Packers rookie Jerel Worthy is just one of several rookies, especially on defense, being eyed as cogs to an improved 2012 Packers team. Dan Hogan photograph

It’s been a pretty eventful few days for The Green Bay Packers, the coaches, and their fans.

The Packers look bad in dropping their first exhibition game at San Diego, they lose one of their best defensive players probably for the season and another promising defender for at least a couple of weeks. The team is decimated by injuries, the offensive line is in a shambles and then Ted Thompson continues with his trend of consistent inconsistency by signing Cedric Benson – a talented running back with a tainted history.

And that’s just the past four days. Now the Packers have to get ready to play the Cleveland Browns Thursday night at Lambeau Field, try to get some players patched up and get Benson acclimated to the Packer way and Packers Nation.

It should be fun.

In that spirit, I thought I would bring you some of the more interesting posts I’ve come across the past couple of days as we head into a new week.

Enjoy and don’t forget to keep on coming back to Lombardiave.com for all the Packers news you might find somewhere else, but with its own blend and twist – also, our Facebook page is a hoot and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter.

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With news breaking Friday night that the Green Bay Packers had brought running back Cedric Benson in and that signing him was “probable,” it sounds like probable is now turning to reality.

According to a post by Paul Imig on the FOXSportsWisconsin.com website today, his sources, which include Packers running back Alex Green, indicate that Benson could be in camp and ready for practice Monday morning.

“I was informed today that Cedric Benson will be coming in, so that’s a great thing for us,” Green told Imig Sunday afternoon. “It’ll help the team out. He’s a great running back. That’ll be a great thing for us to learn from and get a better feel for the running back position.”

You might remember that Benson was originally selected by the Chicago Bears and stayed in the Windy City for three years before falling into disfavor. In his three years there, Benson never reached 700 yards rushing in a single season.

However, when he landed in Cincinnati, his fortunes turned. He ran for 1,000 yards three straight years and helped the improving Bengals to a Playoff berth last year.

Benson can only be an upgrade to the Packers’ pathetic running game. Though both James Starks and Ryan Grant combined for more than 1,000 yards in rotation last year, the Packers continually relied on its passing game to carry the team. When the Packers decided not to re-sign Grant and go with Starks and second-year runners Alex Green and Brandon Saine, they  thought they had enough horses in the stable. However, Starks had a horrible outing last Thursday night at San Diego, Green still isn’t back completely from his injured knee and Saine has been out of action for the past week.

Ted Thompson had to do something and with the availability of Benson, I believe he made another good move.

Bringing in Benson takes some pressure off the rest of the running backs. Like the defense which was addressed in the offseason, the need to add another body in the backfield was a no-brainer. With Benson there may be some downside, but it’s definitely worth the risk.

I like what Imig said in his post:

If Benson is able to do a good job in pass protection for Packers MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and can help resurrect Green Bay’s struggling running game, this could turn out to be a significant signing for a team that hopes to win its second Super Bowl in three seasons.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) is tended to by members of the Packers

Packers head coach Mike McCarthy wasn’t too encouraging about the injury suffered last night by inside linebacker Desmond Bishop.

According to Tom Silverstein for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Bishop left Thursday night’s game against the Chargers with a knee sprain.

But McCarthy didn’t sound so hopeful.

“You don’t want to see any of your players hurt,” McCarthy said after the Packers’ 21-13 loss at Qualcomm Stadium. “Desmond’s injury didn’t look very good. Hopefully, we’ll get some good news as testing goes on.

“But talking to doctor (Patrick) McKenzie, it’s up in the air.”

Admitting that the initial diagnosis is a knee sprain, he said it’s potentially a knee and hamstring injury.

Bishop, who missed the first week of practice because of a calf strain, had shown this past week why he is considered one of the best linebackers on the squad. He practiced well this past week and had also made a couple of strong plays at the start of Thursday’s game. He stayed on the ground for several minutes after the injury and couldn’t place any weight on his leg while being helped off the field by Packers’ medical staff.

We can only hope for the best.

August 9, 2012, San Diego, CA: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rogers (12) calls an audible in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jody Gomez-US PRESSWIRE

Turnovers, Injuries, dropped passes, a poor running game and just general inconsistency plagued the Packers in their preseason opener against the San Diego Chargers Thursday night on national television.

