HarveyWallbangers
09-09-2006, 04:39 PM
Interesting article on JSO:
BRETT FAVRE, quarterback
Number: 4.
Age: 36.
Birthday: Oct. 10, 1969.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 222.
Years pro: 16.
Lowdown: The future Hall of Famer will have his hands full this season as he works to improve on a 29-interception season in 2005. He's started 221 consecutive games (241 including playoffs) and has led the Packers to 10 playoff berths in his 14 years with the team. He needs 25 touchdown passes this season to surpass Dan Marino's record of 420. When he reaches 400, he'll be only the second in league history to do so.
Hobbies: Golf, hunting, fishing and taking care of his home and property in Hattiesburg, Miss.
AHMAN GREEN, running back
Number: 30.
Age: 29.
Birthday: Feb. 16, 1977.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 218.
Years pro: 9.
Lowdown: Attempting to come back from a torn quadriceps tendon suffered last October, Green appears to be in top shape. The question is whether he will be as effective as he was from 2000-'04 when he never ran for fewer than 1,163 yards and never averaged less than 4.3 yards per carry.
Hobbies: Tennis, fishing, movies and video games.
WILLIAM HENDERSON, fullback
Number: 33.
Age: 35.
Birthday: Feb. 19, 1971.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 252.
Years pro: 12.
Lowdown: Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee 2½ weeks ago and is hoping to be able to start the season opener. Has withstood challenges for his job for the past four seasons and remains a reliable weapon as a receiver out of the backfield.
Hobbies: Watching cartoons, spending time with his son William II.
GREG JENNINGS, wide receiver
Number: 85.
Age: 22.
Birthday: Sept. 21, 1983.
Height: 5-11.
Weight: 197.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: Probably the star of training camp, Jennings was elevated to the starting position for the exhibition finale and cashed that in with an 89-yard reception. He led all Packers in pre-season receptions with 12 and also had a pre-season long punt return of 27 yards. He might be a star in the making.
Hobbies: Basketball, golf.
DONALD DRIVER, wide receiver
Number: 80.
Age: 31.
Birthday: Feb. 2, 1975.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 190.
Years pro: 8.
Lowdown: Driver continually answers the critics who think he isn't a true No. 1 wide receiver. He's topped 1,200 yards in each of the last two seasons and should be Brett Favre's favorite target again this year. Not bad for a former seventh-round draft pick.
Hobbies: Reading novels and spending time with his family.
BUBBA FRANKS, tight end
Number: 88.
Age: 28.
Birthday: Jan. 6, 1978.
Height: 6-6.
Weight: 265.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: An injury-plagued 2005 season came on the heels of signing a seven-year contract. In missing six games last season, Franks saw a streak of 82 consecutive games played stopped. In a new offense, Franks caught four passes for 24 yards in the pre-season.
Hobbies: Billiards, fishing, bowling and playing basketball.
CHAD CLIFTON, left tackle
Number: 76.
Age: 30.
Birthday: June 26, 1976.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 330.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: Missed some time early in camp with swelling in his knee, but played all four exhibition games and appears to be fine. Had off-season surgery to take care of an ankle problem. Has played every game the past three seasons after suffering a serious pelvis injury at Tampa Bay in 2002.
Hobbies: Bicycling, fishing.
JASON SPITZ, left guard
Number: 72.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Dec. 9, 1982.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 313.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: Started training camp as the starting right guard and then moved over to the left side when Daryn Colledge was removed and Tony Moll took over on the right side. The coaching staff has been impressed at how quickly he has picked things up.
Hobbies: Reading.
SCOTT WELLS, center
Number: 63.
Age: 25.
Birthday: Jan. 7, 1981.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 304.
Years pro: 3.
Lowdown: Established himself as the starter in the minicamps and OTAs in summer. Despite his relatively short stature, he uses leverage learned from his wrestling days to his advantage.
Hobbies: Deep-sea fishing and handgun target shooting.
TONY MOLL, right guard
Number: 75.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Aug. 23, 1983.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 295.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: A relative newcomer to offensive line play, Moll took over the right guard spot after the first exhibition game. He was a tight end in college at Nevada up until his senior season in 2005.
