Frank Winters 52 C 6- 3 305 West Illinois 9 14 36 4 1992 Plan B - Kan City
NO - Jersey Number POS - Position HGT - Height WGT - Weight YR - Years with Packers PR - Years of Professional Football AGE - Age on September 1 G - Games Played FA - Free Agent
2001 PACKERS PRACTICE SQUAD
NAMEPOSCOLLEGEHOW ACQUIRED
Mark Bristol T Mansfield 2001 FA
Henry Burris QB Temple 2001 FA - CFL
Donte Curry LB Morris Brown 2001 FA
Chris Gall FB Indiana 2001 FA
Anthony Herron DE Iowa 2001 FA
Mike Horacek WR Iowa State 2000 FA
Kenny Jackson LB Nevada-Reno 2001 FA
Ed Kehl T-G BYU 2000 FA
Paris Lenon LB Richmond 2001 FA
Tim Morgan P San Jose St. 2001 FA
J.J. Moses WR/KR Iowa State 2001 FA
James Rooths CB Shepherd College 2001 FA
Hurley Tarver CB Central Oklahoma 2001 FA - XFL
Bold Italics - Made Active Roster
September 9 : Green Bay Packers (1-0) 28, Detroit Lions (0-1) 6
(Green Bay) - The Green Bay Packers started the 2001 NFL season with a blitzkrieg of scoring en route to a rain-soaked 28-6 victory over the visiting Detroit Lions. Charlie Batch and the rest of the Lions offense got an expert lesson in how to run the West Coast offense from Brett Favre and company. a 35-yard pass from Favre to receiver Bill Schroeder sparked the first Green Bay drive ending with a 31-yard Ahman Green touchdown scamper. Holding the Lions to just one first down on the next two possessions, the Packers continued to light up the scoreboard. Schroeder added a nimble 23-yard touchdown catch in the deep right corner of the end zone on the second drive. He finished the day pacing the Packers receivers with 4 catches for 104 yards. Green broke a career long 83-yard run down the left sideline for a touchdown on the ensuing drive to give the Packers a 21-0 lead just 10 minutes into the first quarter. Antonio Freeman threw the open-field block on free safety Lamar Campbell to spring the long run. Green carried 17 times for 157 yards and 2 touchdowns, coming just 4 yards shy of his career high. The fourth-year back did have some trouble with the wet conditions fumbling once, and dropping two passes. It was his first extensive playing time since suffering a groin injury during the preseason. The game also marked the first time both starting units played together after preseason injury problems.
DETROIT - 3 3 0 0 - 6
GREEN BAY - 21 0 7 0 - 28
1st - GB - Green, 31-yard run (Longwell kick) 2:33 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Green, 83-yard run (Longwell kick) 10:31 GREEN BAY 21-0
1st - DET - Jason Hanson, 49-yard field goal 12:48 GREEN BAY 21-3
2nd - DET - Hanson, 39-yard field goal 10:54 GREEN BAY 21-6
3rd - GB - Franks, 1-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 11:06 GREEN BAY 28-6
September 24 : Green Bay Packers (2-0) 37, Washington Redskins (0-2) 0
(Green Bay) - The contest marked the final game in the first weekend back for the NFL since the tragic events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania on September 11th. The Packers welcomed the Redskins to Lambeau Field for the first meeting between these two teams since 1988. It wasn't about who won or lost, but just the fact they played the game. The pregame festivities included area firefighters and policemen holding an American flag shaped like the United States in the middle of the field. Country music star Martina McBride honored America with her rendition of the National Anthem. Perhaps one of the most awe inspiring sights for Packer fans was that of linebacker Chris Gizzi leading his team out onto the field proudly waving the Stars and Stripes. an entire crowd of 59,771 flag waving fans chanting "U.S.A., U.S.A.," greeted Gizzi, a graduate of the air Force academy. For the record, with three touchdown passes Brett Favre guided Green Bay to a 37-0 victory over Washington. The Redskins' Jeff George managed just 102 yards through the air as his team managed just 137 net yards on offense. Favre finished the night going 20-of-31 passing for 236 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. Green Bay recorded its first shutout since a 28-0 blanking of the Raiders on Dec. 28, 1993, while the Redskins have failed to score a touchdown yet this season, losing to San Diego 30-3 two weeks ago. The Packers defense has not allowed a touchdown yet this season. Ahman Green was the workhorse of the Green Bay offense. He gained 116 yards on 25 carries to break the century mark for the second time this season. As the NFL's leading rusher, Green added six receptions for 30 yards. Washington's Stephen Davis grounded out 65 yards on 13 carries to lead the Redskins. Favre finished with 20 completions in 31 attempts for 236 yards, three touchdowns and one interception. His rating was 106.4.
WASHINGTON - 0 0 0 0 - 0
GREEN BAY - 7 3 10 17 - 37
1st - GB - Freeman, 12-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 8:37 GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - GB - Longwell, 28-yard field goal 11:50 GREEN BAY 10-0
3rd - GB - Longwell, 32-yard field goal 1:31 GREEN BAY 13-0
4th - GB - Franks, 4-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 0:06 GREEN BAY 27-0
4th - GB - Longwell, 30-yard field goal 11:45 GREEN BAY 30-0
4th - GB - Mealey, 27-yard fumble return (Longwell kick) 12:00 GREEN BAY 37-0
September 30 : Green Bay Packers (3-0) 28, Carolina Panthers (1-2) 7
(Carolina) - Green Bay moved into sole possession of first place in the NFC Central with a comeback victory over Carolina. Two major themes dominated the game: good special teams play from Green Bay and a bad field condition at Ericsson Stadium. The Packers recovered fumbles on two straight Carolina kickoff returns to open up the second half paving the way for 28 unanswered points. This was the first Carolina home game, but the field condition was more similar to a late season game in inclement weather. On a sunny southern Sunday, the middle of the field was completely torn up causing footing troubles for both teams. Green Bay quarterback Brett Favre and the rest of the offense might have had problems in the first half, but everything was clicking on full cylinders in the second. after throwing two interceptions in the first half, Favre responded with three touchdown passes after halftime. He finished the afternoon completing 25 of 39 passes for 309 yards. Favre also passed Dave Krieg to move into 7th place on the NFL's all-time list for most career touchdown passes. Carolina's Chris Weinke went 18-30 for 160 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Through three games, the Packers have outscored their opponents, 93-13, for a scoring differential of plus-80. The last time Green Bay allowed fewer points in the first three games was 1962, when Vince Lombardi's fourth team had a 100-7 differential en route to a 13-1 record and NFL championship. In 1996, when the Packers last fielded a title team, they were plus-89 (115-26), but in no other season in the last 40 years has the team opened with anything quite like this.