It’s not an uncommon scene and certainly not something that should concern Packers fans too much. There is never much one can take away from that first game of the year – other than the fact that, thankfully, it doesn’t count.

But there are some things for certain – the Packers have to get healthy and they have to show vast improvement in consistency next time out.

When Nick Perry opened the game with a sack on Philip Rivers, Packers fans cheered. But when the flag came out for unsportsmanlike conduct because of his post-sack enthusiasm, Packers Nation could only grow. I guess it was the harbinger of the the night.

The Packers gave up a 23-yard touchdown to Antonio Gates after fumbling the ball away on their first drive of the night. Another fumble on the ensuing kickoff only spelled out what type of night it would be. Though the defense held its own throughout the game and Graham Harrell finally led the Packers to a score just before halftime and another touchdown at the beginning of the fourth quarter, it wasn’t enough.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop (55) is tended to by members of the Packers

But Donald Driver said patience is required, especially at this time of year. “That was the whole thing,” Driver said. “You have to get the rust off, and then you start playing ball. You see exactly what he can do. Right before half, he drives the ball right down there and scores. That was big for us. He has the confidence that he can play on this level, and he’s proven it.”

To his credit, Harrell didn’t get down. He kept working and the coaching staff showed their confidence and stuck with him.

“That’s kind of the attitude and mentality I try to bring in every day,” Harrell said. He who finished 15 of 27 passing for 135 yards and a TD. His passer rating was 81.6. “Whatever just happened, whether it was great or whether it was really bad, let’s play the next one and see what happens.”

The game ended after the Chargers had scored a late touchdown to give them a 21-13 lead. Rookie B.J. Coleman was then thrust into the lineup to lead the Packers on a last ditch attempt to try to score. On the last play of the game, Coleman completed a pass to rookie RB Marc Tyler who was stripped of the ball by former Packer Ricky Elmore.

It was a fitting end to a game where inconsistence ruled the day.

Aug 9, 2012; San Diego, CA, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk (50) yells out defensive calls before the snap against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Positives that came out of the game? Randall Cobb, Tim Masthay, D.J. Smith, Davon House, Tramon Williams, and even Harrell once he got his legs under him. One could also include the play of Tyler, but his fumble to end the game put a damper on that.

Negatives: Injuries to House and Desmond Bishop. Bishop’s could be serious and would be an extreme blow to the Packers middle defense. House is to have X-rays to see the extent of the damage.

The Packers have a week of practice ahead of them where one hopes the coaching staff stresses ball security. They are in action again Thursday, Aug. 16, when they host the Cleveland Browns at Lambeau Field.

Greg Jennings won't have the chance to be great tonight ... he's one of 15 who won't play in the team's first preseason game.

Early indications are that the Packers will be without a great many players when they hit the field at San Diego tonight.

Here is a preliminary list of those who will be kept out of the game.

LT Marshall Newhouse (concussion), CB Sam Shields (elbow), RB Brandon Saine (hamstring), WR Greg Jennings (concussion), RB Du’ane Bennett (knee), G Ray Dominguez (ankle), WR Tori Gurley (groin), FB Jon Hoese (hamstring), TE Eric Lair (knee), OL Mike McCabe (hip), TE Ryan Taylor (concussion), DE Johnny Jones (knee), TE Andrew Quarless (knee), OT Derek Sherrod (leg) and OLB Frank Zombo (hamstring).

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers may have been relaxed at last week's Family Night, but tonight the Packers get down to business against the Chargers. Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

To preview today’s preseason game, Ernie Padaon of Fansided.com’s Boltbeat queried Lombardi Ave, the FanSided Packers site, to get a little more info on what is going on out in cheese land. Here is what I had to say:

1. What Packers veterans are on the bubble? 
There are a few Packer veterans who might see reduced playing time or may end up being cut. CB Sam Shields has had a rough start to his camp. He’s been beaten consistently and doesn’t seem to be playing like the third-year player that he is. He’s in a battle with Jarrett Bush and second-year player Davon House, among others. It will be interesting to see if he sticks. Though A.J. Hawk signed a long-term contract after the 2010-11 Super Bowl season, there are many who feel he could be beaten out by second-year player D.J. Smith. Smith started for Hawk when he was injured last year and made impressive play after play. Smith has a nose for the ball and always seems to be around it. The Packers already cut Charlie Peprah because they want to go with younger players and also play Charles Woodson on the back end of the defense. The next couple of weeks should be interesting as the competition for spots continues.

