Here is today's Green Bay Update from Jeff Ash. If you have any questions
or comments about the update, contact Jeff (mailto:jeffash@netnet.net).
--------------------------------------------------
Greetings from Green Bay on a lightly foggy night that suggests the end of
summer is drawing near:
-- The Packers are 2-0 in the preseason, having beaten the Jets 27-16 at
Lambeau Field and the Broncos 27-12 in Madison. Detailed recaps of both
games are available at all the usual web sites listed below.
-- The Packers play the Saints at 7 p.m. Saturday on a grass surface in the
Louisiana Superdome, then finish the preseason a week from tonight against
the Dolphins at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2 at Lambeau Field. Both games are
telecast only on the Packers network in Wisconsin. For the weather
forecasts (and possible satellite coordinates), check Keith's web site at
galstar.com
-- Training camp and practices are closed to the public for the rest of the
season.
-- The Packers must cut the roster to 65 by Tuesday. They got a head start
on Wednesday, cutting K Jeff Sauve, P Will Brice and LB Kevin McCullar.
-- The Packers also traded QB Rick Mirer to the Jets last week for a
conditional draft pick next year. If Mirer makes the Jets, the Packers get
a 6th-rounder. If he reaches certain playing time goals, the Packers get a
5th-rounder. Mirer claimed to be surprised by the deal, but he shouldn't
have been. He was a project of Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid. When they left,
so did his chances. Mirer still will count $600,000 against the Packers'
salary cap because the last 2 years of his prorated $800,000 signing bonus
are added to this year's portion.
-- The final cut to 53 will be on Sunday, Sept. 5.
-- QB: It isn't clear whether Brett Favre will play against the Saints. He
sprained his right thumb against the helmet of Broncos LB John Mobley.
Nothing is broken. Favre says he will play, and he certainly would if it
were the regular season, but it will be coach Ray Rhodes' call on Saturday
night. ... The Mirer trade means Matt Hasselbeck is the No. 2 QB, with
rookie Aaron Brooks the No. 3 guy. ... Folks warmed to Hasselbeck quickly
after he threw 3 TDs in the 1st half after coming in for Favre against the
Broncos. Here's how Tom Donohoe, the Steelers' director of football
operations, saw Hasselbeck's performance: "The Packers have made a lot of
us look stupid. They've obviously developed some things here that most of
us didn't see. Very poised. Arm appears to be much stronger than we
thought. He went against their No. 1 defense and basically riddled
them."... Ronnie McAda likely will be cut.
-- RB: Basil Mitchell, an undrafted rookie from Texas Christian, is
becoming the top candidate to be Dorsey Levens' backup. The Packers like
his receiving skills, blitz pickups and ability to make something out of
nothing on the run. Here's what an unidentified NFL personnel executive
had to say about him: "Mitchell showed me a burst, squirt and adjust. He
finds the soft spots and works to finish the run." That likely leaves Edwin
Watson and rookie De'Mond Parker battling for 1 job until the final cuts,
and the slower Watson may be the odd man out because he isn't a good enough
blocker to play FB. ... Don't be surprised if old friend Edgar Bennett is
let go by the Bears because of his big salary and 2 years of injuries. If
that happens, and the Packers want a veteran backup, well, you never know.
... Matt Snider pulled ahead of Jim Kitts in the race for backup FB, then
had a so-so game against the Broncos. Kitts has been bothered by a torn
muscle near a shoulder blade. ... FBs Jim Nelson and Chris Gall are likely
cuts.
-- WR: Antonio Freeman has been working on his conditioning and will play
Saturday against the Saints. ... Otherwise, not much change here. The
Packers are waiting for Derrick Mayes, Bill Schroeder or Corey Bradford to
emerge as a starter opposite Freeman. ... Otherwise, only the No. 5 job is
up for grabs. Jahine Arnold helped himself with a big 52-yard punt return
against the Broncos, but don't count out rookie Donald Driver yet. ...
Desmond Howard got in for a couple of plays at WR against the Broncos, but
he almost solely will be the kick returner. ... Rookie Dee Miller, whose
knee trouble at Ohio State scared off some teams in the draft, had his
right knee scoped on Saturday and will be out 3 to 4 weeks. He's more
likely to be waived with an injury settlement than put on injured reserve.
... Zola Davis and Tyrone Goodson are likely cuts.
