Packers Daily Links: Rodgers Helps Raise Over $200,000 For MACC Fund

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers lent his name to a charity fundraiser held in Milwaukee last night to help raise funds for the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. “Milwaukee loves a Green Bay Packers Super Bowl MVP QB,” wrote Packers Radio Network broadcaster Wayne Larrivee on Twitter. “Evening with Aaron Rodgers raised over 200K for MAAC Fund tonight. Great event.” The event reportedly attracted 670 people to the Hyatt Regency last evening.

More on the event comes via Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who also had a chance to talk about some football matters with the star quarterback. “He did say he relishes the opportunity for the Packers to repeat as Super Bowl champs,” writes Nickel. “He added that he didn’t expect his offense to be fortified with three high picks in the draft a few weeks ago. The Packers took Mississippi State tackle Derek Sherrod, Kentucky receiver Randall Cobb and Hawaii running back Alex Green in the first three rounds.” Rodgers estimated he heard from about 50 people telling him about what kind of player Cobb is while on a recent visit to Kentucky.

Prior to yesterday’s event, a blog post on ESPN.com’s Page 2 included an interview with Aaron Rodgers promoting the fundraiser. “I’m obviously ecstatic and thrilled that we were able to win and, of course, I reflect back on all the hard work not just by me but by all the guys to accomplish the goal,” Rodgers said. “I feel as if now the hard work begins. We’ve had a chance to rest and celebrate. Now we have to do what we did last year. Work hard all over again as a team and replicate the success.”

Speaking of Randall Cobb, one day after it was learned he was working out with Greg Jennings and Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald in Arizona, he took to Twitter saying he was working out with another Packers teammate. “Tuesday Cobb worked out with Packers punter Tim Masthay,” reports WBAY-TV in Green Bay. “Both are Kentucky alum and got together with fellow Wildcat players.” Masthay reacted on Twitter saying it was good to punt to Cobb.

Former Packers defensive lineman Russell Maryland was voted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday. “He concluded his career in 2000 as a 16-game starter with the Packers,” according to Packer Report. Maryland was one of five players with ties to the Packers that were on the ballot for the Hall of Fame.

Another former Packers defensive lineman made news yesterday after Gilbert Brown held a press conference introducing the Green Bay Chill, a member of the Lingerie Football League. “People can come out and watch a good game of football,” Brown told the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “There’s going to be a lot of hitting. There ain’t gonna be no nail polish nowhere.” The team will play its inaugural game on August 26 at the Resch Center in Green Bay to be televised on MTV2. That game will be played on the same day the Packers are scheduled to play the Indianapolis Colts in a preseason match-up.

Head coach Mike McCarthy made an appearance on Sirius NFL Radio yesterday. Host Rich Gannon quoted McCarthy as saying, “The lockout is definitely a detriment to the development of young players in the NFL.” The Packers officially lost organized practice time from the rookie orientation camp, which was scheduled to be held two weekends after the NFL Draft.

Utah head football coach Kyle Whittingham was interviewed for an article about new Packers draft choice Caleb Schlauderaff for a feature at the Packers official website. “It started to become apparent after the sophomore season that perhaps he had a chance to play at the next level,” Whittingham said. “He’s lined up against some good people and been up to the challenge each and every time.” Whittingham also shared some information that Schluaderaff has some experience practicing as a tackle. It’s been thought that the Utah offensive lineman would be a guard in the NFL.

The Packers finished fourth in a ranking of the best helmets in the NFL by ESPN.com. “My thought is that success helps a brand become appealing in a lot of cases,” NFC West blogger Mike Sando said. “Would the Steelers’ helmet really rank first if the team had tanked every year? I do not think so. Look at the Colts, Raiders, Packers, Cowboys, Browns … all have storied histories.” The Steelers ranked no. 1.

The Packers announced in a release that they, along with the NFL, will be sponsoring three free youth football camps this summer. “The Green Bay Packers and the National Football League are sponsoring three free football camps in Wisconsin, in Chippewa Falls (June 14-16), Green Bay (June 17-19) and Milwaukee (June 20-22), as part of the NFL’s High School Player Development (HSPD) program presented by the National Guard,” according to the release. The camps are open to high school-age players.

The Packers Hall of Fame is conducting a contest for a free one-month membership to PackersHallofFame.com.

Aaron Rodgers is ranked as the no. 1 quarterback in the NFL by Vic Ketchman of Packers.com.

A scouting report on sixth-round draft choice D.J. Smith is at Packer Report (subscription required).

Candidates for the future general manager of the Packers are listed by Michael Rodney of Packer Update.

A take on retiring Brett Favre’s number comes from Chad Toporski of AllGreenBayPackers.com.

The topic of informal practices is taken up by Bill Huber of Packer Report (subscription required).

A blog post on Lombardi Ave. discusses William Henderson and Marco Rivera as members of the Packers Hall of Fame.

Another post at Aerys Sports brings up the topic of Super Bowl rings.

Video: An interview by WFRV-TV’s Larry McCarren with Mike McCarthy aired before the coach’s fundraising event for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay basketball yesterday…