Brian34Cook

Notes: Doing the safety dance

Bigby displaces Manuel as starter alongside Collins

By BOB McGINN bmcginn@journalsentinel.com

Posted: Aug. 20, 2007





Second-year man Atari Bigby used a big exhibition game against Seattle to vault into the starting lineup at strong safety.

Green Bay - The Green Bay Packers didn't just hand Marquand Manuel's position to Atari Bigby. But clearly the strong safety job now is Bigby's to lose.

In a dramatic move Monday to shore up his weakest position on defense, coach Mike McCarthy announced that Bigby would start Thursday night against Jacksonville at Lambeau Field. As long as Bigby doesn't fall apart, it's almost a foregone conclusion that the Packers will enter the regular season with him opposite free safety Nick Collins.

"He's an ascending young player; I think we all agree with that," McCarthy said. "He has impact-play ability, which he showed against Seattle. It's something to get excited about."

A source close to the situation said cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson had been lobbying the coaches for Bigby to replace Manuel, a player whom they apparently no longer trusted.

JS Online: Notes: Doing the safety dance

Like the move.. if he can do good the next two games.. he may aswell be the starter..