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.

Packers Nation shall remain strong though the forces of evil attempt to disrupt (OK, so we hope you know this is tongue-in-cheek).
Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

I just unlocked myself from the panic room as the black SUVs were parked out front of the house again.  It seems Emperor Goodell will not leave me alone for exposing his conspiracy to end the glorious reign of the Packers.

Over the past few weeks rumors have swirled like a spring tornado in Kansas that this free agent or that free agent was going to sign with the Green and Gold.  All disinformation I tell you!  From Chris Canty to Ahmad Bradshaw to Michael Huff and even Colt McCoy, names are being thrown around left and right with a greater purpose.  All of this is part of the NFL’s master plan to divide the Packers Nation.

Time and time again, articles are written how this great free agent acquisition will bolster the Packers and lead them to their next championship.  Then after creating a false hope among the weaker fans of Packers Nation, the NFL then orchestrates that player signing with another team.  Then they start a new set of stories how the Packers refused to step up to the plate and make a legitimate offer.  Smoke, mirrors and confusion are all used to create tension and frustration.

The latest had the Packers interested in Michael Huff.  How he would be a great fit for the Packers but he decided to sign with the Ravens, even before meeting with the Packers.  Talk radio exploded about how Huff bypassed the Packers so he would not be insulted by their lack of a qualified offer for his services.  These talking heads will spew anything to support the hand that feeds them.  How can the Packers be criticized for not even offering something to a player who never even came for a visit?

This has many of the fringe elements of the Packers Nation calling for the head of Ted Thompson for not going out and getting these players.  I am starting to think that many of these fans are either cyborgs or the NFL plants who are in on the conspiracy to destroy the Packers Nation from within.

My question is why?  Why question Ted and his master plan to defeat the forces of darkness that conspire against us?  We all know that his theory is to draft and develop and that for the most part this process has served the Packers well and brought us great fortunes.  Why question the financial blueprint in place for the continued financial success of the Packers.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and his minions are conspiring for total control of the NFL and eventually all of mankind.
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

You laughed when I spoke of the Illuminati/Goodell conspiracy theory at the Super Bowl.  You laughed when I wrote of the temptress Beyonce flashing Illuminati signs and singing hidden messages to the strike force that was prepared to steal the Lombardi trophy away from the Baltimore Ravens in the darkened Superdome.

But are you laughing now?  Nobody believed me about the sinister ties between Goodell and the Illuminati and their desire to control the NFL and then the world.   Yet lost in the comings and goings (well mostly goings) of  the recent Packer departures was a little side note that Mr. Goodell received a small pay raise.  How small you may ask?  Well the tiny sum of about $20 million.

Why the raise?  Well I am glad you asked as my continuing investigation into the shadowy underworld of the NFL/Illuminati partnership has found that Goodell received the raise for his masterful control of the NFL this past year.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell chats with referee Jerome Boger.
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

By monopolizing power and control over the NFL Players Association and the Referees, he was able to implement more of the diabolical scheme to prevent the Packers from taking back the Lombardi Trophy.   His ability to dictate the ebb and flow of the season resulted in the NFL taking in more money and the ability to sign an extended television deal cements the ability of those forces to subdue us with their mind control for a better part of a year.

I know you are all thinking how I must have slipped and hit my head again, but I tell you that I have bubble wrapped my entire house and this has nothing to do with cranial bruising, plus I am wearing that special helmet that my kids got me for my birthday.

So where am I going with all this you may wonder?  I think I have figured out a part of it.  I have already determined based on numerical computations that the Jacksonville Jaguars will win the Super Bowl.  Yet, Goodell and the Illuminati are concerned about the threat the Green and Gold pose to their plan of world domination so they have provided the Packers with the sixth most difficult schedule.  Making it more difficult to reach New York and prevent their scheme of world domination from taking place.

Why not give them one of the most difficult schedule, you ask?  Well that would be too obvious.  Make it appear that it does not appear that they are being targeted and nobody will notice the appearance of that which is not there.  It is so simple it is devious.  The “powers that be” knew that certain key pieces of the team would not be back (retirement, releases, and injury) so increase the difficulty of the task with the diminished resources and thus the ability to control the destiny of the Packers in 2013 is secure in their minds.

Is Green Bay Packers wide receiver Greg Jennings an Illuminati plant?
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Yet they will still do more.  Just wait and watch as other players will soon be bought off and paid more than they are worth to move to other teams in order to put the Pack in a precarious position moving into next season.  Greg Jennings comes to mind, as I am looking into the belief that he is an Illuminati plant and that his only goal at this point is to be a disruptive force and cast the attention away from the truth of total world domination by the NFL, why else would he even suggest playing for the Vikings?  It is all part of their plot!

Goodell and the Illuminati know that the only team that can prevent their total control is the Green and Gold.  Every other team is controlled by a centralized figure head except the Pack.  There are too many owners for them to control so they can only subdue us by preventing the one thing that energizes us, a Super Bowl victory.

Follow the money and see where it leads is the task at hand.  Goodell and his henchman will stop at nothing to prevent the truth from getting out.  In fact they have struck at the heart of our Echo Base here in Cheeseland.  They managed to get to someone at Crabby’s Diner and shut it down.  This, however, is only a minor setback, as I will continue to press onward to uncover the sordid details of the conspiracy against the Pack.  I will stop at nothing to make sure Packers Nation sees another Lombardi Trophy come home as then and only then can balance be brought to the universe.

The conspiracy continues, the truth is out there …

Roger Goodell, on a visit to Lambeau Field, made nearly $30 million last year – nearly tripling what he made the previous year.
Raymond T. Rivard

Don’t ask 61 percent of the players in the National Football League about Roger Goodell – they will say the job he is doing sucks – but that doesn’t mean he’s not being rewarded for his crappy performance – he got a $19 million raise last year.

