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Cheesehead
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While the upcoming Packers training camp will focus on getting the team ready for the 16-game season that begins September 10, it will simultaneously build the final roster of the 2006 Packers.
The latter exercise is a numbers game that is likely to have some tough decisions at its conclusion for General Manager Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy.
The Packers currently have 93 players on the roster and will open training camp on Friday. (The team is above the NFL roster limit of 80 for the start of camp because of unsigned draft picks and exemptions for players who participated in NFL Europe.)
The first roster cut, down to 75 players (with no more NFL Europe exemptions) must be made on Aug. 29, the day after the third preseason game. The final cut to 53 players must happen by 3 p.m. on Sept. 2, the day after the fourth and final preseason game.
That's a total of 40 players who will not be on the final roster six weeks from now, and many of them aren't going to leave without a fight. Injuries will always factor into final decisions, but competition for roster spots, as well as starting spots, is just what Thompson and McCarthy have been aiming for to help the Packers rebound from their 4-12 mark in 2005.
In addition Monday, the team released tight end Garrett Cross.
The latter exercise is a numbers game that is likely to have some tough decisions at its conclusion for General Manager Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy.
The Packers currently have 93 players on the roster and will open training camp on Friday. (The team is above the NFL roster limit of 80 for the start of camp because of unsigned draft picks and exemptions for players who participated in NFL Europe.)
The first roster cut, down to 75 players (with no more NFL Europe exemptions) must be made on Aug. 29, the day after the third preseason game. The final cut to 53 players must happen by 3 p.m. on Sept. 2, the day after the fourth and final preseason game.
That's a total of 40 players who will not be on the final roster six weeks from now, and many of them aren't going to leave without a fight. Injuries will always factor into final decisions, but competition for roster spots, as well as starting spots, is just what Thompson and McCarthy have been aiming for to help the Packers rebound from their 4-12 mark in 2005.
In addition Monday, the team released tight end Garrett Cross.
