Jan 14, 1968; Miami,, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Oakland Raiders defensive end Ben Davidson (83) in action against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl II at the Orange Bowl. The Packers defeated the Raiders 33-14. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-US PRESSWIRE

I learned something new today about the Packers – you learn something new every day … that’s what they say.

Well, today I did learn something new and it applies to Ben Davidson, that 6-foot 8-inch monster whose mustache was nearly as famous as the way he played with the Oakland Raiders in the mid- to late-60s.

Davidson had ties to the Packers going back to the early ’60s, something of which I was not aware. He also left Green Bay for Washington before actually landing with the Raiders.

Here’s the brief from the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

The Packers will face Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens next year, as well as all the teams from the AFC North. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

While it’s not a good thing to look too far ahead when it comes to the National Football League, we caught this quick snippet on CheeseheadTV – the home and away schedule for 2013.

I’m saying it right now – the Packers better make hay this year because when they enter the 2013 regular season, they will be playing a schedule that will be be tough – very tough.

The Packers will be facing teams from two of the roughest divisions in the entire league – the AFC North and the NFC East. In addition to that, they will play opponents from the NFC South and NFC West with similar records from 2012 – those opponents are to be determined.

Throw in the North Division opponents, Bears, Vikings, and Lions – well, you can see where I’m going.

Here’s the home and away schedule:

Home

Philadelphia Eagles

Washington Redskins

Cleveland Browns

Pittsburgh Steelers

NFC South opponent

Away

Dallas Cowboys

New York Giants

Baltimore Ravens

Cincinnati Bengals

NFC West opponent

We all know what the NFC brings, but even tougher still will be the opponents from the NFC North – Pittsburgh and Baltimore play a style of game that’s both brutal and just plain mean. Throw into the mix a much-improving Cincinnati Bengals squad and the who-knows-what-team’s-going-to-show-up Cleveland Browns and we see contests where the Packers will have to bring their A-game week-in and week-out.

In addition, having to face the NFC East Eagles, Giants, Cowboys and Redskins will make for an interesting season. IMO, there isn’t a weak opponent anywhere in sight.

But that’s next year. We all know that it’s the now and present that is important as training camp is a mere four days away. The team’s focus is on opening day against the San Francisco 49ers, followed four days later by a tilt with the Chicago Bears – that’s a pretty brutal start to a season right there.

We’ll worry about 2013 next year. I just thought I would throw it out there for you.

Brandon Marshall is now a Chicago Bear. Was his trade to the Windy City the biggest move of day 1 of Free Agency.Steve Mitchell-US PRESSWIRE

No doubt it was a busy day around the National Football League with the start of Free Agency.

Have you kept abreast of every move that was made throughout the day?

Me either.

While there were several moves that raised an eyebrow or two, there were also several moves that didn’t grab much attention.

This is for sure – free agency continues to be the vehicle by which the “bad” teams in the league try to improve their lot by overpaying veterans who may have a name, but won’t necessarily push that team over the top toward a Super Bowl.

Consider the teams that grabbed the most headlines on the first day: Washington, Buffalo, Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Chicago – yes, I lump the Bears into that group … if for no other reason than the fact that they are simply Da Bears.

Anyway, the first day offered some trades (Brandon Marshall to the Bears) signings (Vincent Jackson to the Bucs) and out-of-the-ordinary announcements (Randy Moss to the 49ers – even though he signed on the eve of free agency).

So, we want to know how you feel about some of the moves made Tuesday. Take the poll as we look forward to future action, such as watching Peyton Manning and Matt Flynn, as well as whether Super Mario Williams will really sign with the Bills.

After taking the poll, head on over to Facebook to Like Lombardiave.com and follow us on Twitter.

So, how do you feel about this trade that has the NFL abuzz today?

Cleveland Browns quarterback Seneca Wallace (6) looks to throw during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns Stadium. The Steelers won 13-9. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

Not every team in the NFL has a franchise quarterback.

Ok, MOST NFL teams don’t have a franchise quarterback.

