The 2012 NFL season begins this Sunday, and the Green Bay Packers open up at Lambeau Field against the San Francisco 49ers. Here is a quick look at the offensive, defensive and special teams starters (as well as some key backups) along with some interesting facts and how to connect with them.
Offense
Aaron Rodgers, QB
Age: 28
Need to know: Ranks No. 1 in NFL history with a career 104.1 passer rating.
Fun fact: Held a summer job washing windows in college; owns the Suspended Sunrise Recordings record label.
Twitter: @AaronRodgers12
Alex Green, RB
Age: 24
Need to know: Attended same junior college as Aaron Rodgers, Butte College in Oroville, Calif.
Fun fact: Never watched an NFL game in person until signing with the Packers.
Twitter: @AGreen_20
Cedric Benson, RB
Age: 29
Need to know: Has rushed for 1,000 yards the last three seasons.
Fun fact: Was drafted in the 12th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing on the organization’s summer league and Gulf Coast League teams.
James Starks, RB
Age: 26
Need to know: Led the Packers in rushing last year.
Fun fact: Played quarterback in high school and started his college career as a cornerback. Enjoys drawing.
Twitter: @james44starks
John Kuhn, FB
Age: 30
Need to know: Is the only player on the team to record a rushing and receiving TD in each of the last four years.
Fun fact: Has participated in the NFL’s Business and Management and Entrepreneurial Program on two different occasions, attending classes at Harvard Business School and the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Greg Jennings, WR
Age: 28
Need to know: Leads the NFL in catches over 40 yards (30) since 2007.
Fun fact: Given the nickname "Superman" in high school; plays the bass and guitar and has appeared in two TV shows (Criminal Minds, Royal Pains).
Twitter: @GregJennings
Jordy Nelson, WR
Age: 27
Need to know: One of only three Packers to catch 15 TDs in a season.
Fun fact: Walked on as a safety at Kansas State; won an AAU championship in the 400-meters as a 10-year-old.
Twitter: @JordyRNelson
James Jones, WR
Age: 28
Need to know: Has caught at least five TDs in each of the last three years.
Fun fact: College teammates nicknamed him "Dingo" after wrestler The Dingo Warrior following a weight lifting session; is an MMA fan.
Donald Driver, WR
Age: 37
Need to know: One of only 35 players in NFL history with more than 700 catches and one of only 36 with more than 10,000 yards.
Fun fact: Well, we know he can dance, but he has also authored three children’s books and has made over 500 charity appearances in his career.
Twitter: @donald_driver80
Jermichael Finley, TE
Age: 25
Need to know: Is the only tight end in Packers history with two, 55-catch seasons.
Fun fact: Was offered a basketball scholarship by the University of Arizona and uses boxing routines in his offseason training.
Twitter: @JermichaelF88
Marshall Newhouse, OL
Age: 23
Need to know: His 13 starts were most by a Packers tackle in 2011.
Fun fact: Visited Haiti on a mission trip in 2011 and likes to draw.
Twitter: @MNewhouse74
T.J. Lang, OL
Age: 24
Need to know: Has started games at three different positions for the Packers.
Fun fact: Originally recruited to Eastern Michigan as a defensive lineman and earned a letter at that position as a freshman.
Twitter: @TJLang70
Jeff Saturday, OL
Age: 37
Need to know: Is a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first team All-Pro selection.
Fun fact: Enjoys watching"Storage Wars" and "Pawn Stars."
Josh Sitton, OL
Age: 26
Need to know: Has been a Pro Bowl alternate the last two seasons.
Fun fact: Recently began playing racquetball and learning curling. Oh, he can dance, too.
Twitter: @jsitton71
Bryan Bulaga, OL Ryan Pickett, DL B.J. Raji, DL
Twitter: @rajifreezer90
C.J. Wilson, DL Jerel Worthy, DL Clay Matthews, Jr., LB Nick Perry, LB A.J. Hawk, LB D.J. Smith, LB Erik Walden, LB Tramon Williams, DB Jarrett Bush, DB Charles Woodson, DB Morgan Burnett, DB Casey Hayward, DB Sam Shields, DB Mason Crosby, K Tim Masthay, P Brett Goode, long snapper Randall Cobb, KR Other notable players Practice Squad
Age: 23
Need to know: Allowed just one sack in 2011. Is the youngest player ever to start in a Super Bowl.
Fun fact: Spent time working at an AVIS rental-car business and "Game of Thrones" is his favorite TV show.
