And yet another fine fine Packer up-date....
Greetings from Green Bay, where I'm capping off a delightful summer day off
with an ice cold Jolly Good root beer:
-- News and notes from the 1st 3 days of the June minicamp, which continues
at 11 a.m. today and Friday, then concludes at 10:25 a.m. Monday and Tuesday:
Bernardo Harris is the likely starter at MLB until George Koonce returns,
probably in October. Koonce is just watching the minicamp. He'll start the
running portion of his rehab from knee surgery in 2 weeks. His upper body is
already stronger than last year. ... LB Brian Williams had arthroscopic
surgery to remove a piece of loose cartilage from a knee. He'll be ready for
training camp. ... QB Brett Favre is fit and looks sharp. ... WR Robert
Brooks, recovering from a serious knee injury, is running drills with the
WRs, but isn't going against the defense. ... SS LeRoy Butler has bulked up
in the upper body, adding 4 pounds of muscle and increasing his bench press
by 30 pounds. ... Nice catches by WR Derrick Mayes. ... Tight coverage by CB
Craig Newsome. ... Rookie CB Darren Sharper has been slowed by a slightly
bruised knee. ... When not on the field, HB Travis Jervey has carried a ball
with him to help him overcome his ball-handling troubles. ... Still no sign
of new backup QB Steve Bono. ... HB Chris Darkins will miss part of the
minicamp because he's in class at the University of Minnesota. ... CB Tyrone
Williams will miss all of the minicamp because he's still in jail in
Nebraska. He's expected out July 1.
-- Strong-side LB Wayne Simmons is back, having signed a 1-year, $1.1 million
deal with incentives that could take it up to about $1.3 million. He
reportedly got a $500,000 signing bonus. He'll be the starter as usual.
Simmons says his relationship with coach Mike Holmgren is fine. The only
other offer he'd gotten in free agency was from the Bengals, a 4-year offer
averaging $1.8 million. He took less money because he wanted to stay in Green
Bay and because he again believes he can cash in with a nice long-term deal
from someone after this season. The Packers played hardball on this one,
setting a certain price range for Simmons. When he dropped into it, the deal
was done.
-- Coming and going: After signing Simmons, the Packers on Monday cut LB Ron
Cox, who had no chance to stay as a backup making $1.3 million. The Packers
never announced the move. Long snapper Harper LeBel just started wearing
Cox's No. 54. ... Former Vikings WR Qadry Ismail has signed a 1-year,
$650,000 deal as a free agent, and he's expected to be the main kickoff
returner and a backup WR. He won't return punts. He's 26, 6-0, 190, a
5th-year man out of Syracuse. He wears No. 81. The Packers considered former
Saints WR Terrance Small before signing Ismail. The only concern about Ismail
is occasional bad hands. ... Former Chargers LB Joe Cummings also was signed
as a free agent. He's 6-3, 240, a 2nd-year man out of Wyoming. He wears No.
61. ... 7th-round draft pick Chris Miller, a WR out of USC, has signed. No
details on his contract. ... The Packers were 1 of 10 teams to watch former
Steelers CB Rod Woodson's workout, but he's expected to sign with the 49ers.
-- WR Bill Schroeder continues to play well for the Rhein Fire in the World
League. Their QB is ex-Packer T.J. Rubley. A quote from offensive coordinator
Sherman Lewis after seeing tape of Schroeder in 1 game: "He looks like he's
their go-to guy. He made 6 or 7 catches in that game and had a couple close
ones where he got knocked out of bounds. I like the fact that he's playing a
lot and he's the guy they're going to in clutch situations." Two other
Packers also are in the WLAF. Marco Rivera is starting at LG for the Scottish
Claymores, and John Solomon is playing LB for the London Monarchs.
