Packers.com

Remmel: Packers Still Looking To Find Winning Ways In Buffalo

Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:46:08 CST

The record shows that the Green Bay Packers have yet to defeat the Buffalo Bills in a regular season game...in Buffalo.

And that, surprisingly, is the fact of the matter as the Green and Gold focus on their fifth regular-season invasion of the "Queen City" this weekend.

Admittedly, the Packers have not often set foot in New York state's second-largest city. But over a 12-year span, they have lost all four of their regular-season appearances there - 19-12 in 1979, 28-0 in 1988, 29-20 in 1994 and 27-18 in 2000. And, consequently, they are still looking for their first win in Marv Levy's "hometown."

It's probably too bad that preseason games couldn't be factored into the overall competitive record between next Sunday's combatants, due to collide at Buffalo's Ralph Wilson Stadium. If so, it would make much better reading for the average Packerphile.
The Packers have won eight of those 11 non-league encounters, including three of the last four - and one on f..

Defense Clamping Down On Explosive Plays

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 31 Oct 2006 13:43:55 CST

Every week, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders would say that his defense's goal is to limit the opponent's explosive plays to five or less.

That seemed unrealistic when the defense was struggling earlier in the season, particularly when the Packers surrendered a total of 24 explosive plays (defined as a run of 12 yards or more, or a pass of 16 yards or more) in a span of just two games, against Detroit and Philadelphia.

But the mission was finally accomplished.

Sanders' unit gave up just two explosive gains last Sunday against Arizona, by far a season-low and a big reason the defense also surrendered a season-low 218 total yards.

The Cardinals' two explosive plays both came on their third-quarter scoring drive -- a 22-yard pass to tight end Leonard Pope and a 17-yard TD pass to Troy Walters. That was it, on a total of 64 offensive plays for Arizona.

"We've been aiming to knock those down," Sanders said. "The guys have worked extremely hard..

Notebook: Replacements Needed For Morency, Miree This Week

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 16:00:32 CST

If the Packers this week are going to repeat Sunday's 200-yard rushing performance with multiple backs over 100 yards each, they'll have to do it with some different personnel.

Running back Vernand Morency, whose 101 rushing yards against the Cardinals complemented Ahman Green's 106, is out for a couple of weeks with a lower back injury sustained during the fourth quarter, though Head Coach Mike McCarthy didn't know exactly when it occurred.

In addition, fullback Brandon Miree will be listed as doubtful this week with an elbow injury after hyper-extending it in the second half.

That means Noah Herron will step in as the No. 2 running back behind Green and William Henderson will resume the No. 1 fullback spot in Miree's place.

McCarthy is confident the running game can continue to build on Sunday's performance with the lineup changes, but he admitted it's disappointing to see two young, improving players like Morency and Miree having to step aside j..

Packers Reward Fans With First Home Win

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:53:15 CST

It's no secret that Green Bay has one of the best -- if not the best -- fan base in the NFL. And on Sunday, the Packers took advantage of it the way Head Coach Mike McCarthy wants them to on a consistent basis.

Winning for the first time at Lambeau Field since last season's Jan. 1 contest against the Seattle Seahawks, the Packers certainly did not disappoint the majority of the 70,809 fans in attendance for the 31-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

According to McCarthy, the win is something that all people affiliated with the Packers should enjoy on a normal basis at Lambeau Field.

"It was very rewarding," McCarthy said. "It says a lot for everybody involved, especially the fans. Just to see the white towels flying up there today and everybody having a great time...It's great for our players to enjoy it.

"You have to win at home. We have a great home-field advantage. We talked about it again as a team last night in our final meeting and it h..

Sunday's Rushing Attack One To Remember

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:52:01 CST

Jeff Jagodzinski doesn't remember the "Snow Bowl" game the Packers played on Dec. 1, 1985 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which before Sunday was the last time Green Bay had two running backs go over the 100-yard mark.

But you can be certain that the Packers offensive coordinator won't forget Sunday's rushing effort anytime soon.

Considering the fact that Ahman Green had 21 carries for 106 yards and Vernand Morency finished with 101 yards on just 11 attempts, it would also be surprising if anyone on the team didn't keep Sunday's 31-14 win over the Cardinals in the memory banks for quite some time.

Jagodzinski, the Packers offensive coordinator, was in his first season of coaching football as a running backs coach at UW-Whitewater while Green was 8 years old and Morency was only 5 when Gerry Ellis (101) and Eddie Lee Ivery (109) accomplished the feat 21 years ago.

According to Jagodzinski, Sunday's performance was one both the coaching staff and p..

Notebook: Group Effort Replaces Jennings, Favre Scores Rushing TD

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:50:40 CST

With Greg Jennings missing Sunday's game with an ankle injury, the Packers were forced to find other weapons in the passing game to prevent the Cardinals from being able to concentrate solely on Donald Driver.

A collection of individuals came through.

Tight end David Martin and fullback Brandon Miree caught four passes apiece, receiver Ruvell Martin added two catches, and he and receiver Chris Francies combined to draw three pass interference penalties. The entire cast of characters helped quarterback Brett Favre compile a 102.1 passer rating and complete his third straight game without an interception.

"We always talk about guys having to step up and make plays, and we felt real good about our game plan and the people on the field today," said Miree, whose four catches gained 31 yards. "It's just about us hitting our groove. It's not about who we play, it's about ourselves.

"You figure at any given time when you've got No. 4 back there, if you're ..

Game Review: Packers Keep Ball Rolling With Win Over Cardinals

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 18:48:58 CST

The Green Bay Packers have some legitimate momentum.

With their 31-14 victory Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals, the Packers took another major step in their recovery from a 1-4 start and in the growth of the 2006 edition of the Green and Gold.

The Packers not only got their first home victory of the season in front of 70,809 fans at Lambeau Field, but they also notched back-to-back wins for the first time since 2004 and, at 3-4, have put themselves in position to get back to .500 at the midway point of the season if they can win at Buffalo next week.

"I think last week we started the ball rolling, and we're continuing to keep the ball going downhill now," defensive end Aaron Kampman said. "Now we go over to New York and face a Buffalo team coming off a bye, so we'll have our work cut out for us there. But hopefully we can keep that going.

"A lot of people out there had us written off. 'They're this, they're young, they're the youngest team ...' We..

AP Story: Packers Defeat Cardinals 31-14 For Second Straight Win

Sun, 29 Oct 2006 15:50:16 CST

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) Green Bay had two 100-yard rushers and Brett Favre did his first "Lambeau Leap'' on Sunday. Both were signs that things are perhaps starting to turn around for the Packers.

Or maybe the Arizona Cardinals are just that bad.

