FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART 32

(Alabamian you know why)

SUBLIME

Right Tackle Mark Tauscher and place kicker Ryan Longwell are the newest members of the Packers Hall of Fame.

The Rubber Meets the Road Starting Tonight

Tonight is the 1st game of the rest of the Packers life when the NFC South Leader New Orleans Saints travel to the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.

This most crucial week continues at noon on Sunday when the Cleveland Browns host the Green Bay Packers, the Carolina Panthers host the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Bucs host the Detroit Lions, the New York Giants host the Cowboys and concludes at 3:25 p.m. when the Jacksonville Jaguars host the Seattle Seahawks.

The Packers Are……..

There are 4 games left in the 2017 season and the Packers are still in contention to earn a NFL record 9th straight playoff appearance, despite the loss of the best quarterback in the game Aaron Rodgers (for 8 games), their No. 1 running back Ty Montgomery (for 7 games and the season), their No. 2 who became their No. 1 running back Aaron Jones (for almost 3 games), their No. 1 left tackle David Bakhtiari (for 5 games), their No. 1 right tackle Bryan Bulaga (for 7 games and the season), their No. 1 left guard Lane Taylor (for 1 game), their No. 1 tight end Martellus Bennett (for 5 games and the season), their No. 1 slot receiver Randall Cobb (for 1 game), their No. 3 tackle Kyle Murphy (for 9 games and the season), their No. 4 tackle Jason Spriggs (for 8 games), their No. 1 right cornerback Damarious Randall (for 2 games), their No. 1 left cornerback Davon House (for 3 games), their No. 1 strong safety Morgan Burnett (for 4 games), their No. 1 left outside linebacker Clay Matthews (for 1 game and for half the plays during a game), their No. 1 right outside linebacker Nick Perry (for 2 games), their No. 1 left inside linebacker Jake Ryan (for 1 game), their No. 1 3rd inside linebacker Joe Thomas (for 8 games), their No. 1 right defensive tackle/end Mike Daniels (for 2 games), their No. 1 nose tackle Kenny Clark (for 1 game), their No. 1 backup cornerback Kevin King (for 3 games and lost for the season), their No. 1 backup safety Kentrell Brice (for 6 games and the season), their No. 1 edge rusher off the bench Ahmad Brooks (for 4 games) and their No. 1 long snapper Brett Goode (for 6 games).

The injuries have gotten so bad (97 games lost to injury) there are only a handful of key players who have been available for all 12 games (Brett Hundley, Jordy Nelson, Davante Adams, Aaron Ripkowski, Corey Linsley, Jahri Evans, Lance Kendricks, Richie Rodgers, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Blake Martinez, Kyler Fackrell, Dean Lowry, Justin Vogel and Mason Crosby).

Predictions

With Aaron Rodgers on the sidelines the Packers have lost 3 straight games at Lambeau Field – the longest losing streak at “The Shrine” since 2006 (also with Mike McCarthy at the helm) – and have the Tampa Bay Bucs coming to town with their hotshot quarterback Jameis Winston returning from a 3-game rest because of a shoulder injury.

On the whole the Packers are predicted to win, but I don’t know why. The last time Brett Hundley had a good/great game he not only crapped out the following week, but was shutout. So after another watershed game last week in the loss against a defensively challenged Pittsburg Steelers which Hundley shows up the “Great White Hope” or the “Pretender”. I don’t know.

What A “Tedder” Thinks And Does And It Ain’t Pretty

This exchange was on Packers.com Nov. 29 and it sums what I’ve been saying about the “In Ted We Trust” cult or “Tedders” as I call them, of which “the Shield” is prime example of. So it starts with “dennis” making the same suggestions (except for hiring J. Leonard of Wisconsin to replace Dom Capers, since I don’t know him because I’m from Southern Illinois) I’ve been making for years. It took an hour before the “Tedder” took up the fight.

dennis • 9 hours ago

I suggest roster moves of TT, MM, DC, and our scouting team out. Number 1, replace DC with J.Leonard of WI. Leonard is a native, worked very hard to achieve his goals for his size, played at a high level professionally, smart on schemes,, can relate to his generational players, and has proven his prowess for the Badgers. Get him! And also K.Greene, if available to start with. Then Wolf as GM to find a creative offensive head coach. Time for a major shakeup after this frustrating season, again. Rodgers is being wasted slowly and painfully. No moves, same next year die hard fans. Fan since 58.

the Shield > dennis • 8 hours ago

Uh, Rodgers is hurt. Are we wasting him by not playing him hurt? Firing everyone usually is the answer, and bring in a guy from an area college. That's genius. Another frustrating season for ya, huh? Making the playoffs almost every year, being in championship games, stuff like that, continues to frustrate you? Perhaps you could advise the super successful Lions, Bears, and Vikings since 1958. Those teams love cleaning house and starting over every year. It always works.

Whatever Happened to No. 26 Ty Montgomery?

"Not Me"

This week Ty Montgomery was placed on injured reserve for a wrist injury and not the broken ribs he had been suffering from ending the season for the former No. 3 draft pick. He began the season as the No. 1 running back after being an emergency replacement for Eddie Lacy and James Starks when General Manager Ted Thompson left the position unprepared for injuries. Does that sound familiar? But I digress with a very old and very repetitive complaint of mine.

After last season it was assumed that Montgomery was going to have to change his number since he finished the season as a running back and it was announced almost immediately he was going to be the starting running back this season because of NFL rule 5, Section 3, Article 3c which states running backs must wear numerals between 20 and 49 while wide receivers and tight ends must wear between 80 and 89 and 10 to 19.

Then on January 26th in his year end press conference Head Coach Mike McCarthy said this, "He's a running back. He wants to change his number." By saying that he stated directly that it was a decision by Montgomery and had nothing to do with the NFL rule. I wonder why he thought he needed to say that? Later it was revealed his new number would be 26.

What We Found Out Tonight

The one thing the loss to the Steelers should tell Mike McCarthy, Ted Thompson and Mark Murphy is the Packers defense under the leadership of Dom Capers cannot be depended upon to make a stop when they absolutely, positively, must make a stop.

Ex-Packers Dropping Like Flies

With 6:57 remaining in the 1st quarter of the Minnesota Vikings game on October 15, 2017 the Green Bay Packers season ended. With the exception of the inept Da’ Bears the Packers lost to the Vikings, the Saints, the Lions, (thank god for Da’ Bears) and the Ravens to drop 3 games behind the Vikings, 1 game behind the Lions for the North title and 1 game behind the Lions, Seahawks and Falcons for the last wildcard spot with 6 games remaining. UPDATE: The Vikings beat the Lions on Thanksgiving.

