 GREEN
BAY- Raised on a farm in north central Wisconsin, Mark Tauscher has
a work ethic that always tells him the same thing: You show up for
work every day, no matter how tired or sore you may be.
Which is why the Green Bay Packers'
veteran right tackle figures to be in the starting lineup Sunday
against the Carolina Panthers at Lambeau Field, despite being listed
as questionable with the hamstring injury he suffered two plays into
Monday night's loss at New Orleans.
If Tauscher couldn't go, though,
backup Tony Moll would get the nod. But Tauscher practiced Friday on
what coach Mike McCarthy described as "between limited and
full" basis, and Tauscher hinted strongly afterward that he'll
play.
"Obviously you want to play
every opportunity you get, and this is no different," Tauscher
said after participating in the jog-through, individual drills and
some of the 11-on-11 team periods during Friday's practice.
"We'll kind of see how it goes, but I've felt a lot better as
the week has gone on, and I feel like I've made some good
improvements."
Tauscher, who started just one season
at the University of Wisconsin and entered the league as a
seventh-round pick in 2000, has started 125 games (including
playoffs) with the Packers, and he hasn't missed a start since
missing five games with a groin injury in 2006.
That time on the sideline snapped a
57-game starting streak that followed left knee reconstruction that
ended his 2002 season after two games.
"We want to make sure Mark's
healthy. We don't put players out there in position to get hurt or
do things to get them ready for a game that may be a short-term
answer," McCarthy said. "(But) it's an important game.
Mark realizes that. Our whole football team realizes that. It's
important for him to play. He's a starter for a reason. But that's
also why you train the way we do with our offensive linemen, and
Tony can step in there and play."
The 25-year-old Moll, a 2006
fifth-round pick, graded out well in his performance against the
Saints.
While offensive coordinator Joe
Philbin said earlier this week that Moll "probably feels he
should be playing all the time," Moll demurred when asked about
his feelings Friday.
"I have a guy in front of me
with many years of experience behind him. So every day, I'm watching
him, seeing how he handles things, because I'm definitely learning
from what he does," said Moll, who has 16 career NFL starts,
including three at right guard to start this season. "Part of
me, with how many starts I've had, I'd like to see the field more.
But I'm also happy being on our 53-man roster. I'm looking to
contribute any way I can.
"I don't think I could have more
confidence right now. (But) when it comes my time to be on that
starting line, then that will be my time. I don't know what will
happen down the road."
Neither does Tauscher, but he's
focused on his more immediate future — playing on Sunday.
"There's a line where (by
playing hurt) you're hurting the team," Tauscher said.
"You kind of have to know your body and understand when you're
going to be able to function at a level that's acceptable. That's
kind of the balancing act. You can go out there and be tough and
flop around, (but) can you be effective? That's what you have to
look at. We'll see. Things have progressed, and we'll see how it
goes on Sunday."
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