Ahman Green and backup running back Vernand Morency combined for 207 yards rushing and Green added two first-half touchdowns as the Packers (3-4) won 31-14 for their first home victory under first-year coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers have won two straight after losing four of their first five, including three at Lambeau.

"It's just two wins,'' Favre said. "It's our first win at home. But in our situation right now, we'll take them any way we can get them.''

At this point, so would Arizona.

The Cardinals (1-7) came into this year with playoff expectations, but have lost seven straight since opening the season at their new stadium with a victory over San Francisco a losing streak that's likely to..

Halftime Summary: Packers Lead Cardinals 21-7

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 29 Oct 2006 13:29:24 CST

The Packers dominated the first half against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, putting together three long touchdown drives to take a 21-7 lead at halftime.

The Packers blew their first chance to score, when holder Jon Ryan appeared to mishandle a field-goal snap and was sacked while trying to run and find someone to throw to.
But Green Bay didn't waste its ensuing opportunities.

On their next drive, the Packers moved 88 yards in nine plays for a touchdown. Brett Favre hit fullback Brandon Miree for a 20-yard gain, and backup tailback Vernand Morency ripped off a 23-yard run to get the Packers into the red zone.

Back-to-back pass interference penalties on Antrel Rolle, guarding receiver Chris Francies, put the ball on the 1, and Favre found David Martin for the short TD pass and a 7-0 lead.

The Packers doubled that lead with a nine-play, 70-yard march. Favre converted a pair of third downs with a 22-yard pass to Martin and a 13-yard slant to Don..

Notebook: Martin Ready As No. 2 WR; Jennings Game-Time Decision

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 15:51:49 CST

If Greg Jennings is unable to play on Sunday, Ruvell Martin will be elevated to No. 2 receiver, but the extra workload is nothing the first-year player is going to get worked up about.

After all, he actually got his first NFL start last week, when the Packers opened in a three-receiver set. And he played the second half last week as the No. 2 receiver, when Jennings left at halftime with an ankle injury.

"I got experience the second half of the Miami game, so it's definitely something I got to do then," said Martin, who had his first two NFL receptions against the Dolphins. "I think once you start getting in the flow of the game and things start going the same way they've been going in practice up to that point, you start to get used to it."

McCarthy said he was hopeful Jennings would be able to practice Friday, but he did not after running on the ankle Thursday and experiencing soreness. McCarthy said they will have Jennings go through a pre-game workout o..

Return Game Primed To Bust Loose

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 14:04:20 CST

Based on what he's seen of Charles Woodson thus far on punt returns, Head Coach Mike McCarthy believes the opportunity may be there to bust a big one soon.

"We need to get him loose on a punt return," McCarthy said. "Because he's making two, three, four guys miss on each opportunity and it's not coming out the back end."

That chance to break through could come as soon as this week.

The Arizona Cardinals have struggled considerably with their punt coverage. In the season's first seven games, they have allowed four punt returns of 35 yards or longer, including an 83-yarder for a touchdown. Their coverage team is allowing an average of 15.7 yards per return, which ranks 15th in the NFC and 30th in the league.

While numbers like that may make Woodson's eyes light up, he also takes a realistic view of it. The big return isn't going to come just because of the opponent the Packers are playing, but only if the entire punt return unit is doing its job.

Butler Makes Hall Of Fame Nominee List; Wolf, Remmel Also Nominated

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 11:33:35 CST

Former Packers safety LeRoy Butler, one of the key components to Green Bay's revival and Super Bowl championship in the mid-1990s, has been named to the preliminary list of nominees for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007.

The preliminary list includes 111 former modern-era players, coaches and contributors and will eventually be whittled down to 15 finalists, with between three and six members ultimately selected for enshrinement. In addition to Butler, former General Manager Ron Wolf and longtime Packers public relations director and current team historian Lee Remmel also made the preliminary list.

Butler, who retired in 2002, is now eligible for the list because he has been retired five seasons. Reached by phone on Friday, Butler said he's honored to be part of the preliminary process but realizes it may take a while before he's seriously considered a candidate for enshrinement by the Hall of Fame committee.

"I know it doesn't neces..

Rayner Gives Kicking Advice To Manitowoc Woman Looking to Cash In On Sunday

Stephen Foshee, Packers.com — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:50:07 CST

When watching a professional football game, how many countless times have you heard a fellow fan scream out, "Oh, I could have caught that!" or, "Even I could have kicked that field goal!"

Well, Tina Jacquart of Manitowoc, Wis, will get that chance this Sunday, when the Packers play host to the Arizona Cardinals.

Jacquart will attempt a 40-yard field goal during a timeout of this Sunday's Packers-Cardinals game. If she happens to split the uprights she will have a check written in her name to the tune of $100,000.

Jacquart was randomly chosen from five finalists in the 'Kick for Cash' contest sponsored by Piggly Wiggly, along with Johnsonville Sausage, Coca-Cola and Miller Lite and says she started practicing with her husband as soon as she learned that she had been chosen.

"We went and bought a football right away and it came with a pamphlet that teaches you how to kick, so we went to our high school and started kicking," she said.

Alt..

McCarthy: Cardinals Are 'Dangerous' Team

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 26 Oct 2006 15:52:00 CST

From the perspective of a fan, it's tough to figure out just what to make of the Packers' opponent this week, the Arizona Cardinals.

Are they as good as the team that should have handed the Chicago Bears their first loss of the season two weeks ago on the Monday Night Football national stage, only to squander a 23-3 lead by allowing two fumble returns and one punt return for touchdowns in the final 16 minutes?

Or are they struggling as much as they appeared to last week, when they dropped their sixth straight game after failing to score a touchdown and losing to a previously winless Oakland Raiders team 22-9?

But from the perspective of a head coach, who knows a little something about the opposing head coach, those questions are not his team's concern as they prepare this week.

"I think they're a very dangerous team. I have a lot of respect for Denny Green," said Head Coach Mike McCarthy, who faced the Cardinals and Green twice last season as the o..

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

Thu, 26 Oct 2006 12:25:34 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..

Notebook: First Home Win Needed

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 17:03:48 CST

Probably the last thing Head Coach Mike McCarthy would expect of a young, 2-4 team would be a winless home record and a winning road record.

But the Packers are 0-3 at Lambeau Field thus far in 2006, a trend whose reversal is the highest priority this week as Green Bay plays its only home contest in the first four weeks after the bye.

"This is an important football game this week for a lot of reasons -- number one, home-field advantage," McCarthy said during his Wednesday press conference. "We've got a great home-field advantage, and we need to take advantage of it."

