by Mike Spofford, Packers.comSafety Tyrone Culver has done everything he should to get ready to play in 2008 after missing all of last season with a shoulder injury.
Everything but one thing.
He has done his rehab, sat in on defensive back meetings, improved his strength and conditioning in the offseason program, and participated in all the OTAs and mini-camp.
Now he just needs to tackle somebody.
It's not his fault that he hasn't. NFL players are not permitted to wear pads or go full-contact during offseason workouts and practices. They have to wait for training camp, and Culver is eagerly anticipating the opportunity to give his surgically repaired right shoulder a final, key test come July 28, the first day of camp. And he won't hesitate.
"I'm going to lower the shoulder and go for it," Culver said. "Because the minute you think that something bad is going to happen, or you're going to get hurt, you're bound to hurt yourself again. When I get a chance to hit, I'm going at it.
"When you get the pads, (get) that first hit, you never think of it again after that. I'm really looking forward to the chance to get the pads and get that first contact in."
It's the right attitude for Culver to have, and he knows the coaches and trainers will be watching that first hit closely. He injured the shoulder last year while trying to make a tackle on punt coverage during the final preseason game in Tennessee. [url=index.php?name=Pro_News&aid=62]Read More...[/url].