Jclombardi reports rookie 1st round choice OT Bulaga signed.

First-round pick OT Bryan Bulaga finalized a five-year contract.  He is expected to man the backup left tackle spot behind Chad Clifton when camp starts.  Adam Schefter reported the contract to be worth $14.75 million with $8.76 million in guaranteed money.

Jclombardi reviews Packers and bloggers headlines.

Shareholders meetings: Packers talk development during shareholders meeting. Packers’ expansion plans get mixed reception from shareholders–28 acres close to Lambeau Field to eventually develop an entertainment and sports district aimed at producing revenue and attracting tourists.  “Infrastructure, not weather, biggest obstacle for Lambeau Super Bowl says Goodell.”  Lack of hotels a concern for Green Bay Super Bowl.

Hot Air Threatens To Suffocate Golden Goose: Scout says, “Commissioner Goodell came to Green Bay for the shareholders meeting on Thursday equipped with nothing more than a bunch of sound bites and empty words. At this rate, the billionaire owners and millionaire layers are going to ruin the game.”

Bulaga signing near: Packers & Bulaga close to agreement; Packers have about $1.2 million of rookie cap space to sign Bulaga.

Packers wear advertising patch: Packers’ practice jerseys to feature advertising patch.

Packers by position: Special teams–vast improvement needed.  DBs–Looking for youth to be served.  Packers cornerbacks Underwood and Lee may be asked to step up. Packers have great expectations for second-year outside linebacker Matthews. Defensive linemen.

Training camp questions: When DB Harris return and be an impact player? Meanwhile, can DBs Lee, Blackmon, and Underwood improve to strengthen the secondary.   Whether Obiozor or Francois will be able to help at OLB? Can an impressive rookie S Burnett replace SS Bigby?  Who will anchor the LG position–Colledge or Spitz?  Who will be the no. 3 receiver–Jones or Nelson?  Can the Packers get a good punter? How many fullbacks (Kuhn, Hall & Johnson) and tight ends (Finley, Havner, Quarless & Lee)  will the Packers carry?  How about rookie RB Starks? For more detailed previews and questions about the Packers training camp that begins Saturday, see Packer update or OBD part 1, part 2, and part 3 or Midwest Sports Fan.

Cause for optimism:  Pocket Doppler likes the Packers 2010 season chances for big things.

FamilyNight Scrimmage:  Spotlight on family night scrimmage.

Roster analysis: Fox Sports’ unit by unit analysis.  Good training camp preview.

Favre watch: Butler feels sorry for Favre.

Season preview: Packers team should be a Super Bowl contender. If the offensive line holds, they should have one of the top offenses in the league. And if Capers can tinker a little bit in his second season, and if the special teams can even be mediocre, the Packers should go head-to-head with the Vikings for the NFC North title. The Packers must go 6-0, 5-1 against a softy early schedule.

The fan votes determined that the NFC North roster is the best of the NFC conference.  Now, the NFC North goes up against the AFC West roster in the final contest to name the top NFL’s talented division.

Fans, vote for the NFC North!

Jclombardi reviews Packers and bloggers headlines.

Bigby signs tender: Packers’ safety Atari Bigby signs restricted free agent contract and will report to Packers’ training camp.

Packers by position:  Uphill battle for Packers’ injury prone DE Harrell, but four defensive linemen are locks to make it: Pickett, Raji, Jenkins and second-round draft pick Neal.  DL: The more you can do.  LBs: As good as advertised? Running back Grant on prowl for more big runs.  Hopefully, Grant, Starks, Jackson, Johnson, and Kuhn or Hall on the final roster. Offensive line: Coaches confident unit can improve.

Shareholders meeting: Thursday, Packers’ shareholders gather at Lambeau Field to hear from Packers’ management and coaches.  Also, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will speak to them.

Training camp preview:  Popular Super Bowl pick–one of the league’s deepest rosters. Sports Illustrated and NBC Sports have tabbed Green Bay as early favorites to win the NFC.  End of road for Driver?  Year two of Capers’ 3-4 scheme–system was a success in year one. With 2009 first-round picks B.J. Raji and Clay Matthews entering their second years, it’s scary to think how good the unit will be in 2010.

Favre watch: Brett Favre was ‘done’ in January, but now he waits.  Brett Favre Watch 2010: Track the QB’s path back to Vikings.  Favre jokes about playing ’til he’s 50, but  TP is not amused about it.

Qs & As with LB Obiozor: GBN’s nice interview with potential OLB Obiozor.

Lone unsigned draftee: Packers round 1 offensive tackle Bulaga.

