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Make sure to head over the the new Railbird Central
2008-08-15 18:36:00
This is the last post at the old R.C. Make sure to make your daily visit over to the new and improved Railbird Central over at SportsBubbler.com.For those of you who like to use the old fashioned copy and pasting method or simply typing it in, the address at the new Railbird Central is: http://community.sportsbubbler.com/blogs/ railbird_central/default.aspxI suggest making it your homepage or putting it in your "favorites" or bookmarking the site. You can also be directed to the new website by visiting SportsBubbler's home page.Please remember that nothing's changing at the Railbird. We're simply moving over to a new platform. Thanks and see you there!Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Blue chips & cow chips from the Packers preseason opener
2008-08-13 18:35:00
It's still early to make inferences on the impact of one preseason game, but it's not too early to make snap judgements and rash opinions while sitting on the couch. Here's some of the winners and losers from the first Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals Monday Night Football game:The blue chip, premiere players:Aaron Rodgers -- The Packers' new quarterback is the talk of the national media after leading the Packers' to two scoring drives and throwing for 117 yards in just a quarter of play. Rodgers didn't exactly get a ton of help either. A drop by Donald Driver on third and 17 negated what would have been a first down on the opening drive of the game. Another drop by Chris Francies resulted in an interception when the ball bounced off of him. Rodgers was also plagued by shaky pass protection from guard Josh Sitton and running back Brandon Jackson.The middle linebackers -- Nick Barnett picked up where he left off last year when he was making plays from sideline to sideli...
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Getting ready for change at "R.C."
2008-08-12 19:14:00
You may have noticed the new header at the top of the page. The new look is in preparation of our move over to SportsBubbler.com.We're almost ready to launch the new Railbird Central. So make sure to set your bookmarks or make us your homepage.The new address is a long one so a bookmark would definitely be a smart idea. But feel free to either copy and past or type in our new address: http://community.sportsbubbler.com/blogs/ railbird_central/default.aspxIn just a few days, the old Railbird Central won't be updated anymore, but it's not like we're quitting you on. We're just switching over to a new platform.And, of course, in a few days time, you'll also be able to find us just by visiting the Sports Bubbler's main page at www.SportsBubbler.com. We're excited for the change, and we hope you are too.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Up and down game for Packer draft picks
2008-08-12 16:38:00
Among the Green Bay Packer s' seven 2008 draft choices on the offensive side of the ball, it was an uneven game against the Cincinnati Bengals. While a couple of players were up to the occassion like Matt Flynn, there were also some that played poorly like Breno Giacomini.The Good:Matt Flynn -- The seventh round draft choice played better than the Packers' second round draft choice at quarterback. Flynn led a touchdown scoring drive that was capped off by a screen pass for a touchdown by Kregg Lumpkin. And if Lumpkins wouldn't have fumbled late in the fourth quarter, Flynn might have led another.Jordy Nelson -- Most of Nelson's fireworks came on punt returns when he got ample opportunities. His four returns went for a 7.8 yard average highlighted by a 16 yard return. He also played solidly on offense when he registered two receptions and was a target for at least one more that fell incomplete.Jermichael Finley -- His two receptions were nothing special, but his blocking drew prai...
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Packers vs. Bengals: thoughts
2008-08-12 16:26:00
Here are some off-the-cuff, knee jerk reactions to the Green Bay Packers ' performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Footbal that might not have registered on everyone's radar screen:Thumbs up:Aaron Rouse -- Another interception proved why Rouse needs to be in the starting lineup. The team might go through a couple headaches as Rouse gets used to defending against complex NFL offenses, but his knack for generating turnovers offsets any negatives he might have. Three interceptions last season combined with one last night and one in the team's preseason scrimmage prove that he can help the team. At least Nick Collins can be the most reliable backup safety in the league.Jason Hunter -- Hunter led the team in sacks last night and was second on the team in tackles. While not spectacular, he just showed he was very active and is probably worth keeping around another season as a backup defensive lineman and key special teams contributor. He may even get snaps that KGB do...
