1 00:00:00,840 --> 00:00:21,080 Speaker 1: Hi, everybody. Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, joined as always by my trusted 3 00:00:24,239 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: colleague West Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our 4 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: studios at lambeau Field and West. We are back from Baltimore, 5 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: where the Packers played their second preseason game, and we'll 6 00:00:34,080 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: certainly get into more specifics from that game in a minute, 7 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: but the big news from last Thursday night in Baltimore 8 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 1: was that quarterback Aaron Rodgers was a late scratch due 9 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,040 Speaker 1: to some tightness in his back, a precautionary measure. He 10 00:00:48,120 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: was held out of the game. He did not play. 11 00:00:51,000 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: He also was held out of practice on Sunday when 12 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: the Packers got back on the practice field. Again, they're 13 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: talking precautionary. His back still just isn't quite a percent 14 00:01:02,520 --> 00:01:05,399 Speaker 1: and they're not taking any chances. But give us the 15 00:01:05,480 --> 00:01:08,679 Speaker 1: rundown on where things are with Aaron Rodgers. Yeah. So 16 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:11,720 Speaker 1: the most salient thing that Matt Lafleur said is if 17 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:14,839 Speaker 1: this was a regular season week, if if everything was normal, 18 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,280 Speaker 1: the games mattered, Aaron Rodgers probably be out there with 19 00:01:17,319 --> 00:01:19,399 Speaker 1: everybody else. Would be something he would just deal with. 20 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:21,560 Speaker 1: But this time of the year, you don't want to 21 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:24,520 Speaker 1: take any chances with it. So they found out last 22 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: Thursday morning that you know, he he woke up be 23 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: what have you a little bit of back tightness. Deshaun 24 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:32,560 Speaker 1: Kaiser gets told, Okay, you're in with the ones for 25 00:01:32,600 --> 00:01:36,120 Speaker 1: the first two series. They proceed from there. Sunday's practice 26 00:01:36,120 --> 00:01:38,760 Speaker 1: comes around. It's again Kaiser working with the Ones, with 27 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: a little bit of tim Boil mixed in there as well. 28 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:44,040 Speaker 1: And the main reason for Rogers getting an extra day 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: here to come back from that. Now, the question is 30 00:01:46,959 --> 00:01:49,480 Speaker 1: gonna be the way I had it schemed up and 31 00:01:49,520 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 1: how I thought it was gonna lay out, is that 32 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:53,600 Speaker 1: probably might have been the only game that Rogers played 33 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: in this preseason. That's going off the last year. He 34 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:57,800 Speaker 1: played in the second game and set out the third 35 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,480 Speaker 1: and fourth. Now you kind of throw those things up 36 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 1: in the air a little bit. Do they want to 37 00:02:01,720 --> 00:02:04,720 Speaker 1: run them out there in Canada given all the different 38 00:02:04,720 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 1: circumstances the game being, you know, abroad, being a CFL stadium. 39 00:02:09,320 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 1: Those are all things that the Packers are going to 40 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: have to determine. Uh, Matt Lafore did basically wipe out 41 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:17,959 Speaker 1: any possibility of him playing in the finale though, especially 42 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: since they have the opener against the Bears on a 43 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: Thursday night, So the short turnaround there is gonna make 44 00:02:23,080 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 1: it work. So it's gonna be determined on how his 45 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:28,079 Speaker 1: back's feeling and if it feels okay, if they want 46 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: to take a shot at it up North. Yeah, and 47 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:32,600 Speaker 1: just to be clear, we are taping this episode on 48 00:02:32,639 --> 00:02:36,240 Speaker 1: Monday morning before Monday afternoon's practice, so we don't know 49 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:39,919 Speaker 1: at this point as we're talking whether Rogers is going 50 00:02:39,960 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 1: to be practicing at all this week prior to the 51 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 1: trip to Winnipeg. But if there was a significant piece 52 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,200 Speaker 1: of news that came out of Sunday's practice, it was 53 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,799 Speaker 1: the return of running back Jamal Williams from a hamstring injury. 54 00:02:54,800 --> 00:02:58,600 Speaker 1: He had not practiced at all through training camp. Um 55 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: not being thrown in eleven on eleven right away by 56 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:04,800 Speaker 1: any means, but number thirty back on the practice field. Well, 57 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: and like I said, I've wrote in a story on 58 00:03:06,360 --> 00:03:08,639 Speaker 1: Packers Dot Come, he wasn't in eleven on eleven's But 59 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,720 Speaker 1: I wish you could a saucepot these these wind sprints 60 00:03:11,720 --> 00:03:13,880 Speaker 1: he was running off to the side. I mean, it 61 00:03:13,919 --> 00:03:16,040 Speaker 1: looks like his hamstrings. Okay, the way he was kind 62 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:17,760 Speaker 1: of exploding off of that thing he said he did 63 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,240 Speaker 1: eighteen of them. Wasn't even supposed to do that many. 64 