Amusing Vikings piece:  Vikings columnist makes fun of King picking the Packers to go to the Super Bowl.

Harry Galbreath dies: Harry Galbreath, a former offensive lineman for the Dolphins, Packers and Jets, has died.  He was 45.

Roster Rankings: Scout does part 13.  Read with amusement.

Jclombardi gives the NFL Divisional Smackdown semi-finals.

Fans, your votes are counted with the results from NFL Divisional Smackdown  round 1:

NFC North defeats NFC South
NFC East defeats NFC West
AFC West defeats AFC North
AFC East defeats AFC South

We  move on to the semi finals for the NFC and AFC Championships in our Fansided Divisional Smackdown!   Now, fans can vote for the winner of the semifinal contest between Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the NFC North against Quarterback Tony Romo and the NFC East!

Fans, vote for the NFL North!

Jclombardi reviews Packers and bloggers headlines.

Preview: Football Gameplan’s 2010 NFL Team Preview–Packers.

ESPN Power Rankings:  ESPN has its training camp power rankings with Vikings at 3: “Favre is waiting for a two-hour TV special to announce his return”  and Packers at 6: “Improved pass protection for QB Aaron Rodgers could go a long way.”

Lambeau field area expansion: Packers spent more than $27 million in the last five years to acquire more than 28 acres near Lambeau Field [to] become part of a multi-jurisdictional sports and entertainment district.  Also, see “Packers spending big on property near Lambeau”–Packers haven’t said much about what they’ll do with the property. Possibilities include retail, hotels, restaurants, youth sports and health care facilities.

Packers by position:  Nausating fluff!  Yet, it’s a good precamp review.  Rodgers primed for NFL’s QB elite.  QB Rodgers: Leader of the Pack. Packers feel healthier tackles, improved young talent bolsters offensive line.  O-line wants to pick up where last season left off.  Packers Finley shows promise as star TE.  Packers have high comfort level with receivers.  The Packers can have an optimal mix with this talented receiving corps to simply outscore opponents in the early part of the 2010 season.

Jolly failed 20 drugs tests?: Believe it or not, bloggers are quoting from the Miller Lite Football Show that Mark Chmura revealed that Jolly failed 20 drug tests.  Speechless indeed!

Training camp preview: Packers training camp: Offense preview–good offensive training camp preview with possible members of the final roster.

Training camp blogger headline: By end of week, the 2010 season be underway–holy crap!  As we hinted above, we agree with OBN’s preview on how to win successfully in 2010 season:  “They’re going to be a team that scores in bunches. That will put major pressure on the opposition to keep up. The run defense will ensure that opponents will not be able to turn games into grind-it-out, clock dragging affairs. So, opponents will have to look to the passing game. And although  some questions in the secondary, also some big-time playmakers who can kill you. You come away with a formula that should work.”

Metaphor failure: This amusing story about the use of proper metaphors goes to the bloggers’ file saying, “I don’t get it folks.”   From All Kinds of  Time blogger: When Thompson let Favre go, he risked a gloomier present in exchange for the possibility of a rosier future. While Thompson certainly gambled his future with the Packers, he hardly mortgaged his future.

Rooms to rent to attend training camp:  Somebody in Green Bay area find a room for AT at  PL who says “I still don’t have anywhere to stay. Yet, but I’m going come hell or high water”  We feel your pain. We agree that Green Bay should have rooms ready for the bloggers from the Packers nation. 

Roster rankings: Scout had another part 12 of roster rankings.  Read with amusement.

Bang for the money:  Packer Update’s “Not Enough Bang for the Buck“ has the six worst TT’s Sherman-type money deals.  Fans can decide if he is right. 

Neal signs: Packers announced that they have signed Neal, the team’s second-round pick in the NFL draft last April. Neal is a DE out of Purdue becomes the sixth of the Packers’ seven draft picks to sign.  Left tackle Bulaga, the team’s first-round pick, is the only player without a contract.

Jclombardi reminds voters about NFC North poll.

If some voters in the Packers nation following the Lombardi Ave, number 1 rated Packers blog, have not voted, it is about time for you.   Fans are requested to vote for the NFC North at the FanSided blog main site listing about it (listed below).  The division is kicking the NFC South’s butt.  Yet, each vote counts for the final tally.  Vote!

NFL Divisional Smackdown! NFC Round 1

Jclombardi reviews Packers headlines.

