www.packersnews.com/in...ndex.shtml
Monday wrap-up
The Packers' depth chart, released today for Saturday's preseason opener at Pittsburgh, featured a handful of minor changes, most of which already have been reflected in practice.
-- Zac Alcorn has replaced Clark Harris as the No. 3 tight end;
-- James Jones has replaced Robert Ferguson as one of the No. 2 receivers (Ruvell Martin remains the other);
-- DeShawn Wynn has replaced P.J. Pope as the No. 4 running back; and
-- Korey Hall has replaced Ryan Powdrell as the No. 2 fullback.
All the replaced players dropped one spot. Also, Greg Jennings (not Charles Woodson) now is listed as the punt returner, and David Clowney (not Vernand Morency) has joined Shaun Bodiford as one of the top two kick returners.
Elsewhere ...
-- Tight end Bubba Franks wore a protective eye shield on his helmet during practice, but coach Mike McCarthy said he doesn't expect Franks to wear one during games. Frank would need permission from the NFL to do that.
-- Dropping 'em like they're hot: Donald Lee, Bodiford.
-- Converted basketball player Joe Werner had a couple of positive moments. Most notable was a play in 7-on-7 in which he got behind Patrick Dendy down the seam for a big gain. However, safety Nick Collins stripped him near the goal line. Werner still is well beyond a long shot to make the team.
-- And your passing stats (7-on-7 in parentheses): Brett Favre 22-for-29 (6-for-10); Rodgers 6-for-7 (12-for-21); Ingle Martin 5-for-7, INT (1-for-2); and Paul Thompson 1-for-1 (1-for-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pope has knee surgery
Packers running back P.J. Pope had arthroscopic knee surgery and likely will miss a couple of weeks, coach Mike McCarthy said after practice today. Pope hurt the knee in Saturday’s scrimmage. With Vernand Morency also out with a knee injury, the Packers likely will have only three running backs plus fullback Corey White to carry the ball in Saturday’s preseason opener at Pittsburgh.
Other injury news:
-- Left guard Darren Colledge has a mid-back sprain. McCarthy said he hopes Colledge will practice Tuesday.
-- Receiver Greg Jennings dropped out of practice today because of a hip flexor problem. McCarthy said Jennings’ hip has been sore the past week. Jennings also missed time during OTAs with a similar injury.
-- Tackle Tony Moll has a shoulder stinger.
-- Lastly McCarthy said he was not sure why defensive end DeVon Hicks did not practice today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offense shows up defense in pass-rushing drills
The offense was the clear winner during one-on-one pass-rushing drills. The defensive linemen clearly won only four of 20 snaps. Johnny Jolly won two of those reps -- one vs. rookie guard Allen Barbre and the other against center C.J. Blomvall. Mark Tauscher and Aaron Kampman normally go up against each other once per day -- this time Kampman was the winner. First-round draft pick Justin Harrell took three reps but didn’t win any of them -- two against Tony Palmer, one against Pat Murray. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila lost both of his reps against backup left tackle Orrin Thompson. Starting left tackle Chad Clifton didn’t participate in the drill.
In another kicking drill, Dave Rayner converted on six of seven field goals, while Mason Crosby made seven of seven. Rayner’s miss was wide left from 28 yards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barnett, Barbre get into wrestling match; Dendy lines up at No. 3 cornerback
-- The heat must be getting to some of the players. With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees and high humidity levels, linebacker Nick Barnett and rookie offensive guard Allen Barbre got into a wrestling match following a play during a team drill. Barnett had to be pulled away by teammate Charles Woodson while Barbre was on the ground and seen kicking Barnett during the scrum.
Patrick Dendy is lining up as the No. 3 cornerback during team drills today. Dendy had a nice play, knocking a pass from the grasp of Donald Driver on a slant route with Brett Favre at quarterback.
-- The defensive backs held the upper hand over the receivers during a one-on-one passing drill. Just seven of 15 passes were completed during the drill. Safety Tyrone Culver turned in the highlight of the drill when he recovered to break up a hitch route to Carlyle Holliday. Shaun Bodiford had the most impressive catch among the receivers, with an outstretched grab along the sidelines against cornerback Jarrett Bush.
-- The kickers were called back into duty with Dave Rayner making two of two from long distance. Rayner converted on field goals of 50 and 53 yards. Mason Crosby was one of two, missing wide right from 50 yards, but following up by making a 53-yarder.
-- Cornerback Will Blackmon forced a fumble against tight end Zac Alcorn. Blackmon stripped the ball, which flew up into the air and into the hands of linebacker Spencer Havner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Punters, kickers go at it this afternoon
Punting from their own 25 downwind, Jon Ryan averaged 52.3 yards and 4.51 seconds of hang time on nine punts. Ryan Dougherty averaged 43.8 yards and 4.37 seconds of hang time, also on nine punts.
