February 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Though the NFL has not released exact figures on the 2012 salary cap limit, all indications are that the number will remain flat this year. That means teams can expect the salary cap to be around $120 million again. In the case of the Green Bay Packers, that's not all bad news. According to a source with access to NFL salary information, the Packers have $113,356,169 dedicated to their '12 salary cap, leaving them roughly $7 million to deal with free agents like TE Jermichael Finley, C Scott Wells, RB Ryan Grant and CB Jarrett Bush. That's not a bad position to be in given that the Packers have 63 players under contract. Only the top 51 count against the cap, a total which reaches roughly"
January 26
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"
Matt Flynn to the Miami Dolphins? Aaron Rodgers thinks it's a "strong possibility." In fact, Rodgers on Wednesday told a Milwaukee radio station he sees the Dolphins and the Seattle Seahawks as the "two top dogs" in the race for the talented backup, expected to become an unrestricted free agent in March. This is based on a conversation with Flynn "in the last few days," Rodgers said of his backup quarterback in Green Bay the past four years. "I think it's a strong possibility that [the Dolphins] would make a run at him," Rodgers said during his weekly appearance on ESPN Milwaukee. "I think it kind of makes sense. Joe [Philbin] in that system, which I'm sure is going to be very similar to"
January 21
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"
The Miami Dolphins have hired Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin as the franchise's 10th head coach. Philbin was chosen over finalists Mike McCoy, offensive coordinator in Denver, and Todd Bowles, the Dolphins secondary coach, who was named interim head coach when Tony Sparano was fired with three games left in the season. The three were interviewed for a second time this week after Jeff Fisher spurned the Dolphins for the head coach job in St. Louis. "Joe has all the attributes that we were looking for when we started this process," Dolphins owner Steve Ross said about his decision. "(General Manager) Jeff Ireland and I felt Joe was the right choice to bring the Dolphins"
January 20
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
"
Miami Dolphins owner Steve Ross makes no secret about the fact he covets a sexy, high scoring offense for his franchise. His first official football hire will go a long way towards moving in that direction because Ross completed his 38-day coaching search by hiring Joe Philbin, according to a team source. The Dolphins are expected to announce the hiring of the franchise's 10th head coach on Saturday. Philbin's spent the past five years as the architect of the Green Bay Packer's west coast style offense, which has ranked in the top eight in total yards and the top five in total points each of the five years."
January 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The end may be near for Donald Driver in Green Bay. And he knows it. He's not living in delusion, not getting desperate. No, when the Green Bay Packers wide receiver stood at his locker Monday morning - the hangover from a 37-20 loss to the New York Giants still throbbing for all players - he was honest, practical. Does he plan to retire? No. Do the Packers want him back? Not sure. Is he willing to play elsewhere? You bet. "If the Packers don't want me, I've got to go somewhere else and play," Driver said. "I don't have a choice. I'm not ready to hang the cleats up. My wife feels like I still got it. I feel like I still got it. If my family feels that way, then I'm going to continue to"
January 15
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Green Bay Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin will be at work Sunday for a divisional playoff game against the New York Giants at Lambeau Field, CBS reported Saturday night. During the halftime show of the Denver Broncos-New England Patriots game, a report from correspondent Leslie Visser was read in which Visser said coach Mike McCarthy told her Philbin will be here tomorrow "to participate." Philbin left work last Sunday after his 21-year-old son, Michael, went missing. On Monday, Michael's body was pulled from the Fox River and preliminary autopsy results indicated he drowned."
January 7
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Cornerback and special-teams ace Jarrett Bush surprised the Green Bay Packers once with his marketability in free agency and there's a good chance he'll do it again come March. The Packers, according to Bush, have made no attempt to negotiate a new contract and keep him away from unrestricted free agency. "I'm definitely not afraid of the market," Bush said. "It all depends if they want to bring me back or not." In March 2009, the Packers let Bush test the waters of restricted free agency and the Tennessee Titans floored them with a three-year, $4.5 million offer containing a $1 million signing bonus. Three days later, the club retained his services by matching it. Since then, Bush has"
December 30
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
No, Matt Flynn has not checked the weather forecast. At some point Saturday, he plans to. But not yet. In reality, the Green Bay Packers' backup quarterback probably doesn't need to waste his time. It's Wisconsin. It's winter. It's going to be cold. Tough break. "I'm not a big fan of the cold," Flynn said. "Being a southern boy, it's something you have to deal with.""
