Packers offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith revealed yesterday that Lions defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh called and apologized to him following their Thanksgiving game in which Suh stomped on the Green Bay guard. "He called me a couple days after the whole thing happened and we talked. He said 'sorry.' I said 'no big deal,' and that was about it," Dietrich-Smith is quoted as saying by Paul Imig of Fox Sports Wisconsin. "He apologized and there's no hard feelings." It's rather surprising that it took this long for that information to be kept under wraps, but it was a nice development to see Suh show some class.

More on Evan Dietrich-Smith and Ndamukong Suh comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com, PackersNews.com, the Associated Press and JSOnline.

Former Packers cornerback Al Harris retired from the NFL on Wednesday. "The 37-year-old Harris, who spent this season with the St. Louis Rams, announced his retirement at his locker Wednesday. He is scheduled to join Green & Gold Today on ESPNMilwaukee and ESPNMadison on Thursday morning," writes Jason Wilde, co-host of the Packers-themed talk show. Expect the question to be asked whether he'll consider signing a one-day contract to retire as a Packers.

More on Al Harris comes from AllGreenBayPackers.com.

Defensive lineman Ryan Pickett returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since sustaining a concussion Week 14 against the Oakland Raiders and, also for the first time, revealed the severity of the injury. "Pickett didn't remember taking a knee to the head from Raiders running back Michael Bush until he saw it again on film," reports Chris Jenkins of the Associated Press. "He had headaches, felt foggy and had trouble concentrating while he sat out." Even though he is practicing, it's possible the Packers err on the side of caution and hold him out of Sunday's relatively meaningless game versus the Lions.

More on Ryan Pickett comes from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, ESPNMilwaukee.com, PackersNews.com, JSOnline, Green Bay Press-Gazette and the Packers official website.

Somewhat surprisingly, tight end Jermichael Finley missed practice yesterday with a knee injury. "McCarthy seemed a little miffed over Finley's absence from practice, probably because he had no idea he would be without him," according to the Journal Sentinel. "It doesn't appear that Finley's injury is serious, but rather a case of his legs being worn down." It could be nothing, but like Pickett, the Packers have a decision to make on Finley. They may decide to sit him against Detroit if the game means nothing.

More on Jermichael Finley comes from PackersNews.com, ESPNMilwaukee.com, AllGreenBayPackers.com and Associated Press.

Wide receiver Greg Jennings tested out his injured knee during practice on Wednesday but has already been ruled out for the game on New Year's Day. "Jennings ran on the side under the watchful eye of McCarthy, but all of the work he did while the media was present was straight-line running," writes Tom Silverstein of JSOnline. "He did some rapid jab-step work before running sprints at less than full speed." With the first-round bye in the playoffs, Jennings will get an extra week to recover. It's hard to imagine him missing the divisional round.

More on Greg Jennings comes from Fox Sports Wisconsin, PackersNews.com and JSOnline.

An article from Tom Silverstein reveals that part of the reason Erik Walden was benched in the Bears game was because of an illness. "When he was pulled out of the game Sunday night against Chicago, it was because he had lost seven pounds overnight fighting off a stomach virus and wasn't playing as robustly as he usually does, especially against the run," reports Silverstein. I would tend to think Walden is still the best option the Packers have at right outside linebacker if healthy, even though he's far from spectacular.

Lions quarterback Matt Stafford and coach Jim Schwartz spoke with the Green Bay media yesterday. More from Fox Sports Wisconsin, the Associated Press, JSOnline, Press-Gazette and Packer Report (subscription required).

Aaron Rodgers gets some publicity at the Press-Gazette, Fox Sports Wisconsin, Fox Sports and Packer Report.

The Pro Bowl remains a topic of discussion in the Packers locker room.

Ticket prices are expected to drop for the Packers-Lions game.

Packers jerseys will be temporarily in short supply.

A Michigan website looks at cornerback Charles Woodson.

A column at the Press-Gazette looks at the Packers' perceived lack of respect.

A Kansas newspaper near where Mike McCarthy attended college calls the Packers coach their top sports story of 2011.

Running back Ryan Grant helped promote literacy at an event in Milwaukee before Christmas.

The Packers are running a ticket giveaway.

Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com comments on the Packers stock sale.

Video: The Packers-Lions game is previewed in an episode of the Insiders by the Press-Gazette crew...

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