An update from the Packers was posted about an hour ago.

It read: “Nick Collins has normal feeling and complete movement in his extremities. As is standard protocol, he will be kept in the hospital overnight for observation. When he returns to Green Bay, he will undergo further testing and evaluation.”

That’s great news for the Packers and their fans. Injuries are serious enough, but when they involve the neck and head you can only hope for the best.

Coach Mike McCarthy had this to say: ”All the feedback so far has  been positive.”

All fans of the NFL hope for the best, too.

The Packers' win and Bears' loss today sets up a huge game next week. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I tend to lean toward the latter.
(more…)

A. Yes it has only been one week but I think Newton can and will be a special player. It is amazing what he did in such a short amount of time. He looked confident in the pocket and was extremely accurate with his passes on Sunday and nearly won the football game in his first ever NFL start.

The thing I think Newton has is that ‘It’ factor that certain quarterbacks have. He is a natural leader. Already, this is Cam Newton’s team. His teammates trust him and have confidence in him more so than any one they have had since Jake Delhomme. He is something special and I think the best is yet to come for the Panthers and Newton.

• Do you feel Newton has the intelligence and the skills to handle the multiple defensive looks the Packers will surely throw at him?

I think that this will be a real test for Newton. The Packers are one of the best if not the best defenses in the league and I don’t expect the same kind of game from Newton as last week. Having said that the Cardinals threw about everything in the book at Newton Sunday. They blitzed him every which way with corners, linebackers, from the outside, from the inside and he hung in there and delivered pass after pass with the Cardinals breathing down his neck.  I know the Packers have a much better defense then the Cardinals but I don’t expect Newton to get rattled.

To answer your question, yes I feel like he has the abilities to keep the Panthers in the game against the Packers. The Panthers may not win but I think that Newton will be effective even against the Packers defense.

• Will the Panthers go more to the run at the start of the game to set up the pass for Newton? Or do they go the opposite route – put the ball in the rookie’s hands to allow him to make plays and build his confidence?

I think that all depends on what the Packers defense gives them. If they load up the box to stop the run, Ron Rivera isn’t going to just run it right into them, he isn’t John Fox. Instead he will let Newton throw it and utilize a lot of play action to try and catch the Packers off guard, very similar to the gameplan the team had against Arizona. Don’t get me wrong, the Panthers are a run first team, but until opposing defenses begin to respect the passing attack, the Panthers will try and burn teams through the air.

• The Packers gave up 15 sacks in the preseason … though the offensive line played much better in the first game against the Saints, do you feel the Panthers have the weapons on the defensive side to dial up a rush and put pressure on Aaron Rodgers.

The Panthers definitely have play makers on the defensive side of the ball to get to Rodgers. That would be even more so if the team had captain and Pro Bowler Jon Beason on the field but Beason was lost for the season last week and the Panthers will have to replace him. Defensive end Charles Johnson signed a huge contract in the offseason and has earned his money so far this season. Look for him to keep the pressure on Rogers all game lining up at both defensive end and defensive tackle on passing downs.

• The Packers didn’t run the ball much against the Saints, but it seemed the Cardinals had some early success on the ground against the Panthers. Do you expect the Packers to also try to exploit the Panthers with their run packages? And if so, what will the Panthers try to do to stop the run.

If they are smart they will. The Panthers have two rookie defensive tackles starting and the team as a whole has had trouble stopping the run, especially up the middle. In the preseason it was a glaring weakness and that carried over into the game against the Cardinals. This may be the Panther’s Achilles Heel this season. They really get pushed around a lot at the line of scrimmage so I would expect pretty big days out of the Packers running backs.

• Kevin Kolb had success against the Panthers’ defense. Kevin Kolb is no Aaron Rodgers. What will the Panthers need to do to at least slow the Packers’ air attack and do you feel that if they do that, they will have a shot at a win?

Without a doubt. If the Panthers can slow Rodgers and that passing attack down then they will definitely have a shot to win but that is not a guarntee. I cannot stress how bad the Panthers run defense has been. But I do think the Panthers defense actually matches up pretty well against the Packers offense. Chris Gamble will be tasked with staying with Greg Jennings the entire game. Last week they matched him up against Larry Fitzgerald and he shut him down for the most part, limiting him to just three catches. The biggest key will be slowing down Jermichael Finley. More than likeley Thomas Davis will be matched up against him and he should be able to stay with him for the most part. Davis is a former safety and has really excelled in coverage on tight ends.

