March 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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In the first sign that safety Nick Collins and the Green Bay Packers may be moving toward a long-term contract agreement, Collins has signed his restricted free agent tender, according to his agent, Alan Herman. In what Herman called a good faith gesture aimed at kindling negotiations, Collins took himself off the free agent market by signing the one-year, $3.3 million offer. Reached Tuesday morning, Herman reiterated comments he made to the Journal Sentinel at the scouting combine last month that he was optimistic the two sides could reach a deal soon. Though he wouldn't characterize an agreement with the Packers as imminent, he said he felt Collins' gesture could provide the impetus to ..."
February 27
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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If the Green Bay Packers truly want to re-sign outside linebacker Aaron Kampman, left tackle Chad Clifton and right tackle Mark Tauscher, they might have to pay considerably more than they anticipated. Agents for the three soon-to-be unrestricted free agents said that they've had conversations with the Packers, but there were no indications deals were on the horizon. "A week is a long time," said Jimmy Sexton, Clifton's agent. "A lot can change." It's a foregone conclusion that 2010 will be an uncapped year in the National Football League. With the threshold for free-agency eligibility increasing to six seasons, this appears to be the weakest group of available players since free agency ..."
February 24
Green Bay Press Gazette
columnist Mike Vandermause
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If you believe the pundits, Aaron Kampman's career with the Green Bay Packers is finished. He is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next week. He's coming off a major knee injury. He's supposedly not a good fit for the Packers' 3-4 defense. If you try hard enough, you can come up with plenty of reasons why Kampman will likely find a new employer after spending eight years in Green Bay. But there are just as many factors, maybe more, why the Packers should keep him, and why it would be a big mistake to let Kampman get away without a fight. Like most NFL teams, the Packers are desperate for a pass rusher. In particular they need someone solid at left outside linebacker to ..."
January 15
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Before the Green Bay Packers can start riding a wave of optimism into the 2010 season, they may have to navigate some rough waters this off-season. There is uneasiness everywhere in the NFL due to an impending end to the salary cap and a significant change in the rules of free agency. In Green Bay, it is pronounced because of the large number of players whose contracts expire, and it threatens to ruffle the transition into next season. "There is uncertainty there, and that makes personnel decisions even harder," coach Mike McCarthy said in his season-ending news conference. "So we'll just continue to work through it and obviously always make the best decisions in the best interests of our ..."
January 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Cornerback Charles Woodson (shoulder) took part in the walk-through but did not do any individual or team drills. Coach Mike McCarthy said his injury is no worse than it has been the second half of the season after aggravating it against the Cardinals. "I don't anticipate Charles' shoulder to be an issue come Sunday," McCarthy said. "His plan for work is in line with what he's done here the last 10 weeks.""
December 16
Green Bay Press Gazette
columnist Mike Vandermause
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Ted Thompson, the general manager of the Green Bay Packers, needs to open the team's vault, pull out the corporate checkbook, grab his favorite gold-plated ballpoint pen, find the place where it says "Pay to the order of" and fill in the name of safety Nick Collins. It's time to pay Collins what he's worth. Based on his Pro Bowl-caliber play over the past two seasons, Collins deserves a huge raise and should rank near the top of the NFL pay scale for safeties. Collins has given the Packers five of the best football years of his life, and it's time for the team to reward him with a lucrative new contract. So what are the Packers waiting for? Collins is second in the NFL with 13 ..."
December 6
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Packers also got good news at left tackle, as starter Chad Clifton appears to be on track to start Monday night after being declared probable for the game. "Chad was limited (in practice), could have probably done more, but I feel very good the way he came out of the week," coach Mike McCarthy said. "The way he responded to his work (Friday) was definitely a positive. We'll see how the next 50 hours goes, but it looks like he has a chance to be ready to go. I feel better about him than I did two days ago.""
