they'll host Green Bay; if the Giants win, they'll visit Lambeau. Green Bay beat the Giants this season and lost to the Cowboys. Favre would certainly prefer to stay home - he's 0-9 lifetime at Dallas. Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks (11-7) hoped to reverse what happened the last time they were in town for the playoffs. In January 2004, the teams went to overtime and, after winning the coin toss, Hasselbeck boldly proclaimed: "We want the ball and we're going to score!" It didn't quite work out that way as Al Harris soon intercepted Hasselbeck's pass and returned it for a 52-yard TD. In fact, a picture of the play is posted right outside the Packers' locker room.

Coming off their 35-14 win over Washington last week in the wild-card round, the Seahawks seemed primed for an upset. On Green Bay's first play, Grant caught a pass and fumbled. Then on Seattle's first play, Shaun Alexander plunged in from the 1. Grant didn't do any better a minute later, when another fumble set up Hasselbeck's 11-yard TD strike to Bobby Engram. At that point, it seemed as if only a Lambeau leap of faith would bring back Green Bay. But when the snow started to pile up, so did the points for the Packers. It was 14-all after the first quarter, and Green Bay led 28-17 at halftime.

Favre joined Joe Montana as the lone players to pass for more than 5,000 yards in the postseason. Earlier this week, Favre admitted he was disappointed that he hadn't performed better in some playoff games - in fact, he had lost four of his previous five, throwing 13 interceptions in that span. This time, he was the Favre of old. And once he started to connect, there was no stopping him. Coach Mike McCarthy won in his first postseason game, leading the NFL's youngest team to the next round.

The Seahawks fell to 0-8 in postseason road games since their only win, in 1983 when they beat Dan Marino and Miami in the AFC playoffs. The losing streak includes a loss in the Super Bowl two years ago. It remains to be seen whether coach Mike Holmgren will return to the Seahawks next season. At 59, the coach who once guided Favre and the Packers to the Super Bowl title has recently dropped hints he might retire. If he does, his final game will have come just a block or two from Holmgren Way, the street the city named in his honor.

Green Bay played its first postseason game in three seasons and it was a classic Lambeau scene. Favre was about the only player in long sleeves, though Seattle kicker Josh Brown brought a pair of pants with battery-powered heaters to keep his thighs warm. During a coach's challenge in the first quarter, sweepers ran out to clear the yardlines. That eventually became futile, and a snowplow tried to do the job. Cheeseheads dotted the crowd and delighted in singing the "Beer Barrel Polka" as their Packers pulled away.

Lambeau was properly prepped for this winter carnival, with snow sculptures of a Green Bay helmet and giant football placed outside the main gate. A day earlier, 300 members of the Packers' ever-ready faithful answered the team's "Shovel Advisory" and showed up to clear the seats and aisles for $8 an hour. While they readied the stadium for a pep rally Friday night, Ice Bowl star Jerry Kramer greeted visitors to the team's Hall of Fame, chatting with them inside a replica of Vince Lombardi's office.

[Game Stats]

1/11/2008

2008-01-11T05:44:00.000-05:00

Favre's comments
indicate he'll return
If Brett Favre is leaning toward returning for another season with the Green Bay Packers, he hasn't discussed it yet with his coach. Packers coach Mike McCarthy hardly seemed convinced that comments from Favre to his hometown newspaper on Thursday, indicating he was leaning toward playing another season, amounted to an official decision on his future. "I'm trying not to laugh, but I have not been part of any conversation with Brett on that topic," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. "And I think we need to just move on and focus on Seattle, because that's what we are focused on. I'm sure that's what he's focused on." [More]

AP Story --
Favre tells hometown paper he's leaning toward returning

Packers' injury report nice and short
heading into playoffs
The Green Bay Packers filed their shortest injury report of the season on Wednesday, an indication that the team is in good health going into Saturday's playoff game against Seattle. Cornerback Charles Woodson was the only player who sat out practice entirely on Wednesday. Along with the toe injury Woodson has been nursing in recent weeks, Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Woodson had some swelling after banging his knee on the turf in practice on Tuesday. "He'll be fine," McCarthy said. "We know Charles will be ready to go." Packers receivers Greg Jennings and James Jones left practice with minor injuries -- a groin for Jennings, a hamstring for Jones -- but McCarthy said neither was a concern. "They both wanted to finish practice," McCarthy said. "(We're) just being cautious. This is the healthiest we've been all year medically and I just want to make sure we're ready to go. They experienced some tightness three-quarters of the way through practice, so I sent them up for treatment." [More]

1/8/2008

2008-01-08T05:39:00.001-05:00

Ted Thompson signs new 5-year deal
Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson signed a new five-year contract today that runs through 2012, team chairman Bob Harlan announced. "We are very pleased with the way Ted Thompson has led the football operations of this organization," Harlan said in a statement. "He is doing exactly what we anticipated when we hired him. He crafted his trade under Ron Wolf, built a strong football team in Seattle and has built a team here in Green Bay that is back in the playoffs. He has a great system of building the team through the draft and has the Packers positioned very well for the future." Thompson, 54, became the Packers' general manager in 2005 after five seasons as Seattle's vice president of football operations.

Late fees costly to Bigby / Notes
Atari Bigby's flight delays turned out to be awfully expensive. "I got fined like a quarter of a million dollars," the Green Bay Packers safety said Saturday, one day after missing practice and meetings because of travel problems. Bigby was kidding, of course. Although he wouldn't say whether coach Mike McCarthy had indeed fined him — "You've got to ask him about the fine," Bigby said — it appears McCarthy didn't make too big of a deal out of the incident. "I just got in some flight trouble. And then me and coach McCarthy talked about it, got it squared away," Bigby said after participating in Saturday's practice. "We're cool. We're cool. We're back on track, ready to go. I felt pretty good. I don't feel like I missed a beat." [More]

1/6/2008

2008-01-06T06:41:00.000-05:00

The Green Bay Packers have their opponent. The Packers will host the Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs next Saturday after Seattle beat the Washington Redskins, 35-14, in a wild-card game today.

Favre's last shot at something Super?
Now that the Green Bay Packers have been reshaped into a young team on the rise, it's entirely possible -- maybe even likely -- that Brett Favre will again talk himself out of retirement and return to play next season. Still, the Packers' slide to a 4-12 record in 2005 after winning three straight division titles shows that success is difficult to sustain in the NFL. Even if this isn't Favre's last season, it might be his last good shot at winning another Super Bowl.

"I would say at this stage of my career -- as opposed to '95 and '96, where you could say, 'We'll get 'em next year' -- a lot can change in a year," Favre said Friday as the Packers returned to practice for their Jan. 12 playoff game. "If you look at last year and the previous year, yeah, it is an opportunity that is right in front of us that hasn't presented itself in quite a while." [More]

1/2/2008

2008-01-02T11:43:00.000-05:00

Javon Walker wants out of Denver
The Denver Post reports that wide receiver Javon Walker, acquired via a trade with the Green Bay Packers, said he wants out of Denver. Walker suggested he might even like to return to Green Bay. In a rambling briefing with the press, Walker essentially said he longer wants to be with the Broncos. Walker has $5.4 million in option bonus money coming to him this year and the team was planning on keeping him. However, after his bombshell, the team will likely seriously consider parting ways. "It's not for Javon," Walker said. "It's not for me."

My Comment:
Thanks but no thanks JW... we've got enough guys on IR already!

Denver Post Article

Lambeau playoff ready
New turf stands test of time
The Packers can rest, practice and study film all they want in the next two weeks to get themselves in peak condition for their big NFC playoff game at Lambeau Field. But if the actual field on which they're expected to perform their punts, kicks, cuts and runs is a mess, then their other efforts might not matter much. The field is always a concern for an outdoor team like Green Bay. Despite throwing resources and expertise in the caring for its lawn - Green Bay is usually known for its friendly playing surface - the reality has always been that the unforgiving climate simply leaves Lambeau's field in December and January looking a little like a patchwork of old and new sods, dead and dormant grass, clumps of uprooted grass, bare dirt midfield and muddy sidelines. [More]

Happy New Year 2008

2008-01-01T09:28:00.001-05:00

McCarthy most deserving of
NFL Coach of the Year
The votes for the 2007 Associated Press' NFL Coach of the Year are due today, and the list of coaches who have done outstanding jobs this season is a lengthy one. One could argue until the snow stops falling in June why Cleveland's Romeo Crennel, Jacksonville's Jack Del Rio, Indianapolis' Tony Dungy, Dallas' Wade Phillips or Tennessee's Jeff Fisher deserve the award. Each man led his respective team to at least 10 victories and all but Crennel's Browns made the playoffs -- and even then they weren't eliminated until the season's final Sunday night game. But really, with no disrespect intended to the aforementioned five, the choice should be between only two candidates: New England's Bill Belichick and Green Bay's Mike McCarthy. And the winner should be ... McCarthy. [More]

Coston could miss "a couple weeks;" Spitz iffy, too
The Packers could be without two of their top three guards when they play their first playoff game, on Jan. 12. Coach Mike McCarthy said Junius Coston "may be (out) a couple weeks" because of the calf strain he suffered in Sunday's win over Detroit. McCarthy is "hopeful" that Jason Spitz, who suffered a quadriceps strain, will be ready for the NFC divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field. If Coston can't play, Daryn Colledge would start in his place at left guard. If both Coston and Spitz are out, Tony Moll probably likely start at right guard, although McCarthy also could play rookie fourth-round pick Allen Barbre at left guard and slide Colledge to the right side. Meanwhile, McCarthy said cornerback Will Blackmon had "irritation" to his preexisting right foot injury but could practice Friday while running back Ryan Grant is "fine" after suffering a stinger. Because he broke off 27- and 18-yard runs in Sunday win over Detroit game, Grant would have gotten the chance to reach the 1,000-yard mark had he not gotten hurt, McCarthy said. Grant, who finished 44 yards shy of 1,000, could have gone back into the game but McCarthy did not want to risk further injury.

Packers 34 / Lions 13

2007-12-31T06:35:00.000-05:00

Packers prepare for playoffs
following victory over Lions
Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers didn't have to choose between playing it safe and playing to win on Sunday. The Packers finished their turnaround regular season with a 34-13 victory over the Detroit Lions while resting several key players for the playoffs. Brett Favre extended his quarterback-record consecutive starts streak to 253 games, but even he didn't keep his helmet strapped on for very long. Favre led the Packers (13-3) to touchdowns on their first three possessions before handing the ball to backup Craig Nall in the second quarter.

