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Green and Walker Among NFL All-Stars To Compete In Inaugural "Pro Bowl Skills Challenge Presented By Americquest"

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 18:01:49 CST

They began the season with training camp drills. Now they will end the season showcasing their skills.

Green Bay Packers AHMAN GREEN and JAVON WALKER are among the NFL All-Stars slated to participate in the inaugural "Pro Bowl Skills Challenge Presented by Ameriquest," which will air on ESPN from 6-8pm ET on the eve of the 2005 Pro Bowl, Saturday, February 12. ESPN's Trey Wingo, Suzy Kolber and Tom Jackson, and Rod Woodson of NFL Network will host the show.

NFL All-Stars will compete in several football-related events in the "Pro Bowl Skills Challenge Presented by Ameriquest," including the Strongest Man, "On the Mark" (QB accuracy), the Fastest Man (40-yard dash) and the Best Hands.

Ameriquest Mortgage Company is the presenting sponsor of the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge. Other sponsors include Coors, Pepsi and Subway.

In addition to the "Skills Challenge," there will be a "Legends" game featuring 14 former Pro Bowl stars, including Pro Football H..

Bennett, Majkowski, Driver And Jackson Join Fan Fest Lineup

Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:00:02 CST

EDGAR BENNETT, DON MAJKOWSKI, DONALD DRIVER AND GRADY JACKSON JOIN FAN FEST LINEUP; FOOTBALL OFFERINGS INCLUDE FANTASY PLAY-BY-PLAY, GALLERY OF SPORTS ART

Former Packers greats Edgar Bennett and Don Majkowski, both to be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame this July, will join current stars Donald Driver and Grady Jackson at Packers Fan Fest, the team announced Monday.

The inaugural Packers Fan Fest, scheduled for March 11-13, is a three-day celebration of Packers football for the whole family that will allow fans the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite Packers players, past and present, as well as coaching staff and front office personnel.

In addition to Bennett, Majkowski, Driver and Jackson, Tony Fisher and Frank Winters were added to the slate. Other Packers already announced include: Kevin Barry, Gilbert Brown, Brett Favre, Najeh Davenport, Lynn Dickey, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Bob Harlan, Paul Hornung, Larry Mc..

TitansOnline: Ray Sherman Joins Tennessee Titans Coaching Staff

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 17:13:16 CST

The Tennessee Titans filled one of their two coaching openings on Friday by naming Ray Sherman as the new wide receiver coach.

Sherman joins the Titans after spending the last five seasons as the wide receivers coach for the Green Bay Packers. Entering his 32nd season as a coach, Sherman brings 17 years of NFL experience with him, including three seasons as an offensive coordinator. This also will mark his second stint with the franchise, after coaching on Jerry Glanville's Houston Oilers staff in 1988 and '89.

"I have known Ray for over a decade, as we coached together in San Francisco," said Titans head coach Jeff Fisher, who worked with Sherman with the 49ers from 1992-93. "He is one of the better coaches I have been around and he will make us a better football team. Ray has a great deal of experience in this league and I'm very excited about the future we'll have together.

"At the same time, we're disappointed that we lost a good coach, but we see cha..

Statement From Head Coach Mike Sherman

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:35:30 CST

"I'm excited about Edgar Bennett becoming our running backs coach. Over the past few years in his role assisting with the backs, he has continually demonstrated the ability to be a successful coach in this league. Each year I gave him additional responsibility in his coaching duties and he performed very well. He's a natural for the position. His attention to detail and relationship with the players will serve him well - they trust him and his knowledge of the game.

"Ray Sherman is an original member of my staff who has served this organization for five years. This is a great opportunity for him to advance in his career. He will be extremely missed by his players and by me. Through his efforts, our receivers were able to grow into a very productive component of our offense. They've become leaders on this team, players who make me very proud.

"We were fortunate to have someone of Johnny Roland's caliber in 2004. He has a wealth of experience, and our offense greatl..

Packers Select Designated Driver for the Season Who Could Win a Trip to the Pro Bowl

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 16:01:12 CST

"Responsibility Has Its Rewards" was the message to Packers fans as the Green Bay Packers, the NFL, and the TEAM Coalition joined forces to get the word out to fans about the importance of responsible drinking and always using a designated driver throughout the 2004 NFL season.

