Going into 2008, Nick Collins was under the radar.  Most only new him as that safety from Bethune-Cookman that Ted Thompson drafted after drafting Aaron Rodgers.  Well, like Rodgers, Collins had his breakout year in 2008.

Collins’ accomplishments from 2008 are a laundry list: Pro Bowl starter, Second Team All-Pro (AP), seven interceptions (tops in NFC, second in NFL), three interception returns for touchdowns, second on team with 99 tackles (77 solo).

In 2009, things look different for Collins.  In the offseason, Collins had the tragic family issues keep him away from OTAs and the team, with a contract dispute compounding his absence.  He’s one of the many Packers going into a contract year, and he wants a new deal.  With first priority Greg Jennings locked into an extension, the Packers free agents are all looking for deals.

However, the defensive situation makes what will happen to the free agents on defense pretty hazy.  As Dom Capers installs his 3-4 defense, no one knows how the players the Packers have already will respond to it.  Are they good fits?   Can they learn the system?

All of these questions are valid points for not giving Collins the big contract he wants.  Thompson, Capers, and Mike McCarthy want to see how he will respond to learning a system he is unfamiliar with.  His skill set might not even fit with the 3-4 defense.  Why would the Thompson dedicate so much money to someone who doesn’t fit the system?

Anyways, back to why Collins is No. 8 on my list of the ten most important players for the Packers 2009 season.  The Packers need a leader in the secondary.  Al Harris and Charles Woodson are both great players, but their positions make it hard for them to contribute to the leadership of the defense other than by example.  Collins, in the middle of it all, can join Nick Barnett in leading the defense and getting them fired up.  Collins follows in the footsteps of Leroy Butler and Darren Sharper with leadership roles in the secondary.

The Packers also need Collins to play defense exactly how he did in 2008: by making plays.  They need Collins to be the ballhawking safety the defense depends on.  Considering how the offense played last year, they won’t need the touchdowns as much as the interceptions.  The team will want Collins to force turnovers, making the transition to the 3-4 easier.

Collins is also important because of his attitude.  If he is the aforementioned leader of the secondary, the team will be fine.  If he whines about his contract and create a distraction, then that could be a problem.  Most Packers are hardened to distractions after 2008′s Brett Favre saga, but any distraction is a bad distraction for a team trying to rebound.

Collins is vital for the Packers defense, present and future.

Tomorrow: No. 7.

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Linebacker Nick Barnett posted the following on his Twitter account (@NickBarnett):

Thoughts on frave… Well didn’t want to comment but hey anyways I think he should do what ever he feels is in his heart.. But once he puts

Once he puts that purple He will become an enemy which is all part of the game.. It’s hard to imagine him doing that. But if it’s in his hea

I kind of wish Barnett had been smart enough to pay attention to the 140-character limit so we could all read his full thoughts, but he does put one thing forward: it’s a game, and Favre will be in purple, making him the opponent.

When Green Bay and Minnesota meet this year, it will be two of the most electric games on the schedule. Each team already plays its heart against each other, but add this to the equation it adds a whole new dimension, and that dimension is revenge.

It works like this: when Minnesota and Green Bay meet, Favre (yes, I know I’m talking like he’s already on the team) will be amped up beyond all belief. He’ll be fired up to go out their and stick it to Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, and anyone else whom he feels wronged him (he needs to start a punk band). The fellow Vikings will feed off this energy.

This is a double-edged sword, however. The Packers will know Favre will be pushing. They’ll know he’s amped. What does an amped Favre mean? Errant passes. Errant passes mean interceptions. Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Nick Collins and the whole gang will be on their toes looking to snag some passes. Favre has a tendency to try to take games into his own hands. He won’t have to do that that often in Minnesota with Adrian Peterson, but I’d expect a few more audibles and such from Favre against a Green Bay defense he will no longer be familiar with. Fact is, when Minnesota and Green Bay meet, a jumpy Favre could have consequences for the Vikings.

Also, Barnett really needs to get some of his spelling straight:

By the way didn’t think Twitter was a spelling bee!!! Wow

Yeah, Nick, just watch your spelling. It’s no wonder people think athletes are idiots.

Speaking of Twitter, be sure to follow Lombardi Ave to get all your blog post updates: @LombardiAve.

