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| Packers Sign P Bryan | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed P Chris Bryan. The signing was announced Tuesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
A 6-foot-5, 210-pound rookie, Bryan played four seasons in the Australian Football League with Carlton Football Club (2005-06) and Collingwood Football Club (2007-08).
He will wear No. 9.
| | Packers' Hall, Jones, Underwood, Along With Associated Bank, Distributed 28,000 Cans Of Soup To 29 Wisconsin Food Pantries Tuesday | Packers Story: Soup From Eighth Consecutive Title In Campbell's Chunky 'Click For Cans' Contest
Food pantries across Wisconsin received the benefit of support from worldwide Packers fans on Tuesday as 28,000 cans were distributed as the bounty from an eighth consecutive win in the Campbell's Chunky soup's "Click for Cans" online food drive.
Associated Bank, a Packers corporate partner, joined the effort and donated an additional 10,000 cans to the cause, augmenting the 18,000 that were garnered with the victory.
Packers players Korey Hall, Brad Jones and Brandon Underwood led the effort to load up 28,000 cans for the 29 Wisconsin area food pantries that were present at the Associated Bank Gate on Lambeau Field's west side. Each pantry received about 1,000 cans. Approximately 335,000 people receive assistance from the pantries that received the soup.
Approximately 60 pantry representatives were on hand to take delivery of the food. Cath..
| | Packers Re-Sign Veteran T Tauscher | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have re-signed T Mark Tauscher to a contract through the 2011 season. The signing was announced Monday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
"Mark has been a consistent player for us and we are excited to reach this agreement," Thompson said. "He is a leader in our locker room and a fine representative of the team throughout his home state."
Originally drafted by Green Bay in the seventh round in 2000, Tauscher has spent his entire 10-year career with the Packers. He has played in 130 career games, including 128 starts.
| | Packers Art Proving Popular At Lambeau Field During National Youth Art Month | Packers Story: Youth Art Displays Drawing Rave Reviews In Hall Of Fame, Atrium
The Packers Hall of Fame and the Lambeau Field Atrium have had a decidedly artistic flair this month as National Youth Art Month is being celebrated with a variety of displays of works that had been submitted for the Hall of Fame's first-ever contest.
The Hall received 363 entries, in a variety of mediums, from throughout Wisconsin, from Superior to La Crosse to Racine. Approximately 120 pieces are on display, both in the Hall of Fame and on the main floor of the Atrium near Frozen in Time.
"It has been a lot of fun and we received many terrific entries," said Kris Broderick, Packers Hall of Fame educational coordinator. "We found out we have quite a number of budding Packers artists out there. We've been hearing many great comments about the displays. They've been very well received by our visitors."
Winners in the four categories were Samuel Hernandez, Oneida (grades K-..
| | Fans To Choose 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks Of All Time | Packers Story: Voting Begins on NFL.com on March 12; Top 10 All-Time Draft Picks Announced During 2010 NFL Draft
Jerry Rice, 1st Round, Pick 16. Emmitt Smith, 1st Round, Pick 17. Joe Montana, 3rd Round, Pick 82. Roger Staubach, 10th Round, Pick 129. Tom Brady, 6th Round, Pick 199.
They are considered among the greatest NFL players. But who is the Most Valuable Draft Pick?
In celebration of the 75th NFL Draft, which kicks off in primetime for the first time on Thursday, April 22, fans now can help choose the 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks of all time. Fans can vote for their choices at NFL.com now through April 18.
Following the conclusion of the fan vote, picks 11 - 75 will be announced from April 19 - April 22 on NFL.com and NFL Network. The top 10 greatest Draft picks then will be revealed during the 2010 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 pm ET. The Second..
| | Jim Becker Named 12th Member Of Packers Fan Hall Of Fame | Packers Story: Jim Becker of Racine, Wis., was named the 12th member of the Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame at Packers Fan Fest Friday at the Lambeau Field Atrium.
Becker, a long-time season-ticket holder who has attended games every year from 1952 through 2008, saw his first game in 1941 when he was 11-years-old. He was selected by fans from 10 finalists during a voting period that ran from Dec. 27, 2009, through Jan. 31, 2010. More than 40,000 votes were cast from throughout the United States and countries around the world.
A long-time and devoted fan, Becker's allegiance to the team was a factor in discovering a health condition that could have been life-threatening. From his submitted nomination, fans learned his story.
It reads, "Jim, now 79, along with his wife, Patricia, raised 11 children (all Packers fans). Needless to say, money was tight, but Jim had season tickets to pay for, but he wouldn't take money away from the family. So he found out he could sell his..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - March 12 | Packers Story: (How do you feel going forward with Brad Jones in Kampman's spot?)