Many of Favre's most prominent teammates didn't dress for Sunday's game and weren't really needed to beat Detroit (7-9) and tie a franchise record for most victories in a season. The Lions delivered an uninspired performance in what might have been their last game with Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator. Having already clinched the NFC's No. 2 playoff seed, the Packers rested top wide receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, cornerback Charles Woodson, defensive end Aaron Kampman, tight end Donald Lee and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett. The Packers are assured a first-round bye and one home playoff game, but Dallas has home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

Green Bay wasn't able to completely avoid injuries Sunday, as running back Ryan Grant left the game with a stinger in the first quarter, and cornerback/punt returner Will Blackmon was carted to the locker room with a foot injury just before halftime. Grant provided the bulk of the Packers' offense before his injury, scoring on a 27-yard cutback run on Green Bay's first possession and rushing for a total of 57 yards before he got up holding his left arm after a 1-yard run.

Favre finished the Packers' second drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Koren Robinson. Packers safety Atari Bigby then intercepted Jon Kitna's pass and Favre drove the Packers for a 4-yard pass to Bubba Franks that put Green Bay ahead 21-3 with 14:12 left before halftime. Favre was 9-of-11 for 99 yards and two touchdowns before he was replaced by Nall, who tossed a 32-yard touchdown to Ruvell Martin on fourth-and-2 late in the third quarter. Nall played instead of second-stringer Aaron Rodgers, sidelined with a hamstring injury.

[Game Stats]

Gameday 12/30/2007

2007-12-30T06:20:00.000-05:00

Players Eager To Bounce Back, Build Momentum
This week's regular-season finale against the Detroit Lions can't affect anything in the official sense as far as the upcoming playoffs for the Packers, but the players feel it can accomplish two valuable goals. One is to bounce back from the disastrous game in Chicago and perform in such a way that the defeat is placed even further in, if not erased from, the rear-view mirror. The other is create some positive vibes, some momentum, heading into the bye week prior to the team's first playoff game on either Jan. 12 or 13. "Bill Russell came and spoke to us one time when Mike Sherman was here, and he said, 'If you're going to play the game, you might as well win it,'" defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "It's kind of the same motivation. It's on the schedule. We have a chance to go out and hopefully get a victory and get some momentum. We had a game last week that didn't go our way, so it will be a chance for us to kind of get things back in the right order." [More]

Consistent Crosby keeps on course
Over his 43 seasons coaching football, 17 in the National Football League, Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Mike Stock has seen and coached thousands of players. So when Stock offers high praise, such as he did Thursday regarding Packers kicker Mason Crosby, it carries an extra degree of significance. "Very favorably," Stock said when asked how Crosby compares to some of the other top kickers he has mentored, such as Cincinnati Bengals all-time leading scorer Jim Breech and 18-year NFL veteran John Carney. "I've been very much impressed, for his rookie status, for his ability to be more mature and handle the good with the bad," Stock continued. "We knew he was going to have success and of course right off the bat against the Eagles it was a big game for him -- and for us." [More]

Cheerleader of the Week

2007-12-30T06:19:00.000-05:00

Brooke
Arizona Cardinals
Cheerleader

Years on Team: 4
Birthday: August 1
Birth Place: Nebraska
College/Major: ASU/Marketing
Occupation: Real estate agent
Hobbies: Yoga, traveling, shopping
Most fulfilling accomplishment: Representing the Cardinals at the 2007 Pro Bowl
What three qualities describe you the best? Optimistic, thoughtful, gracious
Favorites
Food: Pizza and ice cream
Restaurant: Ocean Club, Oregano’s, Houstons
Birthday Wish: If I tell it won’t come true
Vacation destination: France
Car: Red 360 Ferrari Spider
Favorite day of the year and why? My birthday because it’s a day to celebrate my life
Valentine Gift: Diamonds

12/29/2007

2007-12-29T06:26:00.001-05:00

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]

12/28/2007

2007-12-28T04:49:00.000-05:00

Grant's long runs veil flaws
Ground game lacks consistency
There are two ways to look at the consistency with which Green Bay Packers running back Ryan Grant breaks off long runs. On one hand, it's a demoralizer for opposing defenses who are lulled into thinking they have him contained only to see him disappear into the far reaches of the secondary. On the other hand, those same runs tend to mask the inefficiency of the Packers' running game, which comes into the season finale against Detroit ranked 26th in the National Football League in total yards. [More]

Pickett's status unclear / Notes
Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy might play it safe and sit defensive tackle Ryan Pickett for the second straight game Sunday. If he does, rookie first-round pick Justin Harrell will have to be considerably more consistent than he was in his first NFL start last week against Chicago. Although he made two tackles on the first three plays of the 35-7 loss to the Bears, Harrell's play fluctuated wildly, according to defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn. "I think he played 40 snaps, and I told him today that it was like there were two different people playing from when he got his plusses and when he got his minuses," Nunn said after Thursday's practice. "When he was good, he was good. But then, when he was bad, he was really bad. He's got to close that gap, there's no question. And he's got to do it now and be ready to go." [More]

Packers still striving for stability on offensive line
It's an odd position for a contending team to be in, but Brett Favre doesn't seem overly concerned about the Green Bay Packers' still-unsettled situation at left guard. The Packers have shuffled their guards all season, and the left side still appears to be up for grabs going into the Packers' regular-season finale against Detroit at Lambeau Field on Sunday. "You know, that's not up to me to decide," Favre said. "You would like to think that that would be a done deal when we go into the playoffs. I haven't paid a lot of attention to that, which may surprise you. But it is, I'm sure from the offensive linemen's standpoint and even from a coaches' standpoint, (it's difficult) to gain any chemistry and consistency there when you're still feeling out who's better suited to start for you." [More]

Favre says cold, wind
affected team's concentration
Brett Favre said he and his teammates can't brush off the Green Bay Packers' 35-7 loss to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sunday simply because it was played in extreme conditions. Asked on Wednesday if he sensed that some of his teammates lost concentration because of the weather, Favre said yes -- a surprise, given the team's success all season and the potential playoff ramifications of Sunday's game. "I don't know if anyone was really into it," Favre said. The Packers still had a shot at earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs going into the game, but Favre said the weather might have thrown off the NFL's youngest team. "I'm sure there were some guys on our team who thought, 'What did I get myself into?,"' Favre said. "I don't think anyone knew what we were up against from a weather standpoint. And I think being a real young team, it probably was a little bit of a shock to them." [More]

12/27/2007

2007-12-27T04:53:00.000-05:00

Team Must Clean Up, Move On To Detroit
Much was made of the horrendous weather conditions in Chicago on Sunday, but what Head Coach Mike McCarthy saw result from those conditions were several fundamental breakdowns that will be the focus of the team's preparation for the regular-season finale against Detroit. "Fundamentally, I thought our pad level was poor," McCarthy said. "We had a number of breakdowns just in technique, and we did a number of things that just were not characteristic of our football team." McCarthy is a firm believer that football games are won and lost over the fundamentals - blocking, tackling, and the like. What the whipping winds and cold weather did Sunday, in his opinion, was distract the players to an extent they lost focus on the fundamentals. That, more than anything in terms of Green Bay's play, led to Chicago's 139 rushing yards and two blocked punts, and the Packers' fumbled snaps and dropped passes. "I'd say the biggest lesson that we will learn from, because it's the first time we've gone through it with this team, is how to handle the weather conditions better," McCarthy said. [More]

Packers face familiar talk from McCarthy
Associated Press
When the Green Bay Packers reconvene for practice Wednesday, they're likely to hear another lecture from coach Mike McCarthy on a familiar topic: how to handle success. Since taking over as the Packers' coach nearly two years ago, McCarthy has emphasized to his players that handling success is one of the most difficult -- if enviable -- problems a team can run into. Now, after an embarrassing 35-7 loss in abominable weather conditions at Chicago on Sunday, McCarthy plans to go over the lesson again. "I think you need to take a step back like we have the past couple weeks, and revisit talking about handling success," McCarthy said Monday. "You're a 12-2 football team and you go down and play a football team that's out of the playoffs, they're a rival game, and to perform the way we did -- that's something else we'll talk about." With the loss, the Packers allowed Dallas to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. They're still assured of a first-round playoff bye and one home playoff game. But if the Packers face the Cowboys in the NFC title game, it will be in Dallas. "Sure, we'd much rather play them in Green Bay, but judging by the way we played today, we may be better off playing somewhere else," Brett Favre said after Sunday's loss. "I have no idea. I do know this: It can be a distraction. Now we know what's at stake. Let this be our wake-up call." [More]

Bears 35 / Packers 7

2007-12-24T04:32:00.000-05:00

Pack Punts Away Win
Associated Press
No tears for Brett Favre this time, just frustration. And Green Bay can forget about the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Brian Urlacher returned an interception for a touchdown for the first time in his career, Adrian Peterson ran for 102 yards, and the Chicago Bears beat the Packers 35-7 on a frigid Sunday afternoon. The loss wiped out the Packers' shot at home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Packers needed to win this game, beat Detroit next week and have Dallas lose to Washington to capture the No. 1 seed. Instead, it goes to the Cowboys, with Green Bay locked in at No. 2. Favre was at his worst on a bone-chilling, windy and at times snowy afternoon, and the Packers (12-3) took their most lopsided loss of the season. He passed for just 9 yards in the first half and 153 overall, giving him 4,058 this season and putting him over the 4,000-yard mark for the fifth time. He was 17-for-32 and threw two interceptions. Alex Brown picked him off on the first possession of the third quarter, setting up a touchdown that made it 21-7, and Urlacher ran one back 85 yards early in the fourth.

But Favre, who left Soldier Field in tears after leading the Packers to a win last New Year's Eve, wasn't the only one to have a rough afternoon. The Bears blocked two punts by Jon Ryan, who also dropped a snap and booted a 9-yarder. The Packers had gone 12 years and 929 punts without a block before Darrell McClover knocked one down in the second quarter. More damaging was Charles Tillman's block midway through the third quarter. Corey Graham recovered at the 7 and ran it in for a 28-7 lead. Early in the fourth quarter, Urlacher juggled the ball after it hit his chest and then returned it 85 yards up the right sideline.

The Bears (6-9) had little to celebrate this season, but they got some consolation by knocking off their archrivals twice. Peterson carried 30 times and scored on an 8-yard run in the final minute of the second quarter that gave the Bears a 13-7 lead. Kyle Orton was steady if not spectacular, going 8-for-14 for 101 yards and a 3-yard touchdown pass to Desmond Clark in the third quarter. Green Bay's Ryan Grant ran for 100 yards, including a 66-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, but with the gametime temperature at 16 degrees and a gusty wind, the Packers never got going.

