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| Packers Fan Fest Set For Friday, Saturday; Tickets Available | Packers Story: Coaches To Lead '101' Sessions, Third Jersey Unveiled, FAN Hall Of Fame Honoree Named
Packers fans are gearing up for this weekend's Fan Fest and will have a multitude of opportunities available to soak in their favorite team during the two-day event.
Friday's kickoff event includes interviews with Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy, as well as the unveiling of the team's third jersey to be used this season and the naming of the 12th member of the Fan Hall of Fame. Packers coaches also will meet fans at the end of the evening.
Saturday will feature informative "101" programs that present different segments of the game. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers will lead a "Defense 101" presentation to discuss the team's '3-4' defense. Joe Philbin (offense) Shawn Slocum (special teams) and Mark Lovat (strength and conditioning) will lead "101" sessions on their respective areas. Other "101" sessions will feature assistant athletic trainer Kurt Field..
| | Packers Sign WR Dillon | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have signed WR Charles Dillon. Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson announced the signing Tuesday.
A 6-foot, 202-pound first-year player, Dillon spent time with the Indianapolis Colts during training camp in 2008. A former Washington State letterman, he spent the 2009 season with the Spokane Shock in af2.
He will wear No. 17.
| | Packers Re-Sign Veteran LT Clifton | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have re-signed LT Chad Clifton. The move was announced Saturday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
"We are happy to be able to have Chad as a member of the Packers," Thompson said. "He has been a valuable teammate and contributor to our team. We look forward to him continuing to work to help us build and prepare for a successful 2010 season."
Originally drafted by Green Bay in the second round in 2000, Clifton has played the past 10 seasons for the Packers. In that time, he has appeared in 143 games with 138 starts at left tackle (151 games and 146 starts including playoffs). He has missed just six games over the last seven years since returning from a devastating pelvic injury that ended his 2002 season. He went to the Pro Bowl following the 2007 campaign and has been named a Pro Bowl alternate on three other occasions, including last season.
| | Packers Release S Giordano And DE Montgomery | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have released S Matt Giordano and DE Michael Montgomery. The transactions were announced Friday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Giordano was signed Sept. 23, 2009, and appeared in five games during the regular season.
Montgomery, a sixth-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft, appeared in 56 games over the course of five seasons with Green Bay.
| | Ryan Pickett, Aaron Taylor Added To Packers Fan Fest Lineup | Packers Story: Tickets Available For Event; New 'Fast Pass' Available Through Frontier Communications
Green Bay Packers nose tackle Ryan Pickett and former offensive lineman Aaron Taylor, a member of the Super Bowl XXXI team, have been added to the Packers Fan Fest lineup, the team announced Thursday.
The sixth annual event, set for March 12-13 in the Lambeau Field Atrium, will bring fans together with current and former Packers players for two days of exciting activities, including a new Kids Camp at the Don Hutson Center. Fan Fest is presented by Chevy and Goodwill.
Full lists of players appearing and additional event details are available online. Willie Davis is no longer appearing due to a schedule conflict.
New offering: Frontier Communications, a Packers Fan Fest partner, has a limited number of Fast Passes available to distribute that will permit ticketed Fan Fest attendees to go to..
| | 2010 NFL Free Agency Questions & Answers | Packers Story: Q. When can players start being signed in the 2010 free agency signing period?
A. Beginning at 12:01 AM ET on Friday, March 5.
Q. What are the categories of free agency?
A. Players are either "restricted" or "unrestricted" free agents. Within the categories are also "transition" and "franchise" players.
Q. What is the time period for free agency signings this year?
A. For restricted free agents, from March 5 to April 15. For unrestricted free agents who have received the June 1 tender from their prior Club, from March 5 to July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). For franchise players, from March 5 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the regular-season (November 16). If he does not sign by November 16, he must sit out the season. There are no transition player designations this year.
Q. What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unre..
| | Packers Issue Qualifying Offers | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have issued qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents, it was announced Wednesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
Players receiving qualifying offers were S Atari Bigby, CB Will Blackmon, G Daryn Colledge, S Nick Collins, DE Johnny Jolly, FB John Kuhn, C/G Jason Spitz and CB Tramon Williams.
TE Spencer Havner, an exclusive-rights free agent, also was issued a one-year tender offer.
| | Packers Hall Of Fame Induction Banquet Presenters Announced | Packers Story: Karmazin To Present Chmura, Robinson To Present Fleming, McCarren To Present Koch
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Inc. today announced the presenters for the 40th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, to be held the evening of July 17, 2010, in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Craig Karmazin will present Mark Chmura, Dave Robinson will present Marv Fleming and Larry McCarren will present Greg Koch.
The Hall of Fame that evening also will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of the first class to be inducted: Bernard "Boob" Darling, Lavvie Dilweg, Jug Earp, Cal Hubbard, Curly Lambeau, Verne Lewellen, Johnny (Blood) McNally and Mike Michalske.
Karmazin is a longtime friend of Chmura and with him co-hosts a weekly radio show, the Miller Lite Football Show, on ESPN Radio Milwaukee. Karmazin is president and CEO of Good Karma Broadcasting, a marketing enterprise with expertise in digital, mobile, event, radio, television partnerships, sponsorshi..
| | Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - Feb. 26 | Packers Story: (How have you divided your time down here so far?)
Well, I got in yesterday. I had an opportunity to go to the interviews last night, and I actually spent some time this morning on special teams, with our special teams play. Had a couple meetings this afternoon, and my favorite part of the day has arrived.
(Do you at this point have a sense of what you're going to do on the offensive line next season?)
You mean how we're going to line them up? I think it's too early to obviously set a starting lineup because, as much as I've talked about it the last four years, I'd like to have one set and like to see them practice together every day and play together all year. Obviously with Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, with their situations, we're not ready to have a starting lineup yet.
(Have you expressed to Ted you want both of those guys back?)
Definitely. We'd definitely like to have Chad and Mark back. You can never..
| | Ted Thompson Press Conference Transcript - Feb. 26 | Packers Story: (If there is no salary cap, there could be more than 200 players becoming restricted free agents rather than unrestricted. Is there potential for discontent, that a large number of those guys will be unhappy, increasing the possibility of missing mini-camps, OTAs and other things?)
I think that would be better addressed to those particular players in those circumstances. I think, you use the word discontent, I think there would be a certain amount of discontent on everybody's part with any sort of labor unrest or difficulties that we may or may not be going through.
(Do you know exactly what you want to do with contracts in 2011, 2012, or are you still figuring that out?)
We've been in ongoing conversations about what strategies the organization might take. We haven't really firmed all that up yet though.
(Are you surprised so many of the top quarterback prospects aren't working out?)
Quite frankly I've been r..
| | Franchise Players Named | Packers Story: Franchise player designations were announced for the 2010 NFL free agency signing period that begins on March 5.
In 2010, a club may designate a franchise player or a transition player in lieu of a franchise player, as well as one additional transition player.
The salary offer by a player's club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive.
