Packers safety M.D. Jennings wants to be more than just that ‘Fail Mary’ guy

Bishop saw ‘writing on the wall’ with Packers

When the pads come on, the Packers will get a closeup of the new-look Jennings. “My size never had anything White Clay Matthews Jersey Youth to do with my confidence,” Jennings said. “It was just, I would hit ’em and they wouldn’t go down right there. That’s where I’m trying to take my game hitting them and dropping them right there.” Added Perry, “The other thing we talk about is pad level, playing lower and getting underneath people so we can deliver punishment and not be absorbing or taking as much punishment as we did last year when we hit people. So I think a lot of that will be a result of our leverage and playing lower.” For the first time since 2004 the Packers will be without Nick Collins and Charles Woodson. Both perennial playmakers have served as extra coaches to Jennings. Woodson, particularly, helped Jennings with formation recognition. He pointed out how subtle tendencies in formations can tip off routes. With Woodson in Oakland and Collins out of the NFL because of injury, Perry has made it clear.

M.D. Jennings takes part in a drill during Packers OTAs in May.

I thought it was a rumor I was told it was a rumor and dont worry about it, Bishop said. When it initially came out, at first I figured that, with the exception of a couple of guys, everyone is pretty much tradable for the right price. I didnt think much of it. But, as time went on, I started to see the writing on the wall a little bit that its part of the business. Bishop, who was sidelined last season with a severe hamstring injury, said the strange scenarios that were taking place at the Packers training facility set off a red flag with him. He was itching to get back on the field and reclaim his starting spot, but the Packers were holding him back. He saw that as being suspicious. When I was ready to start practicing, they wouldnt let me go out to practice, Bishop said. I was cleared by the doctor and then, all of the sudden, it was like, No wait, were going to hold you out a little longer. I dont know if I was being paranoid, but it was just a weird vibe. It wasnt the same. When Bishop hit the open market, several teams expressed an interest, including both Super Bowl teams the Ravens and 49ers as well as Jacksonville, Kansas City, the New York Giants, Indianapolis and other teams he couldnt immediately remember. His decision to come to the Vikings was something that seemed like the best fit for him, as well as a motivation that likely wont sit well with Packers fans. (It was) a combination of a lot of things, Bishop said.

Green Bay Packers Training Camp Profile: Nick Perry

Nick Perry Green Bay Packers

Going up against left tackle Bryan Bulaga in practice will help Perry to refine his pass rush moves and learn quickly to accelerate into the upper echelon of edge rushers in his second NFL season. Theres no doubt that he has one of the best possible coaches a player at his position could ever ask for in arguably the first of the stand-up edge rushers in should-be Hall of Famer Kevin Greene with his 160 career sacks. As the outside linebackers coach with the Packers, Greene told the Milwaukee-Wisconsin Journal Sentinel following the playoff loss to the 49ers that he expected big things from Perry in 2013. Greene said of Perry: He can be physical. He can rush the passer. He can do the whole spectrum of this position. He just needs to come back with a good mind-set and go get it. If Perry can stay healthy in 2013, there should be no worries in Green Bay about any similar debacles to what took place in last years postseason. His potential is still very much untapped, and the Packers are just waiting for him to come into his own as a pass rusher. As a full-time starter in 2013, theres no better time than the present.

NFL Power Rankings: Packers 5th, Fans Lectured on Team History by NFL.com Writer

They are a consistent winner, and while those regular season successes have not translated to sustained playoff success over the past two years, the defense and running game should be better and they should contend for a Super Bowl berth once again in 2013. While I have no major quarrel with the Packers’ rank, I do however take issue with what Harrison said in his description of the Packers. Here is what he says: Oh, Greg Jennings and Aaron Rodgers — such funny guys. But when Jennings says he’d take Brett Favre over Rodgers — even if it’s all in good fun — this predictably sparks the tired debate over who is the better Green Bay Packers quarterback. My question to Packers fans: Is either the greatest Green Bay QB of all time? Bart Starr went 9-1 in the postseason, people, winning five NFL championship games and two Super Bowls. Excuse me?! Mister Harrison, do you really think that Packers fans, who follow the most storied and historic franchise in the history of the NFL, who grow up learning about and idolizing the players of the Lombardi era, and who are the only fans with personal ownership stakes in the team, would not understand that Bart Starr belongs in that discussion? Lecturing Packers fans about Bart Starr’s place in team history is like lecturing New York Yankees fans about Babe Ruth or Detroit Red Wings fans about Gordie Howe. It is absurd and offensive, plain and simple.

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