November 19, 2011

Q & A with Packers’ tight end Jermichael Finley

By Kareem Copeland, Green Bay Press-Gazette

Boisterous might not be a strong enough adjective to describe Jermichael Finley. The Green Bay Packers tight end easily is the most talkative player in the locker room and on social media platforms — something that has caused a bit of drama at times.

Finley chatted with Green Bay Press-Gazette this week to talk life outside of football.

What kind of name do you want to make for yourself in this league?

As a kid, or just as a player right now, I want to be the top at wherever they label me at. If it’s tight end, receiver, I want to be the best at what I do. That’s my mentality and that’s my mindset.

Where did that develop?

It’s just the drive from my childhood. Going out playing with the kids in the backyard. Throwing the ball up playing “Kill the Man” — see who’s the first one to get the ball, you know, kill ’em. Tackle him or whatnot.

Just that drive from as a kid. I played sports all throughout my childhood. I think I just got it from my childhood. And the way I was raised, to tell you the truth. I had one brother and we were always competitive. Two brothers actually, Jorvorskie Lane, played for A&M, the big running back. We were always competitive. That’s what drives me right now.

Grandmother raised you, right?

Yep, grandmother raised me.

How did that make you who you are today?

It’s crazy. Growing up with my grandmother was a different thing. One of those kids where I had to be in the house on time. Show them grades. It was pretty difficult to tell the truth. Every time I had to spend the night with my mom, because my grandma had to work or whatnot, it was different because my mom let me do whatever I want, whenever I want. It was just different being raised by my grandma. That’s why you see me today, I say “yes, ma’am” to somebody who’s younger than me because that’s how I was raised. Raised pretty tight.

I’ve gotten in trouble calling some women, ma’am … I get the same thing. People younger than me saying, ‘I’m not that old.’ Don’t do that. It’s just natural. It just flows.

So, mom was still around?

Yeah. To tell the truth, all my family stayed on one road. It was just normal just to be staying with my grandma. My mom was doing her own thing and (so on). Just different, young, not knowing what to do. She had me when she was 16. She was young and not knowing what to do with a kid, so she just passed me along to my grandma when I was 1-year-old.

You can go one way or another being in that situation. What kept you on this path?

It’s crazy because all my peers or whatnot were wild and reckless and all of the above. One of the things where my grandma came in effect, she said there ain’t going to be none of that in this household. You’re going to come home on time. You’re not going to get in trouble. You’re going to do your schoolwork. That’s what helped me and got me to where I’m at now. I displaced myself from my friends at a young age and just took off to tell the truth. I did the opposite of what they did.

That’s not easy.

That’s not easy at all. I’m not going to say I was a perfect kid, that I didn’t interact with them sometimes. I was just that lucky one that didn’t get caught and I had to switch it up. God blessed me not to get in trouble and not do the things they did when they did get in trouble. It’s just a blessing.

That make you grow up faster? Because it’s not easy to say no to your peers when they are saying let’s go do this.

It was so hard because my grandma worked at a hunting lodge. She had to spend the night, some nights, at the hunting lodge and cook the meat they brought in from killing the deer or whatever they killed, turkey. She had to stay overnight and cook or whatnot. Me and my brothers were at home alone. So, we had to do our meals. Do everything. That’s when the opportunity presented itself. I could went to go do something, but in the back of my mind I had my grandma’s voice — Jermichael, you better get your tail in that house. I had that in my head. That made me not want to do the things they did.

How’d you meet your wife, Courtney?

I met Courtney, literally, the first day she walked on campus. I’m a year older than her and she was walking to the dorms with her dad and her mom and her sisters and whatnot. Her dad pointed to me and said, ‘That right there, don’t bring that home. Don’t bring nothing like that home.’ Next thing I know, it was summer and Fourth of July was right around the corner. Next thing I know, I was at her dad’s house on the Fourth of July visiting and partying with the family. Her dad saw me and we didn’t connect at first. We didn’t connect, really until recently. It was just one of those difficult relationships that I had to deal with. I got by that one.

How’d you first approach her?

Really, I just said my name is Jermichael. I had a roommate, my homeboy, I said, ‘You see that girl when we were walking that walked in? Can you go up to her room and get her number for me?’ Next thing I know, he came back down with the number. That’s how it got started.

How’d you win over dad?

I’m a NFL player. Naw, I’m playing.

Just talking to him and just telling him what kind of person I am. How I was raised. He started opening up to me. I was pushing away from him because I’m a man and I see this guy not liking me, so I’m not going to push myself on him. If I was going to be with my wife and my kid, I had to settle that like a man. That’s what I did.

Both of you have big personalities, what’s it like around the house?

The thing about us, it’s not a show. What we say on Twitter or whatnot, that’s real life. That’s how we are. We’re outgoing, we’re young. What you see on Twitter, it’s like that at home. It’s like funny and we’re just enjoying life. We’re blessed.

What’s it like having that personality in a fairly mellow locker room?

It’s cool because I just bring my personality in the locker room and try to get guys to feed off it. Get hype. I try to say something funny out loud so guys can wake up in the morning. I just try to be me. I can’t change for no one. That’s just me.

How was Halloween? You and the whole fam dressed up.

I’ll tell you about little man. We were going trick or treating on Halloween that Monday. We were about to walk and I said it was too cold out here for him right now. So we got his little truck — he’s got a little motor truck that’s an Escalade. He said he wanted a truck like daddy, so the next day I went to go get him the little Escalade truck. So I said Kaydon, hop your truck, we’re going to put a blanket over you, but you still have to drive the truck — because it was so cold. We were going to go trick or treating just on our road. OK? I said, when we get the candy, say ‘thank you’. He knocked and said trick or treat. He took the candy, I said, ‘Kaydon, say thank you.’ He looked at the people right in the eyes and said, ‘I don’t want to say thank you.’ Every door he said that. Every door. I said he was being so unappreciative we had to go home. I took him home. … At first I thought it was funny as I don’t know what, but it started getting unappreciative.

Just another part of fatherhood, huh?

He’s going to have a personality like me, to tell you the truth. It’s going to be pretty sweet. He’s going to be an up-to-date J-Mike when he comes up.

We’re not going to see you on the “Real Housewives of the NFL” or anything like that, right?

Hopefully. Maybe one day. Courtney’s got that personality. I might have to throw her in there one day. Oh, yeah. That’d be sweet.