Twitter: @Bbulaga Defense
Age: 32
Need to know: Has played in 14 playoff games, including two Super Bowls.
Fun fact: Has built more than 50 water towers in Uganda through his Tackle a Tower program, which donates resources with each tackle.
Age: 26
Need to know: First Packers defensive tackle since 1972 to go to the Pro Bowl.
Fun fact: Lettered in basketball in high school. And while he loves to dance ...
... he won't teach others his patented moves.
Age: 25
Need to know: Played in all 16 games last year and made 35 tackles.
Fun fact: Played running back and defensive back in high school; plays the piano.
Twitter: @cjwilson95
Age: 22
Need to know: Packers traded up to select him No. 51 overall.
Fun fact: Worked at the defense and aerospace development firm Demmer Corporation while at Michigan State.
Twitter: @I_AM_Worthy99
Age: 26
Need to know: First Packer to the Pro Bowl in his first three seasons since John Brockington in 1971-73.
Fun fact: Was an intern at the NFL network in 2006.
Twitter: @ClayMatthews52
Age: 22
Need to know: Played defensive end at USC.
Fun fact: Recorded 36 sacks as a senior in high school.
Twitter: @NickTheGreat8
Age: 28
Need to know: Has recorded 100 or more tackles in five of his six years.
Fun fact: Is a spokesman for the Wisconsin Special Olympics and enjoys breeding and training dogs.
Twitter: @OfficialAJHawk
Age: 23
Need to know: Was the only rookie to play in all 16 games last year.
Fun fact: Won four straight high school state championships, then won a Football Championship Subdivision title his freshman year at Appalachian State as a freshman.
Age: 27
Need to know: Has sacked Bears QB Jay Cutler three times in six career sacks.
Fun fact: Tennis player Rafael Nadal is one of his favorite athletes.
Twitter: @E_Ninety3
Age: 29
Need to know: Has 13 interceptions since 2010.
Fun fact: Enrolled at Louisiana Tech as a full-time student, but after attending a game as a fan he walked on the following spring.
Twitter: @HighRizer38
Age: 28
Need to know: Has played in 16 games for four straight seasons; became first Packer to record double-digit special teams tackles in six straight years.
Fun fact: Enjoys playing backgammon, as well as the trombone, tuba and drums.
Twitter: @Jarrettbush
Age: 35
Need to know: Eight-time Pro Bowler, tied for NFL lead in interceptions last year.
Fun fact: Donated $2 million to the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital at the University of Michigan; has leased acres of vineyards in Napa Valley, Calif.
Age: 23
Need to know: One of only two Packers to start in all 16 games last season. Has intercepted Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler twice in four career picks.
Fun fact: Has a nickname – "Uno."
Twitter: @MoBetta_42
Age: 23
Need to know: Packers traded up to pick him No. 62 overall.
Fun fact: Shares a birthday with John Kuhn (Sept. 9); played QB and RB in high school.
Twitter: @show_case29
Age: 24
Need to know: Had four interceptions and one forced fumble last year.
Fun fact: Recruited to Miami as a wide receiver and played just one season at defensive back.
Twitter: @stickyshields9
Special Teams
Age: 28
Need to know: Set an NFL record for most points scored (649) by a player in his first five seasons.
Fun fact: Once caught a 35-inch grouper while spearfishing.
Twitter: @crosbykicks2
Age: 25
Need to know: Set franchise records for gross (45.6) and net (38.6) punting averages.
Fun fact: Is first football player to have his jersey retired at his high school in Kentucky after a playing four positions.
Twitter: @TimMasthay
Age: 27
Need to know: Has appeared in the last 64 Packers games after being a last-minute replacement for an injured J.J. Jansen after ’08 preseason.
Fun fact: A scratch golfer (like his kicker), plays guitar and craps.
Twitter: @BGoode61
Age: 22
Need to know: Set a Packers rookie record for combined yards (1,616).
Fun fact: Sold hotdogs at the University of Tennessee as a youth and was a quarterback in high school and college.
Twitter: @rcobb18
Tom Crabtree – @Tcrabtree83
Lawrence Guy – @thatLGuy
Davon House – @devo31
Terrell Manning - @Certified_35
Michael Neal – @mneal96
Derek Sherrod – @dsherrod78
D.J. Williams – @dj45williams
Injured
Frank Zombo - @fzombo58
Desmond Bishop – @Desbishop55
B.J. Coleman - @BJ_Coleman19
Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.
A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.
To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.
Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.
In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.
Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.