Since the season-opening shutout against the Bears, the Packers have lost their other two home games by a total of 10 points. In each game, they had the ball in the final two minutes with a chance to at least tie the score.

"We need to learn from those losses," McCarthy said. "There's a reason why we did not complete those games, and I think that's part of the improvement of our footba..

TE Martin Aims To Produce, Stay Healthy

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 18:16:10 CST

David Martin has shown rare athletic ability for a tight end since coming to Green Bay in 2001, and that ability was clearly put to use with the two eye-popping pass receptions he had last Sunday in Miami.

But Martin doesn't want Sunday's display to be just another momentary flash, only to see his progress and productivity derailed by health concerns. He's determined to put together a full season in 2006, something he's done just once in his first five years as a Packer.

Martin's effort Sunday gives him 11 catches for 87 yards on the year, on pace to equal if not surpass the career highs he set last season with 27 catches for 224 yards and three TDs. That production came in just 12 games, and they're numbers Martin knows can improve if he can simply stay on the field more.

To avoid the injuries that have caused him to miss 21 of a possible 80 regular-season games in his career (a list that has included shoulder, knee, groin and concussion problems), Martin ..

Remmel: '46 Packers-Cardinals Result Marred Historic Day; Williams Shines in '67 Meeting

Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 10:12:33 CST

'46 Packers-Cardinals Result Marred Historic Day; Williams Shined in '67 Meeting

The Arizona Cardinals, due to confront the Packers in Lambeau Field Sunday, are in what might be termed their fourth "context."

Possessors of the oldest continuous operation in professional football - one dating to 1899 - they began their existence as the Chicago Cardinals on the South Side of the Windy City in 1920, remaining there through the 1959 season.

They next became the St. Louis Cardinals, it may be recalled, moving to the Missouri metropolis in 1960 and holding forth in Stan Musial's favorite playground through 1987.
They subsequently headed west and assumed a new "identity" as the Phoenix Cardinals in 1988, then broadened their horizons in 1994, becoming the current Arizona Cardinals.

Although the Packers haven't seen much of the Big Red in recent years (they have played each other only five times since the Cardinals moved to Phoenix in '88), they have ..

'Endurance 50' Comes To Lambeau Field

Stephen Foshee, Packers.com — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 09:33:20 CST

After already completing 38 marathons in the same amount of days, one would naturally consider Dean Karnazes to be tired or at the least the slightest bit winded after completing his latest marathon Tuesday in Green Bay.

Karnazes, from San Francisco, has been making headlines throughout the country for the past few weeks by attempting to run a marathon in every single U.S. State for 50 consecutive days, and to hear him speak after finishing his 38th marathon would make onlookers believe it was day one.

Karnazes says inspiring others to become active is the main goal of his nationwide jog.

"The plan is to inspire someone to take that first step," he said. "You don't have to run 50 marathons in 50 days. Run a 5K. Run a mile, just get out there and be more active and a lot of times people find it to be one of the most fulfilling elements of their whole life."

In his nationwide journey, Karnazes admitted that he has witnessed many sights during h..

Cornerback Duo Gets It Done

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 24 Oct 2006 16:51:35 CST

When the Packers acquired big-ticket free agent Charles Woodson in the off-season to play cornerback opposite Al Harris, performances like Sunday's at Miami by the two veterans were exactly what the team had in mind.

While Woodson and Harris both had their moments during the season's first five games, their collective play at cornerback against the Dolphins was the most productive of 2006.

Woodson impact was felt in multi-faceted, as he recorded six tackles and a sack, broke up four passes and made the game's biggest defensive play, snagging an interception on the second play of the third quarter and returning it for a touchdown to give the Packers momentum they never really relinquished.

Meanwhile Harris wasn't as dynamic or noticeable, but he took his customary job of guarding the opponent's top receiving threat and dominated. He held Miami's explosive Chris Chambers without a catch for the first three quarters, and Chambers finished with just two catches..

Notebook: Packers Believing In Their Young Players

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 23 Oct 2006 17:00:49 CST

Head Coach Mike McCarthy has shown faith in the young players on his roster all season long, and he's starting to get the team's veteran players to share that faith as well.

That was no more evident than on a key fourth quarter play on Sunday.

With the Packers leading 27-24 and facing third-and-1 at the Miami 25-yard line, McCarthy called a play that gave quarterback Brett Favre a run or pass option, depending on what he saw at the line of scrimmage. Seeing the Dolphins stacking for a run and with single coverage outside on rookie wide receiver Chris Francies, Favre called for the pass and threw a quick slant to Francies, who made a tough catch against tight coverage for a critical 12-yard gain.

Never mind that it was the first pass thrown Francies' way as an NFL player, or that an incompletion would have forced a field goal try and kept the Dolphins within one score. McCarthy insists that no matter a player's age or experience, the coaching staff and his t..

Mike McCarthy Press Conference Transcript - Oct. 23

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 14:30:24 CST

(Injuries, especially Jennings?)
I'll just go through the injuries. Greg Jennings had an ankle, we're having him tested today. Chad Clifton I think is going to be fine. He had the illness and had the IV, also Ahman Green looks to be fine. Daryn Colledge had a calf, and Corey Williams has a knee we're looking at. We've got a bunch of bumps and bruises, heat related things.

(With Chad it was just illness, not his knees acting up?)
Correct. The flu hit him in the middle of the night, and he had a rough evening and rough morning, and he was unable to go.

(What kind of adjustments did you make to give Daryn some help?)
In everything you do from a protection scheme approach, you have adjustments, particularly when you feel the matchup is not in your favor. Daryn, he has reps at left tackle, we rotate all those guys through the practice structure. Adjustment A did not work on the first sack, so we went to some other ..

Packers.com Video Exclusive: Mike McCarthy's Post-Game Speech

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 11:57:31 CST

With all they had to overcome to beat the Miami Dolphins, it's hard to say whether the Packers showed more resiliency, depth or sheer will in the scorching heat of South Florida on Sunday.

In a Packers.com exclusive, we take you inside the locker room as Head Coach Mike McCarthy addressed the players immediately following the team's 34-24 win over the Dolphins, the Packers' first-ever victory in Miami.

Additionally, Packers.com offers a look back at two of the Packers' biggest plays of the game with video of Ahman Green's 70-yard TD run and Charles Woodson's interception return for a TD.

Click here to watch videos.

Notebook: Shuffled O-Line Adjusts, Holds Its Own

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 23:08:10 CST

MIAMI - After some early trouble with Miami all-pro defensive end Jason Taylor, the Packers' young offensive line held up well on Sunday.

The Packers were forced to start three rookies up front because left tackle Chad Clifton missed the game with flu-like symptoms. Clifton had gotten seriously ill on Saturday night and felt no better on Sunday morning.