Favre was 2-of-7 in the first half, and Brown, starting for the injured Mark Anderson, quickly put to rest the notion Favre would turn things around in the second half when he picked off a pass at the 35. That set up the touchdown pass to Clark. And things just got worse for him and the Packers, who were missing a key part of their run defense, with defensive tackle Ryan Pickett nursing a groin injury. Justin Harrell started in his place.

Gameday 12/23/2007

2007-12-23T05:43:00.002-05:00

To get most,
Packers just can't coast
When the Green Bay Packers walked out of the Edward Jones Dome a week ago, they thought they had hit coasting season. In the NFL, coasting season is the time near the end of the regular season when a team's playoff fate has largely been determined yet it still has two or three games to play before the postseason begins. When the Packers left St. Louis last Sunday, foremost on their minds was a little R&R -- rest and recovery -- before the playoffs. By the time they landed in Green Bay, however, any plans to put their season on cruise control for the final two games had been shelved. Once the Packers learned the Dallas Cowboys had lost to the Philadelphia Eagles later Sunday, everything changed. Two days later, the Pro Bowl voters treated the Packers like they were the Miami Dolphins and, suddenly, a Green Bay team that appeared to be destined for the No. 2 seed in the NFC had all the motivation it could ever want. [More]

Team's Depth Has Produced Various Heroes
Whether the Pro Bowl voting is a true measure or not, the Green Bay Packers have their share of stars who have propelled the team to what could result in its best regular-season record ever. But one of the keys to the current 12-2 mark, and an illustration of the depth on the team's 53-man roster, has been the emergence of various, and in some cases unexpected, heroes in virtually every game. Sometimes it's the boost from those players further down the depth chart that make the difference, and that's been true for the Packers in 2007. "I think anytime one of your players on the 53 takes his level of performance to another level, it gives you a lift," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's nice when the players from within are improving, and that's really what we feel is one of the foundations of our success this year with our players, particularly improving from Year 1 to Year 2." [More]

Cheerleader of the Week

2007-12-23T05:43:00.001-05:00

Ashton
Miami Dolphins Cheerleader

12/21/2007

2007-12-21T05:26:00.000-05:00

McCarthy prefers an inside job
The weather outside hasn't exactly been frightful this week, but unless he gets sunny skies, calm winds and unseasonably warm temperatures, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy has no interest in holding practice outside to acclimate his players to playing in cold weather. To McCarthy, the quality of practice suffers when the wind and cold reduce the precision of the workout. So while the Packers finish the regular season with cold-weather games Sunday at Chicago and Dec. 30 at home against Detroit, McCarthy would rather do what he did Thursday: Practice inside the Don Hutson Center with the doors wide open, allowing the cold in while otherwise protecting the practice environment. [More]

Packers won't rush injured players
back for Bears game
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett was limited in practice on Wednesday because of a groin injury, and doesn't expect to find out if he'll be playing on Sunday until the last minute. "I want to play every snap, every game," Pickett said. "If it were just totally up to me, I wouldn't miss a game or a play. I definitely want to play." But with a first-round bye and at least one home playoff game already clinched, Packers coach Mike McCarthy won't rush Pickett back into the lineup for Sunday's game at Chicago. "Big picture-wise we're going to be smart with him," McCarthy said. "He's chomping at the bit to get back in there. We'll take the week to see where he is." [More]

Kuhn Ready As Lead FB
Korey Hall's hip injury elevates backup fullback John Kuhn into the lead role this week, but it's not as though the second-year pro has to dust off his helmet. Over the last several weeks, Kuhn had been getting more and more game snaps at fullback as a lead blocker, particularly on short-yardage plays, and sharing fullback responsibilities with Hall. So he's ready from both a physical and mental standpoint to be the main guy this week and probably next, depending on the progress of Hall's recovery. "I think it's a big help," Kuhn said. "It gives me confidence personally, and I think it gives the coaches confidence to toss me in there and let me do the things they would let Korey do before he got hurt." [More]

12/20/2007

2007-12-20T04:49:00.001-05:00

Barnett 'disappointed' with Pro Bowl snub
If the folks in Chevrolet's advertising department are looking for a way to reach the elusive touchy-feely NFL fan demographic, they might consider reenacting what happened when two of the Green Bay Packers' resident tough guys — Brett Favre and Nick Barnett — rode back from practice Wednesday afternoon. Inside the cab of Favre's pickup truck, the nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback did his best to make the Pro Bowl-snubbed linebacker feel better about being left off the NFC squad. "I told him, 'You deserve it. Let it be a motivational tool to you, but don't let it take away from your play,' " Favre recounted, shortly after parking his truck in the Lambeau Field loading dock area. "I think a guy like Nick will have his share of Pro Bowls, and (in) the remarks I made to him, I said, 'If you're able to play as long as I have, when you look back, you'll appreciate things that maybe in his stage of his career you don't appreciate as much, and that's (your) teammates, (or) where we are right now." [More]

Smoked screens
The mere mention of the Green Bay Packers' recent struggles with screen passes brought varying reactions Wednesday. Backup halfback Vernand Morency was offended. Given the Packers' 12-2 record and a chance at homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs, he felt a more positive topic of conversation was in order. Center Scott Wells was taken aback at first — "Man, you come out with some weird questions," he replied — before realizing it was worthy discussing. Coach Mike McCarthy maintained that there was nothing to worry about. Only quarterback Brett Favre, who remembers how good things used to be, was in complete agreement that, for a team that had for the longest time made a living with the screen pass, the Packers have struggled with it of late. "I agree with you," Favre said when a reporter raised the issue during his weekly news conference. "I don't know if we've struggled or (simply) have not executed the screen." [More]

Only 4 in Pro Bowl???

2007-12-19T05:26:00.000-05:00

Four Packers Earn Pro Bowl Selections
Represented by two selections on each side of the ball, the Green Bay Packers learned Tuesday that quarterback Brett Favre, wide receiver Donald Driver, defensive end Aaron Kampman and cornerback Al Harris were named Pro Bowl selections by the National Football League.

Three Packers players were named first alternates: linebacker Nick Barnett, tackle Chad Clifton and cornerback Charles Woodson.

For Favre, this marks the ninth Pro Bowl selection of his career and first since 2003. This season, the NFC's leader in passing yards has broken some of the league's most hallowed records, including career touchdown passes, passing yards and wins.

Driver earns his second consecutive and third career Pro Bowl selection. He tied a franchise record with 1,000 receiving yards in a fifth overall season, joining Sterling Sharpe and Pro Football Hall of Famer James Lofton as one of three Packers to achieve that feat.

Kampman, in his sixth season out of Iowa, returns to Hawaii for the second consecutive year. The defensive end has started 72 consecutive games for the Packers and stands tied for third in the NFC with 12 sacks.

Harris is the only Packers player making his first trip to the Pro Bowl. In his 10th NFL season and fifth with Green Bay, he has totaled 36 tackles, two interceptions and nine pass deflections.

Other alternates include safety Nick Collins, tight end Bubba Franks, running back Ryan Grant, linebacker A.J. Hawk, wide receiver Greg Jennings, tight end Donald Lee and center Scott Wells.

12/18/2007

2007-12-18T05:25:00.001-05:00

Focus Is On Chicago / Notes
With the Packers and Dallas Cowboys now tied for the NFC's best record at 12-2, there will be plenty of talk about fighting for the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. But Head Coach Mike McCarthy isn't going to preach about that to keep his team jazzed up to play. He's going to focus on something a little more emotional. "I'm going to make a big deal out of beating the Chicago Bears, and everything else comes off of that," McCarthy said. "I think it's important to stay focused on the immediate target, because (if you don't) that's how you set yourself up for not playing your best football. We will be focused on the Chicago Bears." That shouldn't be hard. The Bears handed the Packers their first loss of the season in a game Green Bay felt it should have won. Five turnovers (to just one for Chicago) negated a 439-285 advantage in total yards in a 27-20 defeat. [More]

Packers fans grateful that
Daisy Duke is no help to Romo
There was no sighting of Bo and Luke Duke. Must have been racin' the General Lee. But you couldn't miss Boss Hogg (Andy Reid) on the Philadelphia sidelines, or Rosco P. Coltrane (Wade Phillips) on the Dallas sidelines. And because Fox Sports is really into star-gazing, you couldn't miss Daisy Mae Duke, either. She was cheering on young Mr. Tony Romo from a luxury seat in Texas Stadium; a view that will run $150,000 (for the seat license) when the Cowboys open their new venue. Even though Daisy -- Jessica Simpson, never to be confused for Catherine Bach, the original Daisy -- could afford the tab, she was on Romo's guest list, and Packers fans can be grateful for small favors. The last time Romo had one of his celebrity girlies (Carrie Underwood) in attendance, it was also a disaster for the Cowboys, a 23-7 loser to these same Eagles on Christmas Day last year. Romo was terrible, too, completing just 14-of-29 passes for 142 yards. He was also intercepted twice, prompting a number of people to question whether Underwood's presence might have been a distraction. Those questions will likely be raised again after Sunday's debacle, a 10-6 loss to Philly during which Romo bruised a thumb, and maybe an ego, after connecting on just 13-of-36 passes for a sub-par 214 yards. Adding insult to that injury, Romo threw three interceptions. [More]

No time to rest
Mike McCarthy wasn't playing Nostradamus or The Amazing Kreskin. The Green Bay Packers coach was simply doing what he thought was in the long-term best interest of his team. So when McCarthy decided before cornerback Charles Woodson and pass-rushing defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila had even stepped off the bus at Texas Stadium that the two injured starters wouldn't play against the Dallas Cowboys on Nov. 29, it wasn't because McCarthy was sure that the game wasn't the end-all, winner-take-all showdown for the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed it was hyped. "I'm not going to stand here and tell you I knew the Dallas Cowboys were going to lose (another) football game," McCarthy said Monday, one day after the Packers' 33-14 win at St. Louis and the Cowboys' 10-6 loss at home to Philadelphia left the teams tied for the conference's best record at 12-2. [More]

Will Packers bowl over voters?
If you were a cynic, Nick Barnett's performance Sunday against the St. Louis Rams - arguably his best of the season - could be interpreted as a post-Pro Bowl voting message to those who conspired to leave him off the NFC team. Of course, Barnett has not yet been left off the team and could find himself with a free trip to Honolulu in February. But it's not hard to imagine the alternative in which his stellar season goes unrecognized and two better-known players are selected. When the Pro Bowl team is announced today, Barnett knows many factors weigh into the outcome and he's prepared for whatever happens. [More]

Packers 33 / Rams 14

2007-12-17T04:42:00.000-05:00

Green Bay nets first-round bye
Favre breaks record for yards passing in Green Bay victory
Associated Press
St. Louis - A simple slant pattern to his favorite receiver gave Brett Favre yet another record in a milestone season. It's been a pretty big year for the Green Bay Packers, too, who clinched a first-round playoff bye. Favre threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns, eclipsing Dan Marino to become the NFL career leader in yards passing, in a 33-14 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Greg Jennings and Donald Lee caught scoring passes and kicker Mason Crosby was 4-for-4 from 44, 50, 25 and 46 yards for Green Bay, which needed only to win for the first-round bye after the Seahawks lost 13-10 to the Panthers. Green Bay, which earned the first-round bye for the first time since 1997, also kept pace with the Cowboys for home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The Packers (12-2) are 6-1 on the road, and prevailed in a sold-out Edward Jones Dome that appeared to be half-filled with Cheeseheads who filled the downtown streets in the hours before kickoff. When Favre set the record on a 7-yard toss to Donald Driver on the Packers' first drive of the fourth quarter, he had all the fans rooting for him with flashbulbs popping from every corner of the stadium.

