.::The Pack is Back::. 2nd Pre-Season Game Up

[Anthony15]

Hi, welcome to my new Superstar Story about a fairly unknown WR from Colorado University. In his 2 years he was a bright spot on the CU's bad team. He was born in Denver in 1986 and has always been dreaming about putting on the Broncos uniform. In 4 years in HS, he was awarded All-State twice and was the MVP of the Rocky Mountain Region in his senior year. He got a full scholarship to CU and he was about to transfer to USC, but he knew he wouldn't have been noticed if he played behind Dwayne Jarrett. After his sophomore year where he led the team in TD's and Receiving Yards he decided to hit the big market and go to the NFL. He was predicted to be drafted around 3rd or 4th round and was compared by many to be the next Vince Jackson of the San Diego Chargers or Matt Jones of the Jacksonville Jaguars. His height surely helped him go up in the draft as he stood 6'5 and 235 pounds. It was finally April and most of the teams started looking for who to draft. Lots of attention was placed on JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn and Calvin Johnson. Not one single call from anyone except his family and coaches from CU trying to make him comeback to Boulder and play one more season. Ignoring all of the attempts by Dan Hawkins to bring him back, he waited for a call and finally the phone rang ...the area code was 608, after a moment he picked up the phone and said:

-Hello?

-Hey kid how's it going, this is the scout, Jimmy Robinson, of the Packers organization, we would like you to come to Green Bay for a few days and show us what you've got.

-Great I'll be there.

He quickly ran to the airport with excitement that this might be the team that drafts him and boarded the first flight to GB. Finally he got to the practice field, where a few players were working out. Not sure what the heck he's suppose to do now he came up to the guy that was talking a few other coaches and tapped him on the shoulder:

Hey man, you happen to kn....oh snap thats Mike McCarthy! Hi sir, I was invited by a scout to participate in the rookie workouts.

Without saying anything Mike pointed to the corner of the field where he saw Justin Harrell already working out. He went there and they told him to work out on my catching, he caught 12 out of 14 balls thrown by a machine, the WR Coach Robinson was quite impressed, but he didn't tell him anything and told him to wait for the Draft. He had another workout with Buccaneers before the draft, but it didn't turn out well as all he had to do was return punts, which he told them he's not so good at.

Finally...


DRAFT DAY...

He was excited for his name to be called at least in the second round. The draft started and Commissioner Goodell came out to announce first pick:

With the 1st Pick in the 2007 NFL Draft the Oakland Raiders select JaMarcus Russell QB LSU

Round 1 was very long...2nd round went by without his name being called. As soon as the 3rd round started he turned up the TV, he couldn't wait for Buccs pick...Buster Davis LB Florida State came on the screen and with a sigh of half relieved and half still worried he continued to watch the draft. And finally there it was.

With the 78th Pick in the 2007 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers select ........

IVAN SHCIPANSKY WR Colorado

(From now its 1st person) I jumped off of my seat as I was congratulated by my agent, after doing a back flip the phone rang and it was coach McCarthy who was the first one to officially welcome me to the Packers organization. More great news came that they want me to be their 3rd WR. I couldn't have been happier. Catching a pass from a future Hall of Famer Brett Favre is a dream come true. The next day I flew to Green Bay where I had media ask me a bunch of questions and I finally received my shiny #84 Green Bay Packers Jersey that I quickly put on. It looked very good, and I was excited to hit the training camp with my fellow rookies Justin Harrell, Brandon Jackson and CU's Mason Crosby. I signed a 2 year 4M with 640K signing bonus a few weeks later and it was finally August which means we hit training camp and pre-season.

[Anthony15]

WR DEPTH CHART

Donald Driver 93 Overall, 32 Years, 91 Speed, 92 Awareness, 95 Catch
Greg Jenkins 84 Overall, 23 Years, 93 Speed, 72 Awareness, 87 Catch
Ivan Shcipansky 77 Overall, 21 Years, 91 Speed, 81 Awareness, 74 Catch
Ruvell Martin 75 Overall, 25 Years, 87 Speed, 62 Awareness, 78 Catch
James Jones 75 Overall, 29 Years, 89 Speed, 57 Awareness, 77 Catch

MY STATS

Week 1 vs Steelers:
3 Kick Return, 67 Yards

Week 2 vs Seahawks:
1 Reception, 12 Yards
2 Kick Returns, 40 Yards

[Anthony15]

LEAGUE STATS

[Mark.]