• It seems the Panthers have made some moves in the off-season to fill some needed holes. What other areas do you feel they have to address to become a complete team and have a legitimate shot at becoming a playoff-caliber team and one that could win a division title?

I think the past offseason was more about keeping their own guys. The Panthers focused on keeping the core group of players together and they did that. Their biggest weakness was at quarterback and it seems that Newton is the answer there. But the Panthers won’t be a legitimate playoff team until it shores up the defensive tackle position and gets a bit more depth at cornerback. I’ve told you about the problems at defensive tackle. They just need time there to learn how to play the position in the NFL. At cornerback, right now Captain Munnerlynn is starting at corner along side Gamble but Munnerlynn is much more suited for the nickle role. He is an undersized cornerback who doens’t play the run very well.

Outside of that the Panthers just need to get experience. They have the third youngest team in the league really just need to let their young players learn and grow in the new system.

There were some who thought this would be a cakewalk for the Packers … A setup game leading into their game at Chicago next week. 

However, with Newton carving up the Cardinals last week and his seemingly new-found best friend Steve Smith champing at the opportunity to catch more long balls from the rookie, this game could be a challenge for the Packers defense.

The Panthers would love nothing more than a shot at legitimacy with a win over the Packers, and while this game is prime with the possibility of intense drama, I don’t see it happening.

Yes, Newton will get the opportunity to throw for some yards and the defense will probably give up a couple of scores, but this game will come down to the overwhelming dominance of the Packers offensive firepower.

The Panthers will score a couple of times in the first half, but their offense will fizzle in the second half while the Packers offense gets rolling.

I give the Panthers 20 points in this one, but it won’t be enough … The Packers score at least 35 this week and could lay another 40 burger on the scoreboard.

Packers end the weekend at 2-0.

Neal was projected to have a breakthrough year, recovering from a season-ending injury last year and stepping into a starting role when Cullen Jenkins left in free agency.

Now with McCarthy’s declaration that Neal will miss a significant amount of time, some may be feeling a sense of urgency or even emergency.

I don’t think the Packers are to that point yet. If Wynn can continue to play at a high level, the line will be just fine as long as there are no other injuries at that position. Getting Wynn valuable playing time early in the season will, in fact, be to the benefit of the Packers. When Neal does recover from the surgery and gets back on the field, the depth at the position will be that much greater.

However, there are many “ifs” with that outlook. First, the Packers have to stay healthy and second, Neal does indeed need to make a full recovery and come back.

If Neal doesn’t, he will be quickly tabbed as injury-prone and could be on his way out of Green Bay as quickly as he arrived.

Many questions will be answered in the next few weeks. The defensive line will be tested this week as the Panthers will certainly try to establish a solid ground game to allow Cam Newton a chance to succeed with the pass. And with teams like the Bears and Vikings on the schedule – both of those teams like to pound the football – it will be interesting to see if the Packers line can stand up to the pounding.

Stay tuned …

For The Green Bay Packers, this was a weekend of rest and relaxation … A well-deserved weekend of relaxation with their Thursday night season-opening victory over the New Orleans Saints.

Though the weekend of games were entertaining, they also provided insight into the future. 

In planning for the immediate, the Packers watched Cam Newton, this year’s top pick and next opponent, pick apart the Arizona Cardinals’ defense for 422 yards and an impressive display in the vertical passing game.

Granted, the Cardinals’ defense isn’t the Packers’ defense, but the rookie has shown that the Panthers made a good decision in taking him first overall and that the Packers will have to plan well.

Dom Capers will need to design packages to confuse the rookie for 60 minutes … If he can do that the Packers should win going away. If the Packers allow the Panthers to stay in the game into the fourth quarter this could be one of those trap games that could come back to haunt them at the end of the season.

Another factor that stood out from the weekend was the NFC North’s domination of the NFC South.

Though the Packers game came down to the final play and the Lions/Bucs game to the final minute, the Bears’ creaming of the Falcons placed the final stamp of divisional domination on the weekend.

Yes, the Packers and Lions games were close, but all that matters at this point are the records: NFC North 3 NFC South 0.

Even the the Vikings showed some spunk against the San Diego Chargers by holding a lead for three quarters despite Donovan McNabb’s dismal debut – he ended up throwing for fewer than 40 yards total in the game.

Sure, had the Vikings been playing without Percy Harvin and Adrian Peterson it wouldn’t have been close, but the fact of the matter is that the Vikings do have those players and they make a difference.

The Vikes’ performance also underscores the notion that the NFC North should be considered one, if not the toughest division in all of professional football.

