Celebrated a significant birthday today and ventured out to watch one last Green Bay Packers workout. The word’s been out for a while now but if you haven’t caught wind, I’m retiring as Sports Director for WTAQ, WNFL and WHBL radio at week’s end. Friday will close the curtain on a 45 year run as a full time reporter on the Packer beat. A lot of football.
Today’s helmets and shorts practice was just the fifth of the off-season organized team activities, much more significant work lies ahead for a young, and I do mean young Packers team. One I think has a chance to pretty good again this fall. On a sun splashed day with temperatures in the mid-60’s, I honestly wasn’t paying too much attention to who was running at what position, how the field goal kickers fared with their swings in special teams periods. It was more about soaking in the final, of what?, thousands of Packer practices I’ve witnessed over the years.
I did notice Special Teams Coordinator Rich Bisaccia putting his unit through drills with the new kickoff alignment, so unusual looking with opposing sides five yards apart, returners behind them, kickers even further back.
Saw a pretty throw from rookie quarterback Michael Pratt.
Encouraging to see Eric Stokes running free and easy.
A couple of veterans have passed on week two of the voluntary work, Elgton Jenkins, Rashan Gary and Preston Smith gave the coaching staff a heads up they’d be away.
University of Iowa Head Coach Kirk Ferentz was a guest on the sidelines, unfortunately, didn’t get to see much of former Hawkeye Lukas Van Ness who’s working on the side so far this spring.
Caught up with a couple of veterans in the locker room after the workout, players I’ve come to know and really enjoy, Kenny Clark, Keisean Nixon and Jaire Alexander after his always entertaining session with the press, to thank them for helping me do my job.
Wound up spending most of the two hour practice kibitzing with colleagues, many of whom I’ve covered the team with for a couple of decades, guys like Wayne Larivee, Rob Demovsky, Jason Wilde, Tim Van Vooren and Dennis Krause just to name a few. While I’ll miss the on field action, the players and coaches, the fellow beat reporters will be missed even more. I spend way more time with them waiting for practices, press conferences, in the press box on game days and traveling across the country.
My colleagues and friends on the Packer beat.
Topping the day was Matt LaFleur calling me out at the end of his press conference to congratulate me publicly on Friday’s retirement. He actually thanked me for covering the team for so long, hoped I won’t get too board, and wished me the best. It was an embarrassingly appreciated gesture.
This will almost certainly be my final post on the News From the Pack blog on Midwest Communications radio station websites. I appreciate you taking the time to read along, checking out the photos and hearing the interview clips. Hope it gave you some insight into the team I’ve spent my adult life covering.
It’s been a blast.
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