Woodson, Harris Ready to make Packers Stronger

The Packers' biggest free agent acquisition - cornerback Charles Woodson - had no time to explain how he'll complement Green Bay's already stout passing defence.
That's because fellow cornerback Al Harris jumped right in.
"We're going to make things happen," Harris shouted Friday.
Green Bay instantly has one of the top cornerback duos in the league for a team already ranked first against the pass, if Woodson can stay healthy.
"You hear him, you already know what kind of player he is," Woodson said of Harris. "You've seen me over the years. Us two out there together, we should have a lot of fun, a lot of celebrating going on on our side of the ball."
Sounds like they already are.
The Packers, coming off their worst season in 15 years, finally have an impact free agent they've desperately needed, and Woodson has a fresh start.
"I think pretty much everybody was ready to come back and see where we're at," Harris said. "We've still got a lot of building, a lot of building to do."
For Woodson, gone are the failed expectations in Oakland, which won just 13 games the last three seasons. He hasn't played a full season since 2001 and broke his right leg Oct. 23 against Buffalo.
But the hype still remains for the four-time Pro Bowler who signed a seven-year, $52.7 million US contract.
"That's not a problem," Woodson said. "I came in with a big contract. I came in after winning the Heisman Trophy, so pressure is something I've felt my whole life."
Woodson played eight years for the Raiders, intercepting 17 passes in 106 games, but Oakland declined to use their franchise tag on him in February, making him an unrestricted free agent.
"I felt a couple years ago that would be where I played my whole career," Woodson said. "It was definitely a strange feeling, but life goes on. Sometimes you've got to move on."
In his first Packers minicamp, which opened Friday, Woodson made an immediate splash.
Wearing a No. 2 jersey, his number at Michigan, he flashed in front of an errant pass intended for rookie Greg Jennings and made an interception despite falling.
Rules won't let Woodson wear the number in the NFL, but he says he's battling to keep it even though he's slated to wear No. 21.
That's apart from his familiar No. 24 with the Raiders, where he was one of the Raiders' most talented and popular players, although he battled injuries and clashed with management and coaches in his final years with the team.
He said he doesn't hold any grudges.
"I keep telling people I've got to be one of the luckiest people in the game to be able to play for a university like Michigan, play for Oakland and now with the Green Bay Packers," he said.
Even after not re-signing with Oakland, Woodson figured he would go to Tampa Bay, which courted him as well.
"I never in my life thought I'd be in Green Bay," he said. "Once we went through the process, I came here and I visited and that eased those reservations a little bit."
But he's not planning to be a vocal leader, which sometimes caused clashes in Oakland.
"If I have to say something, I have no problem with that," Woodson said. "Right now, I just want to come in, play my position and work hard and let everybody know that I'm here and that I mean business."
No matter if that business is returning punts, playing offence or moving to safety, he says, and at least early, there seems to be plenty of fun to go around by teaming with Harris.
"Sometimes they're going to throw it his way, sometimes they're going to throw it my way," Woodson said. "They're going to have to decide which way they want to go at. That's going to be fun for both of us."

Woodson signs with Packers

The Green Bay Packers made their first major splash in the free-agent market this offseason, agreeing to terms with defensive back Charles Woodson on Wednesday.
Woodson's agent, Kevin Poston, said the Packers agreed to a seven-year deal for $52.7 million, including $10.5 million in the first year of the contract. Packers general manager Ted Thompson declined comment.
Woodson's signing comes a day after Brett Favre told the team he would return to play the 2006 season.
Woodson played eight seasons for Oakland, intercepting 17 passes in 106 games.
No homecoming for Young: Houston Texans fans wanting their team to draft hometown darling Vince Young with the top overall pick in the NFL draft will be disappointed Saturday.
Houston general manager Charley Casserly said Wednesday that the Texans would not draft a quarterback with their No. 1 pick. The Texans are negotiating with USC tailback Reggie Bush and North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams instead.
"It didn't make any sense to draft a quarterback with our first pick," Casserly said. "After evaluating the quarterbacks in this draft, and part of the evaluation process is the workouts in the spring and the interviews, we came to the conclusion to draft a quarterback - whether it be Vince Young, Matt Leinart or Jay Cutler - was not the best thing for this football team."
See ya: The Minnesota Vikings released running back Onterrio Smith after he was suspended by the NFL for the entire 2005 season for a substance abuse violation.
Gumbel, Collinsworth team up: Bryant Gumbel, whose last play-by-play assignment was high school games more than 30 years ago, will call the NFL Network's eightregular-season NFL games this season along with analyst Cris Collinsworth.

