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Matthews shoots for Packers franchise sack record (AUDIO)

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Clay Matthews

When Clay Matthews takes the field against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, he’ll have his sights set on becoming the Green Bay Packers all-time franchise sack leader.

Matthews has 74 sacks in his career, which started back in 2009.  Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (74.5 sacks) is the all-time franchise leader, leaving Matthews a half sack shy of sharing the record and one full sack from moving into the lead.

Matthews is tied for the second-most six-plus-sack seasons in the NFL since 2009 with seven.  Former Packer Julius Peppers (Carolina/Chicago/GB) is the leader in that category with eight.

Matthews ranks in the top five in sacks since 2009 among active players.  Miami’s Cameron Wake tops that list with 81.5.  Houston’s J.J. Watt is next with 76.

Matthews has put himself in some elite company and he’s not even close to being done.

AUDIO: Clay Matthews is hoping to get the sack record and the win on Sunday :09

AUDIO: Clay Matthews said the sack record will mean more when he’s done :12

AUDIO: Clay Matthews was asked of numbers and stats matter to him :23

Packers add Brooks to help pass rush

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The Green Bay Packers will have a little more than a week to get Ahmad Brooks up to speed before facing Seattle in the season opener on Sunday, Sept. 10, at Lambeau Field.

The Packers agreed to a deal with veteran outside linebacker on Wednesday, a deal that could pay him as much as $5 million.

The 33-year-old Brooks spent the last nine seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and ranks third in franchise history with 51 1/2 sacks.

The Packers entered training camp without Julius Peppers and Datone Jones, who left in free agency.  They were hoping Jayrone Elliott and Kyler Fackrell would step in and take over the lost production.  When it didn’t happen, the Packers had their eyes open for help and the timing of Brooks release from the 49ers couldn’t have been better.

Brooks has had at least five sacks in each of the past eight seasons.  His career high of 8 1/2 came in 2013. [Read more…]

Packers to host free agent Brooks today

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Kyler Fackrell

The Green Bay Packers are expected to host free-agent outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks today.  The decision to bring in a veteran is a clear sign that the Packers aren’t happy with the current level of production beyond Clay Matthews and Nick Perry.

The Packers let Julius Peppers and Datone Jones get away in free agency, ready to give Jayrone Elliott and Kyler Fackrell more of an opportunity.

Through three preseason games, Elliott and Fackrell have combined for five tackles and no sacks.

The Packers haven’t been able to stay healthy as well.  Matthews dropped out early on Saturday with an undisclosed injury and Perry later left with an ankle injury.

Elliott has had to deal with back spasms the last couple of weeks and he had to leave Saturday’s game at Denver early.

The Packers also haven’t been able to get former Badger Vince Biegel on the field.  The fourth round pick hasn’t practiced since rookie orientation in May when he broke a bone in his foot.  After surgery, he’s been rehabbing, trying to get back, but its an injury that requires a tremendous amount of patience.  Biegel is currently on the PUP list and could remain there through the first six weeks of the season.

AUDIO: Kyler Fackrell reacts to the Packers bringing in Ahmad Brooks for a visit :16

Packers hold 29th pick in tonight’s NFL Draft

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The Green Bay Packers have many needs heading into the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft tonight.  Cover corner and a pass rusher top the list.

After losing Sam Shields, the Packers struggled in the secondary last season.  They also struggled to rush the passer and will enter the season without one of their top pressure players in Julius Peppers, who signed a free agent deal with Carolina.

They’re hoping Clay Matthews can stay healthy this season after he had one of his worst seasons.

They could go the corner route right away, and if the player or players they want aren’t available at that position, then a pass rushing outside linebacker could be on the agenda.  State football fans would love to see them take Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt, although Missouri’s Charles Harris is considered to be a better bet. [Read more…]

Elliott agrees to one-year deal with Packers

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After visits with Buffalo and Pittsburgh, free-agent outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott decided to return to the Green Bay Packers.  Elliott has agreed to a one-year deal with the Packers, worth a reported $1.6 million.