Week 1
Monday, September 8, 2008
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
7 PM ET
ESPN

This game is what I would call “interesting.” Longtime Packers quarterback Brett Favre was supposed to get his number retired before the game, but whoopsie, someone unretired and is playing for the New York Jets. My biggest curiosity surrounding this game is whether or not ESPN is still going to relocate their entire studio from Bristol, CT to Green Bay. I say no because they will most likely be too busy fawning over Favre’s New York debut to realize that there is a Monday Night Football game on their network. But then again, they do have to be there to criticize every Aaron Rodgers misstep, Mike McCarthy bad call, every Ted Thompson nose pick, and every thing else they can find wrong that’s going on and continue criticizing the Packers after they win. Oops. Did I give it away?

I can see John Clayton or Merrill Hoge talking on NFL Live after the Packers have beaten the Vikings.

“The biggest problem with the Packers now is their lack of experience. They only have one start between their three quarterbacks. I mean that’s ridiculous.”

And remember, they’re going to say that after every Packers game this year. I can see it after Week 17:

“The biggest problem with the Packers is still their lack of experience. There are only 16 career starts between all three of their quarterbacks.”

And then once the Packers make the playoffs:

“The biggest problem with the Packers now is that none of the three quarterbacks on the roster have started a playoff game. How ridiculous is that?”

Hey, guys, you know there was this dude named something like Fav-ray or something and, like, he started for 16 years in Green Bay and, like, never missed a single game, in, like 253 career starts, 270-somethinf if you include playoffs, right?

“I have no recollection of the quarterback you are talking about.”

Anyway, I digress. Less about ESPN and more about the game.

This game signals the big-time debut of an NFC North quarterback rivalry that seems to be in place for years to come: Tarvaris Jackson vs. Rodgers. Both of these players are surrounded by talented casts of offensive weapons. The Vikings have Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor and future-free agent bust Bernard Berrian surrounding Jackson. The Packers have Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and James Jones around Rodgers. Both of these defenses are top-notch as well. The Vikings acquired sack machine Jared Allen from the Kansas City Chiefs in the offseason. The Packers have Aaron Kampman. Pretty even.

This game will come down to which quarterback makes the least amount of mistakes. Jackson has a full year of starting under his belt, while Rodgers has two preseason games. Both quarterbacks will be under the microscope for the whole season and will be scrutinized even more in front of a national audience. Rodgers will have a Lambeau Field boost, which should help ease the transition better than a hostile game in the Metrodome.

Matchups To Watch

Rodgers vs. the Vikings secondary: The Vikings secondary is full of ballhawks. Former Packer Darren Sharper mans the free safety spot and will be eying Rodgers the whole game, hoping to capitalize on a bad decision. And he will capitalize. The Vikings also brought in safety Madieu Williams in free agency from Cincinnati. Williams was probably one of the best players on Cincinnati’s defense. Which isn’t saying much. Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin will have all they can handle in Driver and Jennings.

Packers O-line vs. Vikings D-line: The O-line always used to be a strong point for the Packers. This preseason, not so much. Mark Tauscher and Chad Clifton can handle or at least contain Allen and the Vikings defensive ends. The pressure falls on the interior lineman such as Scott Wells, Jason Spitz, Josh Sitton, and whoever else is in contention for a spot to contain Pat Williams and Kevin Williams. That will be a key to a Packers victory.

Vikings O-line vs. Packers D-line: The Vikings O-line is top notch. Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson make up a fantastic left side of the line. The Packers D-line lost Corey Williams to the Cleveland Browns and have had injury problems with Justin Harrell and Colin Cole at defensive tackle. There should be a sufficient pass rush on Jackson with Kampman and Cullen Jenkins. The trenches will most likely decide who wins this.

The Verdict: This is a tough decision. I’m going to take the Packers over the Vikings, 24-21. Yes, this is homerism shining through. But I do not see the Packers losing a Monday Night Football game at Lambeau to the hated Vikings. It’ll be close, but Rodgers will perform well enough to pull it out. Hell, maybe there will be a new “Monday Night Miracle.”

Packers record after Week 1: 1-0.

Presumably, the Packers don’t really want Favre back after all that’s happened. Essentially, their message is they aren’t going to free him to sign with any of the league’s other 31 teams — especially not NFC North division rivals Minnesota, Chicago or Detroit — and he won’t be given his starting job back if he returns to Green Bay.

The most likely scenario would have Favre petitioning the league for reinstatement and the Packers trading him to an AFC team, or at least an NFC team outside the division. Among the teams that fit that profile are the Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Washington Redskins.

