Packers.com

Packers Sign Aaron Rodgers

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 20:30:27 CST

Coming to terms with their first-round selection in the 2005 draft, the Green Bay Packers Saturday night signed Aaron Rodgers. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.

A 6-foot-2, 223-pound quarterback out of California, Rodgers is the 11th and final Packers draft choice to sign a contract. The first passer selected by Green Bay in the first round since 1981, Rodgers went 17-5 in two years as a starter at Cal, after transferring from Butte (Calif.) College.

In 25 Division I games from 2003-04, Rodgers completed 424 of 665 yards (63.8 percent) for 5,469 yards, with 43 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In his final season at Cal, 2004, he guided the Pacific 10's top-ranked offense to a Holiday Bowl appearance, hitting 209 of 316 passes (66.1 percent) for 2,566 yards, with 24 TDs and just eight INTs.

In his lone junior college season at Butte, 2002, Rodgers guided the school to a 10-1 re..

'Packers Family Night' Schedule Set

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 16:46:40 CST

Times for 'Packers Family Night, Presented by FOX 11,' to be held Friday, Aug. 5, were announced today by the Green Bay Packers.

'Family Night,' this summer marking its fifth occurrence, features a scrimmage in a game-like atmosphere at Lambeau Field. This year's event includes an opponent for the first time, with the Buffalo Bills on the opposite sideline.

Gates to the stadium open at 4 p.m. and on-field entertainment begins at 5:30 with the Oneida Nation Dancers and mascot games. The Packers and Bills will take to the field at 6 p.m. and run through various practice drills before kicking off the scrimmage at approximately 7 p.m. A spectacular fireworks show will conclude the night.

Due to the many activities taking place all day long at training camp, including the 8:45 a.m. practice with the Buffalo Bills on Hinkle Field, the parking lot will open at 7 a.m. and remain open through the evening's scrimmage in the stadium. Parking will be free of charge. Th..

Packers Add Newhouse, Waive Samp

Fri, 29 Jul 2005 13:41:58 CST

The Green Bay Packers Friday signed defensive tackle Quintene Newhouse and waived wide receiver Chris Samp. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the moves.

Newhouse, 23, went unselected in the 2005 NFL Draft after lettering four years at Northwestern (La.) State, the school that produced Packers quarterback Craig Nall. A Division I-AA All-American as a junior and three-time All-Southland Conference selection, he helped the Demons to a 2004 league championship. All told in 42 games, he posted 155 tackles (67 solo), 29 stops for loss, 71/2 sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

The 6-foot-1, 313-pound Newhouse was a SuperPrep All-America selection at Emory (Texas) Rains High School. His first name is pronounced QUIN-ten.

Samp had signed as a non-drafted free agent April 29.

Packers Sign Draft Choice Terrence Murphy

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 16:47:46 CST

The Green Bay Packers Thursday signed wide receiver/kick returner Terrence Murphy, the team's second of two selections in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.

Green Bay now has 10 of its 11 selections under contract, including guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20), defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21), linebacker Kurt Campbell (July 6), cornerback Mike Hawkins (July 13), wide receiver Craig Bragg (July 22), safety Marviel Underwood (July 25), linebacker Brady Poppinga (July 25) and safety/cornerback Nick Collins (July 28).

A four-year letterman (2001-2004) at Texas A&M, Murphy started full time each of his final two seasons. He was a first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection as a junior and senior, first as a kick returner in 2003, and then as a receiver in 2004. Murphy was a two-time team captain, sharing th..

Packers Sign Draft Choice Nick Collins

Thu, 28 Jul 2005 13:52:30 CST

The Green Bay Packers Thursday signed safety/cornerback Nick Collins, the club's first of two selections in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.

Green Bay now has nine of its 11 selections under contract, including guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20), defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21), linebacker Kurt Campbell (July 6), cornerback Mike Hawkins (July 13), wide receiver Craig Bragg (July 22), safety Marviel Underwood (July 25) and linebacker Brady Poppinga (July 25).

Collins, a 5-foot-11, 200-pound player out of Bethune-Cookman, led the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in interceptions each of the past two seasons. During those seasons, he started at free safety and garnered All-MEAC honors each year. Collins also was named third-team Division I-AA All-America as a senior.

The Cross City, Fla., nati..

Packers' 2005 Training Camp Opens Tuesday

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 07:44:11 CST

GREEN BAY PACKERS' 2005 TRAINING CAMP OPENS THIS WEEK; LAMBEAU FIELD PREPARED FOR FANS AND FUN

Green Bay Packers players are checking in this week and the team's fans already have begun to "report" as well, to take in all the football fun Lambeau Field offers for the next five weeks during 2005 training camp.