So technically the Packers could right the ship by “running the table” to finish 11-5, but no one thinks that’s going to happen, so for the 1st time since 2008 the Packers will not be playing in the playoffs snapping a string of 8 straight seasons, which tied an NFL record, but that was because Rodgers was quarterback for all of 9 games out of 128 games. He missed 1 game with a concussion in 2010. He missed 1 game in 2011 because Mike McCarthy was afraid Ndomukong Suh was going to hurt him. He then missed 7 games in 2013 with a broken collarbone. He had started 55 straight games when the Vikings cut him down.

His highly qualified replacement Brett Hundley has gotten worse instead of better. Last week was probably the worse quarterback performance by a Packer since T.J. Rubley on November 5, 1995 against the Vikings. The shutout orchestrated by Hundley was also the 1st since Mike McCarthy’s first game ever as the Packers coach against Da’ Bears on September 10, 2006. The Packers had gone 184 games without being shutout until the man Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy stubbornly believe in and won’t bench because the only other quarterback on the roster they evidently don’t believe in at all did the honors. On any other team Hundley would have been benched 2 weeks ago, but not in Green Bay. Hundley must have naked pictures of Thompson or McCarthy or both or both together to keep his job because it can’t be his play on the field, but I digress.

However, since the unmasking of the Packers former Packers have lost their luster. Since October 15 eight former Packers have been cut in the 7 weeks since and one former No. 1 draft pick has been cut twice and 3 times since the beginning of the season

The Packers Have More Problems Than Dom Capers

I’ve been the Grand Poobah of the “Fire Dom Capers” movement since 2011 and there are a lot of us, despite the “I Trust In Ted” crowd FAKE NEWS campaign that all’s right with the Packers, but after what happened five weeks ago it’s obvious my second ‘day’ job of being Head Honcho of the “Fire Ted Thompson” campaign is the more pressing and important job of them all.

The “Tedders” have allowed Mr. Ego and his cautious approach to running the most prestigious franchise in the history of sports, the Montreal Canadians and Boston Celtics aside, to put the Packers on a course for a third era of “Wilderness Years” joining the 1948-58 era and the 1968-1991 era.

The Packers Have Packed It In

The play of designated quarterback tradee Brett Hundley has demonstrated three things. 1st, Ted Thompson doesn’t know a quarterback from his ass and for that matter a hole in the ground. 2nd. Mike McCarthy can’t teach a bad quarterback new tricks, but he can ride a great quarterback to the Super Bowl and developing a reputation as one of the great quarterback whisiperers and play callers the game has ever known. SAD.

3rd, when Rodgers went down Ted Thompson didn’t go out and get a veteran quarterback (Brian Hoyer), but compounded the misjudgments of himself and the incompetence of McCarthy and the result has been a 4 losses in 5 games (thank god for da Bears) that has virtually ended the one thing President and CEO Mark Murphy and Executive Vice President, General Manager and Director of Football Operations Ted Thompson cares about in the whole world the consecutive playoff appearance streak that had reached eight, which tied it for the longest current streak in the NFL along with the Patriots, who are going to make it nine and, just to rub it in, signed Hoyer.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART BA MƯỢI MỖT

(31 in Vietnamese because Trump is there and I’m always topical)

SUBLIME

"Hardhat Frank" Enshrined at the Shrine

 I can’t find anything SUBLIME about the play of the Green Bay Packers on the field from the loss of Aaron Rodgers and Bryan Bulaga to the benching of 2-time Offensive Rookie of the Week Aaron Jones to the complete collapse of Dom Capers defense to the complete debacle of the signing of Martellus Bennett and his subsequent release to the 3 game losing streak to da Bears being a favorite in Sunday’s game. In fact I just can’t find anything SUBLIME concerning the Packers at all.

So I had to do something I find totally against all that is holy in the journalistic world and visited PACKERS.COM to look at some of Rhinelander Larry’s reports. Before I had to sink so low and contaminate myself I found something on the 2017 Packers FAN Hall of Fame inductee Frank Lamping.

FAKE NEWS – Thompson Style, Part Infinity

The Curious Case of Benjamin “Marty Bennett” Button

The marquis free agent signing by General Manager Ted Thompson, who for the first time since 2012 jumped into the free agent market was tight end Martellus Bennett even though the most pressing needs were on the defensive side. CURIOUS.

However, this great signing has turned into a nightmare of mythic proportions with the Packers claiming subterfuge by Bennett and Bennett is claiming his right to be injured, which has happened every week to the Packers with a vengeance this season, so why now turn this injury into a national incident. VERY CURIOUS INDEED.

The Complete Collapse of the Murphy/Thompson/McCarthy/Capers Era

I remember when…..The Packers won the Super Bowl, the Packers had the No. 1 quarterback in all of football (a Collinsworthism) and the Packers were ranked No. 1 in the NFL.

It’s Not Aaron Rodgers or Brett Hundley’s Fault

The Monday Night Football game before a national audience and the faithful at Lambeau Field against the sad-sack Detroit Lions losers of 3 straight games let everyone know, except Packers President Mark Murphy, Packers General Manager Ted Thompson, Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy and the “In Ted We Trust” crowd that the 2017 Packers are not very good and that fact has nothing to do with Aaron Rodgers being on the sidelines and Brett Hundley in the huddle.

For the past 6 years and 5 games Aaron Rodgers made Mike McCarthy look like a play calling genius and papered over the incompetence of Ted Thompson of putting a team around him worthy of his talent or even a roster better than the Detroit Lions, who by the way have ex-Packers T.J. Lang, Jared Abbrederis and Khyri Thornton playing for them.

There Are Legacies And Then There Are Legacies

There are the New York Yankees in MLB with 27 titles, the Montreal Canadians in the NHL with 24 titles, the Boston Celtics in the NBA with 17 titles, including 8 in a row and Brazil with 5 World Cups championships, but the most storied team in the history of sports is the 13-time World Champion Green Bay Packers from the smallest town (105,139 population) to field a major sports team and the only sports franchise to be owned by stockholders and not by a deep pocket owner.

2012 Dancing With The Stars Champion Donald Driver

The Packers story is the story of the NFL itself. The immortal Curly Lambeau founded the team in 1919 and joined the fledgling NFL 2 years later. It was by shear will and personality that Lambeau kept the team alive as general manager and as coach he built a team that along with NFL founder George “Papa Bear” Halas ruled the league during his official 29 years at the helm (1921-1949).

Lambeau’s Packers won 6 championships (1929, 1930, 1931, 1936, 1939, 1944) becoming the first and only team to win 3 championships in a row until the Packers under Vince Lombardi did it again in 1965, 1966, 1967. In comparison Halas won 6 championships (1921, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1946, 1963) over his 48 years as coach of the Bears (1920-67).

Thompson’s Tight End Obsession

(Obsession is a sign of Alzheimer’s)

With all the problems with the Packers defense coming into the season you would think Packers General Manager Ted Thompson would have spent the offseason focusing like a laser to provide the Aaron Rodgers led offense with the last piece of the puzzle – a competent defense – to finally leap that last hurdle to seriously make a run for the Super Bowl and not just the playoffs.