According to published reports, Goodell received a salary this past year of nearly $30 million, an astounding jump from the $11 million he was making the year before.

So, what has he done to qualify for that huge increase? Well, he did help orchestrate the 10 years of player-owner relations with the signing of the collective bargaining agreement in 2011, but not without weeks of discord by the players. He also helped renew multi-billion-dollar television agreements that will benefit the league well into the future. I guess we could say that’s a positive.

He continues to oversee a league that rakes in the cash – in the amount of $10 billion per year. I guess that could be a positive.

But then again, it was his stubbornness in finalizing a deal for the referees last fall that led to one of the most embarrassing moments in league history – the “fail Mary” in Seattle when the Seahawks defeated the Green Bay Packers on the now-famous – or infamous – play. By Wednesday of the week following the controversial call, the league had given the referees what they wanted, but not before the damage to the league’s image had been done.

In addition, Goodell has overseen the whole New Orleans Saints Bountygate that eventually cost the team’s head coach his job for an entire season, the GM’s job for a good deal of time and the suspension of players who were eventually given their jobs back by the former commissioner who was asked to take a look at the issue. Yes, a year’s worth of bad blood between the league offices and an entire franchise – and for what? I’m not sure.

So, that’s enough to give him a nearly $20 million raise.

I personally work for a boss who asks, “have you looked out the window lately?” when asked about a raise.

I think the owners of the NFL need to look out the window – or at least into a mirror – the next time they think about Goodell’s pocketbook.

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

Those partying on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter in advance of Super Bowl XLVII between the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers had no idea of what was going on behind the scenes.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As Super Bowl XLVII was under way, the phone rang and I picked it up. On the other end a raspy voice known only as “Touchdown” whispered, “Lights out, Operation Zulu Blackout is in effect.  Be …”

And then the line went silent.

I saw the hidden messages (the two faces looking at each other as well as the hand symbol of the Illuminati Triangle) presented during the Beyonce Super Bowl Halftime Show, which clearly was meant as a warning, but I could not connect the dots.  Then I played Beyonce singing her halftime performance backwards.   She was actually calling for Red Rover One to “dig up the bone,” but still nothing I had pieced together during my investigation into the Goodell/Illuminati conspiracy against the Green Bay Packers had brought any of this to light.

I was confused, scared and worried.

The game was playing out as I had predicted, with Baltimore taking a commanding lead and controlling the San Francisco offense.  Baltimore QB Joe Flaco was airing it out and connecting on some amazing shots downfield and everything was rolling the Ravens’ way.  This was going to be a cakewalk for Baltimore, especially when they opened up the second half by returning the kickoff for a touchdown.

But then Touchdown’s message … and then the lights went out in New Orleans.

It was now starting to make sense.  The conspiracy to stop the Green Bay Packers from taking the Lombardi Trophy home was now in full swing against the Ravens.  The powers that be did not want to see Ray Lewis and Flaco take the trophy home, but they were powerless to do anything to stop them … that was until they took out the power with Operation Zulu Blackout.

Red Rover must have alluded to the Forty-Niners.  ”Dig up the bone” was the code to pull the power.  It was slowly coming together.  For 30 minutes the lights were out, stopping Flaco and the Ravens from crushing the Forty-Niners.  For eighty-four minutes Flacco sat there unable to do anything.

Look for this man to continue to take control and manipulate the NFL as he is the Master of the conspiracy.

When the lights were finally restored, the Forty-Niners were rejuvinated as if they had been given some performance enhancing stimulants, while Baltimore appeared listless and lost.  Had their Gatorade been poisoned while the lights were out?  What was going on?

Now all of a sudden, San Francisco was staging an epic comeback.  Racking up yardage and points.  Baltimore could do nothing to stop them.  It looked as if the powers that be were again pulling the strings, controlling who was going to win.  Was it that the Baltimore defense had run out of steam or was it that sinister figures from the shadows had infiltrated their sidelines and were disrupting the communication process?

I knew I was on to something and that I had to take immediate action to help prevent one of the greatest conspiracies against all things American.  Then I looked out the window, parked in front of the house were three large black SUVs and men in dark suits.  I was being watched, they were on to me.  I quickly retreated to my panic room and hunkered down, awaiting the invasion force that was bent on stopping me from stopping them.

Fortunately, I did not have to do much to help prevent a travesty, as in the end, Baltimore was able to do just enough to stop Goodell, the Illuminati, and the Forty-Niners from stealing the Lombardi Trophy.

So after coming out of my panic room, to take stock of the last week, I began to realize that there was more to this conspiracy than I thought.

The signs of conspiracy are everywhere.

The deer urine PED issue turned out to be a plant as the informant admitted he never saw Ray  Lewis use the solution.  The lip syncing of Beyonce at the Inauguration was clearly a red herring used to throw me off the actual path of Roger Goodell using the HGH testing facade as  a means of communicating with the Illuminati that all the necessary components were in place to secure the trophy for the Forty-Niners, as he wanted to make sure that their unblemished record in Super Bowls would remain.

In the end, the powers of good triumphed over evil and the black SUVs left, inflicting no harm on me (as I had my tin foil lined cheesehead on).  But it does go to show that there are powers that control the NFL.  Sinister forces that will stop at nothing to control and dictate the outcome of a season and a game.

So my fellow Packers fans, be on the lookout now that the 2013 season has started.  The signs are there, what will Emperor Goodell and his minions do to prevent our Packers from hoisting the Lombardi one more time?  The oddsmakers (who we all know are in partnership with the NFL) already have the Packers at 10-1 favorites to reach New York for Super Bowl XLVIII.  So using my secret codebreaking ring I got out of a box of cereal, 10 equals the letter “J” and 1 is “A” and there are seven letters in New York which would then equal “G”  that can only mean one thing – the Jaguars are going to win it all next year.