December 5
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Linebacker Jeremy Thompson's season and perhaps even his career might be in jeopardy after his latest neck injury sent him to a Green Bay hospital via ambulance Friday. Thompson suffered a neck sprain near the end of practice on Nitschke Field. He was treated and tested at St. Vincent Hospital, then was kept overnight at Bellin Hospital for further evaluation. In a news release, the Packers said Thompson suffered no loss of consciousness and had no paralysis at any time. Thompson was taking a few snaps with the No. 1 defense when he hit running back Kregg Lumpkin in the hole during a full-contact but no-tackle play. "I didn't lower my head or anything but it was kind of like his head hit ..."
November 26
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Next man up. It's a mantra preached by Packers coach Mike McCarthy on a regular basis. Now, we'll find out if Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, Brad Jones and several other members of Green Bay's defense are ready for the challenge. The Packers defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 30-24, Sunday in a key NFC battle. In the process, though, Green Bay lost linebacker Aaron Kampman and cornerback Al Harris for the rest of the season with torn anterior cruciate ligaments. Both Kampman and Harris have played in two Pro Bowls and are two of the leaders on Green Bay's defense. So replacing them will perhaps be the Packers' biggest challenge of 2009. "Injuries have kind of fallen upon us," McCarthy said. ..."
November 26
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
columnist Bob McGinn
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It's almost as if the football gods stopped to consider the rose-covered path the Green Bay Packers have to the playoffs this season and decided to send a dose of adversity their way. That easy schedule leading to the postseason became appreciably more difficult Sunday when linebacker Aaron Kampman and cornerback Al Harris suffered season-ending left knee injuries within the span of half an hour at Lambeau Field. Old-timers with better memories than mine say you have to go back to Vince Lombardi's last season to find a game in which the Packers suffered two more devastating injuries on the same day. Against Baltimore in early November 1967, halfback Elijah Pitts blew out his Achilles' and ..."
November 26
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The play appeared all but over. Packers running back Ryan Grant and his teammates were trying to run out the clock against San Francisco late Sunday afternoon. With the Packers clinging to a 30-24 lead, they sent Grant between center Scott Wells and right guard Josh Sitton on a first-down call. Grant banged into a bevy of 49ers, and it wouldn't have been shocking to hear a whistle halt play. Instead, Grant never stopped moving his legs, bounced around the left edge and rumbled for 21 yards. That play was a microcosm of Grant's terrific afternoon. Grant carried 21 times for 129 yards - his second-highest output of the year - and also scored a touchdown to help lift the Packers to a critical ..."
November 26
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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If it all ended today for the everyman lineman in an everyman town, Green Bay Packers tackle Mark Tauscher wouldn't regret coming back this season. It's hard to imagine that a couple more games under his belt would be worth 10 months of grueling rehabilitation, lingering uncertainty and self-inflicted isolation, all the result of a knee injury he had to do war with for a second time. But like all those who have found some peace in their life this Thanksgiving Day, Tauscher is thankful for what he's got. "When you get injured, you really look at things differently," Tauscher said this week while preparing for Thursday's matchup between the Packers and Detroit Lions. "You get a better ..."
November 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Figuring their main position of need was cornerback heading into the Detroit Lions game Thanksgiving Day, the Green Bay Packers signed former Denver Broncos corner Josh Bell. The Packers worked him out Monday and were impressed enough to offer him a two-year deal, his agent, Fred Lyles,said Monday night. The 5-11, 180-pound Bell is expected to be at practice Tuesday and probably will be active for the Lions game. "I think that's the plan," Lyles said. "He's on the 53. I don't think they'd put him on the 53 if they weren't going to play him." Bell, a second-year pro, provides insurance in the secondary after the loss of veteran cornerback Al Harris to a season-ending knee injury. Last year, ..."
November 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Almost as though it was from a lighting bolt in the sky, two valuable members of the Green Bay Packers went down Sunday, struck with the same brutal, season-ending injury that is every player's worst nightmare. On two plays that could turn the Packers' potentially promising season on its ear, linebacker Aaron Kampman and cornerback Al Harris suffered torn anterior cruciate ligaments in their left knees. Lambeau Field has been home to both players for quite some time, but it was their enemy Sunday. Both players suffered almost no contact when their knees gave out. Neither injury was confirmed by the team, but a league source affirmed that the preliminary diagnosis was the dreaded ACL tear ..."
