Jeff Ash's update.
-Scott
-------------------
Greetings from Green Bay, where the rainy season is upon us, and I am
delighted to have my yardwork done.
-- It again looks iffy for WR Robert Brooks' return from back surgeries
last August and in January. He's having trouble with the rehab from the
most recent surgery to repair a herniated disk and is having pain. He wants
to get a 2nd opinion from a back specialist, according to offensive
coordinator Sherman Lewis, "so he knows if he's doing the right thing (in
workouts)." Brooks was at last week's minicamp, but didn't work out. A
quote from GM Ron Wolf: "He's having some difficulty with it. We'll just
have to see."
That said, look for the Packers to draft at WR, perhaps fairly high. With
Antonio Freeman still unsigned and with no talks planned, the Packers are
thin at WR, with Derrick Mayes and Corey Bradford healthiest. Bill
Schroeder is still coming back from his broken collarbone, and ...
-- WR Roell Preston is gone. The Packers gave up on him last week because
he's proved he can play only as a kick and punt returner, not at WR.
The Packers replaced him with WR Jahine (say Jah-HEEN) Arnold, acquired
from the Steelers for past considerations. Basically, the Packers did the
Steelers a favor, taking a guy who wouldn't make the Pittsburgh roster and
who comes at a modest $429,000 under the cap. Arnold is 26, 6-0, 180, a
4th-year player and a former 4th-round pick out of Fresno State. He wears
No. 88 for the Packers. He missed 29 of 32 games in the last two seasons
because of a knee injury, broken collarbone and broken finger. When
healthy, he has speed. For now, he's the Packers' top kick returner, with
Schroeder handling punts, but that likely will change after the draft.
The rap on Arnold is that he's timid, shying away from contact. A quote
from an unnamed NFL source: "So long as (Arnold) knows he won't get hit, in
a practice session, he may look as good as anybody in the league. The best
thing about him is he can run. But in a game situation where they're
actually going to tackle him, he's a card-carrying coward."The Packers
don't seem concerned. A quote from Wolf: "This wasn't a difficult decision.
We know (Arnold) can play receiver, and Preston couldn't."
-- The Packers have signed RB Brent Moss, the former Wisconsin star. They
liked what they saw in the minicamp, even if Moss was a little heavy and
not in playing shape, listed at 5-8, 225. He last was with the Rams in the
1997 training camp, then played in NFL Europe. He's 27 and a possible
backup to Dorsey Levens. Moss wears No. 31 with the Packers. A quote from
Wolf: "I was just impressed with how he caught the ball and how it looked
like he could function with what we were doing," And, Wolf added: "It's a
good opportunity for him to quit laying tile, I guess," To make room for
Moss on the roster, the Packers cut LB Toran James, who was signed last
month.
-- The Packers also signed P Will Brice, a left-footer last with the Rams
in 1997, who cut him after 6 games because of his inconsistency. He was cut
by the Giants in last year's training camp. He's 24, 6-4, 225, a 2nd-year
player out of Virginia. For now, he's the only punter on the roster, but
look for the Packers to sign another veteran free agent, perhaps the Rams'
Mike Horan or the Eagles' Tommy Hutton, after the draft.
-- As expected, the Army released QB Ronnie McAda from the last 2 years of
his 4-year service commitment, allowing him to join the Frankfurt Galaxy of
NFL Europe. He'll be in training camp in July, but will have Army Reserve
duties during the offseason. He's bulked up to 220 pounds from 205 on a 6-4
frame.
-- SS LeRoy Butler had arthroscopic surgery 2 weeks ago to remove bone
chips from his left ankle. He'll be out until the June minicamp. The chips
had been there since last October, and were explained all last season as a
sprained ankle. A quote from Butler: "(Former) Coach (Mike) Holmgren
wouldn't let you talk about it. And it seemed like the coaches didn't care.
My teammates thought I was a warrior and I went out and played for them."
-- Ah, now it can be told. Butler's venting on the Holmgren regime was a
common theme at last week's minicamp, especially among the veterans.
A quote from TE Mark Chmura: "It's easy to say now because we didn't win it
all. But it was a grind. It was just a long year for some reason. Not that
Mike wasn't funny, but (new coach Ray Rhodes) has a way of making it fun
and it definitely didn't seem like everyone was so uptight. When Mike was
tight, the coaches were tight and then we were tight. It just went down the
line. It's nice to sit back and laugh again. Before it was, 'Is it OK if we
laugh right now?' "
A quote from LT Ross Verba: "I think sometimes Mike had a tendency to be
above us. That was his style. Ray's style is more coming down to our level
and speaking to us."
