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Steve Morley: NFL Europe Diary

Thu, 31 Mar 2005 17:13:07 CST

Offensive lineman Steve Morley finds himself in a unique position as he is about to kick off a season in his third different professional football league in the past few years.

After playing with the CFL's Calgary Stampeders in his native Canada in 2003, Morley was on the Packers' 53-man roster for the entire 2004 season, although he didn't get into a regular season game. He now embarks on a 10-game season with the Rhein Fire of NFL Europe and is eager to give his coaches in Green Bay a look at what he's capable of in game action.

Marking his first time outside of North America, Morley is excited about the different things he will encounter both on and off the field during his spring in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Morley and his Rhein Fire teammates will travel to The Netherlands this weekend to open the season against the Amsterdam Admirals. Morley is slated to anchor the line at left tackle, helping to protect fellow Packer-allocate, quarterback Scott McB..

Getting To Know... Ben Steele

Wed, 30 Mar 2005 17:11:53 CST
How well do we know the men who make up the Packers roster? Even the most ardent fan - the one who studies every play, knows the 40-yard-dash time of every prospect, is at every practice during training camp - still most likely is familiar primarily with what the players of the Green and Gold are up to on the field.

Packers.com is taking a look at some of the off-the-field interests of the players behind the facemasks that you cheer so heartily for during the football season. This is a chance to get to know the players through a series of questions and answers, some football-related and others having nothing to do with the gridiron.

It's time to get to know... Ben Steele.

Tight end Ben Steele has taken a bit of a unconventional path to his current place on the Packers' roster. When Steele joined the Green and Gold just before the start of the regular season last September, the Packers became his fourth NFL team in four seasons after graduating fro..

McBrien: Next In Line?

Brian Gainor, NFL Europe — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 13:06:08 CST
On a memorable February 11, 1992 afternoon, the Green Bay Packers traded their first round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for a budding 23-year-old star quarterback named Brett Favre. Since that time, the Packers have searched for a trustworthy quarterback to backup the future Hall of Fame quarterback from Southern Mississippi. But with the veteran Favre repeatedly hinting at retirement during the past few off-seasons, the Packers are now in search of a future replacement to over things once his reign is over.

Rhein Fire quarterback Scott McBrien may be just the Packers man. The 24-year-old quarterback possesses all the intangibles one looks for in a rising quarterback - accuracy, speed, intelligence of the game, and good awareness of his surroundings. McBrien is the third current Green Bay quarterback to compete in NFL Europe in as many years. He is following in the footsteps of Packer quarterbacks Doug Pederson, Craig Nall, and J.T. O'Sullivan, all of whom are currently with ..

NFL Europe: Getting Out Of The Blocks

Mike Carlson, NFL.com — Wed, 30 Mar 2005 11:23:31 CST
A quick start is just as important for teams as it is for receivers, defensive ends and running backs. Especially in NFL Europe, where the 10-game season can leave a team almost out of the running by the halfway point.

Unless of course that team is coached by Peter Vaas. In 2001, his Berlin Thunder became the first team to lose its season opener and go on to win the World Bowl. Quarterback Jonathan Quinn led the team to back-to-back must-win victories over Amsterdam in Weeks 9 and 10, and then a startling upset win over a Barcelona team that had crushed the Thunder twice in the regular season.

In 2002, Vaas went two steps better. The Thunder started the season losing its first three games (by a total of 12 points) and its best receiver. At 0-3, Vaas insisted publicly that the team would still make the World Bowl. Sure enough, it did, and again staged a major upset by beating Rhein and holding league MVP Jamal Robertson to 7 yards on five carries. Rams WR Dane Look..

Getting To Know... Joey Thomas

Mon, 28 Mar 2005 16:12:14 CST
How well do we know the men who make up the Packers roster? Even the most ardent fan - the one who studies every play, knows the 40-yard-dash time of every prospect, is at every practice during training camp - still most likely is familiar primarily with what the players of the Green and Gold are up to on the field.

Packers.com is taking a look at some of the off-the-field interests of the players behind the facemasks that you cheer so heartily for during the football season. This is a chance to get to know the players through a series of questions and answers, some of them football-related and others having nothing to do with the gridiron.