FAKE NEWS – Thompson Style

The reports coming out of 1265 Lombardi Avenue are that Packers General Manager Ted Thompson and/or his personnel department tried to sign Brian Hoyer, but somehow the rascally Bill Belichik and the New England Patriots beat him to the punch and signed him to replace Jimmy Garappolo as the backup to Tom Brady. I don't believe a word of it.

But let's say it did happen then I can see just 1 reason or maybe 2 Hoyer might choose the Patriots over the Packers. The first could be Thompson only offered him a 1-year incentive laded contract instead of the 3-year contract he received from Belichik. The second could be he wanted to win and the Packers are going nowhere.

I can see the first happening, but the second doesn’t fit with Hoyer’s past. He wants to play and he would have taken over for Brett Hundley next week if given a chance and had a chance to work with the great receiver corps of the Packers and possible Offensive Rookie of the Year Aaron Jones for the next 7 games to show he still has a future as a starting quarterback.

It is also possible McCarthy informed him that Brett Hundley is the man and he would only be a hedge against him being injured. However, that didn’t happen because McCarthy said after not confirming the report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that the Packers tried to sign Hoyer, "From the time Aaron's been injured I've never once been involved in a conversation about bringing in a veteran quarterback. From the Minnesota to here today, the direction that we're going with the quarterbacks is Brett Hundley and the guys we have here."

I would tend to believe McCarthy on this because he is completely contradicting what the back channels told Rapoport. So I think the back channels (directed by the puppet master TT) were self-serving to get the pressure off Ted Thompson for not bringing in a veteran quarterback because no General Manager worth his salt would make a trade or a signing without discussing it with his head coach.

Thompson Fiddles While The Packers Are Burning

My suggestion to Packers General Manager Ted Thompson to sign quarterback Brian Hoyer fell upon predictably deaf ears. Thompson is an arrogant man, who only follows his own advice and even, in my opinion, turns down any advice he gets from the Packers fans across the nation just because he didn’t think of it and he feels the “Great Unwashed” are ignorant at best and are against him at worst.

So instead of solidifying the quarterback position after the Packers went from having the best quarterback in the league to one of the worst quarterback rooms in the NFL with half a season left he kept the status quo reaffirming his own genius.

Bill Belichik, who has been head coach and basically the general manager of the New England Patriots since 2000 has been to 7 Super Bowls during that span and won 5 making the Patriots a bonafied dynasty.

On the other hand, Ted Thompson has been general manager of the Packers since 2005 and has led the team from Title Town, USA to 1 Super Bowl making the Packers a bonafied disappointment and a team that never lived up to its potential led by 2 of the best quarterbacks in the history of the league.

Speaking of Belichik he took my advice and signed Hoyer. Anyone surprised at that? I’m not. The cream rises to the top and the turds (I mean curds) sink to the bottom.

GET OFF YOUR ASS, TT

The NFL Trading Deadline is today at 3 p.m. Packers time and there is one casualty of the other 31 teams trying to help themselves (while Packers General Manager Ted Thompson has spent the last 4 days holed up in his ivory tower office with his “finger up his ass” (a phrase my father used) in solid belief his “Do Nothing” way is the only way to lead the Packers to the Super Bowl) that the Packers could use to save their season while they wait for the indispensible man to return from injury.

The New England Patriots traded backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to the San Francisco 49ers for a 2018 2nd round draft pick. As a result of the trade veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer was released. I feel he is perfect for the Packers for many reasons even Ted “Beavis” Thompson and Mike “Butt-Head” McCarthy could agree with.

Another Great Move By Ted Terrific

I wonder how much research goes into a free agent signing. Except for injuries, which usually can’t be predicted (as in the case of Joe Johnson) and some can if the player has never played 16 games in his career, I would think a prudent general manager would interview a prospective signee to find out what he feels his future is beyond the upcoming season.

News broke this morning that the marquis free agent signing by Packers General Manager Ted Thompson, former Cowboys (2008-11), Giants (2012), Bears (2013-15), Patriots (2016) tight end Martellus Bennett is going to retire at the end of the season. REAL NEWS not FAKE NEWS.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART 3BIGLY

(we still live in a Trump world, day 283 and counting)

SUBLIME

Title Town, USA

Today marks the 300th post from Lombardi’s Den. I hope those of you who follow my musings, meanderings and inner most thoughts about the Green Bay Packers have enjoyed my manner of writing as I try to get across those of us who aren’t particular fans of certain front office and coaching personnel aren’t being disloyal to the Packers, but just the opposite want the best for our beloved team.

A Leopard Will Change His Spots Before Ted Thompson Changes His

The “Just Good Enough” Packers of the Ted Thompson Era may not be just good enough this year, but it seems even the loss of the best quarterback in the game today and a defense that can’t be depended upon isn’t enough to get Thompson to adjust to the current dire situation and actually do something to help the team during the season.

This is Ted Thompson’s Defense and Ted Thompson’s Season

With all the problems the Packers are facing of having to stay in the race without Aaron Rodgers and half an offensive line there is another set of problems not related to injuries on the defensive side of the ball unless you think Morgan Burnett is Aaron Rodgers and I don’t that will doom the season and snap the “coveted” playoff appearance streak.

Different Quarterback Same Result

I went into the game against the Saints with no expectations. Aaron Rodgers wasn’t even at Lambeau Field, but master play caller Mike McCarthy and his play chart was and the grand dame of defensive coordinators was still sitting up in the clouds directing the Packers defense and with those 3 strikes against him the new “Great White Hope” of the Packers didn’t have a chance.

A New Season or the End of the Old Season?

The Brett Hundley Era begins when the New Orleans Saints invade Lambeau Field today at noon. The Packer faithful will get a glimpse over the next 8 weeks of what life would be without Aaron Rodgers and whether General Manager Ted Thompson has built a team that is truly a playoff contender or a team built around just one player who lifted his teammates to that level.

The Packers Have More Problems Than Losing Aaron Rodgers

Head Coach Mike McCarthy has won a Super Bowl, but not lately, in fact it has been 7 years since the Packers Brain Trust has led the greatest team in football history to the Promised Land with the greatest quarterback in the league at the helm.

Since then the Packers have been to the playoffs every season, but have been bounced out in their first game (even after going 15-1 in 2011) twice (2011, 2013), in the second game twice (2012, 2015) and in the conference title game twice (2014, 2016). The playoff record for Thompson and McCarthy since 2010 is 5 wins and 6 losses. Not a good record with the greatest quarterback in the league.

It Seems Losing Aaron Rodgers Was Just Another Day at the Office

The Packers lost the greatest quarterback of our recent times (my times saw Brett Favre and Bart Starr) and here it is Wednesday 3 days later and all that has happened is Head Coach Mike McCarthy got mad at a press conference and General Manager Ted Thompson brought up a quarterback from the practice squad 2 days later and signed greener than green quarterback to the practice a day later.