The coaches waited until the last possible minute before the inactive list was due to the officials, but having been already dehydrated from getting sick, Clifton was in no shape to play in the intense Miami heat and saw his string of 53 straight starts come to an end.

"At breakfast today we were hopeful that he would take a couple of IVs and be ready to go, but he came over on the second bus and that was not the case," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "He was very ill."

That moved Daryn Colledge from left guard over to left tackle to replace Clifton. Right guard Jason Spitz moved to left guard, and T..

Green Re-Charges To Find End Zone, Team Record

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 23:06:21 CST

MIAMI - Running back Ahman Green spent most of the third quarter on Sunday in the Packers locker room getting two bags of fluids through IVs to restore his energy.

But when he got back on the field, he made it count, both on the scoreboard and in the team's record book.

Green busted loose for a 70-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter and by the end of the game, he had become the franchise's all-time leader in yards from scrimmage.

Green, who missed the Packers' previous two games with hamstring troubles, finished with 18 carries for 118 yards to mark the biggest rushing performance by a Packer this season and push him past James Lofton in career yards from scrimmage with 9,909.

"It's meaningful because I didn't do it by myself," said Green, rattling off the names of nearly every offensive lineman who has blocked for him in his seven seasons in Green Bay.

"All those guys are the main reason. It's a team sport. If it was me against..

Game Review: Perseverance Pays In Win Over Dolphins

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 22 Oct 2006 23:04:41 CST

MIAMI - With all they had to overcome to beat the Miami Dolphins, it's hard to say whether the Packers showed more resiliency, depth or sheer will in the scorching heat of South Florida on Sunday.

But it's not a stretch to say the Packers showed more of all three than most outsiders thought they had.

Green Bay's 34-24 victory, the franchise's first ever in Miami, not only gave the Packers their second win of 2006 but also may have given them the proof that no obstacle is impossible to overcome. To believe the Packers thrived on the adversity may be going a bit too far, but given the circumstances, this 10-point road win was nothing short of a remarkable effort.

Consider that the Packers, now 2-4:
* Found out just before kickoff that left tackle Chad Clifton, who became very ill Saturday night, wouldn't be able to play. But with the necessary position changes and three rookies on the offensive line, the Packers held the Dolphins' veteran defensive line w..

AP Story: Packers Rattle Harrington, Beat Dolphins

Sun, 22 Oct 2006 13:14:45 CST

MIAMI (AP) The Green Bay Packers' defenders were more sure-handed than the Miami Dolphins' receivers.

Ranked last in the NFL in pass defense, Green Bay intercepted Joey Harrington three times and benefited from half a dozen dropped passes by the woeful Dolphins to win 34-24 Sunday.

Brett Favre threw two touchdown passes, including the clincher to David Martin with six minutes left, and Ahman Green scored on a 70-yard run.

But it was big plays by Green Bay's beleaguered defense that made the difference. The Packers doubled their season interception total, and the takeaways led to 13 points.

Charles Woodson made his first interception with Green Bay and returned it 23 yards for a score. Interceptions by linebackers Brady Poppinga and Nick Barnett set up a pair of field goals.

"Today we got our hands on some balls, and we were able to give it back to the offense or take it in for a score,'' Woodson said. "Any time you can do that, you've..

Notebook: Woodson Returns To Practice

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:15:54 CST

Cornerback Charles Woodson returned to practice on Friday for the first time since injuring his leg two weeks ago against St. Louis, and Head Coach Mike McCarthy said he's "hopeful" Woodson will be able to play Sunday.

If Woodson does play, McCarthy said it would be a game-time decision whether to continue using him as the No. 1 punt returner, or whether he'd play strictly cornerback and the punt return duties would go to receiver Greg Jennings.

"That's something we'll talk about Sunday," McCarthy said. "We'll go through pre-game, see how he feels. But I think anytime you can put the ball in Charles Woodson's hands, it benefits your football team. So we'll talk about that more."

Also, if Woodson plays, Patrick Dendy would remain the nickel back and take the field when the Packers go to five defensive backs. The sixth defensive back for the dime package has been rookie safety Tyrone Culver, though rookie cornerback Will Blackmon would also be a candidate aft..

Improved Line, Ground Game To Be Tested

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 20 Oct 2006 15:13:31 CST

The Packers are likely to find out just how improved their offensive line and running game are this week.

Despite losses in their last two games, the Packers have shown steady progress in the development of their offensive line, and as a result the ground game has nearly produced consecutive 100-yard rushers (Vernand Morency had 99 yards in Week 4, Noah Herron had 106 in Week 5).

But those areas face a stiff test this week at Miami, where the Dolphins have one of the league's most experienced defensive fronts. They rank third in the NFL in allowing just 3.0 yards per rush, a full yard below the league average of 4.0.

"We're playing a pretty stout defense this week," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said. "They hold the point really well and they've got so much experience up on that front, that's what makes them so darn good."

The starters in that veteran group - Jason Taylor, Kevin Carter, Keith Traylor and former Packer Vonnie Holliday - all..

Rayner, Coverage Team Getting Job Done On Kickoffs

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 14:47:18 CST

Coming into the season, kicker Dave Rayner's leg strength was no secret, particularly on kickoffs. After all, he spent an entire season as a kickoff specialist for Indianapolis in 2005.

But the Packers have combined that leg strength with a solid kickoff coverage unit that more often than not is giving the Packers defense better field position than a year ago.

So far in 2006, the opponents' average drive start after a Packers kickoff is the 23.3-yard line, which ranks fourth in the NFC and eighth in the league. That's a vast improvement over last season, when opponents started drives after kickoffs at the 28.9-yard line, which ranked tied for 21st in the league.

Special teams coordinator Mike Stock stopped far short of praising the unit just five games into the season, but he feels the potential for the group to climb even closer to the league's best is starting to show.

"No soft spots, no creases, no balls out past the 30-yard line, those are the ..

WRs Martin, Francies Get Their Chance

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 21:27:42 CST

In the NFL, one player's misfortune can become another's opportunity, and first-year Packers receivers Ruvell Martin and Chris Francies are more than aware of the opportunity now in front of them.

With the suspension of Koren Robinson and the injury to Robert Ferguson, Martin has been elevated to the No. 3 receiver spot behind starters Donald Driver and Greg Jennings while Francies has been signed from the practice squad as the No. 4 receiver.

Neither Martin nor Francies has caught a pass in a regular-season NFL game, but both may have the chance to change that on Sunday at Miami.

"I understand it's pretty big," Martin said. "I definitely have to go out there and first chance I get start making plays and get the quarterback's confidence in me that I can go out there and contribute."

