Green Bay's Draft Board ?????

Here is a the final checkup of the players that the Packers have been interested in before the draft. The Packers should be a very difficult team to defeat next season after this draft. That will be due to the youth of the players and the belief they have of the recent success. But there will be some hurdles that will have to be made in order for the Packers to have a successful season in 2008. Green Bay will face 9 teams that were in the 2007 playoffs in their regular season schedule. That will be key going forward in finding out if the Packers have improved from 2007. Can the 2008 Packer team constantly beat playoff teams throughout this upcoming season. But still beat the teams they should, that is, this years underlining theme.

You can not help but feel the energy building up behind this team as they get ready for Mike McCarthy's third season. With another influx of youth with the upcoming draft, it can only confirm that the Packers will be a team to be reckoned with.

So here is to a successful draft in about a week.

This will be the final tally who Green Bay has kept tabs on this year entering the draft.

CB Mike Jenkins South Florida 1
DS Tryell Johnson Arkansas St. 2
WR DeSean Jackson California 3
TE Dustin Keller Purdue 4
QB Chad Henne Michigan 5
QB Joe Flacco Delaware 6
QB Brian Brohm Louisville 7
OT Sam Baker U.S.C. 8
TE Fred Davis U.S.C. 9
DE Lawrence Jackson U.S.C. 10
OG C hilo Rachal U.S.C. 11
TE Martellous Bennett Texas AM 12
TE John Carlson Notre Dame 13
TE Kellen Davis Michigan St. 14
HB Steve Slaton West Virginia 15
HB Ray Rice Rutgers 16
WR Malcolm Kelly Oklahoma 17
CB Trae Williams South Florida 18
CB Patrick Lee Auburn 19
WR Jordy Nelson Kansas St. 20
TE Jermichael Finley Texas 21
QB John David Booty U.S.C. 22
RB Jermone Felton Furman 23
CB Darnell Terrell Missouri 24
CB Orlando Scandrick Boise St. 25
OL Mike McGlynn Pittsburgh 26
OL Duane Brown Virginia Tech 27
HB Kevin Smith Central Florida 28
RB Tim Hightower Richmond 29
HB Xavier Omon NW Missouri 30
WR Jerome Simpson Coast. Carolina 31
DL Jason Jones East. Michigan 32
DE Brian Johnson Gardner-Webb 33
OLB/DEAndy Studebaker Wheaton 34
CB Cary Williams Washburn 35
DS Michael Grant Arkansas 36
OG James Blair Western Michigan 37
WR Maurice Purify Nebraska 38
TE Darrell Strong Pittsburgh 39
TE Gary Barnidge Louisville 40
CB Brian Witherspoon Stillman 41
OLB/DEHilee Taylor UNC 42
TE Matt Sherry Villanova 43
QB Nick Hill Southern Illinois 44
RB Lavarius Giles JSU 45
OG Shawn McMackin Hofstra 46


As you look at the end of the individual names the numbers are not the players ranking but area where the player should be taken. The first eleven players are rated to go in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. Green Bay of course has three picks unless Ted Thompson does not get his player or players.

The next seventeen players (12-29) are rated to go in rounds three and four. Green Bay again has three picks. Then the next seventeen players will fill out rounds five through free agents after the draft is done.

By all accounts the Packers should draft defense with one of their first three picks. It will be interesting to see which way Ted Thompson will go to solidify Green Bays future.

Packers talk to Witherspoon

Apparently the Green Bay Packers are interested in one of the fastest prospects in the upcoming NFL Draft.

That blazing player is tiny Stillman College's Brian Witherspoon who runs the 40 yard dash in 4.29 seconds. And he has a 40 inch vertical to boot.

"Witherspoon said he has worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles, Oakland Raiders, Seattle Seahawks and Jacksonville Jaguars," reports Aaron Suttles of the Tuscaloosa News. "He’s spoken to the Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. All the teams that have shown interest are looking at him as a nickel back or return specialist."

The above YouTube video of Witherspoon shows him reportedly running a 4.16 40 yard dash, a pre-draft NFL record. Judge for yourself.

Mock draft starts up

The mock draft Railbird Central is taking part of with NBC Sports is underway.

