Packers Daily Links: Grievance Involving Hargrove on Wednesday

An arbitrator will hear the grievance the players' union filed against the NFL regarding the Saints bounty program on Wednesday. That and more in today's Daily Links...

The NFL players union grievance against the league regarding the New Orleans Saints bounty program suspensions will be heard by an arbitrator on Wednesday. "The union claims NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't have the authority to hand out discipline for player conduct that occurred before the current collective bargaining agreement was finalized last August," according to an Associated Press report. "The players argue that a CBA arbitrator, and not Goodell, has the right to decide player punishment under such circumstances, as well as rule on any appeals." As far as the Packers go, this grievance has implications for defensive lineman Tony Hargrove who was initially suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 regular season.

Wide receiver Jordy Nelson talked to Jim Polzin of the Wisconsin State Journal about this week's Tailgate Tour, the annual goodwill trip around the state in which several Packers players and personalities connect with fans. "When we get outside of Green Bay and do the Tailgate Tour, you really see the support," Nelson is quoted as saying. "They don’t get to see us on a day-to-day basis like people in the Green Bay area do, just walking around in stores or restaurants and stuff. I think it’s a lot of fun to go to those places because you really see their excitement. For some of them, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet a Packer or get an autograph." The first stop on the tour is this evening in La Crosse. Nelson will be joined by fellow Packers players Mason Crosby and Charlie Peprah on the tour.

Undrafted free agent tight end Cameron Ford is interviewed for an article in his hometown newspaper, The Greenville News, about signing with the Packers. “I was expecting to be a free agent," explained Ford, "so I was excited when they called and said, ‘Cameron, you’re now a Green Bay Packer.’ That was really cool.” Ford faces long odds at a position where the Packers kept five players on their 53-man roster last year, but he'll be given a chance win a job. He characterized his blocking as a strength.

Fellow undrafted free agent Marc Tyler, a running back from Southern Cal is profiled in a feature at the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Reporter Scott Venci got into the reasons why Tyler chose to sign with the Packers when he had the choice among several teams. "The Packers made the most sense for several reasons,"  writes Venci. "Tyler’s agent, Sean Howard, was a player personnel executive for the Packers and recommended them." Tyler has a chance to win a job if he can show more than Brandon Saine and Alex Green, although that won't be an easy task.

Second-round draft choice Jerel Worthy told Fox Sports Wisconsin about a friend who had a vision he'd become a Green Bay Packer. "He's a huge Packers fan," Worthy is quoted as saying. "He said, 'I have a vision that you're going to be a Green Bay Packer.' Back then, you don't believe it. But when it came true, man, I was just so excited."

With Monday night's episode of Dancing With the Stars behind him, Donald Driver is potentially one week away from competing in the finals. "As the Packers wide receiver has done all season on 'Dancing With the Stars,' he got awfully close to crossing the goal line — including the lofty one set by impossible judge Len Goodman — on Monday’s semifinals but again came up just short of a ballroom touchdown," writes Kendra Meinert of the Press-Gazette. "He and partner Peta Murgatroyd are in third place with a 57 out of 60 heading into tonight’s elimination, which will narrow the field to the final three for next week’s finale."

More on Donald Driver's performance can be found at the Packers official website.

Journal Sentinel columnist Michael Hunt says it's difficult to see Donald Driver playing for the Packers this season.

The Packers signed five tryout players on Monday. More on them appears at Packer Report, the Press-Gazette, ESPNWisconsin.com, JSOnline and the Associated Press.

An article on the competition for a backup quarterback spot between B.J. Coleman and Nick Hill appears at the Packers official website.

Former Packer Matt Flynn will battle with Russell Wilson for the starting quarterback job in Seattle, as Jason Wilde of ESPNWisconsin notes.

Packer Report has articles on Ty Detmer being named to the College Football Hall of Fame, former Packer Erik Affholter, and the Packers wide receivers.

Video: Donald Driver does the Waltz Monday night on Dancing With the Stars...

Brian Carriveau is a writer for Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Evan's picture

May 15, 2012 at 08:59 am

Good for Russell Wilson - though I'd be shocked if he beat out Flynn.

I was really hoping the Packers would have grabbed him had he made it into the 4th or 5th round.

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