Byline: Jason Wilde Wisconsin State Journal
GREEN BAY -- As Edgar Bennett cleaned out his office Friday afternoon and prepared to move upstairs among the rest of the Green Bay Packers' coaches, he knew part of him was going to miss his cramped, dark quarters adjacent to the players' lounge near the Packers' locker room.
'You know what? I like my office,' Bennett said after coach Mike Sherman promoted him to running backs coach earlier in the day. 'I will have a window now, but I enjoy being down here close to the guys. I will miss that.'
It's that closeness Bennett has with the players -- it was developed during three seasons as the team's director of player development -- that Sherman believes will make him an excellent position coach. Bennett, who was also working as an unofficial assistant running backs coach, replaces Johnny Roland, who resigned this week to coach the New Orleans Saints' running backs.
'Working that director of player programs job (the original title of Bennett's position) and developing that relationship and that trust with the players, he did such an outstanding job in that role,' Sherman said. 'And, he had the wherewithal to want to be on the field coaching. A lot of guys would have been overwhelmed just with the player programs job, but he did both.'
Sherman said he wanted Bennett to get another year of experience working under Roland, a veteran position coach in the mold of former running backs coach Sylvester Croom, before giving him the position.
'I went with Johnny last year simply because I wanted Edgar to learn some more, and Johnny had been in league so long,' Sherman said. 'I think Edgar is ready.'
Bennett, who played seven of his nine NFL seasons with the Packers and will be inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame this summer, said he was disappointed but understood being passed over for the job last year. He said Sherman told him he was too valuable in his player development role, in which he helped players with their continuing college educations, after-football internship work and other day-to-day life issues.
Bennett, who turns 36 Feb.15, retired from playing in 2000 and should relate well with his running backs. One former teammate, fullback William Henderson, is still on the team, while another, Dorsey Levens, will play in Super Bowl XXXIX next Sunday with Philadelphia.
But Bennett's knowledge of the game and commitment to the franchise -- he was selected out of Florida State in the fourth round of the 1992 NFL draft -- shouldn't be underestimated.
'I always looked at myself as one of those guys that was attention to detail, a student of the game -- you hear terms like that,' Bennett said. 'But the bottom line is, I love football. I love this game, and I love this organization.'
Fisher re-signed
Restricted free-agent running back Tony Fisher has signed a one-year contract extension, a team source confirmed. Fisher's deal is reportedly worth $660,000 and includes a $200,000 signing bonus.