Do you see those kind of opportunities for yourselves?

We see that. Oh, yeah. I see that opportunity, as the doors start opening much more. Winning Super Bowls and winning games, more opportunities are going to show up. Hopefully I can throw her up in there and throw myself up in there one day.

Post football, what do you want to do?

Post football, get in the media game to tell the truth. ESPN, something like that. Broadcasting, maybe. Coaching, nah. I just want to be done with the game, to tell the truth, when I’m done with it.

What do we not know about Jermichael Finley?

Ha, ha, ha! I think I done put pretty much everything out there about me. I ain’t no guy that’s going to hide. I think everybody knows everything about me.

You have a real friendship with Jaleel White (TV’s “Family Matters”)?

Yeah, that’s my guy.

How’d that come about?

He was in our agent firm. He’s just one of the guys, if we’re trying to get a guy in our agent firm, we bring him just cause he’s Jaleel White. Try to be a salesman a little. He’s in the little firm.

That’s my guy. Most funniest guy you’ll ever meet, bruh. Funny dude. Funny cat. That ain’t Steve Urkel, that’s Stefan. He’s the smoothest guy you’ll ever meet. This dude is hilarious.

What are you listening to right now?

My iPod — I’ve got (Rick) Ross right now. But my favorite album out right now is that Drake. Go get it. He’s got a lot of slow songs on there, but … You’ve got to get that Wale, too.

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November 15, 2011

Coaches’ Corner: Packers/Vikings Aftermath

By Tyler Dunne, Journal Sentinel

Green Bay — Coordinators Joe Philbin, Dom Capers and Shawn Slocum met with the media Monday to discuss Green Bay’s 45-7 win over Minnesota:

DOM CAPERS, defense

On the defense’s performance: “I thought it was a real positive step in the right direction. I thought we played more like we’re capable of playing last night. I think it started right from the beginning. It’s nice when Mike has confidence to defer and put you out on the field first, and you go out and respond. I thought our guys did that. We started much faster than we did in the past, and then we played a more consistent game. We did a better job in the run game. You look at Adrian Peterson’s numbers the first time we played them and what they were last night, we knew going in that Peterson and (Percy) Harvin set the tempo for the game, so we were concerned about Harvin making big plays and run after the catch, and Peterson the last time we played them had three runs for like 108 yards, so I thought we did a good job there. And I thought we were able to control the down-and-distance situations better which enables you to call more things, so we were able to stay aggressive and dictate the tempo of the game for the most part.”

On talking to Charles Woodson last week and having an open door: “Very much so. I encourage that, and it’s not like it’s the first time Charles and I talk. We talk every week. I always ask him how he’s feeling physically, how he’s feeling about the game plan and those types of things. And Charles, being a veteran player, normally his insights I think are good insights. That’s a healthy situation to have.”

On if he blitzed more: “I think we had the same amount in, and it worked better. That’s the way things happen. If you go out and things aren’t working so well, you try to seek answers elsewhere. I don’t think you just continue to beat your head against the wall when what you’re doing isn’t working. What we did worked better last night. We played more consistent last night. We played more like we like to play as a Packer defense.”

JOE PHILBIN, offense

On protection problems: “I probably stood here July 28th and told you that’s one of the things we looked at in the offseason that we’ve got to do a better job at, I probably said it Oct. 5th and it’s Nov. 15th and I’m still saying it. That’s a big thorn in our side right now. We’ve got to do a better job there. Because that stuff catches up to you. You can’t overcome that stuff. The more negative plays that you have, the tougher it becomes. I’d say that’s the biggest thing as we move forward.”

On what’s gone wrong with the sacks of late:  ”Mostly it’s fundamental. We haven’t had a lot of, again, our guys are smart guys, we haven’t had a ton of blown assignments. We don’t typically have guys running through the gap. We had one last night, we didn’t have a sack on it but, again, I say we don’t have that often, we don’t, but it’s happened. So each position, we’ve had the tight ends have three sacks, running backs have a couple sacks, the O-line has some sacks, the quarterback’s had some sacks. One time, a receiver ran the wrong converion on a route, we gave him credit for the sack because the quarterback didn’t have anywhere to go with the ball, he’s got to scramble, linemen don’t have eyes in the back of their head. And the more you get, the more reasons there are, as you examine things. So I wish I could pinpoint it. Again, if I could put a finger on it immediately, we would have had it corrected at this point in time.”

On Marshall Newhouse’s play: “I watched the film, but we’re kind of in a time crunch on Tampa Bay, so I didn’t sit there all day. Again, we’re a generous bunch a little bit, we kind of helped out some of those guys a couple times. Not to take anything away from their defense and their players, they have a good football team, but we were generous in terms of allowing them to get to our quarterback a couple of times.”

SHAWN SLOCUM, special teams

On Randall Cobb’s ups and downs:“He is a dynamic player, a very talented young man. He has a great will to compete and that was evident last night. The 2 muffed punts and turnover on the kickoff return, we’re going to remove that from his game. He’s in charge of that. He has to get that done. Last night, he made a big play and he was anxious to do it again. He lost sight of one of the core fundamentals—making sure that ball is caught before you take off. One of the things he does very well is catch the ball and move immediately off the spot. He didn’t do that well on that particular play.”

On Tim Masthay’s challenge of not needing to punt much: “I think it’s a challenge. Ideally if you punted once or twice a quarter you’d stay warmed up and there would be less period of time when you’re on the field and not. He does a great job on the sideline being ready to go. His two punts last night were effective. They had a 6.5 yard return. The first punt I thought was a solid punt, good distance, we covered it very well. The second punt he could have hit better. It was into the breeze, but it was still a 47-yard punt and approximately a 5-yard return. I thought he handled that issue pretty good.”

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November 6, 2011

Packers stand on their record, 8-0

By Vic Ketchman, Packers.com

SAN DIEGO—Halfway through the season, the Packers’ record is their pure defense. It is the truth; everything else is a circumstance, as was a furious rally by the Chargers on Sunday that gave the Packers a major scare before safety Charlie Peprah secured a 45-38 win with his second interception of the day.

The defense turned in another 400-yard performance, as in having allowed the Chargers to gain 460 yards. Yeah, but the Packers are 8-0, the only undefeated team in the league and the defense got it done at crunch time.