-- In the front office: Chief financial officer Mike Reinfeldt is reportedly
on the University of Houston's wish list as its new athletic director, but he
hasn't been contacted by the school. ... Ted Thompson, 44, has been promoted
to director of player personnel, overseeing all scouting, from pro personnel
director. ... Reggie McKenzie, 34, has been promoted to pro personnel
director, overseeing all pro scouting. He was Thompson's assistant. ... John
Schneider, 26, a De Pere native who also was one of Thompson's aides, has
become the Chiefs' director of pro personnel. He's been replaced by Matt
Boockmeier, 24, a Portage native who spent the last 2 years working for the
NFL scouting combine.
-- Tough news for Favre. His older brother, Scott, must serve at least 13
years in a Mississippi prison for violating the terms of his house arrest for
pleading guilty to felony drunken driving. Scott Favre, 30, couldn't leave
the house for a year except for work, church or medical treatment, or unless
he had his probation officer's permission. After less than 3 weeks, he was
busted for driving with a suspended license, telling police he was going
fishing. Scott Favre was convicted after a July 1996 accident in which his
truck was hit by a train, killing his passenger, close family friend Mark
Haverty. They'd been out drinking and gambling. Scott Favre can't appeal
because he pleaded guilty.
-- The Packers' plan to sell more stock is a little clearer. Follow closely.
The NFL has approved the idea, but the Packers can't change their bylaws to
issue new stock. They can sell only the remaining 5,300 or so shares left
from the 1950 stock offering. At that time, 10,000 shares were authorized,
but only 4,628 shares were sold for $25 each. The Packers plan to split the
leftover shares 1,000 to 1, creating up to 5 million shares of stock.
Existing stockholders' voting rights and power were protected by giving each
new split share just 1/10,000th of a vote; each old share has 1 vote. If all
5,000 split shares sell, that would be only 50 votes. Still no word on when
such a special stock sale would be, nor whether buyers would be limited to a
certain number of shares. Team president Bob Harlan says the price of the new
split shares will be "under $500."
Last week's stockholders' meeting, usually a rubber-stamp affair, was pretty
lively. A huge crowd of about 750 stockholders attended. That's 1 of every 3
stockholders, and they raised some tough questions on the stock, throwing off
the Packers' plan to spend 15 minutes on each of 3 other proposed amendment
to the bylaws. They forced the Packers to table all the proposals until a
special stockholders' meeting in early July. By then, the Packers will have
written a more complete proxy statement for the stockholders, spelling out
the vote details and takeover safeguards, including giving existing
stockholders 1st crack at the new stock.
The Packers also tabled until July a proposal to approve a change in their
bylaws to change the beneficiary of all profits, should the team fold, to the
Packers Foundation from the Sullivan-Wallen Post 11 of the American Legion.
The post doesn't object, but still wants to receive grants from the
charitable foundation.
Green Bay attorney Robert Schaefer, who led the questioning on the stock
proposal, was nominated from the floor for a seat on the 45-member board of
directors. No one could remember the last time that happened. The Packers'
candidate, Appleton businessman Michael Reese, was elected anyway because of
the 1,900 proxy votes sent in. Only 1,700 votes were represented at the
meeting. The rest of the usual suspects were re-elected.
The Packers' cash reserves are $22.6 million, helped by a record $5.8 million
net income on operating revenues of $78.1 million in fiscal 1997, which ended
March 31. Their marketing and Pro Shop revenues were $5.8 million, up from
$2.4 million last year. Player costs were $46.6 million, up from $41.4
million last year. Super Bowl XXXI cost the Packers an extra $1.3 million.
-- The Packers finally visited the White House late last month to be honored
by President Clinton for the Super Bowl victory. They gave Clinton a game
ball and a leather jacket. Retired QB Jim McMahon stood in the back row,
grinning and wearing a Bears' No. 9 jersey under his jacket. Holmgren and GM
Ron Wolf weren't amused. TE Mark Chmura didn't go because he doesn't like
Clinton's politics.
The White House trip set off the biggest controversy of the offseason. K
Chris Jacke wasn't invited to Washington, nor were WR Desmond Howard, G Jeff
Dellenbach or WR Andre Rison, all of whom were or are free agents. Fans were
outraged, and the furor eventually forced the Packers to back down and invite
all of them to Wednesday's party at which the Super Bowl rings were handed
out.