Favre was 19-for-30, throwing his 25th and 26th touchdown passes, with two interceptions. He entered the day needing 184 yards to pass Marino. Steven Jackson had 143 yards on 23 carries for the Rams (3-11), who are 1-6 at home. The Rams fizzled after tying it at 14 on Jackson's 46-yard run early in the second quarter. Atari Bigby had two interceptions and Nick Barnett had two of the Packers' four sacks of Marc Bulger, back after missing two games with a concussion. Mistakes kept the Rams scoreless after the break.

The 38-year-old Favre, a three-time NFL MVP, pulled 1 yard behind Marino with a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jennings when he caught the Rams in a blitz. That put the Green Bay Packers ahead 27-14 in the third quarter. He passed Marino on the first play of the Packers' next series with 23 seconds gone in the fourth quarter. The game was halted for a few minutes, public address announcer Jim Holder acknowledged the record. Driver hugged Favre, who shook hands with referee Ron Winter. Marino passed for 61,361 yards in 17 seasons. Favre, who now has 61,405 yards, also is in his 17th season while enjoying a year comparable to his peak production. Favre also hit Donald Lee on a 4-yard touchdown pass early in the second quarter. He had 440 touchdown passes after breaking another mark that belonged to Marino with his 421st at Minnesota on Sept. 30.

He topped John Elway's career record for victories by a starting quarterback with his 149th at New York on Sept. 16. Favre entered the game on pace to surpass his personal best of 4,413 yards in 1995 and challenge Lynn Dickey's franchise record of 4,458 yards set in 1983. Favre was flawless early, completing his first nine passes to eight receivers for 95 yards. The early run ended when Ron Bartell broke up a pass intended for Lee with 5:47 left in the first half. He needs four touchdown passes in the last two games to add to his own NFL record by throwing 30 or more in nine seasons. Sunday was Favre's 251th consecutive regular-season start, or 271st counting the playoffs - both records for a quarterback. Only former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jim Marshall has started more regular-season games (270) in a row.

Game Stats

Other Game Articles --

Bigby stands in defense of play
Bigby responded to some recent criticism — the kind that's been filling sports talk radio shows and Internet message boards in the past few weeks — in a big way Sunday afternoon, accounting for two interceptions in the Packers' 33-14 victory over the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome.

4 the record, Favre adds another
Donald Driver knew he had to get up eventually. But after Greg Jennings had gotten to be on the receiving end of Brett Favre's record-tying and record-breaking touchdown passes earlier this season, Driver wanted to savor the moment.

McCarthy makes right calls in delivering victory
Favre kept watching film of the Rams and saw play after play where their blitz-happy defense went after opposing quarterbacks like they were steroids in a major league clubhouse. He also knew that Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, who was Packers coach Mike McCarthy's boss for five years in New Orleans, knows McCarthy's play-calling strategies better than any defensive coach in the NFL.

A shot to stay home
The Green Bay Packers left the Edward Jones Dome with a first-round bye and home playoff game in their pocket and by the time they landed back home the possibility of an even greater regular-season bounty was before them.

Defense turns up heat on Bulger
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders wouldn't say it, but given coach Mike McCarthy's public concerns about his inside pass rush this past week it was apparent Sunday that the two decided to be proactive in filling that void.

Dominant effort on special teams
From coverage to returns to kicking, the Packers were as superlative as the Rams were lousy. It helped the Packers gain advantageous field position and obscured some of their shortcomings on offense and defense.

Gameday 12/16/2007

2007-12-16T06:48:00.001-05:00

Barnett, Pickett Know Plenty About Jackson
As Green Bay prepares to face St. Louis and running back Steven Jackson this week, two members of the Packers' defense don't need to watch a whole lot of film to know how good the Rams' backfield star is. Middle linebacker Nick Barnett and defensive tackle Ryan Pickett have been on Jackson's team before - Barnett in college at Oregon State and Pickett with the Rams prior to joining the Packers in 2006 - and they witnessed many of the 6-foot-2, 231-pound Jackson's talents perhaps before most of the rest of the pro football world did. "We were always on opposite teams in the spring game," Barnett said, recalling their days together in Corvallis, Ore. "I remember one time he made a play on me on the goal-line with a stiff arm, so ever since then, we just went down and chopped his legs out." [More]

A matter of trust:
Favre has demonstrated his faith
in 'Fab Five' receiving corps
By his own estimation, it took Packers wide receiver Donald Driver three full seasons to completely gain the trust of quarterback Brett Favre. The numbers support Driver's claim. During his first three seasons in the NFL, from 1999-2001, Driver caught a total of 37 passes for 520 yards and three touchdowns. In 2002, Driver's first season as a full-time starter, he more than doubled his career yardage total (1,064), nearly doubled his receptions (70) and tripled his touchdowns (nine). "We finally started having that kind of chemistry," Driver said, "and it made it easier to go out there and just play." If it took three seasons for Favre to develop chemistry with each of his receivers, the Packers certainly wouldn't be where they are today: sitting with an 11-2 record heading into Sunday's game at St. Louis, a division title already resting in their back pocket as they make their final push to clinch the No. 2 seed -- or better -- in the NFC playoffs. Several factors have played a role in the Packers' rise to the NFL's elite class, but two of them go hand in hand: The improved play of Favre, who threw as many touchdowns as he did interceptions last season and once again pondered retirement, and his faith in a receiving corps that was a giant question mark entering the season and had some -- Favre included -- complaining that general manager Ted Thompson should have pulled the trigger on a trade for Randy Moss during the offseason. [More]

Special impact
When the 1996 Green Bay Packers made their run to the Super Bowl XXXI title, Ted Thompson was in his fourth year in general manager Ron Wolf's personnel department, Mike Stock was working for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Will Blackmon was a 12-year-old kid playing in his backyard. But they all remember this much very clearly: The Packers won that NFL title in no small part because of their special teams. "Our special teams were extraordinary," Thompson recalled last week, as the Packers (11-2) prepared for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams (3-10) at the Edward Jones Dome. "We had the No. 1 (scoring) offense and the No. 1 (scoring and total) defense, but our special teams were unbelievable. Certainly we had a star player in Desmond Howard, but we had outstanding coverage units as well. In fact, we won the Super Bowl in large part because of the special teams." [More]

Cheerleader of the Week

2007-12-16T06:42:00.001-05:00

Beth
St. Louis Rams

Age: 23
Years with Team: 6
Hometown: Troy, IL

Education:
Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville
Major(s):
Business Administration-Marketing

Occupation (Job Title):
Pharmaceutical inside sales rep

Hobbies: dancing, bartending, shopping

Favorite childhood memory: Riding my horse and showing her in several different equestrian competitions.

Something interesting about you or your family others may not know:
I come from a military family. I have lived in Utah, Alaska, North Carolina and Illinois
.
Five things you would like to accomplish in this lifetime:

1. Buy a condo or a house
2. Get married
3. Become financially stable
4. Travel Abroad
5. Have children

One word to describe yourself:
Unpredictable

What is the first thing you would do after winning the lottery?
Scream and cry tears of joy because I would be able to take care of my family and friends

Interesting places you have visited:
South Korea, Alaska, Puerto Vallarta, Canada

What is in your CD player right now?
Ne-Yo

Something you feel very strongly about:
Honesty and Respect are hand in hand

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Elementary school teacher

If you could have any animal as a pet, what animal would you choose?
I would love to own a dolphin because they are smart, unique and beautiful mammals

Your favorite subject:
Elementary School - Math
High School - Psychology
College ? child psychology

One movie that you could watch over and over: Friday

Your favorite charity: Variety, The Children?s Charity, because I am able to interact with the children one on one. Seeing the smiles on their faces is priceless.

