Packers fans love to have a great time during the season, but when it comes to an end, things can be kind of tough, especially in the middle of January.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

If you woke up feeling at your lowest this morning, there are reasons for it and it’s not just because we, as fans of the Green Bay Packers, are still hurting from the Divisional round smackdown we suffered through last weekend at the hands of the San Francisco 49ers.

And it’s not just because we had to endure our first full weekend without Packers football since the bye week.

It’s because today is known as Blue Monday. Even 49ers fans and Baltimore Ravens fans probably woke up today with somewhat of a sense of remorse.

You see, it’s midwinter; most of the nation is suffering through the coldest temperature snap of the season; we’re tired of the short days and lack of sunshine; and we’re recovering from the emotional high of Christmas and New Year’s while trying to come to grips with the light pocketbooks we feel from the impact of seasonal spending. On top of that, taxes are coming due.

Add on to that the depression we are all feeling from the sudden and disappointing end to the Packers’ season and you’ve got a recipe for a major downer.

How do we get through it?

Well, we have to look forward. We have to make sure we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The cold snap will ease by the end of the week as we head into the final week of the first month of the year. February is a short month with Valentine’s Day thrown in and by the time we get to March we will love the fact that the free agency period gets under way and the Draft is only a month away.

Before we know it, the Major League Baseball season will kick off and it won’t be long before we start gearing up for a renewal of the National Football League season.

See? It’s not so bad …

Easy for me to say, right?

Well, this weekend is Pro Bowl weekend – without Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews – but hey, I think Josh Sitton will get some snaps. Then the week after that is Super Bowl weekend with the “Bro-Bowl,” “HarBowl” or whatever you want to call it … I know … YAWN.

Well, maybe they will have Aaron Rodgers as a guest again this season for the pre-game hoo-haw … again … YAWN.

C’mon, it won’t be that bad. I promise. Really.

So, put a smile on that ol’ Packers face, break out the old tapes of Green Bay Packers championships, heat up the chili, the brats, the cheese, and the crackers, break out the beer and have some fun.

Winter is long only if we make it long and depressing only if we dwell on that final game.

Remember, we get another shot at the Niners next season …

It seems so far away, but it isn’t

GO PACK GO!

The Green Bay Packers will host the Chicago Bears tonight. It will be a great way to end the most blessed Christian holiday. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Today is a special day for all Christians as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Another celebration takes place tonight as the NFL’s only game this Dec. 25th will be held at Lambeau Field with the Packers facing their longtime rival, the Chicago Bears.

As we celebrate Christmas, we here at Lombardiave want to wish you and yours a wonderful day and a prosperous 2012.

We also hope for another great playoff run for the Packers … And a great season in 2012. let’s hope it only continues to get better.

Merry Christmas!

Aaron Rodgers has been the catalyst in a so-far undefeated season.

I’ve been hesitant to talk perfection … How could the Green Packers possibly win every game, including a Super Bowl in this day and age of perceived parity?

But I’m a believer and I’ve come to like this team even more than last year’s come-from-nowhere juggernaut.

This year’s edition of the Green Bay Packers is the aged and refined version that knows what it’s like to win it all and have whetted their lips enough to want more of that sweet success.

As a reminder about the success of this year’s team, see the video below.

So when today’s reports about Packers players talking about perfection broke, I said to myself, ‘yeah, tell it like it is.’

Some call it arrogance, but we all know it as confidence, especially among this group.

So, yeah, I feel it’s time to be all in on this one … Three games … With injuries mounting and taking a toll … This team has seen and overcome adversity … They will continue to do so.

I see no reason why this team can’t take it to the next level … The pieces are in place for an incredible run … We’re right there with them.

Don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

If you missed Bob Costas’s rant about the TD celebrations that have gotten so out of control so as to become a mockery of the NFL, I beg you to take a look and relish in his brutally honest soliloquy.

By the way, for Packers fans, you will be pleased to know that Costas describes the Lambeau Leap as a spontaneous celebration worthy of an honest and genuine sharing of glory with the fans.

Like I said, you have to love Costas.

To read the essay … Go to the jump … And don’t forget to Like Lombardiave on Facebook

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There’s plenty for which to be thankful, Packers fans. Certainly this team is something special … And great.

We all gather together today with family and friends to raise our glasses in praise, bow our heads in humility, and remember and pay homage to all that make our lives meaningful.

There are as many reasons to be thankful as there are people in this world, which means as many as six billion.

But for football fans, the thanks come in the hues of their favorite team. For Green Bay Packers fans there are many, many reasons to be thankful for this season and the 92 others that have come before. As I sit writing this the exercise is to list as many as I can.

So, here goes:

Aaron Rodgers’ arm and brains

Mike McCarthy’s play calling abilities

Lambeau Field

10-0

4 Super Bowl titles

13 Championships

Ted Thompson and his decision to stand by Aaron Rodgers

Daryn Colledge’s decision to go to Arizona

Randall Cobb’s speed

BJ Raji’s versatility

Charles Woodson’s leadership

Clay Matthew’s hair and humility

Greg Jennings desire to Be Great every day

Jordy Nelson’s ability to fly under the national media’s radar almost as well as his ability to fly by defensive backs

Charlie Peprah’s quiet resolve

James Stark’s toughness

James Jones’ strength in understanding his role

Donald Driver’s presence

Mason Crosby’s consistency

Tim Masthay’s strong leg

The decision to defer the opening kickoff all those weeks

The fact that we root for the Packers and not the Vikings … Or the Colts

The fact that our quarterback is not Tim Tebow

That this is a team made up of superstars who believe there is no I in team

That Ndamukong Suh and Jay Cutler play for other teams

That the Packers will never have to worry about not having a stadium to play in.

… And so forth.

Think about your own reasons to be thankful and enjoy today’s game … This team continues to make history … And we’re all part of it.