Packers' Favre Decides To Play Another Year

Quarterback Brett Favre has decided to return for one more season with the Green Bay Packers.
The team announced yesterday that Favre had informed the club of his decision Tuesday.
"The Green Bay Packers are very pleased that Brett has come to this decision, and look forward to a successful 2006 season," Packers General Manager Ted Thompson said in a written statement released by the team.
Favre previously said that if he returned, next season would be his last.
The Packers put their plans for the future on hold for months while Favre mulled his options and, at times, spoke as if he was planning to retire. Former Packers coach Mike Holmgren said last month that when his current team, the Seattle Seahawks, faced the Packers at the end of the regular season, he believed that Favre would retire, but he'd changed his thinking since then and had become increasingly convinced that Favre would play another season.
It will be Favre's 16th NFL season and 15th with the Packers. He is coming off his worst season, having thrown a career-high 29 interceptions while the Packers went 4-12.
He said during the offseason that he wanted the Packers to be active in free agency in an attempt to return to competitive status, but Thompson took a mostly conservative approach until the Packers agreed yesterday to a seven-year deal with cornerback Charles Woodson worth as much as $52.7 million. Woodson, formerly of the Oakland Raiders, also had been negotiating with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Packers have the fifth overall selection in the draft Saturday, and Thompson has said he would not hesitate to use that choice on a quarterback if he feels that's the best player available at the time. The Packers used a first-round pick last year on quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Packers officials had hoped Favre would decide before the draft but had postponed a deadline tied to a $3 million roster bonus in Favre's contract until training camp in case it took him that long to make up his mind.
Favre, who turns 37 in October, will be playing for a new head coach after Thompson fired Mike Sherman following the season and replaced him with Mike McCarthy.
New Pair in Booth
The NFL Network announced yesterday that Bryant Gumbel and Cris Collinsworth will be in the booth for six of the eight regular season games that the league-owned network will carry next season.
Gumbel, host of "Real Sports" on HBO, last performed play-by-play duties more than 30 years ago on high school football games. Because of scheduling conflicts for Collinsworth, another analyst will work two games with Gumbel. . . .
The Minnesota Vikings released suspended running back Onterrio Smith, who, according to a report in the St. Paul Pioneer Press, has been informed by the league that he will not be reinstated in June.
Smith was suspended for a year for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy last year and missed the entire 2005 season. He must apply for reinstatement, and Commissioner Paul Tagliabue reportedly is not prepared to allow him to return to the league.
In April 2005, Smith was detained by airport security and found to be carrying a device designed to circumvent drug tests. His suspension was not based on that incident, however. Last May, he either failed or missed a drug test and was suspended. . . .
The Houston Texans have made progress in contract negotiations with former Southern California tailback Reggie Bush and are increasingly optimistic that they will be able to sign him in the coming days as a precursor to selecting him with the top overall choice in the NFL draft, a source familiar with the deliberations said last night. The Texans also have been negotiating with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams. General Manager Charley Casserly told reporters yesterday that the Texans don't intend to trade the pick and plan to choose Bush or Williams.

