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| Packers Sign TE Quarless | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed TE Andrew Quarless. The signing was announced Monday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Quarless, the first of the team's two fifth-round draft picks, was a four-year letterman at Penn State. He appeared in 49 career games, including 29 starts, and finished his career as the Nittany Lions' all-time leader in receptions by a tight end (87) and second in receiving yards by a tight end (1,146).
Quarless becomes the fourth of seven Packers draft picks to sign with the team.
| | '5k Run At Lambeau Field' Has 1,800 Registrants; Will Cap At 3,000 | Packers Story: Interested Participants Encouraged To Sign Up Before Race Reaches Limit
The inaugural '5K Run at Lambeau Field' has surpassed half its capacity with 1,800 registrants, the Green Bay Packers reported Friday.
Interested participants are encouraged to register before the event reaches its capacity of 3,000 runners.
The event, presented by the Packers and Bellin Health, is a run/walk set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 31, the first day of Packers training camp.
The computer-timed run is highlighted by a neighborhood route that ultimately takes participants into Lambeau Field and around the famed gridiron. The event has a special finish line located in the parking lot - a replica of the team's 50-yard line, which will be created on a partially sized field, painted to mirror Lambeau Field on game day.
Bellin Health is contributing its considerable race expertise to the event through logistical and medical support. The organization's..
| | Packers Green Team Announces 'First Downs For Trees' | Packers Story: Packers' First Downs To Result In Additional Trees Planted In Community
The Packers Green Team and Wisconsin Public Service today announced a new program, "First Downs for Trees," a joint effort with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and local forestry and parks departments in Northeastern Wisconsin to increase the number of trees planted in the area.
The announcement was made at Skyline Park in Ashwaubenon, located just south of Lambeau Field. A tree was planted to kick off the program.
Through the program, the Packers will provide additional trees to be planted in Brown County, with one tree to be planted for each first down earned by the team during the regular season. (Last year's squad gained 335 first downs.) A combination of sugar maples, hackberry, honeylocust and flowering crab trees are among the species that will be used.
"Tre..
| | More Than 30,500 Tickets Sold For Packers Family Night | Packers Story: Click here for the Family Night Fact Sheet
Aug. 7 Event to Benefit Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program
More than 30,500 tickets for 'Packers Family Night, Presented by Bellin Health,' have been sold, the organization reported Monday.
With the initial sales period having passed, the limit of eight tickets per purchase has been removed.
Tickets, priced at $10, are available through Ticketmaster and may be purchased in person, over the phone or via the Internet. Tickets also can be purchased at the Packers' ticket office in person. All individuals, regardless of age, require a ticket for admittance.
A direct link to online ticket sales information can be found by clicking here.
Over the phone, tickets can be purchased by calling toll fr..
| | Festival Foods To Operate Two Eateries In Lambeau Field Atrium | Packers Story: Titletown Grill and Boomerang Cafe To Open For Shareholders Meeting, July 29
The Green Bay Packers and Festival Foods today announced a partnership to operate two eateries, the Festival Foods Titletown Grill and Festival Foods Boomerang Cafe, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
The eateries will celebrate their first day of operations for the Packers' annual shareholders meeting, July 29, and then re-open for training camp, Packers game weekends, and during special events.
"Festival Foods has been a great partner with the Packers and their first-class operation of the eateries will enhance the relationship," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "Starting with the Frozen Tundra Hockey Classic in 2006 and continuing with other events such as Festival of Lights, our fans have appreciated the excellent work of Festival Foods."
The operation of the eateries is a natural extension for Festival Foods, which recently opened The Marq (formerly the..
| | Packers Family Night Tickets On Sale Friday | Packers Story: Click here for the Family Night Fact Sheet
Aug. 7 Event to Benefit Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program
Tickets for 'Packers Family Night, Presented by Bellin Health,' go on sale at 9 a.m. Friday, June 25.
Tickets, priced at $10, will be available through Ticketmaster and may be purchased in person, over the phone or via the Internet. Tickets also can be purchased at the Packers' ticket office in person. A limit of eight tickets per purchase will be in place for an initial sales period to allow more fans to have the chance to make a transaction. All individuals, regardless of age, require a ticket for admittance.
A direct link to online ticket sales information can be found by clicking here.
Over the phone, tickets can be purchased by calling ..
| | Packers Sign Three Draft Picks | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed G/T Marshall Newhouse, RB James Starks and DE C.J. Wilson. The signings were announced Wednesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Newhouse, the second of the team's two fifth-round draft picks, was a three-year starter at left tackle for TCU. He appeared in 52 career games, including 38 starts, and earned first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors as a senior.
Starks, a sixth-round selection, became Buffalo's all-time leading rusher in just three collegiate seasons (2006-2008). Though he missed the 2009 season due to injury, he also holds school records for rushing touchdowns (34) and points scored (222).
Wilson, a seventh-round pick, was a four-year letterman at East Carolina. In 54 career games, including 37 starts to close out his collegiate career, he tallied 192 tackles, including 45 for loss, and 27 sacks. He earned first-team All-Conference USA hon..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - June 22 | Packers Story: (What have you seen from Allen Barbre?)
