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Notebook: Miree To Start At FB; Morency Ready If Needed For Green

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:13:49 CST

In less than a week, Brandon Miree has risen from the practice squad to starting at fullback for the Green Bay Packers.

Miree, promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad this past Tuesday, continued his rapid ascension by being named the starting fullback for Monday night's game by Head Coach Mike McCarthy on Saturday.

Miree will replace veteran William Henderson, who hasn't fully recovered from having arthroscopic knee surgery in late August and has admitted his play hasn't been up to the high standard he has set during his 12 years in Green Bay.

The Packers picked up Miree from the Denver Broncos after the final roster reduction at the end of training camp. Originally a seventh-round draft choice by the Broncos in 2004, Miree spent two seasons (one on injured reserve, the other on the practice squad) in Denver's zone-blocking system, and the Packers feel his experience as a lead blocker in that system could help jump-start their sluggish ground..

Talented Coaching Staff Orchestrated 1996's Highest Scoring Offense

Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 15:39:38 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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Members of the Packers' 1996 offensive coaching staff have parlayed their Super Bowl success into upper-echelon coaching jobs throughout the NFL. Two became head coaches elsewhere, and another coordinated the second-ranked offense in 2005.

"You never know who's going to get jobs, and if they're going to go, but I knew we had an excellent staff," said Sherman Lewis, the Packers' offensive coordinator during Super Bowl XXXI. "We had a lot of good teachers on that staff. That's what coaching is all about."

That staff helped orchestrate the league's fifth-ranked offense in 1996 despite facing several challenges, includin..

Packers Trying To Ignore, Change History In Philly

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 12:29:37 CST

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said he wasn't even aware that the last Packers head coach to win a game in Philadelphia was Vince Lombardi.

Middle linebacker Nick Barnett said that every year in the NFL, it's a different team and a whole new season.

Those are probably the healthiest ways to ponder, or not ponder, the Packers' losing streak in Philadelphia that dates back to 1962. Since a 49-0 shellacking administered by Green Bay that year, the Packers have dropped eight straight in a place named, not so appropriately to Packers fans, the City of Brotherly Love.

To even try to understand how this losing streak was constructed is to only invite frustration, if not bewilderment. The Packers certainly haven't been the poorer team every time they've played there in the last 44 years. Is it just bad luck?

Or in 1962 did Lombardi exact such merciless revenge for the 17-13 loss in the NFL Championship game two years earlier at Philadelphia's Franklin Field, whe..

Holmgren Leads His Second Franchise To The Super Bowl

Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com — Fri, 29 Sep 2006 11:38:01 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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The histories of the San Francisco 49ers, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks could have been very different if Mike Holmgren had never coached in the NFL.

That was almost the case.

In 1971, Holmgren began coaching and teaching history at his alma mater, Lincoln High School in San Francisco. He then moved on to two other Bay Area schools, Sacred Heart High School from 1972-74 and Oak Grove High School in 1975-80. Teaching and coaching young kids left Holmgren very fulfilled.

"I never aspired to (coach in the NFL). I thought I was going to be a high school history teacher and coach and enjoy it for the res..

Pass Protection Paramount Against Philadelphia

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 28 Sep 2006 16:26:51 CST

The Packers offensive line made considerable strides this past week when it did not allow quarterback Brett Favre to be sacked, or even hit for that matter, even once in Detroit.

Anything approaching a similar effort will be a Herculean task this week at Philadelphia.

The Eagles come into Monday night's game tied for the NFL lead in sacks with 16, or an average of 5-plus per game. Led by second-year defensive end Trent Cole, who is tied for tops in the league with five sacks, the Eagles' ability to put pressure on the quarterback hasn't dropped off any with the loss of former All-Pro Jevon Kearse, who had 31/2 sacks in the first two games before being lost for the season with a knee injury.

Many of those sacks come from Philadelphia's well-executed blitz packages. Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is known to bring pressure from anywhere at anytime, and it has resulted in seven different players recording sacks in the first three games.

"His..

Notebook: Depth At DT Needed This Week

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 17:46:44 CST

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said during training camp and again on Wednesday that the Packers have more depth at defensive tackle than at any other position on the roster.

That depth is going to get a serious test this week.

On the Packers' injury report for Monday night's game at Philadelphia, Kenderick Allen is out with a sprained foot and Ryan Pickett is doubtful with a sprained ankle, which he sustained in the Detroit game. Pickett fought through the injury during the game, but apparently the ankle swelled considerably afterwards.

That leaves Cullen Jenkins, Corey Williams and Colin Cole to handle the workload, along with rookie Johnny Jolly, who may be active on game day for the first time this season.

Pickett will be the toughest to replace if he's not able to play. McCarthy said he's been the most consistent interior defensive linemen against both the run and the pass thus far. But even with two of his top five defensive tackles likely out, McC..

Despite Injuries, String Of Bad Luck, Flanagan Brings Home Super Bowl Ring With Packers

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 15:43:46 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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In 1996, Mike Flanagan was perhaps as close as he possibly could be to never making it in the NFL.

And if the offensive lineman's career had been over before it started, it wouldn't have been because of talent, work ethic or desire.

No, Flanagan was well-qualified in all those areas. Instead, it was because the 6-foot-5, 290-pound center suffered an unfortunate and career-threatening injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Packers' second preseason game.

Drafted out of UCLA in the third round, Flanagan was a promising rookie who was being counted on to provide depth along the offensive line. However,..

Sit and Rehabilitate: Injured Reserve Players Forced To Experience Super Bowl Run From Different Perspective

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:42:43 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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If everybody had the opportunity to win a Super Bowl or, even play in one for that matter, it probably wouldn't be that special.

Obviously, in the big scheme of the NFL, playing in the Biggest Show on Earth isn't something that just falls into your lap.

So you can imagine how difficult it must be when you have no choice but to watch your teammates accomplish the ultimate team goal.

Per NFL rules, players who are placed on the injured reserve list cannot play the rest of the season. For several players in Green Bay in 1996, that obviously meant not being allowed to participate in the team's Super Bowl vict..

Remmel: Reid Has Proven Most Successful In Holmgren Tree

Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:54:12 CST

With the Philadelphia Eagles once again at hand, there inevitably are disconcerting reminders of the Mike Holmgren coaching "tree" for the Packers.

At least one massive limb thereof.

More specifically, of the unflappable Andy Reid, who as the most successful branch of said tree, has worked wonders with the "Iggles" over the past decade - particularly against the Green and Gold.

Looking back, as the Packers ready themselves for a challenging Monday Night Football assignment at Philly's Lincoln Financial Field, the 'Reid Run' began innocently enough.

In his first game against his former team, in fact, he found himself losing a 6-3 decision to the Packers and first-year head coach Mike Sherman in September of 2000 - courtesy of placekicker Ryan Longwell, who delivered a pair of field goals, the second a 38-yarder deciding the issue with only three seconds remaining in the game and providing Sherman with his first head coaching.victory.

Reid h..

Hawk's Game Getting More Instinctive

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:03:52 CST

It wasn't just his first NFL sack, but it was a play that illustrated just how well rookie linebacker A.J. Hawk is recognizing and reacting to what he's seeing on the field.

Early in the fourth quarter on Sunday against the Lions, Detroit faced second-and-10 from its own 16-yard line. Quarterback Jon Kitna dropped back to pass, and Hawk was assigned to cover a running back should he come out of the backfield.

But the back stayed in to block, and upon reading that Hawk immediately blitzed, sprinting through an opening in the middle of the line and burying Kitna for a 9-yard loss, forcing a third-and-long Detroit couldn't convert.

"He triggered, and that's what we do," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "That was an excellent play by him. (That's) having a feel in the game."

Hawk's feel for the NFL seems to get more palpable with each passing week. Drafted fifth overall in the first round by the Packers in April after a standout career at Ohio S..

Watch 'The Mike McCarthy Show' On Packers.com!

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:49:28 CST

Since the days of Vince Lombardi it's been tradition in Green Bay for the Packers' head coach to have his own television show. This season is no different. Making its debut for the 2006 season is the Mike McCarthy Show.

The Mike McCarthy Show is a 30-minute program hosted by Jessie Garcia, of Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV and sideline reporter for the Packers Television Network, and Larry McCarren, sports director at Green Bay's WFRV-TV and an analyst on the Packer Radio Network. Garcia, McCarren and Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy each week will review and preview games as well as be joined by a special Packers guest and answer questions from fans. Coach McCarthy also each week will teach viewers about the play of the game with a telestrator.