December 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The Green Bay Packers couldn't be more confident that wide receiver Greg Jennings will play in the NFC divisional playoff game the weekend of Jan. 14-15 at Lambeau Field. Jennings apparently has made a strong recovery from the sprained medial collateral knee ligament that he suffered 13 days ago against Oakland. "Greg Jennings will be challenged to play next week against Detroit," coach Mike McCarthy said Friday. "But I don't think there will be any question that he will play in the playoffs. That's the early diagnosis based on talking to the medical staff.""
December 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
If there's such thing as an earthly harmony that reigns over the football world and distributes credits and debits evenly, then the Green Bay Packers are living it right now. A year ago, just about every bit of injury news they got was bad. Last year, they lost a player to season-ending injured reserve every two weeks on average and on three occasions put two on the list on the same day. They were without an average of five starters each game over the course of the regular season. So, when the news came out Monday that wide receiver Greg Jennings had a sprained knee that would sideline him only two to three weeks, it was almost as if the scales had inched closer to even."
December 8
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
After further investigation, Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Erik Walden was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct after a fight with his girlfriend. Walden pleaded not guilty and will return to Brown County Circuit Court on Dec.?27. If convicted, Walden faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. He remains free on signature bond. The main question in this Nov.?25 dispute has been whether Walden was defending himself. His girlfriend required four stitches in her forehead and injured her thumb. According to the complaint, she originally told police that Walden pushed her first. The complaint adds that once she learned Walden would be arrested, the girlfriend changed her story"
December 1
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Green Bay Packers cornerback Pat Lee said Wednesday getting ejected for apparently throwing a punch against the Detroit Lions Thanksgiving Day may cost him $15,000. Lee said his agent received notice from the NFL that his client was being fined $15,000 for his actions. Lee said he plans on appealing immediately in hopes of getting the amount reduced. The play in question occurred on a punt return. Lee got locked up with Lions cornerback Aaron Berry and as he tried to break free, it appeared Berry threw a punch. Lee retaliated with what the officials saw as a punch and threw him out of the game. Lee denies throwing a punch."
November 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
For the longest time, Donald Driver didn't even want to talk about it. He couldn't even consider it. Absolutely consumed with winning a Super Bowl, he would shake his head at anyone broaching the topic of his post-football life. But lately he's been thinking about it a lot. In his 13th season, 36 years old, with that cherished ring, he's watching his numbers recede as these younger receivers fly on the field. His role has changed. And with the tiny crinkles around the eyes and the sore joints every morning, Driver can't help but sense an aging transition and wonder where it will take him next. "I come to work happy. But sometimes I think, why am I still doing this?" Driver said. "I've got"
November 25
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The ongoing saga of Josh Sitton's sore knee continued at Ford Field on Thursday afternoon. The Green Bay Packers' right guard, who has been battling a knee issue most of the season and has had it affect his play, was forced to leave the Packers' 27-15 victory over the Detroit Lions in the first half after suffering what coach Mike McCarthy called a sprained knee. McCarthy did not say whether it was the same knee that Sitton has been dealing with or if it was a case of the existing injury getting much worse. It is the first time this season Sitton has had to miss time because of an injury. Sitton is the only player on the team to have played every snap the previous two seasons. He did not"
November 23
