Packers.com

Marines To Collect 'Toys For Tots' At Sunday's Game

Fri, 29 Nov 2002 19:31:18 CST

In what has become an annual event at Lambeau Field, the yearly 'Toys for Tots' campaign will take place Sunday prior to the Packers-Bears game.

Fans attending Sunday's contest are asked to bring new, unwrapped toys which will be distributed to children in need this holiday season.

Members of the U.S. Marines will be present at all gates leading into Lambeau Field to assist in collecting the toys.

Packers Sign G/T Pete Campion To Practice Squad

Wed, 27 Nov 2002 19:42:28 CST

The Green Bay Packers have signed guard-tackle Pete Campion to the practice squad as a free agent, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Wednesday.

The 6-4, 307-pound Campion, a three-year starter at right tackle for North Dakota State, was a seventh-round selection of the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 NFL draft, the 213th player chosen. Placed on injured reserve August 8, he was waived August 13 following an injury settlement.

Signed to the St. Louis Rams' 53-man active roster October 16, he was inactive for the Rams' October 20 game against Seattle. Waived October 21, he was signed to the Rams' practice squad October 23 and waived November 1. He had been out of football since.

The only lineman selected in the draft by Carolina, Campion was a Little All-America selection and All-North Central Conference choice as a senior. He also was named the outstanding offensive lineman in the Cactus Bowl, a college all-star game that features players from Division ..

Packers Sign T Mark Tauscher To 6-Year Contract Extension

Wed, 27 Nov 2002 16:24:30 CST

Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Mark Tauscher, who literally came out of nowhere in 2000 to become a solid starter and potential Pro Bowler, has been signed to a six-year contract extension, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Wednesday.

Tauscher, currently on injured reserve after suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week Two at New Orleans (Sept. 15), had begun his third consecutive year as the team's starting right tackle.

The contract extension, one of the longest in recent Packers history, assures that the 25-year-old Marshfield, Wis., native will remain in a Green Bay uniform through the 2008 season. Sherman announced the extension during his noon press conference.

An unheralded seventh-round draft choice out of the University of Wisconsin, Tauscher had stepped in for injured veteran Earl Dotson as a rookie during the second game of the 2000 season, and proceeded to establish himself at right tackle, making 32 consecutive starts before sufferi..

Packers-Bears Preview

Wed, 27 Nov 2002 14:22:24 CST

Committed to shaking off back-to-back losses on the road, the Green Bay Packers (8-3) gratefully return to the comfortable confines of Lambeau Field Sunday (Dec. 1) for the annual rematch with their immemorial rivals, the Chicago Bears (3-8).

Kickoff for the contest, a customary season-ticket sellout (66,110) is set for 12 noon, CST (Wisconsin time).

It will be the 164th regular-season collision between the combatants, who have been jousting ever since Warren Harding was in the White House (1921-23).

After seeing two chances slip away, via 31-21 and 21-7 misadventures with the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, respectively, the Packers will have another opportunity this weekend to clinch their first division championship since 1997. This time around, the matter is entirely in their hands. If they win (or tie), they automatically own the NFC North Division title.

And, of course, thus will have won it in front of their doting loyalists. <..

Packer Hall Of Fame Preparing To Move

Tue, 26 Nov 2002 16:50:24 CST

The Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame is winding down to its final month of business at its current location at the Brown County Veterans Memorial Complex.

Hall of Fame officials have announced December 31, 2002 as the final day of business at the current facility. The Packer Hall of Fame will move into the atrium at Lambeau Field and be open in time for the 2003 season.

The existing Hall of Fame opened in 1975 in a 17,000-square-foot building and was dedicated on July 12, 1976 by President Gerald Ford who once had a tryout with the Packers. The Hall of Fame has been renovated or expanded several times over the years including a 7,000-square-foot addition in 1981, a $750,000 renovation in 1990 and a $1.6 million expansion and renovation project in 1997 involving 21,000 square feet.

Over a million people have visited the Hall of Fame in the past 27 years. For the final month (December) at the current location, those that visit will be admitted for half price...

Packers-Buccaneers Recap

Tue, 26 Nov 2002 14:17:02 CST

It is no secret that the Packers have had their problems in Tampa's Raymond James Stadium in the new venue's short history - but not as many as they encountered in Sunday's visit to the five-year-old structure and its pirate ship.

For example, it's been a long time since the Packers offense, with prolific Brett Favre at the trigger, has had to settle for a mere 7 points in 60 minutes of football.

