http://www.channel3000.com/-/1656/10274708/-/appdyyz/-/index.html en-US © 2011 Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Home Home en-US © 2011 Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Walker-declares-Donald-Driver-Day-after-TV-win/-/1612/14066530/-/paa63gz/-/index.html Gov. Scott Walker has declared it "Donald Driver Day" in Wisconsin following the Packers' star win Tuesday night on the television show "Dancing With the Stars." Walker said Wednesday that Driver has made the state proud with his win on the dance contest show. Walker says he and his family were excited to watch Driver bring another title to Titletown. Walker tweeted during the Tuesday night broadcast that Driver's dance was "perfect" and "pretty amazing." Driver has spent his entire NFL career with the Packers since being drafted in 1999. He holds the team record for receptions. Wed, 23 May 2012 17:54:31 GMT 14066530 2012-05-23T17:54:31Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Some-new-faces-coming-for-Packers/-/1612/13709120/-/ur5xnm/-/index.html The Green Bay Packers are back on a football field again for the first time since their upset playoff loss to the New York Giants. Linebacker Clay Matthews says it's been a long 128 days since losing to the eventual Super Bowl champions. He and quarterback Aaron Rodgers are happy to be back at practice. Five of their top six draft picks were at practice Tuesday. So were five-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday, the team's biggest free-agent signing in years, and defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove. Wed, 23 May 2012 15:59:50 GMT 13709120 2012-05-23T15:59:50Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-Driver-is-new-Dancing-champ/-/1612/13682606/-/4pykvqz/-/index.html He already has a Super Bowl ring, and now football star Donald Driver can add the "Dancing With the Stars" mirrorball trophy to his awards collection. The Green Bay Packers receiver won the ABC dance show Tuesday. He and partner Peta Murgatroyd hoisted the glittery prize above their heads as streamers and confetti filled the ballroom. Welsh singer Katherine Jenkins came in second place and Cuban actor William Levy finished third. All three finalists earned perfect scores for their final performances Tuesday. Judges' scores combined with viewer votes determined the winner. Wed, 23 May 2012 15:08:04 GMT 13682606 2012-05-23T15:08:04Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-Driver-competes-in-dancing-show-finals/-/1612/13506126/-/6a0wna/-/index.html Katherine Jenkins couldn't have performed any better during the "Dancing With the Stars" finals: She earned a perfect score of 60 for her two dances on the penultimate episode of the ABC show. Fellow finalists William Levy and Donald Driver finished one point behind the Welsh singer Monday. The actor and the Green Bay Packer each collected 59 points from the judges. Judges' scores are combined with viewer votes to determine which contestant will claim the title and the mirrorball trophy on Tuesday's season finale, when each finalist will perform one last routine. The other season 14 contestants -- Martina Navratilova, Gavin DeGraw, Jack Wagner, Jaleel White, Sherri Shepherd, Melissa Gilbert, Roshon Fegan, Maria Menounos and Gladys Knight -- were eliminated during previous episodes. Tue, 22 May 2012 02:45:21 GMT 13506126 2012-05-22T02:45:21Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Neenah-man-buys-Packers-Super-Bowl-XLV-ring/-/1648/13477834/-/va8r48z/-/index.html A Neenah man has purchased a Green Bay Packers Super Bowl ring that once belonged to a team front-office worker. Dennis Brucks, 71, is a lifelong Packers fan who recalls sitting on the 50-yard line during the Ice Bowl. He said there's no better piece of Packers memorabilia than a championship ring. The selling price wasn't revealed, but the asking price had been $9,999. Karl Hattman is the regional manager for Pawn America, which sold Brucks the ring Wednesday. He said a player's ring would have been worth at least $30,000, and even more for a more famous player. The ring is from Super Bowl XLV, where the Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25. Brucks said the ring will be a conversation piece that he'll also wear on occasion. Fri, 18 May 2012 15:01:40 GMT 13477834 2012-05-18T15:01:40Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Driver-s-Tweet-No-reason-to-be-atwitter/-/1612/13495474/-/apm0st/-/index.html UPDATE: Jordan Woy writes in an email to ESPNWisconsin.com received at 4:55 p.m. CDT: "We will work things out once he gets back from the show. I have talked to Packers for awhile about Donald." GREEN BAY -- While Donald Driver set Twitter all atwitter Thursday afternoon with a cryptic Tweet that some took as an indication that he won't