2. A lot of Chargers fans wanted to draft Nick Perry before we got a chance at Melvin Ingram, how is Perry doing in camp so far? 
Glad you asked that. He’s been kind of the Invisible Man as he makes the transition from a down defensive lineman to a stand-up outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense. Nobody’s panicking yet because he is a beast of an athlete and most feel that when he learns the system and gets more playing time that he will come around and be the perfect complement to Clay Matthews.

3. What Packers youngsters are looking to steal a roster spot coming into the game? 
It looks like Marcus Tyler, the FA running back from Southern Cal is going to get some playing time and if he plays well, could make a move for at least a practice squad spot. On defense, the Packers are really high on Casey Hayward. He’s looked like a player during the first week or two of training camp, but his value won’t be known until he gets some playing time. With Davon House, the Packers may be seeing a real resurgence of young players at the cornerback position.

4. What is your favorite cheese? 
ahahahahahaha – I always come back to sharp cheddar!

5. Predict the Packers season
After a 15-1 season and then getting knocked out in the first round of the playoffs by the Giants, the Packers are coming into this season with a chip on their shoulders. The team is looking for redemption. Though I doubt they will go through the majority of the season unbeaten again like they did last year, I see this team winning at least 12 games and possibly 13. They will need that many to win the division. In the end, I can honestly say that if they don’t make the playoffs, it will be a huge disappointment. I think the team won’t disappoint and will compete for a Super Bowl berth. Anything less would be very disappointing.

Ernie Padaon’s Comments
Nick Perry as the invisible man? Could you imagine if we took him with the first pick and he was an invisible man? People would be calling him a bust immediately and calling for AJs head for another failed draft pick.

The sharp cheddar is always a good go-to cheese also. Even in the land of cheese, cheddar can always be counted on for deliciousness.

What is your favorite cheese?

August 3, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson (left) talks with head coach Mike McCarthy prior to the family night scrimmage at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

In addition to closing out the Packers’ Family Night with a field goal kicking contest between offensive and defensive lineman, there were some other items of interest that came out of one of the more successful family nights in recent history.

Here’s a look:

• It didn’t rain! After several Family Nights had been either rained out completely or shortened because of rain, there wasn’t a drop in the air.

• The 11-member Lambeau Leap – According to Donald Driver, the effort to have all 11 members of the Packers climb the wall after the first team’s touchdowns was orchestrated by Greg Jennings.

• Donald Driver continuing to make plays.

July 26, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) lines up under center during training camp practice at Ray Nitschke Field in Green Bay, WI. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

• The sourpuss referee who called an unsportsmanlike penalty after the 11-man Lambeau Leap was pretty lame. IT’S FAMILY NIGHT, DUDE! Apparently he didn’t get the memo until the first team’s second touchdown – he didn’t throw the flag after that.

• Linebacker Dezman Moses seems to be the real deal. Getting some snaps with the number one defense must have given him an emotional boost, but he’s quickly rising the depth charts and continues to make plays. He clearly outplayed Erik Walden and could be considered the third best outside linebacker on the roster.

• It was unusual for Mike McCarthy not to tell the press about why left tackle Marshall Newhouse left the field. He’s usually pretty good at disclosing immediately injuries that occur both in practice and after games.

• Seeing Mason Crosby miss so many field goal attempts. Though most that he missed were from long distance, he showed he is human. It was nice to see him nail a 60-yarder. Newly-re-signed punter Tim Masthay also had a solid night. Getting kicks down within the 10 and 20-yard line consistently and even having one pinned down on the one yard line.

So now that the scrimmage is past, it’s now time for the team to look ahead to the first preseason game at San Diego. The Packers will have the opportunity to practice making long road trips and figuring out the logistics right away. It will be an interesting week of practice as they get ready for the Thursday night game.

June 12, 2012; Green Bay, WI, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Dezman Moses (54) during the team

Don’t expect the starting units to play more than one or two possessions. It will be interesting to see what players step up and get noticed in this first preseason game.