The Packers' management was ripped in letters, calls and e-mails to the
media, and in editorials and commentaries in the media. "Petty" and
"arrogant" were 2 of the more familiar phrases. The Packers' spin on the
issue was that they wanted to use those 2 events to build this year's team,
not look back to last year. Fans weren't buying it. Even when they relented,
the Packers still insisted their original decision was right, and Holmgren
this week blamed the media for causing the problem.
How Jacke saw it before his invitation: "That's the big thing over there:
'Team this, team that; we're going to win as a team or lose as a team.' And
here we are, we have the team ring ceremony, the Super Bowl ring ceremony and
they're excluding a part of that team."
The view from Howard, who faxed a letter to Wisconsin media complaining about
his snub: "I found out there's no love there from the organization. If there
was, they would have invited all of us. ... It's a business. They're showing
what they think of us. To them, we're mere laborers. When they use us up,
they treat us with disrespect. No way, in my mind, could they have gone to
the White House and not have the Super Bowl most valuable player with them.
No way should they have gone without Andre Rison and a guy like Chris Jacke,
who labored there for 8 years. This was his crowning moment and they don't
extend him the courtesy to meet the president."
How the Green Bay Press-Gazette's John Morton saw it: "A public relations
clunker? Yes. But worth all the public outcry and bad will? You should assume
it is, as hard as that may be. After all, GM Ron Wolf and Co. have built a
strong track record when it comes to running the franchise, both on and off
the field. ... Every decision out of Lambeau Field is a football decision.
And carefully calculated. And seldom wrong. ... This could be part of the
mind games needed to shape a team committed to winning. ... There was the Ken
Ruettgers ring controversy, the cancellation of the intrasquad game and
Holmgren's TV and radio shows, and the increases in ticket prices. In each
case, the Packers didn't go the extra mile to explain their reasons. Get used
to it. ... Vince was a winner, and people had faith in his every move.
Today's regime will be no different."
How the Press-Gazette's Chris Havel saw it: "Given the Packers' recent and
uncharacteristic lack of class regarding the White House party and ring
ceremony, it was fitting the 'formal' invitation (to all players) was also
shared via fax, with the state media, on your basic stationery. ... Clearly,
people who should know better within the Packers organization misjudged their
fans. At the risk of appearing mean-spirited and vindictive, they rolled the
dice and proceeded to act accordingly. ... The team's explanation that the
White House party and ring ceremony are launching pads to the 1997 season --
and therefore should include only current team members -- was merely a lame
attempt to justify excluding certain players. ... To the fans' credit, they
called the Packers on this charade. Green Bay's fans have been known to
endure bad drafts, bad trades and bad game plans ... but they won't tolerate
bad manners. ... That (the team's reversal) came on the eve of the Packers'
annual stockholders' meeting likely wasn't a coincidence. The Packers are
trying to rally support for a stock sale. ... There is, however, something
the Packers need to remember. This incomparable fan support stems from
devotion, not naivete, and it comes with a simple request: Don't spit in my
face and tell me it's raining."
-- Tickets for the Packers' last preseason game, against the Giants on Aug.
22 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday through
TicketMaster outlets. They're $28 each, plus $3.25 per ticket on phone
orders, plus $2.50 handling per order. There's a limit of 16 tickets per
order.
-- The Packers expect little change in the waiting list for season tickets.
Last year, only 8 new people got tickets. The list is up to 32,000 people.
-- Trash sports: A group of Packers beat a team of active and retired
Cowboys, 66-57, in a benefit basketball game. WR Derrick Mayes beat Cowboys S
Charlie Williams in the dunk competition. The Packers had WR Don Beebe, who
played a year of college ball at Aurora College in Illinois; LB Reggie Clark,
who started on a state champion high school team in North Carolina and played
offseason pickup ball against the North Carolina varsity; and S Roderick
Mullen, who twice lettered in basketball in high school. ... HB Travis Jervey
was 4th in the NFL Fastest Man Competition behind the Rams' Eddie Kennison
and the Raiders' James Trapp and James Jett. Jervey, the heaviest player
there, won the sled push. Look for it Sept. 13 on NBC. ... Ex-Packer DT Steve
McMichael knocked out DE Reggie White with a steel briefcase in their WCW
pay-per-view match, even though White had NT Gilbert Brown in his corner.