The Mike McCarthy Show airs on Tuesdays in Green Bay on WFRV-TV (CBS, Ch. 5), in Milwaukee on WTMJ-TV (NBC, Ch. 4), in Marquette, Mich., on WJMN-TV, in Wausau on WAOW-TV (ABC, Ch. 9), in Madison on WKOW-TV (ABC, Ch. 27), in La Crosse..

Schroeder Paid Dues, And Packers Prospered From Wisconsinite's Dedication

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 12:06:54 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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Bill Schroeder spent 11 seasons in the NFL. He had 304 catches for almost 4,600 yards and finished with a 15-yard average.

When the 6-foot-2, 198-pound wide receiver looks back on his career, he can do so with satisfaction. After all, it would have been difficult to predict this kind of success, since he spent only one year playing college football. Division III football, no less.

And it would come as no surprise if Schroeder didn't remember too much about the 1996 season, especially since he spent the entire year on the Packers' practice squad in what was his second go-round with the team.

However, Sch..

Notebook: No Better Building Block Than A Victory

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 16:18:08 CST

During the season's first two weeks, the Packers had shown solid defensive line play, productivity in the passing game, and the development of some young players.

But the first true building block for Head Coach Mike McCarthy was laid on Sunday with a victory, his first as a head coach and Green Bay's first in 2006.

McCarthy emphasized Monday during his regular news conference that there is nothing more valuable to building toward success by getting an initial taste of it, in part because the players don't spend quite as much time concerned with the past game as looking ahead to the next challenge.

"With winning, you really have something to build on," McCarthy said. "I think as a football team we were able to grow with this victory over Detroit, where in the last two weeks I think we were just improving in some areas. We keep talking about stacking successes, and this is what I'm talking about."

How the Packers capitalize on the momentum from the ..

Game Review: Packers Hang Tough, Hold On For First Win

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 21:34:49 CST

DETROIT - The first win can be the toughest, and this one was difficult all the way through the game's last play.

Green Bay got a banner day from Brett Favre but had to withstand a fourth-quarter comeback by Detroit that ended with a Hail Mary pass falling incomplete in the end zone, preserving the Packers' 31-24 victory over the Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.

"Nothing's going to come easy," receiver Donald Driver said. "That's how it is."

But it's certainly much easier on the psyche to be 1-2 rather than 0-3, and in a game the Packers never trailed, they used an efficient offense and just enough defense to give Head Coach Mike McCarthy his first regular-season win.

Favre was superb, completing 25 of 36 passes for 340 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Meanwhile the defense gave up two big touchdown plays early but scored one of its own and got two stops in the final 2 minutes to hang on.

"That's the way you're supposed to spend..

Vintage Favre On Display Against Lions

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 19:59:14 CST

DETROIT - Quarterback Brett Favre's big day at Ford Field on Sunday included not only a major career milestone but also a touchdown drive on which he showed Packers fans some vintage Favre.

Favre's 400th career TD pass came on just his fifth pass of the game, a 75-yard catch-and-run by rookie Greg Jennings to give the Packers an early 7-0 lead.

But it was on a third-quarter scoring drive when Favre showed some of his best stuff.

On the Packers' first possession of the second half, Favre drove the offense 80 yards in 10 plays to give Green Bay a 24-14 lead. Three times on that drive, Favre scrambled to his right to buy some time when no one was open initially, and each time he was able to complete a difficult pass to keep the offense moving.

"That's Brett," fullback William Henderson said. "When we give him time, he can make things happen."

Early on that drive with the Packers facing third-and-10 from their own 32, Favre rolled to his right..

Notebook: Williams Makes Impact On D-Line

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 19:22:07 CST

DETROIT - Each week it seems another member of the Packers defensive line moves into the spotlight, and Sunday it was Corey Williams' turn.

Last week it was Aaron Kampman making the majority of the impact plays on the defensive line, but this week Williams recorded two sacks plus another tackle for loss on a running play, all of which played a big part in the Packers' 31-24 victory at Ford Field.

"We're all great players, we've got good talent," Williams said of the defensive line, probably the most consistent of the defensive units through three games this season. "We just all have to go out there and play, and whoever's time it is, it's their time."

Williams' first sack came in the first quarter when he dropped Jon Kitna for a 6-yard loss on first down. The play came right after the Lions had driven across midfield, and two plays later they had to punt the ball away.

Williams also stuffed running back Kevin Jones for a 3-yard loss on the opening ..

Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - Sept. 24

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 21:25:29 CST

(How do you feel after your first win?)
That's the way you're supposed to spend Sunday afternoon. It was an excellent win for us. I'm just really happy the way they scrapped and fought for 60 minutes. I'm very pleased with the effort and the outcome.

(What does it mean to you personally?)
It's great to get the first one and looking forward to getting many more. It's really a tribute to the players and coaches. I thought they had an excellent week of preparation, and to go out there and cash in on that performance, very happy for everyone involved.

(Is that the kind of game you're looking for out of Favre?)
Absolutely. I mean we have a number of things that go on at the line of scrimmage, particularly on the road with the crowd noise, and I thought he did a great job managing that. We didn't have any things from a decision standpoint - he was 100% in that area. His performance in the passing game was excellen..

AP Story: Favre Throws 400th TD Pass In Packers' Victory Over Detroit

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 15:13:22 CST

DETROIT (AP) Brett Favre sprinted toward the end zone, signaled touchdown and then pumped his right fist. The 36-year-old quarterback had just become the second player in NFL history to throw 400 career touchdown passes.

He added two more scores to lead the Green Bay Packers to a 31-24 win over Detroit on Sunday for their first victory of the season.

Favre said he felt like a kid while celebrating after each TD, bouncing on his toes and leaping into teammates' arms, but his body quickly reminded him that he's not.

"I've got to stop doing that because I get so tired,'' said Favre, who turns 37 next month. "I have to be smarter. Mike (McCarthy) said, `Great job, but you have to quit running around like that,' because I couldn't talk to him, I couldn't breathe.

"I was able to recover a lot easier back in the old days, but there's nothing like throwing touchdown passes.''

Favre would know.

With his first TD pass of the game a 75-yarde..

Packers-Lions Halftime Game Summary

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 24 Sep 2006 13:10:37 CST

Packers-Lions Gameday

DETROIT - In a game that had the looks of an offensive shootout in the making, the Packers held a 17-14 lead at halftime over the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on Sunday.

Brett Favre became just the second player in NFL history to throw 400 touchdown passes, as he connected with Greg Jennings on a 75-yard scoring play midway through the first quarter.

Facing third-and-5, Favre hit Jennings on a short hitch route, and Jennings turned up the sideline, got a key downfield block from Donald Driver, and took it all the way.

The Lions responded right away with a TD to tie the game at 7.

Jon Kitna beat a Green Bay blitz with a short dump-off to running back Shawn Bryson, who outran everyone for a 37-yard TD with 3:51 left in the first quarter.

The Packers got the lead back with a big play by the defense. Kitna tried to thread a pass to Corey Bradford, who was tightly covered b..

Notebook: Packers Put In Best Week Thus Far

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 14:40:26 CST

The proof will be in the play on Sunday, but Head Coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday his team has put in its best week of preparation thus far in 2006, and the team "can't wait to get going" to Detroit.

"I think we've finally put together three good practices," McCarthy said. "I thought today was exceptionally sharp. We were off the field close to 16 minutes early. No penalties, it was a very sharp, brisk practice today. I think it really finalized a very solid week of work to this point."

Two of the key areas emphasized in practice this week were the cut-blocking by the offensive linemen and the elimination of big plays allowed by the defense. One thing the Packers can't have as they attempt to turn around their slow start is seeing the same shortcomings crop up week after week.

"We need to get better, we're always working to get better," McCarthy said. "But to this point it's been our best week, and we need to carry it over to the football game now."
..

Defensive Line Off To Strong Start

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 14:16:57 CST

They've held two opponents to a collective 2.7 yards per carry, racked up five sacks and forced three turnovers so far in 2006.

It's a strong start for the Packers' defensive line, but that's all this unit hopes it is. A start.

"I think we've shown some good things, but I think there's still some room obviously for improvement to a place where we can try to take over games," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "That's what we want to continue to keep working towards."

The work the defensive front four has done so far has been admirable.

