Injuries taking toll on Packers
Receiver Schroeder working out as No. 3 quarterback
Posted: Monday October 12, 1998 05:16 PM
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Last year, Schroeder began the year as the Packers' kick returner but ended up in the doghouse for repeated fumbles and flags Tom Hauck/Allsport |
GREEN BAY, Wisconsin (AP) -- Injuries have turned Bill Schroeder into the Green Bay Packers' third
receiver and their No. 3 quarterback, as well.
The third-year pro moved up after wideout Derrick Mayes and backup
quarterback Doug
Pederson were among the many casualties of last week's clobbering by
the Minnesota Vikings.
Mayes is out 6-8 weeks with ligament damage in his right knee and Pederson
will miss six weeks with a broken jaw, suffered on a hit by Vikings
cornerback Corey
Fuller, who was fined $20,000 for the crown-to-chin blow.
Their absences, along with those of safety LeRoy Butler and
linebacker George
Koonce, sent a ripple effect through the Packers' roster as they
prepared for Thursday night's showdown at Detroit after a short bye week.
Because Pederson also held for kicker Ryan Longwell, the kicking
game has been thrown askew. Safety Mike Prior and new No. 2
quarterback Rick Mirer
tried their hands at holding for the first time ever Sunday.
"I'll still swing away like I have been," Longwell said. "If the ball's
there, it'll go straight. And if it isn't, we'll adjust."
The biggest beneficiary of all the changes is Schroeder, a third-year pro
from Wisconsin-La Crosse, where he was a standout track athlete but played
just one season of football. He hasn't played quarterback since high
school.
Last year, Schroeder began the year as the Packers' kick returner but ended
up in coach Mike Holmgren's doghouse for repeated fumbles and flags.
Schroeder said Holmgren approached him Sunday and asked him if he'd like to
serve as the third quarterback in case the Packers decide not to activate
Matt Hasselbeck from
the practice squad.
"I think he knows in the back of his mind he doesn't have to worry a whole
lot about it. But it is ironic," Schroeder said. "It just shows that the
coach has confidence in me now."
Schroeder already has served as the third receiver this year with flanker
Robert Brooks missing
three weeks of practice and seeing limited action on game day because of
soreness in his post-operative back.
But he hasn't played quarterback since his days at Sheboygan South High
School, less than an hour's drive from Lambeau Field.
So, is he excited?
"Heck no!" Schroeder said. "I mean, backing up Brett Favre and then
backing up another quarterback like Rick Mirer? I'm already nervous and I'm
not even going in. I don't see ever going in there. But I'm sure if I ever
got the chance, Mike would tell me exactly what to do and keep me straight.
"If the chance comes up and I had to go in there, I've got to rely on my
athletic talent and my God-given ability to go get the job done."
Favre, who has started an NFL-best 113 consecutive games, wants Schroeder
to stick to catching passes, not throwing them.
"Well, I hope we don't have to get to him," Favre said. "Nothing against
him, but if we have to have Bill Schroeder go out and quarterback for us in
Detroit, we may be in trouble because, first of all, we've been knocked
out, me and Rick, and I'm sure Bill wouldn't want to go in that situation.
"And he hasn't practiced it," Favre added. "Quarterback ain't easy for
anyone. I don't care who you are and I don't care how long you've played.
You don't take any reps, he's out there running routes all day and you have
to go in and take some snaps from center, it's a little bit different.
"But he's an athlete. We wouldn't have put him back there if we didn't
think he could do it."
Favre was excited to see Brooks back at practice this week. They had lost
their rhythm with Brooks missing so much time.
"I know Robert, it's basically a miracle he's out there playing right now,"
Favre said. "He's fighting out there right now just to get through
practice. That's amazing. So, any little bit we can get from him will
help."
Favre's just hoping the Packers don't have to ask too much more of
Schroeder.
Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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