So far it looks like this:

• 1) DOLPHINS - Jake Long
• 2) RAMS - Vernon Gholston
• 3) FALCONS - Matt Ryan
• 4) RAIDERS - Chris Long
• 5) CHIEFS - Glenn Dorsey
• 6) JETS - Darren McFadden
• 7) PATRIOTS - Sedrick Ellis
• 8) RAVENS - Branden Albert
• 9) BENGALS - Derrick Harvey
• 10) SAINTS - Keith Rivers

Any hopes of a player like Virginia guard Branden Albert or USC linebacker Keith Rivers (pictured) would slip until the end of round one has already diminished, although there's still plenty of good players to be had.

The Packers still have their choice of cornerbacks from an already deep pool of prospects. And, of course, tight end is an option as well.

It's anybody's guess as to who will still be around at choice number thirty, but there's plenty of intriguing possibilities.

A page and analysis will be set up over at NBC Sports when the draft is entirely completed.

Photo credit: Joel Zink for the Daily Trojan

Draft preparations are underway

In case you were wondering what Green Bay Packers general manager, head coach Mike McCarthy, and the rest of the boys down at 1265 Lombardi Ave. are doing these days in preparation of the NFL Draft next weekend, they're keeping busy.

"Thompson and his scouts began their final series of draft meetings Monday and go from about 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day through Sunday," reports Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "The coaches will join the meetings beginning Monday and running through Wednesday, when the Packers' draft board will be finished."

Favre's 4 to be retired against Vikings

The speculation can end. Brett's Favre's No. 4 is going to be retired when the Green Bay Packers open the 2008 regular season versus the Minnesota Vikings on September 8 on Monday Night Football.

"The season-opening game is always an exciting event, and now we're very pleased to add the retirement of Brett's No. 4 to that evening," said Packers President Mark Murphy. "It will make for an electric atmosphere at Lambeau Field, as well as a great opportunity for our fans around the country to share in it while watching the game on the national broadcast.

Perhaps a better choice for Favre's number retirement would have been the Atlanta Falcons game October 5. The season opening game is always special and being on Monday night just adds to the atmosphere.

The game against the lack-luster Falcons could use some spicing up. It is a Sunday noon game, and therefore doesn't hold much national appeal. And besides, it would have been a nice nod to Favre where his career both started (Atlanta) and ended (Green Bay).

Packers watch Kelly (again)

A scout from the Green Bay Packers was in attendance for Oklahoma wide receiver Malcolm Kelly's pro day workout yesterday in Norman.

It was the third such workout held at the University of Oklahoma due to Kelly's now-infamous rant in which be basically accused the team's strength and conditioning coach of sabotaging his previous workout that was held on an unfavorable playing surface. A slow time was the result, and Kelly (pictured) was mad.

“Last week I made a lot of immature decisions going off like that,” Kelly told the Tulsa World. “In the three years that I’ve been here, y’all have never known me to go off like that. It was out of character for me. I take full responsibility.”

Kelly still ran a slow time at yesterday's workout depending on who you talk to. The NFL scouts in attendance reportedly had Kelly at 4.69 seconds in the 40 yard dash. His (biased) agent's office had him running at 4.46.

An indoor track was used as a running surface this time around. Plans for a previous workout under the direction of former Packers wide receiver Boyd Dowler that would be taped and sent to all NFL teams were apparently scrapped.

Photo credit: Associated Press

Packers inquire about Beaver

Justin Beaver may not be a name that many people outside of Wisconsin know. In fact, there's probably some people in Wisconsin that don't know him either. That might change soon.

The Green Bay Packers are one of a couple of teams checking out the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater running back prospect.

Beaver said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Dave Heller, "I've been contacted by a couple of teams asking me questions, they've (his agents) have been contacted by most of the teams. Indianapolis, Kansas City, Buffalo. Green Bay contacted my coach, to talk to him about my personality, ask for film and just kind of see. I met with St. Louis. I had a workout with them along with a couple of Badger receivers. I've talked with a couple of other teams over the telephone. I sat down with Indianapolis as well as the Patriots to take a wonderlic test and get asked a bunch of different personality questions."

Beaver (pictured) led the Warhawks to the Division III national championship this past season after losing in the same game the previous year. For that, he's fairly well known in Wisconsin circles.

But his workout numbers are among the best in the entire country. His pro day results in the shuttle and three cone drill were simply astounding.

Among the hundreds of athletes taking part in pro day workouts throughout the entire country, Beaver's shuttle time of 3.96 ranks third in the nation behind only Houston wide receiver Donnie Avery and Purdue tight end Dustin Keller. His three cone drill time of 6.72 ranks 14th.

Beaver may have slipped into the late rounds of the draft with those kinds of numbers.