An "exclusive" franchise player - not free to sign with another club - is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position for the current year as of April 15, 2010 or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season - whichever of the three is greater.
If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater, he becomes a "non-ex..
| | Black History Month Panel Discussion Set For Thursday | Packers Story: Autograph Session On Friday, Feb. 26
The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame again will celebrate Black History Month, the February program in which the organization joins the annual celebration of the achievements and contributions African-Americans have made in American history.
Now in its fourth year, the Packers Hall of Fame's Black History Month again will culminate with a panel discussion, and also include a new video about the history of African-American players in the NFL and with the Packers. Highlighted exhibits, booklets to accompany visits and an autograph session are also a part of the festivities.
The annual panel discussion, set for Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6:30 p.m., will feature Packers all-time leading rusher Ahman Green, along with former players Willie Davis and Dave Robinson. Topics will include the contributions of African-Americans to the game of football as a whole, as well as to the success of the Packers.
| | Packers Place Franchise Tag On NT Pickett | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have designated NT Ryan Pickett as their franchise player. The move was announced Wednesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson.
"Ryan has been a good teammate and productive player for us on the field and also a good representative of the Packers in the community," Thompson said. "We look forward to having him be a part of our future."
Pickett recently completed his ninth NFL season and fourth in a Green Bay uniform. In 2009, he totaled 47 tackles (25 solo) and one pass defensed and was a key member of the Packers' top-ranked run defense.
| | Donald Driver, Sean Jones Added To Packers Fan Fest Lineup | Packers Story: Event Set For March 12-13, 2010, At Lambeau Field Atrium; Fan Fest Kids Camp New For 2010
Green Bay Packers all-time leading receiver Donald Driver and former defensive end Sean Jones, a member of the Super Bowl XXXI team, have been added to the Packers Fan Fest lineup, the team announced Wednesday.
The sixth annual event, set for March 12-13 in the Lambeau Field Atrium, will bring fans together with current and former Packers players for two days of exciting activities, including a new Kids Camp at the Don Hutson Center. Fan Fest is presented by Chevy and Goodwill.
Full lists of players appearing and additional event details are available online.
On Friday, March 12, doors will open at 3:30 p.m., with a kickoff event at 4 p.m. and programming until 8 p.m. On Saturday, March 13, Fan Fest doors will open at 9:30 a.m., with programming from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Fan Fest Kids Camp will run ..
| | Packers Foundation Awards More Than $176,000 In Annual Grants | Packers Story: Component of Total Packers Charity Impact Of Approximately $4 Million In Past Year
The Green Bay Packers Foundation has awarded $176,534 to 62 civic and charitable groups throughout the state of Wisconsin in its annual distribution of grants, Casey Cuene, chairman of the Foundation committee, announced Monday.
The groups were guests at a luncheon Monday at the Lambeau Field Atrium, an event that welcomed all the recipients and honored the outstanding efforts and services performed by each of the organizations.
Including today's grants, the Foundation has distributed more than $2 million for charitable purposes since it was established in 1986 by Judge Robert J. Parins, then president of the Packers Corporation, "as a vehicle to assure continued contributions to charity."
Of the Foundation's contributions, 24 grants - aggregating $104,423 - were awarded to Brown County organizations.
Additional grants, totaling $72..
| | Brown County Residents Reminded To Sign Up For 2010 Ticket Drawing | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers are reminding Brown County residents who have not previously registered to sign up for the chance to purchase single-game tickets for the 2010 season.
The registration period is currently underway and will run until March 1. Forms are available at the Packers' ticket office, the Packers Pro Shop and guest relations desk in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Fans can fill out the form, and with the proper identification (picture I.D. and proof of Brown County residency), register in person. Residents who have registered in the past do not need to sign up again.
The upcoming season will mark the eighth year that 4,000 seats per game are available to Brown County residents.
As was the case during recent seasons, if a 2009 selected resident who received tickets for a preseason game is selected again to be able to purchase tickets in 2010, he or she will be guaranteed tickets to a regular-season contest.
Approximately 19,000 names already a..
| | Bart Starr, Cullen Jenkins Added To Packers Fan Fest Lineup | Packers Story: Event Set For March 12-13 At Lambeau Field Atrium; Fan Fest Kids Camp New For 2010
Green Bay Packers legend and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr and defensive end Cullen Jenkins have been added to the Packers Fan Fest lineup, the team announced Thursday.
Starr joins other Pro Football Hall of Famers James Lofton, Willie Davis and Jan Stenerud at the sixth annual event, set for March 12-13 in the Lambeau Field Atrium which brings fans together with current and former Packers players for two days of exciting activities, including a new Kids Camp at the Don Hutson Center. Fan Fest is presented by Chevy and Goodwill.
Full lists of players appearing and additional event details are available online.
On Friday, March 12, doors will open at 3:30 p.m., with a kickoff event at 4 p.m. and programming until 8 p.m. On Saturday, March 13, Fan Fest doors will open at 9:30 a.m., with pro..
| | Packers, Levy Restaurants Present Awards To Outstanding Concession Stand Groups | Packers Story: Levy Restaurants and the Green Bay Packers honored several non-profit organizations for their time and dedication during the 2009 season with the annual Non-Profit Group Appreciation Banquet at the Lambeau Field Legends Club Monday, Feb. 15, 2010. More than 400 people attended the ceremony.
The non-profit groups, which include service organizations and school groups, commit to working at each and every game of the season, some of them even bringing more than 30 people on a regular basis to help serve up the mouth-watering food from Levy's concession stands.
In exchange for their service, groups receive a donation from Levy Restaurants based on their game-day concession sales. During the 2009 season, 67 non-profit groups earned more than $750,000 collectively for their causes.
Sue Boettcher, Levy Restaurants' director of operations, said, "It's a fun and rewarding night for all of us at Levy Restaurants to be able to thank all the groups for their hard work ..
| | Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman, Don Majkowski Among
Alumni Added To Packers Fan Fest Lineup | Packers Story: Event Set For March 12-13, 2010, At Lambeau Field Atrium; Fan Fest Kids Camp New For 2010
Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman and Don Majkowski are among the Green Bay Packers alumni that have been added to the Fan Fest lineup, which includes current players James Jones and Jordy Nelson, as well as Pro Football Hall of Famers James Lofton, Willie Davis and Jan Stenerud.
The sixth annual event is set for March 12-13 in the Lambeau Field Atrium and brings fans together with Packers players for two days of exciting activities, including a new Kids Camp at the Don Hutson Center. Fan Fest is presented by Chevy and Goodwill.
Full lists of players appearing and additional event details are available online.
On Friday, March 12, doors will open at 3:30 p.m., with a kickoff event at 4 p.m. and programming until 8 p.m. On Saturday, March 13, Fan Fest doors will open at 9:30 a.m., with programming from 1..
| | Deadline Extended For 'Hunting Down Hunger' Donation Applications | Packers Story: More Than $100,000 Available For Hunger Relief Efforts From Sale Of Orange Hats
The deadline for organizations to submit applications for funds from the Green Bay Packers' "Hunting Down Hunger" program has been extended to Feb. 15.
