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:


UserPostedImage
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.
UserPostedImage
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!!!!
UserPostedImage
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
Zero2Cool (4h) : PFT claims Packers are having extension talks with Zach Tom, Quay Walker.
Mucky Tundra (20-Jun) : GB-Minnesota 2004 Wild Card game popped up on my YouTube page....UGH
beast (20-Jun) : Hmm 🤔 re-signing Walker before Tom? Sounds highly questionable to me.
Mucky Tundra (19-Jun) : One person on Twitter=cannon law
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Well, to ONE person on Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : According to Tweeter
Zero2Cool (19-Jun) : Packers are working on extension for LT Walker they hope to have done before camp
dfosterf (18-Jun) : E4B landed at Andrews last night
dfosterf (18-Jun) : 101 in a 60
dfosterf (18-Jun) : FAFO
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : one year $4m with incentives to make it up to $6m
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Or Lions
dfosterf (18-Jun) : Beats the hell out of a Vikings signing
Zero2Cool (18-Jun) : Baltimore Ravens now have signed former Packers CB Jaire Alexander.
dfosterf (14-Jun) : TWO magnificent strikes for touchdowns. Lose the pennstate semigeezer non nfl backup
dfosterf (14-Jun) : There was minicamp Thursday. My man Taylor Engersma threw
dfosterf (11-Jun) : There will be a mini camp practice Thursday.
Zero2Cool (11-Jun) : He's been sporting a ring for a while now. It's probably Madonna.
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : We only do the tea before whoopee, it relaxes me.
wpr (10-Jun) : That's awesome Martha.
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : How's the ayahuasca tea he makes, Martha?
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : Turns out he like older women
Martha Careful (10-Jun) : I wasn't supposed to say anything, but yes the word is out and we are happy 😂😂😂
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : I might be late on this but Aaron Rodgers is now married
Mucky Tundra (10-Jun) : Well he can always ask his brother for pointers
Zero2Cool (10-Jun) : Bo Melton taking some reps at CB as well as WR
Zero2Cool (10-Jun) : key transactions coming today at 3pm that will consume more cap in 2025
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : Jaire played in just 34 of a possible 68 games since the start of the 2021 season
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : reported, but not expected to practice
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : Jenkins has REPORTED for mandatory camp
Zero2Cool (9-Jun) : I really thought he'd play for Packers.
buckeyepackfan (9-Jun) : Packers releasing Jaire Alexander.
Mucky Tundra (8-Jun) : (Context: he wants his defense to create turnovers)
Mucky Tundra (8-Jun) : Giants DC Shane Bowen tells players to “be a damn pirate."
dfosterf (6-Jun) : Semper fi !
Cheesey (6-Jun) : This is why I have so much respect for those that have gone through battles
Cheesey (6-Jun) : I can't even imagine what that would have been like
wpr (6-Jun) : "Come on, you sons of bitches. Do you want to live forever?"
wpr (6-Jun) : Facing a line of machine guns 2 time medal of Honor recipient, First Sergeant Dan Daly told his men,
wpr (6-Jun) : Another detachment went into the Belleau Wood.
wpr (6-Jun) : On the 6th the Marines took Hill 142 but suffered terrible losses.
wpr (6-Jun) : It’s time to remember dfoster’s Marine brothers in Belleau Wood. The battle went on from June 1-26. Nearly 10,000 casualties.
packerfanoutwest (6-Jun) : Nick Collins and Morgan Burnett have signed with the PACK
packerfanoutwest (6-Jun) : he won't be wearing #12, maybe he will wear number two
packerfanoutwest (6-Jun) : He will fail this season, should have retired
Mucky Tundra (5-Jun) : Thus the cycle of Hall of Fame Packer QBs going to the Jets and then the Vikings is broken
bboystyle (5-Jun) : Rodgers to steelers on 1 year contract
Zero2Cool (5-Jun) : It's the cycle of civilizations. Get lazier, lazier, softer, softer and vanish.
Martha Careful (5-Jun) : great point. every aspect of society, including art, culture and sports has degraded.
dfosterf (4-Jun) : Green Bay sweep meant something to society about stopping pure excellence. We have the tush push now
Please sign in to use Fan Shout
2025 Packers Schedule
Sunday, Sep 7 @ 3:25 PM
LIONS
Thursday, Sep 11 @ 7:15 PM
COMMANDERS
Sunday, Sep 21 @ 12:00 PM
Browns
Sunday, Sep 28 @ 7:20 PM
Cowboys
Sunday, Oct 12 @ 3:25 PM
BENGALS
Sunday, Oct 19 @ 3:25 PM
Cardinals
Sunday, Oct 26 @ 7:20 PM
Steelers
Sunday, Nov 2 @ 12:00 PM
PANTHERS
Monday, Nov 10 @ 7:15 PM
EAGLES
Sunday, Nov 16 @ 12:00 PM
Giants
Sunday, Nov 23 @ 12:00 PM
VIKINGS
Thursday, Nov 27 @ 12:00 PM
Lions
Sunday, Dec 7 @ 12:00 PM
BEARS
Sunday, Dec 14 @ 3:25 PM
Broncos
Friday, Dec 19 @ 11:00 PM
Bears
Friday, Dec 26 @ 11:00 PM
RAVENS
Saturday, Jan 3 @ 11:00 PM
Vikings
Recent Topics
9h / Green Bay Packers Talk / Mucky Tundra

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

20-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

18-Jun / Random Babble / Zero2Cool

16-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

15-Jun / Random Babble / Martha Careful

14-Jun / Around The NFL / beast

14-Jun / Community Welcome! / dfosterf

13-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

13-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Adam

12-Jun / Random Babble / Martha Careful

12-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

12-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

12-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / beast

Headlines
Copyright © 2006 - 2025 PackersHome.com™. All Rights Reserved.