TONIGHT: Green Bay plays its first 2006 home game, looking to rebound from a sub-par preseason opener...A pair of former 49ers coordinators - Atlanta's Jim Mora and Green Bay's Mike McCarthy, two of the league's youngest coaches - face off...Packers offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski, who coached in Atlanta each of the past two seasons (tight ends 2004, offensive line 2005), faces his former club. Jagodzinski has brought with him the zone-blocking scheme he learned from the Falcons' Alex Gibbs. With the scheme, the Packers hope they can enjoy some of the success Jagodzinski and Gibbs had in Atlanta, where the Falcons each of the last two years led the NFL in both rushing yards per game and rushing yards per carry...Atlanta makes its first trip to Lambeau Field since shocking Green Bay with a 27-7 win in the 2002 playoffs, the Packers' first-ever postseason loss at home...The Packers play the 57th annual Upper Midwest Shrine Game, one of the NFL's oldest traditions. The Packers have won six of the last seven Shrine contests, including a 10-7 triumph over San Diego in the 2005 edition.
SPECIAL PREGAME CEREMONY
This past week, the Green Bay community lost a firefighter in the line of duty. Lt. Arnie Wolff was an integral part of the Green Bay Fire Department Emergency Medical Services provided at Lambeau Field, staffing games for the past 15 years. His passion was serving on one of the paramedic bike teams that respond throughout the stadium on game day. The Green Bay Packers extend their deepest sympathies to his family, friends and colleagues. The team will recognize him before tonight's contest.
ROSTER MOVES
GREEN BAY: The Packers Tuesday signed a pair of defensive backs, S Jeremy Modkins (pronounced "MAHD-kins") and CB Antonio Malone. Malone (No. 20) is a 6-foot, 188-pound rookie from Toledo. Modkins (No. 42) is a 6-foot, 197-pound rookie out of Texas Christian. In addition this week, the club released three players: WR Leo Bookman (Tuesday), G/C Wayne Lucier (Tuesday) and K Billy Cundiff (Thursday).
OTHER GAME INFORMATION
TONIGHT'S NATIONAL ANTHEM: Janine Brass, a former Shriner's patient, will perform our Star Spangled Banner.
AT THE GATES: The team is distributing 2006 Miller Lite magnetic schedules and Festival Foods roster cards.
HALFTIME ENTERTAINMENT: After the Coldwell Bankers "Take it to the House" promotion, local Pop Warner programs will compete on the field.
POOL REPORTERS
As appointed by the Professional Football Writers of America, Cliff Christl of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is the primary Lambeau Field pool reporter...Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette is the alternate.
NEXT WEEK
Green Bay travels to Cincinnati to play the Bengals, a 7 p.m. CDT kickoff, Monday, Aug. 28; it's the first appearance by the Packers on ESPN's version of Monday Night Football...The Falcons play on the road for a second straight week, flying to Tennessee to play the Titans Saturday, Aug. 26, an 8 p.m. EDT kickoff.