Nice stuff dude, I dont really know that much about NFL but it looks like this will be exciting to follow. You got a pretty sweet contract for a 3rd round pick or is that pretty standard?

[JT_55]

That is a pretty healthy contract for a third rounder.

If I remember correctly, Madden 08 was released yesterday, right?

[Drex]

You're not really 6'5, right? Looks great, I'll try to follow this one.

[Anthony15]

Mark., Quite standard, 2 mil every year is quite decent, salaries are a bit higher than in NBA.

JT_55, yup, got it today in the morning

Drex, Nope only 6'0, but shooting to be around 6'4.

[Anthony15]

AT

PRE-SEASON WEEK 1

My first day in training camp I was really looking forward to meeting the players and the staff. I got to meet Donald Driver, I know I'll be his successor in a few years. Didn't see Brett Favre at camp at all first day, but the next day he showed up and was ready to go. In the mornings I had to run a mile in 5 minutes, then I went to the training room to lift some weights, coach Robinson told me that my conditioning is fine and I don't have to spend hours in the training room. During the day fans started showing up to the field, mostly all of them and the media watching Favre and the first string team. I didn't get a single interview in first 3 days of camp. So anyways, we ran 7 on 7 drills, I was the main WR in the 2nd string offense. It wasn't as hard to beat out our 3rd and 4th CB's since they're not as tall as me, but I was still quite afraid to go inside against the LB's of NFL caliber and get knocked out. At the end of the day some guys hit the film room while me and Robby Ferguson stayed on the field, he helped me out with some moves as on what to do as I get the ball. First thing he told me is to cover the ball right away, NFL teams are always looking for a turnover. After a hard working day, I finally went to my rented apartment, had a steak and fell dead asleep... My first pre-season game and I was penciled in as 3rd string WR. On Friday we boarded a plane to Pittsburgh, and I couldn't wait to catch a ball in a NFL Game, even though its just pre-season.

Before the game coach McCarthy went over some plays that we will try to make perfect today, one play that I had to be involved in is WR Option where I have to go behind another WR and spring down the field, due to my height, McCarthy told me that I will get balls thrown high at me. That's not a relief as it would suck to be hit right in the stomach. I finally found my #84 Ivan Shcipansky plate and I had my #84 jersey there with my name on it. I also asked the equipment manager to give me gloves, I got Reebok black and white gloves, I also got a visor, just for the heck of it. I got out on to the field and sat down on the WR bench, getting last minute calls from coach Robinson.

1st Quarter Highlights:
I didn't have to sit long on the bench as I got a call from offensive coordinator to be the Kick Returner, I practiced a bit on it, but I didn't think they wanted me to be their #1 KR. I had a 28 yard return to the 26 yard line. First action I saw was a 3 WR 1 TE Formation on 3rd down. It was a PA Boot, main option being TE Franks. I got open as I ran across but Favre nailed Jennings, our 2nd WR, for a 34 yard gain, Favre got injured though. The drive finished off on a 27 yard PA Pass to Driver from Rogers. Manuel, our CB made an interception at their 9. Townsend came right back and picked it off of Favre who was back in. The Steelers got a 37 Yard FG, big play came on a 30 yard connection from Ben to Santonio Holmes. What a bitch, on the KR I fumbled, but someone was there to pick it up for us, phew. We went down the field, but Favre got picked off again by Polamalu.

2nd Quarter Highlights:
The Steelers put on a good drive and had Willie Parker run it for 15 yards into the endzone, Steelers up 10-7. Favre made sure we were in this game, and had a big connection with Driver for 61 yards, unfortunately we stumbled to get into the endzone, but my fellow CU-man Mason Crosby tied us up 10 with a 30 yard FG. We went into the locker room with the score 10-10.

3rd Quarter Highlights:
Steelers running game set up a FG from Reed to put them up by 3. On 3rd down Blatch connected with Washington for a 1st down but the back-up MLB Hodge was right there to knock the shit out of him and force an incompletion. In the second half I was put in at 2nd WR behind Jennings. On 2nd down I got called for holding on a screen play, I had to do it otherwise we'd lose yards, too bad the ref saw it. Steel got the ball back and kept the chains moving with running plays, that capped off the drive with a 47 Yard FG from Reed.

