Jclombardi reviews Packers offseason headlines.

Kampman leaving:  Florida Times-Union reported late Saturday night that the Jacksonville Jaguars had agreed to terms on a contract with the former Green Bay Packers linebacker.

Clifton returning: Espn. com reported Friday evening that Clifton, an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a three-year, $20 million contract that included $7.5 million of guaranteed money.

NFL’s salary caps end: The rules for free agency changed because the owners decided to opt out of the current collective bargaining agreement, setting up a final year in which no salary cap and the requirements for unrestricted free agency go up to six years.

Bears make big moves to compete in NFC:  Bears signed all-pro DE Peppers and RB Taylor and blocking TE Manumaleuna. By landing one of the league’s top pass rushers and a running back to challenge incumbent Forte, Chicago showed just how serious it is about contending in the NFC. 

Packers cut Montgomery and Giordano:  Packers cut DE Montgomery and safety Giordano.

Favre watch: Favre tells Leno, “I’m just not going to say anything anytime soon.” 

Jclombardi reviews Packers tender offers.

The Packers announced offers to all restricted free agents who will receive tenders including safety Bigby (2nd), cornerback Blackmon (right of first refusal), guard Colledge (2nd) , safety Collins (1st & 3rd) , defensive end Jolly, offensive lineman Spitz (2nd), fullback Kuhn (right of first refusal), and cornerback Williams (1st). Also, the Packers announced that tight end Havner got a year offer as an exclusive-rights free agent. Days ago, S Martin was signed to a two year contract extension. Meanwhile, without offers, running back Wynn and punter Kapinos are free agents to go elsewhere.

Jclombardi previews Packers 2010 draft.

Returning from a long tour trip on the road, I am back with 2010 Draft Day preview to help fans get beyond the nauseating carp reported about the combine. The “I got press pass to the combine and join me” wannabes bloggers, “nickel and dime” GM TT, and “classy” Packers press are laughable examples, but it’s time to get quality views about the potential scenarios for draft day.

The Packers have predictable draft needs in several positions listing the top six picks available:

LEFT TACKLE: TOP CHOICES 

COMMENTARY: “Okung is top 10 and Williams and Davis are top 20,” another AFC scout said. “Bulaga is maybe top 20. It’s an excellent, an outstanding group of tackles.” Another view: Veldheer, Division II player from Hillsdale College who finished among the top 10 offensive linemen in all five tests…and measured in at the combine at 6-feet-8 1/8 and 312 pounds, came into the weekend as probably a late second-round to third-round prospect.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY: If available, the Pack may take pass rusher OLB Hughes at 53. Another view–“a few Packers fans with visions of Michigan’s Graham, possibly the top-rated outside linebacker in the draft, going to the Packers at No. 23 and lining up opposite Matthews for years to come.”  Another view–Morgan, Georgia Tech (6-3, 266), one of the best pass rushers in this draft. Pierre-Paul, South Florida (6-5, 270), probably more physically talented than Morgan and Graham.

CORNERBACK: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY:  In all probability, eight cornerbacks or more will be taken in the first three rounds.   If available, the Pack may take either physical Warren or return specialist Cox. “Ideally, Harris rebounds from his injury, Blackmon recovers to reclaim his return job and serve as an emergency corner in sub packages, and Lee [or replacement serves] to back up Williams as the nickel back.”

SAFETY: TOP CHOICES

COMMENTARY: Some experts pick the Pack to take a solid safety prospect like S Mays from USC. 

Punters–COMMENTARY: With the Packers looking at punters, especially in the later rounds, the available choices include Dodge from East Carolina or Mesko from Michigan.

Who the Packers talked to at the combine, so far:

• Return specialist Holliday, LSU
• Punter Dodge, East Carolina
• Tackle Black, LSU
• Punter Mesko, Michigan
• Tackle Veldheer, Hillsdale College
• Cornerback Cox, Oklahoma State

Next week, I contribute to a mock draft. I’ll let you know the mock draft’s results for the Packers. 

Jclombardi updates Favre watch.

The Neverending Story: Key dates in Brett Favre’s retirement choices, from 2002 to the present.

Update: According to his brother Scott, Favre sustained injuries to wrists, ankles, & one leg and having his head bruised in the NFC title game. “He was beat all to hell,” said Scott, adding that he doesn’t think Brett has made a decision on retirement yet. Scott also believes it will be difficult for his brother to walk away because of his special bond with Rice, Harvin, and Peterson.

NBC VIDEO: FAVRE CAN TAKE HIS TIME.

Jclombardi’s update about Packers going to Pro Bowl.

With Saints QB Brees heading to the Super Bowl, Packers QB Rodgers will probably be the starting quarterback for the NFC in the Pro Bowl.  In other Pro Bowl news, LB Matthews travels to the Pro Bowl along with S Collins. All-pro CB Woodson has decided not to participate due to injuries. The game is on ESPN Sunday January 31st at 4:30 pm CST. 

Jclombardi reviews Vikings loss win & iconic NFL QB Favre’s future.