Elliott had offers from both the Bills and Steelers, but with Julius Peppers already signed by Carolina and Datone Jones still unsigned, his best chance at a larger role may come with the Packers.

Elliott was supposed to be a restricted free agent, but the Packers didn’t tender him.

During the last two seasons, Elliott had four sacks in limited playing time.  Most of his contributions have been on special teams where he led the Packers in tackles last season and ranked third in 2015.

Peppers planning to play in 2017

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Julius Peppers

After taking some time to reflect on his future, veteran outside linebacker Julius Peppers is planning to play again in 2017.

Peppers, who just wrapped up his 15th NFL season with the Green Bay Packers, is the only player in NFL history with 100 sacks and 10 or more interceptions.

Peppers agent, Carl Carey, told ESPN that Peppers has at least one more year in him.

Peppers completed a three-year, $26 million contract with the Packers and is set to become a free agent.  Carey said he met with the Packers over the weekend at the NFL scouting combine.

Peppers recorded 25 of his 143.5 career regular-season sacks with the Packers.  In his three seasons with the Packers, Peppers didn’t miss a single game.

Packers edge Texans on wintry day at Lambeau

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James Starks

James Starks

The Green Bay Packers did enough to pull out their second straight victory and stay within two games of the first place Detroit Lions atop the NFC North Division.  They knocked off the Houston Texans 21-13 on a snowy day at Lambeau Field.

Aaron Rodgers completed 20 of 30 passes for 209 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Packers improve to 6-6 on the season.

The Packers couldn’t pick up any ground on first place Detroit.  The Lions held Drew Brees without a touchdown pass in New Orleans and beat the Saints 28-13.  Detroit has a two game lead on the Packers with four left to play.

The Texans are also 6-6 in the AFC after suffering their third straight loss.  They are tied with Tennessee for first place in the AFC South. [Read more…]

Clay Matthews expects to return to Packers lineup Sunday (AUDIO)

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Clay Matthews

Clay Matthews

Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews says his hamstring has improved and feels there’s a good chance he will play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts at Lambeau Field.

Matthews took team reps in practice on Thursday.

Last Sunday’s game in Atlanta was the second game that Matthews missed this season.  He was also absent for the week three game against the Detroit Lions.  Without him on Sunday, the Packers managed just two quarterback sacks in the one-point loss to Atlanta.

The Colts have the worst offensive line in football entering this week, having allowed a league leading 31 quarterback sacks.  Certainly that could be some incentive for Matthews to try to play this season. [Read more…]

Packers offense comes to life in win over Detroit

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Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers

After weeks of offensive struggles, the Green Bay Packers came to life on Sunday, beating division foe Detroit 34-27 in the home opener at Lambeau Field.

The Lions were missing top defensive players Ziggy Ansah and DeAndre Levy and the Packers showed no mercy, putting 31-points on the board in the first half and taking a 31-3 lead into the locker room at halftime.

It was the offense that Packers fans are used to seeing.  Aaron Rodgers tossed four touchdown passes in the first half for the second time in his career, two of the four to Jordy Nelson.  Rodgers ended up completing 15 of 24 passes for the game, finishing with a 129.3 passer rating.  He ended a string of 14 consecutive games without a passer rating of 100 or more. [Read more…]

Matthews and Peppers cleared in NFL PED investigation

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Julius Peppers & Clay Matthews

Julius Peppers & Clay Matthews

Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, along with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison have been cleared of any wrongdoing by the NFL.

The NFL released a statement Wednesday afternoon:

The NFL found no credible evidence that Pittsburgh’s James Harrison and Green Bay’s Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers were provided with or used substances prohibited under the NFL-NFLPA Policy on Performance-Enhancing Substances following a comprehensive investigation into allegations made in a documentary by Al-Jazeera America.

All three players took part in interviews last week at their team facilities. [Read more…]