They’re difficult to find and even more difficult to develop. Just ask the Minnesota Vikings, the Washington Redskins, the Oakland Raiders, and the Kansas City Chiefs, to name only a few.

Another team one could add to the list is the Cleveland Browns. Not only has this team never made it to the Super Bowl (though they have been close, right, John Elway?), this team has been void of a quarterback who had any chance of leading the Browns to the promised land.

With last night’s announcement that the Washington Redskins had given away the farm to trade for this year’s first round second pick that once was the St. Louis Rams’ there were many fans in the league whose hearts sunk and minds raged.

What you will see below is one of those fans. His rant speaks for itself and should be viewed, if not for the entertainment value, but to understand what it might be like if your favorite team probably had a shot at pulling off what the Redskins did last night.

Packers fans who live with the security of a healthy Aaron Rodgers and years of success into the future have a difficult time understanding. But remember, we have also gone through the decades of failure brought on by a trade that involved John Hadl; we have played on through the years that included Scott Hunter, Jerry Tagge, David Whitehurst, Anthony Dilweg, and Blair Kiel.

So, yeah, many of us can understand.

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Robert Griffin III will be all smiles when he is selected by the Washington Redskins with second overall pick in this year's draft. Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Though the deal can’t be officially completed until the start of the league season Tuesday, March 13, it was confirmed by multiple news sources Friday night that the Washington Redskins have traded for the number two pick in this year’s draft from the St. Louis Rams.

The Rams, who own the second slot in the draft, will get a king’s ransom for the pick, but on the flip side the Redskins will get the chance to pick the enormously talented Robert Griffin III. For the Baylor quarterback, the Redskins will give up first- and second-round selections this year, plus first-round picks in 2013 and 2014.

Yes, folks, that’s three first round and one second round picks.

With the opportunity to sign former Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning looking dead for the Redskins, Washington brass put the huge offer on the table to get the shot at RGIII.

The trade solidifies the first two spots in this year’s draft as the Colts are slated to pick Stanford QB Andrew Luck and the Redskins set to pick Griffin. The Minnesota Vikings, at number three, will most likely pick an offensive lineman or wide receiver.

See the highlight video of RGIII below …

But before you watch, take a click on over to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Mar 7, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning speaks at a press conference announcing his departure from the team at the Indiana Farm Bureau Football Center. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Peyton Manning’s emotional goodbye to his boss Jim Irsay and the fans of the Indianapolis Colts was nice to watch, but the tears dried as soon as the cameras stopped rolling and Manning was on his flight home to Florida.

Another thing that was certain after the press conference in Indiana was that Manning would be working someplace else this coming season.

But where? The speculation began and the teams began lining up with offers.

Talk about a mad rush …

So, just where will Manning land?

You be the judge and tell us.

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.

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Matt Bowen, who played a season for the Green Bay Packers and for Greg Williams in Washington, pulls no punches. He’s real, he’s sincere, and he doesn’t make any excuses. As he says, it’s part of the game. Live with it, Commissioner Goodell.

Matt Bowen tells us about bounties - bluntly and matter-of-factly.

So, if you haven’t already seen this post, click here or just see it pasted below:

One of the major needs the Packers need to address this offseason is finding a complement to Clay Matthews on the defensive side of the football. Matthew Emmons-US PRESSWIRE

The Super Bowl on Sunday was a tremendous game that will definitely take its place as one of the more memorable games – ever. Watching the game as a Packers fan, however, got me to thinking about what we should expect for the Packers future and how we will get back to the big game next year.

Unlike last year, where we really did not need to make any immediate changes to the starting line-up, we will need to make changes on all sides of the ball. Of course, the main focus will be on the defensive side, but there will be some changes on the offensive side as well.

Let’s start on the easier side – the offense.

The Packers offensively last year was one of the most efficient offenses in NFL history. Aaron Rodgers won MVP and the Packers receiving corps was on top of its game. The running game was subpar but it could have been worse. Then finally, the o-line, despite the many injuries, was fairly consistent throughout the season giving Rodgers enough time to find the open receivers.

So what changes do we need?

