Packers hire Shawn Slocum as assistant

The Green Bay Packers have hired Shawn Slocum as a defensive assistant coach to help round out Mike McCarthy's staff.

Slocum spent last year as assistant head coach at the University of Mississippi. Head coach of Ole Miss Ed Oregeron had these kind words to say about Shawn Slocum according to packerchatters.com, "Shawn did a fantastic job coaching our linebackers last season. He was very loyal and we wish him well as his coaching career moves to the NFL."

Reggie White officially a Hall of Famer

Reggie White won't only be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame this year; he'll also be going to that other place in Canton Ohio.

The late defensive end was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

Over at the Packers official website there are comments from both Bob Harlan and Ron Wolf on the induction of Reggie White if you'd like to read their kind words.

College workouts set to start in March

According to packerchatters.com, the first Pro Day for college teams to showcase their potential NFL talent is scheduled for March 1st at the University of Missouri. Other college teams and more information can be found here.

Rink for Wisconsin Badgers game at Lambeau shaping up

The ice rink at Lambeau Field for the February 11th hockey game between the University of Wisconsin and Ohio State is taking shape.

Yesterday plywood was applied to the field while the portable bleachers were erected.

Today the level deck construction begins on the rink.

By tommorow the deck construction will be complete and the ice mat will be rolled out.

Thanks to the Green Bay Press-Gazette for the information.

UWGB accomodates hockey at Lambeau

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay has helped in accomodating the Wisconsin vs. Ohio State hockey game at Lambeau Field on Saturday February 11th by moving back their game time to 7:35 that evening against Youngstown State.

Events like basketball held at the Resch Center use the Lambeau Field parking lot.

Packer scouting department labeled "average"

Matt Miller of NFL Draft Blitz called the Packers scouting department "average" and thinks even less of their recent drafts:

"GB really was with everyone. They didn't go after any one position or player. I know they were talking with a lot of DTs and DEs. I think their scouting department is average, but I'd honestly rate their drafts as below average"

The above comment listed from Miller's chat transcript over at packerchatters.com was in response to which prospects the Packers scouts were talking to at the Senior Bowl.

Mario Williams to replace Kampman or KGB?

Matt Miller of NFL Draft Blitz thinks the Packers should be taking Mario Williams with their 5th pick in the NFL draft, but he seems to have some skepticism whether Aaron Kampman will be coming back with the green and the gold next year:

"I really like Mario Williams there. They have a lot of needs, mostly on defense, and need to address those this year instead of going BPA. Williams would give them a replacement for Kampman is he leaves via FA or a possible replacement for KGB on running downs"

The aforementioned quote is from Miller's chat transcript over at packerchatters.com.

LenDale White & Packer draft talk

Collegefootball.com has released their first round mock draft with the Packerstaking University of Southern California running back LenDale White with their first round draft pick.

Ryan officially signs 3 year contract with Packers

Rob Vanstone of the Leader-Post officially reports today that, "The Regina-born punter has been floating on air since signing a three-year contract withthe Green Bay Packers."

No one in the United States has yet to crack this story except for RailbirdCentral who first reported it yesterday. Remember to come back to RailbirdCentral for all your latebreaking Packers news.

Packers hire Kurt Schottenheimer as coach

Kurt Schottenheimer will be returning to the Packers in the same capacity he held in 2004. He will be coaching the defensive backs. Schottenheimer joins Jeff Jagodzinski as coaches who were fired by Mike Sherman, but hired by new head coach Mike McCarthy.

Bart Starr to present Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl

The fine folks at packerchatters.com report that:

Former Packers quarterback Bart Starr, now 72-years-old and a resident of Birmingham, Ala., will walk to midfield for the coin toss at Super Bowl XL in Detroit on Sunday and present the Lombardi Trophy to the winner after the game.

More information can be found here.

Reggie White to be inducted to Packers Hall of Fame

The Packers official website reports:

Former Packers defensive end Reggie White will be inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame at the 36th Hall of Fame Induction Banquet, to be held the evening of July 22, 2006, in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

In addition to White's induction, the Hall of Fame will formally induct this year's FAN honoree, Kathy Lazzaro.

