NFL: Packers Blog for Cheese Heads Everywhere

2008-11-26T09:14:00.000-06:00

Can't function yet. Still reeling from Monday's games against the Saints. Bah humbug.

2008-10-30T13:26:00.001-05:00

Cheese heads, please get out and vote! It's next Tuesday, November 4th.

2008-10-20T10:33:00.000-05:00

Tune in here for Mike McCarthy's press conference today, 12:15 ish.

Pat Williams on Aaron Rodgers

2008-09-03T19:14:00.002-05:00

I saw that clip of the Vikings' Pat Williams talking about how "Aaron Rodgers is not Brett Favre" but I swear I had to rewind it three times. It was almost completely unintelligible. He was talking so fast, I couldn't understand more than a few words here and there. Pat, keep up the insults all you want, as long as they continue to make you look like the dumb one.

Save Yourself, Brett

2008-08-20T14:13:00.003-05:00

I've always loved Favre as much as the next cheesehead, but this whole retired-unretired-packer-jet thing just has him looking like a foolish, desperate old guy. Why is it that some people just don't know when to quit? It's so much better to go out a hero and be done with it. Now, this is what everyone will remember years from now.

Top 10 Signs You're in Green Bay

2008-07-25T14:43:00.000-05:00

Fair and Balanced

2008-07-04T14:14:00.000-05:00

I think this should be her new uniform.

2008-06-25T14:10:00.000-05:00

In the offseason, I can still entertain myself with YouTube.

Always sad to see a great one go...

2007-10-22T14:45:00.000-05:00

Former Packers Great Max McGee Dies In Fall

"McGee caught the first touchdown pass in Super Bowl history in 1967, a game he expected to watch from the sideline. When it was over, he had caught seven passes for 138 yards and two TDs and Green Bay -- coached by the great Vince Lombardi -- had beaten the Kansas City Chiefs, 35-10."

Sigh... died from falling off the roof of his house while clearing leaves. Seems wrong somehow, after a career like his.

RIP.

Kickers warming up the feet

2007-06-11T14:15:00.000-05:00

We've got a ways to go, but I'm already getting excited! These past couple weeks, Green Bay kickers Dave Rayner and Mason Crosby started showing what they can do in team drills.

Of course, they're going to have to be patient as far as decisions go, since everything will still be up in the air (no pun intended) for a while...

Can't wait until football season!

Jason Hunter

2007-03-22T22:45:00.000-05:00

Hunter is in the Pack for 2007. I think he will prove to be an even more valuable defensive end this NFL season.

2007-01-16T12:51:00.000-06:00

We're fighting over 10% body fat? Mike McCarthy should just let Packers QB be "fat" and do his thing. When was the last time McCarthy was anywhere near 10% body fat?

Pack Goes Back to Back

2006-12-18T13:30:00.000-06:00

The Green Bay Packers took care of business against the Detroit Lions yesterday defeating them 17-9. But Brett Favre wasn't doing anyone any favors by throwing 3 interceptions. But what we should really be talking about is how Favre is now the all-time leader in completions with 4,974 passing former Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino. But after the game Favre didn't seem to pleased about his record and more concerned with his three interceptions. Favre said, "...I'm more concerned about the three I completed to their team." Next week, the Packers face the Minnesota Vikings, and amazingly enough, try to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Favre and Pack Beat San Fran

2006-12-11T11:12:00.000-06:00

Brett Favre led the Green Bay Packers to a win against the San Francisco 49ers in impressive fashion. Favre threw for 293 yards and 2 touchdowns. Favre also extended his record of seasons with at least 3,000 yards of passing to 15 seasons. It's nice to see that Favre still has a little bit of game left in him. Next week the Pack face the miserable Detroit Lions, so maybe they'll get back to back wins for the second time this season.

Another Disappointing Season

2006-12-01T15:04:00.000-06:00

It seems to me that every season starts off with such high expectation of the Green Bay Packers, and every season lately ends in huge disappointment. Now I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that maybe the Packers need to start rebuilding instead of relying on old, over-the-hill players to win them games. Don't watch the game Sunday against the New York Jets with any kind of expectations, the Packers will just let you down again.

GB Looking to Pound the New England Patriots

2006-11-15T11:16:00.000-06:00

Our Green Bay Packers sign for this week sez "Pound the Pats!" We've got a history of doing that to the Patriots here at Lambeau Field. We've also got some momentum based on three of our last four games...

How about New England? They've got a losing streak going for the first time since 2002, and have been looking generally befuddled. On the other hand, their record on the road stands at six in a row. These are the Pats, not the Patsies, remember.

Should be a great encounter. Got yer tickets and yer green & gold?

Cheese Heads Cheering at Lambeau

2006-10-30T19:46:00.000-06:00

At last, a win at home, by which I mean Lambeau Field, the home of the most devoted fans in the world! Okay, the Arizona Cardinals haven't been much of a challenge to anybody, having lost seven games straight after their beginners' luck over San Francisco to christen their beautiful new stadium. But two wins in a row feels good, as does watching Brett Favre make a "Lambeau Leap" into the endzone. I hope Brett is still in leaping mode when we get to Buffalo next week.

Green Bay Ready to Beach the Dolphins

2006-10-17T14:05:00.000-05:00

Beach the Dolphins! That's this week's slogan, and as ever, there is an exquisite artistic rendering (ok, a cartoon) to go with it. In case there's a Cheese Head who hasn't had access to this season's collection, click

http://www.packersnews.com/specials/slogans/index.shtml/

for all the ones the Packers have used so far, along with a handy copy of the 2006 schedule. All suitable for framing, in my opinion.

BTW, the word is that Green Bay might just have an edge over the Miami Dolphins in this one. Even though it's at Miami, the Packers are rested and ready after last week's bye.

Thats Good Cheeeezzz

2006-10-11T19:29:00.000-05:00

Well last Sunday at the Packers Rams game they were able to collect over 22,00 food items as well as almost 14 grand in monetary donations. Now thats good cheese! This to me at least shows that Cheese Heads are the best fans evAr. Anyone have tickets to the Green Bay / Arizona game? I could use some!! Go Packers! Its yer burfday!

