But when it comes to Eddie Lacy’s vision and the literal definition of, well, being “blind,” the Packers running back is at a pretty big disadvantage heading into Sunday’s matchup against the Buccaneers. MORE: How/what Packers can clinch in Week 16 | Iyer’s picks | Steele’s picks Lacy told reporters Thursday he’s been having issues with his contact lenses this week, and it’s severely affected his practice habits. Apparently Lacy’s is the classic case of wearing his expired contacts too long....

After giving up a safety on their second possession, the Packers were in danger of trailing by two scores in the first quarter. But DeSean Jackson’s apparent touchdown was overturned and the Packers defense turned in a goal-line stand to force a 25-yard Dustin Hopkins field goal to trail only 5-0 with 4:54 remaining in the first quarter. MORE: Best photos from NFC wild-card | Aaron Rodgers reminds Washington that actions speak louder than words...

According to ESPN Wisconsin, if McCarthy hands over the reins, the Packers would promote wide receivers coach Edgar Bennett to offensive coordinator and Tom Clements to associate head coach with play-calling duties. MORE: Ranking NFL’s new head coaches | Quinn fits Falcons same way Smith did | Richest owners McCarthy, who has been calling the plays since taking over as head coach in 2006, is one of less than a dozen head coaches who called their team’s plays on offense or defense last season....

As LaFleur’s new starting quarterback might say, those skeptics should R-E-L-A-X. MORE: Why the Packers hired LaFleur as coach From the time the Packers put in motion the process by firing Mike McCarthy early in December, it was obvious they were looking for the right man to mind-meld with Aaron Rodgers. There were plenty of other strong candidates vying for the opportunity to work with an all-time great QB in the back half of his career, but Green Bay was smart to pass on all of them and go with LaFleur....

Cornerback Sam Shields, 29, has been charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Officers from the Brown County Drug Task Force were dispatched to Shields’ apartment Oct. 19 to investigate the possibility of marijuana being mailed. When Shields answered the door, investigators said he had a blunt in his mouth and had another blunt in his pocket. When investigators searched the home, they found containers with marijuana inside, as well as muffins and and candy laced with the substance....

Green Bay wants to keep Nelson around as one of Aaron Rodgers’ favorite targets. The question of whether it’s willing to pay $10 million for the 29-year-old’s services was answered Saturday when Nelson was signed to a contract extension. Green Bay announced the deal after the first practice of training camp. NFL.com reported it was a four-year, $39 million contract with an $11.5 million signing bonus. Not quite 10, but close enough....

With the NFC North up for grabs, Green Bay hopes "Flynnsanity" strikes again — this time in Detroit. Coach Mike McCarthy announced the expected news Wednesday that Flynn will start for the Packers against the Lions while Aaron Rodgers continues to recover from a broken collarbone suffered Nov. 4 against the Bears. MORE: Pack’s Sitton calls out Lions | Rodgers injury update | Week 13 picks "We wanted to make sure Aaron had an opportunity to get down on the field and work, and then as a staff as we went through the plan, Matt took the starter reps from Day 1," McCarthy said....

– The Packers, winners of two straight, are now priced in the single digits, listed third on the oddsboard behind the Seahawks and Broncos. – After their Sunday night showdown, the Patriots moved up the board, the Bengals moved down, and both AFC squads are now offered at an identical 12-to-1. – The Chargers, who may be a botched snap away from being undefeated through five games, have overtaken New England and Cincinnati, and now sit as the co-fourth choice at 10-to-1, along with the 49ers....

They not only saw their squad rout the Celtics in Game 3 of the teams’ NBA playoff series, they also learned that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had become a Bucks part-owner. Rodgers received a rousing ovation when the announcement was made at BMO Harris Bradley Center. “As a huge fan of the NBA and the sport of basketball, this is a dream come true for me,” Rodgers said in a statement released by the Bucks (via ESPN....