It also creates a heightened awareness among all players, coaches and fans that when these NFC North teams meet this year, it’s going to be brutal. These games will be bitterly fought spectacles that should be well worth the price of admission. 

Looking around at some of the other games this past weekend, we really didn’t see any major upsets. The closest thing to an upset was the shellacking the Ravens put on the Steelers … But when a team turns the ball over seven times like the Steelers did, there’s no way they’re going to win.

Other mildly interesting games simply because of the score differentials came in the Buffalo vs. Kansas City game, and the Indianapolis vs. Houston game. 

Some of the most entertaining were the 49ers vs. Seahawks, Giants vs. Redskins, with honorable mention to (zzzzzzz) the Jags and Titans.

But without question the best game of the weekend was the Jets vs. Cowboys. There was enough drama what with the Ryan boys and the return of Plaxico Burress to last the week. And the high drama in action was highlighted by Tony (the fumbler) Romo showing his true colors.

So, all in all, the first weekend came to a close with lots of action (could there be a better showing than Tom Brady’s 500-plus yards, 4 touchdown performance and 906-total yards between him and Chad Henne?), lots of drama, but not a lot of surprises.

A great start to another season for America’s Game …

Can it get any better? Stay tuned …

Is Justin Harrell a bust?  Ask any Packers fan and they’ll most likely say yes.  The third-year pro and 2007 first-round pick has been hounded by injuries for the later part of his college career and first two years of his pro career.  Was he worth that first-round pick?  So far, no.  Harrell went off the board with Pro Bowl players such as Michael Griffin of the Tennessee Titans and Jon Beason of the Carolina Panthers, and solid pros Aaron Ross of the New York Giants and Dwayne Bowe of the Kansas City Chiefs still available.  This season is crunch time for Harrell to make good on his first-round pick billing.

With Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji in competition for the starting nose tackle job, Harrell figures into Dom Capers‘ 3-4 defense as a defensive end.  At 6’4″, 320 pounds, he has enough size to take up two blockers on the line.  However, having those capabilities and actually being able to do that are two totally different things.  Harrell’s history of back injuries is a major red flag, as the back is one of the most important parts of the body.  You need that to be able to do anything athletic.  If he keeps having back problems, that renders him nearly useless.

Packers fans mostly want to see Harrell justify his status.  We’ve been watching this guy sit on the sidelines for two years, when he was supposed to be an anchor of the Packers defensive line.  The defensive line in 2009 will need all the help it can get, as most of the depth is unproven.  If Harrell can get it together and make the transition to the 3-4 smoothly, it would do wonders for the team, on both offense and defense.

Justin Harrell, step it up in 2009.

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This has been on the backburner for a few days so I’m getting this out there now while I’m remembering it.  I was invited to participate in the 2009 NFL Mock Draft Among Blogs by Don from NoLogoNeeded.com, a Cleveland Browns fan site.  I, along with bloggers from blogs for every other NFL team are sending around an email with our picks for that team.  The team on the clock has 24 hours to make their pick, and if they don’t, then the pick from NFL Draft Countdown is used.

The draft order (and links to the respective blogs; some FSB guys in there!):

2009 Mock Draft — First round
1. Lions: waynefontes.com
2. Rams: turfshowtimes.com
3. Chiefs: kcchiefsnews.com
4. Seahawks: davekriegsstrikebeard.com
5. Browns: nologoneeded.com
6. Bengals: bengalstripes.com
7. Raiders: silverandblackpride.com
8. Jaguars: jaguarsgab.com
9. Packers: lombardiave.com
10. 49ers: ninersnation.com
11. Bills: buffalorumblings.com
12. Broncos: milehighreport.com
13. Redskins: curlyr.blogspot.com
14. Saints: canalstreetchronicles.com
15. Texans: houstondiehards.com
16. Chargers: bolthype.com
17. Jets: thejetsblog.com
18. Bears: blogdownchicagobears.com
19. Buccaneers: bucem.com
20. Lions (from Dallas): waynefontes.com
21. Eagles: igglesblog.com
22. Vikings: vikingsragnarok.blogspot.com
23. Patriots: patriotsdaily.com
24. Falcons: falcoholic.com
25. Dolphins: thephinsider.com
26. Ravens: ebonybird.com
27. Colts: 18to88.com
28. Eagles (from Carolina): igglesblog.com
29. Giants: bigblue101.com
30. Titans: musiccitymiracles.com
31. Cardinals: raisingzona.com
32. Steelers: steelerstoday.com