Indecision Weighs on Fans

The coffee was hot, the eggs were over easy and the opinions were mixed Saturday after Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre told the world he hasn’t made up his mind about retiring from professional football.
Favre, at a press conference kicking off a Brett Favre Fourward Foundation golf outing in Mississippi, shot down reports that the gathering was to announce his long-awaited decision.
At Hometown Cafe on West Mason Street in Green Bay, the morning coffee klatch chewed on Favre’s nonannouncement and the factors that prompted it to be covered live on many area TV stations.
“It’s not an easy day-to-day decision for everyday people,” Hometown co-owner Brenda Hecker said of retirement. “There’s a lotta time yet. I wish they’d leave him alone. He’ll come out and tell us when he’s ready.”
“The sports reporters got everything all worked up,” offered Jan Johnson, of Ashwaubenon who wore his Packers 2002 NFC Division Championship sweatshirt to breakfast Saturday morning.
“The man doesn’t have anything to prove. He’s going to go into the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame either way,” said Johnson, a Lambeau Field season ticket holder since 1966.
Second-guessing Favre’s decision-making process was interlaced with complaints about the size of the bills for this year’s season tickets, the ever-present annoyance with the aluminum benches of the Lambeau Field bowl seats and the price of beer at any professional sporting event.
Some Packers fans believe that Favre’s prolonged indecision could hurt the team’s chances this year.
“I think he’s waiting to see what (the team) picks up for players,” said John Manders of De Pere. “I think he wants to know if they are going to find someone to protect him. I’d like to see him get five seconds of protection.”
Hecker said folks eating breakfast watched the morning’s televised news conference end to end, but she admitted that it wasn’t very busy.
“You could tell when it was over,” she said. “We got busy. I think everyone stayed home to watch it and then came out to breakfast.”

Rodgers ‘excited’ to work with McCarthy

While Favre’s decision will have a huge impact on Rodgers’ life, Rodgers will be happy either way.
If Favre retires, Rodgers is the Packers’ likely starting quarterback. That, he said, would be “great.”
If Favre returns, Rodgers’ learning process will continue for at least one more year under “one of the greatest quarterbacks of all time,” he said.
“I worry about the things that I can control and everything else will take care of itself. I can’t control what Brett does,” Rodgers said. “I can just be the best player I can be.”
Rodgers is preparing like the job is going to be his. He’ll spend most of the next three months in Green Bay, working with coach Mike McCarthy to learn the offense.
“I’ve got a lot to learn, but I’m excited,” Rodgers said. “I met with Coach McCarthy about two weeks ago and just got a great sense of what he wants to do with the offense.”
Rodgers and McCarthy got to know each other a year ago when McCarthy was the offensive coordinator with the San Francisco 49ers, who were considering taking Rodgers with the No. 1 pick.
The Niners passed on Rodgers to take Utah quarterback Alex Smith, but McCarthy said he couldn’t be more excited about having the chance to coach Rodgers.
“Just the fact that he was considered with the No. 1 pick speaks volumes about him as a prospect,” McCarthy said. “I am very excited that Aaron Rodgers is a Green Bay Packer.”
Rodgers feels much the same way about playing for McCarthy, even if it comes a year later than he initially expected.
“First of all, he was an offensive guy, and second of all, because we really clicked pre-draft when I met with him at the 49ers’ facility. I really thought, coming out of that interview, that we were going to have a good working relationship with me playing for the Niners. It didn’t work out.” Rodgers said.
“A year removed, I think we’re going to have a great relationship, and he’s got a great mind for the offense, some really good ideas with the quarterback position and what he wants to do with that.”
During the offseason, Rodgers went on a cruise with several other players as well as Favre’s mother, Bonita and sister, Brandi. He quickly realized that he wasn’t the only one in the dark about Favre’s future.
“They said, ‘He doesn’t know. We don’t know.’” Rodgers said. “So, I don’t know.”
Rodgers admitted he’s a little surprised that he’s not all consumed by wondering whether Favre will return.
“I think it’s a positive either way,” Rodgers said. “If he comes back, I’ve got another year to learn from him, and to learn this new offense. If he doesn’t, I think I’ll be ready to play.”
Rodgers said he’s doing everything he can during this offseason to make sure he’s ready if Favre retires.
“From about Week 6 on last year, I just made some real big strides, and I plan on picking up where I left off and continuing to improve,” Rodgers said. “I think I’ve got a long way to go, I think my potential is still untapped.
“I’m excited about this offense. I really think, in meeting with Coach McCarthy, that I can be really successful. Any quarterback, like me or Brett, can be successful in this offense.”