TEAM Coalition - an alliance of professional and collegiate sports, entertainment facilities, concessionaires, the beer industry, broadcasters, governmental traffic safety experts, and others working together to promote responsible drinking and positive fan behavior at sports facilities - coordinated an NFL-wide promotion in support of existing designated driver programs. TEAM and its partners are educating fans about the importance of drinking responsibly and always buckling up and designating a sober driver.

Over two thousand Packers fans participated in the designated driver program offered during home games at Lambeau Field. From those participants, one lucky designated driver for the ..

Packers Name Edgar Bennett Running Backs Coach

Fri, 28 Jan 2005 09:59:15 CST

The Green Bay Packers Friday named Edgar Bennett, the team's leading rusher when it won the Super Bowl in 1996, running backs coach. Mike Sherman, Executive Vice President and Head Coach, announced the move.

Bennett, 35, replaces Johnny Roland, who will accept a similar position with the New Orleans Saints.

"I'm excited about Edgar Bennett becoming our running backs coach," Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "Over the past few years in his role assisting with the running backs, he has continually demonstrated the ability to be a successful coach in this league. Each year I gave him additional responsibility in his coaching duties and he performed very well. He's a natural for the position. His attention to detail and relationship with the players will serve him well - they trust him and his knowledge of the game."

A mentor and advisor, Bennett spent the last four seasons in charge of the team's player development department. In that capacity, he helped players ..

Paul Hornung, Gilbert Brown, KGB To Be At Fan Fest

Thu, 27 Jan 2005 16:55:26 CST

PAUL HORNUNG, GILBERT BROWN, KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA TO BE AT FAN FEST; KIDS AREA TO FEATURE FOOTBALL 'INFLATABLES' AND OTHER ACTIVITIES

Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Hornung, fan favorite Gilbert Brown and current sack master Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will be in attendance at Packers Fan Fest, the team announced Thursday.

The first annual Packers Fan Fest, scheduled for March 11-13, is a three-day celebration of Packers football for the whole family that will allow fans the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite Packers players, past and present, as well as coaching staff and front office personnel.

In addition to Hornung, Brown and Gbaja-Biamila, six more past and present Packers were added to the lineup: Kevin Barry, Najeh Davenport, Lynn Dickey, Larry McCarren, Doug Pederson and Joey Thomas. They join Bart Starr, Brett Favre, Ron Wolf and Javon Walker, who were previously announced.

The t..

Fit Kids Pilot Program Wins Excellence In Broadcasting Award

Thu, 27 Jan 2005 15:50:48 CST

CBS 5 WFRV-TV along with the Green Bay Packers and the Green Bay Area Public School District are the proud recipients of a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) excellence award for the 2004 pilot program Fit Kids.

This program, which is targeted toward area 4th graders, is a curriculum designed to give kids the tools they need to help lead a healthy life.

John Laabs, President of the WBA commented, "The competition was very tough this year, with close to record number of entries. I commend CBS 5, the Green Bay Packers, and the Green Bay Area Public School District for having been chosen by our broadcasting colleagues to represent the best in Wisconsin broadcasting."

R. Perry Kidder, Vice President/General Manager, CBS 5, stated, "CBS 5 is proud to be affiliated with the Green Bay Packers and the Green Bay School System to support this joint effort of helping our children to develop good habits with regard to their health and fitness."

"So..

A Look At The NFL's Important Dates For The 2005 Offseason

Thu, 27 Jan 2005 11:14:53 CST

JANUARY
29: Senior Bowl, Mobile, Alabama.

FEBRUARY
6: Super Bowl XXXVIII, Jacksonville, Florida
8: First day clubs can designate Franchise or Transition players.
13: AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, Honolulu, Hawaii.
22: Waiver system begins for 2005. Waivers will expire on the first business day of the new League Year. Players with at least four previous pension-credited seasons that a club desires to terminate are not subject to the waiver system until after the trading deadline.
22: Deadline at 4 p.m., New York time, for clubs to designate Franchise and Transition Players.
23: First day of window period for signing designated Franchise Players to multi-year contracts or extensions.
23 - March 1: Combine Timing and Testing, RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana.

MARCH
1: Employer clubs are no longer obligated to grant permission to another club to discuss a pos..

