Green Bay Packers undrafted rookie cornerback Sam Shields had perhaps his best game of the season Sunday as his interception in the final minute helped the Packers clinch their trip to Super Bowl XLV with a 21-14 victory over the Chicago Bears.
For his performance, Shields earned selection as the Packers Hall of Fame Featured Player of the Week. The exhibit contains memorabilia from the game, including a game ball autographed by Shields.
Shields finished the game with one sack, a forced fumble and two interceptions en route to Sunday's win. His first big play came at the two-minute warning of the first half. The Bears were facing third-and-7 on their own 33 before Shields found quarterback Jay Cutler to make the sack. Shortly following the sack, Shields snared Cutler's pass to Jonny Knox from the Green Bay 41 and made the interception at the 3-yard-line, preserving the Packers' 14-0 halftime lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Bears had closed in on Green Bay's 21-14 lead and were driving for a potential game-tying score with less than a minute to play before Shields made his move. With the Bears facing a fourth-and-5, Hanie's pass to Knox was picked once again as Shields made the interception at the Green Bay 12 to clinch the win.
Each week, new items from the previous weekend's game will be placed in the display to be viewed by visitors to the Hall. Included among the items will be the autographed game ball, which at the end of the week will be awarded randomly to a Hall of Fame visitor who signed up for the free drawing.
Also in the exhibit will be the featured player's jersey, as well as other potential items such as a face mask, shoes, gloves and other equipment.
The winners of game balls thus far have been Kimberly Ruffolo, Lake In The Hills, Ill. (Week 1, Clay Matthews); Stan Martin, Avondale, Ariz. (Week 2, Jermichael Finley); Amy Johnson, St. Peters, Mo. (Week 3, Aaron Rodgers); Emma Jeffers, Manitowoc, Wis. (Week 4, Charles Woodson); Randy Kraft, Devils Lake, N.D. (Week 5, Brandon Jackson); David Morris, Clifton Forge, Va. (Week 6, Greg Jennings); Brian Schaible, Roanoke, Texas (Week 7, Desmond Bishop); Rebecca Tester, Indian Head, Md. (Week 8, Tramon Williams); Dan Wade, Baraboo, Wis. (Week 9, James Jones); John Burrows, Hinsdale, Mass. (Week 11, Greg Jennings); Dustin Phillips, Glasgow, Kent. (Week 12, Aaron Rodgers); Caleb Bradish, Candler, NC (Week 13, Donald Driver); Brian Kempke, West Bend, Wis. (Week 14, Charlie Peprah); Sally Hanson, Anaheim, Calif. (Week 15, Matt Flynn); Mark Hauptman, Omaha, Neb. (Week 16, Aaron Rodgers); Laura Perry, Anchorage, Alaska (Week 17, Erik Walden); Jamie Rothe, Lexington, Va., and Deb Dabel, Rhinelander, Wis. (Week 18 James Starks and Tramon Williams); Joe Dyal, Pulaski, Wis., and Ben Miles, Winchester, Va., (Week 19 Aaron Rodgers and Tramon Williams).
The exhibit will continue through the season. Hall of Fame admission is required to see the exhibit, and visitors are able to fill out a raffle form for a chance to win the ball. One raffle ticket will be distributed per each paid admission. Raffle winners will be selected at close of business Saturday and be notified on or before the following Monday.
The featured player will be selected after each game and Packers.com will feature a photo of the display at the beginning of each week.
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The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. The day before a game the Hall is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Hours may vary on gamedays and holidays. Cost is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors (62 and older), military (with valid military ID), student (with college student ID) and youth (12-17); $5 for children (6-11); and children 5 and under are free. Group pricing is available for schools and other groups; for more information, contact the Hall of Fame at 920/569-7512. Information also is available online at http://www.lambeaufield.com/home/.
For fans desiring to visit the Hall and take a Stadium Tour, combination pricing for an adult is $19, a savings of $2. Combination pricing is available only where Stadium Tours are sold.
