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No news for Ryan Grant about a new contract from the Packers. I would have thought the Packers would have signed him before their mandatory Mini Camp earlier this month. Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy intentionally scheduled the required 3 - day work out late in the offseason for two reasons; so that as many players could participate and heal from injuries from last season, and to "bring the team together" prior to their six - week break before Training Camp begins July 28th. Today a source close to Grant told me at best, the running back and his agent hope to receive a proposal from the team next week, sometime after the 4th of July holiday. MARKET VALUE The Grant camp does not want to talk about his value in the media. They do feel he is worth more that the deal the Buccaneers just signed Earnest Graham to, 3 - years, $11 million, or what Justin Fargas got from the Raiders in February, 3 - years, $12 million. (NFL.com reporting today that former Detroit running back Kevin Jones is now in talks with Tampa Bay.) Grant rushed for 956 yards, on 188 carries, averaging 5.1 yards per carry, scoring 8 TD's. He didn't really become the starter until October 29th, when he replaced DeShawn Wynn who was injured against the Broncos on Monday Night Football. Grant's old Norte Dame teammate, Julius Jones, left the Cowboys for Seattle, where the Seahawks signed him to a 4 - year deal worth $12 million. Cowboys’ owner Jerry Jones gave Marion Barber (and agent Drew Rosenhaus) a huge deal, 7 - years, $45 million, and $16 million in guaranteed bonuses, worth $21 million the first three years. Jones got the deal done at the NFL owners meetings in Atlanta, just in time to beat a deadline that would have changed how the money is spread over the salary cap. Barber's numbers, 975 yards on 204 carries, a 4.8 yard per carry average, and 10 touchdowns, are similar to Grant's, although Barber didn't get his first official start until the last game of the regular season. Still, Barber's deal ranks right up there with the likes of LaDainian Tomlinson, Edgerrin James, and Larry Johnson Grant fumbled twice at the start of the "Snow Bowl" against the Seahawks January 12th, then came back to rush for 201 yards, setting a new franchise record for Packers playoff games. So he has a heart, and can play in the snow. For now, he waits to see how Packers GM Ted Thompson, and the team's new contract negotiator Russ Ball (from New Orleans, replacing Andrew Brant) decide what his value is in the NFL market place, somewhere well above the $370,000 they can try to hold him to as an exclusive rights player for one more year, a tender Grant refuses to sign. - Mike Clemens |
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Who will back up running back Ryan Grant for the 2008 season. DeShawn Wynn or Brandon Jackson are the lead candidates heading into training camp, followed by Vernand Morency and Noah Herron. How about Kevin Jones? The Packers sent a represenative to Michigan Saturday to watch the former Lions first round pick workout. Jones is trying to come back from a knee injury suffered last season. The Lions cut the running back in March with one year left on his contract, and so far, has not had any bites in free agency. Click here: More on Kevin Jones workout MEET THE NEW MRS. McCARTHY After two seasons as the Packers head coach, Mike McCarthy has not let us in much into his personal life.. Although he is a personable guy, he usually cuts the conversation short. "I want to put the players up first. This is about the players." Now that Brett Favre is gone, and the head coach has a new 5 - year deal in his pocket, he has taken one step closer into the spotlight by granting two of the state's newspapers a peak behind the curtain. At the Super Bowl in Phoenix, we learned that McCarthy had filed for a marriage license in Arizona, and would be getting married his girlfriend, Jessica Murphy, a Green Bay school teacher. The couple allowed the Green Bay Press Gazette and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel into their home, and revealed they are expecting in November. Story ran on the front page, above the fold, as the lead in the sports section, ahead of the Brewers breaking the Twins 10-game winning streak. Hmmm. Will McCarthy miss a game and let offensive coordinator Joe Philbin run the show if the baby arrives on a Sunday? Click here: Inside Mike & Jessica McCarthy's home FAVRE REPORTS TO YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP Brett Favre appeared at a youth football camp on the campus of William & Mary college. After throwing some passes to the kids, and signing some autographs, the former Packers quarterback took some questions from the local media. We timed one of Brett's answers running over 7 minutes in length. He's already in mid-season form. Click here: Favre at William & Mary - Mike Clemens |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 29 June 2008 )
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 Walker sprays Dom Perignon on Vegas crowd.