The running game could be improved so adding another running back in the draft would never be a bad thing. Ryan Grant’s contract is expired and will most likely be gone, so adding depth could be a benefit to the Pack when considering James Starks’ injury history.

More after the jump and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The receiving group is deeper than ever but this could result in a departure of Packer’s all-time leading receiver in Donald Driver. Randall Cobb showed his potential this year in many different games and now it seems more likely than ever that Driver could be heading out.

Matt Flynn showed tremendous potential in his one game vs. the Detroit Lions where he broke single-game records in yards and touchdowns. With his contract up this year, it guarantees his departure to a team like Miami or Washington – teams in desperate need of a franchise quarterback. This could mean the Packers going after another late round quarterback or even an undrafted one like they did with Graham Harrell. If the Packers do add another quarterback, it will probably just be a practice squad addition until the Packers groom him to where they feel comfortable to add him to the active roster.

The tight end situation is a little iffy as to what the Packers may do with Jermichael Finley. Finley was expected to be thrown the franchise tag during this offseason because of how big of an asset he is to the Packers organization. The thing is though, this year was quite disappointing. This was supposed to be the year Finley broke out and had a season over a thousand yards and became one of the NFL’s elite player at the position. Finley could have done this but he had a major case of the drops this season and put the Packers into a much tougher situation than they were in before. Should they pay a player that has the potential to be great the money of a great? Or should they just do the unthinkable and let him walk?

Then finally, the o-line for the Pack. Scott Wells is a free agent and needs to be a primary target for the Packer organization to get this guy back on the roster as he probably outperformed everyone else on the Packer o-line this season. Chad Clifton seems to be nearing the end of his career and could be another axe by the Packers this off-season. This would put T.J.Lang and Derek Sherrod in a position to battle for the left tackle position this training camp. Adding o-linemen in the draft is never a bad pick-up but I would not expect the Pack to use an early pick on one as they have much bigger issues to worry about…

Like the defense.

When the NFL Draft comes around in April, the Packers will surely be looking at prospects to help fill needs on the defense. I expect the Pack to use their first round pick on a linebacker to play opposite of Clay Matthews. With the end of Erik Walden’s time in Green Bay nearing, this issue becomes an even more of a priority. This will solve some problems but surely not all of them.

When we look at AJ Hawk and Desmond Bishop commanding the middle, we think we are pretty set at that position. Some would think so, but others would argue that one of the big reasons why the Packer’s defense took a turn for the worse this year was because of the lack of a true leader like we once had in Nick Barnett. Desmond Bishop had a great year but AJ Hawk seemed, almost at times, non-existent. What I mean by that is how it seemed he just did not make enough plays this year. I give him credit for being a sure tackler but it just seemed he was not around the ball-carrier to make the tackles. I don’t expect the Packers to make any significant changes at this position but I think something has to be at least considered involving this position. Maybe give the next guy up some more playing time in DJ Smith who actually played very well when he filled in at times this year.

Besides the Packers #1 priority in the linebacker unit, the Packers will surely be focused on the defensive line as well. It became well known early in the season, that the Packers were greatly missing Cullen Jenkins and his ability to not only stop the run but get some needed pressure on the quarterback. Many players tried to fill this role but none were truly successful in doing so and, therefore, should be a position the Packers will look to upgrade on in the coming off-season.

When the draft and free agency rolls around this year, if there was one position the Packers should try and stock up on it would be the defensive back unit. There is no immediate need for an upgrade in this unit except for the issue with Nick Collins and the possibility of his career actually being over. Hopefully the Packers will be able to know the status of Collins before the beginning of the off-season so they can plan accordingly.

Regardless, we still have Morgan Burnett and Charlie Peprah that can help preserve the depth at safety. Woodson is getting up in age so adding depth at cornerback is always a smart pick for the Packers. The future seems to be Tramon Williams and Sam Shields but there really is no third guy that can be counted on. Although it may not be the first round or two, the Packers will surely be looking to adding depth at the defensive back position to prepare for the future.

Many changes are expected this off-season but Ted Thompson can surely be counted on to help bring the Packers back to where they should have been on Sunday.

