contest throughout (play-byplay)

PACKERS AT BENGALS - PRESEASON WEEK 3PACKERS FALL TO BROWNS IN HOME PRESEASON OPENERGreen Bay lost to Cleveland, 35-10, in the 63rd installment of the UpperMidwest Shrine Game in front of 68,201 at Lambeau Field last Thursdaynight.Green Bay’s No. 1 defense didn’t waste any time making an impact, withDB Charles Woodson stripping RB Montario Hardesty at the end of a4-yard run on the Browns’ first play from scrimmage. Rookie CB CaseyHayward recovered the ball at the Cleveland 23 to set the offense upwith prime field position.Three plays later, QB Aaron Rodgers found WR Jordy Nelson inthe corner of the end zone on a 20-yard scoring strike to give Green Bayan early 7-0 lead.Rodgers and the rest of the offensive starters played the entire first quarter,but the other two series ended with a WR Randall Cobb fumble aftera catch and a failed fourth-down conversion at the Green Bay 45. Rodgerscompleted 6-of-11 passes for 59 yards and the TD (100.2 rating).No. 2 QB Graham Harrell took over for the rest of the game untilthe final series, and completed 12-of-24 passes for 100 yards with twoINTs. One of the interceptions came on a Hail Mary pass as time expiredin the first half.Rookie WR Jarrett Boykin led the team with five catches for 63 yards(12.6 avg.) on the evening. Rookie CB Otis Merrill posted a 60-yardkickoff return with just a little more than a minute to go in the first half.P Tim Masthay had another strong outing, averaging 52.5 yards onfour punts with a net average of 45.3 yards.The Packers had 18 players that did not dress on Thursday night. Sittingout against Cleveland were RB Du’ane Bennett (knee), RB CedricBenson (recently signed), LB Desmond Bishop (hamstring), WRDiondre Borel (groin), G Ray Dominguez (ankle), TE JermichaelFinley (quad), FB Jon Hoese (hamstring), CB Davon House(shoulder), WR Greg Jennings (concussion), DE Johnny Jones(knee), FB John Kuhn (ankle), TE Andrew Quarless (knee), RBBrandon Saine (hamstring), T Derek Sherrod (leg), CB SamShields (elbow), WR Shaky Smithson (ankle), James Starks(toe) and LB Frank Zombo (hamstring).HEAD COACH MIKE McCARTHY POST-GAME EXCERPTS(on Graham Harrell’s performance)“I felt the things that Graham did very well, I was very pleased with hisscramble ability and quarterback runs for first down. That’s somethingthat I would not say was part of his game last year or so. I think he’sreally improved in that part of the pocket awareness. I thought he wasput in some tough spots. On the negative side, he missed some throws.We’ll take a close look at it and I can promise you that no one will corrector detail the play of the quarterback better than our coaches.”(on the No. 1 offense’s turnovers in the first two games)“Well, you could throw the whole team in there. We’re turning the damnball over too much. I don’t care if it’s preseason, scrimmage, practice, it’ssomething that needs to stop. There’s no excuse for that. For as much aswe train taking care of the football and emphasizing it, it’s important thatthe things that you do every single day in your practice structure showup on gameday. So, the offense and special teams, we have to take careof the football.”(if there is concern over the first two preseason games)“We don’t brush anything off. I thought what was concerning was thefinal score. And that’s about as far as it goes. Because the reality of itwas that it’s a preseason game. You play to win, but you have otherobjectives, you have other goals. The one main goal is to make sure youhit your target as far as how many reps and particular plays you’re ableto get in this game. And I felt good about that because we needed a lotof information about our younger players and I felt we were able to dothat tonight. So we’ll go through a normal Monday, in-season scheduletomorrow. The players will have strength and conditioning responsibility,we’ll look at all the tape together, special teams, quarterbacks, andoffense and defense. I’ll give a final review of the game to finish up inteam meetings. The quality might not be quite what we want, but we’ll letthe film tell us that. But I was pleased with the way the team was reppedtoday.”WHERE THEY’LL BE THURSDAY NIGHTCoaches often use the preseason as a test to see where players are bestutilized. Head Coach Mike McCarthy is on the sidelines, but here’s a lookat where the rest of the staff will be Thursday:Coaches’ Box: Dom Capers (defensive coordinator), Jerry Fontenot(tight ends), Joel Hilgenberg (assistant offensive line), Ben McAdoo (quarterbacks),Scott McCurley (defensive quality control), John Rushing (offensiveassistant/special teams) and Joe Whitt (secondary - cornerbacks).Sideline: Edgar Bennett (wide receivers), James Campen (offensiveline), Tom Clements (offensive coordinator), Mike Eayrs (research anddevelopment), Kevin Greene (outside linebackers), Chad Morton (specialteams assistant), Winston Moss (inside linebackers/asst. head coach),Darren Perry (secondary - safeties), Shawn Slocum (special teamscoordinator), Mike Trgovac (defensive line) and Alex Van Pelt (runningbacks).WHAT IS AHEADAfter enjoying two days off from Ray Nitschke Field following the game onThursday night vs. Cleveland, the Packers will hit the practice field threetimes this week, with two of the three sessions (Sunday-Monday) scheduledfor 11:15 a.m. and one scheduled for 11 a.m. (Tuesday).The practices on Sunday and Monday are scheduled to be in full pads,though the health of the team heading into Thursday night’s contestagainst the Bengals could determine if those numbers stay the same.Including the Family Night practice, the team will have 18 practicesunder its belt when it takes the field vs. Cincinnati.Following the Cincinnati contest, the team will take two days off (Aug.24-25) from the practice field before returning on Sunday, Aug. 26. ThePackers will practice Sunday, Monday and Tuesday leading into the preseasonfinale at Lambeau Field on Thursday night vs. Kansas City. TheAug. 28 practice will be the final session open to the public.SAVE THE DATEImportant dates to remember (all times CDT):Thursday, Aug. 23 – Preseason game at Cincinnati Bengals,6 p.m., Paul Brown StadiumMonday, Aug. 27 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 75 players by3 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 28 – Final practice open to public, 11 a.m.,Nitschke FieldThursday, Aug. 30 – Preseason game vs. Kansas City Chiefs,6 p.m., Lambeau Field (Bishop’s Charities Game)Friday, Aug. 31 – Roster reduction to a maximum of 53 players by8 p.m.Saturday, Sept. 1 – After 11 a.m., clubs may establish apractice squad of eight playersSunday, Sept. 9 – Regular-season opener vs. San Francisco 49ers,3:25 p.m.2