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, skiing and wakeboarding.
MARK TAUSCHER, right tackle
Number: 65.
Age: 29.
Birthday: June 17, 1977.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 315.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: Had possibly his best season in 2005 and continues to be a leader along the front. Came back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2002 and hasn't missed a game in the last three seasons.
Hobbies: Golf, tennis and badminton.
DAVE RAYNER, kicker
Number: 16.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Oct. 26, 1982.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 210.
Years pro: 2.
Lowdown: Entrusted with the job to replace departed Ryan Longwell, Rayner has the leg strength. Accuracy will be the question, although he was 2 for 2 in the pre-season - both 30-yard kicks. He was a kickoff specialist last season with the Indianapolis Colts, but also can boast of being the all-time leading scorer at Michigan State.
Hobbies: Golf.
AARON KAMPMAN, defensive end
Number: 74.
Age: 26.
Birthday: Nov. 20, 1979.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 278.
Years pro: 5.
Lowdown: Probably the Packers' best defensive player in 2005, Kampman scored a big payday as he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season. He posted career-bests with 6½ sacks and 105 tackles (62 solo) in 2005. His tackle total ranked No. 2 in the NFL among defensive linemen behind new teammate Ryan Pickett, who posed 115 (62 solo) in St. Louis.
Hobbies: Hunting and fishing.
KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA, defensive end
Number: 94.
Age: 28.
Birthday: Sept. 24, 1977.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 250.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: Has he lost something from his fastball? That's the question KGB must answer as his eight sacks in 2005 snapped a streak of four consecutive double-digit sack seasons.
Hobbies: Horseback riding and playing with his dogs.
RYAN PICKETT, defensive tackle
Number: 79.
Age: 26.
Birthday: Oct. 8, 1979.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 322.
Years pro: 6.
Lowdown: Led all defensive linemen in the NFL in tackles last season with 115 (61 solo). Has good quickness off the ball, but hasn't been completely effective just yet as he adjusts to the Packers' read-first system. He's expected to be a run-stopper and provide some push up the middle on the pass rush.
Hobbies: Fishing, cars and watching movies.
COLIN COLE, defensive tackle
Number: 90.
Age: 26.
Birthday: June 24, 1980.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 315.
Years pro: 4.
Lowdown: A fire-plug type who anchors strongly against the run, Cole is also earning a reputation as a smart player. Not drafted out of Iowa, he spent time on the 53-man rosters of both Detroit and Minnesota in 2003. Picked up by Packers and signed to practice squad in 2004, he's moving up the rankings and has become one of the team's best defensive linemen.
Hobbies: Older cars.
A.J. HAWK, outside linebacker
Number: 50.
Age: 22.
Birthday: Jan. 6, 1984.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 246.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: The fifth overall pick, Hawk is being counted on to help lead resurgence in a defense that has sorely lacked big plays. Didn't stand out in pre-season, but has shown some flashes as training camp went on. He's the third first-round pick out of Ohio State for the Packers. Running back John Brockington (1971) and cornerback Vinnie Clark (1991) were the other two.
Hobbies: Hunting, target shooting and golf.
NICK BARNETT, middle linebacker
Number: 56.
Age: 25.
Birthday: May 27, 1981.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 232.
Years pro: 4.
Lowdown: Has posted prolific numbers in the tackle department, including a franchise record 194 (128 solo) last season. He's the first player to lead the Packers in tackles three consecutive seasons since the statistic started being kept.
Hobbies: Mixing music, deejaying and running his night club in Green Bay.
BRADY POPPINGA, outside linebacker
Number: 51.
Age: 26.
Birthday: Sept. 21, 1979.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 245.
Years pro: 2.
Lowdown: Hyperactive and explosive, Poppinga spent most of his time since last December rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Returned for a couple of plays in the third pre-season game and only played a few more with the No. 1 defense in the finale.
Hobbies: Chess, river rafting, golf, tennis, hunting, fishing, water skiing and snow skiing.
CHARLES WOODSON, cornerback
Number: 21.
Age: 29.
