Packers Gab

It appears that Packers LB Nick Barnett is doing well after surgery. Ross Tucker from NFL Radio Tweeted about a recent interview with Barnett and how he is coming along after the procedure:

NFL Radio’s Ross Tucker has posted an update in regards to Gren Bay Packers LB Nick Barnett’s ACL surgery: “Packers LB Nick Barnett said he is 90% in his return from ACL surgery and expects to be limited at the start of training camp.” Tucker has also posted the following: “Nick also said the Favre saga was a “huge distraction” last year and he is so happy that drama is over with. It definitely hurt the team.”

USA Today reports today that former Pack HOF’er Willie Davis has lost a whopping $9 million due to his holding shares for Alliance Bank:

The economic recession has taken a $9 million bite out of Pro Football Hall of Famer-turned-businessman Willie Davis. A few months ago the 73-year-old former defensive end for Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers was the second-largest shareholder in Alliance Bank of Culver City, Calif. But Feb. 6 the failing bank was closed by state and federal regulators. “If they were decorative enough, I would have papered my walls with them,” he says ruefully from his home in Los Angeles. “The possibility of me making any money is pretty much zero. At their peak, my (half a million) shares were trading at $17. You do the math. It was ugly,” says Davis, who never made more than $50,000 a year during his playing days.

The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that center Scott Wells roster spot is not a sure thing as the 09 season gets closer:

Packers C Scott Wells’ roster spot could be in jeopardy. Wells will need to compete for the starting center job, but he will have a difficult time after missing all offseason recovering from major shoulder surgery. OL Duke Preston and OL Tony Moll are both capable of backing up multiple positions along the offensive line, which could leave Wells out of a spot on the team.

According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, DeShawn Wynn appears to have locked down the job as the Packers’ third running back. Wynn currently has the edge over Kregg Lumpkin, but his long history of injuries will likely keep him from moving higher than the third back. Don’t expect him to challenge Brandon Jackson for the backup running back spot.

Johnny Jolly’s trial was pushed back today - the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports:

The Green Bay Packers will have to wait a few weeks longer to find out whether Johnny Jolly will be part of their defensive line rotation early this season. Jolly’s trial in Houston for alleged illegal possession of 200 grams or more of codeine was scheduled to begin Friday, but was reset for July 17, a court spokesman said. Donna Hawkins, public information office for the Harris County District Attorney, said the schedule was changed to accommodate cases in which defendants were being held in custody.

It’s going to be interesting to see if DE Johnny Jolly is going to be part of the Packers in 2009, and as today’s Green Bay Post Gazette reports, the trial of Jolly will start today:

The Green Bay Packers probably will find out in a few days whether end Johnny Jolly will be part of their defensive line rotation early this season. Jolly’s trial in Houston for alleged illegal possession of 200 grams or more of codeine is scheduled to begin Friday.

If he’s found guilty, it’s a given NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will suspend him, probably for the first four games of this season, for violating the NFL’s personal-conduct policy. Goodell usually waits until dispensation of a case for first-time offenders of the policy before determining whether to penalize the player, so if Jolly is found not guilty, it’s a given he won’t be fined or suspended. The trial’s outcome will be a big factor in what kind of role Jolly will play for the Packers this season.

The Packers have signed their fifth-round draft choice, as today they inked offensive tackle Jamon Meredith. The fifth rounder was a three-year starter for the University of South Carolina. He started 38 of 49 career games for the Gamecocks. The team has four players yet to be signed, including first-round draft picks B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews.

From Packers.com - The Green Bay Packers have released G Nevin McCaskill. The transaction was announced Wednesday by Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson. McCaskill was signed by the Packers on Dec. 11 and was inactive for the final three games of 2008.

Brett Favre rumors are flying in Minnesota.  Today, the St. Paul Pioneer Press has added fuel to the fire.  The latest buzz out of the Twin Cities is that Brett Favre is looking for a house in the Bearpath gated community in Eden Prarie, MN, which happens to be close to the Vikings’ training facilities.

Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, has denied all rumors, but some unnamed sources have reported to a number of Minnesota newspapers that the Vikings have indeed signed Favre.  The same sources claim that the Vikings are just waiting for the appropriate time to announce it officially.

There is no substance behind these rumors, but the football world somehow remains enamored with this drama.  I for one am becoming more and more disgusted by the whole situation.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that first-round picks NT B.J. Raji and LB Clay Matthews both hope to be in camp on time:

Both Packers first-round draft picks - nose tackle B.J. Raji and linebacker Clay Matthews - said they hoped to report in time for training camp with completed contracts but Raji was adamant about it. “There will be no problem, as far as holding out on my end,” Raji said. “I’m a rookie but from what I’ve been told, holdouts are not necessarily a good thing. Especially a rookie coming in, you can’t afford to miss a week or two of training camp, especially when you’re trying to find a way to get on the field. Yeah, that’s my agency, but I’m in control, not the other way around.”