J.C. Tretter was most likely lost for 2013 with a broken ankle on the first day of OTAs in Green Bay.
Packers.com photograph

Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have become well-versed in dealing with the repercussions of the injury bug that has been infiltrating Green Bay for the better part of the last three years.

In 2010, the Packers famously endured a litany of season-ending injuries to more than a baker’s dozen of starters and role players on their way – against seemingly long odds – to winning the Super Bowl XLV championship. The ability of a professional football team to avoid the consequences of injuries is a never-ending challenge for general managers, coaches and training staff.

After just one Organized Team Activities (OTA) practice it appears that the issue of health – and Green Bay’s ability to persevere – is going to continue to be tested.

The latest injury came when rookie offensive lineman J.C. Tretter was hurt while sliding on the field turf trying to recover a loose football during a fumble drill. Tretter, selected in the fourth round in April’s NFL draft, was a candidate to fill a reserve role on the Green Bay offensive line this upcoming season. For a unit that has endured a lion’s share of injuries of late, it’s just another blip on the radar.

Bryan Bulaga during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field in 2012. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports photograph

McCarthy and Thompson are hoping the switch of Bryan Bulaga and Josh Sitton from the right side to the left (at tackle and guard, respectively) will shore up things along the offensive line and help improve a running game that has mostly struggled in recent years to find space in their zone blocking scheme. Injuries and inconsistency have hounded the group incessantly. McCarthy, famously non-descript when speaking about injuries sustained by his players, wouldn’t elaborate on a possible timetable for the ex-Cornell tackle to return to the team.

Some speculated that Tretter could miss up to six months of action, putting him in the same class as Derek Sherrod, who has been trying to battle back from a devastating ankle/lower leg injury that sapped his entire 2012 campaign.

The news of the inaugural casualty in Green Bay this season hopefully won’t greatly affect the ability of the line to become cohesive since Tretter wasn’t penciled in as a starter at this early stage, but one would think Thompson may sign another big road grader to bring into camp.

Perhaps 2012 practice squad member Andrew Datko may be ready to escalate to the 53-man roster this season. With a strong showing in OTA’s and training camp later this summer, perhaps the Tretter injury is something the Packers can overcome.

Ray Nitschke, the epitome of toughness in the NFL.

Bone-jarring collisions between freakishly athletic men with bodies seemingly sculpted from solid blocks of granite; devastating tackles of an NFL ball carrier that more closely resemble head-on car crashes; the resulting cataclysmic explosions of these plays resonate through entire stadiums and reverberate in rich HD surround sound within the homes of millions of viewers on a typical Sunday afternoon or Monday night- an incendiary combination of lycra fabric, heated body armor and some wildly flammable accelerants – primal, competitive human nature and fight-or-flight survival.

These are the hallmarks of professional football.

Humanity, it would appear, is a term not typically associated with the patently violent and often unforgiving NFL, when it comes to acts regularly committed on the field of play. The league has a sordid reputation for ferocity. Handshakes, post-game congratulatory hugs and pulling your starters in a blowout are for the math teacher/coach and staff at State U on down to the army of varsity and jv gridders who strap up and go turf hunting on Friday nights, from the Atlantic shores of Maine to the parched oil rig-laden plains of West Texas, and the muck-filled glades of Florida to the muggy valley fields of Southern California.

Millions of individual and collective acts of violence have been unleashed within the NFL’s field of play (and some out of bounds) over the course of time and have subsequently been championed with a photographer’s lens and video instant replay. Apart from these images, all that remains is the human wreckage – an unforgiving and stark reminder of the league’s reputed tendency for brute force. Among them: the shot of a maniacal, gap-toothed Ray Nitschke as he stands in symbolic defense for Lombardi’s Packers dynasty in the 1960s. The Steelers and a grimacing, bloodied Jack Lambert who anchored the feared ‘Steel Curtain’ defense for Pittsburgh in the 1970s. The Doomsday Defense of the Dallas Cowboys, led by Hall of Famer Bob Lilly, also of the 1970s. And south on I-90 in Chicago, you had the Monsters of the Midway, led by wide-eyed “Iron” Mike Singletary in their resurgent, dominant defensive run during the mid-1980s.

Recently, the NFL has responded to a call for action from a large contingency of fans and league sponsors to re-think its once-celebrated legacy of destruction.

Daryl Stingley is hit by Jack Tatum.

Several notable, horrific injuries have been sustained on the field (Daryl Stingley, Dennis Byrd, Kevin Everett) and terrible tales of despair (Mike Webster) endured off of it by ex-NFL players over the years. There’s also the issue regarding the suicides of several high-profile former players (Junior Seau and Dave Duerson, to name a few) and a realization that the NFL must now take massive strides to help support the health and safety of players, by implementing strict regulations and changing rules for contact. It would appear the league has taken a monumental step in a new direction toward becoming something which even 10 years ago couldn’t have ever been imagined.

Comparatively, off the gridiron, the league appears to have an equally unsavory (though more palatable) reputation due to the callous, calculating and coldly bureaucratic approach that teams often take when it comes to handling personnel moves, including the cuts of players who are injured or aging. Or both, if you ask Charles Woodson.

A youth movement has been spearheaded by NFL general managers, coaches, scouts and trainers that more frequently targets younger, healthier, faster and less expensive players. According to Football Perspective, just two of the teams (Seattle ranking first and Cincinnati ranking fourth) in the NFL’s top 10 youngest made the playoffs in 2012. That number summarizes the apparent motives by NFL executive leadership to eschew veteran presence and locker room character for incredible 40-yard dash times, limited experience – all in the name of cliched potential.

In the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NFL, one minute a player is at his professional zenith, adored by legions of fans and seemingly in control of his destiny; in the blink of an eye, he might be injured or aging and suddenly he finds himself on the bench and then, quite possibly, out of a job. That’s the harsh reality of the league now more than ever.

Mike Singletary of the Chicago Bears.

Case in point: the recent decision made by the Patriots to unceremoniously cut starting defensive lineman Kyle Love. Under normal circumstances, this move may not have garnered much attention. Love was a starter but hardly considered an absolute commodity by the typically shrewd Bill Belichick. The issue, however, is how New England reportedly decided to part ways with Love after they’d discovered his diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes. This particular type is widely recognized to be much easier to manage and treat than its counterpart – Type 1. Notably, Chicago quarterback Jay Cutler was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and has had success treating it. If the ex-Vanderbilt Commodore eventually gets cut from the Bears, it likely won’t have anything to do with his insulin levels, rather his inability to beat the Packers or win a playoff game.

Over the years, many coaches have gone on record as saying one of their absolute most difficult tasks is the act of cutting ties with a player in camp or at some point during the season with whom they have developed a bond. That bond is forged when no-name players typically play hurt and labor tirelessly for a comparatively minuscule shot at even making the final 53-man roster, let alone securing a coveted spot on one of the NFL’s 32 practice squads. Cutting players is, in essence, the severing of that bond, of defusing a budding relationship between a coach and his eager disciple. It’s the final, painful act of formalizing the decision by a franchise to go in another direction.

Quite simply, for the player who is being released, it’s the scathing, immediate and demoralizing confirmation that he either didn’t do enough – or wasn’t good enough – to warrant consideration for a roster spot.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has asked whether there’s a way to make the league more sensitive to the psyche of each individual player. Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

The recent Love debacle has brought to light a larger issue of which NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell plans to make a serious point of focus: It concerns the treatment of players once they’re actually cut from an NFL team’s roster. Goodell reportedly wants to revisit and possibly revise the process of how NFL teams handle these types of transactions and how the NFL can better manage such sensitive, life-altering decisions.

Though front office doors aren’t likely to swing wide open in the wake of a possible future mandate handed down from Goodell regarding a change in process related to the serial dumping of talent every season, it’d be interesting to better understand the psychology and rationale that go hand-in-hand with making these types of personnel decisions and the impact they have – much like the physical toll that is imparted on the field in devastating fashion – on the players across the league.

If NFL commish Roger Goodell has anything to say about it, it’s a process that will become a little softer, a little more humane.

We will never see this again, but we thought it would be a good way to help us pass the time of spring and summer waiting for the start to the Packers Training Camp.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

One of my favorite sayings is, “Diamonds are forever. And so are the NBA playoffs.”

It just never seems to end. Really? The Grizzlies are still alive?

Thankfully, as a Green Bay Packers fan, I can earmark the end of the NBA championship as sort of a milestone toward getting to NFL training camp. Ditto with the so-called “Summer Classic,” the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which takes place this year on July 16.

Don’t get me wrong; I like baseball, but a 162-game season drastically diminishes the importance of, say, a Tuesday afternoon game between the Cubs and Mets. Yawn. (And I’m a Cubs fan!)

This is a welcome sight annually, signaling that after a long summer, training camp is finally here. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Unfortunately, this is the time of the season that, for a Green Bay Packers fan (or any rabid NFL fan), seems the longest. Packers training camp officially starts July 26, more than two months from now, and the first pre-season game isn’t until Thursday, Aug. 9.

What to do until then? Heck, I’m having trouble even finding things to blog about. Sigh.

Anyway, with that in mind, I’ve come up with some pastimes that will not only make the wait seem a bit shorter, but also help deter you from watching the Miami Heat win another NBA title. Because no one needs to do that to themselves.

As such, here are the Top 10 Green Bay Packers Fans’ Pastimes for Summer 2013:

10. Go back and look through seven seasons’ worth of Aaron Rodgers photo bombs.

9. Watch your 2010 Super Bowl highlights over and over while wearing your Nick Collins jersey and cheesehead hat.

8. Snicker and smirk while watching tape of Brett Favre’s final season with the Vikings.

7. Hire a voodoo doctor to do some crazy dance that will help you cast a spell to compel the Bears to sign Terrell Owens.

6. Spend quality time with your significant other. (This was going to be No. 10, but I’m afraid my girlfriend might see it. Figured 6 was a good compromise.)

5. Read LombardiAve.com for daily updates on the latest Packers news and goofy blog posts like this one. (That one should make my editor happy.)

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Raymond T. Rivard photograph

4. Sit and aggressively fume about the fact that Jermichael Finley is going to make more money than Jordy Nelson, James Jones and Randall Cobb … COMBINED.

3. Eat grilled bratwurst, drink lots and lots of Blatz beer, and talk about Mason Crosby’s certain demise with your buddies. Hey, it’s summer. You’d be doing that anyway, right?

2. Desperately look online for a brand new Eddie Lacy jersey in your size.

And the No. 1 Packers Fans’ Pastime for Summer 2013 is: Grit your teeth, rock back and forth on your couch and pray to the heavens above that somehow, some way, Dom Capers can figure out a way to get that #$%& defensive fixed already. Because, c’mon!

Happy summer, everybody.

May it pass quickly.

