Jersey Al's Packers Blog

Weekly Packers News from Twitter and other Sources by Al Bracco and Holly Phelps. (As heard on Cheesehead Radio. 8/12/10 )

Packers News – 8/5/10 – 8/12/10

Al: Packers coach Mike McCarthy was pretty vocal this week in giving out both praise and criticism. He talked up AJ Hawk for his scrimmage performance and for having an excellent camp in general. At the same time, he was unusually candid about Jarius Wynn, saying Wynn has just been OK and needs to step it up. Not surprisingly, Wynn was seen winning a lot of his one-on-one matchups during the next practice. And thanks to Greg Bedard, you can watch it after the show on jsonline.com, including Wynn’s pancake of Chris Campbell.

{Holly:I guess he got the message.}

Holly: And speaking of motivational factors, Donald Driver has a lot more to play for these days, as in another two years on his contract. The Packers extended Driver’s deal through the 2012 season, prompting Driver to say he wants to prove the Packers right and then retire as a Green Bay Packer.  Read more... (865 words + 6 images, estimated 3:28 mins reading time)

While the Green Bay Packers are still in the early stages of training camp, I usually like to pay more attention to the second units. This seems especially true this year, as there aren’t many starting spots up for grabs (left guard and fullback, maybe).

So my interest then turns to who will be called upon to save the day in case of injury to a Packers starter. To that end, I fired up the Family Night scrimmage on the DVR and put the old slow motion remote to use. Time for a little dissection by DVR.

Some observations…  Read more... (823 words + 6 images, estimated 3:18 mins reading time)

Call him the Florida Flash.  By now, most Packers fans know that Sam Shields can outright fly. Shields himself knows that putting that speed to use on the playing field will be his ticket to outpace other candidates for a spot on the 53-man roster. Let’s just say that after his 98 yard interception at the family night scrimmage, Shields has made a good first impression.

I generally like to do my undrafted free agent evaluations before training camp starts, so I can make more of a “blind”  evaluation uninfluenced by camp performances (I like the challenge). While in the previous weeks I covered the wide receivers, running backs and offensive linemen free agents, there just hasn’t been time to get to the defensive UDFAs.

But there are a couple of defensive UDFAs in camp that are worthy of a “better late than never” evaluation, and we’ll start with Sam Shields.  Read more... (1074 words + 6 images, estimated 4:18 mins reading time)

Weekly Packers News from Twitter and other Sources by Al Bracco and Holly Phelps. (As heard on Cheesehead Radio. 8/5/10 )

Packers News – 7/30/10 – 8/5/10

AL: As I predicted on last week’s show, the Packers signed Bryan Bulaga the day after the shareholders meeting. Bulaga signed a 5-year contract, 15 million dollar contract, with almost 9 million in guaranteed money.  To make room for Bulaga, the Packers cut linebacker John Russell.

{Holly: Great to see that the Packers have all their ducks in a row.}

HOLLY: Not all smooth sailing as the Packers opened their first day of training camp, though — three players failed their required physicals.  As expected, Al Harris is not ready yet but getting close.  Also surprisingly, rookie James Starks is still suffering from the hamstring issue that bothered him during OTAs.  The big shocker, of course, was safety Atari Bigby.  After refusing to sign his (reduced) tender until the day before camp, Bigby shows up on day one with an ankle injury.  Bigby claims it was fine all summer and that he hurt it during the conditioning test.  We should note that, after seeing a doctor in North Carolina, Atari’s scheduled for surgery, again, and will likely be out at least a few weeks.  Read more... (1182 words + 10 images, estimated 4:44 mins reading time)

After several years and much hard work, the Green Bay Packers and Mason Crosby today found the answer to his kicking problems – no defense. Yes, it seems that with no rush, Crosby is just fine, thank you.

Without a rush, Crosby was able to go five for five in field goals attempts at Tuesday night’s practice. When the Packers went to their full-team two minute drills, Crosby was given the opportunity to “win the game” with a last second 39 yard field goal. Of course, he missed.

Sadly, that wasn’t the shocking part. What ensued is fairly incredible. The Packers allowed Crosby to line up and take the kick again, but this time with NO DEFENSE. And of course, Crosby makes it.

Believe it or not, I’m not here to kill Mason Crosby. He’s certainly trying his best (we hope). No, I’m here to kill the Packers’ coaching staff and how they have handled Crosby. They have pandered to Crosby like he’s their supermodel girlfriend. Anything he wants. Anyway he wants it. No competition. Nobody to push his sorry ass and make him fight for his job.  Read more... (458 words + 6 images, estimated 1:50 mins reading time)

Computer Security experts today are warning the public of a nefarious computer worm that has infected millions of computers. First identified in the wild a year ago, and dubbed the “Brett Favre” virus, this nasty piece of malware spams your computer with false and exaggerated Brett Favre content.

Favre news stories, articles, videos, blog posts, board posts—everywhere you surf, this virus will inundate you with everything Brett Favre. Has Brett Favre really retired? Will the Vikings offer him more money? Will Brad Childress be his personal chauffeur? Will he come back to “stick it” to Ted Thompson?

Will he play for the Vikings? Is he meeting with Brad Childress? Is he mowing his lawn? Evidently this virus has conjured up thousands of topics regarding Brett Favre and spread these alleged “articles” throughout the Internet.  Read more... (525 words + 6 images, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)

Just about any Packers fan knows (and laments about) how Green Bay kept 3 fullbacks on the 2009 roster. Could tight end be the position for roster overcrowding in 2010? As I mentioned on Cheesehead Radio last week, I think there’s a decent chance. Let me expand on that thought…

In 2009, the Packers selected Quinn Johnson in the 5th round of the NFL draft. Johnson had a hot and cold college career, but was unquestionably looked at as a physical specimen with athletic ability and raw talent that will require some time to develop.

In 2010, the Packers selected Andrew Quarless in the 5th round of the NFL draft. Quarless had a hot and cold college career, but was unquestionably looked at as an immature kid with athletic ability and raw talent that will require some time to develop.

Sound familiar?  Read more... (731 words + 6 images, estimated 2:55 mins reading time)