Looking Forward to Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football

2006-10-01T16:04:00.000-05:00

First thing -- my apologies to the beautiful Cheeseheads out there who had kind things to say and haven't yet gotten a response. Green Bay Packers fans are the best! I've hated being away from a chance to discuss by favorite NFL team with you, but sometimes real life messes with blog-life. More about that later. Or maybe not.

Anyway, the Packers have been gettting by without me, with some pretty decent defense even in the games we lost to two teams who seem to be on a roll, the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints. And the sweet taste of victory over the Lions in Detroit! Wouldn't it be fun to take that momentum to Philadelphia, where we take on the Eagles Monday night!

To Favre or not to Favre? Is that a question?

2006-05-08T19:04:00.000-05:00

Brett Favre is going to be returning as the Green Bay Packers starting quarter back in the 2006 season. He says it is his desire to win that brought him back to the yellow and green, but I am not so sure this was the best move for him or the team. I really hope Favre proves me wrong because I just can’t watch another season like our last one.

Please Brett. Let the torch to another.

2006-04-16T22:04:00.000-05:00

How long can Brett Favre take to decide whether he is fit to play in 2006? This is killing the fans. It is like everyone but he knows Favre needs to step down. The Green Bay Packers were great once under the leadership of Brett Favre, but they can’t be again. It is a simple case of Brett not having the same fire he had in his youth. It is ok though. He had a lot of good years with the Green Bay Packers and retiring now will earn him the respect of fans and players alike. There is something to be said for quitting while you are ahead. He’s not going to be ahead for long. There will come a time when people stop having faith in him despite his storied past.

Go Packers – Pack on the Defense

2006-03-19T18:53:00.000-06:00

The Green Bay Packers have signed defensive tackle Ryan Pickett. With 115 tackles for 2005, Pickett will be a good addition to a line that has been suffering of late. Another addition to our suffering defense is Aaron Kampman who had 105 tackles last year. These are two of the best lineman in the NFL and they are going to be Green Bay Packers. This off season is shaping up to be very interesting.

What is the burning question?

2006-02-14T11:54:00.000-06:00

This was the eighth year in a row that the Green Bay Packers did not make it to the Super Bowl. We went from a 10-6 season to a 4-12 that was painful to watch. I know the burning question that is on everyone’s mind. Should Brett Favre return in 2006?

Packer-Backer Considers Favre Retirement Beneficial

2006-01-30T19:48:00.000-06:00

It really looks like Brett Favre will be retiring after all. I know it is only January but the Green Bay Packers really need to be planning for next season. I just think Favre has had his day and needs to retire now before he has another embarrassing season like this last one. He deserves to leave with his dignity.

Trying to Get in the Groove

2005-10-22T06:09:00.000-05:00

Well hopefully Green Bay knocked all of the rust out and are willing to start the season anew with the merciless win over the New Orleans Saints a couple weeks ago. The good news is that they come out of their bye week against a struggling Minnesota Viking team. So with another win this weekend, that should help build up some confidence for the Packers as they head into a tough stretch of the season. Following the Vikings, the Packers have to play the red hot Cincinnati Bengals away, followed by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Atlanta Falcons. With no teams in the NFC North above .500, the Packers have not played themselves out of a playoff position or even a division title.

Another Rough Week for Packers

2005-10-08T05:58:00.000-05:00

It looks like the 0-4 Packers are in for another rough week. They are playing the New Orleans Saints, but it looks like their biggest opponent this weekend will be themselves. The Packers will have to play even more shorthanded than they already are with tight end Bubba Franks, running back Ahman Green, and left tackle Chad Clifton all questionable for this Sunday’s game. If the Packers are to dig themselves out of this hole, they would need to begin this weekend with games coming up against the Cincinnati Bengals, Philadelphia Eagles, and Atlanta Falcons.

3 in a Row

2005-09-26T23:26:00.000-05:00

The Packers are 0-3 for the first time since 1988. The Packers are trying to rebuild so it’s understandable when the team makes mistakes. But when your veterans are making the silly mistakes you know you have a problem. Brett Favre already has 7 interceptions this year, Ryan Longwell, Packers’ placekicker, missed an extra point, his first in 156 attempts, and fullback William Henderson fumbled, which led to a Buccaneers touchdown. The 17-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers was a heartbreaker, and things are definitely not going the Packers’ way, but there is a silver lining. No team in the NFC North has more than one win, so they haven’t played themselves completely out of contention. Next week is against the Carolina Panthers, let’s hope the Packers are ready to play.

Walker Out For Season

2005-09-13T00:10:00.000-05:00

Quite possibly some of the worst words a receiver can hear are, "You have a torn ACL." But that is what Javon Walker heard on Monday. Walker, Green Bay's number 1 receiver, will be out for the rest of the season. In the third quarter of the Packers loss to Detroit on Sunday, Walker caught a 55 yard pass to be rewarded with surgery and an 8 to 12 month recovery period.

"Certainly his impact as a football player and as a person in the locker room is huge," said Packers coach Mike Sherman, "but I think our team will be fairly resilient in regard to that. People are going to have to step forward. When you have an injury like this, as difficult as it may be, it's an opportunity for other people."

The opportunity is going to Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson, and rookie Terrence Murphy. Murphy is coming off of an injury, but this is a time where he has to shake it off and prove to the coach and team he belongs on the field.

Stepping Up

2005-06-13T12:28:00.000-05:00

Due to the hold out from Javon Walker it is really important for wide receiver Robert Ferguson to remain as healthy as possible this up coming season. Ferguson is what you would call a raw talent. The guy only played one year of college ball, so he is far from polished as compared to his counter part Donald Driver.

Ferguson still has the talent and ability to get off the line of scrimmage and not get pushed around. His deep threat potential is not as great as others but Ferguson is stronger than most receivers, so look for him over the middle.

Forever Young

2005-06-01T19:18:00.000-05:00

It is good to hear that Brett Favre is staying in shape and still has the 05’ season on his mind. The Packers gave Favre permission to be excused from the mini-camp sessions. Unlike Javon Walker who is holding out because he wants more money. Favre has bigger things on his mind and I am sure we all have an idea of what they are. Favre was give a personal trainer from to team to help him stay in shape. I can only hope and pray Favre will come back in full force.