It's time to get to know... Joey Thomas.

Last year at this time, Joey Thomas was an eager defensive back from Montana State University who had spent nearly all of his time after the conclusion of the Bobcats' football season preparing for the NFL Combine and his individual workout leading up to the April NFL Dra..

Billy Grimes, 1927-2005

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Mon, 28 Mar 2005 14:57:31 CST
The Green Bay Packers were saddened to learn of the passing of Billy Grimes, a running back and kick returner extraordinaire for the Green and Gold in the early 1950s. Grimes passed away in his home state of Oklahoma over the weekend at the age of 77.

By all accounts an electric runner, Grimes shared the backfield with Packer legend Tony Canadeo during his three-year stint in Green Bay from 1950-52.

"The Comanche Kid," as Grimes was known, burst on to the scene in his first season with the Packers in 1950, returning punts for touchdowns in back-to-back weeks to lead the Pack to two of their three victories on the year in his second and third games with the club.

The former Oklahoma State standout set a team-record with his punt return average of 19.1 yards that season, a mark that still stands to this date. His combined 1,896 yards (600 on kickoff returns, 555 on punt runbacks, 480 rushing, and 261 receiving) was a Packer record for nearly 50 years unti..

Packers Fan Memories

Fri, 25 Mar 2005 14:03:55 CST
Read the 'Packers Fan Memories' archives or Submit your own favorite memory

This Week's Photos

A run-in with the legendary Ray Nitschke...meeting Brett Favre for the first time...flying cross-country with Javon Walker. It's all here as Packers fans tell us about some of their most memorable moments backing the Green and Gold in our first installment of 'Packers Fan Memories.'

My favorite Packers memory is when my mother, grandmother and I all went to Green Bay for the first time on August 7, 2004. It was Packers Family Night and a dream come true for my mother and I. As we drove into Green Bay, the green and gold was all over. We got to our hotel and stayed just long enough to unload our suitcases and then headed out in search of the all mighty Lambeau Field. This was a place that my mother never thought we would be. As we drove in, my mother looked to the left an..

Offseason Program Builds Stronger Players, Stronger Team

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Thu, 24 Mar 2005 12:56:33 CST
Though the past few months have been a bit of a quiet period around the locker room at Lambeau Field, the relative silence has been broken this week as a great deal of the players on the Packers roster have returned to the building to participate in the offseason conditioning program.

Walking down the hall past the weight room, the unmistakable sound of the banging of the metal plates is back, along with the music pumping through the sound system as the athletes pump iron.

The offseason program represents different things to different players. Some of the guys in the locker room are spending their first offseason in Green Bay and are looking to build up for a successful season in the fall.

Others are veterans of the program and they know from experience just what it will take to keep themselves in position to carry their hard work in the weight room out on to the field later this year.

Second-year cornerback Joey Thomas is one of the players who i..

AP Story: NFL Turns Down Proposal On 'Down By Contact'

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 20:02:38 CST
A proposal to make down-by-contact plays reviewable by replay was rejected by NFL teams.

The proposed change was perhaps the most important in a package of rules changes that had been approved by the league's competition committee. It would have allowed the replay cameras to look at fumbles even though the whistle had been blown, something that currently ends the play regardless of what the cameras might see.

It did get 20 of 32 possible votes but not the 24 required to implement it for the one year it was being proposed.

"It actually got a few more yes votes than I thought," said Atlanta general manager Rich McKay, the committee's co-chairman. "This is a big play. This is a turnover. We haven't heard the last of it."

McKay said he originally had opposed the change himself, fearing that it would cause injuries because some players would stop at the whistle and were in danger of being injured by others going after a loose ball. But he changed hi..

AP Story: Owners To Vote On Several Major Changes

Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:14:53 CST
Mike Pereira sat in front of a video screen and watched several botched calls by his referees and linesmen. They were a vast minority of the total calls, but they still irked the NFL's director of officiating.

Pereira and the league's competition committee were hopeful some of those missed calls would be eliminated when owners vote on several rules proposals.

Most notable would be the inclusion of down-by-contact penalties as part of the instant replay review system. Coaches would be able to challenge such calls involving a potential change of possession.