-- For those of you planning a trip to training camp: It is open to the
public from early July to mid-August. Camp opens July 9. Two-a-day practices
probably begin the weekend of July 12-13 and probably will remain open to the
public until about Wednesday, Aug. 13, though they may open or close earlier.
In good weather, practice takes place outside at the practice fields on
either side of the Don Hutson Center along South Oneida Street and Packer
Drive just east of Lambeau Field. There usually are 2 practices a day, 1 in
the morning and 1 in the afternoon. In mid-August, this is cut to 1 practice.
About this time, practice is closed to the public as the last exhibition game
and final cuts draw near. There is bleacher seating for about 200 people
along Oneida, and it fills up quickly. Otherwise, you must stand along the
chain-link fence. In either case, most of you are on a narrow strip of land
along a busy 4-lane street. You will see the players up close, but access to
the players is limited to when they arrive and leave the field. Players allow
pictures and autographs only when they are in the mood. If you want to shoot
videos or pictures of the action, you will be doing so through the chain-link
fence unless you stand on the top row of the bleachers. The Hall of Fame is a
block north of the practice fields, and Lambeau Field tours will be offered
all summer. Tours are popular, so buy your ticket in advance at the Hall of
Fame. There are no tours on home game days, but the Hall is open from 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. every day in summer.
Finally, some personal notes
-- I need your help so I can help others. Many of you come to Green Bay for
games, training camp or the Hall of Fame. I need to know what other places
are must stops for you, places that help round out your Packers experience,
when you come to the Green Bay area, whether it's a favorite store, bar,
restaurant or attraction. Please let me know at jeffash@netnet.net
People ask me this all the time (Rob in Madison is the latest), and this is
the one thing I can't adequately answer because I live here. For example,
some folks travel thousands of miles to catch all the practices they can. I
live 10 minutes away, but rarely go. I watched Wednesday's practice for about
a half-hour, then took off to run some errands.
-- Next week, I'll become the Press-Gazette's assistant sports editor. This
summer, I'll have a variety of Packers-related projects, but I don't expect
it to affect how or when I do these Packers updates. It's a move that allows
me more time with Evan because I won't start work until later in the
afternoon.
-- We can't even escape the Packers at a wedding. My cousin's son was married
Memorial Day weekend in Stoughton, and the groomsmen and dads wore Packers
bowties and vests under their black jackets. Evan had a blast at the
reception, which was at the wonderful Park Ponderosa Ballroom, a vintage
dance hall in McFarland. He sprinted all over the dance floor, usually making
a beeline to the game room (he loves to pull all the levers on video games
and push buttons on pinball machines) or out the front door. Outside, he and
a slightly older buddy sprinted all over the parking lot. I got so much
exercise chasing him that the next day's 6-mile run was a piece of cake.
That's it. As always, your questions, comments and e-mail address changes
(new and old addresses, please) are welcome at jeffash@netnet.net
If you know someone who'd like to receive the updates, they won't get on the
list until they send me a message with 3 things: their real 1st name, the
city and state in which they live, and the e-mail address to which they want
the updates sent. These are the rules.
A reminder: If you wish to show your appreciation for these Packers updates,
volunteer or make a donation to the charity of your choice. We've had many
people doing so for 3 years now.
This week's sources: Green Bay Press-Gazette, Packer Plus home page
(http://www.onwis.com/packer/news/). Thanks also to Greg (via Jodi in
Minneapolis) for the partial text of the letter to stockholders, and to Pat
for the local paper's story on Scott Favre.
This week's soundtrack: "Little Acts of Treason" by Carlene Carter and
"Picnic" by Robert Earl Keen.
Thanks, Jeff
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-scott |