But it happened this time around - that "given day" when the Packers found the end zone a difficult place to visit - aside from a first quarter exception to the late afternoon scenario.

The latter, however, gave the Packers early hope that things would be different in Raymond James, where they had lost their first four games since its debut in 1998. A Na'il Diggs interception at the Green Bay 26 triggered the opportunity, Diggs picking off a Rob Johnson pass and returning it 29 yards to the Tampa Bay 45.

Favre was quick to capitalize, lighting up the scor..

Driver Signs 5-Year Extension, Plans To Retire A Packer

Mon, 25 Nov 2002 19:31:04 CST

In these days of free agency and unlimited mobility, wide receiver Donald Driver has made it clear he wants to spend the rest of his pro football career in Green Bay and "retire as a Green Bay Packer."

The swift and wiry split end, who has become Brett Favre's "go-to-guy" this season, took a major step in that direction Monday, signing a five-year Packers contract extension.

GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman made the announcement at the end of his weekly Monday press conference in the media auditorium of the Packers' administration building and set the stage for Driver's subsequent declaration by asserting, "I hope it's for even longer than that because this guy brings an awful lot to our football team in more ways than you can ever imagine.

"He's not only a great player, he's a great person...and he's deeply involved in our community. I couldn't even begin - we would be here all day if I listed all the things he does around here."

"At night time," S..

Packers-Buccaneers Press Box Notes

Sun, 24 Nov 2002 10:24:55 CST

-ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE not had overly pleasant experiences in Raymond James Stadium to date, the Packers have held their own on Tampa turf over the history of the rivalry. They posted an 11-7-1 record in the former Tampa Stadium, prior to going 0-4 in Raymond James to date, and thus enter this afternoon's game with an overall, .500 mark (11-11-1) in Tampa.

-BRETT FAVRE CAN MAKE history in yet another major statistical category today by authoring his 20th touchdown pass of the season. It would be the ninth consecutive year he has thrown for 20 or more touchdowns in a season, making him only the second player in NFL history to do so and leaving him only one behind the all-time leader, Dan Marino, who had 10 such consecutive seasons during his NFL career.

-FAVRE TODAY is also playing in his 170th consecutive game, thus extending the second longest such streak in Green Bay annals (behind Forrest Gregg's 187 straight). He likewise will be making his 16..

Packers Announce WFCA All-State Football Team

Fri, 22 Nov 2002 17:25:06 CST

The Green Bay Packers are pleased to announce this year's Wisconsin Football Coaches Association All-State Football team.

Additional information is available at www.wifca.org

2002 ALL-STATE SELECTION

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Allen, Wilbur -- Milwaukee Bay View (11, 6'1, 310)
Hayden, Nick -- Arrowhead (11, 6'5, 255)
Holicek, Bryan -- Waupaca (11, 6'1, 340)
Knauf, Luke -- Stratford (12, 6'4, 290)
Nitecki, Derek -- St. Francis (12, 6'2, 290)
Ostrowski, Justin -- Portage (12, 6'5-1/2, 254)
Reichling, Pat -- Darlington (12, 6'2, 285)
Schaffner, Ryan -- Germantown (12, 5'11, 235)
Thomas, Joe -- Brookfield Central (12, 6'7, 270)
Vance, Justin -- Janesville Parker (12, 5'10, 210)
Van Someren, Michael -- Somerset (12, 6'7, 298)
Honorable Mention: Matt Haus, Rice Lake; Mike Newkirk, Ladysmith; Tommy Olsen, Evansville; Jeremy Schmitt, Hartford Union; Brent..

Packers Sign Veteran RB Graham As Free Agent

Thu, 21 Nov 2002 14:51:24 CST
The Green Bay Packers have signed veteran running back Jay Graham as a free agent, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Thursday.

The 6-foot, 225-pound Graham, a fifth-year professional, joined the Packers on the practice field this afternoon. He fills the roster vacancy created by the placing of running back Najeh Davenport on injured reserve Wednesday.

Most recently a Seattle Seahawk, the former University of Tennessee standout originally was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the third round of the 1997 draft, the 64th player chosen. Playing in 22 games for Baltimore over the '97, '98 and '99 seasons - including four starts - he rushed for 408 yards in 116 attempts, scoring 2 touchdowns, caught 17 passes for 92 yards and had 9 kickoff returns for 167 yards, an 18.6-yard average.

Out of football in 2000, after being waived Aug. 27 following an injury settlement, Graham signed with Seattle as a free agent April 4, 2001, and played in 11 games for the Seah..