"The theory being it's one of the big holes in the replay system," Pereira said at the league's annual meetings. "As (Texans GM) Charley Casserly said today, the most important play is a scoring play, and the second-most important is a change-of-possession play.

"If we can get it reviewed, we've filled a hole in the system."

If the whistle has sounded but there is uncertainty if a ba..

Highlight Film Viewing A Highlight Event

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 10:44:58 CST
Carrying on another Green Bay Packers tradition - this one that dates back more than 30 years - the Packers hosted the premiere viewing of the team's 2004 highlight film, "Belief Within: The Story of the 2004 Green Bay Packers," Tuesday night in the Legends Club of the Lambeau Field Atrium.

As has been a fixture in the long-standing tradition, Packers' team historian Lee Remmel served as the emcee for the evening's proceedings, introducing the film and later calling to the podium the event's featured speaker, defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.

The near 200 fans in attendance cheered their Green and Gold heroes at the high points of the film produced by NFL Films that detailed the Pack's event-filled run to a third consecutive NFC North Division title.

The film is scheduled to be available for purchase in VHS or DVD format through the Packers Pro Shop, located in the Lambeau Field Atrium, starting in mid-July.

At the conclusion of the viewing, Gbaj..

AP Story: Rules Changes Among Hot Topics At NFL Owners Meeting

Tue, 22 Mar 2005 11:30:40 CST
A week in Maui was anything but a vacation for the NFL's competition committee.

The eight voting members of the committee, headed by Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher and Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay, are making 19 rules proposals to the owners at the annual meetings. Several are controversial enough to cause some vehement debate.

Among the proposals are: adopting the college rule for 15-yard defensive pass interference penalties rather than continuing with spot fouls -- unless the foul was within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage; eliminating peel-back blocks below the waist outside the tackle box; and extending replay challenges to cover fumbles on plays already whistled by officials because the ball carrier was down by contact.

The committee also seeks to eliminate "horse-collar tackles," where the defender grabs the ball carrier inside the back of the shoulder pads and immediately drags him down while also falling on his legs. Such tac..

Packers Honored With 2005 W.I.S.H. Award

Jeff Harding, Packers.com — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 21:30:41 CST
Represented in Milwaukee by a contingent of players and front office personnel, the Green Bay Packers Thursday were honored with the 2005 W.I.S.H. (Winner In Sharing Happiness) Award, presented annually by the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Wisconsin.

Throughout the 2004 football season, Packers players and coaches had the opportunity to help Make-A-Wish grant the wishes of several children with life-threatening medical conditions.

A Packers wish includes game tickets, a tour of Lambeau Field and the Packers locker room, attending a Packers practice session -- sometimes with a professional tape job on his or her ankles -- and joining Packers head coach Mike Sherman in calling in the post-practice huddle. After practice, the wish child and his or her family joins the players and coaches in the team's dining room for lunch, pictures and autographs.

"It's truly an honor for us as players to be able to walk over to a kid on the sidelines at practice and just talk to..

Cowboy Kabeer

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 15:41:16 CST
Just call him Cowboy Kabeer.

Don't fret Packers fans - the stud defensive end hasn't been traded to Dallas. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has been working this offseason to develop skills as a real cowboy by taking up horseback riding.

Gbaja-Biamila says he's always been fascinated by equines and is using his downtime in the offseason to become a proficient horseman.

"I always wanted to ride horses when I was a kid, but you can't really do that in Los Angeles," he said. "Now I live near some stables, so I thought this was a good opportunity."

Although the lessons that he has been taking with his wife, Eileen, are not the first time Kabeer has ridden a horse, they are his first training sessions.

"I've ridden before but never had proper training," he said. "If somebody I was visiting had a horse, I just jumped on it and started riding. But here I'm actually paying to get the proper training and learn the proper techniques of how to control the h..

Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Jeff Anderson, NFL Europe — Tue, 15 Mar 2005 11:41:06 CST
He's energetic yet reserved. He's animated yet modest. He's active yet passive. He wears a constant, almost contagious grin around the Sea Devils facility and is even considered by some as the happiest player wearing the teal and blue. But for linebacker Shawn Morgan, smiling is simply a reflection of his current situation.