The Green Bay Packers have relied on the arm of Aaron Rodgers, but look for balance this year.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Chris Brown, author of ‘The Essential Smart Football” and a contributor at ESPN’s Grantland, wrote “it’s understandable that most fans (and even many coaches) think of football plays in terms of the strict run-pass dichotomy.”

To that point, teams usually only do one or the other well. One-dimensional franchises with predictable offenses aren’t consistently competing for or winning championships as much as they’re jockeying for lottery position in the annual NFL draft.

Oakland, for example, has appeared in exactly one Super Bowl (XXXVII) since their reign of lawless-inspired championships in the mid-1970s and early 1980s and has struggled to finish with a winning record for most of the last two decades. Dallas has won just a single playoff game since they earned three titles in the 1990s. The Dallas Morning News constantly skewers Jerry Jones for his inabilities as both an owner and general manager and frequently chronicle the failures of quarterback Tony Romo.

For some Cowboys fans, Romo is the anti-Aikman or Staubach.

The Packers can’t continue to rely so heavily on Aaron Rodgers.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

For both franchises, the element of offensive balance simply hasn’t existed in order to consistently be successful over the long run. While this may seem like an elementary concept, it has some truth.

We know this: the NFL has increasingly become a passing league. The recent passing trend has seen red-hot quarterbacks win the title. Aaron Rodgers was elevated to elite status with a victory in Super Bowl XLV in 2010 following an incredible statistical run that saw him throw nine touchdowns in four games. And there’s Joe Flacco who capped his recent Super Bowl XLVII championship run with the Ravens by tossing 11 scores during the postseason.

Consequently, as the league has evolved through the air, more traditional “run heavy” teams have seemingly taken a back seat in the pecking order. According to Pro Football Reference, nine teams in 2012 averaged less than 100 total yards rushing per game. Arizona finished 32nd with a paltry 75.3 yards per contest. Dallas, much to the chagrin of Jerry Jones and despite featuring talented back DeMarco Murray, ended up 31st with 79.1 yards per game. Jacksonville, a typically strong running team, was without running back Maurice Jones-Drew for most of the season and subsequently netted just 85.6 yards every Sunday to finish 30th in the NFL.

The high-octane Atlanta offense, led by recently-released running back Michael Turner, finished 29th in the league with just 87.3 per game.

These four teams averaged a combined 3.6 yards per rush. With the exception of the Falcons, eight of the nine teams (Arizona, Dallas, Jacksonville, Oakland, San Diego, Pittsburgh, New Orleans, Cleveland) missed the playoffs in 2012.

Robert Griffin III and Alfred Morris helped the Redskins lead the league in rushing last season.
Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

In comparison, teams that have a strong running game tend to have success in making the postseason. Pro Football Reference shows that the Washington Redskins were the best running team in the league in 2012, averaging 169.3 yards per game. Collectively, the Redskins backfield netted 5.2 yards per carry. They qualified for the playoffs and lost to the upstart Seattle Seahawks in last year’s NFC Wild Card game. Dual-threat quarterback Robert Griffin III was hampered by a Seahawks defense that keyed to stop him. Ultimately he suffered an injury, relagating the team to one-dimensional status.

The Minnesota Vikings, who feature an elite Adrian Peterson, ranked second in the NFL by logging 164.6 rushing yards per game. The issue here is that Peterson also happens to co-exist in a one-dimensional offense which lacks a legitimate threat at quarterback. Minnesota drew a road matchup in a frigid Lambeau Field in the other 2012 NFC Wild Card game. The Vikings were quickly eliminated when Green Bay stacked eight or more defenders in the box or close to the line of scrimmage and limited their running game.

Minnesota quarterback Christian Ponder was a non-factor. Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers committed to a game plan designed to contain the Vikings rushing attack, in part because Ponder led a passing game that averaged 170 yards per game, good for 31st in the NFL. This is a prime example of how a team that cannot successfully run the football, especially in cold weather on the road, are at a severe disadvantage.

According to Pro Football Reference, since Mike McCarthy took over as head coach in 2006, Green Bay has ranked in the top 15 in the NFL in yards per rushing attempt twice (2007 and 2009, at 12th and 13th, respectively) which is a major indicator of the Packers’ reliance upon Rodgers’ arm and their subsquent inability to dictate the run. We’ve all heard McCarthy talk about how he’d like to be able to do this. He knows toughness and a good ground game are important predecessor to controlling, closing out and winning games. Power running is critical in that it’s a catalyst to a team developing an attitude of toughness and becoming more physical – both elements that McCarthy has said Green Bay has lacked in recent years.

Terry Bradshaw
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

When you think of the historically tough teams over the history of the NFL you envision John Riggins of the Redskins in the 1980s. You think of Larry Csonka of the Dolphins and Franco Harris of the Steelers in the 1970s. You think of Jim Taylor wearing Green and Gold, running the power sweep up the alley, in the 1960s. These Hall of Fame power runners, not conincidentally, each won Super Bowl titles. However, they also operated within the parameters of well-balanced offenses. Washington featured quarterback Joe Theismann. Miami had Bob Griese. Pittsburgh lined up Terry Bradshaw behind center. Green Bay had Bart Starr. All four signal callers also are immortalized in Canton, Ohio. Defenses that lined up against these All-Time teams had the uneviable task of picking their gridiron poison.

For a variety of reasons, Green Bay has utilized a “pass to set up the pass” offensive philosophy. Personnel issues, injuries, blocking schemes and ever-changing assignments on a patchwork offensive line have necessitated this approach. Also consider the fact that the Packers feature the league’s best player behind center and it’s even easier to understand the strategy of putting the football in Rodgers’ hands on a vast majority of plays.

It’s no different than the approach Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula took with Dan Marino in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Dolphins essentially had no running game during Marino’s career. Everything went through Marino. Seasons lived and died on his arm. Consequently, Miami made only one appearance in a Super Bowl (XIX) and never returned during his tenure. In hindsight, the Dolphins’ lack of offensive balance was a clear catalyst in that title drought.

Despite Green Bay’s aerial prowess, when their offense stalls or fails to get into rhythm they are prone to enduring long stretches without generating points. Lack of offensive rhythm and the inability to run the football or turn to the running game to help the offense settle down were both major factors in each of the last two playoff losses to the 49ers and Giants. How many times in those defeats did we see Rodgers flip down his chin strap in disgust and trudge to the sidelines after yet another failed third down conversion attempt?

In Rodgers’ 2011 MVP season he completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for 45 touchdowns and six interceptions. At times it looked easy for the Packers as they coasted to a 15-0 start that year. Reality showed that eventually they would regress to the mean, in this case generating offense had to come through other avenues than the pass. In week 16 that season, Kansas City continuously blitzed Rodgers and the Chiefs controlled the clock on the ground. Green Bay’s winning streak came to an end.

In 2012, the Packers saw defenses adapt to their vaunted passing game by dropping a surplus of defenders into coverage. Defensive linemen ran stunts and linebackers and cornerbacks regularly showed blitz as Rodgers made his pre-snap reads, only to have them fall back into the secondary once the play began. This srategy of flooding the underneath and zone passing lanes literally took away entire sections of the field. In previous seasons these pockets were ripe for the picking by the rocket-armed ex-Cal Berkeley alum.

Take away the running game – or in Green Bay’s case, the threat of one – and eventually defenses will adjust. Last season, Rodgers made his progressions while improvising behind a shaky offensive line. He was forced to rush throws into tighter windows or if receivers couldn’t shake coverage, he’d have to throw the football away, if he wasn’t already sacked. Predictably, the result was an excess of empty three-and-out possessions for Green Bay. For an offense that is built around the big play through the passing game, inability to dictate tempo by turning to a capable ground game often spelled disaster.

A team that can call a running play depending on the game situation and then execute that run effectively has a distinct advantge over the Arizonas,

Johnathan Franklin
Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-USA TODAY Sports

Oaklands and Jacksonvilles of the NFL. Undeniably, the mere presence of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin presumably upgrades the Green Bay ground game and theoretically would take some of the pressure off of Rodgers.

However, for the Packers it’s not really about Lacy, Franklin or even possibly Angelo Pease becoming the next John Riggins, Larry Csonka or Jim Taylor. It’s about their ability to convert third downs, protect the football, pass block and operate within the constraints of a pass-oriented offense. Green Bay runners need to run with less finesse and more agression. They need to punish linebackers and safeties at the second and third levels with the football in their hands or as a decoy. That being said, it’s still not likely to envision a Packers box score with 35-plus rushing attempts. The additions of these three rookie rushers and an improved running game isn’t going to drastically change the dynamic of the Green Bay offense. McCarthy knows this. The rest of the NFL knows this. Fans know this.

Ideally, Green Bay will utilize their new backfield acquisitions to improve on their 20th-rated 2012 rushing offense. The goal is to demonstrate improved running between the tackles and turn in a higher yard-per-carry average. If they can do that it’ll be easier for McCarthy to continue to implement heavy play-action utilizing an array of swing passes, short crossing routes and curl patterns that will augment the emergence of a genuine power running game.

In Green Bay, the threat of a run is just as valuable as the ability to run. Offensive balance would help impove their chances of controlling and winning games in the postseason by being able grind out yardage and eat up valuable clock.

For the Packers, balance is the key to another championship.

The south end zone at Lambeau Field will be finished this fall and will bring about 8,000 additional fans to Green Bay.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

A few weeks ago, the Green Bay Packers signed arguably two of the best players in all of football – Clay Mathews III and Aaron Rodgers.

Both will be wearing Green and Gold for at least the next five years, they have gone home with incredible individual packages, and helped the team do it by not handcuffing the franchise. With the way the deals with the two players have been structures, it  allows the Packers to keep the team competitive for years to come.

Like Clay Matthews said, the franchise is unique in its approach toward rewarding its players, as well as making sure that the team stays competitive year-after-year.

It doesn’t hurt that the Packers have had the two best back-to-back quarterbacks in their program for more than the past two decades. Between Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers, they have won a lot of games for the Packers.

Remember what Lambeau Field looked like in the late 80 and early 90s?

It also helps that the Packers know how to make money. Last year, the team raked in an all-time franchise high in profits – $43 million – yes, that’s profit. Also within the past two decades the Packers have had clear goals in improving Lambeau Field, one of the oldest, but most revered stadiums in all of sports. With the  improvements the Packers have made to the stadium and the planned improvements in the coming two years, Lambeau Field will continue to offer the best game day experience in all of football.

While other teams continue to lose out to television, the Packers sell out every game and have a waiting list that will never come to an end.

“We want all decisions to be football decisions, not financial decisions,” Murphy told FOXSportsWisconsin.com today. “I think making sure we have the resources available (is important) so they can make decisions based strictly on football reasons. That was really big for the organization.

“This goes back years, we’ve set aside money in the Packers Preservation Fund for any emergency that may come up, but also to make sure that we can continue to be competitive,” Murphy said. “Whether that be investing in our players, or, the big thing we’re doing obviously, is investing in the stadium and investing in the community.”

