DOPE SHEET Z Green Bay at Denver 2 PACKERS NEWS of the WEEK
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1 z NEW ORLEANS at GREEN BAY; SEPT. Packers Public Relations z Lambeau Field Atrium z 1265 Lombardi Avenue z Green Bay, WI 54304 z 920/569-7500 z 920/569-7201 fax Jeff Blumb, Sarah Quick, Adam Woullard, Aaron Popkey, Rob Crane, Tom Fanning, Mike Spofford, Jeff Harding VOL. X; NO. 4 GREEN BAY, AUG. 18, 2008 THIRD PRESEASON GAME GREEN BAY (0-2) at DENVER (1-1) WITH THE CALL Friday, Aug. 22 z INVESCO Field at Mile High z 8 p.m. CDT The Green Bay Packers Broadcast Partners will air the game in HD over a nine-station network throughout the state of Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and Northeastern Minnesota, with CBS network production, ON THE ROAD AGAIN – PACKERS HEAD TO DENVER personnel and the latest network-quality technology. Green Bay travels to the mile-high city for a preseason contest against the The top-notch broadcast team includes CBS’s Kevin Harlan (play-by- Denver Broncos Friday night, its third preseason game in 12 days. play) alongside fellow CBS broadcaster Rich Gannon (analyst). The Packers come into their third exhibition contest with plenty to prove. WTMJ’s Jessie Garcia serves as the sideline reporter and WFRV’s The team struggled in all three phases against Larry McCarren joins the crew for pre-game segments. In addi- the 49ers Saturday night, a 34-6 defeat, and tion to WFRV-TV (Green Bay) and WTMJ-TV (Milwaukee), the games have just three practices this week to get things are televised over WKOW/ABC, Madison, Wis.; WAOW/ABC, Wausau/ turned around. Rhinelander, Wis.; WXOW/ABC, La Crosse, Wis.; WQOW/ABC, Eau The Packers now stand at 0-2 for the first time Claire; WYOW/ABC, Eagle River, Wis.; WJMN/CBS, Marquette, Mich.; in the preseason since 1993. But, it’s also worth noting that preseason and KQDS-TV/FOX, Duluth, Minn. records do not stand for much. The Indianapolis Colts have lost 14 of Milwaukee’s WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, their last 17 preseason contests, yet have rebounded after a slow start heads up the 56-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee to win the AFC South title each time, as well as Super Bowl XLI. (play-by-play) and two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (color) As is customary around the NFL, projected regular-season starters are calling the action. The duo enter their 10th season of broadcasts expected to see their most action of the preseason in Week 3. together across the Packers Radio Network, which covers 47 markets in Both units have seen multiple starters miss time due to injury this six states. preseason, but will look to establish some momentum heading into the season opener Sept. 8. Green Bay will look to recapture some magic at INVESCO Field, the PRESEASON site of one of its most thrilling victories last season. In a Monday night Date Opponent Time TV contest last October, the Packers won on the first play from scrimmage Mon., Aug. 11 CINCINNATI BENGALS . L, 17-20 (69,675) in overtime – an 82-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. For the (Bishop’s Charities Game) first time in 10 tries, Green Bay beat the Broncos in Denver (1-5 regular Sat., Aug. 16 at San Francisco 49ers . L, 6-34 (67,230) season, 0-4 preseason). Fri., Aug. 22 at Denver Broncos. .8 p.m. state This will be the first preseason meeting between the clubs since 2001. Thurs., Aug. 28 TENNESSEE TITANS (Gold Pkg.). .6 p.m. state Denver holds a 6-2-0 advantage in the preseason series. (Midwest Shrine Game) The Broncos defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 23-13, in Denver Saturday night. Denver lost its preseason opener at Houston, 19-16. REGULAR SEASON Date Opponent Time TV Mon., Sept. 8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS . .6 p.m. ESPN THIS WEEK’S GOAL: GET HEALTHY Sun., Sept. 14 at Detroit Lions . 12 noon FOX The Packers played Saturday night without four key starters – Jennings and Sun., Sept. 21 DALLAS COWBOYS (Gold Pkg.) . 7:15 p.m. NBC Ryan Grant on offense and Ryan Pickett and A.J. Hawk on defense. Sun., Sept. 28 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . 12 noon FOX Also, the team was without a number of key backups, as eight other Sun., Oct. 5 ATLANTA FALCONS. 12 noon FOX players did not dress. While it was an improvement over the first pre- Sun., Oct. 12 at Seattle Seahawks. 3:15 p.m. FOX season game (seven starters out), the team must get back to practicing Sun., Oct. 19 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS . 3:15 p.m. CBS and playing at full strength. Sun., Oct. 26 Open Date . Of the four starters missing in action Saturday night, Grant and Jennings Sun., Nov. 2 at Tennessee Titans. 12 noon FOX are the most likely to see action Friday in Denver. Grant has been Sun., Nov. 9 at Minnesota Vikings. 