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We're Black and Blue All Over:

A day after former New Orleans Saints defensive linemen Anthony Hargrove denied he was motivated by a bounty in the 2009 NFC Championship Game, a former Green Bay Packers linebacker has spoken out strongly against the idea of bounties as well.

Brady Poppinga, who spent last season with the St. Louis Rams, told Alex Marvez of FoxSports.com that the story has painted too many players with a broad brush.

Poppinga: "I just can't sit there and be silent. I look at this as an opportunity to share with the public that we, as football players, are not barbaric and out to try and destroy everything in our path. Football is my profession and I take it seriously. It's an art form. It's technical, strategic and takes a lot of intelligence to play. When this came out, it started to confirm the idea that football guys are idiots. That's not who we are. Ninety-five percent of the guys are very intelligent. It's just guys who love to go out and play a physical game."

The Rams' defensive coordinator, of course, is now Gregg Williams -- the same man accused of organizing the Saints' bounty system. I'm guessing Poppinga won't be playing for Williams in 2012, and I'm guessing he would be fine with that.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel doesn't think Packers general manager Ted Thompson will be active in free agency.
• Three people testified Thursday that the girlfriend of Minnesota Vikings cornerback Chris Cook complained that he strangled her during a domestic incident in October. The woman has since recanted her story, according to David Hanners of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Legislation for the Vikings' stadium proposal has been written, according to Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune.
• It was surprising to hear Vikings coach Leslie Frazier speak of Cedric Griffin's possible future with the team, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press considers South Carolina cornerback Stephen Gilmore as a possible Detroit Lions draft pick.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News looks at the Lions' salary-cap issues.
• The Free Press offers a photo gallery of secondary players the Lions could pursue in free agency.
• The family of former Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson, who committed suicide last year, has settled his bankruptcy case. Jared S. Hopkins of the Chicago Tribune has more.

A few Tuesday training camp tidbits in quick-hitting fashion ...

Item: The Chicago Bears signed tight end Desmond Clark to a one-year contract.
Comment: It's not entirely clear what the Bears are up to at tight end. Clark was inactive for 11 of 16 games last season and didn't seem to fit into the team's plans. But he has been a locker room pillar for years and might have extra value now that we know center Olin Kreutz won't return. Said Clark: "I think the way the Bears viewed me as a leader had a great deal to do with it."

Item: After mulling retirement, Kreutz wants to play somewhere this season, according to his agent.
Comment: Kreutz didn't encounter a ton of interest on the free-agent market, but someone will need a veteran center in the next few weeks, if not before.

Item: The Indianapolis Colts signed former Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris.
Comment: Four sacks in two years.

Item: The St. Louis Rams signed former Green Bay Packers linebacker Brady Poppinga.
Comment: Poppinga is expected to compete with another former Packers linebacker, Na'il Diggs, for a starting job. He'll certainly bring an aggressive attitude to the Rams' defense.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings might still be in the market for free-agent receiver Malcom Floyd, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
Comment: Could Floyd bulk up and play left tackle?

Earlier this month, we noted the Green Bay Packers would be close to the NFL salary-cap limit of $120 million when free agency began. Salary-cap rules remain a bit of a mystery here during this post-lockout frenzy, but from what I can see, the Packers have created at least $19 million in cap space over the past few days.

That total is the sum cap values of the five veteran players they reportedly plan to release. The most recent name added to the list is longtime offensive lineman Mark Tauscher, who managed only 12 starts over the past two years because of injuries. The list also includes defensive lineman Justin Harrell, along with linebackers Brandon Chillar, Nick Barnett and Brady Poppinga.

It's possible the Packers have created more space by renegotiating some veteran contracts, but if that's the case, it hasn't yet been reported.

If you're hoping the Packers will use that money to sign a veteran free agent, you've obviously not been watching how they have operated over the past few years. Some of the money will go toward signing their draft class. (Their rookie pool assignment was about $5.1 million this year.) Some of it might go to receiver James Jones, if he re-signs, and then I presume the Packers will consider contract extensions for some of their young starters, from guard Josh Sitton to tight end Jermichael Finley to receiver Jordy Nelson.

