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Packers Gm Ted Thompson Press Conference Transcript - Aug. 24

(Was P.J. Pope too far away from being healthy to consider keeping past this first cut?)

Yeah. He had one of those injuries that was poor timing, because he was still going to be a little bit dinged up at the start of the season, and without having been able to compete during the course of training camp at any time, and wouldn't be well for maybe another couple weeks, we just felt like, again, because we're hurting in other spots and trying to get through this game, we felt like this was the time to make that roster move.

(He seemed like a guy you thought would fit in pretty well?)

I'm disappointed, and I'm sure P.J. is extremely disappointed that he didn't get a chance to compete. I like him a lot, as a person and as a player.

(Does Pope have to pass a physical to be waived?)

He was waived with an injury settlement.

That sucks for PJ. Hopefully he can recover and has made enough of an impression to get a shot somewhere when he heals up.

Green Bay drafts and picks up the weirdest players. Some how recently it has turned into wins. But I don't see an under-rated hard working player like PJ on my fav. team unfortunately. GAG!

See the end of this article. PJ will find a home...maybe back with the Bears.

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By Tom Pelissero
[email protected]

P.J. Pope entered training camp with a chance to earn a role in an unsettled Packers backfield, but his bid to make the roster never got off the ground.


The Packers reached an injury settlement with Pope and waived him on Friday, just less than three weeks after the second-year back strained his knee in the Aug. 4 Family Night scrimmage.


"I'm disappointed," said Packers General Manager Ted Thompson, who signed Pope off the Chicago Bears' practice squad on Oct. 31. "I'm sure P.J.'s extremely disappointed that he didn't get a chance to compete."


Pope's missed opportunity made him one of few notable names on the list of 11 players cut Friday. The others: center C.J. Blomvall, receiver Carlton Brewster, fullback Erryn Cobb, punter Ryan Dougherty, defensive end DeVon Hicks, cornerback Antonio Malone, quarterback Ingle Martin, guard Pat Murray, linebacker Juwan Simpson and tight end Joe Werner.


Pope, who played in one game last season and was inactive for three with a hamstring injury, was the only player to receive an injury settlement. He had arthroscopic surgery Aug. 5 and wasn't expected to be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 9 against Philadelphia, but multiple teams are believed to have inquired about signing him.