Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • Page 14

Sports C-2 Monday, September 6, 2004 Green Bay Press-Gazette www.greenbaypressgazette.com Sunday's NFL moves Team of the week DE Truluck, OL Bedell will join the Packers PACKERS shared the Fox River Valley Conference title last season. Those three teams will be In contention for the championship again this season, making this matchup important to both team's title hopes. News and notes A shining star There are a number of reasons why Bay Port has put together a 3-1-2 record to begin the season. The Pirates have gotten excellent production out of standouts Kurt Johnson and Tim Klossner, along with steady goaltending from Trevor Van Laanen. Perhaps most Importantly, though, has been the play of sophomore Billy Ryczkowski, who has excelled as the team's defensive stopper.

Ryczkowski has teamed with senior sweeper Jake Kimps to help take pressure off Van Laanen In goal. "The two have really developed Into a nice combination back there," said Bay Port coach John DeMerit, who is in his seventh season with the Pirates. "I didn't know how (Billy) would be, but he has been really solid. He has shown a real pedigree of maturity." A new position De Pere has moved standout Mike Paroubek to the midfield after the senior scored nine goals and had 19 assists last year as a forward. Paroubek's strong play the last few seasons has attracted the attention of four Division I programs and a handful of Division II schools.

The 6-foot-4, 1 88-pound Paroubek hasn't decided if he will play soccer or basketball in college yet, but a decision could be made by the end of December. Scott Vend, svencigreenbaypressgazette.com Bay Port Last year's Bay Conference champion went 2-0, beating Green Bay Preble 3-2 In double overtime Tuesday and defeating Pulaski 6-0 on Thursday to improve to 3-1 -2 on the season. Kurt Johnson scored three goals in the two games. Honorable mention goes to Ash-waubenon, which went 2-0 in games against Manitowoc and Seymour, outscoring the two teams 12-2. Player of the week Connor Brown, Ashwaubenon Brown, a junior, scored three goals Tuesday in an 8-2 win over Manitowoc, then scored three more Thursday in a 4-0 win over Seymour.

"He has a nose for the goal," Ashwaubenon coach Bob Rickards said. "He is just relaxing and going right to the goal, and he's putting the ball Into the back of the net. It's great." Honorable mention goes to Wrightstown's Trenton Rosenbaum, who scored two goals and had three assists to help the Tigers go 2-0 for the week and improve to 5-1 overall. Games of the week De Pere at Bay Port, 6:30 p.m., Thursday These two teams could be battling all year for the Bay championship. Although it's still early in the season, the winner of this game will grab early control of the conference in the only regular season meeting between the two squads.

Green Bay Preble at Green Bay Southwest, 6:30 p.m. Thursday Along with Green Bay Notre Dame, the Hornets and Trojans BY DYLAN B. TOMLINSON Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers The Green Bay Packers continued their attempt to try to improve their pass rush Sunday when they acquired defensive end R-Kal Truluck from the Kansas City Chiefs for a fifth and sixth-round pick in the 2005 NFL draft. Truluck is entering his third season in the NFL and was a key contributor for the Chiefs off the bench last season. Truluck played in 14 games, and had five sacks and 25 tackles.

"We had talked about trading Marques Anderson to Kansas City for him, but that wasn't going to happen," Sherman said. "Then we were able to pick up draft picks for Marques (from Oakland) and move them around and get this done. I think he's an outside rusher and will be involved immediately in that dime and nickel package. I feel like he has speed off the edge, and he's a good pass rusher technique-wise." The Packers traded Anderson to Oakland for a fifth- and sixth-round pick on Friday. Sherman said the Packers will keep the better of the two picks in each round and ship the other picks to Kansas City The acquisition of Truluck allowed the Packers to cut veteran defensive end Kenny Holmes, who the team signed last week.

"We felt the injury risk with him back." Sherman said. "I thought Grey Ruegamer was the best choice as the backup center." Injury updates: Sherman said defensive lineman Kenny Peterson hyperextended his knee and sprained an ankle during Friday's preseason loss to the Titans and said his status for next Monday's season opener against the Carolina Panthers was unknown. "He's probably less than 50-50," Sherman said. "He said he's going to play, but we're going to wait and see." Sherman said injuries to receiver Donald Driver and running back Tony Fisher were not serious and that both players would practice tonight. McKenzieDB update: Sherman said no progress had been made to try to get defensive back Mike McKenzie to re-join the team.