So just watch as the 2013 season unfolds, what is done to prevent the Packers from winning and having the Jaguars win it all.  If you don’t believe me, so be it.  But remember they almost stole this Super Bowl and they will stop at nothing to try again.  In fact, as I was having breakfast with another secret agent  (code named GLOW GLOW), this morning at Crabby’s, I heard another at a table near me speak of the conspiracy last night and how it was all planned to help San Francisco.  So I know I am not alone and that there are others who see it the same way I do.

Operation TAKE BACK THE TUNDRA is a go!

Baltimore Ravens inside linebacker Ray Lewis (52) addresses the press during this week’s “pageant,” otherwise known as media day.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

As a semi-casual, half-hearted Green Bay Packers fan, I find the lull between the early exit of the playoffs until the start of mini-camps to be a very dull and uninteresting time.  Yet there is always one week that does seem to come alive with at least one or two stories that were either tailor made or were being held just until the right moment to be sprung upon the general populace.

Yep, it is media week so bring out the stupidity and the shocking that comes with the competition we know as the Super Bowl.

This year we have three incidents that clearly are contending for the Crown of Stupidity.  So with no further adieu, let me announce the winners (to date, things could change as we still have five days to go before kickoff).

Mardi Gras figurine of New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees at the Super Bowl XLVII media party at Mardi Gras World.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Second runner goes up to Mr. Drew Brees, who also wins the award for Mr. Congeniality.  It seems that Mr. Brees decided to take it upon himself to throw all of the former NFL players who gave their blood, sweat and tears to the game under the bus so guys like him could line their pockets.  Mr. Brees in the question and answer portion of the competition explained that it was poor financial planning on the part of former players that resulted in their financial shortcomings today.  He went on to elaborate that current players should not have to pay or give more in order to support those who came before he and all the other multimillionaires could line their pockets.

Fortunately, former Packer Great, Herb Adderley was there to score Mr. Brees and point out his utter stupidity and lack of understanding of the topic matter.

Mr. Adderley stated,

“Drew Brees is misinformed and he had no idea what was going on as far as why, he never came to any of the guys and said, ‘Well, why did you have to take early pension?’ He just made up his own mind about why some guys were in bad shape financially. And he just came out and made statements like that. And in my mind, Drew Brees is one of the greediest guys, and misinformed guys, in the NFL today. Last year he held out because he wanted more money. The guy’s already made millions and millions and millions of dollars, but he’s going to hold out for more money. And then he comes down on the retired guys for just wanting a few more dollars for the time, the cornerstones, what we put in the league  …  And none of us retired guys are fans of Brees because of him being misinformed. I needed the money. I needed to put my daughter through school and she ended up being a very successful dentist at the particular time in Washington, D.C.  If I don’t do that, she don’t end up going to college.”

Ohhhhh, sorry Drew, it seems you have a severe case of foot-in-mouth disease.  Why don’t you go back to the locker room  and plan some more bounties with the rest of the team … oh wait, I mean develop defensive schemes that will allow your defense to capitalize on the weaknesses of your opponents.

Randy Moss
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

First runner-up goes to Randy Moss.  Up until this point, I forgot that Randy still played in the NFL.  In fact, I thought he had been traded to the CFL for a sled dog and a VHS copy of “Strange Brew,” starring Bob and Doug McKenzie.  But I was proven wrong as evident in the evening gown competition when Randy strutted out on to the stage in a pink gown with matching gloves.

While walking the walk, he clearly talked the talk and reminded everyone who was listening that he is the “greatest” wide receiver in the history of the NFL.  This coming from the man who graciously pretended to moon the faithful at Lambeau Field and insulted the caterer for the Minnesota Vikings.  He also led to the downfall of one Brad Childress and was instrumental in pretty much nothing since leaving the Minnesota Vikings.  Clearly, Randy is a legend in his own mind.

How one man can be so full of himself  to think that he can upstage all the other contestants to win the evening gown competition is inconceivable.  Yet I was informed that it was a close race between him and Honey Boo Boo for this portion of the competition.  The fact that Honey Boo Boo was able to establish more credibility and honesty with the judges allowed him to take the crown.

Congratulations, Randy Moss, you are this years winner of the Biggest Ego.  Unfortunately as your head gets bigger, so does your mouth.

Ray Lewis
Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Finally this year’s winner (to date) is a tie.  A tie between Ray Lewis and Sports Illustrated.  In the swimsuit competition, both competitors came out wearing the same one piece black swim suit.  Both competitors clearly knew how to wait until the last minute to make a statement that took all the attention away from the competition and focused it on their own self-indulging escapades.

Sports Illustrated led off with a shocking news story that Ray Lewis used a banned substance (deer antler spray) to help him in his recovery from a season-ending injury in order to be ready for the granddaddy of all pageants.  Ray Lewis, for his own sake, is denying everything (which in this day and age, thanks to Lance Armstrong, equates to admitting guilt).  So as both contestants walked down the aisle, they suffered swimsuit malfunctions resulting in exposing a dirty little secret that will take the attention away from the game.

The winners will receive more TV and face time then Joan Rivers at a plastic surgery convention, yet Joan will definetly look better in the crown and the Go Daddy swimsuit!

Roger Goodell
Jim O

A special award goes to Roger Goodell for his handling of the NFL referees debacle,the Bountygate eruption and everything else that went wrong this year for the NFL.  According to one judge, “If it were not for Goodell, we would have had a normal and uneventful season.”

So as we wrap up this year’s pageant week, a special thank you to all of our contestants.  Though your crowns are honorary, your self-indulgence, greediness and lack of integrity will continue to define you for as long as there is football or at least until next year when some other bone heads take your place during Super Bowl week …

now can we just play some football?

