National Football League

Packers LB Bishop to prove he's learned from wait

Published Oct. 29, 2010 7:27 p.m. ET

foxsports

Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop is making the most of a second chance to be a starter.

Bishop started one game in 2008 after Nick Barnett went out with an injury, but didn't get a chance to finish the season as the starter. Last season, he remained a star on special teams but rarely got chances on defense, contributing just 14 tackles all year.

''It was some hard times and I had doubts,'' Bishop said. ''I just felt like a caged lion and then sometimes I was thinking, 'Well, maybe I'm not a lion. Maybe I'm a koala bear or something.'''

But Bishop listened to teammates who told him to stay patient and stick with it.

Barnett landed on injured reserve on Oct. 15 after wrist surgery on Oct. 13, and Bishop found himself in the middle of one of the biggest plays in the Packers' 28-24 victory over the Vikings.

Midway through the third quarter, Bishop was in the right spot at the right time when a scrambling Brett Favre fired to his left. Bishop intercepted the former Packers quarterback and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown that gave Green Bay a 28-17 lead.

Bishop said he's kept the ball and hopes he'll get a signature on it one day.

''I wonder if Brett would sign it for me? That'd be awesome,'' he said.

Bishop is in his fourth year after working through a shoulder injury as a rookie and an ailing Achilles' tendon in his second season to keep his roster spot. He's been healthy, something welcome for a defensive unit that's missing four starters and has eight players already on injured reserve.

''With Desmond's situation, it's been more injuries, and having been challenged on, now you have your opportunity that you've been waiting for,'' inside linebackers coach Winston Moss said. ''Bishop has had a bigger challenge to come in and be a starter in that he's replacing someone, and he has to step up. So far, so good.''

Packers coach Mike McCarthy believes that Bishop probably thought he was ready for more action earlier in his career. McCarthy said he's certainly comfortable with his expanded role now.

''Desmond is making a lot of plays out there, very productive, and that (interception return) was obviously a huge impact play in the game,'' McCarthy said.

Bishop believes he's far from done improving, and that his body has adjusted to playing more than just a few plays each game. He's also more comfortable with his position after learning what he said were five different positions at one point in his career. More importantly, he's gotten over his moments of doubts.

''I just felt like it was me against the world,'' Bishop said. ''Not being able to get the opportunity was everybody's fault. I was angry at times, but at the same time, I kept my faith and I was having tons of fun with special teams. I was just waiting in the wings, waiting for my opportunities.''

And while he flubbed his first chance a little in 2008, he's been patient for the current opportunity that he'll likely keep through the rest of the season.

''When I go out there and practice and I go to practice against arguably some of the best offensive players in the league and I held my own at practice, that gave me the confidence that you know, maybe, I can do this, I am a lion,'' Bishop said. ''The opportunities that I did have, I tried to take advantage of those and I pretty much felt like I could play at this level.''