July 2008 - Posts

• Fleischer visits Packers at training camp

  Posted Jul 31 2008, 04:47 PM by Green Bay Railbird Central
  
  

  Just in time for the media circus that will be rolling into town when Brett Favre comes to Packers training camp, the Packers got a visit today from former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.
  
  It's been customary for the Packers to have guest speakers talk to the team on their scheduled off days. Fleischer's visit couldn't come at a better time as nearly every player, coach, and other personnel will be asked their opinion on the Favre situation.
  
  According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "Head coach Mike McCarthy swears Fleischer was booked far in advance, but he noted, 'We'll get our money's worth.'"
  
  Favre is supposedly on his way into town ready on a plane ready to touch ground in Green Bay Thursday evening reports the Press-Gazette.

  Photo credit: whitehousepresscorps.org

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• Garcia's injury fuels Favre fire

  Posted Jul 31 2008, 11:32 AM by Green Bay Railbird Central
  
  

  Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia suffered an injury to his right calf, which forced him to be carted off the field Thursday at the Bucs' training camp practice.

  
  

  The injury only adds to the speculation that the Buccaneers may trade for Brett Favre with the Green Bay Packers despite Tampa Bay head coach Jon Gruden downplaying the severity of Garcia's injury.

  
  

  "I don't believe it's serious," Gruden told the St. Petersburg Times. "We're going to get the information. He might not have much at all. Right now, until we evaluate it further, we really can't say much else."

  
  

  It's hard to tell where the injury is at. Reporters in Florida are pointing out that Garcia couldn't put any weight on his leg. And it's possible that Gruden just doesn't want to drive up Favre's trade value by insisting the injury isn't that serious.

  
  

  Garcia's injury is only the latest on the Favre situation that moves faster than most people can keep up.

  
  

  Other late breaking news is that the Packers have supposedly had internal discussions regarding possibly trading Favre to NFC Central divison rivals Minnesota Vikings or Chicago Bears.

  
  

  "Although it has appeared to be quiet on the trading front in the last week, a deal with either team is far from dead," reports the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "The Packers have had ongoing talks with both teams as recently as this week."

  
  

  Again, it's hard to tell how much stock to put into information like this. Unsubstantiated rumors from anonymous sources might serve only to drive Favre's trade value up as much as possible.

  
  

  Other news from yesterday included the Packers supposedly offering Favre up to $20 million over the course of 10 years to stay retired.

  
  

  Pete Dougerty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports, "Though NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is waiting at least one more day to reinstate Brett Favre, neither that extra time nor a $20 million offer from the team to stay retired will resolve the Green Bay Packers’ impasse with their record-setting quarterback or prevent him from reporting to training camp."

  
  

  This comes on the heels of Packers president/CEO Mark Murphy who traveled all the way down to Hattiesburg, Miss. to meet with both Favre and his agent James "Bus" Cook.

  
  

  Cook has also suggested that Favre could arrive at the Packers' camp as early as Friday.

  
  

  So that's the latest. Stay tuned for more information as it happens.

  Photo credit: Brian Cassela for the St. Petersburg Times

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  Filed under: Brett Favre, Bus Cook, Mark Murphy, trade

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• Can Packers swing trade for defensive tackle?

  Posted Jul 30 2008, 08:56 AM by Green Bay Railbird Central
  
  

  With Justin Harrell on the physicall unable to perform list, Ryan Pickett not practicing, Corey Williams gone via trade, Johnny Jolly having legal issues, and Colin Cole and Daniel Muir missing time during OTAs because of injuries, the Green Bay Packers are a little thin at defensive tackle.
  
  You may remember a little known trade back in 2006 when the Packers traded training camp body and cornerback Therrian Fontenot for another training camp body and wide receiver in Carlton Brewster.
  
  Neither player contributed much, but the Packers knew that Fontenot was expendable and wasn't going to make their roster, so they took a chance on Brewster who they thought could have some value as a return man.
  