Packers Join Nine Other NFL Entities In 'Gridiron Stadium Network' Venture

Thu, 27 Jan 2005 09:37:33 CST

Representatives of ten nationally known professional football stadiums Thursday announced the formation of the Gridiron Stadium Network.

The Gridiron Stadium Network (GSN) will promote and raise public and industry awareness of the multiple uses of these state-of-the-art facilities.

GSN venues are located across the country, from Washington D.C. to Denver, Houston to Green Bay, Wisconsin. The primary goal of the Network is to optimize opportunities to expand the use of the venues for new sports, entertainment, public and private events.

The Gridiron Stadium Network currently includes the following facilities:

(Team, Stadium, City):
Buffalo Bills -- Ralph Wilson Stadium -- Buffalo, NY
Cincinnati Bengals -- Paul Brown Stadium -- Cincinnati, OH
Denver Broncos -- Invesco Field at Mile High -- Denver, CO
Detroit Lions -- Ford Field -- Detroit, MI
Green Bay Packers -- Lambeau Field -- Green Bay, WI
Houston Texans -- R..

Ultimate Lambeau Leap Returns To Lambeau Field In 2005

Wed, 26 Jan 2005 14:54:01 CST

The World Snowmobile Association's (WSA) Snocross Worldwide Championship event is returning to Lambeau Field. The Ultimate Lambeau Leap is scheduled for Saturday & Sunday, February 12 & 13, 2005.

Last year's event was moved to the Lambeau Field parking lot due to unseasonably warm weather and rain. This year's event was moved up by at least 3 weeks to alleviate that problem.

"We should have a much easier time making snow in early February," said WSA CEO Scott O' Malley. "We are confident with the earlier date that we will actually hold the event inside of Lambeau Field where it was always intended to be and where it will be a spectacular event."

The races will start at 9 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. on Sunday. Gates will open at 8 a.m. both days.

Qualifier races for the Lambeau Field event will be held January 29 & 30 at Westby and February 5 & 6 at Menominee.

Club seats and private luxury boxes at Lambeau Field will become availabl..

Packers Name Jim Bates Defensive Coordinator

Mon, 24 Jan 2005 18:17:13 CST

The Green Bay Packers have named Jim Bates defensive coordinator. Mike Sherman, Executive Vice President and Head Coach, announced the move Monday.

Bob Slowik, the team's defensive coordinator in 2004, has an opportunity to return to the Packers coaching staff under Bates' leadership, Sherman said, but a final determination has yet to be made.

Bates, who will begin his duties Jan. 31, enters his 37th season in the coaching profession, his 15th in the NFL. The Dolphins' defensive coordinator the last five years (2000-04), he also went 3-4 as the club's interim head coach, including a 29-28 win over eventual AFC Champion New England, Dec. 20.

From 2000-04, only the Buccaneers (281.4 yards/game), Steelers (282.5), Ravens (286.4) and Bills (293.1) played better defensively than Miami (294.8). The Dolphins under Bates finished no worse than 10th in the NFL's overall rankings after each of his five seasons, including 2004, w..

Sixth Annual 'Superbowl Of Safety' Coming To Lambeau Field Atrium

Fri, 21 Jan 2005 16:15:00 CST

Superbowl of Safety
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Lambeau Field Atrium, Green Bay
9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Bellin Health and the Green Bay Area Safe Kids Coalition are teaming up again for the 6th Annual Superbowl of Safety on Saturday, January 29, 2005. This free event will again be held in the Lambeau Field Atrium and is expected to draw more than 2,000 people of all ages.

KICKOFF
Kickoff begins with the 9:00 a.m. fly-in of the EAGLE III helicopter, which is owned and operated by County Rescue Services in partnership with both Bellin and St. Vincent Hospital. The flight team will be available until 11:00 a.m. to show off the chopper to children and parents. The Green Bay Fire Department will also have a fire truck and ambulance onsite for tours and education.

EXHIBITORS
More than 20 exhibitors will offer activities on health and safety. Highlights include a drive-through Safety Town, Bellin Health's challenging obstacle c..

Packers Hall Of Fame To Induct Edgar Bennett And Don Majkowski

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 15:49:46 CST

Former running back Edgar Bennett and quarterback Don Majkowski will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame at the 35th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, to be held the evening of July 23, 2005, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Bennett, currently the team's director of player development, stands as one of the best all-around running backs in team history. He ranks ninth among the club's all-time rushers with 3,353 yards on 936 carries. Also a gifted pass receiver, he ranks 15th on the Packers' career list with 242 receptions for 1,920 yards. Over his five-year Packers career he scored 29 touchdowns.

