The Unkindest Cuts of All Are on Offense

I still have 20 players to cut from the offense and here they are. Brett Hundley has done so well he won the battle with Matt Blanchard for the No. 3 quarterback position and so well he can’t be cut and stashed on the practice squad, so like last year Thompson will have to keep three quarterbacks, unless he can pull off a trade. If he can’t then either Hundley or Tolzien will be traded next year like Matt Hasselbeck, Mark Brunell and Aaron Brooks since it wouldn’t be fair to make either sit for five or six more years behind Aaron Rodgers.

 

#34 Rajion Neal & #19 Myles White seemed to have won a job

It was a spirited battle for the No. 3 running back spot behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks with Rajion Neal, Alonzo Harris and John Crockett all having played well. I think Neal won the job taking up where he left off before being injured last year. Hopefully, Harris and/or Crockett will be signed to the practice squad.

My Defensive Cuts Are In

The final 35 cuts are due this week with 13 coming on Tuesday and the final 22 next Saturday. Here are my thoughts on the final defensive cuts and how the defensive roster with look going into the season opener at the Bears.

 

The defense has the biggest question marks going in and I don’t see a much different group than played last year. On the defensive line I would cut defensive end Khyri Thornton and nose tackles Bruce Gaston and Lavon Hooks.

 

That leaves Letroy Guion (suspended for the first three games) and Datone Jones (suspended for the first game) at left defensive end. Defensive coordinator Dom Capers seems to be preparing to use a two-man line early, so I wouldn’t keep one of those three until Guion comes back.

 

B.J. Raji and Mike Pennel will be at nose tackle with Pennel also available at left end. While Gaston has played well and often there is no room for him. I would try to sign him to the practice squad.

 

Right defensive end will be Mike Daniels, Josh Boyd and Christian Ringo. I am keeping Ringo and Boyd, for that matter, because both can play inside and Ringo has played well. Boyd hasn’t been as good as he was before being injured, but I think he still has an upside.

Now That I’ve Got Your Attention Please Read On

It looks like no one is very worried that in the one exhibition that counts the most after the Packers laid an egg. Not just a warm and fuzzy chicken egg, but a large cold imposing ostrich egg before the faithful at Lambeau Field.

 

I didn’t get home until the second quarter because I was covering a volleyball tournament, but when I turned on the game the score was 25-0. Later some time in the second or third quarter the faithful started booing the defense. HEAR THAT McCarthy and Dom Capers you were being booed. Take that to heart and make some changes.

 

I was spared the first quarter when the No. 1 defense, which had all it parts together on the same field for the first time, when Clay Matthews played for the first time and its first string secondary on display made All-Pros out of Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez.

 

The rosy glasses crowd that cover the Packers and run the organization really need to watch this game over and over again and then sit down with a large dose of reality and take assessment of where the 10th year of the Mike McCarthy regime and seventh year of the Dom Capers era has us sitting entering the season.

 

McCarthy’s post -game press conference was amazing. After being torched by two second-tier quarterbacks to the tune of 23-of-29 for 271 yards and 5 touchdowns with no sacks or interceptions followed by two busts (7-of-11 for 43 yards) McCarthy said basically I’m not worried, we’ll fix what needs to be fixed (on defense). Anybody heard that song before I have? Like maybe every post-game presser.

Where Are They Now?

Currently there are 45 ex-Packers in the NFL on 22 teams. The Giants and the Raiders lead the list with four while the Chiefs, the Panthers, the Seahawks and Vikings are next with three.

 

As of the August 25 depth charts there are 16 starters, 15 on the second string, 7 on the third string, 4 on the fourth string, 1 on the fifth string and 2 on the sixth string, so to speak.

 

Out of the 16 starters four are on special teams. Three are long snappers J. J. Jansen with the Panthers, Thomas Gafford with the Bears and Clark Harris with the Bengals and one is Seahawks punter Jon Ryan. Place kicker Georgio Tavecchio is currently sitting behind Sebastian Janikowski for the Raiders after being signed as injury insurance.

 

In addition, second string wide receiver Jeremy Ross of the Lions is their punt and kickoff returner.

 

Of the remaining 12 starters there are six on offense and six on defense. On offense there are Greg Jennings as right wide receiver for the Dolphins and Charles Johnson at left wide receiver for the Vikings; Evan Dietrick-Smith (now just Evan Smith) at center for the Bucs; and Breno Giacomini at right tackle for the Jets.