Look for Davon House, Dez Moses, and Casey Hayward on the defense to make plays. Many are also looking to first round pick Nick Perry to start making plays opposite Clay Matthews. He’s been relatively quiet in Training Camp, many attributing it to his learning curve. Let’s hope so.

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.

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Lionel Aldridge's story is that of a spiraling demise and rise back.

Brain injuries caused by persistent blows to the head is the topic of the times. Dozens of former NFL players have filed a lawsuit against the league for not helping them understand and deal with these injuries.

However, for one former player, the late great Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Lionel Aldridge, his suffering was brain-related, but not football-related.

Aldridge began suffering from the effects of  paranoid schizophrenia in his early 30s, a chronic mental illness that would eventually cause him to spiral into despair and a life on the streets. He lost everything, his family, his money and even his Super Bowl ring.

But his life didn’t end tragically. He eventually got the diagnosis and help he needed to turn his life around. When he died at age 54 in Shorewood, Wisconsin in 1998, he had come full circle and was helping others.

The story of his life was chronicled on the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame website by Scott Schalin, who gives an honest recounting of the man known as a giant teddy bear. Read it here or below.

The Mad Ride of Packers Hall of Famer Lionel Aldridge

Sometimes you have to go through hell to get to heaven. In the case of Lionel Aldridge, he took the reverse path.

Aldridge was born on February 14, 1941, in Evergreen, Louisiana, and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fourth round of the 1963 draft after a standout college career at Utah State.

While Packers coach Vince Lombardi was always wary of starting rookies, Aldridge cracked the vaunted Green Bay lineup in his first professional year. He quickly became a cornerstone of the staunch and stingy defenses of the 1960s playing right defensive end opposite fellow Louisiana native and future Pro Football Hall of Famer Willie Davis.

Although the NFL didn’t log official stats for tackles during Aldridge’s era, he was renowned throughout the league as a solid tackler that helped anchor that stout Packers’ defensive line.

With the Packers, he played prominent roles in three straight NFL championships with wins over Cleveland in 1965, and Dallas both in 1966 and ’67. Perhaps it was that 23-12 victory in the 1965 title game that epitomized the smothering Green Bay defense of the era, as the Packers held legendary Browns’ running back Jim Brown to just 50 yards rushing in what would be the future Hall of Famer’s final game.

Aldridge continued contributing to the team’s historical run of championships, helping Green Bay to victories in Super Bowl I (a 35-10 dismantling of the Kansas City Chiefs) and Super Bowl II (a 33-14 shellacking of the Oakland Raiders).

Aldridge enjoyed an 11-year pro career, playing his first nine seasons in Green Bay and his final two with the San Diego Chargers. The six-foot-three, 255-pound beast was named an All Pro in 1964 and was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1988.

Still, even a physical shell as imposing as Aldridge’s could not protect life’s most fragile wonder: the brain.

After retiring in 1973, Aldridge turned to broadcasting. He became an analyst for the Packers and then for NBC, where he would work Super Bowl VII following the 1973 season.

Things were seemingly going as well off the field as they had on it.

But then, something changed. Something suddenly didn’t seem right.

His longtime friend Jim Irwin, who had broadcast Packers games for 29 years before retiring after the 1998 season, told the New York Times, “Lionel was a terrific success story that had some holes in it. He was a big, friendly teddy bear,” who experienced mood swings as a player. “He’d be ‘up’ one day and then the next day he’d snap at everybody.”

Irwin recounted an instance after Aldridge retired and was doing the color commentary on a Packers’ broadcast. “I asked him the first question of the day, and he stared straight ahead,” Irwin recalled. “He never took his eyes off the 50-yard line for the next three and a half hours and never said another word.”

Unbeknownst to Aldridge, his family or his friends, the former defensive star for the Packers was experiencing the beginning phases of paranoid schizophrenia. The Mayo Clinic describes paranoid schizophrenia (PS) as a chronic mental illness in which a person loses touch with reality.

The most prominent PS symptom is auditory hallucinations or “hearing voices” along with severe delusional behavior, the fear of persecution and sensing usually irrational things that others don’t. There is no specific cause as to what triggers PS in adults, but both genetics and environment likely play roles. Football has never been blamed for Aldridge’s PS.