And while the Packers are unique because they don’t have a single owner like other teams in the league, there are things these other teams can learn from the Packers – and that’s simplicity and functionality.

An artist’s rendering of the inside of the new stadium in Minnesota.

We’ve all seen the pictures of the mega-stadiums being proposed by teams such as those in Atlanta and Minnesota. Following in the footsteps of Jerry Jones and his billion dollar palace in Texas, the Falcons and Vikings are also looking at new monstrosities that will have all the amenities that will please the beautiful people who can afford the $1,000 tickets, but will price the hard-working fans out of the picture. They are the people who are the backbone of any NFL franchise and it’s decisions like we are seeing in Minnesota and Atlanta that are hurting the league, not helping it. It’s no wonder so many don’t want to go to the game, fight the traffic, pay through the nose for tickets and then get it again in the nose when it bleeds because they have to sit in the stratosphere.

While the Packers have made vast improvements to the aluminum-sided bowl that was Lambeau Field of the late 80s and early 90s, they have done it with the fans in mind. The original improvements to the stadium done more than a decade ago gave fans a new experience, but didn’t break the bank – the team also included the fans in the rebuilding by selling stock and raising funds to help with the payments. Another stock sale raised millions to help the Packers fund the addition of more than 8,000 new seats on the south side of the stadium, which will be ready for the start of the 2013 season.

Even more renovations are being planned as the team makes changes this year to the stadium Atrium and moves the team’s Hall of Fame from the basement of the facility – a move that will give the Hall better exposure.

What’s even better with these newest changes is the fact that the Packers are paying the bill in full – there will be no taxpayer funds needed – a win-win that should be something for which other teams should take notice.

When looking to the future, the Packers haven’t forgotten about the fans.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

But the Packers won’t sit still either. Other ideas to develop the area around the stadium to expand the fans’ experience are also being planned.

Here’s more of what Murphy had to say about the future:

“For us, there’s not a profit motive. So, for us, if we can put money back and invest money back into the organization or into the community, that’s the equivalent of what other teams do in terms of paying salaries to owners or executives.”

“You always have to remain vigilant in making sure you’re doing everything you can, so that, number one, the fans have a great experience and that we remain competitive,” Murphy said. “I think the next thing where you’ll start to see some changes is in the whole concept of Titletown; some development around the stadium.

“It’ll help the Packers if we’re able to get more people to come into Green Bay. Those people will go to the Pro Shop and take tours of the stadium, but I think it’s really a way for us to invest in the community.”

What other teams should consider when they plan these new venues for their teams is not the amount of glass and concrete they plan to use, but how these changes will affect the people who make the NFL what it has become. They can’t lose focus on what makes the NFL unique – the game itself. The Packers have been successful and have made money not only because they’ve paid attention to improvements in infrastructure, but because they have made the right decisions on the field.

Kansas State Wildcats running back Angelo Pease showed Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy some instincts that could make him a viable candidate for the Packers running back rotation. John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports photograph

Much has been written in the post-NFL draft blogosphere about the potential and promise of Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin, Green Bay’s impact rookie running back duo.

Understandably so.

Both players were reportedly high on many team’s draft boards, and each possess tantalizing skill sets and fresh legs. Their ability to learn the playbook, improve and maintain conditioning and most importantly, stay healthy during training camp this summer will be determining factors in how much playing time they see during the upcoming 2013 season.

At this early stage either player could easily be penciled in as the opening day starter who lines up in the backfield behind Aaron Rodgers.

Their presence has undoubtedly made getting a good night’s sleep difficult for the likes of DuJuan Harris, Alex Green and James Starks. Green Bay recently attempted to trade Starks in the aftermath of the draft but no suitors have been found to-date for the ex-Buffalo University star. For the onetime key component in the Packers running game during the fabled season-ending run in 2010 that culminated in the Super Bowl XLV title, the clock may be ticking.

James Starks has shown promise, but hasn’t been able to stay on the field for any length of time for the Packers. Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports photograph

In the “what have you done for me lately” NFL, it’s not out of the question to think that Starks has gone from world champion and heir apparent to the lead running back duties in Titletown to being injured and out of a job. Realistically, the market for an injury-prone running back with a history of fumbling is likely limited. It’s a distinct possibility that Starks may have played his last game in a Packers uniform. Green Bay has already cut ties with rusher Brandon Saine.

Packer backfield, once a liability, now a strength

By most accounts the Packers, by way of the draft, have immensely upgraded a backfield unit that was widely recognized as a severe liability in recent seasons and have turned it – at least on paper – into a formidable strength. The Packers have typically utilized a “who’s hot” committee approach at running back, with no one player demonstrating much consistency in recent years, save late-season bloomer DuJuan Harris.

At one point in 2012 he suited up (with a suit and matching tie) and sold cars for a dealership in Jacksonville, Fla. He was signed in October and ended up rushing for 157 yards and two touchdowns on 34 carries over four games. His diminutive stature (he’s listed at a generous 5-9 in the Green Bay media guide) allowed him to disappear behind the offensive line, make cuts and then burst upfield to daylight. Fans and coaches alike immediately fell in love with Harris.

Of course, Green Bay features the elite Rodgers behind center. The lack of an established back who can be the focal point in the Packers running game has been a catalyst for a “pass to set up the pass” offensive philosophy. At times, defenses have blatantly ignored the ground attack and flooded the typical passing lanes with extra defenders. This contributed to Aaron Rodgers having somewhat less success throwing the football in 2012 compared to his incredible MVP season in 2011.

The fact is, the Packers are in much better shape at this point in the off-season heading into training camp than they have been in years. And that’s a fact that will only help the offense take the next step forward as Green Bay attempts to build a unit to take pressure off Rodgers and help churn out first downs and chew up clock during the latter stages of the inevitable wintry playoff games that are on the horizon. Their inability to do both are major reasons why they were unable to advance in each of the last two postseasons.

Angelo Pease – could he help the Packers running game?
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Angelo Pease, an undrafted gem

With the drafting of Lacy and Franklin, one would think that Green Bay is set at running back heading into 2013. However, Ted Thompson isn’t one to rest on his laurels after the draft. Coming out of the Packers’ rookie orientation camp over the weekend it appears that he may have orchestrated yet another small coup in his mission to continue to overhaul and upgrade the backfield rotation.

Angelo Pease, an undrafted (and relatively unknown) free agent running back from Kansas State University participated in drills and wowed coaches on multiple occasions during the initial practice sessions. At one point, McCarthy said he thought Pease “looked like Lacy” the way he lowered his shoulders and quickly accelerated up field. Quite the compliment for a player who rushed for just 333 yards on 60 carries in Manhattan in 2011. Pease was clocked at 4.50 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day in March and he has capable hands, snaring 23 passes as a senior.

According to Tyler Dunne of the Journal Sentinel, head coach McCarthy heaped praise on the ex-Wildcat, saying “He had another run today. I think he’s a good young back … He’s here for a reason. So that’s a credit to the player and that’s a credit to our personnel department. You’re also practicing in helmets and shorts and that’s why you have to be practical about what you saw today. It really confirms movement ability, athletic ability. Are they systematic? Do they fit what you’re looking for?”

After just one weekend in Green Bay, it’s looking like a possibility that Pease may be a fit. He ran hard, and looked fluid, decisive and quick in the offense. Those are adjectives that have rarely been used to describe the style of play for any running back currently on the roster for the Packers in recent seasons. It remains to be seen if Pease will be offered a contract to continue his offseason team workouts but Thompson would be remiss not to afford the rookie camp standout at least another opportunity to suit up in full pads this summer when the drills matter more – and performance counts.

The 2013 edition of the draft was one that Ted Thompson and company absolutely had to nail and it appears they are right on track with their stable of running back personnel additions.

The way things are going so far, the Green Bay running game could be in store for big things this fall.

Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson (left) talks with head coach Mike McCarthy during last year’s training camp at Ray Nitschke Field.
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Pocket aces. A second helping of Hamburger Helper. A Brewers twin bill on a lazy Sunday afternoon. The Wrigley Doublemint twins.

Besides having the distinction of being the only prime number, two has a certain intriguing appeal. Like the Green Bay Packers back-to-back Super Bowl I and II titles, as in life, good things do come in pairs.

However, for Ted Thompson, the number two represents the only middling blemish on his otherwise spotless record as general manager of the Packers. It’s the number of draft picks that can reasonably be considered in the top half of the league in terms of their skillset, role on the team and impact, relative to where they were selected.

Thompson has an ironclad reputation as both a player and personnel executive with a track record for hitting the jackpot on a number of early round draft picks as well as undrafted free agents during his tenure in Green Bay to this point. So what’s the explanation for his seemingly poor reputation between the fourth and seventh rounds of the NFL’s annual three-day talent infusion each April? What gives Thompson an edge as he transitions from typically anti-climatic closing stanzas in the warroom at 1265 Lombardi Ave. each April to sifting through the post-draft detritus to unearth productive, starter-caliber contributors on a regular basis?

Ted Thompson, the linebacker.

Thompson was a solid, if unspectacular, collegiate linebacker for Southern Methodist University. In a fitting twist of irony he went undrafted in 1975 and may know a thing or two about the post-draft mindset and experience for a lower-tier player that is forced to wander the streets of free agency before catching a break in the NFL. Thompson eventually signed with the Houston Oilers and his onetime coach at SMU, Bum Philips. He spent nearly a decade toiling in relative obscurity as a backup linebacker and on special teams from 1975 to 1984. He was durable, playing in 146 of a possible 147 games with eight total starts during his career. Some would say it was the model of consistency where he began to develop his evaluation skills that would later translate to his success as an NFL general manager.

Following his playing career and long before he hoisted the Super Bowl XLV trophy as the most powerful man in Titletown, Thompson was hired (in the same coaching coup that brought Mike Holmgren aboard) for his first-ever front office job in 1992 by Green Bay General Manager Ron Wolf. He was present in the early 1990s for the rebirth of a once proud Packers organization, operating in various scouting roles for seven years. During this period, Green Bay was a perennial playoff participant, ultimately winning the Super Bowl XXXI championship in 1996.

After helping spearhead the resurgence of the Packers, Thompson was lured to the Pacific Northwest by Holmgren, who was coaching the Seahawks. Thompson’s impact as GM in Seattle was significant. He oversaw the drafting of several standout players during his tenure, such as running back Shaun Alexander, receiver Darrell Jackson and even specialist Josh Brown. The formerly downtrodden Seahawks advanced to the playoffs twice, eventually making it all the way to Super Bowl XL.

In 2005, Thompson made his return to Green Bay as general manager and the dividends were nearly immediate. He demonstrated poise during his inaugural draft presiding over football operations by selecting Aaron Rodgers and Nick Collins. He also displayed fiscal responsibility, extricating the team from a volatile salary cap nightmare by releasing safety Darren Sharper and guard Mike Wahle.