Between the two – a – day practice sessions, and meetings reviewing play books, was talk about the news that former Packers receiver Javon Walker was attacked outside a Las Vegas resort, beaten, and left unconscious on a sidewalk early Monday morning. He reportledy was robbed of $3,000 in cash, and $100,000 in jewelry.
Click here: More On Javon Walker Attack Packers middle linebacker Nick Barnett told reporters “ we used to go out when he was here. Again, it just goes to show you can’t be too careful these days.” The Packers locker room is still shook over the random break-in at Noah Herron’s home two weeks ago that made national headlines. It has been a steady decline of setbacks and poor decisions for Javon Walker since his final season with the Packers. Former Fullback William Henderson talked of how he was trying to sell Green Bay's lifestyle to the talented 2002 first round pick. Three years ago this month, having tangled in the media with Brett Favre about wanting to re-negotiate his contract with new GM Ted Thompson, Walker held a celebrity softball game at Miller Park, the first of it's kind at the new ballpark. A VIP "B" list of movie, TV, media, and sports stars flew in to Milwaukee for the two - day event. 18,000 fans ( over twice as many as Favre’s annual softball event) showed up and paid cash for tickets, raising funds that went to a local charity for poor working women. Walker’s controversial agent, Drew Rosenhaus, was booed like the villain in a melodrama during his turn at bat. It was a network highlight that night. Walker missed some time during training camp that summer saying his hamstring was bothering him. Or was it his really his contract? Opening day of the 2005 season in Detroit, Walker raced down the right sideline in front of the Lions bench on a fly pattern. He collapsed holding his knee. Torn ACL. End of season. The following April he was traded to the Denver Broncos on draft day. He had a good season in 2006. Then on New Year's Eve Walker found himself in the back of a limo holding his Bronco teammate Darrent Williams, 24, as he bled to death after being shot outside a Denver nightclub. The bullet just missed Walker. Following a second surgery, Walker's knee gave out in 2007. He ended up missing most of the season. I spotted him sitting alone, in the dark, in an empty section of the press box, quietly watching Favre and the improved Packers battle the young, rebuilding Broncos. I was on the field in the end zone, directly behind Favre as he threw the spectacular 85 - yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings. I looked to the pressbox at the empty section on the far right end where Walker was sitting. I could see his silhouette as he rose from his chair and headed for the elevator.
After being released by the Broncos, crazy Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders signed Walker to a 6-year deal worth $55 million, $16 guaranteed.
Sunday night Walker was spraying champagne on partygoers in Las Vegas. Why he ended up bruised and beaten on a sidewalk at 7a.m. the next morning remains under investigation. Why Walker wasn’t working out at the Raiders facility, or at the Athletes Performance Institute in Tempe, AZ, to get that body ready to make the team in Oakland is something only Walker can answer.
Mini - Camp Open To Public
The Packers morning sessions, which begin at 10:15am Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday are open to the public, and will likely be held inside the Don Huston center. Practices last about 2 hours. Park in the Lambeau Field parking lot across Oneida Street. - Mike Clemens |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 18 June 2008 )
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 Green Bay - - Remember how Sean Taylor died?
Last Friday night Packers running back Noah Herron says he heard the sound of breaking glass. It was after 11p.m. Suspecting a home invasion, Herron unscrewed a bedpost and headed down the stairs of his Village of Howard, WI. home, a 10 - minute drive north of Lambeau Field. In the dark, Herron confronted a number of burglars, striking one of them with the bedpost. Brown County Sheriff's deputies say they found a stolen vehicle and other belongings not far from the home, perhaps from other break-ins. Brown County Sheriff Dennis Kocken released a statement saying Herron acted in self-defense. "Noah Herron used necessary, reasonable and justifiable force in protecting his life and property," said the sheriff. An investigation continues. Authorities think it was a random attack, that the intruders did not know that they were breaking in to Herron's home. One of them won't soon forget he tangled with a Packer. Although no charges have been filed yet, one suspect is still hospitalized. Another is behind bars at the Brown County jail in downtown Green Bay, being held on unrelated warrants and for violation of probation. Authorities say the two suspects are being questioned for a number of other home invasions and break-ins in the Green Bay area. Washington Redskins Safety, Sean Taylor, died after being shot during a home invasion in Miami last November. His last two interceptions were against Brett Favre at Lambeau Field. Taylor was 24 - years - old. Four suspects go on trial in August. - Mike Clemens |
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 03 June 2008 )
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