What do you Think?

2005-05-29T16:28:00.000-05:00

Cornerback Al Harris seems to be in a bit of trouble these days. Apparently he has been accused of ‘forcing himself on a striper’ at the Cheetah Strip Club. No charges have been pressed yet since the police are still investigating if he really did it or if the stripper just wants money… you can’t trust anyone now and days.

Same Mistake

2005-05-24T17:53:00.000-05:00

This is so funny. Apparently Packers running back Najeh Davenport has hired on Drew Rosenhaus as his agent. Do you all know who Rosenhaus is? Well he happens to be Javon Walker’s agent as well. The agent has it out bad for the Packers it seems.

For those of you cheese heads who should know and don’t know, Javon walker is holding out from camp demanding more money. At this rate don’t expect to see him in a Packers uniform next year.

Mini-Camp Battles

2005-05-19T12:19:00.000-05:00

In the sixth round of the 2005 draft the Packers choose rookie Mike Montgomery, a defensive linemen, who stands at 6-5 and weighs 273 pounds. Montgomery has a very good motor and would quite possibly be the starter at left end when the season begins.

Montgomery has a good amount of potential to become a great outside pass rusher since he is not too consistent at getting low when he plays inside the line. The job at LE is not wide open for the taking. Aaron Kampman is penciled as the starter for now. Even if Montgomery does not earn a starting role, expect there to be a good mix of both Kampman and Montgomery by mid-season.

Question...

2005-05-12T16:00:00.000-05:00

I was jumping around message boards, and I have noticed the increasing number of Packer fans. With all the new these new fans coming out of the wood work, I'm curious to hear anyone's story as to why they are Packer fans and when they decided to become a cheesehead:)

Sherman's Last Stand

2005-05-09T13:23:00.000-05:00

Brian DeLucia, OURLADS.com / Special to FOXSports.com

Packers coach Mike Sherman can't be feeling too good about his future in Green Bay these days.

New Packers personnel boss Ted Thompson returned to Green Bay this off-season from Seattle at a difficult time. The future is uncertain as future Hall of Famer Brett Favre is winding down his career, but the Pack must remain competitive while he's still playing quarterback. At the same time, the man who lost his title to Thompson, Mike Sherman, is still on the sidelines.

Thompson does have more security at quarterback for the long-term with first-round rookie Aaron Rodgers coming aboard, but he is faced with some extremely difficult
decisions for this season due to salary issues.

Sherman lost three cornerstones of his playoff teams — starting guards Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, plus safety and defensive leader Darren Sharper. The only saving grace is that they didn't play left tackle, quarterback and cornerback.

The defense has been an Achilles' heel for Sherman the past few seasons. He's hired a new defensive coordinator in Jim Bates, but the personnel situation is no better than last season. The closest thing to immediate help through the draft could be fourth-round safety Marviel Underwood.

There is absolutely no pass rush outside of Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila. They lack playmakers throughout this defense.

Thompson is doing the right thing by trying to clean up the Packers' salary structure. The Pack weren't moving forward under Sherman's personnel decisions.

As for Sherman the coach, the future doesn't feel too comfortable as Thompson likely prefers to have his own man patrolling the sidelines, especially following an uncomfortable changing of the guard atop the Green Bay hierarchy.

The NFC North will be a lot tougher this season with Chicago and Detroit expecting to be more competitive, while Minnesota has significantly upgraded its defense. So much for off-season optimism.

Safety Net

2005-04-26T13:45:00.000-05:00

For the 2005 draft it seemed the motif was one of need rather than quality. Well that trend broke with the 24th pick overall, when your Green Bay Packers took quarterback Aaron Rodgers from Cal, after the 49ers decided on Alex Smith and left Rodgers ‘flapping in the wind’.

This decision belonged to first year General Manager Ted Thompson and I have to give my ‘props’ to Thompson for not letting need dictate his pick. Thompson took the best player that was on the board.

In all honestly I find this pick to be smart simply because the future of Brett Favre is yet undetermined. Don’t get me wrong I think Brett Favre is hands the best in the league. Favre is a warrior and true leader on and off the field but he has had rough this past two years and is considering retiring. So consider Rodgers as a safety net.

Target Practice

2005-04-14T15:18:00.000-05:00

from Foxsports.com

New coordinator Jim Bates needs more speed at defensive end, linebacker and safety, and Thompson will try to oblige. The first three or four selections could be defensive players. The team's primary need is at safety, but Georgia's Thomas Davis likely will be gone by No. 24. Oklahoma S Brodney Pool is a possibility in the first round, especially with his 4.5 40 time, but more than likely, the best available player will be a defensive end.

The strong outside pass rushing of Oklahoma E Dan Cody or Troy E/OLB Demarcus Ware would bolster Bates' system, which relies on pressure from the front four. Linebacker is another area of need, and the team wants someone who can run. Nick Barnett can play all three positions, and Na'il Diggs can play at least two, so it doesn't matter what spot the new linebacker plays. Tennessee LB Kevin Burnett has the size, speed and know-how that Bates appreciates. The exception to the team's focus on defense could be at quarterback or guard.

The club might consider Akron's Charlie Frye, Auburn's Jason Campbell or Purdue's Kyle Orton as a developmental quarterback. After losing top-flight free-agent Gs Mike Wahle and Marco Rivera, the team will be on the lookout for young replacements.

The club has had a lot of luck drafting starters in the late rounds and likely will draft a guard late. But the team could take a chance on an athletic guard such as Alabama's Evan Mathis or BYU's Scott Young if one is available the first day. The Packers also might look at a running back after the second round; Ahman Green and Najeh Davenport will be unrestricted free agents after the season.

A little scouting report...

2005-04-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins made the roster last year because he showed a knack for creating pressure up the middle. Jenkins doesn't have the size to eat up blockers on running downs, but he is quick out of stance, light on his feet and in constant pursuit of a sack. There's a definite place for him in the third-down package because of his pass-rush ability, but to play in the base defense he'll have to play lower to the ground and with a commitment to stopping the run.

Updates.....