A quote from QB Brett Favre, on Holmgren's lame-duck status last year: "It
was a distraction. If we knew Mike was going to be back for sure, we
could've talked about and concentrated on something more useful. At times,
we weren't focused on the most important thing, which is winning."
Finally, Green Bay Press-Gazette columnist Chris Havel's take: "Now, what
matters most is what happens next. The Packers' veterans have had their say
regarding Holmgren. I'd recommend the name doesn't come up again players
are feeling nostalgic or giving directions. If they're motivated by a
desire to prove they can win without him, so be it. ... But the more
meaningful and sustaining motivation will be the team's desire to win for
Rhodes, rather than in spite of Holmgren. It is time to get back to the
future."
-- Playing for Rhodes seems to be no problem, if their response to the 1st
minicamp is any indication. He took a low-key approach, allowing players to
get to know their position coaches, many of them new. Rhodes also spent
time in the locker room, something Holmgren rarely did. A quote from LB
Bernardo Harris: "I think they emphasize a more open-door policy, that we
can come talk. Not that it wasn't like that in the past, but you got the
feeling, they are more into the player-coach relationship. They're like,
'C'mon in, talk to us, we like for the players to be around.' "
It was laid back, but Rhodes made his point in meetings, and insists that's
where he'll be most effective, saying he can better motivate players with
criticism in private with their position groups rather than in practice in
front of the entire team and reporters.
Rhodes explains it: "If the guys aren't physical, they're going to know
about it. They're going to hear about it. ... I'm going to get him inside
with his peers and look at that tape. They can't hide. That little red
pointer, if that gets on their ass, they know they're in trouble. I don't
show them up on the field. I do it in the meeting with their peers. That's
where they respond. It isn't right (to show them up on the field). I've
been there. I played the game. You get more out of them when you get them
with their peers."
Another quote from Harris: "He made it clear about his approach to
football, about putting teams away, dominating, all those things. He really
emphasized being a more physical team."
Rhodes explains that: "They know what I want. They know what kind of
player I'm looking for: Guys that are looking to hit somebody. We've got to
get some knockouts. We didn't really separate anyone from the ball (last
year). ... We have to play angry, we have to play mad. If they play angry
and mad and pissed off, I won't be on their backs. ... I told the guys
that I'm looking for a team that will come in here and kick asses and get
after them and knock the crap out of them. But they have to play smart
football. Let's not talk cheap and play cheap football. I want guys to play
tough and mad."
-- Let's hope the players enjoyed this minicamp. They will do more hitting
in full pads in practice under Rhodes than under Holmgren. A quote from
Rhodes: "I'm one of those guys that's for physical play. The only way to be
physical is when you put those physical pads on. We'll see who's smiling a
little bit later. It's easy to smile right now. I'm accustomed to a little
more hitting than what they are accustomed to. ... That's the only way that
you can get the toughness that you want,. That means that you have to do a
little more hitting than what some people would like to. We want to get a
little bit more mentally tough and physically tough."
A quote from Butler: "We were known as a finesse team, from talking to
some of the players at the Pro Bowl and in the offseason. They weren't
thinking of us as a physical team, so they felt they could dominate us in
certain areas. We want to change that."
-- Some players are rededicating themselves, most notably Favre, who
reported to minicamp at a fit 224 pounds, his lightest in 3 years, and says
he's giving up alcohol. He and his wife, Deanna, are expecting a baby girl
this summer, and that's a big reason.
Favre told the Press-Gazette's Havel: "I don't want 15 years to go by and
be looked at as a goofball bum who could still throw TD passes and defy the
odds. And I don't want to be remembered as just being a good football
player. I want to be remembered as a good family man, too. At times, I
haven't been that. ... There was a time when all I cared about was the next
game, the next party, the next tee time. I've come to a crossroads. I can't
think of one thing that drinking has done that's been good for me or my
family. I'm not saying everyone in the world should quit drinking, but I
wasn't the best drinker in the world, so I'm quitting it. Being out
drinking and doing other things isn't the best example of being a family
man. It's not the example I need to be setting for Brittany (their
10-year-old daughter). ... I'm not calling myself Reggie White yet, but
I've tried to become a better Christian, to show up at church and pay
attention for a change. I'm trying to make the right decisions. It's not
easy. ... It's not like I woke up one day and a light hit me. It's been
gradual. I'm trying to make a change."
