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Packers notes: Pelini won't leave until season is over
11:06 PM 12/23/02
Jason Wilde Wisconsin State Journal

GREEN BAY - The worst-kept secret in all of Wisconsin and Nebraska became official Monday, when Nebraska coach Frank Solich named Green Bay Packers linebackers coach Bo Pelini as the Huskers' defensive coordinator. Solich made the announcement in Shreveport, La., where the Huskers are preparing for Friday's Independence Bowl.

But Packers coach Mike Sherman said Pelini, who accepted the job Sunday night after the Packers' 10-0 victory over Buffalo, won't start his new job until after the Packers' season is over. Nor will Pelini do any recruiting or other work for the Huskers while still working for the Packers, Sherman said.

"We talked about that (Sunday) night and the only way that he would be here was if he was 100 percent involved in what we're trying to accomplish here. Otherwise, I would have (had) him go take that job," Sherman said. "He assured me, gave me his word, that he would be 100 percent working for the Packers."

Sherman said he keeps a list of potential replacements for all his assistant coaches in the event one of them would leave, but he won't hire Pelini's replacement until after the season.

"You go to the Senior Bowl, you go to the (Scouting) Combine and you meet somebody and you say, 'Ah, I could work with that guy,' and you kind of log that away and pull it out in times when you need it," Sherman said. "Being the Green Bay Packers, we'll be able to get an excellent coach."Pelini is just the second position coach to leave Sherman's staff. Running backs coach Kippy Brown left after the 2000 season to become the coach of the Memphis Maniax of the now-defunct XFL.

  • Holy Moses
    J.J. Moses is still employed as the Packers' return man - for now. But after his second adventuresome performance in as many weeks on the job, whether Moses will be the man Sunday at the New York Jets is up in the air.

    "I'm not prepared to make that decision yet," Sherman said. "I have things I'm thinking about, obviously. It's an important part of our game. We'll definitely put our best opportunity out there on the field, whatever it is. And it may be J.J., it may be something else. I'm not sure just yet."

    The Packers made a pair of roster moves Monday. Guard Alcender Jackson was released from the 53-man roster, while guard Pete Campion was cut from the practice squad. A Packers spokesman said those spots will be filled today.

  • Injury report
    While Pro Bowl safety Darren Sharper's sprained right knee is causing the Packers the most concern on the injury front, the rest of the news Monday was mostly good.

    Sherman said right tackle Earl Dotson (back) would be listed as questionable after missing the past two games but that "it appears that that he'll be able to make a comeback this week." Nose tackle Gilbert Brown (foot), who returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games, "came out of the game fine," Sherman said.

    Sherman said defensive end Keith McKenzie (hamstring), who missed Sunday's game, would again be listed as questionable and "more than likely" won't practice this week. Fullbacks William Henderson and Tony Carter, who suffered bruised shoulders Sunday, will be listed as probable, as will linebacker Nate Wayne, who played despite a back injury suffered in practice last week.

  • Monday, Monday
    Sherman gave his players their fifth straight Monday off. The last time the players had to report for film sessions and conditioning work was Nov. 18, after their loss at Minnesota."Really it's to get them away from us (coaches)," Sherman said. "You can only talk to them so many times this time of year. They've heard it over and over again. So, you need a little space between the game and then the next game."

  • Extra points
    Sherman said the team had planned on replacing Lambeau Field's middle strip of turf before Sunday's game vs. the Bills but the sod that was supposed to have been brought up from Alabama was not delivered because heavy rains in the South had prevented the sod from being cut. Asked if the turf would be replaced for the Packers' first playoff game, which will be either the weekend of Jan. 4-5 or Jan. 11-12, Sherman replied, "We're still discussing what our next options are." .

  • .
  • . With four catches for 27 yards Sunday, wide receiver Terry Glenn has 51 receptions for 741 yards this season with one game remaining. If Glenn reaches 55 receptions or 770 yards, the Packers will owe the New England Patriots a fourth-round pick in the 2003 draft to complete their March 8 trade. If Glenn comes up short of both benchmarks, the Packers, who gave New England a fourth-round pick in last April's draft, owe the Patriots nothing.
  • Copyright © 2002 Wisconsin State Journal


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