Packer Roundup: Vegas likes the Pack to win big Sunday

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GREEN BAY - It’s been almost 11 years since the Green Bay Packers lost a home game in which they were favored by more than 10 points. And Las Vegas has the Pack as a 14-and-a-half-point favorite against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Jags are 1-5. And they’re without running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who accounted for 41-percent of the team’s offense before he went down last Sunday with a major foot injury. Jacksonville might also be without quarterback Blaine Gabbert, who hurt his non-throwing shoulder last Sunday. If he doesn’t go, you can expect to see former Dolphin Chad Henne. And the Jags’ leading receiver, Laurent Robinson, has missed two straight games with a concussion and is not expected to play against the Pack. But the Jaguars do have a talented receiver in Cecil Shorts, who averages almost 24 yards a catch. UW-Whitewater fans will remember Shorts from his days at Mount Union – when he played five different positions against the Warhawks in the 2010 NCAA Division III title game. Shorts also had a pair of touchdown catches against Whitewater in the 2008 national title contest. He left Mount Union with 4,705 receiving yards, the third-most in Division III history.

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Two weeks ago, national commentators were speculating that the Packer receivers were not getting along with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. One said the receivers just didn’t like the man. Tight end Jermichael Finley said his chemistry with Rodgers was lacking – and the MVP quarterback was partially to blame. But those comments disappeared after Green Bay won its last two games. And on his Milwaukee radio show yesterday, Rodgers said reports of discord have been greatly exaggerated. Rodgers said he has good chemistry with all his receivers – and it’s built up over the time they spend in meetings and watching game films with the coaches. Rodgers says he does most of the talking in those sessions – and he makes sure he and his receivers are on the same page. And he says he asks follow-up questions when they’re needed. Rodgers says Finley is a tough player – and he respects how Finley is playing through an injured shoulder. The tight end caught two passes last Sunday against the Rams. Rodgers said the Ram defense tried to stop the inside passes, and they made Finley a target.

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The Packers have signed defensive tackle Jordan Miller to their practice squad – and they released defensive end Drew Vanderlin and offensive lineman Chris Scott. Vanderlin, who starred at Green Bay Southwest High School and Michigan Tech, spent only about a week with the Packers. Scott opened the regular season on the practice squad before he was let go. Miller is joining the Green Bay organization after spending all but one game last season on the Chicago Bears’ practice squad. He was on the Bears’ active roster for one game a year ago, and was cut at the end of this year’s training camp. Miller, who’s 6-1 and 309 pounds, played his college ball at Southern.

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