Kampman has made the biggest plays, notching four of the unit's five sacks. He also contributed to an interception by Chicago's Rex Grossman with heavy pressure, and forced and recovered a fumble by New Orleans' Drew Brees.

His linemates are making an impact as well. Fellow end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila has the other sack as well as a forced fumble. Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins flushed Brees into Gbaja-Biamila ..

Seventh Annual Packers Golf Invitational Enjoys Great Day At Blackwolf Run

Aaron Popkey, Packers.com — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 17:20:27 CST

Nick Barnett and his teammates discussed yards this past Tuesday, but not the kind found on a football field.

Distance to the green was the topic of conversation as the Packers traded their football cleats for golf cleats at the seventh annual Green Bay Packers Golf Invitational, held this year at Blackwolf Run's Meadow Valleys Course in Kohler, Wis.

Barnett and a host of other players, including Ahman Green, Mark Tauscher, Aaron Rodgers, Chad Clifton, Nick Collins and Koren Robinson, joined a number of foursomes for the 18-hole scramble event. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the foundations of Barnett, Green and Tauscher

For Barnett, the day was a welcome chance to get out on a championship golf course and take a short break from football.

"I'm not a great golfer, that's for sure, but it's been fun to get out with a great group of guys," he said, with a smile. "I'm not helping our team too much, but we're having a good time. It's nice to ta..

Packers Preparing For Martz's Up-Tempo Offense

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 16:01:30 CST

Just because the Lions have scored only 13 points in their first two games combined doesn't mean the Packers think their defensive task will be any easier this week.

Those 13 points don't accurately describe what Detroit's offense will bring into Sunday's game.

For one, it should be noted the Lions opened the season against the defending NFC champion Seattle Seahawks, who held them to two field goals, and then played reigning NFC North winner Chicago, who allowed just one touchdown a week after blanking the Packers.

In addition, Detroit starting quarterback Jon Kitna has been efficient, completing nearly 66 percent of his passes (44 of 67) thus far without an interception.

But none of those is the biggest factor that will keep the Packers on their guard this week.

"Obviously you have to look at the head, and that's Mike Martz," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "There will be a lot of film study this week. He'll give you a lot of shifts, a..

Remmel: 'Run To Daylight' Game Stands Out In Packers-Lions Series

Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 11:07:40 CST

It is not often that a given football game takes on an identity of its own...historically speaking.

The storied "Ice Bowl," in which the 1967 Packers shaded the Dallas Cowboys in the coldest weather contest in NFL annals, is one that springs readily to mind...above all others.

Such singular celebrity is rare. It also came to the former Baltimore Colts by way of the 1958 NFL Championship game, which saw the Hosses defeat the New York Giants, 23-17, in the first sudden death overtime in an NFL Championship game.

The latter was to become labeled as "The Greatest Game Ever Played," a reference certain to be challenged by the Packers faithful, understandably partial to the hectic "Ice Bowl" finish - Bart Starr's all-or-nothing sneak for the winning TD and the NFL title with only 13 seconds remaining.

Meanwhile, the Green and Gold's 152nd meeting with the Detroit Lions - upcoming in the Motor City's Ford Field Sunday - brings back memories of another gam..

Watch 'The Mike McCarthy Show' On Packers.com!

Wed, 20 Sep 2006 10:14:15 CST

Favre Needs One More TD Pass For 400

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:34:52 CST

Some professional sports milestones have a certain ring to them, like 500 home runs for a baseball player or 10,000 points for a basketball player.

Four hundred career touchdown passes doesn't resonate in quite the same way, but that doesn't take away from the significance of it.

With three TD passes last week against New Orleans, Brett Favre reached 399 in his career. His next one, which hopefully will come this Sunday in Detroit, will make Favre only the second player in NFL history to reach the mark.

The other is Dan Marino, who retired as the NFL's all-time leader with 420. Favre moved ahead of Fran Tarkenton (342) and into second place way back in 2003 and has been closing in on 400, and Marino, ever since.

Favre said Wednesday during his bi-weekly news conference that he's not sure if the number 400 means anything more to him, but hearing numbers like that simply reminds him how fortunate he's been to have such a long and productive career. <..

Notebook: 'Explosive Plays' Are Defense's Achilles Heel

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:36:37 CST

Head Coach Mike McCarthy refers to them as "explosive plays," and he defines them as runs of 12 yards or more, or pass completions of 16 yards or more.

Quite simply, the Packers have given up too many of them in the season's first two games, and McCarthy and his players feel that's the key element holding them back from being a productive defense.

An analysis of the statistics bears that out. The Packers have given up 14 explosive plays (seven in each game) in a total of 131 defensive snaps, meaning 11 percent of the plays have accounted for 55 percent of the opposing team's total yards (406 of 741).

"That's the stuff we need to eliminate and take away," McCarthy said. "We need to cut that by about 30 or 40 percent and I think we'll be playing very good defense."

Explosive plays also have produced four of the five touchdowns the defense has surrendered. Perhaps even more revealing, the Bears and Saints gained just 335 yards on the other 117 snaps, ..

Super Bowl Roster Shined Not Only With Stars, But Supporting Cast As Well

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 15:53:25 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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With a quick glance at the Green Bay Packers' 1996 Super Bowl roster, you'll come across names like Bennett, Butler, Favre, Jackson, White, and Winters. Without question, there was plenty of star power and firepower to be had. And while it's understandable for the aforementioned stars to immediately catch your eye, one surely cannot forget the role players that also played a hand in bringing home the Green and Gold's first Super Bowl win in 29 years.

Sure, it's easy to easy to see why the "stars" get all the glory, but without several regular contributors making a difference -- albeit in a less-heralded fashion -- perhaps th..

Response To 'Sudden Change' A Critical Moment

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 15:39:13 CST

Turnovers create perhaps the biggest momentum shifts during a football game. For the team that gives the ball up, what can exacerbate the momentum swing is the opposing offense gashing the defense for a big gain right away.

That's what ultimately devastated the Packers on Sunday in their 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints. The offense turned the ball over twice, and both times the Saints responded with a big play on the very first snap, taking the momentum and running with it.

It's a scenario that unfolds in nearly every NFL game, and the Packers expect their response to be much stronger this week in Detroit.

"We just have to keep our composure when we go out there after a sudden change," linebacker Nick Barnett said. "We gave up those explosive plays after those sudden changes, and you can't allow that."

To recap, Green Bay's first turnover on Sunday came on the opening drive of the second half with the Packers trailing 14-13 and in position to ..

Winters Exchanged Snaps and Lifelong Memories in Green Bay

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 14:00:15 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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It's only natural for a center to have a special bond with his quarterback. After all, each snap goes through those two, and they work closely together on a daily basis.

For Frank Winters and Brett Favre, this center-quarterback relationship developed many years ago. Winters signed with the Packers as a Plan B free agent in 1992, the same year Favre was traded to Green Bay.

According to Winters, 42, it was a relationship that lasted 11 years on the gridiron, but will last well beyond that off the field.

"He was a great player on the field and equally great off the field," Winters said. "It's probably a ..

Notebook: Run Game Needs Back-Side Blocking

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 18 Sep 2006 17:06:06 CST

To develop the consistent ground attack that Head Coach Mike McCarthy wants for the Packers in 2006, cutting off the back-side pursuit on running plays needs to improve, McCarthy said Monday.

In the zone-blocking scheme installed by McCarthy and offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, on every snap some of the linemen move in the direction of the play, or work "play-side." Others are responsible for blocking the defenders coming from behind, or the "back-side," by throwing a shoulder into their thigh to cut them to the ground.

In a perfect world, the running back hits a hole play-side and then either carries that as far as he can or cuts back to find a crease for more yardage. Sometimes, if defenses over-pursue on the play side, it's up to the running back to cut it back sooner and make them pay for their aggressiveness.

But the ball carrier can be in no-man's land if the back-side defenders aren't blocked. They can catch him from behind, or take away any c..

Notebook: Driver Comes Up Big Again

Mike Spofford and Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:03:55 CST

For all the dropped passes that plagued the Packers on Sunday, receiver Donald Driver caught just about anything thrown in his vicinity.

The eight-year veteran playing in his 100th career game had yet another big game as Brett Favre's go-to guy, catching eight passes for 153 yards, including several critical plays.

