I’m hoping that today’s match-ups between the Giants and Falcons and Steelers and Broncos instill a bit more interest.

Yesterday’s Bengals vs. Texans was entertaining for one half before Houston literally ran away from Cincy. And as for the Lions vs. Saints … we all knew deep down how that game was going to turn out. The Lions are missing many pieces … and Mr. Suh was completely invisible. Clearly, the New Orleans was the best team playing yesterday and will probably show that, with the Packers, stand head and shoulders above the rest of the field.

So, with the Giants getting set to kick-off with the Falcons, I have a feeling that somehow Mr. Manning will find a way to win this one … but does it matter to the Packers? Probably not. I feel they will be ready next weekend for whichever team steps on the Lambeau Field turf.

So, without any more hype, who wins today?

Take the poll and enjoy the games.

For me, the best game of the weekend, in addition to the Falcons/Giants matchup, is the Lions vs. Saints. As much as most Packers fans would like to see the Lions somehow come out of New Orleans with a win, it most likely won’t happen.

Needless to say, either the Saints or Lions will have their hands full when they have to travel to San Francisco and face that stout defense.

It should be an entertaining weekend, but before it gets started let’s see who you think will come out on the other side as winners.

Take the poll, grab some snacks and beverages, sit back, relax and watch the games.

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

Jared Allen and the Minnesota Vikings have sunk to levels not seen from the franchise in some time.

The last time the Green Bay Packers played the Minnesota Vikings I found myself feeling a little sorry for the Vikings players and fans. While watching the game I came to the realization that the Vikings are made up of Jared Allen and 21 other players who would struggle to be back-ups on the Packers.

Okay, maybe Adrian Peterson could start for the Packers, too.

A couple of days later I ran into a fellow parent at elementary school parent-teacher night. He was wearing a Vikings jacket and I was wearing a Packers coat. I called out in a friendly fashion, “Hey, Vikings fan!” expecting that when he turned around we could engage in typical your-team-sucks banter.

Instead he turned, saw the green and gold, and hung his head.

I felt bad.

I walked up to the Vikings fan, put my hand on his shoulder and said, “Maybe Christian Ponder will turn into a great quarterback.” He seemed a little encouraged, but it left me wondering what has happened to the once proud Vikings? Are the years of mediocrity and near misses finally starting to take their toll? Are the Vikings really going to move to a new city because of stadium issues?

I, for one, hope not. I love the Packers-Vikings rivalry almost as much as the Packers-Bears rivalry.

Oddly, during last Sunday’s blowout win against the Raiders I had no feelings of sadness for the Raiders players or fans. I gleefully cheered when the Packers went ahead 31 to nothing before the half. 31-0!

Bahhahaha!

Carson Palmer?

Hahaha.

Another Raiders penalty?

Ha! Go Pack Go!

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Could Jared Allen and the Minnesota Vikings be eyeing a move west?

On the same week that the Green Bay Packers announced the details of a stock sale to raise funds for a major stadium improvement, the Minnesota Vikings suffered a setback in their attempt to build a replacement for the Metrodome.

The Vikings were unable to persuade the state government to vote on funding/plans for a new stadium during a special session of the Legislature.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles, thought to be where the Chargers will end up, is back in the picture for the Vikings.

As a Packers fan, I don’t care much about the Vikings. But I do care about how a Vikings move would affect the Packers.

Let’s examine the ways:

1. Would a Vikings move to LA force the NFL to realign the NFC Divisions?

Yes, I believe that the Vikings would no longer be part of the NFC North. The Packers would lose a passion-filled rivalry that has only intensified in recent years (see B. Favre). It doesn’t make sense for the Vikings to fly six-plus hours to play a divisional game. The most logical move would be to swap the St. Louis Rams from the NFC West and Vikings. I wouldn’t call St. Louis “North” but that’s the simplest change.

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Packers president Mark Murphy leads a team that is worth about $1 billion. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Well, according to a Forbes recently published annual report, the Dallas Cowboys are worth $1.85 billion, making Jerry Jones’ team the most valuable of all American franchises, valued just less than England’s Manchester United’s $1.9 billion.

The New York Yankees are valued at $1.7 billion, according to Forbes.

According to the report that was recently highlighted on ESPN, other NFL teams in the top five in value are as follows: Washington Redskins ($1.55 billion); New England Patriots ($1.4 billion); New York Giants ($1.3 billion); and New York Jets ($1.223 billion).

These numbers were based on 2010 factors and showed that the Giants recorded the largest increase at 10 percent, mainly because of the team’s move into the new Meadowlands. The Jets, which shares that stadium with the Giants, showed a 7 percent single season increase.

As might be expected, the Packers, last season’s Super Bowl champion, also showed a hefty 7 percent increase in overall value.

However, when compared with the entire league, the Packers could be seen as nothing more than “average.”

The Packers are lumped together with 15 other teams that have a value of about $1 billion. In addition to the Packers, other teams in that group are Houston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Baltimore, Indianapolis, Denver, Pittsburgh, Miami and Carolina.

Considering many of the teams listed above, success isn’t a huge factor in determining wealth. Though given the fact the Packers are among the smallest franchises in all of professional sports, being valued at $1 billion is pretty remarkable.

With the structural improvements planned to be completed this coming year on Lambeau Field, the team’s overall value should increase accordingly.

Also considering the value of much larger market teams with less value – franchises like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Jacksonville Jaguars – the Packers continue to be one of the most remarkable success stories in all of sports.

The kicker made the best of it as time ran out in the first half. Janikowski was set to kick a field goal to extend the Raiders’ lead.

What was unusual was the distance … 63 yards – a distance matched only twice before by Tom Dempsey and Jason Elam.

With his record-breaking kick, Janikowski matched Tom Brady and Chad Henne in the record books as the first weekend comes to a close. The New England and Miami quarterbacks combined to throw for 906 total yards … The most ever in a single NFL game.

Great way to conclude the league’s first weekend.

Protecting Aaron Rodgers and making lanes for the running game should be the focus for the offensive line in the next couple of weeks. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

In fact one might say it was pathetic … And time is running out. Sept. 8 is just around the corner. If the Packers line doesn’t show improvement against the Chiefs in the final preseason game, there may be hell to pay when the Saints come marching in.

But as poorly as the line played overall Friday night, there were some bright spots. Rodgers did lead the team to a TD, a field goal and another drive that ended in a missed field goal … But there were plays within those drives when individual breakdowns along the line were noticeable and Rodgers had to run for his life and running plays were stuffed

Though the linemen admitted after the game that the no huddle may have contributed, saying their conditioning, or lack thereof, may have played a part, they weren’t going to point blame on others.

Quoted in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, left tackle Chad Clifton said he had his troubles with all-pro Dwight Freeney. (more…)

So, answer me this – how does a team lose its punter during the first couple of days of training camp?

Either the team’s stretching sessions are woefully inadequate or the punter was being worked way too hard.

It just seems like a really strange way for the Browns to start the year.

For the sake of the team and coaching staff, let’s hope something as freakish as this doesn’t happen again … I would hate to see the eruption from Mt. Holmgren …

Plaxico Burress. Photo courtesy of Midwest Sports Fans

The thought of the Philadelphia Eagles taking on another reclamation project in the form of Plaxico Burris is nothing short of scary.
Coach Andy Reid has been known as the big Teddy-Bear and should he decide to bring the controversial Burris into the fold, we’ll have to start considering him the miracle worker. (more…)