Jan 27, 2013, Honolulu, HI, USA; General view of the line of scrimmage as Green Bay Packers center Jeff Saturday snaps the ball in the 2013 Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. The NFC defeated the AFC 62-35. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Dear Mr. Commissioner:

I write a simple letter as a fan of the National Football League.

J NFL commissioner Roger Goodell Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

I beg you, I implore you, I simply ask you to do what so many of us want and need – we need you to finally pull the plug on the travesty that is the Pro Bowl. It has become the laughingstock of all major league sports; it is an embarrassment to the game and nothing more than a glorified flag football game for the players. Many of the players want it to continue for their own gratification. That’s fine. I understand pocketing a few grand, spending a week on the islands with the family and friends, and the honor of playing with some of the best of their brethren. That’s all well and good.

But you’ve got to look beyond that hedonistic view. You’ve got to understand the view from our side. When we turn on the television (because God knows we’ll never have the bucks to travel to Hawaii for a football game!) we want to see a real football game – yes, one with penalties, real hitting, passing, running, blocking and tackling.

If you think we saw that in Sunday’s Pro Bowl game, you are misguided. Despite what many of the players said and despite the fact that J.J. Watt cut his finger and bled all over himself, the effort was the same as in the past. Yes, maybe they turned it up a notch for show, it was maybe up a notch from off.

If you want to save the integrity of the NFL, please get rid of this game a relieve us of this pain. The conclusion of the season is bad enough for 31 teams, let’s not make it excruciating by allowing our best players (well, at least some of our best players) to participate in this joke.

John Fox (left) and Mike McCarthy seem to share the joke that is the Pro Bowl. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

I really don’t care if you replace it with something else – yes, anything else would probably be better. Would that be a skills competition or some other sort of competition along those lines? I’m not sure.

All I know is that this game has got to go.

Nearly 100 point scored? The 1985 Bears defense is gagging. Four penalties for 34 yards? Ed Hochuli got it right when he joked, “yes, there are penalties in the Pro Bowl …” Thirteen touchdowns and two field goals by a single team in a single game? Ridiculous.

This was not fun to watch. Where was the drama? Where was the emotion? Where was the effort?

Well, it surely wasn’t on that Hawaiian football field.

Oh sure, there were touching moments. When Jeff Saturday joined the AFC squad for one last hike to Peyton Manning, we all said, “awwwwww.”

But there were awkward moments, too. When Minnesota Vikings tight end was named the game’s MVP for his 122 yards, that was a nice touch. Consider that 52 of those yards came on a pass when he was covered by a defensive end and on a pass from Eli Manning who had about 10 seconds to deliver the ball downfield.

Grab, grab, grab. What the hell is going on out here?
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

And then there were just stupid moments. When JJ Watt lined up as a wide receiver and was covered by Jason Pierre-Paul who proceeded to intercept the ball, we all knew that was a fitting end to a simply stupid game.

I guess we’ll have to await the final game of the season – the Super Bowl – to see that part of the game that we all know and love.

If this league is going to survive, you’ve got to make it tougher, not softer. The fans won’t stand for it. The reason people buy tickets is to see a real football game.

C’mon, Man! Let’s get real. Let’s show the fans of the NFL that you care. Let’s do it before it’s too late, before the fans start walking away.

Let’s ease the pain and get rid of the Pro Bowl.

Tell us what you think about the proposal to eliminate kickoffs … Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Today I made a quick post on the Lombardiave.com’s Facebook page asking for response to the idea floated by the NFL Commissioner that kickoffs be eliminated.

To say the response was quick and decisive would be a gross understatement. Within a matter of minutes, the outpouring was unanimous … NO! NO! NO!

But I couldn’t simply put their response into a single exclamation. Therefore, read below for yourself and if you’ve got your own opinion, go to the page or leave your comments here. Clearly, the commish is way out of bounds on this one and I’m sure if we could use this as a measuring stick of public opinion, the proposal would be shot down without discussion.

Enjoy the posts:

• 

  Sue Merritt Speidel I disagree!
• 

  Roberta Rae Snyder Zais Bullshit….THey need to leave the rules alone…they have way too many rules as it is….Lets go back to real football….
• 

  Serena Vann Stupid! Part of the game to get excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• 

  Jay Nyhart stupid rule if they pass it JUST STUPID
• 

  Josh Ruggirello yeah fuck that its football the players get paid to take the hits they do if they take away the kick off they mite as well play sarcastaball
• 

  Jan Holzner As long as they also provide pink tutus for the players.
• 

  Henri M. Primeaux It has been a long standing tradition, why now? What’s the reason? I vote to leave it as it.
• 

  Scot Sticha Why not just take football away from us then to. Its a mans sport so its about time we let them play like men. They know what they are signing up for when they get drafted. Stop turning it into a sissy sport. Time to man up n grow a set

  

  Thomas Tom Tom Schaefer stupid… i would personally kick goodell ass out of here
• 

  Braden Whitmire Coming from the same man who allowed the NFLRA strike to happen, thus giving us 3 miserable weeks of backup refs who don’t know what an interception is like the one at the end of the Seahawks game. Seriously, who wants to listen to this guy? Here’s my idea: let’s get a new commissioner.
• 

  Monica Hughes That is the most ridiculous thing!
• 

  Joe Kullmann That is such a joke. I am all for safety but that is just plain stupid!
• 

  Dennis Towle Jr Special Teams is one-third of the game. Eliminating the touchback, the onside kick, the kick return for significant yards or a touchdown is wrong, in every way!
• 

  Jay Lamm That guys a DUMBA__! He has no idea what he’s doing.
• 

  Kyle Stephens lol, what is he thinking?? HELLO!!
• 

  John Berg Its funny what they were saying, if ur offense elected to go for it on the ’4th n 15′ play and u were successful, and kept scoring and kept being succesfull of the ‘new kickoff’ the other team would never touch the ball. In other words, horrible idea.
• 

  Lombardiave.com great responses folks. I take it you’re all against it? ahahahhaha. Me, too!

