Packers Daily Links: McCarthy To Alter Training Camp Schedule

Head coach Mike McCarthy mentioned that changes will be made to his training camp schedule at the NFL's owner meetings this week. That and more in today's Daily Links...

While attending the NFL's Annual Meeting in New Orleans, head coach Mike McCarthy hinted at an alteration to his training camp schedule. "He’s likely going to do away with the 2-1-2 practice schedule — in which a two-a-day session was followed by a single practice the next day followed by another two-a-day — that he instituted when he got the job in 2006," writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "He tweaked it over the years, adding an off day on either Wednesdays or Thursdays, depending on when preseason games fell." I remember previous regimes using the second of the two-a-day schedule being primarily for special teams work. It will be interesting to see if that returns.

Also coming out of the owners meeting, it looks like the proposed kickoff rules will be changed before they're voted upon. "Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy indicated late Monday afternoon that the proposal, as it was written before the NFL meetings began here on Monday at the Roosevelt Hotel, might not be the same as the one that goes to a vote before the meetings conclude Tuesday," writes Rob Demovsky. There were just too many parts of the kickoff rule to accept it as is. Certain aspects of the rule will probably be approved including the elimination of wedge blocking and the five yard run-up, but I think the move from the 30 to the 35 might be the least likely to change. I could be wrong. We'll see.

In an interview with a local Pennsylvania newspaper, the York Dispatch, fullback John Kuhn reportedly said he's likely to return to Green Bay during free agency. "Now, player contracts can't be signed until the lockout is over," writes reporter John Walk. "Still, Kuhn said he expects to return to Green Bay." Kuhn received a tender offer from the Packers before the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement, but that's likely to become null and void when a new CBA is agreed upon.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers is included as part of the vote being conducted by EA Sports over at ESPN.com that is allowing fans to choose who will appear on the cover of the new Madden NFL 12 video game. "The vote is set up tournament-style, so each player faces a player from another team and the winner advances to the next round," writes Monty McMahon of Total Packers. "Rodgers’ first-round opponent is Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh." After winning the Super Bowl and being named the game's MVP, Rodgers seems like a likely candidate to win the vote.

Packers public relations director Jeff Blumb has resigned. “Jeff’s moving on, and we’re going in a different direction,” Packers vice president of administration Jason Wied told the Press-Gazette. “Jeff and I have talked for a while. He’s been doing this for 22 years, and it’s become a grind for him. We both felt that maybe it was time to look at what else is out there.” Aaron Popkey will take over on an interim basis before a new person is hired.

The Packers were one of just five teams that attended the pro day workout at North Dakota on Monday where linebacker Ross Cochran was one of the players on display. "Cochran measured at 6-foot-1, 250 pounds for the scouts and was timed in the 40-yard dash at 4.71," writes Ryan Powell of the school's official website. "He also was impressive in the bench press, getting the 225-pound bar up 22 times. He actually did 27 reps, but five were disallowed for not extending his elbows." The other noteworthy prospect working out was defensive lineman Ty Boyle.

Packer Report also has word that the Packers were in attendance at Iowa' pro day as well (subscription required).

The future of running backs Ryan Grant and James Starks in the same backfield was discussed by Mike McCarthy when asked by Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com at the owners meeting. "After asking McCarthy about it Monday, I got no sense that the Packers are planning anything other than to use both players in their 2011 backfield," writes Seifert. "McCarthy said Grant looked 'great' and 'light' the last time he saw him before the lockout, and said: 'I look at him to make a full recovery.'" Grant's over $5 million salary has made some question whether the Packers may release him, but that looks to be a long shot.

Nick Barnett could become a more likely candidate for a trade due to a weak draft class at inside linebacker, according to Bill Huber of Packer Report (sub required).

Defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson of Temple is predicted as the Packers' first-round draft choice in a mock draft over at SB Nation.

The top 10 "ball hawks" in Packers history are listed at the team's official website.

Kevin Greene and Darren Perry are listed as two potential future head coaches by Vic Ketchman of Packers.com.

Project Leap! was held this past weekend at the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Bleacher Report debates what the Packers will do in the Draft.

Rob Demovsky and former Packers beat reporter Tom Pelissero have a video report from the NFL owners meeting...

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Comments (4)

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gratif's picture

March 22, 2011 at 10:05 am

if you dont vote for aaron, tim tebow will win!

http://espn.go.com/sportsnation/feature/madden2012cover

Also if you believe in a madden curse you a) haven't researched and b) are weak-minded!

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PackersRS's picture

March 22, 2011 at 01:38 pm

Prove it!
2010 Brees had a mediocre year
2009 Fitzgerald and Polamalu got hurt the year before
2008 Favre started well but dreailed in the end
2007 Vince Young had a bad year
2006 Alexander had a bad year

No, I don't believe in curses, and am going to vote for Rodgers, but you gotta admit it's freakish.

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Jmac34's picture

March 22, 2011 at 01:25 pm

If Tim Tebow got on the Madden Cover it would be the worst player to ever be on the cover

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PackersRS's picture

March 22, 2011 at 01:43 pm

It would be even worse if it was the 12th man...

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