The news that isn’t yet is that Aaron Rodgers is set to become a very rich man.
Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

Hey football and Green Bay Packers fans … it’s Wednesday and there’s plenty going on in the world of football.

The Pro Bowl, new rules (including the foolish running back lowering their heads debacle), Ed Reed, Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, Compensatory picks, and even Donald Driver were all part of the NFL stories coming across the wire this morning.

Closer to home and for the Packers, it’s the Wednesday following a week of free agent lunacy, the defection of Greg Jennings (and his help from none other than Brett Favre), the decision by Steven Jackson to go to Atlanta instead of Green Bay and the inaction of Packers’ GM Ted Thompson. News from Packers President Mark Murphy included his belief that his current quarterback Aaron Rodgers would soon become the highest paid signal caller in the league and a former quarterback, Brett Favre, would at some point be brought back into the Packers family.

On top of it all, maybe you saw that the Green Bay City Council moved ahead with plans to approve the renaming of a street after Donald Driver, the former Packers wide receiver who retired last month after 14 years in the league.

Dom Capers, we’ve been told, has spent much of the offseason looking at ways to stop the read-option – the offense Mike Tomlin calls the “flavor of the month.”
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Yes, it’s the offseason, but it seems the numbers of stories being reported about and around the NFL is nonstop. We reported here last night that Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin described the read-option as the “flavor of the month” and wondered aloud if Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers felt the same way. We reported (once again) that Aaron Rodgers is on the fast track to becoming the highest paid player in the National Football League. We reported that the Packers will receive one more pick in the upcoming NFL Draft as they will have a compensatory pick to level the field for losing QB Matt Flynn and center Scott Wells to free agency last year. Draft picks are always a good thing around Green Bay as it’s their best way of gaining talent.

Oh, and if you thought that free agency is over – it’s not. Even the Packers have been bandied about as one of the teams interested in running back Ahmad Bradshaw, though any news about that issue have quickly fallen off the table … we’re sure that process will move along at a glacial speed and some other team will probably swoop in, offer Bradshaw what he thinks he’s worth, and send the Packers home empty-handed.

So, hang tight, Packers fans. Soon we will have Rodgers locked up and Ted Thompson will also be locked up in the basement of 1265 Lombardi Avenue planning strategies for the NFL Draft, which is coming up in the next month.

Who knows, maybe Brett Favre will raise his head at some point in the near future.

That’s always newsworthy.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) runs against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers (22) in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports

Apparently, Percy Harvin wasn’t the only player today told to “Go West, young man.”

The world champion Baltimore Ravens sent Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers. In return, Baltimore receives a sixth round pick and valuable cap relief. By trading Boldin, the Ravens have carved an additional $6 million in space for the Joe Flacco mega deal from earlier this month and receive a draft pick (albeit a late one) for a player many thought would be released.

Feb 3, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) throws as he is hit by Baltimore Ravens free safety Ed Reed (20) during the first quarter in Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In the short run, the ramifications for the 49ers are far more significant. With Boldin now in tow, the 49ers have another physical target to pair with Michael Crabtree for must-have downs and conversions. His arrival also allows San Francisco to better optimize Mario Manningham as the third receiver.

In one move, San Francisco has remodeled its receiving corps to accommodate the needs and strengths of quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

The Boldin trade also redistributes strength out West. Two of last year’s NFC playoff teams are now noticeably better, and that’s before the draft, any major free agent signing, or player development has been factored in.

The Green Bay Packers are likely to stand pat, relying on their draft and develop program to keep them competitive in the changing NFL landscape. With a front office led by GM Ted Thompson, it’s fair to expect another great draft class. However, more than in previous years, Thompson has to hit pretty often in order for the Packers to keep contending.

Certainly, there will be more moves to come. Keep your eyes glued to Lombardi Ave to stay up to date with the latest NFL news and analysis.

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.

Oct 21, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) looks on during the second quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman told us in February that the team had “no intention to trade” Percy Harvin. Apparently that didn’t mean they weren’t going to shop the star receiver. Word of a potential Percy Harvin trade leaked early Monday morning. Less than an hour later, Harvin was a Seattle Seahawk. Such is the reality of the NFL.

Sep 23, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin (12) catches a pass over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers (22) in the first quarter at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

In exchange for Harvin, the Seahawks surrendered this year’s first round selection (number 25 overall), a seventh round pick, and a mid-round pick in next year’s draft. [Update: the Vikings have announced that the 2014 pick is a third rounder.]

