To get back to the Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers must defeat the San Francisco 49ers. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

In baseball, hope springs eternal when pitchers and catchers report (unless you root for the Cubs) – but with the Green Bay Packers starting Rookie Orientation and Organized Team Activities, it is that time of the year when each team can boast that they have what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl.

Getting there involves a grueling 16-game stretch that involves not only luck and skill, but also overcoming the occasional injury and conspiracy of the men in white and black.  Facing the challenges of the read-option as well as players with a “me” first attitude are all part of the quest.  In the end, there can be only one and for Packers fans the question is, will we be the one?

Right now most oddsmakers are putting the Packers at 12-1 favorites to make the big game.  San Francisco, Denver, New England and Seattle are all favorites ahead of the Pack.  For the most part, I can’t disagree with those choices, except for Seattle.  Russell Wilson had a phenomenal rookie year, but one year does not make a career and for the Seagulls and to repeat last year’s performance, he will need to duplicate what he did and that may be too much to expect.  Plus, I can only hope karma comes up and helps them to lay a big egg this next season after the Inaccurate Reception debacle and Pete Carrol and his on-field antics.

What will it take for the Pack to make it to New York?  It will take four things.

First of all, the Packers must have right attitude.  They need to shed the persona of a “soft” team and play the game with a chip on their shoulder.  Mike McCarthy may play down the fact that his team is soft, but I think most of us can agree that the “killer instinct” to finish teams off was missing last year.

I am not calling for dirty play or unecessary roughness, but we need to see more swag from the team.  They have to play like they are the champions in order for them to be the champions.  They need to put all the other teams on notice that this Packers team is not like the last two that folded in the playoffs.  This team will run you down until the final second and that when all is said and done, you will have faced the Green and Gold horde and you will have lost.

The second piece of the puzzle that needs to be put in place is the defense.  This is a make-or-break year for Dom Capers. Many (myself included) called for his head after last season’s playoff loss to the 49ers. I still belive that his time is up and he needs to be replaced. I do not believe that Capers has the ability to design and call a defensive plan that can stop opposing teams, especially with the likes of the 49ers and Washington Redskins on the schedule this season.

The defense needs to step up and prove they can tackle.
Evan Siegle/Press-Gazette photograph

In addition the defense needs to do a better job of tackling. Perception is reality and more often than not, this team could not tackle.  They played angles, ran guys out of bounds and pushed people to stop plays, but in the end they failed to wrap guys up and stop them from making the gains that prolonged drives and kept and the offense off the field (NFL Conspiracy Note: I could find no statistics for missed tackles from last season).

Understandably it is difficult to stop Adrian Peterson – he is as elusive as Barry Sanders and Walter Payton were – but that is no excuse in not stopping average players. How many times did we, as Packer fans, watch a game and have to hear Troy Aikman or some other mouthpiece comment on how poorly we tackled or how because we could not tackle we were making players look like all-stars.

The bottom line with the defense is simple – tackle.

The third key to getting back to the Super Bowl is to establish the offensive line so it can keep Aaron Rodgers upright and create holes for the running backs. McCarthy has decided to move tackle Bryan Bulaga and guard Josh Sitton to the left side to better protect Rodgers. This move is permanent with no challengers.

The right side of the line is where the spots are open to battle. Right now, T.J. Lang will move to the right guard spot and Marshall Newhouse will have the right tackle spot. However, Don Barclay, Derek Sherrod (assuming he is medically cleared), and rookie David Bakhtiari are also challengers for those spots.

Clearly the intent to move Bulaga and Sitton was based on the fact that Rodgers led the league in being sacked and for this team to win and win often Rodgers needs to be protected and able to pass, not run for his life when his blind side breaks down.

I also think that these moves will solidify the line and with the outlook of a running game, prevent teams from focusing solely on the passing game.  This will open the passing game and will allow greater flexibility and movement within the offensive schemes.

Psychologically we have to beat San Francisco.

The last thing the Packers will need to do to get back to the Super Bowl is to defeat the 49ers.