Favre says quitting drinking isn't related with his continuing recovery
from an addiction to Vicodin, a painkiller. Another quote from him: "I
haven't had a relapse, thank God."
-- Another player rededicating himself is Verba, who explains it this way:
"I was complacent last year. I took too much time off during the offseason.
I couldn't tell you how many days. A months. Two months. It was too much.
This year, I'm focused on training like I've never trained before. Now that
I'm grounded in my game, I want to explode and be a dominating player." Of
last season, he said: "On a scale of 1 to 10, I was probably a 5. I was
just there."
-- Then there's Levens, who says he wants the ball 30 times a game this
season. He followed doctor's orders and didn't work out for 6 weeks after
getting the screw removed from his right ankle in January. Levens said he
was 80 to 85% of normal at last week's minicamp. Now this can be told:
Levens gained 116 yards in the playoff game against the 49ers despite
steady pain in the ankle. The 4-inch screw had shifted and was poking
through the other side of his ankle.
-- Rounding up the rest of the minicamp: The offensive line looks deep and
solid. ... C Frank Winters is recovering nicely from his broken leg, but
didn't work out. ... Joe Andruzzi will work as a backup at both G spots.
... Mike Wahle will work as the backup LG and LT. ... T John Michels worked
out for the 1st time since blowing out a knee last summer. ... The line is
emphasizing protection for Favre. A quote from new line coach Larry
Beightol: "We don't ever want to see our QB run. I don't want to ever see
Favre going downfield. Even as tough as he is, I don't want one of those
damn LBs taking a shot at him like (the Bucs') Derrick Brooks did last
year. We won't have much of a chance to win like that." ... Don't expect
any changes at TE. ... Look for Rick Mirer to take over as the No. 2 QB,
but don't be surprised if the Packers draft a QB. ... The starting LBs are
set, but backups are a question mark, so expect an LB to be drafted. ...
Expect the Packers' DBs to be more physical on the line of scrimmage in
bump-and-run coverage. ... CB Craig Newsome isn't fully recovered from his
1997 knee injury, so look for a CB to be drafted early. ... Look also for
RBs to be picked because the Packers need backups. ... Vonnie Holliday has
moved into White's old spot at left DE, and Keith McKenzie is expected to
take over at right DE. ... Look for DT Santana Dotson to line up over the G
for a quick rush, with NT Gilbert Brown handling the power rush. ... Look
also for lots of defensive alignments, with plenty of substitutions and
plenty of blitzing. ... DT Jermaine Smith worked out for the 1st time since
breaking his elbow in a motorcycle crash last June. ... Mirer, Brice and QB
Matt Hasselbeck worked as holders for K Ryan Longwell. who needs a
replacement for the departed Doug Pederson. ... Freeman attended and said
he's been working out, but didn't do so at the minicamp. ... LB Jude Waddy
worked out, but still has 2 games left on his suspension for flunking a
steroid test. ... Among those sitting out with injuries: Brooks, Schroeder,
Winters, FS Darren Sharper (shoulder) and S Scott McGarrahan (shoulder).
-- FB William Henderson has re-signed with the Packers, getting a 3-year,
$3.75 million deal. The breakdown: $1.2 million signing bonus and salaries
of $550,000 this year and $750,000 in 2000 and 2001, with a roster bonus of
$500,000 in 2001. That meant farewell to RB Darick Holmes, who signed with
the Colts.
-- LG Marco Rivera got a 3-year, $5.4 million deal. The breakdown: $1.75
million signing bonus and salaries of $375,000 this year, $775,000 in 2000
and $1.4 million in 2001.
-- Here's the complete list of the Packers' 12 picks in next weekend's
draft, barring trades. They can't trade the compensatory picks.
