Clifton, Collins and Driver

The report is out this morning that the Packers will release Nick Collins.  It has seemed for awhile now that this was where the Packers were heading, what with Coach McCarthy making comments about how he would not want Collins to play if Collins were his son.  Without having lots more information about the injury, and without having the medical knowledge to evaluate it, it is hard to know if this is the right call, or an overly cautious reaction by the Packers.  But I am sad for Collins, who was certainly a talented player and a valuable contributor to the Packers' march to Super Bowl XLV.  I wish him well, hope he gets another chance to play if that is what he wants, and hope that he stays healthy.

Meanwhile, the Packers released LT Chad Clifton a few days ago.  Given his age and his injury history, it is hard to be surprised about this.  But he was a fixture at LT, until injuries started knocking him out of games.  Who will replace him?  The Packers have drafted two LTs in the first round the last two years.  Bryan Bulaga, drafted in 2010, seems settled in as the starting RT.  Derek Sherrod, drafted in 2011, played in spots before breaking his leg in December.  He is expected to be ready for training camp.  Marshall Newhouse, a 5th round draft pick in 2010, got a lot more playing time than Sherrod last year, and acquitted himself well.  So I suspect that the LT battle will be between these two, rather than looking for another LT in the draft this year.

On the Dancing With The Stars front, Donald Driver continues his impressive dancing career, with a very effective foxtrot this week.  Even though he slipped slightly during one maneuver, Donald and his partner Peta still got 27 out of 30 points.  Jersey Al posted a link to the video here.  Len Goodman, the "Simon Cowell" of the show (more or less), told Peta that Donald's talent is greater than the routine they did Monday night, and that she should challenge him more in future dances.  The waltz is up next week.