The Packers are targeting 25 to 30 organizations to receive funds for their efforts. Money is available to non-profit organizations with hunger relief programs that primarily serve Wisconsin.
The application process is available online at www.packers.com/community/hunting_down_hunger.
Recipients will be selected and announced by the end of February.
Hats remain available for purchase online at www.packersproshop.com, as well as in person at the Packers Pro Shop. More than $100,000 has been raised thus far through the sale of orange caps.
T..
| | Packers Set Offseason Schedule | Packers Story: The Green Bay Packers have set the bulk of their offseason schedule leading up to training camp for 2010.
Following the start of the offseason strength and conditioning program on Monday and the NFL Draft in April, the Packers will hold their annual rookie orientation from April 30-May 2.
Organized team activities (OTAs) then begin on May 17 and will run through June 17, with the team holding three on-field OTAs per week, with one week off, during that five-week span. The offseason schedule then concludes with a three-day, full-squad mini-camp from June 21-23.
Training camp is slated to begin in late July, but the team's exact reporting date has not yet been set. Players generally report to training camp 15 days prior to the first preseason game.
***
Key offseason dates
Beginning of Packers' offseason program: March 15
NFL Annual Meeting: March 21-24; Orlando, Fla.
NFL Draft: April 22-24
Rookie orienta..
| | Third Jersey To Be Unveiled Friday At Fan Fest | Packers Story: The "look" will be officially unveiled during the Fan Fest kickoff on Friday afternoon at the Lambeau Field Atrium, but it is official that the Packers are adding a third jersey and uniform for the upcoming season.
President/CEO Mark Murphy would only say that the third, or alternate, uniform would be from the team's first decade of existence - the 1920s - but would not divulge any additional details before Friday.
"Some teams use different colors, like the Bears have had an orange jersey, but for us what really makes sense is to have a historical jersey and uniform," Murphy said. "What's exciting about this is it's so different. The colors are different, and I think our fans will really enjoy this."
In their first decade, the Packers wore navy blue jerseys with golden or canvas-colored pants and a brown leather helmet. The uniform to be unveiled Friday will be a re-creation of a uniform from that era, modified to adhere to current NFL guidelines regarding ..
| | Clifton Glad To Be Staying In Green Bay | Packers Story: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers' blindside protector is coming back for an 11th season in green and gold.
Veteran left tackle Chad Clifton has re-signed with the Packers after being an unrestricted free agent for roughly one day. Clifton has been Green Bay's primary starter at left tackle for each of his 10 seasons in the NFL since being drafted in the second round by the Packers back in 2000.
"Green Bay is the place I wanted to play all along," said Clifton, who visited the Washington Redskins on the first day of free agency, Friday, but agreed on a new contract with the Packers by nightfall. "There was never any question about that. This is a place I've spent 10 years, and it's a place where both my sons have been born.
"I'm very fortunate that my agent and Russ Ball and (GM) Ted (Thompson) were able to work something out and I don't have to think about (playing somewhere else). I can finish my career here in Green Bay, and that's what I really wanted to do."
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| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Pass Plays On The Road | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The fifth installment is the Top 5 pass plays in road games. In chronological order, they are:
Donald Driver, 46 yards at St. Louis (Sept. 27)
This was the first of Driver's two catches like this in 2009. Early in the second quarter in St. Louis, Driver was being covered one-on-one by Rams rooki..
| | Defense Must React Better To "Sudden Changes" | Packers Story: Defensive coordinator Dom Capers' instant impact on units that assume his 3-4 scheme has been well-documented throughout his career, and Capers' impact on the Packers' defense in 2009 was undeniable.
Looking at the league rankings over the last two years, the Packers rose from 20th to second in total yards allowed, 26th to first in rushing yards allowed, and 22nd to seventh in points allowed in Capers' first season. The defense also led the league in takeaways.
But Capers doesn't view his rebuilding project as complete by any means, and not just because of the obvious - that the Packers struggled against the spread-out offenses with veteran quarterbacks. There's another area he's taking a good, hard look at that Head Coach Mike McCarthy mentioned briefly in his remarks at the NFL Scouting Combine last week, and that's the "sudden-change defense."
The Packers define sudden-change defense as those times the defense takes the field after a turnover or a long r..
| | Swain's Spirits Strong On Long Rehab Road | Packers Story: In discussing the toughest moments he's endured since injuring his knee late last October in Cleveland, Packers reserve receiver and special teamer Brett Swain didn't mention the pain of the torn ACL itself or the grueling rehab he's currently putting himself through.
"The hardest thing was on Sundays, walking through the locker room and watching everybody get ready for the games," Swain said. "That's the hardest thing about this injury. Surgery was hard and everything, but nothing compared to walking through the locker room on Sundays, because you want to be out there just as bad as they do."
It's easy to understand where Swain is coming from when you consider his career path to this point. He already had been through a season of watching the entire team get ready for games he couldn't play in, as a member of the practice squad throughout his 2008 rookie year. A seventh-round draft choice out of San Diego State, Swain didn't make the 53-man roster but used his year..
| | Areas Of Improvement Clearly Defined | Packers Story: In his annual visits with the media at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis on Friday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy was asked specifically about what it will take for the playoff-qualifying Packers of 2009 to perhaps become Super Bowl contenders in 2010.
McCarthy's answer was long-winded, yet it clearly pointed to specific parts in each of his team's three phases that he's expecting to improve in the coming year - penalties and punting on special teams, sacks on offense, and facing spread attacks on defense. Here's a synopsis of each of those with comments from McCarthy and General Manager Ted Thompson, who also spoke with the media in Indianapolis on Friday.
SPECIAL TEAMS
McCarthy noted that the Packers led the league in penalties on special teams for the second straight year, but statistically what stood out to him about those penalties is that nearly half of them - 12 of the 30 - were committed by first-year players.
"I'm not just blami..
| | Hall of Fame Hosts Annual Black History Month Panel Discussion | Packers Story: With only three days remaining in February's Black History Month, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame held its annual Panel Discussion event on Thursday night in Lambeau Field's sixth floor club level at the south end of the stadium.
The stage's impressive panel of guests featured Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Willie Davis, Packers Hall of Fame linebacker Dave Robinson, and the franchise's all-time leading rusher, running back Ahman Green.
Among the topics discussed early on was how athletics helped to accelerate integration during the Civil Rights Era, an advancement Davis credited in part to the relentless efforts of his coach - the legendary Vince Lombardi - to finding the absolute best player at each position, regardless of race or skin color.
"I think I'll say it now rather than later," Davis said. "But there is no question in my mind, that the Green Bay Packers under Vincent T. Lombardi created more diversity and created more change in the ..
| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Run Plays On The Road | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The fourth installment is the Top 5 running plays in road games. In chronological order, they are:
Aaron Rodgers, 4-yard TD at St. Louis (Sept. 27)
This game was closer than it should have been after the Packers jumped out to a 16-0 lead early. The Rams were within 23-17 early in the fourth quar..
| | Colledge, Spitz Venture To China | Packers Story: Since the two offensive linemen became close friends as rookies with the Packers in 2006, Daryn Colledge has been trying to get buddy Jason Spitz to take an offseason trip somewhere out of the country.