* His 48-yard catch-and-run on a hitch play set up the Packers' third score to make it 13-0 at the end of the first quarter.
* His diving 11-yard catch over the middle on third-and-9 from the New Orleans 18 gave the Packers a first-and-goal, but Favre was intercepted in the end zone on the next play.
* On the touchdown drive that tied the game at 20, he caught passes of 22 and 42 yards, both on third down on opposite sidelines. The latter was a difficult, juggling catch against tight coverage from Mike McKenzie.
* On the Packers' last TD drive, he not only took away a potential interception by Jason Craft but corralled the lob pass in traffic ..

Game Review: Packers Get Everything But 'W' Against Saints

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:01:09 CST

In Week 2, the Green Bay Packers got nearly everything they didn't get in Week 1.

Except a victory.

In stark contrast to their shutout loss to open the season, the Packers got off to a fast start, forced turnovers on defense, displayed an effective passing attack and scored a bunch of points.

But all that still wasn't enough to get a win, and the Packers fell to 0-2 with a 34-27 loss to the New Orleans Saints in front of 70,602 fans at Lambeau Field.

"It's not the outcome we were looking for," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "It's disappointing, and we need to find a way to win those games, find a way to make more plays, particularly in critical situations."

In what turned into an offensive shootout, quarterbacks Brett Favre and Drew Brees combined for nearly 700 yards and five TDs through the air. After Brees rallied his team from an early 13-0 deficit to lead by two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, Favre mounted a comeback that ended acr..

Kampman's Effort Not Enough to Lift Packers to Victory

By Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 17 Sep 2006 19:22:37 CST

Aaron Kampman had one of his best performances as a Green Bay Packer on Sunday afternoon, but unfortunately, he can't enjoy it the way he deserves to.

Kampman, the fifth-year pro out of Iowa, had three sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery, yet the statistic that counts the most is one in which even he couldn't conquer versus the Saints: a win.

Because of that, the 6-foot-4, 278-pound defensive end didn't share much enthusiasm for his individual accomplishments in a 34-27 defeat to drop the Packers to 0-2 on the season.

"It's frustrating," Kampman said. "Just for our whole team. It doesn't matter (about my individual performance).

"It's frustrating for our team because we played well, we fought, we scrapped, but we let them back in the game. It's our own faults. We just about had that last nail in the coffin and we let them back in."

He's right, the nail in the coffin never came, but it did appear that Kampman alone was goin..

AP Story: Saints Top Packers 34-27

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 13:28:25 CST

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) _ With his team taking an unbeaten record into the Louisiana Superdome next Monday night, wide receiver Joe Horn knows people in New Orleans will have something positive to holler about. After a 34-27 victory over the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday, Horn doesn't want his teammates to get caught up in the hoopla, though.

"The most important part of this football team is that we understand that we're not going to win a football game and start hoopin' and hollerin' about it,'' Horn said. "That's nothing. We have to keep on rolling to get to our ultimate goal.''

After winning their first two games on the road, the Saints (2-0) will play their first true home game since 2004 next Monday night against Atlanta.

The Saints spent last season without a home after Hurricane Katrina ravaged their city, and their stadium first became a shelter, then a symbol for governmental mismanagement of a disaster.

"Everything is goin..

Packers-Saints Press Box Notes

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:22:13 CST

TODAY: Green Bay looks to rebound from a loss to Chicago in its season opener last week...Two of the game's youngest coaches square off. Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy bids for his first NFL win...McCarthy faces the organization for which he built his reputation as a respected offensive coach. The most successful offensive coordinator (2000-04) in Saints history, McCarthy helped the organization collect 10 team records and 10 Pro Bowl selections...Less than a year after the Packers' 52-3 triumph over New Orleans at Lambeau Field, each club enters 2006 with a very different roster and coaching staff...Brett Favre, one of Archie Manning's biggest fans as a youngster in Kiln, Miss., is 3-1 with a 108.1 passer rating in four career starts against the Saints...Devastating the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Hurricane Katrina destroyed the boyhood home in which Favre followed Manning. Much of Mississippi remains slow to recover as the Saints prepare to re-open the Louisiana Superdome next..

Tyrone Williams Made Seamless Transition To Green Bay

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sat, 16 Sep 2006 15:16:44 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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Green Bay is one of the smallest cities in all of professional sports. To some players coming out of college, that's not an exciting prospect. But to others, a small-town atmosphere is ideal.

When the Packers selected Tyrone Williams in the third round of the 1996 NFL Draft, it wasn't really a matter of whether the city of Green Bay was too big or too small.

To him, it just felt right.

Williams was coming from the University of Nebraska where he played in three national championship games, winning two of them. He had two first-team All-Big Eight seasons and usually played his best football in big games..

Brian Williams Helped Packers Fulfill Super Expectations

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:15:31 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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Brian Williams hadn't been around long, but he knew one thing: If the 1996 season ended with anything less than a Super Bowl victory, the year would be considered a colossal disappointment.

In 1995, when Williams was drafted in the third round out of the University of Southern California, he didn't have the season he hoped for and the Packers lost to the Dallas Cowboys in the postseason for the third consecutive year.

Because the Packers came so close the previous two seasons, they didn't just want to reach Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans. They expected it.

"We knew we could get that far because we just..

Packers' Defense Must Watch For Bush

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:06:05 CST

With a multi-talented running back like Reggie Bush, the New Orleans Saints are still figuring out where to line up their prized rookie to take full advantage of his remarkable speed, elusiveness and talent.

The answer seems to be everywhere, and the Packers will have to keep an eye on Bush every time he strolls out of the huddle or off the sideline on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

"We'll hand it off to him, we'll split him out, we'll do whatever we can to get him the ball," Saints quarterback Drew Brees said. "He'll return punts as well. Obviously he's a playmaker, and the more he can touch it the more chances there are of big plays."

In New Orleans' 19-14 win over Cleveland last week, Bush had 14 carries, eight receptions and three punt returns for 141 total yards. He didn't score a touchdown and didn't have any huge plays (his longest run was 18 yards and longest reception was 14), but it may be only a matter of time before he breaks a few.

"He's a g..

Notebook: Colledge To Start At Left Guard

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 15 Sep 2006 15:09:46 CST

With rookie left guard Jason Spitz missing his third straight day of practice Friday, fellow rookie Daryn Colledge will replace him in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Spitz has been out this week with a bruised thigh sustained in last week's game when he was blocked on one of Chicago's interception returns. Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Spitz's availability Sunday would be a game-time decision, but that Colledge would start.

For Colledge, a second-round draft pick, it will be his first NFL regular-season start, and his first start since the preseason opener at San Diego, when he struggled and was moved down to the second team.

"I've tried to make a lot of changes since that San Diego game," Colledge said. "I came in kind of nervous, it's your very first game, a long time since you've played football. Now I'm playing at a lot faster speed, I know what I'm doing and I feel like I've gotten to be a lot better player."

McCarthy said that Colledge's wor..

Gabe Wilkins Has Become A Dedicated Family Man

Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:43:56 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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Although his mother ably raised him, defensive end Gabe Wilkins lacked a strong male presence in his life when his father died at a young age. Reggie White helped fill that void.

"He was more like a father figure," Wilkins said. "I thanked him in prayers. I appreciated the fact God let a guy like that come into my life because I needed it."

White served as a role model for Wilkins throughout the 1996 season. In that Super Bowl-winning year, Wilkins played in each game and backed up both White and fellow defensive end Sean Jones.

But Wilkins followed them in ways that go beyond the depth chart. He learned ho..

Notebook: Martin Will Back Up Henderson At FB

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 12:11:14 CST

David Martin has successfully learned yet another position as an NFL player.

A wide receiver at Tennessee six years ago, Martin made the switch to tight end immediately when the Packers drafted him in the sixth round in 2001.

He's been a backup tight end ever since, and now he's added backup fullback to his duties as well.

With the expected return of William Henderson from injury this week and the release of Vonta Leach, Martin will be the No. 2 option at fullback to go along with his tight end responsibilities.

It's been an interesting and ongoing transition from a 220-pound receiver out of college to a 265-pound multi-position player in the pros. But the extra weight, and work, is fine with him, so long as it helps get him on the field.

"You want to be as versatile to your team and give them as much as you can, and that's what I'm trying to do," Martin said.

With Henderson out last week against Chicago, Martin took a handful of ..

Morency Provides Change Of Pace, Good Fit For Offense

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 21:45:00 CST

In Vernand Morency, Packers General Manager Ted Thompson believes he's acquired a change-of-pace running back who will be a good fit for the offense's zone-blocking scheme.

