It has been learned that on April 24, 12-year-old David Witthoft wore a red shirt to school, instead of the Brett Favre jersey he had worn for the previous 1,581 days.
The Green Bay Press-Gazette wrote:
“His last day wearing the jersey was April 23, which was his 12th birthday,” Chuck Witthoft, David’s father, said from their Ridgefield, Conn., home on Monday. “It was tough for him for awhile but now that he’s 12, he is a little more concerned about his appearance. And the jersey barely came down to his beltline.”
This is the perfect example of what puberty does to sports fans. All of a sudden it’s cooler for kids to wear band shirts instead of jerseys. I went through that phase. On a similar note, I have also had the same Favre jersey for the past five years, and although it is rather small, it is lucky.
Witthoft is rather famous too:
David Witthoft gained national attention in 2005 when it was disclosed that he wore his Favre jersey every day since it was given to him at Christmas 2003. He gave radio, newspaper and television interviews about the streak. He also received a card from the now-former Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre.
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinal offered another opinion from Mr. Witthoft:
David’s father, Chuck Witthoft, said that his son’s last day wearing the jersey was April 23 on his 12th birthday. Witthoft conceded his son started to become concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line.
I have to admit, when the Packers selected Jordy Nelson with their first pick (36th overall) in the 2008 NFL Draft, I scratched my head. My colleague from FanNation, League of Shadows said what seemed best at the time on the PackerNation message board:
They took a white receiver with their first pick. Kill me now.
However, League, it might not be that bad. Just look at what Nelson did to Aqib Talib, the 20th overall draft choice to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
Is that enough for you? The man can fly. This punt return against the Texas Longhorns shows his skill as well:
Jordy Nelson is one of the most interesting prospects of the draft. His coming-from-no where rise combined with his unique skill set makes him a rare talent. Nelson grew up in rural Kansas and upon joining the team earned the nickname, “The Hick From the Sticks.” He was not offered a scholarship to play anywhere he desired, so he walked on at nearby Kansas State as a defensive back. There, he did anything he could to get noticed, including playing defensive end on the scout team. Former Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder asked Nelson to switch to wide receiver before the 2005 season, his sophomore year. This was a logical decision, as Nelson had been a state champion in the 100, 200, and 400 meters in high school. His first two years at wide receiver were not that fruitful for Nelson, but 2007 was a breakout year.
Particularly last year as a senior. In 2007, Nelson earned consensus All-American honors with 122 receptions for 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns. The reception and yardage totals both set school records, while the number of catches also set a Big 12 Conference mark and the yardage number ranks second in league history.
Nelson’s consistency was reflected in catching eight or more passes in 10 of 12 games, and 10 or more passes six times. He also topped 100 yards eight times, and in three of the other four games, he had at least 90.
Nelson also briefly describes his unique skill set, a combination of size (6-3, 217) and speed (4.4-4.5):
“That’s something I’ve developed over my years at K-State, being able to make a couple guys miss right off the bat and get vertical,” Nelson said. “That’s something I focus on a lot.
“I try to get what I can right away, not waste any time, and I think at the next level where the speed is even faster than what it is in college, that’s real important not to waste a lot of time dancing around, and just get vertical and get the ball north and south.”
The scout who seems to be the most responsible for the drafting of Nelson on Day 1 is Lenny McGill. McGill seems confident that although Nelson’s 4.5 40-yard dash time dropped the Kansas State product below some other receivers, his game will not be hindered at the next level:
“When you’re 6-2, 220 pounds you don’t have to run 4.4 or 4.3,” McGill said. “The important thing about him is he has functional quickness. Very few receivers run a legitimate 4.3, 4.4 in the NFL. 4.5 is running, and when you’re 6-2 and as big as this kid is, I think 4.5 is good enough speed.
“One thing about him is he lined up in the Big 12 Conference against pretty good competition, and week in, week out the kid made plays. Whether his timed speed was 4.5, when he lined up against some of these top corners, he had no problems getting open and beating them, so I think his speed won’t be an issue.”
When I first heard that Nelson was drafted as the Packers’ first pick, I was confused. Aaron Rodgers already has Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones as his top three receivers, while Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin are competent. I was even more confused when I looked at the wide receivers who were still on the board when Nelson was drafted: James Hardy (to the Buffalo Bills), Jerome Simpson (to the Cincinnati Bengals), DeSean Jackson (to the Philadelphia Eagles), Malcolm Kelly (to the Washington Redskins), and Limas Sweed (to the Pittsburgh Steelers).