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Packers vs. Bengals: What to Watch For
2008-08-11 00:22:00
Everyone and their brother are sure as heck going to be scrutinizing every move Aaron Rodgers makes down to how he receives the snap from center. And then they'll be analyzing how Brian Brohm hands off to the running backs. Here at Railbird Central, we'll give you five non-quarterback things to look for on Monday Night Football's Green Bay Packers vs. Cincinnati Bengals game:Defensive tackle depth -- With injuries nagging Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly, Justin Harrell and Daniel Muir, there's not a whole heck of a lot of options left at the defensive tackle position. Expected to join Colin Cole in the starting lineup at the position is usual starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins. Will those two be able to hold up against the run? And can they keep the interior offensive linemen off the linebackers? Once they come out, reserve tackles Alfred Malone and Conrad Boston stand to see perhaps the most playing time on the entire team due to having such a depleted unit.The offensive line shu...
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Best/worst case scenario for Packer defensive ends
2008-08-10 15:24:00
Today we take a look at the Green Bay Packer defensive ends in our best and worst case scenarios for the 2008 season:Aaron Kampman -- There's no reason to think the two time Pro Bowler is going to have any letdown in his play. He's still young enough that there's plenty of energy left in his body and he'll be hungry for a Super Bowl ring. He plays the run and the pass equally well. Best case, he leads the entire NFL in sacks and becomes first team All-Pro. Worst case, Kampman has his first non-Pro Bowl season in three years.Cullen Jenkins -- Due to some nagging injuries, Jenkins had a down year in 2007. Can he return to his 2006 form or will he rebound in a big way? If the Packer defense is going to improve on last year's numbers, they'll need an improved effort from Jenkins especially considering the injuries along the defensive front. Best case, Jenkins has the type of season he had in 2006 when he played solid at defensive end, and on passing downs he becomes one of the NFL...
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Best/worst case scenarios for Packer defensive tackles
2008-08-09 23:03:00
In our continuing series, today we take a look at the best and worst case scenarios for this year's Green Bay Packer defensive tackles:Ryan Pickett -- Pickett is one of the most underrated players in the entire NFL. He absolutely clogs up the middle of the field making it hard for opponents to run up the gut. His ability to keep blockers off the linebackers is top notch. And his hustle to make plays all over the field despite his size goes unnoticed by the national media. Best case, Pickett starts to get some recognition for his outstanding play as he has an All-Pro season. Worst case, his current hamstring issues linger and he becomes just another guy.Johnny Jolly -- Jolly's upcoming court date in Texas hangs over the head of the Packers. If he's convicted, he stands to get a four game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Best case scenario, Jolly somehow avoids suspension and becomes a solid starter that fills the void left by Corey Williams' departur...
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Best/worst case scenarios for Packer linebackers
2008-08-08 18:55:00
In our ongoing series, we now preview the linebackers in our best case/worst case scenarios:A.J. Hawk – Now in his third year, this may be the season Hawk puts it all together. And that’s not to insinuate that Hawk hasn’t played well his first two years. He’s been reliable as German engineering. It’s just that he hasn’t had that breakout streak of game changing plays that he was known for in college. Best case scenario, Hawk has a Pro Bowl year full of interceptions, forced fumbles and recoveries. In addition, they add the blitz to his repertoire, which results in at least five sacks. Worst case, Hawk stagnates and was the same old player he was his first two seasons, reliable but unremarkable.Nick Barnett – With any possible legal troubles behind him, Barnett could pick up where he left off last year, his finest season as a professional. It’s a shame he didn’t get a Pro Bowl he deserved. He made plays all over the field, plain and simple. Best case, he earns a Pro...
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Martin practices getting the jump ball
2008-08-08 18:42:00
For the first time this year, I did the "railbird" thing and attended Wednesday's evening training camp practice. The next several posts detail some of the things the Packers worked on during the practice.Before practice even started, a few players were practicing punt returns from the JUGS machine. The usual suspects were there taking turns: Will Blackmon, Pat Lee, Jordy Nelson. And then I saw Ruvell Martin . At first I thought, “Since when did Martin become a punt returner?” and “Why would the Packers even want him returning punts?”Turns out he was practicing catching Hail Mary-type jump balls. For good reason too. The Packers later practiced Hail Mary throws in the team portion of practice.In fact, the Packers practiced several exotic plays including the Hail Mary, hook and lateral, and a multiple lateral play that would only be used as the clock expired and a touchdown would be required as players raced down the field making about a dozen laterals.Tom Pelissero of the Gr...