Signed by the Green Bay Packers in January 2005 and allocated to NFL Europe, Morgan has been out of football since his senior season at Fayetteville State in 2002. Over the past three years he has coveted his chance to return, and now with the Sea Devils, the long-awaited opportunity has arrived.

"It feels good to be back on the field because I felt like there was something missing," Morgan said. "People say I always walk around with a smile, but I have a reason to be happy...I know what I can do, and I'm glad the Sea Devils and the NFL have given me the opportunity so I can actually show others what I already know. Being back is exciting. It's..

Fan Fest An All-Around Good Time

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 16:45:45 CST
Fan Fest is now in the books, and from all accounts, everyone involved - fans, players, coaches, and staff - had a great time over the course of the three-day weekend event in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

3,000 fans filled the home of their favorite football team and were able to meet some of their favorite players, get some insight from the coaching staff, and even take a tour of the Packers' locker room.

"I thought it was a huge success," said Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan. "I spent time down on the floor all three days and I just got great comments about the event and the attitude of the players and our staff. People were saying, 'I sure hope you do it again.'"

Harlan said the fans seemed particularly enthused about the unique opportunity to view the team's three Lombardi Trophies and walk the route their heroes walk prior to each game as they travel onto the field.

"I heard an awful lot about the trophy room and the locker room," he said...

Inside The Huddle With Doug Sims

Henry Hodgson, NFL Europe — Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:06:24 CST
Rhein Fire defensive tackle Doug Sims is one of NFL Europe's superlatives in 2005. The biggest player in the league, weighing in at 340 pounds, defensive tackle Sims is aiming to kick start a dormant NFL career by proving that size is everything when it comes to his position.

"I am used to being the biggest guy around," laughs the jovial Sims. "Have been all my life. In high school and in college I was always the biggest. You get into the NFL and there are a lot of big guys, but out here I am again.

As with all of the big players at what tends to be the position most NFL teams aim to supersize the most, Sims is well aware that there is a limit to how big you can be and still maintain the effectiveness you need to play the game well.

"It is something I always try to keep under control, but it also adds a lot to my game," he explains. "I have got to play football, that's the bottom line, and if it means playing where I am at I will make sure I am in the be..

Sherman Fields Fan Questions

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Sun, 13 Mar 2005 16:52:36 CST
On the final day of the Green Bay Packers' inaugural Fan Fest, the featured speaker in the Lambeau Field Atrium was none other than Head Coach Mike Sherman. Sherman took about 30 minutes to interact with the fans in attendance, participating in a question and answer session.

The coach answered a variety of questions, ranging from personnel issues to the difficulty of leading the Green and Gold through the rigors of an always unpredictable NFL season.

Following his session with the fans, Sherman held a press conference where he encountered many of the same questions.

One issue that has been on the minds of many - both fans and media alike - over the past few weeks has been the issue what the Packers will do along the offensive line, which due to some free agent losses will be fielding a new starting five in 2005 for the first time since 2001.

"We've been fortunate enough to be able to hang on to people for a while," Sherman said. "It's very unique..

Receivers Eager To Get Back On The Field

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 21:06:03 CST
While the excitement displayed by all the fans over the weekend at Fan Fest has proven that Green Bay supporters just can't get enough Packers football, statements made by a pair of Packers receivers Saturday confirmed that they can't get enough of the action either.

Donald Driver and Robert Ferguson were both on hand at Lambeau Field and expressed a desire to get out on the field as soon as possible to put on a show for those fans.

The last thing most Packers fans had heard from Driver this offseason was his (thankfully) incorrect prediction that Brett Favre was going to be calling it a career.

The two met face to face for the first time since the receiver's comments as Favre was signing autographs Saturday and shared a few laughs, with Driver just as happy as everyone else that he had been proven wrong by Favre's recent statements that the quarterback will in fact play in 2005 and possibly beyond.

"I think I used a little reverse psychology on hi..

Fans Meet Their Heroes At Fan Fest

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 19:06:33 CST
Fan Fest continued Saturday with thousands of fans pouring into the Lambeau Field Atrium for the chance to get up close and personal with many of their favorite Packers players, both past and present.

The ardent supporters of the team that were on hand had the chance to meet and get autographs from about 20 different players from Packers history.