Off-season fun is just beginning

The NFL is officially now in the "free agent zone." After the owners and players were finally able to hammer out a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, free agency began at midnight on Friday.
The Green Bay Packers are poised to be players in the market. The Packers entered free agency about $35 million under the new salary cap of $102 million per team. And Green Bay got some positive things accomplished before free agency started.
First, the Packers re-signed RB Ahman Green to an incentive-filled one-year deal. The Packers are taking little risk in the transaction while also hoping that Green can return to Pro Bowl player form. Green Bay also freed up some cap space by releasing veteran linebacker Na'il Diggs, who was scheduled to count nearly $3 million against the cap this year.
On the eve of free agency, the Packers re-signed DE Aaron Kampman to a four-year contract worth about $20 million. Kampman is a steady and high effort player that will help stabilize the Packers defensive front. Expect more weaponry to join him soon.
The Packers also have had some recent issues. For one, Brett Favre has not made up his mind about returning for a 16th season in the NFL. I am in the forum that believes Favre will return. Ted Thompson's actions in the next few days can cement the decision for Favre to come back. Re-signing Green and Kampman will help the cause.
Then we have the annual Javon Walker complaint fest. For the second year in a row, the Packers' talented wide receiver is voicing his dissatisfaction with the club. This year Walker is even more rebellious. He says he will never play for the Packers again. That he will retire first. Yeah, right Javon! It was hoped that when Walker fired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent, that the new representative for Walker, Kennard McGuire, would offer better advice. That obviously hasn't happened. The Packers need to keep their resolve regarding this situation.
Walker needs to find a better agent, again, and keep quiet. Keep quiet and keep rehabilitating. The money and respect will follow. One Pro Bowl doesn't equate to the off field antics that Walker is putting the team through.
The Packers also have let several players hit the free agency market, including K Ryan Longwell, C Mike Flanagan, FB William Henderson, WR Rod Gardner, DT Grady Jackson, OL Kevin Barry, RBs Najeh Davenport and Tony Fisher, and QB Craig Nall. The Packers can probably get a few of these players back because of age and injury issues. Two that would fall into that category are Henderson and Flanagan. Jackson might fall into that group as well. Both Henderson and Flanagan still have tread left on their tires, plus they are team leaders. They are both true professionals.
The Packers tried to re-sign Longwell, but the kicker looked like he would fly south to Tampa Bay, where his old friend P Josh Bidwell resides. However, in a surprise move, Longwell signed with the Vikings on Saturday.
The Packers also can see value in the other players as well. Gardner played well when given an opportunity last year and he fits the profile of the type of WR head coach Mike McCarthy is looking for. That would be big targets for Favre or who ever lines up behind center. Barry is a talented player that can be a dominant run blocker. The new offensive staff might be able to better utilize his talents, possibly inside at guard. Because the situation at RB is still somewhat murky, the Packers may still bring back Davenport or Fisher. That probably won't be decided until after the draft. The Packers also would like Nall to return as well, but have allowed him to test the market. The fact that he is going into free agency might be a hint that Favre is returning. Nall probably knows as he is Favre's best friend on the team. If Favre was leaning toward retirement, Nall would be in a position to compete for the starting job at QB with Aaron Rodgers.
But who will the Packers target from other teams? I have listed a few that I would look at, or who the Packers have reportedly shown interest in.
S Marquand Manuel (Seattle Seahawks)It was reported earlier this week that the Packers would sign the Seahawk safety to a multi-year deal early in free agency. Those reports were true as the Packers and Manuel agreed on a contract on Saturday. Manuel started most of last year for the NFC champions and played well.