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Blackmon dances the night away
2008-08-08 18:41:00
Packers cornerback and return specialist was dancing like it was an audition for the next Dancing With the Stars during an early stretching period. It looks like it was the coaching staff’s choice to rest Blackmon during a few practices last week. McCarthy even said that the trainer thought Blackmon was fine. He showed no ill effects, and was very active all practice long.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Packer O-line work on fumble recovery
2008-08-08 18:39:00
With a little time to spare before the next sequence of practice began, offensive line coach James Campen had maybe four minutes to kill. He got the entire offensive line unit taking part in a fumble recovery drill in which a ball was buried underneath a veritable heap of mats and pads. The linemen would proceed to search for the ball in a scrum-like fashion. Campen could be heard instructing, “Peel somebody off,” as the players hunted for the ball.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Wynn, running backs practice routes
2008-08-08 18:38:00
There was a five minute or so portion of practice in which only the quarterbacks and running backs worked on pass routes. After a simulated snap, two backs would go out on differing pass routes and receive passes thrown from Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn.All sorts of routes were practiced in including play action fakes where the fullbacks run through the line of scrimmage and do a down an out, simple safety valve passes where the backs flare to the sidelines, routes ran after a back goes in motion, and routes where a back may line up in the slot.DeShawn Wynn showed good hands snaring passes away from his body. According to the Green Bay Press-Gazette, though, he also showed inconsistency by making one good play followed by dropping the ball.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Packers spend time instructing Finley
2008-08-08 18:37:00
You could tell how rookie tight end Jermichael Finley rates. With Tory Humphrey out, rookie tight end Jermichael Finley was getting instruction in a drill where the tight end was working in tandem with the tackle on a blocking drill. Finley was paired up with Pro Bowl left tackle Chad Clifton while the only other pair taking part in the drill were backup tackle Orrin Thompson and reserve tight end Evan Moore.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Packers' Driver doesn't succumb to age
2008-08-08 18:37:00
Any worries that Donald Driver might be slowing down due to age were quelled when Driver was among the wide receivers getting the most separation in one-on-one wide receiver vs. defensive back drills. Undrafted rookie receiver Taj Smith wasn’t able to get the separation Driver got, but somehow found a way to catch balls thrown to him. In the same drill, rookie cornerback Pat Lee batted away a pass at the last second.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Packer wideouts working on the little things
2008-08-08 18:35:00
During a redzone team portion of practice, several receivers made nice catches along the sidelines while trying to stay in bounds. Chris Francies and Jordy Nelson both caught passes that went for touchdowns. Unfortunately, the Press-Gazette also noted that Francies dropped a couple balls after making some nice ones.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Players look to make Packers' punt squad
2008-08-08 18:32:00
The Packers were working on a punt protection drill at one point. There weren’t any gunners, just the interior blockers. It was hard to tell if there was an A and B squad, but one unit from right to left was Jeremy Thompson at the wing, Brandon Chillar at tackle, John Kuhn at guard, J.J. Jansen snapping, Korey Hall at guard, Vernand Morency at tackle, and Jermichael Finley at wing.The other team from right to left was Desmond Bishop at wing, Donald Lee at tackle, Jason Hunter at guard, Jansen snapping, Abdul Hodge at guard, Tracy White at tackle, and Michael Montgomery at wing. Corey White worked at the fullback spot with both units.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
More About: Players , Make , Squad , Punt

Tip for those going to Packers training camp
2008-08-08 18:28:00
A tip to fans heading to training camp night practices, look where the lights are when scoping out a seat. The lights are portable deals on wheels, and I’m not sure if they move them practice to practice, but I made a mistake.Seeing as it was light out when practice began, I didn’t really think about the impending darkness. Once daylight faded, practice was run on one end of the Clark Hinkle practice field far from where I was sitting.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
More About: Training , Camp , Packers

J-E-T-S! Jets. Jets. Jets?
2008-08-07 06:23:00
Brett's a Jet. A couple of reports are now showing that Brett Favre is now a member of the New York Jets . No mention yet of what the trade involved, but my guess is that it includes a sort of tiered compensation. I'm sure it's probably at least a 3rd round draft choice, but may move up based on Brett's and the teams performance.Personally, I have mixed emotions on this, as I'm sure you all do as well. I am a HUGE Favre fan. I appreciate everything he's done for the Packers. But I am, and always will be first and foremost, a Packers fan. I'm really going to miss him, but i'm glad the ordeal is over for the organization. I'm looking forward to the Aaron Rodgers era. Best of luck to you Aaron. We're all behind you!!!A little more from Packers.com. Mark Murphy and Ted Thompson issued this statement:"Brett has had a long and storied career in Green Bay, and the Packers owe him a tremendous debt of gratitude for everything he accomplished on the field and for the impact he ma...