Favorite childhood cartoon: Rainbow Brite

12/15/2007

2007-12-15T06:19:00.000-05:00

Happy Birthday Mike!
(My Son-in-law)

No rush to judgment
This is what happens when you set the bar as high as the Green Bay Packers defensive line had in the first two-thirds of the season. You go two games without a sack, and suddenly people think there's something seriously wrong with you. The Packers recorded 32 sacks in the first 11 games this season, getting at least two sacks in 10 straight weeks and putting them on pace for 45.5 for the season — not far off the pace set in some of their most productive sack seasons (52 in 2001, 50 in 1998, 48 in 1978 and '85). Of those 32 sacks, all but linebacker Nick Barnett's 1.5 came from the defensive line. But the past two weeks, they've failed to take down the opposing quarterback, with Dallas' Tony Romo often having all day to throw and Oakland's Josh McCown and Andrew Walter facing relatively consistent pressure but avoiding being thrown for a loss. [More]

Pass rush decline not yet a concern
Their fierce front four has been uncharacteristically quiet for two games, but nobody seems worried that the Green Bay Packers' pass rush has hit a lull. After registering two or more sacks in their previous 10 games -- including five-sack performances against Minnesota and Kansas City -- the Packers failed to register a single sack against Dallas or Oakland. Packers players admit that Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and his offensive line might have gotten the best of them two weeks ago when defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila was out with an injury, but they said the lack of sacks in their victory over Oakland on Sunday was mostly a function of the Raiders' commitment to the run. "I don't think you can read into that," Packers defensive tackle Ryan Pickett said. "I think that if you watch the Oakland game, we had tons of pressure on the quarterback when they threw it, and they schemed trying to run it and just keep us out of that situation. Dallas just did a good job of mixing it up, but we still had pressure." [More]

Crosby Confident In Strong Finish
As the winter winds continue to swirl around Lambeau Field, the questions are swirling about whether rookie Mason Crosby can be a reliable, cold-weather kicker the Packers can count on in the playoffs. But don't count Crosby, or special teams coach Mike Stock, among the doubters. Anyone who thinks the two missed field goals with temperatures in the teens at Lambeau last Sunday have shaken the confidence of the sixth-round draft choice would be mistaken. "I just have to trust my ability, trust what I do, not overswing, not overkick," Crosby said. "That's the biggest thing is just say, 'I've got the leg strength, I just have to kick the ball solid.' That's where my mindset is now. I just have to make sure I learn from what happens and keep moving on." [More]

Barnett wants league to
look into eye-poking incident
Green Bay Packers middle linebacker Nick Barnett wants NFL officials to punish Oakland Raiders center Jeremy Newberry for poking him in the eye on Sunday. "Hell, yeah," Barnett said. "I get fined for small (stuff) -- people on the ground, and I push them down too hard or something. So that definitely should be fineable." Barnett said after Sunday's 38-7 Packers victory over the Raiders that Newberry poked him in the eye "like the Three Stooges" after one play, scratching his cornea and temporarily affecting his vision. "I couldn't see anything out of one eye, so I didn't know what it was," Barnett said. "Anybody's going to panic when your vision is being messed with." Newberry wasn't penalized on the play. [More]

12/14/2007

2007-12-14T04:59:00.000-05:00

More Records On Horizon For Favre, Packers
Either Brett Favre setting NFL records has become so commonplace it's blasé, or Favre has sufficiently deflected the credit and directed the conversation for his previous achievements to the team as a whole that there's less focus specifically on him. Whichever is the stronger truth, it was a telling state of Favre and the Packers on Wednesday when the future Hall of Fame quarterback addressed the media in an 18-minute press conference and wasn't once asked about the NFL career record for passing yardage he's about to set. Heading into Sunday's game at St. Louis, Favre needs just 184 yards to surpass Dan Marino's NFL mark of 61,361 passing yards that has stood since 1999. Over the past two seasons, while breaking Marino's records for passing attempts, completions and touchdowns, along with George Blanda's mark for interceptions and John Elway's for victories under center, Favre has tried to downplay each one. [More]

Packers' potential wasn't
deciding factor in return
Every offseason, Green Bay Packers fans chew their fingernails to the nub while human cliffhanger Brett Favre decides whether to retire. And every time, No. 4 reaches the same conclusion: that he still can play, and he just can't say no to football. So far, Favre hasn't said anything about his plans for 2008 -- beyond, of course, the playoffs in January. But Favre did provide some insight on Wednesday into the thought process behind his decision to return for this season. Yes, Favre saw potential in the young Packers, but he didn't expect them to have an 11-2 record and division title wrapped up going into Sunday's game at St. Louis. "I thought it would be fun, because we would have a chance to win every game," Favre said. "Did I think to this degree? Probably not, but I thought it was possible. I thought we would have a chance to win most of these games." [More]

McCarthy not ready to talk
about resting veterans
Faced with a common coaching dilemma that every team seems to handle differently, Packers coach Mike McCarthy punted. If the Green Bay Packers wrap up their playoff position a few weeks early, will they start resting veteran players down the stretch? "It's a great question for next week," McCarthy said. The Packers already have clinched the NFC North Division title, and would clinch a first-round bye with a victory at St. Louis and loss by Seattle to Carolina on Sunday. Hoping to keep the focus on the Rams, McCarthy tried to steer clear of the subject of talking about resting players for the playoffs, even in general terms. "There are different mind-sets for it," McCarthy said. "Some people treat it like preseason, only playing them so many quarters. We'll find a common ground when we're in that position. I don't even want to talk about it right now. We should be talking about the St. Louis Rams because getting to 12-2 is the most important thing." [More]

12/13/2007

2007-12-13T04:20:00.000-05:00

Will Blackmon Named Special Teams
Player Of The Week
SPECIAL TEAMS:
PR-CB WILL BLACKMON, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Blackmon became the fourth player in NFL history with a punt-return touchdown and a fumble-return touchdown in the same game as the Packers clinched the NFC North with a 38-7 win over Oakland. The last player to accomplish the feat was LEMAR PARRISH in 1974. Blackmon had a 57-yard punt-return touchdown in the second quarter to increase Green Bay's lead to 14-0 and he recovered a fumble off a muffed punt in the end zone during the third quarter. Blackmon is the first Packer to score two special teams touchdowns in a game since TRAVIS WILLIAMS in 1969. In his second season from Boston College, this is Blackmon's first career Player of the Week Award. He is the third Packer to be honored on special teams this year, joining kicker MASON CROSBY (Week 1) and punt returner TRAMON WILLIAMS (Week 11).

Packers Claim DT Bolston
On Waivers
The Green Bay Packers have claimed defensive tackle Conrad Bolston on waivers from Minnesota. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, made the announcement Wednesday. Bolston spent the first 12 weeks of the season on the Vikings' practice squad before he was signed to the active roster Nov. 28. He appeared in one game and was credited with a tackle. A 6-foot-4, 300-pound player from Maryland, Bolston originally signed with the Vikings as a non-drafted free agent in May 2007. He appeared in 44 games (30 starts) for the Terrapins and totaled 10 career sacks. Bolston will wear No. 93.

Jennings proves he's the one, too
As vital as the newfound balance between the running game and the passing game is to the Green Bay Packers' long-term prospects, the offense has shown all season another type of balance that has clearly paid -- and likely will continue to pay -- obvious dividends. Last season, the Packers' passing options were limited: Donald Driver -- and that was essentially it. Driver earned his second Pro Bowl berth by setting career-highs in receptions (92) and yards (1,295) while scoring eight touchdowns. Then-rookie Greg Jennings had 45 receptions for 632 yards and three TDs, although a midseason ankle injury limited his effectiveness in the second half, and he missed the finale when his wife went into labor. [More]

Shoulder ends Jolly's year
Packers defensive tackle Johnny Jolly was placed on injured reserve Tuesday with an injured shoulder. Jolly, a sixth-round draft pick in 2006, started seven of Green Bay's first 10 games. He was hurt in the Packers' victory over Carolina on Nov. 18. Last week, Coach Mike McCarthy said the results of an MRI on Jolly's shoulder "didn't look good," and he might have to sit out the remainder of this season. The coach didn't elaborate on the specifics of the injury. Jolly had 31 tackles, 14 solo, one sack and five pass deflections this season. The team also announced it signed defensive tackle Alfred Malone to the practice squad and released tight end James Adkisson from the practice squad. Malone appeared in four games for the Houston Texans during the past two seasons and had 13 tackles. [More Notes]

Nickel, dime change
Secondary shapes up for playoffs
Rookie safety Aaron Rouse thinks he knows why Green Bay Packers teammates Nick Collins and Atari Bigby had perhaps their best performances of the season against the Oakland Raiders: Aaron Rouse. After missing a game with a knee injury, Rouse was ready for action against the Raiders. That had to be on the minds of fellow safeties Collins and Bigby, who watched Rouse compile two interceptions and four passes defended in three starts before his injury. "Most definitely," Rouse said Wednesday. "You start talking about jobs and you've got a guy that's able to play well and can do your job as well as you can, of course you're going to play better. It's about competition. If you don't play well, they'll find somebody else who can. (Collins and Bigby) looked at it like that and they stepped their game up." [More]

12/12/2007

2007-12-12T05:06:00.001-05:00

Packers win despite glaring flaws
Not only are the Green Bay Packers defying the odds with an 11-2 start to their season, they're deviating from the rules of logic, too. Really, who could have guessed that the second-most penalized team in the National Football League would be sporting division championship hats on Sunday with three games to go? Or that a cellar-dwelling running game wouldn't have brought the rest of the team down with it? [More]

Focus on more than homefield
Sure, life would be even better had they beaten the Dallas Cowboys and were in control of their own destiny in the race for the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed and homefield advantage throughout the postseason. Or had the Detroit Lions not lost to the Cowboys Sunday in the final seconds. But all things considered, the Green Bay Packers have it pretty good right now: They've wrapped up the NFC North title, their magic number for clinching a first-round playoff bye is two, they're relatively healthy by NFL late-season standards, and they believe they have so much depth at certain positions they can afford to rotate in different players for experience-gaining purposes without risking their chances of winning. [More]

Low hits on Favre irk Packers' McCarthy
Packers coach Mike McCarthy says a hit that Oakland Raiders defensive end Derrick Burgess made on Brett Favre was low and unnecessary. Favre, making his 250th consecutive start, got hit twice by Burgess, once on a play before the two-minute warning at the end of the first half that left Favre limping in Green Bay's 38-7 victory on Sunday. "It was one of those 'Ooooh' (hits)," Favre said after the game. "It didn't particularly feel good and it was an awkward way to fall for me." Favre fell from the contact, which caused his legs to stiffen from the shot to the shin. McCarthy wasn't as upset on that play as the one later in the second half, when Burgess caught Favre around the lower part of the knee. "The (first) he was in contact with the tackle and then was pushed a little, but the other one he went low on him," McCarthy said Monday. "It was clearly evident. It was unnecessary." [More]

Barnett set for eye check
Packers linebacker Nick Barnett was scheduled to go to an eye doctor on Monday after he said he was poked in a dirty play by Raiders center Jeremy Newberry. Barnett claimed that Newberry intentionally poked him in the left eye as the first half was winding down, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't see it when reviewing the game tapes on Monday. Barnett complained of double vision and said that the cornea of his eye was scratched, even though he returned to the game after putting on a protective visor. [More]

12/11/2007

2007-12-11T05:10:00.000-05:00

Comparisons to '96 are getting harder to ignore
GREEN BAY -- Their no-nonsense head coach doesn't tolerate mistakes. Their running attack continues to rapidly improve, of particular importance with the weather turning colder and the playoffs approaching. Their staunch defense features at least three players deserving of Pro Bowl selections. Their quarterback is playing at an MVP level. They're scoring touchdowns on special teams. In case you were stuck in a time warp for three hours Sunday afternoon, rest assured you weren't watching the 1996 Green Bay Packers plunder the Oakland Raiders 38-7 at 18-degree Lambeau Field. But it sure seemed like it, didn't it? Especially in the second half, when the men wearing the 'G' helmets outscored their opponent 24-0. Certainly, if this year's Green Bay squad is to fully earn a comparison to its '96 brethren, it also will have to win the Super Bowl. [More]