Round Two
33. Lions
34. Chiefs
35. Rams
36. Browns
37. Seahawks
38. Bengals
39. Jaguars
40. Raiders
41. Packers
42. Bills
43. 49ers
44. Dolphins (from Washington)
45. Giants (from New Orleans)
46. Texans
47. Patriots (from San Diego)
48. Broncos
49. Bears
50. Buccaneers
51. Cowboys: thedallascowboys.net
52. Eagles
53. Jets
54. Vikings
55. Falcons
56. Dolphins
57. Ravens
58. Patriots
59. Panthers: catscratchreader.com
60. Giants
61. Colts
62. Titans
63. Cardinals
64. Steelers

And the picks so far:

With the first pick of the 2009 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select:

Matthew Stafford, QB, University of Georgia

Why Stafford? The Lions current quarterback depth chart reads as follows:

1. Daunte Culpepper (Hasn’t had a good season in 5 years, played at a weight close to 3 bills in ’08)
2. Drew Stanton (Not good enough to outplay Dan “Ran out of the end zone” Orlovsky for the number 2 in ’08, is on the cusp of “BUST” status)
3. Drew Henson (Seriously?)

That’s why the Lions pick Stafford.

They have needs all over the field, on both sides of the ball. I was tempted to make a “safe” pick, such  as an OT like Baylor’s Jason Smith or Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, or Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry. All project to be first line players, long-time starters. But the need for a quality QB, something the Lions haven’t had since the glory days of Bobby Layne, is just too glaring. Stafford is the highest rated quarterback in the draft, and has the skill set to become an impact player.

The fact the Lions have drafted outright 1st round disasters at quarterback like Joey Harrington, Andre Ware and Chuck Long over the past 20 years, and Matt Millen went on a drunken skill player binge during his tenure (only Calvin Johnson remains in Detroit), cannot deter GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz from addressing their greatest need, that being a franchise player under center.

Plus, the Lions do have the 20th pick of the 1st round, and the 1st pick of the 2nd, so other needs can be easily addressed later in the draft.

The St. Louis Rams are on the clock.

With the second pick of the 2009 NFL Draft Among Blogs, the St. Louis Rams select:

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

According to DraftCountdown.com:

It’s common knowledge that the Rams have been aching to address their offensive line for a while now and unlike last year, when Jake Long was selected one pick ahead of them, they should have no trouble landing a top blocker in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Orlando Pace has been one of the best in the business for more than a decade but he is now in his mid-30′s and injuries have really begun to take their toll. On the other side, former first round pick Alex Barron continues to disappoint and the Rams  would like nothing more than to bring in a capable replacement.

Eugene Monroe might not be as flashy as some of the other top offensive tackles in this draft but he has a very good chance to be the first blocker off the board. Not only is Monroe a terrific all-around player who can be effective as both a pass and run blocker but he is also a much safer choice than a guy like Andre Smith because there are no concerns about his size, position or character. Monroe may not have as much upside as Andre Smith or Jason Smith but his floor is a lot higher and that’s a good thing when you’re talking about giving a guy $30 million in guaranteed money.

Don’t discount the value of program pedigree either and Monroe is following in the footsteps of former Cavaliers D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Branden Albert, who have both handled the transition to the next level well.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock.

I’ll put up a new post as picks get made, keeping all of you readers up to date.  Hopefully you’ll check back every once in a while to get the updates.  Your Packers should be on the clock at No. 9 soon…

With the news today about Lewis calling DeMarcus Ware for Jerry Jones‘ phone number, Lewis looks primed to end up with the Dallas Cowboys (or as I like to call it, “The Land of Tools,” where Lewis definitely belongs).

However, that doesn’t mean we can’t look at the possibility of Lewis coming to Green Bay. The Packers need a leader. It had always been Brett Favre‘s locker room, but that ship has sailed. Aaron Rodgers leads more by example than vocally, along with Donald Driver and most of the offense. Nick Barnett and Al Harris are the closest thing the Packers have to a Lewis-esque player, but the same passion and fire equated with Lewis is not the first thing you think of when you think of them.

Lewis also knows the ins and outs of a 3-4 defense from Rex Ryan‘s scheme in Baltimore. Lewis’ knowledge of that scheme also makes the New York Jets a possible destination for him and Ravens teammate Jim Leonhard. Lewis can help the younger players of the Packers defense, Barnett, Aaron Kampman, and A.J. Hawk, among others, learn the defense in its most legitimate form. Lewis would be able to guide the locker room and work well with the team and give an edge to the team. He would be a little pricey, but Ted Thompson has plenty of cap space. Adding Ray Lewis to the Packers could only help the team on the field.