The season will not be lost if they do not beat them in the season opener, but from a psychological standpoint they need to prove to themselves that they can match the Niners stride-for-stride and beat them at their own game.

Once the team gets past this emotional hurdle, the pressure will be off them and they can focus on the remainder of the season.

If they are unable to beat the 49ers, then there will be that cloud following them until they do (similar to the Cowboys and Packers of the 1990s).

Granted, so much can happen during the course of a season that can alter a team’s direction. But if the Packers maintain their overall level of performance from the past three years and improve in the areas I noted, I truly believe that the Packers will make it back to the Super Bowl and in the birthplace of Vince Lombardi, once again hoist the championship trophy.

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

With the draft now in the rear view mirror, the offseason moves of the Green Bay Packers provide a peek into the offices at 1265 Lombardi avenue. A bit of insight into how Ted Thompson views the needs of the team and the direction Coach Mike McCarthy is steering the Packers can be understood by looking at the moves made over the past few months.

Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

One thing that is certain, the run game is thought to be relevant for the Packers moving forward. Over the past few seasons the Packers have placed very little emphasis on rushing the ball. This is of course Aaron Rodgers’ team and because of that and the stable of receivers at his dispense; it was a pass-happy offense.

The Packers passed 56 percent of the time in 2012. With that, Aaron Rodgers was sacked 51 times. On one hand the common assumption would be that the Packers need to improve the offensive line play. They do, but the real problem here was opposing defensive coordinators scoffed at the Packers feeble attempt at a running game.

Over the course of the season the Packers accumulated 1,702 yards on the ground spread out amongst nine different ball carriers. Aaron Rodgers accounted for 259 of those yards and Randall Cobb 132. The leading rusher, Alex Green, rushed for just 464 yards with 3.4 yard average and no touchdowns. Having no regard for the Packers ability to rush the ball, defenses came after Rodgers fast and furious. The common analogy was defensive linemen were just pinning their ears back and coming for Rodgers.

Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

With the additions of running backs Eddie Lacy from Alabama and Johnathan Franklin from UCLA the Packers add young talent, but also an interesting mix of running styles. Lacy is a power back and has been compared to Frank Gore. Franklin has a little wiggle and speed and draws comparisons to Shane Vereen of New England, and others liken him to Maurice Jones-Drew of Jacksonville.

With the addition of Lacy and Franklin at least two of the Packers six running backs from last year will not be returning for 2012. Ryan Grant is already a free-agent; therefore the favorite to be the odd man out is Cedric Benson.  However, Alex Green, DuJuan Harris, James Starks, and even the legendary John Kuhn are all equally sharing the hot seat, as it would be unusual for the Packers to carry six running backs on the active roster.

It is apparent with the addition of Lacy and Franklin that the Packers want to earn some respect on the ground rushing the ball. It will create what Thompson and McCarthy are always reciting, competition. And the competition should be fierce.

Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

All of the returning Packers running backs have at one point in time or another shined or shown promise. James Starks has been hampered by injury, but has demonstrated that when healthy he can be a threat.

DuJuan Harris in a small sample size was impressive in the latter portion of last season. Alex Green has potential and was probably called upon last year to do too much. Third down back might be the best role for him.

The running game opens up the passing game. Between the returning backs and the additions through the draft the Packers on paper look to be improving in the ground game.

A rotation of Lacy, Franklin, Harris and Starks offers a variety of different looks and will be interesting to see the 2013 backfield develop.

Could the NFL consider a “most important player” tag?

In the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ new history making deal, some question how one NFL player can literally be worth $110 million.

From a football perspective, this can be understood. Yet at the same time from the blue collar 9-5 working man’s perspective, this is probably a little much. While watching the draft this weekend, I couldnt help but wonder, “should each team have a ‘Most Important Player’ tag separate from their team’s payroll?”

A few weeks back, I wrote an article questioning whether or not Rodgers’ next deal would potentially hamstring the organization moving forward. While this deal is absolutely monumental at first glance, Ted Thompson has structured it in a way to be as cap-friendly as it probably could have been moving forward. It’s probably safe to assume this deal is about as team-friendly as it could have been, as well.