"I am no closer to any knowledge in that area," Sherman said. With McKenzie on the reservedid not report list, Sherman will have the rest of the week to decide whether rookie Ahmad Carroll or veteran Michael Hawthorne would start against the Panthers. "I have several days to make that decision," Sherman said. "Whoever lines up Monday night, I will be comfortable with. I thought Ahmad Carroll has improved.

He's playing the ball downfield better, and he's more disciplined." CutsTwo punters is unusual, but it worked for San Diego II Andy Roddick celebrates after defeating Guillermo Canas 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 at the U.S. Open in New York on Sunday. The Associated Press Top Americans easily advance at U.S. Open ARIZONA CARDINALS Released CB Coby Rhinehart, DE Dennis Johnson, RB Damien Anderson, WR Kevin Kasper, DE Antonio Smith, RB Aveion Cason, Steve Grace, WR Lawrence Hamilton, DT Cedric Hilliard, Adrian Mayes, FB Joshua Rue, DL Shaun Smith and Tony Wragrje. Placed FS Dexter Jackson end DT Kenny King on injured reserve.

ATLANTA FALCONS Released Bob Whitfield. CB Tod McBride, WR Kendrick Mosley, Steve Stew art, TE Jason Rader and LB Terrence Melton. Walved-injured WR Woody Dantzler and DT Daniel Benetka. BUFFALO BILLS Released LB Jason Gildon, OT Marques Sullivan, DE Keith McKenzie, OG Ben Sobies-ki, DT Lauvale Sape, WR Jonathan Smith, LB Dominique Stevenson, CB Gerald Dixon, OL Jasen Es-posito, WR Drew Haddad, FB Luke Lawton and TE Rod Tratford. Placed QB Travis Brown on injured reserve.

CAROLINA PANTHERS Released CB Ter-rance Shaw, CB Eddie Jackson. Placed LB Jessie Armstead and DT Shane Burton on Injured reserve. CHICAGO BEARS Released DL Bryan Robinson, RB Rablh Abdullah, DB Blue Adams, OL Bryan Anderson, Brooks Barnard, WR Aaron Boone, LB Jeremy Cain, DE Ouinn Dorsey, DB Vontez Duff, WR Andre Ford, RB Brock Forsey, Michael Keathley, LB Bryan Knight DB Alfonso Marshall, WR Ahmad Mer-ritt, DE Surron Pierson, TE Miks Pinkard, LB Jerry Schumacher, OL Josh Warner and DE Cliff Washburn. Placed OT Marc Colombo on the physically-unable-to-perform list and TE Gabe Reid on injured reserve. CINCINNATI BENGALS Released DT Glen Steele, Marquand Manuel, OL Alex Sulfsted, TE James Whalen, DE Elton Patterson, DL Greg Scott, LB Allen Augustin, LB Larry Stevens, FB Alex Wade and WR Jamall Broussard.

CLEVELAND BROWNS Released TE Darnell Sanders, DE Mark Word, WR Frisman Jackson, DL Felipe Claybrooks, LB Sherrod Coates, OL Lewis Dawson, WR C.J. Jones, OL Chuck Klabo, RB Nick Maddox, FB Corey Mclntyre, TE Chad Mustard, DL John Nix, OL Scot Osborne, OL Craig Osika, LB Uyl Osunde, Derek Schorejs, DL Cedric Scott, DB Ricky Sharpe, LB Mason Unck, DB Tim Wansley and DB Roosevelt Williams. Placed Jason Anderson on injured reserve. DALLAS COWBOYS Released DT Jermaine Brooks, Matt Bryant, Steve Cargile, WR Terrence Copper, Tom Crowder, LB Ryan Fowler, OL Thomas Herrion, FB Jamar Martin, FB Lousaka Polite, WR Zuirel Smith, TE Landon Trusty and DE Ryan Wingrove. Placed Darren Woodson on the physi-cally-unable-to-perform list.

