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The Green Bay Packers had just one player on the field for every snap (on either offense or defense) during the 2017 season, and it came at one of the most critical positions on the field. A year after splitting time with JC Tretter due to alternating injuries, Corey Linsley didn’t miss a play, which was surely a relief for a Packers team that had no proven backup solutions behind him.
When the team started a multitude of players at tackle due to injuries to David Bakhtiari early in the season and Bryan Bulaga throughout the year, the pass protection on the edge struggled. At times, starting guards kicked out to tackle to get the five best linemen on the field; a lifelong interior lineman, Justin McCray, had to start multiple games at right tackle while left guard Lane Taylor filled in at left tackle.
Between it all, however, was Linsley, who delivered every offensive snap of the year to Aaron Rodgers and Brett Hundley (and yes, a couple of snaps to Joe Callahan as well). In a league where availability is one of the most critical assets a player can have, Linsley showed that he is entirely capable of being the man in the middle, and he earned a big new contract for his efforts. Now, with that big deal signed and his bonus check cashed, it’s time to focus on continuing to improve and get himself squarely in the Pro Bowl and All-Pro discussion.
Corey Linsley doesn’t shy away from expectations | Packers.com
Linsley earned every bit of his new contract with his play in 2017, as he played every offensive snap of the year as the team's only offensive lineman to start all 16 games. At 26 years old, Linsley would be a good candidate to get a third contract before the 2020 season.
Packers TE Jimmy Graham embraces controversial stem cell treatment | Packersnews.com
After searching for a procedure that might help his knee pain after tearing his patellar tendon in 2015, Graham went through treatment using extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are a extracted from stem cells. After just a few short hours, he saw immediate improvement. However, the treatment is contentious, with some physicians saying it should be used only in life-threatening situations or under a formal clinical trial.
Former Packers RB catches Johnny Manziel’s first CFL touchdown pass | Packers Wire
The big takeaway here is this: Alex Green is still playing football?
NFL's top five committee backfields; Tyrann Mathieu's new role - NFL.com
Although the Packers' trio of Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, and Ty Montgomery isn't on this list now, I would expect them to be there this time next year.
Speaking of Jones, here’s a quick hit from him on the Jim Rome Show, talking about Aaron Rodgers’ comments to him before his first carry:
Terrell Owens snubbing the Hall of Fame is the perfect end to his career - SBNation.com
Regardless of your opinion of him off the field, Owens' football accomplishments make him fully deserving of enshrinement. The fact that it took three years is confusing, but this stunt is very on-brand for the outspoken wideout.
Woman, 22, terrified of spiders orders KFC so the DELIVERY PERSON can kill the insect | Daily Mail Online
The irony here is that the delivery guy was ALSO afraid of spiders -- but he managed to work up the nerve to kill it. (Also, bad job, headline writer; we all know that spiders are arachnids, not insects.)