Packer Notes: Masthay's Award, Driver's Really Hurt, and Locker Rooms Are Really Dirty

by Brandon on Nov 4, 2010 7:01 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

I'm surprised that P Tim Masthay was named NFC special teams player of the week. He had his best game as a pro last week against the Jets (41.5 yard net average, five punts inside the 20). That's his second good game in a row, but just a reminder his first six games were pretty bad. According to NFL.com, he's still near the bottom of the league with a 35.6 yard net average for the season, and while he pinned five punts inside the 20 last week, he only did it five times in the previous seven games. Good for him, it's good to see he's improving, and he's still got a long way to go.

The bad news about WR Donald Driver's injured quad seems to be getting worse. He already ruled himself out for next Sunday. Unfortunately, Mike McCarthy said that Driver is on crutches and "playing the last two weeks has made it worse." He's expected back after the bye week, but it sounds like something that could linger.

How did TE Jermichael Finley get a staph (or something like it) infection? Matt Bowen tweets that "you can find dumpsters that are cleaner than NFL locker rooms." I've read various articles (yawn...) about how the NFL is trying to solve this problem, but there doesn't appear to be an easy fix.

Tweet Comment 21 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

NFC Special Teams POTW

Its not a cumulative thing…its a one week honor. Doesn’t matter how you’ve played all season, its meant to honor outstanding performances each week. Not surprised he was nominated or that he won. He had about as good a game as a punter can have…if he didn’t win, I don’t know if a punter CAN win. Good thing Dan Carpenter was in the other division though as he put up one helluva game and I can’t see how Masthay could have beat him out…

by TrevorR on Nov 4, 2010 9:40 AM CDT reply actions

You are $%@%@ kidding me!!!

How did TE Jermichael Finley get a staph (or something like it) infection? Matt Bowen tweets that “you can find dumpsters that are cleaner than NFL locker rooms.” I’ve read various articles (yawn…) about how the NFL is trying to solve this problem, but there doesn’t appear to be an easy fix.

You need various writers writing various articles to solve this problem? How hard is it to keep something clean? Here is your solution…

Get some grandmothers up there who do nothing all day but clean things! Could just send my grandma up there and that locker room would be cleaner than…you get it.

FIRE THE CLEANING SERVICE!!!!

by Bush League All Star on Nov 4, 2010 11:34 AM CDT reply actions

Has more to do w/ having an open wound and sharing the whirlpool or ice bath w/ same water as all the other players I think. Thats a matter of players making sure open wounds are disinfected than just a dirty lockerroom.

You've been Stroh'd!!!

by Strohman on Nov 4, 2010 3:51 PM CDT up reply actions

I understand what you are saying...

I am not reflecting on the injury and how that went down. I am merely making a partly satirical, partly serious jab at the locker room dirtiness. In my mind, I separate the medical/training type facilities and the locker room.

by Bush League All Star on Nov 4, 2010 9:46 PM CDT up reply actions

What I don’t get is why Finley’s even around the team right now. He’s on IR. Don’t those guys usually go to their offseason home and play video games for a couple months? But seriously, Al Harris disappeared after his injury last year. I haven’t heard a word about Ryan Grant. I just assumed that injured guys amscrayed.

I had a bad feeling about Driver. The training staff shouldn’t have let him play if it could get worse. Hopefully he’s back after the bye.

Way to show the girliest picture of the punter you could find. haha …oh, look here, we have the special teams player of the week on his little pink bike.

by Curly Lambeau on Nov 4, 2010 12:43 PM CDT reply actions

I think they use the Packers facilities for rehab though so they can be under team supervision.

by TrevorR on Nov 4, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Speaking of Al Harris...

What the hell happened to him? Hasn’t he already been cleared to at least practice by now?

"Your wife swallows pineapples for donkey rides." - Orbit gum commercial

by mike_o on Nov 4, 2010 6:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I’m pretty sure he’s been in practice. I’m with you, though. I thought he was pretty much ready to come back at the start of the regular season. I was surprised he even went on the PUP list, and I’ve been expecting him back for the last few games. They have to make a decision on him this week. If they put him on IR or release him, that’ll be it for my playoff hopes. We need him back big-time.

by Curly Lambeau on Nov 4, 2010 7:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I read/heard

That Harris didn’t have the required range of motion at the end of training camp and that had alot to do w/ him going on PUP… Since on PUP, hes only been able to continue to rehab and condition, until 2 weeks ago. SInce then he’s been practicing, but the Packers wanted him in game shape and working on his technique and skills so he can step into a clear role.

Packers consistently err on the side of caution w/ injuries… Doesn’t seem like we’ve needed him too much the past couple weeks! Shields has played damn good in that role. My guess is Harris comes back as the dime CB, with Shields the nickel for a few games to give Harris a chance to knock the rust off his game!

You've been Stroh'd!!!

by Strohman on Nov 4, 2010 11:18 PM CDT up reply actions

Just imagine though we’ll have a FRESH Harris ready to unveil on the league at the end of the season when the rest of them are rocking guys with 10 games of tired on them. This could be a really nice advantage which for this team with all the injuries is a really nice change.

by TrevorR on Nov 5, 2010 7:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I know! I'm jazzed.

…particularly what his return will do for Woodson. C-Wood won his DPotY award last year largely based on what he did before Harris got hurt. He was “okay” after that (pretty much like he’s been okay this year), but when Al and Tramon have the corners locked down, that frees Woodson up to just go out looking for trouble. I can’t wait!

by Curly Lambeau on Nov 5, 2010 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

A fresh but old Al Harris

just isn’t that exciting to me. His play already seemed to be slipping (you could say it’s because we played more zone but he didn’t look great in 2008 either).

Don’t get me wrong, I love Al and think he’s an important part of the Most Dreaded Secondary, but I’m looking at this as a “hope for the best, expect the worst” kind of situation.

by I voted for Kodos on Nov 5, 2010 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I've seen

Multiple posts blaming Masthay for losing games—a couple of punts does not a game make. Tackle somebody, eh?

Nobody blamed lost games on Longwell when he was kicking off to the 12 yard line

by Wade V on Nov 4, 2010 1:25 PM CDT reply actions

The only "good" thing to come out of Drivers injury is...

That if you had to pick 1 position on the whole team that could withstand an injury it would have to be WR.

Who's leg do I have to hump to get a drink around here?-Brian

by fliphawk4 on Nov 4, 2010 1:46 PM CDT reply actions

Plus the timing is good, as he’s got time to heal during these two bye weeks we’ve got coming up.

Just kidding.

by Curly Lambeau on Nov 4, 2010 2:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Another note on the timing thing

James Jones shows up to play every other week… and he was pretty invisible last week… so he’s due for a big one this week… right?

by Goldenarmadillo4 on Nov 4, 2010 3:49 PM CDT up reply actions

Lol, I’ve noticed that too. Hopefully that trend will continue for this Sunday’s, and then disappear after Sunday :).

by packallday555 on Nov 4, 2010 4:03 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah…its one of a few positions where we have some nice depth (FB, TE, maybe LB). Interestingly we needed our depth at most of these positions.

by TrevorR on Nov 4, 2010 2:47 PM CDT up reply actions

This game...

We need to see either James Jones/Jordy Nelson rise up to the occasion.

Little bit concerned with Pat Lee being out, given that Fumbles Nelson might have to return kicks or we may put Tramon back there, exposing him further to injury.\

Other than that, give DD and even Pickett the week off, so they come back strong after the bye. All for it…

Pack win 27-17

by PackFaninFL on Nov 4, 2010 3:58 PM CDT reply actions

I don’t think of Nelson as a fumbler…I do think of him a run straight ahead into the defender kind of returner. He always seemed to be pretty secure with the ball, just lacks that exciting returning capability.

by TrevorR on Nov 5, 2010 7:38 AM CDT up reply actions

Doesn't he have two fumbles on returns this year?

Please don’t put Tramon Williams back there. He’s looking better every week and we can’t afford an injury at CB. I say just try to block punts and put someone back to fair catch it. As for kickoffs, have Nelson catch it and hand it to Shields.

by I voted for Kodos on Nov 5, 2010 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions