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In this
file photo, Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is
seen during the first half of an NFL preseason football game
against the Tennessee Titans in Green Bay, Wis. Aaron
Rodgers was impressive, and so was his offensive line in
fending off one of the league's fiercest defensive fronts in
a 24-19 win over Minnesota. But the Packers' line committed
too many penalties, giving coach Mike McCarthy reason for
concern after an impressive victory.
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GREEN BAY - If Green Bay Packers
coach Mike McCarthy has any harsh words for his players after a
three-game losing streak, he's delivering them behind closed doors.
Going into Sunday's game at Seattle,
McCarthy said he is being "brutally honest" with his 2-3
team this week — just not in public.
"I've done my fair share of
yelling," McCarthy said. "I don't do it here at the
podium, but the message has been clear. I think it's important to
just stay on top of what the positives are of the situation that
we're in and stay definitely on top of the negatives."
Packers players seemed to appreciate
McCarthy's ability to convey urgency without overreacting.
"Coach doesn't do that,
necessarily," Packers defensive end Aaron Kampman said.
"That doesn't mean that he doesn't raise his voice and get
excited, because he's passionate. We're all passionate about making
sure that we get a win and get ourselves back on track. Whenever you
care about something that much, yeah, sometimes you get emotional.
But it's not a negative atmosphere here."
Wide receiver Donald Driver said
McCarthy's demeanor shows that he respects players.
"He's still relaxed,"
Driver said. "No need of him screaming and fussing at us now.
Our biggest thing is, we're all men in here. We all know what our
job is to take care of, and we haven't taken care of it. He's told
us what we have to do. Do it, fix it, and move forward."
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CLIF NOTES: After noting Monday that
left tackle Chad Clifton "didn't have a very good day"
against Atlanta, McCarthy said Wednesday that he might sit Clifton
out on Sunday to rest his injuries.
"We talked about it,"
McCarthy said. "Chad and I, we met this morning, but we're
going to take the approach, he went through a hard rehab session
today and I'm going to visit with him tomorrow and just try to have
the best plan to get him healthy for Seattle."
Clifton, a quietly steady player who
is considered a cornerstone of the Packers' offensive line, has been
dealing with knee soreness since training camp and had to leave
Sunday's game with a hamstring injury.
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DANNY'S DEAL: When the Miami Dolphins
tried to sign linebacker Danny Lansanah off the Packers' practice
squad this week, the front office made a tough decision: They cut
veteran linebacker Tracy White and promoted Lansanah to the 53-man
roster so they could keep him.
"It's real huge," said
Lansanah, an undrafted free agent out of Connecticut. "Growing
up, you always wished to play in the NFL. My dad always reminded me
that when I was little I always said I wanted to play in the NFL, so
it's huge. I'm just going to try to make the best of my
opportunity."
Lansanah said it was tough to see
White get cut.
"He was kind of like my mentor
coming in," Lansanah said. "He said that I was like him
coming in, a quiet guy who didn't say much and just worked hard on
the field. So it was real tough. But now it's my opportunity and I'm
going to try to make the best of it."
McCarthy said it was a tough
decision, and wished White well.
"He is definitely a player I was
very fond of," McCarthy said. "He has played outstanding
football for us. Danny is a young man we are excited about, and
he'll be up (active) this week."
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NO SHOT: Packers quarterback Aaron
Rodgers said he did not receive a painkilling injection for his
right shoulder last weekend, and McCarthy told si.com that "we
don't do that."
McCarthy was less specific on
Wednesday when asked about the team's policy on such injections —
which are not illegal or against NFL rules, but are considered
ethically dubious by some in the medical profession.
"Player safety is at the
forefront of every decision we make medically, and that will always
be the case," McCarthy said. "There are other methods to
dealing with those types of situations. But as far as players taking
a shot, not taking a shot, I'm not going to comment on those
things."
Previously, cornerback Charles
Woodson told the Wisconsin State Journal that he receives a shot for
his broken toe before games.
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NOTES: Safety Atari Bigby was able to
run Wednesday, but said he wasn't sure if his hamstring injury would
force him to sit out another week. "The goal is, I want to play
this weekend," Bigby said. "I don't want to go out and
hurt myself and be out four more weeks, though." ... The
Packers signed defensive end Rudolph Hardie to their practice squad.
Hardie, a 6-2, 269-pound rookie from Howard, spent training camp
with the Detroit Lions before being released in the final round of
cuts. ... The Packers certainly could use some depth at defensive
line, but it doesn't look like defensive end Jason Hunter will be
able to return from a hamstring injury. "He is not as close as
we thought," McCarthy said. "I was hopeful he would be
back this week. He will be re-evaluated Friday." Defensive end
Mike Montgomery has a sprained ankle and McCarthy said he would
likely be a game-time decision Sunday. ... Wide receiver James Jones
missed practice because of a knee injury.
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