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.

I Don't Know What To Think

Today General Manager Ted Thompson put Eddie Lacy on injured reserve with his ankle injury and brought up rookie Don Jackson. Two days ago All-World quarterback Aaron Rodgers drinking scotch in order to straighten out his slump that has extended to 17 games dating back to the bye week of last season and ignoring the 2016 preseason because he only played 16 snaps in the four games.

 

Tonight the Packers (3-2) play the absolutely terrible Bears (1-5) at Lambeau Field to wind up a 4-game homestand. The Bears are led by Brian Hoyer, who will face LaDarius Gunter, who has been beaten badly lately, and Demetri Goodson, who was just activated for the first time this season last week, as the starting cornerbacks with Sam Shields (IR), Damarious Randall (groin) and Quinten Rollins (groin) out with injuries.

 

With Rodgers not taking his slump and the Packers' offensive slump seriously and with no experienced running backs on the roster with Chiefs 4th-string Knile Davis the new starting running back and Jackson his backup I don't know what to think about tonight's game.

 

FROM THE SUBLIME TO THE RIDICULOUS, PART TJUGOETT

(Swedish)

 

The Best Rivalry In Sports In My Opinion

RIDICULOUS

 

George Halas and Curly Lambeau



Recently MSN.com (9/28/16) ran a FoxSports.com list of the 8 Best Rivalries in the NFL Today ranked. Of course, the Packers and Bears, the longest rivalry in sports, was ranked first, as it should be, but I'm getting ahead of the story. Read on McDuff.

 

So now we'll go the list of the Top 8 Best Rivalries in the NFL Today starting with their premise: Familiarity breeds contempt-- an idea that’s reaffirmed between NFL division rivals twice and sometimes three times a year. But especially in the era of NFL parity, rivalries ebb and flow. It helps a rivalry when both teams are riding high, the games are closely contested, the combatants win a relatively equal share of games and there’s a lot at stake. With that in mind, we’ve ranked the top eight rivalries in the NFL today.

 

Vince Lombardi and 'Papa Bear' George Halas

If You Have Any Doubts

Rodgers Gets Knocked Down, But Always Gets Up

Replacing a living legend who never missed a game despite a broken thumb, two separated shoulders, a sprained knee and an ankle the size of Chicago is a tall task and if you have any doubts about how tough Aaron Rodgers is then all you have to know he played the last half of the season with a knee that needed surgery.

Rodgers pulled out of the Sunday's Pro Bowl because of an undisclosed injury and I figured it was the shoulder he hurt against the Chargers in week six. However, it was revealed that he actually is recovering from minor knee surgery from a low hit by Ezekiel Ansah on his left knee against the classless Lions in week 10.

Master of Their Domain

 

After Thursday's Miracle in Motown the Packer players had a weekend off to enjoy the win and prepare for the final month on the season. I also enjoyed the weekend with prep basketball games Friday and Saturday night won by the local teams and a very enjoyable Sunday starting with the Collapse in ChiTown and finishing with the Seahawk Slaughter before hosting the chili supper birthday party of my 94-year old uncle. It was a great weekend indeed.

Turkey and Bear Edition

It's a short week and I have come up short with my usual insights and musings. I have been busy with my evening job, but to be honest there hasn't been much new to talk about since the win over the Vikings.

It's All About the Da' Coach

After what happened Sunday on and off the field there is absolutely, positively no doubt the Packer losing streak and its end was all about former Bears (and Saints) head coach Mike Ditka.

 

When the McDonald's commercials began airing the Packers were at 6-0 and for three weeks and two different versions, at least that's all I saw, the Packers lost games to Denver, Carolina and Detroit - yes the Lions of all teams and at Lambeau Field no less - while the Vikings won all three games during that span and it took a week (even Ditka can't pull off miracles) before the Bears won the next two games, so you all know it had to be because of demonic forces.

 

It Figures

 

The Packers can't win for losing. Hell, the Packers can't win period right now losing to one of the worst teams in the NFL at Lambeau Field.

