Packers Daily Links: New Security Measures Introduced at Lambeau
Fans will be screened with a metal-detecting wand at Lambeau Field beginning on Sunday. That and more in today's Daily Links...
The Packers are encouraging fans to arrive early in anticipation of heightened security measures that will be taking place as patrons enter the stadium for Sunday's game against the Broncos. "The National Football League is pushing for enhanced security, and starting with Sunday’s game at Lambeau, all fans will be subject to a hand-held, metal-detecting wand test before being admitted," writes Alex Morrell of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Next year, there will be two new gates at Lambeau Field helping to ease congestion.
More on the new security measures at Lambeau are at JSOnline and the Packers official website.
The risks of playing older veterans is outlined by Cliff Christl in a column for the Press-Gazette. "Driver, 36, is eating up plays that could go to Randall Cobb or other more explosive receivers," writes Christl. "The point has been made that Driver can still play. So what? Brett Favre could still play when the Packers dumped him." Christl doesn't hold back. He mentions Driver, Chad Clifton and Charles Woodson in particular. And he makes a convincing argument.
The rehabilitation process tight end Jermichael Finley underwent this offseason is chronicled by Tom Siverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "Finley would come in four or five days a week, twice a day," writes Finley about Minneapolis, where Finley worked out and did physical therapy. "He'd do speed work and resistance running, upper- and lower-body weightlifting, cone drills and intense conditioning. It was a process, though, because when Finley arrived he was as out of shape as the couch potatoes who watch him on Sundays." And that's just the tip of the iceberg.
Jermichael Finley and Greg Jennings are called the focal point of the Packers offense in a column by Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. "This year, after three games, Jennings has 18 catches and Finley 15," writes Dougherty. "There’s no knowing which will end up with more by the end of the season if healthy, but the optimal outcome for the Packers is for them to stay about this close all season." No surprise there.
Drawing from a recent radio interview, Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette notes running back Ryan Grant is downplaying his bruised kidney. Vandermause writes, "In an appearance on WSSP radio in Milwaukee, Grant said: 'I feel fine. I have been walking around. I finished the game and everything. We really don’t know any details right now. Like I said I feel fine. It wasn’t really anything major to it — just precautionary I guess. We’ll get some more information from the doctors on some tests later on this week.'" Grant took his lumps this past week, but based upon what he said, you'd guess that he'll be fine.
More on Ryan Grant appears at JSOnline.
Aaron Rodgers talked about the Soldier Field turf in his weekly radio appearance saying it wasn't that bad.
Offensive lineman Josh Sitton answers questions about his personal life to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
Head coach Mike McCarthy does his weekly Q&A at the Packers official website.
The anti-cheese billboard goes up near Green Bay featuring the grim reaper sans the cheesehead.
The Denver Broncos, the Packers' upcoming opponent, are previewed at the Journal Sentinel (subscription required) and Press-Gazette.
The Broncos are hopeful to have back Elvis Dumervil and Champ Bailey against Green Bay.
An article on Aaron Rodgers and a report card from the last game are at Packer Report (sub required).
Stats on Keyunta Dawson, who the Packers worked out, are at Packer Report.
The Packers official website has opinion pieces on the NFC North and Vic Ketchman's mailbag.
The Packers are using a phone drive to help fight domestic violence.
Green Bay is No. 1 in USA Today's power rankings.
Video: The new security measures at Lambeau Field are explained by Fox 11 News in Green Bay...
New security measures at Lambeau Field: fox11online.com
Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (8)
September 28, 2011 at 09:00 am
Christl's critique rests on the theory that the Packers haven't drafted to replace, or are not willing to swtich folks out. I don't think either is really true. Funny that this is his critique, because TT and MM are the same duo that dumped Farve for Rodgers.
In past years JJ and Nelson just flat-out failed to supplant DD with production on the field. This year it is already apparent that Nelson has passed DD as the 2nd WR. When Cobb gets the play book down, then I think he'll be the #3. And they drafted Cobb in the 2nd even with a wealth WR talent on the roster and the practice squad. The Packers don't look complacent to me at WR.
I agree about the observation re Peppers going back to Clifton. But I was ready to write off Clifton at this point last season - and then he got better as the year went on. And it's not like the Packers are sitting there doing nothing. They've spent their first picks on Tackles the last two years running. If Clifton is not getting it done they'll make the switch, and Newhouse should fill in just as seemlessly on the left side as he did on the right this last Sunday.
Woodson, well, the guy won DPOY just two years ago when he was also over 33. The Packers have spent higher picks on DBs (Burnett and Lee) and brough in a lot of other guys wih potential to be good cornerbacks (Shields, Underwood, House). Some have panned out, some haven't and others it's too soon to tell. So what are you going to do, bench him and hope that Bush or Lee come to life? Try to morph Burnett into a CB? I guess the bottom line here is that the Packers don't look like a team that is getting all dreamy about their old veterans and hanging onto them too long. If you want to write that story you should go to Minnesota.
September 28, 2011 at 10:29 am
I probably should have added that they just jettisoned Al Harris as their other starting cornerback last year too. Again, not complacent, and you can't replace everyone all at once.
September 28, 2011 at 04:05 pm
Agreed. I would also think that having a team entirely composed of young players without any veteran leadership on the field would not be a winning formula either. Veterans DO bring benefits beyond their raw physical skills.
September 28, 2011 at 03:54 pm
I thought the Christl article was trash. He never made any type of convincing case, and even his premise was shaky. He seemed to be saying that the Packers lost the Superbowl to Denver because Sean Jones, Reggie White and Eugene Robinson had been kept too long. Which is complete garbage--they never would have been to that Superbowl without Reggie, and it was his limited play due to injuries that severly affected the defense that day. Further, I believe I've heard Wolf say that he actually let Robinson get away a year too early. I've always believed that myself, as in the notorious play when the 49ers scored to beat the Packers in the playoffs, his replacement Sharper was out of position. The following week, the 49ers ran the same play against Atlanta, and their new pick up Robinson was in position (and either defended it or picked it off, can't remember at this point).
September 28, 2011 at 09:11 am
The security measures are a little overrated... you don't need to get there an extra half hour early or anything. I was in Carolina for the Week 2 game, about 20 mins before kickoff, and it took literally an extra 5-10 seconds.
September 28, 2011 at 07:26 pm
Boy I hope not, that would be at least 370,000 seconds = 6166 mins of extra time to get into the stadium, half of those in attendance would miss the game (and the next day at work). :)
I was in Charlotte as well for my 2nd game there and no wand was used in the line I was in, though it has taken me considerably longer to get into that stadium than into Lambeau.
September 28, 2011 at 09:12 am
Cliff Christl is a grumpy old man who won't push for Jerry Kramer to be in the HOF. When he does that, I may listen to him. Meh. DD is still better than James Jones. I agree with Mark, when Cobb is ready, DD will go to #4. And he'll still be better than James Jones.
September 28, 2011 at 10:51 am
It's amazing Finley was able to get himself in shape after eating breakfast at Key's in Minneapolis. Every. Single. Day.
Their bacon is fantastic, and I know bacon.