Thompson knows Manuel well, as he signed him as a free agent while he was still in Seattle. New defensive coordinator Bob Sanders knows Manuel as well, having been on the coaching staff at Florida when Manuel played his college ball in Gainesville.
DT Ryan Pickett (St. Louis Rams)It has been reported that Pickett will pay the Packers a visit on Sunday. Pickett has his best pro season in 2005. Pickett would fill the large void left by the loss of Grady Jackson. Pickett has youth and talent on his side in that comparison. The addition of Pickett, along with the re-signing of Kampman would really make the defensive front formidable.
The Packers still have DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila and are in position to get DE Mario Williams in the draft as well. Sanders has to like that possibility. Everything starts in the trenches and the Packers could have one of the best fronts in the NFL under this scenario.
DT Rocky Bernard (Seattle Seahawks)It has been reported that the Packers are interested in Bernard, which makes sense. Thompson drafted Bernard and the DT had his best season as a pro in 2005. Bernard is a classic one-gap DT that also has pass-rushing skills as evidenced by his 8 1/2 sacks in 2005.
K Adam Vinatieri (New England Patriots)The Patriots won three Super Bowls in four years. They won all three Super Bowls by a field goal. Vinatieri is the guy who kicked those field goals. He might be the best "clutch" kicker in NFL history. And he's no stranger to cold weather. The Packers have had one of the best kickers in the league recently with Longwell. Longwell is good. Vinatieri is great. The Packers found out last year what a difference a kicker can make in a game. In a season. Vinatieri has proven he is a difference maker. In big games. A weapon like that can not be under estimated. The Packers should aggressively look at signing Vinatieri. It might help that Vinatieri's former agent is Andrew Brandt, the Packers VP of Player Finance/General Counsel. Vinatieri could be the difference for the team making the playoffs. And succeeding in the playoffs.
LB Nick Greisen (New York Giants)Greisen has the ability to play inside or outside. He also is always around the football. He was a tackling machine when he played at Wisconsin. I'm sure he wouldn't mind returning to his home state, especially if opportunity presents itself. And judging by the lack of depth at the position, opportunity is knocking.
CB Deshea Townsend (Pittsburgh Steelers)Townsend would be an instant upgrade over CB Ahmad Carroll. He also has a knack for finding the football with 14 interceptions since he became a starter in 2001. Townsend plays a physical style at corner, similar to Al Harris. Townsend can also bring pressure to the QB, as he is an excellent blitzer.
G Steve Hutchinson (Seattle Seahawks)Hutchinson is a transition free agent which means the Seahawks can match any offer. Still, Hutchinson will test the market, but the Minnesota Vikings have already offered him a seven-year, $49 million contract.
Hutchinson would be a natural fit for the Packers. Thompson knows him well as he drafted him. Hutchinson is one of the top guards in the league and he already knows the Packer offense. He probably will cost too much, but the Packers need to take a serious look at him.
WR Brian Finneran (Atlanta Falcons)New Packer offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is very familiar with Finneran. Finneran is a large target at 6-5, 210 pounds, and would be a dangerous receiver in the red zone. Finneran has the ability to get separation in the secondary as well.
Time will tell who the Green Bay Packers will look at and sign in free agency. They are in a great position to make some serious noise. What they do in free agency will also impact what they will do in the draft. Not to mention the impact it will have on a quarterback who is probably on a tractor right now.
The candy store is officially open. Is Ted Thompson the kid who wants all the candy he can get his hands on? Or is he the kid that has his eyes only on certain candy? I believe the latter is the case, but still the Packers will most definitely improve their talent and depth on the squad. Sit back and enjoy the fun!

