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Notes: Jenkins yet to receive offer
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 29, 2006
Green Bay - Defensive end Cullen Jenkins, the most attractive player on the Green Bay Packers' free-agent lists, said Friday that he had received no offer from the club on a new contract.
Jenkins, 25, has been a revelation since assuming the right end job from Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila early in Week 13. His one-year contract, which includes a minimum base salary of $425,000, is expiring. If unsigned, he would become a restricted free agent in March.
"I would like to stay here but it really doesn't matter to me," Jenkins said. "Me and my wife talked about that a few weeks ago. We've got our child in school and we own a duplex."
If Jenkins makes it to restricted free agency, the Packers would give him one of three tenders.
The low tender, which figures to be worth about $750,000, would give the team the right to match an offer but receive no draft-choice compensation if Jenkins, an original free agent, was let go.
The middle tender (about $1.7 million) would give the Packers a first-round pick if they elected not to match.
The high tender (about $2.2 million) would give the Packers first- and third-round picks, effectively keeping Jenkins off the market.
"I'll tell you this," an executive in personnel for a National Football League team said this week. "I'll give up a first for him. He's their best DT and one of the better defensive linemen in the division."
Said another scout: "He gets better every year. He's close to an elite player."
Jenkins suffered an ankle injury in Week 5, missed two games and averaged just 21.6 snaps from Weeks 8-12. He has averaged 38 snaps in the last three games.
Pink of health: When coach Mike McCarthy decides his 45-man active roster Sunday night in Chicago, he will have all 53 players available.
Wide receiver Donald Driver (shoulder) missed a fourth straight day of practice but McCarthy said he expected Driver to be fine.
Center Scott Wells (shoulder) was withheld from practice and added to the injury list as probable. However, McCarthy said Wells would be fine.
Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, who suffered what he called a slight foot sprain Thursday, returned to practice and said he was fine.
In Chicago, cornerback Charles Tillman (back) missed another day and isn't expected to play. If, as expected, fullback Jason McKie (ankle) is out, it would leave Bears coach Lovie Smith with 51 available players.
The Packers will enter the finale with all 22 of their preferred starters in the lineup. Besides Tillman and McKie, the Bears won't have defensive tackle Tommie Harris or safety Mike Brown.
"It's the first time I've ever seen all starters play in the last game since I've been in the league," said Pickett, a six-year veteran. "That's unheard of. We're very blessed to have that situation."
Fortunately for the Packers, almost all their major injuries were suffered by backups. They have 12 backup players on injured reserve.
The total games missed by starters in Green Bay this season is 14, including just one on defense.
"I think any time you can stay healthy you have to cash in," tackle Mark Tauscher said. "We've been fortunate, for the most part, that everybody has stayed healthy. And that has been a key factor in not only this finish but, with the exception of two or three dog games, why we've been in the hunt in all of them."
A year ago, 11 Packers starters missed a total of 66 starts. The numbers were far more manageable in 2003 and '04, but in '02 they had a total of 68 missed starts.
What impact, if any, McCarthy's decision to change strength coaches from Barry Rubin to Rock Gullickson had on reducing injuries is almost impossible to determine.
"Rock has come in and done a good job but I thought Barry Rubin and his staff did an exceptional job," Tauscher said. "There's 100 different ways to skin a cat. A lot of injuries, especially the major injuries, are pure luck."
Watchful waiting: Some Packers fans might be screaming madly for Washington to defeat the New York Giants tonight because it would enhance Green Bay's playoff chances, but McCarthy won't be one of them.
"I really don't want to be bouncing off the walls cheering for the Giants," McCarthy said. "I may check in on the score but I won't sit there and watch it."
As for the game, McCarthy said, "It feels like an eternity since we've played. Frankly, any time you play the Bears, there's extra emotion that goes into that game. I definitely anticipate our guys being ready to play regardless of what the situation is come Sunday night."
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Dec. 29, 2006
Green Bay - Defensive end Cullen Jenkins, the most attractive player on the Green Bay Packers' free-agent lists, said Friday that he had received no offer from the club on a new contract.
Jenkins, 25, has been a revelation since assuming the right end job from Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila early in Week 13. His one-year contract, which includes a minimum base salary of $425,000, is expiring. If unsigned, he would become a restricted free agent in March.
"I would like to stay here but it really doesn't matter to me," Jenkins said. "Me and my wife talked about that a few weeks ago. We've got our child in school and we own a duplex."
If Jenkins makes it to restricted free agency, the Packers would give him one of three tenders.
The low tender, which figures to be worth about $750,000, would give the team the right to match an offer but receive no draft-choice compensation if Jenkins, an original free agent, was let go.
The middle tender (about $1.7 million) would give the Packers a first-round pick if they elected not to match.
The high tender (about $2.2 million) would give the Packers first- and third-round picks, effectively keeping Jenkins off the market.
"I'll tell you this," an executive in personnel for a National Football League team said this week. "I'll give up a first for him. He's their best DT and one of the better defensive linemen in the division."
Said another scout: "He gets better every year. He's close to an elite player."
Jenkins suffered an ankle injury in Week 5, missed two games and averaged just 21.6 snaps from Weeks 8-12. He has averaged 38 snaps in the last three games.
Pink of health: When coach Mike McCarthy decides his 45-man active roster Sunday night in Chicago, he will have all 53 players available.
Wide receiver Donald Driver (shoulder) missed a fourth straight day of practice but McCarthy said he expected Driver to be fine.
Center Scott Wells (shoulder) was withheld from practice and added to the injury list as probable. However, McCarthy said Wells would be fine.
Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett, who suffered what he called a slight foot sprain Thursday, returned to practice and said he was fine.
In Chicago, cornerback Charles Tillman (back) missed another day and isn't expected to play. If, as expected, fullback Jason McKie (ankle) is out, it would leave Bears coach Lovie Smith with 51 available players.
The Packers will enter the finale with all 22 of their preferred starters in the lineup. Besides Tillman and McKie, the Bears won't have defensive tackle Tommie Harris or safety Mike Brown.
"It's the first time I've ever seen all starters play in the last game since I've been in the league," said Pickett, a six-year veteran. "That's unheard of. We're very blessed to have that situation."
Fortunately for the Packers, almost all their major injuries were suffered by backups. They have 12 backup players on injured reserve.
The total games missed by starters in Green Bay this season is 14, including just one on defense.
"I think any time you can stay healthy you have to cash in," tackle Mark Tauscher said. "We've been fortunate, for the most part, that everybody has stayed healthy. And that has been a key factor in not only this finish but, with the exception of two or three dog games, why we've been in the hunt in all of them."
A year ago, 11 Packers starters missed a total of 66 starts. The numbers were far more manageable in 2003 and '04, but in '02 they had a total of 68 missed starts.
What impact, if any, McCarthy's decision to change strength coaches from Barry Rubin to Rock Gullickson had on reducing injuries is almost impossible to determine.
"Rock has come in and done a good job but I thought Barry Rubin and his staff did an exceptional job," Tauscher said. "There's 100 different ways to skin a cat. A lot of injuries, especially the major injuries, are pure luck."
Watchful waiting: Some Packers fans might be screaming madly for Washington to defeat the New York Giants tonight because it would enhance Green Bay's playoff chances, but McCarthy won't be one of them.
"I really don't want to be bouncing off the walls cheering for the Giants," McCarthy said. "I may check in on the score but I won't sit there and watch it."
As for the game, McCarthy said, "It feels like an eternity since we've played. Frankly, any time you play the Bears, there's extra emotion that goes into that game. I definitely anticipate our guys being ready to play regardless of what the situation is come Sunday night."
