Packers Name Dilweg as Starting Quarterback

The Green Bay Packers, convinced Don Majkowski won’t be ready for the first game when and if he ends his holdout, named Anthony Dilweg their starting quarterback Monday for the Sept. 9 opener against the Los Angeles Rams.

Majkowski, whose holdout entered its sixth week Monday, led the Packers to a 10-6 record last season and was named to the Pro Bowl.

But his agents, Bob Woolf and Randy Vataha, and Packers negotiator Tom Braatz have not been able to reach terms on a new contract.

Woolf said late Monday afternoon there was nothing new in negotiations. Braatz refused comment. As of last week, Majkowski was seeking in the neighborhood of $1.8 million per season and the Packers were offering $1.25 million.

Woolf said the two sides would probably work on a one- or two-year deal after talks on a five-year contract made no progress.

Dilweg, in his second season from Duke, threw only one pass last season as Majkowski’s backup. But he’s started all three preseason games and will now get the chance he’s long awaited.

“A lot of people say the way things have been going the last five weeks it could have caused some problems but I really didn’t think a whole lot about it,” Dilweg said.

“I really didn’t make it a distraction. It’s nice to be named a starter this early. Now I can concentrate on the little things.”

Dilweg again answered the same question he’s been asked the entire training camp: What happens to him if and when Majkowski shows up?

“It’s Lindy’s decision,” he said, referring to Packers coach Lindy Infante.

“I hope if I get out there and perform the way I think I can I hope I get a chance to keep playing. That’s the coach’s decision.”

Dilweg said he expected to have a chance to start this season, just as he did a year ago before Majkowski beat him out in training camp and then went on to a Pro Bowl season.

“Don is out right now and that’s given me an opportunity,” Dilweg said.

“Him being in camp most people would have said, ‘Hey the chances of you beating out Don in camp, he’s a Pro Bowl quarterback, are pretty slim.’ But I still would have believed it, no matter what happened. That’s why you have to have faith in yourself. Something happened, which I didn’t have any control over...to give me a chance to show what I can do.”