GREEN BAY -- When an air horn pierced the silence in the Packers locker room Sunday afternoon, linebacker Nick Barnett reflexively felt like jumping to another drill, just like he does every day in practice.
A bunch of bewildered reporters felt like jumping out of their shoes.
And, the mischievous man behind the noise emanating from the equipment area was the same guy whose leap -- and we use that term loosely -- provided one of the signature highlight of the Packers’ 31-14 victory over Arizona.
"That’s Brett," Barnett said, referring to quarterback Brett Favre. "He’s an ass----."
Barnett was kidding, of course. Spirits were high and laughs were flowing in a Packers locker room that was library quiet after a loss to St. Louis just a few weeks ago.
On a day when both Ahman Green and Vernand Morency rushed for more than 100 yards, Favre’s 1-yard touchdown run -- his first rushing score since 2003 -- and resulting Lambeau Leap dominated several conversations.
"I don’t think I’ve ever done one," Favre said of his leap. "I hope that’s the last one. Donald (Driver) provoked me. I was actually coming off the field and (Driver signaled for the leap).
"I wish he’d have given me a boost. I’m going to catch heat for this, but I should have found a lower spot (to go over the wall). I’m not real savvy in the stands jumping department, not to mention I was pooped out. There was a lot of negatives. The one positive was I did score. We’ll take that any time we can get it."
Favre completed 17 of 25 passes for 180 yards, but the Packers ran the ball so effectively that heroics beyond the leap weren’t required.
"It’s fun throwing touchdown passes. It’s fun throwing for a lot of yards," he said. "But, there is no substitute for winning. I love to compete. I’ve had games where statistically speaking, lights out and you lose. I’d much rather win the game, regardless of how you win it."
Nobody on the Packers offense was complaining after Green and Morency combined for 207 yards.
"It felt like old times in Nebraska with me and Vernand over 100 yards," Green said. "That's something that makes the game a lot easier when you have another running back helping you out and getting 100 yards and getting big plays out there. It makes the defense work a little harder."
The Packers linemen, who have been adapting to a zone blocking scheme this season, opened huge holes for both backs.
"We’re building on what we did last week (in Miami)," center Scott Wells said. "Building up that consistency and continuity is huge. It does feel good. When Ahman was missing, Morency had a lot of work. It’s phenomenal."
Some other notes from a sold-out Sunday at Lambeau:
The victory was the first at home for coach Mike McCarthy.
Favre, who has not thrown an interception in the last three games, talked about the atmosphere at Lambeau.
"There is no better place to play," he said. "I know it’s easy to say that when I play here in green bay, but really, it’s a wonderful atmosphere. It’s always packed. There’s never an empty seat. People love their football. You can’t say that about every place you go to.
"We have to use that to our advantage. I know what it’s like to win here. Our guys -- we have a lot of new guys -- a lot of young guys. If they couldn’t felt he atmosphere today, they’re never going to."
Defensive end Aaron Kampman was getting ready for the second half when an offensive line coach approached him and pretty much guaranteed a score on the opening drive.
"He told me ‘Just sit on the bench and get comfortable. We’re going to keep you off the field for awhile.’" Kampman said. "He kept his word. Anytime you can run the ball like that, it’s a good feeling."
A lowlight for the Packers -- a botched fake field goal that McCarthy took the blame for afterward.
Wells said that the offensive lineman take turns buying each other dinner. Asked which lineman was the cheapest, he pointed out Chris White.
"He took us to the cheapest restaurant and spent the least amount of money," Wells said.
"But, we won," White said.
"We won, but he spent about a fifth of the money I spent," Wells said.
Barnett has been using his "samurai" celebration after big plays and the crowd is eating it up. "I’m having a good time with it," he said. "When (coach Mike) Sherman was here, he didn’t let me pull it out. Mike McCarthy let’s me pull it out. He encourages me. I like that."