Best/worst case scenarios for Packer cornerbacks
2008-08-06 16:31:00
Today's installment of the best and worst case scenarios for every player on the Green Bay Packer s 80 man training camp roster continues today with the cornerbacks:Al Harris -- It was a confusing year for Al Harris. Most people will probably point to Harris' poor performance in the NFC Championship game in failing to adequately cover Plaxico Burress. But yet he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Harris had a solid season, but not exactly the type that gets you to the Pro Bowl. It's just another example in a long line that players get voted into the Pro Bowl long after they're due as sort of a career achievement. That being said, Harris is aging, but he's not yet at the point where his skills are severely diminished. Best case, he makes the Pro Bowl again, and actually has a Pro Bowl type of year to deserve it. Worst case, age catches up to Harris and there are more games like last year's NFC Championship. Although Harris certainly remains a starter no matter w...
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Best/worst case scenario for Packer safeties
2008-08-06 01:55:00
For the second year in a row, we present our best and worst case scenarios for every player on the Green Bay Packer s 80-man pre-season roster. We start with the safeties:Nick Collins -- Collins has always been a solid but far from spectacular player. He's been a willing tackler but not a fierce hitter. He's been good in pass coverage but fails to make many interceptions. The best case scenario has him putting it all together in his fourth year and really, really breaking out. He has the talent. The worst case scenario has him losing his job to Aaron Rouse. If that happens, he's likely to stick around at least this year as a back-up, but he's unlikely to stick around Green Bay any longer in that type of role.Atari Bigby -- Bigby has the potential to build off a solid first year as a starting player. There's the possibility he will pick up where he became the NFL's defensive player of the month in December and a huge, huge playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Pro Bowl is n...
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MNF tickets available
2008-08-06 01:53:00
Four seats together in the fifth row at Lambeau Field are available at face price for Monday Night's pre-season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals. Call (715) 854-7711 to inquire about the tickets.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Blue chips & cow chips for Packers' Tuesday training camp practice
2008-08-06 01:07:00
Aside from the whole Brett Favre ordeal, here's what's happening at training camp practice. Among Tuesday 's blue chip performers:Ryan Grant -- After missing about a week's worth of training camp, Grant appeared to pick up where he left off last season. He stepped right in with the first team and made his presence felt today. "Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson seemed to split carries with the first team but Grant appeared to be 1A," writes Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "He looked decent -- seems a bit bigger than the end of last season -- and took a few good hits, including one from Nick Barnett. Grant did have a touchdown where he fought through a few tackles."The solid red chip performers:James Jones -- Despite a less than spectacular performance by the offense and especially the quarterbacks during Sunday's scrimmage, it looks like at least Jones has bounced back. He had a drop in the scrimmage, but made up for it with spectacular catch today. "It wasn’t all b...
More About: Training , Blue , Practice , Camp

Favre traded to Tampa Bay?
2008-08-06 00:59:00
The site SaveBrett.net is reporting that Brett Favre has been traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.At the moment, their so-called breaking news is already over two hours old and no one else has reported it yet. The biased site has less credibility than most blogs, but anyway ...Of course, I'm not saying that it's not true, because it's certainly within the realm of believability. The Packers are likely trying to get the best deal possible for Favre.Speaking of unreliability, when are people going to start to distrust unnamed and anonymous sources? Favre, himself, was upset with the untruths that have come out in the media. Things like the so-called team-issued cell phone.I'd like to think whoever reported that first reconsiders using that "source" as a person with inside information.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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The Railbird is about to join a new flock
2008-08-05 14:20:00
I'm happy to announce a change at Railbird Central. We're moving over to SportsBubbler.com.Nothing much is changing. We'll still be called Railbird Central, and you'll still be getting the same great content, just in a new place.What does it mean to you? You'll just have to go to a different place to get all the Green Bay Packers news you need. I'll keep you updated on the new web address shortly. In the meantime, go check out SportsBubbler.com and get used to the new digs.The reason for change is to bring our services to a wider audience. SportsBubbler.com is owned by Journal Communications, Inc., parent company of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The association with such a respected publication is a welcome one.I'm excited for the new opportunity ahead for us. Keep reading. More information to come.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.