Do the Packers need to improve on defense, Head Coach Mike McCarthy was asked?

“Absolutely,” he said. “We’re not going to turn a blind eye to the negatives. We’re 8-0. That’s a fact. Offensively, we scored some points. Special teams was a split. Our communication was not as sharp as it should be today. We were not as sharp as we need to be as a football team, but we won the game. We’re 8-0.”

They’re 8-0. It is the ultimate defense.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers turned in another passer rating gem, having completed 21 of 26 passes for 247 yards, four touchdowns and a 145.8 passer rating. His attempts and yardage were down only because the Chargers dominated time of possession by virtue of Philip Rivers’ three interceptions.

“His decision-making is the highest I’ve been a part of. We have the firepower to give him options. Aaron has earned the opportunity to run this offense,” McCarthy said of his quarterback, who has steered the Packers through this 14-game winning streak by overmatching the opponents’ quarterback.

This one should’ve been a cakewalk in the fourth quarter. It should’ve concluded with a victory formation. Instead, a 45-24 lead began to evaporate when Rivers pitched a short touchdown pass to Vincent Jackson, the Chargers recovered an onside kick and Rivers quickly pitched another touchdown pass to Jackson.

Game on with 6:25 to play.

Rodgers carefully milked the clock from deep in his own territory, aided by a drive-sustaining holding penalty against the Chargers. When the Packers had to punt, only 1:05 remained to be played, the Packers clinging to a seven-point lead.

It was all on the defense, a defense that was responsible for 14 of the Packers’ points, but also responsible for the Chargers’ 38. It was crunch time. It was a chance for the defense to redeem itself.

Peprah saved the day with an interception at the Packers 18 that he returned 76 yards. In the first quarter, Peprah took one back 40 yards for a touchdown and Tramon Williams followed five plays later by returning an interception 43 yards for a touchdown.

“We definitely have to get better,” linebacker Desmond Bishop said. “I can’t quite put my hand on it, but we definitely have to get better and play at the championship level.”

The Packers retain their two-game lead in the NFC North over Detroit, and will host division rival Minnesota on Monday Night Football next week. As they turn into the second half of the season, they are delighted by their record, but no doubt concerned by a defense that continues to surrender a lot of yards and points, and has been forced to save itself by forcing turnovers.

“Every game is not going to be peachy,” nose tackle B.J. Raji said. “We’re probably going to have some interesting meetings when we get back. Our stats won’t equal up to other defenses, but other defenses’ wins won’t equal up to our wins. I’d rather be on this side.”

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November 5, 2011

Packers’ Gurley makes a splash on practice squad

By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel

Green Bay – Wide receiver Tori Gurley, almost 10 pounds heavier and becoming more confident by the day, has spent nine impressive weeks on the Green Bay Packers’ practice squad.

“Some of the catches this kid makes in practice are amazing,” wide receiver Donald Driver said Friday. “He’s going against the No. 1 defense and he’s making great catches. Could he play on this team? Sure.”

Gurley gave up his final two seasons at South Carolina, signed with the Packers in April as a free agent and led them in receptions with nine during the exhibition season before being waived Sept. 3.

Signed to the practice squad the next day, Gurley has put on a show in workouts that are closed to the public and partially open to media members.

“He’s a lot better. . . a lot better,” wide receiver James Jones said. “He’s a good player and he’s getting a lot more confident.”

Gurley, 6 feet 4 inches and 216 pounds at the combine in February, played most of August weighing 217. Now, after consultation with coaches and trainers, he has bulked up to 225.

“He’ll have people draped on him and he’ll still snag the ball,” said safety Charlie Peprah. “Deep. Intermediate. Whatever role he’s playing, he makes great catches. He made plays all preseason, too.”

For now, Gurley is making $96,900 impersonating the opponents’ wide receivers in practice. Any team could sign him to their 53-man roster, where his base salary probably would be the rookie minimum of $375,000.

Gurley said he hasn’t had to decide whether to remain on Green Bay’s practice squad against accepting an offer because no team has made one. It’s almost a foregone conclusion, however, that he would leave if a roster berth was offered anywhere.

As the season goes on, the Packers might be tempted to secure their ties with Gurley by promoting him to their 53-man roster. If not, Gurley said he definitely would re-sign with Green Bay once his practice-squad contract expires after the season.

“Most definitely,” he said. “I’m going to continue to work and get better and learn from the older guys, and have an opportunity to make this team.

“I’m ready to play. I’m just one play away. When that happens, I’m going to hit the ground running and I’m never looking back.”

Coach Mike McCarthy and the coaches have made Gurley feel wanted by giving him occasional snaps with the No. 1 offense. Still, his main function is making the defense work.

“Man, I’ve gotten so much better,” said Gurley. “I’m really giving the No. 1s a really good look, and they respect me for that. We get after it, and that’s why it shows on Sunday. Every day I try to do something to wow the coaches.”

Gurley isn’t the only promising wide receiver on the practice squad. There’s also Diondre Borel, a converted quarterback from Utah State who also was cut Sept. 3. He’s also made some plays as an emergency cornerback on the scout team.

“He’s a heck of a football player,” said Peprah. “He can make it somewhere.”

Injury list: The San Diego Chargers, who host the Packers on Sunday, will be without their best offensive lineman and best pass rusher and probably won’t have their best running back and No. 2 wide receiver.

Guard Kris Dielman (concussion) is out, and outside linebacker Shaun Phillips (foot) isn’t expected to play.

Running back Ryan Mathews (groin) sat out all week but apparently will be tested Saturday. Wide receiver Malcom Floyd aggravated a hip injury Monday night in Kansas City, sat out all week, was listed as questionable but isn’t expected to play.

The Chargers received good news when running backs Mike Tolbert (hamstring) and Curtis Brinkley (concussion) practiced fully Friday and will play.

If Floyd is out, the Chargers have a major problem. After Vincent Jackson, their minimal depth at the position includes aging Patrick Crayton and rookie Vincent Brown, who has two catches in five games.

Nickel linebacker Na’il Diggs (knee) is questionable but is expected to play.

Compounding the Chargers’ situation is the schedule. Their next game is Thursday against division rival Oakland.

Meanwhile, the Packers will have everyone available other than left tackle Chad Clifton (knee/hamstring) and defensive end Mike Neal (knee).