That’s a reasonable package for Harvin considering he’s available for more than the nine games he played last year. Harvin’s injury risk is the only downside of the deal for Seattle, and it’s a doozy. Besides being a somewhat undersized pass catcher, Harvin has off and on trouble with migraines that can keep him off the field on Sundays.

That issue didn’t arise last year, but as anyone with migraines knows, even after a prolonged absence migraines can still come back with a vengeance. However, if Harvin stays off the injury report, Seattle can make a strong argument for having the best roster on paper.

As for Minnesota, the trade gives them near consecutive picks at the end of the first round and the capability of big time wheeling and dealing on draft day.

The Vikings are also now in position to make a play for free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace or former Packer Greg Jennings. The trade also says a lot about Rick Spielman’s approach. While Minnesota was a playoff team in 2012, the Vikings were still several steps away from true championship contention. By trading Harvin, Spielman is letting his team take a temporary step back so that they can take a much bigger jump the following season. This was a shrewd move that will put Minnesota in the best position to wrest the division crown away from the Packers in the near future.

This is the first major action in what contends to be a very chaotic offseason.

Keep your eyes on Lombardi Ave for more developments.

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.

The Packers are a dangerous team, especially after the bye week.

Under head coach Mike McCarthy the Packers are 5-1 coming off their bye week. This week the Packers (6-3) head to Detroit to take on the Lions (4-5) in a NFC North showdown. First place could potentially be on the line for the Packers; with a win and a Chicago loss at San Francisco Monday Night, both teams would be 7-3, however, the Packers would hold the tiebreaker due to the week 2 win over Chicago at Lambeau.

What do the Packers have to do to ensure a win Sunday? Here are four keys to a Packers’ victory Sunday.

1. Run the Ball

The Packers have struggled to run the ball since the injury to Cedric Benson, and weren’t that effective with him. The strength of the much-improved Detroit defense is their defensive line led by Kyle Vanden Bosch, Cliff Avril and of course “stomp king” Ndamukong Suh.

The Lions have been much better on defense compared to a year ago; in 2012 they are No. 9 in the NFL in total defense, including No. 6 against the pass. The Packers will have to find a balance in the run game, which will in turn open up the pass game for Aaron Rodgers and company. The Lions have a weak run defense, which ranks No. 17 in the NFL giving up more than 115 yards per game. Rodgers and the Packers will be able to throw the ball regardless, however, if they’re successful in the ground game they become nearly impossible to defend.

2. Slow Down Matthew Stafford/Calvin Johnson Connection

It’s no secret that the Stafford and Johnson owned the Packers’ secondary last season. In two games against the Packers last season, Johnson had 15 catches for nearly 300 yards and three touchdowns, that’s not going to cut it for the Packers’ defense. The Packers defense has improved drastically from last year to this year, but they’re still ranked No. 20 against the pass giving up nearly 244 yards a game. If the Packers can’t slow down Megatron, they will have a tough time getting stops on defense.

3. Protect Aaron Rodgers

After a rough start to the year the offensive line has found its game as of late. However, now injuries have forced the Packers to reshuffle their line with the loss of Bryan Bulaga. Evan Dietrich-Smith will get the start at left guard, which will shift TJ Lang out to right tackle. Smith is a very versatile player for the Packers and could even start for a handful of teams in the NFL. So although the loss of Bulaga isn’t ideal, Smith is more than capable of filling the void. Detroit is tied for 16th in sacks this season with just 20. However, the talent is there and they have the ability to make a quarterback’s day difficult. If Rodgers has time to look down field and set his feet, Detroit has little chance of competing with the weapons of the Packers despite being good in pass coverage thus far in the season.

4. Win the Turnover Battle

The Packers have been great at not beating themselves over the years. This season the Packers are plus-four in the turnover margin. On the other hand, there are only three teams in the NFC worse in turnover margin this season than the Lions -4 margin (Eagles -11, Cowboys -9, Panthers -5).

Combined, those four teams’ record is 13-23, it’s no secret that the teams that don’t turn the ball over win football games. The last thing the Packers want to do is give the underdogs life with silly turnovers. Cover up the ball and play fundamental football and the Packers will be in good shape.

Like I previously stated, the Packers are 5-1 after a bye week under McCarthy, and this is the time the Packers usually start playing their best football.

I don’t expect anything less this weekend.

The Lions are a wounded animal running into a buzzsaw in the Green Bay Packers. This is a game of two teams heading in very different directions. The Packers must win this game and start getting hot. I believe they do. The Packers go to Ford Field and put the dagger into the Lions’ season.

