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It's no given that Favre will retire next year. Depends on how this season goes. If the team improves a couple of games and gets into the playoffs and he plays well, he'll be back in 2008.
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"There's a lot of interest in the draft. It's great. But quite frankly, most of the people that are commenting on it don't know anything about what they are talking about."--Ted Thompson -
THE PACK: A POEM
Good mortal men & women, seeing the last waves by, cry out how bright
Their frail deeds might forever be glorious in a green bay across the Fox,
Rage, rally, and regroup against the fading of the green & gold lightComment
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There's no way I'm even gonna begin to worry about that right now. He came back this year surrounded by doubt as to what his decision would be. I will enjoy this season like I did last season and worry about what he's gonna do when it's time for him to do it.Originally posted by HarveyWallbangers"Greatness is not an act... but a habit.Greatness is not an act... but a habit." -Greg JenningsComment
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1ST ROUND MOCK DRAFT: PACK CHOICES
War Room Draft Guide Updated Mock by Scott Hanadel PackerChatters.com
1. Oakland - J. Russell QB LSU - Don't be shocked if the Raiders bypass both QB's and select Joe Thomas or Calvin Johnson because of the money.
2. Detroit - C. Johnson WR Georgia Tech - Thomas is tempting here as are the QBs but this WR is as talented as any - ever.
3. Cleveland - B. Quinn QB Notre Dame - A popular choice with fans and Quinn himself. Adrian Peterson is a very real possibility.
4. Tampa Bay - J. Anderson DE Arkansas - The Bucs would love for Quinn to be on the board and there is a chance. The key in the top half dozen or so picks will be what the teams with picks 1 and 2 do. Joe Thomas would also be a great selection.
5. Arizona - J. Thomas OT Wisconsin - The Cardinals biggest need is filled with the best OT prospect in years. Don't they wish it would unfold this way!
6. Washington - A. Branch DT Michigan - The Skins get a true force in the middle of their D-line.
7. Minnesota - R. Nelson S/CB Florida - Don't laugh, Nelson may blow them away with workouts and his big play ability is special. The Vikes couldn't stop the pass and Nelson would be a great addition. A WR or DL along with a true CB are possible selections.
8. Houston - A. Peterson RB Oklahoma - How fast would the Texans get the card up front if Peterson would be on the board?
9. Miami - G. Adams DE Clemson - Lets see, Taylor on one side and Adams on the other. What a nice DE combination that would be. Miami may look at the O-line as well as a DT or an addition to the secondary.
10. Atlanta - D. Jarrett WR USC - Ginn could also be the pick but Jarrett gives them more stability in that short to intermediate game as well as a great target around the goal line and in short yardage situations.
11. San Francisco - T. Ginn WR/KR - Ohio St. - If it's not Ginn it could be Jarrett. A nice weapon for Alex Wright that can flat out stretch the field. Don't be shocked with a defensive player at almost any position.
12. Buffalo - L. Brown OT Penn St. - The Bills have had great success with o-lineman early and Brown is a real bruiser that would fit in well in Buffalo
13. St. Louis - L. Landry S LSU - A very good addition to the Rams secondary. A CB could be the pick as could a WR.
14. Carolina - L. Hall CB Michigan - The Panther defense slipped some last year and their secondary needs some help. If one of the top two safeties are still on the board the Panthers may bite. Pittsburgh CB D. Revis could be rated higher on their board and could warrant the pick over Hall.
15. Pittsburgh - Q. Moses DE Georgia - Moses was projected top 5 before the season and the Steelers defense slipped a bit last season.
16. Green Bay - M. Lynch RB California - A versatile player I compare to a young E. James. The Packers love the top two S's as well as the top three WR's. A DE is also a real possibility.
17. Jacksonville - D. Bowe WR LSU - I prefer Meachem until I get their workouts but Bowe is big as well and is a true threat.
18. Cincinnati - D. Revis CB Pittsburgh - The top rated corner on many boards and an instant starter for the Bengals.
19. Tennessee - R. Meacham WR Tennessee - What a popular choice and a great weapon for Vince Young.
20. N.Y. Giants - A. Okoye DT Louisville - A great addition and a player that slipped. The Giants LB-ing corps could use an upgrade as well.
