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Pressure? What pressure?: Cornerback Charles Woodson said he didn't get pressure from the coaching staff to show up at the OTA sessions. "There wasn't any pressure," he said in the locker room after today's practice. "I think probably more pressure from you guys, wondering what I am oing and where I âm at. I âm here, mainly letting everybody know I am doing all right. I told the coach I would be here and here I am." Woodson said he's in good shape but has a ways to go. "I've got a few more weeks in Houston in the workout program," he said. "So by the time I come back, I will be a little bit lighter. I will be ready to go." Woodson works out at least once a day at a gym in Houston. "They have a lot of different groups in there," he said. "They have NFL players, volleyball, martial arts, all kind of things. I go in there in the morning, work out for a few hours, every day. "I do work on the track, long distance work, some footwork, agility, that type of thing. But I don't really specifically work on defensive back things till training camp starts."
Who is Chad Clifton's backup?: If the Packers played a game today and left tackle Chad Clifton went down, his replacement would be starting left guard Daryn Colledge, according to McCarthy. McCarthy is hoping someone else emerges at left tackle. "You never have enough left tackles," he said. "That will take care of itself in its place and time. I think Daryn is definitely a guy that has proven he can play there, on short notice like he did in Miami (last season). Orrin (Thompson) has done a nice job. He'll have an opportunity. Tony Moll is a guy that I think if we had to, we could move him over there. "We've talked about this before, and I think it's important, particularly with young linemen, and we have a number of them, is to get them established in one position, or left side or right side. We've had to move a number of our young players around last year, and I'm hoping to get away from that as much as I can in the future. Versatility is important, but I think when particularly linemen in the earlier stages, the more you can keep them in one position, I think they will progress quicker."
When asked why offensive lineman Kevin Barry was cut last week, McCarthy said: "Well, number one, the numbers. We were obviously high there as far as our numbers going into camp. And Kevin was coming back. But to say he wasn't a fit or he was a fit, frankly I didn't have enough information because he really didn't participate very much in the time that he was healthy. In my view it was more of the time on his clock ran out here. He was a player that did some positive things, but when you talk about offensive line, and when people talk about being a third tight end, I wasn't looking for another tight end. We were looking for offensive linemen that particularly can play multiple positions, and really his opportunity just did not happen because of his injury situation."
Ferguson says he's 100%: After sitting out the first two weeks of OTA sessions, receiver Robert Ferguson said he is 100% and has been practicing all week. Ferguson missed most of last season with a foot injury. "He's fine there," said McCarthy. "He's sore like a lot of the guys coming back from the injuries."
Rodgers gets the football: In Favre's absence, Aaron Rodgers received a significant amount of work. He made an impressive bullet pass to James Jones between two defenders in team drills, but also missed a couple of open receivers in 7-on-7 competition. Said McCarthy: "I thought he was solid today. He missed a couple throws that were there, that he clearly was capable of making. "I think when he practiced yesterday, he had a very good start, and it wasn't his best finish. But this is exactly what Aaron needs. He needs reps. He's had a good spring."
Woodson's appearance pleased McCarthy: McCarthy has been pleased to see cornerback Charles Woodson practicing in Green Bay this week. "I think it's great anytime your younger players can get the work that's needed with your veteran players," McCarthy said. "I was very happy to see him, very pleased with the shape he's in. He's ready to go. He's further ahead than he was at this time last year. So we had a good week of work with Charles." Woodson said he promised McCarthy he would show up at the OTAs and is keeping his word. Woodson said he didn't plan to attend the team's final two OTA sessions next week.
Blackmon still out of commission: Cornerback Will Blackmon has missed the last week of OTA practices with what coach Mike McCarthy called a groin injury. When asked if it's serious, McCarthy said: "No, I don't think so. I'm hoping he'll be ready ... hopefully next week he can get some work. But I don't think it can go much longer than that." Blackmon, a second-year pro, missed all but four games last season with foot and rib injuries. He was expected to compete for the nickel cornerback job.
Favre has sore shoulder: Brett Favre didn't practice today or Wednesday at the Packers' OTA practices because of a sore shoulder. At a press conference following today's practice, Favre said: "My shoulder was just a little sore. (I) could practice, but it really doesn't make a lot of sense to make it any worse. I think it's tendonitis or something like that." Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Favre would not participate in the final two OTA sessions next Monday and Tuesday. McCarthy said Favre's shoulder was routine soreness and there was no cause for alarm. "I'll probably take a week off or something and see how it feels," said Favre, "and then start gradually throwing and get back into it." Favre is scheduled to appear in his celebrity charity softball tournament Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. He said he might be relegated to designated hitter status for the game. "I don't even know if that's a smart thing to do," he said. Favre had off-season surgery for bone spurs on his ankle, but said it feels fine.
Other absences: Besides Favre, other players not in attendance at practice: cornerbacks Will Blackmon and Al Harris, linebackers Abdul Hodge and Nick Barnett and wide receiver Donald Driver [including Moll and Jolly].
Favre a no show, but Woodson attends: Brett Favre was not on the field for practice today. Coach Mike McCarthy had previously said Favre would take part in 9 of 12 OTA sessions. Favre is scheduled to hold a press conference this afternoon, and his celebrity softball tournament is on Sunday. Cornerback Charles Woodson was in attendance for the first time at an OTA open to the media. Woodson didn't attend any of the OTA sessions last year.