I want to explore a tag option, however, that’s separate from the franchise tag.

Deals such as the one Rodgers received are becoming more of a trend within the league. This type of deal will not be going away anytime soon and it’s only a matter of time before Rodgers deal takes a backseat to the next “highest paid player in the NFL.”

To ease the burden of this on a team’s given salary cap, why not come up with a separate tag (maybe a most important player tag) that keeps them exempt from the original payroll? While this idea may currently seem a bit far-fetched, as I said before, these “mega-contracts” will not be ending anytime soon and this type of tag could help ease the blow of such lucrative numbers.

Don’t get me wrong, I am as big a fan of Rodgers as the next Packers fan and this is more speculation or thinking out loud more than anything. A deal such as his creates an interesting scenario for the league as to whether or not deals such as this should be separate from the rest of the team’s.

Aaron Rodgers’ new deal was surprisingly “cap-friendly.” Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s also probably safe to say that at least half (probably more like three-fourths) of the teams’ most important players are all quarterbacks.

If not now, probably sooner than later. We’ve heard the phrase “it’s a quarterback-driven league” for some time now. Teams realize who their best player is – it’s no secret, and they obviously pay them as such. Why not distinguish them as such?

So have at it Packers Nation! Should the league create a separate tag (aside from the franchise tag) recognizing teams’ most important players?

For every fingernail  you gnawed waiting to see where Steven Jackson would land, for every muttered curse word over Chris Canty moving on, there are roughly 39 million reasons you should be breathing a sigh of relief.

The article points out that the Packers are among the teams with the lowest number of “dead” money applied to the 2013 salary cap. Dead money is, of course, leftover salary and/or bonuses being paid to players who are no longer on the roster, no longer helping the team in any way.

Enjoy eating that Carson Palmer contract, Oakland! You want fries with that?

The Packers’ dead cap money totals just under $1 million, the bulk of that going to the released-then-retired Jeff Saturday. That was a free-agent signing that didn’t work out, as Saturday proved in 2012 his tank was empty. The rest of the money, totaling under $30,000 will go to former Packers Lawrence Guy, Tommie Draheim, Vic So’oto and future Cool-Name-Hall-of-Famer Shaky Smithson.

Compare the Packers’ dead cap money to the Oakland Raiders, and very quickly you forget about Jackson and … what was that other free agent’s name again? Oh yeah, Chris something.

Why can we so easily forget? Because the Raiders are staring down the barrel of nearly $40 million in dead cap money this season. Yikes. In fact, $9.34 million of that will go to Carson Palmer, who has moved on to the Arizona Cardinals — where he is scheduled to make an average of $8 million per season for two years. Yep, the Raiders will likely be paying more for Palmer this season than the team Palmer will actually play for. Double yikes.

You don’t see Ted Thompson making boneheaded deals that cripple teams for well into the future – consider the Carson Palmer deal that has Oakland swimming in “dead money.”
Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

How’s that for a splash signing? Oakland traded away first- and second-round draft picks for Palmer, who led the team to an 8-16 record with him under center, and is still paying him cash. You don’t see Ted Thompson making bonehead deals like that.

As a result, the Packers have the cap space to be talking to home-grown stars Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews about contracts that likely will ensure they will wear green and gold for their entire careers. Without that cap space, it’s plausible one or even both of those stud players could go the way of Greg Jennings when future free agency pandemonium periods unfold.

The math is easy: $40 million in dead money vs. less than $1 million. That’s 39 million reasons we should be thanking Ted Thompson.

Now, go out and draft us some offensive line help, Ted, so we can be sure Rodgers will be able to play out the all-world contract you’re about to give him.

Jan 5, 2013; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) during warmups prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau Field. The Packers won 24-10. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network reported today that the Green Bay Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers are apart in negotiations by about $2 million per year.

Allegedly, the Packers have offered up about $21 million per, which would indicate Rodgers is asking for about $23 million annually.

That’s a lot of Jack.

