Mark Tauscher still mulling options after being cut from Packers, dad says 


After 11 years with his home team, Auburndale native Mark Tauscher learned he had been cut from the Green Bay Packers.

"He played 11 years for the Packers and five years for the (University of) Wisconsin Badgers," said Denny Tauscher, Mark's father, of Auburndale. "So for the last 16 years, he's played football on a pretty high level, and all in the state of Wisconsin. We're certainly proud of that, and I know he is, too, that he was able to do that."

Although Denny Tauscher has spoken with his son since the news broke Friday that Mark Tauscher was cut from the team, he said they're both uncertain about the situation and the future.

"As of last Friday, I'm pretty sure he was uncertain as to what he could do," Denny Tauscher said. "He'll probably take some time to ponder and continue to get that shoulder as close to normal and get back as healthy as he can, and spend some time rethinking any plans he has."

Mark Tauscher was placed on injured reserve in 2010 after a season-ending shoulder injury against Detroit, but he traveled with the team to Dallas-Fort Worth for the Super Bowl XLV win against Pittsburgh.

"He's had his good years and got a Super Bowl ring last year," said Mary Jo Wheeler, owner of Wheelers of Marshfield. "It's always great to hear of a local person who makes it to the pros, 'cause it helps the community out."

For two years, up until the end of last year, Tauscher was in a partnership with Wheelers of Marshfield for promotions and community events.

In particular, Tauscher has been able to promote his education and literacy initiative -- the Trifecta Foundation.

"There is a lot of great potential with his reading program that he donates money (to)," Wheeler said.

After two Rose Bowl championship wins, Tauscher was taken by the Packers in the seventh round of the 2000 draft. He started 14 games as a rookie and became the Packers' starting right tackle for most of the first nine seasons of his career, with the exception of an injury-shortened 2002 season.

In 2008, he had a season-ending knee injury, and the Packers didn't bring him back to start the 2009 season. But with the offensive line struggling to protect Aaron Rodgers that year, the Packers re-signed him. Tauscher took back his starting job and stabilized the line's pass protection in the second half of the season.

Denny Tauscher said his family recognized that after being picked up late in the draft as a rookie, it was a long shot for him to stay with the team or the NFL for any long period of time.

"You go in with high hopes," Denny Tauscher said. "And to stay with them this long is pretty amazing. I would assume that if there's anything that he probably would miss, it's no longer being with those players he became friendly with. They're like family, and it's pretty difficult to part ways."

Mark Tauscher was under contract for this year and had anticipated playing this season.

"Careers do come to an end," Denny said. "I don't know what his feelings are, and he's got his own family to contend and care for. I don't know what his plans or thoughts were, other than he wanted to play out this year, the final year of contract, and that didn't happen."