On the rise: The Packers took advantage of two padded practices this week to run an intense run-blocking drill featuring tight ends against outside linebackers. Andrew Quarless stood out.

Ben McAdoo, who coaches the tight ends, said Quarless is close to Tom Crabtree as the best blocker among his five players.

“Crabtree’s been consistent for a few years and Quarless is catching up,” said McAdoo. “He’s getting stronger as the season goes on.”

Quarless weighs about 252, 15 pounds more than he did as the starter last season for injured Jermichael Finley.

“Huge difference,” McAdoo said. “And he knows what’s going on. His biggest strengths are quick and smart. Strong upper body. He’s grown as he matures.”

Also, McAdoo said that if fullback John Kuhn were injured, his four backups all could step into that job and perform extremely well.

New deal: Running back Brandon Saine, who was promoted from the practice squad Monday, signed a three-year, $1.395 million contract. It’s a minimum deal without bonus money.

Neither running backs coach Jerry Fontenot nor special teams coach Shawn Slocum would say if they preferred Saine to Dimitri Nance. A former Falcon, Nance had a solid camp before being cut Sept. 3.

“When they asked me if I was comfortable with Brandon, absolutely,” said Fontenot. “That was my answer. Mentally, he’s very sharp. We watch a lot of tape together and he hasn’t answered one question wrong yet.”

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November 1, 2011

Packers’ Jermichael Finley chooses sense over dollars

By Alex Groberman

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley did something peculiar this week. Something so unheard of in the NFL these days, so rare, that you almost want to challenge his sincerity because it goes against everything we’ve learned about professional athletes over the last few decades.

Finley told reporters on Monday that he wanted to stay with the Packers regardless of whether or not his team opts to use the ever-dreaded “franchise tag” on him.

“I want to stay here, no doubt,” Finley said. “This is a town, this is a team, (an) organization, you couldn’t ask for more. If they came to a conclusion (on a contract), I would look into it. I want to be a Packer for life, for sure. Hands down, I think this is the best organization for me.

“You can’t ask for a better city just because there’s nothing to do, for one thing. I’m going to be real with you, there’s less trouble you can get into. It’s first class in everything they do — contracts, around the building — everything’s first class. I love it. Hands down, I wouldn’t even debate with anyone about it.”

But, what about the leverage an athlete inevitably gives up by saying he’s willing to do whatever it takes to stay with a team? Won’t these hurt his bottom line?

Probably. Fortunately, there are still some guys left in the sport whose single greatest goal in life isn’t scrambling from one situation to another, mercilessly pumping out big paydays from franchises en route to their next stop

After some rough periods during his short tenure with the Packers, Finley finally appears to be maturing as both a player and a person. Aside from a single frustrated outburst after an unimpressive outing versus the Denver Broncos, the talented youngster has been a model of doing what’s necessary to further the team’s ultimate goals.

Currently, Finley is playing out the last year of his rookie contract. As a fourth-round selection three years ago, up until this year, he never earned more than $470,000 per season. This year his base salary was boosted to $1.2 million – and the only time he ever got anything in between was when he earned a $653,000 signing bonus.

Even if he were to get the franchise tag Finley said he’d be okay with,  he’d likely earn something in the $7 million range. Not a bad pay upgrade.

“If they do that, I’m down with that,” he said. “I ain’t going to be (ticked) off. I just love the game, and I was just blessed to be making money. I’m just taking it all in.”

As it stands, Finley ranks second on the squad in catches with 25, behind only wide receiver and perma-Aaron Rodgers comfort blanket Greg Jennings. He’s also tied for second on the team in touchdown receptions with Jordy Nelson – both players have four.

Despite his obviously having earned a new contract, Finley continues to be the model of patience. While admitting that he’d love to see the contract situation worked out, he’s in no way petitioning for it like other players notoriously have through the years.

“I think that would make me comfortable, make everybody else comfortable,” Finley said. “If they don’t, it’s all good. I’m going to just put Blake to work on it and see what he comes back with.”

Players who puts sense above dollars in today’s NFL?

Turns out they exist after all.

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October 27, 2011

Rodgers, WRs recall favorite plays

By Mike Spofford, Packers.com

At one time or another, they’ve all been Aaron Rodgers’ go-to guy in his three-plus seasons as an NFL starting quarterback.

Jordy Nelson, Jermichael Finley, James Jones, Donald Driver and Greg Jennings have made more remarkable plays with Rodgers than anyone can count. So many, in fact, that after the five pass-catchers were asked to recall the most memorable plays each has made individually with Rodgers, the quarterback in a separate interview picked completely different ones.

So rather than try to whittle it down to the one or two best, here’s a trip down memory lane with each of the five and their favorite plays, followed by Rodgers’ choices.

All the plays are special for certain reasons. Here are their explanations.

Jordy Nelson: Feb. 6, 2011, at Cowboys Stadium

Late in the first quarter of Super Bowl XLV, the Packers faced third-and-1 on the Pittsburgh 29-yard line. Nelson wasn’t even supposed to be in the route progression, but Rodgers had other ideas when he saw Steelers cornerback William Gay up at the line in press coverage.

“It was a screen play and I think Aaron said after the game he’s never thrown that ball before, not even in practice,” Nelson said. “Usually, I’m just running off and clearing out for the screen. He gave me a little signal and alerted me he was probably going to throw it.”

On the Packers’ previous possession, Rodgers tried to go deep to Nelson down the same sideline, but the ball went through the receivers’ arms. His only thought as the next ball came his way was redemption.

“I’d better catch it because I had dropped one earlier,” Nelson said, “and if I drop this one, it might be my last opportunity.”

The touchdown propelled Nelson to a great day, with nine catches for a Super Bowl franchise-record 140 yards.

Rodgers’ choice: Dec. 26, 2010, at Lambeau Field

Against the New York Giants, the Packers were playing what became the first of six straight win-or-go-home games. On the first play of the Packers’ second possession, Nelson got free over the middle on a play-action pass for an 80-yard touchdown.

This time, he was the primary read and no special signal was needed.

“That meant a little bit more to me because that was my first game back after my second concussion,” said Rodgers, who went on to throw for 404 yards and four TDs to start Green Bay’s unforgettable run to the title. “He showed that incredible speed he has. He’s deceptively fast. He turned on the afterburners and made those other guys look slow.”

