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Buckskin86
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Green Bay Packers hope NT Ryan Pickett returns for game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
By Rob Demovsky ? [email protected] ? December 18, 2009
The Packers hope they have nose tackle Ryan Pickett on the field against the Steelers on Sunday, and not watching from the sideline. File/Press-Gazette
Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers believes Ryan Pickett is one of the keys to the team's near-dominant rushing defense, but not having the nose tackle last week at Chicago didn?t seem to hurt the cause.
The Bears rushed for only 59 yards on 17 carries (a 3.5-yard average) and did almost no damage up the middle, where Pickett normally is on patrol.
Still, the Packers desperately want their best run stuffer back for Sunday?s game at Pittsburgh.
Pickett, who is nursing a hamstring injury that occurred late in the Dec. 7 game against Baltimore, practiced on a limited basis Friday and was listed as questionable on the injury report. He appears to have a much better chance of playing against the Steelers than he did last week against the Bears, when he was listed as doubtful going into the game.
?A big presence inside like Ryan, you see people try to play a 3-4 defense and they have a little guy inside trying to stop the run, I really believe that?s been one of the real strengths of this team,? said Capers, the Packers? defensive coordinator. ?It?s where everything starts for us, and he?s been a big factor.?
Pickett concluded three days of testing on Friday, when he went through every drill in practice, although his reps in each one were limited. He said he wasn?t sore after Friday?s workout, but coach Mike McCarthy wasn?t ready to declare Pickett will play against the Steelers.
?He went through a three-day process, and really how he feels (today) will be the determining factor if Ryan Pickett goes in the game,? McCarthy said. ?The feedback was positive, but we?re dealing with a hamstring, so the day after the work will be the final hurdle.?
If Pickett plays, he said he will have to find ways to stay loose on the sideline. He?ll need his hamstring stretched between series.
?You?ve got to keep it warm; you?ve got to stay active,? Pickett said. ?I can?t just go on the sideline and sit down on the bench like I normally do. I have to stay active and ride the (stationary) bike to keep it warm.?
Green Bay Packers hope NT Ryan Pickett returns for game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press-Gazette
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Buckskin86
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Pickett puts in plug for new a contract
Nose tackle, Packers talking
By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Jan. 8, 2010
Mark Hoffman
Packers nose tackle Ryan Pickett says he would like to finish his career in a Green Bay uniform.
Green Bay ? Nose tackle Ryan Pickett and the Packers have had substantive talks about a new contract that he hopes eventually will keep him in Green Bay for the rest of his career.
"They want to get a deal done and I want to get a deal done," Pickett said Friday. "They've been talking three weeks, a month probably. I think he (agent Kennard McGuire) is thinking after the season we'll really talk."
Pickett, who in the back of his mind has wondered if Sunday would be the final game of his Green Bay career, will become an unrestricted free agent in March with the expiration of his four-year, $14 million contract. That deal contained signing and roster bonuses totaling $5.5 million.
"It probably will be more than that," said Pickett, referring to his next contract. "I know if I go to free agency there's not too many D-linemen in the market this year.
"Really, I'm just trying to play this season out and see what's best for me when that route comes. But right now, I just want to play for the Packers."
The 30-year-old Pickett said he will be back in the starting lineup against Arizona. He missed three games and played just five snaps in a fourth because of a hamstring injury.
Rookie B.J. Raji, the ninth pick in the draft, has replaced Pickett. Although Raji made a few plays, several scouts have said he wasn't as hard to move or as disciplined in his gap control as Pickett.
The Packers apparently value Pickett highly as one of their four top defensive linemen. One of the four, end Johnny Jolly, also doesn't have a contract for next year and is facing felony drug charges in Houston.
Pickett said it's up to the Packers to decide a role for Raji.
"Whatever they do, it don't ever hurt to have a lot of good D-linemen," he said. "You put him and me, me and him, whatever you want to do. I'm sure they can work something out."
For the first time in club history, Green Bay led the NFL in run defense, an accomplishment near and dear to Pickett's heart.
"At my age you want to be a part of something great," said Pickett. "We've got the No. 1 run defense and we've got a chance to come back and be the No. 1 overall next year. All of us would like to stay here."
Pickett puts in plug for new a contract - JSOnline
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Buckskin86
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Changes in the offing?
Pickett, others wait on team, new CBA
By Rob Reischel, Special to Packer Plus
Posted: Feb. 9, 2010
Mark Hoffman
Ryan Pickett (right) would like to remain with the Green Bay Packers, and it appears he?ll have a good chance of doing so.
Green Bay ? Ryan Pickett isn't big on change.