GREEN BAY - 0 6 15 7 - 28
CAROLINA - 0 7 0 0 - 7
2nd - CAR - Wesley Walls, 3-yard pass from Weinke (John Kasay kick) 1:16 CAR 7-0
3rd - GB - Schroeder, 12-yd pass from Favre (Freeman pass from Favre) 2:40 GB 14-7
3rd - GB - Franks, 6-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 6:30 GREEN BAY 21-7
4th - GB - Bradford, 5-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 2:37 GREEN BAY 28-7
October 7 : Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1) 14, Green Bay Packers (3-1) 10
(Tampa Bay) - The Packers fell from the rank of the unbeatens in a close 14-10 loss at the hands of the Buccaneers in Tampa. With the heat index reaching 115 degrees on the field at Raymond James Stadium, both teams fought through exhaustion until Brett Favre's final pass fell incomplete in the end zone as time expired. a 39-yard touchdown run by Buccaneers' running back Mike alstott that proved to be the difference in the game. Cornerback Donnie Abraham intercepted Favre's first pass on the Packers' opening drive. Early in the second quarter Green Bay was poised to take the first lead of the game when Shelton Quarles intercepted a Favre pass and ran it back 98-yards for a touchdown. It was the longest interception return in Tampa Bay history. Green Bay would eventually answer midway through the second quarter when Bill Schroeder hauled in a 67-yard touchdown reception from Favre. That would be Favre's only touchdown pass of the day going 20-35 for 258 yards and three interceptions. Tampa Bay's Brad Johnson completed 23 of 29 attempts for 184 yards.
3rd - GB - Longwell, 35-yard field goal 10:40 GREEN BAY 10-7
4th - TB - Mike Alstott, 39-yard run (Gramatica kick) 8:15 TAMPA BAY 14-10
October 14 : Green Bay Packers (4-1) 31, Baltimore Ravens (3-2) 23
(Green Bay) - In a game that featured the top ranked defensive units in the NFL, it was the Packers passing attack that proved to be the difference. Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes to orchestrate a 31-23 win over Baltimore. Antonio Freeman played a major role in the victory catching nine passes for 138 yards and a touchdown. Coming into the game Freeman had caught only nine passes for 80 yards this season. His second-quarter touchdown marked the 53rd time that Favre has found him in the end zone, tying him for eighth on the NFL's all-time list of most touchdown connections between quarterback and receiver. Favre, who had turned 32 the previous week, completed 27 of 34 passes for 337 yards and three touchdowns (137.4 passer rating). Green Bay (4-1) forced four turnovers and scored the most points on Baltimore (3-2) since Jacksonville put up 36 points in a September loss to the Ravens last year.
BALTIMORE - 7 0 3 13 - 23
GREEN BAY - 0 17 7 7 - 31
1st - BAL - Travis Taylor, 18-yd pass from Grbac (Matt Stover kick) 4:28 BALT 7-0
October 21 : Minnesota Vikings (3-3) 35, Green Bay Packers (4-2) 13
(Minnesota) - Instead of being three games up on the defending NFC Central Division champion Vikings, the Packers limped into the bye week at 4-2, trailing the upstart Chicago Bears and now leading Minnesota by just a game. Playing without injured WR Bill Schroeder, the Packers struggled offensively controlling the ball for just over 22 minutes and gaining 234 total yards. Meanwhile, the Vikings held onto the ball for more than 37 minutes totaling 377 yards. Holding Minnesota to a three-and-out on the first drive, Green Bay drove into field goal range. Ryan Longwell missed a 51-yard kick wide right, the first of two missed attempts in the game. He also missed a 42-yard attempt in the second quarter. Safety Chris akins forced a fumble on punt coverage following the Packers' second drive giving Green Bay the ball on the Minnesota 16-yard line. Faced with a fourth-and-two inside the 10-yard line, Ahman Green was stopped short of the first down marker. In the first half, the league's third-ranked defense forced a Daunte Culpepper fumble and held Minnesota to two field goals and a long touchdown pass. The Vikings' Chris Carter scored on a 43-yard pass from Culpepper to open the scoring for the game. Two plays later Minnesota scored its second touchdown when Kailee Wong intercepted a Brett Favre pass and returned it 27 yards for the score. It's the second Favre pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown this season. Early in the second quarter Green Bay's LeRoy Butler left the game with a bruised sternum and was replaced by akins. The x-ray results at the stadium were negative and he will be further evaluated back in Green Bay. Butler, who started his 113th consecutive game, did not return to the game. The Vikings held a 20-0 lead going into halftime and the Packers never recovered.
GREEN BAY - 0 0 7 6 - 13
MINNESOTA - 0 20 0 15 - 35
2nd - MIN - C. Carter, 43-yd pass fr Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick) 6:42 MIN 7-0
2nd - MINN - Kailee Wong, 27-yard int return (Anderson kick) 7:04 MIN 14-0
2nd - MINN - Anderson, 42-yard field goal 11:31 MINNESOTA 17-0
2nd - MINN - Anderson, 36-yard field goal 14:56 MINNESOTA 20-0
November 4 : Green Bay Packers (5-2) 21, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-4) 20
(Green Bay) - Whenever the Buccaneers and Packers square off the battles between Warren Sapp and Brett Favre take center stage on the media circuit. However, it was a diminutive, 5-foot-8 kick returner who stole the show. Allen Rossum's 55-yard punt return for a touchdown with three minutes left propelled Green Bay to a 21-20 win over Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay still had not won in Wisconsin since 1989 and will not visit Lambeau Field in the regular season again until 2005 because of realignment. The teams split the season series with each winning at home. The Buccaneers converted all three Packer turnovers into points en route to a 17-7 third-quarter lead. Donnie abraham and Jamie Duncan both intercepted Favre and Warren Sapp recovered an Ahman Green fumble. Green brought the Packers (5-2) back into the game with a 63-yard touchdown scamper 10 minutes into the third quarter. He finished the day with a career-high 169 yards on 24 carries and added six catches for 49 yards.
