GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers canceled their family night scrimmage on Saturday after strong thunderstorms swept through the area, leaving more than 50,000 fans without an early season football fix.
The Packers knew that this year’s scrimmage would lack the off-field drama of last year’s event when Brett Favre returned days before his eventual trade to the New York Jets.
Turns out, it lacked any on-field drama, too.
Heavy rains began about 15 minutes before the scrimmage was scheduled to begin with players just finishing warmups and the lightning never let up. After a delay of an hour and a half, the event was called.
While several key players weren’t expected to participate, including starting cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris, others such as wide receiver James Jones wanted to put on a show.
He said the only positive was that the event, which also includes fireworks after the practice, wouldn’t give the Cleveland Browns any film to study in preparation for the preseason opener on Aug. 15.
“I was ready to get out there and kind of show what I’ve been working on, but now, Cleveland’s got to wait on us,” Jones said.
It was also supposed to be the first glimpse into Green Bay’s 3-4 base defense installed by new defensive coordinator Dom Capers. One player who wouldn’t be featured is first-round pick B.J. Raji. Selected No. 9 overall, Raji has been in Green Bay, but has held out while the defensive lineman’s contract negotiations continue.
General manager Ted Thompson said Saturday night he’s still not sure there’s a timetable on signing him, but they continue to work at it.
The year before, Favre flew to Green Bay the night of the event before his reinstatement to the NFL the next day.
While 56,600 fans that night watched Aaron Rodgers struggle in the scrimmage, hundreds more greeted Favre at the airport. Favre and his wife, Deanna, were seen at the event from their private luxury box and he was traded to the Jets three days later before retiring again after the season.
Rodgers went on to complete 63.6 percent of his passes for 4,038 yards with 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions despite playing through a painful shoulder injury for a large part of the season. But the Packers struggled down the stretch and lost five of their final six games to finish 6-10.
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