Brad Jones I thought did a nice job in his opportunity, and definitely he'll have film that he can learn from. He definitely has the versatility that we're looking for in that position. It will be big for Brad and the rest of the rookie class and the second-year players to have a big offseason. That's what our blueprint has been with our football team. The ability for our younger players to grow and learn, the individual improvement that goes on March, April, May and June, no different than I've stood up here the last couple years talking about, and I think Brad Jones definitely has to be one of those players when we finish our OTAs at the end of June, that we definitely see take a big step.
(It's rare for a seventh-round guy to start and do so well. When did you notice you had something there?)
We were excited about Brad frankly when we drafted him. I know there was anot..
| | Packers Sign NT Pickett To Long-Term Contract Extension | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed nose tackle Ryan Pickett to a long-term contract extension through the 2013 season. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing Friday.
"We have continued to talk to Ryan and his representatives and are pleased we were able to sign Ryan to this extension," said Thompson. "He has been a key part of our success on defense, and we look forward to having Ryan be a part of our future in Green Bay."
A nine-year NFL veteran, Pickett recently completed his fourth season with the Packers. He totaled 47 tackles (25 solo) and one pass defensed in 2009 and was a key member of the Packers' top-ranked run defense.
He has seen action in 59 games for the Packers, including 55 starts.
| | Packers Sign S Collins To Long-Term Contract Extension | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed safety Nick Collins to a long-term contract extension through the 2013 season. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing Friday.
"The Packers always try to be proactive in our discussions with our current players and we are pleased we were able to come to an agreement with Nick," said Thompson. "Nick has been an impact player for us, and we look forward to having him continue his career as a Packer."
Collins was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl in 2009, becoming the first Packers safety to earn the honor in back-to-back seasons since LeRoy Butler (1996-98). His 13 interceptions since 2008 leads all safeties, while his 405 interception return yards tops all players over that time.
A second-round draft choice by the Packers in 2005, Collins has started all 77 games in which he has appeared over the past five seasons.
| | Packers Fan Fest Set For Friday, Saturday; Tickets Available | Packers Story: Coaches To Lead '101' Sessions, Third Jersey Unveiled, FAN Hall Of Fame Honoree Named
Packers fans are gearing up for this weekend's Fan Fest and will have a multitude of opportunities available to soak in their favorite team during the two-day event.
Friday's kickoff event includes interviews with Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, as well as the unveiling of the team's third jersey to be used this season and the naming of the 12th member of the Fan Hall of Fame. Packers coaches also will meet fans at the end of the evening.
Saturday will feature informative "101" programs that present different segments of the game. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will lead a "Defense 101" presentation to discuss the team's '3-4' defense. Joe Philbin (offense) Shawn Slocum (special teams) and Mark Lovat (strength and conditioning) will lead "101" sessions on their respective areas. Other "101" sessions will feature assistant athletic trainer Kurt Field..
| | Packers Sign WR Dillon | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed WR Charles Dillon. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson announced the signing Tuesday.
A 6-foot, 202-pound first-year player, Dillon spent time with the Indianapolis Colts during training camp in 2008. A former Washington State letterman, he spent the 2009 season with the Spokane Shock in af2.
He will wear No. 17.
| | Packers Re-Sign Veteran LT Clifton | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have re-signed LT Chad Clifton. The move was announced Saturday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
"We are happy to be able to have Chad as a member of the Packers," Thompson said. "He has been a valuable teammate and contributor to our team. We look forward to him continuing to work to help us build and prepare for a successful 2010 season."
Originally drafted by Green Bay in the second round in 2000, Clifton has played the past 10 seasons for the Packers. In that time, he has appeared in 143 games with 138 starts at left tackle (151 games and 146 starts including playoffs). He has missed just six games over the last seven years since returning from a devastating pelvic injury that ended his 2002 season. He went to the Pro Bowl following the 2007 campaign and has been named a Pro Bowl alternate on three other occasions, including last season.
| | Packers Release S Giordano And DE Montgomery | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have released S Matt Giordano and DE Michael Montgomery. The transactions were announced Friday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Giordano was signed Sept. 23, 2009, and appeared in five games during the regular season.
Montgomery, a sixth-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, appeared in 56 games over the course of five seasons with Green Bay.
| | Ryan Pickett, Aaron Taylor Added To Packers Fan Fest Lineup | Packers Story: Tickets Available For Event; New 'Fast Pass' Available Through Frontier Communications
Green Bay Packers nose tackle Ryan Pickett and former offensive lineman Aaron Taylor, a member of the Super Bowl XXXI team, have been added to the Packers Fan Fest lineup, the team announced Thursday.
The sixth annual event, set for March 12-13 in the Lambeau Field Atrium, will bring fans together with current and former Packers players for two days of exciting activities, including a new Kids Camp at the Don Hutson Center. Fan Fest is presented by Chevy and Goodwill.
