*Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.*
THIS WEEK'S NOTABLE STORYLINES:
Mastering the fundamentals requires not only practice with the group but also dedication within each individual. Any opportunity to focus on fundamentals, mentally or physically, strengthens the foundation already in place. That's the Packers' focus this week.
-The Packers (1-4) enter their bye weekend with the bittersweet feeling of knowing they could have a winning record had they capitalized on several opportunities in their losses.
-Green Bay's annual open weekend this year is in Week 6 for the second straight season.
-After the bye, three of the next four games are on the road.
-Green Bay, with the youngest roster in the NFL, hopes that much of its kinetic athletic talent that now has five games of experience can mature into much more positive results during the "second half."
-As with any team during any bye week, the Packers will use the weekend to rest several injured players. Six injured starters and a handful of key backups will no doubt benefit from a week off.
NOTE OF THE WEEK:
Noah Herron's 106 yards rushing on Sunday were notable not only because the effort was Herron's first 100-yard game in the NFL, but also because he came off the bench.
-According to Elias Sports Bureau, over the past 20 years only four Packers players have rushed for a higher total in a game they did not start:
118 yds - Brent Fullwood - 10/09/88 vs. NE - 14 att., 8.4 avg., 3 TD
113 yds - De'Mond Parker - 12/05/99 at Chi - 19 att., 5.9 avg., 2 TD
111 yds - Darick Holmes - 11/15/98 at NYG - 27 att., 4.1 avg., 1 TD
Samkon Gado - 11/27/05 at Phi - 26 att., 4.1 avg., 1TD
106 yds - Noah Herron 10/08/06 vs. StL - 20 att., 5.3 avg., 1 TD
HAPPY BIRTHDAY:
In what could be a statewide holiday at some point in the future, today marks Brett Favre's 37th birthday. The future Hall of Famer was born Oct. 10, 1969, in Gulfport, Miss.
-Favre's arm, the oldest among starting NFL quarterbacks, has thrown more passes this year (203) than any player. Last season, Favre led the NFL in attempts and completions, closing the season at 36 years, 83 days old. According to Elias Sports Bureau, he was one of the oldest passers in league history to pace the NFL in those categories:
-Oldest to lead NFL, passing attempts (age on last game of season):
1978: Fran Tarkenton, Min. - 38 yrs. 317 days
2000: Vinny Testaverde, NYJ - 37 yrs. 41 days
2002: Rich Gannon, Oak. - 37 yrs. 8 days
1997: Dan Marino, Mia. - 36 yrs. 98 days
2005: Brett Favre, GB - 36 yrs. 83 days
-Oldest to lead NFL, completions (age on last game of season):
1995: Warren Moon Min. - 39 yrs. 36 days
1978: Fran Tarkenton, Min. - 38 yrs. 317 days
2002: Rich Gannon, Oak. - 37 yrs. 8 days
1976: Fran Tarkenton, Min. - 36 yrs. 312 days
1997: Dan Marino, Mia. - 36 yrs. 98 days
2005: Brett Favre, GB - 36 yrs. 83 days
MAKING PLAY AT CRITICAL TIME IS FINAL HURDLE:
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 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, was wide open in the end zone. But Favre had no chance to step up in the pocket, avoid defensive end Leonard Little coming around the edge and make the throw because the Rams' Jimmy Kennedy had beaten the interior of the line with a twist move. Little reached around and knocked the ball out of Favre's hand just before Kennedy hit him.
-"If we pick up that twist, we're not even talking about this right now," offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said.
-But that's essentially life in the NFL. As Favre noted in his post-game news conference on Sunday, every opportunity to score or make a big play is important because you never know if it will be your last chance that day.
-And as Sunday's result proved, failing to take advantage of your best opportunity to win can simultaneously become the opportunity your opponent needs to beat you.
-"We're sitting there with the tie playing to win, and we didn't come out with either," McCarthy said. "We need to make a play there."