Earlier this year, I advocated the drafting of Hardy from Indiana. After the Packers were destroyed by Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game, the idea that getting a big wide receiver of their own could counteract another big wide receiver more than finding a 6-4 cornerback (good luck) was put into my head. Hardy’s freakish size (6-7, 220) would have provided space for the speed receivers the Packers have. Anyway, that did not happen.
The fact that the front office passed on Simpson and Jackson is fine with me as I know nothing of Simpson except for the fact that any player the Bengals draft has to be a bit questionable and I think of Jackson as nothing more than a glorified return man. I would have also given Kelly and Sweed the benefit of the doubt over Nelson as well.
To prove me wrong, however, Ted Thompson has made some great choices in past drafts. When Jennings was drafted in 2006, I was a bit quizzical. I had no clue who he was except he was the best player on Western Michigan on NCAA Football 2005. However, I soon discovered the player he was. The same goes for Jones. Who drafts a wide receiver from San Jose State on the first day? Thompson apparently. And it was a great pick. The other wide receiver whom Thompson picked on the first day of the draft was Terrence Murphy out of Texas A&M in 2005. Unfortunately for Packers fans everywhere, Murphy was hit with a career-ending neck injury three games into his NFL career and was forced to retire.
Because of Thompson’s drafting history with wide receivers I have faith. CBSSports’ Dennis Doddwrote a great article profiling Nelson the week before the draft and that article definitely needs to be read. Nelson seems to be a high character guy that can make the Packers a better team.
The Green Bay Packers seventh-round draft-pick, wide receiver Brett Swain, is drawing comparisons to the New England Patriots juggernaut Wes Welker. This article from PackersNews.com describes Swain’s potential that he could realize.
GM Ted Thompson seems pretty high on him:
“He’s a little bit taller and bigger than Welker, though I’m not trying to compare him. Wes Welker is an outstanding professional football player,” Thompson said. “(But Swain) is a very good route runner, he’s very good at understanding where he is in space, understanding when he’s open, when he’s not, how to run routes, how to set up defenders. The more tape we watched, the more we liked him. We think he’s got a chance.”
Swain gives his props to Welker:
“Wes Welker has done wonders for guys like me getting drafted and getting guys more looks,” Swain said this weekend during a break in the Packers’ rookie orientation camp. “Before Wes Welker (it was like), ‘Who’s that white kid from San Diego State?’ Well, Wes Welker kind of put us on the map.”
The draft pick from San Diego State seems like he will do whatever it takes to make the team, including playing special teams:
“That’s a way I can get my foot in the door and learn behind all the great receivers they have here,” Swain said. “I made that a point to the special-teams coaches. If I’m not a returner, make me something else. Get me down there making tackles. I want to do anything I possibly can to help this team.”
I am sorry for my brief absence from blogging here. I had to put my blogging life on hold, as I was busy with track championships, a spring concert, my band playing a show, and the fact I have an AP test on Friday (European history is extremely boring). During my absence the Packers made many moves that I failed to report here. So to catch up, the Packers made some of the following moves:
On April 25, retired(?) quarterback Brett Favre was placed on the reserve/retired list. This gives the Packers an extra roster spot and frees up some cap space for the team.
Also on April 25, the Packers released offensive linemen Tony Palmer, Chris Patrick, and Cliff Washburn. These moves were primarily for freeing up roster space before the NFL Draft.
The day after the draft ended, April 28, backup quarterbacks Jerry Babb and Dalton Bell were released, due to the drafting of Matt Flynn and Brian Brohm. Punter Ryan Dougherty was also waived, making Jon Ryan’s job seem even more secure.
On Friday, May 2, the Packers announced the signings of 11 undrafted free agents:
Tai Smith, WR, Syracuse
Ken DeBauche, P, Wisconsin
Jake Allen, WR, Mississippi College
Rod Harper, WR, Murray State
Kregg Lumpkin, RB, Georgia
Marcus Riley, LB, Fresno State
J.J. Jansen, LS, Notre Dame
Mike Peterson, TE, Northwest Missouri State
Joey Haynos, TE, Maryland
Danny Lansanah, LB, Connecticut
Brennan Carvalho, C, Portland State
Many of these rookies do have opportunities to impact the roster, most likely DeBauche, Jansen, and Haynos.
