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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…]

Matthews and Peppers agree to meet with the NFL

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Julius Peppers & Clay Matthews

Julius Peppers & Clay Matthews

According to an ESPN report, Green Bay Packers linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers, along with Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison, have agreed to meet with NFL investigators.  The league threatened suspension if the players didn’t agree to discuss steroid allegations related to an Al-Jazeera report in January.

Former Packers linebacker Mike Neal, a current free agent, has yet to agree to meet with the league.

According ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, Harrison will meet Aug. 29 at the team facility.  The date(s) for Matthews and Peppers has not been revealed.

Earlier, the NFLPA had issued statements to the league on behalf of the players.  But the NFL says the players have an obligation to submit to an interview but also the duty to provide meaningful responses to the questions posed.

 

Packers not likely to use franchise tag on Crosby

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Mason Crosby

Mason Crosby

The deadline for NFL teams to use their franchise-and-transition tags is three this (Tuesday) afternoon.

Mason Crosby is the only potential Green Bay Packers player to get tagged, as he’s about to enter free agency for the second time in his career.

If Crosby does receive a franchise tag, he would get a one-year deal worth nearly $4.6 million, giving the Packers more time to set up a long-term contract.

None of the other Packers free agents, including nose tackle B.J. Raji, cornerback Casey Hayward and linebacker Mike Neal, appear to be candidates for a tag. [Read more…]

Neal returns to Packers Training Camp

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Mike Neal

Mike Neal

Green Bay Packers’ linebacker Mike Neal is practicing for the first time this season, finally returning from sports hernia surgery.  Neal was removed from the team’s Physically Unable to Perform list on Monday.

Neal was limited to individual drills and lighter work on a scout team.

Neal says his hernia flared up in each of the last three years, and it was especially tough to play through it in 2013.  He’s had surgery before, but he hopes his problems are gone for good after having noted Philadelphia surgeon William Meyers handle the procedure this time.

Neal hasn’t missed any games the past two seasons, after missing 20 his previous three seasons with various issues.

AUDIO: Neal on returning to the practice field :18

AUDIO: Neal said he’s playing lighter :23

Injury Update

A number of players returned to practice, including Clay Matthews, Mike Pennel and Jayrone Elliott.

Defensive lineman Mike Daniels and Letroy Guion sat out with injuries, as did linebacker Nick Perry.

Perry looking to change his fortune with the Packers (Video)

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After being picked in the first round of the 2012 by the Green Bay Packers, things went south for outside linebacker Nick Perry.

Perry had to deal with injury problems during his first two seasons, which meant he failed to meet the high expectations of a top pick.

Perry played in just six games as a rookie before a wrist injury forced him into season ending surgery.  Then in year number two, Perry missed five games after suffering a foot injury against Baltimore (Oct. 13).  He returned to play that season, but struggled to make any impact.

Perry is hoping to change his poor fortune in 2014.  After missing all of the offseason and starting Training Camp on the P.U.P. list with foot and knee issues, Perry returned to practice for first time today (Thursday).

Just where Perry will fit into the picture this season is unclear.  The signing of Julius Peppers adds to the mix and Mike Neal played well in his new OLB role last season, is returning to that spot again this year.

AUDIO: Perry is asked if he’s humbled by the experience :21

The most important thing for Perry is to stay healthy.  The only way he can put his injury history behind him and start to live up to the billing of a first round pick is to be available.

Perry looks to be off to a good start.  He played fast on defense during his first practice and won some battles during 1-on-1 pass rush drills.

Check out the following video.  Perry is the final in the sequence of three 1-on-1 matchups and he handled starting left tackle David Bahktiari in this particular matchup.

Packers start training camp today

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Training Camp starts today

Training Camp starts today

The Green Bay Packers will start training camp workouts this morning without four players on the practice field.

Linebacker/defensive end Mike Neal and linebacker Nick Perry both failed their physicals and were placed on PUP.  It means they suffered injuries while taking part in football activities.