PS symptoms are more common and severe primarily because they attack a person in the later years of life, usually after the age of 30.

Aldridge was barely into his mid-30s when the episodes began. By the early 1970s, he began to hallucinate. Then, the voices started echoing through his brain.

On the website Guideposts (www.guideposts.org) Aldridge wrote frankly and frighteningly of his illness.

One of the most frightening signs that there was something seriously wrong with me was the voices I began hearing in 1974.

At first, they were just stray, nagging worries that dogged me through the day; self-doubts that we all have from time to time. They seemed to rise up out of nowhere—vague thoughts with an accusing edge, ‘You really don’t work very hard, do you?’

The voices were very scary and confusing. I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want anyone to find out the terrible things happening inside my head. As an athlete, I’d been trained to be tough; it was not my nature to seek help. I wanted to be strong.

At first I tried to ignore them. But the voices grew more belittling and threatening; more real. I’d be standing in front of the mirror shaving when I’d hear from the next room, ‘You don’t take very good care of your family.’ “That’s bull!” I’d shout. I’d search the house for my tormentor. I’d mutter, as my wife, Vicki, shook her head in dismay. There never was any intruder.

His marriage, which had produced two daughters, Michelle and Angela, collapsed. So did his job. Quickly the situation grew worse.

Aldridge chronicled the events on Guideposts.

Rumors flew around town that I was on drugs. That was completely false, but I was in no shape to prove otherwise. I was getting worse.

Soon that feeling of being watched wouldn’t let up, even on the air. Looking into the camera, I could barely hold my composure as I reported the nightly sports scores. The wide camera lens zooming in on me was a glistening, all-seeing eye that could plumb the farthest, most hidden reaches of my soul. Everyone who was watching on their TV sets, I was convinced, could see right inside my brain, where laid bare for all to look on in disgust were the grimmest secrets of my life.

I was sure there was a far-flung conspiracy to destroy me. I fought with total strangers on the street. I lost my job, (my family) and my friends. There was nothing left but the voices shouting in my head, as real to me as an opposing 260-pound pulling guard on a goal line stand back in my playing days.

My life spun out of control.

Aldridge was convinced by voices that he needed to leave his Milwaukee home.

He crisscrossed the country in an unruly wilderness of twisted interstates, sleeping in hotels and ultimately seedy flophouses. Once his savings were mostly exhausted, he started living in his car. In Florida, he ditched the car for a $100 and hit the streets with nothing more than a battered satchel on his shoulder.

Occasionally I hung around a town for a while doing odd jobs, living on the streets and eating at soup kitchens. Quite naturally, people would stare at me, and that would only make my delusions of persecution worse. I never held a job for long… I’d become one of those lost, devastated souls. There were a lot of them out there with me, crippled by mental illness, but as I wandered the country I was only aware of my own haunted, unhappy world a million miles from the life I once had.

One night I slept in a field off an interstate near the Great Salt Lake. I didn’t notice when I woke up, but, while I was sleeping, my jewel-encrusted Super Bowl ring must have slipped off. Those rings are not easy to come by, and I’d hung on to mine as a kind of symbol of who I’d once been.

When I discovered the ring missing, it was as if I’d been stripped of one final link with my past. I sat in the middle of a sidewalk and wept into my hands.

‘Help me!’ I cried out. The sweat and tears streaked my dust-caked face. ‘Help! I’ll accept help from anyone.’

Turning to a well-worn Bible for guidance, he found the strength and courage to return to Milwaukee where, while still living on the streets, he was brought back into contact with old friends. He was, not without difficulty, committed to a hospital where he was diagnosed with PS.

“Slowly the doctors hit upon some drugs that helped,” he rejoiced. “Little by little my condition improved, and the voices gradually subsided. At first it was horrifying. It was an awful thing to face, like seeing a crazy man on the street and suddenly realizing that you are looking into a mirror.”

Although there is no cure for PS, Aldridge was able to recover and learn to live with the debilitating disease.

“I did recover,” he admitted. “Not without setbacks and relapses, not without moments when I thought I could never again face life, but I did get well with the help of friends, doctors who found the right medication to help me and the voice of a loving God.”