Morency became a Packer on Wednesday when Thompson traded running back Samkon Gado to the Houston Texans for him.

One of the keys to running behind a zone scheme often mentioned by the Packers offensive coaches is to be decisive, to make one cut and go. Morency appears to be that type of back.

"He's got a quick twitch, he runs hard," Thompson said. "He's been described as a one-cut guy, he doesn't fool around much, and I think he catches the ball very well out of the backfield."

Morency was a third-round draft pick of the Texans in 2005 and played in 13 games for them last year, including one start. He had 46 carries for 184 yards (4.0 avg) and two touchdowns. He added 10 receptions for 87 yards and returned 20 kickoffs for a 21.9-yard average.

He also played in the Tex..

New Teammates Welcoming Robinson Into Locker Room

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 18:57:16 CST

Cornerback Al Harris had perhaps the most poignant response Wednesday to the question about whether the Packers players have concerns about newly acquired receiver Koren Robinson's past off-the-field problems, and whether they are or will be a distraction in the locker room.

"What off-the-field issues?" Harris said. "The guy just got here. He just got here like, what, five hours ago? I haven't heard anything."

It was Harris's way of saying Robinson, signed Tuesday after being released by the Vikings in training camp because of an off-the-field incident, has a clean slate with him, and other teammates expressed similar thoughts.

"I had a chance to say hello to Koren and he seems like a great guy," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "We'll welcome him in to the locker room and the team here, and hopefully he can help us.

"I think life is about second chances, whether it's football or anything. He's got another chance, and hopefully he'll make the most..

On Second Thought, Green Bay Turns Out to be Winning Choice For Wilkerson

By Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 14:58:49 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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It's not that often when a player gets a "do-over" on the field, and it happens even less in the offseason. But Bruce Wilkerson was fortunate enough to get that second chance in 1996.

Wilkerson had an opportunity to join the Packers the year before as an unrestricted free agent, but instead elected to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. All it took was a little down time for Wilkerson to ponder his future.

"I signed with Jacksonville and during the playoffs that year, I'm sitting at home," Wilkerson, 41, recalled. "We won four football games and lost a lot of close ones. So, I'm sitting at home and the Packers are ..

Remmel: Dickey Was No Saint To New Orleans On Football Field

Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 10:40:14 CST

The Packers' series with the New Orleans Saints, now nearing the end of its fourth decade, has been relatively routine in terms of on-field pyrotechnics.

There has been an occasional shootout, such as their 35-34 duel at Lambeau Field in 1989, the Packers emerging with thedecision, and the Green and Gold's 52-3 runaway on the same turf last year, but they have been the exception rather than the "rule."

With their 20th meeting upcoming Sunday, what a trek through history does reveal is that for at least one Packer...quarterback Lynn Dickey... the sight of the Saints was an invitation to shine.

In fact, the record shows that the strong-armed Kansan never lost to the New Orleanians, presiding over five victories at Saints expense during his nine-year Green Bay tenure (1976-77 and 1979-85) The Packers lead the all-time rivalry, launched in 1968, 14-5.

The record also also shows Dickey underscored his signature of success by posting what remains the hig..

Watch 'The Mike McCarthy Show' On Packers.com!

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 10:09:53 CST

Minister of Defense Led Packers to Promised Land in '96

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:45:02 CST

As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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When the late Reggie White signed with the Green Bay Packers in 1993, he did so with a purpose.

No, it wasn't the money. After all, he could have landed a big contract nearly anywhere he desired. He was the most sought-after free agent not only at that time, but perhaps in the history of unrestricted free agency.

It wasn't for the big market of Green Bay. White certainly could have landed several endorsement opportunities in a much bigger city.

And no, White didn't join the Packers because it was perhaps the last place anyone thought he would want to play.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, one of the ..

Little Errors Have Large Consequences

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 16:00:09 CST

The Packers' failures in short-yardage situations early in Sunday's game against Chicago were the one glaring weakness in an otherwise solid performance on the ground.

After taking a look at those crucial plays on film, players and coaches noted the mistakes were not wholesale breakdowns by the offensive line, but relatively simple mis-steps that made the results all the more frustrating.

But when all that's needed is a yard, or even less, to get a first down, even the smallest mistake can prove costly, and several of them occurring in succession in the first half had a profound effect on the Bears' 26-0 shutout at Lambeau Field.

"The third-and-shorts, those were very disappointing," center Scott Wells said. "Usually it was one guy here, one guy there, breaking down fundamentals. It wasn't really assignments, it was fundamentals. You take a bad step, footwork, or whatever. If you correct those things and keep the drives going, it's a whole different ballgam..

Packers Week 2 Press Conferences -- LIVE on Packers.com

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 11:17:21 CST

Click here for live VIDEO!

Keep checking back for archived audio and video (in both Real and Windows formats) of all press conferences and locker room interviews throughout the season.

***

Live Press Conference Video Schedule
* all times Central and subject to change

Monday, September 11:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy: approx. 12:15 p.m. CT

Wednesday, September 13:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy: approx. 1:20 p.m. CT

GM Ted Thompson: approx 4:45 p.m. CDT

Friday, September 15:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy: approx. 12 noon CT

Post-Game - Sunday, September 17:
Head Coach Mike McCa..

Red-Zone Defense, Running Game Provide Building Blocks

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:56:35 CST

Head Coach Mike McCarthy wasn't about to sugarcoat his team's 26-0 loss to the Chicago Bears, but there were two legitimate positives that the Packers can build from as the 2006 season continues.

One was the team's red-zone defense, which kept the Bears out of the end zone in four trips inside the Green Bay 20-yard line.

After hitting on the long touchdown pass to open the game, the Bears' offense did not get into the end zone again. In four red-zone possessions, the Packers got an interception by linebacker Nick Barnett and forced three field goals. A fourth field goal came from just outside the red zone, and Chicago's only other touchdown came on special teams with the fourth-quarter punt return.

"Once we got through the first quarter, the defense played some good, sound football," McCarthy said in his Monday news conference. "I think they converted their first three third downs, and after that they were 1 for 11. I think that speaks volumes about the way..

Robinson Will Try To Put Past Behind Him In Green Bay

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 16:31:49 CST

Koren Robinson has every intention of straightening out his life, and he's going to try to do so as a member of the Green Bay Packers.

Robinson, a receiver and Pro Bowl kick returner, has agreed to terms with the Packers and will be joining the team this week.

The former first-round draft pick, whom Packers General Manager Ted Thompson selected for the Seattle Seahawks in 2001, is trying to move past some off-the-field issues that have damaged him as a person and a player. But he and Thompson feel the steps he has taken already and the support he'll get in Green Bay will allow him to put those issues behind him.

"This is a good kid," Thompson said. "I'm not making excuses. He's made some mistakes, but this is a good kid. He is a good character guy for all intents and purposes."

Robinson declined to get into specifics about his personal life, but he's looking forward to a fresh start with a new team. He was released by the Minnesota Vikings this sum..

Take Part In The Taping Of 'Larry McCarren's Locker Room' Each Monday Night At The Lambeau Field Atrium

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:52:59 CST

A newcomer to the Lambeau Field Atrium this season, the popular 'Larry McCarren's Locker Room' is broadcast Mondays at 6:30 p.m., live on from the Legends Club.

Hosted by CBS 5 Sports Director and Packers Hall of Fame center Larry McCarren, 'Locker Room' takes viewers inside the game each week and features a special Packers guest.

Audience seating for 'Locker Room' is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with tickets available (limit four per person) beginning at 3 p.m. each show day at the guest relations desk in the Atrium. The Legends Club pre-function area will open for food and refreshments at 4 p.m. and doors to the Legends Club will open at 5:45, with the live show beginning at 6:30 p.m. McCarren will join audience members in Curly's Pub after the show for refreshments.

Jan 1 Guest: Mike McCarthy
Dec. 26 Guest: Al Harris
Dec. 18 Guest: K Dave Rayner
Dec. 11 Guest: T Mark Tauscher
Dec. ..

Take Part In The Taping Of 'Inside Lambeau' Each Thursday Night At The Lambeau Field Atrium

Mon, 11 Sep 2006 17:48:20 CST
Come to Curly's Pub at the Lambeau Field Atrium each Thursday night at 7 p.m. for the taping of 'Inside Lambeau.' WFRV's Burke Griffin and 'voice of the Packers' Wayne Larrivee will preview the upcoming game, dissect the last one and interview one of your favorite Packers players.