TAMPA BAY - 0 10 7 3 - 20
GREEN BAY - 7 0 7 7 - 21
1st - GB - Freeman, 21-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 5:49 GREEN BAY 7-0
2nd - TB - Martin Gramatica, 33-yard field goal 4:03 GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - TB - Dave Moore, 11-yd pass fr Brad Johnson (Gramatica kick) 12:58 TB 10-7
3rd - TB - Mike Alstott, 19-yd pass from Johnson (Gramatica kick) 5:07 TB 17-7
3rd - GB - Green, 63-yard run (Longwell kick) 10:20 TAMPA BAY 17-14
4th - TB - Gramatica, 49-yard field goal 8:18 TAMPA BAY 20-14
4th - GB - Rossum, 55-yard punt return (Longwell kick) 11:57 GREEN BAY 21-20
November 11 : Green Bay Packers (6-2) 20, Chicago Bears (6-2) 12
(Chicago) - The Green Bay Packers moved into first place in the NFC Central with a 20-12 win over the Bears. For two straight weeks the Bears had pulled out miraculous wins in overtime. With under two minutes to play it appeared as if the streak might continue. Driving toward the same end zone that James Allen caught a "Hail Mary" pass to tie the game last week, the Bears were faced with another tough situation. On fourth-and-four with 39 seconds on the game clock, Chicago's hopes were quelled as a Jim Miller pass fell incomplete. The return of WR Bill Schroeder sparked the Packers air attack. Schroeder had four catches for 100 yards including a 41-yard score. Antonio Freeman added four grabs for 68 yards with one going for a touchdown. Marty Booker led Chicago with eight receptions for 81 yards. WR Dez White added seven catches for 45 yards and rookie David Terrell finished with three receptions for 12 yards.
GREEN BAY - 0 10 7 3 - 20
CHICAGO - 6 3 3 0 - 12
1st - CHI - Paul Edinger, 37-yard field goal 7:52 CHICAGO 3-0
1st - CHI - Edinger, 47-yard field goal 13:33 CHICAGO 6-0
2nd - GB - Longwell, 40-yard field goal 5:27 CHICAGO 6-3
2nd - CHI - Edinger, 38-yard field goal 15:00 GREEN BAY 10-9
3rd - GB - Freeman, 9-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 7:55 GREEN BAY 17-9
3rd - CHI - Edinger, 41-yard field goal 11:02 GREEN BAY 17-12
4th - GB - Longwell, 31-yard field goal 5:50 GREEN BAY 20-12
November 18 : Atlanta Falcons (5-4) 23, Green Bay Packers (6-3) 20
(Green Bay) - Controlling the ball for more than 36 minutes, Atlanta snapped Green Bay's nine-game home winning streak with a 23-20 victory. With just over one minute remaining, Green Bay was driving into Atlanta territory. Ashley Ambrose intercepted a long Favre pass intended for Bill Schroeder at the 2-yard line to seal the win. Ambrose also intercepted Favre's first pass of the day. Losing for just the 12th time in 75 home games, Favre threw three interceptions and fumbled twice, losing one of them. He finished the afternoon completing 16 of 29 attempts for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Favre connected on two long pass plays to Corey Bradford for 51 and 56 yards in the first half. Bradford finished the afternoon with his second career 100-yard game
recording three catches for 117 yards. Schroeder tallied four catches for 55 yards and one score while Antonio Freeman hauled in two passes for 45 yards, including a 39-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. The Packers' biggest loss of the afternoon came midway through the second quarter. After starting his 128th consecutive game, S LeRoy Butler was lost with a broken shoulder blade. He would never play for the Packers again.
ATLANTA - 6 10 0 7 - 23
GREEN BAY - 3 7 3 7 - 20
1st - ATL - Jay Feely, 26-yard field goal 6:42 ATLANTA 3-0
1st - ATL - Feely, 39-yard field goal 8:41 ATLANTA 6-0
1st - GB - Longwell, 39-yard field goal 12:19 ATLANTA 6-3
2nd - ATL - Bob Christian, 21-yard pass from Chandler (Feely kick) 2:09 ATL 13-3
2nd - ATL - Feely, 32-yard field goal 10:03 ATLANTA 16-3
3rd - GB - Longwell, 45-yard field goal 12:29 ATLANTA 16-13
4th - ATL - Brian Finneran, 12-yard pass from Chandler (Feely kick) 6:11 ATL 23-13
4th - GB - Freeman, 39-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 8:29 ATLANTA 23-20
November 22 : Green Bay Packers (7-3) 29, Detroit Lions (0-10) 27
(Detroit) - In a game celebrating the tradition of NFL football on Thanksgiving Day, the Packers and Lions locked up in a classic divisional battle. Coming down to the final seconds the game ended in a 29-27 Green Bay win. Both teams wore uniforms from their past for the game. The Packers were outfitted in their 1939 uniforms featuring solid gold helmets, white jerseys with green numbers, gold pants and black shoes. Detroit also wore throwback uniforms featuring plain silver helmets with blue jerseys, silver pants and black shoes. The Lions almost pulled off a miraculous comeback by scoring 14 points in the game's final minute and 20 seconds. Mike McMahon, the Lions' rookie signal caller, took over under center with his team trailing by 16 points midway through the fourth quarter. He spearheaded a 15-play, 71-yard drive that ended with Lamont Warren plunging over the goal line for a one-yard touchdown. McMahon then added the two-point conversion on a QB draw. On the following onside kick, Jason Hanson kicked the ball with his opposite foot floating it over the Packers who were stacked for a traditional onside kick at the 40-yard line. The Lions' Todd Lyght recovered at the Green Bay 31. McMahon connected with Scotty Anderson for a touchdown with 18 seconds left to put Detroit in a position to tie the game. The Packer defense forced McMahon to throw out of bounds on a two-point conversion play that would have tied the game. Safety Darren Sharper fell on the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory. Ahman Green finished the day with one rushing and one receiving touchdown. He also rushed for 102 yards and added two receptions for 48 yards. The Lions' James Stewart also crossed the 100-yard benchmark, but was forced to leave the game in the fourth quarter after being injured. He finished with 102 yards on 14 carries. The game was marred by penalties on both squads. The Lions were penalized 11 time for 117 yards while the Packers were charged eight times for 63 yards.