2010 Packers Preview:  As bloggers observed, Packers are getting a lot of over-the-radar Super Bowl hype.  Of course, with the season starting that includes the usual fluff local Packers press:  ”Packers Good Enough for Super Bowl“; “This Season Could be Special for the Badgers and Packers”; or “Two football writers from Sports Illustrated have placed the Packers atop their preseason power rankings. Pro Football Weekly did the same.”

NFL Touchdowns has a nice preview with an analysis of the players.   They say, ”Inside linebackers A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett are both closer to average than good.”  Their preview concludes, “Green Bay is rock solid on both sides of the ball with stars in all the right places.  If everyone stays healthy, this team is the Super Bowl favorite in the NFC.  Predicted: 1st NFC North.”

Athlon Football provides interesting grades for all positions on 2010 roster. Their analysis:   ”The pieces are there. The Packers were a nonfactor in free agency. They drafted with an eye on the future, which means Thompson did little to alter the roster.  But then this team made a strong run to the playoffs with an injury-riddled roster a year ago, and a healthy lineup could be even better. Barring another rash of injuries, this team should contend for a berth in Super Bowl XLV.”  Their scouts’ preview:   “What’s going to be key for them is Tauscher and Clifton. If they can get one more really solid year out of those two guys, then I think they’re going to be a team to beat. I liked what they did with their draft. You know how it is with the D-line guys. It takes ’em a couple years to really start to show you why you drafted them so high.”

Profootball-fans’s preview says, ”The Packers must maintain the high intensity defense in order to get back to the playoffs. Mathews and Woodson must have huge years again and Collins must anchor that defense.  Rodgers will be asked to have another mega season but he must have help, Jennings must make more big plays and Grant will be asked to carry the load once again. The Packers have a great shot of making the playoffs and if they get there they have possibly the best chance at as Super Bowl Champions. 2010 Prediction: Packers: 12-4 (1st place in NFC North) playoffs.”

According to Xtrapointfootball’s preview, “Season Prediction: 2nd NFC North.  The Packers didn’t have to replace any losses, and were able to focus their entire draft on shoring up their weaknesses. Because the Vikings beat the Packers twice last year, and the teams’ rosters changed so little, the Vikings have a slight edge in the divisional race. However, it would be an enormous surprise if the Packers missed the playoffs this year.”

Guide to training camp: Guide to Packers training camp.  Day-to-Day schedule here.

Training Camp Preview:  Besides NFL.com’s preview, Scout does an outstanding preview in “Magazine Story: From 80 to 53” discussing the training camp battles and the probable 2010 roster.  Summary: “ Sports Illustrated’s King and the experts in Las Vegas believe the Packers are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.  Roster: QB–Rodgers, Flynn.  RB–Grant, Jackson, Starks.  FB–Kuhn, Hall.  WR–Driver, Jennings, Jones, Nelson, Williams. TE–Finley, Havner, Quarless.  OL–Clifton, Colledge, Wells, Sitton, Tauscher, Spitz, Lang, Dietrich-Smith, Bulaga, Newhouse.  DL–Pickett, Raji, Jenkins, Wynn, Neal, Wilson.  OLB–Matthews, Jones, Poppinga, Obiozor and free agent.  ILB–Barnett, Hawk, Chillar, Bishop. CB–prediction: Woodson, Harris, Williams, Lee, Underwood, Shields. S–Collins, Martin, Blackmon, Burnett.  Specialists–Crosby, Masthay, Goode.”   Interesting, they say Johnson, Lee, Bigby, and Harrell are gone at the end of training camp.   We tend to agree except for FB Johnson.  Do you agree, fans?

Roster Rankings:  Scout continues its roster rankings with part 10 and part 11.  Read with amusement.

Unsigned Bulaga and Neal: With seven days to training camp, both rookies OT Bulaga and DE Neal are still unsigned.   Gentlemen, get on board!

Training camp battles and safeties on roster:  So who will the Packers keep at safety positions for the 2010 roster.  GBPN discusses the training camp battles at safety positions.  We agree when GBPN says, “I have never felt that Bigby was the long-term solution at strong safety.”  We say that FS Collins and SS Burnett appear to be the starters, if Bigby continues to be his holdout.  What about Bigby, Martin, and Blackmon, fans?

Training camp battles and kicking positions on roster:  Another training camp battle will be at punting position.  While many fans and bloggers are unhappy with Crosby, we hope he gets his act together in the 2010 season.  As far as a legitimate punter, who knows?  Scout says Masthay or flip a coin.

Packers 2010 season hopes & pitfalls:  OBON does a good piece covering the major pot holes to avoid while we drive on the Super Bowl road–”No one steps up to fill the void created by the Jolly Suspension.  Another season of poor special teams play. Mike McCarthy forgets what worked for the offense over the second half of 2009.  Confidence is nice, but it’s better to be hungry.”

