Packers Public Relations Lambeau Field Atrium 1265 Lombardi Avenue Green Bay, WI 54304 920/569-7500 920/569-7201 fax Jeff Blumb, Sarah Quick, Adam Woullard, Aaron Popkey, Rob Crane, Tom Fanning, Mike Spofford, Jeff Harding VOL. X; NO. 1 GREEN BAY, JULY 26, 2008 TRAINING CAMP TRAINING CAMP ARRIVES IN GREEN BAY McCarthy once again will institute a “2-1-2” training camp schedule, The most anticipated family event of the summer – Green Bay Packers beginning with a full-squad, shells workout at 8:45 a.m. on Monday, July training camp – begins its 63rd year Monday on Clarke Hinkle Field. A tra- 28, on Clarke Hinkle Field. dition that first began under Curly Lambeau in 1946, it remains one of the The first night practice – and first full-pads workout – takes place later most intimate preseason settings in the NFL. that night at 6:30 p.m. Five of the seven night practices are preceded by Even with EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh bringing the world’s greatest ava- a morning workout at 8:45 a.m. iation celebration to the area and the Milwaukee Brewers in the heat of a In between “two-a-days”, the team will break down film of the morning division race, no event in the state creates the same buzz as training practice. On days with one practice, they will break down film twice – camp in Green Bay. This summer brings increased national attention to night practices will be broken down the following morning while the the practices at Lambeau Field as the team begins its summer camp with afternoon session is studied after dinner. In other words, the squad will a new starting quarterback. never take the field without going over the previous practice’s accom- Newer traditions – such as night practices under the lights and the plishments and mistakes. team’s intra-squad scrimmage in Lambeau Field – blend with the old as Having not been in full pads since the overtime loss in the NFC players continue to ride kids’ bicycles to practice, a tradition started Championship Game, the team will hold five practices over the first three under Vince Lombardi, and live in the dorms at nearby St. Norbert days of training camp. Three of those will be in full pads. Over the course College, the NFL’s longest training camp relationship between a team of camp, the team will hold 14 full-padded practices and eight practices and school. in shells. According to the Greater Green Bay Convention and Visitors Bureau, In accordance with league guidelines, the team spent the entirety of training camp attracts an estimated 115,000 visitors from across the mini-camp and OTAs in shorts and helmets. Fans and coaches alike will nation and as many as 20 foreign countries. Also, it estimates training get their first chance to see many players, including the 2008 rookie camp in 2007 brought an economic impact of more than $48 million, a class, in full pads and contact drills. financial boost to many area businesses. The Greater Green Bay CVB PRESEASON partnered with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay’s Professional Date Opponent Wis. Time TV Programs in Business Administration for a survey to provide an updat- Mon., Aug. 11 CINCINNATI BENGALS . .7 p.m. ESPN ed economic study of training camp. (Bishop’s Charities Game) None of these figures factors in the team’s intra-squad scrimmage, Sat., Aug. 16 at San Francisco 49ers . .8 p.m. state ‘Family Night, Presented by FOX 11’, which this summer sold every Fri., Aug. 22 at Denver Broncos . .8 p.m. state available seat in Lambeau Field for the fifth consecutive year. Thurs., Aug. 28 TENNESSEE TITANS (Gold Pkg.) . .6 p.m. state (Midwest Shrine Game) CIRCLE THE CALENDAR REGULAR SEASON Important dates on the preseason calendar include: Date Opponent Wis. Time TV Sunday, July 27 – Players report to training camp Mon., Sept. 8 MINNESOTA VIKINGS . .6 p.m. ESPN Monday, July 28 – First day of practice, Hinkle Field; Sun., Sept. 14 at Detroit Lions . .12 noon FOX 8:45 a.m. (shells), 6:30 p.m. (full pads) Sun., Sept. 21 DALLAS COWBOYS (Gold Pkg.) . .7:15 p.m. NBC Sunday, Aug. 3 – Family Night intra-squad scrimmage, 6:30 p.m., Sun., Sept. 28 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers . .12 noon FOX Lambeau Field Sun., Oct. 5 ATLANTA FALCONS . .12 noon FOX Monday, Aug. 11 – First preseason game, vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 7 p.m., Sun., Oct. 12 at Seattle Seahawks . .3:15 p.m. FOX Lambeau Field on ESPN’s Monday Night Football Sun., Oct. 19 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS . .3:15 p.m. CBS Tuesday, Aug. 26 – Last practice open to public, 10:15 a.m., Hinkle Field; Sun., Oct. 26 Open Date . Sun., Nov. 2 at Tennessee Titans . .12 noon FOX NFL-mandated roster reduction, to 75 players, by 3 p.m. CDT Sun., Nov. 9 at Minnesota Vikings . .12 noon FOX Thursday, Aug. 28 – Final preseason game, vs. Tennessee Titans, 6 p.m., Sun., Nov. 16 CHICAGO BEARS (Gold Pkg.) . .