Allen Barbre has been working exclusively on the left side. He has been working at left guard and at left tackle. Allen has matured through his experience last year, both in the weight room and I feel on the field. I think he has done an excellent job at left guard. He has done some very good things. We have looked at him on some special teams, so we're just trying to create opportunities for all of the players, particularly Allen, following suit with not exactly what we did with Spencer Havner, but more in that mindset. We feel we have some very talented football players and we know there is going to be some players that we are going to have to make some tough decisions on. We want to make sure we have as many opportunities throughout for as many guys that have that flexibility. You see Allen Barbre running down on a kickoff cover, it's pretty impressive. He's had a good offseason.
(How set is your roster at t..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - June 21 | Packers Story: (How did Tramon Williams look to you?)
I love your first questions. I look forward to them. Tramon Williams. I did not get a chance to watch him a whole lot. I watched him work out on Thursday. He's in excellent shape. I'll have more information when I watch the film. But I'm not concerned with where Tramon is right now. I think he'll be fine and ready to go when training camp starts, and we'll use these couple days here to get him up to speed.
(Good to have him back in the fold?)
Absolutely. Tramon Williams, he's one of our guys. He's a Green Bay Packer. He's someone that I've personally enjoyed watch grow from his time here, the way he came into our program and the individual success that he's had, and really for the bright future that's in front of him. It's great to have Tramon back.
(The mandatory mini-camp used to be a bigger deal. Is it a testament to the attendance you had in OTAs that this is a continuation of tha..
| | Packers Family Night Group Ticket Orders Due Monday | Packers Story: Click here for the Family Night Fact Sheet
Aug. 7 Event to Benefit Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program; General Ticket Sales Begin June 25
The Green Bay Packers on Saturday reminded interested parties that group ticket orders for 'Packers Family Night, Presented by Bellin Health,' are due Monday, June 21.
The group ticket program (minimum of 50 tickets) application form is available online here, in person at the Packers ticket office or can be requested to be faxed by calling 920/569-7501. Group ticket orders are restricted to approved groups and organizations, and are to be used for the sole purpose of accommodating a group or organizational outing. Resale is prohibited.
Space is limited for group orders. If the total number of tickets requested by groups exceeds the number of seats..
| | Packers Release Four Players | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have released CB Trevor Ford, S Khalil Jones, LB Tim Knicky and QB Noah Shepard. The transactions were announced Friday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Ford was signed as a non-drafted free agent in May 2009 and appeared in three games for the Packers last season. Jones spent the final two weeks of the 2009 season on the Packers' practice squad.
Both Knicky and Shepard were signed as non-drafted free agents in April 2010.
| | NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell To Attend Packers Annual Meeting | Packers Story: Will Visit With Shareholders and Answer Questions At July 29 Meeting At Lambeau Field
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be in attendance at the Green Bay Packers Annual Meeting of Shareholders, set for July 29, at 11 a.m. in Lambeau Field.
Information about the special visit from the commissioner was included in proxy information that was sent and e-mailed to shareholders this week. Shareholders are being asked to vote their proxies online in an effort to streamline the process and save resources.
Goodell is scheduled to answer questions submitted by shareholders after the conclusion of the meeting. Shareholders have the opportunity to submit questions when voting their proxies online, and also will be able to submit questions in writing the day of the meeting.
This year's meeting will mark the seventh time the event will be held in Lambeau Field (1998-99, 2006-09).
| | Tickets Still Available For 'Evening With Lombardi,' June 21, At Lambeau Field Atrium | Packers Story: Event To Feature Key Members Of The Creative Team For The Upcoming Broadway Production About The Life Of The Hall Of Fame Coach
Tickets remain available for the special event, "An Evening with Lombardi," on Monday night, June 21, at 7 p.m. in the Legends Club of the Lambeau Field Atrium.
Tickets can be picked up, for a $10 donation, in person at the Packers' ticket office. On Monday, June 21, the ticket office will be open until 6:30 p.m. Cash or checks only will be accepted. Proceeds from the evening will benefit area theater groups.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the unique event which will feature key figures from the upcoming Broadway play, "Lombardi," talking about the production and the life of the legendary former Packers coach Vince Lombardi in a very intimate setting. The play is set to open on Broadway, in New York's Circle in the Square Theater, on Oct. 21.
The evening's participants will include:
Veteran actor Dan Lau..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - June 16 | Packers Story: (Most of OTAs in the book, where are you at?)
Most of the OTAs in the book ... well, we've probably got about 85 percent of our offensive and defensive schemes in. We'll have one more installation tomorrow, and those installations will be mirrored in the training camp practice schedules. Everybody will have been introduced to all the new concepts and everything we're trying to accomplish by the end of tomorrow's practice, and we'll go into the mini-camp and we will go back and review installs one through nine.
(Have you had any recent conversations with Tramon Williams and do you expect him next week?)
Tramon, Atari, I really have no new information for you. As we spoke last week, Johnny Jolly has signed his tender. I have excused Johnny from mini-camp next week. We feel it's important for him to concentrate on his legal situation. But I have nothing new to report on either Tramon or Atari today.
(So you don't know if they..
| | Packers, Bellin Health Offer 5k Run At Lambeau Field July 31 | Packers Story: Computer-Timed Route Includes Lap Around Lambeau Field
The Green Bay Packers and Bellin Health today announced details for the inaugural 5K Run at Lambeau Field, set for the morning of the Packers' first day of training camp, July 31.