Drafted in the fourth round of the 1992 NFL Draft, Bennett that season became the first Packers rookie to rush for 100 yards since 1979 when he posted 107 vs. the Bears. The Florida State graduate became a starter at fullback in 1993 and, after a switch to halfback in 1995, he responded with a 1,000-yard season, the first for the team since 1978. He was a key co..

Packers Sign 20 Reserve/Future Free Agents

Wed, 19 Jan 2005 15:39:13 CST

The Green Bay Packers have signed 20 free agents to reserve/future contracts. The transactions were announced Wednesday by Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.

The Packers will get a better look at most of the signings in NFL Europe this summer. Of the 20 free agents, 14 spent time with Green Bay in 2004, either in training camp and/or during the regular season. A quick look at each of the 20:

PlayerPosHtWtNFL ExpCollegeHometown Brooks BarnardP6-31941MarylandAnnapolis, Md. Sam BreedenWR6-42061Northwestern (Okla.) St.Rockingham, N.C. Julius CurryS6-02041MichiganHarper Woods, Mich. Chris DayCB5-111781GramblingBirmingham, Ala. John GarrettLB6-12501BaylorMart, Texas Sparky HamiltonTE6-4244RArkansasLufkin, Texas Joe HayesG6-43041San Jose St.Vallejo, Calif. Atlas HerrionG6-43021AlabamaDaphne, Ala. Jamal JonesWR6-02141North Carolina A&THyattsville, Md. Kelvi..

Download The Packers Season-Ending Dope Sheet

Tue, 18 Jan 2005 16:01:16 CST

Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.

Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.

A complete edition of the Dope Sheet is available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.

Here are some highlights from the Packers End of Season Dope Sheet:

THOMPSON NAMED GENERAL MANAGER: President Bob Harlan Friday named Ted Thompson, who has 23 years experience both as a player and front-office veteran, to head the Packers' overall football operations. Thompson is Executive Vice President, General Manager & Director of Football Operations. Mike Sherman is now the team's Executive Vice President & Head Coach, Harlan said.

Fan Fest To Feature Tour Of Packers Locker Room; Ron Wolf And Javon Walker Added To Lineup

Tue, 18 Jan 2005 14:51:28 CST

A tour of the Green Bay Packers' football facilities, widely regarded among the finest in the NFL, will be featured at Packers Fan Fest, the team announced Tuesday.

The first annual Packers Fan Fest, slated for March 11-13, is a three-day celebration of Packers football for the whole family that will allow fans the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite Packers players, past and present, as well as coaching staff and front office personnel.

The climax of the football facilities tour, which will take place Sunday, March 13, undoubtedly will be a walk through the Packers locker room, a destination that does not appear on the regular Lambeau Field Stadium Tour.

The team also announced that Packers Hall of Famer Ron Wolf and Pro Bowl wide receiver Javon Walker will be in attendance. Wolf and Walker join Bart Starr and Brett Favre among the approximately 25 past and present Packers that will appear, spread ov..

Packers Name Thompson General Manager

Fri, 14 Jan 2005 09:47:28 CST

The Green Bay Packers Friday named Ted Thompson Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations. Team President Bob Harlan announced the move.

Thompson now has full authority over all aspects of the Packers' football operations. The decision is unique because the Packers opted to change the structure of a team that has enjoyed more regular-season success than all but three NFL franchises since 2001.

Mike Sherman is now Executive Vice President and Head Coach, Harlan said.

"We feel this restructuring helps the Packers in two ways," Harlan said. "First, we are able to add to our staff a respected, 13-year National Football League veteran who is a proven talent evaluator and an efficient administrator. And, second, it will reduce Mike's workload and enable him to devote more time to coaching."

While the team's ultimate goal every season, a Super Bowl championship, has eluded the Packers recently, few teams have been cons..

Green's 90-Yard TD Run vs. Dallas Nominated For Play Of The Year

Mon, 10 Jan 2005 15:29:25 CST

Fan Voting Continues Through Noon ET Monday, January 17, on NFL.com

Green Bay PAckers running back Ahman Green's 90-yard touchdown run in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys is among the five finalists for "LEVITRA (vardenafil HCI) PLAY OF THE YEAR."

