Zero2Cool
14 years ago
http://www.espnmilwaukee.com/includes/news_items/40/news_items_more.php?id=5490§ion_id=40 

GREEN BAY Cullen Jenkins knows that he almost missed all this.

Having pulled his left calf in pregame warm-ups before the teams Oct. 24 game against Minnesota and reinjured it at the end of the Dec. 5 game against San Francisco, the Green Bay Packers veteran defensive end was thisclose to being placed on season-ending injured reserve and joining the other 15 IR guys as spectators for Super Bowl XLV next Sunday in North Texas. In fact, injured reserve was one of the likely scenarios presented to him by team physician Pat McKenzie when the two talked shortly after that victory over the 49ers and again while Jenkins was sidelined for the final four regular-season games.

It was close. (We) had some conversations early about the seriousness of it and the possibilities, especially after the first couple weeks when I still couldnt do anything on it, Jenkins recalled this week as he prepared for Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday at Cowboys Stadium. So it was definitely up in the air there. But we had faith that if the team made it to the playoffs that it was a possibility I could be back.

I was real grateful that they didnt just say, Oh, the heck with it, well put him on IR and bring other guys up. They had faith in me to hold a spot there for me for the possibility of the playoffs, thats why I felt like if I was able to, I was going to try to be on the field.

Why was getting Jenkins back so important?

Oh, man, Cullen is the best pass rusher in the NFL, that's why, veteran defensive end Ryan Pickett replied. You can match him up with anybody and he's going to beat them one-on-one. Hands down. He just brings an extra dimension to our defense, no matter what defense we call, you've always got the possibility of Cullen beating his man and getting a sack. That's big for us."

Indeed, Jenkins back to being the difference-maker hed been before the injury. After finishing the regular season second on the team in sacks with seven in only 11 games, Jenkins returned for the Packers NFC Wild Card over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan. 9. While he had a quiet two-tackle performance in roughly 30 snaps, his playing time and productivity have increased with each game since.

He was credited with two quarterback hits on Atlantas Matt Ryan in the teams NFC Divisional Playoff victory over the Falcons on Jan. 15, then had two more including a half-sack on Chicagos Jay Cutler in the Packers NFC Championship Game victory over the Bears last Sunday.

I think his play the last couple weeks speaks for itself, Packers coach Mike McCarthy replied Friday when asked what having Jenkins back has meant to his defense. I think Cullen is definitely a penetrator in our defensive scheme. He has the ability to beat the one-on-one block. Hes our best pass rusher, as far as a down lineman. Very productive player, and when hes healthy, hes as good as it gets. So its great to have him back.

The operative phrase with Jenkins, of course, is when hes healthy. And thats something he basically wasnt the entire year.

In the Sept. 12 regular-season opener, Jenkins broke his left hand while fending off a low block. He returned to the game with a bulky cast and registered a sack, then played until mid-November wearing the cast, which cost him, by his estimation, four or five sacks because he couldnt grab onto opposing quarterbacks with his left hand.

Its been huge, being able to work my pass-rush moves with my hands. Thats one of the big parts of my game, being able to use my hands, and then when you actually get to the quarterback being able to grab and hold onto him, Jenkins said. Its just nice to have them back.

Not long after shedding the cast, though, Jenkins aggravated the calf injury and missed the final four games. Being in a contract year, the timing couldnt have been worse for him.

This is definitely not the time for it right now. We still have a week and a half left in the season, and were four quarters away from accomplishing our ultimate goal. Were just focusing on that right now, said Jenkins, who is at the end of a four-year, $16 million deal and said there hasnt been any negotiations on an extension between his agents and the Packers. It can be (distracting) if you allow yourself. Even throughout the playoffs, its something Ive just kind of had to put away and come out and concentrate on playing.

That approach seems to be working just fine, and while the Packers could find themselves with an overabundance of good defensive linemen in 2011 Johnny Jolly could return from his NFL suspension, while rookie Mike Neal should be good as new after a season-ending shoulder surgery the hope in the locker room is that Jenkins returns because hes so vital to the defense.

Cullen, hes a leader he leads by example and he leads by (his) voice. And I believe hes one of the best pass rushers in this league from an interior position, nose tackle B.J. Raji said. I believe hes starting to get a little more notoriety, which hes been overdue for some time now. And if he plays next Sunday like we all know he can and probably will, hell get even more notoriety. I hope hes back (next year) for sure. But thats not in my hands, as you know. Well see what happens.

"Jason Wilde" wrote:


UserPostedImage
go.pack.go.
14 years ago
TT, please sign him. He's our 2nd best if not the best DLineman we have.
UserPostedImage
Dexter_Sinister
14 years ago
Our line will be wicked nasty next year. Jenkins, Raji, Pickett, Neal, Green and Jolly. Oh my.
I want to go out like my Grandpa did. Peacefully in his sleep.
Not screaming in terror like his passengers.
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member
14 years ago
I feel a whole lot better about the DL with Jenkins anchoring it.
UserPostedImage
British
14 years ago
He could be one of the most attractive free agents available this year.

He can play in both a 3-4 and 4-3, he has proven production, SB experience and should still have some tread left.

I'd be happy for Ted to franchise him, pay him top 5 DL money and then either let him go next season or do another tag and trade then.

It's not like we're going to use the tag on any of our other free agents.
UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
wpr (56m) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (3h) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (3h) : Whoa
beast (3h) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (4h) : 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"
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Or that Williams and his family are preparing an exit ramp if they don't like how things are going in a few years
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : Either Williams thought it would make him look good (reluctant but then embraces the city and franchise)
Mucky Tundra (15-May) : I can only assume that the Williams camp agreed to cooperate with that article tells me 2 things
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