"He never wants to leave Florida or Louisville or Green Bay, those are his comfort zones," Colledge said of Spitz, a Jacksonville, Fla., native who played his college football at Louisville. "Then this year when he got injured and I said 'Let's go on a trip,' he decided to pick the farthest place away he could find."
Indeed, having injured his back and sitting out nearly three-fourths of this past season (for an update, see below), Spitz had plenty of time to think about a destination. So he organized a 10-day, four-city trip through China and Thailand at season's end from which the two returned earlier this month.
With stops in Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai and Bangkok, the trip was eye-opening as well as exhausting, with everything they tried to pack into their ..
| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Defensive Plays At Home | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The third installment is the Top 5 defensive plays in home games. In chronological order, they are:
Johnny Jolly, interception of screen pass vs. Chicago (Sept. 13)
The Packers had a scant 3-0 lead midway through the second quarter of the season opener when new Bears quarterback Jay Cutler hit J..
| | Slocum, Whitt To Conduct On-Field Drills At Combine | Packers Story: The hard-core Packers fans - or those simply looking for an offseason football fix - who will spend some time watching the NFL Network's wall-to-wall coverage of the Scouting Combine next week in Indianapolis might see some familiar faces on the Lucas Oil Stadium field during player workouts.
Green Bay special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum and cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt Jr. will be among the assistant coaches from around the league helping conduct the on-field drills of the prospects, an up-close position that has its benefits.
"It's a pressure-packed situation for those guys, because they know all the eyes in the NFL are looking at them, and this is their chance to make a statement," Slocum said. "You can really see how they respond."
Slocum will work as an on-field drill sergeant, so to speak, for the fourth straight year. He worked with the linebackers for two years before switching to special teamers - kickers, punters and snappers - last year.
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| | Scouts Highsmith, Seale Get Closer Look At Combine | Packers Story: Most of the Green Bay Packers' personnel who will attend next week's annual Scouting Combine in Indianapolis will conduct the usual types of evaluations - watching players go through their drills and workouts from afar, and visiting with them in the formal interview sessions.
But two members of the team's scouting staff get a little bit different look at some of the prospects, carrying out the role of "group leader," a chaperone of sorts for a given position group.
Southwest scout Alonzo Highsmith and West Coast scout Sam Seale both have worked as group leaders at the Combine for the last several years, and they agree the experience gives them mental notes they can add to the official scouting reports on the players they work with over a three- or four-day span. This year's Combine begins Feb. 24.
"I always use it as an opportunity to meet the top players (at their position), see their attitude," said Highsmith, who has been a group leader for several diffe..
| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Pass Plays At Home | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The second installment is the Top 5 pass plays in home games. In chronological order, they are:
Greg Jennings, 50-yard TD vs. Chicago (Sept. 13)
This one not only got the Packers out of the gates in 2009 with a big victory over an arch-rival, it also laid to rest all the doubts about whether Aar..
| | Packers Make 'Unforgettable' Visit To Navy Carrier For Super Bowl | Packers Story: The visit began with quite the thrill ride, and everything just got more and more impressive after that.
Last weekend, a group of Green Bay Packers - kicker Mason Crosby, punter Jeremy Kapinos, fullback John Kuhn, equipment manager Gordon "Red" Batty, assistant equipment manager Tom Bakken and head athletic trainer Pepper Burruss - joined more than 2,000 sailors aboard the USS John C. Stennis, a nuclear-powered Navy supercarrier, to watch Super Bowl XLIV.
Only they didn't just hop on the big boat from shore. They flew to it, somewhere off the coast of San Diego, and landed on the aircraft carrier just like all the military personnel do. And not in some helicopter or hovercraft either.
Treated as "distinguished visitors" by Navy Entertainment, a part of the U.S. Navy's morale, welfare and recreation division that brings various athletes and celebrities to visit troops away from home, the Packers contingent piled into a twin-engine C-2A Greyhound that left th..
| | Statistical Oddities Of 2009 | Packers Story: There's plenty of time in the offseason to digest everything that happened in 2009, and one way to do so is to look at some of the more obscure yet interesting statistics from the past season.
So here's a review of 2009 by the not-so-well-known numbers, 1 through 17 - one for each of the games played, including the NFC Wild Card playoff contest.
1: The number of games quarterback Aaron Rodgers completed less than 50 percent of his passes. It came in the loss at Tampa Bay in Week 9, when Rodgers missed topping 50 percent by one throw, going 17-of-35. In his two seasons as a starter, that's the only game Rodgers has dipped below 50 percent passing.
2: The number of times a Green Bay defender totaled double digits in solo tackles in a single game. Charles Woodson did it in Week 2 vs. Cincinnati with 10, and Nick Barnett did it in Week 4 at Minnesota with 11. Barnett also had nine solo tackles on three other occasions.
3: The numbe..
| | 'Favorite Fives' of 2009: Top Run Plays At Home | Packers Story: Continuing an annual series now in its third year, Packers.com has again compiled a series of "Favorite Fives," various Top 5 lists of big plays from this past season.
Each list will be accompanied by a brief description of the context, plus video clips of the plays. The Packers Fan Poll on the left side of the page will allow fans to vote for their favorite. A new "Favorite Five" will appear each week for the next several weeks, with a new corresponding poll.
After all the lists have appeared, votes will be tabulated to compile a final "Favorite Five," and Packers.com visitors can then vote for their favorite play of the year for 2009.
The first installment is the Top 5 running plays in home games. In chronological order, they are:
Aaron Rodgers, 35 yards vs. Minnesota (Nov. 1)
Early in the fourth quarter, with the Packers trailing 31-20, the offense faced second-and-4 from midfield. Rodgers dropped back to pass, took off to h..
| | Packers Fan Memories | Packers Story: Read the 'Packers Fan Memories' archives or Submit your own favorite memory
This Week's Photos
Hey Packers fans, here's your chance to share your favorite memories of the green and gold with other fans from around the world! This week's edition features an extended vacation in Green Bay, a trip back home, and a birthday present to the regular season finale.
Each week, Packers.com will post a feature called 'Packers Fan Memories'.
| | Rookies Made Their Mark On Defense In '09 | Packers Story: Despite the defensive letdown in the NFC Wild Card playoffs, one factor that points to a promising future outlook for the Green Bay Packers' defense is that it achieved what it did in 2009 - ranking No. 1 in the league against the run and No. 2 in total yards allowed - with significant contributions from rookies.
As the season wound down, Clay Matthews and Brad Jones were the two starting outside linebackers, B.J. Raji was filling in at nose tackle for an injured Ryan Pickett, cornerback Brandon Underwood was pressed into duty in the dime package, and Jarius Wynn was getting some snaps as a reserve down lineman in nickel.
"We played a lot of young players," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said in an extended session with reporters after the season ended. "Hopefully the experience those guys gained will make them that much better.