Birthday: Oct. 7, 1976.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 208.
Years pro: 9.
Lowdown: Once a supremely talented player who won the Heisman Trophy at Michigan and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Woodson needs to prove that he's still a top player and hasn't been slowed by numerous injuries. His poor performance in the third pre-season game will make him a target of opposing quarterbacks until he proves that was an aberration.
Hobbies: None known.
AL HARRIS, cornerback
Number: 31.
Age: 31.
Birthday: Dec. 7, 1974.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 185.
Years pro: 9.
Lowdown: Has been the team's shutdown cornerback over the previous two seasons and reported to training camp despite indicating he wanted a reworked contract. Incredibly durable, Harris played in 97.4% of the Packers' defensive snaps in 2005 and 99.1% in 2004.
Hobbies: Fishing, golf and playing video games.
NICK COLLINS, safety
Number: 36.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Aug. 16, 1983.
Height: 5-11.
Weight: 200.
Years pro: 2.
Lowdown: Showed great range and speed in starting all 16 games as a rookie last season. Now needs to parlay his year of experience into making some big plays.
Hobbies: Bowling and fresh-water fishing.
MARQUAND MANUEL, safety
Number: 22.
Age: 27.
Birthday: July 1, 1979.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 209.
Years pro: 5.
Lowdown: Signed as a free agent in the off-season, Manuel helped the Seattle Seahawks win the NFC title in 2005 and is considered a heady player. Missed the first four weeks of camp with a calf injury after missing time in minicamps rehabilitating a groin injury suffered in the Super Bowl.
Hobbies: Cooking and fishing.
JON RYAN, punter
Number: 9.
Age: 24.
Birthday: Nov. 26, 1981.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 202.
Years pro: 1.
Lowdown: Incredibly strong-legged punter, he posted a gross average of 53.6 on eight punts in the pre-season finale. His next step will be increasing his consistency and hang time to increase his net yardage.
Hobbies: Hockey, lacrosse, basketball.
BRETT FAVRE, quarterback
Number: 4.
Age: 36.
Birthday: Oct. 10, 1969.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 222.
Years pro: 16.
Lowdown: The future Hall of Famer will have his hands full this season as he works to improve on a 29-interception season in 2005. He's started 221 consecutive games (241 including playoffs) and has led the Packers to 10 playoff berths in his 14 years with the team. He needs 25 touchdown passes this season to surpass Dan Marino's record of 420. When he reaches 400, he'll be only the second in league history to do so.
Hobbies: Golf, hunting, fishing and taking care of his home and property in Hattiesburg, Miss.
AHMAN GREEN, running back
Number: 30.
Age: 29.
Birthday: Feb. 16, 1977.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 218.
Years pro: 9.
Lowdown: Attempting to come back from a torn quadriceps tendon suffered last October, Green appears to be in top shape. The question is whether he will be as effective as he was from 2000-'04 when he never ran for fewer than 1,163 yards and never averaged less than 4.3 yards per carry.
Hobbies: Tennis, fishing, movies and video games.
WILLIAM HENDERSON, fullback
Number: 33.
Age: 35.
Birthday: Feb. 19, 1971.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 252.
Years pro: 12.
Lowdown: Underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee 2½ weeks ago and is hoping to be able to start the season opener. Has withstood challenges for his job for the past four seasons and remains a reliable weapon as a receiver out of the backfield.
Hobbies: Watching cartoons, spending time with his son William II.
GREG JENNINGS, wide receiver
Number: 85.
Age: 22.
Birthday: Sept. 21, 1983.
Height: 5-11.
Weight: 197.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: Probably the star of training camp, Jennings was elevated to the starting position for the exhibition finale and cashed that in with an 89-yard reception. He led all Packers in pre-season receptions with 12 and also had a pre-season long punt return of 27 yards. He might be a star in the making.
Hobbies: Basketball, golf.
DONALD DRIVER, wide receiver
Number: 80.
Age: 31.
Birthday: Feb. 2, 1975.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 190.
Years pro: 8.