But you know what? The Packers and Ted Thompson need to get it done. Why? Because if Joe Flacco (I must constantly fight the urge to say “Flaccid”, thanks mostly to his lame QB Rating in 2012) is worth $20.1 million per season, then Rodgers is worth 10 times that.

Honestly, when you compare the two quarterbacks and look at Flacco’s salary, it would shock me if this difference in price between the Packers and Rodgers is more about how and when the money will be paid rather than how much.

So what do we have to do in order to get this contract signed and in the books? Make him feel truly appreciated, and make sure he remembers how appreciated he is all season long.

Here are some creative suggestions:

• Convince Ryan Adams to sign with Suspended Sunrise, Rodgers’ record label.
• Pay him in bonuses: An extra $50,000 for every time the offensive line lets him get sacked. (Based on last season, he’d end up making well over $25 million a year at that rate.)
• Pay him $25,000 every time he slides or ducks out of bounds to avoid getting creamed by an oncoming linebacker or strong safety (Packers fans’ nerves and heart rates would also appreciate this bonus structure).
• Offer him another $50,000 bonus for every time the defense gives up 30 points or more. Let’s face it, that defense the Packers put on the field last year made Rodgers’ job a heck of a lot harder than it needed to be. Without some defensive line and linebacking help, it ain’t gonna get much better.
• Pay him a $10,000 bonus for every time in this forthcoming season that Greg Jennings calls him collect from Minnesota, crying, and asking to “come back home.”
• Give him $25,000 for every perfect pass Jermichael Finely drops (That would add up fast).
• Tack on an additional $10,000 for each time Finley then blames Rodgers for the drop in the media ($5,000 added bonus if it’s done via his or a family member’s Twitter feed).
• Pay him for photobombs. Come on, he’d jump all over that offer.
• Reverse psychology: Brett Favre threw for a vomit-inducing 29 interceptions for the Packers in 2005. Pay Rodgers $5,000 for every interception under that total he ends up being each season (For example, last season Rodgers threw 8 picks, which would have netted him an extra $105,000 in bonus pay - Sweet).
• Give him an added $1,000 for each time a teammate refers to him as “sensitive” during an interview (Alternately, you could pay him for each time he tells a reporter that he feels overlooked or under-appreciated).

And there are plenty of other possibilities that could sweeten this deal. If you consider all those factors, it’s really a no-brainer: Just pay him the money.

Do you have any other creative ideas for getting Rodgers’ contract done?

Post them in our comments section by clicking below.

Dec 30, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive tackle B.J. Raji (90) against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Packers 37-34. Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

If you’ve spent any time at Lombardi Ave, you’re surely aware that the Green Bay Packers are set to negotiate three major contract extensions – B.J. Raji, Clay Matthews, and Aaron Rodgers – over the next 12 months. Those extensions have been treated as a package deal in many ways, as all three players are represented by the same agent, David Dunn.

Because Raji and Matthews were drafted in the first round of the same year, they’re entering the final year of their rookie deals. Rodgers, having signed an extension midway through his first year as a starter, is under contract through 2014. Thus, the expectation for several years has been that Raji and Matthews will receive their new deals first, and then Rodgers’ extension will fall soon thereafter.

Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

However, if recent reports are to be believed, a Rodgers extension could be in the works now prior to any extension for Matthews or Raji. This may be very telling, as even though Rodgers is by far the team’s most valuable and indispensable asset, he has two years left on his contract. He’s not the biggest worry the Packers have in terms of contract negotiations. So why would the Packers hammer out an extension with Rodgers ahead of the sooner expiring Matthews and Raji deals?

The answer may very well be that Green Bay doesn’t anticipate room for all three contracts, and thus will let Raji test the open market.

As currently constituted, the Packers have about $20 million in cap space. Part of that figure is already earmarked for the incoming rookie class with some space reserved for free agency and emergencies. However, most of that figure will go toward extensions. Next year’s salary cap doesn’t figure to increase very significantly, and with even more contract negotiations coming into view after 2013 – James Jones, Bryan Bulaga, Jordy Nelson, and Randall Cobb chief among them – the Packers already have an idea of which deals they want to pursue and which ones they’ll pass on.