Said Francies: "It's a big opportunity for me. They had to bring a guy up, and luckily it was me. I have to fill a spot and I'll do the best I can."

Though bot..

Notebook: Tight Ends Ready For More Action

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 17:40:53 CST

The Packers have had four tight ends on the 53-man roster since the beginning of the season, and it looks as though they may utilize that depth this week.

Thus far, tight ends Bubba Franks, David Martin and Donald Lee have combined for just 22 of the team's 118 pass receptions, in part because they've been asked to play a larger role in pass protection than in running routes at times.

But with the offense down to four healthy receivers, two of whom will be looking to make their first NFL catches on Sunday, Head Coach Mike McCarthy indicated the Packers could use more multiple-tight end formations and vary their duties. Fourth tight end Tory Humphrey, inactive for the first two games and used primarily on special teams since, could see more snaps on offense as well.

"Everything we do out of three wide receivers, we're also going to do out of two tight ends or three tight ends," McCarthy said. "So it's all carryover. We don't teach plays by personnel, we teac..

Players Participate In NFL And United Way "Hometown Huddle"

Stephen Foshee, Packers.com — Wed, 18 Oct 2006 09:32:36 CST

Instead of lounging around the house and resting their bones on a day off, members of the Green Bay Packers lent a helping hand through the NFL and United Way Charities on Tuesday.

Fullback Brandon Miree, Linebacker Abdul Hodge, Quarterback Ingle Martin and several others were present at the NEW Community Shelter in Green Bay to help build two new bike sheds for the center as well as serve food to those at the shelter.

Players were happy that they were able to make a contribution to their surrounding community.

"We wanted to come out here and give back," said Hodge. "The community gives so much to us and we feel like we have an opportunity to help those that are less fortunate."

Besides serving food and lifting spirits, players felt the bike shed they helped build would go a long way to those at the shelter.

"Bikes are a big mode of transportation for homeless people in this area and getting a new shed is very big for them," said Mire..

Robinson Suspended For One Year; Passing Game Will Look At Other Options

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 17:17:48 CST

With the suspension of Koren Robinson and the injury to Robert Ferguson, the Packers are prepared to look to other receiving options to keep the league's second-ranked passing attack going strong.

Robinson was suspended on Tuesday for one year for a repeat violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. The suspension is related to an incident during training camp in Minnesota, when Robinson was a member of the Vikings.

Meanwhile Ferguson is expected to have more tests on his sprained foot to determine the extent of the injury, originally sustained on Oct. 2 in Philadelphia. He has not practiced or played since then.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy indicated Tuesday another receiver could be signed from the practice squad, and the offensive staff may have to look at getting the tight ends and fullbacks more involved in the passing game in the coming weeks. The Packers are averaging 252 yards passing per game, ranked No. 2 in the league.

"These are the type..

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Tue, 17 Oct 2006 15:54:44 CST

Remmel: Packers 'Delayed' In Seeking Success Against Miami

By Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Tue, 17 Oct 2006 13:38:32 CST

As such things are reckoned, it took the Green Bay Packers a veritable eternity to pin a first loss on the Miami Dolphins.

And that, in part, may be because the lantern-jawed Don Shula was Miami's head coach for the first two decades of the Dolphins' existence.

Shula clearly was a major source of the Packers' problem. A man with a low tolerance for losing, he won more games (328) over his 33-year career than any other coach in pro football history.

And he was never particularly cordial to the Packers. In fact, he retired as the Dolphins' field leader following the 1995 season with a perfect 8-0 record against Green Bay in that role.

Don earlier had coached the Baltimore Colts and well may have been nursing a grudge against the Packers for a happening in a 1965 Western Conference playoff game at Lambeau Field. The game could have been behind his dominance in the series.

On that playoff occasion, Shula's ire was aroused by a 22-yard Don Chan..

Notebook: Rest Helped Green

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 16 Oct 2006 16:16:09 CST

While the weekend off was a good time for all the Packers players and coaches to get away and get refreshed, the player who benefited the most from the bye might have been running back Ahman Green.

Nagged by hamstring troubles that have forced him to miss the last two games, Green practiced just once last week to heal up. He came back to practice on Monday looking like his old self, and Head Coach Mike McCarthy expects him to be ready to play on Sunday at Miami.

"The way we handled him last week - rehab Tuesday and Wednesday and practicing on Thursday - I think more mentally it let him feel like he knew he was back and he could push the hamstrings," McCarthy said. "I think it gave him a little more sense of relief mentally going into the bye week."

McCarthy has felt prior to each of the last two games that Green would be ready to go, only to scratch him a few hours before kickoff because the hamstrings weren't 100 percent.

This was the most encoura..

Playing Third String: Q & A With Ingle Martin

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 14:30:39 CST

(Describe the job of the third quarterback on an NFL team.)
Well, on our team, the third quarterback is probably the most important position out there. Obviously Brett Favre does OK sometimes, and Aaron, he's a first-round pick. But myself coming in here, I really feel like I have to get the guys going. My way of writing down the plays on the clipboard really motivates the rest of the team to really try to go out there and win the game. Obviously I have to do a little better job, we're 1-4 right now, so hopefully these next couple games I can start writing down a little better, maybe a little clearer.

(In all seriousness, what is it the coaches ask the third quarterback to do in practice on a daily basis?)
It's just something I have to go out there and be mentally prepared every day because I'm not getting any reps. Go out and watch what Brett does, watch the reads, watch the checks, and I'm the emergency guy so I have to be ready without ..

Notebook: Bye Week Provides Extra Time For Fundamentals, Miami

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 15:43:09 CST

The Packers used their three practices during the bye week to work on essentially three things - corrections from their previous two losses, initial preparation for the Miami game on Oct. 22, and fundamentals.

The last of those was perhaps the most important, as they relate to the Packers' two biggest downfalls thus far in 2006, turnovers on offense and big plays on defense. Hanging onto the ball and staying in the proper position are as fundamental as it gets for Head Coach Mike McCarthy, and he welcomed the opportunity to stress those this week.

"To me, that's what fundamentals are, and when you have the opportunity to correct something, you need the environment to emphasize something as much as possible," he said. "That's what this week was all about."

The Packers also used the practices on Tuesday and Wednesday to go over their mistakes against Philadelphia and St. Louis, and to begin introducing the game plan for Miami. Thursday's practice focused excl..

Defense Gives Performance To Build On

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 13:55:21 CST

Not one player on the Packers' defense is going to be excessively proud of the unit's Week 5 performance against the St. Louis Rams because they know they still have plenty to improve upon.

