2008 Greek riots, Investigation of the shooting
On 15 December, Kougias appealed for the two defendants to be released from custody, on the grounds that neither of them ever had any previous criminal convictions, that their names and addresses were known, that they had considerable ties with their community, and that the charges were based on the testimony of witnesses that the defendants objected to. Specifically, the defendants' counsel took issue with the testimony of four eyewitnesses who had testified for the public prosecutor, and appeared to refute almost all the claims made by the defendants and their counsel.


2008 Greek riots, Investigation of the shooting
On 17 December, Dimitris Tsovolas, counsel for Grigoropoulos' family, publicly requested that the defendants and defendants' counsel stop provoking the Greek people and the victim's family by making degrading comments, unsubstantiated accusations, and smearing the memory of Alexandros. The ballistics report was also released on 17 December and stated that the bullet that killed Grigoropoulos had in fact ricocheted. However, forensic reports conducted on 21 December concluded that the bullet was not fired in the air, but rather towards the group of teenagers, though there may have been no intention to kill the boy.


2008 Greek riots, Court decision
On 11 October 2010, the Mixed Jury Court of Amfissa (consisting of 3 judges and 4 jurors) found the two special guards guilty. Epaminondas Korkoneas was found guilty of "homicide with direct intention to cause harm" and Vasilis Saraliotis was found guilty as an accomplice. Korkoneas was sentenced to lifetime and an additional 15 months of imprisonment (votes 4–3) while Saraliotis was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment (votes 6–1). In July 2019, the life sentence against Korkoneas was overturned on appeal and reduced to 13 years imprisonment, and Korkoneas was subsequently released from prison.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First 2 days
Within the hour following the shooting of Grigoropoulοs, angry demonstrators took to the streets in and around Exarcheia, and violent confrontations with the police erupted. Meanwhile, similar demonstrations were reported in other Greek cities as well, including Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Komotini, Kastoria, Patras, Tripoli, Volos, Chios, Trikala, Mytilene, Agrinio, Kavala, Corfu, Piraeus, Chania, Heraklion, Rhodes, Karditsa, Lamia, Stylida, Drama, Xanthi, Lagkadas, Kozani, Alexandroupoli, Larisa and Corinth. After midnight, the demonstrations in Athens turned into violent rioting in some central streets of the city. By dawn on Sunday, 24 police officers had been injured, one seriously (with facial burns and his little finger mutilated) and 31 shops (particularly across Ermou Street), 9 banks, and 25 cars had been either seriously damaged, burned, or destroyed within the downtown area.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
By Sunday 7 December 2008 38 vehicles were damaged, 13 police officers were injured, and 22 rioters were arrested.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
Monday 8 December 2008 saw police assess damage as daily schedules resumed and rioting subsided. However, all was not quiet, as all over Greece, several thousands of high school students walked out of their schools and marched on local police stations, throwing eggs, paint bombs, and water bottles. Protesters continued to occupy university campuses around the nation, while organizations such as the Communist Party of Greece announced plans for protests later that day. The massive demonstrations of that evening were confronted by police using tear gas; during the demonstrations, some 11 public buildings around the central plaza of Athens, Syntagma Square, were set on fire.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
Students around Greece proceeded to occupy their school buildings, in protest, including in Serres, Imathia, Chalkidiki, Pieria, and Thessaloniki. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, the National Technical University of Athens, as well as the Athens University of Economics and Business remained under student occupation. Rioters also set fire to the Kostis Palamas building that led to the total destruction of the European Law Library situated at the corner of Akadimias and Sina street. After the fire, the rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Christos Kittas, resigned, but some days later withdrew his resignation.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
A police report released Tuesday, 9 December 2008 in the morning put the numbers of injured police officers at 12, arrested rioters at 87, and persons who had been brought before a public prosecutor at 176. In Thessaloniki, 16 rioters were arrested for theft, 3 of whom were under 18 years old. After four days of rioting, some citizens began to act against the rioters, and some rioters fired on police officers. Citizens attacked people that were found looting and were seen throwing stones to protect their belongings.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
In the city of Patras, according to the city's mayor, members of far-left organisations took part in the violence. In Athens, seven police officers were injured, four rioters were arrested for violence against the police, 12 were arrested for theft and 55 were arrested for rioting with another 25 people of non-Greek nationality arrested for the same reason. In a report on Tuesday, Amnesty International accused the Greek Police of brutality in handling the riots. The Greek department of Amnesty International canceled the scheduled celebrations on 10 December for the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in response to the police violence in Greece.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
The crisis deepened on Wednesday 10 December 2008 when the General Confederation of Greek Workers (ΓΣΕΕ) and the Civil Servants' Confederation (ΑΔΕΔΥ), representing 2.5 million workers or roughly half of the total Greek workforce, called a one-day general strike in protest against the government's economic policies. Rioting continued in Athens as thousands of workers gathered for anti-government protests at Syntagma Square.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
On Thursday, 11 December 2008 4,000 students marched against the police, with many protesters throwing firebombs at the officers.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
On Friday, 12 December 2008 students attacked police outside the parliament building. Riot police fired tear gas in response. Heavy rain helped curtail demonstrations compared to previous days. The protests inspired small protests in some European cities, sowing fears of copycat riots elsewhere. On the same day, Greek police issued an appeal for more tear gas after supplies ran low, since more than 4,600 capsules of it were released against the protestors by that time.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
On Saturday, 13 December 2008 large groups of demonstrators gathered in front of the Greek Parliament in central Athens. Despite the fact that the protest in front of the Greek parliament was relatively peaceful, the riot police attempted to dissolve it at 1:30 (local time) by using tear gas and violence. On the same day, about 100 protesters firebombed a police station near the Exarcheia district where Alexandros Grigoropoulos was killed.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First week
On Sunday, 14 December 2008 students joined residents of the Exarcheia district to demand the renaming of that street in honour of the dead teenager. Also, at least four radio stations based in Athens were occupied by protesters. In Thessaloniki, students demonstrated in solidarity with all the people who were arrested as a result of rioting over the past week.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Monday, 15 December 2008 students gathered outside the Attica General Police Directorate in central Athens. The riot police chose to dissolve the protest through violence after some of the demonstrators threw eggs against one riot police squad. Many of the demonstrators were of school-age. Several newspapers report that the protesters were provoked by policemen. In Piraeus, approximately 300 students rallied outside the local Korydallos Prison and taunted the police who fired tear gas to disperse them.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
According to teachers' unions, some 600 schools were under occupation, while 150 university facilities across the country had been taken over according to the Greek Ministry of Education. In Ioannina, the local public radio station was occupied by students and far-leftist groups. Rallies and demonstrations have also taken place in Chania, Heraklion, Larissa and Thessaloniki.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Tuesday, 16 December 2008 rallies and protests took place outside many police stations in Athens and Piraeus. Early in the afternoon, masked youths emerged from the university complex in Zografou and firebombed nearby Athens' riot police headquarters. Six police officers were injured and ten vehicles were burnt. Meanwhile, a group of around 30 protesters infiltrated the studios of public broadcaster ERT and interrupted a news broadcast featuring Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis. For about a minute, the protesters stood in front of the camera holding banners reading "Stop watching, get out into the streets." ERT Chairman Christos Panagopoulos tendered his resignation over the incident but it was rejected by the government. "It is unacceptable for unidentified individuals to deprive others of their right to information," he said.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Wednesday, 17 December 2008 a rally was held outside the capital's main courthouses, where youths threw eggs and fruit at the police. There was also one demonstration organised by the All-Workers Militant Front (ΠΑΜΕ) in central Athens from Omonoia Square to the Greek Parliament, drawing around 5000 people. Student protesters evaded security guards at the Acropolis of Athens and unfurled two giant pink banners over a wall near the Parthenon to rally support for continued demonstrations. "Thursday 18/12 demonstrations in all Europe," one banner read, while the other simply bore the message, "Resistance," in Greek, English, Spanish and German.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
"We chose this monument to democracy, this global monument, to proclaim our resistance to state violence and demand rights in education and work," "(We did it) to send a message globally and to all Europe." said the protestors. Government spokesman, Evangelos Antonaros, said this protest was "inexcusable" and accused the protesters of tarnishing Greece's image abroad. In Kaisariani, near the riot police headquarters that were targeted by youths on Tuesday, a group of anarchists torched a police bus. The only person in the bus, the driver, managed to escape unhurt.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
In another protest, about 40 people – including workers, immigrants and unemployed citizens – occupied the offices of the country's main labor union, the General Confederation of Greek Workers (ΓΣΕΕ). The union's president, Giannis Panagopoulos, said the protest was mistargeted: "The GSEE does not govern this country". A protest was also held outside the Prefecture of Thessaloniki offices and the Ministry for Macedonia–Thrace which is also based in Thessaloniki. Late that night, a homemade explosive device planted outside a branch of Eurobank in the Thessaloniki district of Kalamaria damaged the building's facade when it detonated. A similar device smashed the windows of a local Citizens' Information and Service Center (ΚΕΠ). In Ioannina, the town hall was occupied, while in Chania, a local television station remained under occupation by protesters for about 1 hour.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Thursday, 18 December 2008 demonstrations took place in central Athens, more than 12,000 protesters crowded the streets near the Greek parliament in a peaceful demonstration in central Athens which turned violent when a group of protesters broke away from the rally and threw rocks and firebombs at police and buildings near Parliament, overturned a car and set fire to trash cans, splashed the police with red paint and tried to burn down the city's main Christmas tree which had just been replaced after being torched during the previous week's riots.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
The police responded with tear gas and flash grenades, and drove the rioters back toward the administrative headquarters of National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the university's School of Law, Economics and Political Sciences. After another round of pitched battles between masked rioters and the police, several hundred protesters entered the School of Law, Economics and Political Sciences. Christmas shoppers fled the streets and retailers rolled down their shutters as protesters smashed store fronts and burned at least four cars. Demonstrations also took place in Thessaloniki where protesters gathered outside the Ministry for Macedonia–Thrace. Rallies and protests also took place in Patras, Tripoli, Chania and Trikala. Some labour unions stopped work in solidarity with the demonstrators. The work stoppage by the air traffic controllers forced Olympic Airlines to cancel 28 flights and postpone 14. Hospitals were also operating with very limited staff.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Friday, 19 December 2008 a protest took place outside the Greek parliament, and a solidarity concert outside the administrative building of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. More than 1500 people demonstrated peacefully in the western suburb of Athens, Peristeri following another shooting of a 16-year-old on Wednesday, 17 December, night. The teenager was struck in the hand by a bullet fired by an unidentified assailant while sitting in a park, outside a local high school with friends.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
The police admitted that they had made a mistake in their initial statement that the boy was hit by an air-gun pellet. Tests revealed it was either a .38 Special or .357 Magnum bullet. Officers are investigating the incident, anxious to disprove rumors that an off-duty or undercover policeman fired the shot. A police spokesman said that no officers were in the area at the time of the shooting and an investigation was under way. Masked youths attacked the French Institute in Athens with firebombs, "Spark in Athens. Fire in Paris. Insurrection is coming," read one graffiti spray-painted onto the building's walls in French. Another, written in Greek, read "France, Greece, uprising everywhere". Later on Friday, about 50 protesters interrupted the official premiere of the Greek National Theater, holding up banners urging people to join the demonstrations.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Saturday, 20 December 2008 about 150 youth attacked the Christmas tree at Syntagma Square in central Athens, at around 16.00, hanging trash bags from its branches before clashing with riot police. The square was cleared within two hours. At least three news photographers were injured by police batons. The Christmas tree protest had been advertised as part of a day of events in Greece and around the world to commemorate Grigoropoulos' shooting.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Saturday evening, masked men broke into the building housing the offices of Tiresias SA, a company that keeps records of delinquent debtors and cardholders, and firebombed the company's offices. The fire was extinguished but the company's offices were destroyed. Rioters, using the National Technical University of Athens as a base, launched attacks against police, throwing rocks and petrol bombs and erecting roadblocks.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