Now, why Ray Lewis on the Packers would not a good fit. The first thing that comes to my mind is an adjective another football fan used when describing Lewis: delusional. In terms of appearing as a me-first player (note I said “appearing,” not “being”), Lewis ranks up there with Terrell Owens in terms of pointless showmanship. “The Squirrel?” Gag me. Please. Seriously Ray, that got old seven years ago. I’d a put a stipulation in his contract saying he buries “The Squirrel” next to Edgar Allan Poe in Baltimore. And this showmanship goes from pre-game to in-game. Yes Ray, I’m glad your enthusiastic the running back was held to a routine three yard gain, but the thing is, you didn’t make the tackle. I don’t see why that dance is necessary when Haloti Ngata made the stop.

Lewis’ off-the-field antics (no, I’m not talking about being implicated in stabbings during Super Bowl XXXIV) also rub me the wrong way. Saying his contract situation was “between me and God” shows that he’s not willing to show Baltimore what he’s thinking. Also, the fact that all the information about him is coming out through other players like Ware, instead of out of his mouth really makes you wonder what he’s thinking. When the offseason started, I could definitely see him staying in Baltimore, but the way he has acted since then makes me really wonder what his motives and wants are. The Packers don’t need someone who isn’t going to be upfront with the organization about what they want to do. We just went through six years of the offseason soap opera that was Brett Favre. We don’t Ray Lewis discussing his contract situation with God instead of Ozzie Newsome. Last time I checked, Newsome writes the checks to the players, unless owner Steve Bisciotti pulled off one of the biggest coups in NFL history in getting God to be his GM.

Lewis’ age also plays against him in signing with Green Bay. The middle linebacker turns 34 in May, and, despite having one of his greatest seasons, should not be counted on to duplicate his performance in Green Bay. The Packers just do not have the same defensive talent available in Baltimore. Lewis played behind space-eaters Ngata, Trevor Pryce, and Justin Bannan on the Ravens, players specifically built for the 3-4. In Green Bay, the defensive tackles and defensive ends are severely undersized and help is expected to come through the draft. Due to his age and personnel, Lewis would not be able to produce in Green Bay the same way he does in Baltimore. This is enough to not pursue him in free agency.

Just because the Packers can’t have one Baltimore linebacker doesn’t mean they can’t have another. Bart Scott is set to hit the free agent market next Thursday and looks to have numerous suitors. The Ravens again placed the franchise tag on Terrell Suggs, keeping him in Baltimore for another year, and they desperately want Lewis, the face of their franchise and “The Original Raven,” back. This flurry of activity leaves Scott out in the cold, despite the fact he said he would take a discount to return to Baltimore.

I don’t think the Ravens would lose too, too much sleep over losing Scott. They have Tarvares Gooden and Antwan Barnes behind him on the depth chart, and it seems like anyone who goes into that scheme comes out a star. At 28, Scott is in his prime and is experienced. I was impressed by his behavior during the 2008 season. There were no outbursts like the infamous penalty flag-throw to cost the Ravens the game against the New England Patriots in 2007. Instead, Scott played his inside linebacker position how he was supposed to and reaped the benefits. Scott’s numbers have decreased since his career-high 103 tackles in 2006, but the Ravens have had numerous other members of their defense emerge during that time.

I think Scott would be a great signing for the Packers. He would team with Barnett to give the Packers two intense inside linebackers. With Barnett coming off of major knee surgery, Scott would also give them security if Barnett can’t go at full strength from Day One. Scott seems to be at a great place in his career and could bring some swagger to a Green Bay locker room that could use it.

Ted, open up the checkbook.

Side Note: The Julius Peppers plan is terminated. No sense getting him from the Carolina Panthers right now. Way too expensive. Also, Kampman is moving to the outside linebacker spot Peppers would occupy, and that would be too much of a good thing right there.

Well that plan is halfway complete.

The Packers have reached an agreement with Capers for him to be their new defensive coordinator.  Capers accepted head coach Mike McCarthy‘s offer after the two men spent much of the weekend discussing the Packers defense and what needs to be done to improve it.  Capers was the fourth candidate interviewed by the Packers, after former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, former Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and Jim Haslett, who was the interim head coach for the St. Louis Rams after Scott Linehan was dismissed this year.

If Capers does install the 3-4, it would mean big changes for the Packers defense, but we will cross bridge when we come to it.  For now, we know the Packers have their man.