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Will Charles Woodson and the Green Bay Packers defense show up Sunday? Raymond T. Rivard photograph

What’s been talked about most this week and will be discussed right up until game time of the Packers and Giants showdown this weekend will be just how the Packers are going to deal with that vaunted defense blowing into Lambeau Field.

Well, we know it’s not the Packers’ defense everyone is talking about, don’t we? No, we’re talking about the Giants defense – that same outfit that held the Atlanta Falcons scoreless in the first round of the playoffs.

The Packers defense, on the other hand, has been an enigma, a unit that fills its roster with All-Pros, but throughout the season looked like … well frankly, I’m not sure how to describe them.

They’ve been gashed week -in and week-out on big play after big play as even marginal quarterbacks such as Kyle Orton (twice), Christian Ponder, Josh Freeman, and Josh McCown moved their teams up and down the field, throwing pretty much at will.

More after the jump and don’t forget to Like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Kevin "It is Time" Greene has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here he encourages linebackers Clay Matthews and Frank Zombo. Raymond T. Rivard photograph

Mike Spofford of Packers.com posted the story below about Kevin Greene and the fact that for the first time he has made the cut as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Green Bay Packers’ linebackers coach who has brought enthusiasm and a player’s attitude to the coaching ranks for the Packers, has been in Green Bay for the past three years and is probably most well known among the general public for his comments in last year’s Super Bowl that were caught on tape when he told linebacker Clay Matthews that “It is time…” Matthews consequently went out and forced the game-changing fumble by the Steelers’ Rashard Mendenhall.

Spofford’s story spells out the full field of finalists and gives us a look at the personal bio of Greene’s.

Greene named Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist

Posted by Mike Spofford on January 7, 2012 – 3:27 pm 

A semifinalist three times previously, Packers Outside Linebackers Coach Kevin Greene for the first time has advanced to the finalist stage for potential induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

See more after the jump, like Lombardiave.com on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

(more…)

Packers vs Redskins preview: Teams: Packers (3-1) vs. Washington Redskins (2-2). Time: Noon CT, Sunday. Place: FedEx Field, Landover, Md. TV coverage: FOX – WITI (Ch. 6) in Milwaukee and WMSN (Ch. 47) in Madison. Packers injury report–S Morgan Burnett (knee) was placed on season-ending injured reserve on Thursday. LB Nick Barnett (wrist), LB Brandon Chillar (shoulder), CB Sam Shields (calf) and FB Quinn Johnson (glute) are out. RT Mark Tauscher (shoulder) is doubtful. LT Chad Clifton (knee), S Nick Collins (knee), DE Cullen Jenkins (hand), S Derrick Martin (ankle), S Charlie Peprah (quadriceps) and CB Charles Woodson (toe) are probable. Line: Packers are favored by 2 ½ points.  Prediction: Packers’ vibe coming out of last week’s win wasn’t a good one. Rodgers questioned the play-calling, McCarthy had to remind the players that they’d actually won the game. Maybe the Redskins’ porous secondary is the tonic for what ails the Packers’ inconsistent offense. The guess here is that the Packers finally put a full game together despite the disconcerting injuries. But that’s all it is, a guess. Packers 24, Redskins 20.

Game Scout–Packers vs Redskins: Keys to Game–With Portis (groin) out, the Redskins won’t veer from the run-first approach that worked at Philadelphia with RB Torain, but expect more from McNabb against the Packers’ beat up defense that is without injured S Burnett and LBs Barnett and Chillar. Redskins defensive coordinator Haslett has hugged the throttle with blitzes when facing potent passing offenses with mixed results. He might back off a bit fearing pronounced mismatches with TE Finley. The Packers are still trying to replace RB Grant averaging 82 rushing yards in the past three games. Game plan: Quarterback Rodgers believes the spread formations out of shotgun is the best tonic for what has been ailing the Packers’ talented inconsistent offense. The frustrated signal caller could get his wish with coverage-challenged Redskins defense. Washington ranks in the bottom of the league allowing a whopping 305 passing yards per game. Mixing in 15 to 20 runs between RB Jackson and FB Kuhn should be sufficient to keep Washington from selling out to defend the pass. Defensively, the Packers’ aiming point is quarterback McNabb, an old former Eagles nemesis. Green Bay’s run defense has allowed opposing QBs to break free for huge gains. Keeping the mobile McNabb from breaking containment in the pocket is a must. While the Packers won’t see RB Portis, out with a groin injury, they will be tested by powerful RB Torain who gashed the Eagles for 70 yards in the Redskins’ last game. Special teams coordinator Slocum will be under the gun to have punter Masthay and kicker Crosby not allow big-play returners Banks and Thomas the time and space for a long runback.

