wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
12 years ago

The pressure involved with being a high draft choice on the Green Bay Packers’ defensive line was evident early.

B.J. Raji felt it as a top-10 selection in 2009. So did Mike Neal when the Packers nabbed him in the second round in 2010.

As recent history indicates, the defensive line is an easy place to get a bad rap among NFL pundits, especially in Green Bay after the team invested heavily into expensive busts like Jamal Reynolds, Joe Johnson and Cletidus Hunt in the early 2000s.

Even as recently as 2007, the Packers and general manager Ted Thompson gambled on injury-prone defensive tackle Justin Harrell, a first-round pick who played in only 28 games over four years.

So when Neal started hearing his name lumped into that same category during the offseason after two injury-riddled campaigns, the 6-foot-3, 294-pound defensive lineman did his best to not let it bother him.

Even when a four-game suspension called into question if he’d ever see his third NFL season, Neal stuck to the biblical verse — John 16:33 — his mother, Rhonda, reiterated to him as a child.

“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart. I have overcome the world.”

This season, Neal is starting to overcome the injury-prone label while showing the natural explosiveness and strength that garnered the Packers’ attention three years ago.

In only 10 games, Neal leads the Packers’ defensive line with 4½ sacks among 18 total pressures, which ranks second on the unit to Raji’s 21 although Neal has played 364 fewer snaps this season.

According to Pro Football Focus, Neal is averaging a pressure every 8.3 pass-rush attempts this season, which is tied for eighth in the NFL among all 3-4 defensive ends.

Outside of a small scare three weeks ago with his shoulder, Neal has avoided the injuries that limited him to only nine games over his first two NFL seasons, along with casting aside the pressure that burdened him as a rookie.

“The funny thing is I put a lot of pressure on myself,” Neal said. “I mean they knew what my situation was coming into last year, but I put so much pressure on myself to perform because I kind of read into what we’ve been talking about, not being able to let go of what people are saying. People calling me a bust, injury prone and it was one of those things I couldn’t let go of so I wanted to play so well that I was actually playing worse.”

In many ways, the 2012 season has been an epiphany for the third-year defensive lineman, starting with the four-game ban he received earlier this year for violating the league’s policy on the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Neal claims his positive test stemmed from the use of Adderall for attention deficit disorder that drew red flags after he received it through a private doctor rather than a team physician.

The Packers also added competition on the defensive line by drafting Jerel Worthy in the second round and Mike Daniels in the fourth round last April.

“Honestly, if you asked me, I never thought I’d be in this locker room this season, but they’ve worked with me and I’m happy and it’s been working out for them,” Neal said.

“After I got suspended, and I saw the way that the draft went and all the guys that they brought in, I knew my chances of making the team were probably slim. That’s just how I looked at it from my perspective. They may not have thought that, but that’s pretty much how I looked at it. In that perspective I think it’s been able to turn on a different notch of the game for me.”

Despite having his appeal denied, the suspension allowed Neal to refocus in a round-a-bout way with Worthy and Daniels pushing him through easily his most productive training camp.

During his month off, Neal watched his younger brothers play high school football for the first time and celebrated his father’s birthday in-person for the first time in eight years.

When Neal returned against Indianapolis in Week 5, he earned his first sack in two years and has shown no signs of slowing with the health to finally match his hunger.

“The guy’s been beat up around here. Whether it’s right or wrong, he’s had some issues in there, but I know he’s a good football player,” Packers defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac said. “I know that he really wanted it. Sometimes things just happen to people.”

With recent injuries to C.J. Wilson and Worthy, Neal’s role has expanded past being a pass-rushing specialist in sub-packages to taking on more responsibility in run defense over the past month.



link to rest of story 
UserPostedImage
yooperfan
12 years ago
Yes i have been a doubter but I'm happy to hsve him start showing up on Sundays.
Hopefully he can stay healthy and continue to contribute.
doddpower
12 years ago
I always thought Neal was extremely talented and would be able to contribute in the NFL. If he continues to stay relatively healthy, I think the sky is the limit. He could become a really good pass rusher and potentially much more. Either way, I'm fine with him only being an effective pass rusher, though, especially considering how much the Packers run sub-packages on defense. With a guy like CM3 on the field, the Packers only need a few guys that can beat a single blocker consistently.

Nick Perry almost reminds me of Neal, in a way. Perry is an athletic freak; incredibly fast and super strong. Perry's wrist injury should not effect him next season. Even if Perry continues to struggle for awhile, I believe he will find a niche' on this team and be a very effective pass rusher, at worst.
nerdmann
12 years ago
I never wrote him off personally, although it pissed me off when it turned out they were completely lying to us about his knee last year.