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: But he wants to be great, so here, But I mean, 65 00:03:23,919 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: you break it down, the Packers have been off to 66 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 1: a slow start with their ground game so far without 67 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: him and Aaron Jones. Jones actually advanced to the team 68 00:03:31,919 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 1: portion of practice after last week coming back on a 69 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:37,480 Speaker 1: limited basis and then not playing against the Ravens. So 70 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: if the Packers could get Aaron Jones out there against 71 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,640 Speaker 1: Oakland this week, I think that could be really big 72 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,840 Speaker 1: for them, getting some more momentum built up there. In 73 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: terms of just Jamal Williams, though he's excited to get 74 00:03:49,200 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: back at it. He feels like he's in tremendous shape. 75 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:55,120 Speaker 1: We made a lot this offseason, myself included Mike about 76 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,080 Speaker 1: the condition that Aaron Jones came back in uh, you know, 77 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,200 Speaker 1: following his office season. Jamal Jamal Williams also made a 78 00:04:02,240 --> 00:04:04,160 Speaker 1: lot of changes as well. He came back as lean 79 00:04:04,240 --> 00:04:08,080 Speaker 1: as ever. So those two guys trying to be the 80 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 1: face of this run game now it's gonna be, you know, 81 00:04:12,200 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: a work in progress. You need to get them back 82 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 1: assimilated into this scheme. But we've been talking about it 83 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: since April. There's a lot of optimism with both Aaron 84 00:04:20,279 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: Jones and Jamal Williams at this scheme of Matt Laflour's 85 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:24,839 Speaker 1: is going to compliment them very well. Yeah, Well, looking 86 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:27,160 Speaker 1: back to the Baltimore game, there were a couple of 87 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:29,640 Speaker 1: things that stood out, as I guess you call them 88 00:04:29,839 --> 00:04:33,719 Speaker 1: sticking points or disappointments as far as Matt Lafleur was concerned. 89 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:35,839 Speaker 1: One was the running game, the other was the tackling 90 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: on defense. But since we're talking about the running backs 91 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,960 Speaker 1: the running game, how much of a difference is it 92 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:45,559 Speaker 1: going to make for the Packers to get Aaron Jones 93 00:04:45,560 --> 00:04:48,400 Speaker 1: and Jamal Williams back There is running backs. Taking nothing 94 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:51,800 Speaker 1: away from Trey Carson Dexter Williams, They've gotten a lot 95 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: of work. They've had some nice runs, but overall, the 96 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,520 Speaker 1: production in the run game in the two preseason games 97 00:04:57,560 --> 00:05:02,000 Speaker 1: hasn't been where the Packers wanted to. But they haven't 98 00:05:02,040 --> 00:05:04,039 Speaker 1: handed off in a preseason game to either of the 99 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,760 Speaker 1: top two running backs yet exactly. Yeah, they're averaging three 100 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 1: point four yards per carry among their four running backs 101 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 1: in these games. That number actually dwindles to two point 102 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:14,880 Speaker 1: eight if you take away Darren Hall's yard, the one, 103 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,880 Speaker 1: the one explosive one from the baltimoreket Yeah, so it's 104 00:05:17,920 --> 00:05:20,120 Speaker 1: been it's been tough for them trying to get things going. 105 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,159 Speaker 1: Dexter Williams actually was pulled out of the first child 106 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:26,640 Speaker 1: the Packers open practice on Tuesday. With the competitive period 107 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: that they've been using at the end of practice, Matt 108 00:05:28,480 --> 00:05:30,039 Speaker 1: Lafleur wanted to put it right away to kind of 109 00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 1: get the competitive juices flowing on Sunday. Sorry, uh, And 110 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: you know, because of that situation, Dexter Williams was out 111 00:05:37,680 --> 00:05:40,520 Speaker 1: there right off the bat. Lafleur wasn't completely happy with 112 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,920 Speaker 1: something happened on the play, pulled him out, and then 113 00:05:42,960 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 1: Trey Carson goes in. So the point I'm trying to 114 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:48,240 Speaker 1: illustrate with it there is you have Aaron Jones and 115 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,040 Speaker 1: Jamal Williams. Yes, this is their first offseason the scheme, 116 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:53,559 Speaker 1: but is their third NFL season and they've been working 117 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 1: with the majority of that offensive line for those past 118 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:58,920 Speaker 1: two seasons. There's going to be certain things that they 119 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,280 Speaker 1: just understand that the younger guys are the guys that 120 00:06:01,320 --> 00:06:03,360 Speaker 1: have coming off the street over the last few weeks 121 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 1: aren't going to pick up on right away. So when 122 00:06:05,400 --> 00:06:07,040 Speaker 1: you ask me what the difference is going to be, 123 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: I think it's going to be significant. I think they 124 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: are the identity of this run game. That's not to 125 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: understate the fact that you need to establish a number three, 126 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: number three threat, whether that's Trey Carson, who appears to 127 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: probably the most well rounded of the group when you 128 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: look at his pass protection and also his blocking and 129 00:06:23,000 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 1: in some of the things he can do as a 130 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,839 Speaker 1: pass catcher, or a guy like Dexter Williams, who is 131 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:30,080 Speaker 1: incredibly shifting and dynamic when he's running between the tackles. 