Emerging star LG Sitton: As Sitton emerges in his third year with the Green Bay Packers as one of the best offensive linemen on the team, Smith said the rest of the world is finally catching up to what he knew all along. ”That Josh Sitton is one heck of a player now,” former Packers general manager Ron Wolf said recently when asked which players he still liked to watch a decade after his retirement. “I don’t know why he doesn’t get his due. He is really a good player.”

]]> http://lombardiave.com/2010/10/10/packers-game-day-headlines/feed/ 0 http://lombardiave.com/2009/07/07/top-10-players-10-jeremy-kapinosdurant-brooks/ http://lombardiave.com/2009/07/07/top-10-players-10-jeremy-kapinosdurant-brooks/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:11:13 +0000 djlombardi http://lombardiave.com/?p=654 In the next two weeks, I’m going to take a look at the 10 most important players for the Green Bay Packers in the 2009 NFL season.  They may not be the best players, but their roles have a distinct impact on how far the team can go. The punter. It seems innocuous enough.  They [...]

Top 10 Players: 10. Jeremy Kapinos/Durant Brooks - Lombardi Ave - Lombardi Ave - A Green Bay Packers Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

The Raji pick was not a surprise for me.  I had had Raji at No. 2 on my draft board, behind Brian Orakpo, who ultimately went No. 13 to the Washington Redskins.  However, looking at it again, Raji is the right pick.  It’s hard to find mine 6-foot, 337 pound nose tackles that can move in the NFL Draft.  Outside linebackers are a dime-a-dozen throughout the draft.  There was no one else in the draft comparable to Raji.  So Thompson made the pick.

Sitting at No. 9 made me a little nervous.  There were three high quality players available at that juncture, in Raji, Orakpo, and Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree.  Right before the pick, I predicted that Thompson would end Crabtree’s unexplainable slide.  I could see Thompson taking Crabtree — the Jordy Nelson pick last year shows he’s not scared to take a wideout.  Crabtree to Green Bay could have caused an unbelievable amount of backlash among Packers fans, but imagine Crabtree, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Nelson at Aaron Rodgers‘ disposal.  Imagine that offense against the Lions defense.

But besides choosing Crabtree, I was looking for Thompson to trade down.  Thompson traded out of the first round last year when the Packers “needed” a corner and there were corners on the board.  At No. 9 yesterday, there was a scramble under them for teams trying to trade up for Crabtree.  However, Thompson stuck to his guns and picked Raji.

This signals a change in Green Bay.  Thompson had always been a “best player available” guy.  But I don’t see how he could have had Raji over Crabtree on his draft board, in any way really.  Thompson drafted for need here (and later with Matthews, but I’m getting to that).  Thompson knows this is an important year for the Packers.  They have multiple free agents coming up after the 2009 season and he needs to give them a reason to stick around.  The problem with the team in 2008 was the defense.  The offense will put points up on the board, but it cannot win without the defense.  Thompson knows his offense is fine, but his defense needs help.

This need on defense led to the Packers actually trading up back into the first round.  The Patriots had already traded back to No. 26 from No. 23 as the Ravens traded up to get Michael Oher.  The Packers then packaged the trade to get No. 26 and select Matthews, the son of former NFL player Clay Matthews, Jr. and the nephew of former offensive lineman Bruce Matthews.  Both had long careers in the NFL, setting up an impressive lineage for the younger Matthews.  Clay III comes from a USC program that had amazing linebacking talent, as he played along side Houston Texans‘ draft pick Brian Cushing and new Cincinnati Bengal Rey Maualuga, who inexplicably slid into the second round.  Matthews walked-on to USC and redshirted his freshman year, setting up a great storyline for the player.  He plays with intensity to match that of his fellow USC linebackers.