From today's favorites, such as Donald Driver and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, to Green Bay legends from yesteryear, including Jerry Kramer and LeRoy Butler, those in attendance Saturday eagerly seized the opportunity to meet some of their heroes.

Once again, one of the biggest draws of the day was rocket-armed quarterback Brett Favre. On this day, though, Favre was using his right arm not to zip passes past the outstretched arms of defensive backs, but to shake hands with fans and sign all kinds of memorabilia.

From footballs, caps, and photos to jerseys and even a three-foot tall bobblehead doll likeness of..

Favre Highlights Fan Fest Opening Night

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 23:00:51 CST
The inaugural Green Bay Packers Fan Fest kicked off in fine fashion Friday night in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Packers Hall of Famer Larry McCarren served as the master of ceremonies for the evening and introduced many of the Packers legends that will be in attendance over the three-day event.

The crowd packed the floor of the Atrium and cheered heartily as much of the 2005 Packers coaching staff was brought out. McCarren then called to the stage former greats Don Majkowski, Jerry Kramer, and Lynn Dickey, to the delight of the assembled audience.

The fanatical Packer backers applauded even more loudly as Bob Harlan, Ted Thompson, Ron Wolf, and Bart Starr each took the stage and spoke briefly about their appreciation for the remarkable dedication of the Green Bay fans.

But the loudest and longest cheers were reserved - as they are each Sunday afternoon in the fall - for the man these fans were relieved to know would be back under center in the Green and Gol..

Thompson Speaks On Favre, Sharper

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 17:00:08 CST
On a busy news day at 1265 Lombardi Avenue, General Manager Ted Thompson addressed the media regarding the developments surrounding two of the more prominent names on the Packers' roster.

Thompson spoke briefly about the news that quarterback Brett Favre would be returning to Green Bay for a 14th season in the Green and Gold, as well as the fact that the team had parted ways with veteran safety Darren Sharper.

The general manager expressed the feeling that every Packer fan shared in regard to Favre.

"I think everybody's happy about it," Thompson said. "I had spoken to Brett a few days ago, Coach Sherman spoke with him last night, and he's coming back to play just like he's played the last 14 years and we're excited about it. I think the NFL is better to have Brett Favre in its league than without."

Thompson stated that he believes Favre's decision was heavily influenced by the health of his wife, Deanna, who has been undergoing treatment for bre..

2005 Hall Of Famers Extremely Appreciative

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Thu, 10 Mar 2005 15:55:54 CST
In advance of the festivities of the inaugural Fan Fest weekend at Lambeau Field, both members of the 2005 class of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, Edgar Bennett and Don Majkowski, were at the stadium Thursday for a press conference.

These two Green Bay legends will be the 132nd and 133rd members of the Hall of Fame when they are enshrined at the annual induction ceremony July 23.

"I'd just like to say what a tremendous honor this is to just be mentioned with some of the guys that are already a part of the Hall of Fame," said Bennett, who was also named the team's running backs coach in January.

"For me, when I was first drafted by Green Bay I never really thought about the Hall of Fame and things like that. I just wanted to come in and do a great job and help the organization win football games. But to have this opportunity to be in this type of fraternity - it's a tremendous honor. One that I know that I truly appreciate and my family will forever...

AP Story: Brett Favre To Return To Packers In 2005

Thu, 10 Mar 2005 11:54:51 CST
Brett Favre is returning to the Green Bay Packers for the 2005 season.

Coach Mike Sherman told The AP on Thursday he had a two-hour conversation with his quarterback on Wednesday night. Favre informed him his wife, Deanna, is doing well in her cancer treatment, so he's planning to play at least one more season, maybe more if his own health holds up.

"It came down to his wife and she's doing well in her recovery," Sherman said. "She wants him to play. He said he's looking forward to playing -- hopefully without any off-the-field situations and 'enjoying the journey.'"

The three-time MVP said after the Packers' playoff loss to Minnesota in January he wanted to reflect before committing to playing a 15th NFL season following a year of personal tumult.

His wife was diagnosed with breast cancer in October, a week after the death of her 24-year-old brother in an ATV accident on the quarterback's property in Mississippi.

And Favre was stil..

