GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -Less than two hours before taking the field for their first training camp practice, the Green Bay Packers announced they had signed third-round draft pick Abdul Hodge. The Packers also announced that eight players have yet to pass their training camp physical exams: cornerback Will Blackmon, wide receiver Robert Ferguson, wide receiver Rod Gardner, linebacker Tim Goodwell, running back Ahman Green, safety Marquand Manuel, linebacker Brady Poppinga and linebacker Byron Santiago. Hodge, a 6-0, 236-pound linebacker out of Iowa, was Green Bay's first of two choices in the third round of April's draft, the 67th overall choice and ninth linebacker taken. He earned first-team All-Big Ten honors for three straight seasons and played in all 50 games at Iowa. His brother, Elijah, is a sophomore linebacker at the University of Wisconsin. The Packers also signed free-agent guard Siitupe Peko, a veteran who previously spent time with the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, Seattle Seahawks and Carolina Panthers (2005). Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. |