Fan Fest '06 Provided Enduring Memories

As the second annual Fan Fest wrapped up in the Lambeau Field Atrium on Sunday, the devoted Packers faithful left with indelible recollections. "(It's) just a wonderful weekend," Executive Vice President and COO John Jones said. "We've had folks from so many different states that are visiting Green Bay."Michelle Valdez, who sports a Packers "G" tattoo on her lower back, came all the way from Vero Beach, Fla. to attend all three days of Fan Fest. She accompanied her uncle and aunt from Peshtigo, Wis. On Friday Packers legend Jerry Kramer signed a picture from Super Bowl II, owned by Valdez's father. Unable to keep the autograph a surprise, she phoned her father shortly after Kramer signed it."I had to call him," Valdez said. "He cried almost. It sounded like he was tearing up."The 2,982 fans who attended Sunday's events experienced a wide range of emotions as well. Fan Fest offered the unique opportunity for fans to stroll through and take pictures of the Packers' locker room, an off-limits area during Packers tours."We're walking where Brett Favre walks," exclaimed Sara Englebretson of Green Bay, Wis.The ambience of the locker room, which includes several televisions and open oak-colored lockers, impressed the visitors. Jodi Minesal of Slinger, Wis. said her jaw dropped upon seeing the tidy, oval-shaped room."I am very surprised the locker room is this clean. I can't believe it. I mean my house is clean. I'm a woman, but this is clean," she said. "I'm shocked ... It's beautiful. Oh my gosh!"The weekend's autograph sessions served as another highlight. Fans received a chance to have current and past Packers sign their prized possessions.Jack Bowalisz of Two Rivers, Wis. brought two Packers helmets for members of the three Super Bowl-winning teams to sign. He celebrated his 45th birthday at Fan Fest on Sunday. His wife gave him tickets to Fan Fest as an early birthday gift a couple of weeks ago.When Mike Waterland and his two sons saw former defensive tackle Gilbert "The Gravedigger" Brown was signing autographs, they rushed to a hardware store to buy a green and yellow shovel for him to sign. Die-hard Packers fans, they made the three-and-a-half hour journey from New Lenox, Ill. That area is considered Chicago Bears country, but the Waterlands hope to make those residents Packers fans."We've converted quite a people from down there," Waterland said. "We're always working on that."In addition to collecting autographs, fans could buy Packers memorabilia, including pictures and wood carvings. All proceeds went toward the Packers Foundation.Another popular booth allowed fans to don a headset and provide play-by-play of any of four memorable Packers contests and receive a CD of their broadcast. Scott Folger of West Allis, Wis. came to Fan Fest last year and announced cornerback Al Harris' game-winning touchdown from the 2004 wildcard playoff game.This year Folger called wide receiver Antonio Freeman's miracle catch against the Minnesota Vikings. Even though he had school the next day, he stayed up to the wee hours of the night in 2000 to watch the original version of that overtime Monday night game."It was a great catch," Folger said. "I remember that catch like it was yesterday."And like the many attendees of Fan Fest, he will have memories from this past weekend as well.

WFRV, Packers agree to contract extension

The Green Bay Packers and WFRV-TV, Channel 5, have agreed to a six-year extension of preseason game coverage along with Packers-related series and specials.
The previous contract was for three years. The new one coincides with the new National Football League contract with the parent company of WFRV.
“Since we work with CBS Sports, we know that all of the resources will be in place for a minimum of six more years,” said R. Perry Kidder, WFRV vice president and general manager.
The contract was announced Friday evening.
The deal calls for preseason game coverage to seven stations, six of which would also broadcast “The Mike McCarthy Show” that WFRV would produce.
The booth announcers for the games are not yet known. They are expected to be named within 10 days, Kidder said.
Jessie Garcia of Milwaukee’s WTMJ would continue as the sideline reporter.
WFRV will broadcast up to four preseason games to Green Bay, Wausau/Rhinelander, Madison, Milwaukee, La Crosse, Duluth-Superior and Marquette, Mich.
The overall package includes such weekly programs as Head Coach Mike McCarthy’s show, “Larry McCarren’s Locker Room” and “Inside Lambeau;” annual specials for Fan Fest, the NFL draft, training camp, Packers Hall of Fame induction and the holiday period; historical specials for changes and celebrations in the Packers organization; three newscast segments; and promotion of tourism.
“They have demonstrated a great understanding of the uniqueness of this franchise and a great ability to tell its story to our fans, be it through our preseason games or our weekly shows through the season,” John Jones, Packers executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a statement.
WFRV is paying the Packers an undisclosed sum for rights.
“Just like when I buy ‘Regis and Kelly’ or ‘Entertainment Tonight,’ (the payment) goes up a little bit every year,” Kidder said. “But it is a sound financial plan for both sides of the equation, no question about that.”
In the previous agreement, tourism to Lambeau Field was promoted in Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis. To those cities have been added Marquette, Mich.; Rockford, Ill.; and Rochester, Minn.
“That’s hundreds of thousands of dollars in tourism marketing that goes into all of those markets that brings tourism dollars back to Brown County and the surrounding area,” Kidder said. “That’s a big part of this.”