21. Denver - C. Houston CB Arkansas - The Broncos seem to like the flambouyant types and Houstojn fits the bill.
22. Dallas - J. Blalock OG/OT Texas - A home state guy that is an outstanding prospect with the versatility to play Guard or Tackle.
23. Kansas City - J. Moss DE Florida - An awesome talent that brings an instant pass rush to the Chiefs. A corner will be looked at as well.
24. New England - L. Timmons OLB Florida St. - Timmons could go much higher so the Pats get great value. Timmons immediately upgrades the speed on the Patriots defense.
25. N.Y. Jets - P. Willis ILB Mississippi - If Willis were available here he would be to good to pass up.
26. Philadelphia - S. Rice WR South Carolina - The Eagles need help on the outside and Rice although raw has a load of talent.
27. New Orleans - Z. Miller TE Arizona St. - Just what the Siants need, another weapon for Brees. Greg Olsen of Miami will draw interest as well.
28. New England - Adam Carriker DE Nebraska - Carriker is a fast riser that may go in the top twenty. The Patriots will be looking at WR as well as secondary help.
29. Baltimore - R.Kalil OC USC - A top flight center prospect that will start early. The Ravens will think long and hard about a QB with names like Stanton, Smith coming up.
30. San Diego - M. Bush RB Louisville - If the Chargers lose Turner this pick makes sense. If healthy, Bush in my opinion is a top 15 talent.
31. Chicago - F. Bennett CB South Carolina - A very good all around player that adds great versatility and athletic skills to the Bears secondary
32. Indianapolis - P. Posluzsny ILB/OLB Penn St. - In my opinion the perfect fit for the Colts. This great player adds toughness and smarts to the Colts defense. He would instantly improve the Colts porous run defense.Comment
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Hey I could handle that, but you all know how I feel about Lynch.Comment
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EVALUATION: RBS FOR F/A & DRAFT SCENARIOS
Run to Daylight: - Return to Glory Bruce Smith PackerChatters.com
Mike McCarthy declared immediately upon his hire that as Head Coach, and player caller, the Packers would run the ball. He reaffirmed that commitment by hiring Jeff Jagodzinski, an offensive line coach, as his offensive coordinator to install the zone blocking scheme. Jagodzinski has moved on to Boston College but McCarthy promised he did not take the team's desire to rush the football with him. It did not take too much time into his debut season before McCarthy was forced to face the reality that comes with having two to three rookie starting offensive linemen. Circumstances dictated putting the ball in the hands of his future Hall of Fame QB was his best chance at victory – so he did, early and often. But with some maturation and perhaps changes in the offensive line, one should look for McCarthy to try and but the rush back in the running game in ‘07’. So when looking at running backs it makes sense to look first to the guys who most often carry the rock – half backs, and where better to start than with their best HB Ahman (Batman) Green.
Ahman Green is a great running back. In fact, with his 8,491 yards Green is less than one game away from breaking Jimmy Taylor’s record as the Packers all-time leading rusher. Yet, just about every off season “rumors of his (Ahman’s) demise have been greatly exaggerated...†Once again last season, Green, coming back from a torn tendon, quietly went about leading the Packers and posting great numbers without the fanfare one might expect to accompany such a productive player. Like last off season, Green is once again a free agent and is faced with two choices: One choice would be to test the free agency market. Where unlike last season, a healthy Ahman Green is likely to draw plenty of interest in a year where GM’s have more mad money than they know what to do with, and a selection of free agent running backs that is not exactly awe inspiring. The other choice for Batman is to follow his heart and work out a deal with Ted Thompson, allowing him to finish his career wearing the Green and Gold he has come to love. After all, Green is less than a full game away from becoming Green Bay's all-time leading rusher, he loves playing for the Packers and many fans love Green and want to see him claim the mantle of all-time great leading rusher. Days short of being 30 (while writing this), Green is not the running back he was a few years ago, but for the last two seasons he has also been running behind a line and FB that are nothing like he had just two seasons before. Don’t believe for a second that these changes are not huge factors in any noted decline. However, do not expect to hear any complains from Green. As RB Coach Edgar Bennett says, "He's playing with a chip on his shoulder; he's playing with something to prove. Ahman, he's a competitor. He wants to be the best, he wants to succeed, he wants what's best for the Green Bay Packers. I love that about him. When he steps on the field, there's not a doubt in my mind he's going to give us everything he has." In a bounce back season after tearing a tendon in ‘05’ Ahman put up 1,059 yards in just 14 games in ‘06’ while averaging a hair short of 4 yards per carry. He is still an attacking down hill runner who gives as much as he receives in his battles with defenders. His health (chronic asthma) makes him an ideal one in a one/two punch running combination where he can be limited to somewhere between 55% and 70% of the carries.
