Latest news with #GreenBay
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL coordinator puts Packers star in rare stratosphere because of his unique skillset that separates him from most peers
NFL coordinator puts Packers star in rare stratosphere because of his unique skillset that separates him from most peers originally appeared on A to Z Sports. The Green Bay Packers achieved rare free agency success last season. The highest best, and also the most successful, was the addition of safety Xavier McKinney on a four-year, $67 million contract to take him away from the New York Giants. In his first season as a Packer, McKinney was second in the NFL in interceptions and made the First-Team All-Pro for the first time in his Jeremy Fowler is publishing the positional rankings this week, and McKinney was third at safety, just behind Baltimore Ravens' Kyle Hamilton and Detroit Lions' Brian Branch (which is already questionable). McKinney only had fewer first-place votes than Hamilton and was one of four safeties to appear on every ballot. An unnamed NFL coordinator had something particularly interesting to say about the Packers defensive star, and it's why he's so impactful for Jeff Hafley's defense."Whoo, that guy's a player," the coordinator said. "One of the first safeties that can do it all." View the to see embedded media. McKinney's numbers from last season prove how versatile he is. The safety played 595 snaps deep, 340 in the box, 88 in the slot, 38 closer to the line of scrimmage, and four as an outside cornerback. He had eight interceptions, a sack, four pressures, 62 tackles, 12 stops, three pass breakups, and allowed an insane 56.4 passer rating when NFL personnel evaluator mentioned how smart McKinney is, beyond his physical skills."Multidimensional traits, high football IQ, range over the top with the ability to play man coverage over slot receivers," he told ESPN. "Has the playmaking element to his game." Even better for the Packers, Xavier McKinney is still under contract for three more seasons. The star defensive back is slated to make $12.1 million in 2025, $13.35 million in 2026, and $16.75 million in 2027—all extremely reasonable numbers for a player of his the to see embedded media. This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Jul 10, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Packers to live stream 'Family Night' event on team's website
For the second consecutive year, the Green Bay Packers will live stream the team's Family Night event inside Lambeau Field on the team's website ( and mobile app. The Packers began live streaming the practice last year. In the recent past, the Packers have only made the event available through the limited-area television broadcast, mostly in fear of compromising a competitive advantage with a full broadcast of a training camp practice. Now, Packers fans from across the country will get an opportunity to see Family Night without needing to find an alternate online stream. The team must realize the impossibility of limiting the reach of a practice open to over 80,000 in-person fans and televised locally. In addition to the live stream, the Packers will broadcast the practice to limited-area television audience on the Packers TV Network: WGBA-TV in Green Bay WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee WAOW-TV in Wausau WKOW-TV in Madison WXOW-TV in La Crosse WQOW-TV in Eau Claire KQDS-TV in Duluth-Superior WLUC-TV in Escanaba-Marquette KWWL-TV and WHBF-TV in Iowa KATN-TV, KYUR-TV and KJUD-TV in Alaska KDLT in Sioux Falls, SD The broadcast is expected to begin at 7:00 p.m when players come on the field for warmups. Practice is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. While the event is no longer a true scrimmage, the Packers are planning for a full practice. Saturday night will serve as the ninth full and open practice of training camp in 2025. As of Thursday night, a limited number of tickets to Family Night are still available. This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers to live stream Saturday's 'Family Night' event on team's website
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Will Jordan Love put it all together in 2025?
Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice, Matt Harmon, and Charles McDonald debate the fifth-year quarterback's potential to join the position's elite during the 2025 season. Hear the full conversation on 'Football 301' - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen. View more Video Transcript Man, they've got a lot of pieces. They've got a lot of pieces. Man, and I think last year, even though it ended in a, pretty disappointing way with how, you know, they performed, especially on offense in that game against the Eagles, I still think last year was a good building block for what you ultimately want to become. Because where my hesitation came from last year, I was like, man, this team's still really, really young. Uh, they hadn't played all that much together. I like they're still good, but they're gonna be some growing pains. Uh, they were probably a little too sloppy by the end of the year, like when they had all those drops, like the Minnesota game comes to mind where it's like, guys, uh, that you know better than that. I think Jaden Reed got a real bad case of drops. He's had them at times, uh, but I think it was important for them to struggle through that just as they kind of grow up. Like a lot of these guys are still in the rookie deal. Zach Tom just signed, uh, his contract extension with the team. You got Jordan Love, uh, locked in, who we all have as a or Matt, do you have, you have him as a top 10 quarterback, didn't you? Yep, I think I had him like 9 or 10. Yeah, we all have him as a top 10 quarterback. Um, the offensive line, if they're healthy, man, that's gonna be a good unit. The receivers, they're gonna be, they're gonna be at least good enough to get back to the playoffs. So it's again like I see a franchise quarterback. I see someone who I don't think is gonna play as badly as he did the Eagles game that many more times. He'll have a couple of them just because, you know, he's short, and Love's gonna force it every once in a while, but you've got a franchise quarterback, a good offensive line, you're gonna be able to run the ball and you should be able to hit a couple more deep plays this year. Uh, now that Matthew Golden's in the fold, so it just felt really complete to me, and I wanted to put them in the top five because I think this could be the year where you finally see, like, oh, OK, all that stuff that we've been putting together for the past year. And while we picked Jordan back in and had him sit for years, we did it for this season, and I think that we're gonna see it. Uh, the culmination of all that. Easy to include in that top 10 quarterbacks list, kind of question marks about him maybe nationally and publicly and everything. I think he's locked in there. Uh, he doesn't take sacks, he's their explosive is all get out. Sure, you even look at QBR and again this is just one stat to look at. He had a 69.3 QBR last year. That's ridiculously good. Anything over 70 is MVP caliber. Close
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shannon Sharpe breaks his silence on ESPN letting him go after settling $50 million lawsuit: ‘I hate the fact that I'm overshadowing my brother'
Shannon Sharpe's older brother, Sterling Sharpe, is among those being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this year. Shannon Sharpe is 'at peace' with things following being let go from ESPN. On Wednesday, July 30, the 57-year-old former NFL player-turned-podcaster addressed the news that after settling his sexual assault and battery case, the network had formally released him during an episode of his 'Nightcap' podcast, which he hosts alongside Chad 'Ochocinco' Johnson. 'Obviously, I'm sure everybody's heard the news by now that I will not be returning to ESPN. I found out this information a little earlier in the week,' he explained. He added, 'I really enjoyed my time at ESPN. It gave me an opportunity to bring my audience that saw me, really just grow. They saw me [saying,] 'Lakers in 5.' They saw me saying all these funny things and analogies that my grandparents gave me. And I was able to bring that to ESPN. So, I'm very, very grateful for that.' However, he wishes the news could have waited until next week, after his older brother, Sterling Sharpe, who had a dazzling career as a wide receiver for the Green Bay Packers in the late 80s and 90s, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He even urged ESPN noting his concerns of overshadowing his brother's moment. 'I said, 'This coming out would overshadow everything that he's worked his entire life for.' Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way,' Sharpe explained. 'As I profusely apologized to him earlier today, he said, 'Bro, stop apologizing. You don't have to apologize. I'm your big bro. I'm gonna love you regardless. We all make mistakes.'' After joining ESPN in the fall of 2023, the network placed Sharpe on leave in April after a $50 million civil lawsuit was filed against him in Nevada. The plaintiff, identified as Jane Doe (who was later named by Sharpe), accused Sharpe of rape, sexual assault, battery, and emotional distress. The sports commentator denied all allegations, characterizing the lawsuit as a 'shakedown' and describing their relationship as consensual and complex. The case was officially settled on Friday, July 18 for an undisclosed amount and dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Shortly afterward, ESPN chose not to reinstate him, effectively ending his run on 'First Take' and any future role with the company. 