1 Green Bay Packers Newly arrived bad boy Terry Glenn is healthy and wealthy, but is he finally wise?

He had his boys, some beverages and a big-screen television. Last
Super Bowl Sunday, in the basement of his Columbus, Ohio, home,
Terry Glenn was doing the same thing as millions of other
people--stretching out on a sofa and settling in for kickoff with
a bunch of buddies. But ordinary fans didn't have friends teasing
them. ("You wish you were there, don't you?") They didn't
experience the gut-wrenching jealousy that shot through Glenn
when the Patriots won or the ambivalence he felt when a pal asked
if he would get a Super Bowl ring. "I said I wouldn't know what
to do with one," says Glenn, who didn't receive a ring after
being suspended three times by the Patriots last season for
various infractions and missing 15 games, including the Super
Bowl. "As much as I wanted to be there, I also want to feel part
of a team. Watching that game made me hungry."

No player enters this season under more scrutiny than the
28-year-old Glenn, who was acquired by the Packers in March for
two draft choices. He's football's most notorious bad boy, a
seven-year veteran who, as quarterback Brett Favre says, seems as
though he's been around longer because of the publicity he has
generated. Still, Glenn has tried to leave his baggage in New
England. So far in Green Bay he has worked hard, though minor
injuries to both knees kept him out of some practices and the
first two preseason games. He has been up front in discussing the
seasonlong feud with the Patriots that involved his violating the
NFL's substance abuse policy by missing a drug test, New
England's withholding $8.5 million of his $11.5 million signing
bonus, and his filing a grievance against the Patriots and a
lawsuit against the league (both of which, along with the team's
countergrievance, were dropped when the trade was made).

Second chances are not unusual for a player with the hands,
quickness, speed and body control of Glenn. He says he's
motivated, and if that's true, Glenn should help the Packers
improve on last season's 12-4 record. "The guy is capable of 100
catches," Favre says. "He has to get used to starting over, which
is hard. But I know he's trying. We know he can catch. We want
him to be comfortable."

Favre has done his part. Shortly after Glenn's arrival in Green
Bay, Favre took him golfing; during camp Favre made sure Glenn
saw plenty of passes, to build his confidence and the chemistry
between the two. In return the receiver has credited Favre for
easing the transition. "He's a draw-it-up-in-the-dirt-type
quarterback," Glenn says. "If the play is a comeback and
something goes wrong, I know I can't give up. As long as I get
open, he'll find me."

Glenn faces added pressure this fall because he's the most
experienced wideout on the roster. Though Green Bay was third in
passing offense last season, the team replaced its three top
receivers because they were injury-prone, ineffective or lazy
enough to agitate Favre. Along with Glenn the Packers need rookie
first-round pick Javon Walker (Florida State) and inexperienced
players such as Donald Driver, Robert Ferguson and Charles Lee to
energize an air attack that in 2001 relied heavily on running
back Ahman Green, who had a team-high 62 receptions.

Glenn will play flanker and move into the slot in
three-wide-receiver sets, but he'll have to prove that his 5'11",
195-pound frame can withstand the pounding that comes from
playing in the West Coast offense. His career includes a broken
collarbone ('97) and ankle ('98), along with assorted hamstring
injuries. He also must avoid a repeat of last year's off-field
drama. "Time will assure me more than anything," says coach Mike
Sherman. "Adversity will come, and that will be the true test of
whether he can handle it."

Glenn claims he's ready. Of his past difficulties he says, "I was
naive. There's no beating the NFL or the Patriots. Looking back,
I would've done things differently."

The wait-and-see attitude of some in Green Bay doesn't bother
Glenn. "People have their doubts, but that's a blessing," he
says. "I got a little complacent in New England and probably
needed a change. That experience helped me grow. And there's no
way I would trade that for a Super Bowl ring." --Jeffri Chadiha

COLOR PHOTO: BOB ROSATO (PACKERS) [Regional Cover Inset] WHY THE PACKERS WILL RULE THE NORTH BRETT FAVRE NFC NORTH

COLOR PHOTO: AL TIELEMANS Green, who had a team-high 62 catches last season, will get some help this year.

COLOR PHOTO: NFL PHOTOS JOHNSON

NEW TWIST

Darren Sharper, who already was one of the game's best free
safeties, will take on the job of being the secondary's emotional
leader. For 12 years that role was filled by LeRoy Butler, the
recently retired strong safety whose candid personality was
well-suited to the job. By contrast Sharper, 26, is a soft-spoken
type who'll have to become more vocal.

