The Green Bay Packers logo outside of Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Hey Packers fans! Do you have $40 burning a hole in your pocket?

If you do, you might want to fork it over for the “Green Bay Pacers Hall of Fame Inc. Opoly,” the newest board game developed by All Sports Marketing LLC recently for the Packers Hall of Fame.

With proceeds from the sale of the 2,500 games produced will go toward the Hall of Fame and the Muscular Dystrophy Association – two non-profits that are certainly worthy of support.

The Monopoly-style game will include property spaces filled by Green Bay-area businesses that include Title Town Oil, Grand Central Station, Pomp’s Tire, Escort Limousine Service, Bayland Buildings and Doc’s Harley-Davidson.

The game, developed to continue to promote the history of one of the NFL’s oldest and most storied franchises, will feature a picture of Lambeau Field on the day the Lombardi Trophy was brought back to Green Bay after Super Bowl XLV. In addition the game board center will list all inductees of the Packers Hall of Fame along with the Packers Hall logo.

Here’s what Tom Murphy, Packers Hall of Fame Inc. archivist and board member, had to say about the effort:

“Among the goals of the Packers Hall of Fame Inc. is to deepen the fans’ appreciation of the history of the Packers, and this game accomplishes that. Fans can have fun and support two worthwhile charities while they learn.”

In addition to the board game sales, the Hall will also be hosting its annual induction this summer at Lambeau Field.

Here’s the pertinent information:

The 43rd Annual Induction Banquet will to be held the evening of July 20, 2013, in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Former players Chris Jacke and Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, and contributor Emil Fischer will become the newest members of the Hall that evening. Tickets for the banquet, which begins with the doors opening at 4:30 p.m. with a cash bar, and dinner and program to follow at 7 p.m., are $135 each. To purchase tickets, call Gwen Borga at (920) 965-6984, or e-mail her atgwenb@packershalloffame.com. No refunds are available 30 days prior to the event.

Max McGee of the Green Bay Packers attempts to pull in a pass against the Los Angeles Rams in 1954, the year the Packers made their first prime time television appearance.

The Green Bay Packers and the National Football League have been on the cutting edge of American milestones and have joined hand-in-hand with everything that is America – starting with their debut back in the Roaring ’20s, through the 1950s and 60 and into the 21st century.

But let’s take a look at 1954. World War II had been over for just less than a decade, the country was involved in Korea and the Baby Boom was under way – so, too, was the boom that would become television. The first national color cast - the 1954 Tournament of Roses Parade - occurred on Jan. 1, 1954, though color television was an expensive and rare experience for the majority of Americans.

That said, it was on this date in history, March 9, 1954, that Green Bay Packers General Manager Verne Lewellen announced that the first nationally televised Packers home game would be broadcast Nov. 13 against the Baltimore Colts at Milwaukee County Stadium. The contest was a Saturday night affair with the kickoff at 7:05 p.m. The game, won by the Packers 24-13, was blacked out in the Green Bay and Milwaukee markets. Today’s important date was announced by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

But as we know, that was just the beginning of the television boom. The National Football League, the Green Bay Packers and their affiliation with television and exposure to a whole new generation of fans was born in the early 1950s, grew up in the 1960s, and became the American symbol of excellence and prosperity the past 30 years. But to consider what the NFL was dealing with so long ago in jumpstarting what is now a game worth billions, you have to consider some of the history from which it grew.

Here are some of the people born that year of 1954:

January 12 – Howard Stern, radio and television host.

February 18 - John Travolta, actor.

April 29 – Jerry Seinfeld, actor and comedian.

June 15 – James Belushi, actor.

December 28 – Denzel Washington, actor.

Here are some of the television programs that made their debut that year:

September 27 - The Tonight Show is first broadcasted by the NBC network (1954–present).

Face the Nation premieres on CBS (1954–present).

September 12 – Lassie premieres on CBS (1954–1973)

The politics of the time were also changing the America of the past: On this very day, March 9, 1954, Edward R. Murrow narrated a report on McCarthy, exposing the senator’s shoddy tactics. Of McCarthy, Murrow observed, “His mistake has been to confuse dissent with disloyalty.”

And, of course, the number of televisions in homes – mostly black and white televisions at this time because the cost of a color television in 1954 was $1,000 – the equivalent of $8,000 in today’s money - increased from 0.4 percent in 1948 to 55.7 percent in 1954 and to 83.2 percent four years later.

