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 weekly feature as their release, which is being made available to fans exclusively on Packers.com.
A complete edition of the Dope Sheet will be available each week during the season in PDF format, located in the Packers.com Game Centers.
Here are some highlights from the Week 8 Dope Sheet:
THIS WEEK'S NOTABLE STORYLINES:
-The Packers make their first trip to Washington D.C. in 25 years.
-Since voters elected Franklin Roosevelt to his first of four terms in 1932, the Redskins have forecasted the next President. Over the past 18 elections, a Redskins win the weekend before Election Day has preceded a win by the incumbent party. On the other hand, a Redskins loss before the vote has preceded a loss by the incumbent party.
-Brett Favre faces the team and player, the Redskins' LaVar Arrington, that nearly ended his ironman games-played streak. Arrington's sack at Lambeau Field on Oct. 20, 2002, sprained the lateral collateral liagament in Favre's knee, the quarterback's first lifetime knee injury.
-Favre plays his first game in FedEx Field, the 37th stadium in which he's competed; 15 are either no longer standing or no longer in use.
-Mark Brunell, one of 11 Favre backups to leave Green Bay and start for another NFL team, meets the club that drafted him in 1993.
-Ahman Green squares off against Clinton Portis, two of the most electric NFL running backs over the past two-plus seasons.
-The Packers look for their second win against Joe Gibbs. The only time Green Bay defeated the coach was Oct. 17, 1983, a 48-47 win on Monday Night Football, Gibbs' last loss before Super Bowl XVIII.
TELEVISION: FOX Sports, with Dan Miller (play-by-play), Brian Baldinger (color), Barry Landis (producer) and Mike Frank (director). Baldinger joined Packers Pro Bowl guard Marco Rivera in June on an NFL-sponsored USO tour, visiting American troops in Kuwait and Qatar.
LOCAL RADIO: Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since 1929, heads up the 62-station Packers Radio Network, with Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) and Larry McCarren (color). The broadcast also is available to NFL Field Pass subscribers on packers.com.
NATIONAL RADIO: Westwood One, with Dave Sims (play-by-play), former Washington fullback John Riggins (color) and Al Smith (producer).
ANOTHER ELECTION PUTS STREAK IN PERSPECTIVE: Since Brett Favre launched his 196-game starting streak Sept. 27, 1992, people have moved from cassettes to CDs and 1 billion people went "on-line." The streak has encompassed the rise and fall of Martha Stewart, Beanie Babies, Ross Perot, Celine Dion and Y2K. Over the last 12-plus years, The Bridges of Madison County, The Client and Cold Mountain have gone from the best-seller list to the big screen to the video rental store. And, sandwiched within the streak are the O.J. Simpson trial, the first and last episodes of NBC's hit series Friends and Bill Clinton's two terms in office.
-In fact, next week will mark the fourth time during Favre's streak Americans have gone to the polls to vote for President. Clinton defeated George Bush (1992), won a second term over Bob Dole and Ross Perot (1996), and George W. Bush beat Al Gore (2000).
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Packers vs. Washington (Boston Braves/Redskins):
All-time regular season: 15-12-1
All-time, postseason: 1-1
All-time, in Washington: 3-7 (first appearance at FedEx Field)
Last meeting, regular season: Oct. 20, 2002, Lambeau Field; Packers won, 30-9
Last meeting, Washington: Dec. 2, 1979, RFK Stadium, Redskins won, 38-21
Postseason meetings:
Dec. 13, 1936, New York Polo Grounds, Packers won, 21-6 ('36 NFL title game, moved to NY after 'Skins owner George Preston Marshall initiated move out of Boston)
Dec. 24, 1972, RFK Stadium, Redskins won, 16-3 ('72 NFC divisional playoff)
COACHES CAPSULES
Mike Sherman: 48-28-0, .632, fifth NFL season, fifth with Packers
Joe Gibbs: 142-69-0, .673, 13th NFL season, 13th with Redskins
Head to Head: first meeting
vs. Opponent: Sherman 2-0 vs. Redskins, Gibbs 2-1 vs. Packers
MIKE SHERMAN...Is in his fifth year as Packers head coach, and fourth as executive vice president and general manager. Sherman also:
-Is working to lead the Packers out of an early three-game hole, just like the Boston Red Sox, the coach's favorite baseball club since his youth, did to defeat the Yankees and earn a trip to this week's World Series.
-Coached in his 75th NFL game Oct. 17, a 38-10 win at Detroit.
-Has only five career losing streaks, and one of more than two games.
-Became the last active head coach (minimum one season) to experience a three-game losing streak, on Oct. 3.
-Is now 6-0 against teams that played in the Super Bowl the previous season, including Sept. 13 at Carolina.
-Since 1970, only George Siefert, Chuck Knox and Joe Gibbs have posted a better regular-season record over their first four years as a coach.
JOE GIBBS...Returned this offseason as Redskins head coach, a post he previously held for 12 years (1981-92).