132 00:06:30,120 --> 00:06:33,240 Speaker 1: So that's gonna be the two things I think Matt 133 00:06:33,279 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 1: la Floor, Nathaniel Hackett, Ben Sermons are gonna have to 134 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:38,640 Speaker 1: look at here the last two weeks. Is getting their 135 00:06:38,760 --> 00:06:40,720 Speaker 1: run game where it needs to be for Week one 136 00:06:40,760 --> 00:06:43,839 Speaker 1: against the Bears, but also being confident in whoever that 137 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: option is going to be behind Aaron Jones and Jamal Williams, 138 00:06:46,440 --> 00:06:48,960 Speaker 1: because there's the last few seasons have shown you need 139 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 1: to have a player there just in case. Yeah, and 140 00:06:51,560 --> 00:06:54,920 Speaker 1: we've been talking all offseason about really the way this 141 00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,839 Speaker 1: offense sets up for a guy like Aaron Jones, and 142 00:06:58,120 --> 00:07:01,080 Speaker 1: as much as he's worked on his pass catching and 143 00:07:01,120 --> 00:07:03,240 Speaker 1: the route running and all that out of the backfield 144 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: and the dimension that he as a singular weapon in 145 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: this offense can bring to it. And the bottom line 146 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: is as far as the eleven on eleven against another opponent, 147 00:07:13,880 --> 00:07:16,600 Speaker 1: we haven't seen it yet this preseason. And we also 148 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,000 Speaker 1: haven't seen Aaron Rodgers take a snap in the preseason, 149 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 1: so there there's still a lot of unknown here with 150 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,680 Speaker 1: the Packers offense. That being said, some of the disappointments 151 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: from the Baltimore game also carried over to the defensive 152 00:07:29,160 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 1: side of the ball, because the tackling from the Houston 153 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: game in the preseason opener wasn't really any better. The numbers, 154 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:38,679 Speaker 1: if you want to go by Matt Lafleur's film review, 155 00:07:38,720 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: twenty four miss tackles against Houston, nineteen in Baltimore. However 156 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,120 Speaker 1: you want to count it up, it's not good enough. 157 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:49,840 Speaker 1: That was certainly his phrase, and this is just something 158 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: that Packers have two preseason games to shore this up 159 00:07:53,480 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: a little bit. Now, there are a number of those 160 00:07:56,520 --> 00:07:59,360 Speaker 1: miss tackles by players who are not going to make 161 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:01,880 Speaker 1: the fifty three man roster, so let's just be real 162 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:06,720 Speaker 1: about that. But there were players, and Lamar Jackson is 163 00:08:06,760 --> 00:08:09,360 Speaker 1: a singular talent in the NFL, and he's a tough 164 00:08:09,400 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 1: guy to bring down. But the Packers knew that going in, 165 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,200 Speaker 1: and unfortunately they just weren't as sharp and as clean 166 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: as the head coach really really would have liked to 167 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: have seen. The general sentiment I picked up in the 168 00:08:20,640 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: locker room after that game was not necessarily disappointment. I 169 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:25,200 Speaker 1: don't want to label it as that, but I think 170 00:08:25,200 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: the off the defense have been flying pretty high, and 171 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:30,440 Speaker 1: to some extent, they got right back on that in 172 00:08:30,520 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 1: practice on Sunday. I think there was a little bit 173 00:08:33,880 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to use the word disappointment though, in that 174 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:38,000 Speaker 1: they just weren't able to carry that over against Lamar 175 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: Jackson in against the Ravens offense, because let's be real, Mike, 176 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:43,600 Speaker 1: more so than any other team in the league, they're 177 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:45,800 Speaker 1: very multiple and how they run the ball, but they 178 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: are as singular as you're going to face in terms 179 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,000 Speaker 1: of the what construct of an offense? You know, it's 180 00:08:52,080 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: you're not really worried about the big play down the 181 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 1: field passing threat, You're worried about the misdirection, You're worried 182 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:00,560 Speaker 1: about what happens when Lamar Jack's and gets out of 183 00:09:00,559 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: the pocket. The Packers just didn't do that well enough. 184 00:09:04,120 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: I'll be honest with you, though, I felt like there 185 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 1: were some positive signs in Sunday's practice, especially with those starters. 