Tie game no surprise to rule-savvy Rodgers
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By CHRIS JENKINS
AP Sports Writer
Thursday, November 20, 2008 6:28 AM CST
GREEN BAY — Although it became apparent this week that some NFL players weren’t aware that games could end in a tie, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers isn’t one of them.
As a fan of running back Barry Sanders as a teenager, Rodgers said he still remembers the 1997 season — when the Detroit Lions made the playoffs at 9-7 over the Washington Redskins, who finished the season 8-7-1.
“I definitely knew,’’ Rodgers said.
That apparently wasn’t the case for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, who acknowledged after Sunday’s game against in Cincinnati ended in a 13-all tie — the league’s first since 2002 — that he didn’t know league rules only allowed for one overtime period.
Rodgers knew the rule, but said he talked to at least one teammate who didn’t know before this week that a game could end in a tie.
Just to make sure, Packers coach Mike McCarthy brought the subject up in his weekly Wednesday meeting with Packers players.
“I think all our players, if they didn’t know, they know for sure now,’’ McCarthy said.
Allen's alibi?
Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was fined $25,000 for his hit on Rodgers two Sundays ago, but the Packers quarterback said he didn’t think Allen was trying to hurt him.
“I respect Jared Allen,’’ Rodgers said Wednesday. “I don’t think that was a malicious hit at all. We actually joked about it afterwards. I know he was fined for the Schaub hit as well. In no way to I think it was intentional or did he want to hurt me. But the rules are the rules, and that’s about all I’m going to say.’’
Those are kind words from Rodgers, considering the fact that Allen told yahoo.com during training camp that he hoped to “put my helmet square in the back of his spine.’’
Allen, a major free-agent addition for the Vikings, has been fined a total of $80,000 for three separate instances of rough play this season. He was fined $50,000 for two late hits earlier this month on Houston quarterback Matt Schaub, one that injured his knee. He was also fined $5,000 for a late hit in a game at Chicago in October.
Wounded knee
Asked about the nagging knee injuries that have kept wide receiver James Jones on the sidelines for much of the season, McCarthy said he’d like to see Jones play through the pain.
“I think like any young player that hasn’t been hurt, he has to learn to play with it, and that’s really what he’s going through,’’ McCarthy said.
But McCarthy said Jones is looking better in practice.
“We’re starting to see James come back and participate the way he did in training camp,’’ McCarthy said. “I clearly thought he had probably one of the better training camps of our second-year players. We’re just trying to get him back to that level.
Notes
With LB Nick Barnett scheduled to have season-ending knee surgery Thursday, the Packers still have not replaced him on their roster. “We talk about different options every day, but as of today we have not made that decision,’’ McCarthy said. “But it’s definitely a possibility.’’ ... DB Jarrett Bush (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. ... LT Chad Clifton (knees) and CB Charles Woodson (toe) were limited in practice.
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