Wisconsin News and Sports
Last season, Green Bay Packers rookie Casey Hayward led the team’s defense with six
Casey Hayward
interceptions and twenty-one pass breakups. Those are Charles Woodson type numbers.
Can Hayward do it again? Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy said this week that he is expecting even more from Hayward.
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy is expecting even more from Casey Hayward :10
Of the 21 pass breakups, 14 came in the last eight games. [Read more…]
Charles Woodson missed 9-games this past season with his second broken collarbone in the last three years and today, the Green Bay Packers released the
Charles Woodson
veteran safety, saving more than $9.4-million on the teams salary cap.
This day was coming and today’s move shouldn’t be a surprise to anybody. But it’s never fun to see a player that has accomplished as much as Woodson has, have to be told he doesn’t fit in the teams plans any longer.
In his prime, Woodson was one of the top players in the game and he’s a certainty for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Woodson came to Green Bay with a reputation, considered a player that marched to his own beat. In fact, when Woodson left Oakland, nobody wanted him. Nobody but the Packers that is. [Read more…]
According to an NFL Network report, the Green Bay Packers have decided to release
Charles Woodson
veteran safety Charles Woodson.
The 36-year-old Woodson was set to earn $6.5-million in base salary next season and an additional $2.5-million in signing bonus money the first day of training camp.
Woodson originally signed with the Packers in 2006. He was named the 2009 defensive player-of-the-year. Since arriving in Green Bay, Woodson has picked off 38 passes and earned 11 1/2 sacks in 100 games. [Read more…]
Green Bay Packers rookie defensive back Casey Hayward has been selected to the NFL’s
Casey Hayward
all-rookie team.
Hayward broke a 39-year drought by being named to the NFL’s only all-rookie team as selected by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America.
Hayward led all rookie defensive backs in interceptions with six. He started six games at right corner while filling in for injured starter Sam Shields.
The Packers didn’t have anybody named to the Pro Football Weekly all-pro team. Even QB Aaron Rodgers finished second to Denver QB Peyton Manning.
Veteran Green Bay Packers defensive back Charles Woodson has been cleared to play this Saturday night against the Minnesota Vikings. It
Charles Woodson
would be his first return to the field since breaking his collarbone on Oct. 21 against the St. Louis Rams.
Woodson lined up at safety with the number 1 defense in practice on Tuesday.
AUDIO: Mike McCarthy is glad to have Woodson back :14
The Packers are hoping Woodson will help the Packers defense against Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson. Peterson has tallied 409 yards rushing in two games against the Packers this season.
AUDIO: Tramon Williams on Woodson’s return :13
What remains to be seen is what Woodson’s return to action will mean for some of the other young defensive players, starting with rookie corner Casey Hayward.
Woodson will also be looking to force Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder into a turnover or two. Ponder didn’t turn the ball over at all in the Vikings 37-34 win over the Packers last week.
Running back Cedric Benson, who played the last four seasons in Cincinnati,
Cedric Benson
returns to face his old team tonight. Benson gets his first game action as a member of the Green Bay Packers.
AUDIO: Cedric Benson wants to play well tonight :20
The Packers want to see what they have in their potential go-to running back who signed with the Packers about a week ago. A solid outing for Benson will likely give him a chance to open the regular season as the Packers number one tailback. [Read more…]
After a week of practicing at 8:15 in the morning, the Green Bay Packers will
Desmond Bishop
move their training camp workouts to night time for a while. It starts with a 7pm practice tonight at Ray Nitschke Field.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said there’s a reason for the shuffling of practice times.
AUDIO: McCarthy said there’s a reason for varying practice times :23
Following tonight, the Packers will hold their annual Family Night Scrimmage at Lambeau Field on Friday. More than 70,000 tickets have been sold (sold out) for the night-time practice. [Read more…]
The Green Bay Packers used a pair of trades on day 2 of the draft to move up and select two more defensive players.
Casey Hayward
After moving up to take Michigan State DT Jerel Worthy, General Manager Ted Thompson moved up again in the second round to grab Vanderbilt cornerback Casey Hayward.
AUDIO: GM Ted Thompson on Casey Hayward :23
Hayward has been the leader of the Commodores’ defensive unit since joining the starting lineup prior to his sophomore campaign. He’s described as one of the most fearless hitters in the collegiate game, recording 31 touchdown-saving tackles after opponents broke free from other Commodores defenders.
Hayward shattered the school career-record with 46 passes defended, tied for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision lead among active players and good for 11th on the major college all-time record chart. His 15 interceptions are tied with Leonard Coleman (1980-83) for the school career-record.
While the Packers need safety help, defensive coordinator Dom Capers said you can never have enough good corners and that’s where Hayward will play in Green Bay.
The Packers, after dealing two picks away to move up in day 2, have a total of 7 draft picks left on the final day of the draft on Saturday. They’ll have the two 4th round compensatory picks, their 6th round pick and all 4 picks in round 7. Two of the four in the 7th round are also compensatory selections.
After taking USC outside linebacker Nick Perry with their first round pick, 27th overall on Thursday night, the Green Bay Packers
Jerel Worthy
returned to the War Room and Ted Thompson came with his trading shoes on.
Thompson send a 2nd round selection (59th overall) and a 4th round pick (123rd overall) for the right to move up to number 51 and select Michigan State defensive tackle Jerel Worthy. Worthy will come in and play defensive end for the Packers, a move that defensive line coach Mike Trgovac says will help nose tackle B.J. Raji in the middle.
Worthy measures 6’2 and weighs 308 pounds and boasts an explosive first step that could help the Packers woeful pass rush game from a year ago.
Worthy started 38 of 40 games for Michigan State at left defensive tackle, registered 3 1/2 sacks and 10 1/2 have tackles for loss last season and totaled 12 sacks and 27 1/2 half tackles for loss in his career.
Worthy also added a pair of blocked kicks on special teams.
AUDIO: Def. Line coach Mike Trgovac on Mich. State DT Jerel Worthy 1:20
The Packers then traded up a second time in the second round, parting with a 3rd round pick (90th overall) and a 5th round pick (163rd overall) to move up and select Vanderbilt CB Casey Hayward. (More on Heyward in a separate post)