Samkon Gado

Rodgers and Collins would ultimately help the franchise transition from and succeed following the post-Favre and Sharper era. At midseason, to replace an injured Ahman Green, Thompson procured his first notable street free agent in October, signing the diminutive Samkon Gado who played at Liberty University and was a relative unknown. Gado burst onto the scene, instantly becoming a fan favorite that season and stabilizing a running back unit that was decimated by injuries. The native of Nigeria was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Week multiple times while setting the Green Bay rookie record for most rushing yards (171) in a single game against the Lions in week 14.

The Packers never got rolling and finished a disappointing 4-12.

In 2006, Thompson fired head coach Mike Sherman and quickly hired ex-49er offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy to right the ship. That year’s draft produced linebacker A.J. Hawk and receiver Greg Jennings in round one and two, respectively. Thompson also inked fullback John Kuhn from the Steelers and signed castoff defensive back Charles Woodson from the Oakland Raiders. Woodson, who initially balked at the idea of playing for Green Bay, quickly became one of the most electric defenders in the NFL, intercepting 28 passes and scoring nine touchdowns. Next to Reggie White, Woodson is arguably the biggest free agent acquistion in franchise history and like White, during the twilight of his career, he was a focal point in a historic run to a world championship.

Thompson calmly presided over the messy Brett Favre divorce in 2007 after the future Hall of Famer infamously retired during a tearful press conference and then unretired in a span of three months. Along with McCarthy he made the decision to stick with newly-annointed starting quarterback Aaron Rodgers and maintained that commitment to the future by trading Favre to the Jets for a slew of draft picks.

In 2008, he drafted receiver Jordy Nelson. However, that was overshadowed when he erroneously waived standout punter Jon Ryan after his excellent 2007 season. Green Bay subsequently went through a stable of mediocre specialists which, along with the hangover from the Favre separation, contributed to a 6-10 season.

Clay Matthews
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Some of the compensatory draft picks from the Favre trade were used as ammunition to move up in a successful bid to acquire elite linebacker prospect Clay Matthews in the 2009 draft. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji, linebacker Brad Jones and guard T.J. Lang were among the crop of early picks that year that have blossomed into integral performers for Green Bay.

In 2010, Thompson netted tackle Bryan Bulaga who has been dominant on the right side. He recently was penciled in to start at left tackle. During the undrafted process that year he had arguably his biggest haul in terms of finding undrafted talent. Cornerback Sam Shields, punter Tim Masthay, tight end Tom Crabtree, linebacker Frank Zombo and center Evan Dietrich-Smith were all signed off the street. The year was capped with six consecutive wins (including four road playoff games) that culminated in a Super Bowl XLV title. The following seasons in 2011 and 2012, Green Bay was eliminated consecutively in the playoffs and are left searching for some answers on defense in order to return to prominence in an NFL that is rife with parity.

Thompson’s success limited after third round

However, for all of his accomplishments as an NFL GM, Thompson has had comparatively limited success targeting viable prospects in the draft after the third round. Collectively, of the 47 players he’s chosen between rounds four and seven during his eight seasons with Green Bay, exactly two have become relevant in some capacity. Sitton is a stalwart on the offensive line and was recognized as the NFL’s Offensive Lineman Of The Year in 2010. Bishop was arguably the best defender for Green Bay at the close of 2010 and through 2011, racking up 218 tackles and eight sacks. He spent the entire 2012 season on injured reserve and the jury is still out as to whether he’ll be the same explosive leader and tackling machine in Dom Capers’ 3-4 alignment. With a dearth of linebacker talent on the roster, it’s possible the California-Berkeley alum may find himself on the trading block this summer.

Thompson absolutely has a knack for finding talent amidst the pool of free agent and undrafted castoffs after the draft. The afore-mentioned Gado and tight end Donald Lee were discovered in 2005. In 2006, defensive tackle Ryan Pickett was claimed from the Rams. In September 2007, Thompson shelled out a sixth round draft choice to the Giants for the rights to running back Ryan Grant. We all know how the Ryan Grant experiment turned out. Recently, in 2012, linebacker D.J. Smith was signed out of Appalachian State. He made the final 53-man roster and was generally productive.

Ted Thompson
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Perhaps Thompson is so adept at identifying and signing undrafted and street free agents because he himself was one after his playing days at Southern Methodist. The talent pool, or lack thereof, each April likely is a major factor in Thompson’s ability to procure just two players who have had solid production in the Green Bay system. Ultimately, Thompson puts a high premium on players who demonstrate character and who are willing to be role players.

The Samkon Gados, Charles Woodsons, Sam Shields and Frank Zombos of the world all fit the mold of “Packer People” and it’s these types of players that have helped Thompson continue to add to a rock solid organizational foundation as he utilizes his cornerstone “draft and develop” philosophy. Given the recent continued prominence of the Packers, it’s safe to say his strategy has been a success.

Terrell Owens
Byron Hetzler-USA TODAY Sports

It must be tough being T.O. – a few weeks ago the former NFL star who was last on a football field three years ago still wants to play, but nobody wants him.

Last year, he was brought into the Seattle Seahawks training camp, lasted a couple of weeks and then was shoved back onto the pavement. A few weeks ago, he came out and said he wouldn’t mind playing for the Chicago Bears because he has a longtime relationship with new head coach Marc Trestman. The Bears did the right thing, too, and said they had no interest.

Now comes the report that T.O. wants to play for the New England Patriots.

Here’s what he said: “I think that’s a no-brainer. You look at what they’ve done over the years. Under the tutelage of Tom [Brady] and Coach Bellichick, I think the sky would be the limit in terms of what I’d be able to do. Considering my body of work and my history of playing the game.”

Well, his body of work and his aging body mean nothing to the Patriots. Team officials came out this weekend saying that T.O. was nowhere near their radar.

Maybe T.O. should just join up with Randy Moss and form their own beach football team and get it out of their heads that anyone in the NFL would even consider their services.

Someday they will get the message. Hopefully, sooner than later.

The one good thing about all this, Packers fans? He hasn’t said he wants to play in Green Bay. Now, THAT is a good thing.

Packers fans look for more excitement as the offseason continues.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Good morning, Green Bay Packers fans. We hope you’ve recovered from the barrage of news that continues to pour down on all NFL fans, including us Packers fans.

It’s been an incredible 10 days. Starting with the NFL Draft last weekend, the mega-contract signing by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the completion of the draft and all the analysis that inundated us (and continues to do so), the coming out by NBA player Jason Collins and the situation that came about for former Packer safety LeRoy Butler who had a speaking engagement cancelled because of his support of Collins.

Several highs and lows were experienced by sports fans across the spectrum.

What can we expect this week? Well, several teams held their rookie orientations (the Packers are coming up), the ongoing analyses of every draft pick will no doubt continue, and the NFL offseason shows us that even politics can throw wrenches into topics such as the Super Bowl – see the story below about the supposed plan for improvements at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

As for Packers Nation, we were informed that Head Coach Mike McCarthy isn’t standing still and plans significant changes along the offensive line; we get to know the newest members of the Packers roster through stories that shed light on the personalities and college careers of the team’s draft picks; and the team readies for its rookie orientation and OTAs that are coming up.

So, without further ado, we provide a few links below to stories that may be of interest to you …

Enjoy.

So it’s time to lighten things up a bit. We take all the headlines that appeared on profootballtalk.com’s Saturday morning one-liners and add our own take. We try to be humorous – sometimes we are … sometimes not so much.

We’ll give our best shot … smile if you like.

Saturday morning one-liners

The Bills are looking for extras for a film that will shoot scenes at Ralph Wilson Stadium on May 25.

We think the Bills have plenty of extras on their football team who might be looking for some extra cash.

 

Pats rookie S

Duron Harmon
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

says his NFL experience matches his college one, so far; “It just literally feels like Rutgers,” Harmon said. “I see where Coach Schiano got some of his sayings, the structure of his program from.”

Does that include Coach Schiano’s way of dealing with defending against the opposing team’s victory formation?

 

Dolphins rookie RB Mike Gillislee looked good in Friday’s minicamp practice, via James Walker of ESPN.com.

Just how good did he look? Was his hair combed?

 

The Jets have organized a 5K walk to raise funds for Lupus research.

Well, now that Tebow is gone, they finally have SOME good news.

 

Ravens rookie NT Brandon Williams can walk on his hands for 10 seconds, which is even more impressive given that he has a “huge chip on [his] shoulder” from playing Division II college football.

Now if he can stop the run while walking on his hands … now that would be special.

 

Le’Veon Bell

Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell may not be a Hall of Famer, but he’s wearing a Hall of Famer’s number.

Well, that’s a start, but a long way from Canton.

 

Bengals LT Andrew Whitworth took TE Tyler Eifert and his family to dinner last Friday; “Great family.  Great kid.  He’s hungry.  He’ll fit right into this locker room. What upset me more than anything is that’s he’s a scratch golfer,” Whitworth said.

I’m glad that Eifert is hungry and was given the chance to go to dinner.

 

Browns defensive backs coach Louie Cioffi is “excited” to be back in the AFC North.  (Calm down, Tebow.)

I’m not sure anyone who is with the Browns could be THAT excited.

 

Jim Irsay
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Colts owner Jim Irsay is helping the owner of a Colts-themed restaurant pay the rent in order to keep the doors open.  (At least the guy didn’t partner with Paulie.)

Shouldn’t that qualify for some kind of government handout?

 

Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel doesn’t understand why the Jaguars will take a chance on troubled WR Justin Blackmon but not on Jacksonville native Tim Tebow.

Hmmmm … a talented wide receiver who might need some guidance over a quarterback who can’t hit the broad side of a barn? Tough decision.

 

New Titans S George Wilson and TE Delanie Walker joined the team’s traveling offseason caravan.

Just what are the Titans selling with that traveling caravan? Maybe they can buy some wins?

 

The failure of the Sun Life Stadium renovation bill significantly enhances the Texans’ chances of hosting Super Bowl LI.

It seems like the Texans have been the bridesmaid and never the bride these past few years.

 

Broncos TE Jacob Tamme thinks WR

Wes Welker
Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

is “awesome.”  (Calm down,Chris Farley.)

Wes Welker IS awesome and the Broncos think so, too, because they got him for such a nice price.

 

Chiefs WR Donnie Avery sees similarities between QB Alex Smith and QB Andrew Luck.

Well, they were both first overall selections in the draft and … and … well, I can’t think of anything else. Can you?

 

Get to know Raiders DT Vance Walker.

Do we have to?

 

Yes, the Chargers opted for a Division III quarterback over Tim Tebow.

So did everyone else.

 

Cowboys rookie WR Terrance Williams was known as “the enforcer” at Baylor because of a no-nonsense reputation that allowed him to keep teammates in line.