Packers 34, Lions 17.

Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; MD Jennings clearly picked the ball off but the refs ruled in favor of Golden Tate who should have been penalized for offensive pass interference after he shoved Sam Shields away. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

I think everybody can agree that Monday night’s game against the Seahawks was a win that the replacement referees took away from the Green Bay Packers.

The call was clearly wrong as the entire game was painful to watch, from the offensive pass interferences that were missed mutliple times in the second half, to the roughing the passer calls that should not have been penalties. It is time for the regular referees to come back and bring integrity back to the National Football League.

But let’s be realistic, the only way that these owners will do that is if the fans openly protest, sponsors threaten to end endorsement deals, or season ticket holders sue the NFL for not providing the on-field quality for which they paid.

The best way to send the message to the NFL is to openly protest the league. This is what the fans of the NFL deserve. I propose that if the replacement referees are not back for next week, all fans should walk out during the game to protest the referee issue. This would humiliate the NFL into bringing back the referees as the potential of fans not buying tickets as this would limit the owners ability to make money.

At the end of the day, the one way of getting to owners in taking away some of their money because they don’t have the actual refs back. The Packers have had a game stolen from them, literally. Tthis is the biggest debacle that I have ever seen in sports.

The league must make it right and do it now.

Will the stadium experience become a thing of the past?

There are tremors – no, rumblings – no, violent quakes coming out of the NFL league offices these days.

That’s because league officials are scared. They’re frightened about the future of the game and their ability to fill 70,000 seat stadiums. They should be scared. They should be petrified.

That’s because the technology that has given rise to the most profitable sports league on the planet could, ironically, could be its downfall.

Throw in all the other computing technology with that old standby, television, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – the downfall of the National Football League’s ability to make billions of dollars per year.

The technology has overtaken the league. Staying at home on the couch with your pizza, beer, chips, barbecues is much more comfortable than spending hundreds to fight traffic, crowds and weather for the game day experience.

That’s what many are saying about the issue of the league’s ability to draw fans to the game.

Watching Aaron Rodgers throw passes over the middle to Jermichael Finley, like the fans in this photograph, may become a thing of the past if the NFL doesn't make changes to its game day experience. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

While a visit to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, may be the best ticket and experience for football fans, it may all slowly slip away unless the league continues to improve the experience. Yes, attending iconic Lambeau Field is a lifetime experience, but the league is quickly discovering that attracting fans in many other cities is becoming increasingly difficult.

Consider how the Minnesota Vikings will handle the task of trying to attract fans to their decrepit Mall of America Field the next three years while they build their billion dollar behemoth in downtown Minneapolis. No doubt, even when the new stadium is built, it will also be difficult to fill that as well – especially once the novelty wears off.

So, how is the league responding? Well, some of the response has been a direct attempt to implement more of the technology right into the experience. For instance, the league has announced its move to outfit each stadium with free wi-fi to allow fans to not only watch highlights from the game they are attending but to have direct and immediate availability to watch full games and highlights and to keep up with scores from other teams. In addition, there is a move afoot where fans could also tune in to miked up players and coaches on the field.

Another direct response by the league has been to relax the rules surrounding the blackout regulations.

In addition, teams, such as the Packers, are adding more seats and state-of-the-art sound and video systems to their stadium experience to draw fans. While that is a luxury for a profitable team like the Packers, making such improvements in an NFL city such as Jacksonville is problematic at this point, especially when they are one of the several teams eyeing a move to Los Angeles.

It’s an issue that may come to a head for the league sooner than later. If Roger Goodell and company want to increase their $10 billion per year venture they are going to have to adapt.

Just exactly how those adaptations will look is anyone’s guess at this point.

But they need to do something soon or the fan’s experience won’t be at a stadium – it will be sitting at home on the couch with their brats, hamburgers, chips and beer.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

August 2, 2008; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver (left) and head coach Mike McCarthy (right) enjoy a moment during a training camp workout at Clarke Hinkle Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

As we inch closer to another NFL season, many things have been occurring. Free agency, trades, preparation for the draft, and more.

What has been a lighter story have been the voluntary workouts which are held for all teams around this time of year.

For the Packers, their workouts began April 16. This is about a month later than usual due to the new collective bargaining agreement which reduced the length of offseason workouts from 14 weeks to 9 weeks. Strength and conditioning will be the main focus for the Packers in the first few weeks and then they will get a little into the position and team drills.

For many teams – like the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears – there have been noticeable no-shows at the workouts like Drew Brees and Matt Forte. This is due to contract disputes between the players and the teams.