Sounds Familiar?

Watch the following link. I am not the only one who believes Ted Thompson has and is doing a terrible job.

Ted Thompson's Job Perfornance

The Moment of Truth is Here

For the past 9 seasons Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson and Head Coach Mike McCarthy and his coaching staff have been living a lie. They have taken credit for the Super Bowl victory and recently the playoff appearance streak, but is was actually just one man and one player alone who achieved all of that and for the next 10 games everyone will finally find out that Aaron Rodgers was the sole reason and they were riding his coattails.

Big Game This Week

The Packers are in 1st place in the North Division holding a 1 game lead over both the Minnesota Vikings and the Detroit Lions and a 3 game lead over da Bears.

The Packers have won 3 in a row while the Lions are coming off a 27-24 loss to the Panthers while the Vikings beat the Bears last week, 20-17. The Packers are on the road this week against the Vikings while the Lions are at the Saints (2-2) and the Bears are at the Ravens (3-2).

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART 29

It’s still serious

SUBLIME

Dug In

 I couldn’t find anything sublime last week for FTSTTR’s  28th edition, but this week I found something hopeful when its seems “the new guy” (thanks Whoopie) is doing everything possible to tear this country apart pitting Americans against Americans being the “Divider in Chief” instead of the “Uniter in Chief” he should be. At the very least “the new guy” is leading a cultural civil war and the country may not be able to survive intact. “A house divided against itself cannot stand” were good words from a true “Uniter in Chief”.

 

Nate Boyer Green Beret

A former Green Beret has stepped up to take the mantel of “National Uniter” since “the new guy” won’t. It all started a year ago with Colin Kaepernick, not one of my favorite people for many reasons, and a protest movement about the police killing black men. Now “the new guy” says without reservation its about disrespect for the military, flag and country and, of course, he always tells the truth, so why listen to the guy who actually did the deed. Remember it was about the police and black men dying. But it has become about symbols instead of substance. BAD as “the new guy” likes to tweet.

No Respect, No Respect

Aaron Jones, remember that name, he might be a trivia question one day. He is the modern day version of the great standup comedian Rodney Dangerfield and the second coming of Jeff Janis because he doesn’t get any respect from Head Coach Mike McCarthy, Offensive Coordinator Edger Bennett (yes, he is the OC) and Running Back Coach Ben Sirmans.

Despite being voted the NFL “Offensive Rookie of the Week” after rushing for a season-high 125 yards on 19 carries for an average of 6.6 yards a carry and scoring a touchdown while also catching one pass for 9 yards, the Packers seems to be pushing Ty Montgomery back from 5 broken ribs just 17 days ago to return this week and reclaim his starting job against the Vikings.

Brutal Thoughts on Week 5

We might have seen the last of J.J. Watt and I don’t mean for the season because he is already gone for 2017. They are calling the injury (tibial plateau in his left leg) he suffered Sunday as brutal and I guess it is considering it is season-ending, but it also may have signaled the end of Watt’s excellent career whether he returns next year or not.

The Great, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The Great

Aaron Rodgers:

What can you say about a player who almost single-handedly put this team on his shoulders, including Sunday with a 9-play, 75-yard drive in 62 seconds to beat the Cowboys in Dallas.

Rodgers: “I just focused on my breathing on the sidelines and try to calm myself and remind the guys about some little things. The first play of that 2-minute was a conversation we had coming out of halftime actually about the leverage and coverage style in that 55, 2-man coverage and what kind of route we thought we could get in that situation.”

The most amazing thing about the drive was it wasn’t supposed to be for the win, but only for the tie to send it into overtime.

Rodgers: “I was thinking touchdown. We had time. We had a time out. The key to a good 2-minute drive is the 1st play. You have to get some positive yards. We had a good concept front side and kind of alert backside, which actually set up the entire final sequence, hit Davante on a back shoulder to start the whole drive. That ultimately sets up the winning pass, because he’s playing high shoulder first play we go back shoulder. He’s playing lower shoulder on the last play. We go over the top with a high throw.”

Cowboys, Yeh or Ney?

The CBS experts are split. Peter Brisco, Will Brinson, Jared Dubin, Ryan Wilson pick the Packers while Jason La Canfora, John Breech, Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg pick the Cowboys.

Hummm, who are these guys? The only names I sort of recognize are Brisco and La Canfora. Those guys blank each out. I don’t trust a guy who won’t give his last name or goes by his first two (Dave Richard) and anybody who spells their male name Jamey I don’t like.

The ESPN experts are also split. Bowen, Golic, Kimes, Seifert, Wickersham and Pick ’em pick the Packers while Clay, Graziano, Kerney, Riddick, Wingo pick the Packers.

Hummmmmmmm, I don’t like a site that won’t give the person’s first name and make you look them up. So F**** ‘em.

FoxSports picks the Packers. IronRank picks the Cowboys. Alex Kay from Forbes picked the Cowboys.

Finally NFL Pick Watch tallied up 113 pickers and 54 chose the Packers and 59 picked the Cowboys.

Well that pretty much sums it up. By a slim margin the Cowboys are favored while on the whole this game is a Pick ‘em.

What’s With the Packers Injury Problems?

During the Mike McCarthy era the one thing you can depend upon is on any given day, on any given week and for any given game the Packers will be short-handed because of injuries.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART 28 - ADDENDUM

I’ve reserved every 10 posts for a look at the sublime of the previous few weeks and the ridiculous, but the Cam Newton incident this week made me mad and I had to comment.

New Stuff and Old Stuff

New Stuff

The NFL.com power rankings are out and if having the Detroit Lions tied for the North Division lead with the Packers didn’t impress you then get this the Lions are ranked No. 2 up from No. 4 and the Packers No. 5 up from 10.

Things Are Changing in the North

The Packers dominating the Bears was just the beginning of a week of change for the four teams of the former NFC Central Division, now called the NFC North.

The Bears $45 million man Mike Glennon has been benched after the former Buc turned the ball over 4 times to the punchless Packers defense, including two absolutely terrible overthrown interceptions. Glennon spent his first 4 seasons with the Bucs having started 18 of his first 19 games, but the past two years he has been a backup appearing in only 2 games.

13 Steps Forward, 5 Steps Back And John Fox

The win over da Bears proved 2 things the Packers are better than da Bears and Mike McCarthy is better than John Fox. Beyond that everything else that came out of the game is pure speculation.

The Packers offense, despite the offensive line shuffling once again, and the loss of Ty Montgomery, Jamaal Williams and Davante Adams, continued to produce. Aaron Rodgers was great with 4 touchdown passes and no interceptions, despite having his 300-yard game streak broken, and the game plan allowed him to be sacked only twice.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART 28

Straight number because this is serious

RIDICULOUS

There has been nothing sublime the past couple weeks with President Trump and the right wing talk radio nattering nabobs of culture attacking the NFL and its players over the National Anthem protests.