return to the Green Bay Packers, the veteran wide receiver and Dancing With the Stars star evidently wasn’t hinting at anything. Driver's agent, Jordan Woy, told both Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post and ESPN and Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com that his longtime client wasn’t hinting at anything when he posted this on his @Donald_Driver80 Twitter account: "Hello everyone: I'm a packer for life. It will never change. Go Pack Go!!!!" Apparently, Driver had no ulterior motive behind the Tweet, based on Woy's comments. Brandt Tweeted that he had spoken to Woy and that Woy told him, "He (Driver) will be back. Just need to work out details when done (with) the show." In an email to Florio, Woy wrote: "The Packers have always wanted Donald back and we have always planned on him playing there. "He has been busy with the DWTS show and the team knows that. I discussed deal structure with the team a while ago and we will work out the details once Donald returns to Green Bay." Three teammates who know Driver well and were asked if something was afoot with the 37-year-old wideout said they hadn't heard anything. One said he knew Driver would have to take a pay cut to return to the Packers. Driver's future has been a hot topic all offseason, ever since he stood at his locker the day after the team's season-ending loss to the New York Giants and made it clear that if the Packers did not want him back in 2012, he would play elsewhere. With a salary-cap number of $5 million this season and a roster bonus of $1.5 million due the first day of training camp, Driver has said publicly that he's willing to take a pay cut to stay with the team he joined as a seventh-round pick out of Alcorn State in 1999.  Thu, 17 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT 13495474 2012-05-17T05:00:00Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/McCarthy-talks-draft-QBs-safeties-and-DWTS-on-Sirius-XM/-/1612/13495484/-/14d4vl1z/-/index.html Mike McCarthy spent 20 minutes on SiriusXM NFL Radio with Adam Schein and his old friend Rich Gannon Wednesday, and the Green Bay Packers coach talked about everything from the team’s eight draft picks to the season-ending playoff loss to the New York Giants to his trip to Los Angeles earlier this week to watch veteran wide receiver Donald Driver compete on Dancing With the Stars. In the interview, McCarthy praised fourth-round safety Jerron McMillian; said seventh-round quarterback B.J. Coleman “definitely has NFL arm talent;” reiterated that tackling and ball security will be major emphases in training camp; vowed not to put too much on NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers after his phenomenal 2011 season; and sounded as if the team did not anticipate an eight-game suspension for defensive end Anthony Hargrove for his role in the New Oreleans Saints bounty scandal. Here is an edited transcript of McCarthy’s appearance: (Recap the rookie orientation camp and what you saw from your draft picks) Nick Perry, he’s a very powerful young man. To learn the particulars of playing that position from Kevin Greene, it’s going to be a fun process to watch. Kevin’s played that position as good or better than anybody’s ever played the outside linebacker position in the 3-4. Nick is off to a great start. Jerel Worthy, that first step, that was really what I wanted to see in person. That was something that really jumped out to us on film. So I definitely feel he’ll have an impact inside and will help us immediately on the defensive line. Casey Hayward, he’s going to have an opportunity to compete. I liked the way he moved around. Frankly, we put in two defenses, so we didn’t do a whole lot, but to see the movement skills (was important). Mike Daniels didn’t practice because we were just being smart with his shoulder. Jerron McMillian really jumped off (the film). I thought he had one of the more impressive three days of practices. Terrell Manning was really in charge, commanded the huddle very well, I think you’ll see his ability to play sideline to sideline and things like that. And the two offensive guys, I’m excited about both those guys. Andrew Datko is a young man from Florida State that would definitely be able to play four of the five positions on the offensive line for us. And B.J. Coleman threw the ball very well, so I was very impressed with his reps and what he was able to pick up in the classroom. (What the Packers liked about Coleman) He definitely has NFL arm talent. We just trusted our board. We had him rated a lot higher than the seventh round. Just the fact that we traded to move up and down, our spacing in between (picks) was different than we’ve ever had. There were times when we were 56 picks away. It was just great to see B.J. still on the board when