But a breakdown of the effort last Sunday shows that considerable progress was made by a defense trying to work its way up from near the bottom of the early-season rankings.

The Packers gave up a season-low 327 yards, including only one drive longer than 50 yards, reduced their big-play problems and kept the Rams out of the end zone the entire second half.

All of that gives the Packers something to build on heading into the bye week and a challenging stretch of three road games in four weeks beginning Oct. 22 in Miami.

"It was definitely one of our best games as far as emotion, the passion the guys played with," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "I thought we played physical, thought we played tough. I thought we flew around, we gang-tackled on a good back..

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Wed, 11 Oct 2006 10:54:04 CST

Wolf's Work Of Art Takes Top Prize

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 09:31:58 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

****

Hiring Head Coach Mike Holmgren.

Trading for quarterback Brett Favre.

Signing defensive end Reggie White.

There's only one man who can lay claim to all those decisions, and it's none other than the brilliant Ron Wolf.

Brilliant may sound like a strong word, but in Wolf's case, maybe it's not strong enough. He was responsible for all the aforementioned moves as well as many more, and he made as great an impact on the Packers as anyone since the legendary Vince Lombardi.

Wolf, who was hired in 1991 as the Packers General Manager and Executive Vice President, put his stamp on the organizati..

Holes Opening Up For Ground Game

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 16:26:52 CST

Offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski admits he's impatient himself at times, but to anyone who has asked about the progress of the Packers' new zone-blocking scheme, he has insisted it's just a matter of time before the holes, and production of the run game, will come.

That time may have begun to arrive last Sunday.

Against the St. Louis Rams, the Packers offensive line had perhaps its best day with the zone blocking, consistently opening up holes for Noah Herron to rush 20 times for 106 yards. His 5.3-yard average per carry was the Packers' highest for a featured back over the past four games by a yard-and-a-half.

"I've been telling you guys from week to week to week it's getting better and better and better," Jagodzinski told a group of reporters earlier this week. "We're going to continue to get better, and it's going to get faster, and it's going to get more fundamentally sound.

"There were some nice holes, the guys did a nice job up front, r..

Notebook: Making Play At Critical Time Is 'Final Hurdle'

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 17:07:38 CST

To Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the fumble at the 11-yard line on the final offensive play of Sunday's 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams accurately depicts the next step the 2006 Packers need to take.

"To me that's a perfect play that illustrates (how) their defense had a chance to make a play and we were given a chance on offense to make a play to win the game," McCarthy said at his news conference on Monday. "They made the play, we did not. That's the final hurdle we need to get over."

McCarthy emphasized that wasn't the only opportunity the Packers had to beat the Rams, and all the missed opportunities throughout the course of the game are why the Packers are 1-4 rather than 2-3 heading into their bye week.

But the final play was certainly the best chance to pull the game out, both in terms of the late-game timing and what was developing.

McCarthy said the film revealed that tight end David Martin, who was one of the primary reads for Brett Favre, w..

Strength Staff Helped Packers Perform at Optimum Level in '96

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:47:46 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

******

Brett Favre and Reggie White couldn't hide. They were larger than life and ultimately too popular to escape the attention of football fans across the country.

Such is the life of a superstar in one of football's most storied franchises. Every move on and off the field is magnified.

But there were plenty of men behind the scenes who helped make this success possible in the first place.

One of those people happened to be Kent Johnston.

Johnston, the Packers strength and conditioning coach for seven seasons, did his best to make sure the team could give an optimum performance every Sunday. Some of..

Packers Look Forward To Rest, Chance To Regroup Entering Upcoming Bye Week

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:08:32 CST

If life in the NFL were perfect, a team could ride off into the sunset of a bye week flying high and waiting to get some rest and relaxation for the first time since late July.

Unfortunately for the Green Bay Packers, the rest will come, but the opportunity for a confidence boost and a victory slipped away with Sunday's 23-20 loss to the St. Louis Rams at Lambeau Field.

Though it clearly would have been more enjoyable to finish on a positive note before heading into the break, the consensus among the players in the locker room was that a little rest is always welcome when it comes to the rigors of the NFL season.

"Every year when the bye comes, everyone says this is a perfect time for a bye," Brett Favre said. "(In this case) This is a perfect time for a bye week. I think if you're 4-1, you say the same thing because you need to gets guys healed up, kind of regroup, and all those things. We're 1-4 and you could say the same thing.

"There's differe..

What A Relief: Herron Answers Call Of Increased Workload

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:05:51 CST

Coming into Sunday's contest versus the Rams, Noah Herron didn't know if he was going to get one carry or 10 carries. For that matter, he didn't know if he was going to get any carries.

And he didn't really care.

Whatever role the second-year man out of Northwestern had was going to be up to the coaches. He just wanted to make sure that if Head Coach Mike McCarthy and the rest of team depended on him, he was going to be as prepared as he possibly could to answer the call.

After 20 carries, 106 yards, and a touchdown, it's safe to say Herron came through not only in preparing as if he was a starter, but also performing like one as well.

With Ahman Green scratched from the lineup for the second straight week with sore hamstrings, Vernand Morency got the starting nod. However, after two fumbles early in the game, one of which the Packers lost, Herron received the bulk of the work for the rest of the afternoon and he didn't disappoint.

"I th..

Notebook: Defense Misses Chances For INTs

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:03:27 CST

Much was made coming into Sunday's game of Rams quarterback Marc Bulger's streak of five games and nearly 200 pass attempts without an interception.

The Packers had some great chances to end that streak, and any one of those opportunities could have changed the course of the 23-20 loss.

Linebacker A.J. Hawk in the first half and cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson in the second half all had potential interceptions in their hands, but no one was able to pull one in.

"When the opportunity comes, we all like to jump on that opportunity, but sometimes it doesn't go your way," cornerback Patrick Dendy said. "We had more than three missed opportunities, but at the same time, next week we'll make those plays."

Harris' chance was the only one that looked like a sure pick, when he stepped in front of Torry Holt in the red zone and got both hands on the ball at eye level. A turnover there would have thwarted a Rams scoring drive, but instead St. Louis ..

Game Review: Rally Falls Just Short In 23-20 Loss To Rams

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:02:07 CST

The ball was supposed to drop into the arms of a Packers receiver in the end zone for the winning touchdown, or sail through the uprights for the tying field goal to send the game into overtime.

Instead, the ball popped loose.

With the Packers a tantalizing 11 yards from completing a rally from a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday, quarterback Brett Favre had the ball knocked from his hand by defensive end Leonard Little rushing off the edge.

The fumble was recovered by the Rams' Jerametrius Butler with 36 seconds left to silence the 70,804 anxious fans at Lambeau Field and preserve the Rams' 23-20 victory, sending the Packers into their bye week a maddeningly frustrating 1-4.