2005-03-30T17:06:00.000-06:00

from Foxsports.com

It's unlikely the club is going to address its safety position until the draft. Right now, it isn't overly interested in any of the available free agents, especially at more than minimum-wage prices, and the team will use at least one of its top three draft choices to try to replace departed starter Darren Sharper. In addition to the draft, the club will target veterans who are cut after June 1, relatively certain that there will be potential starters available. Safety will be a priority in the draft, and finding a playmaker in the deep secondary will be more important than finding someone who can play the run at the line of scrimmage. . . .

Running back Najeh Davenport isn't drawing much interest in the restricted free agent market, mostly because he is recovering from shoulder surgery performed two weeks ago. The club issued the low tender for Davenport before it knew his shoulder was a problem, and the gamble probably will pay off. However, the injury highlights Davenport's limitations the past three seasons and raises questions about whether he can be the successor to starter Ahman Green should the club be unable to re-sign him after this season. It doesn't appear the team will make an effort to extend either one before the start of the season, especially given general manager Ted Thompson's unwillingness to overpay free agents. . . .

Recently signed guard Matt O'Dwyer should provide some insurance if tackle Kevin Barry can't make the switch to right guard. O'Dwyer, 32, is coming off two injury-filled years, and he has to prove he still has something left in the tank, but when he was last healthy he was an effective starter. O'Dwyer wouldn't provide the brute strength in the running game that Barry could, but he won't blow assignments and would provide more consistency in pass protection.

No cash for Shopping

2005-03-07T15:36:00.000-06:00

We won't be able to go out there and snag a coner like Rolle it will be way to expensive for the Packers to do something like that. I would hope with the money in had we find some more offensive lineman to replace Rivera and Whale. That is by far the most important, so either throught FA or the draft.

We need to keep Farve protected and we need to creat lanes for Green.

Cap Status

2005-02-22T13:38:00.000-06:00

from Foxsports.com

The team is several million dollars over the expected 2005 cap, but some of that has to do with guard Mike Wahle's $11.3 million cap number, which will be addressed before the start of free agency. Once Wahle is dealt with and all the restricted free agents are tendered, the team will be right at the $85 to $86 million cap limit, leaving little room to play in free agency.

The Hero

2005-02-03T19:53:00.000-06:00

I know there was recent talk from Donald Driver about his feelings regarding Favre’s retirement. In fact he felt that Favre would most likely retire at the end of the season.

I see a side of Favre that is the” never die” attitude when it comes to his love for the game. I see that, and I feel blessed to watch him play. I know Favre does not want to end the season on the down note that he did. I know he still wants some more Super Bowl action.

But…

We all know he loves his family, and more respect would go out to Favre if he walked away. It takes a real man to do something like that. I would understand if Favre retired and accept it, but that doesn’t I want to see that happen.

Establishing the Foundation

2005-01-18T13:36:00.000-06:00

Following a disappointing loss to the Minnesota Vikings the Packers put the season under review through a microscope, trying to figure out what went wrong. Well, things were discussed between head coach/GM Mike Sherman and team president Bob Harlan.

One of the things was the hiring of a new General Manager Ted Thompson. Sherman's role with the team now is focused as the Green Bay Packers head coach.

"I've poured my heart and soul into this job since I've been here and I'm proud of what I've accomplished, both as a head coach and as a general manager," he said. "I look at this not as an obstacle, but as an opportunity for me to shift my focus to the football side of the business and less on the personnel side, although I will still continue to be involved in that process. This will in no way diminish my passion to do the very best job I can do in whatever capacity I'm called upon."

Forever Favre

2005-01-13T13:02:00.000-06:00

Green Bay has a lot of NFL history attached to it. The great Vince Lombardi, Lambeau Field, the first two back to back Super Wins, and a man by the name of Brett Favre. I'm sure every one has heard of the saying all good things must come to an end. Well, Favre is a great thing to happen to football, though he has doubts about returning next year.

"I told Mike Sherman just now that if I do come back I want it to be for the right reasons. I don't know how much I am expected to be paid next year but I hope that Brett Favre does not come back to play for the money. I have never done that before and I don't anticipate doing it." - Brett Favre

Mr. Favre where ever you are, what ever you decide, know that you will be missed. Also know that you would be existing before your time, but I would understand...

Here We Go

2005-01-05T19:03:00.000-06:00

"Its times like these we learn to ______ again." Of course people would say live since that is an actual song written by Dave Grohl from the Foo Fighters, originally from Nirvana.

The point being is that the blank should be filled play. It is the post-season my fellow cheese heads, and the Vikings just can't get enough of what Favre has to offer.

As Cliche as this sounds, this is where the real season begins. Everyone dreams about going to the super bowl. Well the road runs through the playoffs. There are no second chances in the NFL. You have one shot every week to get it right. One mistake can set back a whole season.

Time to separate the men from the boys... Brett Favre style.

A Score to Settle

2004-12-30T13:49:00.000-06:00

The may have won their division and they already have a playoff spot, but you won't see Brett Farve sitting down after his fist series nor will you see any other starter from the Packer sit down at all.

This Sunday's game will be the 168th meeting between the Packers and their rivals, the Chicago Bears.

Think back to the second Bears contest of the season. Don't think the Packers have forgot about the 21-10 loss given to them at the hands of the Bears. A little scored needs to be settled to start the New Year off right.

Jaguars Freeze Out Packers

2004-12-20T11:05:00.000-06:00

from Packers.com the official site of the Green Bay Packers

Who knew the Jacksonville Jaguars were a cold-weather team?

Byron Leftwich threw two touchdown passes, Fred Taylor rushed for 165 yards and a touchdown and Rashean Mathis picked off Brett Favre twice, helping the Jaguars (8-6) stay in the thick of the AFC playoff race with a 28-25 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.

Temperatures were in the single digits and the wind chill was well below zero.

"A team that plays in Florida in the 80s and 70s, you just can't condition your body for the temperatures you are going to feel," Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio said. "But you can condition your mind and I felt we were ready from that standpoint."

Said Packers coach Mike Sherman: "They have the talent to play in any conditions."