More details for the curious: It's been a while since the NFL salary cap has mattered, so let's touch a bit on what is happening.

The NFL salary cap is operating under post-June 1 rules. That means when a team releases or trades a player at this point, his entire salary cap figure for 2011 disappears from their books. The remaining "acceleration," if any, from his contract then counts against the team's 2012 salary cap.

That acceleration is known as "dead money" because it is cap space devoted to players no longer on the roster. So the Packers will have some dead money charged to their 2012 cap as a result of these 2011 moves. My pea brain is spinning too much to figure it out, but it will be a relatively small number.

Recent Packers posts: Who might replace left guard Daryn Colledge? The Packers trust Mason Crosby as their place-kicker of the future. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers really, really wants the Packers to re-sign Jones. To little surprise, the Packers told Barnett he will be traded or released. Chillar suffered a cruel fate.

Detroit Lions left tackle Jeff Backus is not the only NFC North player who suffered an injury during the lockout. Green Bay Packers linebacker Brandon Chillar tore his hamstring last week and has now endured the worst of lockout nightmares.

The Packers released Chillar on Friday morning, a story first reported by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Because the injury occurred during the lockout, the rest of his contract has been voided and he won't receive the injury protection that veteran players otherwise get when they are released in the midst of an injury. The risk of such an eventuality was one of the primary reasons Packers players decided against holding full-team workouts during the lockout.

No one will be crying for Chillar, who received about $10 million of the $19 million deal he signed in 2009. And it's possible the Packers would have released him anyway because of multiple shoulder injuries he has suffered. In a radio interview, Chillar told ESPNMilwaukee.com he knew his Packers career was over the moment he heard his hamstring pop during a private workout and said he has "no hard feelings."

"As a pro, you have to be real careful on how you train," Chillar said. "And I was. It was just a freak accident."

The Packers have spent much of this week clearing veterans from their corps of linebackers. The count is now up to three: Chillar, Nick Barnett and Brady Poppinga. By my count, their departures created $12.38 million in salary-cap space for 2011.

Per their philosophy, the Packers will spend a good part of training camp developing and evaluating their depth at inside linebacker behind starters Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk.

Recent Packers posts: Who might replace left guard Daryn Colledge? The Packers trust Mason Crosby as their place-kicker of the future. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers really, really wants the Packers to re-sign receiver James Jones. To little surprise, the Packers told Barnett he will be traded or released.

Thursday afternoon marked the opening of the NFL's official waiver season, when teams can formally release players and begin adjusting their salary cap structure. We've already discussed the Chicago Bears' now-official decision to release tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, and now we'll hit some other NFC North-related personnel moves in quick-hitting fashion.

Item: The Green Bay Packers have informed linebacker Brady Poppinga and defensive tackle Justin Harrell they will be released, according to Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
Comment: Poppinga was coming off a serious knee injury. Harrell now qualifies as the biggest bust of general manager Ted Thompson's tenure. Drafted with a history of injuries, Harrell couldn't stay on the field for the Packers.

Item: The Minnesota Vikings released safety Madieu Williams.
Comment: Williams was due $5.4 million in 2011, a high price for a player who might not have made the team. He was originally signed on the advice of now-coach Leslie Frazier, but a 2008 neck injury seemed to rob him of some aggressiveness as a tackler. I'm not sure if his replacement is on the roster yet, but Tyrell Johnson might get a chance.

Item: The Detroit Lions will release linebacker Jordon Dizon.
Comment: Dizon was a vestige of Rod Marinelli's Tampa 2 defense and too small to fit into the Lions' current scheme.

Item: The Bears lost out on two free agents they have been reported to have interest in, receiver Brad Smith and offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod.
Comment: They're too busy getting straight at tight end to worry about all that.

Packers LB Brady Poppinga dishes on the Super Bowl XLV win, the postgame celebration, what comes next for Green Bay and more.

Go ahead and add two more players to the Green Bay Packers' stunning season-ending injury list. Linebacker Brady Poppinga (knee) and defensive lineman Mike Neal (shoulder) are both scheduled for surgery to repair significant injuries, coach Mike McCarthy told reporters Monday.