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
If Green Bay Packers running back James Starks can deal with the pain, he should be able to play against the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day. Starks took part in practice Tuesday and while the medical staff told him to take it easy, he couldn't help but open it up on a couple of runs to see if his sprained right knee and ankle could handle the stress. The verdict was so far, so good. "I was going through a little bit of pain, but I can deal with pain," Starks said. "Running backs play with a lot of pain, so I can get through it. I just have to start tolerating it a little better. I feel good, though. I feel better." Of the two players who suffered injuries against the Tampa Bay"
November 21
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
They pause, stutter and brainstorm. Throughout the locker room, teammates take their best swing. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson has to remind them of someone. Randall Cobb is thinking grit. "Remember Ricky Proehl from the Carolina Panthers? That's who he reminds me of." Andrew Quarless is thinking power. "He's a beast. I don't know. He plays really physical. He's hard to really bring down." A few feet away from Nelson, Jermichael Finley shakes his head. "Jordy, man, he's an awesome receiver. He's going to work hard and do whatever he can to catch the ball." OK, Charlie Peprah, give it your best shot. "A better Ed McCaffrey, maybe?" the safety said. "I don't know. I think Ed"
November 19
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Four months from unrestricted free agency, the Green Bay Packers have decisions to make on only two key players. One decision seems fairly obvious. Unless the Packers can find a way to bridge their differences with Jermichael Finley, they'll apply the team-favorable 2012 franchise tag for tight ends of about $5.5 million and almost certainly retain his services for at least another year. According to sources, the Packers aren't any closer in their ongoing talks with center Scott Wells. At this point, Wells is seeking significantly more money than the Packers want to pay him. There's more than enough time for a compromise to be reached before the March 13 start of the unrestricted signing"
November 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
His name? Teammates never called him by his name. The running back John Kuhn replaced at Shippensburg University was simply known as "The Beast." "Hey Mike, what was The Beast's name?" Shippensburg assistant coach Pete Lee asks another coach. "He can't think of it, either." Whoever it was, Kuhn scared him off. After one season together, The Beast transferred to another school and Kuhn went on to shatter 27 records. At the small Division II school in Pennsylvania, Kuhn excelled as a Wing-T fullback. Those memories returned a year ago. Kuhn carried the ball 84 times, often resuscitating the Packers' dying rushing game. The showcase was fun, a thrill. Kuhn became a folk hero. Now, he's back"
November 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
If the ability to find players is the No.?1 criteria for serving as the general manager of a National Football League team, Ron Wolf says Reggie McKenzie is every bit as capable as his boss with the Green Bay Packers. With McKenzie, the Packers' director of football operations, rumored as a front-office candidate for the Oakland Raiders, Wolf was asked at mid-week to compare his evaluation skills to those of Packers general manager Ted Thompson. Wolf brought both men into the personnel business, hiring Thompson as a pro scout in January 1992 and McKenzie as a pro scout in May 1994. "You're talking about the ability to evaluate, right?" Wolf said. "Pure evaluation. Yeah, I would think so."
November 9
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The Green Bay Packers are putting the pieces in place to launch another stock sale - perhaps very soon - to help pay for its planned $143 million Lambeau Field expansion. And just in time for the gift-giving season. The stock sale likely will be held online, may cost $250 a share and includes "entities," a suggestion that might mean organizations or companies would be given the opportunity to buy Packers stock, although at a higher price than individuals. However, the franchise likely will sell only to individuals."
October 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The 2011 Green Bay Packers are not your typical 7-0 team, or at least what you would expect a 7-0 team to be. They showed it again when they ground out a 33-27 victory over an undermanned but overachieving Minnesota Vikings team at the Metrodome on Sunday. Coming in at 6-0, the Packers were supposed to walk all over the 1-5 Vikings, who were missing five starters, including both cornerbacks. But hardly anything coach Mike McCarthy's team does is easy. "If you're trying to look at it that way, yeah," fullback John Kuhn said. "But in my opinion, 7-0 is 7-0. If you get wins, that's all that counts. When things aren't easy, that's kind of when we thrive, that's almost when we play our best"
October 24
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
The first guy to the X-ray machine when the Packers get home will be receiver Greg Jennings. He left the Metrodome with a bag of ice wrapped around the top of his right hand. Jennings injured the hand on the Packers' first series when he caught a 26-yard pass and was tackled along the Packers sideline. Jennings took himself out of the game and had the hand looked at on the sideline, then returned the next time the Packers got the ball. He said the medical staff did not take an X-ray of the hand at halftime. The part that might make people nervous is that Jennings said his hand went numb for quite a while and when he did return - he caught six more passes for 121 yards, including a 79-yard"
October 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields probably avoided a butt-chewing for trying to bring an interception out from the end zone late in the third quarter. But there are better ways to do it than suffering a concussion. Shields may have to miss the Minnesota Vikings game next week because of his decision to return a ball he caught 7 yards deep in the end zone. Shields had inside position on quarterback Sam Bradford's poorly thrown fade route to receiver Danario Alexander and reached up with two hands to snare it in the back corner of the end zone. He then took off running laterally across the end zone before eventually being tackled and struck hard. NFL rules state that is not a safety"
October 13
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
There are two things you can count on with the Green Bay Packers as long as Ted Thompson is the general manager and Mike McCarthy the head coach. They will always build from within. They will always demand versatility from their offensive linemen. The Packers are three days removed from losing their starting left tackle, Chad Clifton, to a career-threatening hamstring injury, and 2½ weeks from losing starting right tackle Bryan Bulaga to a sprained knee, and how many veteran players did they have in this week for tryouts? Zero. Instead of inviting available veterans like Reggie Wells, Max Jean-Gilles, Shawn Andrews, Rich Seubert and Mark Tauscher in for a look-see, they went immediately to"
October 12
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Nightmares played out for thousands of Packers fans two weeks ago. With the team implementing new security measures, lines at Lambeau Field's entry gates stretched for yards. So on Tuesday, the Packers and the Green Bay Police Department announced they have made adjustments to the new enhanced screening. The metal-detecting wands will continue to be used, but starting this weekend against St. Louis there will be more screening lines, more screening officers and a "streamlined" screening process."
October 4
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Suspended Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly was jailed Monday after his third drug arrest in three years. Jolly was charged Saturday with possession of a compound containing codeine. He also was charged with tampering with evidence for attempting to conceal the substance from investigators, according to records. A Harris County sheriff's spokeswoman said no attorney was listed for Jolly and that a bond had not been set."
September 29
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Ryan Grant lost so much time rehabbing a serious ankle injury last season that he doesn't really have the patience for a kidney bruise. The Green Bay Packers running back expressed frustration Wednesday that he might be held out of the Denver Broncos game Sunday because the medical staff is reluctant to clear him. A decision won't be made until Friday, but Grant was held out of practice and probably will be again Thursday. "It's definitely frustrating, Grant said. "That's kind of the mood that I'm in right now. I think it's even harder because of me sitting out so many games last year. I don't want to miss a game at all. But I kind of have no say in this.""
September 27
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Not under Mike Sherman, Mike Holmgren or legendary Vince Lombardi have the Green Bay Packers gotten off to a better start through three games than Mike McCarthy's 2011 team. Oh, Sherman was 3-0 in '01, Holmgren 3-0 in '98 and '96 and Lombardi 3-0 in '62, '65 and '66. But none of those 3-0 starts included two road victories and three within the conference. By that measure, the Packers are off to the best start in the National Football League following their 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears Sunday at Soldier Field. Heading into the Monday night game, the other 3-0 teams - Detroit and Buffalo - either don't have two road or three conference victories. Considering that 75.9% of the teams"
September 22
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