How It All Began

 The Republicans and the right wingers own the high ground on social issues with the majority of Americans in the Heartland thinking symbols mean more than substance.

  

Geronimooooooooooooooo!!!!! And Other Stuff

The incredible finish to Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals had me up on my feet yelling, “he’s got it, he’s got it, he’s got it" when Geronimo Allison caught that ball against the left sideline. It reminded me of Brett Favre’s 82-yard TD to Greg Jennings to beat the Broncos on Monday Night Football in 2007. I was at “The Cellar” that night also like I was yesterday because it seems where I live was the only place in the USA that didn’t have the game as the doubleheader game.

G-Mo, as Aaron Rodgers calls him, was the hero. He was suspended for the first game for performance enhancing drugs. He dropped a pass in the fourth quarter, but when Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams and Martellus Bennett were being covered Geronimo Allison stepped up big time catching 6 of 8 balls thrown his way for 122 yards.

Date Line: Cincinnati Bengals at Lambeau Field

It’s week 3 of the NFL season and the Packers are 1-1 after playing the Seahawks and the Falcons. It could have been worse with losses to the two of last year’s playoff teams, but honestly it couldn’t have been better, so 1-1 looks pretty good.

The loss last Sunday night on the national stage was the second by a lopsided score in the last 3 games to the high flying Falcons. The season ended last year with a 44-21 loss and last week it was 34-23, so I guess that was better.

Take Heed You Ted Thompson Supporters

The Packers predictably laid an egg before a national audience Sunday night against the Atlanta Falcons giving the general population a good look at the Green Bay Packers roster that the local kiss ass media doesn’t seem to see.

After the win over the punchless Seahawks the Packers jumped from No. 3 in the NFL Power Rankings to No. 1 (a spot I thought was a bit inflated because I felt the Seahawks weren’t that formidable of an opponent to justify a No. 1 ranking).

The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

The Sunday night debacle sadly was just another chapter for the “Just Good Enough” Packers during the Mark Murphy/Ted Thompson/Mike McCarthy/Dom Capers era. Everything that happened could have predicted and here are the many things that didn’t go right Sunday night.

The Key to the Atlanta Falcons Game

The Packers will open the new Mercedes-Benz Stadiurm Sunday with a lot on the line for the second week of the season. The key to this game is the Packers defense and not whether Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense can play a full game in sync.

I expect the Packers offense to play well, if David Bakhtiari plays. If he doesn’t and Adam Pankey has to start or Lane Taylor shifts over and Lucas Patrick starts at left guard or something else because General Manager Ted Thompson has left the Packers without a viable backup at left tackle then Rodgers and the offense will be in trouble.

However, that stupid injury on a celebration is not the real issue this week. The Falcons have a high powered offense with a decent offensive line and a bonafided star in Julio Jones unlike the Seahawks who had a wreck of an offensive line that Packers front seven dominated.

The Offense Was Another Matter

The offense was “terrible” according to Aaron Rodgers in the first half last week and the second half “got a little bit going”. I agree with that for the most part.

I Was Surprised and Very Pleased With the Defense

There were far more positives than negatives Sunday afternoon in the win over the Seattle Seahawks. The defense, for the most part, played very well and the offense played well enough, especially in the second half.

Let the Games Begin

The start of the season is now upon us with the hated Seattle Seahawks coming to Lambeau Field for the doubleheader game on FOX on Sunday.

In the latest NFL Power Rankings on NFL.com the Seahawks are rated No. 1 and the Packers No. 4. I guess that is about right with the Seahawks ahead of the Packers, but I think the pickers aren’t thinking enough about the Packers defense being a liability and the Packers should be a bit lower.

Four of the Packers Ex’s Are in Texas

Through training camp there were 85 ex-Packers around the NFL, but by the time the practice squads were filled and a day or two after there were only 37 left on the active rosters, 9 on the practice squad and five on injured reserve. Here is the list by team.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART двадцать семь

(Russian because of the Russian probe)

SUBLIME OR RIDICULOUS, I DON’T KNOW

Aaron Rodgers gave a very well received interview to Mina Kimes of ESPN entitled “The Search For Aaron Rodgers”.

Well, I would say from July to February he can be found in Green Bay, Wisconsin except for the bye week. I can also say where he won’t be found until he retires or is pushed out of town by Ted Thompson wherever the Super Bowl is being held. But I guess that’s not what Mrs. Kimes meant by that headline.

Definitely Not Ridiculous

My Thoughts on the final 53 plus 10

Breaking down the 2017 Green Bay Packers the best I can say is the Packers will not contend for a Super Bowl for the seventh straight year.

The Packers have two legitimate All-Pros in quarterback Aaron Rodgers and wide receiver Jordy Nelson. They three more possible Pro Bowlers in left tackle David Bakhtiari, tight end Martellus Bennet and free safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix with maybe defensive lineman Mike Daniels (in Dom Capers’ two-man line there is not much for a lineman to do that take up space).

How Did I Do?

I was right on 47 of the initial 53-man roster. I was wrong on WR Jeff Janis, G Lucas Patrick, T/G/C Don Barclay, OLB Jayrone Elliott, cornerback Ladarius Gunter and cornerback Lenzy Pipkins making the squad.

One Last Thought

I don’t know if anyone has noticed, but Ty Montgomery has not been given a running back number. It was said that in order for him to play running back this season he had be given a number in the 20’s, 30’s or 40’s. However, he still has #88 and I wonder what that means.

My Thoughts on the Roster

Here’s how I think the Green Bay Packers opening day roster will look.

Thoughts on Thoughts

The final preseason game was won by the Packers 24-10 over the Los Angeles Rams (still doesn’t make up for losing to them in the playoffs when they were in St. Louis and intercepted Brett Favre 6 times) and the nattering nabobs of pro footballery have come out to give their opinions on this, that and the other and as far as the Green Bay Packers are concerned the local media still hasn’t seen daylight after drinking the Ted Thompson Kool-Aid and waiting from him to bend over so they could take their usual spot up his ass.

I Must Have Been Watching a Different Game

The win over the Philadelphia Eagles was nice and some of the young guys played well as did a few of the older bubble players, but putting aside the glowing reports from the “Kiss Ass” local media and the “Homer” TV and radio network casters I saw some troubling things to worry about.

First and foremost shoddy tackling by the starters. Clay Matthews missing a sack he used to make in his sleep that led to a long TD completion was very troubling. The Claymaker hasn’t been the Claymaker for several seasons and that play makes me feel queasy.

You See I’m Not the Only One

This morning Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio summed up three of my main pet peeves of the current state of affairs of the Packers: 1. The “Just Good Enough” Packers. 2. Dom Capers. 3. Ted Thompson.

