NFLback.com News from around the NFL

Football Hall of Famer and former television actor Merlin Olsen dies at age 69 (The Canadian Press)

SALT LAKE CITY - Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69.

Football Hall of Famer, TV star Olsen dies at 69 (AP)

Hall of Famer Merlin Olsen, who helped form one of the NFL's greatest defensive lines before embarking on a successful career in television, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 69. Olsen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams' "Fearsome Foursome" along with Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier in the 1960s.

Packers Team Report (Yahoo! Sports)

The blunt words came first. An alleged harsh action soon followed.

Tired of the inadequacies they put up with the full 2009 season, the Packers gave punter Jeremy Kapinos the boot. The team elected to not give Kapinos a qualifying offer as an exclusive-rights free agent before the March 4 deadline, meaning the first-year player is a full-fledged free agent.

The struggles of Green Bay's special teams, including Kapinos, was a sore subject both general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy addressed with reporters the previous week at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.

"He's a young punter," McCarthy said of Kapinos at the time. "There's some things he can do to improve physically, and my understanding is he's gone about that process already.

The Packers may be adopting a third/alternate jersey (Yahoo! Sports)

The Green Bay Packers, who sport one of the most classic and distinctive looks in all of sports, appear to be...

Packers sign WR Charles Dillon (AP)

The Green Bay Packers have signed wide receiver Charles Dillon, a first-year player who spent time in Indianapolis' training camp in 2008. Dillon, a wide receiver and kick returner at Washington State, spent last season with the Spokane Shock of the af2 arena league.

Robert De Niro set to play Vince Lombardi in movie (AP)

Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie. ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL. "Lombardi" will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL's worst team to league champions.

Packers re-sign veteran LT Chad Clifton (AP)

The Green Bay Packers re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton on Saturday, wrapping up one of their major offseason concerns early in the NFL's free agent signing period. Clifton will now return to the left tackle spot he has occupied for most of his 10 seasons in Green Bay. The Packers do not have an obvious candidate to replace Clifton, and reported interest in the unrestricted free agent...

Packers re-sign veteran LT Chad Clifton, wrapping up major off-season priority (The Canadian Press)

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton on Saturday, wrapping up one of their major off-season concerns early in the NFL's free agent signing period.

Packers release safety Matt Giordano, defensive end Michael Montgomery (The Canadian Press)

GREEN BAY, Wis. - The Green Bay Packers have released safety Matt Giordano and defensive end Michael Montgomery.

Packers release Giordano, Montgomery (AP)

The Green Bay Packers have released safety Matt Giordano and defensive end Michael Montgomery. Giordano, who was cut by Indianapolis last September after four seasons with the Colts, was signed by the Packers a few weeks later to provide depth in the wake of injuries. He appeared in five games. Montgomery, a sixth-round selection in the 2005 draft, appeared in 56 games over the course of five...