'They did what they felt they needed to do. I'm at peace with that,' Sharpe noted during his podcast before doubling down on how he wished the timing could be different. 'I hate the fact that I'm overshadowing my brother… My first two brothers are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and this is what the headlines [are] gonna be for the next couple of days,' he expressed. 'So, bro, again, I know you told me I don't have to apologize, but I'm gonna do it one final time tonight, and I won't apologize again. I'm sorry that I upstaged you in this manner. That was never my intent. You've been my hero. You've been my role model for as long as I can remember. I apologize, and I thank all my fans for supporting me when I was at ESPN and every place that I've been. Be it, 'Club Shay Shay,' 'Night Cap,' 'Undisputed,' ESPN, thank you guys for your support.' More must-reads: ESPN cuts ties with Shannon Sharpe following sexual assault settlement 'Love Island' star Kenny Rodriguez accused of being 'racist,' and a 'manipulative liar' in breakup with JaNa Craig In 'Sinners' and his music, Buddy Guy is keeping the blues alive. It hasn't been easy
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- New York Times
The Packers' ‘Ball King': How coach involves a siren, WWE belt and fun in camp
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Jeff Hafley wanted to find a way to emphasize the importance of takeaways before his second training camp as Packers defensive coordinator. In Hafley's debut season, the Packers ranked fourth in the NFL with 31 takeaways, up from tied for 23rd with 18 takeaways in 2023, Joe Barry's final season calling the defense. Advertisement Green Bay tied for third with 17 interceptions last season and slotted third alone with 14 fumble recoveries. In terms of forced fumbles, however, the Packers' 16 ranked tied for eighth. That wasn't good enough for Hafley. 'The No. 1 emphasis this training camp over everything is, one, playstyle … how hard we're gonna play, how physical we're gonna play, how we run to the ball. That's non-negotiable.' Hafley said. 'Two, we have to force more fumbles. … We want to lead the league in forced fumbles. We are going to have to work at it, and that's very important to us.' To ascend even higher than the Packers did in the takeaways department last season, Hafley devised a plan. Enter 'Ball King,' aka defensive quality control coach Wendel Davis. Here's the lowdown: the Packers' defense is split into three teams with three general managers, safety Xavier McKinney, defensive end Rashan Gary and linebacker Quay Walker. There's a points system involved, with forced fumbles and defensive touchdowns in training camp practices earning the most points. Players can lose points, too, and Davis will call out guys who, for example, are in position to punch at the ball but don't or don't punch at the ball hard enough. Each week, the team within the Packers' defense with the most points wins an award. 'This week, we have like a little WWE Packers belt that we got, and I was actually the MVP of the team that was winning this week, so I was wearing it over my shoulders all week, strutting around the facility and all that,' safety Evan Williams said. 'You see somebody walking around with that, you're like, 'OK, I want that. I want to be the guy that's making a name for myself in that matter.' So yeah, definitely, it's a healthy competition and I feel like everybody's buying into it, for real.' Advertisement Hafley lets Davis start the post-practice meeting with the entire defense because, he said, the ball is most important. Davis puts a chart in front of the room and tallies the points from that day's practice after watching film. Each time the film shows a defensive player registering a forced fumble, pass breakup or interception, they say, 'Sound the horn,' and Davis presses a button that sets off a siren attached to the ceiling. Like a real siren? 'A big-ass one,' cornerback Bo Melton said. 'Everybody gets a little turnt,' Williams said. 'It's a fun little deal.' The Packers aren't just emphasizing takeaways in these meetings. How do players respond when a teammate intercepts a pass? Are players scooping the ball off the ground even on incomplete passes? Williams said a mantra in the defensive room is 'leaving no meat on the bone.' Hafley is trying to instill a mentality more than just establish a new statistical watermark. Whether it's Williams reaching around tight end Tucker Kraft after the catch for a sideline punch-out, linebacker Isaiah Simmons tipping a Malik Willis pass that cornerback Carrington Valentine picked off, or McKinney scooping a punch-out by nickel Javon Bullard on Kraft well after the play, Hafley's defense has been swarming. On Tuesday, coach Matt LaFleur said he criticized his offense in a team meeting for exposing the football too much. LaFleur is leading his seventh training camp in Green Bay and said the defense is attacking the ball better than in any of his prior six seasons in charge. On the flip side, he credited Davis, in his sixth season as a Packers quality control coach, for getting the defense to buy into what he's preaching with unique methods. 'They're not allowed to call him Wendel Davis anymore,' Hafley said. 'He's the 'Ball King,' so if you see him, please refer to him as 'BK' or 'Ball King.'' Advertisement Davis, 36, played linebacker at Arkansas and served as a team captain in 2009. He intercepted only two passes and forced one fumble over 47 career games, but Hafley said Davis is a 'really good football coach' en route to becoming a position coach after his QC days are over. 