On the plus side: Green still can get up and go. Running behind a green largely ineffective line he still put up five 100 plus yard games. At a well cut 6’ 218 lbs, Ahman is an explosive runner, who has that sudden burst that punishes tacklers’ by exploding into them right before impact – often turning the tables on defenders trying to deliver a big hit. He does not shy away from contact, but has a nice spin move and the speed to make defenders miss if they are too cautious in attacking him. Green’s 70 yard run against Miami demonstrated his still excellent speed and 2nd gear has not abandoned him. And his 14 carries for 104 yards and a 7.2 average were the only bright spots in the NYJ massacre, as were the 110 against the hailed Bears in the season opener. Green is still dangerous in the open field, which is one of the reasons Packer offenses always tried to get him the ball in check downs so frequently. When the timing is together, he is one of the best screen threats in the league still to this day.
On the down side: Ahman is not getting any younger, he will be 30 during the 2007 season. He is no longer the full-time dominate runner that some would like to see wearing Green and Gold, and will enter the 2007 season. For some reason, Green’s usually reliable hands took a vacation in ‘06’ as he posted a career worst 12.7% drop rate. Mike McCarthy claims that this something easily fixed and is partially attributable to increased blocking responsibility in the MAX protection he was forced to call this past season. One might hypothesis that Green’s rigorous tendon rehab kept him from working as much as he should in and on receiving drills too. He also is not as durable as he once was, but he silenced critics with his solid production last season coming back from what most thought was a career ending injury. Other assets that Green brings to the table are a tireless work ethic and a strong leadership by example veteran who can serve as a mentor to any heir who is brought in to eventually replace him. The coaching staff claims to really want him back and GM Ted Thompson has been very careful to not insult or burn any bridges with this valuable veteran. Decisions around Green will dictate so many things in the draft and free agency. I am sure that Thompson and Green would like to get to a decision sooner than later. We will all have to stay tuned…
Vernand Morency has the talent to be a player in this league. The only real question is does he have the talent to be a feature back or is he a career #2 or #3 guy who provides solid depth and good rotation? Like Green, Vernand has burst that catches defenders flat footed at times and nice moves in the open field that leave defenders grasping at air when it works. He is quicker than he is fast, with good lateral and veer quickness, and he can change direction in stride. He has vision that helps him in traffic, which is essential for fitting into the Packers running game. At 5’9†(or 5’10†if you want to be generous) and 212 pounds he runs well downhill, squaring his shoulders and hitting holes and cuts quickly with good pad level – which makes him a good fit for a zone blocking scheme. He is strong enough to run through arm and sloppy tackling techniques, but is not a power back that will get you the consistent tough yard. He is a fighter though, and surprises people once he gets a full head of steam going. Morency is a decent enough blocker for a HB, not a striker but he will face up particularly when blocking on the edge. He does show a willingness to do the job and with experience should be able to handle blitz pickups well. Vernand has the kind of hands that could be developed and with work Verand could be developed into a very good 3rd down back. His running style would fit into a multitude of screens and flairs and his quickness is ideal for draws. Morency’s downside at this point includes: Vernand can still regress to sloppy technique, which sometimes feeds an old tendency to put the ball on the turf when reckless. Some question his durability to be a primary runner, seeing him instead as a rotation back or a potential 3rd down specialist. Morency has had some character issues that have followed him and is a guy who warrants keeping a close eye on and this must be factored into any long term decision making on his future with a team. On the other hand, reports are he was a boy scout with the Packers last season.