The award was created by the NFL to recognize the single most exciting play of the year as determined by the fans. The five finalists for the award were chosen by the NFL from the pool of 17 "LEVITRA PLAY OF THE WEEK" weekly winners as voted on by the fans, exclusively on NFL.com.

Voting is open to the fans starting today and running through Noon ET on Monday, January 17, 2005. Fans can visit www.nfl.com to view and vote for the play they deem worthy to be named "LEVITRA PLAY OF THE YEAR."

The "LEVITRA PLAY OF THE YEAR" winner will be announced and honored at a press conference on Wednesday, February 2 in Jacksonville, Fla., the site..

Henderson, Rivera Named Pro Bowl Starters

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 13:11:06 CST

The starting all-star lineups for the 2005 Pro Bowl were announced Saturday at halftime of the New York Jets-San Diego Chargers AFC Wild Card playoff game.

The Pro Bowl will be played at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 13. It will be broadcast live at 7:30 PM ET by ESPN and CBS Radio.

Following are the NFC and AFC 2005 Pro Bowl All-Star starting lineups:

NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE ALL-STAR STARTERS
(* First-time Pro Bowl selection)

OFFENSE
WIDE RECEIVERS
Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina
Terrell Owens, Philadelphia

TACKLES
Walter Jones, Seattle
Orlando Pace, St. Louis

GUARDS
Larry Allen, Dallas
Marco Rivera, Green Bay

CENTER
Olin Kreutz, Chicago

TIGHT END
Alge Crumpler, Atlanta

QUARTERBACK
Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia

RUNNING BACK
Shaun Alexander, Seattle

Packers-Vikings Press Box Notes

Sun, 09 Jan 2005 11:41:27 CST

TODAY: In a postscript to a rivalry that seemingly reached its peak two weeks ago, Green Bay hosts Minnesota in the teams' first-ever playoff meeting...The Packers play their 38th postseason contest, a 10th playoff appearance during the Salary Cap era, most in the NFL...Green Bay is 14-1 (.933) all-time in home playoff games, the best mark among NFL teams who've hosted at least three postseason contests. In Green Bay, the Packers are 12-1. In Milwaukee, they're 2-0...With a win, the Packers will have taken four straight against Minnesota, something they haven't accomplished since 1987-88...Under Mike Sherman (2000-04), the Packers when scoring first are 36-8 (20-5 at home). Including playoffs, they are 37-9 (21-5 at home).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY -

BRETT FAVRE:
-Will play in a 227th consecutive game (including playoffs) and make his 225th consecutive start (including playoffs), 102 more than the next-closest streak on the all-time quarterba..

Fans Reminded Of Stadium Policies As Playoff Game Nears

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 15:38:43 CST

The Green Bay Packers Thursday reminded fans of a few important items to keep in mind for Sunday's game vs. the Minnesota Vikings, set to kickoff at 3:30 CST.

Overall, fans are asked to arrive early and allow plenty of time to enter the parking lots and stadium itself.

With regard to parking, stadium lots will open at 11 a.m. For fans with green, gold and club seat season passes, parking will be $30 per vehicle upon presentation of the season pass to a parking lot attendant. Handicapped parking also will be $30. Space is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Because lot attendants will be collecting money, more time should be allowed to get parked.

Those individuals who wish to arrange off-site parking in advance may do so by calling TicketStar at 920-494-3401 or 800-895-0071.

With regard to tickets, Mark Wagner, Packers director of ticket operations, reminded fans to make sure they bring the correct ticket to t..

Packers Announce Plans For First Annual Packers Fan Fest

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:53:28 CST

FIRST ANNUAL PACKERS FAN FEST SET FOR MID-MARCH; STARR AND FAVRE TO HIGHLIGHT CELEBRATION OF PACKERS FOOTBALL

The Green Bay Packers Thursday announced plans for the first annual Packers Fan Fest, a three-day celebration of Packers football for the whole family.

The event, the first of its kind for the franchise, is set for March 11-13 and will allow fans the chance to get up close and personal with their favorite Packers players, past and present, as well as coaching staff and front office personnel.

"We're excited to be able to offer this event for our fans," said Packers President Bob Harlan. "It will be a fun-filled three days for everyone with a nice mix of seeing and hearing from their favorite players as well as some other enjoyable opportunities."