Senior Writer Jclombardi

Summary: For the 2009 Season, legendary NFL QB Favre will not be going to the Superbowl. The Saints battered Favre and beat the Minnesota Vikings 31-28 in overtime on K Hartley’s 40 yard field goal. The Vikings should have easily won the NFC Championship, but they gave the game away with 6 fumbles (Fumble-aya!), 5 turnovers, & two costly penalties, although they outgained New Orleans’ explosive offense 475-257. True, iconic Favre is human Favre committing that late-game interception in regulation. Yet, contrary to the classy Packers press (playing both sides of the Favre story for ratings) claiming “Oops, Same Old Favre” headlines, the Vikings beat themselves with TE Shiancoe saying, ”We beat ourselves. We made a lot of plays, but we left a lot of plays out there.” However, the ultimate responsibility for the loss rests with HC Childress and his clock management, especially in the final 2:37 in the game. Before you chastise Favre for his gaffe, remember that the Vikings are likely golfing on Sunday were it not for the season he had. In the end, bad Brett cost the Vikings, but Childress’ poor clock management put the quarterback in a position to fail.

Video Highlights:

Favre the Ol’ Gunslinger: “Favre is as addicted to risk and chance as a poker player is to chasing the big score. Until now, that addiction was harnessed. Then it returned at the most inopportune moment like a filthy beast.”

Espn’s haunting view of Favre: Tilting At Windmills–Favre’s journey to the Super Bowl was an impossible dream after all, thanks to another inevitable interception by the mad, idealistic knight. Still, ’twas a beautiful finale. The Inevitable Truth–Favre’s late INT was maddening for Vikings fans, but not shocking. The more Favre plays, the more he seems destined for such endings. 

Espn’s mythic view of Favre: And It Came To Pass-Favre felled by his fatal flaw-As foretold in the prophecies, Favre was undone by a fatal flaw. In two of the past three seasons, Favre has lost in the NFC Championship Game. Each time, his team seemed poised to win at the end; each time, Favre’s final play was a disastrous interception. And each of those title losses eventually came in overtime — to punish Favre for his hamartia, twice the football gods allowed him to come so close, then denied him.

Espn’s balanced view of Favre: Lasting & Painful Memory for Favre–Favre’s second interception was a killer. It deprived the Vikings of a 55-yard field goal attempt.  Blame Favre, if you want, but remember there aren’t enough fingers to point at all the Vikings who screwed up Sunday. If this was the end for Favre, he has zilch to apologize for. The Vikings wouldn’t have reached the NFC Championship Game without him.  He was the best player on a really good team at 40.  Later, he left the makeshift stage and walked very slowly down a stadium corridor to meet his family. You got the feeling that it might be the last walk down one of these corridors he ever makes.”

Future: Now, the Favre Watch begins into the coming 2010 NFL Season. Farewell for now. Now What? Favre was forthright with ESPN’s Ed Werder saying it was highly unlikely that he would play football again. FOX’s Jay Glazer reported that Favre’s teammates expect him to retire.

Hall-of-fame Future: How best to sum up a Hall of Fame career. Decisions–the good has outweighed the bad. He has placed his name in the conversation for Greatest Quarterbacks Of All Time. Where does he rank? I’d definitely have Favre in the Top 10, maybe Top 5. What’s left for Brett Favre? He stuck it to Thompson and McCarthy twice. And he proved beyond a doubt that he was still the Ol’ Gunslinger. Favre has not enjoyed a better year statistically exceeding nearly everyone’s expectations for a 40-year-old. Yes, he is going out on top with his Hall of Fame legacy intact minus many disgruntled Cheeseheads.

Commentary: If this was the last game Brett Favre will play, though, he goes out as he came in. That howitzer arm powered a team to dizzying heights and imploded at the least opportune moment. That legendary fortitude passed one last visceral challenge. And the joie de vivre (joy of life) was evident in the effort up until the moment the other side could yell “Laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll)!” And if it wasn’t? Wouldn’t that be quintessential Favre getting up no matter what knocks him down?

Jclombardi’s commentary about Packers fans & Favre.

Packers fans claimed their say about Sunday’s NFC Championship game between the Vikings and Saint.  In an amusing Packers news article, the vast majority of Packers fans want to see Favre, Vikings go down in flames. “True estimates that of the fans calling in, the percentage breakdown is 90% want Favre to lose and 10% of them want Favre to go and win his second Super Bowl, cementing his status as one of the greatest players ever in the National Football League.”

CBS Video Preview

Commentary: We are an enormous country and we use sports teams to re-channel our feeling of loyalty and to express conflict. You are a Brett fan, a Packers fan, or both. The rivalry between fans of the Packers and Vikings is real. For Favre haters, it didn’t help that Deanna Favre, Favre’s wife, told Sports Illustrated in a cover story this week that the couple feel right at home in the Twin Cities. While the Vikings had the upper hand this year defeating the Packers twice, Packers fans can say that the Vikings have never won a Super Bowl (they’re 0-4). 

Commentary: Views from Packers nation–Can The Old Gunslinger Do It? Enjoy QB Favre’s Magical Story–40-year-old Favre has produced the best season of his remarkable career. The fact he has guided the Vikings within one victory of the Super Bowl at such an advanced age is the best NFL story of the year, if not the past decade. Old man Favre is worth rooting for–Is it morally wrong to want to root for Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings until the Green Bay Packers get back to the Super Bowl? Working His Game Plan, Favre’s Big Goal Within Reach–So far, so good. Favre’s brilliant season has included a most satisfying sweep of the Packers, the division title and a smashing divisional-playoff victory over the Dallas Cowboys one week ago.