Packers Movie Night: The Packers announced details for the first annual Packers Movie Night featuring a showing of “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” at 7:30 p.m., July 31, in Lambeau Field.   Also, a preview of the forthcoming 3rd installment of the Chronicles of Narnia movies “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader”  will be shown prior to the start of the main feature.  The event begins with music and giveaways at 4:30 p.m. in the Tundra Tailgate Zone and moves to Lambeau Field with gates opening at 6:45 p.m.  In the evening, a fireworks show climaxes the event.

OMG! Lombardi Story:  The play “Lombardi” begins on Broadway in the fall. Vince Lombardi is played by actor Dan Lauria.  Lauria, the show’s producer and the show’s director, visited Green Bay recently. The NFL Network recently aired a video of the visit.  

TE Finley, future star all-pro:  With the coming NFL season, TE Finley is getting rave reviews with proclamations of stellar things ahead for him.  We hope so.

Favre Watch: Since Favre is a Packers legendary quarterback who lead the Packers back to elite NFL status, we are saddened at the awful foul postFavre postings, e.g. generally decent Packers blogs  PL and  TP.  We are amused that some bloggers believe themselves to be above human nature and its faults. 

For the record, we will decide whether Rodgers is a true stud gunslinger, a gamer, and a postplayoff winner. For the NFL record, the sports facts are that Favre’s number 4 will be retired, his name will hang with the other legends, and he will be considered one of the greatest quarterbacks in the NFL Hall of Fame.  

Meanwhile, “Childress: ‘All quiet’ on Favre front.”  In “Adrian Peterson: “Favre, I need you back, A.P. says:

“I saw him down in L.A. for the first time this offseason, down at the ESPYs. Looking in his eyes, I got the sense he was coming back. I’ll be going down to his house, telling him, ‘Favre, I need you back.’  I grew up watching Favre.  I’m as big a fan of his. Just to have the opportunity to play with him and come up short, it would definitely feel good [if he came back] this year [and we] hoisted up that trophy [together] in Dallas, Texas.”

Commentary: PocketDoppler ran a best Packers blog poll.  We agree with a fan’s reaction to the post, “Can we see the entire List of Choices? What about sites like Tundravision or Packer Report or PackersNews [or Lombardi Ave or Packers Gap or Packer Backer Blog]?  I have about 30 websites I go to on a regular basis.”  Besides, according to Ball Hype, Lombardi is the no. 3 top Packers blog. Further, our own objective scientific American analysis & poll results clearly shows Lombardi Ave to be the no. 1 Packers blog. 

Jclombardi recalls Packers legend Bart Starr.

As posted earlier, ESPN’s Sabol presents a great review of classic NFL legends including the Packers legend Bart Starr with a brief good description: Classiest Competitor: Bart Starr–If gallantry, generosity and humility were lost in the world, they could be found again in this Hall of Fame quarterback. 

As fans know, this Packers lead blogger goes back to the Lombardi era.  Since that night that I attended their high scoring Cardinals vs Packers contest in St. Louis, I collected Packers relics over the years.  They include two signed autographed pictures from Bart Starr (1975 pic and 1983 pic): 

Jclombardi previews Packers training camp.

NFL.com took  a preview at the Packers training camp  and examines three major questions about areas needing to show improvements:

1. Was Packers’ second-ranked defense misleading?  Training camp will be a critical time to see an increased pass rush from someone other than Matthews and better coverage from the secondary.  Third-round pick Burnett to challenge at strong safety, where things have to improve. At least one of the following guys has to have a good camp for solid improvement: Lee, Blackmon or Underwood.  Can rookies Neal, Wilson, the oft-injured Justin Harrell, or Jones, a seventh-round surprise from last season, provide a consistent push up front? 

2. How will defensive line adjust without Jolly? They might start B.J. Raji on the nose and move Pickett out to end.  They could also put second-round pick Neal at Jolly’s spot, particularly in passing situations. The Packers have not gotten much from former first-round pick Harrell, and this could be his last opportunity.

3. Are the kicking and return games up to speed? Special teams could be Green Bay’s Achilles heel. The Packers were 3-3 in games decided by seven or fewer points last year, and special teams inevitably play a big role in those types of games.  Green Bay needs Blackmon or Nelson to emerge in camp and get their punt return average up. The kick return situation will be better if Blackmon teams up with Nelson. The punting duties could be a camp-long battle and the winner needs to do better than Kapinos did last year (worst in the league).