*12 noon FOX Lambeau Field on state television Mon., Nov. 24 at New Orleans Saints . .7:30 p.m. ESPN Saturday, Aug. 30 – NFL-mandated roster reduction, to 53 players, by Sun., Nov. 30 CAROLINA PANTHERS . .*12 noon FOX 5 p.m. CDT Sun., Dec. 7 HOUSTON TEXANS . .*12 noon CBS Sunday, Aug. 31 – Clubs may establish practice squad of eight players Sun., Dec. 14 at Jacksonville Jaguars . .*12 noon FOX Mon., Dec. 22 at Chicago Bears . .7:30 p.m. ESPN Sun., Dec. 28 DETROIT LIONS . .*12 noon FOX A FAN-FRIENDLY SCHEDULE *—Start time and broadcast may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling Seven night practices under the lights highlight a total of of 22 practices open to the public during training camp. NFL POSTSEASON DATES Head Coach Mike McCarthy stated before his first training camp in 2006 Jan. 3-4 . .AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs that the night-time practices would draw bigger crowds and produce a Jan. 10-11 . .AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs game-like atmosphere, increasing the intensity and competition in prac- Jan. 18 . .AFC and NFC Championship Games tice. Used by a number of teams around the NFL, he first experienced Feb. 1 . .Super Bowl XLIII at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa night practices as offensive coordinator in New Orleans. Feb. 8 . .AFC-NFC Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu JULY 26, 2008 Pg. 2 REST AND RECOVERY Thompson was signed to a new, five-year contract which runs through For the second consecutive summer, Coach McCarthy has off days built the 2012 season. In just three seasons, Thompson has built the Packers into the schedule. into one of the NFL’s strongest young teams. In addition to the traditional days off after preseason games and the McCarthy also was signed to a new, five-year contract that runs through Family Night scrimmage, players also will be off on July 31 and Aug. 7. the 2012 season. On those days, the team will gather in the morning for weightlifting, The continuity carries over to both the personnel and coaching staffs. meetings and film review, with players given the afternoon and evening Reggie McKenzie and John Schneider were promoted by Thompson in off to recover for two practices the next day. May and will share the title of director – football operations. McKenzie McCarthy initiated the days off last summer thanks to a successful off- enters his 14th season in Green Bay’s player personnel department and season program in which the team was able to get some basic installa- has served as director of pro personnel for the past 10 seasons. tions put in. With every player on the roster present for at least a portion Schneider, a 15-year NFL personnel veteran, most recently served as the of the mini-camps and OTAs this spring, the same holds true. Packers’ personnel analyst to general manager for the past six seasons. It is also done to watch out for the continued health of the football team. The duo, along with director of college scouting John Dorsey, head the McCarthy had hoped the additional rest would allow the Packers to jump Packers’ player personnel department. out to a quick start in the regular season and in turn have the energy to Also joining the football operations staff this offseason as vice president finish strong. Last year, the Packers jumped out to a 4-0 start en route of football administration/player finance was 20-year NFL veteran Russ to a 13-3 regular-season finish and the NFC North Divsion title. Ball. He is responsible for negotiating player contracts, managing the salary cap and other football administration duties. Ball comes to Green ABOUT THE OFFSEASON Bay from New Orleans, where he spent six seasons with the Saints (2002-07), the final two as vice president of football administration and McCarthy let everyone know at the annual Packers Shareholders meeting the first four as senior football administrator. on July 24 just how he felt about the team’s progress through the offsea- McCarthy welcomes back nearly his entire coaching staff from last sea- son conditioning program, mini-camps and OTAs. son, with defensive quality control Eric Lewis the only departure. Lewis “I'm not trying to throw out some positive BS, but we had a great off- joined the coaching staff at the University of Louisville, while he is season,” McCarthy said at the meeting. replaced by Joe Whitt, Jr. Whitt comes to Green Bay after serving as The team did slightly alter its offseason structure, holding the mandato- assistant defensive backs coach for the Atlanta Falcons last year.