Grant sets tone
Carries load in another productive performance
The Oakland Raiders, who were the guests of dishonor Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field, rank second-to-last in the NFL in rushing defense. The Raiders are so inept that they had difficulty stopping the Packers' ground game at times in the second half even though defensive tackle Warren Sapp was apparently calling out the exact play Green Bay was going to run. "They knew some of the stuff that we were doing," Packers running back Ryan Grant said, "but we were executing." Given that backdrop, it should come as no surprise that Grant became the ninth player this season to rush for at least 100 yards against the Raiders. Still, the 70,828 fans that braved the cold here Sunday had to walk away impressed by Grant's brilliant performance during a 38-7 victory that clinched the NFC North Division title for the Packers. Grant posted career highs with 29 carries for 156 yards and scored the first touchdown of the game -- his fourth in three games -- to set the rout in motion. Considering Brett Favre was still feeling the effects of an elbow injury that knocked him out of the Dallas game on Nov. 29, it was imperative that Grant carry the load while also showing the Packers' ground game could flourish in December weather. [More]

So much for Favre's "diminishing skills"
That an injured Daunte Culpepper stood on the Oakland sidelines -- inactive, inconsequential, indifferent -- may have served as poetic justice for Brett Favre. Not that he cares about such things. Not that there were any poets, either, bare-chested or otherwise, among Sunday's witnesses to Green Bay's 38-7 victory at "balmy" Lambeau Field. But even though there was little or no suspense in determining the outcome against the overmatched Raiders, there was some justice in Favre guiding the Packers to the NFC North championship against an opponent that was carrying Culpepper on its payroll. For sheer drama, nothing could match Green Bay's stirring 34-31 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Christmas Eve 2004 in the Metrodome. That was the last time the Packers celebrated a division title and it came at the expense of Culpepper, who was then firmly entrenched as the captain of the Vikings' cruise ship, so to speak (predating any Lake Minnetonka escapades). Favre was at his finest in the clutch, directing a couple of fourth-quarter scoring drives. Once again, too, Favre responded to adversity and showed his resiliency after throwing a costly interception that was returned for a touchdown by Minnesota linebacker Chris Claiborne. [More]

Resurgent ground game gives Packers options
It will be a cold day in Arizona when an opponent comes into a game worrying about the Green Bay Packers' running game more than it does its passing game. But total disregard for the Packers' ability to run the ball? You wouldn't think it would be that way anymore, not after five consecutive 100-yard rushing days, including a season-high 179 yards in 36 carries Sunday in a 38-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. [More]

Packers 38 / Raiders 7

2007-12-10T02:19:00.000-05:00

Packers Win 38-7, Clinch NFC North
Associated Press
The Green Bay Packers didn't need Brett Favre to throw the ball all over the field to clinch the NFC North on Sunday, relying on the running of Ryan Grant and a pair of special teams touchdowns from Will Blackmon in a 38-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders. The Packers (11-2) assured an end to their two-year absence from the postseason with three games left to play. Blackmon, a backup cornerback who has missed most of the season because of a broken foot, returned a punt 57 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and recovered a muffed punt by Raiders returner Tim Dwight in the end zone late in the third quarter. Grant, who was acquired in a trade with the New York Giants just before the season and took over as the starter last month, rushed for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown, his fourth 100-yard rushing game of the season.

Game Stats

Other Game Articles --

Division Title Is First Step
The 2007 NFC North Division Champion T-shirts looked good. So did the hats. And winning that division title felt especially good to Green Bay's veteran players who had tasted success before but had waited to savor it again. The Packers wrapped up their first NFC North title since 2004 with a resounding 38-7 win over the Oakland Raiders in front of 70,828 at Lambeau Field on Sunday to improve to 11-2. For a team that had become accustomed to first-place status, with division crowns three straight years from 2002-04, to get back there is especially gratifying after two postseason-less years.

Easy win wraps up NFC North title
Afterward, Brett Favre looked around the locker room, at the revelry and the joy and the celebration and the freshly printed NFC North champions T-shirt and caps, and recognized just what a remarkable accomplishment it was. "I don't know if too many people gave us a shot to be in this position," the Green Bay Packers quarterback said after Sunday's 38-7 trouncing of the Oakland Raiders at wintry Lambeau Field, a victory that locked up the division title and kept their once-improbable, now-realistic run toward Super Bowl XLII going.

Barnett Fights Back His Way
Nick Barnett didn't exactly appreciate the poke in the eye he took from Oakland center Jeremy Newberry in the final minute of the first half on Sunday. But rather than retaliate in any inappropriate way, Barnett got back on the field in the second half and let his play stand for payback during the 38-7 victory.

Barnett eyes some payback
Nyuk-nyuk-nyuk. Getting poked in the eye by Oakland Raiders center Jeremy Newberry was no laughing matter to Nick Barnett. "He lines it up like the Three Stooges and pokes me in the eye. I'm not Curly or Moe, so I don't like that," the Green Bay Packers linebacker said after suffering a scratched cornea in his left eye in Sunday's 38-7 victory over the Raiders at Lambeau Field.

Grant gains in stature
Joe Philbin has no idea. Is the Green Bay Packers' once-horrendous running game taking off because the offensive line is blocking significantly better? Or is the ground success the direct result of the emergence of featured back Ryan Grant, the team's fourth starter since the opening day of training camp?

Grant Pounds His Way To Career Day
The Packers may have had their troubles rushing the football earlier in the season, but with each Ryan Grant run, memories of those struggles are fading faster and faster. And while Grant may not be a household name quite yet, he's not a secret anymore either. Entering Sunday's game, Grant had 588 yards and four touchdowns, not bad statistics by any means, but nothing really earth-shattering. Yet, it's not until you really take a look inside the numbers that you get a feel for how well Grant has performed lately.

Injuries don't hamper Favre
Gerard Warren was confused. The Oakland Raiders defensive tackle thought he'd heard something about Brett Favre having suffered right elbow and left shoulder injuries in his last game, but it sure didn't look to Warren as if the Green Bay Packers veteran quarterback was any worse for wear Sunday. "Wasn't he supposed to be hurt?" Warren said in the aftermath of the Packers' 38-7 rout of the Raiders at Lambeau Field. "I'd hate to see him healthy."

Blackmon rewards team for patience
When Will Blackmon broke his foot in an Oct. 3 practice, Green Bay's brain trust decided to practice patience and didn't place the second-year cornerback and return specialist on injured reserve. That decision might have seemed curious as the weeks passed, but Blackmon rewarded the Packers for waiting with a two-touchdown performance in a 38-7 victory over Oakland Sunday.

Gameday 12/9/2007

2007-12-09T06:43:00.000-05:00

It's time for running game to make gains
Snow fell upon the greater Green Bay metroplex virtually every day last week, and temperatures never got above the freezing mark. For 8 bucks an hour, you could have helped shovel out Lambeau Field. Born and raised in more temperate Tennessee, Scott Wells was not digging the winter wonderland. In fact, the Green Bay Packers' center found himself experiencing his annual flashback to his rookie year of 2004, when he joined a veteran offensive line where cold-weather necessities like long sleeves were strongly discouraged by center Mike Flanagan and guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera. "I think a lot of it is tradition, the tough-man mentality they want to portray," Wells said. "I know when I came up here and saw it, I was like, 'These guys are crazy.' I remember going to practice outside, and it's freezing, and Mike Wahle has on shorts and just his jersey. I tried it one day, and I'm like, 'Forget that,' and put on sweats." [More]

Cheerleader of the Week

2007-12-09T06:41:00.000-05:00

Kati
Oakland Raiderette
Kati, from Granite Bay, Calif., is in her first season with the Silver and Black. Kati currently works as a sales associate and model for a boutique in the Sacramento area. She is also attending American River College where she is pursuing her education in nursing. Kati aspires to one day become a registered nurse and eventually a physician’s assistant. While in high school, Kati participated in many activities. She was a member of the swim team, cheer team, and a coach for the Junior Grizzly cheer squad. She was also an Academic Merit award recipient her junior and senior year. Kati is very active in the community as she volunteers for the Susan G. Komen foundation as a pink lady.

12/8/2007

2007-12-08T06:02:00.001-05:00

Recent Packers-Raiders Meetings
Have Produced Memorable Moments
Normally for a series against a particular NFL opponent to have a meaningful history, that opponent needs to be a division rival that is played twice a year, or a conference foe that's a frequent playoff nemesis. But the Packers' series with the Raiders doesn't fall into either category, with Oakland coming from the AFC. Yet the last three times the two teams have met, the games have carried a certain significance and gone down in Green Bay lore for one reason or another. With the Packers and Raiders meeting Sunday at Lambeau Field for just the fourth time in the last 15 years, here's a look back at the previous three meetings and their place in franchise history. [More]

Reports good on Woodson
While he listed Charles Woodson as questionable on the injury report Friday, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy sounded mildly optimistic after practice that the veteran cornerback will be ready to face his former team, the Oakland Raiders, Sunday at Lambeau Field. McCarthy said Woodson was limited in practice but "took his share of the reps" during the 11-on-11 team periods and "looked pretty good. It'll be interesting to see how he responds in the morning after practicing. He's really picked up the progress as far as rehab and what he's been doing on the treadmill all week, and he looked pretty natural out there." [More]

12/7/2007

2007-12-07T04:26:00.000-05:00

Favre expects to start Sunday,
but Rodgers sidelined
Although Brett Favre said he plans to play Sunday against the hapless Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field, the veteran quarterback wasn't quite ready to put his bruised elbow, tingling throwing hand and tender shoulder to the test during practice on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers' QB situation became even more complicated when coach Mike McCarthy said backup Aaron Rodgers hurt his hamstring on Tuesday and could be out a week or two. Rodgers was 18-of-26 for 201 yards and a touchdown in last Thursday's 37-27 loss to Dallas. Favre was forced from that game in the second quarter due to a bruised right elbow and separated left (non-throwing) shoulder. The Packers had only two quarterbacks last week, but signed Craig Nall -- a former Favre backup who left the Packers as a free agent after the 2005 season -- over the weekend to provide depth. Nall is cramming to learn McCarthy's offense and took the majority of snaps in practice on Wednesday. [More]