we were picking. (fundamentals he plans emphasize in his practices this season) The game of football, in my view, will always come down to fundamentals. You only have so much time, so how are you going to break that time up? Really, the two biggest things we’re going to spend more time on is tackling and handling the football. You have a regular season schedule that you play, and the postseason is obviously the most important because you’re fighting all year to get into that post-season. We were the best team in football throughout the regular season. But you have to play your best football at the end of the year. Our issues were fundamental. We had some of that recurring throughout the year. I’m talking more about the tackling. In the Giants’ playoff game we did not handle the football very well at all, as poor as we’ve played in that area in quite some time. Those are the things that I really focus on. We did a lot of positive things on defense, as far as taking the football away. We’ve talked about the pass rush. We’ve talked about the pass coverage. Those are things that the coaching staff has looked in the mirror – how did we utilize the players last year, how can we better utilize them this year? We have players here who are currently here that have to get better through the offseason programs. I am confident they will do that. I don’t like the attitude that we drafted six new rookies and all of sudden everything is fixed. That is not the case. That’s false expectations putting on these rookies. We need to improve from within. That has been our strength every single year. That will be no different this year. And this rookie class needs to come in and compete and contribute to our success. (Changes to the offseason program, especially QB school and kickers/punters) I’m hopeful and optimistic that they’ll adjust the future rules for the quarterbacks and for your kickers and punters. To have your kickers and putners here throughout the program, and we have to make arrangements with St. Norbert College and Notre Dame High School for (them) to kick the football. And on top of that, hope for good weather. That’s not practical. (offensive line) (Josh Sitton and T.J. Lang) are one of the best pairs in the business, and Bryan Bulaga is on the verge of being a Pro Bowler. I like our offensive line. It’s a young group that has grown. (DWTS) I had a chance to go out there and see Donald and his family. It was a great experience just to be part of the show and spend time with Donald and his family before and afterwards. He’s doing great. It was a lot of fun. (What was it like live) A lot of clapping. A lot of standing up and clapping. It was fun, though. It was very entertaining. ABC does a great job. I enjoyed it. We had a good group go out there. We had Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Rob Davis and Edgar Bennett and their wives. We had a really good time. It was fun. (Anthony Hargrove, did you know he’d be suspended, any idea what his role was in bounties when you signed him) I don’t think anybody really had any idea exactly the involvement and what the discipline was going to be. That’s really what the situation is. It’s a league matter. This is new territory for us. We’ve never been through something like this. We’re just paying attention to what the league is doing. But at the end of the day, it’s a league matter. (Can Rodgers improve from MVP season) My number one focus for Aaron – and it’s something Tom Clements and I and also Ben McAdoo who is now coach of the quarterbacks, we have talked about it since Day 1 – is really don’t make him do too much. I think it’s an easy trap to fall into when you are planning your offensive vision for the season, because he played at such a high level. Now, we have some things we are going to do that are new that he’s excited about. But he’s back at it. He’s going through the fundamentals. I hate to give you bad news, Rich – he’s crushed all your records in quarterback school. … He looks great and we look for Aaron to have another big season. (safety) I feel good about it. Really the thing with the safeties and the corners, with Charles Woodson having the ability to play safety or even corner, it’s really a combination of how many guys are going to come out of that group. Is it five and five? Six and four, with the corners and safeties? With Charles playing so many different positions … I really like the group. Morgan Burnett, I think he’s ready to be a front-line starter and contributor. And I really like our young guys. And Charlie Peprah played almost a thousand reps for us there last year. So we’ve got a lot of depth there, a lot of experience, and three young guys who are going to compete. I think that’s definitely a position to watch. (Levine and Jennings) Whether you keep four