The biggest surprise of the first week of the Packers OTAs has to be second-year outside linebacker Jeremy Thompson.  The Wake Forest product has been working out with the first-team defense, a unit that consisted of B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, and Cullen Jenkins on the defensive line; Aaron Kampman, Brandon Chillar, A.J. Hawk, and Thompson at linebackers; Tramon Williams, Al Harris, Aaron Rouse, and Atari Bigby in the secondary.  Defensive coordinator Dom Capers said not to pay any attention to where players are now, with good reason, as projected starters Nick Collins, Charles Woodson, and Nick Barnett are not participating [...]

The Packers reached a deal with cornerback Tramon Williams, avoiding another no-show situation similar to Ryan Grant’s situation last year.  The Packers signed Williams to a one-year deal worth $900,000.  Williams will become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
The Packers had to get this signing done.  With Al Harris and Charles Woodson having health issues, this was necessary for the depth of the defensive secondary.  Williams filled in admirably for Harris while he was out with his spleen injury and the Packers should attempt to get a long-term deal done with him first.  Of course, Greg Jennings remains the [...]

Today marks the first day of Organized Team Activities (OTAs) for the Green Bay Packers. The OTAs run from today through June 18, with a total of 14 practices for the team. These are totally voluntary, but all players are expected to participate except for Nick Collins (family issues), Nick Barnett (knee), Cullen Jenkins (ankle), and Breno Giacomini (ankle).
These OTAs mark a change for the Packers as they try to rediscover the magic they had in 2007, when they went 13-3 and were an errant pass from the Super Bowl. The team comes in with a new [...]

The speculation from April has dragged long into May, with new reports from Ed Werder to Charley Waters to Who-In-God’s-Name-Is-That-Reporter coming in daily.  Shoulder surgery or no shoulder surgery?  Comeback or no comeback?  Fact is, Brett Favre is still not a member of the Minnesota Vikings and still retired.  For today.
I’ve been busy with other things that have prevented me from giving all of you updates on the Favre drama along with the Packers in general, but as I said before, he is still retired.
Today’s news on Favre: Werder reports that surgery on Favre’s shoulder is not imminent, as was originally [...]

Ladies and gentlemen, the new and improved FanSided.com is online and ready for you.  Go check it out.  Only place on the web to read Adam Best’s Fan Addict, which deserves a website all by itself.

Coming off a relaxing weekend, there are some new additions to the FanSided.com roster:
The Los Angeles Kings of the NHL are represented by Rink Royalty, with Rick Manning calling the shots.
FanSided.com delves into the world of MMA with Rear Naked Joke, manned by Kipp Tribble.
The NBA crew takes another step closer to being complete with the New Orleans Hornets’ Swarm and Sting, written by Mark Travis who also does work over at But The Game Is On.
Check these out, boost their traffic, and welcome them to FanSided.com.

Hey guys, do you remember those days where your mom was asking you to do the chores or take out the trash or clean the bathrooms, but you couldn’t quite pull yourself away from the Packers game on TV to do it?
Yeah, we all have those days.  Today is your day to make up for it.  None of us can say that we’ve never blown off our mother or wife for a football game or other sporting event, so pay her back.
Watch that chick-flick.
Buy that bouquet.
Just do something (buy her a Packers jersey for this special day).
And most of all, [...]

Just when we thought it was over, it’s back. I was out all day yesterday, so I have no idea what transpired between Thursday night, where it was reported Brett Favre would not be un-retiring, and now, where it is reported that Favre is having X-rays sent to the Minnesota Vikings for them to take a look at.
Word on the street is that if the shoulder requires major surgery, he will not return. If it doesn’t require surgery, he will return. However, according to Greg Bedard of JS Online, there are some major problems with Favre’s [...]

For today, Brett Favre will not be a member of the Minnesota Vikings.  According to a report, Favre told Vikings head coach Brad Childress that he did not want to return to football in 2009.
There isn’t much else to say, besides the fact that Favre will probably change his mind, either tomorrow, or in August.

This whole situation just continues to get more and more absurd.  Last night, it was reported that Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress was headed down to Mississippi to visit with Brett Favre and discuss a comeback.  But this morning, a man that is reported to be Childress was seen walking into Vikings head quarters.  Where’s Chilly then?  Minnesota or Mississippi? 
Even more absurd, Favre’s agent, Bus Cook, apparently doesn’t even know anything about the Vikings and Favre’s talks.  According to this USA Today article, Cook had no knowledge of Favre’s desire to return.  This is incredible hard to believe for [...]