  Maybe the Packers could swing another minor trade to get some depth along the defensive line if nothing else. After all, they have tons of good, young talent at wide receiver. Some team looking for a possible play maker that currently has a defensive tackle with potential could be interested.
  
  Just yesterday, undrafted rookie Taj Smith stood out at Packers practice.
  
  "Undrafted rookie WR Taj Smith was invisible throughout offseason practices, but he stood out today," reports Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "First, during the blitz drill, he had a great, sliding catch on a beautiful touch pass from Rodgers down the right sideline, just beyond Bush. In 7-on-7, Rodgers made another good throw and hit Smith down the left sideline on a go route. Smith finished with three catches in team drills, all from Rodgers."
  
  In addition, undrafted rookie Jake Allen's talents have praised here on Railbird Central back during minicamp. The Packers have ten wide receivers on their roster and not all of them are going to make the final 53 man roster even if most of them deserve it.
  
  The Packers should look to trade for defensive tackle depth even if the player they trade for doesn't end up making the final roster. Maybe they'll unearth a diamond in the rough.

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  Filed under: Jake Allen, Taj Smith

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• Packers make correct move releasing Peterson

  Posted Jul 30 2008, 07:59 AM by Green Bay Railbird Central
  When the Green Bay Packers had to trim down their roster to the maximum 80 players under contract, they had some tough moves to make.
  
  Among them was releasing tight end Michael Peterson, one of six tight ends on the roster. The Packers certainly could get by with five tight ends during training camp, but they had to outbid several teams for Peterson's services and give him a signing bonus, which is gone for good.
  
  But they seem to have found some viable options at the position in the other undrafted rookies they've brought into camp, namely Evan Moore and Joey Haynos.
  
  "Rookie TE Evan Moore had a couple of head-turning plays," reports Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Wednesday's practice. "He beat Abdul Hodge down the seam for a catch during 7-on-7 passing drills, and he made a nifty, one-handed grab in traffic on a low throw from Rodgers during a team period."
  
  The Packers only were able to sign Moore once the New Orleans Saints released him. Makes you wonder why they cut him so early.
  
  Also, Haynos is quietly doing enough in camp for the Packer coaches to give him some chances to prove himself.
  
  "During the last team period, FB Ryan Powdrell and TEs Joey Haynos and Jermichael Finley opened with the starters," wrote Pelissero last night.
  
  Moore and Peterson would likely be the third tight end at best if the Packers decide to keep either one of them. Maybe a more likely option would be on the practice squad. But it might be interesting to watch if they're put on any special teams units if you go to practice. If they're in contention for the third tight end job, they had better add more value by becoming special teams players as well as offensive threats.

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  Filed under: Evan Moore, Joey Haynos, Michael Peterson

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• New additions to Packer injury report

  Posted Jul 30 2008, 07:33 AM by Green Bay Railbird Central
  Defensive tackle Justin Harrell has been placed on the physically unable to perform list according to the transaction wire that is sent to all 32 teams.
  
  "The Packers did not announce the move to reporters, but Harrell is on the PUP list on which players count against the 80-man roster," reports the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
  
  Harrell likely will remain there until the Packers determine his future with the team. It's already been rumored that he'll miss at least the Family Night scrimmage on Sunday and the team's first preseason game.
  
  Both defensive tackle Ryan Pickett and safety Aaron Rouse were on the non-football injury list, though there doesn't seem to be much to worry about. Rouse has taken part in every practice so far. Supposedly he has a back issue, but nobody has noted that anything has looked out of place with him at training camp.
  
  As for Pickett, he hasn't practiced. But he didn't at the beginning of training camp last year either. Once he came back, he was his usual, solid self. Expect the same this year.
  
  Cornerback Tramon Williams also has a sore hip flexor, but it wasn't reported that he was listed on any injury report. Williams likely will sit out today's practices and tomorrow's scheduled day off, but he's reported to be hopeful to play in Sunday's scrimmage.

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  Filed under: Aaron Rouse, Justin Harrell, Ryan Pickett

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