GREEN BAY - 7 10 7 5 - 29
DETROIT - 3 10 0 14 - 27
1st - GB - Green, 26-yard run (Longwell kick) 5:23 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - DET - Hanson, 33-yard field goal 11:52 GREEN BAY 7-3
2nd - DET - Hanson, 54-yard field goal 2:55 GREEN BAY 7-6
2nd - GB - Longwell, 46-yard field goal 5:48 GREEN BAY 10-6
2nd - DET - James Hall, 8-yard fumble return (Hanson kick) 11:17 DETROIT 13-10
2nd - GB - Martin, 1-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 14:42 GREEN BAY 17-13
3rd - GB - Green, 35-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 4:36 GREEN BAY 24-13
4th - GB - Safety , Lamont Warren tackled by Thierry in end zone 2:40 GB 26-13
4th - GB - Longwell, 39-yard field goal 7:54 GREEN BAY 29-13
4th - DET - Warren, 1-yard run (Mike McMahon run) 13:43 GREEN BAY 29-21
4th - DET - S. Anderson, 29-yd pass from McMahon (Con failed) 14:50 GB 29-27
December 3 : Green Bay Packers (8-3) 28, Jacksonville Jaguars (3-8) 21
(Jacksonville) - When the clocked ticked away the final minutes, it was Brett Favre who stole the show. Favre rallied the Packers to a 28-21 comeback win over the Jaguars on ABC's Monday Night Football. Favre tossed three touchdown passes and sealed the win with 1:30 left in the game on his first rushing touchdown since Oct. 25, 1998 against the Ravens. Favre rolled left on a bootleg and sprinted for the front pylon to record the go-ahead score. The play of rookie Jamal Reynolds was not lost in the fray. On a game ending desperation drive engineered by Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell, Reynolds sacked Brunell on fourth-and-12 also forcing a fumble that was recovered by Nate Wayne. While the ending pleased the Green Bay faithful, the team got off to a slow start. at one point in the third quarter the Packers were trailing by as many as 14 points. The Packers comeback win from down thirteen points or more on the road was the first since the infamous 'Walter Stanley Game' versus the Detroit Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 1986. They had lost their last 38 road games when trailing by 13 or more points at any time during the game. Green Bay had two receivers with 100-yard games. Schroeder hauled in six passes for 106 yard and one touchdown. Antonio Freeman nabbed a 63-yard pass among his three catches for 104 yards. Green
had 5 catches for 74 yards with one touchdown. Franks had three catches for eight yards including one score. Jacksonville's Jimmy Smith, after a trying week in which he faced charges of cocaine use, caught 8 passes for 116 yards. Teammate Keenan McCardell grabbed eight passes for 81 yards including a successful two-point conversion attempt. Neither team could muster out much on the ground. Green led all rushers with 31 yards on 17 attempts. Stacy Mack led Jacksonville with 27 yards on 16 carries.
GREEN BAY - 0 7 14 7 - 28
JACKSONVILLE - 3 10 8 0 - 21
1st - JACK - Mike Hollis, 34-yard field goal 3:39 JACKSONVILLE 3-0
2nd - JACK - Elvis Joseph, 29-yard pass from Brunell (Hollis kick) 7:49 JACK 10-0
2nd - JACK - Hollis, 30-yard field goal 13:05 JACKSONVILLE 13-0
2nd - GB - Green, 13-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 14:35 JACK 13-7
4th - GB - Favre, 6-yard run (Longwell kick) 13:30 GREEN BAY 28-21
GAME 12 - December 9 : Green Bay Packers (9-3) 17, Chicago Bears (9-3) 7
(Green Bay) - It's an age-old rivalry and for the first time since 1963, both teams were playing for the division lead. Green Bay pounded out a 17-7 victory over Chicago to take over the front-runner position in the NFC Central race. Last week it was Brett Favre who stole the show and today it was Ahman Green's turn. Green became the first running back since October of last season to gain 100 yards on the Bears defense. He mustered 125 yards on 29 carries scoring one touchdown. Green became the first Packers running back since John Brockington to record back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons. The Bears allowed Green and Dorsey Levens to gain 151 yards in 34 carries (4.4-yard average). Green became the first back since Minnesota's Robert Smith in Week 7 last year to surpass 100 against the Bears with 125 in 29 attempts. Since losing big-play receiver Marcus Robinson for the season in Week 5 with a knee injury, the Bears' offense had been severely limited. With a marginal quarterback and few weapons, 189 yards and 11 first downs on the road against a good defense like Green Bay's was about par for the course.
CHICAGO - 0 0 7 0 - 7
GREEN BAY - 7 0 7 3 - 17
1st - GB - Freeman, 3-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 4:29 GREEN BAY 7-0
3rd - CHI - Anthony Thomas, 19-yard run (Paul Edinger kick) 1:19 TIED 7-7
3rd - GB - Green, 12-yard run (Longwell kick) 12:00 GREEN BAY 14-7
4th - GB - Longwell, 27-yard field goal 2:20 GREEN BAY 17-7
December 16 : Tennessee Titans (6-7) 26, Green Bay Packers (9-4) 20
(Tennessee) - The Packers went into the game thinking about the arm of Steve McNair, but left devastated by the running of Skip Hicks. With help of 142 rushing yards from Hicks, Tennessee defeated Green Bay 26-20. The Titans' Eddie George has been a Pro Bowl running back for Tennessee since winning the Heisman Trophy at Ohio State and being drafted in the first round, but he could muster out only 26 yards on 15 carries. Hicks carried 17 times to reach the 142-yard plateau, but it was his 51-yard gain on a crucial third-and-five inside the two minute warning that was the dagger in the heart for the Packers. Meanwhile, the Packers' Ahman Green, the NFC's leader in yards from scrimmage, gained just nine yards on nine carries to go along with four receptions for 24 yards. Quarterback Brett Favre was Green Bay's leading rusher with five carries for 20 yards. After losing to Minnesota last week, Tennessee had been reduced to playing for pride instead of a playoff berth. The Packers' loss coupled with the Chicago victory over Tampa Bay saw the Green Bay hold on first place in the NFC Central division and a first-round bye in the playoffs disappear.
GREEN BAY - 10 3 0 7 - 20
TENNESSEE - 2 13 3 8 - 26
1st - TEN - Safety, A.Green tackled by Jason Fisk in end zone 3:23 TEN 2-0
1st - GB - Longwell, 33-yard field goal 9:33 GREEN BAY 3-2
1st - GB - Driver, 7-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 13:41 GREEN BAY 10-2
2nd - TEN - Mike Green, 4-yd pass from McNair (Conversion failed) 3:30 GB 10-8
2nd - TEN - Der. Mason, 35-yd pass fr McNair (Joe Nedney kick) 12:24 TEN 15-10
December 23 : Green Bay Packers (10-4) 30, Cleveland Browns (6-8) 7
(Green Bay) - The Packers were back in the NFL playoffs for the first time since the 1998 season with a 30-7 win over the Browns. On a cold and snowy day tailor-made for a December game at Lambeau Field, the Green Bay defense paved the way for the win. Three Browns turnovers caused by the Packers defense lead to 21 points for Green Bay. Tyrone Williams' interception return for a touchdown as Cleveland was driving late in the second quarter, swung the game's momentum in favor of the Packers and it would never switch back. He added another interception to stall a second-half Cleveland drive. Rookie Bhawoh Jue hauled in his first NFL interception on Cleveland's opening drive to set the defensive tone of the game. Cleveland scored its only touchdown midway through the second quarter when Tim Couch hit running back Jamel White on a shovel pass for a 3-yard score. White finished the afternoon rushing 21 times for 131 yards, in addition to recording 9 receptions for 85 yards and one touchdown. Ahman Green bounced back after gaining only nine yards in the loss at Tennessee. He amassed 150 yards rushing on 21 carries, along with 3 receptions for 18 yards. It was Green's sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season tying Dorsey Levens (1997) for second place on the club's all-time single season record list. Jim Taylor recorded 7 such games during the 1962 season.