Jermichael Finley: Sept. 25, 2011, at Soldier Field

Returning to the stadium where he had torched the Bears for nine catches and 115 yards in Week 3 the previous year — before his season ended due to a knee injury two games later — Finley already had two TD receptions when the Packers faced third-and-9 on the Chicago 10-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

Finley’s third TD grab of the day was a thing of beauty, a fade he soared into the air to haul in.

“A guy was bumping me under and there was another covering me over the top,” Finley said. “He just lobbed it over the top and let me jump for it.”

Rodgers looked left at first and then came back to Finley on the right so as not to give away his intentions too soon. The touchdown put the Packers ahead 27-10 in an eventual 27-17 win.

“I told him in the huddle I might throw it up to him,” Rodgers said. “I threw it a little higher than I wanted, but he makes a catch like that look so easy.”

Rodgers’ choice: Oct. 3, 2010, at Lambeau Field

The Lions and Packers were tied 7-7 early in the second quarter. It was third-and-goal for Green Bay on the 13.

Finley released straight up the middle of the field and, at first glance, with linebacker Julian Peterson fronting him and two Detroit defensive backs manning the back of the end zone, there didn’t appear to be an opening. Rodgers found one.

“The ball was just over the arm of Peterson who was covering him, and it was really tight coverage,” Rodgers said. “That’s one of those plays where you’re really excited about what you just did, and it wouldn’t have happened without a great route and great catch by him.”

James Jones: Nov. 28, 2010, at the Georgia Dome

The Packers trailed the Falcons 17-10 with just over two minutes to go and faced fourth-and-1 on the Atlanta 21. The play broke down, Rodgers scrambled around and then improvised by shoveling the ball to Jones, who darted up the middle of the field all the way to the 3-yard line.

“He made like three or four guys miss, I made a couple of guys miss. That’s a play that stands out, just his athletic ability,” Jones said. “To shovel it like that, it wasn’t even a shovel play. He was just on the fly being creative. Heck of a play.”

The Packers eventually scored to tie the game, and even though the Falcons ultimately prevailed, the 90-yard TD drive with the game on the line proved what this offense could do with its back against the wall.

“They jumped offside, so we would have gotten the first down anyway,” Rodgers said. “But I ducked under a couple of guys and shoveled it. Pretty cool.”

Rodgers’ choice: Nov. 8, 2009, at Raymond James Stadium

On the Packers’ second play of the game, it was second-and-4 from their own 26. Jones beat his Tampa Bay defender off the line of scrimmage and never stopped running. The 74-yard touchdown is the longest play Rodgers and Jones have connected on, which is why the quarterback likes it, even though Green Bay eventually lost the game.

“He ran a streak, beat the guy, the guy fell and he was cruising into the end zone to start off the game,” Rodgers said. “That was one of only two or three big gains we had in that game.”

Donald Driver: Sept. 20, 2009, at Lambeau Field

Late in the first quarter, the Packers trailed visiting Cincinnati 7-0 and faced third-and-goal from the 3. Rodgers was in the shotgun.

Driver ran a pivot route, first cutting inside and then back outside toward the front pylon of the end zone. Nelson was running a similar route toward the back pylon on the same side.

As Rodgers scrambled, Driver was almost all the way out of bounds by the time the ball came, and he caught it while falling backwards and tip-toeing to make sure his feet were in as he was leveled by a Bengals player.

“I think it was supposed to go to Jordy,” Driver said. “He kept looking and kept pumping, and he threw it between me, Jordy and two defenders. That was probably the best throw I’ve seen him make with me. Jordy said I stole his touchdown. I apologized for it, though.”

Rodgers’ choice: Nov. 26, 2009, at Ford Field

Rodgers and Driver were having their best day together on this Thanksgiving against the Lions. They had connected on a 68-yard bomb late in the first quarter to set up a touchdown, and on a 45-yard play to open a third-quarter drive that led to a third-and-5 from the Detroit 7.

The Packers were leading just 13-7 at the time, and the Lions decided to blitz. The young QB and the veteran wideout fortunately were on the same page.

“There was an unspoken trust between the two of us that he was going to stop and I was going to throw it in a certain spot,” Rodgers said. “We embraced on that and it was just this knowledge that … that was a special play.”

The touchdown put a capper on Driver’s seven-catch, 142-yard game, his best day statistically with Rodgers as his quarterback. It also won him the “Golden Gobbler” award from FOX sports.

Greg Jennings: Sept. 28, 2008, at Raymond James Stadium

Late in the third quarter, the Packers trailed the Buccaneers 20-7 and faced third-and-16 from the Tampa Bay 48.

On the previous series, Rodgers had injured his shoulder when he dove and reached the ball out at the end of a scramble. Then, one play before this third-and-long, he tried to throw a screen pass to Ryan Grant and ended up throwing it right into the ground because his arm hurt so much.

“We ran all-go and they ran “Cover Four” and I just said screw it, I’m going to throw it as far as I can and see what happens,” said Rodgers, who was making just the fourth start of his career.

Jennings ran a seam route on the right side, the ball was on a rope between defenders, and Jennings never had to break stride. His new quarterback had shown him something.

“That’s the tightest window that I’ve probably caught a ball and was able to score,” Jennings said. “We knew his talent, but that was when I was like, OK, this guy has a big-time gun. A big-time gun. A lot of quarterbacks can’t make that throw.

“If the ball had a little less velocity, it’s picked. If it’s too high or too low, it’s incomplete. I told him it was a sick throw. I did.”

Rodgers eventually came out of the game and the Packers eventually lost, but that play was one he’ll never forget, either.

“I think that’s one of my top five throws ever, because of the circumstances of the type of injury I sustained, which didn’t allow me to feel good for six, seven weeks,” Rodgers said. “I didn’t feel like celebrating, though, because as I threw it, I was in so much pain I just went to the sideline and knew my day was probably over at that point.”

Rodgers’ choice: Sept. 13, 2009, at Lambeau Field

In the season opener in prime time against the Bears, the Packers trailed 15-13 with 1:18 left. It was third-and-1 at midfield.

Chicago was playing the run with just one safety deep, and Jennings was one-on-one on the left side with cornerback Nathan Vasher, beating him for a 50-yard TD.

“He ran a post on him and ran a great route,” Rodgers said. “Luckily I was able to get enough on the fake to slow down (linebacker) Nick Roach off the edge, because he was unblocked. I put it in a good spot and we won the game.”

