Bretsky
10-12-2006, 01:02 AM
Notes: Reception problems
Ferguson out four to six weeks
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 11, 2006
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers need wide receiver Koren Robinson to put off as long as possible his pending one-year suspension from the National Football League because Robert Ferguson will be out until mid-season with a major injury to his right foot.
He was injured Oct. 2 returning a kickoff in the second half of the 31-9 loss in Philadelphia.
Ferguson, who was on crutches and moving slowly, said he didn't know if the front office considered him a candidate for injured reserve.
"We'll see how it goes after I come back," Ferguson said, referring to the bye. "Hopefully, I'll be back after that. There is no break."
Without Ferguson, the Packers are down to four wide receivers: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin. Driver has been battling a rib problem since being hit against the Eagles.
Robinson has all but acknowledged he has been notified by the league that he'll be suspended for a year. His attorney has asked the league for a stay until his legal problems in Minnesota are settled.
Injury list: Two other players, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and linebacker Abdul Hodge, also were on crutches Wednesday.
Jenkins suffered what he said was a bone bruise in his left ankle against the Rams. He has played in 37 straight regular-season games and wouldn't be able to play Sunday if the Packers had a game.
"With it just being a bruise I don't think so," Jenkins said when asked if the injury might keep him out for several weeks.
Hodge was walking fairly well and using the crutches mainly for support. He suffered a left knee injury in Philadelphia that in his opinion shouldn't be regarded as serious.
Linebacker Ben Taylor (left hamstring), who was hurt in Philly, would miss this week but intends to be back for Miami on Oct. 22.
"Definitely," he said. "I'm running on it now."
Bye practice: The Packers put on pads Wednesday and worked inside the Hutson Center for about 90 minutes.
After a walk-through of about 30 minutes to open practice, coach Mike McCarthy allowed six players to depart. The list included quarterback Brett Favre, running back Ahman Green, tackle Chad Clifton, cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson, and Driver.
Taking a shot: With punter Jon Ryan excused for the week due to an illness in his family, quarterback Ingle Martin punted in practice.
For Martin, it was a welcome relief from his limited duties as No. 3 quarterback. He punted in eight games at Florida in 2002, averaging 35.2 yards, and then punted at Furman last season, averaging 43.2 (gross) and 38.8 (net).
"They didn't want to blow out Dave Rayner's leg and I was ready, willing and able, I guess," Martin said. "All throughout the year I've been messing with it, saying, 'Coach (Mike) Stock, look at this.' Finally, it paid off."
Martin hit some poor punts, some averages ones and some boomers.
"It's something that obviously takes a lot of time and practice," Martin said. "I'd probably have to quit everything and devote my life to punting for two, three years to even get within range.
"Right now, I'm happy just to be thought of as an emergency guy, someone that can help the team out. I'll try to keep doing it."
A streak ends: Not only did the St. Louis Rams post a 23-20 victory on Sunday, they did something to Favre that no other opponent ever had done.
Entering the game, Favre had been 43-0 as a starter at Lambeau Field, counting playoffs, in games in which he didn't throw an interception. The Rams failed to intercept Favre but beat him, anyway.
Counting playoffs, Favre has started 246 games. He has thrown at least one interception in 161 games, or 65.4%, and none in 85 games, or 34.6%.
The Packers were 74-11 (.871) when Favre wasn't intercepted and 77-84 (.478) when he was.
In games without an interception, Favre is 43-1 at Lambeau Field, 2-0 at Milwaukee County Stadium, 28-10 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site.
Staff moves:Scott McCurley has been assisting the defensive coaches since the start of training camp as a coaching administrative intern.
"He helps with the quality control," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "Scott mainly works as an office assistant."
Meanwhile, the Packers have three offensive line coaches for the first time in their history with the decision last month by McCarthy to add camp intern Jerry Fontenot as a full-time assistant under Joe Philbin. The other O-line assistant is James Campen.
"A lot of times in team (practice) I'll take one side and 'Campy' will take another and Jerry will take the center," Philbin said. "Those guys do a fabulous job when we break them up into individual periods. They're very competent coaches."
Campen and Fontenot were starting centers in the NFL.
Ferguson out four to six weeks
By BOB McGINN
bmcginn@journalsentinel.com
Posted: Oct. 11, 2006
Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers need wide receiver Koren Robinson to put off as long as possible his pending one-year suspension from the National Football League because Robert Ferguson will be out until mid-season with a major injury to his right foot.
He was injured Oct. 2 returning a kickoff in the second half of the 31-9 loss in Philadelphia.
Ferguson, who was on crutches and moving slowly, said he didn't know if the front office considered him a candidate for injured reserve.
"We'll see how it goes after I come back," Ferguson said, referring to the bye. "Hopefully, I'll be back after that. There is no break."
Without Ferguson, the Packers are down to four wide receivers: Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin. Driver has been battling a rib problem since being hit against the Eagles.
Robinson has all but acknowledged he has been notified by the league that he'll be suspended for a year. His attorney has asked the league for a stay until his legal problems in Minnesota are settled.
Injury list: Two other players, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins and linebacker Abdul Hodge, also were on crutches Wednesday.
Jenkins suffered what he said was a bone bruise in his left ankle against the Rams. He has played in 37 straight regular-season games and wouldn't be able to play Sunday if the Packers had a game.
"With it just being a bruise I don't think so," Jenkins said when asked if the injury might keep him out for several weeks.
Hodge was walking fairly well and using the crutches mainly for support. He suffered a left knee injury in Philadelphia that in his opinion shouldn't be regarded as serious.
Linebacker Ben Taylor (left hamstring), who was hurt in Philly, would miss this week but intends to be back for Miami on Oct. 22.
"Definitely," he said. "I'm running on it now."
Bye practice: The Packers put on pads Wednesday and worked inside the Hutson Center for about 90 minutes.
After a walk-through of about 30 minutes to open practice, coach Mike McCarthy allowed six players to depart. The list included quarterback Brett Favre, running back Ahman Green, tackle Chad Clifton, cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson, and Driver.
Taking a shot: With punter Jon Ryan excused for the week due to an illness in his family, quarterback Ingle Martin punted in practice.
For Martin, it was a welcome relief from his limited duties as No. 3 quarterback. He punted in eight games at Florida in 2002, averaging 35.2 yards, and then punted at Furman last season, averaging 43.2 (gross) and 38.8 (net).
"They didn't want to blow out Dave Rayner's leg and I was ready, willing and able, I guess," Martin said. "All throughout the year I've been messing with it, saying, 'Coach (Mike) Stock, look at this.' Finally, it paid off."
Martin hit some poor punts, some averages ones and some boomers.
"It's something that obviously takes a lot of time and practice," Martin said. "I'd probably have to quit everything and devote my life to punting for two, three years to even get within range.
"Right now, I'm happy just to be thought of as an emergency guy, someone that can help the team out. I'll try to keep doing it."
A streak ends: Not only did the St. Louis Rams post a 23-20 victory on Sunday, they did something to Favre that no other opponent ever had done.
Entering the game, Favre had been 43-0 as a starter at Lambeau Field, counting playoffs, in games in which he didn't throw an interception. The Rams failed to intercept Favre but beat him, anyway.
Counting playoffs, Favre has started 246 games. He has thrown at least one interception in 161 games, or 65.4%, and none in 85 games, or 34.6%.
The Packers were 74-11 (.871) when Favre wasn't intercepted and 77-84 (.478) when he was.
In games without an interception, Favre is 43-1 at Lambeau Field, 2-0 at Milwaukee County Stadium, 28-10 on the road and 1-0 at a neutral site.
Staff moves:Scott McCurley has been assisting the defensive coaches since the start of training camp as a coaching administrative intern.
"He helps with the quality control," defensive coordinator Bob Sanders said. "Scott mainly works as an office assistant."
Meanwhile, the Packers have three offensive line coaches for the first time in their history with the decision last month by McCarthy to add camp intern Jerry Fontenot as a full-time assistant under Joe Philbin. The other O-line assistant is James Campen.
"A lot of times in team (practice) I'll take one side and 'Campy' will take another and Jerry will take the center," Philbin said. "Those guys do a fabulous job when we break them up into individual periods. They're very competent coaches."
Campen and Fontenot were starting centers in the NFL.