186 00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: I thought Preston Smith had his best practice, best training 187 00:09:12,080 --> 00:09:15,559 Speaker 1: camp practice to date. He was physical, he was tough, 188 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: and although David boc Terry wasn't at practice because of 189 00:09:18,360 --> 00:09:20,880 Speaker 1: a personal matter, he was getting some pressure on the 190 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:23,439 Speaker 1: quarterback off of that what would be you know, his 191 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:27,600 Speaker 1: right side. So all those things are out there. I 192 00:09:27,640 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: just think going into this game against Canada, you want 193 00:09:30,960 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: to see progression. But you know, Mike Petton said, they're 194 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,079 Speaker 1: not going to change anything. They're not gonna start tackling 195 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 1: to the ground. It's just re emphasizing what they've been 196 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 1: emphasizing and making sure that they drive that point home. Yeah. Well, 197 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: I want to talk about a couple of guys that 198 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: did certainly did catch our eye from an individual standpoint 199 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: in Baltimore, but quickly here West select Cousin subs locations 200 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,640 Speaker 1: are now offering delivery. Whether you're ordering catering or your 201 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: favorite sub, they're delivering right to you when you order 202 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: online at Cousin Subs dot com. Cousin Subs, we believe 203 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,560 Speaker 1: in better. Okay, Sticking with the defensive side of the 204 00:10:05,559 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 1: ball for a moment, the Packers did the highlight defensive 205 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:14,600 Speaker 1: play was was made by Curtis Bolton, A couple of 206 00:10:14,640 --> 00:10:17,640 Speaker 1: young players. Really. Tony Brown, a good cornerback that we've 207 00:10:17,679 --> 00:10:21,319 Speaker 1: talked about, made the deflection. Curtis Bolton, who has been 208 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: getting the reps with the number one defense next to 209 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 1: Blake Martinez, an inside linebacker with Orren Burke's currently being sidelined. 210 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:31,920 Speaker 1: He comes down with the interception. Um. The young man 211 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 1: was pretty fired up on the sideline after he got 212 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 1: that one, and rightfully so. I mean, this was a 213 00:10:36,760 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: big test for him in terms of being thrown in 214 00:10:40,440 --> 00:10:43,880 Speaker 1: there with the ones in the game setting like that, 215 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: and quite frankly, I would say, as far as a 216 00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:49,439 Speaker 1: preseason test goes, he passed. Yeah, just don't ask him 217 00:10:49,480 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: about it, Like I love talking to him after the game. 218 00:10:52,160 --> 00:10:54,440 Speaker 1: I'm sitting there trying to write our our locker room report. 219 00:10:54,760 --> 00:10:57,400 Speaker 1: It was kind of tough finding quotes for Curtis Bolton 220 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,199 Speaker 1: talking positively about his day. He was very critic cool 221 00:11:00,200 --> 00:11:03,280 Speaker 1: of himself. Fortunately, his defensive coordinator stepped up to the 222 00:11:03,280 --> 00:11:06,040 Speaker 1: plate on Saturday and was effusive in his praise for 223 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: how he stepped up in that spot. I'll say this 224 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:11,760 Speaker 1: right now, the Packers still are not doing any timelines 225 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:15,040 Speaker 1: with orn Burke's but Patton kind of still left it 226 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 1: out there like, yeah, Bolton had filled in nicely and 227 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: looks like he could fill in nicely until we get 228 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 1: Burks back. So one, it makes you think that maybe 229 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: you do have Burks back in the fold at some 230 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: point this season. But two, it also speaks to what 231 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:28,959 Speaker 1: this young man did with the opportunity when he was 232 00:11:29,000 --> 00:11:31,560 Speaker 1: given it, not only in that game against Baltimore, but 233 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,160 Speaker 1: in that those practices leading up, what he did again 234 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:36,600 Speaker 1: on Sunday when he was back out there with the ones, 235 00:11:36,920 --> 00:11:39,480 Speaker 1: and what he did on special teams in a couple 236 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: of a couple of tackles on the coverage units where 237 00:11:42,360 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 1: he was the first guy down there, he laid the hit, 238 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 1: got the guy on the ground, and you know, quite 239 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,040 Speaker 1: frankly strutted off the field a little bit because he 240 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:51,440 Speaker 1: was he was a standout player, there's no question. Yeah, 241 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,360 Speaker 1: and you actually hit on the Bolton train a little 242 00:11:53,400 --> 00:11:56,160 Speaker 1: bit faster than I did in what he offers and 243 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:58,760 Speaker 1: what his story is. So it was interesting from my 244 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: perspective talking to about it the first time after the 245 00:12:01,120 --> 00:12:04,079 Speaker 1: game and in listening to him discuss about how, you know, 246 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:06,560 Speaker 1: to some extent, he's not supposed to be here, especially 247 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,120 Speaker 1: at this point right now, an undrafted free