Packers’ Donald Driver will dance with the stars

Green Bay Packers’ veteran Donald Driver says it will be a “fun journey” to compete on “Dancing With the Stars.”

The Packers’ all-time leading receiver was one of 12 contestants named today for the 14th season of ABC’s popular ballroom show.

Peta Murgatroyd will be Driver’s professional dancing partner. The competition begins on March 19.

ESPN’s Rachel Nichols said Driver told her that he’s doing it for his family because they love the show.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers tweeted that Driver is “guaranteed to be in the finals.”

Two NFL players have won the dancing competition – Emmitt Smith in 2006 and Hines Ward of Pittsburgh in 2011.

Packers have salary cap room

If the NFL salary cap doesn’t change, the Green Bay Packers appear to have at least a little breathing room.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel estimates that the Packers have committed $121 million to the 2012 cap. That includes Jermichael Finley’s new contract, plus salary escalators and minimum base increases for several players.

The Packers are expected to carry over $6 million from last year’s salary cap. If the new cap remains at the previous level of $120 million, the Packers would appear to be $5 million under it.

That’s not much considering that the team will need to sign draft choices, plus either center Scott Wells or an experienced free agent at that spot. Packers guard T.J. Lang has made a public appeal to the front office to re-sign Wells.

Meanwhile, the Journal Sentinel says the Packers could drop to as much as $9 million below the cap if they rework Donald Driver’s contract.

And there’s still talk that the Packers will put a franchise tag on free agent backup quarterback Matt Flynn to try and get something for him in a trade with another team that needs a starter.

The franchise tag carries a salary of $14 million-plus for a one-year deal. The team may or may not be able to afford to pull off that maneuver.

Badgers beat Gophers in men’s basketball

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team recovered from poor shooting in the first half Tuesday night to beat Minnesota 52-45 in Madison.

The 14th-ranked Badgers only shot 19 percent in the first 20 minutes. They trailed by seven at the break.

But they shot 44 percent in the second half. Wisconsin made 14 of 18 free throws to improve to 11-6 in the Big Ten and get within a half-game of Michigan and Ohio State, which remain tied for second-place.

Jordan Taylor scored 17 of his 22 points in the second half as the Badgers improved to 22-8 overall and secured a first-round bye in next week’s Big Ten Tournament.

Former Badger a candidate for College Football Hall of Fame

Western Wisconsin native Tim Krumrie was among 76 players named Wednesday as possible induction candidates for the College Football Hall of Fame.

Krumrie played his high school football at Mondovi before going on to a stellar career as a defensive tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers and the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals.

About 12,000 foundation and Hall of Fame members will select their favorites, and then a 14-member selection committee will pick this year’s class.

Also on the ballot are former Green Bay Packers receiver Sterling Sharpe, who played at South Carolina in the mid-1980s, and former Chilton, Wis., high school star Dave Casper, a tight end for Notre Dame and later for the Oakland Raiders.

The inductees will be announced May 15. They’ll be inducted into the College Hall of Fame on Dec. 4 in New York.

Tags: wi sports, sports, proam