Lowdown: Driver continually answers the critics who think he isn't a true No. 1 wide receiver. He's topped 1,200 yards in each of the last two seasons and should be Brett Favre's favorite target again this year. Not bad for a former seventh-round draft pick.
Hobbies: Reading novels and spending time with his family.
BUBBA FRANKS, tight end
Number: 88.
Age: 28.
Birthday: Jan. 6, 1978.
Height: 6-6.
Weight: 265.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: An injury-plagued 2005 season came on the heels of signing a seven-year contract. In missing six games last season, Franks saw a streak of 82 consecutive games played stopped. In a new offense, Franks caught four passes for 24 yards in the pre-season.
Hobbies: Billiards, fishing, bowling and playing basketball.
CHAD CLIFTON, left tackle
Number: 76.
Age: 30.
Birthday: June 26, 1976.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 330.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: Missed some time early in camp with swelling in his knee, but played all four exhibition games and appears to be fine. Had off-season surgery to take care of an ankle problem. Has played every game the past three seasons after suffering a serious pelvis injury at Tampa Bay in 2002.
Hobbies: Bicycling, fishing.
JASON SPITZ, left guard
Number: 72.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Dec. 9, 1982.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 313.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: Started training camp as the starting right guard and then moved over to the left side when Daryn Colledge was removed and Tony Moll took over on the right side. The coaching staff has been impressed at how quickly he has picked things up.
Hobbies: Reading.
SCOTT WELLS, center
Number: 63.
Age: 25.
Birthday: Jan. 7, 1981.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 304.
Years pro: 3.
Lowdown: Established himself as the starter in the minicamps and OTAs in summer. Despite his relatively short stature, he uses leverage learned from his wrestling days to his advantage.
Hobbies: Deep-sea fishing and handgun target shooting.
TONY MOLL, right guard
Number: 75.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Aug. 23, 1983.
Height: 6-5.
Weight: 295.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: A relative newcomer to offensive line play, Moll took over the right guard spot after the first exhibition game. He was a tight end in college at Nevada up until his senior season in 2005.
Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, skiing and wakeboarding.
MARK TAUSCHER, right tackle
Number: 65.
Age: 29.
Birthday: June 17, 1977.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 315.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: Had possibly his best season in 2005 and continues to be a leader along the front. Came back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2002 and hasn't missed a game in the last three seasons.
Hobbies: Golf, tennis and badminton.
DAVE RAYNER, kicker
Number: 16.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Oct. 26, 1982.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 210.
Years pro: 2.
Lowdown: Entrusted with the job to replace departed Ryan Longwell, Rayner has the leg strength. Accuracy will be the question, although he was 2 for 2 in the pre-season - both 30-yard kicks. He was a kickoff specialist last season with the Indianapolis Colts, but also can boast of being the all-time leading scorer at Michigan State.
Hobbies: Golf.
AARON KAMPMAN, defensive end
Number: 74.
Age: 26.
Birthday: Nov. 20, 1979.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 278.
Years pro: 5.
Lowdown: Probably the Packers' best defensive player in 2005, Kampman scored a big payday as he was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in the off-season. He posted career-bests with 6½ sacks and 105 tackles (62 solo) in 2005. His tackle total ranked No. 2 in the NFL among defensive linemen behind new teammate Ryan Pickett, who posed 115 (62 solo) in St. Louis.
Hobbies: Hunting and fishing.
KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA, defensive end
Number: 94.
Age: 28.
Birthday: Sept. 24, 1977.
Height: 6-4.
Weight: 250.
Years pro: 7.
Lowdown: Has he lost something from his fastball? That's the question KGB must answer as his eight sacks in 2005 snapped a streak of four consecutive double-digit sack seasons.
Hobbies: Horseback riding and playing with his dogs.
RYAN PICKETT, defensive tackle
Number: 79.
Age: 26.
Birthday: Oct. 8, 1979.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 322.
Years pro: 6.
Lowdown: Led all defensive linemen in the NFL in tackles last season with 115 (61 solo). Has good quickness off the ball, but hasn't been completely effective just yet as he adjusts to the Packers' read-first system. He's expected to be a run-stopper and provide some push up the middle on the pass rush.
Hobbies: Fishing, cars and watching movies.