Among the activities to take place in the Lambeau Field Atrium are question and answer sessions, followed by autograph and photo opportunities, with some of the most enduring figures in ..

Ryan Longwell Named NFC Special Teams Player Of The Month

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:27:23 CST

Kicker Ryan Longwell of the Green Bay Packers, Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck of the Seattle Seahawks and defensive end Bryce Fisher of the St. Louis Rams are the NFC Special Teams, Offensive and Defensive Players of the Month for December, the NFL announced Thursday.

SPECIAL TEAMS: K RYAN LONGWELL, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Longwell was a consistent performer in five December/January games, helping the Packers to a third consecutive NFC North division championship. Longwell connected on eight of nine field goal attempts during the span, including a pair of game-winning kicks. In a 16-13 win over Detroit at Lambeau Field on December 12, the Bend, Oregon native was good on three of three field goal attempts, despite wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour. His efforts included a game-winning 23-yarder with two seconds remaining. Two weeks later with the NFC North championship on the line against Minnesota, his 42-yarder to end the first half reduced the Green Bay deficit to..

Snow Fills Lambeau Again; Shovelers Needed Friday

Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:10:17 CST

The "help wanted" call goes out again from Lambeau Field.

Ted Eisenreich, the Packers' director of facility operations, is seeking recruits - as many as 300 - to shovel out Lambeau Field tomorrow, Jan. 7, in preparation for the team's home playoff game Sunday, Jan. 9.

He asks all who might be interested in lending a hand to report to the Mills Fleet Farm Gate on Lambeau Field's west side, beginning at 8 o'clock Friday morning and continuing throughout the day.

The Packers will provide shovels to all who come to help.

Shovelers, who need to be at least 15 years old, will receive $8 per hour, with payment to be made immediately upon completion of their work, Eisenreich said.

Brett Favre Fourward Foundation Makes Donations To 10 Charities

Wed, 05 Jan 2005 16:29:29 CST

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre Wednesday announced donations from the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation to 10 charities benefiting Wisconsin youth.

The donations, representing a total of $138,000 raised from this year's annual Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game and Foundation dinner, went to the following organizations:

* The Back to School Store, Service League of Green Bay - provides underprivileged children with new clothing and other school supplies

* CASA of Brown County, Wis., a non-profit organization that enlists volunteers to be a child's advocate for disadvantaged and neglected children

* Syble Hopp School, De Pere, Wis., for students with developmental disabilities - therapy pool and sensory rooms addition

* Rawhide Boys Ranch, a New London, Wis., residential care center for at-risk and delinquent boys

* Marathon County, Wis., Special Education - week long summer day camp for disabled children ages 6-21 ..

32 Finalists Chosen For NFL Punt, Pass & Kick National Finals In Pittsburgh

Wed, 05 Jan 2005 13:19:27 CST

Finalists Hail From 19 U.S. States, CBS to Spotlight Champions

Three-and-a-half million kids competed, but only 32 made it to the 2004-2005 NFL PUNT, PASS AND KICK National Finals. The competition will take place prior to the Saturday, January 15 AFC Divisional Playoff Game in Pittsburgh. NFL Punt, Pass and Kick is the nation's largest grassroots sports skills competition.

A special, live, on-field award presentation for NFL Punt, Pass and Kick champions will air between the third and fourth quarters of the AFC Divisional Playoff Game's 4:30 p.m. ET CBS telecast.

Boys and girls compete separately in four age divisions (8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15), with the top scorer in each group being crowned National Champion. All participants launch one punt, one pass and one kick, with scores based on distance and accuracy (in feet). All 32 youngsters advanced to the National Finals through local, sectional and team championship competitions held throughou..

Gbaja-Biamila Named NFC Defensive Player Of The Week

Wed, 05 Jan 2005 10:57:48 CST

Defensive end KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA of the Green Bay Packers, Quarterback MARC BULGER of the St. Louis Rams and defensive end TONY BRYANT of the New Orleans Saints are the NFC Defensive, Offensive and Special Teams Players of the Week for games played the 17th week of the 2004 season (January 2), the NFL announced Wednesday.