CLEVELAND - 0 7 0 0 - 7
GREEN BAY - 13 10 0 7 - 30
1st - GB - Franks, 1-yard pass from Favre (Kick blocked) 3:53 GREEN BAY 6-0
1st - GB - Franks, 4-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 10:03 GREEN BAY 13-0
2nd - GB - Longwell, 39-yard field goal 13:08 GREEN BAY 16-7
2nd - GB - Williams, 69-yard int return (Longwell kick) 14:17 GREEN BAY 23-7
4th - GB - Levens, 16-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 2:20 GREEN BAY 30-7
December 30 : Green Bay Packers (11-4) 24, Minnesota Vikings (5-10) 13
(Green Bay) - The Packers used two fourth-quarter touchdowns to turn a 13-10 deficit into a victory over the Vikings. CB Mike McKenzie was the showcase player. He set the early tone with big hits on Vikings' QB Spergeon Wynn and FB Harold Morrow. McKenzie effectively limited all-pro receiver Randy Moss to just two catches for 10 yards. He also returned his fourth-quarter interception for 38 yards and a touchdown. Brett Favre did more than go 5-for-5 passing on the touchdown drive that put the Packers up to stay in the fourth quarter. He also was the lead blocker on wide receiver Donald Driver's reverse for a 31-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Minnesota used 12 straight running plays to drive 50 yards on its opening possession only to have Gary anderson miss a 39-yard field goal attempt wide right. Anderson connected on kicks from 44 and 42 yards out later in the game. As a team the Packers broke the club record for sacks in a season when Jim Flanigan wrapped up Wynn in the second quarter. This defensive unit has recorded 51 sacks so far this season breaking the record of 50 set by the 1998 team. Combined with San Francisco's upset loss in Dallas, the Packers moved past the 49ers to become the fourth of six seeded teams in the NFC.
MINNESOTA - 0 3 3 7 - 13
GREEN BAY - 0 7 0 17 - 24
2nd - MIN - Gary Anderson, 44-yard field goal 6:44 MINNESOTA 3-0
2nd - GB - Driver, 31-yard run (Longwell kick) 11:42 GREEN BAY 7-3
3rd - MIN - Anderson, 42-yard field goal 9:53 GREEN BAY 7-6
4th - GB - Longwell, 24-yard field goal 3:03 GREEN BAY 10-6
4th - MIN - B. Chamberlain, 47-yd pass from Wynn (Anderson kick) 4:57 MIN 13-10
4th - GB - Green, 4-yard run (Longwell kick) 8:32 GREEN BAY 17-13
4th - GB - McKenzie, 38-yard int return (Longwell kick) 9:35 GREEN BAY 24-13
January 6, 2002 : Green Bay Packers (12-4) 34, New York Giants (7-9) 25
(New York) - Both teams came out of Green Bay's 34-25 win over the New York Giants accomplishing their respective goals for the game. The Packers secured a home playoff game next week with the win. The Giants' Michael Strahan set the NFL record for sacks in a single season with his takedown of Brett Favre late in the fourth quarter. Strahan had been unable to pressure Favre for most of the day and it seemed as if the Packers (12-4) would just run out the clock as the fourth quarter wound down. On a keep pass, where Favre fakes a handoff to Green and tries to roll out the other direction, Favre ran right into the pursuit of Strahan and slid down as the defensive end promptly fell on top of him. The Giants' defensive end recorded 22 1/2 sacks on the season to break the 1986 record of 22 held by the New York Jets' Mark Gastineau. The former record-holder was on hand at Giants stadium to witness the event. The Packers' Billy Lyon quietly added one sack for the Packers to bring the team's record total on the season to 52. The Giants piled up 524 yards, their highest total since October 1967 and the most allowed by the Packers since the rainy Monday night in 1998 at Lambeau Field when Minnesota amassed 545 yards. The Packers had beaten the Bears twice but in the end it made no difference because Chicago stayed one game ahead, finishing at 13-3 by crushing Jacksonville on Sunday. A loss by the Bears would have vaulted Green Bay from the fourth seeding to the second.
GREEN BAY - 14 3 17 0 - 34
NEW YORK GIANTS - 7 3 0 15 - 25
1st - GB - Schroeder, 26-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 3:56 GREEN BAY 7-0
1st - GB - Green, 25-yard run (Longwell kick) 6:27 GREEN BAY 14-0
1st - NYG- Ike Hilliard, 8-yd pass from Collins (Mor. Andersen kick) 11:17 GB 14-7
2nd - NYG - Andersen, 27-yard field goal 3:06 GREEN BAY 14-10
2nd - GB - Longwell, 44-yard field goal 15:00 GREEN BAY 17-10
3rd - GB - Green, 1-yard run (Longwell kick) 2:53 GREEN BAY 24-10
3rd - GB - Longwell, 43-yard field goal 7:08 GREEN BAY 27-10
4th - NYG - Tiki Barber, 10-yard run (Andersen kick) 2:15 GREEN BAY 34-17
4th - NYG - Ron Dayne, 1-yard run (Dayne run) 12:10 GREEN BAY 34-25
(Green Bay) - Overcoming their first second-half deficit at Lambeau Field in the playoffs since the fabled "Ice Bowl" in 1967, the Packers overpowered the 49ers for a 25-15 victory. In the first home playoff game since 1997, Green Bay got on the score board first. Using a 35-yard return from Allen Rossum to spark their second drive, the Packers drove 40 yards on seven plays for a 6-0 lead. 49ers' defensive lineman Dana Stubblefield blocked Ryan Longwell's extra point at the line. Longwell wasn't alone with early game kicking troubles. Just over three minutes into the second quarter Jose Cortez had a 34-yard field goal attempt blocked by Cletidus Hunt. Longwell connected on kicks from 26 and 45 yards in the second half. Cortez did not attempt another field goal. QB Jeff Garcia engineered two lengthy scoring drives for the 49ers. In the second quarter, San Francisco held the ball for almost seven minutes running 15 plays to drive 86 yards. Garcia was 6-of-9 for 61 yards on a drive punctuated by Garrison Hearst's 2-yard touchdown plunge with 11 seconds left in the first half. The drive was the 49ers' longest in the postseason since a 17-play drive against Dallas in the NFC championship game on Jan. 23, 1994. San Francisco's only other scoring drive came on a 61-yard march early in the fourth quarter that ended with Garcia hitting Tai Streets for a 14-yard score. Garcia promptly found Streets wide open on the two-point conversion to tie the score after the Packers had failed on their conversion attempt after taking a 15-7 lead. Brett Favre connected with tight end Bubba Franks for a 19-yard touchdown with three and a half minutes left in the third quarter. The score gave the Packers a 15-7 lead, but a two-point conversion pass to Donald Driver failed. Favre finished 22-of-29 for 269 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. He also remains unbeaten when the game-time temperature is 34-degrees or below. Today's kickoff temperature was 28. Garcia, playing in his first postseason game, went 22-of-32 for 233 yards, including one touchdown and one interception. He was unable to find Pro Bowl wide receiver Terrell Owens for most of the game completing just four passes to his star counterpart. Garcia did try to hit Owens down the sidelines with the 49ers driving