COLIN COLE, defensive tackle
Number: 90.
Age: 26.
Birthday: June 24, 1980.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 315.
Years pro: 4.
Lowdown: A fire-plug type who anchors strongly against the run, Cole is also earning a reputation as a smart player. Not drafted out of Iowa, he spent time on the 53-man rosters of both Detroit and Minnesota in 2003. Picked up by Packers and signed to practice squad in 2004, he's moving up the rankings and has become one of the team's best defensive linemen.
Hobbies: Older cars.
A.J. HAWK, outside linebacker
Number: 50.
Age: 22.
Birthday: Jan. 6, 1984.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 246.
Years pro: Rookie.
Lowdown: The fifth overall pick, Hawk is being counted on to help lead resurgence in a defense that has sorely lacked big plays. Didn't stand out in pre-season, but has shown some flashes as training camp went on. He's the third first-round pick out of Ohio State for the Packers. Running back John Brockington (1971) and cornerback Vinnie Clark (1991) were the other two.
Hobbies: Hunting, target shooting and golf.
NICK BARNETT, middle linebacker
Number: 56.
Age: 25.
Birthday: May 27, 1981.
Height: 6-2.
Weight: 232.
Years pro: 4.
Lowdown: Has posted prolific numbers in the tackle department, including a franchise record 194 (128 solo) last season. He's the first player to lead the Packers in tackles three consecutive seasons since the statistic started being kept.
Hobbies: Mixing music, deejaying and running his night club in Green Bay.
BRADY POPPINGA, outside linebacker
Number: 51.
Age: 26.
Birthday: Sept. 21, 1979.
Height: 6-3.
Weight: 245.
Years pro: 2.
Lowdown: Hyperactive and explosive, Poppinga spent most of his time since last December rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Returned for a couple of plays in the third pre-season game and only played a few more with the No. 1 defense in the finale.
Hobbies: Chess, river rafting, golf, tennis, hunting, fishing, water skiing and snow skiing.
CHARLES WOODSON, cornerback
Number: 21.
Age: 29.
Birthday: Oct. 7, 1976.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 208.
Years pro: 9.
Lowdown: Once a supremely talented player who won the Heisman Trophy at Michigan and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. Woodson needs to prove that he's still a top player and hasn't been slowed by numerous injuries. His poor performance in the third pre-season game will make him a target of opposing quarterbacks until he proves that was an aberration.
Hobbies: None known.
AL HARRIS, cornerback
Number: 31.
Age: 31.
Birthday: Dec. 7, 1974.
Height: 6-1.
Weight: 185.
Years pro: 9.
Lowdown: Has been the team's shutdown cornerback over the previous two seasons and reported to training camp despite indicating he wanted a reworked contract. Incredibly durable, Harris played in 97.4% of the Packers' defensive snaps in 2005 and 99.1% in 2004.
Hobbies: Fishing, golf and playing video games.
NICK COLLINS, safety
Number: 36.
Age: 23.
Birthday: Aug. 16, 1983.
Height: 5-11.
Weight: 200.
Years pro: 2.
Lowdown: Showed great range and speed in starting all 16 games as a rookie last season. Now needs to parlay his year of experience into making some big plays.
Hobbies: Bowling and fresh-water fishing.
MARQUAND MANUEL, safety
Number: 22.
Age: 27.
Birthday: July 1, 1979.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 209.
Years pro: 5.
Lowdown: Signed as a free agent in the off-season, Manuel helped the Seattle Seahawks win the NFC title in 2005 and is considered a heady player. Missed the first four weeks of camp with a calf injury after missing time in minicamps rehabilitating a groin injury suffered in the Super Bowl.
Hobbies: Cooking and fishing.
JON RYAN, punter
Number: 9.
Age: 24.
Birthday: Nov. 26, 1981.
Height: 6-0.
Weight: 202.
Years pro: 1.
Lowdown: Incredibly strong-legged punter, he posted a gross average of 53.6 on eight punts in the pre-season finale. His next step will be increasing his consistency and hang time to increase his net yardage.
Hobbies: Hockey, lacrosse, basketball.