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Franklin’s fumble is the final blunder for the Packers

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The Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals each committed four turnovers on

Johnathan Franklin

Johnathan Franklin

Sunday, the final of which led to Terence Newman’s 58-yard fumble return for the game-winning touchdown.  It gave the Bengals a 34-30 win over the Packers.

On 4th and 1, Mike McCarthy decided to go for it with 3:47 left to play and the result wasn’t a good one.  McCarthy  admitted to thinking about kicking the field goal but changed his mind and went for it.  McCarthy was down to his final running back, rookie Johnathan Franklin, who tried to dive over the pile with an up the middle run, only to fumble on the way up.  Newman eventually ended up with the ball and he did the rest.

The Bengals then finished things off when Michael Johnson batted down Aaron Rodgers’ fourth down pass at the Cincinnati 20-yard line with 1:21 left to play and they ran out the clock. [Read more…]

DuJuan Harris is headed for injured reserve

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The Green Bay Packers were looking forward to using DuJuan Harris and Eddie Lacy

DuJuan Harris

DuJuan Harris

as a 1-2 punch in the backfield this season.  Coach Mike McCarthy was high on Harris and was always quick to point that out during press conferences during training camp.

Today, McCarthy announced that Harris will be placed on injured reserve with a knee injury that is expected to end his season.

AUDIO: McCarthy with I.R. announcement :13

McCarthy said the team hasn’t discussed designating Harris as the team’s one player eligible to return from injured reserve.  Harris said he didn’t think that would happen. [Read more…]

Lacy looks like the real deal for the Packers!

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After one week of training camp and the team’s intrasquad scrimmage, it would

Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy

appear the Green Bay Packers have landed the physical running back they have been looking for.

In front of more than 63,000 (63,047) fans on Saturday night at Lambeau Field, second round pick Eddie Lacy got a chance to show his stuff with the pads on and live tackling.

Lacy rushed 8-times for 65 yards (unofficial) and a (8.1 per carry average).

AUDIO: Eddie Lacy enjoyed full contact football on Saturday :08 [Read more…]

Harris back with team

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The Green Bay Packers are wrapping up their off-season OTA’s this week and

DuJuan Harris

DuJuan Harris

while running back DuJuan Harris won’t be practicing at all this week, he will be back in time for the start of training camp.

Harris was on the sidelines on Tuesday, watching his teammates workout during OTA’s.  Harris didn’t talk with the media after having a fist-sized cyst removed from his chest a couple of weeks ago.

Green Bay Packers coach isn’t quite sure just how much better his running game will be this coming season, but he knows it will be better.

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on expectations of the running game :09

Draft picks Eddie Lacy (Alabama) and Johnathan Franklin (UCLA) are two of the leading candidates to win the starting job once training camp ends and the regular season begins.

 

Packers sign Lacy

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The Green Bay Packers signed their second round draft pick, running back Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy

to a rookie contract.  That leaves only one unsigned draft choice, 1st round pick Datone Jones.

Lacy is expected to compete for a starting job in the Packers backfield later this summer.

Lacy, Johnathan Franklin and undrafted free agent Angelo Pease are the newcomers.  DuJuan Harris, Alex Green and James Starks are the veterans that will be competing for jobs in training camp later this summer.

 

Green promises to push for starting tailback job in Green Bay

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There’s been plenty of excitement over the draft selections of running backs Eddie

Alex Green / UPI Photo-Bill Greenblatt

Alex Green / UPI Photo-Bill Greenblatt

Lacy (Alabama) and Johnathan Franklin (UCLA).  The reason?  The Green Bay Packers haven’t had a 1,000 yard rusher since 2009 when Ryan Grant rushed for 1,253 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Last season, the Packers ground attack was so poor that Alex Green, who was still coming back from major knee surgery in 2011, finished as the teams leading ground gainer, picking up 464 yards on 135 carries.  To make matters worse, the next top rusher in line was the team’s quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, who finished with 259 yards on 54 carries. [Read more…]

Lacy puts toe injury behind him

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Rookie running back Eddie Lacy showed up for the Green Bay Packers rookie orientation camp on Friday, ready to pick up where he left off.

Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy

Several teams passed on him in the NFL Draft because of toe surgery nearly a year and a half ago.  As concerning as that might be, Lacy has put that behind him and is excited to be a Green Bay Packer.

16 months ago, Lacy underwent fusion surgery on his right big toe.  He followed that by rushing for 1,322 yards and 17 touchdowns in his redshirt junior year, helping Alabama to a National Championship.

Jones didn’t get drafted until the 2nd round, number-61 overall by the Packers.  He held on that long because of his injury history.  Lacy had knee and pectoral issues last season.  He also had a hamstring injury that prevented him from working out for NFL scouts in April.  But that doesn’t bother Lacy.  He’s more interested in moving forward and consider’s Green Bay the perfect situation for him.

AUDIO: Eddie Lacy says Green Bay is the perfect situation :10 [Read more…]

Packers draft pick, Franklin, gets only offseason work this weekend!

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Green Bay Packers’ 4th round pick, Johnathan Franklin, will be in Green Bay with the

Johnathan Franklin - UCLA Photo

Johnathan Franklin – UCLA Photo

rest of the teams rookies, participating in the teams mandatory rookie minicamp this weekend.  But that’ll be it for Franklin because of the NFL’s graduation rules.

By rule, players can’t take part in their new team’s offseason work except for their rookie minicamp until after their schools’ final exams in the spring or summer.  Exams at UCLA don’t end until June 14th and the Packers’ offseason work finishes that same week.

That means Franklin will miss OTA practices and the full-squad mandatory minicamp June 4-6.

Franklin’s college teammate, Datone Jones will be able to take part in the Packers offseason program because he graduated last year.  Jones was the Packers first round pick.

Packers draft means bad news for veteran players (AUDIO)

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Every new NFL Draft class means the end of the line for a number of NFL veteran

Eddie Lacy

Eddie Lacy

players.

In Green Bay, adding two new running backs means the current stable of backs could be out of work soon.

Selecting Eddie Lacy in the 2nd round and Johnathan Franklin in the 4th round is a big statement that the Packers aren’t happy with their ground game.  James Starks and Alex Green could be battling in training camp for roster spot.  Coach Mike McCarthy had talked before the draft as if DuJuan Harris would be battling for a starters spot.  It would appear that job could be Lacy’s to lose.

AUDIO: RB’s coach Alex Van Pelt on his message to incumbant RB’s :13 [Read more…]