Poppinga suffered his injury two weeks ago against the Miami Dolphins and doctors found more damage than originally anticipated. A reserve when the Packers have a healthy starting lineup, Poppinga was filling in for the injured Clay Matthews in that game and finishes the year with 14 tackles and one sack.

Neal, the Packers' second-round draft choice, was limited to only two games as a rookie because of rib and shoulder injuries.

The Packers now have nine players who are either on injured reserve or are destined to be stowed there. It's possible that they'll get back two previously injured players, cornerback Al Harris and safety Atari Bigby, in time for Sunday's game at the New York Jets.

If the Green Bay Packers wanted to activate any of their three eligible players off the physically unable to perform list in time for Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saturday was their deadline. The NFL's business day has come and gone with no announcement, and Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports the Packers have decided against it.

That means cornerback Al Harris, safety Atari Bigby and running back James Starks will be sidelined for at least one more week. There had been some optimism that Harris and/or Bigby would be activated, but coach Mike McCarthy said during the week that the team was planning to follow a two- or three-week protocol.

The Packers will have two weeks left in their window to activate any of the three before they become ineligible to play this season. It appears the Packers already have at least one roster spot available; rookie defensive lineman Mike Neal is expected to miss the rest of the season with a significant shoulder injury, according to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Linebacker Brady Poppinga, who had knee surgery last week, could also be a candidate to open a roster spot by going on injured reserve.

Getting inside the Friday injury report....

Chicago Bears: Cornerback Zack Bowman (foot) is doubtful and not expected to play Sunday against the Washington Redskins. Guard Roberto Garza (knee) also won't play. Safety Major Wright (hamstring) is questionable, but also unlikely to play. Linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle), on the other hand, is questionable but could see some game action.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers have ruled out defensive lineman Mike Neal (shoulder) and linebacker Brady Poppinga (knee). Linebackers Brandon Chillar (shoulder) and Clay Matthews (hamstring) are questionable, but both appear on track to play Sunday night against the Minnesota Vikings. The status of defensive end Ryan Pickett (ankle) is less clear. Right tackle Mark Tauscher (shoulder) is questionable, but might need another week off. Coach Mike McCarthy wouldn't tip his hand on whether cornerback Al Harris (knee) and/or safety Atari Bigby would be activated from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list, but both had strong weeks of practice.

Minnesota Vikings: Safety Husain Abdullah (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday night's game. Jamarca Sanford or Tyrell Johnson will replace him. Cornerback Lito Sheppard (hand) is questionable, but he figured to fall a rung on the depth chart anyway with the expected return of rookie cornerback Chris Cook (knee). Cook seems likely to serve as the nickel back. Center John Sullivan is the likely starter after missing most of three games with a calf injury.

As the Green Bay Packers plan for the return of several injured players this week, they're losing another to a significant injury.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that linebacker Brady Poppinga has a torn meniscus in his knee. Poppinga was scheduled for surgery Monday morning, after which the Packers will determine his rehabilitation time. Poppinga started Sunday's game for injured linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring).

Meanwhile, coach Mike McCarthy said Monday that the Packers will open a practice window this week for three players currently on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Cornerback Al Harris, safety Atari Bigby and running back James Starks will all participate Wednesday in practice.

They are technically eligible to play as early as Sunday night's game against the Minnesota Vikings, but it's unclear if any of them will be ready.

"It's time for them to get into football activities and find out exactly where they are," McCarthy said.

With this window open, the Packers now have three weeks to activate each player to the 53-man roster. If not, they will be ineligible to play this season.

Some quick thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' 23-20 loss to the Miami Dolphins.

What it means: The Green Bay Packers are 3-3, with all three losses coming by three points. Two have been in overtime, and the winning field goal in the third came with four seconds remaining in regulation. No matter how small the margin of defeat, however, the Packers are nowhere close to where they hoped to be six games into the season.

