Packers coach says top goal to improve tackling

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Coach Mike McCarthy says one of the Green Bay Packers’ biggest goals for the 2012 season is to improve their tackling.

According to ProFootballFocus.Com, the Packers had the sixth-highest number of missed tackles last season. The website counted 109.

Tampa Bay had the most with 169 missed tackles, followed by Detroit with 129.

McCarthy said all six of the Packers’ draft picks on defense graded highly when it comes to tackling. Green Bay’s top draft choice, outside linebacker Nick Perry, said he realized the situation, and he hopes to improve it.

Starting safeties Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah had 190 combined tackles last season. Perry says that when safeties are tackling that much “you’re probably not a very good defense, and that was evident last year.”

Favre may testify in sexting case

Brett Favre might have to testify in court about the suggestive text messages he allegedly sent women who worked for the New York Jets.

A Supreme Court judge in Manhattan has refused to drop a lawsuit filed by two massage therapists for the Jets.

Shannon O’Toole and Christina Scavo said they lost their part-time jobs with the team after they complained about sexually suggestive texts. They were reportedly sent by the former Green Bay quarterback when he was with New York in 2008.

The women are seeking unspecified damages from Favre, the Jets and their team massage coordinator.

The Jets say the lawsuit is “completely without merit.” The team says it looks forward to defending itself in court.

Former Badger Michael Bennett arrested

Three former football players, including Wisconsin Badgers star Michael Bennett, have been arrested in an identity theft scheme.

The Miami Herald said Tuesday that the FBI arrested Bennett, former University of Miami star William Joseph and former Syracuse standout Louis Hachelin.

They face charges in a reported scheme to steal people’s identities, and then file false income tax returns in their names to steal thousands of dollars in refunds.

Bennett is a Milwaukee native. He was the featured running back for the Badgers in 2000, rushing for 1,681 yards. He left college early, and was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001.

Bennett made the Pro Bowl for the Vikes in ’02 when he rushed for 1,296 yards. That was his best season. He rushed for a career total of 3,638 yards in 10 years.

He left the NFL in 2010 after playing seven games for Oakland.

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