The Packers’ best-case scenario, in which Favre would’ve simply stayed retired, almost certainly won’t happen. The Packers went so far as to send an intermediary down to Mississippi last week to try to talk Favre into staying retired, but their attempt failed.

The Wisconsin State Journal’s article puts serious contenders for Favre out there for the first time in a while. But would these really help Brett Favre? He obviously wants to go to a contender and the Minnesota Vikings are rumored to be his top choice (which means he’s looking to follow Darren Sharper and Ryan Longwell), but Minnesota most likely isn’t going to happen. Do these really give Favre a chance to be a winner though?

The Miami Dolphins were 1-15 last year and are starting from the ground up. They have a new coach in Tony Sparano and a new head man in Bill Parcells. If Favre wants to win, Miami would probably not be the best option. Parcells and Sparano are getting reputations as strictly business, given their run-in with superstar-turned-wanna-be-actor Jason Taylor. A Taylor-for-Favre swap is pretty intriguing, but I don’t think that’s what Taylor wants and Favre wants a winner, but I don’t see the Dolphins turning into playoff contenders right away. Right now, John Beck, Chad Henne, and Josh McCown are the quarterbacks on the roster for the Dolphins. Beck started last year and had a lot of trouble adjusting to the pro-game. He could have been Cam Cameron‘s quarterback of the future, but with Parcells coming in, his future is up in the air. Parcells used a high draft pick on Henne, who could be Parcells’ “guy” while McCown is the veteran in the mix. McCown also happens to be a friend of the Packers family, along with Nathan Poole, for knocking the Vikings out and Packers into the playoffs in (I think) 2003. God, I love opening old wounds. So the Dolphins do not look that likely if Favre wants to win. If he wants to play and end up on MediCare, he can go for it.

The Baltimore Ravens would be the worst situation for me besides an NFC North team. I may be in the Baltimore area, but I do not like the Ravens. Besides the personal anguish this would cost me, the Ravens cannot quite afford Favre. Right now the Packers have 2008 first round pick Joe Flacco, 2006 Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, and bust Kyle Boller. The Ravens are also reeling from the Steve McNair-era where they were at the mercy of an aging quarterback on the downside of his career. I have read many columnists in the Baltimore-area newspapers, and it’s clear they do not want Favre. They know that on the heels of a 5-11 season that they need to rebuild and devote time and confidence to either Flacco or Smith, something they did not do with Boller. The only way to get their quarterbacks better and to put themselves in a position to win in the future would be to let Flacco and Smith play and become experienced.

I pretty much covered the Chiefs, one of the most inept franchises in history. But they can still have fantasies. Like this one. And this one. And finally this one.

The Jets are intriguing. Favre is older than head coach Eric Mangini. Kellen Clemens looks like he could be a good quarterback if he is given time to play, which wouldn’t happen if Favre joined the team. Chad Pennington is still on the team and he has had some pretty good moments in his time in the Big Apple. I’m no Jets expert, but this scenario is pretty mysterious. Who knows here. I just don’t know whether Favre would want to play for a team coming off a losing season.

It seems like every year Sports Illustrated picks the Panthers to win the Super Bowl. But it doesn’t happen. They are mired in the .500-ball heave that is the NFC South. The team does not have many offensive weapons outside of Steve Smith and at times last year, it seemed like they could not do anything right. Sure, they played in Super Bowl XXXVIII. But that feels like ancient history.  Also, the Panthers seems set with Jake Delhomme as their signal caller.

Tampa Bay is quarterback heaven. Jon Gruden is apparently tight with Favre because of the days of the Holmgren regime.  But seriously, how many quarterbacks on the roster?  Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown, Chris Simms, and rookie Josh Johnson.  They’ve got about every type in there.  Let’s add aging-gunslinger to that category.  The Bucs won the division in 2007, but the fact that they won it at 9-7 leaves no guarantee for them to be a winner in 2008.  Not seeing Favre here.

The Redskins are another interesting possibility.  They’ve got plenty of money (aka Dan Snyder) and a young quarterback in Jason Campbell.  The Redskins know what they are doing with Campbell by letting him play last year.  The only reason a player can get better is by playing.  And he got better as the season went on before he got hurt and Todd Collins led the team to the playoffs.  The Skins have been down this road before with Mark Brunell.  I don’t think that worked too well.

So there we have it.  I’d say Favre doesn’t have any really good options out there.  Anywhere he went (Minnesota included) he would get in the way of the development of a team.