Vern Lewellen, the Green Bay Packers general manager in 1954.
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame photograph

So, what Lewellen was doing on this day in 1954 for the Green Bay Packer was helping to lift them to a new level of national and international prominence.

When the Vince Lombardi Packers dominated the 1960s, the team’s fan base grew by leaps and bounds, the NFL grew exponentially and the game itself became the iconic semblance of American culture.

That’s why today’s date in Packers history is so important.

The Super Bowl XXXI Champion Green Bay Packers

Just who is Larry Winsand and why have the Green Bay Packers said thanks to him?

It’s because he’s the man who traveled 30,000 miles across 11 states over the course of 16 years to gather a collection that’s one of a kind and will be available for viewing in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Winsand did what most of us would say is a crazy chase – but his excursions started with a goal and expanded beyond even his expectations. You see, Winsand traveled the miles and spent the time collecting 96 autographs of players, coaches, trainers, and administrators who were on the two photographs he had of the 1996 Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers.

Today, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame accepted the donation of the two photographs with the autographs from Winsand.

According to the official site of the Green Bay Packers, the pictures include autographs from “President Bob Harlan, General Manager Ron Wolf, Head Coach Mike Holmgren, the entire coaching staff and 56 members of the team, as well as autographs from the Packers’ player personnel, public relations, strength and conditioning, medical and training departments.”

Originally from Mondovi, Winsand was quoted on the Packers’ site as saying,

“My original intent for this project was to capture signatures of the starting offense, defense, and coach Holmgren. So many Packers fans along the way commented on how special it would be to include the entire team, so a simple project evolved into a personal mission to include 96 members of this 1996 championship organization.

“I would like to thank the Green Bay Packers, the Hall of Fame and particularly Tom Murphy for enabling this piece of Packers History to become a permanent part of the incredible destination that is the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.”

Here’s what Tom Murphy, the Hall’s archivist and director, said:

“Larry has accomplished an incredible objective, and in so doing he has incurred a great amount of personal time and expense. For him to now donate his completed project to the Hall of Fame for all fans to enjoy is testament to his passion and loyalty to the Green Bay Packers.”

According to Murphy, here is how Winsand’s donation will be displayed:

The photos will be displayed in the Hall of Fame, along with replicas that contain printed names of the autographs as a reference for viewers. The copies of the photos will be mounted on a wooden plaque and will flank a dedication tile that was written by Winsand.

What a phenomenal task and donation by Winsand.

We here at Lombardiave.com salute him for going the extra mile(s) in making this happen.

Ten nominees are vying for the 2012 Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Ultimate fan contest with the deadline for casting your ballot being this Friday, Feb. 22.

Nominations for this year’s candidates started back in December and the announcement of the winner will be made this spring, but the exact date is yet to be decided.

The full rules of the voting are located by clicking here …

Those nominated this year are:

J. Christopher Windisch – Williston Park, NY

Edward Fritsch – Sheboygan, WI

Melissa Jacobs – Wauwatosa, WI

Eric Breuer – Yorktown, VA

Stephen Gay – Luxemburg, WI

Kevin Taylor – Decatur, AL

Barbara Mollberg – Greenfield, WI

Dave Rickert – Freedom, WI

Ronald Mihm – Lisbon, WI

George Oudhuis – New Carlisle, IN

The full nominations are available by clicking here

Donald Driver breaks down during his retirement speech held in the Atrium at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver gave an emotional goodbye this morning in the Atrium at Lambeau Field in front of more than 1,000 people and tens of thousands who followed on television and online.

“The Receiver” will be refurbished to represent Donald Driver and the street that runs near the statue will be renamed Donald Driver Way.

Warm words, an awesome highlight video and the announcement that “The Receiver,” the statue that formerly sat in front of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and is now situated in front of Titletown Brewery, will be refurbished to represent Driver, were just a few of the high points from the program. In addition to the refurbishing of the statue, the street that runs by the statue will be renamed “Donald Driver Way.”

Gov. Scott Walker declared today, Wednesday, Feb. 6, as Donald Driver Day across the state of Wisconsin, a proclamation that only touches on the love that fans have showed Driver throughout his storied career.