1st (25th overall)
2nd (from Seahawks for Holmgren); original 2nd pick spent on Wahle in 1998
supplemental draft
3rd (96th) (Compensatory pick)
3rd
4th (133rd) (Compensatory pick); original 4th pick traded to Bills for
Holmes
4th (135th) (Compensatory pick)
5th
6th (205th) (Compensatory pick)
6th
6th (from Raiders for last year's draft-day trade)
7th (from Rams for QB Steve Bono)
7th (from Bears for RB Glyn Milburn); original 7th pick traded to Lions for
Milburn
-- Again, if you're looking for draft previews, check out the Press-Gazette
and Journal Sentinel web sites this week. I suspect each one will have
position-by-position previews over the course of the week. You also may
want to check out draft preview publications on the newsstand. The Sporting
News Draft Guide is good, and reasonably priced at $7. Pro Football
Weekly's annual draft preview issue should be out, too. Either one will
provide brief profile of the top players available in the draft, though you
won't find much on the players likely to be picked next Sunday, on the 2nd
day of the draft. The Packers promise a live draft room cam, profiles on
all the draftees and audio from Wolf, Rhodes and the draft picks. Check
their web site at packers.com
That's it.
Viewer mail brings a couple of comments on the Packers' 1999 schedule,
which includes a home game -- the Lions on Nov. 21 -- on the opening
weekend of the deer hunting season.
Gary comes to the defense of his fellow Milwaukee ticket holders,
considering that they get the Bears and Vikings games this year, to the
dismay of some Green Bay ticket holders: "Milwaukee season ticket holders
are every bit as loyal as Green Bay ticket holders, and we are just as
deserving to see the Vikings and the Bears as they are. We pay the same
rate for our tickets, and, if we may say, prove our loyalty even more by
driving through horrendous traffic jams just to come to Green Bay and see
our beloved Packers."
And, if you plan to try to see the Packers-Bears game in Chicago on Dec. 5,
Jon in Chicago (by way of central Wisconsin) has some advice: "If at all
like last Dec. 27, the best plan is to go downtown with tickets. Last year,
many of us were scalped big-time or were unable to find a ticket. (Soldier)
Field was so resplendent with 'Cheese' (an affectionate term) that we
appeared to have them outnumbered."
As always, your comments and questions are welcome at jeffash@netnet.net
This week's sources: Green Bay Press-Gazette
(http://www.greenbaypressgazette.packersnews.com), Milwaukee Journal
Sentinel (http://www.jsonline.com/packer/news/) and Packers
(http://www.packers.com) web pages.
This week's soundtrack: Mixing country and rock with Carlene Carter on
"Little Acts of Treason," "Little Love Letters" and "I Fell in Love."
-- Recent adventures with Evan: It looks as if Evan's vision has improved
as much as it is going to. He was diagnosed just before Thanksgiving with
amblyopia, or lazy eye, in his right eye. He's worn a variety of patches
and glasses since then -- and twice broken his glasses -- and the optic
nerve in that eye has been jump-started well enough that he has gone from
being extremely nearsighted to being about 20/30. His left eye is fine.
When he is old enough, he probably will wear one contact lens. ... This has
been a long week for us because Janet has had to work at 5 a.m. each day at
the bakery, and because Evan has had no Y classes or preschool because of
spring break. So I am averaging about 5 hours sleep before Evan and I get
up to have breakfast and watch Rugrats, Kipper, Blue's Clues, Little Bear
and Franklin. I tell time in the morning by which show is on Nickelodeon.
... I forgot to mention the huge day Evan had last month at his cousin
Jake's birthday party at the bowling alley in Waupaca. Evan racked up a 58
in his 1st bumper bowling outing, and had pizza, french fries and pop with
the big kids (Jake is 7). Asked about the best part, Evan said "air
hockey!" He and I played on a huge table, and he was just big enough to
effectively whack the puck. When it was time to leave, Evan and his cousin
Beau, who is 5 months younger, were sitting side-by-side at a video game,
chattering away even though no one had put in any quarters. ... We are
struggling to come up with a vacation that Evan will enjoy. Our annual
summer trip to Washington Island off Door County was dealt an unexpected
blow when the place we enjoyed last year wasn't offered again in our church
youth group's auction. Now we are finding all of our preferred places in
Duluth are already booked for inline marathon weekend in September.
Regardless, we plan to make a week of it in northern Minnesota after the
race, so any advice on places to go or see or stay from Duluth to Bemidji
to Brainerd to St. Cloud to the St. Croix would be welcome.
As usual, if you wish to show your appreciation for these Packers updates,
volunteer or make a donation to the charity of your choice.
Thanks, Jeff
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