Experience the excitement of Curly's Pub and be a part of the show. You'll also get a chance to win a game ball from the previous week's contest. (Click here for photos!)

The show airs statewide on Saturday nights. Check your local listings for times. You may also view it here on packers.com.

Dec. 28 Guest: Todd Bouman & Ingle Martin
Dec. 21 Guest: Tony Moll, Daryn Colledge, Dave Rayner & Jason Spitz
Dec. 14 Guest: DT Cullen Jenkins
Dec. 7 Guest: WR Ruvell Martin
Nov. 30 Guest: K Dave Rayner
Nov. 22 Guest: G Daryn Colledge
Nov. 16 Gu..

From Throwing Hay Bales To Handling Defensive Linemen, Timmerman's Work Ethic Churns Out Successful NFL Career

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Mon, 11 Sep 2006 11:29:52 CST
As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

****

Adam Timmerman has always known the meaning of hard work. It's what he learned on his family's dairy farm in Cherokee, Iowa.

In fact, it was Timmerman's work ethic that always made an NFL career possible.

Not that he thought he'd ever have one.

After all, farm kids don't often dream of making it big in professional sports, and if they do, it's awfully difficult to act on those fantasies because of all the work that has be done on the farm.

For Timmerman, who grew up in the northwest corner of Iowa, sports were just a release from the daily working grind he was used to, as he played football, basketb..

Back in the Saddle Again: Green Provides Silver Lining In Difficult Defeat

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 22:44:02 CST
For as long as Ahman Green has been a member of the Green Bay Packers, he's displayed power and speed unlike many others at his position. But judging by Sunday's game versus the Chicago Bears, he may have displayed his most impressive quickness in his speedy recovery from a major injury that occurred nearly a year ago.

For a player who hadn't appeared in a regular season game since Oct. 23, 2005, Green appeared to be as sharp as ever in rushing for 110 yards on 20 carries, good enough for a 5.5-yard average.

Though his team suffered a 26-0 defeat to its fiercest rivals, the organization has to feel good about just how far Green has come from a ruptured right quadriceps tendon, a difficult injury for any player, let alone one who relies on leg strength, quickness, and cut-back ability to make his living.

For Green the game was bittersweet. One on hand, he displayed a sense of relief to be back on the field, but on the other, he got back onto the field and es..

Notebook: Fake Punt Does The Trick

Mike Spofford and Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 22:41:04 CST
Head Coach Mike McCarthy didn't wait too long to run the first trick play of his NFL coaching career.

Trailing Chicago 16-0 with just over two minutes left in the first half Sunday, the Packers called for a fake punt on fourth-and-4 near midfield. Punter Jon Ryan surprised the Bears by throwing a pass in the right flat to Noah Herron, who made a fingertip grab and turned the play into a 16-yard gain for a first down at the Chicago 39-yard line.

"Before the game we kind of talked that we might use that, so be ready for it," said Ryan, who recalled the last threw a pass on a fake punt came as a senior at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan in 2003. "I was pretty pumped when we did call it.

"I saw that guy crossing pretty hard off the right edge, and I tried to plop it up over top of him, but by no means was it a beautiful throw. A couple bobbles, and he made a great catch."

Unfortunately, the Packers couldn't take advantage to get on the scorebo..

AP Story: Bears Top Packers, 26-0, At Lambeau Field

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 18:56:56 CST
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Brett Favre is back. The Chicago Bears did their best to make sure nobody noticed. The Bears delivered the first shutout of Favre's 16-year career on Sunday, beating the Green Bay Packers 26-0 at Lambeau Field.

"I was optimistic going into this game, I really was,'' Favre said. "Maybe I was the only one, but I really felt like we could surprise these guys. Obviously, that was not the case.''

For the Bears, shutting out Favre who has a 21-8 career record against the Bears took away some of the sting of their 29-21 playoff loss to Carolina in January.

"That guy is going to be a Hall of Famer, he's going to have his bust in Canton, Ohio and I can say that I was a part of that,'' defensive end Adewale Ogunleye said.

Bears coach Lovie Smith called Favre, a three-time MVP, one of the "all-time great quarterbacks.''

"It's hard to get a shut out in the National Football League anytime,'' Smith said. "To get it on the road..

Game Review: Rough Start Trips Up Packers

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 16:39:12 CST
Mike McCarthy had preached all week that the start of Sunday's game against the defending NFC North champion Chicago Bears might go a long way in determining how the game would play out.

But that start was a rough one for the Green Bay Packers that never got any smoother in McCarthy's NFL head-coaching debut Sunday.

The Bears scored on the game's opening possession, and the Packers' offense struggled mightily in early short-yardage situations, ultimately leading to a 26-0 defeat in front of a Lambeau Field record crowd of 70,918.

It was the first time the Packers had been shut out since Oct. 17, 1991, when these same arch-rival Bears won 10-0. But more importantly, all the implications surrounding this game make the loss a missed opportunity that won't make the work between now and the season's first win any easier.

"It's disappointing," McCarthy said. "It's not the way you want to start the season, not the way you want to start your home opener. I..

Packers-Bears Press Box Notes

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 14:04:39 CST
TODAY: The Green Bay franchise embarks on its 86th NFL season, and 88th overall since Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun decided to start up a team at a local pub in 1919...Mike McCarthy, the 14th head coach in a Packers coaching geneology that includes four Pro Football Hall of Famers - including a first-time NFL head coach who made his debut on this field against the Bears in 1959 - makes his NFL debut...Classic foes in one of the richest rivalries in sports history, the Bears and Packers square off for the 171st renewal in their series - the 18th time they've opened an NFL season in Green Bay and 20th season they've kicked off together...Lovie Smith, now the dean of NFC North coaches in his third year with the Bears, has defeated Green Bay in three of his first four meetings after declaring upon his 2004 hiring that his program's No. 1 goal was to beat the Packers...The Packers haven't lost three consecutive games to Chicago since 1990-92, when the Bears triumphed in five str..

Super Bowl XXXI Team Reunited at Lambeau

Stephen Foshee, Packers.com — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 12:12:36 CST
Members of the Green Bay Packers Super Bowl XXXI team reunited at Lambeau Field on Saturday, Sept. 9. Former players and their families spent the night catching up with teammates and re-living their magical run to New Orleans.

Some players still can't believe it has been ten years since they were crowned world champions.

"This feels like the day after the Super Bowl. It's nice to be around the atmosphere and be around guys you haven't seen in ten years" said former cornerback Doug Evans.

In addition to being honored during pre-game festivities, Evans is looking forward to rallying behind the current members of the Green and Gold for Sunday's season opener.

"Just being here to support those guys is great and we've been around a lot of football so you never know what kind inspiration that we can give to them," said Evans.

Former wide receiver Andre Rison credited growing older as a way of being able to appreciate the significance of w..

Thomason Was Thrilled to Share Title With Teammates and Fans Alike

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sat, 09 Sep 2006 17:00:52 CST
As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

****

Jeff Thomason was a third-string tight end in Green Bay for the majority of his career, including the 1996 season when the Packers brought the Lombardi Trophy home.

But while it may have been difficult to find time on the field behind Mark Chmura and Keith Jackson, that doesn't mean Thomason didn't get the full-fledged effect of what life was like as a Green Bay Packer.

"It's just a neat place to play because everyone takes you in and adores you in a sense," Thomason, 37, marveled. "And they support you in such an incredible way. It's like no other place I ever played in."

The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Thomason sp..

Notebook: Fast Start Means First Play

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:36:44 CST
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has spoken often about how important a fast start would be for the Packers' 2006 season.

Narrowing the focus to Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, McCarthy's desire for a fast start doesn't just apply to the first half or the first quarter. More like the first series, or even the first snap.

Because the Packers have so many young players, particularly with three rookie starters on offense alone, the opening moments of the game could be critical psychologically. Playing against the defending NFC North champs, who boast one of the league's top defenses, the Packers can't become vulnerable from a confidence standpoint in the earlygoing or they'll almost certainly face an uphill climb the rest of the afternoon.

"For our particular situation, I think our guys need to have success, and that will start with the first play," McCarthy said. "They've been told about the speed of the game, and there's some natural anxiety that goes with ..

Controlling Bears' Harris Presents Key Challenge

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 15:00:39 CST
To pick one guy from each of the three levels of the Chicago Bears' defense (line, linebackers, secondary) as having the biggest potential impact in Sunday's game, the likely choices would be defensive tackle Tommie Harris, middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and safety Mike Brown.