He discovered new strategies to cope with the world, including turning the voices around and convincing himself that, instead of negative things, the voices were actually preaching positive attributes about him. “I figured, maybe they’re saying good things like, ‘Hey, there’s Lionel Aldridge. He used to play for the Packers and then he got sick. Look how good he’s doing now.’ ”

In time, the voices went away thanks to medication and his faith in God’s master plan. He began traveling the country speaking to groups about mental illness and recovery. “It’s vital,” he said, “for patients, families and even doctors to see someone who has actually made it back.”

In January 1985 — the 18th anniversary of the Packers’ first Super Bowl win – Lionel received yet another gift. A group of his old teammates had commissioned an exact replica of the Super Bowl victory ring that Aldridge had lost.

“I knew that day that I had returned,” he surmised. “Even when you think you’ve lost everything in your life, there is always hope of finding a way back, sometimes to an even better place.”

Aldridge passed away on February 12, 1998, in Shorewood, Wisconsin, of congestive heart failure at the age of 56.

After a meteoric rise to fame and glory, and then a whiplashing plummet into darkness and despair, this gentleman of the game and Packers’ legend can now, finally, rest in peace.

Scott Schalin is the former editor of PackersHallofFame.com and is currently writing a book with NFL on FOX insider Jay Glazer.

Really?!?

Novak was caught by CBS cameras yesterday taking a piss on the sidelines … as if the San Diego Chargers needed any more bad press.

This has got to be the most ridiculous moment of the NFL season.

If you really want to see it, here’s the video:

Awards are getting to be old hat for Aaron Rodgers.

Once again, Aaron Rodgers gets the nod as the best quarterback in the league.

Rodgers, for the fifth week out of six has been selected as the FedEx Air Player of the Week (the only week he wasn’t selected was during the bye week!).

He converted 80 percent of his passes last week against the Chargers for nearly 250 yards and four touchdowns. He also gained around 60 yards on the ground as he led the Packers to an 8-0 record.

The Packers PR department released the following in celebration of Rodgers’ honor:

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Could Jared Allen and the Minnesota Vikings be eyeing a move west?

On the same week that the Green Bay Packers announced the details of a stock sale to raise funds for a major stadium improvement, the Minnesota Vikings suffered a setback in their attempt to build a replacement for the Metrodome.

The Vikings were unable to persuade the state government to vote on funding/plans for a new stadium during a special session of the Legislature.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles, thought to be where the Chargers will end up, is back in the picture for the Vikings.

As a Packers fan, I don’t care much about the Vikings. But I do care about how a Vikings move would affect the Packers.

Let’s examine the ways:

1. Would a Vikings move to LA force the NFL to realign the NFC Divisions?

Yes, I believe that the Vikings would no longer be part of the NFC North. The Packers would lose a passion-filled rivalry that has only intensified in recent years (see B. Favre). It doesn’t make sense for the Vikings to fly six-plus hours to play a divisional game. The most logical move would be to swap the St. Louis Rams from the NFC West and Vikings. I wouldn’t call St. Louis “North” but that’s the simplest change.

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Packers GM Ted Thompson has a plan for improving the team's future. Over the past year, those plans haven't included the likes of Cullen Jenkins, Johnny Jolly and Aaron Kampman. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Part 1 of a 3 part series

After the Packers-Chargers game, the leader of the Packers’ defense, Charles Woodson, implored Defense Coordinator Dom Capers to get Clay Matthews more involved in the pass rush. Could this plea (and the Packers’ 5th surrender of 400 plus yards) have been avoided?

Let’s put that question a different way, should Cullen Jenkins have been preparing for Minnesota Monday night rather than lining up for the Eagles against the Bears??

It’s a question that underlines the Packers’ approach to team-building. Put succinctly, even casual observers of the Packers know that when it comes to free agency, the Packers aren’t biting. This oft-criticized strategy was vindicated earlier this year with the arrival of the Lombardi trophy to Green Bay.

The Packers strategy in free agency is clear: They don’t do it.

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Charlie Peprah had two huge interceptions today against the Chargers. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Whew!

That’s what all Packers fans are saying after watching Green Bay hold off a major fourth quarter charge by the San Diego Chargers … holding on to a 45-38 win after leading by 21 points at the start of the fourth quarter.

