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.

After finally, and it took a while, parting ways with Jay Cutler the Bears went ape shit signing Glennon to a 3-year $45 million contract with $18.5 million guaranteed this season and $2.5 million next year. Then the Bears traded their 2017 #1-3, 2017 #3-67,2017 #4-111 along with a 2018 #3 to the San Francisco 49ers to move up one spot (2017 #1-2) to draft Notre Dame’s Mitchell Trubinsky. So in a span of 6 weeks the Bears cut Cutler, day later signed a career backup to a huge contract, 2 days later signed former No. 1 pick Mark Sanchez to a $2 million contract and then traded 4 picks to draft a rookie.

Now Coach John Fox has decided to bench his most expensive quarterback after 4 games, leave Sanchez as the 3rd quarterback and give the ball to the rookie Trubinsky.

The Vikings and the Lions played Sunday and the Lions beat the high-flying Vikings 14-7 to join the Packers at the top of the North with 3-1 records dropping the Vikings to 2-2 and the Bears to 1-3.

The bright spots for the Vikings has been the play of their backup quarterback Case Keenum and their No. 2 draft pick Dalvin Cook, who is a legitimate star averaging 4.8 yards a carry in replacing future Hall of Famer Adrian Peterson. However, Cook suffered a torn ACL and is now lost for the season. He dropped to the 2nd round partly because of injury concerns (3 shoulder surgeries and a hamstring in college), but mainly for off-the-field issues (2009 while in high school he was charged with robbery and then 2010 firing a gun on campus, and then 2016 he was charged with battery outside a bar). All charges were dropped, but as we all know those charges are always dropped for other reasons than guilt. Football stars get away with murder (literally see Ray Lewis).

However, all of that aside, I actually considered drafting him and Joe Mixon (another stellar human being) instead of Kevin King or Josh Jones, because the Packers need a legitimate star running back and Cook is the real deal leading the league in rushing heading into Week 4. His loss with hurt the Vikings chances. I feel sorry for the young man, but it couldn’t happen to a better team. Too Bad for the Vikings.

The Lions deserve to be in 1st place. They are legit. Matthew Stafford is a top notch quarterback and their top running back Ameer Abdullah is also legit and the Lions have the Packers’ Pro Bowl guard T.J. Lang at right guard. Abdullah left the game with an injury after gaining 93 yards rushing. Lang also left the game for a play after being run up on by his own tackle. The Lions also lost outside linebacker Paul Worrilow to a left knee injury.

On the ex-Packers front there was a Jared Abbrederius sighting yesterday in the Lions-Vikings game. He didn’t catch a pass, but the announcers did mention his name.

As far as the Packers are concerned running back Ty Montgomery has cracked ribs, but is not listed out. No. 2 running back Jamaal Williams is out with a knee injury. No. 4 running back Aaron Jones is the next man up after gaining 49 yards against the Bears, or No. 3 running back Devante Mays will start. For some reason McCarthy doesn’t like Jones. I think he should start.

Davante Adams is out of the hospital and is in concussion protocol. That is the best news we could have hoped for concerning the hit he took. Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan was suspended for 2 games. It should have been 6.

Blake Martinez (concussion), Josh Jones (back) and Joe Thomas (ankle) left the Bears game. Martinez and Jones returned, but Thomas didn’t. Thomas plays a lot at inside backer, and he is listed as questionable. David Bakhatiari and Bryan Bulaga were limited last week and may be able to return for Sunday’s game. Mike Daniels (hip) and Davon House (hamstring) are still listed as questionable. Nick Perry is playing with a club on his hand.

The Packers play at the Vikings in 2 weeks and host the Lions on Nov. 6 after the bye in Week 9. Between the Vikings and the Lions the Packers host the Saints in Week 7 before the bye.

Next up is the doubleheader game against the Cowboys next Sunday at Jerry World. The Cowboys are 2-2 behind the Eagles (3-1) and Redskins (2-1 going into the MNF against the Chiefs) after losing 35-30 to the Rams Sunday.