November 19
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Quarterback Brian Brohm is no longer a member of the Green Bay Packers' organization. And this time that was his choice. On the practice squad since being cut by the Packers at the final roster trim before the regular season, Brohm was signed Wednesday night by the Buffalo Bills to their active roster, a source said. The Packers had an open roster spot after waiving wide receiver Jake Allen and attempted to retain Brohm by offering the same two-year deal as the Bills did. But in the end, the Packers' second-round pick in 2008 thought it best to go to a team searching for a quarterback, not stay on one that has its long-term answer at the position in Aaron Rodgers. Brohm also gets a chance ..."
October 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher took a big step toward getting back on the football field when he began taking part in full team drills at practice this week. Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy revealed Thursday that Tauscher was practicing in full this week, including the day's full pads workout. Last week, Tauscher was limited to individual drills, and the plan this week was scheduled to be the same, but Tauscher felt he was ready and was given a chance to show what he has. "He's been through this before with knee surgery and coming back, just based on taking in all the information and taking it day by day," McCarthy said after practice. "He's had two days where he's participated ..."
October 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Has running back Ahman Green agreed to a deal to return to the Green Bay Packers? Depends on whom you talk to. Radio station 1250-AM reported Tuesday afternoon that Green had a contract in place with the Packers, the team he starred with from 2000-'06. But his agent denied the report and said a deal is not yet certain. "Nothing's happened," Branion said via email Tuesday. "Don't know if anything will happen (Wednesday), either." But according to two of Green's former Packers teammates, who wished to remain anonymous, Green told them there was a deal in place, he had received a playbook and he was headed to Lambeau Field to begin studying Tuesday afternoon."
October 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Green Bay Packers weren't willing to offer running back Ahman Green the money he wanted when he became a free agent in 2007, but two years later they might have something for him. Seeking a chance to return to the NFL after a failed relationship with the Houston Texans, Green, 32, worked out for Packers personnel officials Monday morning. Also taking part in the workout was veteran running back Dominic Rhodes, according to a source with access to the NFL's transaction wire. Depending on a couple of unresolved issues, the Packers could very well hold a ticket back into the NFL for Green, the second all-time leading rusher in Packers history with 7,103 yards. Neither he nor Rhodes was ..."
October 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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When the Green Bay Packers line up against the Detroit Lions on Oct. 18, they could have their old offensive line back together. Yes, Chad Clifton should be back from a right ankle sprain, but Mark Tauscher, the team's starting right tackle from 2000-'08, also could be available. Tauscher, 10 months removed from surgery on his left knee, worked out for the Packers on Tuesday and appears close to signing a contract. According to a source familiar with the situation, the two sides were working on the financial terms of a contract that would bring Tauscher back to the only team he has ever played for. Tauscher became a free agent after last season and has remained so through this season. ..."
September 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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The Green Bay Packers have been shopping several players heading into the deadline for mandatory roster cuts Saturday. Several league personnel sources said that among the players the Packers have been shopping are tackle Tony Moll and safeties Charlie Peprah and Aaron Rouse. All three would be candidates to be released when the Packers have to trim their roster from 75 to 53. It's not unusual for the Packers to make calls around the league to see if there would be interest in making a trade. Their hope would be that a team low on the waiver priority list would want one of the players they're offering and be willing to trade a draft pick to cut in front of the other teams. At least two ..."
August 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
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Make no mistake about it, the Green Bay Packers have done enough research on controversial quarterback Michael Vick to decide whether he would be a good fit for their team. But researching him and signing him are two completely different marks on the level-of-interest scale and, as of right now, sources say, the Packers are in a holding pattern, intrigued by the possibility of adding a premier athlete but nowhere near the stage where they feel it necessary to pursue him. Like a handful of NFL teams, the Packers have dug fairly deep into Vick's background - reportedly even interviewing him - following commissioner Roger Goodell's decision to conditionally reinstate him to the league on July ..."