Full lists of players appearing and additional event details are available online. Willie Davis is no longer appearing due to a schedule conflict.
New offering: Frontier Communications, a Packers Fan Fest partner, has a limited number of Fast Passes available to distribute that will permit ticketed Fan Fest attendees to go to..
| | 2010 NFL Free Agency Questions & Answers | Packers Story: Q. When can players start being signed in the 2010 free agency signing period?
A. Beginning at 12:01 AM ET on Friday, March 5.
Q. What are the categories of free agency?
A. Players are either "restricted" or "unrestricted" free agents. Within the categories are also "transition" and "franchise" players.
Q. What is the time period for free agency signings this year?
A. For restricted free agents, from March 5 to April 15. For unrestricted free agents who have received the June 1 tender from their prior Club, from March 5 to July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). For franchise players, from March 5 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the regular-season (November 16). If he does not sign by November 16, he must sit out the season. There are no transition player designations this year.
Q. What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unre..
| | Packers Issue Qualifying Offers | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have issued qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents, it was announced Wednesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Players receiving qualifying offers were S Atari Bigby, CB Will Blackmon, G Daryn Colledge, S Nick Collins, DE Johnny Jolly, FB John Kuhn, C/G Jason Spitz and CB Tramon Williams.
TE Spencer Havner, an exclusive-rights free agent, also was issued a one-year tender offer.
| | Packers Hall Of Fame Induction Banquet Presenters Announced | Packers Story: Karmazin To Present Chmura, Robinson To Present Fleming, McCarren To Present Koch
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. today announced the presenters for the 40th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, to be held the evening of July 17, 2010, in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Craig Karmazin will present Mark Chmura, Dave Robinson will present Marv Fleming and Larry McCarren will present Greg Koch.
The Hall of Fame that evening also will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first class to be inducted: Bernard "Boob" Darling, Lavvie Dilweg, Jug Earp, Cal Hubbard, Curly Lambeau, Verne Lewellen, Johnny (Blood) McNally and Mike Michalske.
Karmazin is a longtime friend of Chmura and with him co-hosts a weekly radio show, the Miller Lite Football Show, on ESPN Radio Milwaukee. Karmazin is president and CEO of Good Karma Broadcasting, a marketing enterprise with expertise in digital, mobile, event, radio, television partnerships, sponsorshi..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - Feb. 26 | Packers Story: (How have you divided your time down here so far?)
Well, I got in yesterday. I had an opportunity to go to the interviews last night, and I actually spent some time this morning on special teams, with our special teams play. Had a couple meetings this afternoon, and my favorite part of the day has arrived.
(Do you at this point have a sense of what you're going to do on the offensive line next season?)
You mean how we're going to line them up? I think it's too early to obviously set a starting lineup because, as much as I've talked about it the last four years, I'd like to have one set and like to see them practice together every day and play together all year. Obviously with Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, with their situations, we're not ready to have a starting lineup yet.
(Have you expressed to Ted you want both of those guys back?)
Definitely. We'd definitely like to have Chad and Mark back. You can never..
| | Ted Thompson Press Conference Transcript - Feb. 26 | Packers Story: (If there is no salary cap, there could be more than 200 players becoming restricted free agents rather than unrestricted. Is there potential for discontent, that a large number of those guys will be unhappy, increasing the possibility of missing mini-camps, OTAs and other things?)
I think that would be better addressed to those particular players in those circumstances. I think, you use the word discontent, I think there would be a certain amount of discontent on everybody's part with any sort of labor unrest or difficulties that we may or may not be going through.
(Do you know exactly what you want to do with contracts in 2011, 2012, or are you still figuring that out?)
We've been in ongoing conversations about what strategies the organization might take. We haven't really firmed all that up yet though.
(Are you surprised so many of the top quarterback prospects aren't working out?)
Quite frankly I've been r..
| | Franchise Players Named | Packers Story: Franchise player designations were announced for the 2010 NFL free agency signing period that begins on March 5.
In 2010, a club may designate a franchise player or a transition player in lieu of a franchise player, as well as one additional transition player.
The salary offer by a player's club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive.
An "exclusive" franchise player - not free to sign with another club - is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of April 15, 2010 or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season - whichever of the three is greater.
If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater, he becomes a "non-ex..
| | Playoff OT Change On Owners' Meeting Agenda | Packers Story: A proposal to change the current sudden-death overtime format only in postseason games is expected to be voted upon next week at the annual NFL owners' meeting in Orlando, Fla., but at this point there's no concrete sense as to whether it has enough votes to pass.
Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, co-chair of the NFL's competition committee along with Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, said in a conference call with national media on Wednesday that he can't gauge at this point whether the proposal - which would require both teams to get at least one possession in overtime unless the team getting the ball first scores a touchdown - can garner the required 75 percent majority (24 of 32 votes).