Rodgers’ strained left calf will be examined Wednesday, according to ESPN.com. If Rodgers’ comments Tuesday are any indication, he should be fine. MORE: Top 10 Cowboys-Packers games of all time | Linemakers’ advice | Weekend weather forecast | Fantasy QB rankings “It feels better,” he said on his ESPN Milwaukee radio show. “We’ll see what happens this week as far as practice reps. Everybody’s so concerned about them. I’m not and thankfully my teammates aren’t, either....

On Thursday, ESPN’s Rob Demovsky reported that the Packers are bringing in a familiar face to fill their vacant quarterbacks coach spot: Tom Clements. The 68-year-old veteran coach accepted a verbal offer to join the team. Rodgers is said to be a big fan of Clements, and Demovsky reports that’s part of the reason that the Packers are bringing him on board. Clements was with the Packers during most of Mike McCarthy’s time with the team....

The Steelers (9-2) regained possession with 17 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter and the score tied. Ben Roethlisberger completed two passes to Antonio Brown and another to Le’Veon Bell, putting Boswell in position to hit the game-winner. Roethlisberger threw for four touchdowns in the contest, while Brown registered 169 receiving yards and two scores. MORE: NFL playoff picture Brett Hundley totaled 245 passing yards and three touchdowns for the Packers (5-6)....

In one crucial aspect, of course, they are legitimately connected. The reason we need judges like Barrett on the Court is to avoid precisely what the court packers are trying to achieve: turning the Court into a vehicle for policy outcomes. In Barrett, we have a nominee demonstrably committed to deciding cases based on the plain meaning of the text of the law and the Constitution. Court-packing proposals are expressly intended to do the opposite: to create a Court that will rule toward a preferred policy—writing the law, not interpreting it....

You probably should be jealous. The big club is loaded with talent, both veteran and young, and primed for a run at the next several World Series titles. The farm system is stacked with players who will contribute to that parent club — either personally, or as part of trades that land other talented players. And the front office? That’s the most exciting part. During an offseason where most teams are preaching caution and cutting payroll, the San Diego front office is fully committed to aggressively improving an already outstanding team in search of those World Series titles....

Taliban commanders say hundreds of impatient young militants like Ahmed have poured into Afghanistan from Pakistan this spring. It’s impossible to pin down the numbers precisely, but Western diplomats, NATO brass and U.S. military sources all say there’s been a “significant increase” in cross-border attacks and traffic since March, and it worries them. It’s not just the usual spring offensive, they say. One detail is especially troublesome: the burst of insurgent activity has coincided with Pakistani government efforts to cut a peace deal with tribal militants who have tormented Pakistan with kidnappings and suicide bombings since last summer....

If nothing else, this week’s National Assembly elections should dispel any lingering fears that Pakistan might vote its jihadists into power. The worries began after the last National Assembly contest, in 2002, when the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan provoked a massive protest vote. The Islamists, who had never drawn more than 5 percent of the ballots nationwide or 20 percent in North-West Frontier province, ended up with 56 of 342 seats in the National Assembly and took full control of NWFP’s provincial assembly....

Voice of America, the official broadcast network of the U.S. government, reports on a worsening of endemic economic problems in the country following the assassination of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto in late December. Pakistan’s central bank lowered its growth forecasts for 2007/2008 in early January, but VOA reports that inflation and power shortages pose a more concrete problem in the near term. Bloomberg reports that Pakistan’s inflation spiked in late 2007, ending the year at roughly 8....

Stefano Pioli’s side arrived in Sicily on the back of a draining midweek extra-time victory over Bologna in the Coppa Italia, and it took the Nerazzurri over an hour to break down their struggling hosts. After heavy pressure on the Palermo goal failed to pay off, Pioli sent on Joao Mario for Ever Banega and it took the Portuguese midfielder just 10 minutes to make his mark when he volleyed home Antonio Candreva’s cross to put Inter ahead....

The conflict between protestors and Israeli police occurred after Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa, which is a flashpoint holy site sacred to both Muslims and Jews, the Associated Press reported. The mosque was a site of conflict before the fighting between Israel and Hamas started. The 11 days of fighting began on May 10, after days of conflict between Palestinian protestors and Israel police at Al-Aqsa. The protests had been a result of heavy-handed police tactics and the threatened eviction of dozens of Palestinian families....