For both players, they can start practicing as soon as they can pass their physicals.  If they don’t practice in training camp, then they would be eligible to start the season on PUP.  Under that scenario, they wouldn’t be able to play for six weeks.

Seventh round draft pick Jeff Janis, veteran defensive end Jerel Worthy and veteran free agent Letroy Guion were put on injured reserve.  Janis was put on the non-football illness list, while Worthy and Guion were put on the non-football injury list.  Worthy missed most of the off-season after his grandmother was accidentally shot to death in her home in Ohio.

All three players can be cleared to play once they pass their physicals.

Two players that missed offseason workouts because of injury, Clay Matthews and tight end Andrew Quarless both passed physicals and will be on the practice field this morning.

Practice Schedule

The Packers will practiced at 8:20 today, Sunday and Monday before taking Tuesday off.  They’ll return to morning workouts at 8:20 on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday before the teams Family Night practice on Saturday, August 2nd (6:25pm) at Lambeau Field.

 

DE Wilson signs with Raiders

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After playing in just eight games with the Green Bay Packers last season, free agent DE C.J. Wilson has signed with the Oakland

C.J. Wilson

C.J. Wilson

Raiders.

Wilson gets a fresh start in Oakland after once playing as a starter in Green Bay.   Wilson’s most productive season came in 2012 when he had 24 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 11 games with the Packers.

The addition of Julius Peppers and the resigning of DL/LB Mike Neal helped make Wilson’s value to the Packers diminish even further.  The Packers also will count on Mike Daniels, Datone Jones, Jerel Worthy and Josh Boyd.

The Raiders also added another free agent on Friday, signing former Jacksonville Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew to a three-year deal.

Packers add Andrew Quarless to the list of returning players

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The Green Bay Packers officially announced the signing of defensive lineman Mike Neal and tight end Andrew Quarless today.

Quarless finished last season as the team’s starter at tight end, once Jermichael Finley went down with a neck injury.

Quarless missed the 2012 season after recovering from a torn ACL and MCL.  Last season, he rebounded to catch 32 passes for 312 yards and two touchdowns.

 

Packers sign Neal for two more years

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When reports started to surface about the Chicago Bears having an interest

Mike Neal

Mike Neal

in Packers outside linebacker Mike Neal, it didn’t take long to find out just where Green Bay stood.

The Packers didn’t sign any outside free agents on day 2 of free agency, but they did resign Neal, giving him a two-year deal.  Neal set a career high with five quarterback sacks last season, while spending much of his time at outside linebacker.  The Packers would like to see him spend more time at defensive end this season.

2013 was somewhat of a breakout year for Neal, who had been plagued by injuries and a suspension in his first three seasons.

M.D. Jennings

The Packers did lose free agent safety M.D. Jennings after deciding not to offer him a tender.  He signed a 1-year deal with the Chicago Bears.

Owen Daniels

The Packers will reportedly bring in former Badger and Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels for a visit soon.  Daniels ranks second in Texan’s history with 385 receptions for more than 4,600 yards.  He played in just five games last season, suffering a broken fibula in October.

 

Jones not sure where his future is

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James Jones isn’t sure where his football future will take him, but he plans to spend a month or more decompressing with his family before he

James Jones

James Jones

starts getting back into the football swing of things.

Jones will be an unrestricted free agent and it’s uncertain just what the Green Bay Packers thought process is about having him remain a part of the outstanding Packers’ receiving group.

Jones is one of the higher profile players set to hit free agency, joining players like Jermichael Finley, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Sam Shields, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly.  Add Mike Neal, John Kuhn and Andrew Quarless to that list as well.

AUDIO: James Jones not sweating free agency :17

Jones was an unrestricted free agent three years ago as well.  He returned to the Packers, but that was a totally different deal.

AUDIO: Jones said things are different this time :11

Jones is also a different player than he was three years ago, from the standpoint of numbers along.  He’s become more of a consistent, productive, go-to player.

Jones and the Packers almost had another week of playoff football to concern themselves with.  They took the 49ers to the wire and lost 23-20 when Phil Dawson booted a 33-yard field goal, his 3rd of the day, to win it for San Francisco.