As we discussed as part of this week’s mock draft analysis, Raji presents all sorts of problems for Green Bay. His dominant 2010 season suggested he’d be one of the league’s best nose tackles for the foreseeable future, but Raji struggled to repeat that performance in 2011. This past year was even more confusing, as Raji returned to a high level of play but did so at the five technique position rather than the nose.

While there is value in a 3-4 end, a nose tackle is considerably more important to Green Bay’s defense. Furthermore, Raji will likely demand to be paid like a fulltime nose tackle rather than an end.

With just as much good tape as bad, no defined position, and limited cap space, how much can the Packers afford to invest in a Raji extension?

Dec 16, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) talk with outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) before the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

Reading the tea leafs, it appears that Green Bay is letting their other extensions decide that question for them. Depending on how much it takes to re-sign Rodgers and Matthews, the Packers will know if a lengthy extension with Raji is reasonable.

They don’t want to be caught in a situation where they’ve extended Raji and don’t have enough cap space for either Matthews or Rodgers. Thus, Green Bay has prioritized their negotiations to prevent that scenario.

It’s unclear at this time what the end result will be, but it’s time to start wondering if this is Raji’s last season in the Green and Gold.

Jason Hirschhorn covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardi Ave. He has previously written for Hail to the Orange, College Hoops Net, Mocking the Draft, LiveBall Sports, and the List Universe. He is currently a senior writer for Beats Per Minute, an indie-music webzine. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JBHirschhorn.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy (left) talks with president Mark Murphy (center) and general manager Ted Thompson (right) – the triumvirate that makes the bulk of football-related decisions for the Packers – have their hands full in trying to improve the team.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The offseason isn’t the time to sleep for National Football League teams, including the Green Bay Packers. It’s hump day and time for Packers officials to get to work.

First on the agenda is welcoming former New York Giants defensive lineman Chris Canty to town on a free agent visit that’s expected to last through Thursday. Included in the visit will be a physical examination, a tour of the facility and, of course, meetings with team officials including Ted Thompson and Coach Mike McCarthy.

Chris Canty

Canty has already had visits with the Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs and it’s reported that the Titans have already presented him with an offer. There were also reports earlier this week that Canty was prepared to give the Carolina Panthers a “reduced hometown discount” to play there in his home state. However, there haven’t been any followup reports on whether that might come to fruition.

The Packers had an interest in Canty in 2008 when he was a free agent leaving the Dallas Cowboys, but he bypassed the Packers and went straight to New York where he found a quick home and a satisfactory contract. It’s unclear whether the Packers will offer a contract to Canty during his stay here, but if they are serious about landing him, they most likely will. It’s been reported that Canty will want to have a contract and new home by the “unofficial” start of the free agency period this weekend when agents can start negotiating openly with teams before the “official” start of free agency on Tuesday, March 12.

That’s just one of the things on the Packers’ list today. There are also several college pro days occurring across the country, including the University of Wisconsin’s day in Madison. Because of the close proximity of the campus, there are always Packers coaches and scouts at that particular event and Thompson has been known to attend himself.

However, with Canty in town, it’s unclear whether Thompson will find the time to do both – most likely he will, considering Canty will be in Green Bay for two days.

Other pro days, as reported by Cheeseheadtv are Alabama A&M, Duquesne, Eastern Washington, Kent State, Mississippi State, North Alabama, Northern Arizona, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Texas Tech and West Texas A&M.

Everybody gets excited during the season, but you know, folks, this is the time of year that makes or breaks National Football League teams. This is the time of year when all the important work gets done.

We here at Lombardiave.com will continue to try to stay on top of all the developments each day – whether it’s free agency, the draft, pro days or whether Ted Thompson had dinner at Red Lobster the night before – well, maybe not that in-depth, but we’ll continue to do our best … keep stopping back for the latest.