Sounds like he’ll be loved in Dallas.

 

A general view of logos around the field prior to the NFC Wild Card playoff game between the Washington Redskins and the Seattle Seahawks at FedEx Field. Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Redskins have assigned numbers to their draft picks.  (To assist with jersey sales, each rookie also will have “III” added after his last name.)

Let’s just hoping they don’t have to be members of the Redtails.

 

Former Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter makes his acting debut in a film called The North Star.

Oh great, another football player turning to acting. I thought they all learned their lesson with Jim Brown.

 

Performances at the Senior Bowl attracted the Giants to OT Justin Pugh and QB Ryan Nassib.

Now that’s pretty big news.

 

WR Duron Carter’s decision to try out for the Vikings and not the Ravens was driven by the presence of receivers coach George Stewart in Minnesota; “It was really 50-50,” the son of Cris Carter said.  “Coach Stewart is really what got me in here. He’s got a great history with T.O. and Roddy White.”

If Carter’s kid can push off like his old man, he’ll be in the Hall of Fame, too.

 

Get to know the Packers’ undrafted free agents.

We already know them.

 

Sixth-round DE Cornelius Washington could be a steal for the Bears.

Yeah, that’s the only way the Bears can get decent players … they have to steal them.

 

Lions DT

Ndamukong Suh
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

is raising awareness and research funds for pediatric brain cancer, in support of the Jack Hoffman foundation.

That’s nice. Really. But maybe he needs to raise awareness and research funds for those suffering from stomping disease.

 

The Panthers have high hopes for 32-year-old CB Drayton Florence.

Why are the Panthers even dealing with a 32-year-old QB when they have Cam Newton.

 

The Buccaneers expect rookie fourth-rounder Akeem Spence to be the starting nose tackle in 2013.

And this is the biggest news coming out of Tampa Bay?

 

Former Panthers K John Kasay will deliver the commencement address at Wingate University on May 11.

And in other news, Cam Newton will be delivering the commencement address to the second grade graduating class of the kid in the Play 60 commercial.

 

The Saints worked out British Olympian , who eventually signed with the 49ers.

And Okoye is still trying to figure out how to put on shoulder pads.

 

Cardinals defensive line coach Brentson Buckner has the ability to connect with his players; “I speak their language,” Buckner said.  “It’s crazy to look around. I am one of the young guys out there and then coaching the position I actually played.  It makes it easier for a player because now they trust what I say, because now I’m not talking about how somebody told me to play a block or how to play a technique.”

Yeah, sure. Whatever you say coach.

 

Seahawks offensive line coach Tom Cable raves about the “retention” of his players’ fitness and preparedness; “It goes to show the type of guys coach [Pete] Carroll and John Schneider are bringing,” Cable said.  “They’re bringing in not only five-star athletes, but they’re bringing in five-star people that understand what it takes and what they need to do to prepare at the highest level.”

Yeah, Cable knows all about five-star players … remember all the success he had in Oakland?

 

The Rams may have gotten a keeper with pick No. 113, Alabama OL Barrett Jones.

Well, yeah, they’re probably right about that one.

 

49ers TE Garrett Celek learned last year by studying Vernon Davis.

Sounds like Vernon Davis is the name of a class.

Protecting Aaron Rodgers is the ultimate goal.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Less than ten days removed from the 2013 NFL draft, and armed with two shiny new additions to the offensive line in tackle David Bakhtiari and guard J.C. Tretter, Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy are already shaking things up amongst the front five. Or should we say flipping.

T.J. Lang and Marshall Newhouse.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

News broke this morning that the Packers are planning to reshuffle their offensive front wall, with the most notable switches being Bryan Bulaga and Josh Sitton who are both moving over to play left tackle and left guard, respectively. There had been rumors that Bulaga, who played on the blind side during a standout career at the University of Iowa, would make the adjustment last year, but an injury early last season shelved those plans. Bulaga was originally slated to handle left tackle, but was slotted as the right bookend on the line after Mark Tauscher went into decline. He’s more than held his own and appears ready to step up to protect Green Bay’s new $110 million investment, quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Derek Sherrod.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

With the news of this re-alignment comes speculation as to who will be named the starter at right tackle. Don Barclay, who displayed a mean streak that McCarthy praised and more than held his own during a six-game stretch filling in for Bulaga, appears to be the incumbent there heading into the offseason program. Marshall Newhouse would presumably add depth behind both sides, as he started every game last year at left tackle and was capable, if not unspectacular.

The wild card among the group is Derek Sherrod and whether or not he can return to full strength since suffering a devastating lower leg injury that caused him to miss all of 2012. If he is cleared by the medical staff to resume football and team activities he has a chance to compete and possibly start somewhere.

T.J. Lang will shift to right guard in the new setup and Evan Dietrich-Smith is penciled in at center. Practice squad member, tackle Andrew Datko, will battle it out in the trenches alongside rookies Bakhtiara and Tretter in a bid for a roster spot come training camp.

Former New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow looks to pass during the first half of their game against the Houston Texans at MetLIfe Stadium. Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Tim Tebow.

For football purists, media talking heads, the devoutly religious, evangelists and atheists alike, it’s a name that incites either manic adulation or pure hatred. There is no middle ground when it comes to the enigmatic signal caller.

Tebow has seemingly inhabited one distant side or the other of the cavernous spectrum between Heaven and Hell. Football’s most famous backup recently cleared waivers and is a free agent, able to sign wherever he likes. All of this begs the question; would Tebow fit in Green Bay?

The answer may not be as unfathomable as you might think.

Former New York Jets quarterback Tim Tebow (15) waves to fans before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

By now, we’re all intimately familiar with his story. Tebow was a highly-touted prep quarterback who ended up winning the Heisman Trophy while guiding the Florida Gators to a pair of National Championships. Tebow’s seemingly improbable rise from SEC wonder kid, to surprise first round draft pick by the Broncos, to surprise starter midway through the 2011 season captivated the sports world. It was Tebow who famously wore eye black inscribed with biblical verses. It was Tebow praising his Lord and Savior and then his offensive line after games, in that order. And it was Tebow who, following every touchdown or inexplicable set of late-game heroics, would hit the turf, crouched on one knee, head bowed low in deference, in a wildly popular cultural phenomenon that became known simply as “Tebowing.”

During the pre-draft process in 2010 literally every element of his game, from his throwing motion to his release, to his footwork, arm strength and vision came under intense scrutiny from scouts and coaches. His character, including his home-school upbringing, political views, religious beliefs and even his virginity became public spectacle. Given the amount of attention Tebow garnered before he ever played a down in the NFL you’d think he was the second coming.

Or at the very least the next Elway.

Tebowmania ensued as he led an unconventional offense – tripping, regaining his balance, spinning and then pump-faking defenders out of their shoes before tucking the football and racing downfield for a usually game-altering and often game-winning play that simply defied logic. Tebow frequently underperformed (usually in spectacular fashion during the first three and half quarters) during that miraculous run to the AFC West Title. He ultimately then willed the Broncos a playoff win, by throwing a laser that went for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of overtime against the Steelers. A postseason win is something even current starter and future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning failed to do in his inaugural season in the Mile High City.

In 2012, Tebow was shipped off to quarterback purgatory to suit up for the New York Jets. Many pundits predicted he’d compete and eventually overtake ineffective starter Mark Sanchez. The pundits were half right, with Sanchez underperforming. But it was unknown quarterback Greg McElroy who ended up getting significant playing time, and not Tebow, to close the dismal season for New York.

Tebow was unceremoniously cut by the Jets following the NFL draft recently and he’s now free to pursue a job with any team in the league. Interest appears to be minimal at this early stage and almost guaranteed to be devoid of an opportunity to start. His football career is undeniably at a crossroads. To be sure, Tebow has the intangibles and leadership capability of an elite-level signal caller which masks his obvious mechanical shortcomings.

We know this: the NFL is a passing league. Super Bowls are won on the arms of the golden boy with the cannon arm and devastating good looks. Just ask Aaron Rodgers. And Tom Brady. And even Joe Flacco. Defenses simply don’t outright win championships these days.

So, barely a week after the NFL draft, we’re left to prognosticate about the goings-on back home at 1265 Lombardi Avenue, where Ted Thompson is surely doing his due diligence on the situation. And it could be ideal for both the Packers and the former Gator. Aaron Rodgers is the unquestioned starter in Titletown and with a new mega-contract he isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So there’d be no quarterback controversy like Tebow faced in Denver and New York. A change of scenery would also likely quiet Tebowmania, like a Wisconsin winter snowstorm quells the last vestiges of fall.

Former New York Jets quarterbacks Tim Tebow (15) and Mark Sanchez (6) on the sidelines during the second half of the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Mandatory Credit: Rob Foldy-USA TODAY Sports

With only a handful of local media outlets covering the Packer news beat, Tebow would have a chance to settle in, collect himself and focus on learning how to really play quarterback in an environment where he watches and learns. Green Bay has long been a hotbed of signal caller development, producing NFL-capable players such as Mark Brunell, Ty Detmer, Matt Hasselbeck, Aaron Brooks and recently Matt Flynn.
The Packers also need depth behind Rodgers. Since the departure of Flynn, the backups have proven little. Current number two Graham Harrell fumbled in his only live regular season action a year ago and B.J. Coleman is gifted but extremely raw. Tebow could come in and quarterback through osmosis. Perhaps McCarthy even draws up a few gadget plays somewhere down the line. Financially, the risk would be minimal, with Tebow likely having to take a minimum salary that would include limited, if any, performance escalators given that he’d see little playing time barring a wave of injuries.

Finally, if the Packers were to groom Tebow and he succeeds, then Ted Thompson adeptly demonstrates yet again that he has the best evaluation skills in the game today. At best, the Packers could trade him down the line for a draft pick and at worst he gets cut – no questions asked. Tebow gets his shot to hone the craft he loves. And the Packers add necessary depth in their quest to compete for another Lombardi.

In a town built on championships, the penultimate goal is to bring as many of them home as possible in the coming seasons, during Aaron Rodgers’ prime. Two straight early playoff exits and a lack of proven depth behind our otherworldly superstar field general leads me to believe that bringing Tebow to Titletown makes a whole lot of sense.

Could the NFL consider a “most important player” tag?

In the wake of Aaron Rodgers’ new history making deal, some question how one NFL player can literally be worth $110 million.

From a football perspective, this can be understood. Yet at the same time from the blue collar 9-5 working man’s perspective, this is probably a little much. While watching the draft this weekend, I couldnt help but wonder, “should each team have a ‘Most Important Player’ tag separate from their team’s payroll?”

A few weeks back, I wrote an article questioning whether or not Rodgers’ next deal would potentially hamstring the organization moving forward. While this deal is absolutely monumental at first glance, Ted Thompson has structured it in a way to be as cap-friendly as it probably could have been moving forward. It’s probably safe to assume this deal is about as team-friendly as it could have been, as well.