4th Quarter Highlights:
I had a punt return in the beginning of the game, I hate PR so I was quite scared that I'll fumble, ball almost slipped through my hands but I hung on to it. Steelers get one more FG from Reed and go on to win it 19-10. Its nothing big, just a pre-season game. Final Score: Packers - Steelers 10-19

Player of the Game:
WILLIE PARKER - 64 Yards, 11 Carries, 1 TD, 5.8 Average

[JT_55]

Man, those Steelers are tough. Too bad you didn't get a reception, though.

[Anthony15]

Yeah that was kind of my bad as I made the sliders for pass protection too low, I didn't have enough time to get open and call for the ball, Rogers got hit or sacked almost every time, its alright though, still pre season, playing around with sliders, should get a W next week.

[Anthony15]

AT

PRE-SEASON WEEK 2

Coming off a tough loss, I thought it will be impossible for me to get a reception in an NFL game. I got thrown once to me the entire game and I was not able to come up with the ball as the CB read the play and knocked it down before I was able to get on it. We flew back to Green Bay the next day, I'm loving this city, everyone is crazy about the Packers in here, this team is definitely one of the most historic teams in the sport and Brett is idolized by everyone here. We started training camp again on Tuesday. On Thursday I got somewhat/not-so-much exciting news. Our 4th string WR Robby Ferguson got cut. It's good news to me that I don't have to battle for 3rd string anymore, and I'm safely sitting there, but he helped me out quite a lot the first week to get ready for the game. From what I've heard he took some substances that were illegal, the Packers cut him, not sure about that though.

So we kept going through drills, I played with first string offense, during shotgun and standard form plays. Next up was a home game, where we'll be cheered. Seattle is coming to Lambeau Field. I decided to hit the film room a couple of days before the game to study Kelly Herndon and Jordan Babineaux, guys that I will have to play against. I was really happy for the ex-Buff Mason Crosby as he got the starting job with Gardner leaving the Pack. He already got his first points of the career, nailing a 30-something FG and an extra point, we kind of stick together, since we're both from the same college team and he says he loves it here, well so do I, would be great if I'd go up depth chart and get 2nd spot at wideout. Anyways on to the game.

1st Quarter Highlights:
Well, I was so wrong about my thoughts about never getting a catch in an NFL game. We go PA with a 3 WR set, I had to run across the field and get past the first down. I take off and see the LB's blitzing. I quickly move past the SS and Favre throws it to me. As usual, Brett is on the money and nails me for the first down. I got a picture of my first reception below. It took us 4 more plays, a run with a fumble, but it was reversed, another run and 3 big passes that set up a TD for us. Morency catches it and takes it in for 23 yards. Packers up 7-0. Seattle scores right at the end to tie at 7. Morency fumbled on a screen play, Kerney picked it up and ran about 12 yards for a TD.

2nd Quarter Highlights:
Damn it. We got intercepted and I think it was my fault. I tried to go off of my route a bit and called for the ball. Jordan Babineaux read the play perfectly and picked it off at our 30 yard line. Just a FG for them though. Seattle get one more to go up 13-7. We try to go for a final rush to get the elad back at half time. I think Brett is a down or something for throwing those passes he did. I was wide open on a PA pass, he forces it to Driver, interception and Trufant takes it all the way. We're down 20-7 at half time.

3rd Quarter Highlights:
And again we manage to stumble on D and give up a FG. Seahawks had a big drive to make it 23-7. Thats about it for 3rd quarter as both teams punted back to back.

4th Quarter Highlights:
We collapse completely as Rogers throws an interception to Koutavides, instead of nailing me, I was in single coverage vs 5'11 Herndon. The Seahawks only have to go 8 yards and score to completely dominate with a score of 30-7. Rogers jsut couldn't hit anything today. At the end he threw another interception. Total collapse for us. Final Score: Seahawks - Packers 30-7.

Player of the Game:
CB Jordan Babineaux, Seattle - 2 Tackles, 2 Ints, 1 Pass Deflection

My Stats:
1 Reception, 12 Yards
2 Kick Returns, 40 Yards