In Thessaloniki a group of anarchists briefly occupied a radio station and a theater before disrupting and threw cakes and candy at Mayor Vassilis Papageorgopoulos and one of his deputies during an open-air charity event near the theater. Later, a group emerged from the same theater and attacked a Nativity scene, throwing away Christ's figure.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Second week
On Sunday, 21 December 2008 in the early hours of the morning, unidentified hood-wearing assailants threw petrol bombs at the police academy in the west Athens district of Nea Philadelphia six police vehicles were torched, without causing any casualties. The vehicles that were parked outside the building of the police accounting department at Patriarchou Constantinou street, also suffered damage in the attack. At around the same time, rioting and clashes with riot police continued in the area around the National Technical University of Athens and the University of Thessaloniki, with protesters again lobbing petrol bombs at police.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Third week
On Tuesday, 23 December 2008 more than 3,000 chanting protesters marched through Athens. During the demonstration, one police car was damaged. At 05:50 local time, shots were fired at a riot police bus in Athens near the riot police headquarters in Zografou. None of the 19 officers on board were injured, authorities said, but the attack raised concern that violence against police could escalate. The shots were fired from the grounds of the National Technical University of Athens's facilities in Zografou, known as Polytechnioupolis. One bullet blew out two tires on the bus, while another struck the engine.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Third week
The police found 7.62 mm caliber bullet casings at the scene of the shooting. After ballistic examinations, it was announced that there were at least two shooters who used Kalashnikov type rifles and that the particular weapons used in the attack had not been used in any other attack, robbery, or other criminal incident in Greece.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Third week
On Wednesday, 24 December 2008, hundreds of anarchists marched through Athens streets in a peaceful protest.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Third week
On Thursday, 25 December 2008, in central Athens and the suburb of Palaio Faliron there was a string of arson attacks against banks and car dealerships, causing widespread damage but no injuries. There was also an attack against the offices of the Ministry for Development in the city center. Arsonists also targeted the car of Deputy Environment and Public Works Minister, Stavros Kaloyiannis, outside his home in the northwestern town of Ioannina, destroying the vehicle. The assailants doused the wheels of the parked car with flammable liquid before setting it alight, according to the fire service.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
By Wednesday 31 December 2008 the occupation of Greek universities in Athens and Thessaloniki had ended and the administrative officials had begun assessing the cost of damage done during the occupation.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
On Thursday, 1 January 2009 arsonists attacked 10 banks and two car dealerships around Athens and Piraeus amidst the New Year celebrations. No injuries or arrests were reported by the police. The attacks caused minor damage. At least five arson attacks were also reported by police in Thessaloniki; earlier that day police also briefly clashed with protesters, and fired tear gas at rock throwing demonstrators.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
In the early morning of Monday, 5 January 2009 at least two masked gunmen fired over 20 rounds at a riot police unit guarding the Greek Ministry of Culture in central Athens, hitting a 21-year-old officer in the chest and groin. The officer had apparently spotted the gunmen and warned his colleagues shortly before he was hit. An automatic Kalashnikov rifle and an MP5 submachine gun were used in the attack, also a fragmentation grenade was used as a diversion as the perpetrators escaped.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
The wounded policeman, identified as Diamandis Matzounis, was in a critical, but stable, condition in hospital after six hours of surgery. Authorities said they had cordoned off the region around the site of the attack to collect evidence for forensic examination. At least 72 people were detained during the initial search for suspects. Police said ballistics tests showed the MP5 matched one used in a 30 April 2007, attack on a police station in Athens suburb Nea Ionia. That attack caused no injuries but was claimed by the far-left Revolutionary Struggle group.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
Police also said ballistics tests showed that a second weapon used on Monday, a Kalashnikov rifle, was used in the more recent attack on police, on 23 December 2008. On Wednesday 14 January 2009 Revolutionary Struggle sent a statement to the weekly satirical newspaper, To Pontiki. The statement said the group carried out 23 December shooting attack and the separate 5 January shooting at the police officers. By Monday, 19 January 2009 Diamantis Matzounis The 21-year-old police officer seriously injured in the attack of 5 January 2009 was removed from intensive care following an improvement in his condition. Doctors said Diamantis Mantzounis had to undergo two operations to staunch a stomach hemorrhage caused by a bullet wound, but he has managed to recuperate.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
On Friday, 9 January 2009 a long-planned education protest march took place in Athens. The rally was organized to coincide with the anniversary of the 1991 murder of high school teacher Nikos Temponeras by the secretary of the Patras youth organization of the, back then, ruling New Democracy (Greece) party, participants said they protest against police repression, corrupt politicians, the education reform and a social system that offers little hope, it was one of two held in the capital but it was the only one that turned violent.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
The trouble began after the rally by several thousand schoolchildren, teachers and students had almost reached its end, near the entrance to University of Athens where it had started. When hooded youths broke away from the student march and threw stones and flares at riot police, who fired tear gas and flash grenades. The youths then turned on police, hurling rocks and flares. At one point a group of protesters tried to force their way into the rector's office and to occupy the central offices of the University of Athens.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
The occupation of the University's offices was obstructed by groups of students and academics. According to rector Christos Kittas, police officers did not ask for university immunity to be lifted so that they could gain access to the faculty. Clashes continued in the area which was closed to traffic and where hundreds of demonstrators remained for an hour. There were repeated police charges and several arrests were made. Some 60 persons were arrested with several demonstrators severely injured in clashes with police.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
Between those arrested were fourteen lawyers, who said that they had nothing to do with the protest, also several people sustained minor injuries and one was hospitalized. Afterwards the influential Journalists' Union of the Athens Daily Newspapers (ESIEA) protested to the Ministry for the Interior and Public Order about "the brutal attacks and beatings" to which reporters and camera crews had been subjected by some riot police units. "There may have been excesses to be condemned, we are looking into the issue, but the police did their job," Minister for the Interior and Public Order Prokopis Pavlopoulos told Greek television. Later that evening, hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the capital's central police headquarters on Alexandras Avenue, leading to some tense scuffles with officers. But the crowd had dispersed by late night, according to police who did not report any additional problems.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
Protests were carried on Thursday, 15 January, policemen labor unionists also took part in the demonstrations "to condemn the violent phenomena, from wherever they come, and to state categorically that social problems are not solved by repressive measures". Veteran politician Manolis Glezos who took part in the protest, attributed police violence to the obedience of police forces to the executive power and not the judiciary.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
On Friday, 16 January some of the lawyers arrested on Friday's demonstration in Athens, filed suits against police officers accusing them for breach of duty, attempted bodily harm and unnecessarily exposing of people to tear gas.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
On Saturday, 17 January a demonstration was held in Larissa, where more than three thousand people protested against the anti-terrorism act and requested the withdrawal of the charges and the release of four jailed students, who were arrested during the demonstrations of December 2008. Larissa was the only city where the act was applied last month when twenty five teenagers were arrested. At the same time protesters of a separate rally also in Larissa destroyed bank cameras and wrote slogans on walls, churches and supermarkets.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Aftermath
The death of Alexandros and the subsequent events galvanized many in Athens including anarchist bank robber and hunger-striker Nikos Romanos who was with Alexis on the night of the murder, reporting that he had died in his arms.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
The shooting happened during a period where the Greek society faced a variety of difficulties in the midst of a worldwide economic slump. In a survey conducted shortly after the events for the Greek newspaper Kathimerini, 60% of the respondents considered them to be part of a wider "social uprising". Many people were concerned with corruption scandals, most of which involved mishandling of public money, the spread of poverty, the increasing rate of unemployment amongst young graduates and the slowing economy as the effects of the global economic crisis began to show.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
The local student community—which formed the main body of protesters—had also been in significant turmoil since 2006, being opposed to a series of proposed laws regarding the reform of the country's education system. Many of the student demonstrations in relation to these laws in early 2007 turned violent and resulted in clashes with the police, though the perpetrators of the incidents of violence and vandalism, then as in December 2008, should not be necessarily identified with the students.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
As in many other countries, young people are faced with expensive studies and are especially affected by unemployment. However, in terms of unemployment Greece is comparable with France, Germany, or Portugal; has a lower unemployment than Slovakia or Spain; and has more unemployment than Italy, Bulgaria, or Cyprus. Similarly, young people also represent a declining demographic group, compared to baby boomers, resulting in a weaker impact of the youth vote in political life, though this is also not particular to Greece.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
International Monetary Fund Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn warned that there was a risk of social unrest spreading unless the financial sector shared wealth more evenly. Greece had recently proposed to go through with €28 bn of cash injections to its banking system while at the same time leaving medicine suppliers unpaid.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
Regarding the possibility that economic inequality has been a factor, Greece has a Gini Index of income inequality of 34.3 (where a lower number represents a more egalitarian society in terms of distribution of wealth), comparable with that of France and Ireland; less equitable than Bulgaria, Ukraine, or Germany; and more equitable than Turkey, Italy, or the UK.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
Additionally Greece scores a 4.6 on Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index which is used to gauge corruption in a state. This makes Greece comparable with Turkey, Italy, or Poland; more corrupt than Cyprus, France, or the UK; and less corrupt than Bulgaria, Albania, or Romania.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, Background and causes
Greece also suffers from one of the highest levels of public debt in the EU, with foreign debt valued at 93.9% of projected 2008 GDP and 16% of revenue in 2009 projected to go towards servicing this debt.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First commemoration of the shooting incident
On Saturday, 5 December 2009 a large crowd gathered at the place where Grigoropoulos was shot, ahead of Sunday's scheduled demonstration, with no reported clashes. However, Police had detained 160 people following minor clashes in central Athens. Police, also, made a preemptive raid on an anarchist hangout in Keratsini near Piraeus on Saturday night detaining 22 people, including Albanian, Italian and Spanish citizens. They discovered some 200 empty bottles they believe were going to be used to make Molotov cocktails, two jerry cans of fuel, two hammers, three sledgehammers, three helmets, 13 gas masks and a stun grenade. They also seized a computer. Two of the people arrested were the son and daughter of Panhellenic Socialist Movement MP and deputy parliamentary speaker Grigoris Niotis. "I have total faith in Greek justice. Just as I have faith in my children, who are adults," said Niotis.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First commemoration of the shooting incident
On Sunday, 6 December 2009 at 11:30 pm a memorial gathering, at the cemetery where 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos is buried, took place in the presence of his family and was attended by hundreds of people including the Greek Minister of Education. Later that day, several thousand demonstrators marched in central Athens and other cities across Greece and Europe to commemorate the death of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos at about.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First commemoration of the shooting incident
However the protest in Athens was followed by scenes reminiscent of those that followed Grigoropoulos's death, as several hundred protesters remained holed up in the grounds of the University of Athens and the city's Law School and used the two institutions as their bases, they clashed from roughly 6 pm and for about three hours with thousands of police who had been deployed in the city center to ensure that the anniversary of the killing of Alexis Grigoropoulos passed as peacefully as possible.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First commemoration of the shooting incident
Authorities said 134 people were detained for public order offenses in Athens and 80 in the northern city of Thessaloniki, where a similar demonstration also ended in violence, with youths throwing petrol bombs at police and setting fire to cars. At least five protesters and 16 police officers were injured during the clashes. Including one female demonstrator, who was severely injured by a policeman when he struck her with his motorbike. The rector of the University of Athens, Christos Kittas, was hospitalized after protesters stormed into his office.