"We're talking about five rookies there that contributed some."
Barring an even worse rash of injuries on the defensive..
| | Plenty Of Packers Connections To Super Bowl Teams | Packers Story: When the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints take the field this Sunday in Super Bowl XLIV, there will be a handful of players and coaches involved in the game that have ties to the Packers, as well as many members of the Green Bay organization that have links back to the two teams playing in the league's title contest.
Here is a look at some of the Green Bay connections to each team in Super Bowl XLIV:
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
* Saints starting safety Darren Sharper played the first eight seasons (1997-2004) of his career with the Packers, earning Pro Bowl recognition with the team in 2000 and 2002. Sunday will be Sharper's second career Super Bowl appearance, with the first one coming in his rookie season of 1997 with the Packers when they took on Denver in Super Bowl XXXII.
* Saints backup quarterback Mark Brunell began his NFL career with the Packers in 1993 as a fifth-round draft choice. He served as Brett Favre's bac..
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Yahoo! Sports - NFL - Green Bay Packers News
Yahoo.com
| Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen dies at age 69 (The Canadian Press) | SALT LAKE CITY - Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.
| | Football Hall of Famer, TV star Olsen dies at 69 (AP) | 
Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69. Olsen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" along with Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier in the 1960s.
| | Packers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports) | | The blunt words came first. An alleged harsh action soon followed.
Tired of the inadequacies they put up with the full 2009 season, the Packers gave punter Jeremy Kapinos the boot. The team elected to not give Kapinos a qualifying offer as an exclusive-rights free agent before the March 4 deadline, meaning the first-year player is a full-fledged free agent.
The struggles of Green Bay's special teams, including Kapinos, was a sore subject both general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy addressed with reporters the previous week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"He's a young punter," McCarthy said of Kapinos at the time. "There's some things he can do to improve physically, and my understanding is he's gone about that process already.
| | The Packers may be adopting a third/alternate jersey (Yahoo! Sports) | The Green Bay Packers, who sport one of the most classic and distinctive looks in all of sports, appear to be...
| | The Shutdown Corner hypothetical mock draft, Part 2 (Yahoo! Sports) | For our second Shutdown Corner mock draft, we're going throw a couple semi-likely scenarios into the mix.
| | Packers sign WR Charles Dillon (AP) | The Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Charles Dillon, a first-year player who spent time in Indianapolis' training camp in 2008. Dillon, a wide receiver and kick returner at Washington State, spent last season with the Spokane Shock of the af2 arena league.
| | Robert De Niro set to play Vince Lombardi in movie (AP) | Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie. ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL. "Lombardi" will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL's worst team to league champions.
| | Jags find hidden value in Kampman (Yahoo! Sports) | The Jacksonville Jaguars have invested a great deal in their pass rush over the last few years, with minimal...
| | Cards get Rhodes; Pennington staying in Miami (AP) | On the second day of the NFL's free agent signing period, the Arizona Cardinals went the trade route to fill a big need. The Cardinals acquired safety Kerry Rhodes from the New York Jets on Saturday for a fourth-round pick in this year's draft and a seventh-rounder in 2011. Rhodes is expected to move into the starting spot opposite All-Pro Adrian Wilson that was vacated when Antrel Rolle, a...
| | Packers re-sign veteran LT Chad Clifton (AP) | The Green Bay Packers re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton on Saturday, wrapping up one of their major offseason concerns early in the NFL's free agent signing period. Clifton will now return to the left tackle spot he has occupied for most of his 10 seasons in Green Bay. The Packers do not have an obvious candidate to replace Clifton, and reported interest in the unrestricted free agent...
| | Packers re-sign veteran LT Chad Clifton, wrapping up major off-season priority (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton on Saturday, wrapping up one of their major off-season concerns early in the NFL's free agent signing period.
| | Source: LB Dansby agrees to $43 million, 5-year deal with Dolphins (The Canadian Press) | MIAMI - On the first day of free agency, linebacker Karlos Dansby flew to South Florida and decided to stay.
| | Under Shanahan, Redskins don't make usual splash in 1st hours of free agency (The Canadian Press) | ASHBURN, Va. - Washington Redskins fans woke up to a new routine on the first day of free agency. There was no dramatic overnight deal with a marquee name, the biggest indicator yet of a change of philosophy now that Mike Shanahan is in charge.
| | Packers release safety Matt Giordano, defensive end Michael Montgomery (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers have released safety Matt Giordano and defensive end Michael Montgomery.
| | Packers release Giordano, Montgomery (AP) | The Green Bay Packers have released safety Matt Giordano and defensive end Michael Montgomery. Giordano, who was cut by Indianapolis last September after four seasons with the Colts, was signed by the Packers a few weeks later to provide depth in the wake of injuries. He appeared in five games. Montgomery, a sixth-round selection in the 2005 draft, appeared in 56 games over the course of five...
| | Free agency brings Sharper back to earth (Yahoo! Sports) | Shortly after helping the Saints win the Super Bowl, Darren Sharper could be playing elsewhere.
| | How NFL teams approach uncapped free agency (AP) | How each of the 32 NFL teams are approaching Friday's opening of free agency with no salary cap: AFC BALTIMORE RAVENS Ravens don't intend to be thrifty. In quest to enhance roster, especially at wide receiver, Ravens expect to benefit from cost-cutting measures by other teams. "There will be some real good players that are going to get cut," general manager Ozzie Newsome said.
| | Green Bay Packers make qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers have made qualifying offers to eight restricted free agents, including starting safeties Nick Collins and Atari Bigby.
| | The Shutdown Corner mock draft, Part 2 (Yahoo! Sports) | With the Combine winding down, it's time to put up a first-round mock based on what we know so far.
| | NFL considers overtime changes for playoffs (Yahoo! Sports) | The NFL is considering a proposal that would change the rules for overtime playoff games.
| | In speed-dating scene, team names are irrelevant (Yahoo! Sports) | Every year at the Combine, reporters will ask players which NFL teams have talked to them.
| | Green Bay Packers put franchise tag on nose tackle Ryan Pickett at $7 million (The Canadian Press) | GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers have used their franchise tag on nose tackle Ryan Pickett, keeping the hefty centre of their 3-4 defence at a hefty sum.
| | Packers use franchise tag on NT Ryan Pickett (AP) | The Green Bay Packers have used their franchise tag on nose tackle Ryan Pickett, keeping the hefty center of their 3-4 defense at a hefty sum. General manager Ted Thompson says in a statement Wednesday that the 340-pound Pickett has been a productive player and the team wants him to be a part of its future.
| | Packers franchising nose tackle Pickett (Yahoo! Sports) | The Green Bay Packers are awfully happy with the play of nose tackle Ryan Pickett and the team apparently...
| | Packers safety Collins planning to hold out (Yahoo! Sports) | Green Bay Packers free safety Nick Collins is apparently p lanning to have a little contract holdout this...
| | Why trades are tough to make (Yahoo! Sports) | Also, how Stallworth can help the Ravens, and the Browns cut Lewis.