The Matthews pick shows why the Raji pick at No. 9 was a great pick.  By picking Raji, the Packers get a nose tackle who can take up three gaps on the offensive line and tie up multiple blockers, freeing up Matthews and the rest of the linebacking corps.  If the Packers pick Orakpo at No. 9, the Packers have Ryan Pickett at nose tackle, who lacks Raji’s size and athleticism.  With Pickett at the nose, the Packers linebackers would be assaulted every play by large offensive lineman, pushing the defense back.  Raji allows the defense to make plays.  He won’t be getting glory and sacking the quarterback every play, but he will do the dirty work in the trenches.

Matthews will stop the run, allowing Kampman to focus on rushing the passer, while if the Packers had picked Orakpo, they would have had a surplus of pass rushers, allowing the defense to get shredded by the run.  Pairing Matthews and Raji together gives the Packers one of the most successful Day 1′s of any team in the league.  They drafted two cornerstones of their defense that is going through a transition.  The two of them will make the transition into Dom Capers‘ 3-4 scheme that much easier.  Both will have a lot to learn, but both will contribute for years to come.

The 41st pick the Packers traded to New England was used to select Darius Butler from Connecticut, while New England traded the 73rd to the Jacksonville Jaguars who selected Derek Cox out of William & Mary.  The 83rd pick has been used by New England to select Brandon Tate, a wide receiver from North Carlina, who’s coming off a major knee injury.

16 San Diego Chargers
(8-8) Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
17 New York Jets
(9-7) Josh Freeman, QB, Kansas State
18 Denver Broncos
(9-7, Pick via Bears) Rey Maualuga, LB, USC
19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
(9-7) Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
20 Detroit Lions
(9-7, Pick via Cowboys) Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
21 Philadelphia Eagles
(9-6-1) Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, Maryland
22 Minnesota Vikings
(10-6) William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
23 New England Patriots
(11-6) Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
24 Atlanta Falcons
(11-5) Brian Cushing, OLB, USC
25 Miami Dolphins
(11-5) Clint Sintim, OLB, Virginia
26 Baltimore Ravens
(11-5) Kenny Britt, WR, Rutgers
27 Indianapolis Colts
12-4) Peria Jerry, DT, Mississippi
28 Buffalo Bills
(Pick via CAR, PHI) Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State
29 New York Giants
(12-4) Hakeem Nicks, WR, North Carolina
30 Tennessee Titans
(13-3) Larry English, OLB, Northern Illinois
31 Arizona Cardinals
(9-7) LeSean McCoy, RB, Pittsburgh 32 Pittsburgh Steelers
(12-4) Alex Mack, C, Cal