A four-touchdown, 21-26, 247 yard performance by Aaron Rodgers was nearly overshadowed by the Chargers’ fourth quarter comeback led by Philip Rivers who threw for 385 yards and four touchdowns, while completing 24-46. However, it was Rivers’ three picks, two that were returned for touchdowns, that was the difference.

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Ernie Padaon of the San Diego Chargers’ Bolt Beat sent some questions out to us at Lombardiave to get a little more insight on this week’s game between the Green Bay Packers and Chargers and here is what we had to say:

Q. Since most San Diego fans (Chargers and Padres) have no idea the joys for a fan when their team wins the big one, can you describe it to us?

A. Two words – pure ecstasy! It’s better than … well, almost better than sex, but it’s pretty darned close.
When you follow a sports organization for years and there are so many times when the expectations fall short or the team loses a heartbreaker that they should have won, it’s got to be some of the most excruciating pain, both mentally and physically.

But on the flip side, when a team, like the Packers last year and the baseball Cardinals this year, come out of nowhere to win their league’s championship, it’s just an unbelievable experience. As sports fans, we have to go into each season with only the highest expectations, knowing that nine times out of 10, those expectations can’t be reached. However, when the team does win it all, it’s nothing short of great. Not only does the team win the championship on that particular day, but you get bragging rights for the entire year that follows.

Q. Saw that the Pack is on the front of Sports Illustrated this week, do you believe in the SI jinx?

A. The Packers have been on the cover of SI before and have never been affected by the “jinx.” Of course, one could point to many other individuals and teams who have never been affected by the jinx.

The only team affected by the jinx are the Bears … ahahaha … that’s a joke. We don’t like the Bears much in these parts.

Q. How do you slow down Aaron Rodgers and that offense?

A. The only way to slow down an offense in the NFL these days is with your own offense. If Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense is on the field, they are going to move the ball and they are going to score.

The key to keeping Aaron Rodgers off the field is to make sure your own offense plays ball control and keeps the Packers offense off the field for as long as possible.

Of course, another way is to cover like a blanket and get a good rush together to put pressure on the Super Bowl MVP. The problem with that is that Rodgers is even more deadly on the run than he is in the pocket.

Q. How do you beat the Packers this season?

A. Again, ball control is key. Keeping the Packers defense on the field could make a difference in whether a team is able to beat the Packers.

Attacking the Packers through the air has been a double-edged sword for opponents. While the Packers defense has been gashed by big plays throughout the first half of the season, they have also had the knack for coming up with the big plays at just the right times. They’ve forced fumbles and interceptions several times … huge plays that have made a difference in the outcome of the game.

Will they be able to continue to do that? Who knows? They are on a roll and it may be difficult to stop them at this point, but I find it difficult to believe that there isn’t a team out there who has the potential to put together just the right ingredients to pull out a win against the Packers.

The Chargers, though reeling from the loss at Kansas City, could be angry enough to do it. We’ll see.

Q. Predictions for the game?

A. I think the Packers will be able to absorb the initial energy surge put forth by the Chargers … I feel San Diego will probably come out sky high, much like Atlanta did a few weeks back. Like every game this year, the Packers will fight through the adversity of being down early. They will settle in, play their game and Rodgers will pick apart the Chargers’ secondary.

In the end, the Packers will head back to Wisconsin with a win, 38-24.

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The following is our Q&A:

Q. Philip Rivers has not played as well this year as in past years. Some say he might be hiding an injury. What do you feel is his issue?

A. If there were a Rivers injury, it would have happened in the second game of the season when he was hit from a New England Patriots player. The play resulted in an unnecessary roughness penalty and you could see that Rivers was shaken after the hit.

Most likely Rivers’ issue is from him pressing and not getting enough work in with his top two receivers. If you check the injury report every week, at least one of his receivers is missing practice. Rivers has always been a gambler, but his accuracy has been a little off with his players and those are resulting in his interceptions. He should be getting his act together soon though.

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Finally, the Packers have something to cheer about when looking at the injury report. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I took a peek at the Green Bay Packers’ injury report issued this afternoon.

For the first time in ages … and I mean at least the past year … the report shows that the Packers are just about injury-free. Take away the players on IR and those not expected back for some time, such as Chad Clifton and Mike Neal, and it’s nearly spotless.