I want to explore a tag option, however, that’s separate from the franchise tag.

Deals such as the one Rodgers received are becoming more of a trend within the league. This type of deal will not be going away anytime soon and it’s only a matter of time before Rodgers deal takes a backseat to the next “highest paid player in the NFL.”

To ease the burden of this on a team’s given salary cap, why not come up with a separate tag (maybe a most important player tag) that keeps them exempt from the original payroll? While this idea may currently seem a bit far-fetched, as I said before, these “mega-contracts” will not be ending anytime soon and this type of tag could help ease the blow of such lucrative numbers.

Don’t get me wrong, I am as big a fan of Rodgers as the next Packers fan and this is more speculation or thinking out loud more than anything. A deal such as his creates an interesting scenario for the league as to whether or not deals such as this should be separate from the rest of the team’s.

Aaron Rodgers’ new deal was surprisingly “cap-friendly.” Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It’s also probably safe to say that at least half (probably more like three-fourths) of the teams’ most important players are all quarterbacks.

If not now, probably sooner than later. We’ve heard the phrase “it’s a quarterback-driven league” for some time now. Teams realize who their best player is – it’s no secret, and they obviously pay them as such. Why not distinguish them as such?

So have at it Packers Nation! Should the league create a separate tag (aside from the franchise tag) recognizing teams’ most important players?

Vince Lombardi is immortalized at Lambeau Field, as are his ideas within the NFL culture.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

The NFL is brutal … it’s a multi-billion dollar “what have you done for me lately” business that takes no prisoners. To succeed in today’s game, your veins have to run ice cold and one must be ready to move on to tomorrow in a moment’s notice.

This banner that flew outside Lambeau Field a few years ago says it all.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

While today’s league has grown by leaps and bounds, it was the trend-setters of a half century ago that built the foundation of what the league has become – and one of the most influential was the one and only Vince Lombardi.

He patented the no-nonsense, this-is-a-business mantra that led not only to the Green Bay Packers coach’s success in teaching the game, but in helping to establish a model from which everyone copied a template that continues to this day.

That’s why Vince Lombardi would have been successful in the NFL today – he understood that being the best meant sacrificing and dedicating oneself to the team concept. Those who fail in today’s game fail not because they can’t deal with the prima donna, it’s because they fail to follow the basic tenets that Lombardi helped establish decades ago.

Here’s what Lombardi had to say back in late April 1968 (courtesy of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame):

“I may have a different philosophy on personnel than others, but in my book I expect a player to improve from his rookie year on. If he doesn’t, we’ll find somebody to take his place.”

What successful general manager and coach doesn’t follow those simple guidelines? If they don’t, they don’t last long in the league.

Lombardi said those words while in Milwaukee to be honored by Alpha Sigma Nu (the national Jesuit honor society at Marquette University). At the time he was explaining a recent trade he made of  tackle Steve Wright and linebacker Tommy Crutcher to the Giants for tackle Francis Peay.

Lombardi said about the trade and any other moves he made as the head of a team: “A team is never set.”

Those words ring strongly in the shadow of this past weekend’s 2013 NFL Draft. Teams selected anywhere from a half dozen to more than a dozen players from the college ranks to come in and compete for jobs. Many will make it, many will not.

Vince Lombardi

But the ever-evolving team is what makes the NFL fresh and exciting. It’s the way teams operate that was established by the early movers and shakers in the league. Lombardi cemented it all with his views and modus operandi with the Packers. Teams continue today in their attempts to replicate what he started.

Many say that Lombardi’s approaches would never work today in the world of the mulit-millionaire players. I disagree for all of the reasons above, but even more importantly, I disagree because all players in the league – no matter how well set they are financially – play the game for the same reasons that players 50 years ago played – they love the game and will do whatever they can to win. That’s what it’s all about and that, in essence, is what Lombardi established when he was still with us.

His presence and influence will never leave the game.

I guess that’s probably why the game’s ultimate trophy and symbol bears his name.

Apr 26, 2012; New York, NY, USA; NFL commissioner Roger Goodell introduces defensive end Nick Perry (Southern Cal) as the 28th overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2012 NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

I’ve been a Green Bay Packers fan since age 9, but only began paying close attention to the NFL Draft during my teen years. This was the early 1980s, however, and back then you followed the draft by reading in the following day’s newspaper who your team selected.

That was back when there were like 37 rounds (OK, just 12) and some of the players still wore lame, single-bar facesmasks like Bart Starr’s. All the better for punching each other.

How did Bart Starr not get punched in the face more often, wearing that flimsy faceguard?

Some 30 years later, however, we have only seven rounds, helmets and facemasks are reinforced to discourage punching (and to help prevent concussions), and the NFL Draft is officially an event. As in, a rent-a-tux-and-limo-and-go-be-photographed-by-paparazzi kind of event. In fact, it’s become the biggest non-sporting sports event (yeah, that phrase made me go temporarily cross-eyed too) in America.

The draft, which began in 1936 as a way of ensuring every team had a shot at getting talented players, wasn’t televised until 1980. And until 1995, it was held in hotel ballrooms with minimal audiences and fanfare. But much like TV’s The Jeffersons, the draft has moved on up.

Last year, according to SI.com, a combined 8.1 million viewers (including myself) watched the first round of the draft televised live from Radio City Music Hall. Folks, that’s a lot of viewers. By comparison, the season finale of “The Walking Dead,” one of the most popular shows on television, last month drew 12.4 million viewers.

Furthermore, two NBA playoff games that were played on the same night as the NFL Draft round one last year drew only a combined 1.8 million viewers. We’re talking playoffs here, people. And the NFL Draft, an event with no actual live sports involved, beats it by more than 6 million viewers? (Somewhere, I think I just heard David Stern sob.)

In fact, according to online ’zine The Guardian, the combined total viewership of the draft grew by nearly 100 percent between 2001 and 2010. The Super Bowl, for comparison’s sake, has seen its viewership increase by only 28 percent since 2001.

Yeah, the NFL Draft is definitely an event now. Be honest, how many of you out there would consider missing your daughter’s piano recital if it was going to be held this Thursday night? I know I would. Luckily, I don’t have a daughter.

Well, Packers fans, the good news is the NFL is paying attention to your loyalty, and is ready to reward you. For your viewing pleasure this year, they’ve implored NFL staffers not to tweet draft picks prior to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stepping to the podium to make the announcement on live TV. There’s more drama this way; now you can sit, frozen, greasy chicken wing clutched in your fingers, mouth agape, a trickle of beer moistening the corner of your lip, as you await the next pick.

In addition, we, the NFL Draft viewing public, will be learning the draft choices at the same time as Chris Berman and John Gruden – thus, they can continue speculating right up until the moment Goodell says, “With the 26^th pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select …”(Yeah, we all know Ted’s probably going to try and trade that pick. Work with me here.)

But how do they manage to get the damn graphics up so fast when a pick is made? Well, the producers of the show do get the picks between 30 and 60 seconds before they are announced. But they have to cross their hearts and swear on their mothers’ graves that they won’t tell the “talent.” All for you, Packers fans.

“I love you, man.” (USA Today Sports Images)

And this will also mark Year Four of Goodell hugging all the draft picks. Wiley ESPN reporters figured out that Goodell officially began showing us his man-panties with the third pick in the 2010 draft. No. 3 pick Gerald McCoy from Oklahoma, upon being called to the stage, shuffled over to Goodell and wrapped him up in a 300-pound man hug that seemed to go on forever. It was truly a tender moment.

And with that beautiful, live-TV love-fest, hugging first-rounders became a Goodell draft tradition. (For the record, the last first-round pick to not get hugged was Ndamukong Suh. Sorry Ndamukong. Maybe Roger was just waiting for you to make the first move.)

So when Thursday night rolls around and you’re hunkered down in front of the TV, your Clay Matthews jersey proudly trumpeting your team loyalty, Doritos, cheese cubes, wings and tacos lined up on your coffee table, and a cooler full of your favorite swill next to your chair, remember that the NFL has maximized this event for you, the fan.

That said, don’t be afraid to jump up and down when Goodell announces that the Packers have drafted Menelik Watson or Matt Elam or, heck, even Eddie Lacy. Don’t hesitate to cheer when Ted Thompson trades that third-round pick for two fifth-rounders, a seventh-rounder and a bag of used cleats. Don’t feel ashamed if you get teary-eyed when Goodell hugs the newest Packer.

And above all, don’t be afraid to throw a Goodell-style man-hug on your buddy, that guy whose been sitting next to you for every first round since Tony Mandarich, the NFL’s most offensive tackle, smashed your hearts. Because, goodness knows, you’ve both earned the right to enjoy this Thursday night NFL event.

How will you celebrate the NFL Draft this year?

Click Leave a Comment below to let us know – and while you’re at it, click on over and Like us on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter.

The Aaron Rodgers to Jermichael Finley connection could play a huge role in the Packers success in 2013.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I’ll be honest, I’ve been absent from much of the offseason discussion about the Green Bay Packers so far for three reasons: First, I was sickened by the Packers postseason performance – again. Second, the draft speculation while fun to read is just a space filler until the draft actually happens and the real analysis can begin.

No offense to those that do it, it just isn’t my bailiwick. Considering the relatively limited amount of knowledge I have (and to be honest, really don’t want to know) about most college football players, I think we are all better off.

Third, free-agency is never part of Ted Thompson’s larger plan. Greg Jennings’ departure was a virtual lock given his price, age, and injuries. I would have like to have him in another division, but he will learn that while Ponder/Cassel are in the same division as Aaron Rodgers, they are not in the same league.

On to the schedule …

While we knew the who and where at season’s end, the variable of WHEN adds a huge part to the mix. There are definitely advantages and disadvantages to when you play who on the schedule. For example, had the Packers played at the Minnesota Vikings week 1 instead of week 17 last year, the outcome would likely have been different.

Pros:
No back-to-back road games …
I guess this can be seen in different ways. Team travel this year only involves changing more than one time zone once and only one team flight will be more than 2.5 hours (SF the notable exception). While this means they won’t be gone multiple weekends in a row, they will be traveling every second weekend with no long home stands. I still look at it as a net positive.

Playing the Redskins week 2 …
This will become more clear as the summer approaches with regard to RG3′s status for the early season. RG3 is a dangerous player both with his arm and his legs, but after what happened at the end of last season, I’d expect the Redskins to be much more cautious with their franchise player. I would also expect RG3 to play it a bit safe. The Packers are the better team either way, but later in the season the Redskins will be more formidable.

Packers get three teams coming off of a short rest (Monday-Sunday) and only play one Monday-Sunday combination: This is sometimes overstated, but the extra day of rest and recuperation can only help the Packers. More importantly, I think, is that it will give the staff an advantage in game prep.

Depending on how far along Robert Griffin III is in his rehab will determine whether he plays against the Packers in week 2 of this coming season.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Ten days rest before Atlanta: This starts the tough December schedule run (see below) and the Packers need to be ready for last year’s number 1 overall seed. This may be the game that decides the 2013 home field advantage.

Cons:
Tough opponents stacked in September and December …
The Packers start tough and end tough with a SOS in September of .656 and a December SOS of .641.
(Overall SOS for 2013 – .533) Looking at this in the off-season is never exact as some teams will improve or decline in 2013, but considering the ‘soft’ games (versus non-playoff teams) in September and December are Steelers, at the Cowboys and at the Bears, the schedule makers did the Packers no favors.

Week 4 bye: I always like to see the bye after eight or nine games. The season can wear hard on guys, especially mentally, and the longer guys go without some time to recover, the less focused they can become. Thankfully the Packers get a kind of mini-bye week after the Lions on Thanksgiving (or does that count as a double bye?).

Here’s how I see it:

The Packers match up with the 49ers once again in the first week of the season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

@ 49ers : Can the Packers win in the opener in SF? Absolutely! I do expect this to be a good game and depending on which team shows up for the Packers, they can win. Will they? Too hard to say yes. L (0-1)

Redskins: Packers opening the home slate at Lambeau – RG3 probably not 100 percent, but even if he is, the Packers win. W (1-1)

@ Bengals: Definitely not a pushover, but certainly a team the Packers should beat. W (2-1)

Lions: The Lions haven’t won at Lambeau since this year’s NFL draft class was born. W (3-1)

@Ravens They are the Super Bowl champs, but paying Joe Flacco and parting with some major pieces, I don’t think the Ravens will be anywhere as good as the team they were last year. And I’m talking about the team that was 10-6, not the team that made the great Super Bowl run. W (4-1)

Browns Really? W (5-1)

@Vikings The obvious key to this game is stopping Adrian Peterson, but even when they didn’t do that in the regular season finale they lost by only a field goal. The Packers will be better this time. W (6-1)

There will be plenty of time for strategy sessions between Aaron Rodgers and Mike McCarthy this season.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Bears Another division rival at home and the Bears haven’t shown the ability to beat the Packers recently. The Packers are the better team and should win this one at Lambeau. W (7-1)

Eagles: This could be a classic letdown game, unless the Eagles are better than I expect them to be and impossible to overlook, or the Vikings and Bears are worse. I say this is a letdown after two good division wins, a short week after Monday Night Football and a primetime matchup in the Meadowlands to follow. Besides, I’ll be there with my loud, obnoxious, but fun (Eagles fan) neighbor. L (7-2)

@Giants This is the game the Packers will be looking to if they overlook the Eagles. With that in mind, I expect a good performance in the Meadowlands. Besides, I’ll be there with my less loud, less obnoxious, but no less fun (Packer fan) buddy. W (8-2)

Vikings: Division games are always dangerous, but I expect the Packers to hold the line at home. W (9-2)

@Lions: Another Turkey Day matchup and this one will depend on how the Lions season has gone to this point. I see these Lions around 4-7. W (10-2)

Falcons: This will be a key game for the Pack. Ten days to rest and prepare for last year’s number 1 seed. I think the Pack was a better team last year and I still think so. W (11-2)

@Cowboys A-Rod and the Packers first return to Jerry’s World since Super Bowl XLV. Where the Cowboys are in the standings at this point will make a huge difference. If the Cowboys are out of contention the place will be a sea of Green and Gold, but I’ll say they need the win and get the Packers on another letdown after the win vs the Falcons. L (11-3)

Steelers: The Packers go from Jerry’s World to hosting their worthy opponents from Super Bowl XLV. After the disappointing letdown in Arlington, the Packers lock up a bye with their 12th win of the season. W (12-3)

@Bears If the season gets to this point where I expect it to be, the Bears will need a win to get in and the Pack will have the first or second seed locked up. I’d love to say otherwise, but in that situation with Mike McCarthy at the helm, the Packers will hold starters out. L (12-4)

That’s my take on the Packers 2013 schedule at first glance. There are still 4 -1/2 months to go before a real game is played, so many things can change. I expect the Packers to be in the hunt once again and hopefully finish strong with a win in the frigid Meadowlands in February.

The trade Ron Wolf made with Atlanta to bring Brett Favre to Green Bay was one of the best, if not the best, in franchise history.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I remember the day when I first heard that the Green Bay Packers gave up a first round draft pick in a trade for a quarterback by the name of Brett “Favray” – I’m sure you may also remember where you were on that day.

I was working in Dahlie’s Hardware store when my boss told me … “who?” I asked incredulous at the news. “For a first-rounder? Are you kidding me?”

That was the reaction I heard all over town and all over what was then the mode of news distribution – the radio and TV.

Well, we all know how that turned out. Not bad for the Packers and not so good for the Atlanta Falcons who’s officials at the time looked like geniuses. With that first-rounder the Falcons selected running back Tony Smith, who was with the team for three seasons. Favre went on to rewrite just about every passing record in the NFL books

So, on this day when we all see is news about Derrelle Revis and his impending trade from the New York Jets to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, we try to put things into perspective with a recounting of some of the memorable trades made in the past.

In addition to the Favre to Green Bay trade, there have been many others that have left an imprint on the NFL through the years – busts who have left teams crippled for years and boons who have gone on to either Hall of Fame or Hall of Fame-caliber careers.

For the Packers, one of the most crippling was the 1974 trade with the San Diego Chargers that brought quarterback John Hadl to Titletown. The Packers gave up first-, second- and third-round choices in the 1975 draft, and a first and second round choice in 1976. At the time the Packers traded for Hadl, he was 34 years old and on the last rung of his career. The Packers wouldn’t recover from the trade for nearly a decade.

Also consider the Herschel Walker from the Dallas Cowboys to the Minnesota Vikings trade that helped build the Cowboys Super Bowl teams of the early 1990s. The Vikings gave the Cowboys six draft picks which resulted in these players eventually landing in Dallas: running back Emmitt Smith (first round 1990), wide receiver Alexander Wright (second round 1990), defensive tackle Russell Maryland (first round 1991), wide receiver Alvin Harper (first round 1991), linebacker Dixon Edwards (second round 1991), linebacker Robert Jones (first round 1992), cornerback Kevin Smith (first round 1992) and safety Darren Woodson (second round 1992). The Cowboys fans and management thank the Vikings to this day.

What about the Marshall Faulk trade that sent him to the Rams from the Colts in 1999? St. Louis received Faulk from the Colts in exchange for second- and fifth-round picks which turned out to be linebacker Mike Peterson and defensive end Brad Scioli. Though the Colts drafted Edgerrin James with their first round selection that year, he didn’t duplicate what Faulk did for the Rams.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ricky Williams (34) runs the ball at Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin (71) in the fourth quarter at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

And should we mention Ricky Williams? Oh OK. Mike Ditka, coach of the New Orleans Saints, gave away the team’s entire 1999 draft as well as a first and third round selections in 2000 to earn the right to draft Williams. Though none of the picks given up amounted to much, neither did Williams while in New Orleans. The trade was more an exercise in futility than anything else.

While there are many, many other trades that have been made through the years that have either benefitted or hurt teams, these are the main trades that come to mind.

If there are others that you would like to expound upon, leave a comment below, Like our Facebook page, and/or follow us on Twitter.

Protecting Aaron Rodgers will be a key component to a successful 2013 season by the Green Bay Packers.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Now that we’ve all had a chance to digest the Green Bay Packers 2013 regular season schedule, there are many who feel the Packers have gotten hosed with this one.

It’s a tough schedule, no doubt, but to complain about getting hosed at this place in time is pointless. It is what it is and the Packers coaches and players have to start preparing to play the teams who are lined up in their way to a Super Bowl.

While every game is important and a must-win, there are five games on this schedule that stand out to me. They are all home games the Packers will have to win to keep the 2013 season run going.

The guidance by Mike McCarthy and the Packers coaching staff is one of the reasons the Packers have been so successful the past seven years.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

While it’s always imperative that inter-divisional games are won, I haven’t included the Vikings, Lions and Bears on this list – it’s obvious the Packers have to win those games to come out at the end of a successful campaign. The teams I have targeted as must-wins are the Redskins, Browns, Eagles, Falcons and Steelers.

Here’s my reasoning for each:

Washington Redskins at Lambeau Field, Sept. 15, noon: The Packers open their season like they ended it last season – at Candlestick Park against the San Francisco 49ers. That’s a tough opener. They play the team that racked up 579 total yards against them in the playoffs with their quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, slicing through the Packers defense literally untouched for 181 of those yards.

I don’t see the Packers winning this game on the road in the season opener. My hope is that the Packers are competitive and show the league they are for real. They must stay healthy, play a solid game and come home with a hopeful attitude and ready to fight another day.

That other day will come quickly as they host Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins in the home opener at Lambeau Field. The Packers don’t want to start the season at 0-2 and have to bring their A-game for the fans. By that time, Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews will be signed to their mega-contracts and will have to play up to those deals for their fan base. The Packers defense will have to show and stop the high voltage running attack of the Redskins. Rodgers will have to do everything in his powers to move the offense against a defense with which they are not very familiar. This will be an opportunity to start quickly and roll to a home-opener win and get back on track. Being 1-1 would place the Packers in a good position at this point in the season.

The Packers defense has to come to play every game this season. Getting second-year linebacker Nick Perry back should help newly-signed Clay Matthews.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field, Oct. 20, noon: After their bye and games against the Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions and Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens, the Packers come back home sitting at either 4-1 or 3-2 to face the Browns – a team that over the past decade have been terrible, but dangerous. In other words, this could be the first trap game of the season. While the Browns have been building through the draft, have a solid running game with Trent Richardson, and an average offense behind quarterback Brandon Weeden, they have a formidable defense that has shown flashes of brilliance, but for the most part has been up and down the past few years.

I expect this to be a battle as these two teams are unfamiliar with one another. Again, Rodgers will have to lead the Packers in this one. Recent history has shown the Packers having a difficult time stopping the run. Expect the Browns to test that right out of the box as they look to pound the Packers into submission. While I feel the Browns will be competitive in this one, this is a game the Packers have to win – they can’t allow this to become one of those “shoulda-coulda-woulda” games. This is a game that, in the end, they have to demonstrate why it’s so difficult to come into Green Bay and leave with a win.

Philadelphia Eagles, Nov. 10, Lambeau Field, noon: This is another dangerous game and difficult to project in April. However, it could look one of two ways: The first scenario is that new coach Chip Kelly has the Eagles flying high under his wide open offense and the Eagles are the surprise of the season; the second scenario is that the Eagles are still in the rebuilding process and have a difficult time gelling under the new system.