"To have a mishap on the last play of the game like that, it's tough to swallow," receiver Koren Robinson said.

Up until then, the Packers looked as though they'd be making the Rams swallow a tough one.

Down 23-13 midway thr..

AP Story: Rams Hold On To Defeat Packers 23-20

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 15:56:21 CST

The St. Louis Rams used to be the most stylish team in the NFL. Now they're winning ugly -- to the tune of a surprising 4-1 start.

The Rams staved off a fourth-quarter comeback attempt by Brett Favre and the Packers, walking away with a 23-20 victory at Lambeau Field after a big defensive play in the final minute.

"I don't think anyone would have predicted it," Rams quarterback Marc Bulger said.

What used to be the "Greatest Show on Turf" under former coach Mike Martz isn't much of a show at all under new coach Scott Linehan. But so far, Linehan's more conservative offensive approach is a hit.

"It's still a learning process, but it's working," wide receiver Torry Holt said. "We've got enough pros on the offensive side of the football that understand we want to win. It's not about the stats, the numbers you can put up on a weekly basis or what record chart you're moving up. It's about putting wins in the win column as the season goes."

1st Half Summary: Rams Take 14-13 Lead Into Locker Room

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Sun, 08 Oct 2006 13:23:42 CST

A back-and-forth first half ended with the Rams leading the Packers 14-13 on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Rams struck first thanks to a Packers turnover. Vernand Morency's fumble on Green Bay's first series was recovered by Victor Adeyanju, and the Rams scored on a 6-yard TD pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt.

The Packers answered with a 15-play, 80-yard touchdown drive featuring backup running back Noah Herron. Taking over for Morency, who nearly had a second fumble on the fifth play of the drive, Herron rushed seven times for 38 yards, taking it the final yard for the score with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

The Packers got some help on that drive from the Rams, who committed three penalties, including two on third downs (offsides, defensive holding) to give Green Bay first downs.

After the defense forced a three-and-out, the Packers took the lead. Brett Favre hit Greg Jennings for a 38-yard completion, and a personal foul penalty on the Rams'..

Notebook: Spitz Back In Starting Lineup

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:47:09 CST

For the first time since the season opener, rookie Jason Spitz will be back in the starting lineup on Sunday.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy said on Friday that Spitz would start at right guard against St. Louis while fellow rookie Daryn Colledge would start at left guard. Those are the spots those two held at the start of training camp, but Colledge was demoted after the first preseason game with Spitz moving to the left side and a third rookie, Tony Moll, stepping in at right guard.

But then Spitz sustained a severely bruised thigh in the season opener that kept him out of the next two games, putting Colledge back in at left guard. Spitz came off the bench last Monday in Philadelphia, rotating in for Moll at right guard, and has fully recovered now to take a starting spot back, though McCarthy said he would continue to rotate Moll in.
Meanwhile Colledge has played well enough to have reclaimed his original starting job.

"I think Daryn has done an excellent ..

Jennings' Consistency Belies His Youth

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Fri, 06 Oct 2006 15:45:41 CST

When Greg Jennings recorded just one catch for 5 yards in the season opener against the Bears, questions inevitably were raised.

Where was the Jennings that led the NFL in receiving yards in the preseason? Was this young, rising star going to suffer through the inconsistencies so many rookie receivers do, making a big impact one week and disappearing the next?

Well, it looks for now as though that first game was an aberration. Since being shut out by the Bears until catching that one pass on the second-to-last play of the game, Jennings has begun having the consistent impact in the passing game everyone thought he would after his dynamite preseason.

In his last three games, Jennings has 14 catches for 254 yards and two touchdowns. Jennings has topped 65 yards in receiving (a notable benchmark because 65 yards per game is essentially a 1,000-yard pace for a 16-game season) in three straight contests.

To put into perspective just how rare that is for..

Turnovers Will Be At Premium vs. Rams

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 12:25:55 CST

Despite the Packers' struggles giving up the big play, the defense has made a few big plays, too, and there's no denying that the turnovers the defense has produced have had a significant impact on the team's chances to win thus far in 2006.

Three straight turnovers on the Saints' first three possessions helped produce a 13-0 lead in Week 2. An interception returned for a touchdown proved to be the difference in a seven-point win over the Lions in Week 3. And two fumble recoveries near the goal-line helped Green Bay hold the halftime lead at Philadelphia last Monday.

But those turnovers may be harder to come by this week.

The St. Louis Rams have committed just three turnovers through four games, one of the lower totals in the league. Quarterback Marc Bulger has not thrown an interception in 141 pass attempts, and the offense has lost only three of five fumbles.

It's the surest sign of any that the 2006 Rams under first-year head coach Scott Linehan..

McDonald's Road Trip Visits Lambeau Sunday

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 12:04:57 CST

The McDonald's Road Trip Live Tour will get a taste of tailgating and Green Bay Packers football as it completes its nationwide journey on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Road Trip has been traveling to some of the nation's hottest events over the past 3 1/2 months. It features a two-person young adult team - Ruth and Ehren - traversing the country in the McDonald's RV and meeting other young adults and recording what they're doing, thinking and experiencing.

This weekend's stop is sure to partake in the Green Bay football tradition of tailgating as fans get fired up for the Sunday noon kickoff against the St. Louis Rams.

All the experiences are captured and produced into webisodes and blogs and featured on the official Road Trip Web site: www.roadtripmcdonalds.com. The Web site allows fans to read about the team's experiences, register for prizes, interact via blogging, and view fun and exciting vide..

Notebook: Packers Want Healthy Backfield Combo In Green, Morency

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:59:25 CST

With a healthy Ahman Green and a young Vernand Morency with one Packers start under his belt, Head Coach Mike McCarthy is hoping his team will have a strong "one-two punch" in the backfield the rest of the season.

McCarthy said Wednesday he expects Green's hamstring to be healed enough to allow him to play this weekend, noting he believes Green's hamstring troubles are a residual effect of coming off the severe quadriceps injury from last season.

But the first hamstring Green hurt two weeks ago appears to be all better now, and the second hamstring tweak continues to improve as well.

"Frankly I was surprised he didn't play Monday night," McCarthy said. "I'll be surprised if he doesn't go this week."

Even with Green's return, McCarthy still expects to use Morency on a regular basis after he battled for a tough 99 rushing yards against Philadelphia. He had a critical fumble, just like Green did in each of the previous two games, but McCarthy liked th..

Favre: Offense Needs To Gain Identity, Finish Drives

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 19:05:23 CST

Like he said during the preseason, quarterback Brett Favre reiterated on Wednesday that the offense is still struggling to find its identity.