This will turn it around: In classic Ted Thompson fashion, the Packers acquired safety Anthony Smith from the Jacksonville Jaguars after the game for a conditional seventh-round draft pick. Yes, it's the same Smith whom the Packers released on the final cutdown day prior to the 2009 season. Smith will provide some depth following injuries to Morgan Burnett and Derrick Martin, and before Atari Bigby can return from the physically unable to perform list.

Offensive: The Packers had 359 net yards, but 86 of them came on one pass play to receiver Greg Jennings in the first quarter. They averaged 4.7 yards on their other 58 plays. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers continues to be uncharacteristically inaccurate, completing only 18 of 33 passes, and his best play Sunday was what appeared to be an impromptu quarterback sneak to tie the game with 13 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter. Rodgers did appear to be under duress for a good part of the game; defensive end Cameron Wake had three of the Dolphins' five sacks.

Controversial call: Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum was so upset about a fourth-quarter call that he showed a photograph of the pre-snap alignment to reporters, according to Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Linebacker Robert Francois was called for being over the center on a punt, a new rule this season. But Slocum said the photograph showed Francois was well off the line of scrimmage and in compliance with the rule. The call, however, returned possession to the Dolphins and set up a go-ahead touchdown pass to tight end Anthony Fasano.

Short-handed: We already knew the Packers would be without tight end Jermichael Finley, right tackle Mark Tauscher and linebacker Nick Barnett, among others. But they also played Sunday without linebacker Clay Matthews, defensive end Ryan Pickett and defensive lineman Mike Neal. Matthews' replacement, Brady Poppinga, left Sunday's game with an injury.

Back in action: The Packers made an effort to get the ball to their top offensive playmaker following the loss of Finley. Jennings finished with six receptions for 133 yards after catching 14 in the Packers' first five games combined.

What's next: The Packers host the Minnesota Vikings next Sunday night at Lambeau Field.

Graham Gano kicked a 33-yard field goal in overtime Sunday to give the Washington Redskins a 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers.

What it means: Now 3-2, the Packers are once again a game behind the Chicago Bears in the NFC North. The Packers have to be sick after not only losing a game they controlled for most of the afternoon, but also after seeing another injury to a significant player. The Packers led for the first 58 minutes, 39 seconds of the game. I didn't see every snap while in transit, but watching Mason Crosby's 53-yard field goal attempt bounce off the left upright near the end of regulation must have been painful.

Injury of note: Tight end Jermichael Finley didn't return after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter and was later seen standing on the sidelines with crutches. The Packers already were playing Sunday without tailback Ryan Grant, right tackle Mark Tauscher, linebacker Nick Barnett, linebacker Brandon Chillar and safety Morgan Burnett. Losing Finley for any amount of time would represent the biggest blow by far. We'll keep you updated on any details that arise, but for now Packers fans everywhere are holding their breath. Making matters worse, the Packers also played much of the game without veteran backup tight end Donald Lee, who didn't return after suffering a shoulder injury. That left rookie Andrew Quarless playing key minutes in a close game.

Think about it: The Packers' two losses have both come with less than five seconds remaining in the respective games. Chicago Bears place-kicker Robbie Gould booted a 19-yard field goal with four seconds remaining in Week 3. Sunday, Gano's 33-yard field goal came on the final play.

Flags fly: The Packers added another nine penalties to their season total, including two that helped the Redskins get Gano in position for an easier field goal attempt in overtime. Linebacker Brady Poppinga's holding penalty gave the Redskins another set of downs after failing to convert third-and-1 from the Packers' 30-yard line, and a pass interference call three plays on cornerback Charles Woodson got the Redskins out of a third-and-15 at the 30.

What's next: The Packers hope to rebound next Sunday at Lambeau Field against the Miami Dolphins.

Every Friday, NFL teams are required to classify each injured player's availability for the next game. And so traditionally on this blog, we take that occasion to translate the information as best we can. The big Week 1 news is that Detroit Lions linebacker DeAndre Levy (groin) appears awfully, awfully unlikely to play against the Chicago Bears.

Let's get to it:

Chicago Bears: The only player at risk is safety Craig Steltz (ankle), who participated fully in Friday's practice but is still listed as questionable. At most, Steltz would be a special teams participant Sunday against the Lions. Linebacker Lance Briggs (ankle), who missed practice earlier in the week, is listed as probable and will definitely play. The same goes for tight end Desmond Clark (ankle).