Pressure? What pressure?: Cornerback Charles Woodson said he didn't get pressure from the coaching staff to show up at the OTA sessions. "There wasn't any pressure," he said in the locker room after today's practice. "I think probably more pressure from you guys, wondering what I am oing and where I âm at. I âm here, mainly letting everybody know I am doing all right. I told the coach I would be here and here I am." Woodson said he's in good shape but has a ways to go. "I've got a few more weeks in Houston in the workout program," he said. "So by the time I come back, I will be a little bit lighter. I will be ready to go." Woodson works out at least once a day at a gym in Houston. "They have a lot of different groups in there," he said. "They have NFL players, volleyball, martial arts, all kind of things. I go in there in the morning, work out for a few hours, every day. "I do work on the track, long distance work, some footwork, agility, that type of thing. But I don't really specifically work on defensive back things till training camp starts."
Who is Chad Clifton's backup?: If the Packers played a game today and left tackle Chad Clifton went down, his replacement would be starting left guard Daryn Colledge, according to McCarthy. McCarthy is hoping someone else emerges at left tackle. "You never have enough left tackles," he said. "That will take care of itself in its place and time. I think Daryn is definitely a guy that has proven he can play there, on short notice like he did in Miami (last season). Orrin (Thompson) has done a nice job. He'll have an opportunity. Tony Moll is a guy that I think if we had to, we could move him over there. "We've talked about this before, and I think it's important, particularly with young linemen, and we have a number of them, is to get them established in one position, or left side or right side. We've had to move a number of our young players around last year, and I'm hoping to get away from that as much as I can in the future. Versatility is important, but I think when particularly linemen in the earlier stages, the more you can keep them in one position, I think they will progress quicker."
When asked why offensive lineman Kevin Barry was cut last week, McCarthy said: "Well, number one, the numbers. We were obviously high there as far as our numbers going into camp. And Kevin was coming back. But to say he wasn't a fit or he was a fit, frankly I didn't have enough information because he really didn't participate very much in the time that he was healthy. In my view it was more of the time on his clock ran out here. He was a player that did some positive things, but when you talk about offensive line, and when people talk about being a third tight end, I wasn't looking for another tight end. We were looking for offensive linemen that particularly can play multiple positions, and really his opportunity just did not happen because of his injury situation."
Ferguson says he's 100%: After sitting out the first two weeks of OTA sessions, receiver Robert Ferguson said he is 100% and has been practicing all week. Ferguson missed most of last season with a foot injury. "He's fine there," said McCarthy. "He's sore like a lot of the guys coming back from the injuries."
Rodgers gets the football: In Favre's absence, Aaron Rodgers received a significant amount of work. He made an impressive bullet pass to James Jones between two defenders in team drills, but also missed a couple of open receivers in 7-on-7 competition. Said McCarthy: "I thought he was solid today. He missed a couple throws that were there, that he clearly was capable of making. "I think when he practiced yesterday, he had a very good start, and it wasn't his best finish. But this is exactly what Aaron needs. He needs reps. He's had a good spring."
Woodson's appearance pleased McCarthy: McCarthy has been pleased to see cornerback Charles Woodson practicing in Green Bay this week. "I think it's great anytime your younger players can get the work that's needed with your veteran players," McCarthy said. "I was very happy to see him, very pleased with the shape he's in. He's ready to go. He's further ahead than he was at this time last year. So we had a good week of work with Charles." Woodson said he promised McCarthy he would show up at the OTAs and is keeping his word. Woodson said he didn't plan to attend the team's final two OTA sessions next week.
Blackmon still out of commission: Cornerback Will Blackmon has missed the last week of OTA practices with what coach Mike McCarthy called a groin injury. When asked if it's serious, McCarthy said: "No, I don't think so. I'm hoping he'll be ready ... hopefully next week he can get some work. But I don't think it can go much longer than that." Blackmon, a second-year pro, missed all but four games last season with foot and rib injuries. He was expected to compete for the nickel cornerback job.
Favre has sore shoulder: Brett Favre didn't practice today or Wednesday at the Packers' OTA practices because of a sore shoulder. At a press conference following today's practice, Favre said: "My shoulder was just a little sore. (I) could practice, but it really doesn't make a lot of sense to make it any worse. I think it's tendonitis or something like that." Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Favre would not participate in the final two OTA sessions next Monday and Tuesday. McCarthy said Favre's shoulder was routine soreness and there was no cause for alarm. "I'll probably take a week off or something and see how it feels," said Favre, "and then start gradually throwing and get back into it." Favre is scheduled to appear in his celebrity charity softball tournament Sunday at Fox Cities Stadium in Grand Chute. He said he might be relegated to designated hitter status for the game. "I don't even know if that's a smart thing to do," he said. Favre had off-season surgery for bone spurs on his ankle, but said it feels fine.
Other absences: Besides Favre, other players not in attendance at practice: cornerbacks Will Blackmon and Al Harris, linebackers Abdul Hodge and Nick Barnett and wide receiver Donald Driver [including Moll and Jolly].
Favre a no show, but Woodson attends: Brett Favre was not on the field for practice today. Coach Mike McCarthy had previously said Favre would take part in 9 of 12 OTA sessions. Favre is scheduled to hold a press conference this afternoon, and his celebrity softball tournament is on Sunday. Cornerback Charles Woodson was in attendance for the first time at an OTA open to the media. Woodson didn't attend any of the OTA sessions last year.