-- TE: Mark Chmura's neck continues to be a concern. The latest exam said a
disc is bulging slightly but not herniated. For now, he doesn't need
surgery, just rest and rehab. He'll miss all the preseason games, but is
expected to be ready for the season opener. ... If Chmura is out, the
Packers are comfortable with Tyrone Davis as the starter, now that his
weight is down. Here's what an unidentified NFL personnel executive said of
Davis after his leaping 13-yard TD catch against the Broncos: "Chmura needs
to be concerned because Chmura can't make the big play and this guy truly
has big-play ability."... Lamont Hall will make the team only if the
Packers keep 4 because of Chmura's injury, but even that is a stretch.
-- OL: The No. 1 line is struggling with getting the running game going and
picking up blitzes, but the coaches insist they aren't worried. The line is
using a zone pass blocking scheme rather than a man-to-man and is still
trying to get it down. ... RT Earl Dotson continues to be bothered by a
herniated disc in his lower back but is playing. If it doesn't improve,
he'll need surgery and would miss 4 to 6 weeks. ... Mike Wahle worked at RT
and rookie Scott Curry at LT on Wednesday. The coaches want Wahle and John
Michels to compete at RT if Dotson goes out. ... Michels has been bothered
by soreness in his right knee and isn't believed to be physically up to
starting. ... Curry is improving and is seen as a project much as RG Marco
Rivera was as a rookie. He has a slight edge over Craig Heimburger because
he can play G and T, but Heimburger has been solid at G. ... LG Raleigh
McKenzie is still bothered by offseason shoulder surgery, but likely will
remain the starter unless Joe Andruzzi is great when he returns from his
sprained knee. ... Rookie C Mike Newell likely will go on the physically
unable to perform list because of offseason surgery to fuse 2 vertebrae in
his lower back. He still can't pass a physical and hasn't practiced. The
Packers figured as much when they signed him. A quote from GM Ron Wolf: "We
figured we'd redshirt him this year." ... C Grant Garrett is a likely cut.
-- DL: The Packers decided last week to move Vonnie Holliday back to right
end and start Vaughn Booker at left end, bumping Keith McKenzie to a backup
role. Booker came to camp in great shape and has played well. He's
motivated because he feels the Chiefs gave up on him, then badmouthed him.
The Packers value his size and strength over McKenzie's speed and insist
McKenzie will continue to see action as a pass rusher. Understandably,
McKenzie was not happy about it but conceded "the better man" got the job.
He'd hoped to start, do well and cash in as a free agent during the
offseason. ... The shuffle of backups also puts rookie Cletidus Hunt back
at left end and Jonathan Brown at right end. Hunt has played better since
the move back. ... Brown could make the team if the Packers keep 9 linemen,
but needs to show more on the pass rush. ... The Packers think DLs Billy
Lyon and Jermaine Smith provide better depth than Bob Kuberski last year.
... Howard Burns, Pat Ivey and Chris Reed are likely cuts.
-- LB: Jude Waddy has become the 2nd LB in the dime pass defense, backing
up LeRoy Butler as the hybrid LB-SS in the alignment. He's seen as a
possible starter at LB in a couple of years. ... The Packers likely will
have to keep 6 LBs rather than their usual 5 because of Waddy's 2-game
suspension at the beginning of the season after last year's steroid bust.
... Lamont Hollinquest, who faces a 4-game suspension for substance abuse,
may make the team only as a special teams player. ... Deon Humphrey has
played well on special teams but remains a long shot. He could stick until
the suspensions are served ... Louis Adams is a likely cut.
-- DB: Mike McKenzie has been the best of the rookies. He was the 1st guy
off the bench against the Broncos and made a couple of nice plays. ...
Rookie CB Fred Vinson might finally play against the Saints. He had a nice
interception of Brooks in practice a week ago. ... S Kerry Cooks, who has
missed all of camp with a broken hand, may return against the Saints, but
it's hard to tell what his chances are. ... Ss Scott McGarrahan and Rodney
Artmore are the leading candidates to be the last couple of DBs, with an
edge to the more experienced McGarrahan. ... Tod McBride and Chris Akins
also have a shot, but have been better on special teams than in pass
coverage. Give the edge to McBride, the better athlete and less of a
project than Akins ... Andre Dixon and Denorse Mosley are likely cuts.
