Welcome to Wednesday, everyone. If you've been impatient for the arrival of the NFL's 2014 schedule, your wait will be over soon. The league announced yesterday that the schedule will be released tonight at 7 PM central time. Personally, I am surprised that the league didn't have an earlier announcement to release the time that they would announce when the schedule would be released, but maybe they thought that was too much.
In any case, the Green Bay Packers took the practice field as a team yesterday for the first time this off-season. There are multiple links regarding the team's first workout in today's curds, and we take a look to see which players who do not have workout bonuses in their contracts are in town participating. With the veterans taking the lead, it would be a major surprise if any younger players were choosing to sit out, however.
On to the links!
Thanks, Roger Goodell, for making Mike McCarthy and the Packers hold their QB school in late April/early May instead of in March.
Shields, secondary key to improving defense | Packersnews
Joe Whitt on Sam Shields: "I believe Sam is a top-10, top-7 type corner in this league. One thing that sticks out with Sam to me is when he has the opportunity to make the interception, make a splash play, he makes it."
Peppers takes part in first day of offseason workouts | Packersnews
Workout bonus? Who needs a workout bonus?
Packers Begin Offseason Workout Program - Photo Gallery | Packers.com
Speaking of players without workout bonuses, here are all the players I could spot in this photo gallery who do not have bonuses but are working out at team facilities: Julius Peppers, Matt Flynn, John Kuhn, Randall Cobb, Nick Perry, Eddie Lacy, DuJuan Harris, Bryan Bulaga, and Johnathan Franklin. This is by no means an exhaustive list, of course.
Packers Like What They See in Coastal Carolina WR Matt Hazel | Cheesehead TV
Here's a name that is probably way down the draft boards, but Hazel could hear his name called late on day 3 of the draft or end up in Green Bay as an undrafted free agent.
Shocker - the most-Googled athlete in Wisconsin is Aaron Rodgers.
Jon and Spencer's NFL Draft scouting reports - SBNation.com
With usual Jon Bois foolishness. Here's their analysis of our mock draft selection:
"No. 21, Green Bay Packers: Ryan Shazier
Here, take the wheel. I'm going to knock over this Toys for Tots bin with a shovel."