Sept 24, 2012; Seattle, WA, USA; MD Jennings clearly picked the ball off but the refs ruled in favor of Golden Tate who should have been penalized for offensive pass interference after he shoved Sam Shields away. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-US PRESSWIRE

I think everybody can agree that Monday night’s game against the Seahawks was a win that the replacement referees took away from the Green Bay Packers.

The call was clearly wrong as the entire game was painful to watch, from the offensive pass interferences that were missed mutliple times in the second half, to the roughing the passer calls that should not have been penalties. It is time for the regular referees to come back and bring integrity back to the National Football League.

But let’s be realistic, the only way that these owners will do that is if the fans openly protest, sponsors threaten to end endorsement deals, or season ticket holders sue the NFL for not providing the on-field quality for which they paid.

The best way to send the message to the NFL is to openly protest the league. This is what the fans of the NFL deserve. I propose that if the replacement referees are not back for next week, all fans should walk out during the game to protest the referee issue. This would humiliate the NFL into bringing back the referees as the potential of fans not buying tickets as this would limit the owners ability to make money.

At the end of the day, the one way of getting to owners in taking away some of their money because they don’t have the actual refs back. The Packers have had a game stolen from them, literally. Tthis is the biggest debacle that I have ever seen in sports.

The league must make it right and do it now.

Nov 14, 2011; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) rushes with the football during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Adrian Peterson’s been on the comeback trail, but I fear it’s been slowed a bit.

Peterson was arrested by Houston Police after an incident at a Houston nightclub early this morning.

Though there is not much information out about the incident, there are those who are saying there is plenty of video evidence from surveillance cameras and phone cameras – those videos have not yet been released.

The incident, according to some reports started when Peterson and some family members were lingering in the nightclub after closing and were being asked to leave. According to at least one report, Peterson asked to be allowed to get some water before leaving. However, words were exchanged and while walking to the exit Peterson was jumped from behind by one law enforcement official who was joined by others to bring him down – kinda like on the football field.

Anyway, Peterson is still in jail on bond … below are a number of links to various reports for you to peruse.

No doubt, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will be looking closely at this case.

If Peterson was shooting to be back in the lineup for the Minnesota Vikings on opening day, that appears to now be in jeopardy.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/07/peterson-incident-all-on-video/

http://www.packersnews.com/viewart/20120707/PKR01/307070198

http://thevikingage.com/2012/07/07/club-says-adrian-peterson-was-heavily-intoxicated-at-the-time-of-his-arrest/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

http://thevikingage.com/2012/07/07/police-say-adrian-peterson-pushed-an-off-duty-cop-yelled-and-struggled-with-officers/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

http://fansided.com/2012/07/07/adrian-peterson-arrested/

http://www.rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/235595/adrian-peterson-busted-for-resisting-arrest

Will the stadium experience become a thing of the past?

There are tremors – no, rumblings – no, violent quakes coming out of the NFL league offices these days.

That’s because league officials are scared. They’re frightened about the future of the game and their ability to fill 70,000 seat stadiums. They should be scared. They should be petrified.

That’s because the technology that has given rise to the most profitable sports league on the planet could, ironically, could be its downfall.

Throw in all the other computing technology with that old standby, television, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster – the downfall of the National Football League’s ability to make billions of dollars per year.

The technology has overtaken the league. Staying at home on the couch with your pizza, beer, chips, barbecues is much more comfortable than spending hundreds to fight traffic, crowds and weather for the game day experience.

That’s what many are saying about the issue of the league’s ability to draw fans to the game.

Watching Aaron Rodgers throw passes over the middle to Jermichael Finley, like the fans in this photograph, may become a thing of the past if the NFL doesn't make changes to its game day experience. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

While a visit to Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, may be the best ticket and experience for football fans, it may all slowly slip away unless the league continues to improve the experience. Yes, attending iconic Lambeau Field is a lifetime experience, but the league is quickly discovering that attracting fans in many other cities is becoming increasingly difficult.

Consider how the Minnesota Vikings will handle the task of trying to attract fans to their decrepit Mall of America Field the next three years while they build their billion dollar behemoth in downtown Minneapolis. No doubt, even when the new stadium is built, it will also be difficult to fill that as well – especially once the novelty wears off.

So, how is the league responding? Well, some of the response has been a direct attempt to implement more of the technology right into the experience. For instance, the league has announced its move to outfit each stadium with free wi-fi to allow fans to not only watch highlights from the game they are attending but to have direct and immediate availability to watch full games and highlights and to keep up with scores from other teams. In addition, there is a move afoot where fans could also tune in to miked up players and coaches on the field.

Another direct response by the league has been to relax the rules surrounding the blackout regulations.

In addition, teams, such as the Packers, are adding more seats and state-of-the-art sound and video systems to their stadium experience to draw fans. While that is a luxury for a profitable team like the Packers, making such improvements in an NFL city such as Jacksonville is problematic at this point, especially when they are one of the several teams eyeing a move to Los Angeles.

It’s an issue that may come to a head for the league sooner than later. If Roger Goodell and company want to increase their $10 billion per year venture they are going to have to adapt.

Just exactly how those adaptations will look is anyone’s guess at this point.

But they need to do something soon or the fan’s experience won’t be at a stadium – it will be sitting at home on the couch with their brats, hamburgers, chips and beer.

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

Published reports out of Chicago have quoted Goodell saying, “We did speak about this earlier. We are, as you know, hosting a Super Bowl in New York in an open-air stadium in 2014. And we’re excited about that! We think it’s gonna be a great thing for our fans and a great thing for New York. And I think if we can do it successfully there, I think that opens up doors that we’ll all be looking at.”

Goodell was in Chicago to present a plaque commemorating Soldier Field becoming the first NFL stadium to receive LEED status, given to the most environmentally friendly buildings in the country.

Not only does the 2014 open air venue in New York City open the possibility for a Super Bowl in Chicago, but it should also open the possibility for other cold venues being considered for a bid. Should the league be considering Denver? Philadelphia? And how about Green Bay?

Phoenix has been awarded the Super Bowl in 2015. The NFL hasn’t chosn a host city yet for 2016

While many logistics would need to be worked out – things like parking, accommodations and places to host the variety of parties that are held during the Super Bowl week – in my estimation, holding a Super Bowl in Green Bay is certainly not out of the question. And it should be part of the conversation.

While temperatures in Green Bay the first week of February can vary tremendously, it’s also possible that the variation in conditions in Green Bay aren’t that far off from those in Florida. According to the Weather Channel, Green Bay’s average daytime temperature in February is 28 degrees. The average in Florida, in comparison, is 53.

Is it crazy to think the Super Bowl could be held in Green Bay? I guess we should see how the date in New York goes. Should it go well, I could certainly see the big game being held at Soldier Field. And considering that the Packers are adding another 8,000 seats to Lambeau Field, seating shouldn’t be that huge of a factor as the total at Lambeau will be approaching 80,000.

Though it’s not likely the City of Green Bay will be a Super Bowl destination, at least the talk about Chicago gives us renewed hope. We can never say never and only hope that there is some way, somehow that the greatest franchise in the league could have its super day in the sun.

Dec 21, 2008; Foxboro, MA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau (55) warms up before the start of the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-US PRESSWIRE

What a day in the National Football League.

One of its biggest stars becomes the eighth member of the 1994 San Diego Chargers Super Bowl team to die. Junior Seau, who spent 13 seasons with the Chargers, died in what is being called a suicide gunshot wound to the chest. The shooting is much like that of Dave Duerson who also committed suicide.

Also on this momentous day, National Football League commissioner Roger Goodell announced the suspension of four New Orleans Saints players for their role in bountygate. While linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the 2012 season, the Packers newest defensive lineman, Anthony Hargrove, was suspended for eight games next season for his role when he was a member of the Saints.

While the Saints’ players punishments are big news around the league, it pales in comparison to the loss of Seau.

For years, his energy, power and personality was the face of the San Diego Chargers, something he later took to the New England Patriots.

Up until this week, those closest to him didn’t see any signs that Seau was emotionally distraught and no indications that he would be ending his life.

The 43-year-old, if indeed his situation was so dire, could be added to the list of many players who have suffered from the loss of the game … but more importantly from the rigors of the game that may have led to this day.

There are no indications that Seau was depressed or suffered from any symptoms of head injury … though the way he died was eerily similar to Duerson’s death. The former Bears player shot himself in the chest so that his brain could be used for research into head injuries.

Seau left no suicide notes and was found by his girlfriend.

But in the end, the suspensions of the Saints players for their role in the bounties look pretty weak when compared to Seau.

Life in the NFL will continue on beyond today.

Unfortunately, we can’t say that about Junior Seau. He will be missed.

Hopefully, Mike McCarthy will be smiling after the draft.

It’s finally here. NFL. Draft. Day.

After all gnashing of teeth, indigestion and heated arguments, it’s time to throw all the mocks away and get ready for the reality check that is the actual naming of names.

When Commissioner Roger Goodell heads to the podium tonight to announce the first pick of the much ballyhooed first round, we can all start with a tabula rasa – a blank slate.

Frankly, I’m looking forward to it. I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of the bazillion mocks, the upsides, downsides, 40-yard dash times, the vertical leaps and the best player available. I feel all those things should kept to those in the war rooms and to let them do their jobs.

Now, as journalists, our job is to take a look at what transpires and then use our worldly knowledge to pick apart team drafts and start assigning grades and opinions about the winners and losers.

As for the Green Bay Packers, it’s time to Trust in Ted. Though we know the general manager is probably in control in the Packers’ draft room, we also know that he is getting information and birds tweeting in his ear right up until the time the phone call is made and the trigger pulled … but you also know that head coach Mike McCarthy is getting his two cents worth in as well. We wonder just how influential he is in the final decision. He’s got to have some say. After all, he is the guy who has to work with these players.

Anyway, get excited. I, for one, am looking forward to this draft. While I feel the team has got to draft defensive players up front, I am really excited to see if the team goes away from what all the experts are saying and pulls players that might not be at the top of everyone’s list. Thompson has been known to do that before. Let’s just forget about Justin Harrell and Mike Neal and move on.

So, without further adieu, here is a look at the Packers potentials for tonight. Take a look.

However, a bit of advice – you might want to ignore it once the teams are on the clock. Just like all the mocks that have been developed over the past few months, this piece will probably be null and void once the action starts tonight. But we’ll see.

You can also see this posting at NFL Mocks.

Q. What are the team needs for the Green Bay Packers heading into the draft?

The loss of Nick Collins could play a major role in how the Packers draft this weekend. Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

A. Defense. Defense. Defense. The Packers ranked dead last among the 32 teams in 2011 and it was no accident. The Dom Capers-led unit was clearly hurt by the losses of defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins and the injury to Nick Collins. They were a unit without leadership and purpose.