Rookie Mason Crosby converted on two of two field goals from 48 and 51 yards. Dave Rayner was one of two, missing wide left from 48 and making good on the 51-yarder.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franks back at practice after eye injury
Tight end Bubba Franks is practicing today at Clarke Hinkle Field, six days after sustaining a scratched cornea at City Stadium. Guard Daryn Colledge and defensive end DeVon Hicks are sitting out for the first time. Linebacker Rory Johnson (abdomen) and running back Vernand Morency (knee) continue to sit out. Tight end Clark Harris (sprained ankle) and running back P.J. Pope, who injured his knee in Saturday's scrimmage, are not in attendance. Also back are cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris, who both sat out Saturday night’s scrimmage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Packers greats inspire new Hall of Famers
No former Packers went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, over the weekend, but they were there in body and spirit. In his induction speech, former Bills running back Thurman Thomas took a moment to remember the late Elijah Pitts, his position coach in Buffalo. They were close, and Thomas said that if Pitts were still alive, he'd be an NFL head coach, with Thomas as his running backs coach. Pitts died in 1998. In his induction speech, former St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Roger Wehrli shared an anecdote involving another former Packers player. "I was married my senior year of college. Started getting letters from pro teams about the draft. My wife, Gail, who really wasn't much of a sports fan unless I was playing, she heard about the draft. She thought they were talking about the Army draft in Vietnam. She was not ready for that. In fact, once we straightened her out on the draft, she said, 'You mean like the NFL with Bart Starr?' That's the only player she knew in the NFL. "Well, babe, I'm up here with Bart Starr, so maybe we made it," Wehrli said to laughter from the crowd. Indeed, Starr was on hand for induction weekend, especially at the private Friday gathering that has come to be known as "the Ray Nitschke luncheon."
Here are some excerpts from a story on the luncheon by Jarrett Bell of USA Today: Aside from a few exceptions, including commissioner Roger Goodell, Hall of Fame executives, trustees and selection committee members, the luncheon is open only to Hall of Famers. Ground rule No. 1: The newest Hall of Famers cannot speak when the microphone is passed around. They are there to listen, to soak in a few stories, to be scolded, advised and initiated into the group. Fittingly, (Deacon) Jones gets the microphone first. He warns the new class to keep their induction speeches short and to be on their best behavior. This is a role Nitschke used to play, complete with passionate speeches about what it means to be a Hall of Famer. That's why they dedicated the luncheon in his honor after he passed away in 1998. Jones tells the new class about Nitschke. "A little weird," he says. "A little crazy. Elevator didn't go all the way to the top. But that's who you wanted with you in a fight." The microphone was passed around for about an hour. ... Then Starr told the group how (coach Vince) Lombardi's words still ring true today. "He used to say," Starr relayed, " 'Heart power is the strength of America. Hate power is the weakness of the world.' "
Monday wrap-up
The Packers' depth chart, released today for Saturday's preseason opener at Pittsburgh, featured a handful of minor changes, most of which already have been reflected in practice.
-- Zac Alcorn has replaced Clark Harris as the No. 3 tight end;
-- James Jones has replaced Robert Ferguson as one of the No. 2 receivers (Ruvell Martin remains the other);
-- DeShawn Wynn has replaced P.J. Pope as the No. 4 running back; and
-- Korey Hall has replaced Ryan Powdrell as the No. 2 fullback.
All the replaced players dropped one spot. Also, Greg Jennings (not Charles Woodson) now is listed as the punt returner, and David Clowney (not Vernand Morency) has joined Shaun Bodiford as one of the top two kick returners.
Elsewhere ...
-- Tight end Bubba Franks wore a protective eye shield on his helmet during practice, but coach Mike McCarthy said he doesn't expect Franks to wear one during games. Frank would need permission from the NFL to do that.
-- Dropping 'em like they're hot: Donald Lee, Bodiford.
-- Converted basketball player Joe Werner had a couple of positive moments. Most notable was a play in 7-on-7 in which he got behind Patrick Dendy down the seam for a big gain. However, safety Nick Collins stripped him near the goal line. Werner still is well beyond a long shot to make the team.
-- And your passing stats (7-on-7 in parentheses): Brett Favre 22-for-29 (6-for-10); Rodgers 6-for-7 (12-for-21); Ingle Martin 5-for-7, INT (1-for-2); and Paul Thompson 1-for-1 (1-for-1).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pope has knee surgery
Packers running back P.J. Pope had arthroscopic knee surgery and likely will miss a couple of weeks, coach Mike McCarthy said after practice today. Pope hurt the knee in Saturday’s scrimmage. With Vernand Morency also out with a knee injury, the Packers likely will have only three running backs plus fullback Corey White to carry the ball in Saturday’s preseason opener at Pittsburgh.
Other injury news:
-- Left guard Darren Colledge has a mid-back sprain. McCarthy said he hopes Colledge will practice Tuesday.
-- Receiver Greg Jennings dropped out of practice today because of a hip flexor problem. McCarthy said Jennings’ hip has been sore the past week. Jennings also missed time during OTAs with a similar injury.
-- Tackle Tony Moll has a shoulder stinger.