Packers Re-Sign DE Keith McKenzie; DT Sands Signed To Practice Squad; Davenport Placed On I.R.

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 18:01:11 CST
With increased injury concerns on defense up front, the Green Bay Packers have re-signed veteran defensive end Keith McKenzie as a free agent, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Wednesday.

McKenzie, who joined the Packers on the practice field today, takes over the roster spot vacated by the Tuesday release of defensive tackle Jared Tomich.

Sherman also announced the signing of Terdell Sands, a huge (6-7, 340-pound) defensive tackle, to the team's practice squad.

McKenzie's addition will add depth and experience to a recently shorthanded defensive line. Starter Vonnie Holliday has missed the last two games following arthroscopic knee surgery and Cletidus Hunt sat out Sunday's game at Minnesota, also with a knee problem.

Rookie end Aaron Kampman also is now hampered by a broken right hand, an injury incurred during team warm-ups prior to the Vikings contest.

McKenzie, a seventh-year professional originally drafted by the Packers out of Ba..

Packers QB Brett Favre Presents Donations To 10 Charities

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 16:51:49 CST
Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre presented donations from the Brett Favre Forward Foundation to 10 charities benefiting Wisconsin youth Wednesday.

The donations, representing a total of $96,750 raised from this year's annual Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game and Foundation dinner, went to the following organizations:

* Make a Wish of Wisconsin
* Special Olympics of Wisconsin
* UW-Whitewater's athletic program for athletes in wheelchairs, supporting both students and non-students
* Free Spirit Riders, a Fond du Lac, Wis., therapeutic equestrian program for disabled children
* CASA of Brown County
* Boys and Girls Club of the Fox Valley
* Encompass Child Care
* Cerebral Palsy of Wisconsin
* Give A Kid A Book
* Green Bay Press-Gazette Education Program

"I've enjoyed getting involved with wonderful charities like these over the past several years," Favre said. "The Foundation continues to receive tremendous suppor..

Favre Continues To Lead Pro Bowl Voting

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 11:37:22 CST
With more than 31 million votes cast by fans on NFL.com, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (574,1999) continues to lead all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2003 Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Wednesday.

Favre is just one of seven Packers players to lead NFC voting at his position. Matt Bowen (special teams), Earl Dotson (tackle), Mike Flanagan (center), Bubba Franks (tight end), Ryan Longwell (kicker) and Darren Sharper (free safety) also lead at their positions.

Ahman Green is 10th overall in votes received by offensive NFL players. Although he trails St. Louis' Marshall Faulk (403,786) and New Orleans' Deuce McAllister (372,905) in NFC voting at running back. Franks (360,583) is ninth among NFL offensive players.

On the defensive side, Sharper (129,461) ranks sixth in league voting.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe (491,644) ranks second overall while Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes (448,529) and tight end Tony Gonz..

Packers-Vikings Recap

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 10:00:42 CST
The Metrodome whammy, now more than a decade old, continues...

And under the most mystifying circumstances.

If there was any year that the Packers should have prevailed in the Twin Cities' deafening house of horrors, it should have been this one. The Green and Gold were invading the Metrodome Sunday with a league-best 8-1 record and a seven-game winning streak - to take on a Vikings team going nowhere with a dismal 2-and-7 record.

Yet the Purple Gang again proved to be a frustrating nemesis, mounting their best performance of the season to torpedo the Packers, 31-21, combining an explosive offense - hitherto unseen this season - with a bristling, opportunistic defense to carry the day.

It is the ninth time in their last 11 visits to the Gopher Dome that the Packers have come away empty-handed.

The Vikings, exhibiting a big-play attack in the early going, set the tone early, bolting to a 14-0 lead in the first eight minutes of the game - sc..

Packers-Buccaneers Preview

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 10:04:21 CST
THE GAME: Their seven-game winning streak having come to an abrupt end in Minnesota's resounding Metrodome, the Green Bay Packers (8-2) resume pursuit of the NFC North Division title in a road showdown next Sunday between division leaders - one which will take them to Florida for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, also 8-2 and out front in the NFC South Division race.

Kickoff for the contest in Tampa's sold-out Raymond James Stadium (65,657) is set for 3:15, CST (Wisconsin time).

The Buccaneers, under the directed Jon Gruden, pose a major challenge for the Green and Gold. They share the league's best record with the Packers at 8-2 and have won their last three games, including a 23-10 dispatch of the Carolina Panthers over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the Packers' hopes of clinching a division title in the Minneapolis Metrodome were foiled over when they were ambushed by Minnesota's 2-7 Vikings, who stepped out to an early 14-0 lead and eventually ..