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FOXSports.com News for Packers
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| Packers Stay on Lookout for Corner Prospects |
| | Buy One Month, Get Month Free |
| | Scout NFL Radio: Draft Edition Podcast |
| | NFL Buzz: Latest free agency updates | Derrick Mason stays in the Raven's nest. What else is going on in
free agency?
| | Remaining Unrestricted Free Agents |
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| | NFL Free Agent Signings List |
| | STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL | The franchise tag placed on nose tackle Ryan Pickett, with whom the team is trying to work out a long-term contract, doesn't mean B.J. Raji is being phased out at his natural position.
The Packers feel there are more than enough reps to be shared by Pickett and Raji, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft last year, as the anchor of the line in the 3-4 scheme.
The athletic and versatile Raji will continue to play end, too, in a rotation with returning starter Johnny Jolly.
OFFSEASON STRATEGY
General manager Ted Thompson advocates building a team from within, so he didn't deviate in an uncommon offseason rife with free agents on the team.
Before the start of free agency March 5, Thompson issued qualifying offers to all but one of Green Bay's nine restricted free agents. As expected, Thompson further protected himself by placing high tenders on safeties Nick Collins (first-and-third) and Atari Bigby (second), nickel back Tramon Williams (first), defensive end Johnny Jolly (second) and offensive linemen Daryn Colledge (second) and Jason Spitz (second).
The biggest surprise was the Packers' declining to exercise a qualifying offer on incumbent punter Jeremy Kapinos, an exclusive-rights free agent. Though Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy were critical of Kapinos' inconsistent production last season, they don't have a capable replacement.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Running back: Given the trend of teams to divvy up the carries between two backs, getting a worthwhile complement to Ryan Grant figures to be a priority. The Packers haven't had that luxury because of the fragile health of Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, the latter of whom didn't receive a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.
2. Punter: Green Bay kicked underwhelming incumbent Jeremy Kapinos to the street by not issuing a qualifying offer to the exclusive-rights free agent. Tim Masthay, pulled off the street as a free agent in January, has the job by default, but the Packers will be using free agency or the draft for another candidate.
3. Offensive tackle: The Packers potentially have a vacancy at right tackle with Mark Tauscher an unrestricted free agent (LT Chad Clifton was re-signed). Even if the team brings both of them back, which seems likely, they're only short-term solutions at an advanced age -- Clifton will be 34 and Tauscher 33 later this year.
MEDICAL WATCH: CB Al Harris continues his rehab for Nov. 30 knee surgery in Florida. Harris is determined to be recovered by the start of summer.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: NT Ryan Pickett (tendered at $7.003M).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--RB Ahman Green is a long shot to return to the club after it brought back its onetime workhorse at midseason and allowed him to become the team's all-time rushing leader. Green is 33, and his explosive running abilities are way behind him.
--OT Mark Tauscher is a 10-year veteran who doesn't have age (will be 33 in June) and an undamaged body on his side, but he was getting stronger the latter part of the season on a surgically repaired knee after the team re-signed him in October to rectify things at right tackle. Without a sure replacement there, too, the Packers could keep the veteran bookends intact.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
--P Jeremy Kapinos (not tendered as ERFA) had a league-worst net average of 34.1 yards, prompting the Packers to add someone right after the season ended with the signing of Tim Masthay.
--RB DeShawn Wynn (not tendered as RFA) landed on injured reserve before Halloween for the second time in his three years as a pro with a knee injury, shortening the leash even more for his future with the team.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year)
--*S Atari Bigby (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) has been a starter since 2007, but his last two seasons have been riddled by an assortment of injuries, which have diminished the impact he once made as a tenacious strong safety.
--*CB Will Blackmon (tendered at $1.176M with fourth-round pick as compensation) has been damaged goods for most of his four-year run in Green Bay, including an early-season ACL tear in his left knee that required surgery Oct. 29. When healthy, though, Blackmon is a dynamic kick returner, so the Packers want to retain him.
--*OG Daryn Colledge (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) regressed in his fourth season as a starter at left guard. That sets up the possibility that he is the odd man out since the Packers have good depth on the interior of the line and could plug in Jason Spitz or T.J. Lang at Colledge's spot.
--*S Nick Collins (tendered at $3.35M with first- and third-round picks as compensation) has warranted the long-term contract extension he has long desired with two straight Pro Bowl appearances and 13 interceptions in that span, but the team isn't inclined to oblige. Giving Collins the first- and third-round tender could create a contentious offseason.
--*DE Johnny Jolly (tendered at $2.521M with first-round pick as compensation) still has a legal issue hanging over him stemming from his 2008 drug possession arrest, but he didn't allow that to be a distraction in a highly productive season (75 tackles, team-record 11 pass deflections) as the starter on the left side.
--*FB John Kuhn (tendered at $1.176M with no compensation) can't be considered expendable even with the position well stocked with Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson coming off his rookie season. Kuhn is a durable blocker and a viable short-yardage back with six touchdowns the last two seasons.
--*C/G Jason Spitz (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) is on the comeback trail from November back surgery. Provided there's not a setback in his recovery, Spitz should have a shot to regain a starting spot, which may have to be at left guard since Scott Wells performed well at center in Spitz's absence.
--CB Tramon Williams (tendered at $3.043M with first- and third-round picks as compensation) held down the starting job with Al Harris out the last seven games, but Williams is better equipped in his customary nickel role.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--TE Spencer Havner, a key contributor on special teams, was converted from linebacker and became a favorite red-zone target of Aaron Rodgers with four touchdown catches.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Chad Clifton: UFA; 3 yrs, $20M, $7.5 guaranteed.
--*S Derrick Martin: Potential RFA; $1.9M/2 yrs, $355,000 SB.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED:
--WR Charles Dillon: UFA; terms undisclosed.
PLAYERS LOST:
--S Matt Giordano (released).
--OLB Aaron Kampman: UFA Jaguars; terms undisclosed.
--DE Michael Montgomery (released).
| | NOTES, QUOTES | --Nose tackle Ryan Pickett is technically an unrestricted free agent, though he won't be going anywhere since the Packers placed the prohibitive franchise tag on him. Any team that would try to court Pickett in free agency would have to part with two first-round draft picks if Green Bay doesn't match the offer.
"It was simply a matter of we feel like Ryan's a good player," general manager Ted Thompson said. "We feel like he's a good teammate, a good leader of that group. I personally like him quite a bit.
"This gives us an opportunity to keep having some conversations and try to get something done. We'd like to do a multi-year deal with him, but there are differences where we are in the negotiations, and this was an avenue that we had to at least retain some right to be able to do that in the future."
--Thompson suggested that the Packers are falling in line with some other teams and setting their own parameters on what they will spend on players this year in the absence of a league-imposed salary cap.
"We will organizationally have a plan, and we will go about that plan," Thompson said. "What those internal thoughts are on what we will do or not do, I don't think it's for public consumption."
The salary cap in 2009 was $123 million, which the Packers never came close to touching.
