Storm chases Pack inside

The first significant snowfall of winter descended upon Titletown today and chased the Packers inside the Don Hutson Center for practice.  Head Coach Mike McCarthy said it was still productive, they left all the doors open and even turned on the fans to simulate a little more winter wind.   It will be the final strenuous workout of the week.  A shells practice, again likely inside Friday will wrap up the preparation for the New York Giants and the NFC Divisional Playoff game Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field.  McCarthy said one of the most difficult decisions coming before the game will be to decide who will sit it out.  For the first time since perhaps mid-September, the entire squad took part in the practices this week.  Settling on the inactives and the 46 who will dress will require some deliberation at the game management meeting on Saturday.   Only two players were limited at practice, Randall Cobb with a sore groin and Robert Francois with a hamstring pull.  McCarthy talked with Cobb during the return portion of practice and said with a light workout Friday and 50 hours to rest before game time, he should be fine.  I spoke with Cobb in the locker room after practice and he has no doubts he'll be ready.  He could give the Packers a big field position boost, finishing number one in the NFC and second in the league this year in kickoff returns.  Full participants again included the starting tackles, Bryan Bulaga and Chad Clifton along with James Starks and Greg Jennings.

The Playoff captains were elected by the squad this week.  It'll be Aaron Rodgers and Donald Driver on offense, Charles Woodson and A.J.Hawk on defense and Mason Crosby and Jarrett Bush on special teams.

Visitation for Michael Philbin is being held Thursday afternoon and evening with funeral services Friday afternoon in Green Bay.  McCarthy said the team will be finished with meetings and practice on both days and he's left it up to the individual players if they want to attend.  The 21 year old son of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin died Monday, his body found in the Fox River in Oshkosh after what's been ruled a drowning.  Toxicology test results won't be back for several weeks.  The death cast a pall on the organization all week and it's not known if Philbin, on a leave of absence, will attend the game Sunday.