1. Lions: waynefontes.com — MATTHEW STAFFORD, QB, GEORGIA
2. Rams: turfshowtimes.com — EUGENE MONROE, OT, VIRGINIA
3. Chiefs: kcchiefsnews.com — AARON CURRY, LB, WAKE FOREST
4. Seahawks: davekriegsstrikebeard.com — MICHAEL CRABTREE, WR, TEXAS TECH
5. Browns: nologoneeded.com — REY MAUALUGA, LB, USC
6. Bengals: bengalstripes.com — JASON SMITH, OT, BAYLOR
7. Raiders: silverandblackpride.com — JEREMY MACLIN, WR, MISSOURI
8. Jaguars: jaguarsgab.com — B.J. RAJI, DT, BOSTON COLLEGE
9. Packers: lombardiave.com — BRIAN ORAKPO, DE/OLB, TEXAS
10. 49ers: ninersnation.com — EVERETTE BROWN, OLB, FLORIDA STATE
11. Bills: buffalorumblings.com — CLAY MATTHEWS, OLB, USC
12. Broncos: milehighreport.com — MALCOLM JENKINS, CB, OHIO STATE
13. Redskins: curlyr.blogspot.com  — ANDRE SMITH, OT, ALABAMA
14. Saints: canalstreetchronicles.com —  BRIAN CUSHING, OLB, USC
15. Texans: houstondiehards.com — MICHAEL OHER, OT, OLE MISS
16. Chargers: bolthype.com — EBEN BRITTON, OT, ARIZONA
17. Jets: thejetsblog.com — TYSON JACKSON, DE, LSU
18. Bears: blogdownchicagobears.com — DARRIUS HEYWARD-BEY, WR, MARYLAND
19. Buccaneers: bucem.com — PERCY HARVIN, WR, FLORIDA
20. Lions (from Dallas): waynefontes.com — AARON MAYBIN, DE, PENN STATE
21. Eagles: igglesblog.com — VONTAE DAVIS, CB, ILLINOIS
22. Vikings: vikingsragnarok.blogspot.com — MARK SANCHEZ, QB, USC
23. Patriots: patriotsdaily.com — KNOWSHON MORENO, RB, GEORGIA
24. Falcons: falcoholic.com —CLINT SINTIM, LB, VIRGINIA
25. Dolphins: thephinsider.com — LARRY ENGLISH, LB, NORTHERN ILLINOIS
26. Ravens: ebonybird.com —KENNY BRITT, WR, RUTGERS
27. Colts: 18to88.com — PERIA JERRY, DT, MISSISSIPPI STATE
28. Eagles (from Carolina): igglesblog.com — ALEX MACK, OL, CALIFORNIA
29. Giants: bigblue101.com — HAKEEM NICKS, WR, NORTH CAROLINA
30. Titans: musiccitymiracles.com — D.J. MOORE, CB, VANDERBILT
31. Cardinals: raisingzona.com — CHRIS WELLS, RB, OSU
32. Steelers: steelerstoday.com — FILI MOALA, DT, USC

Round 2 is starting now!

This has been on the backburner for a few days so I’m getting this out there now while I’m remembering it.  I was invited to participate in the 2009 NFL Mock Draft Among Blogs by Don from NoLogoNeeded.com, a Cleveland Browns fan site.  I, along with bloggers from blogs for every other NFL team are sending around an email with our picks for that team.  The team on the clock has 24 hours to make their pick, and if they don’t, then the pick from NFL Draft Countdown is used.

The draft order (and links to the respective blogs; some FSB guys in there!):

2009 Mock Draft — First round
1. Lions: waynefontes.com
2. Rams: turfshowtimes.com
3. Chiefs: kcchiefsnews.com
4. Seahawks: davekriegsstrikebeard.com
5. Browns: nologoneeded.com
6. Bengals: bengalstripes.com
7. Raiders: silverandblackpride.com
8. Jaguars: jaguarsgab.com
9. Packers: lombardiave.com
10. 49ers: ninersnation.com
11. Bills: buffalorumblings.com
12. Broncos: milehighreport.com
13. Redskins: curlyr.blogspot.com
14. Saints: canalstreetchronicles.com
15. Texans: houstondiehards.com
16. Chargers: bolthype.com
17. Jets: thejetsblog.com
18. Bears: blogdownchicagobears.com
19. Buccaneers: bucem.com
20. Lions (from Dallas): waynefontes.com
21. Eagles: igglesblog.com
22. Vikings: vikingsragnarok.blogspot.com
23. Patriots: patriotsdaily.com
24. Falcons: falcoholic.com
25. Dolphins: thephinsider.com
26. Ravens: ebonybird.com
27. Colts: 18to88.com
28. Eagles (from Carolina): igglesblog.com
29. Giants: bigblue101.com
30. Titans: musiccitymiracles.com
31. Cardinals: raisingzona.com
32. Steelers: steelerstoday.com

