The Green Bay Packers very nearly gave up on Mason Crosby after making 63.6 percent of his field goals last season and then missing five of eight attempts during the team's annual Family Night scrimmage.

Crosby has made 17 of his 19 field goal attempts this season and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

“I like exactly where he is now,” Packers special teams coach Shawn Slocum said recently. “He’s really striking the ball well. I think he’s got a lot of confidence. His volume of work has been really good.” 

Crosby battled for his job against two challengers and also accepted a $1.6 million pay cut with the opportunity to make it back through incentives.

Jimmy Graham has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Month.

Graham caught 27 balls for 458 yards and six touchdowns.

No tight end had ever previously been named Player of the Month.