DEFENSE: DE KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA, GREEN BAY PACKERS
Gbaja-Biamila led the defensive charge for the Packers, who earned a 31-14 victory over the rival Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The defensive end posted a career-high 4.0 sacks, finishing with seven tackles and one forced fumble. His 4.0-sack performance ties for the third-best in franchise history and is the most since VONNIE HOLLIDAY set the club mark with a 5.0-sack effort against the Buffalo Bills on December 22, 2002. Gbaja-Biamila entered the game with 9.5 sacks and now takes his place alongside the legendary REGGIE WHITE as the only players in Packers' history with four 10.0-sack s..

Marco Rivera Named Ameriquest Mortgage Neighborhood MVP Of The Week

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 15:43:36 CST

Marco Rivera of the Green Bay Packers has been named this week's Ameriquest Mortgage Neighborhood MVP, it was announced Tuesday.

Rivera is being honored for his devotion to leading and caring for young people in Green Bay and Puerto Rico, where his mother lives. For the past several years, Rivera has coordinated youth football camps in Green Bay and Puerto Rico, teaching youngsters the importance of education, teamwork, life skills, and community involvement.

In addition to his youth football camps, Rivera is committed to giving time to children who are ill. He often visits young cancer patients at San Jorge Children's Hospital and Centro Medico in San Juan.

Rivera is also a strong supporter of the local Boys & Girls Club in Wisconsin, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Prevent Blindness Wisconsin, Brett Favre Fourward Foundation, and the American Red Cross.

The Ameriquest Mortgage Neighborhood MVP Award recognizes an NFL player each week during the regu..

Download Wild Card Playoff Dope Sheet

Tue, 04 Jan 2005 13:24:46 CST

Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.

Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.

A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.

Here are some highlights from the Wild Card Playoff Dope Sheet:

In a postscript to a rivalry that seemingly reached its peak two weeks ago, Green Bay hosts Minnesota in the teams' first-ever playoff meeting. The Packers won both regular-season tilts, but won each on a game-ending field goal, 34-31.

-The Packers play their 38th postseason contest, a 10th playoff appearance since the 1993 collective bargaining agreement, most in the NFL. A ..

Ticket Plans Announced For Possible Super Bowl Appearance By Packers

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 16:49:52 CST

Should the Green Bay Packers advance to Super Bowl XXXIX, the bulk of the ticket allotment, per usual practice, will be made available to season ticket holders, the team announced Monday.

Packers President Bob Harlan reiterated the organization's longstanding policy in addressing ticket allocations in the event that the Packers would capture the National Football Conference championship and the right to meet the American Football Conference champions in the Super Bowl at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla., on Sunday, Feb. 6.

"Our season ticket holders repeatedly have demonstrated their loyalty with annual season-ticket sellouts in Lambeau Field since 1960, and because of that we want to make sure Super Bowl tickets are available to as many of them as possible," Harlan said.

"The allocation plan we have in place, we believe, is fair to all our season ticket holders," Harlan continued. "Each account - whether the Green package, Gold package, or club seat..

Packers Hold 24th Pick In 2005 Draft

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 16:25:18 CST

SAN FRANCISCO HOLDS FIRST PICK IN 2005 DRAFT; MIAMI & CLEVELAND CHOOSE NEXT

The San Francisco 49ers will make the first choice of the 2005 National Football League Draft on April 23-24. The order of the 2005 Draft was announced Monday by the NFL.

The 49ers' choice will be followed by the Miami Dolphins picking second and Cleveland Browns third.

Draft-order ties are resolved by the cumulative record of each team's opponents. The team with the weaker opponents receives drafting priority.

Within a tied segment, non-playoff clubs are given priority over playoff clubs. Priority of playoff clubs within a tied segment will be based on their advancement in the playoffs, but they will not drop out of their tied segment unless they participate in the Super Bowl. The Super Bowl champion will select 32nd and the runner-up 31st.

2005 NFL FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER

No. Club Win-Loss-Tie (Percent) (Strength of
Schedule) Op..

Packers' 2005 Opponents Determined

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 15:54:46 CST
The opponents for all 2005 regular-season games have been determined and a complete list of each team's home and away matchups was issued Monday by the NFL.

The scheduling formula implemented in 2002 with realignment guarantees that all teams play each other on a regular, rotating basis.

Under the formula, every team within a division plays 16 games as follows:

* Home and away against its three division opponents (6 games).

* The four teams from another division within its conference on a rotating three-year cycle (4 games).

