GREEN BAY -- After a three-day hiatus from my blogging about all things Packers, a hodgepodge of thoughts from Saturday night's scrimmage, Sunday's semi-day off and Monday's two practices, Larry King-style:
News: Ahman Green and his surgically repaired right quadriceps tendon go through individual drills, jog-throughs and 7-on-7s in Monday's practice. Views: A positive step, but I still have plenty of doubts. Let's see what he does in a game situation, which he hopes is Aug. 28 at Cincinnati. ...
News, part 2: Linebacker Brady Poppinga carries the same workload Monday, less than eight months after blowing out his left ACL. Views, part 2: The guy set rehab records with his work ethic, dedication and unparalleled intensity, so do not bet against him being ready on Sept. 10 for the opener against Chicago -- at least for special-teams duty. ...
I'm confused as to why so many fans are concerned about A.J. Hawk and wondering why he's such a disappointment because he hasn't had a huge impact in the first 11 days of practice. As I wrote in the Wisconsin State Journal on Monday, I think part of it is because Packers fans are conditioned for their high picks to be busts -- do the names Jamal Reynolds (2001), Terrell Buckley (1992) and Tony Mandarich (1989) ring a bell? This guy is not going to join them. ...
As for another rookie linebacker, Abdul Hodge, his college coach, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, insists he's a middle linebacker and can't play outside. And the Packers insist that they're going to play their three best LBs. Which makes you wonder, when will Nick Barnett move outside? ...
The team had better hope Charles Woodson sincerely wants to return punts, and stays healthy enough to do it all year. Rookie fourth-round pick Corey Rodgers looks as wobbly as those kids that catch meatballs thrown down from Bernie Brewer's chalet at Miller Park. Difference being, those kids usually catch a higher percentage. ...
Count me among the many who have been impressed by rookie wideout Greg Jennings. Not only has the kid made plays, but he's been a godsend for us writers -- a quotable, pleasant, eager fellow. If he's successful, let's hope he stays that way, since the last one of those we had -- Javon Walker -- took a turn for the worse on us. ...
I heard a few complaints about the television broadcast of the scrimmage. Was it that bad? I know FOX6's Tim VanVooren is top-notch, so there's no way that he was the source of the consternation. ...
Snuck down to State Fair on Sunday on my partial day off. The highlight: A couple of nice farm kids let this city boy take one of their calves to get washed. The lowlight: My cream puff. I know they're tradition, but what's the appeal? Empty calories have to taste better than that to make them worthwhile, don't you think? ...
I've been able to see two of my all-time favorite guys I've covered in the last few days: Dorsey Levens, who's here all month on a scouting internship, and Antonio Freeman, who was in town to speak about the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI team in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Levens, Mr. Reliable, is working 14-hour days deciding if he wants to get into the scouting game. Freeman? He was late and missed his speaking engagement Monday. "Typical Free, right?'' the likable-but-flighty Freeman said chuckling. That's why we love him. ...
Post a comment and let me know if my Larry King-ishness is something you'd like to see again. One thing I won't do, "Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- HELLO!"
- Jason Wilde covers the Packers for the Wisconsin State Journal. You can read his stories at the newspaper Web site -- www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports. Wilde also talks about the Packers each morning on "The D-List" and each afternoon on "The World's Greatest Sports Talk Show," on Milwaukee's ESPN Radio 1510 Days / 1290 Nights and Madison's Fox Sports Radio (100.5 FM).
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News: Ahman Green and his surgically repaired right quadriceps tendon go through individual drills, jog-throughs and 7-on-7s in Monday's practice. Views: A positive step, but I still have plenty of doubts. Let's see what he does in a game situation, which he hopes is Aug. 28 at Cincinnati. ...
News, part 2: Linebacker Brady Poppinga carries the same workload Monday, less than eight months after blowing out his left ACL. Views, part 2: The guy set rehab records with his work ethic, dedication and unparalleled intensity, so do not bet against him being ready on Sept. 10 for the opener against Chicago -- at least for special-teams duty. ...
I'm confused as to why so many fans are concerned about A.J. Hawk and wondering why he's such a disappointment because he hasn't had a huge impact in the first 11 days of practice. As I wrote in the Wisconsin State Journal on Monday, I think part of it is because Packers fans are conditioned for their high picks to be busts -- do the names Jamal Reynolds (2001), Terrell Buckley (1992) and Tony Mandarich (1989) ring a bell? This guy is not going to join them. ...
As for another rookie linebacker, Abdul Hodge, his college coach, Iowa's Kirk Ferentz, insists he's a middle linebacker and can't play outside. And the Packers insist that they're going to play their three best LBs. Which makes you wonder, when will Nick Barnett move outside? ...
The team had better hope Charles Woodson sincerely wants to return punts, and stays healthy enough to do it all year. Rookie fourth-round pick Corey Rodgers looks as wobbly as those kids that catch meatballs thrown down from Bernie Brewer's chalet at Miller Park. Difference being, those kids usually catch a higher percentage. ...
Count me among the many who have been impressed by rookie wideout Greg Jennings. Not only has the kid made plays, but he's been a godsend for us writers -- a quotable, pleasant, eager fellow. If he's successful, let's hope he stays that way, since the last one of those we had -- Javon Walker -- took a turn for the worse on us. ...
I heard a few complaints about the television broadcast of the scrimmage. Was it that bad? I know FOX6's Tim VanVooren is top-notch, so there's no way that he was the source of the consternation. ...
Snuck down to State Fair on Sunday on my partial day off. The highlight: A couple of nice farm kids let this city boy take one of their calves to get washed. The lowlight: My cream puff. I know they're tradition, but what's the appeal? Empty calories have to taste better than that to make them worthwhile, don't you think? ...
I've been able to see two of my all-time favorite guys I've covered in the last few days: Dorsey Levens, who's here all month on a scouting internship, and Antonio Freeman, who was in town to speak about the 10th anniversary season of the Super Bowl XXXI team in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Levens, Mr. Reliable, is working 14-hour days deciding if he wants to get into the scouting game. Freeman? He was late and missed his speaking engagement Monday. "Typical Free, right?'' the likable-but-flighty Freeman said chuckling. That's why we love him. ...
Post a comment and let me know if my Larry King-ishness is something you'd like to see again. One thing I won't do, "Milwaukee, Wisconsin -- HELLO!"
- Jason Wilde covers the Packers for the Wisconsin State Journal. You can read his stories at the newspaper Web site -- www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports. Wilde also talks about the Packers each morning on "The D-List" and each afternoon on "The World's Greatest Sports Talk Show," on Milwaukee's ESPN Radio 1510 Days / 1290 Nights and Madison's Fox Sports Radio (100.5 FM).
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Jason Wilde, a Milwaukee native who graduated from Greendale Martin Luther High School and the University of Wisconsin, is a two-time Associated Press Sports Editors award winner and a Wisconsin Newspaper Association award winner.
His daily coverage can be found on the State Journal's Web site and through his Packers blog on madison.com.