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First commemoration of the shooting incident
Kittas was struck on the head and was taken to the Ippocrateio Hospital, where doctors placed him in intensive care, saying that he had suffered a heart ischemia. According to the witness of two contributors of the magazine, Occupied London, the director leaving the area had no blood on his head, and the story of his heart attack was fabricated as a "pretext for a full-on attack on the academic asylum".


2008 Greek riots, The riots and political crisis, First commemoration of the shooting incident
The series of protests and riots continued months later with the May 2010 Greek protests.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
The Greek government condemned the shooting. Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis wrote a letter to the student's family, stating that "In these difficult moments please accept my condolences for the unfair loss of your son. Like all Greeks I am deeply saddened. I know that nothing can relieve your pain." He continued on to write that "the state will see to it that such a tragedy does not happen again." On a nationally broadcast statement, he also vowed to end the "dangerous" extremist-inspired riots that have hit the country:


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
The unacceptable and dangerous events cannot and will not be tolerated, the extremist elements who exploited the tragedy ... by showing that their only goal was to spread violence. The state will protect its citizens and society ... It is the least of the tributes we owe Alexandros.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
On 8 December he declared that he had ordered the finance ministry to offer "quick and full compensation" to Greek people whose buildings have been damaged in the riots.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
President Karolos Papoulias sent condolences in a telegram, while Interior minister Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed "deep sorrow". The police, who claimed that an investigation was underway into the "isolated" incident, also apologized.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis has expressed his condolences for the death of the 15-year-old boy, adding that festive events for Christmas in Syntagma Square will be suspended until further notice. Moreover, he assured the owners of damaged shops that they will be aided in restoring their damages, adding that he will propose the Municipal Committee be acquitted of municipal duties for 2009.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) attributed the killing of 15-year-old Alexandros Grigoropoulos to the result of escalating authoritarianism, reinforcement of the suppression mechanisms and their action, the network of reactionary laws and the "Euro-terror laws" created by the governments of ND and PASOK. The KKE has stated that the riots and the destruction is the work of foreign agents acting as provocateurs. The leader of the KKE, Aleka Papariga, called for organized struggle against the main politics that it will be well guarded against suspicious command centers.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
Meanwhile, the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) spoke of a cruel murder. The Panhellenic Socialist Movement issued an announcement holding the police responsible for the incident and stated that people "must answer the government's policies en masse and peacefully," while the Hellenic Federation of University Teachers' Associations (POSDEP) called a three-day strike, condemning the killing of the teenager.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
From Moscow, where he attended Patriarch Alexy II's funeral, Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens called on everyone to face the crisis and the problems ahead with co-operation and not with destruction. Also in an interview on 13 December, the Archbishop added that the "youths are not enraged for no reason" and stated his belief that the effects of the global economic crisis coupled with the large unemployment rate are the causes of this violent outburst.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
On 10 December, Prime Minister Karamanlis announced 7 governmental measures to aid the large number of Greek businesses that were damaged by the rioters, also aiding businesses that are undamaged. The Prime Minister stated that the commercial world of the country faced the destructive mania and the raw violence of extremist groups. "The government", he said, "will ensure the sentiment of public safety and support all damaged businesses.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
The General Federation of Professional Tradesmen and Traders of Greece saluted the measures and agreed with the direction that the measures were headed in.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
On 12 December, Vice-Minister of the Interior Panagiotis Chinofotis, as a political leader of the Greek Police, said that he felt that he had to ask for forgiveness for the shooting incident and the resulting death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos, since neither the defendant nor the defendant's lawyer did so.


2008 Greek riots, Reactions, Domestic response
On 16 December, Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis speaking to New Democracy (Greece)'s parliamentary group, condemned the killing of the 15-year-old by the policeman, while calling for all parties to isolate rioters. He also acknowledged that "Long-unresolved problems, such as the lack of meritocracy, corruption in everyday life and a sense of social injustice disappoint young people". Karamanlis said income-tax cuts will go ahead. But he warned against high expectations, saying Greece will spend €12 billion, about 5% of GDP, just to service its national debt. "Our top priority is to support those hurt the most ... (but) this debt is a huge burden that reduces the government's flexibility at this critical time".


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Government
On 10 December the Communist Party of Greece's Central Committee released a written statement where they said that "an effort is being made by the bourgeoisie state, the ND government to utilise the blind violence of the hooded people, which we are witnessing mainly through the television channels, to check the swelling wave of discontent and popular intervention that is developing."


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Government
On 12 December, PASOK leader George Papandreou speaking before his party's political council members blamed the ruling New Democracy government for the recent violent street protests in Athens and other parts of the country. He held the government solely responsible for everything taking place in the country, stated that "the government itself is the problem" and called for early elections so that, the Greek people will be able to provide a clear mandate.


