Packer Report: Collins Impresses Former Packer, Harris "Ready To Go"

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins might be the first Packer since LeRoy Butler to wear the number 36, but that doesn't mean the former Packer isn't impressed with the young safety's play.

"This guy went from a good safety to a great safety in the matter of one off-season," Butler said. "Nobody is playing better than him. The reason why I'm most proud of him is because I know people gave him a lot of flak because he didn't do what I did."

Collins is tied for the NFL lead with four interceptions this season and his 172 return yards lead the NFL outright. But it was a play where Collins didn't intercept a pass that really opened Butler's eyes. Colts WR Marvin Harrison had Packers cornerback Will Blackmon beat along the right sideline near the end zone Sunday, but Collins made a leaping deflection to save an almost certain touchdown.

"That play impressed me more than any play I saw in the whole game Sunday," Butler said. "I don't think I ever played with a guy who could have made that play. I don't think I could have."

Coming from the inventor of the Lambeau Leap, that's saying a lot about the future of Collins. Butler thinks Collins "will make the Pro Bowl" this season, and that would sit just fine with the Packers third-year safety.

"That's a goal of mine," Collins said. "It'd be great. But I'm just here to play football and help this team win the best way I can."

Harris To Return to Practice Monday

The Packers expect injured CB Al Harris to be ready to resume full practice Monday, and if he makes it through the full week of practice without any setbacks, expect him to play Nov. 2 at Tennessee.

“I’m ready to go,” Harris said. “I’m in shape. I’ve just got to wait and see.”

Because backup CB Tramon Williams has played so well in his absence, the Packers are being cautious with how fast they bring Harris back. McCarthy was hesitant to give Harris a vote of confidence quite yet.

“He needs to be cleared first medically,” coach Mike McCarthy said. “Once we get over that first hurdle and as we get through a week of practice, that will probably answer (whether Harris will start).”

When Harris does return, the Packers said they have considered using the veteran in a nickel package to start out.

“However they want to use me,” Harris said, “that’s up to them, totally.”

Frost's Job Appears to Be Safe, For Now

The Packers brought in a few punters before their game with Indianapolis, but it appears Derrick Frost saved his job with a solid performance.

Frost hit two punts over 50 yards, both of which went into the end zone for a touchback. Special teams coach Mike Stock said both "should have been downed inside the ten" and that his job isn't in jeopardy.

“I think each week he’s gotten better,” Stock said. “He’s been really good in practice for three weeks and these last two, I think he’s punted the ball very well. I think he’s feeling more comfortable. He’s our guy. He was our guy when we brought him here.”

Jones On the Mend

Packers wide receiver James Jones has been injured seemingly all season, but expects to be back and healthy after the bye.

“I just want to get it back to 100 percent and not go out there and be 85 percent and then re-injure it again,” Jones said. “McCarthy just helped me out, told me we’ll put me out there when he feels the time is right and after the bye, I should be good.”

Jones injured the knee in a preseason game against Denver, then reinjured it against Dallas.

The second-year receiver has five catches for 38 yards and a touchdown so far in 2008.

Favre Denies Report

Former Packer QB Brett Favre denied the report that he gave the Detroit Lions inside information before Green Bay came to Detroit for a Week Two match-up in which the Packers won 48-25.

"I didn't give him any game planning," Favre said Wednesday. "I haven't been in that offense in over a year. I don't know what else to tell you. It was pretty simple."

Current Packer players such as Charles Woodson have felt disrespected by the accusations of Favre, but the Jets QB held strong in his press conference.

"Go back and tell Charles I did not call them," an irritated Favre said. "I didn't call 'em."

Foxsports.com writer Jay Glazer broke the story Sunday, and Favre admitted talking to Millen before the game.

"When Matt called me and was talking about hunting and told me that he lived an hour from here, don't think for a second I wasn't thinking, 'Now, surely he wants to know something,'" Favre said. "Yeah, I played for the Packers for 16 years and we played against the Lions a bunch, but it's no secret what we did against them. I don't have a playbook from Green Bay. I didn't send the playbook. I didn't call him and say, 'Look, if you do this, you're going to win the game.' I didn't do that."

McCarthy has Baby Girl

Packers coach Mike McCarthy and his wife Jessica had their first child Wednesday, a baby girl named Gabrielle.

The Packers released earlier that Jessica was "resting comfortably at a Green Bay hospital."

Rouse Recognized

Packers safety Aaron Rouse was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week Wednesday. Rouse finished the Packers 34-14 victory over the Colts with seven tackles, two passes defended, and a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.

It was Rouse's first Player of the Week award, and the Packers' first since Week Seven of 2007 (Woodson). The second-year player from Virginia Tech was starting in place of injured safety Atari Bigby.