DENVER BRONCOS Released TE Byron Chamberlain, TE Jed Weaver, DE Bryant McNeal, DE Clint Mitchell, RB Ahmaad Galloway and DT Nick Eason, QB Bradlee Van Pelt, OL Josh Sewell, LB Cornelius Anthony, LB Charles Burton, LB Louis Green, LB Johnny Rutledge, Tyson Clabo, Shannon Snell, WR Romar Crenshaw, Hayden Epstein, DE Randy Garner, DT Thomas Pittman, RB Cecil Sapp and Chris Watton. Placed CB Jeremy LeSueur on injured reserve. DETROIT LIONS Released WR David Kircus, LB Michael Young, LB Andrew Battle, RB Avon Cobourne, FB Stephen Trejo and WR Reggie Swin-ton. Placed Brian Walker on injured reserve. GREEN BAY PACKERS Acquired DE R-Kal Truluck from Kansas City for 2005 fifth- and sixth-round picks and OL Brad Bedell from Miami for a 2006 conditional draft pick.

Released OL Joseph Hayes, OL Atlas Herrion, OL Jason Jimenez, RB Walter Williams, WR Wilson Thomas and LB Jermaine Taylor, QB Tim Couch, Curtis Fuller, DE Holmes, DE Tyrone Rogers, DT Larry Smith, CB Chris Watson, WR Cart Ford, WR Kelvin Kiglrt, WR Scottie Vines, Julius Curry. TE Tony Donald, LB Steve Josue, OB Scott McBrien and Scott Wells. Warved-injured WR Shockmain Davis. Reached an injury settlement with DE Chukie Nwokorie. HOUSTON TEXANS Released LB D.D.

Achotonu, Luke Butkus, DE Jason Davis, TE Jabari Holloway, Jammal Lord, DT Terrance Martin, RB Adam Matthews, TE Matt Murphy, LB Shantee Orr, LB Antonio Rodriguez, LB Anthony Dunn, DT Jeremy Slechta, FB Ed Stansbury. WR Chris Taylor, WR Sloan Thomas and CB Darrick Vaughn. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS Released QB Cory Sauter, DB Corey Chamblin, DB Stanford Samuels, DB Kato Serwanga, QB Tom Arm, OB Cory Sauter, OT Jim Newton, OT Patrick Venzke, LB Pasha Jackson, DT Tank Reese and WR DeAndrew Rubin. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS Released OL Mike Compton, DT Anthony Maddox, OT Sean Bubin, RB Rich Alexis, Joe Tate, RB David Allen, Derrick Fletcher, DT Derrick Ransom, DE Courtland Billiard, TE Chris Luzar, Anthony Mitchell and OT Sammy Williams. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS Released Morten Andersen Jason Baker, Darnell Alford, DT Eric Downing, DE Eddie Freeman, CB Cliff Crosby, Lyle West, Thomas Barnett, Scott Connot, Clint finley, TE Aaron Golliday, Ryan Lllja, Tim Stuber and DT Montique Sharpe.

Placed LB Mike Maslowskl on injured reserve. MIAMI DOLPHINS Released WR Antonio Freeman and RB Fred Russell. MINNESOTA VIKINGS Released DE Nick Rogers. Placed Tyrone Carter on Injured reserve. NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Released CB Terrell Buckley, WR Michael Jennings, WR Chas Gess-ner, WR Ricky Bryant, DB Christian Morton, DB Je'Rod Cherry, RB Kory Chapman, RB Malaefou Mackenzie, LB Justin Kurpeikis, LB Eric Alexander, DL Buck Rasmussen and OL David Pruce.

Placed RB Cedric Cobbs and LB Matt Chatham on the physically-unable-to-perform list. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS Released DT Kend-erick Allen, Ben Archibald, WR Nathan Black, CB Fred Booker. CB Ahmad Brooks, TE Dan Curley, Jerry Fontenot, Brett Harford, Rob Hart, WR Derrick Lewis, FB Nate Schurman, Chad Setter-Strom, LB Darrin Smith, RB Lamar Smith, LB Billy Strother and Terry Wagner. NEW YORK GIANTS Released LB Quincy Monk, Jason Doering, Carson Dach, QB Ryan Van Dyke, RB Joffrey Reynolds, FB Charles Stack-house, TE Mark Inkrott, TE Joe Dean Davenport, Dion Meredith, Solomon Page, Omar Smith, WR Ataveus Cash, DE Khaleed Vaughn, DE Sean Guthrie, DE Radell Lockhart, LB T.J. Hollowell and CB Jamaine Winbome.

