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I can't believe this.

Kurt Schottenheimer will lead defensive backs

...Schottenheimer, 56, coached the Packers' secondary in 2004 along with Washington but was fired after the season by coach Mike Sherman.

In 2004, the Packers allowed a club-record 33 touchdown passes and a club-record opponent's passer rating of 99.1. They ranked 25th in yards allowed under coordinator Bob Slowik, 25th in passing yards allowed (228.9) and had just eight interceptions, establishing another club record for futility.

Rookie Ahmad Carroll had a brutal season and, along with Al Harris, drew an excessive number of penalties. Moreover, the safety tandem of Darren Sharper and Mark Roman played poorly as well.

The Packers started Michael Hawthorne at left cornerback ahead of Carroll in the first five games. The Rams signed Hawthorne as a free agent during the off-season and started him at free safety early in '05 before he was benched for lousy performance and subsequently waived.

Several sources said Schottenheimer also played an instrumental role in the Packers' selection of cornerback Joey Thomas in the third round in '04. Thomas was waived Nov. 2.