Thompson, who is notoriously conservative when it comes to going after high-priced players on the market, added that the NFL's unsettled labor situation won't necessarily preclude him from being active in free agency.
"We're going to do what's best for the Green Bay Packers," Thompson said.
--McCarthy raved about the progress maligned defensive end Justin Harrell has been making the last couple months.
"(The) best he's looked in Green Bay physically," McCarthy said.
Harrell, the team's first-round draft pick in 2007, missed the entire 2009 season because of a recurring back injury.
He has appeared in only 13 regular-season games as a pro, but the Packers are hopeful Harrell can participate in offseason workouts and be ready to contribute next season.
"Justin looks good," McCarthy said. "Justin has been in the weight room. He's not 100 percent back, but the strength coaches have given me nothing but positive reports about him. So, I think we've turned the corner from a medical standpoint."
--Defensive end Johnny Jolly is due in court in Houston on March 8 for his rescheduled pretrial hearing on a felony drug possession charge.
Jolly, a starter who is a restricted free agent, was arrested in July 2008 and charged with possession of at least 200 grams of codeine.
| | INSIDE SLANT | The blunt words came first. An alleged harsh action soon followed.
Tired of the inadequacies they put up with the full 2009 season, the Packers gave punter Jeremy Kapinos the boot. The team elected to not give Kapinos a qualifying offer as an exclusive-rights free agent before the March 4 deadline, meaning the first-year player is a full-fledged free agent.
The struggles of Green Bay's special teams, including Kapinos, was a sore subject both general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy addressed with reporters the previous week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
"He's a young punter," McCarthy said of Kapinos at the time. "There's some things he can do to improve physically, and my understanding is he's gone about that process already. But, he definitely needs to improve."
Kapinos won't get that shot with the Packers to redeem himself for a league-worst net average of 34.1 yards last season. He placed just 15 of his 66 kicks (22.7 percent) inside the opponent's 20-yard line, and he had 10 touchbacks.
"The punting performance was not what it needed to be," McCarthy said. "Too many touchbacks, not enough balls inside the 20, punts that are being returned at a 60 percent clip as opposed to 40, 45, where you would like to be. Those are the things that when you can say that's one individual can improve that, we need to hold that accountable and improve in that area."
Kapinos didn't take the news well, especially his perception of being the fall guy for the Packers' special-teams deficiencies. They were rated 31st out of the 32 teams in the annual special-teams analysis compiled by The Dallas Morning News' Rick Gosselin.
"I assume somebody needs to be held accountable or sacrificed for the net (average) and (inside-the-)20 production," Kapinos said in text messages to the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
"While I do admit I needed to improve and I was at fault for some of it, I won't agree with anyone I was the lone liability," Kapinos added. "I think it's very irresponsible to place the blame on one person. (Special teams) won't improve if that's the philosophy. I would hope there is a sense of accountability across the board."
By not retaining Kapinos, with whom they would have had exclusive rights to re-sign, the Packers have a significant vacancy to fill in the coming weeks. The only punter on the roster is Tim Masthay, a street free agent signed after the season.
Masthay, a Kentucky product, was an undrafted rookie who spent time with the Indianapolis Colts last summer but was out of football during the season.
Meanwhile, the Packers readied for the start of free agency March 5 by submitting qualifying offers to eight of their nine restricted free agents.
Green Bay placed high value on most of them, tendering Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins at the most restrictive first-and-third-round level, nickel back Tramon Williams at the first-round level and four players at the second-round level: safety Atari Bigby, defensive end Johnny Jolly and offensive linemen Daryn Colledge and Jason Spitz.
The Packers are reportedly in talks with Collins' agents on a long-term contract that he has openly desired since last offseason.
"We're working on it and have been (for) some time," Thompson said. "But, the cake is not done until it's done."
Green Bay also gave linebacker-turned-tight end Spencer Havner a qualifying offer as an exclusive-rights free agent.
Injury-prone running back DeShawn Wynn was the only restricted free agent not to be tendered. Rather than pay him the tender of $1.176 million, the Packers would like to bring Wynn back at a minimum salary of $545,000.
The Packers have five unrestricted free agents, including nose tackle Ryan Pickett, whom they designated as their franchise player.
Linebacker Aaron Kampman was the first big name to depart, agreeing to a deal with Jacksonville on Saturday.
| | Presented By: | 
| | STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL | The franchise tag placed on nose tackle Ryan Pickett, with whom the team is trying to work out a long-term contract, doesn't mean B.J. Raji is being phased out at his natural position.
The Packers feel there are more than enough reps to be shared by Pickett and Raji, the No. 9 overall pick in the draft last year, as the anchor of the line in the 3-4 scheme.
The athletic and versatile Raji will continue to play end, too, in a rotation with returning starter Johnny Jolly.
OFFSEASON STRATEGY
General manager Ted Thompson advocates building a team from within, so he didn't deviate in an uncommon offseason rife with free agents on the team.
Before the start of free agency March 5, Thompson issued qualifying offers to all but one of Green Bay's nine restricted free agents. As expected, Thompson further protected himself by placing high tenders on safeties Nick Collins (first-and-third) and Atari Bigby (second), nickel back Tramon Williams (first), defensive end Johnny Jolly (second) and offensive linemen Daryn Colledge (second) and Jason Spitz (second).
The biggest surprise was the Packers' declining to exercise a qualifying offer on incumbent punter Jeremy Kapinos, an exclusive-rights free agent. Though Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy were critical of Kapinos' inconsistent production last season, they don't have a capable replacement.
TEAM NEEDS
1. Running back: Given the trend of teams to divvy up the carries between two backs, getting a worthwhile complement to Ryan Grant figures to be a priority. The Packers haven't had that luxury because of the fragile health of Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, the latter of whom didn't receive a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent.
2. Punter: Green Bay kicked underwhelming incumbent Jeremy Kapinos to the street by not issuing a qualifying offer to the exclusive-rights free agent. Tim Masthay, pulled off the street as a free agent in January, has the job by default, but the Packers will be using free agency or the draft for another candidate.
3. Offensive tackle: The Packers potentially have a vacancy at right tackle with Mark Tauscher an unrestricted free agent (LT Chad Clifton was re-signed). Even if the team brings both of them back, which seems likely, they're only short-term solutions at an advanced age -- Clifton will be 34 and Tauscher 33 later this year.
MEDICAL WATCH: CB Al Harris continues his rehab for Nov. 30 knee surgery in Florida. Harris is determined to be recovered by the start of summer.
FRANCHISE PLAYER: NT Ryan Pickett (tendered at $7.003M).
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
--RB Ahman Green is a long shot to return to the club after it brought back its onetime workhorse at midseason and allowed him to become the team's all-time rushing leader. Green is 33, and his explosive running abilities are way behind him.
--OT Mark Tauscher is a 10-year veteran who doesn't have age (will be 33 in June) and an undamaged body on his side, but he was getting stronger the latter part of the season on a surgically repaired knee after the team re-signed him in October to rectify things at right tackle. Without a sure replacement there, too, the Packers could keep the veteran bookends intact.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offers)
--P Jeremy Kapinos (not tendered as ERFA) had a league-worst net average of 34.1 yards, prompting the Packers to add someone right after the season ended with the signing of Tim Masthay.