Summary

So there you have it. The five top plays picked by his receivers, and the top five picked by Rodgers.

Asked which of the 10 meant the most to him, Rodgers again veered in another direction, discussing two others.

There was the 61-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown by Driver against San Francisco at Lambeau Field last season, when seemingly every 49ers defender had a chance to bring him down.

There was also the third-and-10 from Green Bay’s own 25 with six minutes left in the fourth quarter of Super Bowl XLV, and the laser beam he fired to Jennings just past the fingertips of cornerback Ike Taylor for a 31-yard gain. The Packers only led 28-25 at the time and were in danger of giving up the ball deep in their own territory. Instead they drove for a field goal that provided the game’s final margin.

“Donald broke about six tackles, including Andrew Quarless, our tight end, who was trying to tackle him,” Rodgers said with a smile. “In the Super Bowl, that was a big first down for us. A big-time throw, big-time route and catch.

“Those two are two of the best plays I’ve ever been a part of.”

In all, a dynamic dozen.

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October 23, 2011

Packers defeat Vikings 33-27 to remain NFL’s only unbeaten team

MINNEAPOLIS — The Green Bay Packers improved to 7-0 — matching their best start since 1962 — with a 33-27 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday at the Metrodome.

The Vikings rallied for 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter, on a 46-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, and a 24-yard touchdown pass from Christian Ponder to Michael Jenkins.

The Vikings got the ball back with a chance to drive for a go-ahead touchdown but got stopped and decided to punt on fourth-and-10 from their 36 with about 2:30 remaining.

But the Packers held onto the ball, with James Starks doing the work, and the Vikings never got the ball back.

The Packers scored 20 unanswered points in the third quarter to take a commanding 33-17 lead.

It started with a 79-yard Aaron Rodgers-to-Greg Jennings touchdown pass on which Jennings was wide open. That gave the Packers their first lead of the game 20-17.

Then Randall Cobb returned a punt 42 yards, which set up a 2-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jermichael Finley.

Charles Woodson followed with two interceptions of Ponder, which set up Mason Crosby field goals of 24 yards and 58 yards, the latter a Packers record.

In the second quarter, The Vikings drove 50 yards in seven plays for a touchdown, with Adrian Peterson scoring on a 1-yard run with 11:43 left in the first half to put Minnesota ahead 14-7. The drive was set up when Cobb fumbled a punt.

The Packers responded with a 39-yard Crosby field goal with 4:45 left to pull within 14-10. On the play before the field goal, Cobb dropped a third-down pass that might have gone for a first down in the red zone.

Longwell booted a 52-yard field goal with 55 seconds remaining in the half to put Minnesota ahead 17-10.

The Packers managed to drive for a last-second 45-yard field goal by Crosby at the end of the first half.

The Vikings went ahead 7-0 just 1:02 into the game. Ponder hit Jenkins on a 72-yard completion on the first play, and followed with a 2-yard TD pass to Visanthe Shiancoe.

The Packers responded with a 9-play, 91-yard touchdown drive in which Rodgers went 6-for-6 and passed to six different receivers. Rodgers hit John Kuhn on a 2-yard touchdown pass to even the score at 7 with 8:34 remaining in the first quarter.

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October 22, 2011

Rodgers surpassing Favre’s legend

By Jim Souhan, Minneapolis Star Tribune

Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre have one thing in common, other than quarterbacking Super Bowl champions in Green Bay and shunning razors:

They both hate ties. Favre refused to wear one, even when showing up in Minnesota to sign a $25 million contract, favoring T-shirts, jeans and soiled golf caps. Two weeks ago, after beating the Falcons in Atlanta, Rodgers threw on a tie for his postgame news conference, then walked briskly toward a couple of Packers equipment men, ripping off the tie and popping open his collar as if he were choking.

They’re also different in this important way:

Rodgers is better than Favre.

Not just better than the guy who hangs around high school and college football teams in Mississippi, sometimes even embarrassing himself by taking shots at Rodgers in passive-aggressive radio interviews. Rodgers is better than Favre was at his best. And Favre was one of the best who ever played.

If Favre was a Ferrari, Rodgers is a Ferrari that gets 40 miles per gallon while emitting the scent of lilacs instead of exhaust. Rodgers mimics all of Favre’s best attributes and none of his faults.

Rodgers is more accurate. His career completion percentage is .651; his career best is this year’s mark of .702. Favre’s career percentage is .620, and he peaked at .684 with the 2009 Vikings.

Rodgers is more reliable. Two weeks ago, he became the first NFL quarterback to reach 100 touchdown passes while throwing as few as 34 interceptions, according to ESPN.com and Elias Sports Bureau. After three seasons and 37 touchdown passes, Favre had already thrown 39 interceptions. Rodgers’ career interception percentage is 1.9; Favre’s was 3.3.

Rodgers is more mobile and a more effective runner. Favre rushed 602 times for 1,844 yards, a 3.1 average, with 14 touchdowns and 166 fumbles. Rodgers has rushed 216 times for 993 yards, a 4.6 average, with 15 touchdowns and 28 fumbles.

Rodgers has won 62.3 percent of his starts to Favre’s 62.2. It’s a virtual draw, but Rodgers just passed Favre in that category and should blow past him this season. Both have won one Super Bowl; assuming good health, Rodgers should separate himself in that category as well.

Rodgers is a better teammate today than Favre was at the end of his career, when Favre was willing to hold entire organizations hostage while he mulled retirement.

Favre holds one obvious advantage: He proved himself to be one of the toughest players in NFL history, starting 321 consecutive games (including playoffs). Rodgers has started 12 in a row. Perhaps no one will ever match Favre in this category.

Rodgers is moving past Favre in high gear by almost any other measure. This season, Rodgers has a completion percentage of 70.2, with 17 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has passed for more yards through six games, 2,031, than any quarterback in franchise history.

He ranks first in the NFL in passer rating, at 122.5. Tom Brady is second at 104.8. Rodgers leads the league in touchdowns, yards per attempt and completion percentage. He’s thrown for 300 yards in five of six games this year. Favre holds the franchise record of seven in one season.

Against Denver this season, Rodgers became the first quarterback in NFL history to amass 400 passing yards, four touchdown passes and two touchdown runs in one game. And he’s still improving. Over his past 17 starts, including playoffs, Rodgers has completed 70.1 percent of his passes for 5,036 yards, 42 touchdowns, seven interceptions and a 119.3 passer rating.