Cornerback Al Harris didn’t seem to enjoy the victory as much as his teammates. Harris still seems upset about his contract and could soon join Javon Walker on the "outta here" express.
A bunch of bewildered reporters felt like jumping out of their shoes.
And, the mischievous man behind the noise emanating from the equipment area was the same guy whose leap -- and we use that term loosely -- provided one of the signature highlight of the Packers’ 31-14 victory over Arizona.
"That’s Brett," Barnett said, referring to quarterback Brett Favre. "He’s an ass----."
Barnett was kidding, of course. Spirits were high and laughs were flowing in a Packers locker room that was library quiet after a loss to St. Louis just a few weeks ago.
On a day when both Ahman Green and Vernand Morency rushed for more than 100 yards, Favre’s 1-yard touchdown run -- his first rushing score since 2003 -- and resulting Lambeau Leap dominated several conversations.
"I don’t think I’ve ever done one," Favre said of his leap. "I hope that’s the last one. Donald (Driver) provoked me. I was actually coming off the field and (Driver signaled for the leap).
"I wish he’d have given me a boost. I’m going to catch heat for this, but I should have found a lower spot (to go over the wall). I’m not real savvy in the stands jumping department, not to mention I was pooped out. There was a lot of negatives. The one positive was I did score. We’ll take that any time we can get it."
Favre completed 17 of 25 passes for 180 yards, but the Packers ran the ball so effectively that heroics beyond the leap weren’t required.
"It’s fun throwing touchdown passes. It’s fun throwing for a lot of yards," he said. "But, there is no substitute for winning. I love to compete. I’ve had games where statistically speaking, lights out and you lose. I’d much rather win the game, regardless of how you win it."
Nobody on the Packers offense was complaining after Green and Morency combined for 207 yards.
"It felt like old times in Nebraska with me and Vernand over 100 yards," Green said. "That's something that makes the game a lot easier when you have another running back helping you out and getting 100 yards and getting big plays out there. It makes the defense work a little harder."
The Packers linemen, who have been adapting to a zone blocking scheme this season, opened huge holes for both backs.
"We’re building on what we did last week (in Miami)," center Scott Wells said. "Building up that consistency and continuity is huge. It does feel good. When Ahman was missing, Morency had a lot of work. It’s phenomenal."
Some other notes from a sold-out Sunday at Lambeau:
The victory was the first at home for coach Mike McCarthy.
Favre, who has not thrown an interception in the last three games, talked about the atmosphere at Lambeau.
"There is no better place to play," he said. "I know it’s easy to say that when I play here in green bay, but really, it’s a wonderful atmosphere. It’s always packed. There’s never an empty seat. People love their football. You can’t say that about every place you go to.
"We have to use that to our advantage. I know what it’s like to win here. Our guys -- we have a lot of new guys -- a lot of young guys. If they couldn’t felt he atmosphere today, they’re never going to."
Defensive end Aaron Kampman was getting ready for the second half when an offensive line coach approached him and pretty much guaranteed a score on the opening drive.
"He told me ‘Just sit on the bench and get comfortable. We’re going to keep you off the field for awhile.’" Kampman said. "He kept his word. Anytime you can run the ball like that, it’s a good feeling."
A lowlight for the Packers -- a botched fake field goal that McCarthy took the blame for afterward.
Wells said that the offensive lineman take turns buying each other dinner. Asked which lineman was the cheapest, he pointed out Chris White.
"He took us to the cheapest restaurant and spent the least amount of money," Wells said.
"But, we won," White said.
"We won, but he spent about a fifth of the money I spent," Wells said.
Barnett has been using his "samurai" celebration after big plays and the crowd is eating it up. "I’m having a good time with it," he said. "When (coach Mike) Sherman was here, he didn’t let me pull it out. Mike McCarthy let’s me pull it out. He encourages me. I like that."
Cornerback Al Harris didn’t seem to enjoy the victory as much as his teammates. Harris still seems upset about his contract and could soon join Javon Walker on the "outta here" express.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