Step 1: Hire Dom Capers.

The vacancy Bob Sanders left at defensive coordinator is particularly glaring for the Packers.  The defense, although ravaged by injuries, always seemed to be a step behind the offense in certain games, most notably the Packers 51-29 defeat against the New Orleans Saints.  After a 2007 season where the defense was fantastic, the Packers defense looked old and out of sync in 2008.  The schemes were stale and bringing in Capers would add a breath of fresh air.

But if the Packers want Capers, they will have to move quickly.  The New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys also have interest in Capers as the Giants lost Steve Spagnoulo to the St. Louis Rams and Dallas fired Brian Stewart.  The Cowboys could be an enticing option for Capers, as owner Jerry Jones has deep pockets and the Cowboys already run a 3-4, Capers’ preferred scheme.  Capers also has ties with Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, making the Giants look like a good option to him.  However, Dallas is currently a cesspool of unrest and the personnel in New York is more suited towards a 4-3 defense.

The Packers have been a 4-3 team for as long as I can remember, but head coach Mike McCarthy has said that he is open to changing the scheme to a 3-4.  A 3-4 defense could work pretty successfully in Green Bay with the right personnel.  Which brings us to…

Step 2: Sign Julius Peppers.

The Carolina Panthers freak athlete/defensive end wants out of Carolina.  From a Toronto Star report:

Four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers has decided he won’t sign a long-term deal with the Carolina Panthers when he becomes an unrestricted free agent Feb.26.

Peppers, who grew up in tiny Bailey, N.C., starred in college at North Carolina and was the Panthers’ first-round pick in 2002, believes Carolina’s defensive system is not for him – even after recording a career-high 14 1/2 sacks this season.

Agent Carl Carey said Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defence. The Panthers use a 4-3 alignment.

The key to this is that last line.  “Peppers wants to play in a 3-4 defence.”  Bringing Capers up to Green Bay and inserting the 3-4 would make an inviting situation for Peppers.  The Packers had difficulty getting pressure on the quarterback this season.  Aaron Kampman was steady as always, but Cullen Jenkins was ill-suited to be a defensive end before his season-ending shoulder injury, leaving the Packers with Jason Hunter, Michael Montgomery, and rookie Jeremy Thompson to get pressure on the quarterback, which was not too successful.

Signing Peppers would allow the team to move Jenkins back to defensive tackle, allowing him to team with Johnny Jolly, Ryan Pickett, and Colin Cole, and push injury-riddled super-bust Justin Harrell out of the lineup until the Packers can finally figure out what’s wrong with him.  Teaming Peppers with Kampman would give opposing offensive lines and offensive coordinators headaches for weeks.  Peppers, being the freak athlete he is, could be used as the fourth linebacker as well, adding more versatility to the defense.  The Packers would be able to have their top four linebackers, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Brady Poppinga, and Brandon Chillar, on the field at the same time.  Young Desmond Bishop would also get more time to see the field.

The catch to this is that I don’t see Peppers signing with the Packers unless Capers and the 3-4 is in place.  This would mean that the Packers have to move fast on signing Capers, giving Peppers time to see that Green Bay would be a welcoming scenario for him.

Peppers will command a lot of money, but he would be a big splash for a team that has been quiet on the free agency market for the past few years.  Even the signing of Charles Woodson was low-key, but has turned into a great move for the team.  Ted Thompson can’t be afraid to make a move right now.  It’s not the end of the world if the Packers miss out on Capers and Peppers, but it would most definitely turn the Packers into a contending defense.

Some of you will argue that the Packers need to shore up the secondary before they can focus on the front seven.  Sure, Woodson and Al Harris are aging, and Tramon Williams, Jarrett Bush, and Pat Lee aren’t the best options out there, but teams in the past, most likely the Super Bowl XLII Champion New York Giants showed that a great pass rush can help cancel out shoddy defensive backs.  Did you really think that Corey Webster and Sam Madison would be Super Bowl Champion corners against an the explosive New England Patriots offense?  Not really.  But the relentless pass rush of Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora, and Justin Tuck turned a decent defensive backfield into a Super Bowl Champion defensive backfield.

Don’t underestimate what the addition of Capers and Peppers could have on the Packers in 2009.