agent that 248 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:12,959 Speaker 1: was sort of looked over by everybody, only started one 249 00:12:13,040 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: year at Oklahoma, and now he's working next to Blake 250 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 1: Martinez and in the value that there is in those 251 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 1: reps and being able to see the game at this 252 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 1: fast of a speed, and with with Baltimore having their 253 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: starters out there for pretty much two pier you know 254 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: to you know, strives. So it's it's gonna be interesting 255 00:12:30,600 --> 00:12:32,960 Speaker 1: that that competition is by no means over. But as 256 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,000 Speaker 1: I wrote an Insider Inbox this week, I just think 257 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: it's such a different scenario this year than it was 258 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:39,720 Speaker 1: last year when Burke's had the shoulder injury. I just 259 00:12:39,760 --> 00:12:41,440 Speaker 1: feel like the Packers in the way that they're set 260 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: up right now, not to say they're more prepared for it, 261 00:12:44,400 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: because it is an undrafted rookie in there, but I 262 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: just feel like Bolton fits this defense maybe a little 263 00:12:49,120 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 1: bit better than when they had to go get Antonio 264 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:53,400 Speaker 1: Morrison in a trade last year. Yeah, and switching to 265 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,720 Speaker 1: the offensive side of the ball. We've been talking about 266 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: the wide receiver competition a lot, obviously pretty much every 267 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,600 Speaker 1: show when we turn on the cameras here, But when 268 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 1: you look at the Baltimore game, to me, the two 269 00:13:05,160 --> 00:13:09,360 Speaker 1: guys that made the strongest impression in terms of building 270 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:12,160 Speaker 1: on what they've been doing throughout training camp. Alan Lazard, 271 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,400 Speaker 1: the young receiver from Iowa State, was undrafted a year ago. 272 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:20,840 Speaker 1: Um joined the Packers practice squad late last season, and 273 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:22,960 Speaker 1: uh and is here making a bid for a roster spot. 274 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: And then you've got Darius Shepard, the undrafted rookie from 275 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: North Dakota State. He's been stepping in as the first 276 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: option in the return game with Trevor Davis out with 277 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 1: a stinger. Davis was back in practice on Sunday, though, 278 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:40,920 Speaker 1: so we'll see um how Trevor does again here moving forward, 279 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: and and hopefully for him picking up where he left 280 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,840 Speaker 1: off because he was having a really really strong training 281 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,800 Speaker 1: camp when he got hurt. But Shepard took the first 282 00:13:48,880 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: kickoff against the Baltimore Ravens. Hit the seam. It was 283 00:13:52,400 --> 00:13:54,640 Speaker 1: nicely blocked, but he hit it, got got it all 284 00:13:54,679 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: the way out to the forty yard line, the equivalent 285 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: of if the kicker had kicked it out of bounds, 286 00:13:58,240 --> 00:14:00,480 Speaker 1: which you always look at as a nice moment. Him shift. 287 00:14:00,760 --> 00:14:03,120 Speaker 1: He gave the offense some nice field position there at 288 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: the forty yard line, and then he makes the touchdown catch, 289 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 1: the only touchdown the Packer's head in Baltimore. A little 290 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: tiptoe job there in the back of the end zone, 291 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,280 Speaker 1: gets his feet down on the throw from Tim Boyle. This. Uh, 292 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:18,640 Speaker 1: this Darius Shepherd young man we talked about. It was 293 00:14:18,920 --> 00:14:22,840 Speaker 1: unsigned after the draft, was a tryout player during the 294 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:27,680 Speaker 1: Packers rookie mini camp. He gets that contract after um 295 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: the tryout and after that mini camp and uh, and 296 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: here he is making his state in his case. Yeah, 297 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: let's be real, Mike. When a guy signs as a 298 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: tryout player like that, in some regard, and I'm not 299 00:14:38,280 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: trying to dismiss the process, you sometimes wonder if they're 300 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:43,960 Speaker 1: even gonna be here once training camp gets around. So 301 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: often some of those guys signed and then they literally 302 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,840 Speaker 1: are in the roster. Something happens. They have to make 303 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: a move when you're gone. Yeah, they don't even survive 304 00:14:52,160 --> 00:14:53,840 Speaker 1: the first couple of weeks of O T a S. 305 00:14:53,920 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 1: And off they go. But but what what do you 306 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:58,320 Speaker 1: have to do to survive? You have to show out 307 00:14:58,400 --> 00:15:01,320 Speaker 1: right away. He did from beginning with O. T A S. 308 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,240 Speaker 1: I remember talking to Tim Boyle and some of these 309 00:15:03,280 --> 00:15:06,040 Speaker 1: other guys. They knew that this guy could play immediately, 310 00:15:06,680 --> 00:15:09,720 