Two years after he co-founded the Packers with Curly Lambeau, George Calhoun began writing a piece called The Dope Sheet, which served as the official press release and game program from 1921-24.
Honoring Calhoun, the first publicity director, the Packers are running this feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
Here are some highlights from the 2005 Draft Preview Dope Sheet:
IN GREEN BAY: One of only six teams to participate in all 70 NFL Drafts, this weekend concludes more than 12 months in which the Packers have spent preparing for their future.
70TH ANNUAL NFL PLAYER SELECTION MEETING:
Where:
Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, 655 West 34th St., New York, N.Y.
When:
11 a.m. CDT, Saturday (Rounds 1-3)
10 a.m. CDT, Sunday (Rounds 4-7)
Selections:
255 overall choices, including 32 compensatory selections, awarded to 14 teams that suffered a net loss of certain quality unrestricted free agents last year.
Time limits:
Round 1 - 15 minutes each team
Round 2 - 10 minutes each team
Rounds 3-7 - 5 minutes each team
The first three rounds will conclude Saturday by approximately 9 p.m. CDT. In 2004, the first round consumed five hours, 24 minutes; the second lasted 2:47, and the third 1:56. Resuming Sunday, the draft is expected to finish at about 5 p.m. CDT.
Television:
Unlike 2004, ESPN's main network will cover the draft from start to finish, both days. Saturday, coverage begins at 11 a.m. CDT. Sunday, draft coverage starts at 10 a.m. CDT. NFL Network on Monday kicked off 29 hours of draft-related programming. Flagship show Total Access airs live at the draft three times Saturday (10 a.m., 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. CDT). Then, on Sunday, Total Access wraps up the draft with a 90-minute show, starting at 6 p.m. CDT.
A PRESENCE IN THE SECOND ROUND: The Packers are expected to draft in the second round for the first time since 2001 (WR Robert Ferguson).
-In fact, they have two choices in the round, after adding New Orleans' selection in the Mike McKenzie trade (with promising QB J.T. O'Sullivan).
-Barring any trades, 2005 marks the first time since 1967 the Packers will draft two players in the second round. Nearly four decades earlier, in advance of the Ice Bowl, Vince Lombardi took WR Dave Dunaway and LB Jim Flanigan in the second round.
THREE OF THE FIRST 58: Green Bay also is expected to draft three of the first 58 overall players. The last time that happened was 1990.
-That year, 15 years ago, the Packers took LB Tony Bennett (18) and RB Darrell Thompson (19) in the first round, and S LeRoy Butler (48) in the second round.
TED THOMPSON: This draft marks the first under Ted Thompson, named Jan. 14 the Packers' Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations.
-The low-profile architect of Seattle's draft board since joining the club in January 2000, Thompson carries a strong reputation as a scout.
-Players taken by Seattle off Thompson's draft boards accounted for 51.7 percent of the Seahawks' starts in 2004, when the 9-7 club captured the NFC West championship.
-After his five Seattle drafts, 30 of 47 selected players have started at least one Seahawks game, and only three of those 47 did not make Seattle's 53-man roster (31 were on the roster Jan. 14). And, eight of those players have earned all-rookie, All-Pro or Pro Bowl honors.
-Entering the 2003 draft, some called it the most important in team history. Thompson landed four players who not only made immediate front-line contributions as rookies, but who also are cornerstone players.
-Thompson's draft picks include 11 of the 22 players who started the Seahawks' playoff game this past Jan. 8. Among his notable draftees:
-RB Shaun Alexander (first round, 19th overall, 2000)...Thompson's first selection, now a two-time Pro Bowler; supplanted established starter Ricky Watters and over the last two seasons (2003-04) leads the league in rushing yards (3,131), helping Seattle to NFC's fourth-best record in that span...Fell 1 yard shy of 2004 NFL rushing title.
-WR Alex Bannister (fifth round, 140th overall, 2002)...Pro Bowl selection as special teams player in 2003.