Hope this article doesn't jinx him.
“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.”
wpr
  • wpr
  • Preferred Member Topic Starter
12 years ago

Yes i have been a doubter but I'm happy to hsve him start showing up on Sundays.
Hopefully he can stay healthy and continue to contribute.

Originally Posted by: yooperfan 



I fall more or less into your category. I gave Bustin H the benefit of the doubt the whole time he was in GB. Mainly because I didn't want to see the first round pick wasted like it was. Neal didn't seem to follow the exact same mold but my patience was already gone.
UserPostedImage
PackerTraxx
12 years ago
It would really be great if Neal and Perry would each become become a force. This defense would be awsome. Here's hoping...
Why is Jerry Kramer not in the Hall of Fame?
DarkaneRules
12 years ago
He was my impact player on defense in pre-season. Glad to see he has made himself "available". He was walking the tight rope there for a bit.
Circular Arguments: They are a heck of an annoyance
PackFanWithTwins
12 years ago
I've never been down on him, or overly high either. I prefer to let things play out and just hope for the best for all players on the team. I didn't have the same concern for Neal as I did for Harrell because of they type of injury.

I Worthy, Neal, Perry a become productive. It is going to be hard to keep them all on the field along with Raji and Matthews. Will be nice problem to have.
The world needs ditch diggers too Danny!!!
Pack93z
12 years ago
Health has been and will continue to be the major concern about Neal. Availability is the name of the game.

And fairly or unfairly, the secondary concern is that he is in the program already with a strike against him.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"
beast
12 years ago

Health has been and will continue to be the major concern about Neal. Availability is the name of the game.

And fairly or unfairly, the secondary concern is that he is in the program already with a strike against him.

Originally Posted by: Pack93z 



We've seen Neal, Perry and Matthews all get hurt at times... and the DBs have been looking pretty good... I say keep importing the front 5 ( aka DL and OLB ) the ILBers look VERY deep, with Hawk, Bishop, Smith and Jones.... though Jones is a FA and probably cost too much to pay 3 ILBs starters money. But MM did say he LOVED Jones at ILB...

Also Bulaga and Sherrod went down... keep improving the OTs. And get a C for next year, weather D-Smith is the starter or not... still need a back-up. Unless they're going to convert G Van Roten (which I hope they try to get him at C and G which would help his chances) or another OL.


UserPostedImage
Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (14h) : Packers gonna unveil new throwback helmet in few weeks.
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : I know it's Kleiman but this stuff writes itself
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : "Make sure she signs the NDA before asking for a Happy Ending!"
Mucky Tundra (2-Jul) : @NFL_DovKleiman Powerful: Deshaun Watson is taking Shedeur Sanders 'under his wing' as a mentor to the Browns QBs
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Dolphins get (back) Minkah Fitzpatrick in trade
Zero2Cool (30-Jun) : Steelers land Jalen Ramsey via Trade
dfosterf (26-Jun) : I think it would be great to have someone like Tom Grossi or Andy Herman on the Board of Directors so he/they could inform us
dfosterf (26-Jun) : Fair enough, WPR. Thing is, I have been a long time advocate to at least have some inkling of the dynamics within the board.
wpr (26-Jun) : 1st world owners/stockholders problems dfosterf.
Martha Careful (25-Jun) : I would have otherwise admirably served
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Also, no more provision for a write-in candidate, so Martha is off the table at least for this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : You do have to interpret the boring fine print, but all stockholders all see he is on the ballot
dfosterf (25-Jun) : It also says he is subject to another ballot in 2028. I recall nothing of this nature with Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy is on my ballot subject to me penciling him in as a no.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : I thought it used to be we voted for the whatever they called the 45, and then they voted for the seven, and then they voted for Mark Murphy
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Because I was too lazy to change my address, I haven't voted fot years until this year
dfosterf (25-Jun) : of the folks that run this team. I do not recall Mark Murphy being subject to our vote.
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Ed Policy yay or nay is on the pre-approved ballot that we always approve because we are uninformed and lazy, along with all the rest
dfosterf (25-Jun) : Weird question. Very esoteric. For stockholders. Also lengthy. Sorry. Offseason.
Zero2Cool (25-Jun) : Maybe wicked wind chill made it worse?
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : And then he signs with Cleveland in the offseason
Mucky Tundra (25-Jun) : @SharpFootball WR Diontae Johnson just admitted he refused to enter a game in 41° weather last year in Baltimore because he felt “ice cold”
Zero2Cool (24-Jun) : Yawn. Rodgers says he is "pretty sure" this be final season.
Zero2Cool (23-Jun) : 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
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
16h / Green Bay Packers Talk / dfosterf

20h / Fantasy Sports Talk / dfosterf

1-Jul / Green Bay Packers Talk / wpr

29-Jun / Green Bay Packers Talk / Zero2Cool

25-Jun / Around The NFL / Martha Careful

23-Jun / 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

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