Ted Thompson’s first goal will be to restock the defensive line and linebacker positions. If he can also throw in a solid defensive back, he will be even further ahead. With 12 total picks, Thompson might just do some wheeling and dealing, especially in the first couple of rounds, but he could also surprise everyone and deal down to accumulate even more picks. But given the fact that 12 drafted rookies would have a very difficult time cracking the lineup of a team that went 15-2 last season, I highly doubt Thompson would look to add quantity over quality.

Look for the Packers to draft either a defensive lineman or outside linebacker with the first couple of picks; and then follow those picks up with an offensive lineman, a defensive back, a running back and a quarterback in the later rounds. The rest will be simply players to pad the roster and add competitive depth.

Q. Who are some prospects you’d like to see end up with the Green Bay Packers?

USC's Nick Perry could be a great pick if he's still on the board. Gary A. Vasquez-US PRESSWIRE

A. I would love to see the Packers add a defensive lineman such as a Melvin Ingram, Quinton Coples or a Courtney Upshaw, but we all know they most likely will be quickly nabbed in the early picks of the first round. However, if a Nick Perry or Whitney Mercilus is still on the board when the Packers pick at 28, Thompson should pull the Trigger. However, we wouldn’t kick a Vin Curry, Andre Branch or a Chandler Jones out of bed either. Peter King says the Packers will pick Michigan State’s defensive tackle Jerel Worthy, which could be a coup for the longterm and a solid pick for the Packers. Another intriguing prospect who might be an interesting defensive pick and who would be a great pick for the Green Bay Packers is Boise State’s Shea McClellin – I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Thompson go after him.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Packers’ need for depth and longterm effect on the line is evident. Left tackle and center are the two most glaring needs, but quality is always most important when considering drafting for the line. Of course, Peter Konz’s name always comes to the forefront, but Thompson’s effort to grab center Jeff Saturday has softened the need for the team to go after a top-rated center right away. Thompson’s ability to pick solid linemen in the later rounds is well-known and he may even be able to land an undrafted free agent who could help the team.

Picking a running back and even a quarterback, in my estimation, is just as important. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Packers put a premium on a running back who could add to its already somewhat solid stable. Ryan Grant is probably gone, and with injuries to James Starks and last year’s rookie Alex Green, the Packers are left with second year man Brandon Saine. You might see the team try to draft Chris Polk out of Washington, or a Doug Martin out of Boise State.

Would Kirk Cousins be a good pickup for the Packers? Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

At quarterback, the Packers have more of a need than Thompson has admitted. The loss of Matt Flynn moves untested Graham Harrell to number two. The need is evident, but Thompson most likely will draft to develop at the position. A Kirk Cousins from Michigan State is an intriguing prospect, and might be available to the team around the fourth round. But don’t count out a Ryan Lindley of San Diego State or even Russell Wilson from right here in Wisconsin.

Q. What would represent a successful draft in your opinion?

A. If the Packers can nab a solid defensive lineman (defensive end or tackle), an outside linebacker that can be a bookend for Clay Matthews to draw some attention away from him, an offensive lineman, a running back and a quarterback, the Packers will have had a successful draft. I don’t see Ted Thompson moving too far away from the team’s obvious needs, though he says he doesn’t draft that way. According to him, it’s always the best player on the board. Well, in my estimation, that’s fine, but at some point the team has to address the team needs as well. Last year, Thompson decided to go with who he had at defensive lineman and outside linebacker and it came back to bite the team in the long run. Hopefully, Thompson learned a lesson with that tactic and will look at the overall picture more intently this time around.

Q. Give us a bold prediction for your team.

A. My bold prediction is that Thompson will trade up at least five picks to select USC’s Nick Perry in the first round, giving up a couple of later round picks to do so. Much like he did when the team selected Clay Matthews, I feel that if the Packers can hang on to their 28th pick and nab another in the early to mid-20s, they will have two solid first round selections that will have an immediate impact. The team can afford to give up a couple of later round picks to make that happen.

The newly-released audio of New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams has shocked many. John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE

Many of you may have already heard this pregame speech given by New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams prior to the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers.

If you haven’t, you must give it a lesson. Here is an impassioned man, without a doubt. A man possessed, a man on the attack. In football, that’s what it’s about.

What sets Williams apart is his tact … his mean-spirited demeanor and the wrong approach to winning at all costs. There are other ways to motivate men. Telling them to take out the head to kill the body is the wrong way. Telling his charges to hurt others for their gain is wrong.

If you had no opinion before about the bounty situation and the reason why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came down hard on the New Orleans Saints, maybe after giving this a listen you will. This particular three minutes raised the hair on the back of my neck.

Warning: If you have small children in the room, put on a pair of headphones or turn your volume down enough so they can’t hear it. It’s disturbing enough for grown adults. It’s not something for young children.

NBC broadcaster Bob Costas. Geoff Burke-US PRESSWIRE

I’ve always been a big fan of Bob Costas. His coverage over the years has been right on target and this time around I have to say I can’t disagree with him.

Last night he presented his thoughts on the punishments meted out by Roger Goodell on the New Orleans Saints.

Below you will find his comments and here is a link to the video on profootballtalk.com His on-air presentation was a part of  NBC SportsTalk Wednesday night.

Take the time to read or listen to this. Even if you don’t totally agree with what he has to say, he says it well and the information is of importance to all NFL fans.

Here is the text of his presentation:

“I want to stand up and cheer for Roger Goodell.

“Now, the penalty to the players, which may be a little trickier because he may face some resistance from the Players Association; but the penalty for the players will be forthcoming, we are led to believe in about a week, and I think they will also be appropriately severe.

“He has made an important statement today. And anyone who thinks that the Saints are scapegoats because of the present atmosphere in the NFL, maybe their timing was off, but they deserve every bit of this. They are blatantly guilty of something that has no place whatsoever in sports.

“And it goes beyond the idea of bounties. If people interpret this as, ‘Well no one will ever have any bounties anymore’ at least not anything that can be traced, Roger Goodell is sending a message about the culture of the game, about the celebration of a kind of violence, a kind of brutality that goes above and beyond anything that reasonable people should accept.

“It’s understood within football, whether there are bounties or not, that many players, not all, maybe not most, that many players are either indifferent to whether or not they injure opponents or actually take pride and glee in injuring opponents.  There is no question about it.  This is not isolated to the New Orleans Saints.

“The NFL as it is presently constituted is a great, great game that’s exciting in many ways, interesting in many ways, and clearly is America’s most popular sport.  It also has a serious problem because it is fundamentally brutal in a way that reasonable people should no longer accept.

“And Roger Goodell is trying to deal with that, both (a) because it’s the right thing to do, and I believe he is a good man, but (b) because he’s also a businessman and he knows that with all this litigation out there, and more coming, he’s got to position the league as standing as reasonably as it can against excessive and gratuitous violence.”

Former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was indefinitely suspended today for his role in the Saints' bounties. Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Today’s punishments handed down by NFL commissioner, Roger “Kenesaw Mountain Landis” Goodell, was unprecedented, hammering the New Orleans Saints organization like no other commissioner has ever handled a punishment in the league.

Clearly, Goodell is sending a message like none other … and from the sounds of it, things have just started. The talk is the players are next in line for either suspensions, fines or both.

No doubt, this has got to go down in New Orleans Saints history as one of its darkest days. The damage done to the Super Dome during the hurricane a few years back will long be compared to the strong winds blowing through the organization today.

How you feel about it all? Take the poll, leave a comment and let us know.

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will be sitting at home this fall without a job. Fernando Medina-US PRESSWIRE

I’m sure you’ve seen it blow up on Twitter and Facebook … the news that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton being slapped with a one year suspension with no pay … OUCH! Top that with the news that his former defensive coordinator, Greg Williams being suspended indefinitely, the team being fined a half-million bucks, general manager Mickey Loomis being been suspended for eight games, Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt being suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2012 season and you’ve got a day that will go down in NFL history.

Many believed NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell would come down hard on this punishment, but he shocked everyone with his sledge-hammer.

Not only will this make NFL history, it will most likely go down as the week of the Payton (or is it Peyton?). Either way, the news that Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos, has quickly been overshadowed by the Sean Payton news and the Saints’ punishment in time and dollars. Also making news today, but as a small sidelight to the Saints is the matter of Broncos former starting quarterback taking his Tebow Time to New York City – what better place for his circus?

While the news about Peyton Manning upsetting the NFL’s quarterback apple cart with his announcement of signing Monday was huge, the shocking news about Sean Payton and the Saints is much, much bigger.

Much will be said about this as the league starts to sort through the fallout. It’s going to affect the entire league, not just the Saints.

And you can bet those cigar boxes filled with cash that have been left laying around NFL locker rooms will most certainly find a way to the hidden corners of the facility.

New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams talks with linebacker Jonathan Vilma (51). Williams will also be talking with Commissioner Roger Goodell about bounties. Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE

Bounties; Gregg Williams; New Orleans Saints.

The terms are synonymous these days and with the news that newly-hired St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator/New Orleans, Buffalo, Washington, et al, coordinator/coach being summoned by the league big wigs for a pow-wow about what’s transpired this past weekend, one has to wonder if the fire pit has already been built.

Williams, who has been connected with bounty schemes and play for pay incentives at just about every stop along his career, has been told that he has to report to league headquarters to talk about it. Yes, Williams has gone on record and apologized – publicly admitting that he was aware of his behavior, saying that it was wrong, thus setting up an awkward meeting that will have Williams sitting across from administrators who know deep down that what Williams has done isn’t anything new.

Locker rooms with players’ cigar boxes filled with cash to be handed out to those who fulfill specific incentives is nothing new in professional football and the practice goes back to the early days of the game when it was not only a lot rougher, but not as lucrative. Not only did it add spice to the day’s game, it provided a few extra bucks for the players who not only played the games on the weekends, but held down regular jobs during the week.

To be a fly on Roger Goodell’s wall during this meeting … to hear the noble gestures about ethics and the integrity of the game would be priceless.

No doubt some type of penalties will be incurred – not only by Williams, but by the New Orleans Saints. Press conferences and news releases will include demands by the league for teams to frown upon any future shenanigans and those involved in this most recent activity will again apologize.

Then hopefully everyone will get back to the business of football. There will be hard hits on quarterbacks, players will get injured and carried off the field … that’s the grisly nature of the game.

Will players again get back to slipping one another C-notes? Probably. Will it hurt the integrity of the game? Only if they get caught.

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

Though New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton wasn't directly involved in the bounty scheme, he didn't stop it when he learned about it. Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

Today’s news that the New Orleans Saints players and coaches were involved in a bounty payoff system in which money was pooled and exchanged for various on field actions is disturbing … especially in light of the fact that defensive coordinator Greg Williams and head coach Sean Payton were nearly hired by the Green Bay Packers before they took over in New Orleans.

While bounties are hardly something that’s not been a part of football over the past century, today’s announcement by the league is the first such case in recent memory. Given the incredible amounts of money paid to these athletes, it’s unusual to see this type of behavior occurring in the NFL.

According to published reports, Williams is said to have helped manage the scheme and that while he wasn’t directly involved, Payton didn’t stop the action when he was told about it. Williams was a finalist for the Packers’ defensive coordinator’s job a few years back before Green Bay hired Dom Capers and Payton is known for saying he really, really wanted the Green Bay head coaching job before the Packers hired Coach Mike McCarthy.

What will happen with the Saints is not known, but the league clearly has its sights on some sort of punitive action.

League commissioner Roger Goodell will determine the appropriate punishment.

He had this to say today: