Woodson, Harris have shots to go to pro bowl

Green Bay - It's the opinion of Charles Woodson that no team in the National Football League can match starting cornerbacks with the Green Bay Packers.







On Friday, Woodson stood before a pack of reporters and appeared optimistic that he and Al Harris would be among the three cornerbacks on the NFC Pro Bowl team that will be announced Tuesday.

Earlier in the week, Harris went on record as saying that Woodson should make it.

"I feel the same way about him," Woodson said. "You look at the way me and him have performed throughout the season, you look at other corners around the league, there's not a better tandem of corners in the league. Forget about the record if it's for the best people out there.

"One thing about the Pro Bowl that's different than the NBA is, it's not all fans. With 75% of the votes coming from the players and coaches, we should be in. But who knows?"

Woodson was voted to the AFC Pro Bowl team in 1999, 2000 and '01. The closest Harris got was alternate status last year.

Interception totals are one easy way for players, coaches and fans to vote on cornerbacks. Woodson has five interceptions and Harris two.

Only one NFC cornerback, San Francisco's Walt Harris with six, has more interceptions than Woodson, whose total of five is matched by three others.

Ten cornerbacks in the NFC have more interceptions than Al Harris and 12 have as many.

Woodson, 30, also leads Al Harris, 32, in five other defensive categories: tackles (54-34), sacks (1-0), fumbles forced (3-0), fumbles recovered (1-0) and passes knocked down (20-17). Woodson has dropped three interceptions and Harris has dropped two. Woodson has missed seven tackles and Harris has missed six.

Harris has allowed 1½ touchdown passes compared with 3½ for Woodson and six plays of 20 yards or more compared with 6½ for Woodson. In the last five games, Woodson hasn't given up a play in either category.

Woodson's performance has improved despite the fact that he has battled knee and shoulder injuries for the last eight weeks. He has sat out the last seven Wednesday practices and six of the last seven Thursday practices but never misses a game.

"Of course, you would like to be out there with the guys," Woodson said. "But the way my body has been feeling and to be able to have the time off just to work on my own and work on trying to get my shoulder stronger and staying in shape at the same time has worked out wonderful."

Injury list: If wide receiver Ruvell Martin (chest) was placed on injured reserve, a move coach Mike McCarthy indicated was being contemplated, wide receiver Chris Francies would be brought back from the practice squad.

"I feel fine," said Martin, who was injured in San Francisco. "But it's the internal stuff that they can't see. I think it's near my lungs."

Safety Atari Bigby (hamstring), a leader on special teams, missed another day and is out. Tackle Mark Tauscher (groin) worked with the scout team and McCarthy has hopes that he can play Thursday against Minnesota.

In Detroit, the Lions will be down to their third-string nose tackle with Marcus Bell (hand) declared out. Free agent Anthony Bryant, who was signed Nov. 30, is expected to start.

Backup tight end Marcus Pollard (hamstring) missed practice all week and remained questionable.

Job hunt: Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski remains a strong candidate as the scramble for the Boston College job enters its final few days.

A source familiar with the situation said Jagodzinski had a better interview than Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple, who has been cast as the top candidate by some media outlets in Boston.

"All indications are that one of the two finalists is 'Jags,' " the source said. "And I think 'Jags' is running ahead of Whipple."

Certainly McCarthy would have no problem if Jagodzinski were in Boston today for another interview. However, with the Packers playing Detroit Sunday and Minnesota on Thursday, Jagodzinski would have to be back Sunday and then might not be able to get away again until Wednesday.

"We'll accommodate that situation the best we can," McCarthy said. "Our focus is on beating Detroit. Jeff is a big part of that."

Also known to have interviewed are Richmond coach Dave Clawson, Nebraska offensive coordinator Jay Norvell and New York Giants quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride.

Not done yet: Long snapper Rob Davis, 38, doesn't have a contract beyond this year but has no plans to retire.

Asked if he would snap until the Packers threw him out, Davis replied: "I don't want to be thrown out. I think I deserve to be escorted out, not thrown out.

"A few special-teams coaches around the league come up and tell me they feel I still have it. It's an honor when they say that because you want to be appreciated for the things you do. I still feel like I'm doing my job."

Top fan:Rich Barbera of River Vale, N.J., became the first out-of-state resident to be inducted into the team's Fan Hall of Fame. The first eight hailed from Wisconsin.

About 17,000 votes were cast and Barbera was selected the winner among 10 finalists. He has plans to retire in Green Bay.

Definitely the NFC's top CB tandmen. I think both players are deserving of a pro bowl berth.