Packers Have Worldwide Appeal

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Wed, 09 Mar 2005 18:11:51 CST
With the Packers' inaugural Fan Fest rapidly approaching, die-hard fans from across the country will soon be descending upon Green Bay for a chance to be a part of the gathering.

One fan has come further than the rest though, and two days before Fan Fest gets underway Friday evening, Armando Diludovico completed his travels from Rome, Italy to Lambeau Field.

Diludovico was greeted in the Lambeau Field Atrium by Packers President and CEO Bob Harlan, who welcomed the Italian Packer Backer to Green Bay and chatted with him for a few minutes.

Diludovico was happy to finally be in Wisconsin for his first trip to the stadium that his favorite team calls home. He said the chance to be able to meet some of the biggest stars in Packers history was more than enough reason to make the long journey, although he was surprised that he was able to get through on the phone when the tickets went on sale last month.

"Honestly, I thought it would be almost impossi..

Kirwin: The Best Of The Rest: Free Agency Continues

Pat Kirwan, Special to NFL.com — Mon, 07 Mar 2005 14:49:07 CST
Well, one week of free agency is over, so where do teams go from here? As one general manager said to me on Sunday, "If you wanted to be a player in the first round of free agency, you had to be aggressive and you had to be willing to spend money." No truer words were ever spoken.

The market wasn't really set by the opening deals, but rather the market was opened and closed for the real big-money seekers. Guys like Derrick Mason, Jonas Jennings, LaMont Jordan, Kareem McKenzie, Anthony Henry and Gary Baxter hit the big payday they always dreamed was waiting for them in free agency. At the end of the first week, there were 30 unrestricted free agent deals of significance, 10 important re-signings and five trades involving seven players and five draft picks.

That's a lot of action, money and changes for seven working days.

Before I get into the updated free-agency hot list, it is time to look at where teams can go from here. Some clubs, like the Packers (lo..

Packers Pro Shop To Be Closed Thursday, March 31

Mon, 07 Mar 2005 10:47:38 CST
The Packers Pro Shop and Packers Pro Shop Extra Points stores will be closed Thursday, March 31 for year-end inventory.

Both stores will re-open Friday, April 1 at 9:30 am.

Meanwhile, check out all the great items available in the Clearance Sale at PackersProShop.com.

'Project LEAP!' Returns To Lambeau Field Atrium

Jeff Harding, Packers.com — Sat, 05 Mar 2005 18:27:38 CST
For the second consecutive year, thousands of fans filed into Lambeau Field Atrium Saturday for 'Project LEAP!' (Lambeau's Exercise and Activity Playground) -- an event focused on getting kids out of the house to enjoy non-strenuous physical activity.

This year's activities included a jump house, climb-and-slide, mini-golf, obstacle course, climbing wall and stilt walkers. Also new for 2005 was a dazzling performance on the trapeze, and a BioMeasure machine, where kids could measure their body mass index.

"In the past few years, child obesity has become more and more of a concern," said Cathy Dworak, manager of community relations for the Packers. "We felt it was important to have an event that provided more physical opportunities as opposed to just entertainment.

"In just its second year, 'Project LEAP!' has become one of our favorite community events simply because of its message to families. And that message is the importance of daily exercise in all ..

New HOF Display Honors Packers War Hero

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 10:28:25 CST
One of the first things visitors to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame will see when they enter the Hall at Lambeau Field in the coming weeks is a new display in the lobby featuring Howard "Smiley" Johnson, the only Green Bay Packer to give his life in service of the United States of America.

Much like the familiar story of the late Pat Tillman of the Arizona Cardinals, Johnson gave up his football career after two seasons as a guard/linebacker with the Packers in 1940-41 and joined the armed forces while his country was at war.

Johnson enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and fought in World War II, losing his life on Iwo Jima in 1944. He was awarded the Silver Star for "conspicuous gallantry" during the Saipan operation and was posthumously awarded a Gold Star for actions during the Iwo Jima campaign.

The display case, which was recently arranged by the Hall of Fame's vice president of sales &..

Sander A Sea Devil

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Fri, 04 Mar 2005 10:27:30 CST
With NFL Europe's kicking camp completed Thursday, Packers punter B.J. Sander learned which of his Green Bay teammates he would be joining as the six teams of the developmental league kick off their first full-squad practices Friday.

