The offseason strength and conditioning program began for many of the team's younger players on Monday, March 17, giving Packers.com a chance to catch up with a few guys to get their thoughts on the past season, next season, and what they've been up to in between.
Kicker Mason Crosby enjoyed a dynamite rookie season, leading the league in scoring with 141 points, becoming the first rookie to capture the scoring title since 1985. He made 31-of-39 field goals and all 48 extra points. He also set a franchise record for points in a season by a kicker, surpassing Ryan Longwell's 131 points in 2000, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors in November along the way.
Here's what Crosby had to say …
How does it feel to be back?
It's good. It's kind of different, just thinking we're going to be lifting and working out. It's a new feel, with a bunch of the young guys here working out the first two weeks. It's good though. I was getting ready to get back and get in the groove of things.
Looking back, can you describe the emotions of losing the NFC Championship?
It was hard. All of a sudden it was done and we were on our own. I was so used to college, when the season's over and you know you still have school in the spring. So it was weird. I didn't know what to do with myself for a little while. I just kept working out, traveling around. So I feel good being back. It's been a good time off, and I'm ready to have that routine again.
What did you do to help get over it, recover from it?
I just tried to shut down, not think about football for a week. 'All right, it's done,' and you have to regroup, and now it's starting for next season. We're already in the new year, getting ready for next year. You take a week to say football is over for right now, and you build back up to coming back and getting ready to go. Right now it's just going to be lifting and running and getting back into shape, and I look forward to that, just getting the legs stronger and getting ready for next year.
How did it feel to see the Giants win the Super Bowl?
Obviously they had the system, they had something going where they weren't going to be denied. They put it together one more game. There's always that story that it's good to see the team you lose to win it all, but it kind of hurt, because you see that and we knew we should have been there, playing for that game, and I think we would have been in the same position.
What have you been up to during the offseason?
I went to Boulder the week after the game. I drove with a buddy out there, and that was nice to clear your mind with a long drive. I was in Boulder for a couple days and then I flew down to Texas, spent time with my family for a couple weeks. Then back to Boulder for another couple of weeks. I was in and out of Green Bay, coming back for Fan Fest. I kind of feel like I have three homes now – Green Bay, Boulder and Texas. I just made the circuit and spent a little time at each spot.
What's been the biggest highlight for you since the season ended?
Probably this last week. I went back home down to Texas, and an English soccer team comes in every year to my hometown. I was able to spend some time with them. They're a youth team, but that was a cool experience spending time with people from over in England. I've never really gotten to spend a lot of time with them individually before.
So did you play any soccer?
No, I didn't play. They come to America for a tournament in Dallas every year, an international tournament. They come for two weeks before to get acclimated, and then they go up to Dallas and play. They were an under-19 team, and we took them around. They played some matches and I got to watch. It was pretty enjoyable and relaxing.
If you had to grade yourself on your 2007 season, what grade would you give yourself?
That's a tough one. I didn't reach all my goals necessarily, so I'd probably say B-plus, something like that. I try to have high standards for myself, so now that this season is behind me, there are standards for next year. I'll have to get that percentage a little higher, but I have a mark and now it's time to build on that.
{sportsad300}What's your biggest focus for the offseason program?
Just to keep getting flexibility, get in shape, running and lifting-wise. I just have to keep that leg strength up, work on that, and I'll work on my footwork and technique to the ball. I want to make sure I make good contact every time. That's kind of the mindset. We're not going to kick a lot early on right now, but it's one of those I can keep working on my footwork and my steps and make sure whenever we start hitting the ball that I'm hitting it consistently. Just the timing of the whole thing.
What was your personal favorite moment of last season, on or off the field?
On the field it had to be the game-winner that first game. Just starting off that way was unbelievable. Personally, my off-the-field thing was getting engaged. That was pretty exciting. It's nice being able to know I'll have some stability there.
When's the wedding?
It's in June, the end of June, right after all the mini-camps and stuff.
What are you most looking forward to about 2008? I imagine the wedding is pretty high on the list …
Yeah, that's pretty high obviously. Personally, that's probably the biggest thing right now. My brother is graduating from high school, and that's pretty important to me and my family and everything. Otherwise, I think just going into next year, competing and making the team again and making sure I've improved from last year. That's probably my biggest thing, is making sure I set some good, solid goals and try to reach those.