It's probably most difficult to control the impact of Urlacher and Brown, because neither lines up at the line of scrimmage. They both have the freedom to roam the field, and they can't simply be blocked at the point of attack.

The one player the Packers can more directly focus on is Harris, but it will be no small task to limit him. Just because you can line someone up directly across from him doesn't mean he can be neutralized, because he's simply that good.

Throw in the fact that the two players who will be responsible for Harris most of the time Sunday will be rookies playing their first NFL game -- guards Tony Moll and Jason Spitz -- and you have what may be the key matchup the..

SBXXXI: Taylor Analyzed Football, Taught Children And Traveled The World

Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com — Fri, 08 Sep 2006 14:02:22 CST
As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

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As the confetti fell at the end of the Green Bay Packers' 35-21 win in Super Bowl XXXI, guard Aaron Taylor knew he had reached the pinnacle of his athletic career.

"That's when the realization hit me," he said. "We had won, and we had done what we set out to do."

In January, Taylor, 34, viewed championship confetti cannons from a different vantage point. From June of 2004 through the 2005 season, he served as a college football studio analyst at ABC Sports. As part of his job, he dissected one of the best college football games of all time -- Texas' 41-38 ebb-and-flow Rose Bowl victory over USC.

"As football..

SBXXXI: Ferocious Linebacker Wayne Simmons Passed Away In 2002

Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 16:17:20 CST
As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

****

In late September of 1996, the Green Bay Packers visited the Minnesota Vikings' Metrodome. Vikings running back Amp Lee ran toward the flat, and Packers outside linebacker Wayne Simmons grabbed Lee by the shoulder pads and swung him around like a helicopter's propeller before slamming him to the turf.

"It was unreal," linebacker George Koonce said. "It was so devastating what he did."

Like he did all season long, Simmons forced running backs to think twice before crossing his area. He recorded 67 total tackles, 21/2 sacks and two forced fumbles in 1996, but his true impact could not be discerned in statistics. Defens..

Notebook: Franks Eager To Play Bears Again

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 15:37:46 CST
Tight end Bubba Franks didn't get much chance to play against the Bears last year, and it doesn't sit well that Chicago swept the season series while he was out.

Franks, who never missed a game in his career until 2005, took a big hit from linebacker Lance Briggs on an incomplete pass on the Packers' first possession of the first game with Chicago last December. It came just one week after absorbing an even more damaging blow from Philadelphia safety Brian Dawkins that sent Franks to the hospital for x-rays.

The collision with Briggs turned out to be Franks' last in 2005. He left the game and then missed the final four games of the season, including the rematch on Christmas Day at Lambeau Field when the Bears clinched the NFC North title.

"I've been waiting for this game for a whole off-season," Franks said. "This was the last game I played in last year, the first one this year. There's something to say about that. We'll see."

Franks has four touch..

Fontenot Now On Other Side Of Rivalry

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 07 Sep 2006 12:09:16 CST
Jerry Fontenot is getting his first look at the Packers-Bears rivalry from the other side this week.

Fontenot, a coaching intern this summer for the Packers who was retained for the duration of the season as an offensive line assistant, played the first eight of his 16 seasons in the NFL for the Bears, from 1989 through 1996.

His loyalties are clearly with Green Bay now, but the first time he walked down the stadium tunnel this summer, he couldn't help but remember the Packers-Bears game from his rookie season.

"It was that famous Majkowski pass," Fontenot said, referring to Don Majkowski's fourth-quarter TD pass to Sterling Sharpe reviewed by instant replay that gave the Packers a heart-stopping 14-13 win in 1989. "We thought he was across the line of scrimmage, the referees thought otherwise, and that ended up changing the course of our entire season in Chicago.

"I had those memories flush through me in an instant when I walked back out onto Lamb..

Favre Says Offense Still Searching For Comfort

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 17:46:14 CST
Quarterback Brett Favre said the Packers are still trying to discover a comfort zone with their 2006 offense, and the team's overall youth is making that process take perhaps longer than normal.

But Favre believes everything will fall into place once a formidable running game is established, even though those efforts came up short in the preseason.

"Every team -- defensively, offensively or special teams -- there's a go-to play or a go-to set," Favre said Wednesday in his pre-game news conference. "They say OK, in times of need or trouble, this is what we go to.

"Do we offensively feel more comfortable with four wide, or two tight ends, or three receivers and one back? We're trying to figure that out, really."

Presumably through film study and additional practice work, the Packers have settled on something to take into the season opener against the Bears on Sunday.

But the reason the comfort zone didn't manifest itself in the preseason, as..

Survivalist Ruettgers Came Full Circle With Green And Gold

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 06 Sep 2006 14:47:44 CST
As part of the Green Bay Packers' celebration of the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI Championship, Packers.com is running a series of stories about the people responsible for bringing the Vince Lombardi trophy back home to Titletown.

Super Bowl XXXI in photos

****

"Only the strong survive."

That just might be one of the most overused, overstated cliches in all of sports. But in the case of Ken Ruettgers, that phrase was accurate for the majority of his career.

While some may believe that athletes have it made simply because they are being paid handsomely to play the game they love, there's more to it than that. Sure, playing time, where you play and how much money you make all factor into the life of professional athletes. Yet to men like Ruettgers, winning is of the utmost importance.

Considering he was the only player from the 1996 Super Bowl roster to play in t..

McCarthy, Favre Press Conferences -- LIVE on Packers.com

Tue, 05 Sep 2006 19:07:00 CST
Click here for live VIDEO!

Keep checking back for archived audio and video (in both Real and Windows formats) of all press conferences and locker room interviews throughout the season.

***

Live Press Conference Video Schedule
* all times Central and subject to change

Wednesday, September 6:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy: approx 1:20 p.m. CT

QB Brett Favre: approx 1:35 p.m. CT

Friday, September 8:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy: approx 12:00 p.m. CT

Post-Game - Sunday, September 10:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy and selected players

Monday, September 11:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy:..

Packers Safety Now Belongs To Knights And Panthers

Jeff Fedotin, Packers.com — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:35:23 CST
Shortly after joining the Packers in 1996, safety Eugene Robinson sat down at a Washington Street sports bar in Green Bay. After a television announced the Packers had traded George Teague -- the man Robinson would replace -- for a draft choice, a fan sitting beside the new safety cursed the roster move.

Robinson then revealed his identity.

"Are you any good?" the fan asked.

Robinson's play in 1996 answered that question with an emphatic yes. He tied for second in the NFC with six interceptions and finished fourth on the Packers with 82 tackles. During Super Bowl XXXI, he led the team with nine total tackles. His coverage ability complemented an already talented secondary, allowing strong safety LeRoy Butler to shoot the gaps on blitzes while providing over-the-top help to young cornerbacks Doug Evans, Craig Newsome and Tyrone Williams.

"It worked out pretty well," Robinson said. "We had an absolute crew. It was easy to make plays in that scenario...

Remmel: Packers-Bears Rivalry Reaches 171 Games Sunday

Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:45:10 CST
"Resonate," for no readily apparent reason, has become a highly popular word in the media's lexicon these days.

According to Webster's Dictionary, it means what you would suspect it means: "Something that resounds."

If so, and we can apply it to football, there are certain plays which truly "resonate" in the history of the Packers' storied rivalry with the Chicago Bears, due for its 171st engagement in Lambeau Field this Sunday afternoon.

Take, for specific example, Al Carmichael's record, 106-yard kickoff return against the Midway Monsters at "old" City Stadium on Oct. 7, 1956 - an electrifying excursion which still shares a National Football League record.

Or, if titillated by the bizarre, take Chester Marcol's opportune pickup of a blocked field goal attempt and subsequent 25-yard runback for the game's only touchdown in Lambeau Field on Sept. 7, 1980, thus forging a 12-6 Green Bay victory in what remains the only overtime game in the 85-year hi..

Dorsey Named Panelist For Harris College FB Poll

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 14:00:06 CST
John Dorsey, the Green Bay Packers' Director of College Scouting, has been named a panelist for the 2006 Harris Interactive College Football Poll, one piece of the BCS standings formula.

The appointment to the panel recognizes Dorsey's evaluation skills of college teams and players, and he'll be among 114 voters submitting their NCAA Top 25 each week beginning Sept. 24.