The computer-timed run, which begins at 10 a.m., is highlighted by a neighborhood route that ultimately takes participants into Lambeau Field and around the famed gridiron. The event has a special finish line located in the parking lot - a replica of the team's 50-yard line, which will be created on a partially sized natural grass field, painted to mirror Lambeau Field on game day.
"As our players get training camp underway, runners and walkers can participate in their own way through the 5K," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "The start of training camp is an energizing time. We're excited to add this healthy-minded event as part of the kickoff weekend."
Bellin Health will be contributing its cons..
| | Packers To Host 'Evening With Lombardi,' June 21, At Lambeau Field Atrium | Packers Story: Event To Feature Key Members Of The Creative Team For The Upcoming Broadway Production About The Life Of The Hall Of Fame Coach
Limited Tickets Available To The Public Monday In Person At Packers' Ticket Office; Proceeds To Benefit Area Theatre Groups
The Green Bay Packers announced today that they will host a special event for fans and the community, "An Evening with Lombardi," on Monday night, June 21, at 7 p.m. in the Legends Club of the Lambeau Field Atrium.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. for the unique event which will feature key figures from the upcoming Broadway play, "Lombardi," talking about the production and the life of the legendary former Packers coach Vince Lombardi in a very intimate setting. The play is set to open on Broadway, in New York's Circle in the Square Theater, on Oct. 21.
The evening's participants will include:
Veteran actor Dan Lauria ('The Wonder Years') who will play the legendary coach
Pulitzer ..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - June 9 | Packers Story: (There are a lot of padded practices early on in training camp again this year. Do you like the tone it sets?)
The training camp schedule is very similar, especially the first three weeks comparing to last year's training camp schedule. The number of padded practices that we had last year to the prior year is all the same. Now, once we get into the preseason games with Cleveland at home and Seattle away, and then we go to a short week at home against Indianapolis on Thursday night. We will then transfer into more of an in-season schedule. But I really like our training camp schedule, the 2-1-2 program. Our environment, in my opinion, is second to none. The new stadium down there with the fans and the night practices, it is a great environment and we look for quality, physical work again this year.
(How do you like the spacing of the preseason games?)
I'd prefer seven days between every game. If it was up to me I would play four on Saturd..
| | Packers 2010 Training Camp Schedule | Packers Story: 2010 Training Camp Announcement
Printable Training Camp Schedule (PDF)
2010 TRAINING CAMP PRACTICE DATES AND TIMES
All dates, times and dress are subject to change.
*Any practices moved inside to the Don Hutson Center due to inclement weather, poor field conditions or for any other reason will be closed to the public due to space limitations. All other practices listed are expected to be open unless listed otherwise. All outdoor practices are expected to be held on Ray Nitschke Field (across from the Resch Center). Type of practice (pads or shells) is subject to change without notice.
DayDatePractice Times
SaturdayJuly 312:00 p.m. - full pads
SundayAugust 18:45 a.m. - full pads
6:30 p.m. - full pads
MondayAugust 22:00 p.m. - full pads
TuesdayAu..
| | Schedule Set For Packers Training Camp, Presented By Bellin Health | Packers Story: Visit www.PackersTrainingCamp.com for more training camp information!
2010 Training Camp Schedule
Printable Training Camp Schedule (PDF)
**
Action Kicks Off Saturday, July 31, At 2 P.M.
The Green Bay Packers today announced the schedule for 2010 Packers Training Camp, Presented by Bellin Health, featuring seven two-a-days and eight night practices at Ray Nitschke Field.
With a theme of "Back to Football," training camp opens with a single practice at 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 31. The first of seven two-a-day workouts follows Sunday, Aug. 1, with a morning practice at 8:45 a.m. and an evening workout at 6:30 p.m.
The other two-a-days, all with the same practice times of 8:45 a.m. and 6:30 p.m...
| | 'Packers Family Night, Presented By Bellin Health,' Set For Saturday, Aug. 7 | Packers Story: Click here for the Family Night Fact Sheet
Event to Benefit Wendy's Wonderful Kids Program
The Green Bay Packers today announced that 'Packers Family Night, Presented by Bellin Health,' will take place Saturday evening, Aug. 7. The event will benefit the Wendy's Wonderful Kids foster care adoption program, a signature program of the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.
'Family Night,' now in its 10th year, will feature an intra-squad scrimmage between the Packers' offense and defense. Evening activities get underway in the stadium at 5:30 p.m., followed by on-field football drills at 6:30 and the scrimmage at approximately 7:30.
"We're very pleased to have a great partner, Bellin Health, join us in one of our unique training camp traditions, 'Packers Family Night,'" said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "It's exciting to welcome families into Lambeau Field ..
| | Finances Show Profit, But Troubling Trends Remain | Packers Story: RISE OF PLAYER COSTS RELATIVE TO REVENUE A GROWING CONCERN
The Green Bay Packers once again were profitable over the past fiscal year, but their operating profit dropped more than 50 percent from the previous year as the rising cost of player salaries continued to outpace revenue growth.