Round Two
33. Lions
34. Chiefs
35. Rams
36. Browns
37. Seahawks
38. Bengals
39. Jaguars
40. Raiders
41. Packers
42. Bills
43. 49ers
44. Dolphins (from Washington)
45. Giants (from New Orleans)
46. Texans
47. Patriots (from San Diego)
48. Broncos
49. Bears
50. Buccaneers
51. Cowboys: thedallascowboys.net
52. Eagles
53. Jets
54. Vikings
55. Falcons
56. Dolphins
57. Ravens
58. Patriots
59. Panthers: catscratchreader.com
60. Giants
61. Colts
62. Titans
63. Cardinals
64. Steelers

And the picks so far:

With the first pick of the 2009 NFL draft, the Detroit Lions select:

Matthew Stafford, QB, University of Georgia

Why Stafford? The Lions current quarterback depth chart reads as follows:

1. Daunte Culpepper (Hasn’t had a good season in 5 years, played at a weight close to 3 bills in ’08)
2. Drew Stanton (Not good enough to outplay Dan “Ran out of the end zone” Orlovsky for the number 2 in ’08, is on the cusp of “BUST” status)
3. Drew Henson (Seriously?)

That’s why the Lions pick Stafford.

They have needs all over the field, on both sides of the ball. I was tempted to make a “safe” pick, such  as an OT like Baylor’s Jason Smith or Virginia’s Eugene Monroe, or Wake Forest LB Aaron Curry. All project to be first line players, long-time starters. But the need for a quality QB, something the Lions haven’t had since the glory days of Bobby Layne, is just too glaring. Stafford is the highest rated quarterback in the draft, and has the skill set to become an impact player.

The fact the Lions have drafted outright 1st round disasters at quarterback like Joey Harrington, Andre Ware and Chuck Long over the past 20 years, and Matt Millen went on a drunken skill player binge during his tenure (only Calvin Johnson remains in Detroit), cannot deter GM Martin Mayhew and head coach Jim Schwartz from addressing their greatest need, that being a franchise player under center.

Plus, the Lions do have the 20th pick of the 1st round, and the 1st pick of the 2nd, so other needs can be easily addressed later in the draft.

The St. Louis Rams are on the clock.

With the second pick of the 2009 NFL Draft Among Blogs, the St. Louis Rams select:

Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia

According to DraftCountdown.com:

It’s common knowledge that the Rams have been aching to address their offensive line for a while now and unlike last year, when Jake Long was selected one pick ahead of them, they should have no trouble landing a top blocker in the 2009 NFL Draft.

Orlando Pace has been one of the best in the business for more than a decade but he is now in his mid-30′s and injuries have really begun to take their toll. On the other side, former first round pick Alex Barron continues to disappoint and the Rams  would like nothing more than to bring in a capable replacement.

Eugene Monroe might not be as flashy as some of the other top offensive tackles in this draft but he has a very good chance to be the first blocker off the board. Not only is Monroe a terrific all-around player who can be effective as both a pass and run blocker but he is also a much safer choice than a guy like Andre Smith because there are no concerns about his size, position or character. Monroe may not have as much upside as Andre Smith or Jason Smith but his floor is a lot higher and that’s a good thing when you’re talking about giving a guy $30 million in guaranteed money.

Don’t discount the value of program pedigree either and Monroe is following in the footsteps of former Cavaliers D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Branden Albert, who have both handled the transition to the next level well.

The Kansas City Chiefs are on the clock.

I’ll put up a new post as picks get made, keeping all of you readers up to date.  Hopefully you’ll check back every once in a while to get the updates.  Your Packers should be on the clock at No. 9 soon…

Well that plan is halfway complete.

The Packers have reached an agreement with Capers for him to be their new defensive coordinator.  Capers accepted head coach Mike McCarthy‘s offer after the two men spent much of the weekend discussing the Packers defense and what needs to be done to improve it.  Capers was the fourth candidate interviewed by the Packers, after former San Francisco 49ers head coach Mike Nolan, former Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and Jim Haslett, who was the interim head coach for the St. Louis Rams after Scott Linehan was dismissed this year.

If Capers does install the 3-4, it would mean big changes for the Packers defense, but we will cross bridge when we come to it.  For now, we know the Packers have their man.