Elbow room
Mike McCarthy wouldn't be afraid to put an end to Brett Favre's NFL quarterback-record consecutive starts streak, with three caveats: if Favre is in pain, if it's in the Green Bay Packers' best postseason interest, and if the Packers' playoff position is assured. At least, that's what the coach said Wednesday during a conference call with reporters who cover the Oakland Raiders, although Favre's ironman streak virtually is certain to reach 270 games (including playoffs) Sunday when the Raiders visit Lambeau Field. [More]

Despite impressive numbers
Rouse stuck in backup role
There are comfort, experience and tackling considerations to make, but in determining whether Green Bay Packers rookie safety Aaron Rouse deserves to be a starter, the numbers don't lie. Nick Collins and Atari Bigby: 21 starts, one interception, 10 passes defended. Rouse: Three starts, two interceptions, four passes defended. If his numbers were projected over 12 games, Rouse would lead the team in interceptions and passes defended. Even he is left wondering how much better he would be if he were allowed to continue as a starter. "If I can get two picks in threes games, what do you think?" Rouse said Thursday. [More]

Colledge deals with demotion
While it won't become official until Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers offensive coaches have their regular Friday morning meeting, second-year left guard Daryn Colledge realizes he's out of a job — at least for now. Colledge was benched midway through the Packers' Nov. 29 loss at Dallas, and despite what he called "a great last two days of practice," the 2006 second-round draft pick figures, like everyone else, that Jason Spitz and Junius Coston will start at guard Sunday against the Oakland Raiders at Lambeau Field. [More]

12/6/2007

2007-12-06T05:21:00.001-05:00

McCarthy keeping it competitive
for starting positions
Despite a 10-2 record entering the final four games of the regular season, the Green Bay Packers have some potential job openings in their starting lineup and sub packages entering Sunday's game against Oakland -- and coach Mike McCarthy doesn't have a problem with such uncertainty. From Jason Spitz, Junius Coston and Daryn Colledge at guard, to Atari Bigby, Nick Collins and Aaron Rouse at safety, to Jarrett Bush, Frank Walker and Tramon Williams in the nickel defense, McCarthy said there will be "competitions" this week in practice. "I think it's a very healthy situation to have a competitive situation at every position," the Packers coach said after the team returned to practice Tuesday afternoon. "Now, we want the continuity, there's no doubt about that. But until we get the performance at the level that we want, then we'll keep it competitive." [More]

With Rodgers sitting, Nall takes reins
The injury bug spread from Brett Favre to Aaron Rodgers this week, leaving recently re-signed Craig Nall as the Green Bay Packers' No. 1 quarterback. That will all change when Favre returns to practice full-time today, but for one day Nall, the former backup to Favre, got to run the show, taking all the snaps with the offense. Considering he was signed Saturday and never played in coach Mike McCarthy's version of the West Coast offense, Nall was understandably pressed. "I come in here with expectations of being told, 'Hey, you need to come in here and help Brett hunt a little bit because the guys that he's hunting with aren't very good at it,' " Nall joked. "But I just have to do what I have to do. Really, there's no easy way out of it." [More]

12/5/2007

2007-12-05T04:49:00.001-05:00

Playoff Picture Pretty Clear For Packers
The Green Bay Packers haven't officially clinched a playoff spot yet, but they're about as close as they can get. The playoff picture for the Packers heading into this Sunday's home game against Oakland is pretty clear - win, and they're in. Not only that, but a victory (or a loss by the Detroit Lions, who trail Green Bay by four games with four to play) would give the Packers their first NFC North division title since 2004. And as a division champ, that would guarantee the Packers at least one home postseason game, also for the first time since 2004. But the Packers aren't looking to simply win the division and get into the postseason. They want to give themselves the highest playoff seed they can, and they're in good position heading into the final four games of the regular season to earn a first-round bye. [More]

Extensions in line for leaders
Bob Harlan believes general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy give the Green Bay Packers their best one-two football punch since Ron Wolf and Mike Holmgren, so Harlan is hoping to have both signed to long-term contract extensions before turning over the reins of the franchise at the end of the season. Harlan, the Packers' chairman and CEO, said Tuesday he hopes to have a deal in place with Thompson "before the end of this month," and while he doesn't know Thompson's timeline for extending McCarthy, he expects a deal for the coach to be done soon as well. New president and CEO-elect Mark Murphy's first official day of work is Jan. 1, and he'll assume the club's top administrative post after the season ends. Harlan will stay on as chairman emeritus and consultant. Harlan said he broached the subject of Thompson's extension with Murphy before Murphy's introductory news conference Monday afternoon as they prepared for possible questions from reporters. [More]

Starting spots up for grabs
It might seem strange for a 10-2 team entering the final four games of the regular season, but the Green Bay Packers have some potential job openings in their starting lineup and sub packages entering Sunday's game against Oakland, and coach Mike McCarthy doesn't have a problem with such uncertainty. From Jason Spitz, Junius Coston and Daryn Colledge at guard, to Atari Bigby, Nick Collins and Aaron Rouse at safety, to Jarrett Bush, Frank Walker and Tramon Williams in the nickel defense, McCarthy said there will be "competitions" this week in practice. [More]

12/4/2007

2007-12-04T04:54:00.001-05:00

Favre chosen Sports Illustrated's
Sportsman of the Year
Brett Favre's standout season for the resurgent Green Bay Packers has earned him the title of 2007 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year, making him the fourth quarterback to win the award in its 53-year history. The 38-year-old Favre joins fellow quarterbacks Terry Bradshaw (1979), Joe Montana (1990) and Tom Brady (2005) as recipients of the award, given to an athlete who symbolizes the ideals of sportsmanship. Favre, a three-time NFL MVP, said in the cover story of the magazine's Dec. 10 issue that leadership is about finding ways to raise his team's level of play. [More]

Packers name Murphy CEO
Mark H. Murphy, who will take over as president and chief executive officer of the Green Bay Packers after the season ends, knows people view him as an outsider taking over a storied franchise. But Murphy said Monday that his varied background - as a player, an athletic director, a lawyer and a former member of the National Football League Players Association - will serve the Packers' franchise well in the years to come. "I really believe this position offers me an opportunity to bring together all of the skills I have developed," Murphy said. [More]

Pickett Tackles Quarterbacks,
Double-Teams And Fatherhood
The Green Bay Packers traveled to Denver for a showdown with the Broncos on a clear Monday evening. After 60 minutes the game went into overtime tied at 13-13. On the first play from scrimmage, Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings for a game-winning 82-yard touchdown. But Favre almost never had an opportunity to make that play. Green Bay, clinging to a 13-10 lead late in the fourth quarter, watched the Denver offense march down the field. The Broncos traveled 89 yards to the Packers 4-yard line in 2 minutes, 8 seconds. Denver faced third-and-1 with no timeouts and 22 seconds left in the game. The Packers defense was visibly exhausted. A first down would allow the Broncos to spike the ball and take two shots at winning the game, leaving Green Bay with virtually no time left to counter. Denver quarterback Jay Cutler took the snap from shotgun and ran a quarterback draw to the right side. However, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett fought off a block and managed to bring Cutler down for no gain. [More]

12/3/2007

2007-12-03T04:48:00.000-05:00

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.

12/1/2007

2007-12-01T06:07:00.000-05:00

Packers think Favre won't miss time
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) - Packers quarterback Brett Favre is expected start against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 9 and keep alive his record streak for consecutive starts. "Just to quote the medical staff, his (starting) streak is not in danger. He'll be OK," coach Mike McCarthy said Friday, the day after Favre was knocked out of the Packers' 37-27 loss at Dallas with elbow and shoulder injuries. His streak, which dates to 1992, stands at 249 games (269 including playoffs) and is a league record for quarterbacks.

McCarthy said Favre would have re-entered the game Thursday had something happened to Aaron Rodgers, who played in relief the last 2 1/2 quarters. Favre was diagnosed Friday with a bruised right elbow. He also aggravated a separated left shoulder, which he originally injured 15 years ago, on a hit by blitzing Dallas cornerback Nate Jones in the second quarter. McCarthy said the medical staff didn't indicate that Favre suffered any nerve damage in the elbow, which had been feared after the game Thursday night. "It has more to do with the belly of the muscle around the elbow. It's not as severe as last year," McCarthy said.

Favre had nerve damage in the same elbow against New England in November 2006 and didn't finish the game. Favre, who hasn't finished seven games during the starting streak because of injury, was at Lambeau Field for treatment Friday. After the game, he said that he lost feeling in the last two fingers of his right hand following the hit from Jones. He had started to regain feeling in the hand Friday, McCarthy said. The coach is optimistic the extended break between games will allow the league's only three-time MVP time to heal. "Anytime you have a player go down in the game and you receive the news this morning that he'll be able to play in 10 days, that's a big sense of relief, especially when it's your quarterback," McCarthy said. The Packers have only two quarterbacks, with receiver Ruvell Martin as an emergency backup. [Story]

Left guard still not right
If they were facing the Oakland Raiders today, and not on Dec. 9, Daryn Colledge would not be starting at left guard for the Green Bay Packers in the wake of his benching during Thursday night's loss to the Dallas Cowboys. But Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his staff haven't seen much separation among their three options at the position — Colledge, Jason Spitz and Junius Coston — so Colledge conceivably could regain his starting spot. "As we move forward, we will probably talk more about that. But if we played tomorrow, I would probably go with Junius and Jason," said McCarthy, who benched Colledge, moved Spitz from right guard to left guard and brought Coston in at right guard during the second quarter. "They're all at about the same point in their career, they're all playing about the same level, and we're just trying to find the right combination, keeping it competitive. ... So Daryn Colledge is still right in the middle of everything." [More]

Dallas-Refs 37/Pack 27

2007-11-30T05:52:00.000-05:00

House of pain
Latest defeat in Dallas harrowing
The Green Bay Packers lost a football game that they probably couldn't afford to lose Thursday night at Texas Stadium. Given the fact that cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila sat out with injuries and quarterback Brett Favre played just 20 minutes, the Packers can hold out some hope if their paths cross once more with the Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs.

But the Packers, blessed with a minimal amount of injuries for 11 games, understand they're part of the game. They also know that the Cowboys clearly were the better team in their 37-27 victory that clinched for Dallas a playoff berth. "We didn't play a good football game," general manager Ted Thompson. "This was a different kind of atmosphere. In a game like this, there's a little more glare."

And the Packers appeared to shrink from the national spotlight, playing one of their poorest halves of the season in falling behind by 17 points in the second quarter. They turned in an honest comeback but never could regain the lead. "This win doesn't put us in the Super Bowl," said Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, whose passer rating was 123.5. "Maybe it gives us a 52% chance instead of 50%."