-- Lastly McCarthy said he was not sure why defensive end DeVon Hicks did not practice today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offense shows up defense in pass-rushing drills
The offense was the clear winner during one-on-one pass-rushing drills. The defensive linemen clearly won only four of 20 snaps. Johnny Jolly won two of those reps -- one vs. rookie guard Allen Barbre and the other against center C.J. Blomvall. Mark Tauscher and Aaron Kampman normally go up against each other once per day -- this time Kampman was the winner. First-round draft pick Justin Harrell took three reps but didn’t win any of them -- two against Tony Palmer, one against Pat Murray. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila lost both of his reps against backup left tackle Orrin Thompson. Starting left tackle Chad Clifton didn’t participate in the drill.
In another kicking drill, Dave Rayner converted on six of seven field goals, while Mason Crosby made seven of seven. Rayner’s miss was wide left from 28 yards.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barnett, Barbre get into wrestling match; Dendy lines up at No. 3 cornerback
-- The heat must be getting to some of the players. With temperatures hovering around 90 degrees and high humidity levels, linebacker Nick Barnett and rookie offensive guard Allen Barbre got into a wrestling match following a play during a team drill. Barnett had to be pulled away by teammate Charles Woodson while Barbre was on the ground and seen kicking Barnett during the scrum.
Patrick Dendy is lining up as the No. 3 cornerback during team drills today. Dendy had a nice play, knocking a pass from the grasp of Donald Driver on a slant route with Brett Favre at quarterback.
-- The defensive backs held the upper hand over the receivers during a one-on-one passing drill. Just seven of 15 passes were completed during the drill. Safety Tyrone Culver turned in the highlight of the drill when he recovered to break up a hitch route to Carlyle Holliday. Shaun Bodiford had the most impressive catch among the receivers, with an outstretched grab along the sidelines against cornerback Jarrett Bush.
-- The kickers were called back into duty with Dave Rayner making two of two from long distance. Rayner converted on field goals of 50 and 53 yards. Mason Crosby was one of two, missing wide right from 50 yards, but following up by making a 53-yarder.
-- Cornerback Will Blackmon forced a fumble against tight end Zac Alcorn. Blackmon stripped the ball, which flew up into the air and into the hands of linebacker Spencer Havner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Punters, kickers go at it this afternoon
Punting from their own 25 downwind, Jon Ryan averaged 52.3 yards and 4.51 seconds of hang time on nine punts. Ryan Dougherty averaged 43.8 yards and 4.37 seconds of hang time, also on nine punts.
Rookie Mason Crosby converted on two of two field goals from 48 and 51 yards. Dave Rayner was one of two, missing wide left from 48 and making good on the 51-yarder.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Franks back at practice after eye injury
Tight end Bubba Franks is practicing today at Clarke Hinkle Field, six days after sustaining a scratched cornea at City Stadium. Guard Daryn Colledge and defensive end DeVon Hicks are sitting out for the first time. Linebacker Rory Johnson (abdomen) and running back Vernand Morency (knee) continue to sit out. Tight end Clark Harris (sprained ankle) and running back P.J. Pope, who injured his knee in Saturday's scrimmage, are not in attendance. Also back are cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris, who both sat out Saturday night’s scrimmage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Packers greats inspire new Hall of Famers
No former Packers went into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, over the weekend, but they were there in body and spirit. In his induction speech, former Bills running back Thurman Thomas took a moment to remember the late Elijah Pitts, his position coach in Buffalo. They were close, and Thomas said that if Pitts were still alive, he'd be an NFL head coach, with Thomas as his running backs coach. Pitts died in 1998. In his induction speech, former St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Roger Wehrli shared an anecdote involving another former Packers player. "I was married my senior year of college. Started getting letters from pro teams about the draft. My wife, Gail, who really wasn't much of a sports fan unless I was playing, she heard about the draft. She thought they were talking about the Army draft in Vietnam. She was not ready for that. In fact, once we straightened her out on the draft, she said, 'You mean like the NFL with Bart Starr?' That's the only player she knew in the NFL. "Well, babe, I'm up here with Bart Starr, so maybe we made it," Wehrli said to laughter from the crowd. Indeed, Starr was on hand for induction weekend, especially at the private Friday gathering that has come to be known as "the Ray Nitschke luncheon."
Here are some excerpts from a story on the luncheon by Jarrett Bell of USA Today: Aside from a few exceptions, including commissioner Roger Goodell, Hall of Fame executives, trustees and selection committee members, the luncheon is open only to Hall of Famers. Ground rule No. 1: The newest Hall of Famers cannot speak when the microphone is passed around. They are there to listen, to soak in a few stories, to be scolded, advised and initiated into the group. Fittingly, (Deacon) Jones gets the microphone first. He warns the new class to keep their induction speeches short and to be on their best behavior. This is a role Nitschke used to play, complete with passionate speeches about what it means to be a Hall of Famer. That's why they dedicated the luncheon in his honor after he passed away in 1998. Jones tells the new class about Nitschke. "A little weird," he says. "A little crazy. Elevator didn't go all the way to the top. But that's who you wanted with you in a fight." The microphone was passed around for about an hour. ... Then Starr told the group how (coach Vince) Lombardi's words still ring true today. "He used to say," Starr relayed, " 'Heart power is the strength of America. Hate power is the weakness of the world.' "