New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo (9) will meet in next season's opener Wednesday, Sept. 5. Chris Faytok/The Star-Ledger via US PRESSWIRE

The National Football League had its chance for 2012 season opener with a bang. League schedulers had a no-brainer on their hands and they proceeded to fumble the snap.

They could have set the schedule to open the season (this year on a Wednesday) featuring the past two Super Bowl-winning teams, the Green Bay Packers vs. the New York Giants, a game that would feature arguably the two best quarterbacks in the league and pit the David (Packers) against the Goliath (Giants) when it comes to overall market share.

But no. What does the league do? Just when the league is poised to land a game that would bring together two teams that have faced off in epic playoff battles twice in the past five years, they book the Cowboys.

Say what?

Yes, money does talk and so does that loudmouth, arrogant moneybags himself, Jerry Jones. This has his fingerprints all over it and given that Commissioner Roger Goodell is deep in Jones’s pocket, this game seemed inevitable – even though Packers vs. Giants was the sentimental choice.

Giants vs. Cowboys is so 20th century and 27 seconds ago. The league must have seen that.

But that doesn’t matter. Now we can all slumber in our loungers watching Tony Romo screw up another game and Eli Manning marching his team down the field to a winning score. We can all slumber with visions of Packers running for touchdowns and Lambeau Leaps dancing in our heads. We won’t have to worry about how to spend the following 12 days before another Packers game when we should all be engrained with the seven-day football itch.

We would have all loved to get juiced for the prime time appearance that could have featured the Packers and Giants, but we must wait for another day.

That’s OK. Instead we’ll be able to get in a bit of shuteye between Tony Romo miscues.

This is an artist's rendition of what the south end of Lambeau Field will look like when the current project is completed.

When the Green Bay Packers announced a few months back that the NFL franchise would launch its fifth stock sale, there was much snickering and giggling in the background. Two-hundred-and-sixty-eight-thousand transactions later, that snickering by the naysayers is all gone and the Packers are taking $67 million to the bank where they will earmark it to be utilized in the $143 million upgrade to Lambeau Field that will add about 7,000 seats to the south side of the iconic stadium, completing enclosing the bowl.

You want to talk home field advantage now? If you thought it was loud at Lambeau before, this will certainly increase the decibels.

Those are all good things for the Packers organization which is not only one of the oldest franchises in the league, but also one of the most business-savvy. What is sort of amazing is the fact that more than 90 percent of the sales were completed via the Internet. So, not only are the Packers banking on their brand recognition as an important part of marketing, but it is also using the power of the Web to promote the team.

Another important factor in the sales was the number of those living outside the area who bought in. While half of the sales came from those living in Wisconsin, 8.5 percent each came from Illinois (hear that, Bears fans?) and California. Texas and Minnesota each accounted for 5 percent of the sales. And in a two-day flurry of sales, 2,000 Canadians also bought in.

Though the Packers brass figured conservatively when estimating the number of sales the stocks would generate, they are also very pleased with the final outcome – a result that will give the team even greater options on this and future projects at the stadium site.

In the meantime, be prepared to enter Lambeau Field that has a whole new look with a fan base that is energized not only by the on-field product they have come to adore, but because hundreds of thousands of them are actual owners of the team.

That unique fact will never be found with any other franchise.

So, stop with the snickering and giggling … the NFL’s franchise situated in the smallest geographic area with the smallest overall population just grew to be the largest in heart and tradition.

Suck on that Jerry Jones.

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

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

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

Matthews needs to get into Brett Favres Head early and often

The Green Bay Packers walked all over the Dallas Cowboys last night. It was ugly. So ugly in fact that after all the harassment that John Kitna took last night, Jerry Jones decided that he has seen enough of Wade Phillips and axed the man that only a week ago was given the dreaded vote of confidence. In his stead will be the fallen boy wonder Jason Garrett who was supposed to be an offensive genius when he left Miami five years ago.

Facing Kitna for the first time since his days in Detroit, the Packers wasted little time picking up where they left off with the ageing QB.

Last night game bordered on being a laugher unless A, you were a Packers fan or B, you owned any member of the Packers defense, special teams, Aaron Rodgers, Brandon Jackson, and/or Clay Matthews on your fantasy team. It was that bad and it was that bad early. The Packers jumped to an early lead that they didn’t come close to giving up.