Donald Driver holds his daughter while taking questions during his retirement speech today at Lambeau Field.

During his speech, Driver acknowledged many players, coaches and family members and thanked them profusely, but he concluded his thank you’s and speech by calling out his love for the fans.

“This day is not just for me, it’s for you,” Driver said in addressing the fan base. “I promised you all I would never wear another uniform, so today we make that official … I keep my loyalty to you. to retire in the green and gold.”

Larry McCarren opened the program by addressing the love he felt in the room and concluded the event by stressing even more than ever all that Driver had done for the fans through the years was reciprocated many times over by those who have loved and appreciated him.

Defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila joins kicker Chris Jacke and former team president Emil Fischer as the newest inductees to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A powerful speed rushing defensive end, a dead-eye field goal kicker and a former team president will all be joining the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame this coming July

Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Chris Jacke and Emil Fischer, it was announced today, will be inaugurated in July.

The team’s all-time leading sacker, Gbaja-Biamila, ended his career in 2008 with 74½. He had 10 or more sacks per season starting in 2001 and continuing until 2004. In 2005, he even posted a four-sack game against the Chicago Bears.

Playing his college career at San Diego State, Gbaja-Biamila turned in his warm-weather clothing for long johns after being drafted in the fifth round of the 2000 draft by the Packers. By the time of his final season with the team in 2008, Gbaja-Biamila had played in 132 games.

Chris Jacke played the bulk of his career with the Green Bay Packers, but also kicked for the Washington Redskins and Arizona Cardinals.

Kicker Chris Jacke was one of the most popular kickers to play for the Packers in the past 90 ears. He is third on the Packers’ all-time scoring list with 820 points, and was a team scoring leader seven times. His strong leg became legendary as he cranked through 17 50-plus yard field goals during his career. In 1993, he was successful six times from 50 yards and out.

His five field goals in a single game is still a team record – he did it on two separate occasions. Selected in the sixth round of the 1989 draft, Jacke kicked in college at Texas-El Paso. He played in 133 games for the team, including Super Bowl XXXI.

Emil Fischer began his affiliation with the team in 1926, when he joined the team’s board of directors. According to published reports, Fischer became a member of the executive committee in 1935, served as team president from 1948-52 and was chairman of the board from 1953 until his death in 1958. The team also credits Fischer with maintaining the Packers’ status in the NFL during the league’s absorption of franchises from the All-America Football Conference in 1949, as well as during Curly Lambeau’s resignation in 1950.

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for July 20 in the Lambeau Field Atrium.

Tickets for the banquet are $135 each, with tables of 10 available for $1,300. Call 920-965-6984 or email gwenb@packershalloffame.com for ticket information.

Donald Driver’s image will be etched in Green Bay Packers minds forever.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The Brown County Board has officially declared today, Thursday, Jan. 17, 2013, as “Donald Driver Day.”

Though maybe not as widespread as the Aaron Rodgers Day that was held Dec. 12, 2012, Packers fans have got to believe that #80 understands what he means to fans not only in Brown County, but throughout the state, the country and even the world. His influence, attitude and spirit have infected us all. He is a class man, a huge asset to the Green Bay Packers organization and whatever his decision in the coming weeks about his football future, he is destined to be elected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Driver, though not at Wednesday’s meeting of the county board, said in a statement, “It’s truly an honor to have January 17, 2013, become Donald Driver Day. I will always appreciate the special relationship that I share with the Green Bay Packers fans and I have so many incredible memories of my time spent in Green Bay and Brown County. I look forward to remaining a fixture in the community here and for many years to come.”

That sounds like someone who will be with us, if not on the gridiron, at least within our communities. For that, we’ve got to be happy.

Here’s a link to some great photos of Driver through the years …

And, do you remember this?

John Brockington
Photo courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame

Gosh, for us old-timers it seems like yesterday, but the good (or maybe bad) thing about the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame is that they constantly remind us how fast time goes – especially when it comes to Packers history.

It was on this date in 1972 – yes folks, that’s 40 years ago – the Packers under the guidance of head coach Dan Devine, took up residence for the weekend in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to prepare for their playoff game to be played that weekend against the Washington Redskins.

For those of you who don’t remember, it was an exciting season for Packers fans as Devine and quarterback Scott Hunter led the Packers to a 10-4 record, mostly because of the running exploits of rookie John Brockington. The high-stepping boulder of a man led the Packers in rushing that season with 274 attempts for 1,027 yards. However, it was his work in the backfield that was complemented by MacArthur Lane  who carried the ball 177 times of another 821 yards – a 4.6 yard average.

Now don’t laugh, but Hunter’s statistics paled in comparison to the pass-happy stats put up in today’s NFL – he completed 86 passes in 199 attempts – a 43.2 percent completion rate – FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON! Granted, it was only a 14-game season, but those stats in today’s game would be an embarrassment. Back then, it was good enough to lead a team into the playoffs.

The season all came to an end on Christmas Eve when the Redskins defeated the Packers 16-3. Played at the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, the Packers and Redskins played to a scoreless tie after the first quarter, but the Skins took a 10-3 lead into halftime and held the Packers in check the rest of the way.

Hunter was 12 of 24 in the game for 150 yards, mainly because the Packers couldn’t mount a running game. Brockington ran 13 times for nine yards and though Lane 14 attempts for 56 yards, 22 of them came on a single attempt.

The Redskins stats weren’t too much better: quarterback Billy Kilmer was 7 of 14 for 100 yards, but it was the run game behind Larry Brown’s 101 yards on 25 carries that was the difference.

Here’s the story as presented by the Packers Hall of Fame … take a look and remember …

Road Trip: Packers Arrive in North Carolina for Playoff Game

Dec. 19, 1972 – For the first time in nearly five years, Green Bay takes to the road for a great cause: the playoffs. Capturing their first NFC Central Division title since Vince Lombardi’s final year as Packers coach (1967), the team travels to Winston-Salem, North Carolina where it will prepare to face the Washington Redskins in a divisional playoff game on Christmas Eve. “We’ll have more squad meetings that we normally would,” Packers coach Dan Devine says. “After all, we’ll have everybody together…all the time.” Devine says he chose Winston-Salem because it was better suited for total concentration. “It’s going to take the same kind of effort we had against Detroit and Minnesota to beat Washington,” he says. “Anything less won’t do.” Unfortunately for Green Bay, its effort is not enough as the Redskins triumph 16-3.

Most Packers fans can remember exactly where they were the day it was announced that White bucked all the odds and signed a free agent contract with the team. I was sitting in my living room playing with my 2-year-old daughter, Charlotte, when the news came over the radio.

I really couldn’t believe my ears at the time, but what I was hearing was indeed true.

What brought Reggie back to mind today was a posting I saw today on one of my favorite websites, the Green Bay Packer Hall of Fame.

In this post, the Hall has put together a series of photos of Reggie in Green and Gold, bringing back memories of a player who helped put the “title” back into Titletown and brought respectability back to a franchise that had fallen into the scrap heap of the NFL. Since Reggie and that other guy – you know who I refer to – brought a winning attitude and tradition back to Green Bay the team continues to this day to be one of the elite franchises in the league.

But before I send you over to see the site for yourself, here is a short story about the Reggie White candy bar … when they came out many years ago, I went out and bought a couple of them, just like so many other Packers fans. Of course, I had to eat one of them – delicious, I might add – but the other was meant to be saved for the ages. It was to be saved intact.

It sat for many years on the shelf with the wrapper displaying Reggie’s great name for all to see.

That is until it came to move to a new home. As I was packing up our prized possessions I reached up to pick the candy bar off the shelf when my heart sunk. While the wrapper that sat for so many years appearing to be filled with candy, it was empty. With a sheepish grin, it was my daughter, Charlotte, who admitted to eating the candy bar many years prior. I will never be able to find another like it with the candy intact, but at least I still have the wrapper and experienced a good laugh with my daughter.

And though I digress a bit I now ask you to take a trip on over to the site to see the pictures and while we celebrate Aaron Rodgers’ special day.

Gilbert Brown …
Photograph courtesy of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

You probably have never seen this, but if you are a Green Bay Packers fan this is a must-see.

Gilbert “The Grave Digger” Brown was known for his toughness on the field and for his run stuffing abilities in the middle of a defensive line that included Sean Jones and, of course, Reggie White. Those were the days when that line was holding Barry Sanders to zero (yes, that’s ZERO) yards in a playoff game. It was one of the best lines ever to take the field for the Green Bay Packers.

A couple of days ago, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame released this video of Gilbert Brown accepting his rightful place in the team’s Hall.

He says it all. There’s nothing else I can say in his stead.

Give it a watch by clicking here …

KGB was a productive defensive lineman for the Packers through the 2008 season.

Maybe you remember this day, maybe you don’t – but Green Bay Packers former defensive lineman Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila surely does.

Very early in the morning of Dec. 1, 2002, KGB and his wife welcomed their first child into the world. KGB then went to Lambeau Field for his day job, helping the Packers to a 30-20 win over the Chicago Bears – two significant highs for the productive Packers player.

Then it all came crashing down later that night when KGB learned his mother died in a single-vehicle car crash in California.

You might remember just how productive KGB was as a player. In his third season with the team – the second of four straight where he had double-digit sack totals – he also returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown

It was certainly a day KGB will remember for his entire life. The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame recognized the anniversary date of that fateful day a decade ago.

Their post is below …

The Best and Worst of Times: A Day in the Life of KGB

Dec. 1, 2002 – Life can be wonderful. Life can be cruel. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila rode a roller coaster of emotion on the day he and his Packers defeat the Chicago Bears 30-20 at Lambeau Field. At about 1:30 a.m. in Green Bay, Gbaja-Biamila’s wife, Eileen, gives birth to the couple’s first child: Abdul-Rashid Olatunji. That evening, the defensive end’s mother, Bola Tito Anjorin Gbaja-Biamila, is killed in a one-car accident near the family’s home in Los Angeles. According to a report by the Associated Press, Mrs. Gbaja-Biamila was on her way to assist a friend when the accident occurred. “She’s going to be dearly missed,” Kabeer tells the AP. “She was always trying to help somebody, and that’s what she was doing just before she died.”

If so, you might want to take a few moments and go to the Packers website and complete the nomination process, which must be completed online this year.

The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, the first of its kind among National Football League teams, started the fan nomination was started in 1998 because of the intense devotion and dedication of so many of the team’s fans. Known as the FAN Hall of Fame honoree, it was first given to Mel Knoke that first year.

Since then there have been 13 more who have been inducted. In all, 10 have been from Wisconsin, with the other four from out of state.

The nomination phase is under way and will continue through Dec. 21.

Fans again are being asked to nominate themselves, a relative or friend for the honor in an essay of 500 words or less, describing the merits of the nominee. Each nomination should be accompanied by a photo – a copy of the original photo should be submitted in case of damage or loss.

A selection committee will then narrow the field down to 10 finalists who will have their profiles placed onto the Packers website. The final selection will be made by three different groups: Fans (50 percent), the Packers committee (30 percent) and previous honoree votes (20 percent).

While all the voting will be done via the Web, fans without Internet access will also be allowed to submit nominations: Green Bay Packers FAN Hall of Fame, P.O. Box 10628, Green Bay, WI, 54307-0628, or drop them off at the Lambeau Field Atrium (1265 Lombardi Avenue).

In addition to having the honor of a place in the Packers Hall of Fame, the winner will also be awarded four club seats to a 2013 Packers home game; a $500 Packers Pro Shop gift certificate; a road trip for two to a 2013 Packers away game, including game ticket, air fare and hotel accommodation; and a one-year subscription to Packer Plus.

The complete list of past winners are as follows:

Past honorees include: (1999) Mel Knoke, Appleton, Wis.; (2000) Louis Gardipee, Black River Falls, Wis.; (2001) Ed Jablonski, Wausau, Wis.; (2002) Paul Mazzoleni, Green Bay; (2003) Wanda Boggs, Brookfield, Wis.; (2004) Sister Isaac Jogues Rousseau, Milwaukee; (2005) Dorothy Hanke, Milwaukee; (2006) Kathy Lazzaro, Milwaukee; (2007) Rich Barbera, River Vale, N.J; (2008) Richard ‘Ike’ Eisenhauer, Wauwatosa, Wis.; (2009) Allan Hale, Green Bay; and (2010) Jim Becker, Racine, Wis.; (2011) Tom Little, Mount Sterling, Ill.; and (2012) Rick Steele, Greensburg, Pa.

So, don’t hesitate. Get moving and fill out the application.

