Packers Don’t Get Kick Out Of Victory
The Green Bay Packers might be regretting their divorce with Chris Jacke.
At Green Bay, Wis., rookie kicker Brett Conway missed three field goals in Thursday night’s 7-3 victory over the New England Patriots, giving him four consecutive misses over six days.
The Packers, who declined to try a 40-yarder with 20 seconds left, bid adieu to Jacke, an unrestricted free agent, when they picked Conway, out of Penn State, in the third round of the NFL draft.
In eight mostly productive seasons, Jacke scored 820 points for the Packers - three shy of the team record held by Don Hutson - including 114 points last season.
He never missed three field goals in any game, exhibition or otherwise.
Jacke, a fan favorite in Green Bay, signed with Pittsburgh earlier this month and kicked three field goals in his debut with the Steelers on Sunday.
New England quarterback Drew Bledsoe was so-so in his 1997 debut, going 5 of 10 for 30 yards over four of the Patriots’ first-half series.
Versatile offensive lineman Ross Verba of Iowa, the Packers’ No. 1 draft pick, ended his 22-day holdout.
Terms of his deal weren’t disclosed.
Because Verba, the 30th overall pick in the NFL draft, has missed so much time, he did not suit up for Thursday night’s game.
Namath blasts Keyshawn
The most famous New York Jets alumnus chastised the franchise’s most self-absorbed figure since Mark Gastineau.
Joe Namath, the former quarterback who is now a TV analyst, suggested that outspoken wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson owes teammates Wayne Chrebet and Neil O’Donnell an apology for publicly criticizing them in his book “Give Me The Damn Ball.”
“Keyshawn has to realize it’s not always his way,” Namath said. “Until Keyshawn can accept that fact that he could be wrong or that he is wrong, he’s going to have to struggle.”
Namath hasn’t read Johnson’s book, but said there’s an unwritten code that governs NFL teammates.
Around the league
The Buffalo Bills reached an agreement with local and state governments that could keep the team at Rich Stadium for another 15 years… . Cowboys cornerback Wendell Davis, who is a fill-in starter when Deion Sanders is not available, said he will be out four to seven weeks with torn cartilage in his left knee… . The Dolphins are now without their top two draft picks. Cornerback Sam Madison will be sidelined two to three weeks after a large bone fragment was removed from his left ankle joint. The Dolphins lost top draft pick Yatil Green for the season when the wide receiver blew out his right knee on July 17.
Free-agent linebacker Devon McDonald is returning to the Colts after spending last season with Arizona. … Brent Burnstein, who skipped a practice with the Tennessee Oilers last week rather than let veterans cut his hair, reported to the Cardinals’ camp. The Oilers released him on Monday… . The Broncos’ defense sustained a setback when defensive lineman Jumpy Geathers ruptured his Achilles’ tendon during a routine drill. For Geathers, 36, the injury was the end of his season and possibly his career.