12 noon FOX bothered by a hamstring injury, while Jennings has been troubled by a Sun., Nov. 16 CHICAGO BEARS (Gold Pkg.) . *12 noon FOX Mon., Nov. 24 at New Orleans Saints . 7:30 p.m. ESPN knee injury. Jennings (12 TDs) and Grant (8) finished Nos. 1 and 2 last Sun., Nov. 30 CAROLINA PANTHERS . *12 noon FOX season in touchdowns for Green Bay last season, so their importance to Sun., Dec. 7 HOUSTON TEXANS . *12 noon CBS the first-unit offense is obvious. Sun., Dec. 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars . *12 noon FOX Hawk suffered a chest injury against the Bengals in the preseason Mon., Dec. 22 at Chicago Bears . 7:30 p.m. ESPN opener, while Pickett has spent all of camp on the Physically Unable to Sun., Dec. 28 DETROIT LIONS . *12 noon FOX Perform (PUP) list with a hamstring issue. Their status for Friday will be *—Start time and broadcast may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling determined closer to game time. A number of other players on the Green Bay roster would be welcome NFL POSTSEASON DATES additions back on the field, especially for the defense. LB Desmond Jan. 3-4 ................................................AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs Bishop (Achilles) and S Charlie Peprah (hamstring) have missed Jan. 10-11 .............................................AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs both preseason games, while the offense could be bolstered by the Jan. 18 ............................................AFC and NFC Championship Games return of TE Tory Humphrey (Achilles), WR Ruvell Martin (slight Feb. 1 .................Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa concussion) and RB DeShawn Wynn (ankle). Feb. 8 ............................ AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu THE DOPE SHEET z Green Bay at Denver 2 PACKERS NEWS OF THE WEEK PACKERS FAIL TO FIND A RHYTHM Cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Will Blackmon serve as the Few things went right for the Packers Saturday night in San Francisco, and team’s top kick returners, with Blackmon also handling punt return the numbers prove it: less than 200 total yards, six sacks, nine penalties, duties. At the very least, Nelson gave the coaches something to ponder three turnovers and a 2-for-14 showing on third down all added up to the with his performance. Packers’ second straight loss. Nelson, the team’s top pick in April’s NFL Draft, showed his open-field It was a struggle for the Packers’ No. 1 offensive unit, which played the ability which was a staple at Kansas State. Last fall, he was second in entire first half. The group managed just 46 yards of total offense and the nation in receiving yardage, and two of his five punt returns went for four first downs in 25 snaps, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers (9-of- touchdowns of 89 and 92 yards. 16, 58 yards, 64.1 rating) was sacked four times for losses totaling 26 General Manager Ted Thompson, when asked if Nelson would have yards. the chance to make an early contribution, responded that good football The offense did have some red-zone chances, thanks to a Charles players usually figure out a way to impact a football game. Woodson interception late in the first quarter. Facing a first-and- goal from the 7-yard line, the offense couldn't take advantage. Tight THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE end Donald Lee dropped a pass in the corner of the end zone on first Players moved out of the dorms at St. Norbert College Sunday, bringing down, and defensive pressure forced a sack and a throwaway to stall one aspect of training camp to a close. the drive. Because of the convoluted preseason schedule, “We need to find that rhythm and figure out what the team will begin its second week of “in-season” our identity is going to be,” Rodgers said. “Is training. The team will take to the practice field it going to be spreading teams out? Is it going Monday night for a full-pads workout followed by to be running the football? We just need to get a mid-morning, full-padded practice Tuesday. The healthy and hopefully have a better performance team will have a shells practice Wednesday before next week.” travelling to Denver Thursday. While no one would make excuses after the Head Coach Mike McCarthy understood fully game, the offense was without a number of key the uniqueness of the training camp schedule and contributors. Starting running back Ryan Grant planned ahead accordingly. missed a second straight game, as did wideout “At the expense of trying to run your team into Greg Jennings. Also missing was wide receiv- the ground, this is just the way we’ve gone about er Ruvell Martin, inhibiting the team's ability to it.