-The winningest coach in the team's rich history, Gibbs led Washington to four Super Bowls, winning three. In the process, he became the only NFL coach to win three Super Bowls with three starting quarterbacks. Inducted into the Canton Pro Hall of Fame in 1996.
-Served as an assistant with the Cardinals, Bucs and Chargers before joining the Redskins in 1981.
-Played tight end, offensive guard and linebacker at San Diego State, which also produced Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila.
-Left Washington at the pinnacle of his career in 1993 to spend more time with his family and NASCAR team, established in 1991. His drivers won the Daytona 500 in 1992 (Dale Jarrett) and Winston Cups in 2000 (Bobby Labonte) and 2002 (Tony Stewart).
THE PACKERS-REDSKINS SERIES: When the Packers first met the Redskins franchise in 1932, it was known as the Boston Braves, and Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the White House.
-Green Bay won that initial meeting, 21-0, in a year when the Packers would've claimed a fourth consecutive league championship. Before playoffs began in 1933, the NFL determined league champions based on standings, and had tie games counted like they are today, the Packers' winning percentage would've been first. In 1933, the franchise changed its name to the Boston Redskins.
-The two clubs met several times in the early years, most memorably in the 1936 NFL championship game. That year, Redskins owner George Preston Marshall, upset with his fans' lack of support, was moving his team to Washington and didn't want to host the championship in Boston. So, the NFL moved the game to New York's Polo Grounds, where Green Bay claimed its fourth title, 21-6.
-In the other playoff meeting in the series, an NFC divisional game on Christmas Eve 1972, Bill Kilmer hit Roy Jefferson on a 32-yard TD pass, and Curt Knight kicked three field goals in a 16-3 Washington win, spoiling the Packers' Central Division crown.
-The Packers own a two-game series winning streak (2001-02), winning the only two meetings in the last 15 seasons. That streak began at Lambeau Field, Sept. 24, 2001, the historic first Monday night game after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Packers have outscored Washington 67-9 in the two games, including a 30-9 win Oct. 20, 2002, when Doug Pederson relieved an injured Favre.
-Notable single-game career highs vs. Washington: Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, eight tackles, 10/20/02, Lambeau Field; Ahman Green, three rushing TDs, 10/20/02, Lambeau Field; David Martin, longest reception (31 yards), 9/24/01, Lambeau Field.
NOTABLE CONNECTIONS: Gibbs and Packers offensive coordinator Tom Rossley were on Frank Broyle's Arkansas staff in 1972. Packers punter Bryan Barker signed as an unrestricted free agent with Washington, where he spent three seasons (2001-03). Redskins safety Matt Bowen left Green Bay (2001-02) as a restricted free agent, March 13, 2003. The Packers drafted quarterback Mark Brunell, one of 11 former Brett Favre backups to leave Green Bay and start for another club, in 1993. Washington receiver Gari Scott spent 2003 training camp in Green Bay before knee surgery. Washington D-coordinator Greg Blache could become the seventh former Green Bay assistant under Mike Holmgren to become an NFL head coach (also Mike Sherman, Steve Mariucci, Andy Reid, Jon Gruden, Ray Rhodes and Dick Jauron). 'Skins linebackers coach Dale Lindsey coached in a similar capacity for Green Bay (1986-87). Green Bay personnel anaylst John Schneider spent 2001 in the Redskins front office. Five Packers are from the D.C. area: Rob Davis (Greenbelt, Md.), William Henderson (Chester, Va.), Darren Sharper (Richmond, Va.), Bhawoh Jue (Chantilly, Va.), David Martin (Norfolk, Va.). Washington center Cory Raymer was Darrell Bevell's center at Wisconsin in the early 1990s; Bevell is now Green Bay's quarterbacks coach.
LAST MEETING: Oct. 20, 2002, Lambeau Field; Packers won, 30-9.
-Brett Favre, making consecutive start No. 164, sprained his left knee when LaVar Arrington sacked him in the third quarter. Carted off the sideline with Green Bay ahead 17-6, Favre learned the next day there was no serious damage to the knee, his first lifetime knee injury. He used the following bye weekend to rehab a sprained lateral collateral ligament, and resumed his starting streak Nov. 4.
-Ahman Green rushed for a career-best three TDs, helping Green Bay (6-1) to its fifth straight victory. Green ran for 88 yards on 24 carries and scored on runs of 24, 2 and 8 yards.
-Doug Pederson relieved Favre, the NFC's leading passer at age 33, who was carted off the sideline to a standing ovation from the then-record crowd of 63,363. Pederson was 9-of-15 for 78 yards, leading the Packers to two field goals and one touchdown in five series.
LAST MEETING, D.C.: Dec. 2, 1979; RFK Stadium, 'Skins won, 38-21.
-Behind John Riggins (17-88) and Joe Theismann (21-of-34, 256 yards, four TDs, INT), Washington erased a 21-7 haltime deficit, scoring 31 unanswered points.