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Government
On the same day, MP Adonis Georgiades of the Popular Orthodox Rally accused the political leadership of the Greek police for giving orders to the riot police not to intervene effectively to stop the riots at their initial stage. Also Popular Orthodox Rally proposed a project that anyone hooded should be arrested, to stop university asylum, ban protests and review the role of the army, in order to stop the riots.


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Government
In a meeting with police labor unionists, Alekos Alavanos the parliamentary leader of the Coalition of the Radical Left criticised the government for using the riot police as their own "army", he also, asked for an inter-party committee to examine the responsibilities and rights of the Greek police, whereas Alexis Tsipras, current president of the Coalition of the Radical Left, declared that the situation is indeed very grim and that the Greek government needs to find solutions for the actual causes of this "new social phenomenon".


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Coalition of the Radical Left
Aleka Papariga, Secretary General of the Communist Party of Greece, called the leadership of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) to "stop patting the hooded rioters on the back". Georgios Karatzaferis, president of the Popular Orthodox Rally, also stated that "there are some political powers that are serious, and some that pat them on the back ...". Alexis Tsipras, SYRIZA president, replied "we don't pat them on the back, and we don't take the role of the state's prosecutor either".


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Coalition of the Radical Left
He attacked the Communist Party, describing it as a conservative power that is disturbed when the youth spontaneously storm the streets. He also stated that the young people of the country have reached a deadlock, and this deadlock and their problems force them to the streets. Nikos Konstantopoulos, former SYRIZA chairman, spoke to a local radio station and criticised the present party leadership for not condemning the riots directly.


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Coalition of the Radical Left
On Thursday 11th, Georgios Karatzaferis referred to a press release of the newspaper "Adesmeutos Typos" which, he claimed, had an MP of the Coalition supporting "the terrorism" instead of condemning the riots. Alekos Alavanos replied that, "Some have lost sense of what they say and what antidemocratic consequences their sayings might bring". On Friday 12th, in the parliament, MPs of both ruling New Democracy and the PASOK opposition criticised SYRIZA for not condemning the riots, and for Alexis Tsipras's statement that "the struggle must be moved in the schools".


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the Coalition of the Radical Left
On Sunday 15th, Alexis Tsipras current president of SYRIZA called an unscheduled press conference where he dismissed criticism and decried what he called "slanderous" statements against the recent protests, he also added that "Synaspismos and its affiliated Parliamentary group, SYRIZA, are in an ideological conflict with the hooded gangs, because violence brings forth violence and leads to an impasse".


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the media
'Breaking news' bulletins and other mass media accounts of the shooting reported that an unprovoked attack had taken place against the police, favoring a narrative of 'riots in Exarcheia' that sidelined or trivialized the death of Alexandros Grigoropoulos. However, the existence of eyewitness video footage of the event and its circulation along with other alternative accounts on social media, changed the predominant perception from one of an (anarchist) attack against police officers in the 'notorious' neighborhood of Exarcheia to one of a 'rogue' policeman killing a kid. Nevertheless, media coverage uncritically reproduced the initial police report and persisted in promoting a flawed scenario of the events when the 'awkward facts' were clear to most people.


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the media
On 9 December, a photographer working for the newspaper Eleftheros Typos, who had taken on 7 December some snap-shots of a policeman targeting protesters with his gun, was fired, as the paper's editor claimed he was responsible for the leakage of the photos in the Internet. The photographer claimed the photos were not any more in his possession in the time of the leak, said that the editor was unwilling to publish them and denounced his sack as an attempt of political censorship, while left-wing newspapers and websites noted the editor's pro-government stance during the riots. The same newspaper received harsh criticism for misquoting Isocrates in its front page of 10 December.


2008 Greek riots, Criticism, Criticism of the media
On 13 December, the Greek National Council of Radio and Television alerted all radio and television stations throughout the country that they should be careful in how they broadcast the news about the riots. The Council informed the stations mainly of the necessity of not showing scenes of extreme violence (in ways that might be interpreted as encouraging extreme anti-social behavior), to avoid acting as if they were judicial authorities, and to avoid showing in public documents and other elements that might be the subject of legal proceedings. The Council noted that "there is danger of breaking the broadcasting laws by the way of presenting the latest events."


2008 Greek riots, Financial consequences for the Greek economy
After the first days of demonstrations and the presentation of the 2009 state budget that predicted solid economic growth in spite of the financial crisis of 2007–2008, the spread of the Greek 10-year Government bonds had, by 12 December 2008, widened to 230 basis points against the corresponding German Government bonds (Bundesanleihen), a level that represents the highest level for the past nine years and the highest since the country entered the eurozone.


2008 Greek riots, Financial consequences for the Greek economy
This had an immediate effect on the cost of financing for Greece's government; these costs rose considerably as a higher yield had to be paid on any bonds it sold. In addition, and given the credit crisis prevalent at the time, this curtailed its ability to issue bonds at all since investors were more risk averse than normal.


2008 Greek riots, Financial consequences for the Greek economy
Additionally, on Wednesday, 17 December 2008, the credit rating agency Moody's declared it would put Greece's credit rating, already the lowest in the Eurozone at A1, off positive outlook if political and economic instability continued.


2008 Green Bay Packers season
The 2008 season was the Green Bay Packers' 88th season in the National Football League, their 90th overall and their 3rd under head coach Mike McCarthy. The Packers were aiming to improve their 13–3 record from last season, but finished the season with a 6–10 record and missed the playoffs. Until the 2017 season, this was the last season in which the Packers did not qualify for the playoffs.


2008 Green Bay Packers season
It was the first season since 1991 that quarterback Brett Favre was not on the team's roster. Favre retired in March, decided to come back over the summer and was ultimately traded to the New York Jets after the team told Favre playing in Green Bay again was not an option. It was the first season with quarterback Aaron Rodgers as the team's starter.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft
The Packers held Pick 1–30 in the NFL Draft but traded it to the New York Jets for picks 2–36 and 4–113. In the second round they selected wide receiver Jordy Nelson of Kansas State with pick 2–36, quarterback Brian Brohm of Louisville with pick 2–56 and cornerback Pat Lee of Auburn with pick 2–60.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft
During day 2 of the NFL Draft, The Packers started off their day pick tight end Jermichael Finley of Texas with pick 3–91.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft
In the fourth round, the Packers traded picks 4–113 and 5–162 to the New York Jets for pick 4–102. They then used that pick to select defensive end Jeremy Thompson of Wake Forest. The Packers then traded pick 4–128 to the St Louis Rams for picks 5–137 and 7–217. They then used pick 4–135 to select offensive guard Josh Sitton of the UCF Knights.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft
In the 5th round they traded pick 5–137 to the Minnesota Vikings for picks 5–150 and 7–209. With pick 5–150 the Packers selected offensive tackle Breno Giacomini of Louisville.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft
After waiting for the 6th round to pass in which the Packers did not hold any picks, they finished their draft by selecting quarterback Matt Flynn of LSU and wide receiver Brett Swain of San Diego State with picks 7–209 and 7–217 respectively. They traded pick 7–237 to the New Orleans Saints for their 6th round pick of the 2009 NFL Draft.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft, Undrafted free agents
Following the 2008 NFL Draft, the Packers signed 11 undrafted free agents. They were:


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Draft, Undrafted free agents
On May 7, the Packers signed Cornerback Condrew Allen (Portland State), Offensive tackle Ryan Considine (Louisiana Tech) and Cornerback Kyle Ward (Louisiana-Lafayette) after they attended a minicamp on a tryout basis. On May 22, the Packers also signed Evan Moore (Stanford).