Jaguars safety Donovin Darius was ejected for a helmet-stripping, clothesline hit that sent wide receiver Robert Ferguson to the hospital with 4:41 remaining. Ferguson temporarily lost feeling in his legs, but regained feeling in an ambulance.
For once, it was the Packers who played as if they couldn't wait to get inside.

Favre turned over the ball four times and fell to 31-4 at home after Dec. 1, losing for just the second time in 40 cold-weather games at home.

Nevertheless, the Packers (8-6) became the ninth team in NFL history to reach the playoffs after a 1-4 start. They clinched before kickoff because Chicago, Dallas, Carolina and New York all lost in the run-of-the-mill NFC.

"We're in the playoffs?" Packers lineman Mark Tauscher responded incredulously. "I'll take your word for it."

The Packers fell into a tie with Minnesota atop the NFC North after the Vikings edged Detroit 28-27 Sunday. They travel to Minneapolis for a Christmas Eve matinee that will decide the division.

"Our goal is to win the division and that is still out there," Sherman said.

Favre hit Antonio Chatman with a 6-yard touchdown throw and found Donald Driver for the 2-point conversion to pull Green Bay to 28-25 with 1:08 left. But Jacksonville safety Nick Sorensen recovered the onside kick and the Jaguars handed Green Bay its fourth loss at Lambeau Field this season.

Leftwich was battered all afternoon, bruising his left wrist in the second quarter on a hit by Cullen Jenkins, but he hung in to guide the Jaguars to a season-high points total. Favre also was hurt in the second quarter and played with tape on his left wrist and thumb after jamming it into the ground.

The drive ended when safety Deon Grant stripped the ball away from Driver in the end zone.

Driver's 32-yard catch gave Green Bay a 17-14 lead in the third quarter, but Taylor put the Jaguars ahead for good 90 seconds later with a 32-yard run.

Then Mathis intercepted in the end zone on first-and-goal from the 3, "the easiest pick I ever had," Mathis said.

"I hope I never do that again," Favre said.
Then, Del Rio went on fourth-and-goal from the 1 and rookie Greg Jones rewarded the risk with a touchdown that gave Jacksonville a 28-17 lead with 10 minutes left.

"We were ready for the cold mentally," Del Rio said. "And we did not let the elements dictate how we played."

The Packers sure did.

It was typical Green Bay winter weather: 12 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of minus-3. As Leftwich said, "This was beyond cold."

But it was the Packers who looked completely out of their element.

Green Bay committed 12 penalties for 101 yards, Ryan Longwell 's streak of 45 straight field goals inside 40 yards ended and Ahman Green fumbled at the Jaguars 10, one of four Packers turnovers inside the Jacksonville 23.

"They beat us in supposedly our elements," Tauscher said. "The AFC is just a better conference this year."

About the only thing that went right for the Packers was safety Darren Sharper's heads-up touchdown.

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila pummeled Leftwich and the ball squirted loose for what appeared to be an incompletion. While linebackers Hannibal Navies and Nick Barnett walked away from the ball, Jacksonville guard Vince Manuwai nonchalantly picked it up. Sharper came rushing in, poked it away, scooped it up and scampered 15 yards into the end zone.

Butler: It Wasn't Pretty, But It Counts The Same

2004-12-15T15:58:00.000-06:00

by LeRoy Butler, Special To Packers.com

While it wasn't the prettiest game, the Green Bay Packers got back on the right track with a big win at home against a division opponent Sunday, beating the Detroit Lions. And it doesn't matter how you get there, the only thing that counts is that you end up in the lead at the end of the game.

Although it was a great victory, with the Packers defense, it seems that you can almost pick your poison. Either they aren't going to play very well against the pass, or they're going to have trouble defending the run.

In the first half, the Packers had plenty of trouble defending the run. For some reason, the defense really picked it up in the second half. Kevin Jones came into the game after a 196-yard effort against the Arizona Cardinals and was a hot running back.

He showed again on Sunday why he's got a bright future in this league as he ran for over 100 yards in the first half. But the second half was a different story as the Packers came out after halftime and shut down Jones and the rest of the Lions team.

Overall, the defense played pretty well Sunday. If you look at them falling behind 13-0, and then holding that team scoreless in the second half - not to mention holding them to under 50 yards passing - that was a good performance.

I know the wind and the weather helped them out, but still the guys played hard and in the second half, there was a fire lit up under the defense.

Offensively, Brett Favre had a slow start. I think it may have been the first time in his career that he went through the first quarter without completing a pass.

But if you were on that field or at that game, you know how much of a factor the wind really was. If you weren't at the game, you just had to look at the field goals that Ryan Longwell kicked. He would start them at the left goal post and they would get blown back right down the middle.

But it seems that Brett Favre is the only quarterback in the league that can throw through the strong winds of Lambeau Field consistently. Those winds were some of the strongest that I've ever felt in Green Bay and it took Brett and the receivers a little while to get connected in the passing game.

Ahman Green and the offensive line have to take over in conditions like we saw on Sunday. They did a very good job, not only Ahman, but Tony Fisher and Najeh Davenport as well. Having three backs like that, you can always rotate a fresh runner in late in the game and take advantage of a tired defensive line.

In a game like Sunday's, you look for opportunities to make big plays, and that's what Brett Favre did on his touchdown pass to Donald Driver. Driver showed great concentration to go up between two defenders to come up with that touchdown. That's the kind of excitement that this team brings to the field.

I've told you guys over and over again that it may be like that sometimes - that the Green Bay Packers may be behind a touchdown or two, but they are never out of it. Great teams find ways to win games.

The Packers seem to be getting healthy now and are in good shape going into these last three crucial games. With a win Sunday, the Green Bay Packers can get to one of their goals - which is the first goal every year - to get into the playoffs.

I think the coaching staff did a great job last week in getting the team ready and keeping them focused after a tough loss. They kept the team together and kept them focused on the big picture and ready to come out and win a crucial division game.

That's the good thing about the National Football League - each week you have a chance to redeem yourself. The Packers did just that on Sunday, and I look for them to keep rolling as December goes along.

Rams vs. Packers

2004-11-30T16:15:00.000-06:00

from ESPN.com

"I'm humbled by it," Favre said. "It is an honor to put on an NFL uniform. Just to suit up once is a dream and everything I've done after that is a bonus. I'm living a dream every day."