James Jones who I spoke about earlier this week was lights out in place of the injured Donald Driver until a late game dropped pass had announcer Chris Collinsworth finally finding something to dig on. Rodgers threw only 7 incomplete passes all night, one to the aforementioned Jones. In addition to his 289 yard aerial effort, he added 41 yards on the ground. John Kuhn rushed for 50 yards and Brandon Jackson added 42.

The real cheese had to go to the defensive unit who harassed John Kitna the entire game, left the Cowboys with a total of 39 yards rushing from their three runners, and held Miles Austin to 16 yards on two catches. For their effort, the defense forced two fumbles, sacked Kitna four times, picked him off twice, and returned one of them for a TD. The special teams added another one on a call that should never have been made. (more…)

TO’s new reality show on VH1, “The TO Show,” confirms everything we already knew about the Buffalo Bills wide receiver.  He’s selfish, likes to be the center of attention, and doesn’t really listen to anyone else.  The pilot episode last night centered around TO’s two publicists (who I refer to as his “handlers”), Kita and Monique trying to change TO’s image from TO to Terrell.  I don’t think giving the entire world a look into the life of one the biggest divas in NFL history was the best move.

Apparently, the show is supposed to show a different side of TO.  What it does is show the viewers that TO is exactly the same at home as he is out in public.  He pays up $137,000 for diamond earrings.  He invites an entire club back to his house for a party.  He hooks up with his real estate agent in his hot tub.  On the field, he always wants the ball.  Off the field, he always the attention.

The show also seems painfully calculated.  He is forced by his handlers to contact his ex-fiance to see how she is doing.  When TO meets with her, he dodges her questions about his love life, a la Drew Rosenhaus.  He had to have learned it somewhere.  TO didn’t want to go meet with her.  He is forced into it by his handlers and he makes it clear he doesn’t want to do what they tell him.  It’s hard to imagine that Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo know how Kita and Mo feel.

The show did have one interesting part which, surprisingly, pertained to football.  In one scene, TO sits down with his best friend Pablo, a large dude that cuts rank farts on the LA freeways, and divulges how his meeting with Jerry Jones went when Jones told TO that he was no longer a member of the Dallas Cowboys.  The reasoning that TO says Jones used makes perfect sense: I support you 100%, so I’m going to cut you.  Jones’ method of drawing a diagram on a tablecloth is original to say the least.  The show becomes even more amusing when TO describes waiting around so he could take the tablecloth with him after the meeting.

The advent of “The T.O. Show” has to be a low point in the history of reality TV shows.  If TO’s handlers want to “change the man,” as is their mantra throughout the show, then they should take my advice: get him out of the spotlight.  The less there is of TO, the more people like him.  The last thing that will change people’s opinions about him is seeing him in his cushy personal life still being TO.  As a closet Philadelphia Eagles fan, the disdain factor for TO just reaches the ridiculous.  If TO wasn’t already a joke to people before, he has definitely surpassed that now.  If he was already a joke to people, he has pushed himself totally out of the radar.

Dick Jauron and Trent Edwards, study up.  Using this show as film on how to deal with TO could come in more handy than any other games tapes you have on him.

You can watch the episode here.

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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.

Recently, I’ve had a lot of people ask me about the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement that expires after the 2009 season, which would create an uncapped year for 2010. Most NFL fans cringe at the thought of an uncapped year as they feel the NFL would just be turned into MLB. However, the changes are deeper than just the thought of Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder dropping cash everywhere a la George Steinbrenner. It’s more than that. But unfortunately, I do not know nearly enough to fully explain it, which is why I have some of these links for you to read and hopefully get a better idea of what is going on:

Brian from PhinPhanatic has done a pretty good job putting together a post outlining the basics of everything.

Pat Kirwan from NFL.com has two posts, one from six months ago and then another from eight months ago that have a look ahead to what the 2010 season holds for everyone.

And finally, Kirkendall over at Cincy Jungle, the Cincinnati Bengals blog on the SB Nation network, has a basic Q & A session concerning the uncapped years as well.

Hopefully this will keep all you readers occupied and informed until I come back.  Thanks!

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.