James Lofton was back at Lambeau Field to cover a Packers vs. Vikings game in 2010. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

It was a fact about Hall of Famer James Lofton that I may have known at one time, but was quickly reminded by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame post yesterday.

Wide receiver James Lofton took a step back in time Nov. 9, 1980 by agreeing to play safety for Bart Starr’s team late in a game. He even made a tackle and was credited for an assist on a tackle.

Considering his value to the team at his offensive position, it was quite a surprise that Starr utilized him on defense, too. However, given his overall athletic abilities, it’s not sup rising that Starr sent him out on defense.

The following is the post by the Hall of Fame – a site that’s chocked full of Packers history. You might want to check the site out sometime. It’s a real joy.

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

For Safety’s Sake: Packers James Lofton Gets Defensive

Nov. 9, 1980 – Two-way players, already on the way out during the days of Bart Starr the player (1956-71) were almost impossible to find during the nine years of Starr the Packers coach (1975-83). On this November afternoon in a 23-16 win over the 49ers at Milwaukee County Stadium, Starr unveils James Lofton, wide receiver and part-time safety. The veteran wideout, who catches eight passes for 146 yards, is utilized as the deep man on five plays when the team shifts into an unorthodox 3-1-7 defense. Lofton is credited with one tackle and one assisted tackle. “You know, I went both ways in high school,” Lofton says.

In fact, he wore #30 for the first three years he wore the Green and Gold. And it was when he was wearing that number as a rookie that he talks about in the video below that’s provided by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

When asked about his most memorable game, he initially talks about his experience in Super Bowl XXXI when he led the blocking for Edgar Bennett. However, he quickly dispels any thoughts that his was him most memorable game. Instead, he takes everyone back to his rookie season and the time when coach Mike Holmgren “challenged” him.

He also talks about a Minnesota Viking who he was assigned to keep off the Packers running backs.

Take a look at the video and see if you can figure out who the Viking he mentions is … If you know, let me know because I’m not sure …

Here’s the link to the video at the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame …

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

Photo courtesy of WTMJ

It’s kind of ironic, but on this very day in history in 1996 the Green Bay Packers defeated the Seattle Seahawks on their Pacific Northwest turf to run their record to 4-1 in what was to be their run to a Super Bowl-winning season.

As it turns out, it was the defense that turned the tide in this one as the Packers intercept Seahawks’ QB Rick Mirer multiple times in the win.

Given the past week’s troubles, I thought it was nice to have the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame find this nugget of history to post on its site.

Read below for more of the good news.

Fearless in Seattle: Packers Trounce Seahawks

Sept. 29, 1996 – The Green Bay Packers get their Super Bowl season back on track with a 31-10 rout of the Seahawks. A loss to the Vikings after three straight dominating wins had caused concern, but the 21-point victory in the Kingdome only confirms Green Bay (4-1) is the real deal. “I want that to be the headline of every paper in the country,” Packers coach Mike Holmgren facetiously says. “Holmgren does it on turf.” Prior to Seattle, Green Bay had won just one of its previous 13 games on the road, in a dome, on turf. Doug Evans, Reggie White, Eugene Robinson and Craig Newsome each intercept Rick Mirer to set up 24 points. Brett Favre’s TD pass to tight end Keith Jackson is the team’s only score not set up by turnover.

When the Packers acquired John Jefferson from the San Diego Chargers, there were some who thought he could be the perfect match for the Green Bay offense and a great complement to wide receiver James Lofton.

Jefferson ended up staying around in Green Bay for four years, catching 149 passes for 2,253 yards.

Courtesy of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame, here is a post about this day in Packers history when Jefferson was traded to the team from Wisconsin.

Packers Land John Jefferson

Sept. 17, 1981 – The Green Bay Packers secure All-Pro wide receiver John Jefferson in a trade with San Diego that is hailed by Mike Christopulos of the Milwaukee Sentinel as “the biggest trade the Packers have made since Oct. 22, 1974 when Dan Devine, then coach and general manager, acquired quarterback John Hadl.” The Packers swap first-round picks in 1982 with the Chargers and also give up a second-round pick in 1982 and a first-round pick in 1983. “We’re pleased to consummate a trade for a player of this magnitude,” Packers coach Bart Starr says. “It gives us a tremendous added dimension to our passing game and takes a burden off James Lofton.” Jefferson catches 39 passes in 13 games in 1981.