Backup tailback Najeh Davenport rushed for 178 yards and rookie cornerback Ahmad Carroll, the Packers' top draft pick, had his first career fumble recovery, touchdown and interception as the Packers (7-4) won their sixth straight to keep pace with Minnesota atop the NFC North.

"When you get drafted by Green Bay, the first thing you think of is playing with Brett Favre," Carroll said. "When I go home, the first question people ask me is, 'How does it feel playing with Brett Favre? What did he say in practice? How is he?'

"He is not like other people in the NFL."

That's for sure.

Favre's record streak of starts moved to 219, counting playoffs, and is almost 100 more than Ron Jaworski's previous NFL quarterback mark of 123.

Favre took over for an injured Don Majkowski on Sept. 27, 1992. Since then, 11 of his backups have gone on to start for another team. Last week, Eli Manning became the 178th quarterback to have started a game in the NFL since Favre last came off the bench.

The Rams have had 13 quarterbacks in that span.

Favre didn't like the hoopla surrounding his 200th regular-season start.

"It was a lot of pressure to perform," he said. "I didn't need all the added attention. (But) I treated this no different than any other game."

Davenport said after the fifth-highest single-game rushing total in franchise history that he was just glad to be a part of Favre's memorable night.

"Brett Favre is unbelievable. It's a great honor to play with him," Davenport said. "Who knows how long he's going to be around ... He's like an old man, but he's young at heart."

Favre topped 20 touchdown passes for the 11th straight season, breaking a tie with Dan Marino on a 7-yard toss to tight end Bubba Franks in the second quarter that made it 14-3. He also threw touchdown passes to Javon Walker and Donald Driver.

Favre didn't have his co-star, Ahman Green, who was out with injured ribs. But Davenport came up with a strong imitation, gaining 178 yards on 19 carries in his first NFL start even though he had two sore hamstrings and injured his ribs, too, on his third carry.

"You wouldn't expect anybody to do that to you," Rams coach Mike Martz said.

Marc Bulger threw for more yards -- 448 -- against Green Bay than any quarterback ever had, completing 35 of 53 passes, but he was overshadowed by Favre and St. Louis (5-6) missed a chance to tie Seattle atop the NFC's woeful West.

"Any time you play against Brett Favre, you're not going to get the spotlight," Bulger said. "It was his night."

Isaac Bruce caught nine passes for 170 yards and a touchdown but his two fumbles were returned for touchdowns, one by Carroll to start the scoring and one by Michael Hawthorne to cap the rout in the final minute. Carroll also picked off a pass in the end zone that was intended for Bruce early in the third quarter.

Bruce's 4-yard TD catch just before halftime brought St. Louis to 21-10, and in the third quarter Martz made a questionable call -- a fake field goal when a 42-yarder by Jeff Wilkins would have made it a one-possession game. Wilkins was stuffed 12 yards shy of the first down on fourth-and-7.

"We didn't make it, so I wish we hadn't done it," Martz said. "I felt like we needed the points."

Not only did the Rams get nothing out of a nearly eight-minute drive, but the Packers went 71 yards in four plays, capped by Driver's leaping 16-yard touchdown catch that gave Green Bay a 28-10 lead.

Bulger's 8-yard TD toss to Marshall Faulk made it 28-17, but the Rams never got any closer.

Davenport capped his night with a 40-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-1 with 1:52 left to make it 38-17.

Rookie cornerback Joey Thomas forced a fumble on the Rams' first possession, and Carroll picked it up and ran 40 yards for his first career touchdown and gave Green Bay a 7-0 lead it would never relinquish.

It was the Packers' first recovery of an opponent's fumble since Sept. 19 against Chicago.

"We never looked back after that," Favre said.

Favre Leads Packers To Victory

2004-11-22T10:13:00.000-06:00

AP Story, from NFL.com

Brett Favre sat silently as his Green Bay teammates anxiously chatted during halftime.

Trailing by 10 points and down to only one healthy tailback, the Packers were desperately searching for an offensive spark. They found the solution in a familiar place.

"I just listened because I knew what we needed to do," Favre said. "And the talk wasn't going to get it done."

Favre led the Pack all the way back in the fourth quarter and Ryan Longwell kicked a 46-yard field goal as time expired, sending the Packers to their fifth straight win, 16-13 over the Houston Texans.

Favre completed 6 of 7 passes for 42 yards on the final drive -- the only incompletion came when he spiked the ball to stop the clock -- to complete Green Bay's rally from a 10-point deficit in the final quarter.

He finished 33 of 50 for 383 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown to Houston native Donald Driver in the fourth period. Driver had quite a homecoming, catching 10 passes for 148 yards.

Favre "gives you confidence that he is going to do something special in those situations," Packers coach Mike Sherman said. "To be able to rely on his leadership and abilities at those times gives us an opportunity to win a game like this."

The Packers sputtered on offense throughout the first three quarters and clearly missed injured star tailback Ahman Green, who was knocked out of the game with a rib injury in the second quarter. He finished with 15 yards on only five carries.

Relying on a third-string tailback (Tony Fisher ) and a guy called up from the practice squad (Walter Williams), Favre was forced to shoulder much of the offensive burden.

"At one point, we were totally out of running backs," Favre said. "We had to alter our game plan some and had to abandon our running game a little bit."

That proved to be a good move.

Favre finally got going in the fourth quarter, leading the Packers on a seven-play, 81-yard drive he capped with a 24-yard touchdown pass to Driver.

Favre made a deft pump fake on the play, fooling rookie cornerback Dunta Robinson and giving Driver a wide-open path into the end zone.

It also extended Favre's streak of games with a touchdown pass to 35 games, second in NFL history to Johnny Unitas' 47 games.

The Packers scored again on Longwell's 38-yard field goal midway through the quarter, tying the game at 13.

Favre failed on his first attempt to break the tie, throwing an interception to Robinson, who was running step for step with receiver Antonio Chatman.

But the Texans went three plays and out for the third straight time, and Favre predictably came through in the clutch.

Green Bay (6-4) stayed tied with Minnesota for first place in the NFC North.

The Texans (4-6) played on national TV for the first time since their inaugural game against the Dallas Cowboys in 2002, a span of 40 games. Houston came through that night with a stunning 19-10 win over the heavily favored Cowboys.

Before a record crowd of 70,769 at buzzing Reliant Stadium, the Texans hoped to summon a little more prime-time magic.

The third-year team came up short, losing its third straight and learning a valuable lesson about letting a veteran team hang around.

"You don't get many chances to play in front of big audiences like tonight," said Andre Johnson, who had 107 yards receiving on six catches. "When you get no points in the second half, you just can't do that, playing against a team like that with Brett Favre."

Texans quarterback David Carr started fast, but finished with a thud.

Midway through the second quarter, Carr connected with Johnson for a 49-yard pass to the Green Bay 6. Carr found Domanick Davis in the flat on the next play for a 7-3 lead.

At halftime, Carr was 8-of-15 for 115 yards. After the break, he went 5-for-11 for 49 yards as the Texans were so bad on offense the crowd started booing. Davis was held to 65 yards on 21 carries -- about right for a team that ranks 31st in yards per carry.

"To go out and not score anything in second half is not acceptable," Texans guard Todd Wade said. "It's embarrassing."

After being decimated by Jake Plummer and Peyton Manning in consecutive weeks, Houston's beleaguered defense held Favre in check for three quarters. The fourth quarter, though, is the one that matters most with Favre: The 14-year veteran engineered his 32nd final-quarter comeback.

Key Issues

2004-11-08T11:26:00.000-06:00

From FoxSports.com

The team needs to get back to the blitzing style it worked on all offseason. That means rookie CBs Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas have to become reliable parts of the dime package. The coaches must devise a way to put the athletic but mistake-prone duo in situations where they can succeed, which might mean moving them around and making them a part of the blitz package to lessen their exposure to tough coverage situations. Coach Mike Sherman must continue to be involved heavily in the offense on game day. When Sherman is calling plays, QB Brett Favre continually hears about ball security and better understands what Sherman wants done.

The Packers can compete with the NFL's elite only on offense, and a playoff run will require that unit to stay in top form every week to make up for the defense's shortcomings.

Packers Roll Over Lions 38-10

2004-10-18T09:55:00.000-05:00

AP Story, offical Packer site

Brett Favre and Darren Sharper have forgotten more motivational speeches than they can remember.

If the Green Bay Packers bounce back this season from their awful start, the pep talk head coach/GM Mike Sherman delivered the night before playing at Detroit will be memorable.

That did the trick. Favre threw two touchdown passes, and Sharper scored off an interception to lead the Packers to a 38-10 win over the Lions.

Green Bay (2-4) had lost four straight for the first time in 13 years and is 0-3 at home for the first time since 1988.

In an odd twist, Detroit (3-2) has won both its road games -- after losing an NFL record 24 straight -- but fell to 1-2 at home.

The lopsided game was close until Sharper stepped in front of Joey Harrington's forced pass early in the third quarter and returned it 36 yards -- with a juke move and a hurdle into the end zone -- to give the Packers a 24-10 lead.

Favre, who talked about retirement with his 5-year-old daughter as he drove her to kindergarten this week, was effective despite missing Robert Ferguson for the whole game and Javon Walker for much of it. Donald Driver made up for the losses with nine receptions for 110 yards and two TDs.

Favre was 25 of 38 for 257 yards. He extended his streak with a TD pass to 31 games, passing Dan Marino and trailing only Johnny Unitas' record run of 47 straight. Favre played in his 197th game with the Packers, passing Bart Starr for No. 1 in franchise history.

With 165 yards passing in the first half, Favre surpassed Fran Tarkenton for fourth place on the NFL career list with 47,106.

Ahman Green ran for 81 yards, the most against Detroit this season, and threw a 20-yard TD pass to Driver to put Green Bay ahead 38-10 early in the fourth. Najeh Davenport added 62 yards rushing and a touchdown.

The Packers hope this win will get them back into the playoff race in the NFC. Just eight teams have reached the postseason after a 1-4 start.

The Lions were booed at home, something the Packers have dealt with lately.

Most of the displeasure was voiced by Lions fans when Harrington made one of his many inaccurate, or short passes. Harrington completed 12 of 23 passes for just 101 yards with a TD and an interception.

It looked like Harrington would have much-needed help when Roy Williams was activated despite a sprained ankle, but the rookie receiver was relegated to the sideline in full uniform because of concerns about making the injury worse.

The backfield also didn't help Harrington, who ran for a team-high 12 yards.

Detroit went 67 yards on its TD drive in the first half, but gained just 40 on the other six first-half possessions. In the second half, the Lions gained just 18 yards and didn't have a first down.

The Lions were off to a good start -- and Green Bay wasn't -- because of turnover margin. Detroit created nine more turnovers than it gave up through four games while the Packers had a minus-9 differential. On Sunday, the Packers didn't have one turnover and Detroit had one.

Defense Must Get After Warner

2004-09-30T17:02:00.000-05:00

by Dave Lawrence, Packers.com

When the New York Giants come to Wisconsin Sunday to meet the Packers, they will be led by a familiar face - familiar at least to Brett Favre, and anyone else that was in camp with the Pack back in 1994.

Quarterback Kurt Warner, whose tenure as a Packer pre-dates his now-famous story of traveling from the Arena Football League, to NFL Europe, to superstardom with the St. Louis Rams, will be under center for the Giants.

The two-time league MVP, who also picked up a Super Bowl ring with the Rams, first broke into the NFL as an undrafted free agent when he signed with the Packers out of the University of Northern Iowa in 1994.

Coming off of two difficult seasons in St. Louis, the signal-caller looks to have regained some of his old form as he's directed the Giants to a 2-1 record thus far in the young season.

Linebacker Nick Barnett is not buying into the reports that Warner isn't the same player he used once was, and is prepared to face the quarterback that lit up the league from 1999 to 2001...

Defensive end Aaron Kampman, who grew up and went to college in Iowa, is very familiar with the story of the man he will be trying to harass all afternoon Sunday...

The lineman did go on to say that the defense will try to exploit some of the knocks that have dogged Warner over the past few years, such his lack of mobility and the fact that he sometimes will stand in the pocket for a long time searching for open receivers.