Noah Herron is a hard working kid who gets the most out of his limited athletic ability. Noah out-hustled and outworked his competition to steal a roster spot when Davenport was released. You can bet NO ONE will outwork him this off season. He is assignment sure, and runs, blocks and receives the football consistently, but certainly not flashy. He was the Packers primary third down back, but has to be considered a significant down grade from Tony Fisher – the player who held the position before him. Fisher was bigger, faster and more consistent, but Herron won the job when Tony moved on to St. Louis. Noah is the type of player who has a big heart and works his butt off – often the kind of guy that earns a living by standing out doing the dirty work on special teams. Herron is also the type of player many teams like to have in their back pockets for signing if their roster gets depleted by injuries However if he is making a roster out of training camp, it brings into question the talent base the team put up for him to compete with.
Arliss Beach is an interesting story – one that many like to compare with Samkon Gado. There is a piece of misinformation frequently bandied about Arliss, stating that like Gado, he was never a starter in college. The truth is he was a starter who could never stay healthy – with fluke injury after fluke injury keeping him from ever putting his college game together. In fact, as a sophomore in his first start (against Florida) he scored all three TD in Kentucky’s near upset of the highly ranked SEC foe that afternoon. A most noteworthy thing about his college career is that Beach NEVER FUMBLED once in his 4 years at Kentucky, despite playing TB and being a kick return man for the Wildcats. Beach stood out in training camp with his quickness and pop in drills and scrimmages. And when given his first real opportunity Arliss exploded against the Atlanta Falcons for 50 yards on 9 carries, for a 5.5 average, while the rest of the running backs struggled to gain any yardage at all. Arliss is a tough versatile young player, who can block, receive and run with surprising suddenness. As former offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski said about Beach, “the guy that really ran downhill was Beach. We’ve been impressed with him in practice. he needs to stay consistent. He may have a real chance…†Head Coach Mike McCarthy said, “I’m in favor of tough guys, and I think he’s a tough, physical football player. He put his foot down and ran with a lot of forward lean. I think he’s a young man with a bright future. Beach looked as though he was on this way to making the roster in ‘06’ when he suffered the dreaded high ankle sprain in the final preseason game against the Tennessee Titans. Instead he ended up riding the injured reserve list which may have been a blessing. With a full off season of work in Green Bay and a year under his belt learning the offense – maybe, just maybe Arliss will avoid injury and finally get his long awaited day at the Beach.
P.J. Pope, a 5-9 220 lb 22 year old was snatched from da bear’s practice squad and put on the Packers’ roster last season. Say what you will about the Bears, but running backs is one thing they seem to have ample supply of, and Pope was good enough for them to want to retain him. P.J. has soft hands and is a tough runner. Pope put up big numbers as a rusher and receivers in his sophomore and junior seasons (all-conference) at Bowling Green where he is the only player in their history to rush for more than 3000 yards and accumulate more than 1,000 yards in receptions. He played big in Bowl games rushing for 157 and 2 TDs against Memphis and 214 yards vs. Western Michigan. During the pre-season , Pope led the Bears in rushing with 153 yard and a touchdown and had 4 catches for 4.3 yards. It was enough to gain him a spot on their practice squad and they were not pleased to lose him to the Packers.