And don’t forget to like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The Green Bay Packers are one of the best run franchises in the NFL with a front office that gets the best value out of their players and organization.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Pro Football Focus (PFF), one of the most comprehensive and enlightened football Internet sites out in cyberspace, released an interesting post today that focuses on the Green Bay Packers and their Performance Based Value.

We all know Ted Thompson in a tightwad. He rarely takes the free agent carrot, though it’s the sexy thing to do; he seems to always be ahead of the ball in signing extensions to the right players at the right time (see Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson, to name just two); and he always holds his cards closely to his vest.

Charles Woodson was the highest paid Packer before being cut.

Those are good things, whether you like to think so or not. Just ask the guys over at PFF and take a look at their post. The writing is on their (website) wall. They go about backing up their claim that the Packers consistently go the right route in their handling of veterans. For instance, the recent release of Charles Woodson wasn’t done because the Packers’ brass thought he couldn’t play anymore – they did it because they weighed his overall value to the team and realized that it was time to move on. That thinking is backed up in PFF’s report.

The majority of the overvalued players on this list are either on their way out of Green Bay (Jermichael Finley, A.J. Hawk, Ryan Pickett, and maybe even Tramon Williams) or have already left (Woodson, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Jeff Saturday). If there are players on this list who are to be kept, they most likely will play out their current contract and be moved on or will agree to have their contracts reworked – which rarely occurs. A couple of those include Bryan Bulaga and John Kuhn.

I don’t know of anyone who likes to make less money, do you?

Overall, the report places the Packers at +$7.6 million, according to PFF’s formula (which you can read about on their page).

Mike Renner, the author of this piece, had this overall statement to say about the Packers …

Not surprisingly after going 11-5 the Packers received good value from their contracts. The Packers made a living off of backups playing like starters in 2010, and it was no different again this year with two of our top five subs of the year. The good news is four of their overvalued contracts are already off the books for 2013, and with Ted Thompson’s disdain for overpaying players we could see even more moves this offseason.”

Don Barclay was one of the best values among the Packers players last season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Those moves to which Renner points will most likely involve Jermichael Finley and A.J. Hawk. Finley is on the final year of a contract that will overpay him  more than $8 million this year alone. Hawk, who was a first round pick, has managed to stick with the Packers because of injuries and a penchant for playing well, but not well enough to be a full-time starter. The Packers can do better and Ted Thompson knows that.

In relation to the idea that the Packers continue to be one of the best-run franchises in the NFL, we also sought out a listing of every player on the Packers’ roster and came across this comprehensive list at rotoworld.com. This is a pretty incredible compilation. It provides all of the detailed contract provisions for each of the players – from the measly pickings of Don Barclay up to the monster contracts of Charles Woodson and Aaron Rodgers (though is should be noted here that Rodgers was one of several “undervalued” players on PFF’s list – I think you can understand why).

For instance, Barclay, who became a starter for the last six weeks of last season, signed a three-year, worth $1.44 million on April 30, 2012, that will pay him  $480,000 in 2013, $570,000 in 2014, before reaching restricted free agent status in 2015.

Compare that to Woodson’s team-topping contract that the Packers unloaded a couple of weeks ago – $11.4 million with a salary cap hit that was to be around $10 million. You could also compare it to Tramon Williams’ third-highest contract on the team.

In November 2010, Williams signed a five-year, $38.148 million contract. The deal contains $11.074 million guaranteed, including a $6 million signing bonus.

Here is what Williams is due the next two seasons before becoming a free agent in 2015:

• 2013: $5.9 million (+ $300,000 roster bonus),

• 2014: $6.9 million (+ $300,000 roster bonus), 2015: Free Agent

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) tries to get away from Green Bay Packers cornerback Tramon Williams.
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

You could also compare it to the contract Casey Hayward signed as a rookie last year: He signed a four-year, $3.3 million contract. The deal contains $1.4 million guaranteed, including an $847,000 signing bonus. 2013: $540,451, 2014: $690,901, 2015: $841,352, 2016: Free Agent.