But he expects the debate to be lively and spirited, particularly because last season's NFC Championship Game between Minnesota and New Orleans was decided on a first-possession overtime field goal by the Saints, while the Vikings never got the ball.
"In the p..
| | Poppinga Explores Business School | Packers Story: Linebacker Brady Poppinga is about as obsessed with the game of football as any player in the Green Bay Packers' locker room.
But Poppinga is also a realist, and he knows he won't be able to play the game he loves forever.
That's why he took the opportunity last month to enroll in the NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program, attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania for four days to study, among other things, commercial real estate.
The program is part of an ongoing NFL-NFLPA initiative to help prepare players for their post-playing careers, and more than 500 players have taken part since the program's inception in 2005. There's also an annual program at Harvard Business School.
Poppinga chose Wharton because of his interest in real estate, something he's become intrigued with while learning about the collapse and ongoing recovery of the nation's economy. The Wharton program featured 10-hour days of lectures, group ..
| | Work Begins For 2010 With Offseason Program | Packers Story: It's time to get back to work.
Players returned to Lambeau Field on Monday for the start of the offseason program, which begins with a dedicated period of strength and conditioning workouts and concludes in late June with the three-day, full-squad mini-camp.
Here's a breakdown of some of the changes and focal points for the offseason program in 2010.
New schedule, new wall
The offseason schedule is broken up more than in past years, giving the players a full week off at two different junctures.
The first phase of the program is a five-week block of strength and conditioning work, in both the team's weight room and the Don Hutson Center, with players training four days per week. Then they'll take one week off before returning for another four-week stretch.
The last of those four weeks will be the first week of organized team activities (OTAs) before another week off. Then the final four-week block will feature three weeks of OTAs..
| | Fan Fest's Interactions Provide Excitement | Packers Story: It may only be March, but the up-close-and-personal atmosphere of the sixth annual Packers Fan Fest - held Friday and Saturday at Lambeau Field - has Green Bay fans of all ages and from all locations excited and ready to get the upcoming season underway.
Just ask Wayne Spletter, a 66-year-old from Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., who attended his third-ever Packers Fan Fest on Saturday.
"It's a great way to get everyone excited for the season," Spletter said. "I told my wife the other day that I love summer, but I wish it was already over so Packers season would start again. I think the atmosphere of coming to Lambeau for an event like this is so great - there's so much passion for this team here."
Spletter, along with more than 2,200 other Green Bay fans, was able to interact with several players and coaches, past and present, as well as many other members of the Packers family. Fans had the opportunity to collect autographs, listen to live presentations by coache..
| | New Kids Camp A Hit At Fan Fest | Packers Story: Eight-year-old Garrett Schrameyer has a memorable story to take back to his friends in Plymouth, Ind.
On Saturday morning, Garrett was one of nearly 200 boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 14 who participated in the first-ever Kids Camp as part of Fan Fest. All the campers went through a series of football drills under the guidance of current Packers John Kuhn, Brad Jones, Allen Barbre and Breno Giacomini along with alumni Don Majkowski and Craig Newsome. Local football players from NEW Lutheran High School also assisted.
The best part for young Garrett? Catching a bomb from Majkowski, the former Green Bay quarterback, and taking it in for a touchdown.
"It was probably 30 or 40 yards," Garrett said. "Maybe 50. I think by the time I got to the end zone it was about 60."
It may keep getting longer and longer the more he talks about it, but no matter the actual length it was quite the thrill, and a great capper to a series of fun drills inside th..
| | Notebook: LB Jones Loses Mentor, Gains Opportunity | Packers Story: Second-year linebacker Brad Jones is well aware that the departure of Aaron Kampman in free agency is a bit of a mixed blessing for him.
On the one hand, he's losing a veteran teammate he called his mentor. But on the other hand, the starting left outside linebacker spot is now his for the taking.
"Aaron was a good teammate," Jones said. "Aaron was one of the main guys who mentored me. He gave me so many pointers and so much advice. Honestly, I'm sad I'm not going to get that advice anymore. But I really didn't have too many thoughts on (the starting lineup). I'm just working like I've always done."
There's no telling at this point who else might be brought in to compete with Jones at outside linebacker, either through the draft or free agency. But he definitely begins the offseason as the front-runner for the starting job opposite Clay Matthews after taking over following Kampman's season-ending knee injury last year in Week 11.
Jones ended up rec..
| | Packers Ink Pair Of Defenders To Long-Term Contracts | Packers Story: The Packers' sixth annual Fan Fest brought news of two contract extensions, as two key cogs in Green Bay's defense, free safety Nick Collins and nose tackle Ryan Pickett, agreed to deals with the team on Friday night that will run through 2013.
