“I don’t get no respect!”

The famous catchphrase of legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield and seemingly the theme to the Green Bay Packers 2012-13 NFL Playoff run. The media and the pundits are snubbing their collective nose at the Packers. Can this work to Green Bay’s advantage?

Granted, the Packers have been their own worst enemy at times – losing games they should have won and losing games on national TV. Their 11-5 record was not incredible in the regular season, but in reality it was a blown call by an official and a couple of game winning field goals away from being the best record in the NFL.

Yet thus far in the playoffs the Packers seem to get the “text me later” from the media. On Saturday after it was learned that Joe Webb would start in place of Christian Ponder for the Vikings, Tony Dungy prattled on and on about how Webb would be the difference maker in the game. Rationalizing his logic with the idea that the Packers had not seen any film or prepared for Webb and he would be able to disrupt the Packers defense with the read option. The reason the Packers had not seen any film on Webb is because he was on the bench. He couldn’t even beat out Christian Ponder.

Earlier in the week leading up to the Packer versus Vikings game all the talk was about how Adrian Peterson was going to run wild on the Packers defense. It almost seemed like the Packers were the underdog to the Vikings. Now granted there is some precedent here, in two games the Packers defense did not demonstrate they could even remotely control Peterson.

But in Week 17 the Vikings played their best game of the year. They played hungry and desperate. But Week 17 did not represent the Vikings’ 2012 body of work. The Packers put themselves in a position to lose to an inferior opponent.

Leading up to the NFC Divisional Playoff game in San Francisco the Packers are once again chopped liver. This week former New London, Wisconsin, resident and current quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, Colin Kaepernick, is being hailed as the second coming. Like Joe Webb, he is a new age quarterback that can be effective running the read option and can pick up yards on the ground or through the air. However, unlike Webb, he actually has a considerable amount of talent. But the amount of media attention around a guy who really only played half a season and put up very good, but not incredible numbers is well, peculiar.

Thankfully the media has not gone as far with their praise of Kaepernick as his coach has.  Jim Harbaugh recently said Kaepernick is ‘Savant’ like. This coming from a guy who when asked about San Francisco’s other quarterback Alex Smith lacking confidence, said, “That’s just a lot of gobble, gobble, turkey…”  With that said, take it for what it’s worth.

What makes the buildup of Kaepernick even more anomalous is that Aaron Rodgers, the Super Bowl XLV MVP and 2011 NFL MVP will be opposing him. Nonetheless, one of the most “trusted” football analysts Greg Cossell goes on San Francisco radio station KNBR and says, “I don’t think Aaron Rodgers is playing particularly good football.” And adds, “He’s leaving an awful lot of plays on the field.”

Now Rodgers’ numbers are down a bit from last year, but he still threw for 4,200 yards, 39 touchdowns and only 8 interceptions. Even with Saint Kaepernick in tow, you’d have to think the 49ers are still kicking themselves for picking Alex Smith over Rodgers.

The thing is this lack of respect is probably a blessing in disguise. Rodgers feeds off of being shortchanged. And the Packers as a whole seem to have a bit of a superiority complex. Maybe being kicked around a bit will give them greater focus, something to prove.

At the end of the day the only way to get to respect is to earn it.  It’s a sure bet the Lombardi Trophy would silence the critics.

Patrick Hughes covers the Green Bay Packers for Lombardiave. Additionally, Patrick writes for Oregon Sports News, oregonsportsnews.com. Follow him on twitter @phughespdx. Also Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow Lombardiave on Twitter.

The final game of this past season at Lambeau Field was a huge disappointment.

We’ll probably never get over that final Green Bay Packers game at Lambeau Field a couple of weeks ago. Just about everyone on the planet thought the Packers were going to rout the New York Giants en route to the NFC championship game where they would do the same to the San Francisco 49ers …

We all know what happened on the way to the Super Bowl … the Packers fell flat, while fumbling and bumbling their way to a quick exit from the playoffs.