Now, you can look at these contracts and think, “man, they come into the league as instant millionaires.” You are right, but they are paid what the market bears and can demand. The NFL is big business, it’s a tough business and these guys have to be at their best every single day to have any staying power. They’re not flipping burgers at McDonald’s

So, I suggest that you take a look at these two sites. They offer a wealth of information and, especially at this time of year when free agency is kicking off and player movement becomes a huge story, these numbers will help you put into perspective the types of contracts that teams and players are negotiating.

In addition, you might keep going back to the PFF page that illustrates in black and white why the Packers have been so successful on the field and in the front office.

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Devin Hester was a better kick returner than he has proven to be as a wide receiver.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Ok, before you come after me with the pitchforks and torches, let me explain myself as to why I think Chicago Bears kick returner/wide receiver Devin Hester would be a great fit for the Green Bay Packers … and why he will probably never wear a Packers uniform.

First, we have to understand that Hester is not happy in Chicago, not only because of the firing of Lovie Smith, but because his role has been greatly reduced the past couple of years.When Hester’s role in kick returning diminished because the Bears thought they could utilize his skills more as a wide receiver, there were great hopes. However, his production didn’t match up to the hype.

If Hester was to even be considered a fit with the Packers, he would most likely be listed fourth, fifth or sixth among wide receivers.

So, why would the Packers want him?

Returning kicks has always been Devin Hester’s strong suit.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Well, he could compete in the phase of the game where he has always been successful – returning kicks and punts.

The Packers have been looking for a player to take over those special teams duties from Randall Cobb and have found at least one player, Jeremy Ross, who has shown promise, but has also had some problems keeping his hands on the ball. His muffed punt in the Divisional Playoff game looms largest in our most recent memories. However, to his credit, he did have many more positive than negative plays.

Bringing Hester in to compete on special teams would certainly force Ross to focus. Having both would be big, but it’s doubtful Ted Thompson would keep two kick returners unless they contributed elsewhere.

Another bonus for Hester is his salary. He is expected to make $2.1 million next year. For a player of his experience, that seems to be a deal … and we all know how Ted Thompson loves a good deal.

And while this may be an exercise in futility because we all probably understand that TT wouldn’t pull off any kind of deal, let alone one for a Chicago Bear, it’s fun to speculate … and really, who knows? TT has surprised us in the past.

So now you can put away those pitchforks and torches …

Aaron Rodgers will have his worst season ever, according to the author. But then again, do you really want to believe him?
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

So the Green Bay Packers season is done, Donald Driver has retired and is chasing squirrels out of his attic.

Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley are still talking a lot but not saying much (too bad they did not take notes from Donald on how to conduct oneself).  So I have decided to make my 2013 Green Bay Packers prediction right now.

I have decided that I am not going to cheat and jump ahead in time to see how things end.  I am going to use my God-given skills and review all the statistical data, schedules, possible weather conditions and Vegas odds to determine how the Green and Gold will finish next season.

First of all, Finley, Jennings and Charles Woodson have all played their final games at Lambeau Field. They will not be back and they will be replaced with second year guys and a few draft choices or even a street free agent or two.

So there, that answers what will happen with them.

I also predict that Mason Crosby (not to be confused with his second cousin, twice removed, Mason Cosby) will bounce back and not miss a single field goal attempt all year and in fact will set a new NFL record with an 85-yard field goal. This however will be the only bright spot for the team.

Offensively and defensively the Packers will plummet to rank 34 in the league (I know there are only 32 teams, but that is how bad it is going to get). In the first game of the season Aaron Rodgers will throw five interceptions, get sacked nine times and will only pass for 13 yards.

This is the high point of the season for him.

On defense, Clay Matthews and the rest of the gang won’t be able to stop a cold, let alone any offense. They will give up at least 52 points per game and allow an average of 456 yards per game. The team will go the entire season without registering a single sack.

Sack celebrations will be a thing of the past for Clay and the Defense in 2013

So after going 0-16, the Packers will get the first pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. Ted Thompson will then trade that pick away for 7 late round picks none of whom will make the cut by the end of the pre-season.