Detroit Lions: Levy never practiced this week and is listed as doubtful. Veteran Landon Johnson is expected to start in his place. Safety Louis Delmas (groin) has been limited in practice but is expected to play. Safety C.C. Brown (fractured forearm) and cornerback Jonathan Wade (fractured finger) are both probable and will play with heavy padding.

Green Bay Packers: Cornerback Brandon Underwood (shoulder) was declared out. The only other players at risk are linebacker Desmond Bishop (hamstring) and defensive lineman Mike Neal (side). They're listed as questionable, but neither participated in practice on Thursday and Friday. That's not a good sign. Linebacker Brady Poppinga (knee) returned to practice Friday and is probable. Linebacker Clay Matthews (hamstring) had full participation all week.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 6

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The battalion of satellite trucks was long gone when the Green Bay Packers reported to training camp this summer, having vacated the premises shortly after quarterback Brett Favre was traded in August 2008.

Every player was signed and accounted for, making a distant memory of holdouts that have disrupted training camp in each of the past two seasons.

All that remained was the type of tranquility that allows a team to come of age. Many of us believe the Packers have the makings of a special group, one that is already off to a good start with a productive and --- more importantly -- quiet training camp.

"We determine our path that we're going to take," coach Mike McCarthy said. "Maybe we have less obstacles going into the year than we've had in the past for people to evaluate. If they think that and like us more this year, that's fine. But in reality, if you don't come here and put in the time and put in that foundation, it doesn't matter. These are our foundation days, and I like the work our guys have been putting in."

Quiet and determined, the Packers have been busy implementing some second-year wrinkles into defensive coordinator Dom Capers' scheme. They're facilitating the continued growth of tight end Jermichael Finley and are literally working overtime to rectify their special teams and kicking problems from a year ago.

These Packers are thinking big -- as big as it gets. So are their fans. I spotted more than a few "Super Bowl or bust" signs in the training camp bleachers last week. Those expectations are deserved and embraced in Green Bay.

"We have the right pedigree," quarterback Aaron Rodgers said. "... I like the way we're practicing. But a lot of things have to happen between now and the end of the season. You have to have a couple things go your way, you have to be able to stay healthy, and you have to execute down the stretch and win some games in the end."

Make no mistake, however. The building blocks are in place.

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. Have the Packers done enough to address the pass defense that let them down in losses to Pittsburgh and Arizona last season? Three focal points jumped out during my visit to camp.

First, McCarthy has instituted mandatory tackling drills every day, an effort to limit yards after catch. You might not think that tackling is directly related to pass defense, but the Packers determined their problems stemmed as much from broken tackles after modest catches as they did from a lack of pass rush or poor coverage. So it's been back to the most basic of fundamentals this summer.

"If you're a high schooler," McCarthy said, "this is the practice you want to learn from."

Second, the Packers are committed to leaving second-year defensive lineman B.J. Raji at nose tackle rather than shifting him between tackle and end in their base scheme. Raji was unstoppable in an inside role at Boston College, and while the Packers' 3-4 scheme is not entirely comparable, this arrangement represents the Packers' best opportunity for collapsing the pocket.

Finally, there were some encouraging signs from two young cornerbacks the Packers are counting on for improved depth. Pat Lee grabbed an athletic interception by jumping over receiver James Jones during one practice, and second-year player Brandon Underwood has caught everyone's eye. Most recently, he returned an interception for a touchdown during a live period of Saturday's Family Night scrimmage. Rodgers and McCarthy went out of their way to mention Underwood during recent interviews.

"He's had a great camp," Rodgers said. McCarthy added: "Brandon is clearly a much more mature player. He has all the skills. ... The thing about him, he's a tough, smart guy, too. He's got a chance to be a really good player."

2. Can Finley continue his path to stardom? Rodgers picked up the phone shortly after the Pro Bowl, where he worked with tight ends Vernon Davis and Jason Witten, and called Finley. "I firmly believe Jermichael Finley is in their class," Rodgers said. "He is a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end. And that's what I told him. I said, 'You've got a lot of work in front of you, but you've got the talent and ability to be recognized as a Pro Bowl tight end every year.'"