Speaker 1: and he has a track record. He was incredibly successful 311 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,840 Speaker 1: at North Dakota State. He just doesn't have the size. 312 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,200 Speaker 1: He's a hair taller than I am. Probably a little 313 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:17,560 Speaker 1: bit faster though. And the other thing that I like 314 00:15:17,840 --> 00:15:20,760 Speaker 1: about his game though, is that it's one thing to 315 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:24,119 Speaker 1: be a slot receiver and do quick, shifty slants and 316 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:26,720 Speaker 1: hitches and things of that nature. You know, an end 317 00:15:26,760 --> 00:15:29,280 Speaker 1: around here and there. But there was actually one play 318 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,160 Speaker 1: in that game against the Ravens where he got open 319 00:15:31,280 --> 00:15:33,680 Speaker 1: over the top of the defense. Now the past was 320 00:15:33,760 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: not there, but if it would have been in that spot, 321 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: if that's Aaron Rodgers, that's six points. That's the dimension 322 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: that he needs to show to make this team, and 323 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,560 Speaker 1: it is very interesting, and I'm glad you brought it up. 324 00:15:44,600 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: Trevor Davis is back now. Trevor Davis and Darius Shepherd 325 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 1: have emerged as one A one B in this kickoff 326 00:15:51,680 --> 00:15:55,520 Speaker 1: return punt return equation. Those two guys, and I never 327 00:15:55,560 --> 00:15:57,600 Speaker 1: boiled down to two guys fighting for one roster spot. 328 00:15:57,640 --> 00:15:59,600 Speaker 1: They both can make it for all I know, But 329 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:01,440 Speaker 1: those two guys over the next two weeks are gonna 330 00:16:01,440 --> 00:16:03,200 Speaker 1: want to put their best forward foot forward in that 331 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,800 Speaker 1: competition because in terms of what the Packers put out 332 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,200 Speaker 1: there against the Ravens, other than I believe it was 333 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 1: Malik Turner getting some some reps late in that game, 334 00:16:11,240 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 1: Darris Shepherd handled all the returns for most of the 335 00:16:13,840 --> 00:16:17,040 Speaker 1: you know, sizeable, meaningful portion of the contest. Yeah, Watching 336 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: him and Davis and how they that competition boils down 337 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: now over the next two weeks is gonna be really captivating. Yeah. 338 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,680 Speaker 1: It's interesting you mentioned that deep ball in Baltimore where 339 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,800 Speaker 1: Shepherd was heading down the sideline to the end zone 340 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:32,840 Speaker 1: and Boil's throw was was to the other side of him, 341 00:16:32,840 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: so to speak. As I watched that and I looked 342 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 1: at the replay, I almost wondered if Shepherd didn't quite 343 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: see the ball soon enough, in that if he had 344 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 1: been able to pick up that ball sooner, he might 345 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:46,200 Speaker 1: have been able to, you know, do the whole center 346 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: fielder thing where it's like you take your eye off 347 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:50,240 Speaker 1: the ball and turn around and suddenly it's on your 348 00:16:50,240 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: other shoulder. Now, it still would have been a difficult 349 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:55,400 Speaker 1: catch based on the ball and the sideline and getting 350 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,720 Speaker 1: the feeted and whatnot. But it's one of those things 351 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:00,680 Speaker 1: when I look back at it that I wish maybe 352 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,600 Speaker 1: he had, you know, and maybe it was the lights 353 00:17:02,720 --> 00:17:05,320 Speaker 1: or just the timing or whatever, but if he had 354 00:17:05,359 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: been able to see that ball just a fraction of 355 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: a second sooner, I wonder if he would have been 356 00:17:09,560 --> 00:17:13,080 Speaker 1: able to make the adjustment and make a better attempt 357 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:15,679 Speaker 1: at catching it. And uh, And you know, it's one 358 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:17,680 Speaker 1: of those things that you just wonder about because we've 359 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:20,840 Speaker 1: certainly seen that he has the ability and the wherewithal 360 00:17:20,920 --> 00:17:23,119 Speaker 1: to potentially make a play like that. Absolutely. And then 361 00:17:23,119 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: this is the part of the training camp that I 362 00:17:24,640 --> 00:17:29,440 Speaker 1: love as well, because everybody, every media outlet indubitably does 363 00:17:29,520 --> 00:17:32,280 Speaker 1: they're they're picking the fifty three at the beginning of 364 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: training camp, and then here we are ye who would 365 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:38,359 Speaker 1: have I mean, in this wide receiver competition, you line 366 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,600 Speaker 1: up all the wide receivers by number at the start 367 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: of training camp, who would have said Darius Shephard through 368 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,880 Speaker 1: halfway through the preseason would be getting this much attention 369 00:17:47,880 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: and be making a legitimate bid to make this team 370 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,360 Speaker 1: with all these receivers on the roster. Nobody. A lot 371 00:17:52,359 --> 00:17:53,960 Speaker 1: of times those are the guys that are filling out 372 00:17:53,960 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: the end of the fourth quarter and now here he 373 00:17:56,119 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: is getting reps with Aaron Rodgers in practice. Even a 374 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:01,560 Speaker 1: guy like Alamos Are who even though he was on 375 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,520 Speaker 1: the fifty three at the end of last season, he 376 00:18:03,600 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: only was here for a couple of weeks with Green Bay. 377 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:07,080 Speaker 1: The Packers could have easily just washed him out of 378 00:18:07,080 --> 00:18:09,800 Speaker 1: the competition and moved forward. And he's put himself in 379 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: in the conversation as well too. And it's again, it's 380 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,480 Speaker 1: gonna be fun. The last few years with these receiving 381 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:17,920 Speaker 1: competitions have been really exciting to watch, and I'm sure 382 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: it'll play out that way here these last two games. Yeah, well, unfortunately, 383 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,880 Speaker 1: West we need to end this show on a sad note, 384 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 1: and that on Sunday morning, the Sports World found out 385 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: that former NFL Texas Longhorn Chicago Bear Green Bay Packer 386 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:39,640 Speaker 1: running back Cedric Benson UM was killed in a motorcycle 387 00:18:39,680 --> 00:18:45,399 Speaker 1: accident age thirty six, A very sobering piece of news, 388 00:18:45,520 --> 00:18:49,080 Speaker 1: very very sad news. Benson played one season with the Packers. 389 00:18:49,119 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: It was in two thousand and twelve. Um. I got 390 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,199 Speaker 1: a chance to talk to him, only a couple of times, 391 00:18:55,240 --> 00:18:58,600 Speaker 1: but what I will say is I found him very engaging, 392 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 1: and I mentioned this in our Insider Inbox column. I 393 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,760 Speaker 1: thought he was a guy for a guy who had 394 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: gone through his share of ups and downs in a 395 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:12,160 Speaker 1: in a rather brief NFL career, he was truly appreciative 396 00:19:12,280 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: of the opportunity that was presented to him to to 397 00:19:15,440 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: come to Green Bay and try to make a difference. 398 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: And I really think he would have made a difference 399 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:21,000 Speaker 1: on that two thousand and twelve team had it not 400 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:23,400 Speaker 1: been for an injury that cut his season short. Yeah. 401 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:25,159 Speaker 1: And when you and I were doing our you know, 402 00:19:25,320 --> 00:19:28,239 Speaker 1: scripting for the show that is unscripted, and we were 403 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:30,119 Speaker 1: talking about what we wanted to do, I wanted to 404 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: talk about Cedric Benson for two reasons. I remember one 405 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:34,639 Speaker 1: of the things we always did, especially when I was 406 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 1: at the newspaper. Is a new guy signs of veteran signs. 407 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:39,840 Speaker 1: You sometimes ask your buddies around the league of what 408 00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:41,439 Speaker 1: to expect with him. What's this guy like in the 409 00:19:41,480 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: locker room, how he has to deal with That's how 410 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:45,959 Speaker 1: I knew that Ricky Jeane Francois was going to be awesome. 411 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:49,439 Speaker 1: But the thing with Benson is he had such a 412 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,479 Speaker 1: I don't want to say checkered past, but he had 413 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,199 Speaker 1: a complicated past, and he had his ups and downs. 414 00:19:54,320 --> 00:19:57,760 Speaker 1: He was kind of known as a mercurial individual in 415 00:19:57,840 --> 00:19:59,960 Speaker 1: some ways. But when he got in that locker room, 416 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:01,280 Speaker 1: and I know you were a part of some of 417 00:20:01,280 --> 00:20:04,959 Speaker 1: those scrums too, I just he seemed to me like 418 00:20:04,960 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 1: a guy I don't want to see he had figured 419 00:20:06,280 --> 00:20:08,040 Speaker 1: it all out. I don't think anyone ever really figures 420 00:20:08,040 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: everything out, but it just seems like a guy who 421 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: at that point of his life was at peace with 422 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,040 Speaker 1: who he was as a human being, as an individual. 423 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:17,400 Speaker 1: I thought Aaron Rodgers Instagram post about him talking about 424 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,520 Speaker 1: some of the conversations that they had in the cafeteria 425 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,359 Speaker 1: and how he actually would want to go home and 426 00:20:22,440 --> 00:20:24,359 Speaker 1: kind of study up. So he could keep on the 427 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: same level with Benson in those conversations. He just was 428 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: very thoughtful and introspective I found at that point in 429 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: his career. The other thing I wanted to mention too 430 00:20:31,840 --> 00:20:33,879 Speaker 1: about Benson, I think I only had one or two 431 00:20:33,920 --> 00:20:36,639 Speaker 1: conversations with him, like just post media scrumbs. And I 432 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 1: remember there was one time, I believe it was Robb 433 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:40,840 Speaker 1: Dumovsky and I were just asking him about what did 434 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 1: you think of Green Bay? What's