Keeping Shaun Bodiford

When the Packers claimed WR Shaun Bodiford off waivers from Detroit after week 3, he was only used as a kick returner but he looked as good as any return man last season, which ended prematurely when he broke his leg in November. Now he is back in camp for 2007 and competing for a 5th receiver/kick returner spot on the roster. He could be signed on the practice squad if he doesn't stick with the team.

The kick return competition is probably between him and rookie 5th round pick WR David Clowney, although if both struggle then GM Ted Thompson should have little reservation cutting both players. They are both great athletes with speed so it will probably come down to which player is better at taking care of the ball and listening to the coaches.

Although Bodiford might not play for the Packers in 2007, I'm hoping he finds a way to succeed in the NFL one way or another after I read the article about him written by Bob McGinn. Most articles about a player don't start out with a sentence like "Shaun Bodiford knows that he probably should be on the streets, incarcerated or dead." He spent his high school years living on the street with all his belongings fitting into two garbage bags, but sometimes someone from school would let him crash on their sofa. He didn't play football until he was a junior, but managed to play at Division I-AA Portland State, after a brief stint playing in junior college with QB Aaron Rodgers. Good luck making the team Shaun.