'It's over with,' Melton said of Davis' real name. 'He said he changed his name to 'Ball King.'' Melton and Hafley both even referred to the coach as 'Wendel' during interviews this week before correcting themselves. 'He lit,' the Packers' wideout-turned-cornerback said of 'Ball King.' 'It gets live. Everybody laughing, having a good time. … People out there running hard to the ball, trying to punch it out so they could be on that tape, the 'Ball King' tape.' Davis' presentations and the competition they breed provide levity during the dog days of summer in Green Bay. That's needed, Hafley said, when coaches are constantly hard on players. However, the core message amid the fun could prove integral in the Packers' pursuit of a long-awaited championship. 'Turnovers change games,' Gary said. 'So yeah, it makes it fun having the siren. It makes it fun seeing guys having success at getting the ball out being recognized. … But all that's really important is what comes down in the season. That's really what we're prepping for.' 1. Wide receiver Jayden Reed (undisclosed injury) dropped out during Thursday's practice and rode an exercise bike alongside fellow receiver Dontayvion Wicks (calf), who returned in a limited capacity after missing practice No. 6. It's possible Reed suffered an injury before Thursday's practice and was already on a pitch count entering the day. Left guard Aaron Banks (back) appeared limited in 11-on-11s, an improvement in participation after he missed the majority of Tuesday's practice. Rookie wideout Savion Williams (concussion) also appeared to return in a limited capacity after dropping out of Tuesday's practice. Wide receiver Sam Brown Jr., a rookie undrafted free agent who has flashed in camp, dropped out of Thursday's practice. Wide receiver Christian Watson (knee) is still sidelined but was cutting sharply and running quite quickly on the sideline at Thursday's practice. Running back MarShawn Lloyd (groin) won't practice the remainder of this week, LaFleur said, but won't be out long term. Rookie offensive lineman John Williams (back) and defensive end Collin Oliver (hamstring) have yet to make their camp debuts. Doubs said GIMME DAT 🗣️@emplifybellin — Green Bay Packers (@packers) July 31, 2025 2. Brandon McManus finally missed a kick. After hitting from 45 and 47 yards with a mild wind in his face, McManus drifted wide right from 49. He responded with three consecutive makes from 51, 53 and 33 yards to bring his total to 28-for-29 during team periods over four kicking practices. 'That might have been the best kick I've had all training camp and it didn't go in,' McManus said. 'That's the nature of this business. Today was more of a Green Bay day with how windy it was.' Advertisement The Packers are still unable to kick every practice because Irish kicker Mark McNamee, whom the Packers signed on July 22, has yet to arrive in Green Bay over a visa complication and McManus kicks every other practice. General manager Brian Gutekunst said the Packers knew when they signed McNamee that it would take him five to 14 days to arrive, and Thursday is the nine-day mark. 3. I wrote down five players in my notebook who stood out during one-on-ones between pass catchers and defensive backs on Thursday: wide receiver Mecole Hardman, wide receiver Cornelius Johnson, cornerback Kamal Hadden, McKinney and Melton. After hardly creating any separation during Tuesday's one-on-ones, Hardman cooked cornerback Kalen King on a comeback route for his first catch and found enough space against Bullard near the left sideline for another slick grab. Johnson hauled in two deep balls down the left sideline, one against cornerback Garnett Hollis Jr. and one against cornerback Micah Robinson. Hadden forced two incompletions on three reps against wide receiver Malik Heath and let people hear about it, too. McKinney was his normal self, forcing incompletions against three tight ends, Tucker Kraft, Luke Musgrave and Ben Sims. Melton, who I think is a safe bet to make the initial 53-man roster after switching positions, in part because of his special teams prowess, took two reps against wideouts Romeo Doubs and Will Sheppard and broke up both passes. 4. Musgrave made two great catches during 11-on-11s. One came on a corner route with McKinney draped on him after a perfect ball from quarterback Jordan Love. McKinney complimented the catch while talking to himself after his momentum took him out of bounds past reporters. Musgrave then came back on a corner route on the opposite side to grab another Love pass near the ground with Valentine on him. If Musgrave can become the downfield threat in Year 3 that he looked primed to be as a rookie before significant injuries interrupted his first two seasons, he and Kraft could form a tantalizing duo for an already deep Packers aerial attack. 'I think both balls were delivered exactly where they needed to be for the defense,' Musgrave said. 'So I think all that goes to Jordan. All that — spectacular.' 5. We'll give today's quote of the day to Musgrave: 'My wife's a pilates instructor, so she works Club Pilates in the new Packers gym. She has me sometimes go and experiment or, I don't know, I'm not the person to experiment on because I'm not great at pilates. But she's taken me through some workouts and they're really hard.'