Sander, one of the Pack's 18 players assigned to play across the Atlantic Ocean this spring, has been assigned to the league's newest team, the Hamburg Sea Devils, where he will play alongside fellow Green Bay allocates Nick McNeil, Shawn Morgan, and Art Smith.

12 punters were in Tampa this week vying for roster spots in the week-long camp along with 11 kickers.

Coach Jeff Reinebold, who ran the kicking camp for the league, was impressed with the talent he saw during the week. "This is the best group I have seen since I came into the league in 1995," he said.

Sander, one of the Packers' three third-round draft choices in 2004 after winning the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top collegiate punter in his senior season at..

Free Agency Is Underway

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Thu, 03 Mar 2005 16:20:50 CST
The Free Agency signing period opened Wednesday and just two days in, the Packers are down a pair of starting guards as Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle signed lucrative contracts with Dallas and Carolina, respectively, on Thursday.

However, there is still a long way to go in the signing window and the Packers will be looking to bolster the roster both with players from the outside and with those free agents who wore the Green and Gold in 2004.

Part of the equation will be the team's six remaining restricted free agents, each of which has been tendered an offer guaranteeing the Packers retain the right to match any contract offer they might receive from another club.

The following is a look at the full list of players from the 2004 roster in the free agent pool General Manager Ted Thompson and the front office will have decisions to make on in the coming weeks:

P Bryan Barker (UFA) - This veteran punter was signed as a free agent mid-way throug..

Lee Helps Kids Celebrate 'Read Across America'

Dave Lawrence, Packers.com — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 17:11:21 CST
In honor of Read Across America Day, Packers defensive tackle James Lee paid a special visit to the children of Brillion Elementary School in Brillion, Wisconsin Wednesday.

Read Across America Day is the nation's largest reading event and is celebrated annually on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss.

In that vein, Lee, along with some help from the hosts at the school performed readings of the Dr. Seuss classic "The Cat in the Hat" throughout the afternoon in the school's library. Reading the part of the fish, the 6-foot-5 lineman helped entertain the children as each of the six grade levels received their own individual performance.

After each group was treated to the reading, Lee answered questions - both about his football career and his own favorite things to read (he said "Harry Potter" writer J.K. Rowling is his favorite author) - from the kids and signed autographs for the youngsters.

This school visit was t..

Green, Henderson Form Dynamic Duo

Luke Sacks, NFLPLAYERS.com — Wed, 02 Mar 2005 10:04:34 CST
Ahman Green's favorite superhero is Batman who certainly had a great sidekick in Robin. If Batman was in trouble, Robin would swoop in to help him out. If Batman had his hands full with 10 bad guys, Robin would take out five of them. That's how things worked with the Dynamic Duo.

Green's sidekick in the Packers locker room is fullback William Henderson and while he may not play second fiddle to Green in terms of experience, Henderson sure looks out for his partner and takes pride in protecting him. "We've been called 'Batman and Robin' a couple of times but I can't claim that," Green laughed. "William is a little bit older than me and Robin was the young guy. We do have some 'Robins' in our locker room but William isn't one of them."

The last three years Green made a point to persuade other players to vote Henderson to his first Pro Bowl. This year the campaigning paid off and the pair was able to enjoy Honolulu together and share in the experience of representing ..

Brandt: Quick Hits From Indy: Day 6

Gil Brandt, Special to NFL.com — Tue, 01 Mar 2005 15:40:06 CST
At 4:17 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the combine wrapped up in Indianapolis. Without question, this was the best combine we've ever had. The reason for this was because the players were coming in just fantastic condition, mostly because they were training and working out in preparation for these days as soon as their college football season ended. For instance, Georgia's David Pollack left school right after the season and trained every day.

When we saw these guys go through the drills, we realized just how hard they had worked and what that means at the pro level. If a guy was willing to train just for the combine, imagine what they will do for the NFL season. We had a greater percentage of players run more than ever, and that includes guys who are certain first-round picks.

Adding to it all is what's at stake financially. These guys realize how much money is involved. A good workout can mean being picked a few spots to a few rounds higher than expected. And for the first..