"It's an exciting time of year for all Packers fans," said John Jones, Packers Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The new season is getting underway and everyone is thrilled to see their favorite players back on the practice field. In addition to watching practice, we're excited about all the related activities in the Atrium that fans can enjoy, including the Packers Experience, the Packers Hall of Fame and stadium tours."

Kari Sliva, president of the Packer Country Visitor and Convention Bureau, added: "Training camp is a very special event that attracts more than 100,000 people each year to the Green Bay area to kick off th..

Packers Sign Draft Picks Underwood & Poppinga

Mon, 25 Jul 2005 17:10:45 CST

The Green Bay Packers Monday signed safety Marviel Underwood and linebacker Brady Poppinga, the team's two fourth-round selections from the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signings.

Green Bay now has eight of its 11 selections under contract, including guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20), defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21), linebacker Kurt Campbell (July 6), cornerback Mike Hawkins (July 13) and wide receiver Craig Bragg (July 22).

Underwood, 5-foot-10, 197 pounds, was a three-year starter at San Diego state, having played his final 36 collegiate games in succession. He was named honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference during his junior and senior seasons. For his career, Underwood tallied 222 tackles (135 solo), including nine tackles for loss with one sack, plus seven interceptions among 20 passes broken up, three forced fum..

Packers Sign Draft Choice WR Craig Bragg

Fri, 22 Jul 2005 18:16:30 CST

The Green Bay Packers Friday signed wide receiver Craig Bragg, the club's second of two selections in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.

Green Bay now has six of its 11 selections under contract, including guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20), defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21), linebacker Kurt Campbell (July 6) and cornerback Mike Hawkins (July 13).

Bragg, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver out of UCLA, is the school's all time receptions leader with 193 career catches for 2,845 receiving yards (second all-time). He scored 23 career touchdowns (19 receiving, two rushing and two punt returns) with 12 scores of 40 yards or more. Bragg is the only UCLA receiver ever to lead the school in receptions for four consecutive seasons and also the lone Bruin to ever make at least 50 receptions in two separate seasons..

Download The Packers' 2005 Training Camp Dope Sheet

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 17:13:47 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 2005 Training Camp Dope Sheet:

THE TRADITION CONTINUES: The Packers next week open their 59th organized training camp. In 1947, Curly Lambeau began preseason practices at Rockwood Lodge in northeast Green Bay.

-Affable Scooter McLean spent one year as the Packers' head coach, 1958, and Green Bay went 1-10-1, the NFL's worst record (ironically, six future Hall of Famers were already in place, one ye..

Curly's Pub Adds New Menu Items

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 13:15:07 CST

Curly's Pub, a popular destination since it opened in the Lambeau Field Atrium, recently introduced some new menu items.

Among the new featured selections are Linebacker's Stew and Lombardi's Bolognese, as well as a chicken and black bean burrito, New York strip steak, tilapia, buffalo chicken sandwich and sirloin and blue cheese wrap.

"The new menu items are something we've done from time to time since we opened," said Leo Dominguez, executive chef at Curly's Pub. "We like to keep things fresh and these are some tasty and unique recipes that reflect our desire to have some Packers flavor in our offerings."

In addition to the menu updates at Curly's, the Atrium's other full-time eateries, the Hall of Fame Grill and Frozen in Time, also recently received a bit of a facelift, as well as some new items on their menus.

Hall of Fame Grill's food offering concept is now buffet style, featuring a salad bar, soups, pizzas and a couple of daily main dishes...

Packers Waive P Brooks Barnard

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 15:46:17 CST

The Green Bay Packers Tuesday waived punter Brooks Barnard. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, made the announcement.

Barnard has punted each of the last two preseasons for the Chicago Bears and saw time on the 53-man rosters of both Chicago and New England late in the 2003 season, playing in one NFL game. With the Patriots on Dec. 7, 2003, in a 12-0 win over Miami after 30 inches of snow fell in New England, he averaged 36.5 yards on 10 punts, with four 'inside the 20.'

Waived five days later, he re-joined the Bears, who sent him to the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe for the 2004 season (47 punts, 37.8 gross average, 33.4 net average, 14 'inside the 20').

The Maryland alum originally signed with Chicago as a non-drafted free agent, May 1, 2003.

The Packers now have two punters on their roster: second-year player B.J. Sander and rookie Bryce Benekos.

Lee Remmel Sports Award Banquet Raises More Than $19,000

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 14:48:24 CST

The eighth annual Lee Remmel Sports Awards Banquet raised more than $19,000 for distribution as scholarship grants, Treasurer Rick Dreher of the banquet committee has announced.

The funds, awarded by the sponsoring De Pere and Green Bay West Rotary Clubs, will be apportioned among students at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay, St. Norbert College and area high schools.

