Green Bay Press-Gazette from Green Bay, Wisconsin • 16

PACKERS TRAINING CAMP B-2 THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 2011 GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE WWW.GREENBAYPRESSGAZEnE.COM NOTEBOOK THE Wi pay cuS INSIDER BOB DEMOVSKV iroos to Green Bay Packers training Ray Nitschke Field. Corey Starks, Green to split carries with Grant in Indianapolis By Rob Demovsky Green Bay Press-Gazette Running back Ryan Grant is no longer in danger of getting cut. In fact, he's been safe since early in training camp, when he agreed to restructure his contract. Grant took a $1 million pay cut and will be paid a base salary of $2.5 million this season, which is the final year of his contract. The pay cut was first reported Wednesday afternoon by Philadelphia-based NFL reporter Adam Ca-plan, who writes for the website TheSideline View.com.

Later Wednesday, Grant's agent, Alan Herman, told the Press-Gazette that most of the restructured deal is now guaranteed. Under his previous contract, Grant's base salary was scheduled to be $3.5 million this season. However, the Packers could have cut him before the first week of the regular season without owing Grant any more money. Now that his base is guaranteed, the Packers would still owe him $2.5 million if they decided to part ways. Grant also had a roster bonus of $1.75 million this season.

He was paid $1 million of that on the first day of the league year. The remaining portion of that will be paid in roster bonuses tied to him being on the active roster for each game. There had been speculation that Grant could be in danger of getting cut based on his age (28), ty Brandon Underwood (knee), who missed the first two preseason games because of injuries. Ruled out Receiver Randall Cobb (knees) and defensive end Mike Neal (knee) won't be ready for the Colts game and could miss the remainder of the preseason. All three players who are recovering from concussions safety Anthony Levine and defensive ends C.J.

Wilson and Lawrence Guy also won't play on Friday. Receiver Greg Jennings, who didn't practice on Wednesday because of a bruised knee, could play, McCarthy said. Sherrod's reaction Rookie first-round pick Derek Sherrod worked exclusively at left tackle this week after losing the battle for the starting left guard position to TJ. Lang. It was Sherrod's first experience playing guard after playing exclusively at tackle in high school and college.

McCarthy said he thought the experience would make Sherrod a better left tackle down the road, and Sherrod agreed. "Definitely," Sherrod said. "Anytime you're working hard at something then you're going to become better at it. Guard, tackle, we all practice the same technique so it will make me better." Sherrod's fate was sealed when he allowed two sacks against the Cardinals. Though he didn't use it as an excuse, he said he injured his right knee early in that game.

The injury kept him out of practice on Monday. rdemovskgreenbay pressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter QRobDemovsky. McCarthy said. "I would definitely like to start off and get Ryan going a little bit this week." Playing time The Packers starters won't play after halftime against the Colts. It's not even a sure thing that they'll play the entire first half.

McCarthy could pull the plug as early as midway through the second quarter. Typically, in this, the third preseason game, the starters play at least one series into the third quarter. "I'll assess probably midway through the second quarter and see where we're at," McCarthy said. McCarthy is trying to balance the need to get the starters adequate work and allow enough time to evaluate the rest of the players fighting for roster spots. "We need more information on our younger players and new players," McCarthy said.

"I know we've traditionally played into the third quarter. We will not do that. Our starters will not come out in the second half. I'm looking for productivity in the first two quarters." Outside linebacker Clay Matthews could get even less work than that. Matthews played four snaps in the preseason opener at Cleveland on Aug.

13 but didn't play last Friday against Arizona because he experienced tightness in his hamstrings. He practiced all three days this week. "We'll see how things are going, but I could see him going two, three, four series," defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. Capers said he's especially interested to see two play-ers, cornerback Davon House (hamstring) and safe INJURY REPORT New Injuries: WR Greg Jennings (knee) Did not practice: WR Shaky Smithson (shoulder), WR Randall Cobb (knees), safety Anthony Levine (concussion), LB K.C. Asiodu (chest), LB Frank Zombo (shoulder blade), Adrian Battles (Achilles), Chris Campbell (knee), DE Lawrence Guy (concussion), Returned: Sampson Genus, OLB Brad Jones.

offseason, Hawaii's Alex Green, in the third round. Green and Starks have each missed one preseason game, but all three backs are expected to play Friday at Indianapolis. In the first two preseason games, Grant has carried eight times for 36 yards, a 4.5-yard average, "We're trying to get Ryan and James and Alex a certain number of carries each game," Packers coach Mike Roster breakdown: Who's set to make the 53? THUMBS UP Maybe it was just one of those days when everything went his way, but first-year inside linebacker Cardia Jackson was all over the field making plays Wednesday. Jackson had two interceptions and a pass breakup during team drills. He picked off Aaron Rodgers during a red-zone offense period.

Playing on the scout team, Jackson dropped into coverage in the middle of the field and snagged a pass intended for James Jones, who was running a crossing route. "I pretty much baited (Rodgers)," Jackson said. "I turned my back to him and flipped my head back across real fast, and he threw the ball." His second interception came on a blitz. He got held up at the line of scrimmage but threw his hands in the air and deflected a Graham Har-rell pass. He tipped it in the air and caught it.

The Packers don't have much experienced depth at inside linebacker behind starters Desmond Bishop and AJ. Hawk, but Jackson has shown a knack for finding the football. Only one of the top three backups, Robert Francois, has played in an NFL game. Jackson joined the Packers' practice squad the last week of the regular season in 2010. The other backup on the inside is rookie sixth-round pick DJ.

Smith. THUMBS DOWN After a practice in which two punts were blocked, coach Mike McCarthy was asked whether he felt good that his punt return unit got home twice or bad that his punt protection unit had two major gaffes. "It depends on what phase you're working on," McCarthy said. Well both blocks came during a punt not punt return period. That would be bad.

Punter Tim Masthay said he wasn't alarmed because the punt team was working on different looks and with different blockers. At least one of the two blocks was a protection mistake by one of the wing blockers. Whatever the reason, it was at least the third time Masthay had a punt blocked this week. Receiver Tori Guriey had at least one of them earlier in the week, while running backs Brandon Saine and Alex Green recorded the two blocks Wednesday. None were believed to be related to get-off time, something that Masthay didn't have any serious problems with last season.

DID YOU NOTICE? Rodgers and the No. 1 offense won the only competitive team period in practice, a 2-minute drive against the starting defense. Trailing 26-20 with 1:14 to play and one timeout, Rodgers survived a near interception by Bishop and won the drill with a touchdown pass to Donald Driver on first-and-goal from the 4-yard line with 14 seconds to play. The two big plays were a 20-yard back-shoulder throw to Jones on the first snap and a 21 -yard seam route to tight end Jermichael Finley on third-and-10 from the 25. On the windiest day of camp, Mason Crosby made both of his field goals, 36 and 42 yards into a cross breeze.

Safety Nick Collins continues to be the only starting position player regularly used on the dangerous kick-off coverage team. The Packers must think that having one of their top tacklers on that unit is worth the injury risk to one of their most important defensive players. Undrafted rookie outside linebacker Vic So'oto is making a late push for a roster spot. He won two of his three reps in the one-on-one pass rushing drill, beating Marshall Newhouse and Theo Sherman and losing to Bryan Bulaga. He had two of the five wins by the defense in the brief period, which featured 12 battles.

The Packers have an off day today and travel to Indianapolis for Friday's third preseason game. K9 Ryan Grant runs a drill during camp practice Wednesday on WilsonPress-Gazette salary and injury history. But Grant has so far proven that he's healthy in 2011 and at a $1 million discount, he's a better bargain. "Ryan Grant is fine in Green Bay," Herman said. "The Packers are very happy with him, and he is in no danger contractually." Grant is coming off a season in which he missed all but the first game.

He tore a ligament in his ankle and fractured his lower leg on his eighth carry of the season in Week 1 at Philadelphia. Previously, he rushed for 1,253 yards in 2009 and 1,203 yards in 2008. With the emergence of James Starks late last season, Grant almost certainly won't get the same, full-time work load he had as the primary back his previous 2V2 seasons. He took over that role halfway through the 2007 season when he rushed for 956 yards. The Packers also drafted a running back this him from practicing until Aug.

4, and he's just returned from a hamstring injury that sidelined him a full week. RECEIVERS (5 OR 6) Locks: Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Randall Cobb, Donald Driver. On the bubble: ChastinWest, Tori Guriey, Shaky Smithson, Swain Brett Swain, Diondre Borel. Long shots: Antonio Robinson, Kerry Taylor. Comment The Packers' quality here is impressive they might have 1 0 NFL-caliber receivers but other roster issues and game-day realities might mean they keep only five.

West and Guriey have separated a little from the pack going for the possible sixth spot West who spent last season on the practice squad, isnt a burner but has good strength and hands and impressed with his 97-yard touchdown last week against Arizona. Guriey lacks suddenness but has a hard-to-find quality in his 6-4 height and is an inviting target for high throws along the sideline, where he's shown an ability to go over defensive backs for the catch. Borel, an undrafted rookie, is a converted quarterback with good body control and instincts, and Smithson shows some elusiveness as a runner and return man. All are practice-squad candidates if they dont make the final 53. Swain, a core special teams player last year, saw his chances take a big hit when he missed two weeks of camp because of a hamstring injury.

OFFENSIVE LINE (9 OR 10) Locks: Chad Clifton, TJ. Lang, Scott Wells, Josh Srtton, Bryan Bulaga, T-G Derek Sherrod. Good bets: Marshall Newhouse, Caleb Schlauderaff, C-G Nick McDonald. On the bubble: C-G Evan Dietrich-Smith, Chris Campbell, G-T Ray Dominguez. Long shots Adrian Battles, Theo Sherman, C-G Sampson Genus.

Comment Newhouse has made a jump from last year and is pressing Sherrod for the backup job at tackle. The Packers have loved McDonald's big, square build since he made the roster last season as an undrafted rookie, and he figures to make it because he played guard primarily last year. But his play strength has to improve, especially at his new position, center, where he hasnt shown he's their starter of the future. Dietrich-Smith remains inched ahead of Lee, a former second-round draft pick, for the sixth and final cornerback spot. Lee is bigger (6-0 to Gordy's 5-11), but Gordy is faster and has more want-to.

Peprah, Underwood, Levine and Jennings are going for the two backup safety spots. Peprah, who is 28, would be hard to cut after holding up well as a starter last year in Burnett's absence. Peprah's lack of speed in coverage can be an issue, but he would provide a steady hand as a defensive quarterback if one of the starters goes down. Underwood is the most talented of the group but missed two weeks because of a knee injury and in his third season needs to prove he has a professional mindset. Levine, who was on the practice squad all last season, was playing fine until he sustained a concussion last week.

He'll miss a second preseason game this week, so his odds are sliding. Jennings, an undrafted rookie from Arkansas State, is small (187 pounds) but covers OK and is a willing tackier. SPECIALISTS (3) Locks: Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, LG Brett Goode. Comment: The Packers appear to be stronger in these three spots collectively than they have been for years. pdougherQgreenbay pressgazette.com and follow him on Twitter SPeteDougherty.

GANDRUD will pay top dollar for your used vehicle. Stop in for a free used car appraisal anytime during our normal business 7i i if V'r I 919 Auto Plaza Drive Green Bay, Wl 54302 920-468-6800 i K.C. Asiodu, OLB Ricky Elmore. Comment Smith, a sixth-round draft pick, is undersized but looks like a good football player and is closing in on Francois for the top backup job at inside linebacker. Zombo was on track for splitting time with Walden at right outside linebacker before he suffered a broken shoulder blade last week against Arizona.

Zombo probably will miss six weeks, if not more, and the Packers will have to decide at final cuts whether to carry him on the roster until he can play or put him on injured reserve. Jones' odds went way up when he returned in less than a week from a knee injury only two days after the Packers announced Zombo's injury. Jones has had an OK camp but hasn't rushed the passer like he did when he had four sacks in the final seven games of his rookie season in 2009. So'oto looked out of place early in camp in his transition from defensive end in college to outside linebacker in the NFL, but he's flashed some pass-rush power on the edge in the last week or so. Lattimore, an undrafted rookie from Middle Tennessee State, showed quickness as an outside rusher early in camp but leveled off and at 230 pounds looks like a practice-squad type player who needs more strength.

Jackson, a first-year pro, is a decent athlete and made several plays in pass coverage this week but will need to do it in a preseason game to knock Francois off the roster. Elmore, a sixth-round pick, has had a tough time transitioning from end to standup linebacker. He's better in coverage than at the start of the camp but hasn't made gains as a standup rusher. SECONDARY (10) Locks: CB Charles Woodson, CB Tra-mon Williams, Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett, CB Sam Shields, CB Davon House. Good bets: CB- Gordy Jarrett Bush.

On the bubble: Charlie Peprah, CB Josh Gordy, S-CB Brandon Underwood, Anthony Levine, M.D. Jennings, CB Pat Lee. Long shots: Anthony Bratton, CB Brandian Ross. Comment: House was the second-best rookie in camp, behind only Cobb, before missing 2Vi weeks because of a pulled hamstring. He's back this week and still in the running with Bush for the No.

4 cornerback job. Gordy probably has Following is a position-by-position breakdown of the Packers' roster heading into their third preseason game, which is Friday night at Indianapolis (the number of players they're likely to keep at each position is in parentheses): RUNNING BACKS (4 TO 5) Locks: RB James Starks, RB Ryan Grant FB John Kuhn, RB Alex Green. On the bubble: FB Quinn Johnson, RB Dimitri Nance, RB Brandon Saine. Nance Long shot FB Jon Hoese. Comment The Packers usually keep at least five halfbacks and fullbacks combined, but there's a chance it will be four this year.

Earlier this month Grant accepted a pay cut that guarantees his $2.5 million salary, so he'll be on the team. Green, a third-round pick, has flashed open-field running ability, and though he missed a big blitz pickup last week against Arizona, he's in the running for the third-down halfback job. Nance, signed last year off Atlanta's practice squad after Grant's season ended in Week 1, has had a good camp and is in the running to make it as a third-down back. Saine is more likely a practice-squad candidate. TIGHT ENDS (4 OR 5) Locks Jermichael Finley, DJ.

Williams. Good bets: Ryan Taylor. On the bubble: Andrew Quar-less, Tom Crab-tree, Spencer Havner. Quarless Comment Williams, a fifth-round pick, is a natural as a receiver and could become a playmaker. Taylor, a seventh-rounder, has the makings of an excellent blocker and decent receiver, and could be a special-teams standout as a rookie.

Quar-less raised red flags with two injuries in the first two weeks of camp (hip flexor, groin) but returned quickly from the groin and has been an effective receiver the last week or so. He's probably too big and talented to get cut in only his second season, and a Packers nightmare would be seeing him show up as a productive receiver on a rival's roster. Crabtree has been prone to the occasional bad drop in practice but probably is the best blocker and a core special teams player. Havner's chances took a major hit because he's missed nearly two weeks of practice a quirk in the new CBA prevented viable because he's played at least as well as McDonald. Schlauderaff looks like a decent prospect with OK athletic ability at guard, but like McDonald, needs strength.

Dominguez, an undrafted rookie, is a developmental prospect who looked overmatched at right tackle but has played a little better since moving primarily to right guard last week. He's a practice-squad possibility. Campbell, a practice-squad player last year, was making a strong argument for the final 53 until he tore his medical collateral ligament a week into camp. QUARTERBACKS (2 OR 3) Locks: Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn. Good bets: Graham Harrell.

Comment Harrell isnt at Flynn's level at the same point in their careers, but he's not that far behind. It's hard to see the Packers finding better on the waiver wire, and he's played more than well enough that they'd likely lose him if they'd try to slip him through waivers and onto their practice squad. DEFENSIVE LINE (6 OR 7) Locks: NT-DE BJ. Raji, DE-NT Ryan Pickett DE Mike Neal, DE-NT Howard Green. Good bets: DE U.

Wilson, DE JariusWynn. On the bubble: DE Lawrence Guy, NT Jay Ross. Long shots: DE Eli Joseph. Comment Wilson started camp slowly and sustained a concussion last week at Arizona, but with the huge improvement he made through last season, if hard to see the Packers letting him go. Wynn isnt nearly as strong or dynamic as Neal but might provide some inside rush if Neal's knee injury is worse than the Packers are saying.

Guy looked overwhelmed early but was making strides before recurring concussion symptoms sidelined him starting last week. He's a good candidate for the practice squad rf he doesnt make it, though if Wilson's concussion is worse than his, Guy might have a chance. LINEBACKERS (8 OR 9) Locks OLB Clay Matthews, OLB ErikWalden, ILB AJ. Hawk, ILB Desmond Bishop, ILB DJ. Smith.

Good bet ILB Robert Francois, OLB Brad Jones. Zombo On the bubble: OLB Frank Zombo, OLB Vic So'oto, OLB Jamari Latti-more, ILB Cardia Jackson. Long shot ILB Elijah Joseph, ILB Guy 1 -T-f.