Packers Make Roster Moves

The Packers have signed LB Robert Francois and CB Josh Gordy their active roster after placing LB Brandon Chillar and TE Spencer Havner on injured reserve. Francois and Gordy were previously on the Packers practice squad. Due to their departure from the practice squad, the Packers signed WR Terrance Smith and LB/DE Curtis Young to the practice squad.

Francois is a 6'2" 255lb LB rookie out of Boston College. Gordy is a 5'11" 195lb rookie out of Central Michigan and entered the NFL with the Jacksonville Jaguars as an undrafted free agent before signing with the Packers practice squad for the past 10 games.

Smith, a 6'0" 190 lb rookie WR out of South Carolina State who collected 40 catches for 542 yards and 4 TDs in his senior season with the Bulldogs. Young, a 6'1" 270 pound rookie LB/DE, attended Cincinnati and appeared in one game this season for the Sacramento Lions of the UFL. As a senior with Cincinnati, Young collected 50 tackles, including 11 for losses.

Brewers looking to lock up Weeks on multi-year extension

Milwaukee Brewers General Manager Doug Melvin told press that the Brewers are working hard to sign second basemen Rickie Weeks to a new multi-year contract extension. Weeks recently signed with a new agent, Greg Genske, who also represents former Brewer and current Yankee pitcher C.C. Sabathia. Melvin reported that Genske is much more difficult to work with because of his abundance of clients and prestige of clients as compared to Weeks' former agent, Lon Babby, who Weeks was forced to drop due to Babby becoming the president of the NBA's Phoenix Suns.

Melvin expects to meet with Genske next week at the MLB winter meetings in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Weeks earned $2.75 million in 2010 in arguably his best season as a Brewer. Weeks finished the 2010 campaign with career highs in games played (160), runs (112), hits (175), extra base hits (65), home runs (29) and RBIs (83).

Melvin praised Weeks' offensive ability by comparing him to only 4 or 5 other MLB second basemen who have solid offensive ability--the Yankees Robinson Cano, the Braves Dan Ugla, the Phillies Chase Utley, and the Reds Brandon Phillips. He did admit, however, that Weeks is still developing as a defensive second basemen and may never evolve into a Gold-Glove player. Despite this, Melvin is excited about Weeks' future with the Crew because of his versatility on offense, being able to hit virtually anywhere in the Brewers lineup--leadoff, fifth, eighth or even third.

Wisconsin's Bielema Appears on ESPN

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2--Wisconsin Badgers head football coach Brett Bielema is scheduled to appear on a variety of ESPN television and radio shows on Thursday in Bristol, CT to speak about the 2010-2011 Wisconsin football season and their recent BCS Rose Bowl berth. Below is a list of programs Bielema is scheduled to participate on:

ESPN First Take - 9:50AM
Scott Van Pelt Show (Radio) - 1:45PM
SportsCenter - 2:10PM
College Football Live - 2:30PM
ESPN Radio 1000 in Chicago - 2:40PM
The Beat (ESPN News) 5:00 & 5:30PM

Bielema led the Badgers to an 11-1 regular season record, including three games in which the Big Red put up 70 or more points (vs. Northwestern, vs. Indiana, vs. Austin Peay). The Badgers are currently ranked 5th in the BCS standings and captured their first Big Ten Championship since 1999. Bielema is also a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award.