JSOnline:
Roman stuck in position
Safety unhappy, wants release
Roman wasn't specific about his complaint with the Packers, but according to a source, Roman felt the signals he was receiving from the club just before the Manuel signing were that he was going to be one of the leaders on defense. Soon after a discussion with the coaches about his position, he found out about the addition of Manuel.
Roman said he felt he deserved an explanation from general manager Ted Thompson about the mixed signals.
"Just the way it was handled," Roman said. "It was handled very poorly. There was a huge lack of communication. It was a situation where you think you've put in enough time with the organization that you've earned a certain amount of respect and to be completely disrespected. . . "
Roman, whose contract voids after this season, has not been attending off-season workouts at the Packers facility because he said he was mad with the way he was treated. Immediately after Manuel was signed, he asked the team for his release and they refused. He was told he would be in the mix for a starting job.
Thompson did not return a phone message seeking comment, but Roman said he had not heard any developments.
At the start of the mandatory minicamp, Roman was in the starting lineup. However, Manuel was on the sideline with a groin injury he suffered in the Super Bowl playing for Seattle, and it's unclear whether he'll be inserted with the No. 1 defense.
Roman admitted he asked for his release.
"I did," Roman said. "They said, no, basically. Then it was yeah, well. . . . It was handled badly. I don't know (if it will happen). While I'm up here all I can do is just play as hard as I can, whatever else happens happens."
Roman has started 31 of 32 games with the Packers since signing as a free agent in 2004 and has 190 tackles, 3½ sacks and two interceptions. He beat third-round pick Marques Anderson for the starting job in '04 and veterans Earl Little and Arturo Freeman in '05.
In his two years as a starter, Roman has not made many big plays and has given up nine touchdowns, a pretty high number for a safety. The Packers signed Manuel, a backup behind Roman in Cincinnati in 2002 and '03, to a five-year, $10 million deal that included a $1.5 million signing bonus.
Manuel was a backup with the Seahawks last season but was thrust into a starting role after Ken Hamlin suffered an off-the-field head injury. Manuel started in Super Bowl XL against Pittsburgh and has a good shot at starting opposite second-year pro Nick Collins.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he has sensed no problems with Roman on the field.
"He's practiced well," McCarthy said. "Had a short conversation with him. It's been good."
In the doghouse: Many people thought the Packers reached when they selected Clemson defensive tackle Donnell Washington in the third round of the 2004 draft.
It turns out they were right.
After two seasons of inactivity, the 6-foot-6, 328-pound Washington committed what could be career suicide by reporting to minicamp in such bad condition that Thompson would not put him on the field. Washington has watched all three of the practices from the sideline with injured players.
"It's not a positive," McCarthy said. "(He's) just not where he needs to be right now."
Up and running: Offensive lineman Kevin Barry's excessive weight might have allowed second-year pro Junius Coston to get a leg up on the starting right guard job.
Neither McCarthy nor offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski would say directly that Coston got the nod as the starter this weekend because Barry weighed in about 25 pounds over his goal, but they certainly didn't hesitate to get a look at the young Coston.
"I wanted to see him compete," Jagodzinski said. "He's the kind of guy who fits this system. That's what he's built for. He has the feet and the athleticism. He just needs to be consistent. (The coaches) are working his (butt) off."
As for Barry, Jagodzinski made it clear his weight is unacceptable.
"He knows what's expected of him," he said of the 340-pound Barry. "He's got an opportunity to be a starting guard. If I'm a guy from Racine, Wis., and I know I have a chance to play for the Green Bay Packers, you would think I'd get it done.
"He can still do it. He just needs to lose two pounds a week until the start of training camp. That will put him where he needs to be."
Sideline view: Offensive tackle Adrian Klemm suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to McCarthy, and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Klemm was hurt in practice Friday and won't be available for the final practice today. McCarthy wasn't sure if Klemm would be available for the minicamp in two weeks.
Among those also sitting out were: cornerback Al Harris (back spasms), defensive tackle Tim McGill (knee), defensive lineman Kenny Peterson (ankle) and defensive tackle Johnny Jolly (ankle).
Short yardage: Cornerback Mike Hawkins said he put on 10 pounds and has his weight up to 188 while still maintaining 3.5% body fat. . . . Cornerback Charles Woodson is applying to the NFL to wear No. 2, the number he wore at Michigan, but the NFL is expected to reject his request. . . . Linebacker Ben Taylor lined up as the starter on the strong side a day after Roy Manning lined up there.
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Adios, Mark!
"In his two years as a starter, Roman has not made many big plays and has given up nine touchdowns, a pretty high number for a safety."
Roman stuck in position
Safety unhappy, wants release
Roman wasn't specific about his complaint with the Packers, but according to a source, Roman felt the signals he was receiving from the club just before the Manuel signing were that he was going to be one of the leaders on defense. Soon after a discussion with the coaches about his position, he found out about the addition of Manuel.
Roman said he felt he deserved an explanation from general manager Ted Thompson about the mixed signals.
"Just the way it was handled," Roman said. "It was handled very poorly. There was a huge lack of communication. It was a situation where you think you've put in enough time with the organization that you've earned a certain amount of respect and to be completely disrespected. . . "
Roman, whose contract voids after this season, has not been attending off-season workouts at the Packers facility because he said he was mad with the way he was treated. Immediately after Manuel was signed, he asked the team for his release and they refused. He was told he would be in the mix for a starting job.
Thompson did not return a phone message seeking comment, but Roman said he had not heard any developments.
At the start of the mandatory minicamp, Roman was in the starting lineup. However, Manuel was on the sideline with a groin injury he suffered in the Super Bowl playing for Seattle, and it's unclear whether he'll be inserted with the No. 1 defense.
Roman admitted he asked for his release.
"I did," Roman said. "They said, no, basically. Then it was yeah, well. . . . It was handled badly. I don't know (if it will happen). While I'm up here all I can do is just play as hard as I can, whatever else happens happens."
Roman has started 31 of 32 games with the Packers since signing as a free agent in 2004 and has 190 tackles, 3½ sacks and two interceptions. He beat third-round pick Marques Anderson for the starting job in '04 and veterans Earl Little and Arturo Freeman in '05.
In his two years as a starter, Roman has not made many big plays and has given up nine touchdowns, a pretty high number for a safety. The Packers signed Manuel, a backup behind Roman in Cincinnati in 2002 and '03, to a five-year, $10 million deal that included a $1.5 million signing bonus.
Manuel was a backup with the Seahawks last season but was thrust into a starting role after Ken Hamlin suffered an off-the-field head injury. Manuel started in Super Bowl XL against Pittsburgh and has a good shot at starting opposite second-year pro Nick Collins.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he has sensed no problems with Roman on the field.
"He's practiced well," McCarthy said. "Had a short conversation with him. It's been good."
In the doghouse: Many people thought the Packers reached when they selected Clemson defensive tackle Donnell Washington in the third round of the 2004 draft.
It turns out they were right.
After two seasons of inactivity, the 6-foot-6, 328-pound Washington committed what could be career suicide by reporting to minicamp in such bad condition that Thompson would not put him on the field. Washington has watched all three of the practices from the sideline with injured players.
"It's not a positive," McCarthy said. "(He's) just not where he needs to be right now."
Up and running: Offensive lineman Kevin Barry's excessive weight might have allowed second-year pro Junius Coston to get a leg up on the starting right guard job.
Neither McCarthy nor offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski would say directly that Coston got the nod as the starter this weekend because Barry weighed in about 25 pounds over his goal, but they certainly didn't hesitate to get a look at the young Coston.
"I wanted to see him compete," Jagodzinski said. "He's the kind of guy who fits this system. That's what he's built for. He has the feet and the athleticism. He just needs to be consistent. (The coaches) are working his (butt) off."
As for Barry, Jagodzinski made it clear his weight is unacceptable.
"He knows what's expected of him," he said of the 340-pound Barry. "He's got an opportunity to be a starting guard. If I'm a guy from Racine, Wis., and I know I have a chance to play for the Green Bay Packers, you would think I'd get it done.
"He can still do it. He just needs to lose two pounds a week until the start of training camp. That will put him where he needs to be."
Sideline view: Offensive tackle Adrian Klemm suffered a sprained posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, according to McCarthy, and will be sidelined indefinitely.
Klemm was hurt in practice Friday and won't be available for the final practice today. McCarthy wasn't sure if Klemm would be available for the minicamp in two weeks.
Among those also sitting out were: cornerback Al Harris (back spasms), defensive tackle Tim McGill (knee), defensive lineman Kenny Peterson (ankle) and defensive tackle Johnny Jolly (ankle).
Short yardage: Cornerback Mike Hawkins said he put on 10 pounds and has his weight up to 188 while still maintaining 3.5% body fat. . . . Cornerback Charles Woodson is applying to the NFL to wear No. 2, the number he wore at Michigan, but the NFL is expected to reject his request. . . . Linebacker Ben Taylor lined up as the starter on the strong side a day after Roy Manning lined up there.
--------------------
Adios, Mark!
"In his two years as a starter, Roman has not made many big plays and has given up nine touchdowns, a pretty high number for a safety."