Packers Morning Buzz: Defense pointing in new direction

Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a bowl of cereal and a glass of orange juice and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.

We'll start with Pete Dougherty's column about how Aaron Rodgers and the Packers are putting an emphasis on getting enough sleep to accelerate recovery and enhance motor skills.

From Pete:

When you ask Aaron Rodgers what he does off the field to help his play at quarterback and, he hopes, extend his career into his 40s, he of course talks a lot about working out and eating a healthy diet.

But he also usually, and casually, mentions another factor: sleep.

Tom Brady, too. The New England Patriots quarterback has been quoted in reports saying that during the season he tries to get nine hours of sleep a night, and in the offseason 8½.

The NFL’s two best quarterbacks are onto something, though they might not know exactly why.

“I’m not an expert on (sleep),” Rodgers said after a Green Bay Packers OTA practice this past week. “I just know that’s when your body heals itself better. I (also) know there are a lot of cognitive issues with people who are insomniacs.”

Versatile Packers offensive lineman could find a home as the starting right guard, writes Ryan Wood:

Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews will need surgery on his broken nose, suffered when he was hit in the face by a line drive during a charity softball game Saturday:

Matthews confirmed the broken nose in a tweet soon after the incident:

This definitely is not the way you want to appear on SportsCenter:

NFL Network reported that Aaron Rodgers is seeking opt-out clauses in his contract extension that would kick in if another quarterback surpasses him in the salary ranks:

In the Wisconsin State Journal, Jason Wilde writes about how Mike Pettine's scheme is designed to eliminate the confusion that plagued Green Bay's defense last season:

Cheesehead TV writes about Packers cornerback Tramon Williams' leadership and playmaking instincts:

Lombardi Ave looks at the three biggest questions facing Ty Montgomery:

Pro Football Focus lists Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark among the young NFL players who could be on the cusp of something special:

Packers defensive linemen Mike Daniels and Muhammad Wilkerson helped out at a youth football camp run by Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead:

Assuming the Packers aren't interested in Dez Bryant, the Power Sweep looks at three other possible veteran pickups at wide receiver: