NFL Europe Week 9 Preview

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Fri, 30 May 2003 17:30:33 CST

A lot of things have to fall into place for the Scottish Claymores to earn a spot in World Bowl XI, but the one constant in all the scenarios is this: the Claymores must win.

With two games left to play, the Claymores have a 4-4 record and are one game back of a trio of teams knotted at 5-3. But to be able to finish the season among the top two and earn a World Bowl berth, the Claymores need to win both of their remaining regular-season contests.

If recent play is any indication, Scotland is up for the challenge. Led by Green Bay Packers quarterback Craig Nall, the Claymores have won their last two straight.

In those games Nall has gone a combined 32-for-52 (61.3 percent) for 425 yards and five touchdowns, with no interceptions. Wednesday he was named the NFLE offensive player of the week for his performance in Week 8.

Thanks also to a ground attack led by the Buffalo Bills' Ken Simonton, the Claymores lead the league in total offense with 3,285..

Training Camp Schedule Announced

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Thu, 29 May 2003 09:48:03 CST

2003 Training Camp Practice Schedule

For players and coaches, training camp is a time to prepare for the coming season. For Green Bay Packers fans it's a rare opportunity to get an up-close look at their favorite team.

Thursday the Packers announced their 2003 training camp schedule, which unfolds over six fan-friendly weeks, including 46 open-to-the-public practices, starting with an afternoon practice for rookies and first-year players July 19.

The Packers are opening training camp a week earlier than last season due to their participation in the Hall of Fame preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Canton, Ohio, August 4. Open practices continue until August 26, two days before the Packers' fifth and final preseason contest against the Tennessee Titans.

Whenever weather and field conditions allow, the Packers will hold their open practices on either Clarke Hinkle Field or Ray Nitschke F..

Packers Release Mini-Camp Schedule

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Wed, 28 May 2003 17:27:42 CST

Wednesday the Green Bay Packers released practice times for their upcoming mini-camp, which begins June 2 in Green Bay.

Back on the field for the first time since early May, the Packers will hold eight days of practice and meetings: June 2-6 and 9-11.

At this point, only the June 6 practice is closed to the public, with the rest scheduled to be held outside on Clarke Hinkle Field, across Oneida Street from Lambeau Field.

However, inclement weather or poor field conditions could force the Packers to move indoors to the Don Hutson Center, which is closed to the public due to space constraints.

Mini-Camp Practice Schedule
Mon., June 2 - 11 a.m.*
Tues., June 3 - 11 a.m.*
Wed., June 4 - 11 a.m.*
Thurs., June 5 - 11 a.m.*
Fri., June 6 - Practice closed
Mon., June 9 - 11 a.m.*
Tues., June 10 - 11 a.m.*
Wed., June 11 - 10 a.m.*

* All practices are scheduled to be held at Clarke Hinkle Field (open to public..

Carucci: South Florida Likely For '07 Super Bowl

Vic Carucci, NFL.com — Wed, 21 May 2003 15:58:14 CST
The NFL appears to have settled on South Florida as the site for the 2007 Super Bowl.

Other Super Bowl locations are under consideration, as are two potential stadium proposals in the Los Angeles area, as league owners addressed a variety of issues during meetings here.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue said owners are close to agreeing that the Super Bowl scheduled for February 2007 be held in Pro Player Stadium. He said they likely would likely give final approval during a special meeting Sept. 17.

New Orleans also had been considered for the 2007 game, but with the 2006 Super Bowl scheduled for Detroit's Ford Field, owners were reluctant to have back-to-back domed venues. Instead, they preferred an open-air stadium in a warm climate.

Meanwhile, a pair of northern sites -- New York/New Jersey and Washington, D.C. -- are among four candidates that have emerged to play host to the 2008 Super Bowl. Arizona and Tampa are also being considered.

Carucci: No Need For Playoff Expansion

Vic Carucci, NFL.com — Wed, 21 May 2003 15:54:55 CST
The NFL playoffs offer plenty of excitement and entertainment in their current form.