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Cuts are coming
2008-06-24 08:57:00
The Green Bay Packers have recently cut undrafted rookie wide receiver Rod Harper shortly after minicamp practices.In the view of the Packers, Harper probably wasn't cutting it. Add that to the wealth of wide receiver the team already has, and there was dead weight that needed to be cut.But Harper's release brings to light another issue that the Packers are going to have to deal with shortly.NFL rules state that teams may only have 80 players on their roster under contract. The Packers currently have 77 players under contract, but none of their nine draft choices nor Ryan Grant have yet to sign.Now that mincamp has concluded, there is a little more than a month of dead time where teams will start to sign their draft choices. It's the perfect time to get deals done with nothing else going on. Within the next couple of weeks, the draft choices will start signing one by one.With 77 players signed right now, the Packers have room for three more rookies or Grant to sign on the dotted ...
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Allen stands out at minicamp
2008-06-23 09:22:00
Every year there's a rookie or two that goes undrafted yet beats all odds and makes the Green Bay Packers' 53 man roster.Last year that player was defensive tackle Daniel Muir. Another notable Packer that went undrafted was Tony Fisher who became the team's third down back in his first season.This year the early favorite to make the team as an undrafted rookie free agent is wide receiver Jake Allen . So who is this relatively unknown player...?Allen earned first team All-American honors in Division III while playing at Mississippi College. While there, he set school records in receptions (152), receiving yards (2,867) and receiving touchdowns (26) despite playing for only three seasons.During the 2007 season alone he caught 61 passes for 1,254 yards and 12 touchdowns.It looks like Allen has already made his mark with the Packers. During the recently concluded minicamp, he caught the eye of a couple of journalists.According to Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Jake Al...

Talk of the town
2008-06-19 06:18:00
Green Bay Packers news has recently centered around the possibility of the trading for Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor.General manager Ted Thompson has apparently been in contact with the Miami Dolphins about their interest in dealing the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year."Packers general manager Ted Thompson recently discussed Taylor with defensive coordinator Bob Sanders and defensive tackles coach Robert Nunn, who both coached Taylor with the Dolphins," reports Greg Bedard for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Both assistants have a fondness for Taylor and would undoubtedly be in favor of acquiring the 2006 NFL Defensive Player of the Year."It's been an interesting offseason for Taylor and the Dolphins. After reports the contrary, the Dolphins have more recently said they're interested in having Taylor play for them in 2008. However, all signs point to the Dolphins having interest in trading him despite a recent press conference in which Taylor denied making trade ...
More About: Talk , Town , The Town

Packer paintball
2008-06-19 06:11:00
The Green Bay Packer s took off from their regularly scheduled minicamp practice on Wednesday in place of a team building exercise. Paintball .The team went to nearby Commando Paintball in Abrams where they conducted an eight team tournament."The winning team consisted of running backs coach Edgar Bennett, defensive end Aaron Kampman, safety Tyrone Culver, fullback Korey Hall, running back Vernand Morency, receiver Brett Swain, and Ricky Brumfield, a minority coaching intern from Fairmont State," reports Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.It's not uncommon for a team to take off a scheduled practice every once in a blue moon to do some sort of activity. In the past, the Packers have gone bowling or golfing as well.Welcome to the Railbird feed. Eat up.

Photo of the day
2008-06-18 07:19:00
Aaron Rodgers made this gesture during the Green Bay Packers' minicamp practice on Tuesday making reference to the rumor that he had gotten married this past weekend: There's no ring there.The story started when WLUK-TV in Green Bay erroneously reported on Sunday that Rodgers had gotten married. Rodgers did, indeed, attend a marriage recently, but it was not his own.Rodgers is starting to get more and more attention now that he's the starting quarterback for the Packers and has taken over for living-legend Brett Favre. For example: "Rodgers has done some national interviews," reports Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette," and his name popped up once recently on a Las Vegas celebrity-sightings blog, but he said he doesn't feel his life has changed much since Favre's retirement in March. About the highest-profile appearance he'll make will be at a celebrity golf tournament next month at Lake Tahoe in Nevada."Rodgers' new haircut got some attention too. Gone are the long...
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