* The four teams from a division in the other conference on a rotating four-year cycle (4 games).

* Two intraconference games based on the prior year's standings (2 games). These games match a first-place team against the first-place teams in the two same-conference divisions the team is not scheduled to play that season. The second-place, third-place, and fourth-place teams in a conference are matched in ..

Sharper's Interception For A TD Nominated For Play Of The Week

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 15:28:27 CST
Fan Voting Continues Through Noon ET Thursday on NFL.com

Green Bay Packers safety Darren Sharper's 43-yard interception return for a touchdown against the Chicago Bears is among the five Week 17 nominees for "LEVITRA (vardenafil HCI) PLAY OF THE WEEK."

The award is presented each week during the NFL regular season to recognize the single most exciting play that week as determined by the fans.

Voting is open to the fans this week from Monday at Noon ET until Thursday at Noon ET, exclusively on NFL.com. Each weekly winner will be a finalist for "LEVITRA PLAY OF THE YEAR," to be awarded at Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Florida.

Fans who vote at NFL.com each week can also enter for their chance to win a three-day/two-night trip for two to Jacksonville, Florida to attend Super Bowl XXXIX on February 6, 2005, including round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations.

Cincinn..

Divisional Playoff Schedule Announced

Mon, 03 Jan 2005 13:51:59 CST
Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced Monday the schedule of sites, dates and times for the National Football League Divisional Playoffs of January 15-16 (all times Central):

NFL DIVISIONAL PLAYOFFS

Saturday, January 15

AFC: 3:30 PM CT
San Diego (12-4), New York Jets (10-6) or Denver (10-6) at Pittsburgh (15-1) (CBS-TV)

NFC: 7:00 PM CT
Green Bay (10-6), Seattle (9-7) or St. Louis (8-8) at Atlanta (11-5) (FOX-TV)

Sunday, January 16

NFC: 12:00 PM CT
Seattle (9-7), St. Louis (8-8) or Minnesota (8-8) at Philadelphia (13-3) (FOX-TV)

AFC: 3:30 PM CT
Indianapolis (12-4), San Diego (12-4) or New York Jets (10-6) at New England (14-2) (CBS-TV)

In the Divisional Playoffs, the division champion with the best record in each conference (i.e. Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) is host to the surviving team with the lowest playoff ranking.

**

As previously ann..

Packers-Vikings To Meet In Playoffs For First Time

Sun, 02 Jan 2005 23:10:49 CST
NFL WILD CARD PLAYOFF SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced Sunday the schedule of sites, dates and times for the National Football League Wild Card games of January 8-9 (all times Central):

NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND

Saturday, January 8
NFC: 3:30 PM CT
St. Louis (8-8) at Seattle (9-7) (ABC-TV)

AFC: 7:00 PM CT
New York Jets (10-6) at San Diego (12-4) (ABC-TV)

Sunday, January 9
AFC: 12:00 PM CT
Denver (10-6) at Indianapolis (12-4) (CBS-TV)

NFC: 3:30 PM CT
Minnesota (8-8) at Green Bay (10-6) (FOX-TV)

The NFL Divisional Playoffs will be played on Saturday and Sunday, January 15-16; AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 23; and Super Bowl XXXIX at ALLTEL Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida on Sunday, February 6.

The annual AFC-NFC Pro Bowl, featuring the NFL All-Stars, will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sunday, February 13..

Packers-Bears Press Box Notes

Sun, 02 Jan 2005 16:45:13 CST
TODAY: Green Bay, who looks for momentum entering the playoffs, has never lost to the Bears twice in a season when Chicago finished with a sub-.500 record...The game has no implications on the playoffs, but the Packers will play to win...Green Bay hasn't lost consecutive games to the Bears since 1991-92. The last time Chicago swept the season series was 1991...The Packers haven't lost a road game to the Bears since 1993. The 10-game streak includes nine contests at Soldier Field and one at Champaign Memorial Stadium (2002)...Brett Favre can clear both the 4,000-yard and 30-touchdown milestone in the same season for a third time (also 1995 and 1998)...Green Bay (5-2) bids for its best road record since 1972, when the Packers were 6-1...Cletidus Hunt celebrates his 29th birthday today.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR TODAY -

BRETT FAVRE:
-Will play in a 207th consecutive game (226 including playoffs) and make his 205th consecutive start (224 including playo..