Members of the league's Competition Committee came to that realization during a conference call a couple weeks ago. Their 8-0 vote against a proposal to add playoff teams for the 2003 season looks as if it will be enough to convince owners that they don't even have to take a vote of their own on the subject before adjourning their meetings here on May 21.

And that can only be a good thing.

I concede that one can make a legitimate argument that adding an extra playoff team in each conference, thus creating two more playoff games, is a sound business idea. Two more filled stadiums and two more games on television translate into more revenue. Why would any NFL owner oppose that?

Simple. By looking into the not-too-distant future, one can make an equally legitimate argument that the short-term pursuit of more money could have negative long-term repercussions.
..

Kirwan: Searching For Talent In NFL Europe

Pat Kirwan, NFL.com — Tue, 20 May 2003 14:33:00 CST
In the NFL, you can set your watches to the events on every team's calendar -- the start of free agency, the Scouting Combine, the draft, June 1 cuts, the opening of training camps -- all the way through to the Super Bowl.

Nestled into this high-profile schedule is a two-week window that falls between the end of post-draft minicamps and June 1 cuts. This is the time when personnel people take a look at potential free-agent talents playing in the NFL Europe League.

It's easy for the cynic to sit back and minimize this developmental league as an afterthought, but that would be a mistake no decent pro personnel director is going to make. When a "minor league," as some would call it, develops quarterbacks like Kurt Warner and Brad Johnson and a receiver like Brian Finneran, should any person responsible for securing talent for his football team take that attitude?

During my tenure with the New York Jets, I believed in the NFL Europe and what the NFL's direct..

GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman Issues Statement

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Mon, 19 May 2003 13:01:09 CST
Monday evening, Packers GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman expanded upon his previous statement regarding the death of wide receivers coach Ray Sherman's 14-year-old son, Ray Sherman, Jr.

"It is important to me at this time, as a friend of the Sherman family, to assist them in dealing with this tragedy and also to help them come to an understanding, if at all possible, of what actually happened, and why," Mike Sherman said.

"I know the Medical Examiner concluded in his autopsy report that Ray Sherman Jr.'s death was the result of a deliberate, self-inflicted act. I assume he came to this conclusion based on his interpretation of certain physical evidence.

"It is important, however, to realize that there are many emotional and behavioral indications that strongly suggest this was not a deliberate act, but purely an accidental one.

"This was a 14-year old boy who loved life, and life loved him.

"He was a student, athlete and leader of his eighth-gr..

NFL Europe Week 7 Recap

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Mon, 19 May 2003 10:16:08 CST
In wet, sloppy conditions at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland, Craig Nall completed 10 of 21 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns as the Scottish Claymores (3-4) defeated the Rhein Fire (4-3), 33-0, in NFL Europe action over the weekend.

Nall's first touchdown pass was a 23-yarder to John Minardi (Houston Texans) in the first quarter. Later, he threw a 29-yard strike to Edell Shepherd (Chicago Bears) in the third quarter. Nall had no interceptions.

Approaching his second NFL season, Nall is one of seven Green Bay Packers in NFLE, including four with the Claymores.

Defensively, Scotland safety Bobby Jackson had a pass breakup to go with his four tackles, and linebacker Isaac Keys turned in three tackles.

With three weeks of the regular season remaining, the Claymores' victory kept them two games back of the first-place Barcelona Dragons (5-2), which defeated the Berlin Thunder (2-5), 23-20, over the weekend.

The top two teams at the e..

Packers, Local Homeowner Rebuilding Together

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Fri, 16 May 2003 15:26:00 CST
Friday, several members of the Green Bay Packers organization traded pens and computers for paint brushes and power tools in a rite of spring that has come to be called Rebuilding Together.

Formerly known as Christmas In May, for the eighth straight year the Packers took part in the Green Bay community effort by donating money and labor to help a local homeowner in need.

This year's homeowner is a 51-year-old woman confined to a wheelchair. While much of her house was in good condition, the Packers' construction team installed a new garage door and modified kitchen cabinets to make spaces more accessible.

