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.

Ian Rapoport from NFL Network also stated that Packers Offensive Coordinator Edgar Bennett will likely receive head coaching interest. When I saw that I was dismayed that the Thompson Tidbit wouldn't happen because I can't see how Bennett would be under any consideration for anything except being fired. I don't think he can take credit for how well Aaron Rodgers played in the latter half of the season, but if he does then he must take credit for how bad he played in the first 10 games and the last 10 games last season. It's only fair.

Anyway so far I haven't heard his name mentioned in either consideration, interviews or even speculation other than the Rapoport report. That alone gives me a Maalox moment about Thompson retiring making the "Debacle at the Dome" go down easier.

Since I have some time before my next disappointment, which may or may not be about the Packers, let's walk down memory lane about Edgar Bennett. He just completed his 24th year in the NFL and his 22nd with the Packers.

He began as a 4th round draft pick in 1992 and spent 5 seasons with the Packers as a fullback and a running back. He was a fan favorite and was the 1st to rush for over a 1,000 yards in 1995 since Terdell Middleton in 1978.

He suffered a torn Achilles heel (I don't know if that is the same thing as an Achilles tendon, but that's how it's stated in his Packers bio) during the pre-season in 1997 and was released after the season and signed with the Chicago Bears in 1998. He was the leading rusher in 1999 and retired after the 2000 season.

He returned to the Packers for the 2001 season and spent 4 years as Director of Player Development, before becoming running backs coach from 2005 to 2010, then receivers coach from 2011 to 2014 and finally offensive coordinator in 2015.

Ok, then to other news. Left tackle David Bakhtiari was named a replacement to play in the Pro Bowl when Jason Peters of the Eagles had to bow out because of injury or indifference (it's hard to tell). He is the first Packers offensive tackle to earn a Pro Bowl spot since Chad Clifton in 2010.

I have to say something about Bakhtiari. I thought he had a limited upper level and had reached it and would always be just a good, but not great left tackle. I WAS WRONG. He was the best left tackle in the NFL in terms of sacks and hurries and was named Second Team All-Pro.

Now for some other Pro Bowl news more on the ironic side. Packer right guard T.J. Lang left the "Debacle in the Dome" with an injured foot, so he legitimately has pulled out and was replaced by former Packer cancer Josh Sitton. To add insult to injury literally Sitton and Lang may actually be reunited on the Bears next season when Lang is allowed to walk now that he is a free agent if Thompson remains as General Manager.

As far as free agents are concerned joining Lang as unrestricted free agents are linebackers Julius Peppers, Nick Perry, and Datone Jones, defensive back Micah Hyde, tight end Jared Cook, running backs Eddie Lacy and Christine Michael, center JC Tretter, guard/tackle Don Barclay and long snapper Brett Goode. My guess is Hyde and Cook may be the only ones returning.

The restricted free agents are linebackers Jayrone Elliott and Jordan Tripp. The exclusive rights free agents are wide receivers Geronimo Allison, running backs John Crockett and Don Jackson, fullback Joe Kerridge, defensive lineman Christian Ringo, linebacker Joe Thomas and punter Jacob Schum.

On Tuesday morning January 24 I found out Aaron Rodgers pulled out the Pro Bowl and was replaced by Kirk Cousins of the Redskins. I somehow missed this announcement, but looking back I found the article, but it was dated January 20, 2016 when he pulled out of last year's Pro Bowl and was replaced by Derek Carr of the Raiders. There was no specific injury listed.

I continued to look and found another article about Rodgers pulling out of the Pro Bowl, but it was dated January 20, 2015 when he pulled out of that Pro Bowl and was replace by Andy Dalton of the Bengals. The injury that year was to his torn calf.

To be comprehensive, which I always try to be, Rodgers has been named to the Pro Bowl a total of 6 times (2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016) since he became the starter in 2008 missing only 2010 (ironically the Super Bowl year) and 2013. He was also named 1st Team All-Pro and NFL MVP in 2011 and 2014.

I went back to look one more time and finally found the article, but it was from the Washington Post and not the Packers on January 23. I also found a note from WDJT-Milwaukee 58-TV that came down at 3:16 p.m. on January 23, but it referenced a tweet from the Redskins and not any announcement from the Packers and five minutes later from FOX6NOW-TV repeating the Redskins announcement.

I went back to check Packers.com and to no surprise to me and anyone who follows the Packers there was no announcement concerning Rodgers and the Pro Bowl as of 1:23 p.m. a full 22 hours after it was first announced. As I have said many times Packers.com is the absolutely the last place I go for news, breaking or otherwise.

The Packers will have only 2 players playing in the Pro Bowl - Ha Ha Clinton-Dix starting at free safety and Bakhtiari as a backup, who originally was an alternate along with wide receiver Jordy Nelson, fullback Aaron Ripkowski, wide receiver Davante Adams and defensive lineman Mike Daniels (I really don't know what position to assign him because Capers only uses two defensive linemen). So there is still hope I guess either Ripkowski or Daniels will still be named.

Finally, the format of the Pro Bowl has gone back to NFC vs. AFC, where it should be and not that crap of the last 3 years when the format was changed in 2013 to be two teams chosen by Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders regardless of being in the NFC or AFC. In 2015 the teams were chosen by Michael Irvin and Cris Carter. Last year is was Team Irvin and Team Rice. I hated this format and hated that egotists like Irvin and Sanders and a buffoon like Rice were allowed to be part of an official NFL event.

On the sidelines they didn't take the game seriously, so the players didn't either. In fact the Pro Bowl was a joke as far as an actual game was concerned the previous few years before the change in format when the millionaires that agreed to play wouldn't rush the passer or even try to tackle or cover receivers, but to turn it over to those clowns officially made it a sanctioned joke.

If is only the NFL Pro Bowl of all the All-Star Games that don't work because the players were afraid of getting hurt or something else altogether. The All-Star Games in college football and the other pro sports are good games and the NFL has to put its foot down and make the players play the game the way it should be played.

The Pro Bowl will be played at 7 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.