For Collins, it means staying with the only NFL franchise he has ever known since being selected in the second round of the 2005 draft by the Packers.
"It means a lot," Collins said. "I'm able to stay where I started at. A lot of guys like to make different moves, but I'm glad and fortunate that I am able to be a Packer and keep it going.
"I'm fortunate to be in this position, and I'm just thankful."
Collins earned Pro Bowl honors for the second straight season in '09, becoming the first Green Bay safety since LeRoy Butler (1996-98) to earn the recognition in consecutive years. He has become one of the top playmaking safeties in the league over the past two seasons, evidenced by his 13 interceptions in 2008-..
| | Third Jersey Reflects Rich History Of Packers | Packers Story: The Packers officially unveiled their third jersey and uniform for the 2010 season and beyond on Friday at Fan Fest, and it's a re-creation of the team's uniform from 1929, the year of Green Bay's first world championship.
That year actually marked the first of three consecutive titles, as the Packers recorded a 34-5-2 cumulative record in official league games from 1929-31. The Packers have won 12 world championships in all.
"We wanted to celebrate the history and tradition of the Packers," President/CEO Mark Murphy said. "Those who remember history and follow the history of the Packers know it was a very successful era for the organization."
The jersey is navy blue with the number on the front inside a gold circle. The circle and number are enlarged a bit from their 1929 size to comply with NFL regulations regarding jersey numbers. An enlarged number is also on the back, with a nameplate above the number, another modification that wasn't present in 1929.
..
| | Packers Set Offseason Schedule | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have set the bulk of their offseason schedule leading up to training camp for 2010.
Following the start of the offseason strength and conditioning program on Monday and the NFL Draft in April, the Packers will hold their annual rookie orientation from April 30-May 2.
Organized team activities (OTAs) then begin on May 17 and will run through June 17, with the team holding three on-field OTAs per week, with one week off, during that five-week span. The offseason schedule then concludes with a three-day, full-squad mini-camp from June 21-23.
Training camp is slated to begin in late July, but the team's exact reporting date has not yet been set. Players generally report to training camp 15 days prior to the first preseason game.
***
Key offseason dates
Beginning of Packers' offseason program: March 15
NFL Annual Meeting: March 21-24; Orlando, Fla.
NFL Draft: April 22-24
Rookie orienta..
| | Third Jersey To Be Unveiled Friday At Fan Fest | Packers Story: The "look" will be officially unveiled during the Fan Fest kickoff on Friday afternoon at the Lambeau Field Atrium, but it is official that the Packers are adding a third jersey and uniform for the upcoming season.
President/CEO Mark Murphy would only say that the third, or alternate, uniform would be from the team's first decade of existence - the 1920s - but would not divulge any additional details before Friday.
"Some teams use different colors, like the Bears have had an orange jersey, but for us what really makes sense is to have a historical jersey and uniform," Murphy said. "What's exciting about this is it's so different. The colors are different, and I think our fans will really enjoy this."
In their first decade, the Packers wore navy blue jerseys with golden or canvas-colored pants and a brown leather helmet. The uniform to be unveiled Friday will be a re-creation of a uniform from that era, modified to adhere to current NFL guidelines regarding ..
| | Clifton Glad To Be Staying In Green Bay | Packers Story: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' blindside protector is coming back for an 11th season in green and gold.
Veteran left tackle Chad Clifton has re-signed with the Packers after being an unrestricted free agent for roughly one day. Clifton has been Green Bay's primary starter at left tackle for each of his 10 seasons in the NFL since being drafted in the second round by the Packers back in 2000.
"Green Bay is the place I wanted to play all along," said Clifton, who visited the Washington Redskins on the first day of free agency, Friday, but agreed on a new contract with the Packers by nightfall. "There was never any question about that. This is a place I've spent 10 years, and it's a place where both my sons have been born.
"I'm very fortunate that my agent and Russ Ball and (GM) Ted (Thompson) were able to work something out and I don't have to think about (playing somewhere else). I can finish my career here in Green Bay, and that's what I really wanted to do."
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| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Pass Plays On The Road | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The fifth installment is the Top 5 pass plays in road games. In chronological order, they are:
Donald Driver, 46 yards at St. Louis (Sept. 27)
This was the first of Driver's two catches like this in 2009. Early in the second quarter in St. Louis, Driver was being covered one-on-one by Rams rooki..
| | Defense Must React Better To "Sudden Changes" | Packers Story: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers' instant impact on units that assume his 3-4 scheme has been well-documented throughout his career, and Capers' impact on the Packers' defense in 2009 was undeniable.
Looking at the league rankings over the last two years, the Packers rose from 20th to second in total yards allowed, 26th to first in rushing yards allowed, and 22nd to seventh in points allowed in Capers' first season. The defense also led the league in takeaways.