Voting Begins For Fifth Packer FAN Hall Of Fame Honoree

Wed, 20 Nov 2002 09:20:57 CST
Voting opened Wednesday to select the fifth member of the Packer FAN Hall of Fame.

Last month, Packers fans were asked to nominate themselves or a friend for the honor with an essay of 500 words or less, accompanied by a photo, telling why they should be recognized. From those nominations 10 finalists were selected by the Packers FAN Hall of Fame selection committee, comprised of members of the Packers front office and the Packer Hall of Fame Board of Directors.

Now it's once again up to the fans, who can read the finalists' profiles and vote online. The nominee receiving the most votes will be named the fifth member of the Packer FAN Hall of Fame.

The Green Bay Packers, the first professional football team to have its own hall of fame, enhanced that distinction in 1998 by establishing a Packer FAN Hall ..

Packers-Vikings Press Box Notes

Sun, 17 Nov 2002 10:38:23 CST
-A VICTORY TODAY would give the Packers an in-season, four-game road winning streak for the first time since 1989, a year in which they won their last four away games - at San Francisco (21-17), at Tampa Bay (17-16), at Chicago (40-28) and at Dallas (20-10).

The Packers own a more recent five-game road winning streak, but one recorded over two seasons (from Dec. 1, 1997 to Sept. 27, 1998).

A victory today would also be an eighth straight win for the Green and Gold, their longest such streak since 1963.

-CLOSING IN: Placekicker Ryan Longwell is nearing a major plateau in Packers individual scoring history. He enters today's game needing only 17 points to become the fourth player in the team's 83-year annals to score 700 points in a career.

The 28-year-old California alumnus, who has scored in every game of his NFL career to date (89 consecutive games) coming into this afternoon's contest), has posted 683 points to date (150 field goa..

NFL.com Voters Select Marques Anderson NFL Rookie Of The Week

Thu, 14 Nov 2002 08:59:58 CST
Voters on NFL.com have made their choice. Safety Marques Anderson of the Green Bay Packers is the Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week for games played November 10-11, the NFL announced Thursday. Anderson has won the award three times this season, also winning in weeks six and seven.

Anderson recorded four tackles, one pass defensed and returned an interception 14 yards for a touchdown in the Packers' 40-14 win over Detroit. Anderson's interception-return touchdown in the second quarter gave Green Bay a 23-7 lead and was his second interception-return touchdown this season.

More than 43,000 fans voted this week on NFL.com. The Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week is the first weekly NFL honor to be selected solely by NFL fans. Anderson was selected from among five finalists. The other finalists were Baltimore Ravens punt returner Lamont Brightful, Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney and running back James Mungro and New Orleans Saints wide receiver Donte Stallwo..

Packers Re-Sign WR J.J. Moses To Practice Squad

Wed, 13 Nov 2002 18:31:02 CST
The Green Bay Packers have re-signed wide receiver J.J. Moses to the team's practice squad, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced Wednesday.

To make room for him on the practice squad, CB/S Todd Franz was released.

The 5-6, 173-pound Moses, a former Iowa State athlete, previously had been a member of the Packers' practice squad in 2001 (from Sept. 26 until Oct. 2) after being placed on waivers by Kansas City. He had originally had signed with the Chiefs April 25, 2001.

In the interim, he was re-signed to the Chiefs' practice squad on Nov. 21, 2001, and subsequently waived off the practice squad and re-signed as a reserve/future on Jan. 8, 2002.

Allocated to the Scottish Claymores of the NFL Europe League for the '02 season, he saw action in 10 games, with two starts, making 11 catches for 94 yards and leading the league in punt returns with 25 runbacks for 280 yards, an 11.2-yard average.

As a collegian, the 23-year-old Moses caught 82 pa..

Packers-Vikings Preview

Wed, 13 Nov 2002 17:14:51 CST
THE GAME: From the calendar perspective, the National Football League playoffs are two months away...

As well as the application of such factors as tie-breakers and home field advantage.

And, though the Green Bay Packers are in an enviable position at the moment as owners of the NFL's best record (8-1), they also are well aware they still have seven more regular season games to play...and that nothing is certain at this juncture.