or five (safeties), there’s going to be tough decisions to make there. … Those guys have done a great job, and (they’re) people you don’t really know about. I think it’s their time to step up and compete for the 53. (staff) I look at the staff very much the way we look at the roster. You want to be able to create growth for your staff, and we’ve been able to do that offensively. Jerry Fontenot’s coaching his third position, Ben McAdoo is coaching his second. Tom has been a coordinator before. We have a plan in place for what we’re going to do on game day, and it’ll be seamless. That’s what the offseason is for. We’ve had those conversations, and we talk about the in-season responsibilities immediately when the season is over. We’re just like the players. (loss to the Giants) It’s a learning experience. That’s really how I have it filed away. There’s winning and (there’s) learning. There are definitely things we all can learn from from that game, and we need to apply it to our training and make sure we are ready when we are in those types of situations again.  Wed, 16 May 2012 14:30:00 GMT 13495484 2012-05-16T14:30:00Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Expect-heated-battle-for-Packer-QB-backup/-/1612/13395498/-/m0br3a/-/index.html For a couple seasons, the packers carried just two quarterbacks on their active roster. At the end of last year, they had three. This year, head coach Mike Mccarthy has four in camp. Aaron Rodgers will be backed up by Graham Harrell, Nick Hill, and 7th round draft pick B.J. Coleman. "Aaron spoils you because he's young," said coach Mike McCarthy. "He doesn't need the rest. He's not on a pitch count. You have to be smart with that, too. I think four is a healthy number. I think three really helps you because it helps the competition between the number two and the number three." Harrell has the inside track on the number two job, while Hill and Coleman will battle it out for the third spot.   Tue, 15 May 2012 12:47:31 GMT 13395498 2012-05-15T12:47:31Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-sign-5-tryout-players-waive-T-Campbell/-/1612/13392504/-/yly01pz/-/index.html The Green Bay Packers have signed tackle Shea Allard, wide receiver Jarrett Boykin, guard Grant Cook, wide receiver Curenski Gilleylen and cornerback Otis Merrill. All five players had a tryout in the team's rookie orientation camp this past weekend. Allard is a 6-5, 305-pound tackle out of Delaware, Boykin is a 6-2, 218-pound wide receiver from Virginia Tech, Cook is a 6-4, 318-pound guard from Arkansas, Gilleylen is a 5-11, 213-pound wide receiver/I-back from Nebraska and Merrill is a 5-11, 188-pound cornerback from Illinois State. Merrill previously played one season at Wisconsin. The Packers also waived tackle Chris Campbell. Tue, 15 May 2012 02:18:52 GMT 13392504 2012-05-15T02:18:52Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-finish-rookie-training-camp/-/1612/13379168/-/85ymltz/-/index.html Mike McCarthy now has a better idea of what his latest draft picks look like after spending the weekend with them at rookie training camp. The Green Bay Packers rookie camp finished in Titletown Sunday. Not only did head coach Mike Mccarthy get a good look at potential free agent signings, but he also got a look at his draft class. Mccarthy wishes there was more time, and is already looking forward to next week's organized team activities. "it's tough, because you really have to trust their game tape," said McCarthy. "That's what really factors, because they are in pads. I'm excited we had this camp. I really though the whole team as a whole got better. That's very encouraging. It's a credit to our players and our coaches." Organized team activities begin for the Packers with three sessions next week.   Mon, 14 May 2012 12:32:40 GMT 13379168 2012-05-14T12:32:40Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-sign-all-8-picks-14-undrafted-free-agents/-/1612/13088510/-/hibimk/-/index.html The Packers have signed all eight of their draft choices, including their top pick -- linebacker Nick Perry. The team announced Friday it has also signed second-round defensive end Jerel Worthy, second-round cornerback Casey Hayward, fourth-round defensive tackle Mike Daniels, fourth-round safety Jerron McMillian, fifth-round linebacker Terrell Manning, seventh-round tackle Andrew Datko and seventh-round quarterback B.J. Coleman. Green Bay also signed 14 undrafted free agents: West Virginia G Don Barclay, Minnesota RB Duane Bennett, Virginia Tech G Jaymes Brooks, Winston-Salem State FB Nic Cooper, San Diego State C Tommie Draheim, Wake Forest TE Cameron Ford, Minnesota TE Eric Lair, Holy Cross T Mike McCabe, Tulane LB Dezman Moses, South Dakota State WR Dale Moss, Vanderbilt S Sean Richardson, Buffalo WR Marcus Rivers, Southern Utah CB Dion Turner and USC RB Marc Tyler. Mon, 14 May 2012 11:35:29 GMT 13088510 2012-05-14T11:35:29Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/High-hopes-for-Packers-defense-first-draft/-/1612/13091438/-/eac4iu/-/index.html Not even a full day into his Green Bay Packers career, first-round draft pick Nick Perry was asked if he knew that some fans already wonder if his pass-rush skills can make him something of a savior for the defense. "I know that we need help, obviously on defense, but I'm just excited the opportunity is here. I just want to take advantage of it any way I can help the team," Perry said.  