it been like living here? 435 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:44,720 Speaker 1: He's like, well, actually I don't live here. I think 436 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:46,800 Speaker 1: he lived out like Meryl or something like that. Like 437 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: he was he was down near Manitowa, and he was 438 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:51,639 Speaker 1: like he was out of green Bay. He was, he was, 439 00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: he was down Highway forty three just a little ways. 440 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:56,840 Speaker 1: I think he was living somewhere near Manitoa. Yeah, so 441 00:20:56,880 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: he had a little bit of a hike. If you're 442 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 1: not from Green Bay, Man's walks probably about forty fifty minutes, 443 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 1: depending on what side you're coming from. And one of 444 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 1: the things that was interesting when I was talking with 445 00:21:04,600 --> 00:21:06,359 Speaker 1: him is I believe it was because of his dogs 446 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:07,879 Speaker 1: that he lived down there, because some of his rut 447 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 1: wilders or his pit bulls weren't allowed in Green Bay, 448 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 1: and we had a really interesting thrill conversation. I'm a 449 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:16,280 Speaker 1: big dog lover, big pit bull lover. Um. It was 450 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,720 Speaker 1: a really interesting conversation about how sometimes those type of 451 00:21:18,800 --> 00:21:21,119 Speaker 1: animals get a bad rap and and that's why one 452 00:21:21,160 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: of the reasons why he sort of always had that 453 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,560 Speaker 1: place for them in his heart. And if you think 454 00:21:25,560 --> 00:21:27,679 Speaker 1: about it, in some ways, I think Benson sort of 455 00:21:27,880 --> 00:21:29,560 Speaker 1: was like that as well. I think if you got 456 00:21:29,560 --> 00:21:31,240 Speaker 1: to know him as a person, not that I did, 457 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: but if you started to pull back the layers of 458 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: of that onion you saw, I think what kind of 459 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: a good soul he was. And it was when I 460 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: found out about it on Sunday morning, I was really 461 00:21:41,160 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: you know, I don't want to say devastated, but that'd 462 00:21:43,640 --> 00:21:47,440 Speaker 1: be over the top. I was mournful just because it 463 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:49,680 Speaker 1: seemed like, you pause and you think about it, because 464 00:21:49,680 --> 00:21:52,160 Speaker 1: it is way too young. Yeah. I mean, the thing 465 00:21:52,200 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: that I'll remember as far as on the field is 466 00:21:56,119 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: his moment in the sun as a Green Bay Packer 467 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:01,000 Speaker 1: was stolen from him. And what I'm talking about is 468 00:22:01,040 --> 00:22:03,440 Speaker 1: the fail Mary game in Seattle in two thousand twelve. 469 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: Because if people remember how that game unfolded. Aaron Rodgers 470 00:22:07,000 --> 00:22:09,440 Speaker 1: got sacked eight times in the first half, The Packers 471 00:22:09,440 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: passing game was going absolutely nowhere. The Packers turned that 472 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:16,679 Speaker 1: game over to Cedric Benson in the second half and 473 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: the running game, and he was handling that Seattle defense. 474 00:22:21,000 --> 00:22:24,040 Speaker 1: He got the Packers a couple of scores. The Packers 475 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,040 Speaker 1: had the game. We all know they should have won 476 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,360 Speaker 1: the game. And he was the hero for the Green 477 00:22:29,400 --> 00:22:31,440 Speaker 1: Bay Packers in that game, and it got taken away 478 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:33,880 Speaker 1: from him by the fail mary and the controversial call 479 00:22:33,920 --> 00:22:38,400 Speaker 1: and everything else. And you know, it's it's unfortunate now 480 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:42,080 Speaker 1: that we're talking about it in this context because that game, 481 00:22:42,440 --> 00:22:44,840 Speaker 1: at least, even with the injury that happened later and 482 00:22:44,880 --> 00:22:47,280 Speaker 1: his season was cut short, at least he would have 483 00:22:47,320 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 1: had that game as a Packer in terms of what 484 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: he did to contribute to a victory. And unfortunately that 485 00:22:52,359 --> 00:22:55,159 Speaker 1: got stolen. Yeah, five starts, I think it ended up 486 00:22:55,160 --> 00:22:58,959 Speaker 1: being two six rushing yards. Unfortunately Liz Frank popped up 487 00:22:59,000 --> 00:23:00,480 Speaker 1: for him there. But I know there's a lot of 488 00:23:00,480 --> 00:23:02,679 Speaker 1: guys that were on that team, including Aaron Rodgers, that 489 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:05,160 Speaker 1: are going to remember Cedric Benson for probably the rest 490 00:23:05,160 --> 00:23:07,359 Speaker 1: of their lives. Yeah, no question about it. Well, with that, 491 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,159 Speaker 1: we'll call it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. 492 00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:12,280 Speaker 1: Be sure to follow all of our coverage of the 493 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,760 Speaker 1: team and of the rest of training camp on packers 494 00:23:14,800 --> 00:23:17,600 Speaker 1: dot com. Subscribe to us, like us on iTunes and 495 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:21,120 Speaker 1: other podcast services if you please. On Twitter, he's at 496 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: west hot I'm at Mike Spofford at Packers for the 497 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:25,959 Speaker 1: team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. We'll see you 498 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:26,400 Speaker 1: next time.