The Packers did not have any real surprises. Donald Driver did not show up but that is because he is currently on “Dancing with the Stars.” Some may also wonder why Ryan Grant did not show up for workouts but this is because he is an unrestricted free agent and the Packers, according to Grant’s agent, have not made any effort to bring Grant back to the team.

With the shortened offseason program, this puts a lot more pressure on to the players to be fully conditioned and ready for when the real stuff begins in July and August. Some players will benefit from the added responsibility and some will crumble. But one thing is for certain – the players with the most desire to win will be ready when training camp arrives.

Hopefully, this means the entire Packer organization.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Members of the officiating crew talk before the start of overtime in the game between the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field. Ron Chenoy-US PRESSWIRE

Football is a game of rules and two of the most prominent, those governing instant replay and overtime, were tweaked by the National Football League owners Wednesday.

In all, five rules proposals and two bylaws were changed by the exclusive membership of owners during their annual meetings being held in Palm  Beach, Fla.

Just a year removed when the talks were focused on the lockout and collective bargaining agreement, this year’s meeting stands in stark contrast – this year, the owners are actually taking up football-related matters.

In addition to approving rules that would make it a loss of down for kicking a loose ball; making the penalty for too many men on the field a dead-ball foul unless the extra player was in the process of getting off the field; and giving the recipient of a crack-back block the protection of being a defenseless player, meaning any direct shots to the head would be a penalty, the owners also addressed instant replay and overtime.

Though some thought that giving the booth official the power to review all turnover plays might lengthen the game, the competition committee argued it might actually lessen the time because most coaches wait for the commercial break that follows most turnovers to throw the challenge flag.

Under the new rule the replay official in the booth would make his decision during the timeout.

In addition, the owners agreed to adopt the postseason rule that each team must have a possession in OT unless the first possession results in  a TD, ala Tim Tebow and the Denver Broncos last season in their playoff game.

These are good rules that will help the game proceed in an orderly fashion. The overtime rule brings consistency to the game as coaches can prepare their team for the same scenarios during the regular season as they do during the playoffs.

As for instant replay, any changes the league can make to that rule will only make it better. This new rule takes some of the control out of the hands of the officials on the field, but that’s OK. Sitting on high, the booth official will be able to address the situation immediately and should be able to come to a decision in a quicker, more methodical way.

So here are some rules changes that will help give the game a couple of new wrinkles, a couple of new ways to keep the fans’ interest piqued.

Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy is a member of the competition committee that will be considering rules changes at the upcoming NFL meetings. Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

There are some interesting rules changes that will be considered at the upcoming NFL meetings, namely those that would change the horse collar tackle, overtime rules, the handling of replays, and moving the trade deadlines, among others.

Probably a couple of the most interesting changes would involve the ever-present instant replay rule and the overtime regulations.

The replay proposal would put the final decision into the hands of the official in the booth and not the official on the field. Makes sense to me. If instituted, it could speed up the decision – something that’s been a rock in the shoe of the NFL for years.

In addition, the new playoff overtime rules that went into effect last year may be now included for all regular season games. It only makes sense, IMO, that the new rules be used in the regular season games. Teams and coaches argue that they shouldn’t have to prepare differently for playoff games when it comes to overtime.

In a splendid look at each of the rules that will be considered by the NFL rules committee, these explanations were recently posted at espnmilwaukee.com.

It includes an explanation or clarification of each of the rules by Rich McCay, chairman of the competition committee.

Read on:

What impact will Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall have on the Bears? Andrew Mills/THE STAR-LEDGER via US PRESSWIRE

It has been nine seasons since the Chicago Bears have had a 1,000 yard receiver. Could it be that they have not had any good receivers or maybe they just have not had any quarterbacks? Probably both, but that’s not the point. The point is, they are getting a receiver in his prime who has posted a 1,000 yard season in each of his last five seasons. Not only that, but Marshall and quarterback Jay Cutler were teammates for many of those years in Denver.

In return for the trade, Miami receives the Bears’ third round draft pick this year and next. That’s it. Pretty good bargain for the Bears if I do say so myself. It has been rumored that Miami made this move in order to try and sway Peyton Manning toward them. You would think Manning would actually prefer to work with Marshall but actually this may not be the case. Manning has been rumored to be a little turned away from Miami due to Marshall and his childish attitude he seems to always have.

This move cannot be looked at by any Packers fan as being a good thing at all. Though the Bears have brought in receivers in hoping of dramatic improvements, it always seemed to end up in failure. It seems as if their offense is just not designed to incorporate the wide receivers to become a major threat in any game.

