Guion to practice despite ‘pending’ legal matter
GREEN BAY - Coach
Mike McCarthy called Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Letroy Guion’s latest legal issue “a pending matter” Wednesday on the eve of training camp, but Guion is expected to practice Thursday with the team.
Guion, who already was starting this season on a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, was arrested June 21 in Hawaii and charged with driving under the influence. His blood alcohol level was found to be .086. The legal limit in Hawaii is .08.
“He’s made mistakes, and we’re still working with him,” McCarthy said.
It could amount to Guion’s third strike with the Packers.
Guion was first arrested while on the team’s roster in February 2015 and charged with two felony counts for possession of a 9mm semi-automatic handgun and two bags of marijuana that contained a total of 357 grams.
He later pleaded no contest to possession of marijuana and paid a $5,000 fine. The charge of having a gun while committing a felony was dropped, and a plea deal prevented Guion from having a conviction on his record.
The NFL handed Guion his suspension for violating its performance-enhancing drug policy in March.
Guion won’t be eligible to play until the Packers travel to the Dallas Cowboys in October, and that’s only if he avoids more punishment from the league for his arrest last month. But McCarthy expects his 10th-year tackle to be be on the practice field Thursday morning.
“As far as everything, based on what’s going on this morning, physical, conditioning and so forth,” McCarthy said, “I anticipate he will be.”
The Packers also are addressing legal matters on their coaching staff. Safeties coach Darren
Perry will pay $956 — of which $225 was a courtimposed fine — and lose his driving privileges for eight months after being convicted in Brown County Circuit Court of drunken driving. Perry was arrested in December and charged with driving under the influence and refusing a breathalyzer.
“The internal process has moved forward in accordance with the National Football League,” McCarthy said, “and I’m comfortable with where we are.” Ground-game focus:
Every practice during organized team activities and minicamp leaned heavily on the passing game, with quarterbacks, wide receivers and cornerbacks occupying center stage.
This was by design, according to McCarthy, because the rules of the collective bargaining agreement preclude teams from wearing pads during spring. But the time for change arrived as the Packers reconvened for training camp this week, and McCarthy made very clear the team’s intention to bolster the running game.
“The reality of the OTAs is you’re limited to what you can do, so frankly, I think the quality of work for us this year, focusing primarily on the passing game was very good and you can see the improvement there,” McCarthy said.
“So with that we kind of do have to shift gears and make sure we’re giving the time (to the running game), particularly in pads, and that will start Saturday and into Family Night (on Aug. 5).”
Any maturation of the running game should be viewed through two distinct lenses. The first belongs to Ty Montgomery, who was labeled the starter during OTAs. This is Montgomery’s first training camp as a full-time running back and a prime opportunity to reinforce the notion that a converted wide receiver can succeed as the No. 1 tailback.
“He’s just stepped out in front and just keeps going,” McCarthy said. “He looks good. I’m very pleased with the way he has stepped up to the front of the class.”
The second lens is nearly as green as Montgomery. When general manager
Ted Thompson declined to bring in a veteran running back to complement Montgomery, it became clear the Packers would
need to address the issue through the draft. Thompson responded by using three of his 10 picks on tailbacks, with fourthround choice Jamaal Williams of Brigham Young being the highest selection.
In addition to Williams, the Packers used a fifthround pick on Aaron Jones from UTEP and a seventh-round pick on Devante Mays from Utah State. They also signed a pair of undrafted running backs in Kalif Phillips from Charlotte and William Stanback from Virginia Union.
“Frankly, the players’ availability and their performance level each day really controls who gets the reps,” McCarthy said.
Lambeau sleep: Tight end Martellus Bennett is eager to get his first season with the Packers underway.
How eager? After driving up from his Chicago home late Tuesday night and realizing that the dorm where he is supposed to be staying at St. Norbert College was locked, Bennett apparently found a spot to hunker down for the night in front of his locker, and Bennett posted several short Stories on Instagram.
“I was here late last night so he must’ve come after I left,” McCarthy said. “I don’t usually check lockers for people sleeping.” From the front office:
The Packers announced changes to their scouting department.
Charles Walls, who had worked as a college scout the last three seasons, was promoted to area scout in what will be his fifth year with the team. And Brandian Ross, a safety with the Packers from 2011-’12, joined the organization as a scouting intern.
On Tuesday, the Packers promoted college scout John Wojciechowski to director of pro personnel, among other shuffling.
Aaron Nagler of USA TODAY Network-Wisconsin contributed to this report.