Black and Blue all over: Hawk's new role
October, 22, 2009
10/22/09
7:49
AM ET
By
Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
Posted by ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert
What’s going on with Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk? That’s the question asked Thursday by Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Hawk is technically a starter but isn’t involved in most of the Packers’ sub defensive packages. Brandon Chillar and Nick Barnett have been the inside linebackers on passing downs. As a result, Bedard writes, Hawk has played only 31 of a possible 125 snaps the past two games.
Hawk hasn’t said anything publicly to suggest he’s upset, but Bedard notes he sprinted off the field after Sunday’s game against Detroit at Lambeau Field and hasn’t been available for media interviews this week.
The bottom line is that the No. 5 overall pick of the 2006 draft has become a role player. Here’s how coach Mike McCarthy put it, in part: “You go through a process where you try to acquire good football players, and then if you get more than 11 then you have another set of problems.”
Continuing around the NFC North:
What’s going on with Green Bay linebacker A.J. Hawk? That’s the question asked Thursday by Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
Hawk is technically a starter but isn’t involved in most of the Packers’ sub defensive packages. Brandon Chillar and Nick Barnett have been the inside linebackers on passing downs. As a result, Bedard writes, Hawk has played only 31 of a possible 125 snaps the past two games.
Hawk hasn’t said anything publicly to suggest he’s upset, but Bedard notes he sprinted off the field after Sunday’s game against Detroit at Lambeau Field and hasn’t been available for media interviews this week.
The bottom line is that the No. 5 overall pick of the 2006 draft has become a role player. Here’s how coach Mike McCarthy put it, in part: “You go through a process where you try to acquire good football players, and then if you get more than 11 then you have another set of problems.”
Continuing around the NFC North:
- Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee checks in with Cleveland tackle Joe Thomas, a former Wisconsin star.
- Chicago coach Lovie Smith was vague when discussing his likely lineup at linebacker for Sunday’s game at Cincinnati, notes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times.
- David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on quarterback Jay Cutler’s contract extension: “Besides a $6 ride on the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier or a $2.85 cheeseburger at Billy Goat Tavern, is there a better bargain in Chicago than Cutler? This was a rare negotiating game where both sides won, but nobody more than Bears fans.”
- Vaughn McClure of the Tribune examines the ridiculous blackball claims from former Bears tailback Cedric Benson.
- Minnesota’s defensive line likes the fact that Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger holds the ball in the pocket, according to this blog entry in the Star Tribune.
- In case you missed it, the Vikings released quarterback John David Booty from their practice squad. Again. Rick Alonzo of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has the story.
- George Sipple of the Detroit Free Press checks in on plans for Lions players during the bye weekend.
Kevin Seifert | email
NFL- ESPN NFC North Blogger
- Joined ESPN in 2008
- Covered the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Kevin Seifert
Seifert joined ESPN.com in 2008 after covering the Minnesota Vikings for the Minneapolis Star Tribune for eight years. He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and children.
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