As I noted during the offseason, Rodgers threw more toward Finley than any other Packers player during the second half of last season. He changed the way opponents approached the Green Bay offense, and he spent much of the offseason working to upgrade his blocking skills to give the Packers more of a run-pass option when he is in the game. After dabbling in boxing and mixed martial arts to improve his hand quickness, Finley said: "I'm still a work in progress with my blocking and stuff. I just need to maintain and stay consistent. If I get that straight, the sky is the limit for me."

3. Can the Packers straighten out their special teams? Rankings for combined coverage and return performance in the NFL are elusive, but Football Outsiders provides a reliable independent analysis. FO gave the Packers the worst special-teams rating in the league last season, and McCarthy has reacted with a number of measures that suggest the analysis is spot on.

The Packers are now devoting an extra 10 minutes to special teams per practice, a significant number considering how regimented modern-day NFL practices have become. They are holding an open competition to replace punter Jeremy Kapinos, for now pitting former Australian rules player Chris Bryan against Tim Masthay, and they welcomed a newly conditioned place-kicker Mason Crosby this summer.

Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum is using the extra time to run coverage drills that emphasize controlled engagement with opponents. As for the punting competition, I couldn't say there was much separation between Bryan and Masthay. "Those guys are kicking it high and kicking it long," Slocum said.

As for Crosby, who struggled during the second half of last season, Slocum said: "Physically, I think he's at his best since I've been with him. He really put in some work in the summer and spring to increase his core strength. I think you're going to see that in his kickoff distance and from a field goal standpoint." Crosby missed five of his first 11 training camp kicks, but Slocum acknowledged that rotating Masthay and Bryan as holders probably played a role.

"We're working right now to build the cohesiveness of the hold, the snap and the kick," he said. "We missed a couple field goals, but I think his mentality is right where it needs to be, and we're working to get that together."

As if on cue, Crosby was lights-out during Saturday's Family Night scrimmage, drilling seven of eight attempts -- including shots from 47, 51 and 53 yards.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

I would never have guessed receiver Donald Driver would have a contract extension by the end of the first week of camp. From the outside, you could have put two and two together and wondered if he wasn't entering his final season with the team. After all, Driver has already set the franchise record for career receptions. He turned 35 in the offseason, was entering the final year of his existing deal and would need to hold off a hard-charging young receiver in Jordy Nelson. But it didn't take the Packers long to realize Driver is rejuvenated after having both knees cleaned out this spring. "I feel so much better," he said.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