-- Specialists: The release of Brice means rookie P Josh Bidwell has the
job even though he has struggled throughout camp. Bidwell concedes he has
been in a slump, averaging just 35.8 yards and a net of just 29 yards on 5
punts, but insists his mechanics are fine. If he doesn't improve, the
Packers will have to sign a free agent. Not much out there, though: old
guys Mike Horan (Bears last year), John Kidd (Jets) and Reggie Roby (49ers)
and journeymen Tommy Hutton (Eagles) and Klaus Wilmsmeyer (Panthers).
-- The Packers' offense did a little work last week with the shotgun snap,
no-huddle offense and a few trick plays. FB William Henderson threw on an
option, and Mayes and Schroeder threw on receiver reverses. All 3 passes
were wobbly and underthrown. A quote from Favre: "Let's just say if we have
to resort to gimmick plays, it's going to be a long season."
-- After signing the Packers' tender offer, it took Freeman just 3 days to
get his real big deal. Announced as a 7-year, $42 million deal, it's really
just 5 years, $25 million because the last 2 years are voidable and likely
would never kick in. He got a $10 million signing bonus, with $4 million up
front and the other $6 million deferred over the next 4 years to help the
Packers' cash flow.
For salary cap calculations, though, it's a $10 million bonus prorated over
7 years. Freeman counts just $1.93 million against this year's cap because
his base salary drops to $500,000; before the new deal, his cap number was
$3.53 million. Wolf said the money freed up under the cap by that deal and
the Mirer trade likely will be used to sign replacements for injured
players during the season.
-- Next on the Packers' list for contract extensions are Butler and Favre
to make sure their salaries keep up with others in the league. The team
hopes to get both done by the end of the season.
-- The troublesome turf at Lambeau Field held up just fine against the
Jets. A little aeration and a new underground drying system, which sucks
air through the grass to remove moisture, apparently did the trick. Longer
cleats helped, too. Looks like the SportGrass will stay.
-- Tony Canadeo, 80, has become a director emeritus of the Packers, ending
a long career with the team. He starred with the team from 1941 to 1952,
joined the board of directors in 1955 and was on the executive committee
from 1958 to 1993. He still lives in Green Bay. He was replaced by Gary
Rotheram, 46, who owns a promotional advertising agency in northeastern
Wisconsin.
And now, the viewer mail
-- More on seeking Packers radio via the Internet. Joe in Menlo Park,
Calif., suggests this site (http://www.connect.net/wbrummet/ranfl.html),
which lists possible broadcast sites for all NFL teams. Lacking any Packers
broadcasts, Joe suggests listening to the opponents' broadcast "if Packers
fans can stand it."
-- Jon wonders whether there is a Sterling Sharpe highlight video. If you
know, he's at JonSi@phillips-origen.com
-- Todd in Virginia is seeking a video of the Packers' intrasquad game from
earlier this month. Here's why: "To top the night off my 9-year-old
daughter won William Henderson's jersey. The next day I talked to the
Packers front office and they took the jersey and had William sign it. My
daughter is thrilled! ... I would love to have (the video) as a keepsake."
If you can help, he's at nelsonto@aol.com
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. If you are seeking the Packers' current
roster, it's on the Packers' web site at
packers.com
-- Recent adventures with Evan: We are playing a lot of baseball in our
front yard these days. Dad pitches, Evan hits. Anything hit into Mr.
Morrison's yard on the fly is a home run, and Evan's home run trot is
anything but diamond-shaped. He drops the bat and runs into the side yard,
does a loop and returns to the plate. More of an L-shaped route than
anything. Evan throws left-handed but bats right-handed. I suspect that's
because his left eye is his good eye, and that side sees the ball first
from the right side. ... Evan will be going to his 1st big league game in a
couple of weeks. We're going to County Stadium for a 5K walk that includes
a lap around the warning track inside the park, then taking in the game in
the afternoon. After our tour of Tiger Stadium last month, during which
Evan was on the warning track and sitting in the visitors' dugout, he'll
think we can do this kind of thing all the time. ... Evan knows only 2
baseball players -- Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire -- and we'll be seeing
McGwire, we hope. I'll be surprised, though, if Evan lasts an entire game.
Which is fine. He's only 4 and a half.
That's it.
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always to Janet for saving the papers and to Scott for providing the mail
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Thanks, Jeff
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