In the team's latest financial report, a preview of which was released to the media this week, the Packers' operating profit for the 2010 fiscal year (ending March 31, 2010), was $9.8 million, down from $20.1 million the year prior. The primary reason for the decline, despite a $10.1 million increase in overall revenue, was a $22.1 million jump in player costs, which increased 15.9 percent from $138.7 million to $160.8 million. It marked the third consecutive year that operating profits declined, from $34.2 million (2007) to $21.4 million (2008) to $20.1 million (2009) to $9.8 million (2010).
That's the trend the Packers have pointed to as unsustainable - declining o..
| | Memories Of A Packers Hall Of Famer: Mark Chmura | Packers Story: Former Green Bay Packers tight end Mark Chmura is among three 2010 inductees into the team's Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is slated for Saturday, July 17.
A sixth-round selection in 1992 from Boston College, Chmura spent eight seasons in Green Bay (1992-99) and appeared in 89 games with 62 starts. He posted 188 receptions for 2,253 yards and 17 touchdowns during his career, with his reception and touchdown totals ranking fourth all-time among Packers tight ends.
Chmura earned All-Pro honors in 1995, was a three-time Pro Bowl selection (1995, 1997-98), and was a key contributor to the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI and XXXII teams. Packers.com caught up with Chmura to ask him to share with fans his recollections of the most memorable game in which he played for Green Bay, aside from the two Super Bowls.
It wasn't a game that led directly to a Super Bowl, at least not that year, but it was a pivotal one in the Packers' progression toward an NFL champ..
| | Memories Of A Packers Hall Of Famer: Greg Koch | Packers Story: Former Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Greg Koch is among three 2010 inductees into the team's Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is slated for Saturday, July 17.
A second-round draft choice in 1977 from the University of Arkansas, Koch played nine seasons (1977-85) in Green Bay, appearing in 133 games. A fixture at right tackle almost immediately upon his arrival, he was a second-team All-Pro selection following the 1982 season and was part of one of the greatest offenses in club history when the Packers amassed 6,172 yards in 1983, the second-best output ever in club annals.
Packers.com caught up with Koch to get his recollections on a couple of the more memorable games in his Green Bay career.
The 1982 season is remembered league-wide as one shortened to nine regular-season games by a strike, but for the Green Bay Packers and Greg Koch, it became a historic and memorable season for a completely different reason.
The Packers made the..
| | Getting To Know A Draft Pick: Andrew Quarless | Packers Story: To help Packers fans get to know the newest members of the team better, Packers.com caught up with each of the seven 2010 draft picks for an extended Q&A about their background, both on and off the field.
The interviews are being posted as a weekly series, continuing today with fifth-round selection Andrew Quarless of Penn State.
Where is your hometown, and what is the most interesting thing about it?
My hometown is Uniondale, which is in Long Island, N.Y. It is right outside New York City, so you are right next to the city.
Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
I usually say my own prayer. I usually listen to slow music to calm me down, because sometimes you get too excited and then by the time you get out there you are tired. I just try to calm down mentally and say my prayer.
What has been your greatest accomplishment on the football field?
We played in the Rose Bowl my junior year on t..
| | Return Game Looks To Improve On '09 | Packers Story: As the Green Bay Packers look at their return game for 2010, they see both promise and uncertainty, and that goes for both punt and kickoff returns.
On punt returns, it starts with Will Blackmon. There's plenty of promise there, as Blackmon returned three punts for touchdowns during the 2007-08 seasons, but no one can be certain how well he'll come back from the knee injury that ended his 2009 campaign after just four games.
"We're talking about a guy that's coming off major knee surgery, but we also are talking about a guy that's had very good production for us as a returner," special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum said. "Taking that he's healthy, we'll move forward, and I expect him to be a real factor there."
All reports throughout the spring indicated that Blackmon would be ready for the start of training camp. With Blackmon out last year, receiver Jordy Nelson averaged just 5.3 yards on 17 punt returns. Cornerback Tramon Williams nearly doubled that av..
| | Memories Of A Packers Hall Of Famer: Marv Fleming | Packers Story: Former Green Bay Packers tight end Marv Fleming is among three 2010 inductees into the team's Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony is slated for Saturday, July 17.
An 11th-round draft choice from Utah in 1963, Fleming played seven seasons (1963-69) in a Packers uniform, appearing in 95 games - fifth most in club history among tight ends. As a tremendous blocker, he was a key component of the Packers' vaunted sweep. He also recorded 109 receptions for 1,300 yards and 12 touchdowns during his Packers career.
He was a key player for the Packers' three straight championship teams (1965-67), appearing in Super Bowls I and II. Packers.com caught up with Fleming to ask him to share with fans his recollections of the most memorable game in which he played for Green Bay, aside from the two Super Bowls.
When Packers fans reflect on or hear about the 1967 season, most of the attention is immediately focused on the famous "Ice Bowl" against the Dallas Cowboys an..
| | Destined To Be Great In Four Seconds | Packers Story: In a matter of four seconds, the quarterback must make a throw with pin point accuracy to keep his team moving down the field. One-one thousand, the quarterback drops back in the pocket. Two-one thousand, his receivers break off their routes. Three-one thousand, the quarterback scrambles to his right and scans the field for an open receiver. Four-one thousand, the buzzer goes off just after he releases the ball.
Those four seconds and the pressure to guide their team to the NFL 7-on-7 National Tournament, presented by the National Guard, is what eight quarterbacks and their teammates faced on Sat., June 19, at the Packers' second annual Youth Football Tournament inside the Don Hutson Center.