Tickets for the banquet, which begins with cocktails at 4:30 p.m., with dinner and program to follow at 7 p.m., are $110 each. Tables of 10 also are available and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Early reservations are recommended. To purchase tickets, call Gwen Borga at 920/965-6984, or e-mail her at gborga@packerhalloffame.org.

B.J. Sander's job not locked up

Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun reports, "After his original workout with the Packers, Ryan told the Sun he was impressed with the situation in Green Bay becausemanagement told him the position is going to be wide open next season."

Looks like B.J. Sander's job may not be a sure thing next year in Green Bay. Or Ryan Flinn's for that matter as well.

Punter reportedly receives $10,000 bonus offer from Packers

Ted Wyman of the Winnipeg Sun is reporting that, "Ryan, 24, immediately received an offer that included a $10,000 signing bonus after working out with the Packers on Jan. 17."

Packers set to sign Canadian punter

TSN of Canada is reporting that the Packers are set to sign punter Jon Ryan formerly of the Canadian Football League.

Ryan played with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL after playing his college ball forthe University of Regina. Ryan was a 3rd round pick in the CFL, 24th overall.

Source Joe Carson confirms that Ryan averaged over 50 yards per punt in the CFL.
More information is available here.

AJ Hawk might not be in the Packers draft plans

The Packers defensive coaching staff is hinting that Nick Barnett will be staying at the middle linebacker position in the future.

In a luncheon held yesterday at the Lambeau Field Atrium to introduce the new Packers coaching staff to the Wisconsin media, linebackers coach WinstonMoss said, "You have to be able to run and hit guys. You would love to have a6'4", 250 (Brian) Urlacher type, but those don't come in the box every day."

An article also posted at the Green Bay Packers official website says, "NickBarnett will continue to serve as the anchor of the linebacking corps. The middle linebacker set a Packers single-season record with 194 tackles in 2005."

Meanwhile, the front page of the sports section of Tuesday's Green Bay Press-Gazette says, "(Barnett) will stay at middle linebacker, coaches say."

All signs are pointing towards Ohio State linebacker AJ Hawk not being in thePackers draft plans. Perhaps Mario Williams is now the top choice.

More draft talk - and it's only January!

Packerchatters.com want you to know that, "Matt Miller , President of NFL
Draft Blitz , will join us in Draft Chat tomorrow, Tuesday evening at 8:00pm
CST."

McCarthy not to hurry Favre into decision

C0ach Mike McCarthy will be patient with Brett Favre regarding his future with the Green Bay Packers. McCarthy also doesn't think retirement is imminent despite Favre's comments. The following is from Tuesday's Green Bay Press-Gazette:

Mike McCarthy is not concluding from Brett Favre’s interview Sunday with ESPN that the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback will likely retire this offseason.

The rest of the article can be found here.

Draft chat TONIGHT!!!

Don't forget Frank Coyle of draftinsiders.com will be chatting live on Monday
evening at packerchatters.com for all your Packer draft news and debate needs.

Favre leaning toward retirement; nothing final

In an interview with ESPN football analyst Chris Mortensen, Packers quarterback Brett Favre says he's leaning toward retirement, but has yet to make any final decision.

Brett made the comment when asked if he had to make a decision now.

No timetable is set for Favre to decide if and when he will play again.

Favre still recovering from Hurricane Katrina

Test comment

Here's a taste of the story appearing in Sunday's Green Bay Press-Gazette:

On Thursday a cleanup crew tore down “Favre’s on the Bayou” — the family’s 4-year-old restaurant —which had been a popular destination for Packers fans. The food and family photos were a big attraction. So was the gold nameplate on the bar with the inscription “Big Irv.”

To read the rest of this amazing story go to http://www.packersnews.com/archives/news/pack_24496651.shtml

Thompson & McCarthy pay Favre a visit

From the Green Bay Press-Gazette:

(Packers general manager) Thompson confirmed that McCarthy, the Packers’ first-year coach, made the 100-mile drive from Mobile to Hattiesburg, Miss., Thursday to visit Favre at his home. Thompson paid a similar visit to Favre earlier in the week.

Neither McCarthy or Thompson said whether they felt Favre would come back or not, although Thompson said he left feeling confident that Favre still feels he can play at a high level.