So I know that many of you must be wondering how I can be so optimistic about the upcoming season. Well it is my new philosophy. Last year I sat on the edge of my seat. I, like every other Packers fan, lived and died with each pass, each missed tackle. So now, I have decided for the sake of my own mental health (as well as requests from my family and the immediate neighbors) I need to be more relaxed during the season.

With that in mind, I decided that the best thing I could do to prevent a stroke would be to predict the worst possible outcome. That way, anything above and beyond that will be a success and I can then relax and enjoy each game as it is meant to be  – not yelling and screaming at the TV or the dog.

So Packers fans worldwide, join me in wishing the Packers a horrible, loss-filled 2013 season.  Anything more than that will be icing on the cake.

TAKE BACK THE TUNDRA

Looking ahead with his souped-up Texas Instruments device, author Darryl Krejci has an interesting future for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

STOP THE INTERNET!!!

I wanted to say stop the presses but that is just so antiquated in today’s electronic world.  So what is it that has me bringing all things as we know it to a grinding stop?  Well the answer is simple, we need some good news out of 1265 Lombardi Avenue.  All this talk of possible retirements, surgeries, injuries, cap space and such is really kind of depressing.

So I dusted off my old Texas Instruments computer from 1986, hot wired it for high definition and decided to peer into the future using a recently discovered worm hole that was in my basement.  I typed in Green Bay Packers 2013 and came up with the following results.

The 2013 season will begin with shocking news, Aaron Rodgers will announce that he is retiring from football to open a taco stand in Hoboken, N.J.  After a few months of doing this he then comes back to the Packers retakes the starting spot from Tim Tebow.  Tebow was brought in when Matt Flynn decided to sign with the Vikings.  Tebow, not wanting to go through another season like this last one, quits the team and attempts to sign with the LFL’s Green Bay Chill.  He gets a minimum contract but after his first practice decides that the LFL is too rough and tough for him (after betting pounded by the Chill’s Rykki Ellen, who leads the Chill to their first LFL title in 2013) so he quits and takes over Rodgers’ taco stand.

OK, so the old Texas Instruments device may not be accurate or the instability of the worm hole could be twisting some of the factual components of the future, but who am I to doubt the validity of what I am seeing? And no, I did not have any cough medicine or adult beverages prior to this endeavor.

I decided to see who the Packers drafted with the 26th pick.  I was amazed when I read that Ted Thompson broke his tried and true formula and traded his first, second and third round picks and a gift certificate to Crabby’s Diner for the opportunity to move into the third slot.  Then, with that pick, Ted drafted  Steven Means, an outside linebacker from Buffalo because he realized the only way to make this team meaner was to get a guy with a tough name.

So as the future was unfolding in front of my eyes, I had to know what was going to happen on the defensive side of the ball.  First, Dom Capers is kept on as the defensive coordinator (sorry, Chuck Norris fans). However, after losing to the Bears and Vikings, Capers is relieved of his position and is replaced with LeRoy Butler.  Butler then turns the defense around and leads them to a #1 ranking.

So by now I am guessing you all want to know how the season ends. Well, before I got that far, I did learn that the TV duo of Joe Buck and Troy Aikman were replaced with hand puppets and ratings exploded.

So how does the season end?  I plugged in Superbowl 48 and the highlights from MetLife Stadium show that our beloved Packers, after going 13-3 ride into the playoffs where they first defeat the 49ers 43-3.  Then they beat Seattle on a last second hail Mary (karma is sweet).  Finally in the NFC Championship Game, the Packers lead from start to finish and beat the Cowboys 31-14.  Finally, in the Super Bowl, the Packers face the surprise team of the season, the Cleveland Browns.  In a defensive battle, the Packers pull out a victory with a 63-yard field goal by Mason Crosby, with no time left on the clock.  Crosby is then voted Super Bowl MVP.

So Packers fans as we prepare for the Super Bowl this year and wonder what if, know in your hearts that I have seen the future and it is good. Our Packers will be back next year, the Lombardi Trophy back home and cats and dogs living in harmony. So next year when the Pack wins the Super Bowl, remember you read it here first.

TAKE BACK THE TUNDRA

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