The coach of the 0-4 Pack says he sees a lot of fight in his team.
By Associated Press
Published October 5, 2005
GREEN BAY, Wis. - Mike Sherman took solace in the Packers' fourth-quarter comeback that fell just short at Carolina. He sees it as a sign that nobody on his team is quitting despite an NFL-worst 0-4 record and a rash of injuries that will make it harder to fix things.
"I watched the tape ... and that was not an indication in the game at all," Sherman said Tuesday, a day after the Packers' 32-29 loss to the Panthers in which six players sustained significant injuries.
Sherman spent Tuesday trying to figure out how he's going to clean up the Packers' mistake-prone units with backups and maybe a waiver-wire pickup.
"It doesn't make it any easier, that's for sure. But we're hopeful that we can," he said.
Among the injured: Running back Ahman Green (sprained right knee), center Mike Flanagan (strained abdominal muscle), left tackle Clad Clifton (sprained left ankle), linebacker Na'il Diggs (sprained right MCL) and safety Earl Little (hamstring). None returned to the game.
But the scariest injury was to wide receiver/kick returner Terrence Murphy. He was injured on Thomas Davis' helmet-to-helmet hit in the second quarter and lay motionless for several minutes before being taken off on a stretcher.
The rookie from Texas A&M temporarily lost feeling in his extremities, teammate Antonio Chatman said. But Murphy had movement in his limbs when he was taken from the stadium.
Murphy remained hospitalized in Charlotte, where director of player development Turner Gill was staying with him. They were expected to fly back to Green Bay today, Sherman said.
"He's doing better in the hospital," Sherman said.
The Packers waived reserve tight end Ben Steele because they need the roster spot for either an offensive lineman or a receiver, and because they hope Pro Bowl tight end Bubba Franks (knee) will return from a two-week absence Sunday against New Orleans.
On Monday, Carolina took a 26-7 lead in the third quarter but had to hold on late as Packers quarterback Brett Favre threw for four touchdowns.
Favre threw for two touchdowns and two 2-point conversions in the fourth quarter and had the Packers in position to win on their final drive.
But with Green out and Green Bay out of timeouts, Favre had to do it all on his own when Green Bay got the ball back with 1:58 to play. He completed two passes before Carolina stopped the Packers on a fourth and 2.
Jake Delhomme threw two touchdowns and Stephen Davis ran for two for the host Panthers.
