May 22, 2012

McCarthy sheds more light on photo issue (AUDIO)

The Green Bay Packers will take their team photo in Dallas next Friday,

Mike McCarthy

ending the first controversial issue they’ve had to face while preparing for Super Bowl 45.

The move from Tuesday to Friday will allow all of the teams players, including those on injured reserve, to be a part of the team’s Super Bowl picture.  Those players on I.R. aren’t scheduled to arrive in Dallas until Thursday. [Read more...]

Team photo is an issue for a pair of vets!

Nick Barnett and Jermichael Finley spent most of the season on Injured

Nick Barnett

Reserve, 2 of the 16 players to wind up on that season ending injury list.  Now they’re being kept out of the Green Bay Packers’  Super Bowl photo and are not very happy about it

Both players tweeted yesterday.  Barnett called it “sad” and Finley said it’s “not cool”.  The Packers say it’s a team decision.  They say the photo is being taken after media day next Tuesday and the 16 players on I.R. won’t be arriving in Dallas until next Thursday.

Packers will find a way to win today

The Green Bay Packers will play today without a number of key players.  They’ll be without Mark Tauscher on offense and Nick Barnett, Morgan Burnett and Brandon Chillar on defense.  They’ll play in one of the loudest venues in the NFL at Washington’s FedExField and despite being 3-1, are wondering why they haven’t been able to put teams like the Detroit Lions away.

In the long term, these key injuries may take their toll on the Packers, but under Mike McCarthy, the Packers have more times than not, been able to rally when their backs were against the wall to win.  I look for them to do the same against the Washington Redskins today.

Aaron Rodgers questioned the head coach last week and called for the Packers to have their top players on the field more in key situations. 

The Packers have a difficult stretch ahead with Miami, Minnesota, the New York Jets and the Dallas Cowboys ahead.  But the only game that concerns the Packers, is today’s game against Washington. 

My concerns with the Packers are special teams and penalties.  They’re problems the Packers have struggled with on the road in loud environments.  That’s the situation they’ll be faced with today.  But I believe they’ll do enough to overcome those problems and find a way to go to 4-1.

My prediction:  Packers 20, Redskins 17

The Packers lost rookie safety Morgan Burnett for the rest of the season after an ACL injury.  I chatted with Burnett earlier this week.

AUDIO: Bill Scott on the loss of Packers safety Morgan Burnett 2:48

Two Packer starters underwent offseason surgery

Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy revealed for the first time during a news conference today that two key members of the Packers football team had offseason procedures to clean up some knee problems.

McCarthy said at a news conference during OTA’s today that wide receiver Donald Driver and linebacker Nick Barnett were both being held back after undergoing scopes after the conclusion of last season.

Barnett cleared for contact tonight

Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett posted on his twitter account today that he has been cleared for at least some contact drills tonight.Nick Barnett watches warmups

Barnett had surgery in mid November to repair a torn ACL and didn’t return to the practice field on a limited basis until last Monday.  This will be his first contact since his knee injury.

Barnett is presumed to be the starter at inside linebacker.  It’s not certain if he’ll play in the team’s third preseason game on Friday night at Arizona.