ENEMY LINES
an opposing team's scout sizes up the Packers

"Ahman Green has really improved. With him running, they've now
got the balance that Mike Holmgren always wanted.... The turnover
in personnel at wide receiver could hurt. The West Coast offense
involves timing, memorization of plays and making small
adjustments. That's going to be tough for those young
receivers.... Their offensive line is solid, and with Brett
Favre's quick release and vision, they just have to hold their
blocks for a couple of seconds. Depending on how long he's out,
the injury [broken thumb] to center Mike Flanagan could hurt--he
was the quarterback of the line. For now, they'll have to rely on
backup Frank Winters, who's 38.... Bubba Franks doesn't have
speed at tight end, although he's a decent blocker. People were
down on him because he dropped some balls last year, but I think
Favre's velocity might be a factor. I'm sure he has broken a lot
of fingers in his career.... They're thin at linebacker except
for Hardy Nickerson. He stays in outstanding shape, and even
though he's not big [6'2", 230 pounds], he has range and
smarts.... By adding Joe Johnson, the defensive line becomes
formidable. He's going to take pressure off the secondary because
the pass rush will be much stronger.... I don't see any holes at
cornerback. They have three solid cover guys, and Mike McKenzie
is a phenomenal athlete. He can jump for balls with any receiver
in the league."

Schedule

Sept. 8 ATLANTA
15 at New Orleans
22 at Detroit
29 CAROLINA

Oct. 7 at Chicago (Mon.)*
13 at New England
20 WASHINGTON
27 Open date

Nov. 4 MIAMI (Mon.)
10 DETROIT
17 at Minnesota
24 at Tampa Bay

Dec. 1 CHICAGO
8 MINNESOTA
15 at San Francisco
22 BUFFALO
29 at N.Y. Jets

*Champaign, Ill.

SCHEDULE STRENGTH

NFL rank: 28
Opponents' 2001 winning percentage: .465
Games against playoff teams: 7

[BOX]

PROJECTED LINEUP with 2001 statistics

COACH: Mike Sherman; third season with Green Bay (21-11 in NFL)
2001 RECORD: 12-4 (second in NFC Central)
NFL RANK (rush/pass/total): offense 21/3/6; defense 16/15/12

OFFENSIVE BACKS PVR*

QB Brett Favre 6
510 att. 314 comp. 61.6% 3,921 yds. 32 TDs 15 int. 94.1 rtg.

RB Ahman Green 15
304 att. 1,387 yds. 4.6 avg. 62 rec. 594 yds. 9.6 avg. 11 TDs

RB Rondell Mealey 195
11 att. 37 yds. 3.4 avg. 2 rec. 31 yds. 15.5 avg. 1 TD

FB William Henderson 298
6 att. 11 yds. 1.8 avg. 21 rec. 193 yds. 9.2 avg. 0 TDs

RECEIVERS, SPECIALISTS, OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

[PVR*]

WR Terry Glenn [N] 93 14 rec. 204 yds. 1 TD
WR Robert Ferguson 189 0 rec. 0 yds. 0 TDs
WR Javon Walker (R) [N] 192 45 rec. 944 yds. 7 TDs
TE Bubba Franks 53 36 rec. 322 yds. 9 TDs
K Ryan Longwell 238 44/45 XPs 20/31 FGs 104 pts.
PR Darrien Gordon [N] 461 31 ret. 14.1 avg. 0 TDs
KR Rondell Mealey 195 4 ret. 15.8 avg. 0 TDs

LT Chad Clifton 6'5" 327 lbs. 14 games 13 starts
LG Mike Wahle 6'6" 310 lbs. 16 games 16 starts
C Mike Flanagan 6'5" 297 lbs. 16 games 16 starts
RG Marco Rivera 6'4" 310 lbs. 16 games 16 starts
RT Mark Tauscher 6'3" 320 lbs. 16 games 16 starts

DEFENSE

LE Vonnie Holliday 46 tackles 7 sacks
LT Gilbert Brown 15 tackles 0 sacks
RT Cletidus Hunt 15 tackles 0 sacks
RE Joe Johnson [N] 53 tackles 9 sacks
OLB Na'il Diggs 53 tackles 2 sacks
MLB Hardy Nickerson [N] 88 tackles 3 int.
OLB Nate Wayne 59 tackles 5 1/2 sacks
CB Mike McKenzie 54 tackles 2 int.
SS Antuan Edwards 5 tackles 0 int.
FS Darren Sharper 70 tackles 6 int.
CB Tyrone Williams 76 tackles 4 int.
P Josh Bidwell 82 punts 42.5 avg.

[N] New acquisition
(R) Rookie (statistics for final college year)
*PVR: Player Value Ranking (explanation on page 98)

"By adding Johnson the line becomes formidable. He's going to
take pressure off the secondary."