--RB DeShawn Wynn (not tendered as RFA) landed on injured reserve before Halloween for the second time in his three years as a pro with a knee injury, shortening the leash even more for his future with the team.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (*indicates restricted because of uncapped year)
--*S Atari Bigby (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) has been a starter since 2007, but his last two seasons have been riddled by an assortment of injuries, which have diminished the impact he once made as a tenacious strong safety.
--*CB Will Blackmon (tendered at $1.176M with fourth-round pick as compensation) has been damaged goods for most of his four-year run in Green Bay, including an early-season ACL tear in his left knee that required surgery Oct. 29. When healthy, though, Blackmon is a dynamic kick returner, so the Packers want to retain him.
--*OG Daryn Colledge (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) regressed in his fourth season as a starter at left guard. That sets up the possibility that he is the odd man out since the Packers have good depth on the interior of the line and could plug in Jason Spitz or T.J. Lang at Colledge's spot.
--*S Nick Collins (tendered at $3.35M with first- and third-round picks as compensation) has warranted the long-term contract extension he has long desired with two straight Pro Bowl appearances and 13 interceptions in that span, but the team isn't inclined to oblige. Giving Collins the first- and third-round tender could create a contentious offseason.
--*DE Johnny Jolly (tendered at $2.521M with first-round pick as compensation) still has a legal issue hanging over him stemming from his 2008 drug possession arrest, but he didn't allow that to be a distraction in a highly productive season (75 tackles, team-record 11 pass deflections) as the starter on the left side.
--*FB John Kuhn (tendered at $1.176M with no compensation) can't be considered expendable even with the position well stocked with Korey Hall and Quinn Johnson coming off his rookie season. Kuhn is a durable blocker and a viable short-yardage back with six touchdowns the last two seasons.
--*C/G Jason Spitz (tendered at $1.759M with second-round pick as compensation) is on the comeback trail from November back surgery. Provided there's not a setback in his recovery, Spitz should have a shot to regain a starting spot, which may have to be at left guard since Scott Wells performed well at center in Spitz's absence.
--CB Tramon Williams (tendered at $3.043M with first- and third-round picks as compensation) held down the starting job with Al Harris out the last seven games, but Williams is better equipped in his customary nickel role.
EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS
--TE Spencer Havner, a key contributor on special teams, was converted from linebacker and became a favorite red-zone target of Aaron Rodgers with four touchdown catches.
PLAYERS RE-SIGNED
--OT Chad Clifton: UFA; 3 yrs, $20M, $7.5 guaranteed.
--*S Derrick Martin: Potential RFA; $1.9M/2 yrs, $355,000 SB.
PLAYERS ACQUIRED:
--WR Charles Dillon: UFA; terms undisclosed.
PLAYERS LOST:
--S Matt Giordano (released).
--OLB Aaron Kampman: UFA Jaguars; terms undisclosed.
--DE Michael Montgomery (released).
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JSOnline.com Packers
JSOnline.com
| NFL scouts watch UW-Whitewater kicker Schebler | Under the watchful eyes of a half-dozen pro scouts Wednesday, UW-Whitewater kicker Jeff Schebler performed solidly but not spectacularly.
That there were multiple scouts around to watch him made up for any disappointment he might have had for not kicking lights out at the Dave McClain Center.
| | Be a QB, see the world | John Grisham published a book in 2007 titled "Playing for Pizza," about a veteran backup quarterback for the Cleveland Browns who joins a semipro team in Parma, Italy, where the pay may not be as good, but the food, the architecture and opera are better than you find around the National Football League.
| | Collins signs tender with Packers | In what agent Alan Herman called a good faith gesture aimed at kindling negotiations toward a long-term contract, Nick Collins took himself off the free-agent market Tuesday by signing as one-year, $3.3 million qualifying offer.
| | Kampman gets signing bonus, Clifton roster bonus | Free agent defensive end Aaron Kampman might have lost some bargaining power because of the major knee injury he suffered last year, but it didn't stop him from netting a $10 million signing bonus.
| | Drug case for Packers' Jolly gets another delay | The pretrial hearing in the felony drug possession case of Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly was reset again Monday, this time for March 25.
| | Videos document Harris' recovery from knee injury | If Al Harris makes it all the way back from a catastrophic knee injury to play again in the NFL, he may think about having a towel-burning ceremony outside the Florida rehabilitation facility he is frequenting five and sometimes six days a week.
Why towels?
| | Kampman cashes in with Jaguars | When Aaron Kampman signed a four-year, $21 million contract with the Green Bay Packers on the eve of free agency four years ago, he knew he would have one more shot to strike it rich before he retired.
He probably didn't figure it would happen with the Jaguars.
| | Kampman reportedly agrees to deal with Jaguars | The Aaron Kampman free-agent odyssey apparently has ended.
The Florida Times-Union reported late Saturday night that the Jacksonville Jaguars had agreed to terms on a contract with the former Green Bay Packers linebacker.
| | Ravens grab Boldin with draft picks | The Baltimore Ravens couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a talented pass catcher to their roster: three-time Pro Bowl standout Anquan Boldin.
| | Bears spice things up | Julius Peppers joined the Chicago Bears in the biggest move by a team that showed it is intent on contending again after missing the playoffs the past three seasons.
| | Clifton returning to Packers | There was never any doubt that left tackle Chad Clifton wanted to finish his career in Green Bay. Whether he would be able to pry a few extra million out of Ted Thompson along the way was something he left up to his agent.
| | No deal yet with Clifton | Chad Clifton officially became an unrestricted free agent, and, according to a source, contract negotiations were done for the night. It's possible the two sides will pick up where they left off Friday.
| | NFL's salary cap ends | In some ways, NFL free agency shouldn't be any different from past years. But anyone who thinks it's a slam dunk that teams will view suspension of the longstanding salary cap as a reason to throw money in the air like they just don't care might want to reconsider
| | Packers extend qualifying offers to 9 players | The Green Bay Packers decided to move on without embattled punter Jeremy Kapinos, but a bigger question facing them during the off-season is whether they will move on without four members of their offensive line.
| | Tenders will cost Packers plenty | When the clock strikes 3 p.m. Thursday, the Green Bay Packers will be on the hook for a significant amount of money to eight restricted free agents.
| | Colledge to get shot at redemption with Packers | As poorly as Daryn Colledge played last season, the Green Bay Packers intend to send him a restricted free-agent tender by the Thursday deadline and give him a chance to hold his position at left guard.
| | Finley to start, McCarthy says | Jermichael Finley's future with the Green Bay Packers couldn't be filled with more promise.
Donald Lee's future will include a heavy dose of special teams.
| | Vincent grad Polk aims for draft | For a myriad of reasons, the Milwaukee City Conference has had just two players drafted into the NFL in the last decade. Safety Nick Polk of Indiana, appears to have a better than even chance to become the third.
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