With new Packers players set to hit the practice field Friday afternoon for the team's rookie minicamp, the same sentiment could apply to several other Packers draftees. "It's time to go to work. That's what my first thought was. Just to be a part of something great," said Jerel Worthy, Packers defensive tackle. "You have Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson, you have so many great leaders around this locker room, you just want to come in and have an impact and do the best you can." "What a great opportunity to come in and learn from those guys. They know the Packer way. They've done it. They've been very successful. To be a part of this family is great. I have a long way to go, I have a lot to learn, and today is that first step," said Packers quarterback B.J. Coleman. Hoping to patch some holes in one of the league's leakiest defenses last season, Packers general manager Ted Thompson used his first six picks in last month's NFL draft on defensive players. All eight of the team's draft picks signed their contracts on Friday. Mon, 14 May 2012 11:33:57 GMT 13091438 2012-05-14T11:33:57Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Aaron-Rodgers-gets-date-devoted-to-him/-/1612/13052442/-/d6xtng/-/index.html Aaron Rodgers has received a lot of honors lately, but it hardly prepared him for what he received Wednesday. Rodgers found out about his official notification of Aaron Rodgers day in Wisconsin on December 12th.. That, of course is 12-12-12 on the calendar. It all started with a fan named Jennifer Brilowski, who started a Facebook page to get "Aaron Rodgers Day" going. Rodgers said even his hometown of Chico, Calif. couldn't top this. "It was a wooden board that said "home of Aaron Rodgers-- now, it recently got taken down-- stolen-- but no, nothing like this ever," said Rodgers. December 12th is a Wednesday, so it'll probably be full pads and practice because the Packers play the Bears that Sunday in Chicago.   Thu, 10 May 2012 12:50:31 GMT 13052442 2012-05-10T12:50:31Z http://www.channel3000.com/entertainment/Trail-in-Green-Bay-highlights-Packers-history/-/1628/12977530/-/hggvob/-/index.html A new walking trail highlighting landmarks in Green Bay Packers history is set to open next month. The Packers Heritage Trail features 17 bronze plaques that describe the significance of each landmark. All are within a mile of downtown Green Bay. The Hotel Northland is where Vince Lombardi held his introductory news conference in 1959. The Northern Building is where Curly Lambeau had an office while he was coaching the Packers while holding down a job for Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance. The self-guided tour covers about 4 miles. WLUK-TV said all the plaques will be installed by June 15. Former Packers beat reporter Cliff Christl spearheaded the project. Wed, 09 May 2012 17:11:03 GMT 12977530 2012-05-09T17:11:03Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Hargrove-s-declaration-says-he-followed-orders/-/1612/12820658/-/h9tgk3z/-/index.html Former Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargove describes in a sworn statement how he was told by ex-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and current Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt to deny the existence of a bounty program to NFL investigators. In a document first published by Yahoo Sports and also obtained Monday by The Associated Press, Hargrove acknowledges that he acted on Williams' and Vitt's instructions to "play dumb" if asked whether he was aware of bounties being placed on former Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre or any other player. The declaration is a point of contention between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. From the union's perspective, Hargrove's statement does not specifically say that he lied to anyone, nor does it state that he or any other Saints participated in a bounty program. The NFL has said, however, that Hargrove's statement acknowledges the existence of a bounty program and shows that Hargrove initially lied to NFL investigators about it. Tue, 08 May 2012 13:25:22 GMT 12820658 