It has been nine months since the Green Bay Packers ended the Chicago Bears' season with a 21-14 victory in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field. If you don't think the Bears spent that time rehashing the loss - either intentionally or subliminally - then you don't know the degree to which these teams want to beat one another. You can almost imagine Bears coach Lovie Smith's off-season: He's watching an episode of "Dancing with the Stars" when suddenly Ralph Macchio takes on the appearance of B.J. Raji and the stage looks like the south end zone of Soldier Field. Got to get back to the office and watch some more tape. As losers of the NFC title game and a Lambeau Field regular-season"
September 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins will see a spinal specialist in the coming weeks to figure out the best treatment for his injured neck, but in the meantime his season is over. Collins was given the bad news Monday after an overnight stay in a Charlotte hospital. "It's something he's definitely going to miss the season over," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday afternoon. "He just got back. He just came back to our facility from Dr. (Pat) McKenzie's office with the consultation that they had for the last hour or so. This is where we are." McCarthy stated after the Packers' 30-23 victory over Carolina Sunday that the prognosis for Collins looked good based on the first two tests"
September 20
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Four holding penalties never help. Neither does this borderline-bizarre rule on catching the ball in the end zone. But one week after emphatically finishing their offensive drives, the Green Bay Packers sputtered in the red zone in Sunday's 30-23 win over the Carolina Panthers. Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin said he doesn't want to come across as a "smart aleck," but, well, this got frustrating. "In-between the 'Calvin Johnson Rule' on catching the ball and what they call holding these days, it's hard to get a great feel for it," Philbin said. For several reasons, Green Bay's offense stalled deep in Carolina territory. With a chance to slam their foot on Carolina's throat in the third"
September 18
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
His instinct is probably to grit this out. Tramon Williams has been an ironman for the Packers. Before this week, the cornerback never missed a game or a practice — noble for a player who has taken on the opposition's No. 1 wideout, thrown his body into run support and returned punts. Now, it's decision time for Williams, the medical staff and coach Mike McCarthy. Do you give Williams the green light to help stop rookie Cam Newton, Steve Smith and the Panthers' newfound passing attack or is it best to play it safe? If he's cleared, the logic to play Williams is there. With the exception of 2007, the Packers have not started seasons fast under McCarthy. Green Bay has gone 1-4, 4-1, 2-3,"
September 17
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
So far, Green Bay Packers rookie Derek Sherrod could neither beat out T.J. Lang for the starting berth at left guard nor beat out Marshall Newhouse for the backup tackle job. Sherrod was the first choice of coach Mike McCarthy and his staff to replace departed Daryn Colledge. The coaches wanted to get their five best linemen on the field. And having drafted Sherrod in the first round, their expectation was that he'd be one of the five. But Lang, a fourth-round choice in 2009, won the job over Sherrod by unanimous decision after the second exhibition game. That sent Sherrod back to tackle, his position at Mississippi State. But now, he finds himself without a uniform on game day because"
September 15
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Disappointment, not trepidation, was the prevailing reaction within the Green Bay Packers organization after it was announced that end Mike Neal had undergone left knee surgery and would be out "a significant number of weeks." The Packers have been playing without him for the better part of his short career, so coach Mike McCarthy's revelation Wednesday didn't leave them gnawing at their fingernails wondering how they could ever replace him. Coming off a game in which big men B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett played about 110 snaps between them without much falloff - mostly together as the two interior linemen in the nickel scheme - Neal's absence isn't a crisis. But considering the only other"
September 15
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones isn't clamoring for the ball, isn't blaming quarterback Aaron Rodgers for his predicament and hasn't issued any ultimatums. He just wants to play more. That was Jones' message after reporters asked him about the stripped down number of snaps he played in the season opener against New Orleans last week. Jones had the fewest of the top four Packers receivers and almost 10 fewer than No. 3 receiver Jordy Nelson. What's more, after four series, Jones' role was restricted mostly to the single receiver in the run-based "jumbo" formation. That No. 3 role he shared with Nelson last year? It seems to be a one-man job now. "Yeah, you've seen the film,""
September 15
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"
Long before the general public knew who Cam Newton was, two Green Bay Packers defensive backs were exposed to glimpses of greatness. While growing up in Georgia, safety Morgan Burnett played with Newton in Pop Warner and then against him in high school. Newton, the No.?1 overall pick by the Carolina Panthers in April, was a fullback and a linebacker when he was 8 years old. And cornerback Pat Lee remembers a word of warning from his defensive coordinator at Auburn, Will Muschamp. Back then, Newton was an anonymous backup at the University of Florida. "He'd say, ' Tim Tebow is good but this guy, this backup, we gotta watch him,'?" Lee said. "So then I saw him at Auburn and said, 'Oh, that's"