The Harris poll is in its second year as a component in the BCS standings, which determine the two teams that play for the collegiate national championship as well as those that qualify for at-large BCS selection.

"One thing I've always done is tried to pride myself on following the teams and their strengths and weaknesses," Dorsey said. "That's what I do all fall.

"You're not speaking specifically about individual players, but it allows you to rank the teams the way they should be ranked, 1 to 25."

More than 300 nominations for panelists were made by the 11 Division I-A co..

Development of Tauscher, Clifton as Rookie Starters Bodes Well for 2006 O-Line

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 09:55:28 CST
With the Packers starting two rookies on the offensive line to open the 2006 season, there's understandable uncertainty as to just how well the line will function Sunday against the Chicago Bears.

But judging by the Packers' own history, there's just as much optimism as to what the future might hold for this unit.

The last time the Packers started two rookie offensive linemen was in 2000, when right tackle Mark Tauscher and left tackle Chad Clifton started the final 10 games together. No one knew it at the time, but their emergence was the beginning of an impressive run of productivity for Packer offensive lines that set franchise records for rushing yards and fewest sacks allowed a few short years later.

"Obviously, I think we grew a bunch during that season," Tauscher said of his and Clifton's rookie campaign of 2000. "Then those next three or four years we played together, we had a lot of success."

That's history the Packers are hoping will repe..

Notebook: Meaning Of Rivalry Conveyed

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 16:46:24 CST
In his first regular-season news conference Monday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy didn't make any grand pronouncements about the Packers' longstanding rivalry with the Chicago Bears, who visit Lambeau Field to open the season on Sunday.

But the significance of the rivalry isn't lost on him, or any of his players.

"Anybody that's worked here has a clear understanding of how much this game means to everybody - the fans, the organizations, the former players and the current players," McCarthy said.

McCarthy added that veteran receiver Donald Driver addressed the team Monday to talk about the rivalry and what it means, specifically to get the message across to the many young players on the Packers' roster who have never played in a Packer-Bear game.

"What I took from it is just that this is serious," rookie safety Tyrone Culver said. "There's a lot of history behind this rivalry, and coming from a vet, for him to go out in front like that, that's shows a lo..

Henderson, Blackmon Return To Practice

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 04 Sep 2006 16:45:09 CST
Starting fullback William Henderson and rookie cornerback Will Blackmon returned to practice on Monday for the Packers, and Henderson expects to be ready for Sunday's season opener.

Henderson, a 12-year veteran who has missed only two of 192 games in his career and just one since his rookie season, had arthroscopic surgery to clean up cartilage in his knee two weeks ago and was projected to be out anywhere from three to six weeks.

Should he take the field on Sunday against the Bears, Henderson will have returned to game shape one day shy of three weeks from the surgery.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said Henderson was a bit sore after practice on Monday, but Henderson doesn't expect that to keep him from playing.

"I had no problems, just fitting in what the coaches have me fit in," Henderson said. "It's a go."

Meanwhile Blackmon, a fourth-round draft choice out of Boston College, was on the field for the first time since breaking his foot in Ma..

Watch Mike McCarthy's Press Conference, LIVE on Packers.com

Sun, 03 Sep 2006 12:22:55 CST
Click here for live VIDEO!

Keep checking back for archived audio and video (in both Real and Windows formats) of all press conferences and locker room interviews throughout the season.

***

Live Press Conference Video Schedule
* all times Central and subject to change

Monday, September 4:
Head Coach Mike McCarthy: approx 1:30 p.m. CT

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Be sure to join Packers.com this season as we provide streaming video coverage of the Packers' press conferences in their entirety and free of charge, live from the Lambeau Fiel..

Numbers Tell Interesting Story On 2006 Roster

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sat, 02 Sep 2006 19:34:32 CST
Finalizing an NFL roster, particularly with respect to the last few cuts, is a numbers game, and as the Packers reduced their roster to the NFL-maximum 53 on Saturday, some curious numbers emerged.

Here are a few, and how General Manager Ted Thompson assessed them and the current roster during his news conference on Saturday:

51
As of Saturday evening, the Packers are two under the league limit, perhaps to give them the flexibility to sign players released by other teams that they feel could help right away.

"Rosters will get shuffled around a little bit over the course of the next two days, so we might (add)," said Thompson, who wouldn't tip his hand as to what he might be planning.

"I'm sure we won't be at 51 forever, but during the course of the season all teams will fluctuate between 53 and 50 sometimes. There have been teams that have gone the year with 50 players, but right now we felt comfortable with what we did today."

..

Jennings Continues To Shine Bright

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:07:56 CST
Second-round picks are supposed to be contributors right away. It's what all organizations have in mind when they select a player that early in April's NFL Draft.

But it's rare that a player has an immediate impact like the one Greg Jennings has had this preseason. It's safe to say the 5-foot-11, 197-pound wide receiver has been everything the Packers envisioned and then some.

At this point, almost every time Jennings touches the ball he makes a big play, which has given the coaching staff plenty of confidence in his abilities.

Continuing his outstanding preseason, the Western Michigan product started alongside Donald Driver in the Packers 35-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans and believes he will also be the opening day starter against the Chicago Bears. However, Head Coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't confirm that as of yet in his postgame press conference.

At any rate, you can't argue with Jennings' production. And regardless of who starts against the Be..

Notebook: Moll Has Busy Day

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:06:45 CST
As a rookie who needs as much game experience as he can get, rookie right guard Tony Moll knew he was going to stay in beyond the one offensive series for the starters on Friday against Tennessee.

But he had no idea he was going to play the whole game.

After playing the first half at right guard, while fellow rookie Jason Spitz was at left guard, Moll was inserted at right tackle for the second half and kept plugging along.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said it was simply a "numbers game" that forced Moll to stay in with the No. 2 offensive line, but it wasn't a big deal to Moll, who played right tackle his final year in college at Nevada.

"It went well," he said. "It took a couple plays to get back into the old swing, but once I was able to get in there and get confident, things started rolling."

From a conditioning standpoint, Moll said he held up fine playing a full game. That part of his game won't be tested nearly as much as his skills aga..

Packers Fall To Titans, Look Ahead To Bears

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:05:54 CST
The Packers grabbed the early momentum in their preseason finale, but ultimately they aren't heading into the regular season with the momentum they wanted.

Many of the same faults that have hindered the Packers most of the preseason - a non-descript running game, costly turnovers and poor execution on third down - all contributed to a 35-21 defeat to the Tennessee Titans on Friday at Lambeau Field, finishing a 1-3 preseason for Green Bay.

But the pervasive feeling in the locker room afterwards was there's no time to dwell on the frustrations of the past few weeks, not with the defending NFC North champion Chicago Bears visiting a week from Sunday.

"We haven't been as consistent as we would have liked to have been throughout the preseason, but we can't change it now," linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "So we have to make sure we're moving on and worrying about Chicago and make sure we're doing all of our preparation for that game."

Head Coach Mike McCarthy..

AP Story: Titans Top Packers, 35-21, At Lambeau Field

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:46:48 CST
A sure sign of poise from a rookie quarterback: Vince Young even lobbies for instant-replay calls like a veteran. Young was impressive in his first exhibition start for the Tennessee Titans, consistently turning third downs into first downs in a 35-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Friday afternoon.

Young's lone touchdown pass came on a successful replay challenge by the Titans in the first quarter, but Young had an apparent touchdown called back on a replay challenge by the Packers in the third quarter.

"That was a touchdown as well,'' Young said. "They just robbed me.''

Young played the Titans' first three series and returned for much of the third quarter of the two teams' exhibition finale, completing 8-of-17 passes for 80 yards and a touchdown.

"I pretty much knew that I was going to feel a little more comfortable this week as well,'' Young said. "So I wanted to keep the chains moving on third down, and (score) when I'm in the ball g..

Watch Ted Thompson's Press Conference, LIVE on Packers.com

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 16:17:43 CST
Click here for live VIDEO!

Keep checking back for archived audio and video (in both Real and Windows formats) of all press conferences and locker room interviews throughout the season.

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Live Press Conference Video Schedule
* all times Central and subject to change

Saturday, September 2:
GM Ted Thompson: approx 5:30 p.m. CT
Keep checking back for updates.

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Tired of waiting for 10 second clips on the late-night news to find out what's going on with the Green and Gold?

Be sure to join Packers.com this season as we provide streaming video coverage of the Packers' press conferences in their entirety and free of charge..