 

There are two surprises with every Packers' fan's least favorite left tackle, until this year, Marshall Newhouse starting at right tackle for the Giants and former 2007 fourth round bust Allen Barbre starting at left guard for the Eagles after starting his career as a right tackle with the Packers.

 

Tramon Williams with the Cleveland Browns

Outside The Box, But Still Inside the Lines

After the loss of Jordy Nelson Monday the sun came up and the Packers went back to business preparing for Saturday's pre-season game against the whining Eagles, which actually sets up my next comments perfectly.

The Eagles have been calling out a well-known dirty player of long standing linebacker Terrell Suggs of the Ravens. On the scale of dirty players there are two currently that set themselves apart from the "Pigpen" crowd safety Brandon Meriweather and Suggs.

Meriweather is well known to lead with his helmet as he launches for the head. He holds the distinction, if that is the right word to use, as the only player to get the best of Eddie Lacy in a one-on-one confrontation knocking him out of the game and the next with a concussion his rookie year when he was with his third team the Redskins (who were and are so bad they'd sign anyone, including Donald Trump if he could play football). Ironically (there is a God), Meriweather was knocked out the game with a concussion of his own when we went for a high hit against James Starks.

Eddie Lacy gets a concussion during the Packers Redskins game

 He is currently with his fourth team the New York Giants and he started his controversial career with the Patriots (the acorn doesn't fall too far from the tree) before being released and signing with the Bears (also seems appropriate). Meriweather is totally unapologetic saying he wouldn't change how he plays and would just pay the fines for illegal hits.

The Injury Report:

"Yes, Virginia there is a silver lining"

 

Jordy Nelson down and out

It was made official. Jordy Nelson will miss the entire season with a torn ACL suffered on the opening drive of the second pre-season game against the Steelers.

 

This will be the second time Nelson will have suffered a lost season although not quite as bad as this time. After having his breakout season in 2011 when he earned the starting job (played in all 16 games starting 9) he caught 68 passes for 1,263 yards and 15 TDs. Then in 2012 he suffered through lingering ankle and hamstring problems all season long finishing with 49 catches for 745 yards and 7 TDs.

 

Actually not only did Nelson have an off-year, but Greg Jennings was also hurt dropping from 67 catches for 945 yards and 9 TDs to a career low 36 catches for 366 yards and 4 TDs because of a groin injury he suffered before the season limiting him to only 8 games and 5 starts.

Post-Game Analysis: Steelers Stats

Up and Down:



Aaron Rodgers UP before the safety

The Packers came back to Earth against the Steelers after the opening drive. With the totally inept Don Barclay starting at left tackle with David Bakhtiari out with a minor knee injury the Packers began the game at the 20 and 10 plays later Eddie Lacy scored easily from seven yards out. behind clear out blocks by Josh Sitton and the aforementioned Barclay and a crushing lead block by John Kuhn. James Starks then made it 8-0 on a two-yard run that was just as easy behind the blocking of center Corey Linsley and right guard T.J. Lang.

 

Lacy's touchdown accomplished two things I've been worried about for a couple seasons now - scoring inside the red zone and scoring or getting a first down needing two or less yards. Except for losing wide receiver Jordy Nelson on a freak knee injury the opening drive was as good as it gets.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART CUATRO

THE SUBLIME:


Grandma's Crock

There doesn't seem to be anything sublime in the last week to report. Nobody found any long lost Lombardi memorabilia, especially me, and I haven't been able to obtain any new Packer autographs.

 

Wait a minute I forgot I've joined the ranks of the ever-growing field of micro breweries. I come from a family - on my mother's side - of bootleggers. Grandpa and his brother in law would make their own beer during the Depression and Grandma would take control of the finished batch, so they wouldn't drink up the profits. My mother even has a letter sent to J. Edgar Hoover by some nosey neighbor turning them in.

 

Well, I own the crock Grandma and Grandpa used for their illegal operation and for the longest time I've wanted to make some bootleg beer and five weeks ago I did it. I just bottled my first batch a week ago and I think it should be ready by the first game of the season.

 

I've decided to call it Mann's Bootleg Brew, Green and Gold Edition, and the Packerbackers will be the first to sample it because Timmer and his son Andrew and his friend Avery are all beer aficionados, well at least they drink a lot of beer. I'm keeping my fingers crossed it will turn out good.

THE RIDICULOUS:

Former Packers safety Darren Sharper has pleaded guilty to being a serial rapist. What's ridiculous about this serious issue is a man who is as good looking as Sharper is plus the fact he's a pro football player wouldn't have any problem finding young women to agree to sleep with him would go to the extent of drugging girls and raping them. Sharper's case along with Bill Cosby's, which is almost identical, shows how sick our world was and is still becoming. In Sharper's case he was being accused by nine women in Los Angeles, New Orleans and Las Vegas. He has been in jail since February of 2014. He is being treated less harshly because he's agreed to turn state's evidence against his two friends who also enjoyed the fruits of their labor.

 

Darren Sharper (middle) when he dated actress Gabrille Union

What's even more ridiculous is what he's agreed to in his plea bargain. In addition to spending only nine years in jail (once again this is how women are treated by the NFL, society and the justice system in the United States. One year for each rape.) and being on parole the rest of his life as a registered sex offender.

 

However, he has other restrictions like never being able to drink alcohol again (as if it was him drinking that caused him to be a rapist when it should have been he wouldn't be allowed to buy a drink or serve a drink to a girl ever again. That would have been appropriate.) and he can't use the internet to pick up girls when he was actually picking them up in bars. That's pretty ridiculous.

 

The last part is more interesting. He can be asked by his parole officer to submit to, now get this, a penile plethysmograph. It sounds like a monster from Flesh Gordon. Actually it is designed to see how aroused he gets when watching forced non-consensual sex acts and consensual sex acts between loving couples. I wonder what would happen if they found him aroused to the non-con act. Send him back to jail or something worse like..........I can't think about that.

Post-Game Instant Analysis: The second pre-season game at the Steelers

The Good, The Bad and The UGLY

 

The Good:

The first string offense (minus David Bakhtiari at left tackle) looked very good taking the ball 80 yards in 10 plays on the opening drive of the game to a score. The good elements of the drive were not only good passing by Aaron Rodgers, but excellent running by Eddie Lacy, including a touchdown run from the seven. Then surprise, surprise James Starks converts the two-point conversion on the ground for only the second time since 2009.

The Bad:

Aaron Rodgers about to be sacked for a Safety

Don Barclay at left tackle was a disaster. He gave up a sack in the end zone for a safety and gave up another sack as well as many shaky runs in between with the first string. Barclay stayed in the game with the second string until there was 1:40 left in the third quarter and wasn't any better until his final series against the third stringers.

Post-Game Analysis: Special Report

Mason Crosby watches his successful field goal attempt

Special teams weren't so special against the Patriots although place kicker Mason Crosby did well. He made his only field goal attempt and his only 33-yard extra point. All of his kickoffs were short and returnable and I was worried. However, in the post-game interview Coach Mike McCarthy said he told Crosby to kick them short so they could work on kickoff coverage. So I give Crosby an A+.

 

I was going to talk about punter Tim Masthay next, but let's jump on the kickoff coverage. All five were returned for an average of 24.6 average with a long return of 35. His first one was returned 31 yards to the 26 and his next two were stopped at the 17 and the 13. The second half kickoff was returned 35 yards to the 37. His fifth on was returned 24 yards to the 27 and his last I give the kickoff coverage team a C+.

 

Now I'll get to Masthay. He punted three times for an average of 34.0 with two inside the 20. Throw the average out since he was punting near the 50. His first was from the Green Bay 47 and was downed at the 18. His next was from the Patriot 47 and was downed at the 15. His last was from the Green Bay 13 and it was downed at the Patriot 37. There were two fair catches and one went out of bonds. I give Masthay a A-. As far as punt return coverage I give an incomplete for no action.

Post-Game Analysis: The Defense - Backfield in Motion

The play of the secondary has been much better than I would have guessed, but in a different way. With the loss of Tramon Williams and Davon House to free agency there is a big hole to fill on the left side at cornerback and it seems it just might have been filled, but not by the person everyone would have thought, except for me, of course.

On the Island:

The game started with Casey Hayward manning Williams' spot and Sam Shields on the right side. Neither had any stats, but did a decent job of keeping Tom Brady and Jimmy Garoppolo in check holding them to 2-of-4 with one long pass by Garoppolo for 16 on the left side.

Quinten Rollins

2015 #2 (62) draft pick Quinten Rollins took over for Hayward and undrafted free agent rookie LaDarius Gunter replaced Shields. These two have been the talk of the camp leading up to the game and Rollins has been the talk of the town afterwards.