There are questions about whether Tramon Williams will even make this year’s roster. He will have to bring his A-game in training camp.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I would like to prefer the former. I would like to see the Eagles bring their best to Lambeau Field in this important NFC matchup that pits two teams that have a long history. If Michael Vick is the Eagles’ quarterback, he presents his own problems for the Packers, just as Kaepernick and RG3 will prior to this game. My hope is that by mid-season Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers has his defense clicking and responding to the running-type quarterbacks.

That’s the only way the Packers win this game … well, they also need to have Rodgers show up. This is a game that could have playoff implications. At this point, I expect the Packers to come into Lambeau sitting around the 5-3 or 6-2 mark. That’s why it’s a must-win game. I expect the Eagles to have a similar record or something just a bit less. I expect them to be hungry and ready to give the Packers a game. This might be one that comes down to a field goal – and one that could make or break the season.

Atlanta Falcons, Dec. 8, Lambeau Field, 7:30 p.m.: This game is huge. It will be December under the lights at Lambeau Field in a nationally televised game against the Falcons – a team the Packers have had success against in the recent past. I’ve seen experts saying that the Falcons at this point in their season will have a losing record or might be right at the .500 mark.

If the Packers play as they are expected, they could be sitting at seven or eight wins and continuing their fight for another North Division title. Stopping Matt Ryan and Steven Jackson on the slow December turf will be key in this one. Again, the defense will have to come to play. Rodgers, historically, has had his way with the Falcons. Maybe it’s because the Atlanta defense doesn’t see him often, maybe it’s because Rodgers simply has Atlanta’s number. Whatever the case, he’s got to have his mojo heading into the final four games of the season.

I expect he will. This might be another one of those games that come down to a field goal and our hope is that Mason Crosby – if he is the Packers kicker – has his mojo with him, too. This has the makings of a great game and one that will not only be entertaining for the fans, but one that lifts the Packers into the elite status among NFC teams once again.

Jordy Nelson, Aaron Rodgers, and John Kuhn are key members of the Packers offense.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Pittsburgh Steelers, Dec. 22, Lambeau Field, 3:25 p.m.: This pre-Christmas late Sunday afternoon matchup with the Ben Roethlisberger-led Steelers has the makings of a classic. The rematch of Super Bowl XLV will be played in Green Bay and should give the fans the best of the NFL. With such a rich tradition between these two teams that goes back more than 50 years, I’m sure this one won’t disappoint. Whenever the Steelers come to town, expect some hitting and good old-fashioned football.

That’s why the Packers must win this game. If all goes as I see it, Green Bay will come into this matchup with around 10 wins and will be fighting once again for the division title. This is the game that could give them their third straight title and qualify them once again for the playoffs.

It won’t be easy. Turnovers and special teams play are important at any point in the season, but have greater implications in December. The Packers take care of the ball, but the vastly improved Packers defense forces it from the Steelers. Though the Packers have their chances to blow this one open, it remains close down to the end and is again decided by four or fewer points.

This must-win game goes the Packers way and sends them to the playoffs.

While I’m an optimist and we all know how many factors could make all of this change in a heartbeat, I feel these are five games the Packers have to win to have any chance at another NFC North Division title and a shot at making the Super Bowl tournament.

What are your thoughts?

Leave a comment below, like us over at our Facebook page, and/or follow us on Twitter.

Would love to hear from you!

A healthy dislike of a rival like the Vikings is nothing short of a good thing.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

By Timothy Ellingstad

of Lombardiave.com

The 2010 NFL football season, for a number of reasons, was particularly satisfying for fans of the Green Bay Packers. That season ended with a Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it was not until very late in the season that it appeared things might go well for the team. The Packers finished a decent, but not extraordinary 10-6. There were multiple injuries that threatened the season. They needed help from other teams just to get into the playoffs. But, as they now say, the Packers got hot at the right time.

Things certainly could have gone differently that year. Teams that needed to lose could have won, knocking the Packers out of the playoffs. Playoff games could have gone differently. Jay Cutler could have stayed healthy in the NFC championship game. Jay Cutler could have played to better than half of his potential prior to getting injured. Any number of things could have changed the course of that season, resulting in some other team’s Super Bowl victory.

Jared Allen has been a thorn in the side for Aaron Rodgers throughout the years.
Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Had that happened, we would not be looking back at 2010 as one of the most memorable seasons in recent Packers history. Instead, perhaps we would look back at 2010 as one of the worst seasons for our (at the time) key rival. It is worth it to take a moment to relive some of the misfortunes of the Minnesota Vikings during that year.

This, of course, came just one year after the Vikings signed former Packer great Brett Favre, resulting in two Packer defeats and the collective bundling of all of Wisconsin’s panties. The strategy to sign Favre, which worked out quite well for the Vikings that first year, turned out to be a major setback in the development of their quarterback position. It was clear before long that the 2010 Vikings were not in the same class as the 2009 Vikings (and the 2010 Favre was not in the same class as the 2009 Favre). Despite the original angst caused by the Favre move, the failure of one of the Packer’s main rivals to develop their key offensive position proved quite significant in the years following, and likely made the whole Favre debacle worthwhile.

The team finished 6-10, and last place in the division. They continued to struggle in 2011. They made the playoffs in 2012 but continue to struggle at the quarterback position, where there is still uncertainty.

Speaking of debacles, prior to the week five game, the Vikings traded a third round draft pick to the Patriots for a disgruntled and head-case Randy Moss in a highly publicized return to Minnesota. Moss was waived after one month due to being unproductive and a toxic presence. More than anything this highlighted the coaching staff’s loss of control over the players, ultimately resulting in the firing of head coach Brad Childress in late November following a loss to Green Bay.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Joe Webb brought a new twist to the Packers Vikings rivalry last season. Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

During this time the state of Minnesota was negative about approving a plan for a much-needed new stadium. There were more and more rumblings about a team moving to Los Angeles, with the Vikings as one of the primary possibilities given the uncertainty of their stadium issue. This was only compounded when the roof of the Metrodome dramatically collapsed under the weight of a heavy snow fall, resulting in the unusual circumstance of the upcoming home game being delayed, and a forced venue change from Minnesota to Detroit.

The following home game was played at the University of Minnesota on a field that was ill suited to the cold weather of late December, contributing to the concussion that ended Brett Favre’s streak of consecutive games started (and his career). The loss of Favre ended up magnifying how ill-prepared the Vikings were at the quarterback position and made it clear that they would be desperately starting over from a quarterback development standpoint.

Finally, consider how nightmarish it would be for Packers fans to watch the Chicago Bears play the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC championship game, which would inevitably result in one hated team or the other making it to the Super Bowl. To have the scenario of Green Bay versus Chicago in the NFC championship game on the heels of one of the Minnesota franchise’s most cruelly inept and randomly unfortunate seasons is beyond the proverbial salt in the wound. It must have turned people of faith into Nihilists, and Nihilists into believers of Satan (but not necessarily God). One may ask if this characterization is overly dramatic. The answer: No.

It can be argued that the Green Bay’s run to the Super Bowl, along with Chicago’s near miss, helped to detract attention from Minnesota’s disastrous season (though Minnesota probably noticed). Why call attention to it now? Is it to laugh at those less fortunate? Sort of. There was a point when it seemed imminent that the Vikings would be moving to Los Angeles. My first reaction was to revel in Minnesota’s misfortune (this does not speak well of me, but the animosity about the Favre thing was still fresh). But it soon occurred to me that I would no longer hate the Vikings if they moved. For one, the name would probably be changed to something more California, like the ‘Avocados.’ And they probably wouldn’t tolerate that dreadful purple in LA, unlike the hardy folk of the upper Midwest. The Vikings would become unrecognizable, and no longer an enemy. I would miss the Vikings if they left. Like defense contractors missed the Soviets after the collapse of the Iron Curtain.

I love hating the Vikings (and the Bears, and kind of the Lions). The hate is the reason I love football. So, let’s all hope the Vikings don’t have another run like 2010. But let us not mistake that for pity. I do want them to suffer. I just don’t want them to die.

Lawrence Okoye – future NFL star?

By Niall Connelly

of Lombardiave.com

Non-American prospects such as Margus Hunt, Bjoern Werner, Menelik Watson and British Olympian Lawrence Okoye are garnering a lot of attention and creating quite a buzz around the NFL.

All are raw prospects who will need a lot of personal coaching and development but their pure natural ability and potential has NFL teams salivating so much so that Hunt, Werner and Watson all regularly appearing in first round mocks.

It will be no surprise to see these three freakish athletes play in the NFL next season but if the other man mentioned above, Lawrence Okoye, manages to get a spot on an NFL roster, then it could be the start of a new highly exciting and beneficial trend for the NFL.

Australian Football and the AFL is a sport in a similar situation to the NFL, not in the way it is played but in its setup – a highly physical indigenous sport fighting off competition from other sports and trying to expand its worldwide popularity.

Around 10 years ago controversial former AFL player and famous sports agent Ricky Nixon began his Irish experiment. After seeing the success of Gaelic footballers “Big” Jim Stynes (R.I.P) and Tadgh Kennelly as converts to AFL, Nixon embarked on a project to find and develop the finest Gaa talent as Australian rules footballers. To date, Nixon has helped more than 40 Irish footballers forge successful careers down under.

The success of Nixon’s project has led to a whole new breed of Australian footballer – one whose unorthodox style and skill set baffles opponents and amazes spectators. The involvement of Irish players at an elite  level of the sport has greatly improved the sports appeal popularity in Ireland.

Jim Stynes Irish Australian footballer

Were Okoye to make an NFL roster and perform at a high level it may open the floodgates on an influx of foreign players into the NFL from other sports.

Fans are constantly talking about the similarities between sports such as rugby and American football so is it beyond reasonable doubt to suggest that sooner rather than later we will see rugby players donning pads and helmets on Sundays?

With the current day epidemic of poor tackling plaguing the NFL, adding guys who consistantly bring ball-carriers down without the use of helmets and the shoulder charge is a beneficial move for NFL defenses.

How does this have any relevance to the Green Bay Packers, you may ask?

Well not only do the Packers suffer greatly from poor tackling the are also one of the most resourceful and inventive teams when it comes to finding players. Packers General Manager Ted Thompson rarely makes waves in free agency with big money signings, but instead builds from within, taking undrafted and developmental prospects and turning them into contributors.

The Packers’ roster is littered with unheralded prospects – guys like Dezman Moses, DuJuan Harris, Jarrett Boykin, Sam Shields and Tramon Williams all went undrafted only to land with the Packers and land chances to shine.

Sam Shields and Tramon Williams two of TT greatest discoveries

With this resourcefulness and approach to finding guys to develop, I feel that Ted Thompson would be one of the GMs most willing to give guys from other backgrounds a chance to try their hands at Football.

It is I believe a strategy that could offer huge rewards for very little risk in return.