Speaking of guys whose “reports of his demise have been greatly exaggerated,†William Henderson has been slated to be replaced in each of the last three seasons. But like the energizer bunny Hendo just “keeps on running…†or more precisely keeps blocking...William Henderson is 36 years old, and once again he is slated for replacement. On the other side of the argument Henderson is under contract at the veterans minimum for ‘07’ and in recent days Head Coach Mike McCarthy has started to say he would like to see Henderson come back and give it another run. Shifting to this new zone blocking scheme, Henderson struggled mightily for the first half of the season, resulting in the Packers signing Brandon Miree to replace him. Just when it looked like it was over for the old work horse Miree went down to injury. Henderson reclaimed his job and while he rotated after Brandon’s return, he never surrendered the starting job back and made BIG improvements in the second half of the season. Never a runner, Henderson was once a great blow them up blocker and sure handed receiver out of the backfield. He now is steady but not great at both. 2007 should make the 4th straight season the Packers look to bring in his replacement. I think it might be in his and the team’s best interest to hang them up and move on to his next career. However, if William gets the itch to come back for another run, I wouldn’t bet against him.
Brandon Miree is the heir apparent starting fullback of the Green Bay Packers. He is not a blow them up blocker like Henderson once was, but he is a great athlete with speed and versatility that belies a man his size. Brandon ran a 4.42 40 on an indoor track and 4.58 outdoors and once put up a 10.6 in the 100 meter dash. Another thing Miree, a solid TB in college, does well that Henderson never could is run with the ball, something that McCarthy would like to do more with the FB in his version of WC offense. At 6 foot 240 lbs, Miree is a tough downhill runner who is strong enough to get that tough yard and with enough burst to run away from defenders if they hesitate. He has a well cut muscular frame with thick legs and broad shoulders and runs with a low pad level which is essential for success in the Pros. He came into the league with a reputation for holding on to the rock well despite being a runner who keeps his legs driving a guy who wants to fight for every extra inch possible. However, one of the reasons he transferred from Alabama to Pittsburgh is he struggled with fumbling early in his career with the Crimson Tide. Brandon also has soft hands and should be able to fill the job required of a WC FB in snaring his share of passes on check-downs, screens and passes to the flats. His speed should give the ability to do something with it once he catches it too. He played in a zone blocking scheme at Pittsburgh and was a solid, but not devastating blocker who can reach his target and engage well. Miree captured the attention of the Packer’s coaching staff immediately upon arriving in GB. he flat out beat Henderson out for the starting job. Before injuring his elbow he was getting all of the snaps and after returning to play hurt with a brace, Brandon still split the job down the Packers very productive stretch in December.
Most have the Packers slated to take a RB in day one of the draft – and some rate this a very solid and deep draft for RBs. Some have speculated about rumors of Players who may become available through trade, but honestly any solid backs available in trade are likely to be very costly given the mediocre free agent class available. Look for Ted Thompson to make a move at RB, even if it is signing Ahman Green, who is rated the top FA running back on most boards, and to draft a player who will eventually be his replacement for the future. They are also likely to look for a big powerful blocking FB to rotate with Miree is Henderson retires, and maybe even if he does not. In GB, RB is a position with many possible scenarios. The problems with predicting which way this story will play out is the interdependence of each move in its unfolding. Look for the first move to happen pretty quickly in the next few weeks where the Green story will be the first move to reveal itself – and that will be just the start of what could be quite the off season ride.Comment
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I <3 Kenny Irons.
"I've got one word for you- Dallas, Texas, Super Bowl"- Jermichael FinleyComment
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Originally posted by Scott Campbell
TOP HAT: EXACTLY! YET, A PERSONNEL SCOUT HAD IT RIGHT, "IT WAS AN INHERITED MESS."
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Originally posted by BallHawkI <3 Kenny Irons.
Kenny irons sucks more than my girlfriendComment
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That and he doesn't fit our system well at all.Originally posted by Charles WoodsonOriginally posted by BallHawkI <3 Kenny Irons.
Kenny irons sucks more than my girlfriendComment
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UPDATE; THOMAS, MOSS, GINN, GREEN, DRAFT OPTIONS, TT. ETC.