After a round-robin portion of the bracket, Ashwaubenon worked its way through a single-elimination bracket and pulled out an exciting 48-42 overtime victory against Edgar. The second-seeded Jaguars used a superb defensive effort, prior to completing a heart-pounding fourth-and-..
| | Getting To Know A Draft Pick: Marshall Newhouse | Packers Story: To help Packers fans get to know the newest members of the team better, Packers.com caught up with each of the seven 2010 draft picks for an extended Q&A about their background, both on and off the field.
The interviews are being posted as a weekly series, continuing today with fifth-round selection Marshall Newhouse of TCU.
Where is your hometown, and what is the most interesting thing about it?
I'm from Dallas, but I'm from a community in Dallas called Lake Highlands. As a high school, at one point we had the most NFL players from one high school in the nation. We have a pretty well-renowned football program at Lake Highlands. Guys like Frank Okam (defensive tackle, Houston Texans) and Marcus Coleman (former defensive back for the Jets, Texans and Cowboys) made it. We've had a few guys here and there, and at one point there were seven or eight guys from our high school in the league. It was pretty cool.
Do you have any pre-game..
| | 'Evening With Lombardi' Intrigued Packers Fans | Packers Story: Less than a handful of times people can recall when sports and theatre have mixed. The yet-to-be-released play 'Lombardi' - based on David Maraniss' impressive biography When Pride Still Mattered - was talked and discussed in detail Monday evening at Lambeau Field, amongst Packers fans of all ages.
To show how important and inspiring this Broadway play is to the people of Green Bay, Dan Lauria received a standing ovation after he finished a brief portrayal of Vince Lombardi's speech in an opening scene. The crowd rose, clapped and cheered when he ended with, "We only want winners."
This original piece will bring the art and sports audience together to watch one of the most iconic Americans of the 20th century, Vince Lombardi.
A long time coming, this historic play opens Oct. 21 at Circle in the Square in New York, and is about one of the most famous men in Green Bay history and quite possibly NFL coaching history. The man who will be representing the..
| | Lang Eager To Make Up For Missed Offseason | Packers Story: Simply put, offensive lineman T.J. Lang has done his best to make the most of a difficult situation.
Geared up like many second-year pros are for their first full offseason program in the NFL, Lang reported with the rest of the Packers' participants in mid-March and got to work. But within the first two weeks of workouts, the wrist that had begun bothering Lang toward the end of last season was flaring up again.
So he went to have another round of tests done on it and, lo and behold, a fracture that had not been visible on previous scans was suddenly present. So Lang was scheduled for surgery in early April and ruled out of all the spring organized team activities (OTAs) and recently concluded mini-camp.
Just like that, the opportunity to be in his first offseason program, a time coaches swear helps players make their biggest jumps from Year 1 to Year 2 in the NFL, was gone.
"It was pretty disappointing," Lang said. "I was expecting to have a prett..
| | Getting To Know A Draft Pick: James Starks | Packers Story: To help Packers fans get to know the newest members of the team better, Packers.com caught up with each of the seven 2010 draft picks for an extended Q&A about their background, both on and off the field.
The interviews will be posted as a weekly series, continuing today with sixth-round selection James Starks from Buffalo.
Where is your hometown, and what is the most interesting thing about it?
Niagara Falls is where I'm from. For it to be such a small town, I would say there's a lot to do. As far as sports and everything, you can keep yourself busy.
Do you have any pre-game rituals or superstitions?
I usually listen to some gospel music first, and then I'll listen to some R&B, and then I'll listen to some rap. The gospel music kind of soothes you, the R&B you start getting in the mood a little more, and then rap just takes over when it's about that time to play. Since high school, I felt comfortable every game doing tha..
| | Packers Shock Winners With Road Trip Giveaway | Packers Story: Is this a scam? Do you really work for the Green Bay Packers? Is this a joke? I am not giving my social security number to a telemarketer because there has to be a catch. This has to be a hoax. Prove to me that I am really the winner of two tickets, roundtrip airfare and a hotel room for two nights to a randomly selected Green Bay Packers road game this season.
Those are just a few thoughts that ran through the minds of Tracy Dahl and Tina Uecker when they received a call from Garrison Cummings and the Packers Pro Shop. Those two, along with six others, were the lucky few drawn from over 63,000 entries in the contest.
"When I signed up, I did not think that I had a chance of winning at all," Uecker said. "I truly didn't believe that people actually won those internet contests. But, I love the Packers, so thought that it would be worth a shot.
"I thought it was a hoax. I think I asked Garrison four times if it was for real and what the catch was. He assured ..
| | Notebook: Receivers Take Strides During Offseason | Packers Story: With more snaps to be had during OTAs and mini-camp with the No. 1 offense, fourth-year wide receiver James Jones and third-year wideout Jordy Nelson both made the most of their opportunities.
Those increased reps came courtesy of wide receiver Donald Driver's absence after the 35-year-old veteran had clean-up procedures on both of his knees this offseason.
"I think James Jones and Jordy Nelson have had outstanding offseasons," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "If you go through the OTA films, James Jones, just from a production standpoint, probably stands out as one of the top performers through the OTAs. He's gotten a lot of opportunities, particularly in the slot with Donald's absence, and I think he's done a very good job of that.