Also among their efforts, Packers volunteers installed molding throughout much of the house, plus a new door and dishwasher, and performed extensive landscaping outside, cutting back overgrown trees and installing plant and flowerbeds.

Packers manager of family programs Sherry Schuldes said it was another successful venture that left both the wor..

NFL Europe Week 7 Preview

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Fri, 16 May 2003 15:25:09 CST
Fans don't even need cable to watch a handful of Green Bay Packers in NFL Europe action this weekend.

With four Packers players on the roster including quarterback Craig Nall, the Scottish Claymores (2-4) will host the Rhein Fire (4-2) this Sunday in a game to be televised on FOX at a tape-delayed time of noon CT.

Nall is leading the NFL developmental league with 1,271 yards passing and nine touchdowns.

Defensive back Bobby Jackson and linebackers Isaac Keys and Jermaine Petty are also with the Claymores.

Later this season, FOX also will televise World Bowl XI in Glasgow, June 14.

All other Week 7 NFLE games will be contested Saturday, with the Barcelona Dragons (4-2) hitting the road to face the Berlin Thunder (2-4) and the Frankfurt Galaxy (4-2) hosting the Amsterdam Admirals (2-4).

The Frankfurt-Amsterdam game will feature Packers defensive back Jeremy Unertl and punter Tim Morgan, both with the Galaxy, plus Admirals wide recei..

Tickets Still Available For Brown County Residents

Jason Bellamy, Packers.com — Thu, 15 May 2003 18:50:44 CST
More than 500 fans stopped by Lambeau Field to turn in their 2003 season ticket payments before the deadline Thursday, but time remains for Brown County residents hoping to purchase individual game tickets.

Last month, 10,000 Brown County residents were awarded an opportunity to purchase four tickets to one of the Packers' 2003 home games. They had until May 5 to turn in their payment to secure tickets.

A supplemental drawing will soon be held to award tickets not purchased by the initial group of winners. And Brown County residents who have not yet signed up to be part of the drawing can still do so at the Packers ticket office, director of ticket operations Mark Wagner said Thursday.

"We've sent out a second mailing to those people who were not chosen the first round and we are still accepting names for those interested in becoming part of the drawing," Wagner said. "We'd love to get more people to come in and sign up. The more the merrier."

..

Packers.com Presents New Lambeau Field Photo Galleries

Wed, 14 May 2003 17:51:04 CST
With the 2003 football season and the completion of the redevelopment project only a few months away, construction at Lambeau Field is a constant.

Last week Packers.com provided an exclusive look inside Lambeau Field as the Packers' retired numbers were installed within the stadium bowl.

This week, in an effort to keep fans updated, Packers.com is pleased to offer a pair of photo galleries, the first offering the latest photos of the construction within both the stadium and the Lambeau Field Atrium, and the second detailing the efforts of the Packers' grounds crew as it readies the tundra for another season.

See the photos: Construction Photo Gallery Turf Photo Gallery

NFL Films Presents 2002 Packers Highlights

Tue, 13 May 2003 15:15:25 CST
With the NFL Draft and a five-day mini-camp already in the books, the Green Bay Packers are working toward what they hope will be a successful 2003 season. But it's not too late to remember the triumphs of 2002.

En route to their first division title in five years, the Packers went 12-4 last season, securing back-to-back 12-win seasons for only the second time in team history.

In the latest highlights package from NFL Films, you can relive some of 2002's greatest moments, from Marques Anderson's 78-yard interception return to Donald Driver's 85-yard touchdown catch. You also can get a rare glimpse into the Packers' locker room, as GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman addresses the team.

Real: 56k 100k Associated Press last week. "This is something I can always use at any time, and I can use it as a tool to help shape my kids and my younger family members.

"I can say I'm successful at my sport, but I've also got a degree to fall back on."

In three years at Nebraska, Green tallied 3,880 yards and 42 touchdowns, good enough for second place on the Cornhuskers' all-time list...