(St. Louis) - Aeneas Williams returned two interceptions for touchdowns, a playoff record, and Tommy Polley had one Sunday, lifting the Rams into the NFC championship game, 45-17 over the sloppy Green Bay Packers. The Rams picked off six passes by Brett Favre, the most he has thrown in any game. Kim Herring set up a first-half TD with his pickoff, and Polley had another interception in the second half to hand the Packers their worst playoff loss. Not surprisingly, the Rams did plenty of damage offensively in advancing to the title game for the second time in three years. Next up is Philadelphia, which will need to be more protective of the ball and much stauncher on defense than was Green Bay. NFL MVP Kurt Warner didn't make any game-turning plays, leaving that to the league's most-improved defense. But he had 4-yard TD passes to Torry Holt and James Hodgins in the first half, and his perfect 50-yard pass to Holt after Williams forced another turnover led to Marshall Faulk's 7-yard scoring run. That made it 31-10 early in the third quarter, and the rout was on. Williams stole the ball from Antonio Freeman 3:33 into the second half. Four minutes later, Polley, a rookie linebacker, grabbed Grant Wistrom's deflection and ran 34 yards for his score. Polley got another interception in the fourth quarter after Ahman Green tipped a pass directly to him. Green did the same thing on Williams' second TD, a 32-yarder with 7:50 remaining. The St. Louis defense made the first big play of day when Williams caught Favre's pass toward the sideline - receiver Bill Schroeder ran the wrong route and was nowhere near the ball. Williams sped untouched to the end zone with the first postseason score of his 11-year career. Unfazed, Favre struck right back after an exchange of turnovers. Green fumbled at the St. Louis 40, with rookie Adam Archuleta recovering. Warner gave that back when he was intercepted by Darren Sharper, and Green Bay took advantage. On almost the exact route on which he was picked off by Williams, Favre hit Freeman, who eluded Dexter McCleon and dived into the end zone for a 22-yard score. McCleon came back with a fourth-quarter interception as Favre tied the one-game mark set by three others, although it hadn't happened since 1955.
2001 IN REVIEW - The Packers capitalize on their strong finish by putting together a solid 12-4 record. While compiling their 12-4 mark the Packers went 6-0 against the NFC Central including a sweep of the Chicago Bears. However, bad losses to the Atlanta Falcons, and Tennessee Titans prevented them from winning the division. In the wild card game, they were matched up against a familiar foe in the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field. The 49ers would hold a 7-6 lead, at halftime, but the Packers would comeback in the second half to earn a 25-15 victory staying undefeated at Lambeau Field in the postseason. However, a week later on the road in St. Louis the Packers seasonwould come to a crashing end, as Brett Favre had a nightmarish 6-interception game in a 45-17 loss to the Rams.
2001 PRE-SEASON RESULTS (2-2 - AUGUST)
11 at Cleveland Browns L 3-10 0- 1-0 71,218
20 DENVER BRONCOS W 22-7 1- 1-0 59,177
25 MIAMI DOLPHINS W 17-12 2- 1-0 59,547
31 at Oakland Raiders L 13-24 2- 2-0 38,783
2001 REGULAR SEASON RESULTS (12-4) - SEPTEMBER (2-1)
9 DETROIT LIONS (0-0) W 28- 6 1- 0-0 59,523 Favre
24 WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-1) W 37- 0 2- 0-0 59,771 Favre
30 at Carolina Panthers (1-1) W 28- 7 2- 1-0 73,120 Favre
OCTOBER (1-2)
7 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) L 10-14 3- 1-0 65,510 Favre
14 BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-1) W 31-23 4- 1-0 59,866 Favre
21 at Minnesota Vikings (2-3) L 13-35 4- 2-0 64,165 Favre
NOVEMBER (3-1)
4 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (3-3) W 21-20 5- 2-0 59,861 Favre
11 at Chicago Bears (6-1) W 20-12 6- 2-0 66,944 Favre
18 ATLANTA FALCONS (4-4) L 20-23 6- 3-0 59,849 Favre
22 at Detroit Lions (0-9) W 29-27 7- 3-0 77,730 Favre
DECEMBER (4-1)
3 at Jacksonville Jaguars (3-7) W 28-21 8- 3-0 66,908 Favre
9 CHICAGO BEARS (9-2) W 17- 7 9- 3-0 59,869 Favre
16 at Tennessee Titans (5-7) L 20-26 9- 4-0 68,804 Favre
30 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (5-9) W 24-13 11- 4-0 59,870 Favre
JANUARY 2002 (1-0)
6 at New York Giants (7-8) W 34-25 12- 4-0 78,601 Favre
2001 PLAYOFFS (1-1) - JANUARY
NFC Wild Card Playoff
13 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-4) W 25-15 59,825 Favre
NFC Divisional Playoff
20 at St. Louis Rams (14-2) L 17-45 66,338 Favre
3rd - GB - Longwell, 39-yard field goal 6:58 GREEN BAY 16-7
3rd - GB - Longwell, 49-yard field goal 2:30 GREEN BAY 19-7
3rd - GB - Longwell, 29-yard field goal 10:51 GREEN BAY 22-7
PRE-SEASON - August 25: Green Bay (2-1) 17, Miami 12
(GREEN BAY) - DeMond Parker set up his own 4-yard touchdown run with a 54-yard scamper as Green Bay overcame a mistake-prone offense and four field goals by Olindo Mare. Trailing 12-10, the Packers drove 95 yards in seven plays behind Doug Pederson for the go-ahead touchdown with 6:07 left. Mare, who missed practice time last week with a sore right foot made four of five field goal attempts. The Packers scored on their first two possessions, including the first touchdown by the starters during the preseason, and took an early 10-0 lead. But they gained just 20 yards in their next five possessions behind Brett Favre. Those drives ended in an interception and four punts. Favre finished 7-of-19 for 92 yards with one TD and one pickoff.
MIAMI - 0 6 6 0 - 12
GREEN BAY - 10 0 0 7 - 17
1st - GB - Longwell, 29-yard field goal 9:14 GREEN BAY 3-0
1st - GB - Bradford, 16-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 2:59 GREEN BAY 10-0
2nd - MIA - Olindo Mare, 29-yard field goal 14:03 GREEN BAY 10-3
2nd - MIA - Mare, 44-yard field goal 7:23 GREEN BAY 10-6
3rd - MIA - Mare, 25-yard field goal 8:54 GREEN BAY 10-9
3rd - MIA - Mare, 22-yard field goal 1:09 MIAMI 12-10
4th - GB - Parker, 4-yard run (Longwell kick) 6:07 GREEN BAY 17-12
August 31: Oakland 24, Green Bay (2-2) 13
(OAKLAND) - Tyrone Wheatley made a 49-yard scoring run in the first quarter as host Oakland closed its exhibition season with a victory over Green Bay before a half-full Coliseum. Oakland's defense kept the Packers out of the end zone after Brett Favre left the game. Favre played just two series and was 2- for-5, but he provided the Packers' only excitement on offense with an 87-yard scoring pass to Corey Bradford.
GREEN BAY - 7 3 0 3 - 13
OAKLAND - 10 7 7 0 - 24
1st - OAK - Tyrone Wheatley, 49-yard run (Sebastian Janikowski kick) 6:41 OAK 7-0
(CLEVELAND) - Tim Couch threw a touchdown pass and rookie running back James Jackson ran for 66 yards Saturday night, leading Cleveland to a 10-3 win over the Packers in Butch Davis' first game as Browns coach. Davis was hired in January to turn around a franchise, which went just 5-27 in two dreadful seasons under Chris Palmer. The former Miami coach has promised the Browns would be much better, and they showed some signs of improvement in front of a crowd of 71,218. Couch was sharp during a 96-yard scoring drive, Jackson looked like he could be the club's feature back and Cleveland's defense made big plays when it needed to. Couch finished 10-of-13 for 82 yards. His TD pass to Jamel White gave the Browns a 7-0 lead in the second quarter. Brett Favre played most of the first half for Green Bay, completing 8 of 11 passes for 80 yards. Packers running back Dorsey Levens had 29 yards on five carries before leaving with a bruised hand.
(GREEN BAY) - Doug Pederson made his strongest pitch yet for the backup job behind Brett Favre. Pederson led the Packers on four scoring drives and Ryan Longwell added 5 field goals in their 22-7 preseason victory over Denver on Monday night. Favre and the Packers were held out of the endzone in the first half thanks to a heavy blitz package by Broncos defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, who made his first trip to Lambeau Field since his firing 20 months ago after just one season as head coach of the Packers. The injury-depleted Packers were without their top two tailbacks, Ahman Green (groin) and Dorsey Levens (hand). They were among a dozen players who were held out. And their top receiver, Antonio Freeman, got a concussion just before half when he was hit by CB Eric Brown. He didn't return. Pederson finished 8 of 12 for 112 yards and 1 touchdown. A nine-year journeyman who was Favre's backup in 1998, Pederson is winning the battle with Billy Joe Tolliver for the No. 2 job. They will return to practice Wednesday facing a fresh challenge from Michael Bishop, who was waived by New England. Bishop, a third-year pro who was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy while at Kansas State in 1999, will join the mix Tuesday.
DENVER - 0 7 3 0 - 7
GREEN BAY - 3 0 16 3 - 22
1st - GB - Longwell, 30-yard field goal 9:03 GREEN BAY 3-0
2nd - DEN - Patrick Hape, 1-yard pass from Griese (Jason Elam kick) 13:40 DEN 7-3
3rd - GB - Driver, 19-yard pass from Pederson (Longwell kick) GREEN BAY 13-7
in the fourth quarter, but cornerback Mike McKenzie knocked the ball away and into the hands of Tyrone Williams for an interception. S Darren Sharper paced the defense with 10 tackles including one sack. The return of Gilbert Brown was noticeable on the first play from scrimmage as he sacked Garcia for a 4-yard loss. The Packers played consistently in all phases of the game. Ahman Green carried 21 times for 86 yards and the game-clinching touchdown. Antonio Freeman paced the receivers with six catches for 84 yards and one score. William Henderson caught four passes for 22 yards while Bill Schroeder added three grabs for 31 yards. Corey Bradford had two catches for 56 yards including a 51-yarder that sparked Green Bay's first scoring drive of the third quarter. Donald Driver made a crucial third-down catch at the two-minute warning. San Francisco was unable to generate a complete game from the league's second-ranked rushing offense. Hearst carried 13 times for 42 yards and Kevan Barlow added 17 yards on five carries. The 49ers receiving corps did not fare much better with Owens grabbing four passes for 40 yards. Streets had a productive day catching four passes for 50 yards and one touchdown while J.J. Stokes led all San Francisco wideouts with four catches for 52 yards.
SAN FRANCISCO - 0 7 0 8 - 15
GREEN BAY - 6 0 9 10 - 25
1st - GB - Freeman, 5-yard pass from Favre (Kick blocked) 10:58 GREEN BAY 6-0
2nd - SF - Hearst, 2-yard run (Jose Cortez kick) 14:49 SAN FRANCISCO 7-6
3rd - GB - Longwell, 26-yard field goal 6:08 GREEN BAY 9-7
4th - SF - Tai Streets, 14-yd pass from Garcia (Streets from Garcia) 3:00 TIED 15-15
4th - GB - Longwell, 45-yard field goal 7:58 GREEN BAY 18-15
4th - GB - Green, 9-yard run (Longwell kick) 13:05 GREEN BAY 25-15
Freeman's touchdown only enraged the Rams, who scored 14 points in the first 2:24 of the second quarter. Faulk's 38-yard run, including a brilliant move on former Rams safety Billy Jenkins, led to the touchdown pass to Holt. St. Louis' secondary then stole another pass as Favre tried to hit Freeman deep. Herring grabbed it and made a weaving 45-yard return to the Green Bay 4. Two plays later, fullback Hodgins, who had all of six touches during the season, caught his TD pass for a 21-7 edge. The Packers hurt themselves even more when Torrance Marshall was called for holding, negating Allen Rossum's 95-yard kickoff return TD. although they did get a 28-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, the Packers again couldn't slow the St. Louis express. A 27-yard completion to backup tight end Jeff Robinson set up Wilkins' 27-yard field goal for a 24-10 halftime edge.
2nd - STL - Torry Holt, 4-yard pass from Kurt Warner (Wilkins kick) 0:02 STL 14-7
2nd - STL - James Hodgins, 4-yard pass from Warner (Wilkins kick) 2:24 STL 21-7
2nd - GB - Longwell, 28-yard field goal 10:42 ST. LOUIS 21-10
2nd - STL - Wilkins, 27-yard field goal 14:39 ST. LOUIS 24-10
3rd - STL - Marshall Faulk, 7-yard run (Wilkins kick) 5:16 ST. LOUIS 31-10
3rd - STL - Tommy Polley, 34-yard int return (Wilkins kick) 6:48 ST. LOUIS 38-10
4th - STL - Williams, 32-yard int return (Wilkins kick) 7:10 ST. LOUIS 45-10
4th - GB - Freeman, 8-yard pass from Favre (Longwell kick) 9:14 ST. LOUIS 45-17
2001 PACKERS DRAFT (April 21-22, 2001)
RND-PCKNAMEPOSCOLLEGENOTES
1a 10 Jamal Reynolds DE Florida State (A)
1b 17 Traded to Seattle in Matt Hasselbeck trade
2a 41 Robert Ferguson WR Texas A&M (B)
2b 47 Traded to San Francisco in pre-draft trade of picks
3a 71 Bhawoh Jue CB Penn State (B)
3b 72 Torrance Marshall LB Oklahoma (A)
3c 80 Traded to San Francisco in pre-draft trade of picks
3d 82 From New Orleans, sent to San Fran in pre-draft trade
4a 105 Bill Ferrario G Wisconsin (B)
4b 113 Traded to Denver for Nate Wayne
5 147 Traded to Philadelphia for Allen Rossum
6a 179 Traded to San Francisco in pre-draft trade of picks
6b 198 David Martin TE Tennessee (C)
7a 219 Traded to Denver for David Bowens
7b 222 From St. Louis, sent to San Francisco in pre-draft trade
A-From Seattle in Matt Hasselbeck trade B-From San Francisco C-Free agent compensatory pick
Bold Italics - Played for the Green Bay Packers
FREE AGENCY - UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
PLAYERS SIGNED - None
PLAYERS LOST - LB Mike Morton (Indianapolis), G Ross Verba (Cleveland)
FREE AGENCY - RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS
PLAYERS LOST - None
TRANSISTION PLAYER DESIGNATION
S LeRoy Butler
2001 Packers Yearbook
2001 Packers Media Guide
Lions at Packers Program - 9 September
Falcons at Packers Program - 18 October
Brett Favre
Jamal Reynolds
NFC Divisional Playoff Program - 13 January
TRADES AND TRANSACTIONS
MARCH 5 - Traded a 2001 1st-round selection (G Steve Hutchinson) and QB Matt Hasselbeck to SEATTLE for 2001 1st- (DE Jamal Reynolds) and 3rd-round (LB Torrance Marshall) choices
APRIL 21 - Traded 2001 2nd- (LB Jamie Winborn), 3rd- (RB Kevan Barlow) and 6th-round (CB Rashad Holman) choices, and Saints' 2001 3rd-round pick (Aaron Brooks trade - later traded to Seattle) and Rams' 2001 7th-round choice (Mike Morton trade - later traded to Seattle) to SAN FRANCISCO for 2001 2nd- (WR Robert Ferguson), 3rd- (DB Bhawoh Jue) and 4th-round selections (G Bill Ferrario)
AUGUST 7 - Traded DE David Bowens to BUFFALO for TE Bobby Collins
SEPTEMBER 2 - Traded a 2002 7th-round draft choice (DE Carlos Hall) to TENNESSEE for DT Rod Walker
MIKE SHERMAN - GENERAL MANAGER
Despite the dismal track record of having coaches being their own general managers (Dan Devine, Bart Starr), the Packers went that route once again in 2001. Ron Wolf announces he will step down as general manager after the draft, Sherman named as his replacement. Needless to say, his track record as a drafter was less than stellar:
2001 - Wolf and Sherman shared the GM duties, and the Packers had one of the worst drafts in franchise history. It started when they traded quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to the Seahawks and moved up seven spots in the first round, taking defensive end Jamal Reynolds. Reynolds had proclaimed himself "the greatest defensive end the world has ever seen, period." In his senior year, Reynolds won the Lombardi Award and was a finalist for the College Defensive Player of the Year Award. After only 2 seasons with the Packers and recording only 1 sack, Green Bay attempted to trade Reynolds to the Colts, but he failed the physical and the Packers released him 10 days later. The following season, Cleveland picked him up, but he was cut before the season started. The next three draft choices - receiver Robert Ferguson, cornerback Bhawoh Jue and Torrance Marshall were huge disappointments.
2002 - Sherman traded up to select WR Javon Walker with the 20th pick overall. Walker was the only Sherman draft pick to earn a Pro Bowl berth. He would become disgruntled after the Packers refused to renegotiate his contract, that had two years remaining on it, after his Pro Bowl season in 2004 He missed most of the 2005 season with a knee injury and was traded to Denver the following season. DE Aaron Kampman (5th round) was the brightest star in this draft, while S Marques Anderson (2nd) and FB Najeh Davenport (4th) never reached their potential.
2003 – Sherman traded a second-round pick to Philadelphia for CB Al Harris, which turned out to be one of the better trades of his stint as GM. His first round chice, LB Nick Barnett, has been adequate, but Sherman passed on a number of future stars - Jason Witten (TE), Osi Umenyiora (DE), Nnamdi Asomugha (CB), Anquan Boldin (WR), Lance Briggs (LB), Rashean Mathis (CB) or Ken Hamlin (S). DT Kenny Peterson (3rd) can be considered a bust.
2004 – Sherman traded up in the third round to select punter B.J. Sander. The Packers keep two punters on the roster for the entire season, but Sander never plays. It set the tone for a disastrous draft.CB Ahmad Carroll was the 25th pick overall, and turned out to be a bust. Besides Sander, they took CB Joey Thomas and DT Donnell Washington in the third round. Neither player panned out in Green Bay, especially when one see the Packers passed on DE Jared Allen, CB Nathan Vasher and WR Jerricho Cotchery to select them.
FREE AGENCY
* Joe Johnson - Johnson fell far short of expections in Green Bay after he signed a six-year, $33 million contract. He played in a total of 11 games over two season. The Packers shelled out more than $10 million in salary and signing bonuses before released Johnson in June 2004.
* Cletidus Hunt - Sherman overpaid for Hunt, giving him a six-year deal worth $25.35 million, including a $6 million signing bonus, in 2003. Hunt was gone two years later and, with moves like this, the Packers were faced with salary cap issues in 2005 and 2006. On January 14, 2005, Sherman was stripped of GM title. He would remain as head coach for one more season.
