He has no roommate and barely any space. Most of Howard Green's peers are riding their second multiyear contract. Not him. Entering his eighth NFL season, Green's "home" remains a hotel.
By choice, the Green Bay Packers defensive lineman lives in zero luxury. For one, there's no TiVo here. Green must actually wait to watch his favorite television shows, "Criminal Minds" and "Law & Order."
Once Green officially makes the team, he plans to buy a house for his family in Green Bay. Until then, bring on the maids and continental breakfasts.
"Camp mode," Green said. "This keeps me in training camp mode. There's enough in there for me to sleep, watch TV."
At 32, Green is the third-oldest player in Packers camp. One month in, his value on the defensive line is clear. As teammates up front continue to drop out with injuries, Green remains a rock. He's in good shape and is producing. Fresh off a role as an unsung hero along the team's Super Bowl run - forcing the errant pass that led to Nick Collins' pick-six in North Texas - Green's roster spot appears secure.
Still, he assumes nothing. Green has been cut 10 times. He doesn't know any better.
"This is the NFL," Green said. "I've seen it happen too many times before. You can never be relaxed. Somebody's always looking over your shoulder."
When injuries slammed the Packers' defensive line last October, the Louisiana native was a godsend. With Cullen Jenkins hobbling and Ryan Pickett and Mike Neal out, the Packers dipped into the waiver bargain bin for Green. Days later, he faced his former team, the New York Jets. Green made a key tackle on a Jerricho Cotchery reverse and the Packers won, 9-0, to jump-start their season. From there, he served the Gilbert Brown role. Green devoured double-teams, allowing the run defense as a whole to improve dramatically.
Expect more of the same this season. At end and tackle, Green estimates he could play 15 to 20 snaps a game.
"Howard just comes in every day and gives you a good day's work," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. "Howard has a good feel of what his role will be. He'll do whatever you ask him to do."
After earning vindication with a Super Bowl win, complacency could have set in. No, Green wasn't exactly working out with a personal trainer through the lockout. He did chores around the house, putting in flower beds and mowing the lawn in 100-degree heat. Time off was spent with his three kids.
Defensive line coach Mike Trgovac couldn't talk to his plus-sized end during the lockout and Green missed the ring ceremony due to a sickness. Naturally, he was concerned.
"Like most big guys do," Trgovac said, "they have a tendency to gain a little bit of weight in the off-season."
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