Placed Barry Stokes and RB Chris Douglas on injured reserve. NEW YORK JETS Released WR Matt Dominguez, DT Alan Harper, DE Matt Walters, CB Andrew Davison, Dave Vbvanovits, DB Omare Lowe, QB Ricky Ray, FB Derrick Ward and WR Terrence Stubbs. OAKLAND RAIDERS Released OL Todd Wike, QB Brett Engemann, DB Keyon Nash, DL Shawn Johnson, LB Cody Spencer, OL Blaine Saipaia, OL Corey Hulsey, OL Robert Hicks, LB Maugaula Tu-Itele, DL David Nugent, LB Bobby Brooks. Released LB Dwayne Rudd, DB ike Charlton and RB Chris Hetherington. Placed DB Derrick Gibson and DB Clarence Love on injured reserve.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES Released RB Dorsey Levens, WR Sean Morey. RB Eric McCoo, DT Jon Bradley, OL Jeremy Bridges, LB Howard Clark, TE Kori Dickerson, Dante Ellington, LB Justin Ena, CB Brandon Haw, WR Justin Jenkins, DE Ron Johnson, LB Mike Labinjo, DT DeMarco Neil and Nick Murphy. Placed Dominic Furio on injured reserve. PITTSBURGH STEELERS Released RB Dante Brown, LB Adrian Ross, DL Kendrick Clancy, Russell Stuvaints, Rob Bironas, FB J.T. Wall, OL Drew Cay-kx, OL Bo Lacy, LB Dedrick Roper and DE Eric Taylor.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS Released WR Kevin Dyson, Kwamie Lassiter, Carlos Joseph, OL Phil Bogle, OL Chad Ward, OL Reese Hicks, TE Brock Edwards, CB Jonathan Cox, CB Jerrell Pippens, LB Howard Hodges, LB Justin Riley and DE Otis Lev- SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS Released Mike Adams, CB Allan Amundson, DE Josh Cooper, TE Gabe Crecion, DT Christian Ferrera, Nate Fikse, WR P.J. WR Adam Herzing, RB Maurice Hicks, Norm Katnik, DT Michael Landry, Dwayne Ledford, CB Rayshun Reed, Scott Re-hberg, FB Matt Stanley, Erik Totten, LB Renauld Williams and Kirk Yliniemi. Placed DT Isaac Sopoaga on injured reserve and Jerome Davis on the reserve non-football injury list. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS Released Jordan Babineaux, Walter Bernard, DT LaWayton Brown, DT John Schlecht, WR Arrtoine Burns, WR Taco Wallace, WR Jason Willis, CB Brad Franklin, CB Michael Harden, CB Tony Lukins, LB Byron Hardmon, Matt Hill, Joey Hollenbeck, Donnie Jones, FB R.J. Luke, DE Omar Nazel, RB Tellis Redmon, Jeff Roehl and TE Josh Whitman.

Placed FB Chris Davis and Damien Robinson on miured reserve. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS Released RB Brandon Bennett LB Michael Brown, Ben Claxton, LB Dustin Cohen, WR Danny Farmer, DT Oliver Gibson, RB Earnest Graham, Will Hunter, Scott Jackson, WR Mark Jones, Austin King, WR Marcus Knight DB Kahrin Pearson, DT Cleveland Pinkney, DE Corey Smith and CB Ronyell Whltaker. Placed Kerry Jenkins on injured reserve and WR Joe Jurevicius on the reserve non-football injury list. TENNESSEE TITANS Released OB Jason Gesser, RB Jarrett Payton and RB Vick King. Waived-injured Thomas Wright and OL Matt Martin.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS Released DE Regan Upshaw, TE Leonard Stephens, TE Fred Baxter, DT Ryan Boschetti, DT Cedric Killings, CB Rufus Brown, CB Gamell Wilds, CB Rashad Bauman, WR Jafar Williams, WR Sean Dillard, WR Gari Scott, WR Dameane Douglas, OL Pita Elisara, OL Ben Now-land, OL Marcus Spriggs, OL Daryl Terrell, OL Bill Ferrario, QB Gibran Hamdan, Ola Kimrin, RB Sultan McCullough and DE Darrell Wright. Reached an injury settlement with LB Chris demons. Placed RB John Simon, Dennard Wilson and OT Jon Jansen on injured reserve. notebook For more coverage of the Green Bay Packers, go to www.packersnews.com (Holmes) was significant," Sherman said. "We feel like the player we got in the trade is a little livelier, a healthier player." Truluck, 29, played three seasons with Saskatchewan in the Canadian Football League from 1998 to 2000 and also spent two seasons with Detroit in the Arena League, before signing with the Chiefs as a member of the practice squad.

He was on the active roster for the final six games of the 2002 season. The Packers also traded a conditional draft pick to the Miami Dolphins for offensive lineman Brad Bedell. Bedell has spent the last four seasons with the Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Dolphins, and Sherman felt he could give the Packers some needed depth on the offensive line. "He's a tough guy. He plays left tackle and left guard," Sherman said.

"I thought he was in the mix with that team." The trade for Bedell meant the end of Scott Wells' run with the Packers. Wells had a strong start during training camp, but was limited by an elbow injury for most of camp. "It was related in that it set er at Carolina with Sander as his punter. In what was a disastrous preseason, Sander averaged 36.0 yards on 23 punts and had a net average of only 30.8 yards. Barker, a 15-year NFL veteran, averaged 42.4 yards (35.9 net) on eight preseason punts.

"If you really think about it, I don't know how many times the 53rd player on the roster actually plays," Barker said when reached Sunday night. "Is B.J. the 53rd player? I don't know. But there was an investment there with him. For what they want me to do here, I think it's a (financial) bargain.

Obviously by keeping both of us, one of my tasks will be to help bring B.J. along. San Diego did it last year. From what I've heard, it worked" out well." Sherman said he feared another team would claim Sander if the Packers cut him. That would have forced the Packers to take an immediate acceleration on their salary cap for this season.

Sander's signing bonus was $583,630. Therein lies the problem with using a third-round draft pick on a punter. "Coming out of college and being put in the spotlight, it's not an easy transition from college to the pros," Sherman said. "Every punt you punt rightfully so is in the paper the next day You have to be mature enough to handle the bad as well as the good. That's not easy for a 22-year old sometimes." As for Couch, the Packers will have to eat the $625,000 signing bonus they gave to Couch, who Couch's final preseason stats were ll-for-34 passing with zero touchdowns, zero interceptions and a 40.8 passer rating.

Pederson re-claimed his backup job early in camp, but Couch still was expected to beat out Nail and rookie free agent Scott McBrien, but for the third year in a row, Nail won the job. This is the second season in a row Nail has beaten out a first-round pick from the 1999 draft for a roster spot. Last season, he beat out Akili Smith, who the Bengals took with the No. 3 pick in that draft. Sherman isn't ready to write Nail off as an NFL quarterback.

"It's too early to make that determination," Sherman said. "He's too young a player to say that. He has made some strides. But, to say that Nail is or is not a starter in this league, I can't From C-1 and guardtackle Brad Bedell from Miami for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2006. The trade for Truluck allowed the Packers to release Kenny Holmes, and the pickup of Bedell made seventh-round pick Scott Wells expendable.

Wells likely will return as a member of the practice squad if he clears waivers today The Packers set their roster without cornerback Mike McKenzie, who remained on the reservedid not report list. However, more than one Packers' front-office person believed there was a chance McKenzie could end his holdout perhaps as soon as this week. Those moves, however, were overshadowed by the nearly unprecedented decision to keep two punters. The San Diego Chargers last season kept two punters veteran Darren Bennett and rookie fifth-round pick Mike Scifres on their roster. Scifres did not attempt a punt all season but won the job this season after Bennett signed with the Minnesota Vikings.

The Packers don't have to make a final decision on Barker until this weekend, but if he's on the roster at the end of the day Saturday, they will have to pay him the veteran's minimum of $760,000 for the entire season and count $455,000 against their salary cap. There's always a chance Sherman could cut Barker before Saturday, but it's highly unlikely he would want to go into the "Monday Night Football" open Tennis surgery Doctors advised her to take more time off this summer, including skipping the Olympics and maybe the Open. "My knee is doing pretty good right now. I haven't had any worries," Williams said. "I'm just excited to be here because I wasn't supposed to come." Told of those comments, Capriati said: "From now on, I don't believe what anybody says.

I just expect them to be 100 percent. Because I really don't think anybody would be playing if they really didn't feel 100 percent." Capriati weathered a rough patch late to get past No. 12 Ai Sugiyama 7-5, 6-2. Capriati was broken to 5-3, allowing Sugiyama to serve for the opening set, but took four straight games barely. Serving while trailing 5-4, Capriati faced a set point, erased when Sugiyama sent a forehand long to end an 18-stroke exchange.

Ahead 6-5, Capriati produced her first three double-faults, escaping when Sugiyama missed another forehand. Now, Capriati faces Williams, ahead 10-6 head-to-head, "I've played her at her best. I've played her at her worst," Capriati said. "I've played her at my best, me at my worst. I can just only worry about myself, really" The Associated Press NEW YORK Fans who tacked 21 pieces of paper with a yellow (as in to a railing during Andy Roddick's U.S.

Open match Sunday probably didn't bring any decorated with (as in Those would have gone to waste, anyway Having dispatched two teens, the defending champion finally met up with a seeded veteran in the third round. Something of a challenge, right? Not quite. Coming close to a perfect serving day, Roddick rolled into the round of 16 by overwhelming No. 29 Guillermo Canas of Argentina 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Roddick smacked those 21 aces, had zero double-faults and erased all five break points he faced.

"I had a game plan, I executed it. I took it to him," said Roddick, against No. 18 Tommy Ro-bredo next. "I really don't have a magical explanation for it." Canas, whose top first serve (126 mph) was slower than Roddick's average (129 mph), said: "His serve is difficult. Well, almost impossible." Serena Williams was nearly as dominant in beating No.

15 Patty Schnyder 6-4, 6-2 to set up yet another Grand Slam quarterfinal against Jennifer Capriati. Williams' hit 12 aces and compiled a 24-9 edge in winners. She wasn't able to defend her 2002 Open title, missing 8Vi months after left knee was bothered by a sore arm and an inability to pick up the West Coast offense, but they can wipe his $625,000 base salary off their books. Shortly before the cutdown deadline, the Packers nearly had a deal to trade Couch to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of late-round draft picks in 2005 and 2006. The Couch experiment may never have happened had the Packers been able to work him out when he visited Green Bay in early April.

But because he still was under contract with Cleveland, the Browns asked the Packers not to put him through a workout for liability reasons. Had the Packers been able to see what kind of shape his arm was in, they might never have signed him. "He just wasn't productive enough," Sherman said of Couch. "It just didn't work out." Among the other players released Sunday were safety Curtis Fuller, defensive tackle Larry Smith, defensive end Tyrone Rogers, defensive end Chukie Nwokorie, linebacker Steve Josue, quarterback Scott McBrien and receivers Carl Ford and Scottie Vines. Among those who made the final cut after beginning training camp as long shots were: defensive backs Jason Horton and James Whitley, defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins and fullback Vonta Leach.

The Packers' personnel staff planned to work well into the night on Sunday to scour the waiver wire for available players. Leach would likely be the first player cut if another player was acquired. say that." The most stunning aspect of the cuts was that Sherman cut loose a player who has made 59 starts and led a team to the playoffs in favor of Nail, a quarterback who has taken just two snaps during the regular season. Couch's entire $625,000 signing bonus will count against this season's salary cap, but the Packers will save themselves $625,000 that they would have owed Couch if he remained on the roster this season. "You have to deal with the present and what's working right now, and it wasn't working right now," Sherman said.

"Because of the financial ramifications of it obviously, you wonder if this is the right thing to do. I felt like it was the thing we had to do. It just didn't work out, and you move on." CouchLoses No. 3 spot to Nail AUUW.1DEAU FIELD GAMES Sell with confidence to: 'THE ONLY OFFICIAL From C-1 completed 20 of 25 passes for 208 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing touchdown. But while Sherman spent plenty of time watching Couch on tape, he said he never worked Couch during the offseason, despite two meetings with him in Green Bay.

The Browns had asked the Packers not to work out Couch because of liability concerns. Sherman said one of the reasons Couch was let go was because he became more and more comfortable with Doug Pederson as the top backup quarterback. "The elevation of (Pederson) to No. 2 precipitated the decision to release Tim," Sherman said. "(Couch) just wasn't productive enough." i.

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