Packers Daily Links: CB Williams Sent Home with Flu-Like Symptoms

Tramon Williams missed practice on Thursday with flu-like symptoms. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Packers cornerback Tramon Williams didn't practice on Thursday because of the flu-bug that has been making its way around the Packers locker room this season. “I really don't have feel for that one way or the other. He came in and obviously had flu symptoms. He was given medication and was sent home. We’ll probably know more in the morning,” head coach Mike McCarthy is quoted as saying by Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Williams has caught a lot of grief for a poor game against the Vikings last week, but the truth is that he's been one of the best defenders on the team this season. He'll be needed against the Vikings if he's healthy.

More on Tramon Williams and the flu comes from CBSSports.com.

The Packers could lose John Dorsey from their front office. "Two national media reports pegged the Green Bay Packers director of football operations as a candidate for vacant general manager jobs, with CBSSports.com’s Jason LaCanfora reporting that Dorsey will interview this weekend for the New York Jets GM job while both La Canfora and ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen reported that Dorsey is a leading candidate for the GM job in Kansas City, where ex-Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid is expected to be named the Chiefs’ head coach," writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com. It makes sense that Dorsey could be re-united with Reid as both have a familiarity as employees of the Packers back during the 90s.

More on John Dorsey comes from the Green Bay Press-Gazette and Fox Sports Wisconsin.

It appears that Charles Woodson won't play the slot cornerback position in the nickel defensive package where Casey Hayward plays, but Woodson will play the slot in the dime package during Saturday's playoff game. “They’re similar in a lot of things that they do, so they’ll both be out there at the same time,” Packers cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt is quoted as saying by Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. “Wood will play safety sometimes, he’ll play dime. He really won’t play as much nickel because we’re comfortable with what Casey has done in that role and he’s comfortable with it. He sees how Casey has played and knows we want to have our best 11 out there at all times.” That makes sense. And that also means that Jerron McMillian will play less than usual on defense.

More on Charles Woodson comes from the Journal Sentinel, JSOnline and Packer Report, twice.

If there was any doubt Jordy Nelson would play on Saturday, those concerns seems to have dissipated. "Wide receiver Jordy Nelson (knee) was a full participant in practice Thursday and said in the locker room afterward that he expects to play against the Minnesota Vikings Saturday night," writes Tom Silverstein at JSOnline. Randall Cobb was also a full participant at practice on Thursday, so it appears the Packers will have their full complement of top-flight receivers.

More on Jordy Nelson comes from ESPNMilwaukee.com.

More on the wide receiver corps of the Packers comes from Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Associated Press.

The Packers are stopping alcohol sales earlier than usual for Saturday's playoff game against the Vikings, as noted by Fox Sports Wisconsin and the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

The challenge of stopping Adrian Peterson continues to be a hot topic with articles at the USA Today, Press-Gazette, ESPNMilwaukee.com, JSOnline, Packers official website and Packer Report.

Christian Ponder can't be ignored either, as articles suggest at Fox Sports Wisconsin, Press-Gazette and Packers official website.

Features on center Evan Dietrich-Smith appear at the Journal Sentinel and CBSSports.com.

The state of the turf at Lambeau Field is in good condition, according to the Press-Gazette and JSOnline.

Articles at the Journal Sentinel include how the Packers scout NFL officials and how the Vikings are looking at the Packers as playoff role models.

Items at the Press-Gazette include an interview with tight end Tom Crabtree, analysis on Aaron Rodgers and the Packers defense, and a video of Donald Driver.

Videos at Fox 11 show the Titletown banners being displayed in Green Bay and how the visiting team is staying at a new hotel.

AllGreenBayPackers.com has some keys to Saturday's game and analysis of last week's game.

Aaron Rodgers' playoff experience is something Fox 11 digs into.

The Associated Press previews Saturday's game.

Running back DuJuan Harris gets some attention at Lombardi Ave.

Video: The Packers had so many shovelers show up at Lambeau Field on Thursday, they had to turn people away...

Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].

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Comments (14)

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Evan's picture

January 04, 2013 at 10:02 am

I HATE losing front office guys, more so than assistant coaches.

But good for him.

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Derek's picture

January 04, 2013 at 10:40 am

Tramon Williams has been one of our best defenders? I swear I just heard a stat that ProFootball Focus had him ranked 26th in the NFL this year. That's barely average. Casey Hayward has been better. Williams just isn't a physical player, period. He shys from contact and always will. Running at him is the best way to attack our run defense.

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CSS's picture

January 04, 2013 at 10:46 am

Pass defenders, yes. Run defenders, no. Casey Hayward has been a breath of fresh air and an ascending player, but he isn't drawing the match-ups Williams is where they play him out of the slot.

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Brian Carriveau's picture

January 04, 2013 at 01:07 pm

Tramon Williams ranks 17th out of 76 CBs in pass coverage at PFF. I think if you can look past one bad outing last week, he'd be even higher.

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packsmack25's picture

January 04, 2013 at 01:24 pm

And that's while facing Megatron and Brandon Marshall twice each, as well as Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, and Larry Fitzgerald.

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California Cheesehead's picture

January 04, 2013 at 01:32 pm

Good point.

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Mojo's picture

January 04, 2013 at 11:03 am

Considering how many people I know have been wiped out the last week with this flu virus (including myself), I wouldn't be surprised if a number of players from both teams ended up with symptoms. Supposedly, nationwide, the highest numbers of infected in ten years. Also both teams will be holed up in hotels before the game, which could make the likelihood of infection higher. When it hits - it hits hard, not like our ILBers.

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Evan's picture

January 04, 2013 at 11:06 am

I think the Packers were hit with the flu bug a couple weeks ago. I think Crabtree and Hawk both had bouts. Probably others, too.

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hayward4president's picture

January 04, 2013 at 11:18 am

A lot of people at my work have it. If I get it from one of em today and am sick for the game tomorrow I will kick every one of them in the face. House better be ready to play if need be. Nahhh f that its the playoffs play through it tramon..maybe he will hit harder if he's on dayquil.

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Jamie's picture

January 04, 2013 at 12:05 pm

House is bigger and a more physical and willing tackler than Tramon, so there's that...if it comes down to that.

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Bomdad's picture

January 05, 2013 at 06:02 am

House had the flu last week. Another thing he does better. ????

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Matt Lambeau's picture

January 04, 2013 at 12:10 pm

Over here in Minnesota, these Viking fans are getting pretty cocky. Packer fans forward this video to your friends as ammunition!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl7l_ZlnVPI&feature=player_detailpage

GO PACK!

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Mojo's picture

January 04, 2013 at 12:47 pm

Seems much more like a pro-Packer video to me. Gets real interesting at the 1:25 mark. Must have been imported.

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Katlyn's picture

January 10, 2013 at 05:54 am

Hmm it seems like your blog ate my first comment (it was super long) so I guess I'll just sum it up what I submitted and say, I'm thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger but I'm still new to the whole thing. Do you have any tips for newbie blog writers? I'd certainly appreciate it.

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