But what they do know is competitively intriguing: That, in the wake of a seventh straight victory, they can clinch the NFC North Division championship with a win over the Minnesota Vikings (2-6) at the Minneapolis Metrodome next Sunday (Nov. 17) and a Detroit loss to the New York Jets in their Sabbath assignment. If accomplished, it will be the earliest that any team has ever clinched a division title (after 10 games) since the advent of the 16-game schedule in 1978.

Kickoff is set for 12 noon, CST (Wisconsin tim..

Packers-Lions Recap

Wed, 13 Nov 2002 17:20:11 CST
Clearly on a mission, the Packers were a study in precision and productivity in their 145th encounter with the Detroit Lions.

The chronological and statistical record of their first half scoring operations tells the story...eloquently.

-Drive One: Packers move 74 yards in 13 plays, Ryan Longwell kicks 30-yard field goal, 3-0.

(Lions "interrupt" with 64-yard scoring strike, from Joey Harrington to Az-Zahir Hakim, at 7:32. Jason Hanson converts, Lions 7, Packers 3).

-Drive Two: Packers move 64 yards in 9 plays, Favre-Franks 4 yards for touchdown, Longwell PAT, Packers lead, 10-7.

-Drive Three: Packers move 65 yards in 9 plays, Longwell kicks 40-yard field goal, Packers increase lead to 13-7.

-Drive Four: Packers move 17 yards in 7 plays, Longwell kicks 36-yard field goal, Packers increase lead to 16-7.

-'Drive' Five: Safety Marques Anderson picks off Harrington pass, returns 14 yards for touchdown, Longwell PAT, Packe..

Brett Favre Most Popular Player On NFL.com At Season's Midpoint

Tue, 12 Nov 2002 09:58:46 CST
Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre is the NFL's second-leading passer (101.7 rating) and has taken the Packers to an NFL-best 8-1 record this season. He is also the top player in the league in terms of fan popularity on NFL.com, the NFL announced today.

Favre's bio and stats page on NFL.com has been accessed more than any player over the first two months of the season, according to the website.

Rounding out the top five: Dallas running back Emmitt Smith, who set the all-time NFL rushing mark last month; Buffalo quarterback Drew Bledsoe, who has a career-high 96.0 passer rating; Miami running back Ricky Williams, who ranks third in the AFC with 811 rushing yards; and Kansas City running back Priest Holmes, who leads the NFL in scrimmage yards (1,353), and total touchdowns (16).

Following are the most popular players on NFL.com through the first half of the season (9/8-11/4/02):

1. Brett Favre, Green Bay
2. Emmitt Smith, Dallas
3. Drew Bleds..

Marques Anderson Among Candidates For NFL Rookie Of The Week

Tue, 12 Nov 2002 09:48:58 CST
Safety Marques Anderson of the Green Bay Packers, punt returner Lamont Brightful of the Baltimore Ravens, defensive end Dwight Freeney and running back James Mungro of the Indianapolis Colts and wide receiver Donte Stallworth of the New Orleans Saints are the finalists for Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week honors for games played on November 10-11, the NFL announced today.

Fans can vote for one of these five players on NFL.com from Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon to determine the Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week. The Pepsi NFL Rookie Of The Week will be announced Thursday on NFL.com. It is the first weekly NFL honor to be selected solely by NFL fans.

After the regular season, five players will be nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year honors. Fans can vote for the winner on NFL.com throughout the month of January. The winner will be announced at a press conference at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego...

Packers-Lions Press Box Notes

Sun, 10 Nov 2002 10:11:00 CST
-MIKE SHERMAN, who has proved hard to lick anywhere, has been virtually unbeatable at home. For pertinent example, the Packers have won 17 of their last 18 games in Lambeau Field, including last January's Wild Card playoff against San Francisco. That figures out to a .944 winning percentage.

Overall, Sherman owns an 18-3 record in "Lambeau," with two of the three losses coming during the 2000 season, his first as Green Bay's field leader.

-QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE, today making his 22nd career start against Detroit, has registered more 300-yard passing games against the Lions - six - than any other NFL opponent. They include a 357-yard performance in the Packers' first '02 meeting with the Lions Sept. 22, with which Favre led the Packers to a 37-31 victory - his 14th against the Lions compared to 7 losses.

-SPEAKING OF PASSING YARDAGE, Favre needs only 32 yards this afternoon to move past Joe Montana (40,551) into sixth place on pro fo..

Favre Leads Pro Bowl Voting With Five Weeks Remaining; Six Other Packers Lead NFC Voting At Their Position

NFL Press Release — Thu, 07 Nov 2002 10:38:54 CST
Have you filled out your Pro Bowl ballot? Vote Now!