2012-05-08T13:25:22Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Rodgers-Braun-restaurant-opens-in-June/-/1612/12725630/-/om3nt6z/-/index.html Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun have signed a licensing agreement for a new restaurant bearing their names. The 8(asterisk)twelve restaurant in Brookfield is expected to open in late June. The SURG group will operate the restaurant, which will feature American classics on a wood-fire grill. The Journal Sentinel said the SURG group also operates Ryan Braun's Graffito restaurant in Milwaukee's Third Ward. Mon, 07 May 2012 19:52:02 GMT 12725630 2012-05-07T19:52:02Z http://www.channel3000.com/money/Cabela-s-to-open-store-on-Packers-property/-/1644/12564522/-/jliqrkz/-/index.html Outdoor retailer Cabela's will open on a store on property owned by the Green Bay Packers. Packers CEO Mark Murphy said Friday Cabela's will build a store near the intersection of Highway 41 and Lombardi Avenue in Ashwaubenon. A Green Bay television station reported the Packers organization has been trying to develop the property for a couple of years, but part of the property is a wetland. The Wisconsin Legislature changed the law allowing the site to be developed last year. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall, and Cabela's plans to open the store in the summer of 2013. It will Cabela's third store in Wisconsin. It also has stores in Prairie du Chien and Richfield. The company also operates a distribution center in Prairie du Chien. Cabela's is headquartered in Sidney, Neb. Fri, 04 May 2012 19:12:23 GMT 12564522 2012-05-04T19:12:23Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Agent-Lions-make-offer-to-free-agent-RB-Grant/-/1612/12559840/-/11ts4/-/index.html Free agent running back Ryan Grant is considering a contract offer from the Detroit Lions, according to his agent. Agent Alan Herman confirmed multiple media reports that the Lions have made an offer for Grant, who has played the past five seasons for the Green Bay Packers. The 29-year-old Grant has played in 63 career games, gaining 4,016 yards and scoring 25 touchdowns rushing. He had back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons in 2008 and 2009. Grant missed nearly all of the 2010 season after injuring his ankle in the Packers' season-opening game against Philadelphia. He split time with James Starks for the Packers last season. Fri, 04 May 2012 19:11:29 GMT 12559840 2012-05-04T19:11:29Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-defensive-lineman-faces-8-game-suspension/-/1612/12504040/-/31vvg6z/-/index.html Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers, is suspended for eight games this season for his role in the pay-for-pain bounty system in New Orleans. Saints defensive end Will Smith is barred for four games; and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, will miss three games. The worst of the punishments was handed down to Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who was was suspended for the entire 2102 season. All of the suspensions are without pay. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's ruling was announced on Wednesday. All four players have three days to appeal. An NFL investigation determined that the Saints had a bounty system from 2009-11 that offered thousands of dollars to players for big hits that knocked opponents out of games. Wed, 02 May 2012 21:12:57 GMT 12504040 2012-05-02T21:12:57Z http://www.channel3000.com/sports/Packers-2012-schedule-set/-/1612/12154834/-/hneopgz/-/index.html While Mike McCarthy did claim Tuesday evening to be “just like everybody else at this time of the year” with the release of the coming NFL season’s schedule, the Green Bay Packers coach wasn’t looking at his team’s slate of 2012 games the way the rest of us were. So instead of looking at the stretch of three straight road games his team will play, or at the fact that five of the team’s seven games after the bye week are against NFC North rivals, McCarthy was paying closer attention to what he’s referred to in the past as “stress points” in the schedule, and how often his wildly popular team would be playing at his favorite time: Noon on Sundays. What did McCarthy find? A challenging, imbalanced early-season schedule – one that includes a Week 2 Thursday night game against the archrival Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field and a Week 3 trip to Seattle to face Matt Flynn on Monday Night Football – and 13 consecutive Sunday games, with nine of them scheduled to kick off at noon. All told, the Packers received five prime-time games, as they received three games on Sunday Night Football on NBC: At Houston on Oct. 14; at the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants on Nov. 25; and at home against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 9. “I