Unfortunately, as I was taking care of my business, the Packers weren’t taking care of theirs with two tough losses to NFC South teams, making them 0-4 against that division for the year.  The Packers last-minute 35-31 home loss to the Carolina Panthers came less than a week after getting shredded 51-29 by the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football.  The losses have dropped the Packers to 5-7 on the season, two games behind the first place Minnesota Vikings, a game behind the second place Chicago Bears, and five games ahead of the Detroit Lions with only four games to play.  That might not be enough time for a rebound.

The Packers have the 4-7 Houston Texans and Jacksonville Jaguars, both playing each other tonight on Monday Night Football, left on their schedule along with a jaunt to Solider Field to play the Bears and they close the season with the Lions at home.  The combined record of the four teams remaining is 14-32, and will be 15-33 after the Jags and Texans play tonight.  That seems easy enough, but nothing has come easy for the Packers this season.  And besides, winning the last four games to put them at 9-7 does not guarantee them a playoff spot at all.

The Packers currently sit at 12th place in the NFC.  That is six spots out of a playoff spot with the Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, and all the NFC East teams not named the New York Giants (they’ve got that division, in my opinion) are in contention for the wild-card spots.  The only hope for the Packers is the division, which they will have to win-out to achieve.  The Vikings have a good chance to stumble with the Arizona Cardinals, Falcons, and Giants (I’m not counting the Lions here folks) left on the schedule.  They could very easily go 1-3 down the stretch, which is what would have to happen if the Packers were to win out.  The Bears schedule is slightly easier, with the Jaguars, Saints, and Texans along with the head-to-head matchup with the Packers left on their schedule.

Right now, due to the strength of schedules, I would have to give the division to the Bears.  That doesn’t mean the Vikings can’t win it or that the Packers can’t win it.  The bottom line for the Packers winning it though is that they absolutely HAVE to win and they need a lot of help.  The division is the only way they can get in.

My name is Scott Allen.  I am lead blogger for the Arizona Cardinals site, Raising Zona.  I am subbing this weekend for Daniel while he was called away on family business.  I hope you and your friends and family are finding many things to be thankful for on this holiday.  As a Cardinals fan, I have plenty to be thankful for this season.  As an outsider looking in, If I were a Packers fan, there are several things I think Packers fans should be thankful for.

Let’s start with Aaron Rodgers.  I know there are people on both sides of this fence.  There are those that yearn for the Brett Favre days and there are those that are ready to turn that corner and start anew – even with Favre’s Jets thriving at an 8-3 record and Green Bay in danger of missing the playoffs this season at 5-6.  Listen, I get the fact Brett is having a good season, he had a good season last year in Green Bay as well.  I know Rodgers has had his share of mistakes this season.  However, he knows the system, in my mind is in the top half of starters in this league, and doesn’t fold under pressure.  It’s a lot to ask someone who for all intent and purpose, is in his rookie season.  Sitting on the bench the past couple of years gave him perspective but not experience.  Be thankful for Aaron Rodgers.  He will eventually take you places – the same places Favre did.

You’re in the NFC North.  Hey at 5-6, you still have a shot to win the division.  You’re only a game back of Minnesota and Chicago and you split with Minnesota, are 1-0 so far against the Bears with one left to play, and the remaining schedule is very favorable.  The Packers still have Carolina, which looks to be the toughest game remaining, however it is at home.  Then they have Houston at home, Jacksonville on the road, at Chicago, and finish at home against Detroit.  I like that proposition.  The Pack could easily go 4-1 in that stretch and finish 9-7, which might win this division.  Be thankful for the NFC North.

For the fans.  Green Bay has some of the best fans in the NFL.  Good or bad, the Packers are loved and that is rare in sports.  I live in a city that for the most part is fair weather when it comes to its teams, well at least when it comes to the Cardinals.  I am not one of those people and that’s why I do what I do.  I bleed Cardinal red and love the game of football.  I’m native Phoenician and have been on the Cardinals side since 1988 when they came to town.  You have a rich history with the Packers and sellout all your games (something that has finally happened over the past three seasons in Arizona).  Be thankful you back the Pack.

I hope you and your families have a lot more to be thankful on this holiday.  However you have the Pack and that is a lot to be thankful for right there.  Once again, Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your holiday!  Look at it this way, it could be worse – you could be in Detroit!  Ughghh….

Go Pack!

Scott Allen

AZScott

After two tough losses, the latter very dissapointing and poorly played, the Packers asserted themselves as the powers they were last year. They didn’t just get by the Bears, who were a game ahead of them–they destroyed them 37-3. Out of all of the people that even picked Chicago to lose, barely any of them (if any) predicted a blowout like this. Kyle Orton was back under center, Matt Forte was running hard, and to top it all off the Bears beat Green Bay twice last year when they went 13-3! Now they were facing a 4-5 team that was struggling with the run, hitting a few bumps with the pass, and giving up tons of ground on the run defensively. This game proved that pre-game analysis and “on paper, this team should win” doesn’t decide every game. Many things that were supposed to happen didn’t happen, and vice versa.

Looking at the numbers going into the game, Forte was looking good for fantasy owners. He was going up against a run defense ranked 28th in the NFL. They Packers also lost linebacker Nick Barnett for the season with a ligament tear. Everyone was in for a surprise, though, when Forte only had 64 yards on 16 carries and never reached the endzone. Who could have expected the Packers defensive to step up that much on the ground? Orton had to go up against one of the best pass defenses in the league, so with Forte shut down the Bears’ offense didn’t really have any legs to run with. Orton only threw 50% with under 150 yards.

Flipping over to the Packers’ side of the story. They were the exact opposite of Chicago. Grant, inconsistent throughout the whole season except the week before (when he ran well against the Minnesota Vikings), was facing a team with a defensive ranked in the Top 5 at stopping the run. Rodgers, on the other hand, would be throwing into one of the NFL’s worst pass-stoppers. Unlike the Bears, though, the rush and pass did great on Sunday. Rodgers went 23-of-30, throwing for 227 yards and two scores. Grant looked like the Ryan Grant of 2007, not the one we’ve been seeing so far. He rushed for 145 yards and had a trip to the endzone on 25 carries.

This game just gave the Packers a huge boost of momentum. Not just the normal feeling a team gets after win; this game meant something. With the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beating the Vikings, Green Bay is in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC North with Chicago and Minnesota. That would seem like a toss-up to the casual fan, but Green Bay is the clear-cut, bet-it-all, if-I’m-wrong-let-me-be-struck-by-lighting pick to win this division. The way they played in Week 11 looked like the way they played all last season. If a young face wasn’t behind the facemask of the quarterback, it would be an exact copy. Minnesota, on the other hand, relies on Adrian Peterson to spark the offense, and teams (including the Packers) have shown he isn’t invincible. Chicago? This game should end all talks for their NFC North bid.

Yes, playing the way they are would make the Packers a hard team to stop, but they’re far from unbeatable and better not get overconfident. The upcoming schedule will throw some problems at them. On Monday Night Football they face the New Orleans Saints, who have the league’s most powerful passing game and a mediocre running game. The Saints’ offensive production will depend on the answer of two questions: 1) Who will play better: the Packers’ pass defense or the Saints passing game, and 2) Who will play worse: the Packers’ rush defense or the Saints running game? New Orleans’ defense is very weak and it should be a field day for Rodgers and Grant, but Green Bay’s defense has to realize they need to stop Drew Brees to finish with a big win.

After that they face the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are like the Bears: a weak passing game with a good ground attack. Their record, at 8-2, makes them seem like one of the NFL’s biggest teams, but Carolina really hasn’t been getting a lot of spotlight. The reason the Panthers have a better record than New Orleans’ 5-5 mark is that their defense can actually stop teams when they have to. They’re fifth-best at stopping the pass and middle-of-the-pack when it comes to the run.

If Green Bay can pull off wins against both of these teams and achieve a 7-5 record, they could be sitting at the top of their division alone. Right now they just need to take it one game at a time and play every game like it is do-or-die. Why? Well it obviously worked last week.

However, Grant was rewarded for his performance by being named FedEx Ground NFL Player of the Week for Week 11:

Quarterback KURT WARNER of the Arizona Cardinals and running back RYAN GRANT of the Green Bay Packers are the FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week for games played on November 13 – 17, the NFL announced today.

Kurt Warner completed 32 of 44 attempts for 395 yards and a touchdown in the Cardinals’ 26 – 20 win over the Seattle Seahawks.

Ryan Grant tallied 145 yards and one touchdown as the Packers defeated division rival Chicago Bears 37 – 3.

Warner and Grant were selected from among six finalists in Air and Ground categories.  The other FedEx Air & Ground NFL Players of the Week finalists were quarterbacks KERRY COLLINS of the Tennessee Titans and PEYTON MANNING of the Indianapolis Colts, and running backs WILLIE PARKER of the Pittsburgh Steelers and DE ANGELO WILLIAMS of the Carolina Panthers.

Grant becomes the first Packer since Aaron Rodgers to be a FedEx Ground or Air NFL Player of the Week who was named Air NFL Player of the Week in Week 2.