Packers notes: Mike Daniels ready to 'deliver some blows' in retaliation vs. rivals

GREEN BAY - Defensive end Mike Daniels noticed an upsetting trend in the Green Bay Packers’ first two games against NFC North rivals.

Daniels saw Chicago Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan unload on Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, sending Adams to the hospital. And then he saw Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr tackle quarterback Aaron Rodgers and ride him to the turf, with Rodgers’ right collarbone breaking in the process.

The Packers host the Detroit Lions on Monday night, and Daniels has had enough.

“We’ve had two division games and we’ve had a guy get knocked out in each game,” Daniels said. “I’m like, when are we going to retaliate? I’m not saying knock anybody out but I’m saying make opposing offenses … not too excited about having to line up across from us. That’s a rivalry game. These guys come in with bad intentions and bad blood against us.

“They knocked out one of our best receivers — one of the better ones in the league — out of the game. Dirty hit. Knocked our quarterback out. I don’t know how long he’ll be out. We’ve got to deliver some blows ourselves. Not saying knock people out, but we need to let them know we’re here, let them know we mean business.”

Waiting game: When cornerback Donatello Brown signed with the Packers as an undrafted rookie from Valdosta State, he felt awkward and uncomfortable. He looked around and saw no other cornerbacks making the jump from Division II to the National Football League.

“It started off kind of rough for me because I felt like I was the oddball or the black sheep out of the group,” Brown said, “because I was the only DII guy.”

But Brown proved the black sheep belonged, and six months later the Packers promoted him from the practice squad after cornerback Quinten Rollins and safety Kentrell Brice were placed on injured reserve. Brown could make his debut on special teams against the Lions on Monday night.

“Relief,” Brown said. “When you’re working for something for so long and it finally pays off, it’s just a great relief feeling. I did think it was going to happen sooner, but it’s a business so I have no control of that. I just kept a narrow head and kept staying focused and kept trying to get better every day at practice.”