Green Bay Packers: officially desperate

MONDAY, Sept. 4, 2006, 6:04 p.m.By Tom Silverstein
Packers bring Robinson in for visit

Green Bay - Even though he is facing a possible one-year suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse program, the Green Bay Packers brought in wide receiver Koren Robinson for a visit late Sunday.

According to an NFL source, the Packers registered his visit with the NFL, which they are required to do so that all the other teams in the league are aware of it. The degree of interest the Packers have in Robinson is unknown, but because the former Seattle and Minnesota receiver has not been suspended yet he is free to talk to teams.

General manager Ted Thompson and personnel analyst John Schneider were both in Seattle when Robinson was scouted and eventually selected with the No. 9 pick in the 2001 draft. After Robinson was cut from the Seahawks and then the Vikings last year, the Packers made a push to get him signed.

He ended up re-signing with the Vikings and made the Pro Bowl last year as a kick returner.The Packers have a need at both wide receiver and kick returner and might be interested in signing him now or in the future. However, they will have to consider his battles with alcohol, which landed him in the substance abuse program.

Robinson has had numerous alcohol-related problems and was suspended for four games in 2004 for violating the league's substance abuse policy. Seattle released him after the '04 season and after spending time in an alcohol treatment facility in North Carolina, the Vikings signed him.He had a solid year for the Vikings and received a three-year, $12.7 million contract in the off-season. However, on Aug. 15, he was caught driving 100 mph in a 55 mph zone on his way back to the team's training camp in Mankato, Minn.

Robinson refused to stop and was eventually arrested. His blood-alcohol content was measured by the police at 0.11. The Vikings cut him Aug. 26.

Because his arrest might be a third violation of the league's policy, Robinson faces a one-year suspension. However, he will be able to appeal if the league chooses to do so and for the time being he is eligible to play.