Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/114466399.html 

Chicago One of Nick Collins' jobs, as a veteran, is to talk to his teammates before every play. So the Green Bay Packers Pro Bowl safety pulled rookie cornerback Sam Shields over before that fourth- down, for-all-the-marbles play by the Chicago Bears at the end of the game.

"All I told him was, just play disciplined," said Collins. "And you'll get your shot."

Chicago quarterback Caleb Hanie launched the pass that could have tied the game, forcing overtime.

He was trying for receiver Johnny Knox.

Collins read the pass.

Shields read the pass.

And having studied his responsibilities and route combinations after talking to Collins, Shields knew where No. 36 was.

"I was over the top," said Collins.

"So I could undercut it," said Shields.

"Either he was going to make the play, or I was going to make the play," said Collins.

Shields lept and caught the interception - his second of the game, the greatest of his life - to deny the Bears a comeback and allow the Packers to go to the Super Bowl.

"Just a great feeling, with how much chemistry we have in that back end," said Collins. "We just play as one. Very sound. Don't get distracted by anything, we put everything behind us and keep moving. And when you can do that, it means you have a great team and a great secondary. It paid off."

Nose tackle B.J. Raji was just trying to get pressure up the middle but knew something good happened when he heard a big sigh, then silence in the crowd.

He turned around and saw Shields running with the ball.

He found linebacker Clay Matthews first and said, " 'I love you, man!' " said Raji. "It's a great feeling.

"Sam's a great player. I don't know how he slipped through the cracks but I'm glad we got him."

As an undrafted rookie free agent, Shields filled in as the nickel corner this year and seems to have gotten exponentially better with every game.

In the NFC Championship Game, he had a sack. He stripped the football from starting quarterback Jay Cutler in the second quarter. Eight plays later, he had his first interception of the game.

It helps that Shields has great hands. He caught his first interception by stretching his 5-foot-11 frame to pluck one away from Knox. But he also had the two picks because he could hold on to the ball.

Those days of preseason muffs on special teams when he tried to return a few kicks almost seem like 10 years ago.

The former college receiver showed a great grip Sunday.

"He has been doing that all year long," said cornerback Tramon Williams. "He has great ball skills; he was a receiver in college. That was something we expected of him. We knew he was capable of this. He came in with a fearless attitude. For a rookie that's rare, but some guys have it."

After the game, Shields was greeted in the locker room by what seemed like half the team slapping his helmet.

"That's a big play!" his teammates said to him.

Shields stood at his locker, ball cap on backward, looking no older than the college kids he was with a year ago. He never envisioned playing like this in the NFC Championship Game against the rival Bears to send his team to the Super Bowl.

"No, not at all," said Shields.

"I can't believe it. I'm just here, making plays, the way God works . . . I've got to keep working," he said, searching for what to say next.

"I attacked the ball just like a receiver.

"I don't think it's hit me yet."

Shields has four interceptions this year.

"We've all seen Sam when he came in at training camp," said defensive coordinator Dom Capers. "He had some physical tools, we knew he was very fast. We put him out there in the opening game against the Eagles and I think he's been growing ever since then, and so I think he's playing some of his best football now."

"Lori Nickel" wrote:


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wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago
This young kid has been flat out impressive all year. It is great the he has someone like Woodson who has been around for such a long time to teach him a few tricks of the trade. And someone like Williams who can tell him that he too can succeed without being a high draft pick.
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sanguine
14 years ago


Nose tackle B.J. Raji was just trying to get pressure up the middle but knew something good happened when he heard a big sigh, then silence in the crowd.

He turned around and saw Shields running with the ball.

He found linebacker Clay Matthews first and said, " 'I love you, man!' " said Raji. "It's a great feeling.

"Lori Nickel" wrote:



LOL Raji is one funny guy
Packer fan from Europe!
Dulak
14 years ago
Our defense has been making some great plays this post season - thats 2x this game that the d stopped almost for sure scores by the bears ...
coltonja
14 years ago
The future of our D is so promising. I love to see how these guys are close, too. Reading the Raji and Collins quotes are awesome. I hope we keep everyone around for years to come. I could definitely see us becoming the scariest D in the league for a while if we keep everyone here. And please sign up Woody for a coaching job when he retires in a few years!!!!
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Thanks to pack93z for the sig!!!
nerdmann
14 years ago
Wow, least year our nickel guy was Tramone Williams. This year it's Sam Shields. Both came out of nowhere and have HUGE futures.
“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don't do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
Fan Shout
Mucky Tundra (1h) : Lions All-Pro C Frank Ragnow retires
wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
beast (30-May) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (30-May) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (29-May) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (29-May) : Whoa
beast (29-May) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (29-May) : Henderson, who admits to taking cocaine during the Super Bowl against the Steelers, might dislike Bradshaw as he lost two Superbowls to him
wpr (28-May) : Hollywood Henderson said Bradshaw “is so dumb, he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the C and an A.”
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Cooper stock=BUY BUY BUY
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Also notes he’s playing with more confidence.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : @AndyHermanNFL MLF says there was a time last year where Cooper was at 220 pounds. Now he’s at 240 and still flying around.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : And don't even get me started on Frank Caliendos "impersonations"
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I got tired of them being circle jerks with them overlaughing at each others jokes.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : It used to be must watch TV for me. now it's "meh" maybe to hear injury update
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I haven't watched the pregame shows in years and I don't feel like I've missed a thing
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Love says knee affected him all season, groin injury didn't help matters.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : I used to enjoy him on FOX Pregame. Now it's like a frat party of former Patriots.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : LaFleur on Watson: “Christian is doing outstanding. I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Martha Careful (28-May) : Bradshaw is a dumb ass cracker. I am so tired of his "aw shucks" diatribe. He should shrivel up and go away.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : He wad all butt hurt because Aaron duped the media saying he was immunized.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : Bradshaw needs to retire. He's been ripping on Rodgers ever since the covid crap. He was all hury
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Terry Bradshaw doesn't want Rodgers in Pittsburgh lol wow
Zero2Cool (27-May) : one day contract, which he also feels is pointless, but if Packers came to him, he would
packerfanoutwest (27-May) : Aaron Rodgers talks possibility of retiring with Packers, just another rumor
dfosterf (27-May) : Go watch 2001
Zero2Cool (26-May) : 1984
dfosterf (26-May) : That movie sent a chill through many. 1968.
dfosterf (26-May) : "Open the pod bay doors, HAL"
buckeyepackfan (25-May) : Haven't we all seen thus movie? It doesn't end well!! Lol
Zero2Cool (25-May) : lol Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
dfosterf (25-May) : Claude Opus 4
dfosterf (25-May) : AI system resorts to blackmail when its developers threaten to take it offline
beast (22-May) : Colts Owner Jim Irsay has passed away
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Well, emailing should work now. After not working for almost a year. Oops.
Zero2Cool (21-May) : Brotherly Shove did not get enough votes.
Zero2Cool (20-May) : lol our email hasn't worked in months. 7 pages of unverified users
Zero2Cool (20-May) : MySpace Screaming Lord Byron ... Brett Favre.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : Packers have signed first-round pick Matthew Golden, leaving second-round tackle Anthony Belton as their only unsigned draft pick
beast (19-May) : Supposedly he has to take his image, and name off of it... but otherwise could keep selling wine if he wanted to.
Zero2Cool (19-May) : he giving up his win business?
beast (19-May) : Speaking of Woodson, sounds like he'll be a minority owner (0.1%) of the Browns
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Zero, regarding Woodson, that'd why I find the timing with Williams peculiar
dfosterf (15-May) : Ryan Hall y'all does a great job of tracking thesr
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Fear not!! I planned to do 33mi bike ride tomorrow morning, so ... yeah
Zero2Cool (15-May) : We got some dark clouds and nasty winds right bout now.
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Madison they had hail 4pm.
dfosterf (15-May) : Sure looks like these tornadoes are headed towards Green Bay
Zero2Cool (15-May) : Woodson of Charles fame was reluctant and then loved it. that didn't really come out until post career
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : IE "We bought into the Bears and they let us down, we have no choice to seek alternatives"
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