Packers Daily Links: McMillian Hasn't Cut Hair in Seven Years
The rookie safety's hair runs down to the middle of his back. That and more in today's Daily Links...
Rookie safety Jerron McMillian acknowledged in an interview with Fox Sports Wisconsin that he hasn't cut his hair in a long, long time. "It's been seven years and counting," McMillian is quoted as saying by reporter Paul Imig. "I don't know if it's the longest in the NFL, but it's past the middle of my lower back." McMillian, a fourth-round draft choice this year, is asked about the implications of having such long hair and said there's been many times it's been grabbed during games. Like many Packers players before him, McMillian's long hair is in dreadlocks.
The play of linebacker A.J. Hawk is examined in a feature by Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In question is the lack of impact plays made by Hawk, which inside linebackers coach Winston Moss addressed in an interview. "His year was just quiet," said Moss. "When he got in, there wasn't a lot of tackle production and there weren't interceptions so you look at his stat line and you say, 'Well, what the hell did he do last year?' A.J. is not a problem. A.J. is not an issue. A.J. didn't play poorly last year. He just didn't make those impact plays." On several occasions in the article, Moss came to the defense of Hawk, making it seem as if there's no plans in place to remove Hawk from the starting lineup any time soon. But there is competition on the roster. What happens in training camp will play into the personnel used this season.
Fellow linebacker Desmond Bishop sticks up for A.J. Hawk in a blog post at JSOnline that was intended to accompany the article. "Anybody could have an off year, a down year or a year they really didn’t want," Bishop is quoted as saying in reference to Hawk. "The one thing about A.J. is that he’s always going to go out there and work hard. When plays come his way, he’s going to make them. That’s one thing you can count on from A.J. Hawk. I know I’m not, and nobody else is worried about his ability and productivity for this upcoming year." Between Bishop and Moss, they are pretty insistent about their confidence in Hawk. I wouldn't expect them to say any different, but I'm not sure fans would be willing to give Hawk the same vote of confidence.
Former Packers tackle Mark Tauscher will be beginning a broadcasting career in earnest this upcoming season. "Tauscher and former wide receiver Troy Brown are the two former players who will spend one regular-season Sunday working on air for one of the league's United Kingdom television partners," according to Fox 11 in Green Bay. Tauscher got the gig after recently taking part in the NFL's Broadcast Boot Camp. He's joined the radio broadcast of Wisconsin Badgers football games in the past.
Five Packers players have been named to the NFL Network's Top 100 Players list, notes Fox Sports Wisconsin.
Family Night scrimmage tickets go on sale on Monday, notes Packer Report and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
First-round draft choice Nick Perry is the focus of a feature article at Packer Report.
Packers rookies will be attending the annual rookie symposium soon, according to PackersNews.com.
Former Packers assistant and current Saints interim coach Joe Vitt denies several claims by the NFL in an interview with the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Video: Wide receiver Greg Jennings recently joined NBC Sports Talk to talk about several topics...
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Brian Carriveau is a writer for Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (14)
June 22, 2012 at 09:06 am
Is it just me, or does every article come down to "we'll just have to let training camp sort this out". Similarly, blogs and replies for each player is either "if he's so good, why did we lose badly to the Chief's and Giant's?"; or "if he's so bad, why did we go 15-1?".
It is prudent for players to protect the veterans (Hawk in this article; Driver, Woodson, Clifton, etc in the past). If the veteran prevails, his teammates had his back; if the new guy takes over, the teammates will be enthralled by his dedication, speed, quickness, etc. No lose in taking the high road.
Just not much to report on these days. Makes me appreciate the quality articles that get produced; and is better than reading about Brewer's; Buck's; Badger's; Admirals; Golden Eagles; blah, blah.
Keep cool!
June 22, 2012 at 09:14 am
" A.J. is not a problem. A.J. is not an issue. A.J. didn't play poorly last year. He just didn't make those impact plays."
To me, a starting LB in the NFL that makes no impact plays is a problem, is an issue. Call me crazy...
GBP 4 LIFE
June 22, 2012 at 12:51 pm
You're crazy Fitz...and has nothing to do with you comments. :-)
June 22, 2012 at 03:22 pm
Astute observation.
June 22, 2012 at 06:39 pm
Would I be crazy to point out the fact that a guy like Demeco Ryans has approx 1/4 fewer impact plays in the same number of years (8 fewer games)? IMO Hawk's level of play, though not in the top tier of the league, has been greatly exaggerated. Although I will say his play this past season was below par for him, which I believe can at least be partly attributed to failures by other parts of the defense.
June 22, 2012 at 09:34 pm
Ryans doesn't get dragged for three yards "consistently" by backs he outweighs by 20-30 lbs. He also sheds blocks better and takes better angles. If AJ could do those things at Ryans level, I wouldn't bitch about him not having many impact plays.
June 22, 2012 at 11:26 pm
Yet another blatant exaggeration. Ryans is overvalued by the media and fans, Hawk is undervalued by the media and fans...largely due to Hawk underperforming his draft position. Clearly Ryans didn't carry much value for the Texans, and Hawk carries substantial value for the Packers. Hawk's not much different than Ryans, and both had below par 2011's.
June 23, 2012 at 09:10 am
fine - you can have hawk.
me?
well - i want my middle linebacker to jump off the screen at me. if i have to search the replay to find him, that's a bad thing.
when's the last time hawk did something on the field that made you stand up and pump your fist?
June 23, 2012 at 09:56 am
When he showed his birdie!
June 23, 2012 at 03:03 pm
Here's your ideal MLB:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzToNo7A-94
June 23, 2012 at 05:38 pm
What exactly was exaggerated? Nothing.
Nothing to do with draft position, I have these things called "eye balls", I use them to see things. I see hawk getting dragged and washed out... Consistently. I don't rely on media or fans, I rely on my eye balls. Oh, and Ryans is a superior LB, that's fact.
That will be all.
June 23, 2012 at 11:39 pm
Jaime I have to admit, some of hawks stats were nothing more than luck. When you are talking impact plays, watch hawk on the field sometime. Alot of what you are measuring was a bad play by the person who then gave it to hawk. And honestly, other than if he's a sack machine due to scheme, I don't measure by impact plays. A MLB should show more by stops, and by stops in the backfield.
By the way, I'm not all trade hawk now! Or anything like that. I just think from the eyeball test fitz is right, dj far out played hawk last year and if he continues to do so then he should be starting.
June 24, 2012 at 03:38 pm
Clay had a bad year too people....Our entire Defense had a bad year. We added some good talent (worthy n perry as potential starters) and i can see A.J. n Clay both having better seasons because of it. Nobody wants to get shown up by a Rook!!!!
June 24, 2012 at 08:59 pm
I will not call you crazy. WRT AJ, he is obviously not a consistent playmaker...but he is still starting quality xand they could do worse. Obviously, if he does not make more impact plays his job could be on the line but he is fully aware WRT what he needs to do...and I think he will get it done...but probably as a two down player.