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
On March 6, 2008, Favre formally announced his retirement. Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, stated "Nobody pushed Brett Favre out the door but then nobody encouraged him not to go out that door either. I don't think he had a lot of encouragement to stay, but nobody told him to leave either." Cook also believed that Favre had not gotten the impression from the Packers that they wanted him back.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
Although Favre stated that he had been willing to play another year, he felt that another season would only be successful if he led his team to another Super Bowl victory. At his press conference, Favre openly wept about leaving the NFL. He stated that his decision, regardless of what was being said in the media, had nothing to do with what the Packers did or did not do. He said, seemingly contradictory to Cook's statements, that his decision to retire was based on the fact that he did not want to play anymore.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
He said during the conference, "I know I can play, but I don't think I want to. And that's really what it comes down to." But since he had to make his decision right there and then he felt that he needed to retire. He was eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013. The Packers also planned to retire Favre's No. 4 jersey during their regular season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 8. Favre appeared on the cover of the Madden NFL 09 video game, released on August 13, 2008.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
Favre has stated that if the Packers asked him to return in an emergency situation, that "it would be hard to pass up." He stressed, however, that he would only return if he was in shape.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
On July 2, 2008, it was reported that Favre was in contact with the Packers about a possible return to the team. On July 11, 2008, Favre sent a letter to the Packers asking for his unconditional release to allow him to play for another NFL team. Packers general manager Ted Thompson announced he would not grant Favre an unconditional release and reaffirmed the organization's commitment to Aaron Rodgers as its new quarterback. Complicating matters was Favre's unique contract giving him the leverage to void any potential trade by not reporting to the camp of the team he might be traded to if the Packers elect to go that route.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
Favre spoke publicly for the first time about his potential comeback in a July 14, 2008 interview with Greta Van Susteren on the Fox News Channel's On the Record with Greta Van Susteren. In the interview, Favre said he was "guilty of retiring early," that he was "never fully committed" to retirement, and that he was pressured by the Packers to make a decision before the NFL Draft and the start of the free agent signing period.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
Favre disputed the notion that he did not want to play for Green Bay and said that while he understands the organization has decided to move on, they should now allow him to do the same. He made clear that he would not return to the Packers as a backup and reiterated his desire to be released rather than traded, which would allow him the freedom to play for a competitive team. Favre also accused the Packers of being dishonest, wishing the team would have been straightforward with him and the public.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
In the second part of the interview, which aired on July 15, Favre expressed his frustration with Packer management, spoke of his sympathy for successor Aaron Rodgers' predicament, and affirmed he is 100 percent committed to playing football in 2008. On July 16, Favre's agent, James "Bus" Cook, stated Favre has "no definite plans to seek reinstatement" and that "It's [the Packers] move." Cook reasoned that applying for reinstatement at this time would give Green Bay the opportunity to activate Favre, relegate him to a backup role he is unwilling to accept, and fine him $15,000 a day for failing to report to training camp.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
FOXSports.com's Jay Glazer reported on July 16, 2008, that the Packers filed tampering charges against the Minnesota Vikings with the league office, alleging improper communication between Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Favre, although one source suggested that Favre may have been in contact with Vikings head coach Brad Childress. After an investigation, Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled there had been no violation of tampering rules.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
Favre formally filed for reinstatement with the NFL on July 29, 2008, and his petition was granted by Commissioner Goodell, effective August 4, 2008. Favre then flew to Green Bay to report to Packers training camp. After a lengthy meeting with head coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson, however, both sides agreed it was time for Favre and the organization to part ways. McCarthy sensed Favre was not in "the right mind-set" to resume playing for the Packers, while Favre felt that his relationship with Packer management had deteriorated to the point that a return to the team would be untenable.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Favre retirement, reinstatement and trade
After the Packers entered into trade discussions with both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets, Favre was traded to the Jets on August 6, 2008 for a conditional draft pick.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
The Packers held their training camp sessions at Clarke Hinkle Field across the street from Lambeau Field. Practices were moved inside the Don Hutson Center during inclement weather. St. Norbert College served as the team base for all living arrangements for the 51st consecutive season. Players were expected to report on July 27, and practices commenced the following day and continued through August 27. Throughout the thirty one day span, seventeen included public practices. For the third straight year, night practices were again a part of the training camp schedule under Head Coach Mike McCarthy. Seven night practices, all beginning at 6:30 p.m., were scheduled.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
During the first day of practice, Brett Favre did not file his reinstatement papers and did not appear at camp. Favre told GM Ted Thompson he would give him a couple of days to work out a trade before he reported. The only player on the active roster absent was RB Ryan Grant who was going through a contract dispute. All of the 2008 draft class was signed by the start of camp and participated.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
After the first day McCarthy stated that he thought the evening practice was sloppy, as the morning practice was. There again were many penalties before the snap. That is no surprise on Day 1, though. "As a whole, I thought the pad level was high on both sides of the ball. I thought the footwork was sloppy. It looked like we were in mud at times. So, we'll look at the film." The pace of the practice was excellent—14 minutes ahead of schedule.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
During the evening practice on July 29, the Packers got word that Brett Favre had submitted him papers for reinstatement.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
On Wednesday, July 29, ESPN's NFL Live was broadcasting from Packers camp. Much of the broadcast circled around Brett Favre's return to football with minor focus on Aaron Rodgers performance as well as Ryan Grant and his current contract holdout situation.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
On Thursday, the Packers did not have a formal practice but the team was addressed in the afternoon by former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer. During the late afternoon, it was reported by ESPN that Brett Favre had chartered a flight to Green Bay and would arrive later in the day in time to attend camp on Friday. After a series of delays, the flight was canceled and Favre did not fly to Green Bay.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
On Saturday, August 2, it was announced that Ryan Grant came to terms with a four-year deal that could be worth as much as $30 million. Ryan Grant was in attendance for the 2008 Family Night scrimmage on Sunday August 3 but did not participate. A few hours before the scrimmage had taken place, quarterback Brett Favre was officially reinstated by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and landed in Wisconsin.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
On Monday, August 4, Brett Favre was officially added to the Packers active roster and it was announced that he would now compete against Aaron Rodgers for the Packers starting quarterback job. After a long conversation with Mike McCarthy over the next couple of days, McCarthy felt that Favre was not committed to the team and they began working out a trade.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
After Brett Favre was traded to the New York Jets, new starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers became the target of heckling by several disgruntled fans at training camp for the next couple of days.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
After the Packers preseason game on August 11, it was apparent that second string rookie quarterback Brian Brohm was in danger of being passed on the depth chart by another rookie quarterback, Matt Flynn due to Brian's lack of success in the preseason contest.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp
Another camp battle that had emerged is one between rookie offensive guard Josh Sitton, Daryn Colledge and Allen Barbre for the starting left guard spot. Josh Sitton replaced right guard Jason Spitz in training camp due to Spitz being moved over to center in place of the injured Scott Wells. Sitton played so well in camp and in the first preseason game that he is now still taking reps with the first string offense at left guard even after the return of center Scott Wells.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp, Family night scrimmage
On August 3, Lambeau Field held a full pads inter-team scrimmage that was delayed by rain and lightning. The scrimmage finally started around 8:00 p.m. CST in front of 56,600 in attendance.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp, Family night scrimmage
Head Coach Mike McCarthy has talked about the defense being the starting point and common thread that will run through the team in 2008, and on Sunday night, several members of the secondary made an impact. "As a whole, I thought their production was outstanding," McCarthy said of the defense. "I really thought they flew to the ball. It looked to me, from not studying it, it looked like they did a good job with the bump at the line of scrimmage, disrupting the routes. I thought the defense had a very good night."


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp, Family night scrimmage
Rookie cornerback Pat Lee led the team with four passes defensed, Cornerback Tramon Williams, who missed a good part of practice this week with a hip flexor injury, was back on the field and posted two pass breakups, both on third-down plays. Safety Charlie Peprah made his presence felt with three tackles and a pass breakup, as well as one of the bigger hits of the night. Safety Aaron Rouse posted the lone takeaway of the night when he intercepted a desperation heave by Rodgers to the back of the end zone intended for Jennings as time ticked away in the two-minute drill.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp, Family night scrimmage
One area that impressed on Sunday night was the punt return game for the Packers. Rookie wide receiver Brett Swain was credited with two returns for 80 yards, including a 66-yarder. He wasn't the only player to post a big play during the special teams work, with cornerback Will Blackmon recording a 56-yard return. Also, Punter Jon Ryan averaged 54.8 yards on his four punts.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp, Family night scrimmage
Most of the team participated with exception to recently re-signed running back Ryan Grant, and cornerbacks Al Harris and Charles Woodson. All three were healthy but did not participate. Brett Favre also was not in attendance due to the fact that he was just reinstated back into the NFL earlier in the day.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Offseason, Training camp, Family night scrimmage
Six other players did not participate due to injury. This list included defensive tackles Justin Harrell (knee) and Ryan Pickett (back), running back DeShawn Wynn (concussion), cornerback Condrew Allen (knee), center Scott Wells (trunk) and defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila (knee).