don’t really get too caught up in who we play and where we play them. I focus more on how many days there are between games, the time of games,” McCarthy explained in quotes distributed by the Packers’ public relations department. “That’s really my focus from a scheduling standpoint. We have known since the season ended who we are going to play. Who, what time, how much time we have to prepare is really the key. “As far as playing three on the road, I don’t look at that as an extraordinary challenge. It is always challenging, period, when you go on the road. We just happen to have three of them in a row.” That three game stretch – at Indianapolis on Oct. 7, at Houston on Oct. 14 and at St. Louis on Oct. 21 – marks the first time since 1998 that the Packers had to play three straight games on the road. It also makes the Packers one of only two teams – the Texans being the other – with three consecutive road games on the schedule. Before that three-week window, however, the Packers face a challenging gauntlet that begins with the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on Sept. 9, followed by a showdown with Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall and the Bears four days later. The 185th renewal of the NFL’s longest-running rivalry will be the first of the NFL Network’s season-long Thursday night slate, and it’s followed by a trip to Seattle to face Flynn on ESPN’s Monday Night Football, which will mark the Packers’ only Monday night appearance of the season. And as if September isn’t jam-packed with enough big games, the Packers close out the month with the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau in a fourth straight NFC game to start the year. “Your home opener is always special and to start the season at home will be great for our football team, our organization and our fans. We have an excellent opponent in the San Francisco 49ers, and I think it is a great way to start the season for both teams,” McCarthy said. “Then we go right into a short week, which is a challenge. I think it is definitely going to be a test for our football team from a preparation standpoint. But our guys are up to the challenge. We’re a mature football team, and anytime we play the Bears it is a lot of fun, especially on national television.” After the three consecutive road games, the Packers return home to play host to Jacksonville and Arizona before a Week 10 open date, which ties for the latest the team has ever had a bye. “I don’t mind the late bye. I don’t mind a late bye and I don’t mind a Thursday night game late in the year,” McCarthy said. “I think it gives you a chance to regroup and get ready for the stretch run.” Following the bye, they’ll face two critical road games: At Detroit on Nov. 18, with the up-and-coming Lions coming off their a playoff appearance, and at the defending Super Bowl-champion New York Giants on Nov. 25, a rematch of the NFC Divisional Playoff game that ended the 15-1 Packers’ season last year. Green Bay then closes the season with four division games in the final five weeks, including two games against the Minnesota Vikings (at home on Dec. 2 and at the Metrodome to close out the regular season Dec. 30), a Sunday Night Football matchup with the Lions on Dec. 9 and a trip to often frigid Soldier Field in Chicago to face the Bears on Dec. 16. Mixed in is a Dec. 23 home game against the Tennessee Titans. McCarthy called the five division games in the final seven weeks “unusual.” “That’s something that we’ll look at from a planning standpoint because division games are obviously the most important. There is more planning and preparation that goes into those games from the offseason up until the point that you play them, and those games take a lot out of you physically,” McCarthy said. “Those are all the variables that we will look at.” Here’s a look at the full schedule: PRESEASON Thu., Aug. 9 at San Diego 7 p.m. ESPN Thu., Aug. 16 CLEVELAND ^ 7 p.m. state Thu., Aug. 23 at Cincinnati 6 p.m. state Thu., Aug. 30 KANSAS CITY 6 p.m. state REGULAR SEASON Sun., Sept. 9 SAN FRANCISCO 3:15 p.m. FOX Thu., Sept. 13 CHICAGO ^ 7:20 p.m. NFLN Mon., Sept. 24 at Seattle 7:30 p..m. ESPN Sun., Sept. 30 NEW ORLEANS 3:15 p.m. FOX Sun., Oct. 7 at Indianapolis Noon FOX Sun., Oct. 14 at Houston 7:20 p.m. NBC Sun., Oct. 21 at St. Louis Noon FOX Sun., Oct. 28 JACKSONVILLE Noon CBS Sun., Nov. 4 ARIZONA ^ Noon FOX Sun., Nov. 11 Open Date Sun., Nov. 18 at Detroit* Noon FOX Sun., Nov. 25 at NY Giants * 7:20 p.m. NBC Sun., Dec. 2 MINNESOTA * Noon FOX Sun., Dec. 9 DETROIT * 7:20 p.m. NBC Sun., Dec. 16 at Chicago * Noon FOX Sun., Dec. 23 TENNESSEE * Noon CBS Sun., Dec. 30 at Minnesota * Noon FOX *—Start time and broadcast may shift due to NFL flexible scheduling Mon, 30 Apr 2012 20:30:24 GMT 12154834 2012-04-30T20:30:24Z