But Capers doesn't view his rebuilding project as complete by any means, and not just because of the obvious - that the Packers struggled against the spread-out offenses with veteran quarterbacks. There's another area he's taking a good, hard look at that Head Coach Mike McCarthy mentioned briefly in his remarks at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, and that's the "sudden-change defense."
The Packers define sudden-change defense as those times the defense takes the field after a turnover or a long r..
| | Swain's Spirits Strong On Long Rehab Road | Packers Story: In discussing the toughest moments he's endured since injuring his knee late last October in Cleveland, Packers reserve receiver and special teamer Brett Swain didn't mention the pain of the torn ACL itself or the grueling rehab he's currently putting himself through.
"The hardest thing was on Sundays, walking through the locker room and watching everybody get ready for the games," Swain said. "That's the hardest thing about this injury. Surgery was hard and everything, but nothing compared to walking through the locker room on Sundays, because you want to be out there just as bad as they do."
It's easy to understand where Swain is coming from when you consider his career path to this point. He already had been through a season of watching the entire team get ready for games he couldn't play in, as a member of the practice squad throughout his 2008 rookie year. A seventh-round draft choice out of San Diego State, Swain didn't make the 53-man roster but used his year..
| | Areas Of Improvement Clearly Defined | Packers Story: In his annual visits with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy was asked specifically about what it will take for the playoff-qualifying Packers of 2009 to perhaps become Super Bowl contenders in 2010.
McCarthy's answer was long-winded, yet it clearly pointed to specific parts in each of his team's three phases that he's expecting to improve in the coming year - penalties and punting on special teams, sacks on offense, and facing spread attacks on defense. Here's a synopsis of each of those with comments from McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson, who also spoke with the media in Indianapolis on Friday.
SPECIAL TEAMS
McCarthy noted that the Packers led the league in penalties on special teams for the second straight year, but statistically what stood out to him about those penalties is that nearly half of them - 12 of the 30 - were committed by first-year players.
"I'm not just blami..
| | Hall of Fame Hosts Annual Black History Month Panel Discussion | Packers Story: With only three days remaining in February's Black History Month, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame held its annual Panel Discussion event on Thursday night in Lambeau Field's sixth floor club level at the south end of the stadium.
The stage's impressive panel of guests featured Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis, Packers Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Robinson, and the franchise's all-time leading rusher, running back Ahman Green.
Among the topics discussed early on was how athletics helped to accelerate integration during the Civil Rights Era, an advancement Davis credited in part to the relentless efforts of his coach - the legendary Vince Lombardi - to finding the absolute best player at each position, regardless of race or skin color.
"I think I'll say it now rather than later," Davis said. "But there is no question in my mind, that the Green Bay Packers under Vincent T. Lombardi created more diversity and created more change in the ..
| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Run Plays On The Road | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The fourth installment is the Top 5 running plays in road games. In chronological order, they are:
Aaron Rodgers, 4-yard TD at St. Louis (Sept. 27)
This game was closer than it should have been after the Packers jumped out to a 16-0 lead early. The Rams were within 23-17 early in the fourth quar..
| | Colledge, Spitz Venture To China | Packers Story: Since the two offensive linemen became close friends as rookies with the Packers in 2006, Daryn Colledge has been trying to get buddy Jason Spitz to take an offseason trip somewhere out of the country.
"He never wants to leave Florida or Louisville or Green Bay, those are his comfort zones," Colledge said of Spitz, a Jacksonville, Fla., native who played his college football at Louisville. "Then this year when he got injured and I said 'Let's go on a trip,' he decided to pick the farthest place away he could find."
Indeed, having injured his back and sitting out nearly three-fourths of this past season (for an update, see below), Spitz had plenty of time to think about a destination. So he organized a 10-day, four-city trip through China and Thailand at season's end from which the two returned earlier this month.
With stops in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Bangkok, the trip was eye-opening as well as exhausting, with everything they tried to pack into their ..
| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Defensive Plays At Home | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The third installment is the Top 5 defensive plays in home games. In chronological order, they are:
Johnny Jolly, interception of screen pass vs. Chicago (Sept. 13)
The Packers had a scant 3-0 lead midway through the second quarter of the season opener when new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hit J..
| | Slocum, Whitt To Conduct On-Field Drills At Combine | Packers Story: The hard-core Packers fans - or those simply looking for an offseason football fix - who will spend some time watching the NFL Network's wall-to-wall coverage of the Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis might see some familiar faces on the Lucas Oil Stadium field during player workouts.
Green Bay special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum and cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. will be among the assistant coaches from around the league helping conduct the on-field drills of the prospects, an up-close position that has its benefits.
"It's a pressure-packed situation for those guys, because they know all the eyes in the NFL are looking at them, and this is their chance to make a statement," Slocum said. "You can really see how they respond."
Slocum will work as an on-field drill sergeant, so to speak, for the fourth straight year. He worked with the linebackers for two years before switching to special teamers - kickers, punters and snappers - last year.
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Yahoo! Sports - NFL - Green Bay Packers News
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| Packers TE Havner arrested after Calif crash (AP) | Prosecutors in Northern California said Wednesday they were waiting for a police report before deciding whether to file drunken-driving charges against Green Bay Packers tight end Spencer Havner. The 27-year-old Havner was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving Monday after he lost control of his motorcycle on private property and crashed about 2:45 a.m.
| | Packers TE Havner arrested on suspicion of drunken driving after crash (The Canadian Press) | GRASS VALLEY, Calif. - Green Bay Packers tight end Spencer Havner was arrested this week on suspicion of drunken driving after crashing his motorcycle in Northern California, suffering a broken shoulder blade.
| | Packers TE Havner expecting sanctions (Yahoo! Sports) | Green Bay Packers tight end Spencer Havner was just driving his motorcycle around northern California early...
| | Packers sign former Australian rules football player Bryan as punter (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - Looking for another potential solution to their recent punting problems, the Green Bay Packers have signed former Australian rules football player Chris Bryan.
| | Packers sign former Aussie rules player to punt (AP) | Looking for another potential solution to their recent punting problems, the Green Bay Packers have signed former Australian rules football player Chris Bryan. A 6-foot-5, 210-pound rookie, Bryan played in the Australian Football League from 2005-08. He will wear No. 9 for Green Bay. The Packers have been struggling to find a consistent punter for several seasons.
| | Tomlinson says Favre didn't make his intentions known about whether he'll return (The Canadian Press) | NEW YORK - Brett Favre kept his plans to himself, even as he helped try to recruit LaDainian Tomlinson to play for the Minnesota Vikings.
| | Falcons release former first round pick Hill, sign safety Matt Giordano (The Canadian Press) | FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. - The Atlanta Falcons released former first-round pick Tye Hill on Tuesday and signed safety Matt Giordano.
| | The four-way jersey combination tribute to Brett Favre (Yahoo! Sports) | I spend enough time here expressing my dislike for Brett Favre, so I thought, momentarily, I'd turn things...
| | Packers finalize 2-year deal with veteran right tackle Tauscher (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers have finalized a two-year deal with Mark Tauscher, likely allowing the veteran right tackle to play his entire career for his home state team.
| | Packers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports) | | Consider general manager Ted Thompson to be one up on the scoreboard early in free agency.
Although the Packers suffered a notable loss when Aaron Kampman bolted for the Jacksonville Jaguars, they held on to two more key players in left tackle Chad Clifton and free safety Nick Collins.
Clifton wasn't interested in leaving Green Bay, where he has been a starter since his rookie season in 2000, never mind that he visited with the Washington Redskins on the opening day of free agency March 5.
That purported courtship probably helped Clifton's financial cause with the Packers, who meted out a three-year contract that is worth about $19.5 million. The deal is loaded with all sorts of roster bonuses, including an upfront payout of more than $6.3 million. "I can...
| | Packers finalize 2-year deal with RT Tauscher (AP) | The Green Bay Packers have finalized a two-year deal with Mark Tauscher, likely allowing the veteran right tackle to play his entire career for his home state team. Tauscher, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to terms over the weekend. Financial details were not released. Tauscher was the Packers' starting right tackle for most of his first nine seasons in the NFL, but began the 2009 season out...
| | Agent says Packers agree to new deal with veteran RT Mark Tauscher (The Canadian Press) | MILWAUKEE - Veteran Green Bay Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher has agreed to terms on a multiyear contract that will bring him back to the team, his agent said Sunday.
| | Tomlinson, others forced to retire elsewhere (Yahoo! Sports) | LaDainian Tomlinson is the latest Hall of Fame-bound star whose career will end in a strange setting.
| | Coach McCarthy Expects RT Tauscher to Re-Sign With Packers Shortly (SportingNews.com) | After locking up NT Ryan Pickett and FS Nick Collins, Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy thinks RT Mark...
| | Packers sign S Nick Collins, NT Ryan Pickett to contract extensions (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers signed safety Nick Collins and nose tackle Ryan Pickett to long-term contract extensions Friday, securing the services of two cornerstones in their much-improved defence.
| | Packers sign S Collins, NT Pickett to extensions (AP) | The Green Bay Packers signed safety Nick Collins and nose tackle Ryan Pickett to long-term contract extensions Friday, securing the services of two cornerstones in their much-improved defense. The team did not release details of either deal. Collins' agents, Dave Butz and Alan Herman, confirmed a report on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Web site that Collins' deal was for three years...
| | Football Hall of Famer, TV star Olsen dies at 69 (AP) | 
Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69. Olsen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" along with Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier in the 1960s.
| | Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen dies at age 69 (The Canadian Press) | SALT LAKE CITY - Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
| | The Packers may be adopting a third/alternate jersey (Yahoo! Sports) | The Green Bay Packers, who sport one of the most classic and distinctive looks in all of sports, appear to be...
| | The Shutdown Corner hypothetical mock draft, Part 2 (Yahoo! Sports) | For our second Shutdown Corner mock draft, we're going throw a couple semi-likely scenarios into the mix.
| | Packers sign WR Charles Dillon (AP) | The Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Charles Dillon, a first-year player who spent time in Indianapolis' training camp in 2008. Dillon, a wide receiver and kick returner at Washington State, spent last season with the Spokane Shock of the af2 arena league.
| | Robert De Niro set to play Vince Lombardi in movie (AP) | Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie. ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL. "Lombardi" will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL's worst team to league champions.
| | Jags find hidden value in Kampman (Yahoo! Sports) | The Jacksonville Jaguars have invested a great deal in their pass rush over the last few years, with minimal...
| | Packers re-sign veteran LT Chad Clifton (AP) | The Green Bay Packers re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton on Saturday, wrapping up one of their major offseason concerns early in the NFL's free agent signing period. Clifton will now return to the left tackle spot he has occupied for most of his 10 seasons in Green Bay. The Packers do not have an obvious candidate to replace Clifton, and reported interest in the unrestricted free agent...
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JSOnline.com Packers
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| Blackmon signs Packers' tender | Cornerback Will Blackmon, one of seven Green Bay Packers restricted free agents as of last weekend, took himself off the market by signing his one-year qualifying offer.
| | Tackles Clifton, Tauscher locked in for '10 | They're like Ernie and Bert, Starsky and Hutch, Batman and Robin.
| | Kampman leaves Packers, heads south | Aaron Kampman never fully took to playing linebacker in Green Bay's 3-4 defense. He missed the final six games of 2009 after tearing his left anterior cruciate ligament. After turning 30 in November, many think Kampman's better days might be in the past.
| | Huge performances rock Super Bowl stage | Super Bowls don't get much better than this.
| | Lofton appreciates time as a Green Bay Packer | Green Bay — It's the essence of Fan Fest, and it was 26 years in the making.
| | Green Bay Packers' 2010 opponents | HOME
| | NFL free agent signings; remaining unrestricted free agents | NFL FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
| | Packers sign Australian punter | It's a terrible year to be looking for a punter, which is exactly where the Green Bay Packers happen to be. On Tuesday, the Packers signed Chris Bryan, a 28-year-old Australian who has never played American football.
| | Havner may face charges | For now, Green Bay Packers tight end Spencer Havner only has to worry about getting his injured shoulder healed.
But in the coming weeks and months he may be facing driving under the influence charges and a sanction from the NFL.
| | Havner injured in crash | Packers tight end Spencer Havner was arrested early Saturday morning after he was injured when he wrecked a motorcycle, according to the Grass Valley (Calif.) Daily Union.
| | Tauscher remains a Packer | Mark Tauscher is back in the fold with the Green Bay Packers, and he's not returning to carry a clipboard either. The Packers re-signed Tauscher on Sunday for what one league source called starter's money.
| | Job status doesn't worry center Wells | Center Scott Wells has reached a point heading into his seventh season where he just does his job and doesn't worry about whether it lands him at starter or backup.
| | Packers' Fan Fest packed with surprises | If this is the way to get a new contract, maybe future free agents will start flocking to Green Bay in March. Both Nick Collins and Ryan Pickett were scheduled to sign autographs and pose for pictures with fans Friday night at the sixth annual Packers Fan Fest in the Lambeau Field Atrium.
| | Packers sign Collins, Pickett | The Green Bay Packers will never be confused with the Cowboys or Redskins when it comes to shopping for free agents. But in a year in which there are no limitations on how much an NFL team can spend, the Packers signed three players to deals worth a combined $75 million in one week's time.
| | Basics: Packers Fan Fest | Sixth Annual Packers Fan Fest, a two-day event that gives fans their best chance to meet and greet current and former Green Bay Packers and staff, take tours of the locker room, attend a kids camp and other activities.
| | NFL scouts watch UW-Whitewater kicker Schebler | Under the watchful eyes of a half-dozen pro scouts Wednesday, UW-Whitewater kicker Jeff Schebler performed solidly but not spectacularly.
That there were multiple scouts around to watch him made up for any disappointment he might have had for not kicking lights out at the Dave McClain Center.
| | Be a QB, see the world | John Grisham published a book in 2007 titled "Playing for Pizza," about a veteran backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who joins a semipro team in Parma, Italy, where the pay may not be as good, but the food, the architecture and opera are better than you find around the National Football League.
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