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Starters
Note: This chart depicts the amount of 1st string appearances during the season. Actual starts in the NFL are credited to any player on the field during the first offensive and defensive play regardless of formation.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Starters, Uniform
The 2008 uniforms were made by Reebok and no notable changes were made from previous seasons. The Packers did however wear white cleats in pre season instead of the traditional black. They also wore a commemorative black "GU 63" patch Week 1 in honor of Gene Upshaw's memorial.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 1
The Packers began their 2008 campaign at home against their NFC North foe, the Minnesota Vikings, in the first game of 2008's Monday Night Football doubleheader. Green Bay struggled early to move the ball, but a 56-yard Aaron Rodgers pass to Greg Jennings set the Packers up with a 1st and goal at the Vikings 6. The Packers scored 4 plays later on a 3rd down pass from Aaron Rodgers to fullback Korey Hall. Punt returner Will Blackmon also scored in the 3rd quarter on a 76-yard punt return to give the Packers a commanding 17–6 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 1
Later in the 3rd, the Vikings scored a TD paired with a failed 2-point conversion attempt. The Packers responded with a 57-yard run by Ryan Grant to the Minnesota 2 that set up a 1-yard touchdown rush by Aaron Rodgers to make the score 24–12. The Vikings Adrian Peterson scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown on their next drive to bring the Packers lead back to 5 points with 2:43 left in the 4th quarter. The following Vikings onside kick was knocked out of bounds after touching safety Atari Bigby.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 1
The Packers then went three and out and punted the ball back to the Vikings with 2 minutes left. Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was later intercepted by Atari Bigby which sealed the victory for the Packers as they started out the season at 1–0. Will Blackmon was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 2
Coming off an impressive divisional home win over the Vikings, the Packers flew to Ford Field for a Week 2 NFC North showdown with the Detroit Lions. In the first quarter, Green Bay got the first strike with QB Aaron Rodgers completing a 9-yard TD pass to WR James Jones. In the second quarter, the Packers increased their lead with Rodgers completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver and a 29-yard TD pass to rookie WR Jordy Nelson. The Lions would close out the first half with kicker Jason Hanson getting a 38-yard field goal.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 2
In the third quarter, Detroit continued to hack away at Green Bay's lead with Hanson nailing a 49-yard and a 53-yard field goal. The Packers responded with kicker Mason Crosby kicking a 25-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Detroit clawed away at the Pack's lead with QB Jon Kitna completing a 38-yard TD pass to WR Calvin Johnson. The Lions closed in as Packers punter Derrick Frost's punt was high, causing it to go through the back of his end zone, giving Detroit a safety. The Lions would take the lead on Kitna's 47-yard TD pass to C. Johnson. Fortunately, Green Bay rebounded with Crosby's 39-yard field goal, RB Brandon Jackson's 19-yard TD run, CB Charles Woodson's 41-yard interception return for a touchdown, and safety Nick Collins' 42-yard interception return for a touchdown. Aaron Rodgers was voted FedEx Air Player of the Week.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
The Packers returned home week three for a Sunday night clash against the Dallas Cowboys.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
In the first quarter, Green Bay's first possession, RB Ryan Grant fumbled the football and it was recovered by Dallas. Green Bay's defense responded by keeping Dallas out of the end zone and they had to settle for a 25-yard Nick Folk field goal. Green Bay moved the ball quite effectively the next drive, starting it off with a 26-yard completion to Greg Jennings. The drive ended when Aaron Rodgers was sacked for an 11-yard loss on 3rd down. The Packers settled for a Mason Crosby 36-yard field goal.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
The Cowboys next drive was fueled by a couple of long runs by RB Marion Barber. Dallas moved all the way down to Green Bay's 14, but on 3rd down Cowboy's QB Tony Romo threw a pass intended for TE Jason Witten and it was intercepted in the end zone by FS Nick Collins and returned to the Cowboy's 43-yard line.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
In the second quarter, Green Bay started off the quarter with some quick and effective short throws. The Packers managed to move the ball to the Dallas 20 without running the ball once on the drive. An Aaron Rodgers incomplete pass to WR James Jones on 3rd down set up a 38-yard Mason Crosby field goal. The Cowboys managed to get one first down on the next drive, but were stopped on 3rd down the next drive after Aaron Kampman and Cullen Jenkins teamed up for the sack on Tony Romo.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
Dallas punted and Green Bay went three and out with a couple of minimal runs by Ryan Grant and an incomplete pass to Greg Jennings forcing the Packers to punt. The Cowboys closed out the half with a RB Felix Jones 60-yard touchdown and a 39-yard Nick Folk field goal. The Packers were down 13–6 at the half.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
In the third quarter, Dallas received the ball first but were forced to punt 6 plays later. Green Bay's first drive of the second half started off with some solid runs by RB Brandon Jackson, but the highlight of the drive was 50-yard pass to Donald Driver on 3rd and 5 that set the Packers up with a 1st and goal at the Dallas 8. Aaron Rodgers was then sacked on 2nd and 3rd down and the Packers yet again were held to another Mason Crosby field goal.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
This field goal marked the 3rd time the Packers were shut down in the red zone and had to settle for a field goal in the game. On the Cowboy's next drive, Tony Romo completed a 63-yard pass to Miles Austin which set the Cowboy's up for a 2-yard Marion Barber touchdown extending their lead to 11 points going into the 4th quarter.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
In the fourth quarter, Dallas extended their lead to 18 points with a 52-yard Miles Austin catch and touchdown. Later in the 4th, RB Marion Barber fumbled the ball and it was recovered by CB Will Blackmon at the Green Bay 12-yard line. With Dallas playing a prevent style defense, Rodgers completed 8 of 10 passes down to the Dallas 1-yard line. Rodgers sneaked the ball into the end zone for the touchdown bringing the Dallas lead back down to 11 points.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
After the touchdown the Packers attempted an onside kick which was recovered by Tramon Williams but he was flagged for illegal touching and possession was awarded to Dallas along with a 5-yard penalty from the spot of the foul. Dallas moved the ball into field goal range but Romo threw an incomplete pass to Terrell Owens on 3rd down and followed it up with another incomplete pass to Jason Witten on 4th down giving the Packers the ball back. The Packers moved the ball slightly, but the drive ended when Brandon Jackson caught a pass on 4th down and ran out of bounds before the 1st down marker. Dallas took over and ran out the clock with a Romo kneel down.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 3
The Dallas Cowboys defeated the Packers 27–16 as they fell to 2–1.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 4
After losing to the 2007 NFC East Champion Dallas Cowboys the week before, The Packers headed down south to play the 2007 NFC South Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 4
The Packers started the game with the ball and scored first on a 25-yard Aaron Rodgers pass to Greg Jennings and took the early 7–0 lead into the 2nd quarter.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 4
On the Packers first drive the 2nd quarter, Rodgers pass intended for Brandon Jackson was tipped and intercepted by LB Derrick Brooks. Tampa Bay later tied the game 7–7 with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Brian Griese to TE Alex Smith. The Packers went three and out and punted, and the Buccaneers took the 10–7 lead on the next drive with a 23-yard field goal. On the next Packers drive was ended when Aaron Rodgers overthrew Donald Driver and Tampa Bay's Barrett Ruud intercepted the pass. The Buccaneers were held to another field goal and took a 13–7 lead into the half.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 4
Tampa Bay received the ball after the half and drove down into the redzone, but a Brian Griese pass was tipped by a Packers defender and intercepted by Packers CB Tramon Williams and returned to the GB 44-yard line. The Packers went 3 and out and the Buccaneers were forced to punt on their next drive. Ryan Grant fumbled on the first play of the Packers next drive and the Buccaneers Jermaine Phillips picked up the ball and returned it for a touchdown to take a 20–7 lead. The Packers responded with a 48-yard touchdown pass to Greg Jennings to decrease the lead to 20–14 going into the 4th. Aaron Rodgers left the field in pain after throwing the touchdown pass. Nick Collins picked off Brian Griese close to the end of the 3rd quarter.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 4
The Packers started the fourth quarter with the ball with rookie quarterback Matt Flynn under center. After going three and out, the Packers were forced to punt. 4 plays later, Charles Woodson intercepted Brian Griese and returned it for a lead changing touchdown, making the score 21–20 with 13:43 left in the 4th. After forcing the Buccaneers to punt again, Matt Flynn lead another uneventful drive and Tampa Bay responded with a field goal to take the 23–21 lead with 6:04 left in the game.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 4
After the kickoff, Aaron Rodgers replaced Matt Flynn to lead a hopeful game-winning touchdown drive, but Rodgers forced a ball into coverage and it was intercepted by Tampa Bay. On the next play, Tampa Bay RB Earnest Graham ran the ball all the way down to the 1-yard line and scored a rushing touchdown on the next play to increase their lead to 30–21. With the game out of reach, Matt Flynn replaced Aaron Rodgers again and turned over the ball on downs.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
After losing two consecutive games, the Packers returned home to face the Atlanta Falcons.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
Atlanta started off the game with the ball and their first play from scrimmage was a Matt Ryan 37-yard pass to WR Roddy White to the Packers 44-yard line. The Falcons extended the drive into the red zone but were stopped on 3rd and goal at the 1-yard line. Atlanta decided to go for it on 4th and 1 and Matt Ryan rolled out to his right and completed the pass to TE Justin Peelle for the touchdown.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
After an uninspiring 3 and out by the Packers offense, Atlanta started off their second drive of the day with a 22-yard run by RB Michael Turner to the Green Bay 39-yard line. After a couple of short but drive extending plays, Atlanta scored again on a 42-yard Jason Elam field goal increasing the lead to 10–0.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
The quarter was finished by another 3 and out by the Packers offense and a slight Falcon drive that ended in the early 3rd when FS Nick Collins tackled Jerious Norwood after a catch for a 2-yard loss.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
The Packers first scoring drive of the day would come on their first drive of the 2nd quarter. After starting out at their own 13-yard line, The Packers managed to move the ball to the Atlanta 44-yard line. On 3rd and 1, Aaron Rodgers dropped back to pass and pump faked before delivering a perfect deep pass to WR Donald Driver in the end zone despite double coverage. Driver brought secured the catch to score the Packers first points of the night making the game 10–7 Falcons.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
On the next Falcons drive the Packers seemed to have stopped the Falcons but rookie CB Patrick Lee was flagged for defensive pass interference on 3rd down giving the Falcons 20 yards and a 1st down to extend their would-be touchdown drive. On 2nd and 4 on the Packers 22-yard line Matt Ryan connected yet again with WR Roddy White for another touchdown pass extending their lead to 17–7.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
The Packers took over and drove to the Falcons 25-yard line and were forced to attempt a 43-yard Mason Crosby field goal with 1:20 left in the half. During the successful attempt, rookie TE Jermichael Finley was flagged for holding, which nullified the field goal and push the Packers back 10 yards. Their second attempt of 53 yards was wide right, and the Falcons were awarded the ball. The Packers forced Atlanta to punt on the next drive, and the Packers went into the half down 17–7.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
Green Bay started the 2nd half with the ball, but a holding penalty pushed them out of Atlanta territory and were forced to punt after an incomplete pass and a catch short of the first-down marker.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
Atlanta moved the ball slightly, but their drive ended with a drop by WR Roddy White on 3rd down. The catch was challenged by Atlanta, but the ruling was upheld, forcing the Falcons to punt, and the ball was downed by the Falcons at the Packers 2-yard line.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
Starting their own endzone. the Packers managed to get out of the hole all the way to the Atlanta 32-yard line, which set up a 50-yard successful field goal by Mason Crosby to decrease the Falcons lead to only a touchdown at 17–10.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
In the early fourth, Atlanta drove down the field on their next drive and were looking to score in the redzone, but the pass into the endzone was intercepted by Packers CB Tramon Williams in the endzone for the touchback.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
The ball was placed at the Packers 20-yard line and Aaron Rodgers completed a 37-yard strike on the first play of the drive to TE Tory Humphrey to Atlanta's 43-yard line. Three plays later Aaron Rodgers dropped back on 2nd and 5 and completed a 25-yard pass in the end zone to WR Greg Jennings for a game-tying touchdown.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
With the momentum looking to be swinging, Atlanta responded with a kickoff return all the way to the Green Bay 48-yard line. Atlanta moved the ball slightly, but had to settle for a 41-yard Jason Elam field goal to retake a 20–17 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
On the next drive, Aaron Rodgers dropped back on 3rd and 19 at their own 21 and attempted to force a pass to WR Ruvell Martin. Atlanta's LB Michael Boley stepped in front of Martin and intercepted the ball and returned it to the Green Bay 19-yard line. Three plays later, RB Michael Turner scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to increase Atlanta's lead to 27–17 with a little less than 4 minutes remaining.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
On the Packers' next drive, Rodgers completed two key passes. The first was a 36-yard catch and run play by WR Greg Jennings and the second was a 16-yard catch by TE Tory Humphrey to the Atlanta 7-yard line. Rodgers dropped back on 3rd and 4 and passed short middle to TE Donald Lee that was taken in for the touchdown. With less than 2 minutes left, Green Bay decreased the lead to only 3 points.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 5
After the touchdown, Mason Crosby and the hands team attempted an onside kick but the ball took a very bad hop and was recovered easily by Atlanta's Erik Coleman. With two timeouts remaining, the Packers stopped the clock on 1st and 2nd down after short runs by Michael Turner but on 3rd down Turner slipped by the Packers defenders and slipped past the 1st down marker. Atlanta then took two kneeldowns and ran out the clock.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
After losing three consecutive games, the Packers traveled to Seattle to face the 2007 NFC West Division Champion Seattle Seahawks.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
The game started with Seattle in possession of the football but the Packers quickly stopped them 3 and out. On the Packers first drive of the game they seemed to move the ball quite effectively and highlighted the drive with a 17-yard run by struggling RB Ryan Grant. However, on 3rd and 9 Ryan Grant was tackled for a 3-yard loss and the Packers were forced to punt. The Seahawks second drive of the game was another 3 and out and were again forced to punt.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
The Packers next drive was highlighted by a 7-yard pass to WR Donald Driver on 2nd and 6 as well as a nice 14-yard catch by rookie WR Jordy Nelson on 1st and 15. On 3rd and 10 on Seattle's 20-yard line Aaron Rodgers completed a 9-yard pass to Jordy Nelson which was marked a-yard short of the 1st down marker. Green Bay settled for the 29-yard Mason Crosby field goal to take a 3–0 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
Seattle's next drive started off with the pocket collapsing on Seattle's 3rd string QB Charlie Frye and Charles Woodson sneaking in from his CB position for the sack. On the next play, Seahawks WR Koren Robinson who was released by the Packers during the offseason beat CB Tramon Williams for a 19-yard gain.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
The Seahawks drive continued into the second quarter where they had to settle for a 50-yard field goal to tie the game up at 3–3. On the Packers first drive of the 2nd and third drive of the game, Ryan Grant carried the ball twice on 1st and 2nd downs for 2 and 5 yards respectively but the Packers lost possession of the ball when Aaron Rodgers stepped up into the pocket and was sacked by Julian Peterson forcing a fumble. The ball was recovered by Seattle's Rocky Bernard for no gain at the Packers 32-yard line.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
With the Seahawks re-gaining possession with a short field, The Packers looked to stop the Seahawks on 3rd and 1 for no gain, but the Seahawks decided to go for it on 4th down on which they gained 9 yards rushing for the first down. The first touchdown in the game was scored when QB Charlie Frye rolled out to the right and passed short to the rookie TE John Carlson for a touchdown. The Seahawks touchdown gave the Seahawks the 10–3 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
With 8:17 remaining in the contest, the Packers next drive was highlighted by a 19-yard reception by WR Donald Driver on 3rd and 7 to the Seattle 44-yard line. After a short pass to TE Donald Lee and two 3 and 6-yard gains for a first down by RB Ryan Grant for another 1st down. Rodgers then completed a 7-yard pass to WR Donald Driver on second down paired with a face mask penalty by Jordan Babineaux which moved the ball half the distance to the goal to the Seattle 12.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
After a 5-yard false start penalty and a run by Ryan Grant for no gain, Rodgers rushed to the Seattle 11 for a gain of 6. On Third and 9 Rodgers passed to WR Greg Jennings for his first and only catch of the half for 9 yards and a first down. On first and goal from the 2, Ryan Grant rushed the ball up the middle for a gain of a yard. The offense then came out in a 4 wide receiver set with only QB Aaron Rodgers in the backfield.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
Rodgers took the snap and rushed forward through the pile toward the goal line. The initial call on the field was no touchdown but after a review from the booth it was clear that Rodgers forward progress was not stopped and his knees did not contact the ground before the ball crossed the goal line. The play was ruled a touchdown which tied the game at 10–10 going into the half.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
Green Bay received the ball after the half but couldn't get the ball moving and had tp punt after going 3 and out. On the second play of the Seahawks first drive of the half, RB Julius Jones broke through the middle of the offensive line for a 51-yard gain but the play was called back after a holding penalty on former Packer offensive lineman Mike Wahle. The Seahawks couldn't move the ball and were forced to punt. The Packers next drive was highlighted by an 8-yard pass to WR Greg Jennings on 3rd and 6.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
The drive came to a halt when Rodgers completed a pass to Donald Driver on 3rd and 11 for 8 yards. Seattle responded unsuccessfully with and incomplete pass, a completion for no gain and a second incomplete pass which forced them to punt. The biggest play of the game took place on the Packers next possession. On 3rd and 6 at the Seattle 45, Rodgers dropped back to pass while WR Greg Jennings sprinted past CB Marcus Trufant on the right side of the field.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
Rodgers through deep down field to Jennings who hauled the pass in at the 5-yard line and fell into the endzone for the lead taking touchdown. The Packers were now ahead 17–10 with a little less than 6 minutes left in the 3rd. Seattle took over possession but still could not move the ball. On 3rd and Charlie Frye dropped back to pass and DE Aaron Kampman sacked him for an 8-yard loss. The Packers next drive started at the Green Bay 16.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
on 3rd and 6 at the 20, Rodgers passed to Greg Jennings for 8 and a 1st down. Jennings caught his second pass of the drive on 2nd down to the Green Bay 42 for 14 yards. On 2nd and 8 Rodgers rolled to his right but no one was open. Rodgers pulled the ball down and ran up the sideline to the Seattle 40 for 16 yards. CB Marcus Trufant was also called for defensive holding on the play and 5 yards were tacked onto the end of the run.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
The Packers drive continued into the 4th with a nice pass to Donald Driver for a gain of 8 on 3rd and 5 to the Seattle 22-yard line. Grant rushed for 7 yards on first down and 1-yard on 3rd setting up a 10-yard pass to Jordy Nelson to the Seattle 4-yard line. After a no huddle two-yard gain by Ryan Grant, Rodgers dropped back to pass on 2nd down and tossed to ball to FB John Kuhn who caught the ball on his knees for the touchdown. The Packers extended their lead to 24–10.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
With Seattle in a 14-point hole with 11:23 left in the game, Charlie Frye dropped back to pass on the 3rd play of the drive at Seattle's 33-yard line. Charles Woodson who was covering a wide receiver up the sideline let his receiver go and stepped in front of the crossing TE John Carlson for his 4th interception of the season. The Packers ran the ball for no gain and Rodgers was sacked on 2nd down.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
3rd down was a completed to recently activated practice squad running back DeShawn Wynn for 7 yards but he couldn't reach the 1st down marker. Mason Crosby then kicked a 51-yard field goal to increase the Packers lead to 27–10 with 8:41 in the game remaining. On the next drive Charlie Frye trying to lead an improbable comeback threw deep to Koren Robinson streaking down the left sideline. The ball was slightly under thrown and CB Tramon Williams intercepted the ball at the Packers 9-yard line. Tramon returned the ball to the Packers 24-yard line for 15 yards.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
With the Packers trying to run out the rest of the clock, Ryan Grant rushed the ball twice for −1 on 1st down and 3 yards 2nd down. Rodgers pass to Ruvell Martin was incomplete on 3rd down and the Packers punted. With 5:15 left in the game, The Seahawks managed to move the ball effectively against the Packers prevent style defense and managed to score their second touchdown of the day at 3:17 with a Charlie Frye 5-yard pass to WR Keary Colbert to narrow the Packers lead to 27–17.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 6
The Seahawks down by 10 with 3:14 left in the game attempted an onside kick which was recovered by CB Jarrett Bush at the Seattle 43-yard line. Ryan Grant secured the victory with a 5-yard gain on 3rd and 4. Ryan Grant ran the ball for a 6-yard gain on first down and Rodgers finished the game with two kneel-downs to run out the clock.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
After snapping their three-game losing streak against the Seattle Seahawks the weekend before, the Packers returned home to face their first AFC opponent of the season, the 2007 AFC South Champion Indianapolis Colts.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The game started with the Packers in possession and the Packers started off the game with a nice 14-yard run by RB Ryan Grant for a first down. On the first third down of the drive, Aaron Rodgers completed his first pass of the day to TE Donald Lee for an 11-yard gain. Colts CB Marlin Jackson was flagged for unnecessary roughness after the play and the Colts were penalized 15 yards for the Packers 49 down to the Colts 36-yard line.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
After a 1-yard run and an incomplete pass on 1st and second downs, Rodgers completed a 6-yard pass to TE Donald Lee on 3rd and 9 but was nullified when Colts CB Tim Jennings was flagged for defensive holding on WR Greg Jennings during the play resulting in a 5-yard penalty and a 1st down. The next play was a run by RB Ryan Grant for 4 yards.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
Grant fumbled the ball on the play and it looked to be recovered by the Colts, but the ball slipped past the defenders and FB Korey Hall dove onto the ball and recovered the fumble for the Packers. Grant then followed up the play with a 5-yard gain on 2nd down and a surprise hand off to FB John Kuhn on 3rd down and 1 for 3 yards secured another 1st down for the Packers at the Colts 18-yard line. The drive ended with an incomplete pass the WR Ruvell Martin on 3rd down and the Packers were forced to settle for a Mason Crosby 31-yard field goal to take the early 3–0 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
After the field goal, The Packers attempted to onside kick but the ball went out of bounds after 15 yards. On the retry, Mason Crosby kicked the ball out of bounds again but this time it was much farther down field. The ball was then placed at the Colts 45-yard line but an unnecessary roughness penalty moved the ball back to the Colts 30-yard line.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
On the Colts first drive, they seemed to be able to move the ball very well with runs by the injured starter  Joseph Addai's replacement Dominic Rhodes paired with a 9-yard pass to TE Dallas Clark. After a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on CB Tramon Williams on 3rd and 1 at the Colts 39, QB Peyton Manning connected with WR Reggie Wayne for a 15-yard gain on the next 3rd down to the GB 16-yard line. RB Dominic Rhodes rushed the ball four consecutive times and capped the drive with a 3-yard rush for the touchdown. The Colts took the 7–3 lead with 4:06 left in the 1st.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Packers second drive of the game started with an Aaron Rodgers pass left to Greg Jennings for 14 yards under soft coverage. Ryan Grant continued rushing the ball better with a nice 7-yard gain on the next play to the Green Bay 41-yard line. Rodgers failed to connect on a pass deep to Greg Jennings on the next play but CB Tim Jennings was flagged for pass interference resulting in a 25-yard penalty down to the Colts 34-yard line.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
After a couple of short runs by Ryan Grant, Rodgers completed a 7-yard pass to Greg Jennings on 3rd and 6 for the first down. After a Colts neutral zone infraction penalty and a couple more short rush attempts by Ryan Grant, The Packers first touchdown of the game was scored on a 12-yard pass to TE Donald Lee. With a little more than 14 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, the Packers took the 10–7 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Colts continued to attempt to move the ball on their next drive with runs and short passes to the running backs and tight ends but their drive stalled near midfield when Peyton Manning completed a pass to WR Marvin Harrison a-yard short of the first down. It appeared that the Colts were going to keep their offense on the field and go for it on fourth down and 1 but Colts coach Tony Dungy thought otherwise and Peyton Manning left the field with a look of disagreement with his coaches decision.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
After the punt the Packers offense started their third drive of the day at the Green Bay 11. The Packers quickly got out of the shadows of the goal post with a 24-yard pass to WR Donald Driver to the 35-yard line. After a short 3-yard gain by Ryan Grant and two 3-yard receptions by Donald Driver, the Packers were faced with a 4 and 1 at their own 44-yard line much like the Colts on their previous drive.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
Instead of punting like the Colts did, the Packers kept their offense on the field a managed to get the first down on a nice 7-yard rush by Ryan Grant. The Packers moved the ball down to the Colts 33-yard line with a few short runs by Ryan Grant mixed with a short pass to RB Brandon Jackson for 9 yards.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
On 2nd a 7 Rodgers dropped back to pass and looked to throw to WR Greg Jennings but decided to dump the ball off the Brandon Jackson for the second time on the drive but he was tackled for a 1-yard loss. During the play a flag was thrown for illegal use of the hands on CB Tim Jennings who was covering Greg Jennings on the play. After a rush for no gain on 1st down at the Colts 28, Rodgers connected with WR Ruvell Martin for 17 yards to the Colts 11-yard line. The Packers scored their second touchdown of the day on the next play with an 11-yard rush by Ryan Grant. The Packers now held a 17–7 lead with 2:53 left in the half.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
Now in a ten-point hole, The Colts offense took the field again but could not manage to get a first down. DT Ryan Pickett batted down the pass intended for Marvin Harrison on 3rd down and forced the Colts to punt.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
With 1:54 remaining in the half the Packers started their final drive of the half on their own 33-yard line. The drive featured many short passes to RB Brandon Jackson for decent gains along with a Rodgers scramble down the middle of the field for a 9-yard gain. The Packers moved the ball down to the Colts 18-yard line and took a time out with 9 seconds left. Mason Crosby attempted a 36-yard field goal but the kick was pushed wide left. The half ended with Peyton Manning taking a knee and the Packers went in the half with a 17–7 lead.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Colts started the second half with possession and managed to move the ball to the Packers 48-yard line, but a pass to Reggie Wayne on 3rd and 6 went through his hands and popped up into the air. FS Nick Collins who was a couple yards behind Wayne was in perfect position to intercept the ball and returned it 62 yards for the touchdown to take the commanding 24–7 lead early in the 3rd.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
After the interception return the Colts offense took the field and managed to move the ball down to the Packers 28-yard line with a 29-yard pass to TE Dallas Clark. After a 1-yard rush and two incomplete passes the Colt's Adam Vinatieri attempted a 45-yard field goal but it was blocked by DT Johnny Jolly.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Packers took over possession but failed to move the ball and was forced to punt. During the punt, Colts Tim Jennings was flagged for defensive delay of game and the Packers were awarded 5 yards and a 1st down. The Packers then managed to move the ball down to the Colts 11 with some short gains on the ground by Ryan Grant. The highlight of the drive took place when FB Korey Hall received a pass from Aaron Rodgers and hurdled over the oncoming defender. The drive ended when Ryan Grant couldn't get past the 1st down marker on 3rd down and they had to settle for a successful 29-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to extend the lead to 27–7.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Colts managed to get a first down off an illegal contact penalty on 3rd down, but the drive ended with three incomplete passes by Peyton Manning. The Colts punted and the Packers ended the 3rd quarter with 2 rushes by Ryan Grant. The first play of the 4th was an incomplete pass to TE Tory Humphrey and the Packers were forced to punt for the first time of the contest.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Colts again couldn't move the ball on their next possession and were forced to punt, The Packers took over and gain one first down on a pass to Brandon Jackson, but they failed to break into Colts territory and punted for the second time of the contest.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
With time not on the Colts side, the Colts drove down all the way to the Packers 5-yard line and were looking to score. Manning forced a throw into triple coverage in the end zone to Dallas Clark earlier in the drive and it was almost intercepted by Charles Woodson but S Aaron Rouse batted the ball down before Woodson could secure the pick. Rouse made up for it though 3 plays later when he stepped in front of WR Anthony Gonzalez at the 1-yard line and intercepted the pass. Rouse returned the ball 99 yards for the Packers second interception for a touchdown in the game and 5th of the season. With the score the Packers increased their lead to 34–7 with about 4:30 remaining in the game.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
In a prevent style defense, the Packers allowed the Colts offense to move down the field to the Green Bay 15. Peyton Manning threw the ball to Anthony Gonzalez at the goal line and he looked to be in for the score. The booth reviewed the catch and the call on the field was reversed. On the next play, Manning completed another pass to Dallas Clark and he dove for the pylon for the score. The booth reviewed the touchdown and again the touchdown wasn't awarded but the ball was placed at the 1-yard line. RB Dominic Rhodes rushed 1-yard for the touchdown to decrease the Packers lead to 34–14.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
The Colts lined up in an onside kick formation but kicker Adam Vinatieri instead kicked the ball shallow and it was easily caught by Charles Woodson. Ryan Grant rushed for 9 yards on 1st down to put him over the 100-yard mark for the first time this season and two Aaron Rodgers kneel downs sealed the dominating victory.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 7
With the win, the Green Bay Packers improved their record to 4–3 going into the bye week.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 9
Coming off their bye week, the Packers flew to LP Field for a Week 9 interconference duel with the unbeaten Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, Green Bay trailed early as Titans kicker Rob Bironas got a 31-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Pack continued to trail as Bironas made a 25-yard field goal. The Packers responded with kicker Mason Crosby getting a 23-yard field goal, along with QB Aaron Rodgers completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver. Tennessee ended the half with RB Chris Johnson getting a 3-yard TD run.


2008 Green Bay Packers season, Regular season, Week 9
In the third quarter, the Titans increased their with Bironas getting a 22-yard field goal. Green Bay would respond with Crosby getting a 25-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Pack tied the game with Crosby making a 38-yard field goal. However, in overtime, Tennessee emerged the victor as Bironas nailed the game-winning 41-yard field goal.