"I think Jordy's had some outstanding days of practice and is very fundamentally sound. So that group has a lot of experience, the tight end group, they have a lot of experience together. I really like the perimeter group, just..
| | Woodson Taking Nothing For Granted | Packers Story: As cornerback Charles Woodson enters his 13th season in the NFL still chasing that elusive championship, his perspective is worth listening to.
Having been a member of five playoff teams during his 12 combined years in Oakland and Green Bay, Woodson knows as well as anyone that there are no guarantees in this league.
He was a member of the Raiders' 2002 Super Bowl team that failed to make the playoffs the following season. And he was on the Packers' 2007 team that reached the NFC Championship Game and didn't go to the postseason the next year.
So when Woodson reflects on the 2009 Packers' squad that was as hot as any team in the NFC in the second half of last season -- only to fall agonizingly short in overtime in the Wild Card playoff in Arizona -- and on the foundation that experience can lay for another potential playoff run in 2010, he's not going to believe everything will just magically fall into place.
It's going to take more than that, and ..
| | Notebook: Jenkins Keeps Expanding His Game | Packers Story: Throughout his career with the Green Bay Packers, defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins has made himself valuable with his versatility.
Beginning in 2004, Jenkins proved to be a productive defensive tackle in the previous 4-3 alignment, stuffing the run and rushing the passer from the inside. Then late in the 2006 season, he shifted out to defensive end on early downs and maintained his role as an inside rusher in the nickel package.
Last season he made the switch to defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme as an end in the base defense and, again, an inside rusher in sub packages.
Now his repertoire is expanding even further, as Jenkins took a handful of snaps in Monday's mini-camp practice as a stand-up outside linebacker, rushing the passer on the edge from a two-point stance.
"It's always good to feel like your game is respected enough where they'll even consider to do things like that, especially being a big guy at 300-plus pounds," Jenkins sai..
| | Williams Returns To Action | Packers Story: With the Packers in their final week of offseason practices before a month off until training camp begins, the team welcomed the return of one of their most dependable players in cornerback Tramon Williams.
Williams, who didn't sign his restricted free agent tender until last week, was back on the field for the first time this offseason and worked with the No. 1 defense at right cornerback on the opening day of Green Bay's mandatory mini-camp.
"I felt great," Williams said. "I felt better than I thought I was going to feel, so it was a good thing."
Williams did not participate in the Packers' four weeks of organized team activities, instead working out back in Houston with LeRoy Franklin, a trainer he also worked with coming out of college back in 2006.
"I watched him work out on Thursday," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "He's in excellent shape. I'll have more information when I watch the film. But I'm not concerned with where Tramon is right now...
| | Defense Eager To Employ New Tweaks To Scheme | Packers Story: Offseason workouts in the NFL can be a real grind. There are no games to look forward to, and there are no pads and no hitting to spice up the practice action.
But talk to a few of the Green Bay Packers' defensive players and there's definitely some excitement swirling as the offseason winds down with next week's mini-camp. That energy stems from what they see as a potentially expanded playbook in the second year of defensive coordinator Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme.
"We went through the first half of these OTAs and we were just kind of rehashing memory from last year, but now we're learning new defenses," second-year outside linebacker Clay Matthews said. "We're trying to implement new ideas and schemes to see ways in which we can beat teams that we fell short (against) last year.
"We're light years ahead of where we were last year and we look forward to start using all these plays we're putting in."
No scheme stays exactly the same from year to year. C..
| | Two Mini-Camp Practices Open To Public | Packers Story: Fans have one last chance to see the Packers practice before training camp begins later this summer.
The team's three-day mandatory mini-camp begins on Monday, and the first two practices are open to the public, weather permitting. The workouts are scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday at Ray Nitschke Field.
The mini-camp officially concludes the team's offseason program, which began in mid-March. The players take approximately five weeks off before reporting for training camp on July 30. The first training camp practice is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 31, at Nitschke Field.
| | Notebook: Starks Looking To Make His Mark | Packers Story: Rookie running back James Starks last played in a game more than 18 months ago, and he knows questions about his durability will linger until he gets back on the field and stays there.
Starks, who was selected by the Packers in the sixth round of this year's draft out of the University at Buffalo, sat out his entire senior campaign following shoulder surgery last August. While that missed time surely caused his draft stock to plummet, Starks said he is pain-free and is trying to look at the positive side of the year away from game action.
"People look at it as if, 'Man, he didn't play a whole season,'" Starks said. "I have to look at it as a good thing. I didn't take any bangs and I got to work out and get stronger, building my strength and endurance as far as my shoulders and everything. I should be fine."
Starks entered his senior year as a preseason All-America and All-Mid-American Conference selection. He was originally limited by the shoulder injury i..
| | Competitive Training Camp Shaping Up In Secondary | Packers Story: Seeing cornerback Charles Woodson taking part in Wednesday's open OTA practice on Ray Nitschke Field was a return to normalcy of sorts for the Packers' secondary, but it was also a reminder of just how different that unit could look come training camp.
During OTAs over the past month, young players like Pat Lee and Brandon Underwood, along with veteran Jarrett Bush, have taken the vast majority of first-team reps at cornerback, as have veteran Pro Bowler Nick Collins and rookie third-round draft choice Morgan Burnett at safety.
That has left the second and third units to be filled out by a slew of rookies and other young players trying to make their mark. The OTAs have provided a significant opportunity for cornerbacks Josh Bell, Trevor Ford, D.J. Clark and Sam Shields, along with safeties Charlie Peprah, Anthony Levine and Khalil Jones, to get noticed.
But that depth chart is almost certain to change, and perhaps dramatically so. The list of defensive back..
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| Leftwich, Hardesty injured in preseason finales (AP) | First, no Ben Roethlisberger. Now, maybe no Byron Leftwich for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dennis Dixon, you're up next. Leftwich, expected to be the fill-in starter for the suspended Roethlisberger at quarterback for the Steelers, sprained his left knee in the second quarter as Pittsburgh (3-1) beat the starter-less Carolina Panthers 19-3 in the preseason finale Thursday night.
| | Reason for concerns: NFC North (SportingNews.com) | A capsule look at reasons for concern among teams in the NFC North: Chicago Bears 1. Offensive line. Poor line play could prevent coordinator Mike Martz's offense from taking hold. QB Jay Cutler has been sacked 10 times, leading to only 14 first-team points in 16 possessions. Breakdowns have come largely at both tackle spots, but the Bears must rely on inexperienced Chris Williams and Frank Omiyale because backup Kevin Shaffer offers only a short-term replacement possibility.
| | NFL Preseason Capsules (AP) | With the controversy swirling ahead of him on the Arizona quarterback depth chart, Max Hall wrapped up his preseason with a big night. The undrafted rookie from BYU completed 7 of 9 passes for 126 yards and scored on a 6-yard run in the Cardinals' 20-10 victory Thursday night over Washington. Hall directed Arizona to two TDs and a field goal in his three possessions.
| | Thursday's National Football League Capsules (PA SportsTicker) | With the controversy swirling ahead of him on the Arizona quarterback depth chart, Max Hall wrapped up his preseason with a big night.
| | Chiefs finally get preseason win, 17-13 (AP) | It took two years and five days, but finally Todd Haley and Kansas City have beaten somebody in the preseason. Helped perhaps by Green Bay's decision not to dress three key starters, the Chiefs took a 14-0 lead and held on Thursday night for a 17-13 victory over the team that many are making the favorite in the NFC.
| | Five unanswered preseason questions (Yahoo! Sports) | The final week of the 2010 preseason is upon us, though this will be to football what John Beck is to Rex...
| | Packers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports) | | The Packers will carry an air of supreme confidence into the season.
Open talk and even printed T-shirts compliments of linebacker Nick Barnett that expressed the Super Bowl aspirations harbored by the team at the start of training camp in late July was backed up by what was accomplished on the field the ensuing five weeks.
The Aaron Rodgers-led offense took center stage, running the defenses of the Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts ragged in the first three preseason games. With yards through the air and points aplenty for the starting group, plenty of people have taken notice, including those of an influential ilk. "He had a really good year last year and has a lot of weapons," Colts quarterback Peyton Manning said of Rodgers, who threw...
| | Clarett confident of success; won't discuss past (PA SportsTicker) | By ERIC OLSON AP Sports Writer
| | Packers have the goods to copy Saints' magic (SportingNews.com) | The NFL is a copycat league, and most everyone wants to be a carbon copy of one team in particular -- last season's Super Bowl champions. The New Orleans Saints won it all with the combination of an explosive, high-scoring offense and an aggressive defense. In the unpredictable NFC, they also were the conference's ninth different champion in as many years. Based on that formula, the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings can be considered strong contenders.
| | In the NFL, who is this year's ... (SportingNews.com) | While the Green Bay Packers try to do their best New Orleans Saints impersonation, here are six more potential doppelgangers to watch: ... Miles Austin? Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers. Now a starter, he has the hands, speed and big-play ability to have a Pro Bowl breakthrough in his second year. "With Hines Ward working the other side, he steps into the role that Santonio Holmes had, stretching the field as a deep threat," former Steelers coach Bill Cowher said.
| | Fitz's final preseason draft board (ProFootballWeekly.com) | Pat Fitzmaurice, a winner of the FantasyPros Top 5 Accuracy Award, offers up his third and final draft board of...
| | Pre-season finale a chance for Packers QBs (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - Aaron Rodgers knows from experience that it isn't easy to live life as an understudy in the NFL.
| | NFL team reports: What we learned in the NFC North (SportingNews.com) | What SN's NFC North correspondents learned watching training camp and exhibition games: CHICAGO BEARS 1. It is obvious after three preseason games that mastering coordinator Mike Martz?s offense is going to be a season-long project. Execution has been spotty, and players have cited numerous mental mistakes by everyone from the linemen to QB Jay Cutler to the receivers. It?s a complicated attack being taught under time pressure and the win-or-else ultimatum facing the coaching staff.
| | Preseason finale a chance for Packers' backup QBs (PA SportsTicker) | By CHRIS JENKINS AP Sports Writer
| | Colts' center hopes to be ready for season opener (AP) | Jeff Saturday spent Tuesday night walking around, signing autographs at Woodland Bowl. It was just the sight Peyton Manning was hoping to see at his annual bowling tournament. The four-time Pro Bowl center returned to practice for the first time since Aug. 20, and several hours later said he could be ready to start the season-opener Sept.