Barnett expects that the pressure defense employed by coordinator Bob Slowik will be in full effect Sunday, and he knows that they must be more successful in reaching their target in the backfield than in their two recent losses...

Go Packers!

Still Holding

2004-09-09T13:38:00.000-05:00

Michael Hawthorne has now acquired the starting position at conerback after beating out the Packers first round draft pick, Ahmad Carroll. Originally the position belonged to the Packers defensive star of 2003, Mike Mekenzie. Mekenzie is still a hold out, after being upset with the team when several lesser talented conerbacks were being compensated more than him. When April came around, Mekenzie asked to be traded. In the end, head coach Mike Sherman says Mekenzies' hold out has not been a distraction, and it hasn't.

The battle between Hawthorne and Carroll this pre-season proved both can play, yet Hawthorne will have the upper hand over Carroll against Carolina. Hawthorne picked up from the Saints, was team mates with Jake Delhomme from 2000-2002. Hawthorne has more than enough knowledge and practice against Delhomme. I am sure this is why the coaches started Hawthorne over Carroll.

Carroll was a three year stand out at Arkansas and was the 25 pick overall in the draft this year. Carroll gave a taste of what he can do with a pick in the final pre-season game.

from ESPN.com
"And Carroll is going to play, he's going to play in the base, as well. He's just not going to start the game," Sherman said.

Rookie Ahmad Carroll's Big Break

2004-09-02T15:47:00.000-05:00

From NFL.com

Green Bay Packers rookie cornerback Ahmad Carroll could get his first start on Friday at Tennessee.

Coach Mike Sherman said Wednesday that Carroll would replace Michael Hawthorne at left cornerback, if his strained back does not improve.

When asked if Carroll would get the start, Sherman said, ``As of right now, it looks that way because Hawthorne hasn't been able to get out on the field. So, if Hawthorne is not out there, Carroll will start.''

Carroll, taken 25th overall in the April draft, has lined up in Hawthorne's place at practice all week.

"I'm always ready to step in,'' Carroll said. ``Wherever the coaches want me at, I'll be able to play.''

The speedy, 5-foot-10 Carroll, meanwhile, has pleased the coaches with his progress.
Carroll struggled with penalties in the first two exhibition games, but was penalty-free and broke up his first pass of the preseason against the Jaguars. His nine tackles rank fourth on the team.

Pressure on Kenny Holmes for Friday Nights Game

2004-08-27T17:59:00.000-05:00

From NFL.com

Unable to develop a pass-rusher opposite Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, the Green Bay Packers signed former New York Giants defensive end Kenny Holmes on Wednesday.

Holmes participated in practice after arriving about an hour into the workout.
Coach Mike Sherman said he hopes to have the 6-foot-4, 260-pound veteran play 10-12 snaps in third-down situations Friday night at Jacksonville.

``Not having been in camp, obviously I'm not going to stress him too much,'' Sherman said.

Holmes, who signed a one-year deal worth $660,000 and a $25,000 signing bonus, visited the Packers last week for the second time to have his surgically repaired right knee inspected.

A 1997 first-round pick by Tennessee out of the University of Miami, Holmes has 38 career sacks, including five in nine games last year with the Giants before undergoing season-ending knee surgery on Nov. 15.

``My knee feels great. I've been running around here for the last five or six months on it, and I haven't had any troubles with it,'' Holmes said.

Green Bay 19, New Orleans 14

2004-08-23T13:56:00.000-05:00

Well, we're 1-1 now after a close game at home. From Yahoo Sports:

Brett Favre completed 11 of 17 passes for 149 yards, including passes of 30 and 31 yards to Antonio Chatman, who sprained his right ankle on the second-half kickoff.

"For a small receiver (5-foot-9), he sure played big today," Favre said of Chatman.

Ryan Longwell had field goals of 30, 38, 42 and 32 yards for Green Bay.

Brooks, who sat out the Saints' preseason opener, completed 7 of 13 passes for 44 yards against a dizzying array of blitzes before hobbling off. On the next series, New Orleans backup running back Aaron Stecker left the game with a neck stinger when he was hit by linebacker Nick Barnett and fumbled.

"They blitzed every snap," Saints coach Jim Haslett said.

At least it seemed that way.

"Well, I guess that's what their trademark is going to be this year, so that's going to be what they want to work on," Haslett said.

I never know what to make of preseason games, and with a mixed performance both against Seattle and New Orleans, it's hard to see the full capabilities of the team at this point. Hopefully the next two games at Jacksonville and at Tennesee will show just how strong this Packers team is.

draft coverage

2004-08-08T15:03:00.000-05:00

Overall, some promising picks:


Ahmad Carroll   	CB 	Arkansas 	 

Joey Thomas   	CB 	

Donnell Washington   	DT 	Clemson 

B.J. Sander   	P 	Ohio St

Corey Williams   	DT 	Arkansas St.

Scott Wells   	C 	Tennessee

It'll be interesting to see how these rookies do in Seattle...

2004 Packers Schedule

2004-07-28T16:36:00.000-05:00

Here's the new 2004 Green Bay Packers schedule for all you cheeseheads (from NFL.com):

2004 Preseason
Date Opponent Time/Result
Aug. 16 Seattle 8:00 p.m.
Aug. 21 New Orleans 8:00 p.m.
Aug. 27 at Jacksonville 8:00 p.m.
Sept. 3 at Tennessee 8:00 p.m.

2004 Schedule
Date Opponent Result
Sept. 13 at Carolina 9:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 Chicago 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 at Indianapolis 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 3 New York Giants 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 11 Tennessee 9:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 at Detroit 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 Dallas 4:15 p.m.
Oct. 31 at Washington 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 Open Date
Nov. 14 Minnesota 4:15 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Houston 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 29 St. Louis 9:00 p.m.
Dec. 5 at Philadelphia 4:15 p.m.
Dec. 12 Detroit 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 19 Jacksonville 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 24 at Minnesota 3:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 at Chicago 1:00 p.m.

All times are Eastern

new green bay packers blog

2004-07-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

just getting all set up for right now. come back soon for regularly updated content!