In fact, it’s so clean and so different from what we see on the San Diego Chargers’ side that we could probably do a hop, skip and jump in celebration.

Well, maybe not, but it sure is something to be pleased with … especially at midseason.

Here’s what the Packers published today. Looks like for the first time in recent memory the Packers are going to hit the field in relatively good shape

INJURY REPORT
Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers – Week 9

Friday, November 4, 2011

GREEN BAY PACKERS
PLAYER INJURY  and PARTICIPATION STATUS
Morgan Burnett, S Hand Probable
Chad Clifton, T Knee / Hamstring  Out
Jamari Lattimore, LB Shoulder Probable
Clay Matthews, LB Quadricep  Probable
Mike Neal, DE Knee Out
Sam Shields, CB Concussion Probable
Josh Sitton, G Knee Probable
Frank Zombo, LB Knee Probable

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

PLAYER INJURY  and  PARTICIPATION STATUS
Luis Castillo, DE Tibia Out
Curtis Brinkley, RB Concussion Probable
Kris Dielman, G Concussion Out
Na’il Diggs, LB Knee Questionable
Malcom Floyd, WR Hip Questionable
Antonio Gates, TE Not Inj. Related Probable
Tyronne Green, G Hand Probable
Vincent Jackson, WR Hamstring Probable
Ryan Mathews, RB Groin Questionable
Shaun Phillips, LB Foot Doubtful
Michael Tolbert, RB Hamstring Probable

STATUS DEFINITIONS (all additions/changes are listed in bold):
Out – definitely will not play
Doubtful – at least 75% chance will not play
Questionable – 50-50 chance will not play
Probable – virtual certainty player will be available for normal duty

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The Packers have to come out of the bye and shut down Philip Rivers.

Is Philip Rivers injured?

The questions are flying this morning about Philip Rivers.

The San Diego Chargers quarterback just doesn’t seem to be the same player he has been the past three or four years when he has posted the second-highest career passer rating  of 97.2 in league history for quarterbacks with at least 1,500 attempts.

Though there are those who are questioning his health during the first half of this season because he outright lied about a knee injury he had during the playoffs a few years ago and just doesn’t seem to be performing like he has in the past, the Chargers are still a formidable unit that has four wins.

So, when the Packers head to San Diego this week, they should be wary.

You and I know all the talk this week is going to be about his health, or lack thereof, and the second guessing is surely going to motivate Rivers … and considering the number of yards the Packers defense has been giving up through the air, this could be an opportune time for Rivers to show he is himself.
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The matchup between the Packers and Lions will be a heated affair this Thanksgiving. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

People can pick their game of the week, follow their favorite teams, or just watch for fun. However, all eyes will be on Detroit on Thursday, November 24^th. What could be the biggest game of the season is on Thanksgiving Day!

Imagine watching two 10-0 teams play each other, and these two teams are in the same division. Who would not enjoy watching this intense game?

What are the odds that both teams go 10-0? Statistically, not very good, even if both already have four wins down. However, before shrugging it off, look at the schedules. The combined record of teams the Packers must face between now and then is a mere 8-16 (.333).

Both the Rams and the Vikings are winless, and Green Bay plays Minnesota twice in that span. The Falcons (2-2), Chargers (3-1), and the Buccaneers (3-1) are the other opponents. Green Bay can certainly pull it off. It may not be likely, but it is certainly attainable.

Clay Matthews looks his best on the cover of this year's SI NFL Preview regional issue.

It was announced today that Clay Matthews III, the Packers outside linebacker extraordinaire, has been selected as the cover boy for the Sports Illustrated regional NFL Preview issue.

As the national magazine releases its annual preview, Matthews and the Packers prepare to take on the New Orleans Saints next Thursday in the match-up of the past two Super Bowl winners at historic Lambeau Field.

The Thursday, Sept. 8, matchup opens the NFL season and sets up a monumental showdown between Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees.

It’s time to get back to football and the SI Preview is sure to get one’s blood pumping – especially when the big news is that Peter King disses the Packers in favor of the Atlanta Falcons, who he sees winning the Super Bowl over the San Diego Chargers, 24-20.

Sorry, Peter.

This year you are wrong.

Nobody’s perfect.