Post-Game Analysis: The Defense - Backer Report

The starting unit was (left to right) Andy Mulumba, Sam Barrington, Nate Palmer and Julius Peppers with Clay Matthews (knee soreness), Mike Neal (hernia), Nick Perry (groin), and inside linebacker Tavarus Danzler (?) sitting out.

 

The first thing I can say is on the depth chart the often injured Matthews (he is now out with an elbow injury) is listed at left outside linebacker. I hate that move, but knew it was coming. I noted a few posts back how the defense changed for the better when Matthews moved to the middle. However, some times things get stuck in your brain and you can't get past it. Dom Capers thinks in linear terms and Matthews is an outside rusher (2.5 sacks and 19 tackles in the first eight games) plain and simple, conversation over when he actually proved he was a great inside rusher (8.5 sacks with 49 tackles in the last eight games after the move). Facts can be stubborn things and so can some coaches who can't see the forest for the trees. Some people are so hard-headed.

 

Mulumba has been the talk of training camp, but in the game he had only 3 assisted tackles and a half a sack. He was also the one who got caught inside when Jonas Gray broke outside for the 55-yard touchdown run. He was very sketchy.

 

Barrington has had a silent camp and didn't do much in the game with one assisted tackle. I hope its just one of those games and not Brad Jones all over again. Speaking of Jones he led the Eagles against the Colts with six tackles and 1 assisted tackle.

 

Nate Palmer has become the starter at Matthews' inside backer spot. Palmer was converted from outside linebacker (sounds familiar). He missed all of last year after suffering a serious knee injury in the final pre-season game. He has less stats than Barrington with no tackles, solo or otherwise. The starting inside duo were invisible.

 

Old Man River Peppers

Old Man River Peppers had a good game despite also having no stats. He was always around the ball. I hope he has another good year and not fade out as the season progresses. However, I predicted he would fade and stick with it.

 

Jayrone Elliott is the Sack Master

The second unit was Adrian Hubbard, Carl Bradford, Jake Ryan and Jayrone Elliott. This group was very productive. Elliott was the leading tackler (3 solo, 4 assisted, half a sack, 1 quarterback hit), Ryan the second leading tackler (3 solo, 3 assisted, 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits), Hubbard the sixth (2 solo, 1 assisted, 1 sack) and Bradford (1 solo, 1 assisted, 1 sack).

 

Jake Ryan getting to Jimmy Garoppolo

These four guys are making camp very interesting. I didn't notice any problems with their performance unlike the starters. The only thing I can add is Elliott was the pre-season phenom last year and then never saw the field during the season. I would like to see him more in the rotation. Ryan may be pushing Palmer for the starting job.

The third string was Jermauria Rasco, Joe Thomas, Josh Francis and James Vaughters. Vaughters had 2 tackles and Rasco had 1 solo, 1 assisted and 1 sack.

 

Injuries continue to plague Matthews, but I guess its good he hasn't had a recurrence of the hamstring issues he had his first four seasons. 2013 he had a broken thumb and last year a groin issue when he was playing outside linebacker, but no injuries when he was moved inside. Now that he's outside again the injuries have returned. Is there a connection there? I say there is. But what do I know.

 

Speaking of injuries Neal and Perry continue to be injury prone. Neal seems to be able to play at a high enough level to not be in trouble, but Perry is on his last rodeo. His option was not picked up and I would guess Perry will end up being put into the bust category when he is cut this year. I guess I just made another prediction.

Post-Game Analysis: The Defense - Wart Hog Report

The defensive line is a mess, but you all can take solace because in a Dom Capers defense you don't need a defensive line. The starting defensive ends were out (2012 No. 4 (132) pick Mike Daniels with an ankle and 2014 free agent from the Vikings Letroy Guion with a hamstring) and this week in practice backup defensive tackle Bruce Gaston (who was signed off the Arizona practice squad last year) has been out with an illness.

 

B.J. Raji Closing Off the Middle

The game opened with three down lineman of 2013 No. 5 (167) pick Josh Boyd at left end, 2009 #1 (9) pick B.J. Raji at nose tackle and defensive tackle turned out of necessity right end 2014 undrafted free agent Mike Pennel, who played real well. He finished with 2 tackles and one for a loss and Boyd had one tackle. Raji controlled the middle so much so the Patriots didn't run up the middle.

Mike Pennel

 

Pennel then moved back to the middle when Raji came out with 2013 No. 1 (23) pick Datone Jones taking over left end and 2014 No. 3 (85) pick Khyri Thornton at right end. Jones had a good game with 2 tackles, but both were sacks (although they came against the reserves) and Thornton, who along with Jones is fighting for his life, had an assisted tackle.

 

Khyri Thornton Tasting It

Thornton slide over to left end when (another player out of position) Gaston played right end. Later 2105 No. 6 (210) Christian Ringo (another defensive tackle) also played right end and Gaston went to left end and 2015 undrafted free agent Lavon Hooks took over in the middle.

 

None of the other down linemen had any tackling stats, but that's no surprise because in a Dom Defense they aren't supposed to make tackles.

 

Now that was some what misleading because the only time Capers uses three down linemen is on first down. Most of the time he goes with two down linemen and an extra defensive back.

 

I absolutely hate two down linemen. I would like to go back to a 4-3 and control the line of scrimmage, which would solve two of the many problems the Dom Defense has had - stopping the run and rushing the passer. You would say that seven sacks would seem to a good stat, but most of those sacks came against the reserves.

 

I know you guys think there would be no place for Clay Matthews, but just think how much better he would be as the fifth rusher coming in free. Think about it. How much better would the Packer defense be if you had a front seven comprised of Datone Jones at left end, B.J. Raji at nose tackle, Mike Pennel at defensive tackle and Mike Daniels at right end with Matthews at one outside linebacker, Julius Peppers at the other outside backer and Sam Barrington in the middle.

 

To sum it up Pennel played well and looks like he will be in the rotation. Raji looked good pushing the center back and clogging the middle. Boyd hasn't looked good since he was a rookie and was so-so against the Patriots. Thornton was ok, Jones looked good against reserves, Ringo looked good in spots as did Gaston and Hooks. I thought the line played well, so it would be interesting to see how they play against the Steelers.

Post-Game Analysis: The Offense - The Hog Report

The Packers out-gained the Patriots 406 total yards to 211 (133 yards rushing vs. 94) and finished with 23 first downs compared to just 14 for the cheaters from the northeast. As anyone who knows football the offensive line is where every play begins and the Packers played three versions during its first exhibition game.

 

The First Stringers ready to go

The starting unit of (left to right) David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang and Brian Bulaga played for three drives. The first drive started on the Packers 20 with Bakhtiari giving up a sack on the first play. Aaron Rodgers shook that off and drove all the way down to the Patriots 2 before giving up the ball on fourth down.

 

The 15-play drive consisted of nine passes (8 from the shotgun) and six runs. Eddie Lacy behind Lang for 15, James Starks behind Sitton for no gain, Starks behind Bakhtiar for 3, Lacy behind Sitton for 15, Lacy behind Linsley for 5 and Lacy behind Sitton for 3.

 

Post-Game Analysis: The Offense - Receiver Edition

WIDE RECEIVERS:

(Targeted 20 times with 12 catches for 132 yards and one touchdown)

 

Davante Adams Surrounded

The starting trio of Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Davante Adams were targeted 10 times. Rodgers likes Adams and threw to him seven times, but he caught only 3 for 17 yards. Nelson caught both passes thrown his way (25 yards) and Cobb caught his only pass for 16 yards.

 

I noticed last year that Rodgers seemed to favor Adams more as the season progressed and it seems to continue this year as the defenses cover Nelson and Cobb or not. I just hope he doesn't forget them, because they always seem to find a way to get open as evidenced by catching all three passes thrown their way for 41 yards.

 

When you look at numbers the Packers have a lot of wide receivers on the roster. Behind the Big 3 there are eight on the roster three returning from last year's roster and five newcomers.

 

The first one to talk about is former 2014 5th round (176) choice Jared Abbrederis. A home-state boy all the way around born in Wautoma and played at the University of Wisconsin where he played in 53 games, starting 39, and finishing as the all-time leading receiver in catches (202) and second in yards (3,140) and touchdowns (23) as where as the all-time leader in kickoff return average (25.8) and fifth all-time in punt return average (10.7). This was an excellent choice, but after missing his rookie season with a knee injury he has now been sidelined with a concussion. It seems his career is over before it got started.

Post-Game Analysis: The Offense - Backfield Edition

Offensively there was a lot to feel good about except for the red zone problems. I would hope Associate Head Coach Tom Clements and Aaron Rodgers will get together without Mike McCarthy in the room and figure out how to score touchdowns from 20 yards in as well as they do from 20 yards out.

QUARTERBACKS:

(27-of-43 for 295 yards, 2 touchdowns, no interceptions with 4 sacks)

 

Aaron Rodgers Zeroing In

For the second year in a row Rodgers looks a bit tentative on his throws. I noticed last year his accuracy was off and it was again Thursday night against the Patriots. He completed 11-of-19 for 117 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions for a quarterback rating of 76.0. He had two tries for touchdowns from the red zone and missed on both. Not a good outing for him.

 

He missed twice on the first drive with incompletions to Davante Adams from the five to the right and to Eddie Lacy from the two to the left. After going four-and-out from the New England 43 the Packers drove from the Patriots eight from the Packer 14, but once again couldn't punch one in. First down was an incompletion to Adams in the middle followed by a one-yard completion to Adams to the left and another incomplete pass to Adams to the right. FIELD GOAL resulted. Rodgers was also sacked twice, including on the first play.

 

Scott Tolzien looked good. He went 10-of-16 for 107 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions for a rating of 102.9. He showed a good pocket presence and a nice touchdown on his longer throws, especially his fourth-and-one from the New England 26 to Jeff Janis for the touchdown. Now that was a great play and if you haven't noticed it came from outside the red zone.

Post-Game Analysis: The Big Picture

My first impression of the Packers-Patriots pre-season game was same old, same old. A big deal was made of Coach Mike McCarthy not calling the offensive plays and it was evident because for the first time since he became head coach we got to see his face during a game instead of just his eyes and the hat as he hid behind the play sheet to make sure no one could read his lips as he called the plays.

 

Mike McCarthy and his Beard

I never understood why he was so worried about it because without reading his lips I predicted almost every play he called in the second halves of game for the past five or six years, at least. It was no mystery to anyone with half a brain (Rush Limbaugh) that the Packer offense would go into slumber mode and would be punting more often than make first downs and adding to their advantage.

 

It seems McCarthy got used to having his lower face covered and decided to grow a beard to obscure his mouth. Maybe the refs won't notice and ignore him when he calls for a replay. Oops, I forgot. He asked for a replay and won on a first-down or fourth-down issue. Let's hope that doesn't fall back to the same old, some old, and he wins more than he loses or throws the red flag on the strangest of calls.

 

However, I regress on an old, but satisfying rant, so let's get back to Tom Clements and his inaugural play calling duties. The first drive was a great example of the acorn not falling far from the tree. Like has been the situation over the past two seasons the Packer offense bogs down in the red zone. My thoughts on the problem has been the lack of a play-making tight end is, at least, part of the problem, but the major problem being uninspired play calling.

 

Brett Favre had Mark Chmura and Bubba Franks as prime end zone targets and Aaron Rodgers had the much maligned Jermichael Finley, but Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers are no Chmura, Franks and Finley (to steal a phrase from former Vice Presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen). Quarless and Rodgers haven't progressed as much as I would like him to.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART TROIS

THE SUBLIME:



Brett Favre About to be Introduced to Lambeau Field

I spent July 18 at the Shrine (which is what I call Lambeau Field) attending the number retiring ceremony and Packer Hall of Fame Induction of a certain Mr. Brett Lorenzo Favre and on many levels it was a perfect day.

I loved Brett Favre during his 16 years as the face of the Packers. He brought us back from the Wilderness Years and gave us something to be proud of almost every Sunday, Monday, Thursday, and Saturday of those 16 years.

He was the target of the mean barbs by Chicago Bears fans at the drop of the hat at the bar I watch the games at and I would defend him, not that it was hard to do since the Bears suck most of the time and had at one count 22 quarterbacks during Favre's record starting streak.

I am also a realist and would cringe when the Packers would play the Cowboys or the Lions on Thanksgiving since Favre had a habit of not seeing linebackers in the mid-zone and get picked off at times.

You took the good and the bad with Favre and while he had at the time the record for touchdown passes - since supplanted by a pretender named Peyton Manning and if look in the archives I explain why I call him that - and still holds the record for interceptions. Ironically, his first pass as a Packer was to himself for a loss and his last was an interception in overtime to the Giants. An ignominious start and finish to be sure. In between he was about as good as it gets and I consider me lucky to have lived during his time.