To this point, the Packers have been unable to find a spot for veteran linebacker Brady Poppinga in their scheme. During a midweek shakeup of the linebacker depth chart, Poppinga found himself behind Brandon Chillar, Clay Matthews and Brad Jones. He was later sidelined by a concussion. Poppinga is a good player who might be better suited as a 4-3 linebacker -- or, if he bulked up, a 4-3 defensive end.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Although there is a long way to go, it appears incumbent Daryn Colledge is holding off Jason Spitz for the starting left guard spot. Spitz has also been working behind center Scott Wells and would seem to be an ideal multi-position backup. The rest of the offensive line appears healthy and set: Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher at tackles, with Colledge and Josh Sitton at guards.
• Although the Packers dramatically cut down their sack totals during the second half of last season, pass protection remains a point of emphasis. "We've got to do a better job of cutting down sacks and negative yardage plays," Rodgers said. He added that Finley's presence "opens up the field" for the offense and, in turn, makes it more difficult for defenses to mount a pass rush. I thought it was an interesting, if not direct, correlation and will take a closer look at that in the coming weeks.
• From the outside, cornerback Al Harris appears to be in phenomenal condition as he completes his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury. McCarthy said Harris is "champing at the bit" to begin practicing, but he simply hasn't been cleared medically. Still, the Packers are much more optimistic about Harris' future than they were a few months ago. McCarthy said Harris was "a big question mark" at the end of spring practice but said there is "no reason to think" Harris won't return to the field in 2010. "I just don't want him to do too much too fast," McCarthy said. "I don't want him to have a setback."
• The Packers made a number of experimental adjustments to their base linebacker group, most notably moving Matthews to the left side and inserting Chillar on the right side. The move was prompted by a minor injury that caused Brad Jones to miss several days of practice, and the switchback has yet to occur. "Brandon is sort of a multi-purpose guy for us last year and we've liked what we've seen from him," Capers said. One way or the other, Chillar is going to play a lot this season.
• Safety Atari Bigby will miss about a month of practice because of ankle surgery, and it's quite possible the Packers will open the season with rookie Morgan Burnett in the starting lineup. While the Packers are excited about Burnett's future, it's always a tough task to get rookies ready to start in Week 1. Understandably, Burnett is swimming in the playbook right now. "By the end of training camp," he said, "I'll have everything that I need down."
• McCarthy has installed a sign on the office wall of each coordinator. It reads: "Less volume, more creativity." McCarthy said it applies mostly to his own offensive play-calling, but it's also appropriate to keep in mind as the Packers enter their second year in Capers' scheme.
• The early-camp understanding has been that Will Blackmon will resume his role as the primary kickoff and possible punt returner, but Blackmon's surgically-repaired knee has been sore and cost him a number of practices during the first week. He didn't participate in the Family Night scrimmage, but McCarthy attributed his absence to normal post-surgery soreness.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Herewith are my observations and thoughts on the Green Bay Packers' annual Family Night scrimmage, which unlike last year actually took place as planned. The big stories were place-kicker Mason Crosby and two nice plays by some young defensive backs.

• Crosby's first kickoff went nine yards deep in the end zone and he converted seven of eight field goal attempts. His only miss was from 44 yards on a hold that might have left something to be desired. The makes were from 26, 31, 36, 41, 47, 51 and 53 yards. There was some early-camp concern about Crosby's accuracy, but Saturday night he was pretty much lights-out. "It was definitely a good way to start," Crosby said. "I felt good. I thought I hit the ball well, and the whole operation did great."
• Cornerback Brandon Underwood, working with the first team in place of a resting Charles Woodson, intercepted a Graham Harrell pass and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown. As I'll also note in my upcoming Packers Camp Confidential, Underwood has caught just about everyone's eyes this summer. "I feel a lot more comfortable with what I'm doing," he said. "I feel a lot more comfortable that when they line up, I'm going to know what to look for and can try to decipher everything they're doing."
• Rookie Sam Shields, meanwhile, stepped in front of a Matt Flynn pass and unofficially took it back 97 yards for a touchdown. I'm telling you, Shields looks much more comfortable as a defensive back than as kick returner. He also displayed some flair by high-stepping the final 10 yards before crossing into the end zone. "Just a little showboating," he said.
• Jordy Nelson worked with the first team in place of a resting Donald Driver and caught Aaron Rodgers' first pass, a bullet down the seam for 27 yards. Nelson held on to the ball after a nasty collision with safety Charlie Peprah but suffered a bruise that prevented him from returning to the scrimmage. The only other injury was a sprained knee for receiver Brett Swain.
• Tight end Jermichael Finley bowled over Underwood after a 14-yard reception. After the play, Finley stood over Underwood to talk some (presumably) good-natured trash.
• Brandon Jackson returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score. The Packers were also using him on kickoff coverage and McCarthy continued his effusive praise of the reserve running back. "Brandon Jackson, I think he has arrived," McCarthy said.
• I really didn't see much separation between punters Tim Masthay and Chris Bryan. Both had long punts of 62 yards Saturday night. "We're so much further ahead [in the punting game] than we've been in the last two years," McCarthy said.
• In addition to Driver and Woodson, other veterans who sat out were linebacker Nick Barnett (rest), linebacker Brady Poppinga (concussion) and safety Will Blackmon (knee).
• Actual turnstile attendance was 47, 844. For a practice with live tackling. Amazing.
• I'm probably jinxing us, but Sunday should be a relatively quiet day on the NFC North blog. Look for the Packers Camp Confidential on Monday morning.