Rodgers and Mike McCarthy have developed a rapport that parallels that of Joe Montana and Bill Walsh.

“I think it’s a combination of getting more experience and getting more comfortable and getting the opportunity to make this offense my own, to figure out how to make this offense work for me,” Rodgers said. “Mike and I have really gotten on the same page, I would say, in those last 16, 17 games, whatever it might be.

“We have a great play caller-to-quarterback relationship, and when that line of communication is great, and you have some playmakers on the outside, you should have success.”

McCarthy inherited Favre as his starter and Rodgers as his backup. “I would say everybody felt strongly that Aaron was going to be a good player, just from the first day our staff had the opportunity to work with him, just because of his talent level,” McCarthy said. “He was a great fit for the offense, as far as in the pocket, out of the pocket. Very bright, very cerebral, good work ethic. But you never really know until you play the games if your quarterback has a chance to be a great one.

“I always felt strongly that he’d be a good player, but it’s been exciting, it’s been fun to watch him develop and turn into a great player.”

Jim Souhan can be heard Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon and weekdays at 2 p.m. on 1500ESPN. His Twitter name is SouhanStrib. • jsouhan@startribune.com

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October 16, 2011

With another dominating effort, Packers stake claim as NFL’s best

By Pete Dougherty, Green Bay Press-Gazette

GREEN BAY — The NFL isn’t handing out any Lombardi trophies in October.

But the Green Bay Packers have to be the most impressive team in the NFL, by objective and subjective measures alike.

For the second time in three games, the Packers took on a struggling and rebuilding franchise. And just as they did in a 26-point win over Denver, they dominated, this time pounding the St. Louis Rams in a game that was more one-sided than the 24-3 final score Sunday at Lambeau Field might suggest.

“Awesome,” said Billy Devaney, the Rams’ general manager, in assessing the Packers in a brief interview in his team’s quiet locker room. “They’re talented, they’re confident, playmakers. It’s a great team.”

The Packers sit atop the NFL at 6-0 after the lone other unbeaten going into Sunday, the Detroit Lions, dropped to 5-1 with a home loss to the surprising San Francisco 49ers.

The defending Super Bowl champion Packers were exactly as Devaney described on a day in which some statistics – the Rams, for instance, outgained the Packers 424 yards to 399 – presented a wholly misleading picture of a game in which the outcome never was in doubt. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ three touchdown passes in the second quarter turned the second half into almost a preseason-like atmosphere.

The Packers are about as confident as a team can be, and their coach is not shy about expressing it. When asked about the team’s scoreless second half, McCarthy pointed out that his team won by three touchdowns, ticked through a couple of things that went wrong, then summed up his mindset.

“We’re seven days from being 7-0, and that’s our message (to the team),” McCarthy said.

Since joining the NFL in 1921, the Packers have been 6-0 only five other times, and in all five of those seasons they won the league’s championship: 1929, ’30, ’31, ’62 and ’65. They also were unbeaten six weeks into 1932 at 5-0-1, a non-title season.

That hardly guarantees anything the rest of this season, and it’s hard to draw too many conclusions in a win when they were 15-point favorites. But two Rams starters, linebacker Brady Poppinga and cornerback Al Harris, were with the Packers for part or all of last year and on Sunday felt what it was like to be steamrolled.

“Look, they know what they’re doing,” Poppinga said of the Packers. “They’re not selling anything new. They’ve been building on these schemes for, this will be the third year defensively, and offense, this is what, six years? They have it down pat, it’s second nature to them, and they’re executing at a high level. And Aaron, he’s the guy, he’s playing maybe the best of all the quarterbacks in the NFL.”

Rodgers has to be the early favorite for the league’s MVP, though the season is barely more than one-third finished. He’s topped a 111-point passer rating in every game this season and in nine of his last 10 games going back to last season’s playoffs. His 119.6 rating Sunday included 310 yards passing and three touchdowns, and a lone interception that skipped off receiver Greg Jennings’ hands.

The 0-5 Rams, whose top three cornerbacks are out for the season, were badly overmatched against a quarterback who wasn’t bothered in the slightest by the 23- to 32-mph winds whipping through Lambeau.

Rodgers’ first touchdown was a vintage bootleg to his left in which he had all day to throw and found James Jones streaking into the end zone on a back-side post pattern against cornerback Justin King’s one-on-one coverage for a 35-yard score.

The second was a demoralizing, quick-strike play from his 7 when he beat Cover-2 by hitting receiver Jordy Nelson between Harris in the flat and Darian Stewart’s late help at safety, which Nelson turned into a 93-yard catch-and-run.

The third came deep in Rams territory, when Rodgers looked like he might try to scramble to his left for the goal line but at the last instant pulled up as safety Craig Dahl came at him and dished the ball like a point guard in basketball to the man Dahl had left, receiver Donald Driver, for the 7-yard score.

“You can’t make mistakes against Aaron,” Harris said. “Not to discredit any of the other guys, but when you’ve got a guy like that pulling the trigger, you can’t have coverage mistakes; that’s something that’s not allowed. You just can’t do it.”

This game will do nothing to help the Packers’ defense in yardage rankings – they came in No. 21 in the league and are sure to drop after allowing 424 yards. But the Rams put up only three points, on a hurry-up drive in the final 1:45 of the first half that was aided by McCarthy calling a timeout when the Rams faced a third down from their 14 with 1:01 left.

St. Louis had only two other decent scoring chances. On the game’s first possession, kicker Josh Brown missed a 47-yard field goal in Lambeau’s swirling winds. Then in the fourth quarter, when the outcome was decided, the Rams were at the Packers’ 10 when cornerback Sam Shields intercepted quarterback Danario Alexander underthrow on a fade pattern to receiver Brandon Gibson in the end zone.

Bradford threw for 321 yards, but his 76.0 rating better reflected his day. He moved the ball at times while playing from behind but couldn’t make the plays that mattered (3-for-13 on third downs, no touchdowns). This was the first time the Packers kept an opponent out of the end zone this season, something they accomplished three times last year (against the Vikings, Jets and Bears).

“What it really comes down to, and (Packers defensive coordinator) Dom (Capers) does a good job of it, he doesn’t have total yardage be a definition of his defense,” Poppinga said. “It’s about points given up. I don’t know what they’re ranked (i.e., No. 11 in the NFL coming into the weekend), but that’s an area he emphasizes.

