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.

Tauscher was one of the famous 7th round draft picks by (no, not Ted Thompson) Ron Wolf in 2000 and started 132 of 134 games until he retired because of injuries after the 2010 season. His career basically ended in 2008 when he suffered a knee injury and missed the final 3 games of the season. The next season he missed the first 8 games while rehabbing his knee and returned in Week 9, but suffered a knee sprain and missed another game before returning and finishing out the last 7 games of the regular season and the playoff game. In 2010 he started the 1st 4 games before suffered a torn rotator cuff and was placed on Injured Reserve for the 3rd time in his career (2002 after two games with a knee injury and 2008). Then a reminder that it’s a business (just ask Brett Favre) when the Packers waived him during training camp in 2011.

SUBLIME PLUS

Tauscher provides studio commentary for NFL coverage on Sky Sports in Britain and provides commentary and analysis on both the Wisconsin Badgers football radio network and the Green Bay Packers radio network. He also co-hosts a daily show called Wilde and Tausch on 540 ESPN with Packers Beat Writer and ESPN Packers Insider Jason Wilde. SUBLIME.  PLUS in March he was being pushed to run for Wisconsin Governor, but he says he won’t jump into the race.

HALL OF FAME SUBLIME

Longwell began his 16-year career as a 49ers undrafted free agent who was cut in training camp and signed by Ron Wolf.  When Longwell left in free agency after the 2005 season he was the Packers all-time leading scorer (1,054) with numerous other records (field goal attempts (277), field goals made (226), field goals made season (33) with Chester Marcol, field goals made game (5) with Chris Jacke and highest career field goal percentage (.815). He also holds the distinction of having the most points by a player who never made the Pro Bowl (1,687) making him the Rodney Dangerfield of field goal kickers which is RIDICULOUS.

Longwell then became one of many ex-Packers who played with the Vikings. He played 6 seasons with the Norsemen before being cut in training camp in 2012. His Vikings totals were 135 of 157 field goals (.860), 228 of 233 extra points, and 633 points.

Longwell ended his career with the Seahawks in 2012 when he was signed for 1 game kicking 4 of 4 extra points in the playoffs when Steven Hauschka suffered a calf injury.

During his career he played in 14 playoff games. He played 10 with Green Bay (15 of 21 field goals, 20 of 21 extra points and 65 points), 3 with the Vikings (2 of 2 field goals, 10 of 10 extra points and 16 points) and 1 with Seahawks (4 of 4 extra points and 4 points).

In 2013 Longwell signed a one-day contract to retire as a Packer and 4 years later he is enshrined in the Packers Hall of Fame. PRETTY SUBLIME for an undrafted rookie free agent putting him on the same level as Willie Wood.

RIDICULOUS

Ryan Longwell was the unofficial spokesman for Brett Favre when the Packer  Hall of Fame quarterback was considering retiring and had his own “O.J. Simpson Bronco Drive” when he picked Favre up at the Minneapolis Airport when Favre decided to come back for his ill-fated last season.

 

Favre Getting Out of Longwell's SUV

SUBLIMER

Running back Jamaal Williams has been nominated for Rookie of the Week after 118 total yards against the Browns (49 rushing and 1 touchdown and 69 receiving with 1 touchdown).

SUBLIMEST

Wide Receiver Davante Adams has been nominated for Clutch Player of the Week after catching the game-tying touchdown with 17 seconds left in regulation and the winning touchdown in overtime.

MUCHO SUBLIMITY

Running back Jamaal Williams tied 2 rookie records in his second start against the Steelers when he rushed for 66 yards with a touchdown and had 69 yards receiving with a touchdown becoming only the second rookie since Travis Williams in 1967 to have 65 yards or more and a touchdown in both rushing and receiving.

Travis "Roadrunner" Williams

 He also became only the second rookie running back to catch a 50-yards plus receiving touchdown since Jessie Clark caught a 75-yard touchdown in 1983.

RIDICULOUS

Fellow rookie running back Aaron Jones has been the forgotten man since he suffered a knee injury against the Bears. His 1st start after taking over for the injured Ty Montgomery he rushed for 125 yards and a touchdown against the Cowboys being the 1st rookie running back to rush for over 100 yards since Eddie Lacy in 2013 and was named NFL Rookie of the Week.

Then RIDICULOUS set in when Mike McCarthy didn’t start him the following week. He split duties with Montgomery and neither player had a good game. He started the next week against the Saints and rushed for 131 yards and touchdown and was named NFL Ground Player of the Week. He was also nominated as Rookie of the Week.

After the bye he started against the Lions and was held to 12 yards on 5 carries. He was then hurt against the Bears and missed the next 2 games. Since his return he carried the ball once against the Bucs in the overtime when he scored the winning touchdown on a 20 yard run. He then carried the ball 4 times for -2 yards last week against the Browns. Since the Saints games he has carried the ball 12 times for 42 yards and a touchdown in 4 games after gaining 346 yards on 62 carries with 3 touchdowns in his previous 4 games before he got lost. RIDICULOUS.