But the Packers' leader believes once that identity defines itself, the offense will become more consistent at finishing drives.

The Packers had a frustrating time on Monday night in Philadelphia getting points on the board despite moving the ball fairly consistently. Green Bay gained 35 yards or more on seven possessions yet came away with just three field goals. The other four substantial drives ended in a missed field goal, a punt, an interception, and a turnover on downs at the goal line.

Factoring into that inconsistency is that the Packers haven't fully established what it is they do best on offense, Favre said, and finding something to rely on can help them take better advantage of their opportunities to score.

"What do we go to in certain situations?" Favre asked. "If we're up can we pound the ball at..

Cromwell's Unit "Special" In Every Sense of the Word

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:16:28 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

****

No one will ever forget the Green Bay Packers' playmaking offense and record-setting defense in 1996, which is understandable considering they helped bring the Lombardi Trophy home to Green Bay.

With playmakers such as Brett Favre, Antonio Freeman and Edgar Bennett moving the ball down the field on a consistent basis and Reggie White, Eugene Robinson, and LeRoy Butler preventing the opponent from doing just that, there are several reasons to fondly recall the team's dynamic offense and stingy defense.

However, it would be nearly impossible to forget about the excitement and game-changing plays the special teams we..

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

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 15:14:14 CST

Notebook: Bush Leading Candidate For Nickel

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 23:22:05 CST

With the release of Ahmad Carroll on Tuesday, it appears the Packers are leaning toward giving cornerback Jarrett Bush an opportunity to become the team's nickel defensive back.

Bush, a non-drafted rookie originally signed by Carolina, caught the Packers' attention during the preseason with the Panthers. Head Coach Mike McCarthy also said the Packers liked Bush coming out of Utah State, where he earned all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a senior.

When Carolina released Bush in its final roster reduction before Week 1, the Packers signed him the next day, and he has since been getting accustomed to Green Bay's bump-and-run coverage scheme for all its cornerbacks.

"I think he's getting more comfortable, coming from a different scheme," McCarthy said. "I had a chance to watch him in the preseason. I thought he was physical in the preseason, exerted himself a little more than you've seen since he's been here. But I think you're starting to see that now."..

Remmel: Memorable '82 Comeback Highlights Rams Series

By Lee Remmel, Team Historian — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 21:47:32 CST

As every card-carrying Packers aficionado well knows, Green Bay is the most titled team in the National Football League, with a dozen championships in hand.

In keeping with that imposing record, they also have a leg up on most of their rivals in their respective all-time series from the won-and-lost perspective...also known
as the bottom line.

The St. Louis Rams, the opponents at hand, however, are a notable exception to the "rule."

The Rams, who will be displaying their current wares in Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon, lead the all-time rivalry, having won 44 games - four more than the Packers - in a series that dates back to 1937, when Sunday's invaders were in their original home and known as the Cleveland Rams.

To the Packers' understandable chagrin, the Rams also own the distinction of having dealt the Green and Gold the most decisive defeat in their postseason history - a 45-17 verdict forged in a dismal playoff at St. Louis on Jan. 20, 20..

Notebook: Rayner Ties Franchise Record

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 03:56:50 CST

PHILADELPHIA -- Kicker Dave Rayner hit the first long field goal of his career and while he was at it landed in the Packers record book.

In the second quarter of Monday night's 31-9 loss at Philadelphia, Rayner nailed a 54-yarder, tying the franchise record for longest field goal. Chris Jacke had a 54-yarder on Jan. 2, 1994, at Detroit, and Ryan Longwell had one on Dec. 16, 2001, at Tennessee.

Coincidentally, the Packers lost both of those games as well.

But for Rayner, a second-year kicker who attempted and missed just one field goal as a rookie with Indianapolis (from 59 yards out), the effort was more about proving himself than getting a record. He had missed his first long test of this season, a 53-yarder against Chicago in Week 1.

"Obviously I've got a long way to go," Rayner said. "But I think that was a big thing, that nobody said that I had kicked any long field goals in games."

Rayner opened the game with a 23-yard field goal and ..

Game Review: Eagles' Quick Strikes Doom Packers

Mike Spofford, Packers.com — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 03:16:05 CST

PHILADELPHIA - The Packers kept the Eagles' big-play offense relatively quiet for 2 1/2 quarters on Monday night.

But all it took was a couple of quick strikes in the third quarter for Philadelphia to take control.

Donovan McNabb hit Greg Lewis on touchdown passes of 45 and 30 yards just 1 minute, 17 seconds apart, and the Eagles dropped the Packers to 1-3 with a 31-9 decision in front of 69,222 at Lincoln Financial Field.

"I really felt the second half came down to big plays," Head Coach Mike McCarthy said. "Big plays equal points. That was a key factor in the way the game got away from us in the second half."

A tight game unraveled quickly in the third quarter, which opened with the Eagles kicking a field goal to turn a 9-7 halftime deficit into a 10-9 lead. The Packers countered with their own field goal try to re-take the lead, but Dave Rayner was wide left from 54 yards.

That's when the Eagles' offense took flight.

They took ..

AP Story: McNabb Does It All in Eagles' 31-9 Win

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:03:20 CST

PHILADELPHIA - Donovan McNabb juked and jived the way he did early in his career. Brett Favre had a throwback night, too to his days of erratic interceptions. McNabb ran for two touchdowns and threw for a pair, leading the Philadelphia Eagles to a 31-9 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Favre, who has enjoyed many memorable moments on the national stage throughout his 16-year career, would like to forget this one. Favre misfired badly on several passes, including two interceptions that led to Philadelphia scores.

He left with a slight head injury late in the fourth quarter, but Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't think the injury was serious.

McNabb finished 16-of-30 for 288 yards and had 47 yards rushing. He scored on runs of 6 and 15 yards, and connected with Greg Lewis on TD passes of 45 and 30 yards.

"I decided to go back to my style of play,'' McNabb said, "and if the opportunity is there, take full advan..

Old Adage Rings True In Packers' Super Bowl-Winning Season

Nathan Hager, Packers.com — Sun, 01 Oct 2006 10:21:43 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

****

Defense wins championships.

If there's a statement that's spoken in football more than that one, you'd be hard-pressed to find it.

Coaches preach it as if it's gospel, players have it engrained into their heads the day they buckle their chin straps, and fans toss it around throughout the season as if it's a new phenomenon.

Call it a cliche, call it a broken record, call it whatever you want. But make no mistake about it, there's no question that defense does indeed win championships.

The Green Bay Packers 1996 season is proof of that.

On a unit that featured several household names such a..