With nearly 18 million votes cast by fans on NFL.com, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre (317,986) leads all NFL All-Stars in balloting for the 2003 Pro Bowl, the NFL announced Thursday.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe (294,091), the NFL's leading passer with 2,802 yards, ranks second overall while Kansas City Chiefs running back Priest Holmes (257,334) and tight end Tony Gonzalez (239,205) rank third and fourth overall. Tampa Bay Buccaneers fullback Mike Alstott (386,902) rounds out the top five.

The balloting, which started three weeks ago, has reached 17,989,687 total votes and is on pace to break last year's record of 33 million total votes. Voting continues on NFL.com through December 16. The squads will be announced December 19 on the 2003 Pro B..

Packers Sign DE Tomich To Active Roster, OT Humphrey To Practice Squad

Wed, 06 Nov 2002 18:22:21 CST
The Green Bay Packers have re-signed veteran defensive end Jared Tomich as a free agent, thus filling the team's 53-man active roster, GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman announced today.

Sherman also announced the signing of offensive tackle Jay Humphrey to the team's practice squad. He replaces offensive tackle Mitch White, who has been released.

It will be the second time in green and gold for Tomich, a 6-3, 283-pound University of Nebraska alumnus who first was signed as a free agent Jan. 2, 2002, and was a game de-active for the Packers' regular-season finale against the New York Giants (Jan. 6) and two subsequent postseason games - their Wild Card playoff against the San Francisco 49ers (Jan. 13) and their Divisional playoff against the St. Louis Rams (Jan. 20). Returning to the Packers' training camp this past July, he played in all four preseason games, posting 7 solo tackles, including 2 sacks, plus 1 forced fumble. He was waived in the team's final cutdown (Sept..

Packers-Dolphins Recap

Wed, 06 Nov 2002 09:19:08 CST
THE WEEK PAST: What Head Coach Mike Sherman has described as his "obsession" with takeaways continued to pay major dividends for the Packers en route to their sixth straight success.

League leaders in this critical category going into Monday night's action after taking his message to heart, the Green and Gold proceeded to put on another "clinic," this one against the Dolphins.

Forcing and recovering two fumbles and posting two interceptions, they converted one of each into touchdowns, with the 14 points they harvested there from representing the precise difference In the final score.

The first of these "acquisitions" occurred early in the second quarter, at which point the principals were locked in a scoreless tie. A Tyrone Williams tackle triggered a Ricky Williams fumble, recovered by fellow defender Tod McBride, who returned it 5 yards to the Green Bay 48.

At that point, quarterback Brett Favre, playing with a brace to protect an injure..

Packers-Lions Preview

Wed, 06 Nov 2002 09:01:31 CST
THE GAME: Half-way home, it doesn't get a whole lot better than this...

Off to their best start since the Super Bowl year of '96 and riding a six-game winning streak - their longest in a decade - the Green Bay Packers find themselves with the National Football League's best record (7-1) at the midpoint of the 2002 season.

Also with a substantial four-game lead in the NFC's North Division, where they next will encounter their closest divisional rivals, the Detroit Lions (3-5), who invade Lambeau Field next Sunday (Nov. 10).

Kickoff for the contest, the customary season ticket sellout (65,290) will be 12 noon, CST.

In the wake of that sixth straight success, a 24-10 conquest of the AFC East-leading Miami Dolphins on ABC's "Monday Night Football," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman was quick to put the Packers' situation in practical and conservative perspective.

"I'm proud that we started the night with the best record in the National Footba..

Countdown To Monday Night Football

Mon, 04 Nov 2002 10:25:44 CST
The legendary voice of NFL Films' John Facenda once uttered this about the 11th month of the year in NFL terms:

Hopes that were high in the heat of September ... can wilt and die in the chill of November.
November can be cold and gray - November can be surly ... with bitter rain upon the world and winter coming early.

Well, the colder, the better for the Green Bay Packers (6-1) as quarterback Brett Favre - the NFL's top-rated passer (102.0) - is 31-0 at home, including six playoff games, when the temperature at kickoff is 34 degrees or below.

The forecast for Monday night in Lambeau Field: low of 29 degrees under partly-cloudy skies with one of the NFL's best teams blowing in from the south in the form of the Miami Dolphins (5-2). Miami is one win away from becoming the winningest team in the 33-year history of ABC's NFL Monday Night Football. The Dolphins are 36-29 (.554) all-time when playing before ABC's prime-time cameras while the Packe..