Anyway, do you think this move makes the Chicago Bears’ offense better than last year? Even better then the Pack?

Whoa, sorry … getting a little carried away right there. Take the poll and see how others think.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (right) shares a moment with Packer defensive coordinator Dom Capers before a game at Lambeau Field. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell signed a five-year contract extension today that will keep him in the seat for the next five years.

Though he only made $1 through the lockout last spring and summer, it’s safe to assume that he has received an increase in the $10 million per year he was making up until that time.

Profootball.com reported this morning that the deal extended his current contract that was set to expire in March 2014. Goodell took over the position in 2006 and by the time the new deal expires he will have spent a total of 16 years in the job. Paul Tagliabue was commissioner for 17 years.

“I speak on behalf of 32 NFL club owners in saying we are fortunate to have Roger Goodell as our commissioner,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said in published reports this morning.

Not only did Goodell serve watch over and help complete the most recent collective bargaining agreement between league owners and the players association, but he also just helped complete the next television contract which will bring billions to the league’s coffers.

The deal was originally reported this morning by Daniel Kaplan of the SportsBusiness Journal, and was confirmed this morning by league officials, according to pro football.com

Did you know it costs $10 billion per year to run the league? did you know each team spends more than $30 million? Did you know each football costs more than $100; Did you know a pair of players gloves costs more than $50? Did you know Jerry Jones’s video screen cost more than $30 million.

You’ll find these and other cost statistics in this post.

Check it out and while you’re at it, Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

This is just the tip of the graphic that has so much information, you might want to keep coming back to digest it all.

This is just one really cool graphic that describes the incredible costs of professional football.

It was sent to me by Dan Martin who knew I would be blown away by all that it has to offer and also figured that all the readers of Lombardiave.com would also love taking a look

You will be amazed.

Take some time and check it out from beginning to end.

To the right is a small sample of the entire graphic. After the jump, you will find the full graphic that shows just what it takes to run a professional football team in a league that has become America’s game.

And while you’re at it, take some time and Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(more…)

The game, which will determine the winner of the NFC East Division was originally scheduled as an afternoon tilt.

For the complete story, visit HERE …

The recent arrest of Erik Walden for alleged domestic violence may be a black eye for all Packer fans, but it brings to light an issue that is too often swept under the rug.

Domestic violence should not happen to anybody. Domestic violence is intolerable. Law enforcement officers, physicians, nurses, dentists, social workers, and people in many other professions are legally obligated to report suspected domestic violence and child abuse. However, everyone, EVERYONE, is morally obligated to report or intervene in suspected domestic violence.

The United States Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) defines domestic violence as a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. It may include physical violence, financial control, verbal abuse and emotional abuse

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), domestic violence is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects more than 32 million Americans. This number only reflects the number of cases that are reported; it’s estimated that in the United States, as many as one third of domestic violence cases are never reported.

• Every 9 seconds in the US a woman is assaulted or beaten.
• Domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings, and rapes combined.
• Nearly 1 in 5 teenage girls who have been in a relationship said a boyfriend threatened violence or self-harm if presented with a breakup.
• Everyday in the US, four women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends.
• Men who as children witnessed their parents’ domestic violence were twice as likely to abuse their own wives compared to sons of nonviolent parents.

Victims often feel isolated from the outside world. Domestic violence victims often do not report abuse and often return to dangerous relationships out of fear of reprisal.

The best solution to domestic violence is to prevent the abuse before it starts.

It takes great effort and courage to get out of a physically or psychologically abusive relationship.

If you are, or know someone who is the victim of domestic violence, contact your local women’s shelter or call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233).

For more information, an excellent website is the National Institute of Health site on domestic violence: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/domesticviolence.html

The season opening performance by Cobb not only ignited the Packers and their legions of fans, but it caught the eyes of the producers of ESPN’s Sport Science who will feature The runback as the play of the week.

Of most interest to the science of the play is Cobb’s ability to take a hit, spin out of it, keep his balance, land and continue running in what seemed a single motion.

Quoted in a story by Tyler Dunne today on JSonline.com, Sport Science host John Brenkus says, “In the fifth of a second between his contact with Torrence and his likely impact with the ground, three arms keep the play alive: Cobb’s right arm, and the arms of running running back John Kuhn. For less than a third of a second, these arms support the majority of Cobb’s weight, but it’s all the time he needs to get his feet back under him.”

It was an amazing play that can only be explained through science. 

This video helps explain things:

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=Xr-3lludjq8