“Like today, that was a great representation of that. You can move the ball up and down the field against them, but at the end of the day, if you can’t score, you can’t win. They do a really good job of emphasizing the scoreboard and having that be the ultimate statistic of success.

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October 9, 2011

Pack bounces back from slow start to beat Falcons

 ATLANTA (AP) — Aaron Rodgers was down early, but hardly down and out.

In the end, the result was the same.

Another win for the Super Bowl champs in Atlanta.

Following up on a blowout of the Falcons in last year’s playoffs, Rodgers threw for 396 yards and a pair of touchdowns to rally Green Bay from an early 14-point hole, keeping the Packers unbeaten with a 25-14 victory Sunday night.

“It was a choppy game but we persevered,” Rodgers said. “We have a different team than years past. We expect to win when we take the field.”

They certainly expect to win in Atlanta. Rodgers has turned the Georgia Dome into Lambeau Field South, throwing for 762 yards and five touchdowns in his last two games against the Falcons.

Thrown a softball of a question – so, do you like playing in the A-T-L? – the quarterback broke into a big smile.

“I do,” he said, a playful tone in his voice.

The high-scoring Packers (5-0) were held without a touchdown in the first half by Atlanta (2-3), which was trying to make up for an embarrassing 48-21 loss to Green Bay last January. The Falcons had the Georgia Dome rocking when they raced to a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, scoring on their first two possessions. After that, the home fans had little to cheer about.

Rodgers saw to that.

“There was no panic in the locker room,” he said. “Once we settle in the game and start making plays, we have a good game.”

Green Bay settled for three field goals by Mason Crosby , closing to 14-9 before Rodgers got rolling. He connected with James Jones on a 70-yard touchdown that gave Green Bay its first lead late in the third quarter. Then, on the first play of the fourth, Rodgers connected with Greg Jennings on a 29-yard scoring play that stretched the lead to 22-14.

Crosby clinched it for the Packers with his fourth field goal, a 30-yarder with 1:10 remaining after Rodgers guided the Packers on another long drive, hitting every pass he needed until Green Bay was safely in range to wrap it up.

“We just stayed patient,” Rodgers said. “It’s just one of those games. The rhythm wasn’t there all the time, but we just stayed with it.”

The Falcons looked as good as they have all season with those first two drives. Then, nothing.

“The way we played the first quarter is the way we want to play football,” coach Mike Smith said. “After that, it was not what we wanted. We made way too many mistakes.”

Atlanta didn’t crack 200 total yards until late in the game. Matt Ryan had another tough night against the Packers, throwing for just 167 yards with two more interceptions after turning it over three times in that playoff debacle last January.

Playing behind a makeshift line – the Packers were without one starting tackle, and lost another to an injury in the first half – Rodgers was sacked four times and faced plenty of pressure.

No problem. The Super Bowl MVP still completed 26 of 39, even with a couple of drops, and kept converting big third downs. Astonishingly, he completed passes to a dozen receivers, with Jones hauling in five throws for 140 yards.

“It was a tough game,” Rodgers said. “I took a lot of shots, had to move around a little bit.”

As if tired of hearing all week how dominant Green Bay was on offense, the Falcons showed off their own arsenal of weapons and plenty of imaginative play-calling the first two times they had the ball.

Taking the opening kickoff, Atlanta went 80 yards in 13 plays to grab a 7-0 lead on Ryan’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White . What was more impressive was the way the Falcons drove the field.

Ryan completed four throws to three receivers, and also hooked up with Jacquizz Rodgers on a lateral pass that went for 11 yards. Julio Jones ran for 17 yards on a reverse. Michael Turner carried it four times for 21 yards.

The Packers were driving for the matching score when Ryan Grant took a shot from Brent Grimes , knocking the ball loose. Vance Walker fell on the fumble at the Atlanta 40, giving it back to Ryan and the Falcons offense.

Ten more plays, and it was 14-0. Ryan completed four straight passes for 45 yards. Turner finished it off by powering over from the 1. The Georgia Dome was rocking, and the Falcons looked unstoppable.

But the Super Bowl champs weren’t going to just roll over.

“We’re an adversity team,” linebacker Desmond Bishop said. “You can’t be a good team without being good in adversity.”

Crosby connected from 32 and 35 yards to make it 14-6 at halftime, then boomed through a 56-yarder that matched the longest field goal in franchise history. An uneasy feeling settled over the raucous crowd, with good reason. After another three-and-out for an Atlanta offense that suddenly couldn’t do anything right, the Packers finally took it to the end zone.

In one play.

Rodgers dropped back and fired one deep down the middle to Jones, who got a step on Thomas DeCoud , took the throw without breaking stride and easily outran James Sanders for the 70-yard score. Just like that, the Packers had the lead for the first time. Even after failing on the 2-point try, they were up 15-14. The Falcons never recovered.

“We’re building something here,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “That’s what special about this team: our ability to make the big plays when we need them.”

The lead grew on the first play of the fourth quarter. Rodgers threw over the middle to Jennings, who turned on a burst of speed to get around the corner, then stretched out with one hand to get the ball past the pylon.

The Falcons were able to get some heat on Rodgers after the Packers lost another offensive tackle.

Left tackle Chad Clifton was bowled over by Atlanta defensive end Ray Edwards in the second quarter and remained on the turf, clutching his right leg. He had to be helped off the field, then was carted to the locker room with a hamstring injury. Green Bay already was missing right tackle Bryan Bulaga , who sat out his second straight game with an ailing knee.

But these are two franchises headed in opposite directions. The Packers have now won 11 straight dating to last season, including their march to the Super Bowl title. The Falcons, coming off an NFC South championship but that playoff meltdown, have already lost as many regular-season games as they did all of last year.

“There’s still a lot of football left to be played,” Smith said. “We’ve just got to get better.”

Notes: The Falcons lost two members of their secondary in the first half. Safety William Moore went out with a shoulder injury, while nickel back Christopher Owens was sidelined by a head injury. … Charlie Peprah and Jarrett Bush had interceptions for the Packers. … Jones went out early in fourth with a hamstring injury after running a deep route down the sideline. … Atlanta RB Michael Turner has gone three straight games without reaching 100 yards. He was held to 56 on 16 carries.

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