Packers Daily Links: Jennings Could Be Shut Down for a Week

Jennings admits he would "err to the side of caution" in an interview on Monday. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Head coach Mike McCarthy admitted on Monday that shutting down Greg Jennings for a week or two is a possibility (though not a certainty) after the Packers wide receiver re-aggravated a groin injury during Sunday's game. Speaking at a Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County fundraising event on Monday, Jennings is quoted as saying by the Wisconsin State Journal, "I would definitely err to the side of caution when it comes to something like this simply because if it's going to continue to be an issue, I'd rather take the time that I need to eliminate it altogether versus going out there and having it reoccur time after time and continue to have setbacks." Giving Jennings some rest would appear to be the best thing for him and the Packers. In two weeks, the Packers face the undefeated Texans. If shutting him down would make him healthy for that game, that would be best.

More on Greg Jennings comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com, PackersNews.com, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and JSOnline.

The Packers have received a one-week exemption for suspended defensive lineman Mike Neal. "Neal, who was suspended for the season’s first four games for violating the league’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, will be eligible to practice when the team returns to work Wednesday," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. "That should give the coaches some idea whether he can step right back in after a strong finish to training camp." The Packers do not have to make a decision on Neal this week. They can wait until next Monday if they so choose. But at that time, they either need to clear room for him on the active roster or cut him.

More on Mike Neal comes from the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

When the Packers went to their "dollar" defensive package on Sunday that featured seven defensive backs, it was learned safety Morgan Burnett used the team's radio communications helmet instead of linebacker D.J. Smith. "Burnett has made calls in the secondary, but he has never been responsible for getting the play call into the huddle and making sure everyone was lined up correctly," writes Tom Silverstein at JSOnline. "The Saints play at an extremely fast tempo and so there was confusion on the second series of the game." When M.D. Jennings got hurt, the Packers eventually scrapped their dollar package, but it wasn't working effectively even with Jennings in the game.

More on the dollar defensive package comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com and Press-Gazette.

As defensive coordinator Dom Capers spoke about on Monday, another shortcoming of the Packers defense was its inability to force turnovers. "In losses to San Francisco and Seattle and a close shave Sunday against New Orleans, the Packers had neither an interception nor a forced fumble," writes Tom Silverstein. "Their only turnovers are the four interceptions they had of Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler in Week 2." One year after leading the NFL interceptions, the Packers have to get back to their ballhawk ways.

More on the inability of the Packers defense to force turnovers comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com and Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Analysis of the Packers' win over the Saints comes from Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel, Cliff Christl and Eric Baranczyk of the Press-Gazette and Fox Sports Wisconsin.

Packer Report shares articles on special teams trick plays and the referees' impact on the game.

Kicker Mason Crosby talked to OnMilwaukee.com for a Q&A feature.

Colts head coach Carl Pagano has been diagnosed with leukemia and will miss Sunday's game against the Packers, which Mike McCarthy addressed on Monday.

The Packers begin a three-game stretch of road games starting this week.

Mike McCarthy addressed the questionable calls by the referees at ESPNMilwaukee.com.

Fox 11 in Green Bay shares videos with Donald Driver and the tailgate scene around Lambeau Field.

A column on the Packers win is written by Adam Czech of AllGreenBayPackers.com.

Packers announcer Wayne Larrivee talked about the Packers with 620 WTMJ.

The Press-Gazette shares their Along the Lines video blog.

Video: Cheesehead TV's own Aaron Nagler and the Bleacher Report crew take an early look at the Packers-Colts game...

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (9)

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Doug In Sandpoint's picture

October 02, 2012 at 10:00 am

I'm not too worried about the picks yet. We had 2 against Seattle, with each of them overturned by poor officiating. We had multiple chances against the Saints, but just dropped them. These will turn around and staart falling into the proper hands...probably this week.

Add in the fumble that wasn't and there are +3 turnovers. Move along. Nothing to see here.

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trvs's picture

October 02, 2012 at 12:14 pm

I agree, and maybe just maybe, the man defense we used against Chicago should be utilized more often. In return maybe even more turnovers, maybe.

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MarkinMadison's picture

October 02, 2012 at 01:17 pm

The other thing is that the tackling has looked much better. How many times last year did guys go for the interception and give up the big play? I'd like to see a stat breakdown on that before we start faulting them for not getting more turn-overs.

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Evan's picture

October 02, 2012 at 01:33 pm

It wasn't so much going for the INT as it was going for the strip and missing the tackle. I've seen much less of that this season so far.

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packsmack25's picture

October 02, 2012 at 05:34 pm

Well, as the stat nerds like myself will tell you, the Packers were due for a regression in the turnover department, as turnovers are the least stable statistic from year-to-year in regards to team stats. The good news is that they also might progress upward in the sack department, since they were near the bottom of the NFL last year and are off to a much better start this year.

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Beep's picture

October 02, 2012 at 01:19 pm

The news about Pagano creates an interesting wrinkle this week for the Packers. I hope first and foremost that Pagano gets healthy, but after that, I wonder what effect it will play on the Colts. Do we see an improved effort to "win one for the gipper" or do they fall apart without their leader?

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Evan's picture

October 02, 2012 at 01:33 pm

Yeah, you hate to even have that kind of thought but I'd be lying if I said it didn't cross my mind.

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calipackfan's picture

October 02, 2012 at 01:34 pm

The colts will play for their coach and will probably play harder but the Packers should still come out on top.

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woodson4president's picture

October 02, 2012 at 07:53 pm

Yeah ol Moses definitely forced that fumble sunday, but who woulda thunk it..we got dicked.

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