The Packers (10-2) have nine days off before embarking on the final quarter of their season against opponents with a combined record of only 16-28. The Cowboys (11-1) face foes with a 20-24 mark but have the inside edge now toward home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs because of their one-game lead and tie-breaker advantage over Green Bay.

Favre, who finished with a scant passer rating of 8.9, is now 0-9 in Dallas. Not once in those nine games has the margin been closer than 10 points. The defeat broke coach Mike McCarthy's road winning streak at seven. The Packers still have a 3 1/2-game cushion in the NFC North over Detroit. "Green Bay's a good team," Dallas coach Wade Phillips said. "They'll keep fighting back. We knew it wasn't going to be easy. "People said Romo might have let down because his hero was playing. He didn't do that or anything like that."

In the first half, the Cowboys scored on their first five possessions, dominating a defense that had been sound and stubborn all season to the tune of 236 yards. The Packers were without Woodson (toe) and Gbaja-Biamila (ankle). "Clearly, every team is a better team when they have all their players suited up," Thompson said. "That's not an excuse. We had chances to get off the field and we didn't do it. That's a very good offensive team and, unless you get some pressure on them, they've got a lot of weapons."

Jarrett Bush started for Woodson, played poorly and was benched midway through the second quarter for Tramon Williams. Frank Walker remained the nickel back and Bush stayed on the sidelines. Equally as damaging as the lousy coverage was the lack of a pass rush. Defensive coordinator Bob Sanders seldom blitzed and his four-man rushes without "KGB" lacked punch. The Packers held Dallas to field goals on its first two possessions before the dam broke in the second quarter.

Terrell Owens came across the field on a bootleg and, when safety Nick Collins appeared to drop coverage, turned it into an easy 34-yard reception. Two plays later, Patrick Crayton beat Bush to the post for a 3-yard TD and it was 13-3. Green Bay retaliated on its next possession when Ryan Grant burst through a hole for a 62-yard TD against a defense drawn up to stop a third and 1. "We pinched them a little bit," Thompson said. "Both the safeties were surprised he got through and he just split them."

The Cowboys came right back with another TD. Owens burned past A.J. Hawk and Atari Bigby for a gain of 48. Then Romo looked left and had time to come back to the right corner, where backup tight end Anthony Fasano was behind Bush for a 26-yard score. "(Fasano) ran a corner route and we were in Cover 2," Thompson said. "We didn't expect it."

Favre's night ended on the next series. On second and 12, Favre was in shotgun formation with five wide receivers. As Favre pump-faked, dime back Nathan Jones came free off the right slot and drilled him just as he released the ball. The pass, which was intercepted by Terence Newman, was Favre's last one. He left with a right elbow injury and a separated left shoulder but promised to return to face Oakland on Dec. 9. On the next play, Miles Austin sprinted by Bush, who drew a 40-yard penalty for interference. On second and goal, Owens came free near Collins for a 10-yard TD pass.

"(Owens) had a motion," Thompson said. "We had some sort of combination coverage on. I imagine we had in-and-out and he split it."

That gave the Cowboys a 27-10 lead, and without Favre it appeared grim for the Packers. But Aaron Rodgers engineered TD drives of 74 yards to end the first half and then 74 more to open the third quarter as they closed to 27-24.

"Romo was sharp," Thompson said. "They also schemed us pretty good on some things. On some of the big plays he had a long time."

The Packers came out trying to attack cornerback Jacques Reeves, and Favre delivered his first four passes in that direction. They also were bound and determined to throw deep opposed to playing ball-control.

Leaky protection ruined that idea.

Left guard Daryn Colledge gave up two early pressures, one when backup end Stephen Bowen beat him inside and Favre's hurried bomb came up way short and was intercepted by safety Ken Hamlin.

McCarthy had seen enough midway through the second quarter. Colledge was benched, Jason Spitz moved from right to left guard and Junius Coston stepped in at right guard.

Green Bay also hurt itself with terrible kickoff coverage. Austin had runbacks of 35, 38 and 32 yards.

The Packers blew a surprise onside kickoff in the second quarter when the boot by Mason Crosby glanced off fullback John Kuhn, drawing a penalty. Crosby had made the recovery.

Green Bay's comeback began when Greg Jennings turned a 5-yard out route into 43 yards with a tremendous run after the catch, slipping away from three tacklers. That set up an 11-yard TD to Jennings, who pivoted away from safety Patrick Watkins inside the 5.

Despite being sacked twice, Rodgers led his second long TD drive, displaying a strong arm, guts, charisma and an innate ability to scramble. A key third-down facemask penalty on linebacker Shaun Ellis gave Green Bay a first down at the 11, and Grant eventually powered in for a 1-yard TD.

A 74-yard drive by Dallas late in third quarter came up empty when Owens dropped what would have been a 6-yard TD and the ball caromed to Al Harris for an interception.

A late 42-yard interference penalty against Williams set up Romo's 4-yard TD pass to Crayton, who beat Harris inside.

The Packers went 39 yards in seven plays for a 52-yard field goal by Crosby, failing on a third-and-1 run by Grant for no gain.

But the Cowboys put it away behind workhorse Marion Barber, moving 56 yards for a field goal and drain Green Bay of its timeouts.

[Story]

Gameday 11/29/2007

2007-11-29T04:38:00.000-05:00

Collins back; Woodson, KGB questionable
The Green Bay Packers will head to Dallas this afternoon for Thursday's showdown between the NFC's top two teams hopeful but unsure that they'll have two vital players on defense: cornerback Charles Woodson and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. But they will have safety Nick Collins, who practiced for the third consecutive day Tuesday and will start, according to Packers coach Mike McCarthy. Collins hasn't played since suffering a left knee injury Nov. 4 at Kansas City. Woodson and Gbaja-Biamila, both of whom were injured during last week's Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit, will be listed as questionable when the official injury report is released today, McCarthy said. "They have 50-plus hours until game time," McCarthy said Tuesday. "We're going to give them the full amount to get ready." [More]

D-Line Depth Showing Its Value
When training camp concluded in early September, the Packers raised a few eyebrows when they kept 11 defensive linemen on their 53-man roster. A bit of overkill, some thought, to have more than 20 percent of your roster consumed by one position group. But the decision was in keeping with a core philosophy of Head Coach Mike McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson, that the foundation of any team is up front, which on defense means the defensive line. And a corollary to that is this: With more-than-sufficient depth on the defensive line, the heart of your defense will never be entirely compromised by injuries. There will always be quality players, in the trenches, who can fill the gaps. That philosophy has paid dividends throughout this season for the 10-1 Packers and has become most valuable in the last couple of weeks. [More]

Favre heads into showdown at his best
In the early morning hours after his team's latest victory, Mike McCarthy found himself alone, in the silence of his office at Lambeau Field, just a coach and his clicker. While shoppers were bum-rushing for their 5 a.m. doorbuster bargains, the Green Bay Packers coach was spending the day after Thanksgiving watching quarterback Brett Favre make franchise history. And he didn't even realize it. Pass after pass after pass — a club-record 20 in a row, beginning late in the second quarter — ended up safely in the arms of Favre's intended receiver. Finally, with 13 minutes left in what would be a 37-26 victory over the Detroit Lions, Favre misfired on a throw to Greg Jennings. Pretty impressive, huh, Mike? "I really didn't think anything of it, to be honest with you," McCarthy said. "I guess it's what you expect." [More]

Cheerleader of the Week

2007-11-29T04:37:00.001-05:00

AGE: 18
NAME: Abigail Jordan Klein

HAIR: Blonde

HEIGHT: 5'7''

BIRTHPLACE: Irving, TX

OCCUPATION: Student

DCC STATUS: Rookie

CAREER GOAL: To be a spokeswoman for a major corporation and travel the world.

LIFETIME GOAL: To have a fulfilling, happy life both professionally and with a family of my own.

MARITAL STATUS: single

PETS (WITH NAMES): Cat named Sugarplum

HOBBIES: dancing, reading, taking pictures, travelling

FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Tyra Banks Show

FAVORITE MOVIE: The Notebook

FAVORITE ACTOR & ACTRESS: Rachall McAdams and Ryan Gosling

FAVORITE SONG:Keep it loose, Keep it tight by Amoslee

FAVORITE MEAL:Sloppy Joes and Corn

FAVORITE COLOR: turquoise

FAVORITE TYPE OF MUSIC: hip hop / country

FAVORITE SPORT: Football

FAVORITE PERFUME: Eau Fraische by Chanel

FAVORITE TIME OF DAY: Around 1:00…Getting out of school

FAVORITE CITY OUTSIDE OF DALLAS: Los Angeles

CHILDHOOD LUNCHBOX: Minnie Mouse

CHILDHOOD NICKNAME: Abber Gabber

FAVORITE CEREAL: Honey Nut Cheerios

HERO: My Mom

IF YOU COULD BE ANYONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?Princess Diana because she organized many charities, was on a world-wide stage, and also was a wonderful mother.

IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE WORLD, WHERE WOULD IT BE AND WHY? Singapore because people are so safe there and I'm fascinated with the culture.

BIGGEST MISTAKE: Procrastination senior year. Studying minutes before a test.

I'M HAPPIEST WHEN: The sun is shining on a hot summer's day and my dad is grilling burgers and hot dogs.

I'VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO: whistle or snap

A REALLY GREAT EVENING TO ME IS: Going out to eat with my close friends

IF I COULD CHANGE ANYTHING ABOUT MYSELF IT WOULD BE: The fact that my face turns red even when I'm only the slightest embarrassed.

PEOPLE WHO KNEW ME IN HIGH SCHOOL THOUGHT I WAS: Friendly and fun-loving

THE BEST ADVICE I COULD GIVE TO A 20 YEAR-OLD IS: Be happy, you're closer to 21 than I am!

MY LAST MEAL WOULD BE: Tortellini a la vodka with a Caesar salad and tiramisu for dessert!

MY TRADEMARK EXPRESSION: "Oh, my belly!" said like Austin Powers…haha!

MY WORST HABIT IS: Hitting the snooze button

MY BEST ASSET IS: My enthusiasm

BEHIND MY BACK, PEOPLE SAY: I take too way many pictures to everyone

GUESTS AT MY FANTASY DINNER PARTY: Tyra Banks, Rachel McAdams and Tony Romo

I WISH I COULD SING LIKE: Faith Hill

IF I HAD A DIFFERENT JOB, I'D BE: CIA Agent

MY IDEAL VACATION IS: A cruise around the Mediterranean