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Packers resume playoff preparation in wake of Michael Philbin death
PUBLISHED Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 11:26 am EST
A Football activities resumed Tuesday for the Green Bay Packers, hours after the body of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin's son was pulled from an icy Wisconsin river. The body found Monday near Oshkosh, Wis., was identified as Michael Philbin, 21.
Police said Tuesday that they were trying to determine how Michael Philbin died. Oshkosh police chief Scott Greuel waited a day to release the name out of respect for the family's privacy.
Earlier, police said foul play was not suspected.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson issued a statement Tuesday saying the team's thoughts and prayers were with the family.
"This is an emotional and difficult time for them, and we ask that everyone respect their privacy," Thompson said. "All of us in the Packers family share in their grief."
It was unclear whether Joe Philbin will continue to work with the team this week. Packers spokesman Aaron Popkey declined further comment Tuesday.
An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday in Madison, Wis. Toxicology results weren't expected to be available for at least a month, police spokesman Joseph Nichols said.
Investigators believe Philbin traveled the 20 miles from his home in Ripon to Oshkosh to visit friends. The group went out on Saturday night but somehow Philbin got separated from them.
Greuel declined to release any details during his news conference, saying only that Philbin and his friends visited various places during the night and the group mixed with other friends they encountered along the way.
The team canceled activities Monday during the search for Michael Philbin. The Packers are preparing for their NFL playoff game Sunday against the New York Giants.
Police received a report about 2:30 a.m. Sunday of the person crying for help in the Fox River. Emergency workers were unable to locate the source immediately. Dive and rescue teams were called and the drowning victim's body was pulled from the river about 3 p.m. (All times CT).
A little after 2 a.m. Sunday, one of Philbin's friends got a cell phone call from him. The call came from an area near the river but Philbin didn't sound like he was any sort of distress, police said.
About half-an-hour later a security guard at a business along the river called police to report he saw a man in the river near a section of thin ice about 30 yards from shore, calling for help.
Philbin never returned for his car or contacted anyone on Sunday, prompting his friends to call police that evening and report him missing.
Michael Philbin, left, is dead in an apparent drowning. His father, Joe, is Packers offensive coordinator. (AP Photo)Police said Philbin was a Ripon College student who had been visiting friends in Oshkosh.
It appeared Philbin fell through ice on the Fox River.
As the search was under way, the Packers canceled player availability Monday. Joe Philbin was in Oshkosh, according to the team and media reports.
A somber coach Mike McCarthy conducted his weekly news conference.
"The Philbin family's obviously going through a tough time right now, and as we always have, we're a family-first philosophy with our organization, with our program," McCarthy said Monday. "So we're supporting Joe and his family the best we can, and we're holding out hope that this comes to positive conclusion."
McCarthy calls his own plays and has a hands-on role with game planning.
Philbin's behind-the-scenes detail work with Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense would be missed, but McCarthy said he has contingency plans in place to prepare for Sunday's game if Philbin remains away from the team.
"We're prepared to do whatever we need to do as a staff to make sure our team's ready to go," he said, brushing aside a question about what the team would be missing if it didn't have Philbin's input this week. "We'll be ready to go."
Michael Philbin is the second-oldest of six children of Joe Philbin and wife Diane.
Joe Philbin has been Packers offensive coordinator since 2007. He joined the team in 2003.
A security guard from Axle Tech reportedly heard a man yelling for help from the Fox River off of Rockwell Avenue near the UW-Oshkosh campus about 2:30 Sunday morning.
PUBLISHED Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 at 11:26 am EST
A Football activities resumed Tuesday for the Green Bay Packers, hours after the body of offensive coordinator Joe Philbin's son was pulled from an icy Wisconsin river. The body found Monday near Oshkosh, Wis., was identified as Michael Philbin, 21.
Police said Tuesday that they were trying to determine how Michael Philbin died. Oshkosh police chief Scott Greuel waited a day to release the name out of respect for the family's privacy.
Earlier, police said foul play was not suspected.
Packers general manager Ted Thompson issued a statement Tuesday saying the team's thoughts and prayers were with the family.
"This is an emotional and difficult time for them, and we ask that everyone respect their privacy," Thompson said. "All of us in the Packers family share in their grief."
It was unclear whether Joe Philbin will continue to work with the team this week. Packers spokesman Aaron Popkey declined further comment Tuesday.
An autopsy was scheduled for Tuesday in Madison, Wis. Toxicology results weren't expected to be available for at least a month, police spokesman Joseph Nichols said.
Investigators believe Philbin traveled the 20 miles from his home in Ripon to Oshkosh to visit friends. The group went out on Saturday night but somehow Philbin got separated from them.
Greuel declined to release any details during his news conference, saying only that Philbin and his friends visited various places during the night and the group mixed with other friends they encountered along the way.
The team canceled activities Monday during the search for Michael Philbin. The Packers are preparing for their NFL playoff game Sunday against the New York Giants.
Police received a report about 2:30 a.m. Sunday of the person crying for help in the Fox River. Emergency workers were unable to locate the source immediately. Dive and rescue teams were called and the drowning victim's body was pulled from the river about 3 p.m. (All times CT).
A little after 2 a.m. Sunday, one of Philbin's friends got a cell phone call from him. The call came from an area near the river but Philbin didn't sound like he was any sort of distress, police said.
About half-an-hour later a security guard at a business along the river called police to report he saw a man in the river near a section of thin ice about 30 yards from shore, calling for help.
Philbin never returned for his car or contacted anyone on Sunday, prompting his friends to call police that evening and report him missing.
Michael Philbin, left, is dead in an apparent drowning. His father, Joe, is Packers offensive coordinator. (AP Photo)Police said Philbin was a Ripon College student who had been visiting friends in Oshkosh.
It appeared Philbin fell through ice on the Fox River.
As the search was under way, the Packers canceled player availability Monday. Joe Philbin was in Oshkosh, according to the team and media reports.
A somber coach Mike McCarthy conducted his weekly news conference.
"The Philbin family's obviously going through a tough time right now, and as we always have, we're a family-first philosophy with our organization, with our program," McCarthy said Monday. "So we're supporting Joe and his family the best we can, and we're holding out hope that this comes to positive conclusion."
McCarthy calls his own plays and has a hands-on role with game planning.
Philbin's behind-the-scenes detail work with Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense would be missed, but McCarthy said he has contingency plans in place to prepare for Sunday's game if Philbin remains away from the team.
"We're prepared to do whatever we need to do as a staff to make sure our team's ready to go," he said, brushing aside a question about what the team would be missing if it didn't have Philbin's input this week. "We'll be ready to go."
Michael Philbin is the second-oldest of six children of Joe Philbin and wife Diane.
Joe Philbin has been Packers offensive coordinator since 2007. He joined the team in 2003.
A security guard from Axle Tech reportedly heard a man yelling for help from the Fox River off of Rockwell Avenue near the UW-Oshkosh campus about 2:30 Sunday morning.