On the Sideline by JA Packerschatters.com
The Packers plan on making a BIG PUSH for Adalius Thomas. The team feels he can have a major impact as a DE and even play some SLB. Ted Thompson has made him his top priority (as long as the Raven don't Franchise him). Even though he said he like warm weather (on Cold Pizza), money talks and the Packers have a lot of it. I think the Packers have decided to NOT pursue Randy Moss and will upgrade the WR position via the draft. In the end, they would rather risk a pick on a player that is younger and has less baggage. The Raiders asking price also has went up and the packers don't want to pay the price tag (possibly a 1st round pick). The Green Bay Packers have shaved away the playing surface at Lambeau Field and excavated to a depth of about three feet. The field will be reworked with better drainage, rewired for a better in-ground heating system and replanted with a mix of real and synthetic blades of grass (alot like the surface played on in the Super Bowl)....Ted Ginn will not do the drills at the combine this weekend, waiting for his pro day to work out and also so he could continue to rehab his foot. [TO ANSWER ?? ABOUT INJURY STATUS].
..."I have always admired Randy Moss' ability to play football. He was on pace for the first 4 years of his career to be the greatest WR in the history of the NFL. He has all the tools to STILL be that WR again, but in Oaklnad it wont happen (at least until Russell gets aclimated to the NFL)....The fact that the Packers were actually talking about it and considering doing it shows that they feel they are not that far away form being a contender again in their eyes. I have always stated that Thompson has a plan and he is sticking to it, and that includes drafting smart and adding FA's at the right time (Woodson last year for example) and the right price. We may not like the fact the Packers are not in the news like the Cowboys, Pats, Colts or other teams, but to me that shows a level of calm headedness, an organization that keeps things in house and direction. To me Ted Thompson has solitified the packers front office after Mike Sherman had the Packers in cap hell and (to me at least) waisted some of Brett Favre's best years by only winning division titles (in a VERY WEAK DIVISION AT THAT TIME), losing home field advantage and not advancing deep into the playoffs....Ok, but who is there as an impact offensive FA? Drew Bennett? NO, and I dont see the big deal with him, he is slow and that is NOT what the Packers need, another pedestrian WR. Dontè Stallworth, he has speed, but he is also an injury risk. Ashlie Lelie? HA! Ahman Green is the best FA RB and he has injury questions thats why he is not already resigned. Michael Turner could be a guy but agian, is he worth the price you'd have to pay when a player with simular ability is available in the draft?! This is not a good year for offensive FA's. If the Packers were to upgrade the defense via FA, and then add the playmakers in the draft, it would REALLY be the smart thing to do. Also, by adding a player like Thomas, it would improve the defense greatly and by the offense some time to get on the same page (for the rookies). A strong defense helped the Packers win the Super Bowl in 96' (#1 vs both run and pass), and the offense (which started off great, but was derailed by injuries) came around towards the end of the year. Finally, if you remember right, the Special Teams played a MAJOR ROLE ALL YEAR LONG, and to me that is even more reason to gop after Ginn...."
8) 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)Comment
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HOW IS TT DOING? PACKER NATION SAMPLE RESULTS
TOP HAT: THANKS, FANS, VOTING & VIEWS BECOMING A GOOD PACKER NATION SAMPLE.Comment
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You're like 12. This comment leads to believe that Kenny Irons sucks very little.Originally posted by Charles WoodsonOriginally posted by BallHawkI <3 Kenny Irons.
Kenny irons sucks more than my girlfriendComment
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Well maybe that's not a good comparison, but I don't think he's the type of player that Lynch or Peterson is. Even when he was playing well at Auburn he was only projected to be a late first round player anyways, but now that he's playing worse, it's obvious that his skill level is not a good as it was thought to be and his speed is mediocre at best.Originally posted by PartialYou're like 12. This comment leads to believe that Kenny Irons sucks very little.Originally posted by Charles WoodsonOriginally posted by BallHawkI <3 Kenny Irons.
Kenny irons sucks more than my girlfriendComment
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try 16 buddy, been blown many times Besides what else is there to do on weekendsOriginally posted by PartialYou're like 12. This comment leads to believe that Kenny Irons sucks very little.Originally posted by Charles WoodsonOriginally posted by BallHawkI <3 Kenny Irons.
Kenny irons sucks more than my girlfriendComment
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