Photo credit: oncollegefootball.wordpress.com

A helping of links

Hopefully these links will tide you over until bigger news comes along:

• Brett Favre will be making an appearance on "The Late Show with David Letterman" on April 24th. According to WISinfo.com, "Favre is scheduled to make an NFL promotional appearance in New York that day. As long as he was in town, according to the source, Favre agreed to do the show." Favre previously made an appearance on the same show after the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI.
• WISinfo.com reports, "Star Building Systems, a manufacturer of custom metal buildings, recently appointed Bart Starr, former Green Bay Packers quarterback, as company spokesman. The announcement was made at Star's 2008 national sales meeting Feb. 24-26 in Marco Island, Fla."
• There's going to be a new store in Green Bay to buy your Packers memorabilia. John and Lisa Carpentier are opening Green Bay Sports, Gambling & Antiques on Potts Ave. in Title Town on May 3. Richard Ryman of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports, "Carpentier owned Stadium Sports & Antiques and Packer City Antiques before selling them several years ago."

National hotel reservation day

It would be interesting to see what impact the release of the NFL's regular season schedule has on hotels nationwide. Because it certainly has an impact on Green Bay.

Tony Walter of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports, "Radisson Hotel manager James Elm said the day the schedule is announced is the biggest booking day of the year."

For example, the article already says the Radisson is fully booked for the weekend of the Dallas Cowboys game on September 21.

The rest of the schedule looks like this:

• Mon., Sept. 8
  Minnesota Vikings
  6 p.m. ESPN


• Sun., Sept. 14
  @ Detroit Lions
  12 noon FOX


• Sun., Sept. 21
  Dallas Cowboys (Gold Pkg.)
  7:15 p.m. NBC


• Sun., Sept. 28
  @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  12 noon FOX


• Sun., Oct. 5
  Atlanta Falcons
  12 noon FOX


• Sun., Oct. 12
  @ Seattle Seahawks
  3:15 p.m. FOX


• Sun., Oct. 19
  Indianapolis Colts
  3:15 p.m. CBS


• Sun., Oct. 26
  Open Date


• Sun., Nov. 2
  @ Tennessee Titans
  12 noon FOX


• Sun., Nov. 9
  @ Minnesota Vikings
  12 noon FOX


• Sun., Nov. 16
  Chicago Bears (Gold Pkg.)
  12 noon FOX


• Mon., Nov. 24
  @ New Orleans Saints
  7:30 p.m. ESPN


• Sun., Nov. 30
  Carolina Panthers
  12 noon FOX


• Sun., Dec. 7
  Houston Texans
  12 noon CBS


• Sun., Dec. 14
  @ Jacksonville Jaguars
  12 noon FOX


• Mon., Dec. 22
  @ Chicago Bears
  7:30 p.m. ESPN


• Sun., Dec. 28
  Detroit Lions


• 12 noon FOX

Packers to play another Monday Night game

We already know that the Green Bay Packers are scheduled to open the 2008 season on Monday Night Football at home against the Minnesota Vikings, but they might be playing on Monday Night another time too.

This time against those rival Chicago Bears.

A report in the online edition of the Chicago Sun-Times, reporter Brad Biggs writes, "When the full 2008 schedule is released today, it will include a December meeting with the Green Bay Packers on ESPN's 'Monday Night Football.'"

It does not say whether the game will be played in either Chicago or Green Bay.

We'll know for sure in a couple hours when the official annoucement is made this afternoon on the NFL Network regarding the schedule.

Favre to greet Pope

Pope Benedict XVI will be visiting the United States this week and retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre will be there to greet him.

An open air mass is being held Thursday at the 45,000 seat Nationals Park in Washington D.C.

"The large video screen at the stadium will show 15-minute messages from a variety of American Catholics welcoming the pope to America before the Mass Thursday, including a presentation by retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre," reports Bill Novak of the Capital Times.

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was also reportedly invited to the event, but it is unknown whether he will attend.

Packers visit with linebacker

The Green Bay Packers have reportedly met with NFL Draft prospect and linebacker Andy Studebaker of Wheaton College.

Tony Pauline of Sports Illustrated reports, "Studebaker (pictured)was poised for a big senior season until a foot injury ended his season after five games. He led the NCAA in sacks as a junior with 17.5, also recording 24.5 tackles for loss that year. He will be running for NFL scouts April 18 and has already visited with five teams, the Green Bay Packers and Buffalo Bills amongst them."

Pauline's article is all about small college prospects who will be sleepers in this year's NFL draft. Among his other "sleepers" is Washburn cornerback Cary Williams whom the Packers are also interested in.

