By AP

Former NFL defensive end Johnny Jolly has been given 10 years of ‘shock’ probation by a judge, just six months after he was sentenced to prison for violating terms of his probation for a drug conviction.

Jolly, 29, is serving an indefinite suspension from the NFL. His contract with the Packers ran out after the 2011 season.

The former Texas A&M star faced drug charges in Houston after his July 2008 arrest outside a club for possession of at least 200 grams of codeine. Jolly was then charged last year with possession of a compound containing codeine, a controlled substance, after a traffic stop in Houston in October. He also was charged with tampering with evidence for attempting to conceal the substance from the investigating officers.

Jolly was sentenced to six years in prison last November by State District Judge Denise Bradley. Jolly applied for “shock probation,” which allows convicts to ask to be released early on probation after experiencing the shock or trauma of being in jail.

Bradley gave Jolly the shock probation this week, along with 200 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay a $500 fine.

Jolly, who grew up in Houston, was a sixth-round draft pick of the Packers in 2006 after playing at Texas A&M. He was a starter for the Packers in 2008 and 2009. However, he sat out the 2010 season after being suspended by the NFL indefinitely the previous July.

He won a Lombardi Trophy in 2011. In 2012, he may be hoisting a trophy that would cause Lombardi to question what the hell’s going on out here.

Packers receiver Donald Driver, who may not be a Packer much longer, may soon by the next champion on Dancing with the Stars.

Driver’s push to the final three, where he’ll square off against two (more) people I’ve never heard of, continues the run of success by current and former football players on the show, with Emmitt Smith and Hines Ward winning and Jerry Rice, Jason Taylor, and Warren Sapp finishing in second place. (I had to look that up. Seriously, I did.)

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Pro Football Talk reports that former Packers DL Johnny Jolly is asking for an early release from prison – already.

Former Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly was sentenced to six years in a Texas prison just six months ago, but he is heading to court today asking to be released.

Jolly, who was arrested four times on charges related to illegal possession of codeine, is applying for “shock probation,” which in Texas is available to offenders who argue that the shock of spending some time in jail has been adequate to keep them on the straight and narrow. Jolly says he is simply an addict who needs treatment, not a danger to society.

“Once you get addicted to it, you’re in the mindset where you don’t think you going to get caught or you don’t feel like you’re going to get in trouble,” Jolly said, via KTRK in Houston. “And that’s just the drug talking to you.”

A 2006 sixth-round draft pick of the Packers, Jolly started all 32 games for the Packers in 2008 and 2009, but his drug arrests led to an indefinite league suspension. It’s unlikely that he’d ever play in the NFL again, although at age 29 he still has time to turn his life around and apply for reinstatement to the NFL, if he can get out of prison.

Not even a full day into his Packers career, first-round draft pick Nick Perry was asked if he knew that some fans already wonder if his pass-rush skills can make him something of a savior for the defense.

With new Packers players set to hit the practice field Friday afternoon for the team’s rookie minicamp, the same sentiment could apply to several other Packers draftees.

Hoping to patch some holes in one of the league’s leakiest defenses last season, Packers general manager Ted Thompson used his first six picks in last month’s NFL draft on defensive players.

Perry isn’t prepared to call himself a potential savior, saying he’ll “put my best foot forward to help the situation.”

“Jerron should be under contract by the time the (rookie) minicamp begins,” Toppin added.

McMillian, a safety from Maine, is expected to sign when he arrives in Green Bay on Thursday, the day before the rookie orientation camp begins.

After Director of Football Operations Reggie McKenzie left the team to become the Raiders’ General Manager, and hired Shaun Herock away from the club this week, the Packers will be restructuring their personnel department, Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.

According to McGinn, Eliot Wolf will “basically assume” McKenzie’s duties, while Brian Gutekunst is expected to replace Herock as the Assistant Director of College Scouting.

Wolf is the son of former Packers general manager Ron Wolf and has spent the last eight seasons in the Packers’ personnel department. Wolf’s involvement in the Packers’ drafts dates back to 1993. Gutekunst has been an area scout in the Packers organization since 1999.

McGinn also suggests that after losing McKenzie and Herock to the Raiders, Lenny McGill to the Denver Broncos and John Schneider to the Seattle Seahawks in the last few seasons, Packers general manager Ted Thompson could beef up the pro personnel department with an experience, free agent personnel executive. McGinn mentions Clyde Powers (Indianapolis), Bobby DePaul (Chicago) and Will Lewis, who spent three seasons with the Packers before joining Mike Holmgren with the Seahawks in 1999.

Lewis abruptly left the Seahawks organization in February, but was at the Scouting Combine in Indianapolis two weeks later.

Randy Colling, NT, Gannon

Dezman Moses, DE, Tulane

Dale Moss, WR, South Dakota State

Sean Richardson, S, Vanderbilt

Marcus Rivers, WR, Buffalo

Dion Turner, DB, Souther Utah

Marc Tyler, RB, USC

Needing a pass rusher for the other side of the defense the Pack got their man Nick Perry. Perry will lessen the burden of getting sacks on Matthews. Perry is also a play maker and will force turnovers. Something Green Bay will need after the release of safety Nick Collins. Green Bay defense should get a bit tougher with this pick.

Strengths

• Quick and fast off the edge and good hip bend to get around the corner
• Foot work and body control knows how to use his hands
• Good motor will chase plays down from behind
• Smart stay at home player
• Can play with his hand down or up

Weaknesses

• Undersized can be mulled by bigger lineman
• Must get better in coverage can get lost at times
• Will need more time to grown into an OLB in a 34 defense

It’s time to make your pick for the Green Bay Packers. Ted wants you’re decision, you’re in charge of the Packers. I am a little intrigued by the release of Nick Collins.  Does this mean Ted Thompson has a safety like Mark Baron from Alabama on his wish list? I’ll be excited for the draft tomorrow that’s for sure. It could be very interesting.

Here it goes, my pick for the 2012 NFL draft. The Green Bay Packers select: Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State – McClellin is the smart move here. The Packers can move Woodson to safety, or grab a safety later in the draft. The Packers learned the hard way without a pass rush, it places too much pressure on the coverage unit.

Packer fans you’re pick is? Go Pack!