Packers Roundup: No All-Pro Packers this year

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GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers are getting ready for their Saturday night playoff contest at San Francisco.

GREEN BAY - Yesterday, the 49ers shut out the Packers 4-0 in the numbers of All-Pro selections by the Pro Football Writers of America and Pro Football Weekly.

The Packers did not have a single player named to the NFL’s All-Pro squad. San Francisco was represented by linebackers Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis, guard Mike Iupati, and punter Andy Lee. Packers’ receiver James Jones, who led the league in touchdown catches in the regular season, said he was surprised that none of his teammates made the top squad. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers lost out to Denver’s Peyton Manning. Green Bay did have two players on the All-NFC squad – Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews. San Francisco had seven in that group – the four league-wide All-Pros, plus safety Dashon Goldson, defensive tackle Justin Smith, and offensive tackle Joe Staley. Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson was named the league’s MVP by the writers and Pro Football Weekly. Pewaukee native and ex-Badger J.J. Watt of Houston was named the defensive player-of-the-year. And Bruce Arians, who filled in for Chuck Pagano at Indianapolis, was named the coach-of-the-year. The AP will name its All-Pro team on Saturday, and its individual awards will be given out on a national TV broadcast the night before the Super Bowl on February second.

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Receiver Jordy Nelson and rookie safety Jerron McMillian were the only Packers not to participate in an expanded walk-through practice yesterday. Nelson insists he’ll be ready to play at San Francisco on Saturday night, even though he’s been fighting ankle-and-knee injuries and he limped off the field last weekend after the win over Minnesota. McMillian’s injury was not disclosed. The Packers are not required to put out an injury report until today. Tight end Jermichael Finley, who tweaked a hamstring against the Vikings, said he was fine after taking part in yesterday’s workout. Receiver Jarrett Boykin was a limited participant, after missing the Minnesota contest with an ankle injury. Running backs Alex Green and James Starks – who’ve been fighting knee problems – also practiced. In a personnel move, the Packers released tackle Shea Allard from their practice squad, and replaced him with center Garth Gerhart.

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The Packers have announced a $140-million plan to renovate the Lambeau Field Atrium which was built a decade ago. Team president Mark Murphy says a number of improvements will be made during the next couple off-seasons – including a higher-profile location for the Packers’ Hall-of-Fame, which he says is the best Hall-of-Fame in all of pro sports. Murphy says it’s currently “buried” in the basement at Lambeau – and it will move to the second floor where Curly’s Pub is now located. He said visitors will see where the hall’s located as soon as they enter the atrium. Curly’s will get a new location. The Packer Pro Shop will be expanded. The Oneida Nation Gate will expand on the stadium’s east side, with a more direct connection to Oneida Street. And the football facilities and players’ parking lot will also get improvements. Murphy says the main goal is provide a better experience for visitors to Lambeau, and improved businesses for the team. The $140-million cost will be financed by the team and a loan from the NFL. It’s expected to be completed by the time training camp begins in 2015.

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