| | Packers place DBs Harris, Bibgy on PUP list (SportingNews.com) | The Green Bay Packers on Tuesday placed cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby on the physically unable to perform list. Each will miss the team?s first six games. Harris is recovering from the knee surgery late last season. Bigby had ankle surgery during training camp. Tramon Williams will start in Harris' place. Rookie Morgan Burnett is expected to fill in for Bigby. "Defensively, we feel good about what we were able to put in and tailor to our players," coach Mike McCarthy told USA Today.
| | Bryant's preseason misses have Falcons worried (AP) | Matt Bryant knows how fickle the kicking profession can be. He's made nearly 82 percent of the field-goal attempts in his career. Still, three misses in the preseason -- including an extra point -- have the Atlanta Falcons worrying about another uncertain season in the kicking game. "That's one of many concerns I have," coach Mike Smith said Tuesday.
| | Al Harris, Atari Bigby to open season on PUP list (The National Football Post) | The Green Bay Packers got down to the 75-man limit today by announcing that three players will remain on the...
| | Harris, Bigby start season on reserve for Packers (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers will begin the regular season without two standouts in their secondary.
| | PFW's preseason draft board (ProFootballWeekly.com) | The draft board below will be updated until the start of the regular season. Quarterbacks Rk.
| | NFL team reports: NFC North breakout players (SportingNews.com) | SN correspondents identify three players from each team who are poised to step up their games this season: Chicago Bears S Major Wright. The rookie only played in one preseason game before breaking a finger, but he is an immediate breakout candidate because of his nose for the ball and hitting ability. The injury won?t slow him much; he has been practicing without contact while missing games. He could start soon because Chris Harris and Danieal Manning have struggled.
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| Last chance for Packers' bubble players | Two Green Bay Packers who made their case to stick around with not a second to lose were wide receiver Brett Swain and running back Kregg Lumpkin.
| | Trade talk centers on Spitz | The Green Bay Packers have received one or more calls asking if offensive lineman Jason Spitz is available in a trade, while other teams are waiting to see whether he or teammate Evan Dietrich-Smith will be released on Saturday, NFL sources said this week.
| | How they scored |
FIRST QUARTER
| | Several starters sit, offense struggles in loss |
Green Bay's offense - minus several starters including quarterback Aaron Rodgers - got just one touchdown as the Packers fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 17-13, Thursday night in the final exhibition game for both teams. Roster cuts are Saturday. Review the game in our blog.
| | Packers hardly bother in last exhibition game | On Thursday night the Packers closed their 2010 exhibition campaign in listless fashion with a 17-13 loss to the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.
| | Packers may deal backup tackle | The Green Bay Packers traded one former tight end turned tackle at the final cut last year and probably will have chances to deal another Saturday.
| | Packers' Williams ready to get started | Now that Al Harris officially has been ruled out of the Packers' first six regular-season games, Tramon Williams officially is the starting right cornerback for a team confident that a Super Bowl berth awaits in February. Never before has the modest Williams entered a season like this.
| | Preview: Packers vs. Chiefs | Basics; five things to watch
| | Pickett making the best of moving to end | For the last four years, Ryan Pickett had been Green Bay's run-stuffing, block-absorbing nose tackle. But the coaches had to find a way to get last year's first-round draft pick, B.J. Raji, on the field, and that means putting him at nose, his best spot. By promoting Raji to starting nose, they had to slide Pickett to left defensive end this summer.
| | Rookie tight end Quarless hopes to emulate Finley | Packers rookie tight end Andrew Quarless does not suffer from a lack of confidence. Asked if he thought he could be as good as teammate Jermichael Finley, Quarless didn't hesitate: "I think so. Finley's a great player. Me and him talk about it all the time, just being the best together and taking this league by storm."
| | Tuesday training camp report |
THUMBS UP
| | Packers put Harris, Bigby on PUP list | The Packers placed cornerback Al Harris, safety Atari Bigby and rookie running back James Starks on the physically unable to perform list. Also, rookie running back Quinn Porter was put on injured reserve.
| | Monday camp report | If three exhibition games mean anything, and in this case they most assuredly do, TE Jermichael Finley isn't going to be spending much time standing next to coach Mike McCarthy. He's too good.
| | Packers' Jones says shoulder not a problem | Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Brad Jones downplayed the fact he has been fitted for a shoulder harness that will be a regular part of his outfit for the time being and insisted too big a deal is being made of it.
| | Packers give Chery a chance to return kicks, punts | The Jason Chery story is a good one. It'd become one for the ages if Chery should become another Desmond Howard. Chery, the Packers' sizzling new kick-return candidate, said Monday that he had no idea who Howard was. Fans in Wisconsin will never forget him.
| | Packers' Barnett rests up for regular season | Just three months past his 29th birthday, Packers linebacker Nick Barnett no longer treats perfect practice attendance as if it's the air he breathes.
| | Sunday training camp report | THUMBS UP
| | Harris injury creates a pickle in the nickel | The Packers know that Charles Woodson and Tramon Williams will be their starting cornerbacks in the season opener, but exactly who will play the critical nickel position is up in the air.
| | Masthay has another fine day | Given the booming punt he had in front of a national television audience Thursday night and the consistency he's shown all summer, Tim Masthay deserves to be called the front-runner in the Green Bay Packers' punter competition.
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