The proceeds of this year's event, held April 7, represent a record for the banquet and swell to $131,000 the total the dinner has raised for scholarships since it was launched in 1998.

In addition to the Rotary Clubs, the banquet sponsors include the Green Bay Press-Gazette, WBAY-TV, Associated Bank, Fabio Perini North America, Rummele's Jewelers and the Swan Club.

Packers Sign CB Mike Hawkins

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 15:44:14 CST

The Green Bay Packers Wednesday signed cornerback Mike Hawkins, the team's second of two selections in the fifth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.

The 6-foot-1, 179-pound defensive back is the fifth Packers draft pick to sign, joining guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20), defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21) and linebacker Kurt Campbell (July 6).

Hawkins was a highly-touted prep recruit in 2002, eventually settling on Oklahoma, where he played one season. After experiencing a personality conflict with a member of the Sooners coaching staff, he attempted to transfer to Southern Methodist or Texas Christian in 2003, in order to be closer to his mother and newborn daughter, but OU would not release him.

Consequently, Hawkins left school and worked odd jobs in the Dallas area. Late in 2003, he took part in an op..

Packers Breast Cancer Cap In High Demand

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 18:09:10 CST

In an outstanding response to the Packers Breast Cancer Cap program, supporters of the campaign have exhausted the initial supply of hats. The empty shelves at the Packers Pro Shop will be only temporary, though, as a second shipment is due in Thursday.

The joint campaign of the Packers and American Family Insurance features a pink baseball-styled cap featuring the team's 'G' on the front, with an American Family Insurance logo and breast cancer pink ribbon on the side. Money raised from the program will be distributed to three state-wide breast cancer charities focusing on prevention, treatment and research.

"We're delighted that so many people have shown their support for the program," said Packers President Bob Harlan. "The response has been phenomenal. We're excited to see such great reaction to the effort and anticipate more people getting involved."

An initial supply of 20,000 caps was on hand for the July 7 kickoff of the program. Between an allot..

Packers Team With American Family Insurance To Fight Breast Cancer

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 11:10:11 CST

BREAST CANCER CAP PROGRAM TO RAISE MONEY FOR THE CAUSE

The Green Bay Packers and American Family Insurance Thursday announced a joint effort to promote breast cancer awareness, raise funds to support those afflicted and sustain breast cancer research.

Through sales of the Packers Breast Cancer Cap, a pink baseball-styled cap featuring the Packers' 'G' on the front, with an American Family Insurance logo and breast cancer pink ribbon on the side, the Packers and American Family hope to raise more than $100,000 this season to be distributed to three state-wide breast cancer charities focusing on prevention, treatment and research.

"We're proud today to announce that we've joined forces with American Family Insurance in this endeavor against breast cancer," Packers President Bob Harlan said in making the announcement. "So many of us have been or will be touched by this disease, be it through a mother, sister, daughter, friend or ourselves. This is a gre..

Packers Sign LB Kurt Campbell

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 16:10:29 CST

The Green Bay Packers Wednesday signed linebacker Kurt Campbell, the team's first of two selections in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson, Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations, announced the signing.

Campell, a 6-1, 227-pound linebacker out of Albany, is the fourth Packers draft pick to sign a contract, along with guard/center Junius Coston (May 16), guard William Whitticker (June 20) and defensive end Michael Montgomery (June 21).

A four-year letterman (2001-2004), he started his final two seasons at the rover position after playing cornerback the first two years. In all, Campbell saw action in 34 games, with 28 starts, notching career totals of 120 tackles, one interception among 19 passes defensed, and two fumble recoveries. He is the first Albany player ever to be drafted in the NFL.

Green Bay acquired Campbell with the 245th overall selection, the third of three picks obtained in a draft day ..

Packers To Revise Ticket Sale Procedure For Future 'Family Nights'

Wed, 06 Jul 2005 12:30:18 CST

The Green Bay Packers Wednesday announced plans to revise ticket sale procedures for future editions of the popular 'Packers Family Night.'

'Packers Family Night,' this summer marking its fifth occurrence, features a scrimmage in a game-like atmosphere at Lambeau Field. This year's event includes an opponent for the first time, with the Buffalo Bills on the opposite sideline.

Tickets for this summer's Aug. 5 event sold out in approximately three hours after beginning at 10 a.m. on June 4. Last year's 'Family Night' sold out as well, but not until nearly seven weeks had passed and with no limit on the amount of tickets purchased.

"After it sold out so quickly this year, we visited the following day and determined we would need to implement a limit next year on the amount of tickets that could be purchased in one sale," said Packers President Bob Harlan. "We then took some time to examine the situation, gather information and hear from fans. Based on that inf..