The draft is less than two weeks away!

Photo credit: wheaton.edu

Packers basketball on the way

The Green Bay Packers will be putting together a basketball team to play a fund raising event at Fond du Lac High School on Monday May 12 for the school's athletic department and FBLA club.

According to the Fond du Lac Reporter, "Known as the 'Green Machine,' the Packer charitable basketball team travels to communities around Wisconsin to help raise money and awareness for charitable/non-profit groups. This year, Packers wide receiver Ruvell Martin is serving as captain of the team."

The tradition is that the Packers play two thirty minute halves with a continuously running clock, along with a thirty minute halftime in which the players sign free autographs.

Prices for tickets run as little as $12 for students in advance and as much as $20 for adults at the door.

For those of you that don't know, I teach journalism and English at Fond du Lac High School. If any more information comes along, I'll try to get the scoop.

Packers check out versatile player

Washburn cornerback Cary Williams sounds like the type of player the Green Bay Packers would like. And that's probably why they brought him in for a pre-draft visit last week.

First of all, Williams (pictured) is a Division II prospect, the type of guy the Packers have had no problem drafting ever since Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy have been running the show in Green Bay.

Kansas City Star reporter Randy Covitz writes, "Last week (Williams) was in Green Bay, where Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, a graduate of Baker University, has an affinity for small-college players."

And Williams is also a special teams demon. It seems like every player that Thompson has drafted has some special teams value to act as an added incentive.

Covitz goes on to report, "Williams excelled at covering punts at Washburn, which allowed just 2.6 yards a return, second in Division II. Having skills on special teams are a must for a low-round draft pick or rookie free agent trying to make an NFL team." He also played on the punt return squad blocking the gunners.

It isn't the first time Williams has crossed paths with the Packers either. General manager Ted Thompson likely saw him while scouting the Cactus Bowl, a college all-star game for Division II players back in January.

It isn't surprising Williams caught the eye of the Packers. He had a pretty good game including an interception. And that wasn't unusual. Williams can be described as an impact player, to say the least.

Washburn head coach Craig Schurig told the Kansas City Star, “In the Missouri Southern game, he returned a kickoff for TD, caught a TD pass and had an interception to end the game. If you can single-handedly win a game, that would be one he did.”

Everything sounds too good to be true so far. There is a downside. He was dismissed from the football team at Fordham after his freshman season before transferring to Washburn. Williams explained the situation to the Star, though.

“I didn’t have any incidents off the field, but I didn’t see eye-to-eye with the coaches,” Williams said. “I was young, immature, hot-headed at the time. I had a temper. I hurt myself. They kicked me off the team for things I said.”

As a 6-1 cornerback, he has the height any team would desire in a defensive back. And he has the speed. He reportedly had a little over a 4.43 40 yard dash time in recent workouts. Of course, there will be concerns whether he will be able to adjust to the NFL after coming from a small school.

But the Packers haven't been scared off by that in the past. And they might not be in the near future either.

Photo credit: The Topeka Capital-Journal

Keller wows Dorsey

John Dorsey, the Packers' director of college scouting, got caught ogling Purdue tight end Dustin Keller at a recent pro day workout like a school boy caught staring at the cute girl in the desk next to him.

An Indiana reporter found Dorsey mouthing the word "wow" to a fellow scout next to him during Keller's performance in a short shuttle drill.

Dorsey was later asked to elaborate on his ogling.

"The positive expression was because, when you run those short shuttles, you're looking at an athlete's agility, and you can see why he was a 6-10 high jumper coming out of high school,"Dorsey is quoted as saying in the Lafayette Journal and Courier. "He'll probably have the best short shuttle of all the tight ends coming out in this draft. What the short shuttle shows us as NFL scouts is change of direction.

"Anybody who has ever seen him the four years at Purdue knows exactly what he is -- he's a guy who is going to fit in to the new-scheme NFL. You're going to have to ... put him in a package where he can go one-on-one with linebackers and regular safeties. His run-after-catch skills are as good as any tight end in this draft."

Keller may be the best tight end prospect in the draft. And he may very likely be available when the Packers pick in the first round at No. 30 overall.

But can he block? Keller isn't really the blocking type of tight end the Packers need after letting go of Bubba Franks. Then again, maybe he doesn't have to be.

The Packers have eight draft choices, and it's possible that the Packers may spend a second draft choice on a blocking tight end/H-back type that can fulfill that role in the Packer offense.