Green Bay's mammoth nose tackle would certainly move his family if the opportunity and the money were right. But if Pickett had his choice, he won't be changing addresses this off-season.
Pickett is one of five Packers scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on March 5. Eight others are currently restricted free agents, but they could become UFA's if a new collective bargaining agreement somehow takes place.
Pickett seems to be high on the Packers' priority list, and he certainly hopes the two sides can make a deal before free agency begins.
"Hopefully we can get something done because I love it here," said the 30-year-old Pickett, the father of three daughters. "My wife, the kids, the schools, we love it.
"My oldest is 5, and she's in kindergarten. We've got a good feeling for the whole area. Moving's a big-time pain and right now everybody's comfortable. Hopefully, I can stay."
This promises to be one of the more interesting free-agent periods in recent memory.
Right now, if the players and owners can't agree on a new collective bargaining agreement, a player would need six years of service to become an unrestricted free agent. If a new CBA is reached, players with expiring contracts would be free.
For Green Bay, Pickett along with tackles Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, linebacker Aaron Kampman and running back Ahman Green will be unrestricted free agents no matter what happens.
If a new CBA is struck, safeties Nick Collins, Atari Bigby and Derrick Martin, offensive linemen Jason Spitz and Daryn Colledge, defensive end Johnny Jolly, cornerback Will Blackmon and fullback John Kuhn would all become UFAs.
"Right now, it's wait and see," Pickett said. "I mean, they could end up with a lot of (UFAs).
"If there's a new deal, (the Packers) will have more (UFAs) than I've ever seenWhether they go with me or not, there's a lot of fish to feed and a lot of stuff to get done."
Changes in the offing? - JSOnline
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Buckskin86
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Green Bay Packers flip-flip Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji on defensive line
By Rob Demovsky ? [email protected] ? May 19, 2010
Packers defensive end Ryan Pickett during Wednesday's open OTA practice at Ray Nitschke Field in Ashwaubenon. Corey Wilson/Press-Gazette
The Green Bay Packers have decided to move Pickett to left defensive end and Raji to nose tackle in their 3-4 base defense. The move was unveiled Wednesday during the team?s first open organized team activity practice.
The Packers also plan to play Raji and starting right defensive end Cullen Jenkins as the two down linemen in their nickel package.
Pickett, the 10th-year veteran who has played on the interior of the defensive line his entire NFL career, was hesitant about the switch when coaches first broached the subject with him before the OTAs.
?At first, I was like, ?Ah, I don?t like it,? but then I started thinking they?re right,? Pickett said after Wednesday?s practice. ?I can actually play either one, and I think B.J. will be a great nose. ? I thought about it, and I said, ?All right, it?s cool. I?ll do whatever I can to help the team.? So that?s why I?m at end.?
Green Bay Packers flip-flip Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji on defensive line | greenbaypressgazette.com | Green Bay Press Gazette
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Buckskin86
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Pickett making the best of moving to end
Aug. 31, 2010
By Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel
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"Who am I to (question the move), you know? Obviously, B.J. is a good nose and I can play the end. To help, the team I will play end." - Ryan Pickett, on moving from nose tackle to end this season.
Former nose tackle helps make Packers line one of biggest in league
Mark Hoffman
Ryan Pickett is no Albert Haynesworth.
But he wasn't happy either.
When the Green Bay Packers coaching staff decided to move Pickett out of the one position he has played since 1998, he wondered who had spiked their coffee.
"I liked the nose," said Pickett. "I got comfortable there."
For the last four years, Pickett had been Green Bay's run-stuffing, block-absorbing nose tackle. Nose tackle had been 'Pick's' spot for nine years in the NFL and three before that at Ohio State. He has been reliable, relatively injury-free and a wall of brute strength and force that every center had to try to contain.
But the coaches had to find a way to get last year's first-round draft pick, B.J. Raji, on the field, and that means putting him at nose, his best spot. By promoting Raji to starting nose, they had to slide Pickett to left defensive end this summer.
Pickett made the move without ever questioning the sanity of the coaches or worse.
"Who am I to, you know?" said Pickett. "It was best for the team for me to play end. Obviously, B.J. is a good nose and I can play the end. To help, the team I will play end."
He's playing great. Opposite Cullen Jenkins, he's been solid in the pass and stable as ever against the run, even while given a limited number of practice repetitions there. And when he's taken all the reps he's held up. He's made tackles, and he's chased down quarterbacks.
"It took me awhile to accept it. I was disappointed for a little while," said Pickett. "But after that, I started playing it and started liking it."
Pickett making the best of moving to end - JSOnline
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