Ivery’s up and down career with the Packers would eventually last eight years, but his first game was a harbinger of the rest of his career. Though he played in all 16 games in 1980 and rushed for 831 yards, he followed that up with one game in 1981, nine games in 1982 and eight in 1983. Between 1984 and 1986 Ivery played in this number of games per season: 10, 15, and 12.

Click here for Ivery’s career statistics and below is the story from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame about Ivery’s first game.

Packers Top Pick Eddie Lee Ivery is Lost for Season

Sept. 2, 1979 – Eddie Lee Ivery, the Green Bay Packers No. 1 draft choice who had shown so much promise, is lost for the season when he suffers torn cartilage and damage to the anterior cruciate ligament of his left knee in a season-opening 6-3 loss to the Bears in Chicago. Ivery crumples to the turf after gaining 11 yards on a second-quarter carry. The run is Green Bay’s longest of the afternoon. “I’m trying to keep my spirits up,” Ivery says from his room at St. Vincent Hospital a day later. “This being the first time something like this has happened. I don’t know how to accept it.”

On this date in Packers history, guard Ron Hallstrom (above) and center Mark Cannon sign contracts.

Today in Packers history, the year is 1988 and added to the fold that is the Green Bay Packers roster are guard Ron Hallstrom and center Mark Cannon.

In the days of holdouts, the Packers solidified their offensive line with the signing of these two valuable cogs in the Packers offensive machine.

The following is today’s post by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

Enjoy.

Falling in Line: Packers’ Agree to Terms with Hallstrom and Cannon

August 21, 1988 – The Green Bay Packers agree to contract terms with a pair of offensive lineman as Lindy Infante gets set to open his first season as coach of the Green and Gold. The agreements reached with guard Ron Hallstrom and center Mark Cannon leave the Packers with two holdouts: wide receiver Phillip Epps and linebacker Brian Noble. “If everything goes well with Ron and he stays healthy, he’ll make the kind of money where he should be,” Hallstrom’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, says. Both Hallstrom and Cannon play in all 16 games in 1988.

Jan 14, 1968; Miami,, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oakland Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson (83) in action against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl. The Packers defeated the Raiders 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-US PRESSWIRE

I learned something new today about the Packers – you learn something new every day … that’s what they say.

Well, today I did learn something new and it applies to Ben Davidson, that 6-foot 8-inch monster whose mustache was nearly as famous as the way he played with the Oakland Raiders in the mid- to late-60s.

Davidson had ties to the Packers going back to the early ’60s, something of which I was not aware. He also left Green Bay for Washington before actually landing with the Raiders.

Here’s the brief from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

The post below was provided today by the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and details one’s retelling of a story told by the late great Vince Lombardi’s wife, Marie, way back in 1975. However, it’s one that I’ve never heard and doubt that you have either.

Take a short moment to give it a read. Packers fans everywhere are sure to understand exactly what Vince meant at the time he uttered his final remembrance of Green Bay.

Vince Lombardi’s Final Remembrance of Green Bay

This remarkable memory is courtesy of Jim DeWees. Jim is a Hall of Fame Executive Committee Member on the Board of Directors for the Packers Hall of Fame, Inc.

As a long-time member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Board of Directors and Executive Committee, I have my own personal collection of Packers stories.

One I’d like to share one with you today stands out in my mind as truly unique.

Several years ago, the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame Induction Banquet was held at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay. It was 1975, the year that Vince Lombardi and several of his players were inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame. This group included Don Chandler, Willie Davis, Paul Hornung, Henry Jordan, Jerry Kramer, Ron Kramer, Max McGee, Jim Taylor and Fuzzy Thurston. The banquet, of course, was sold out, and packed with admirers and fans.

Marie Lombardi was there to accept the award on behalf of her husband. It was an emotional time, as it was a short time after he had passed away. She told the audience about a conversation she had with Vince a couple days before he died.

She said, “I was sitting on the edge of the bed and Vini (as she always called him) was so sick and semi-conscious. He awoke and said, “Marie, honey, I want to go home.”

I said, “You are home.”

And Vini said, “No, I mean I want to go home to Green Bay.”

This was a tear-jerking moment for everyone.

There was never a question about how the city of Green Bay felt about Vince Lombardi.

Now we know how Vince Lombardi really felt about Green Bay.