clarinews@clarinet.com (02/03/90)
GREEN BAY, Wis. (UPI) -- Green Bay Packers coach Lindy Infante said Friday it was not easy choosing which 37 players to protect under the Plan B free agency system but he wasn't about to give any explanations for the selections. ``I don't want to go into which players were difficiult decisions and which ones were not,'' he said in a telephone news conference from Indianapolis, where he is attending the NFL workouts of college players. ``We made decisions based on what we think were the best decisions that we could make. I'm not going to go into the individual whys and wherefores. There was not a plaeyr that was put out there where it was an easy decision. Each of them have their own reasons for being difficult to put out there.'' The biggest surprise among protected players probably was center Blair Bush because Bush recently said he planned to retire. But Infante said Bush claims the announcement was premature and wants to play again. ``Blair Bush never told me he was going to retire,'' said Infante, who expects Bush back next season. Safety Ken Stills probably was the biggest surprise on the list of 16 unprotected players, who now can negotiate with other clubs until April 1. Stills, a fifth-year pro who was a product of the University of Wisconsin, started all 16 games for the Packers and recorded 43 tackles. Two other starters also were left unprotected -- cornerback Dave Brown, 37, who led the team in interceptions, and punter Don Bracken. The Packers feel because of Brown's age and his contract, other teams are likely to bypass him as a free agent selection. One of the 16 unprotected players is linebacker John Anderson, who is retiring, and others include wide receiver Aubrey Matthews, tight ends Clint Didier and John Spagnola, offensive linemen Billy Ard and Keith Uecker, quarterback Blair Kiel, nose tackle Jerry Boyarsky and linebackers Mike Weddington and John Dorsey. The club lost eight players last year and Infante said he is not sure how many players may be taken this time. However he said he has talked to a few of the players and they want to return to the Packers if they do not work out a deal with another team. Even though the Packers may lose some players they can try to strengthen the team by picking up free agents left unprotected by other teams. ``There are some interesting names on (the free agent list), no doubt about it,'' said Infante, ``but the first thing you have to do is find out why they're on there.''