It was crushing, disappointing and made everyone wonder who those guys impersonating the Packers really were. It was a game that will be remembered right up there with the 1961 loss to the Eagles, the 1997 loss in the Super Bowl to the Broncos, the 1998 loss to the 49ers in the playoff game when Jerry fumbled and Terrell caught the ball and cried, the 2003 loss to the Eagles in the 4th and 26 game, and of course the overtime loss to the Giants in the 2007 championship game.

Take away the four fumbles, the six drops, the completed hail Mary and this year’s debacle may have been different, but hey … that’s why they play the game.

So, with that all said, we need to take a look at the Packers roster and wonder which players who were a part of this past year’s team that won 19 straight games won’t be a member of the team come the start of training camp next July.

Well, let’s take a stab at it. Here’s our list:

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Chad Clifton: His days of protecting Green Bay Packers quarterbacks is probably nearing the very end. Though he may be brought back, his years of NFL battles with top notch defensive ends is beginning to show and the Packers will be better off looking to fill the position with younger bodies.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Jermichael Finley: Everyone seems to think the Packers will throw the franchise tag on this 24-year-old tight end who has so much potential, but has had as many disappointing performances as he has had big games. It may be time for the Packers to cut their ties with the inconsistent tight end … it’s not like they don’t have a stable of players at the position waiting behind him … the huge contract he will demand may be money wasted.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Ryan Grant: The veteran running back’s play was commendable down the stretch this past season, but his fumble in the playoff game may have stamped his ticket out of Green Bay. He signed a one-year deal and was playing for a long-term deal with the team. However, he could never beat out James Starks and when Starks went down with injuries late in the season, Grant was only serviceable. The Packers will cut him loose, as they should. The Packers have Alex Green coming off injured reserve next year and with a healthy Starks could form the base for a different look with Brandon Saine contributing. Clearly, the Packers will also have to look to the draft to add more to the position.

Mike Carter-US PRESSWIRE

Erik Walden: Not only did his stock in the character column sink after his post-Thanksgiving Day fight with his girlfriend, but so did his play. He was a huge disappointment late in the season and it’s time for the Packers to move on and move him out. Waiving Walden won’t be a huge surprise and will be crucial in clearing some room for any linebackers the Packers draft come April.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Donald Driver: It pains me to write this, but the Packers will have to move on without their smiling wide receiver because of three factors – his age, his contract, and the depth of talent at the position. Though it would be great to keep the popular player on the roster for at least another year, it just doesn’t make fiscal sense for the team to do so. Unless Driver takes a significant pay cut, which he may do just to finish his career in Green Bay, it look as though he may have played his final game in Green Bay. All Packers fans hope they can work things out to keep him in the fold.

Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Pat Lee and Howard Green: Both of these players will most likely not make the final cut if they are brought back to compete in training camp. Neither did much for the team last year and should be moved.

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

Ever-popular veteran Donald Driver faces an uncertain future with the Packers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

This past week Packers veteran Donald Driver was the subject of headlines when asked about his future with the team, saying that he wanted to come back to the team but understood the business side of the game.

The popular longtime Packer is due nearly $5 million in the final year of his contract – a deal he inked last year as an extension. Though his production has dropped significantly, he has shown he can still run with the best and was one receiver in last Sunday’s NFC Divisional Playoff Game against the new York Giants who didn’t have a case of the drops. In fact, Driver caught two huge third down passes for first downs and then followed that up with a touchdown catch as the game was winding down.

His production has decreased not necessarily because of declining skills, but because of fewer balls being thrown his way and the deep pool of talent at the position.

Driver’s career statistics are impressive. He played in 193 games, has caught 735 passes for 10,060 yards. He has caught 59 touchdown passes and has one rushing touchdown.

In his 13-year career, Driver fumbled just eight times.

Could Driver continue to play until he’s 40, as he said is his goal? Probably. Will it be with the Green Bay Packers?

With the signing of all of the players off the practice squad, including Tori Gurley, the question about Driver’s future may already be written on the wall. Gurley is considered a very raw talent who could also help the team’s special teams. Will he take the next step and push for a roster spot next year? He could. If so, he could leapfrog Driver for that spot … that is if the Packers don’t do something with Driver before then.

Here is a poll to consider …