-K Josh Brown (seventh round, 222nd overall, 2003)...Nailed 45 of first 55 NFL field-goal attempts (81.8 percent), including an NFC-best 92.0 percent (23 of 25) in 2004.
-G Steve Hutchinson (first round, 17th overall, 2001)...Two-time Pro Bowl selection...Started first 20 games before breaking leg in 2002...Started all 32 contests since his return, garnering first- and second-team All-Pro honors from the Associated Press in 2003 and '04, respectively.
-WR Darrell Jackson (third round, 80th overall, 2000)...All-rookie selection, has started 61 of 80 Seahawks games in five years...Posted franchise-record 87 receptions in 2004.
-DT Rashad Moore (sixth round, 183rd overall, 2003)...In two years, has arguably outplayed 16 of the 18 tackles taken ahead of him, including first-round picks Johnathan Sullivan and Jimmy Kennedy.
-The Seahawks' starting secondary at the end of the '04 season: Cornerbacks Marcus Trufant (first round, 11th overall, 2003) and Ken Lucas (second round, 40th overall, 2001), and safeties Ken Hamlin (second round, 42nd overall, 2003) and Michael Boulware (second round, 53rd overall, 2004). Boulware, an All-Rookie selection by Pro Football Weekly, led all rookies with five INTs.
THOMPSON'S FIRST DAY IN THE NFL: This weekend, as Thompson and his staff welcome several players into the professional ranks, the GM might recall his transition from college to the NFL.
-A workhorse linebacker at SMU, he went undrafted in 1975, but not unnoticed. Bum Phillips, just hired to head the Houston Oilers, had coached Thompson in college. But that hadn't earned the young linebacker anything, not a job, not even a penny.
-"It was my first negotiation," Thompson told NFL Network, remembering his first phone call with Phillips 30 years ago. "He called me and said, 'Would you like to come to camp and try out with the Oilers?' I said, 'Yeah.' I was thrilled. So he sent me a contract.
-"Well, I got the contract and I called him back, and said that maybe I wanted a little signing bonus. It wasn't in there. I was talking $100, $200. He said, "If you don't want to sign it, then forget it.' I said, 'No, no. I'm signing it as we speak.'"
-A key contributor for the Oilers from 1975-84, Thompson played in 146 of 147 games over his 10-year NFL career. His teammates included Hall of Famers Earl Campbell, Mike Munchak and Elvin Bethea.
LOOKS LIKE A LONG WAIT, AGAIN: At Packers headquarters, since Bob Harlan hired Ron Wolf, Round 1 usually involves a long wait.
-Since 1993, the year after the Brett Favre trade, when Green Bay registered its first of 13 straight non-losing seasons, the Packers have owned a choice in the Top 15 only three times (Wayne Simmons at 15 in 1993, Bubba Franks at 14 in 2000 and Jamal Reynolds at 10 in 2001).
-This weekend marks Green Bay's earliest original choice, 24th, since Wolf retired after the 2001 draft. Each of the three previous drafts (2002-04) have started with a pick 25th or higher. In 2002, Mike Sherman had to trade his top two picks to Seattle to crack the Top 20, landing Javon Walker at No. 20.
DRAFT PARTY IN ATRIUM: The Green Bay Packers and Mills Fleet Farm will host a second annual NFL draft party in the Lambeau Field Atrium. The event is Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Two large projection screens will feature live coverage of the NFL Draft from ESPN, and the Packers' flagship radio station, Newsradio 620 WTMJ, will be on hand to provide coverage and analysis throughout the day. Fans at the event also will see inside the draft room via a Packers.com web cam. Plus, Thompson is scheduled to address the fans and several current players will make appearances and sign autographs. The day also features:
-Commemorative 2005 NFL Draft mini-football for all attendees.
-Question-and-answer sessions with Packers players and team personnel, interactive games for kids and adults.
-Free raffle prizes, including autographed Packers items and Mills Fleet Farm gift cards.
-Food and beverage will be available for purchase at Lambeau Field Atrium eateries as well as Curly's Pub.