I have been accused of having a vendetta against Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers and General Manager Ted Thompson while being out in the opinion wilderness (and if there is something Packers Backers know about is being in the Wilderness) as far as those men are concerned and the general direction of the Packers by the “In Ted We Trust” crowd or as I call them “Tedders” and sycophants (a servile self-seeking flatterer by definition, but I have expanded that definition to compare them to those sad losers in sex chat rooms who pay the models thousands of dollars because they think they have a personal relationship with the girls while never having and never having a chance in hell to actually meeting them in person, but spend their time attacking others in the chat room they perceive not respecting their loved ones). Now doesn’t that sum up the “Tedders” to a tee?

New Teams for Old Packers

It took a while, but the career of former Packer Backer favorite (until he got beat for the winning TD in overtime of the 2014 “Great Collapse”) isn’t over after Tramon Williams signed a 1-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Spot On Greg Jennings

I never thought I would agree with anything former Packer Greg Jennings has spouted off since leaving the Packers after the 2012 season. But hell has evidently frozen over (but not in Southern Illinois where we are going through a heat wave) because he has agreed with me on a topic (I guess its true a broken clock is right twice a day, so I will wait for the second time he agrees with me) and I will always give credit where credit is due.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART WEHEES MAHAAR WEHEES MAHAAR PAPAAHE'

(26 in Gabrielino - the Native American tribe native to Hollywood)

SUBLIME

Rodgers and Munn in Happier Days

It seems Aaron "Hollywood" Rodgers has really joined the "A-Listers" since he ended his enjoinment with the American actress Miss Olivia Munn.

In the heartland from whence I come it takes months to get back into the dating scene after the breakup of a long-term relationship ("Hollywood" and Miss Olivia were together for 3 years), but "Hollywood" not only got back up on the horse, but found a better replacement within two weeks.

Kelly Rohrbach on the Baywatch Set

It was reported that "Hollywood" was seen on a "golf" date with Baywatch actress Kelly Rohrbach.

Kelly Rohrbach In Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue-2016

On April 27 he was spotted at the Westchester Golf Course in Los Angeles with a mystery girl. According to a report on TMZ, "Witnesses tell us Rodgers and Rohrbach appeared to be holding hands and looked flirty -- until they noticed people watching them.."

Aaron Rodgers with Mystery Girl

Draft Day: Recap and Evaluation By The Others

I was reading the draft evaluation on Packers.com and almost had a diabetic reaction with all the kiss-ass sugary pap about the genius of Ted Thompson and the absolute greatest of all 10 of his draft picks. The evaluations of the rest of the local media weren't much more objective.

I then moved out of Wisconsin and to check on the national media, who are far enough away from the evil clutches of Thompson, who doesn't like criticism (or at least he seems to with the way the local media praise him at every opportunity) to see what they what grade they gave the Packers draft.

Draft Day Three Was Offensive

After drafting two defensive backs and a defensive tackle in the second and third rounds Ted Thompson started the last day of the draft by drafting an outside linebacker before turning to the offense with the last 5 picks.

Draft Day Two: The Rebuilding of Defense Hits Year Six With No End in Sight

The rebuilding of the defense is now in its sixth year after General Manager Ted Thompson traded down in the 1st round to pick Washington cornerback Kevin King with the first pick of the 2nd round, North Carolina safety Josh James with the 29th pick in the 2nd round and Auburn defensive tackle Montravius Adams with the 29th pick of the 3rd round.

2017 Ted Thompson to 2015 Ted Thompson, "You blew it".

After Ted Thompson chose Washington cornerback Kevin King with the first pick of the second round and North Carolina safety Josh Jones in its second pick of the second round pick it's now evident that Ted Thompson's 2015 draft was a dismal failure.

Draft Day Two: What To Do?

It seems The Ted is ready to trade to out of the top pick of the second round and not knowing how far down the Packers will drop makes it a little hard to predict who the first Packers draft pick will be. I am thinking The Ted will still be looking for a pass rusher, a running back and a cornerback first, so let's look at what is left.

Draft Day One = A Trade and No Pick

On the first day of the 2017 draft The Ted pulled off his 30th draft day trade when he traded the 29th pick in the first round to the Browns for the first pick of the second round #33 and the first pick of the fourth round #108.

At the time of the trade the Browns had just picked safety Jabrill Peppers and the Falcons were on the clock with the 26th pick, which they traded up to get UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley.

At 27 the Bills drafted cornerback Tre'Various White from LSU with defensive end Taco Charlton going to the Cowboys and tight end David Njoku going to Browns with the Packers pick.

The next three picks were Wisconsin outside linebacker T.J. Watt to the Steelers; the Falcons traded up to take linebacker Reuben Foster from Alabama and the Saints on a pick they got from the Patriots picked Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk.

The trade was the right thing to do like I said yesterday. I feel all the players on the Packers draft list, except for maybe Watt, are still on the board.

Draft Predictions and Late Free Agent Stuff

Well, it seems The Ted has a philosophy about unrestricted free agent offensive linemen. He only signs two kinds. The first kind is veteran backups like the first UFA he signed guard Adrian Klemm and the second is used up former All-Pros at the end of the line like center Jeff Saturday and now guard Jahri Evans. And none of them proved to be a good pick up.

Draft Preview

The draft kicks off Thursday with the Packers sitting in the 29th spot of the 1st round. That means one of two things. First, the Packers probably won't get a surefire starter at that position and that is what the Packers need out of their 1st round pick unlike the last year when defensive tackle Kenny Clark was taken at 27 and started just 2 games.

Second, it could mean that The Ted trades down like he did in 2008 when he traded the 30th pick to the Jets for the 36th pick in the second round, which turned into Jordy Nelson, and the 114th pick in the fourth round, which was later traded to back to Jets along with the 162nd pick in the fifth round for 102nd pick still in the fourth round, which he used to pick defensive end Jeremy Thompson, who started 3 games his rookie season at right end. The next season he was moved to outside linebacker and suffering a neck injury in the sixth game and ended up retiring never playing another game.

Leftovers

The draft is approaching fast and there are still a few of the top 100 free agents out there hoping to latch on to a new team. With The Ted ignoring the desperate pleas of Aaron Rodgers to make this an "all-in" offseason by bringing in no impact players and evidently drawing the "incensement" of the Packers coaching staff by letting Pro Bowl right guard T.J. Lang go to the Lions it certainly has been an eventful pre-draft period for not the right reasons.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART HE IWAKLUA KUMAMALIMA

(Hawaiian for 25, because my aunt is current there on vacation)

SUBLIME in a lazy, crazy sort of way

The Ted Making a Fashion Statement

There are several media down times when you're a Packer Backer or the General Manager of the Green Bay Packers and the major media down times are the period right after the players clear out their lockers leading up to free agency and the time between the start of the free agency and the draft.

During those times the Green Bay media and the national media with absolutely nothing to go on speculate what The Ted keeps everything he does, including his lunch habits, close to his stained vest or under his ridiculous hat going by the old adage even older than The Ted, "loose lips sinks ships (or football teams)".

Catching Up Before the Draft

It's been a very busy (well sort of) first 100 days for The Ted and his front office administration, but not the kind of busy the local kiss-ass media and the national types were led to believe when The Ted gave the impression he would heed the desperate request of Aaron Hollywood Rodgers when the usually tight-lipped Quarterback said, "I don't think we need to rebuild. We need to reload. We've just got to make sure we're going all-in every year to win. And I think we can take a big step this offseason."

Before I get to The Ted's Big Week I hope everyone took notice of Hollywood's third sentence, "We've just got to make sure we're going all-in every year to win", and take it for what it was a big swipe at The Ted and his cheapskate ways. It seems I'm not the only one who thinks The Ted is wasting the prime years of Hollywood and it seems it's Hollywood himself who thinks that is the case.

You Must Listen to Aaron Rodgers

After the Packers were routed by the Falcons in the NFC championship game the "Man Who Must Be Listened To" Aaron Rodgers said this, "I don't think we need to rebuild. We need to reload We've just got to make sure we're going all-in every year to win. And I think we can take a big step this offseason."

Reading the lines were easy. Rodgers was saying it was time to bring in the final pieces of the puzzle since his time was drawing down, which is something I've been saying since before the Super Bowl. General Manager Ted Thompson built a playoff team that has made the playoffs for eight seasons in a row, but he absolutely refuses to build a Super Bowl team.

Free Trader Ted - NOT

As I said when free agency started the FAKE NEWS put out by the Trump...er...Thompson Administration made everyone salivate thinking about the quick fixes The Ted was going to sign to fix the Packers defense. Everyone took the feelers sent out by Trump....er....Thompson as gospel truth, except me, and once again the fools got fooled.

Going into the free agency the top positions needing attention were on defense. with cornerback, outside linebacker and inside linebacker the top positions. Running back and offensive line and the re-signing of tight end Jared Cook were the priorities on offense.

First The Ted went on a spending spree with his $43,568,612 cap room by signing 3 of his own free agents, former No. 1 pick bust Nick Perry to a 5 yr. $59 million dollar contract, current bust at left and right tackle Don Barclay to a 1 yr. $1.3 million dollar contract and the day before re-signing punter Jacob Schum to an undisclosed contract presumed to be worth $615,000.

So before free agency began outside linebacker was shored up with the re-signing of Perry and his team-leading 11 sacks, but it became unshored when Julius Peppers and his 7.5 sacks left to return to the Panthers.

The offensive line was shored up if you think Barclay is a good player, but it became unshored when center JC Tretter signed with the Browns and today when former Pro Bowl right guard T.J. Lang signed with the Lions.

FAKE NEWS - Packers Edition

            “There certainly are some indications that the Packers might be a little more aggressive in free agency this year,” Ian Rapoport said on NFL Network. “From what I am told, I would think the Packers are going to try to get some free agents this year, along with trying to re-sign Jared Cook.”

            If anyone, and I mean anyone, including the "Tedders" and "Ask Vic", who drink so much Ted Thompson Kool-Aid their tongues are a permanent purple (think about that Tedders as you wear your green and gold proudly, but underneath it all you are, yuk, purple as you pledge your allegiance to a man blindly like shorn sheep) think The Ted is going to change his stripes now you are sadly mistaken.

Super Bowl Deja Vu and Other Packers Matters

Before I get to the Packers the Super Bowl came and went with the Patriots winning. I thought the Falcons had a very good chance to win, but I saw a parallel to the Packers when the Falcons gave up a late score in the first half when the Falcons defense eased up as if The Dom was their Defensive Coordinator.

I was watching the game at The Cellar and when the Patriots kicked that field goal to make it 21-3 I made the announcement the game had turned and the Patriots were going to win.

This, That And The Other

This:

We now live in a Trump World of "Alternative Facts" and the NFL and Packers are caught in the middle of a good example.

On January 24, 2017 it was announced on Packers.com that Executive Vice President/General Manager & Director of Football Operations For Life Ted Thompson (I'm praying for the end of time) has signed 8 players to reserve/futures contract (all of which were on the practice squad at the end of the season).

However, on NFL.com (the official website of the NFL) on January 23, 2017 (it's funny or tragic how the NFL announcing something about the Packers before the Packers do) that the Packers had signed 8 players to reserve/futures contracts, but not the same eight players.

The official NFL.com transaction of Jan. 23 listed Reggie Gilbert, Antwan Goodley, Derrick Matthews, Lucas Patrick, Brian Price, Dez Stewart, Jermaine Whitehead and Jacob Flores being signed.

The official Packers.com transaction of Jan. 24 listed Reggie Gilbert, Antwan Goodley, Derrick Matthews, Lucas Patrick, Brian Price, Beau Sandland, Jermaine Whitehead and Jacob Flores being signed.

As you can see Dez Stewart is not on the list submitted by the Packers as being signed (he was released from the practice squad on December 2, 2016 when Joe Callahan was re-signed).

The Aikman List - A Detailed Analysis

A question was asked a few days ago concerning a comment from that known Green Bay hater former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman about the rash of injuries the Packers has suffered this year possibly being the result of Head Coach Mike McCarthy holding a Saturday practice instead of taking Saturday off and practicing on Friday.

It was implied that the Packers players were more susceptible to injuries during the Sunday games because they didn't have adequate time to recover while other teams had a day to recover.

First, I could find no reference to the Packers practicing on Saturday and injuries except for Aikman's comment. Second, the NFL doesn't even recognize that the Packers practice on Saturday because their official injury list only lists practices on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, including the Packers. Third, there cannot be much of a practice since Saturday is also travel day.

Bad News Comes in 3s

After having my hopes and dreams dashed with the news of The Ted and The Dom (we live in a Donald Trump world these days) returning I couldn't believe it when it was announced that former Packers outside linebackers coach Kevin Greene has been hired as outside linebackers coach by the Jets.

Greene spent 5 years in the same position with the Packers under Defensive Coordinator for Life Dom Capers from 2009 to 2013 and since 2011 I've been calling for Greene to be named Defensive Coordinator.

He brought a nasty and attacking attitude to the defense which sorely needs some attitude besides bending over and spreading its cheeks each and every week under The Dom.

A Flurry of Personnel News But Not The Big One Elizabeth

Head Coach Mike McCarthy had a press conference today and he made three big, huge, humongous announcements. I started to grab my chest and stumble around the room, but...........

First, "Ted (Thompson) is back.  don't know where the heck some of these articles come from. I don't see any change in him as far as his vision ... he's working, I don't see any change in that."

Second, "This is no time for drama. Dom Capers is an outstanding football coach. That doesn't change. He had a tough challenge in front of him this year, and once again that coaching staff dealt with a lot. I think clearly if you look at the way the team was motivated, the way they were prepared, the things we were able to do, the adjustments we made, it's all part of it. So, a lot of good things came out of that."

Third, "Associate head coach/offense Tom Clements will move on to some other interests." Clements' contract is expiring. I guess he is the reason the Packers defense sucked so much.

In a span of just a few minutes McCarthy didn't make my day, ended my Held Hostage countdown and sent me into a funk that may just last the rest of McCarthy's tenure as head coach.

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART VEINTICUATRO

(Mexican because this might be the last time I use Mexican because the TRUMP WALL is about to go up)

SUBLIME

The Table Was Run

The last time we visited the Sublime and the Ridiculous the Packers were in the middle of their 8 game winning streak and about to play the Vikings the day before Christmas. Also everyone had predicted the Packers to win and they did, of course, knocking the Vikings out of the playoffs, and then went on to beat the Lions to end the season and knock them out of the North title to regain the title the Packers lost to the Vikings last season in the final game. I would say that is pretty SUBLIME.

Day Two: Held Hostage By 1265 Lombardi Avenue

I woke up this morning and got on-line and had déjà vu all over again when I couldn't find the notice of Green Bay Packers Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers being fired after not seeing that notice yesterday. I even waited a few hours to check to give Head Honcho Ted Thompson time to eat his dry toast and drink his coffee before doing the right thing and putting all us loyal Packer Backers out of our shared misery. But that didn't happen today, so I will wait until tomorrow because I'm a Packer Backer and we all live on hope.

While I was writing this I went surfing on the world wide web (in case those of you who live in Chicago, Minneapolis and Detroit don't know that is what www. means) and found an article from 3 weeks ago that stated Thompson will most likely step down after the season and be hired as a senior scouting advisor in order to hire Elliot Wolf as his replacement. I am for that, but won't hold my breath waiting for that moment to happen. I have been disappointed before and the last time was 10 minutes ago.

Championship Game Autopsy

I watched the "Debacle in the Dome" with half of my brain in disbelief and the other half saying over and over again like Dorothy on her way home from Oz or like a song phrase you can't get out of your head, "same old, same old, sam.......".

I waited until this morning to make my comments thinking I will wake up from the very predictable disaster and, 'No, not that it didn't happen," it certainly did for 3 and a half hours, but that certain consequences would be delivered decisively and quickly, but when I went on-line expecting Defensive Coordinator Dom Capers to be fired I was disappointed for the 2nd time in less 24 hours.

Can Rodgers Do It Again?

The game today at the Georgia Dome is a microcosm of the Packers season. A Packers offense that is as good as in the league without its major stars and a defense that isn't playing against the best offense in the league with its MVP possible quarterback.

Now you add the flu which I understand started with Jordy Nelson and I get the feeling the football gods seem to be against the Packers, but somehow Aaron Rodgers has thrown all the trials and tribulations those gods have thrown at the team since Week 11 and has come out on top. Today could be one of those games that could cement Rodgers' legacy as one of or maybe the best the league has ever seen since he has been sick with the flu since Friday.

Next Man Up Once Again

The hallmark of the 2016-17 Green Bay Packers has been next man up all season. On defense the cornerback and inside linebacker positions has been hit very hard with injuries and on offense it has been running back and wide receiver. And once again injuries have raised its ugly head with the loss of Jordy Nelson for the Cowboys game for sure and the season possibly.

The loss of Nelson could hurt more than the loss of Randall Cobb for the last 2 games of the regular season did. When Cobb went down with an ankle injury undrafted rookie free agent Geronimo Allison stepped in and did a great job with 4 catches out of 7 thrown for 66 yards against the Vikings and 4 catches out of 6 thrown for 91 yards and a TD against the Lions.

Last week against the Giants despite Nelson going down early Allison was only thrown the ball twice catching 1 for 8 yards. It didn't seem to matter that Nelson was on the sidelines last week with Davante Adams and Randall Cobb not missing a beat catching 13 of 19 passes for 241 yards and 4 TDs.

In addition tight end Jared Cook continued to be productive catching 5 of 9 passes for 48 yards and running back Ty Montgomery doing good work out of the backfield catching 3 of 4 for 41 yards.

The key to last week was the inability of the defense to plan for Nelson being out and that won't be the case this week for the Cowboys. Last year with Nelson out the entire season Adams wasn't up to the task of being the No. 1 receiver after he had begun to show signs at the end of the 2014 season as being a legitimate go-to man.

"I Screwed Up". YOU THINK!!

I can give you the names of 7 people who heard me say, "I don't like this," at least 3 times when Packers Head Coach Mike McCarthy decided to go for it on a 4th-and-1 from his own 42 leading 14-6. I also said, "he will go off-tackle left for negative 1." and guess what he went off-tackle left for negative 1 yards.

When asked about the play here's what McCarthy said, "Oh, I was pissed off. Totally. That’s just the way I’m wired. I feel responsible when things don’t go well. I mean, my job’s to orchestrate and keep our guys in healthy plays and create flow and rhythm for Aaron. That’s the way I believe play-calling should operate. But there was too much risk there. I screwed it up.”

"Really". You are pissed off about what? A play you call all the time in the same situation and it fails almost all the time. You had to add "That's just the way I'm wired". What the hell does that mean? Then you said, "I feel responsible when things don’t go well." "REALLY". I may be wrong, but you are the head coach and you call all the plays, so you ARE responsible whether you feel it or not.

Offseason Moves During Postseason Play

Before we get started the news on Jordy Nelson is not good. He has at least 2 fractured ribs and while the BS coming out of 1265 Lombardi Avenue says he might still play Sunday against the Cowboys anyone with fractured ribs would not be playing. In fact he might miss the rest of the playoffs.

Even though the referees at the time didn't consider the hit penalty worthy I would hope the NFL fines Leon Hall a hefty sum for 2 infractions - leading with the crown of his helmet and hitting a defenseless receiver.

In a surprise move, at least to me, the Packers released defensive lineman Mike Pennel Monday. Pennel played very well last season becoming a valuable member of the rotation, but this year he was suspended the first 4 games by the NFL for performance enhancing drugs and the final 4 games for the same reason and in the middle 8 games was a non-factor.

"Hail Rodgers"

I took last week off because I was busy at work and I really didn't know what to think about the Packers after dismantling the Lions in the 6h must-win in as many weeks. I felt the Lions were only downslide even though the Packers had failed to win the same game last year at Lambeau Field against the Vikings with the North title on the line.

That failure stuck in my mind heading into the game against the Giants as did the other two times Eli Manning faced the Packers at Lambeau in the playoffs and beat Brett Favre the first time and Aaron Rodgers the second.

However, this is a different Packers team facing an older and not better Eli with Aaron Rodgers at the top of his game and the Aaron Rodgers who was mired in a slump when he faced the Vikings last year.