In other news, the Packers rank fourth in ESPN The Magazine’s “Ultimate Standings.” The standings are based on comprehensive fan satisfaction and the Packers were back in the top ten for the first time since 2005. The first year of the rankings, 2003, the Packers ranked number one and in the following years ranked number three and number four, before dropping to number 30 in 2006. They rose back up to number 23 in 2007, and Favre’s final season put them back up No. 4. Coincidence? The Packers rank behind the Indianapolis Colts, San Antonio Spurs, and New Orleans Hornets in the rankings.
Also stirring up some controversy, former Packers safety LeRoy Butler went on a local Green Bay television station and said that Favre wants to come back and could come back with a division rival. Yes, that’s right, Brett Favre could be suiting up for the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears, or Minnesota Vikings. Now, if this happened, the hospitals in Green Bay would have some space issues with all the people coming in with various self-inflicted injuries. Not to mention the grief counselors would need their own grief counselors. I know I’d cry. So basically, Brett, don’t do it. Period.
I have already gone over Day 1 of the NFL Draft for the Green Bay Packers, which now gives me a chance to try my hand at Day 2.
Round 3 - Pick 91: Jermichael Finley, TE, Texas. The Packers filled a great need at the tight end position in the third round on the second day. Finley is athletic, although he only played 26 games in his college career. The most intriguing fact about Finley is that he was a high school basketball star. Ted Thompson and the Packers hope that Finley can follow in the footsteps of such tight ends as Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates.
Round 4 - Pick 102: Jeremy Thompson, DE, Wake Forest.
Thompson was a do-it-all player at Wake Forest and the Packers are hoping that he can come in and provide depth for the defensive line. The departure of Corey Williams to Cleveland means that Cullen Jenkins will have more play inside so Thompson will allow Jenkins that flexibility.
Round 4 - Pick 135: Josh Sitton, OG, Central Florida.
Sitton spent his college career blocking for the leading rusher in the NCAA in 2007, Kevin Smith, a third-round pick of the Detroit Lions. Smith ran for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns behind Sitton and the Knight offensive line in 2007 alone. Sitton will also add depth to the offensive line which struggled on the interior in 2007.
Round 5 - Pick 150: Breno Giacomini, OT, Louisville.
Giacomini provides a Louisville connection in Green Bay with fellow Cardinal Brian Brohm, a second-round pick. The Cardinals offense was one of the most prolific in the NCAA while Brohm was a 10,000-yard passer. The drafting of Giacomini provides depth for aging tackles Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton. However, Giacomini is not exactly the long term successor for Tauscher and Clifton that Green Bay needs.
Round 7 - Pick 209: Matt Flynn, QB, LSU.
The second quarterback taken by the Packers in the draft, Flynn spent four of his five college years backing up Marcus Randall and JaMarcus Russell, a former No. 1 pick by the Oakland Raiders. In his first and only season as the full-time starter (even then, he saw extreme competition from Ryan Perriloux), Flynn led the Tigers to a BCS National Championship. His raw physical skills are rather questionable, but he has fought through quarterback competition before and is battle-tested. He should work to push Brohm, who is pushing Aaron Rodgers.
Round 7 - Pick 217: Brett Swain, WR, San Diego State.
In adding another WR to the stable, GM Thompson creates a surplus at the position. Could trades for more picks, offensive line help, or defensive backfield help be in the works? Anyway, Swain had a career season for San Diego State in 2007. He is rather small, but has good speed and will create competition. I had it right in my draft predictions that Green Bay would draft someone from San Diego State; I just picked the wrong guy. The Packers should have picked Kevin O’Connell, a third-round pick of the New England Patriots, instead of Brohm and Flynn. But that’s just my opinion.
Profiles of each draft pick are coming soon. Hopefully.
I missed a lot of the Packers draft, but here are my thoughts on the class of the first day.
Due to the confusing nature of trades involving draft picks, I am just going to list the picks and a quick analysis into each. Later, I will go through and profile each one.
Round 2 - Pick 36: Jordy Nelson, WR, Kansas State.
I was not thinking WR here. I was one of the of the many Packers fans out there feeling a little confused about this pick. However, Nelson is a great pick. He was the model of consistency at Kansas State during his senior season. In his senior season, Nelson caught 122 passes for 1,606 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was named a consensous All-American and was rewarded with this high pick acquired from the New York Jets.
Round 2 - Pick 56: Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville.
Another bit of a shocker here. Brohm held many Big East records at Louisville and would have probably been a Top 5 pick last year if he had left after his senior season. Bringing Brohm into the equation for quarterback creates quite the situation involving Aaron Rodgers. Hopefully, Brohm will be able to push Rodgers or become an adequate backup.
Round 2 - Pick 60: Patrick Lee, CB, Auburn.
Many people had the Packers drafting a corner long before this, but Nelson and Brohm were better players on the board at that point, so the much anticipated drafting of a cornerback had to wait until the second round. Lee is big and physical and provides the needed size for the secondary.
Day 1 Analysis
Overall, Day 1 for the Packers was not that impressive. The Packers drafted a WR, something they do not exactly need with already having Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones, Koren Robinson, and Ruvell Martin. Nelson will be a great WR in the future, but it will be hard for him to find playing time.
The pick of a quarterback was also a little questionable. Brohm was regarded as a Top 10 talent at the beginning of the season. In my opinion, the Packers should have waited until the third round and draft Kevin O’Connell. O’Connell went to the New England Patriots in the third round. Brohm will provide insurance for Rodgers and help push him to perform better, which is a plus.
I am very impressed with the Lee pick. I was hoping the Packers would not jump the gun and pick a CB in the first round, which could signal a repeat of the Ahmad Carroll debacle. Lee has good size and will be a help to the secondary. He can push Jarrett Bush and potentially become the nickel back out of training camp.
I’ve heard a lot of things about who the Packers in the first round and such. Most people are saying cornerback. I say no. Remember Ahmad Carroll? Corner is way to risky, and the Packers do not particularly need a bust. So I am going through pick-by-pick to state what the Packers need to draft at that pick and then who they should draft. Enjoy.
Finally, John Madden will get to achieve one of his life-long dreams: putting our Brett Favre on the cover of his video game, Madden ‘09. This will be the first time that a retired player has been featured on the cover of the legendary video game. The question now is: Will Brett be cursed?
Since Madden NFL 99 was released, the cover athlete has seen a rash of injuries or performance decline.
Featured athletes: Garrison Hearst (1999) Dorsey Levens (2000) Eddie George (2001) Daunte Culpepper (2002) Marshall Faulk (2003) Michael Vick (2004) Ray Lewis (2005) Donovan McNabb (2006) Shaun Alexander (2007) Vince Young (2008)
It remains whether Favre will be cursed or if it is possible for him to be cursed.
All I know is that I’m going to be out there and I am going to blow $50 on something I don’t particularly need.
1. Miami Dolphins - Jake Long, Michigan. It’s already been announced, so not much else to say here. $30 million guaranteed.
2. St. Louis Rams - Vernon Gholston, LB/DE, Ohio State. Gholston’s versatility would provide much help to a unit that struggled last year. The freak-athlete is one of the risers in the draft
3. Atlanta Falcons - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College. The team is starting over this year with a new coach and new running back. A new quarterback would help make that transition. As much as I do not think Ryan will be a good NFL quarterback, he will at least be adequate and his hype should make him the third pick.
4. Oakland Raiders - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. Al Davis needs to take some defense here or something, but the man likes his toys and gets another one in McFadden.
5. Kansas City Chiefs - Chris Williams, T, Vanderbilt. A lot of people have Ryan Clady down in this spot, but I think that Williams stock is rising and that the Chiefs need to build a strong offensive line before they can concentrate on any of the other skill positions.
6. New York Jets - Chris Long, DE, Virginia. The Jets count their blessings that Long falls all the way down. He should make an impact on a defense that is a beat weak at defensive end and outside linebacker.
7. New England Patriots (From 49ers) - Leodis McKelvin, CB, Troy. I do not like McKelvin going here. But the Patriots need a corner, so they are going to take one.
8. Baltimore Ravens - Jeff Otah, T, Pittsburgh. Jonathon Ogden is nearing retirement and if the Ravens want whoever is their quarterback to be successful, they will need some offensive line help. Otah provides that.
9. Cincinnati Bengals - Sedrick Ellis, DT, USC. The Bengals need defense, plain and simple. No way around that.
10. New Orleans Saints - Mike Jenkins, CB, USF. Kind of like the above one. Randall Gay is not the answer at corner. This is pretty high for Jenkins, but the Saints desperately NEED a corner.
11. Buffalo Bills - Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State. A lot of people have this pick, but I’m not that sure it will happen. Thomas is a reach at No. 11. However, the Bills needs a WR to complement Lee Evans, so Thomas can be that guy.
12. Denver Broncos - Ryan Clady, T, Boise State. The Broncos need to reload their offensive line and Clady, with great foot speed, will be a key to that goal for the Broncos.
13. Carolina Panthers - Derrick Harvey, DE, Florida. With the retirement of Mike Rucker, Harvey becomes his replacement at Lucky No. 13.
14. Chicago Bears - Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Illinois. Cedric Benson has been a glaring bust at running back, so the addition of Mendenhall would provide a good complement and hopefully give Benson something to work for.
15. Detroit Lions -Keith Rivers, LB, USC. Teaming Rivers with Ernie Sims would give the Lions a great linebacking corps in the black and blue NFC North.
16. Arizona Cardinals - Jonathon Stewart, RB, Oregon. Edgerrin James is turning 30, aka reaching the end. Stewart, despite his toe injury, is a first round talent and should be able to take over the reins.
17. Minnesota Vikings (to Chiefs) - Phillip Merling, DE, Clemson. With the departure of Jared Allen, the Chiefs bring in Merling to replace him.
18. Houston Texans - Branden Albert, G, Virginia. The Texans offensive line has been the Achilles’ heel of their offense for years. Finally, the Texans have a reliable quarterback and receiver duo. The only thing to make them better is consistent offensive line play. Albert can bring that.
19. Philadelphia Eagles - Limas Sweed, WR, Texas. The deep threat the Eagles have been looking for is here. Sweed is big and will be a great complement to Kevin Curtis, giving Donovan McNabb more weapons and making the Eagles offense more dangerous.
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DeSean Jackson, WR, California. Joey Galloway is old. Michael Clayton is a bust. So they bring in Jackson, who should fall past the Eagles. Jackson is a bit overrated but will help be a spark for the offense.
21. Washington Redskins - Malcolm Kelly, WR, Oklahoma. I know, three wide receivers in a row, but the Redskins will draft Kelly. The Redskins have failed in getting Ocho Cinco and other dangerous WRs, so the Redskins will go with the next best thing in Kelly. There have been questions about his speed, but the Redskins desire his size more than his speed.
22. Dallas Cowboys (From Browns) - Felix Jones, RB, Arkansas. Jerry Jones desperately wants a fellow Razorback, and if he can’t get McFadden, he will gladly take Jones.
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - Sam Baker, G, USC. The Steelers need to replace Alan Faneca, so drafting Baker makes a logical choice.
24. Tennessee Titans - James Hardy, WR, Indiana. Vince Young needs weapons. Hardy is big, fast and strong. He would also be a good fit for Green Bay. But that won’t happen.
25. Seattle Seahawks - Kentwan Balmer, DT, North Carolina. I really have no clue who Kentwan Balmer is, but all I know is that he is one of the top DTs in the draft and that Seattle needs a DT.
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - Calais Campbell, DE, Miami. Jacksonville lost some DL-depth with the departure of Marcus Stroud, so adding another DL should be a big help to the Jags.
27. San Diego Chargers - Quentin Groves, DE, Auburn. San Diego needs a defensive end that can get to the quarterback and Groves can provide a rush.
28. Dallas Cowboys - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. The Cowboys do have Pacman, yes, I realized that, but adding a top-flight corner here would allow the Cowboys to not reach for a WR and instead take one in the second round.
29. San Francisco 49ers (From Colts) - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State. Nate Clements was alone on an island last year, which did not help San Fran at all. Adding DCR will shore up the weak 49ers defense.
30. Green Bay Packers - Gosder Cherilus, T, Boston College. The Packers will NOT and SHOULD NOT draft a CB here. Remember Ahmad Carroll? Yeah, exactly. Cherilus provides a successor at one of the tackle positions, something Green Bay desperately needs.
FORFEITED
31. New York Giants - Kenny Phillips, S, Miami. Gibril Wilson is gone, so replace him. That simple.
A while ago, I said I was going to do the Packers Position Profiles series. I tried. And got through offensive line. However, with the draft on Saturday, band practice looming tomorrow evening, and a track meet during the draft (NOOOOOOOOOOO!), I cannot finish them. I am sorry to anyone who was desperately awaiting their unveiling. Sorry dudes.
That being said, I will attempt to post a whole mock draft tomorrow, along with an exclusively Packers mock draft. Stay tuned.
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