 

1. As Timmer said two weeks ago all the superstitious and ritual things Packer Backers do mean nothing to the play on the field, but it seems an old nemesis, now a TV pitchman, has put a real curse on the Packers. IT FIGURES.

The most beloved Bears coach of all time Mike Ditka (sorry George Halas, but it's true) is currently doing a series of commercials for McDonalds and in them he has donned Packer regalia and is rooting for the Packers. When it first came out Bears fans to a man were mad as hell, but there was method in that old man's madness. Since they started running the Packers have lost three straight games. (this BEARS repeating) IT FIGURES!!!!!!!!!

 

2. The last thing the Packers needed was to lose to the Lions before hitting the road against the first-place Minnesota Vikings and playing a Thanksgiving home game with the possible appearance of Bart Starr against the suddenly resurgent Chicago Bears. However, the Packers did lose. IT FIGURES.

 

3. Despite all the offensive woes during the game the Packers would have won the game if Mason Crosby had made a last-second field goal. Despite blowing the 2-point conversion the Packers recovered an on-side kick and gained enough yards to win the game. However, when you are snake bit things happen and Crosby's kick was blocked. IT FIGURES.

 

Monday Morning Quarterback

It's Monday morning and the usual Monday Morning Quarterback is patting himself on the back for making the right predictions of his Sunday game. Today I will try to bring some sanity to the Green Bay Packers-Kansas City Chiefs Monday Night Football game on ESPN.

 



My office chair last week

If you were wondering why my posts were sporadic last week was I was and still am suffering from food poisoning. Sitting in my desk chair is not a fun thing when my business end is sore. I hope I will not be the butt of your jokes this week after making my prediction at the end.

 

First, we seem to live in a have and have not world in the NFC North. The Packers (2-0) and the Vikings (2-1) are legitimate Super Bowl candidates and the Bears (0-3) and Lions (0-3) are not.

 

Typical Bear fans before and after the game

I was on the radio Sunday morning with a Bears fan who was lamenting the loss of Jay Cutler and Alshon Jeffrey (as if I worry about how to spell a Bears' receiver name-alright it's Jeffery) and during his wining fest he gave those injuries as an excuse for the then 0-2, soon to be 0-3 Bears. As if losing the star receiver was a reason to fall apart, but as I pointed out to his suddenly deaf ears the Packers lost Jordy Nelson and the Packers are still 2-0 going into MNF. I love it when Bears fans are wishing for the good old days when Cutler was under center. All I can say is how low can the Bears fans go. Something for us to watch and revel in as the season progresses.

 

Now to the subject at hand the 1-1 Kansas City Chiefs. All of the Packers pundits are predicting a win in the area of 27-24. That says a lot about the state of the suddenly powerful Packers defense. First, the Bears fan made a comment how the Packers had a great defense. It just goes to show you they don't no nuttin'. Remember the only redeeming value of the Chiefs offense is running back Jamaal Charles, who is ranked 15th in the league in rushing with 182 yards and one touchdown. He might be a little more motivated after fumbling the ball in overtime for the game-losing touchdown the last time out.

 

Alex Smith beating Rodgers the first time

The Chiefs are led by that future Hall of Famer Alex Smith. Let's take a walk down memory lane. Smith and Aaron Rodgers were the top two quarterbacks in the 2005 draft with both being talked about as the No. 1 overall pick. When the big day came Smith was chosen first by the 49ers and their offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy and Rodgers was embarrassed as the cameras kept peeking in on him in the green room as he fell all the way to 24th where Ted Thompson took him as his first first-round draft pick.

 

The rest is history. Smith became an often-injured bust who eventually found a career with the Chiefs as a game manager and Rodgers became the best quarterback in the league, two-time MVP, Super Bowl MVP, future Hall of Famer, the best quarterback of all time and more importantly Olivia Munn's boyfriend..

 

In head-to-head battles Smith and Rodgers are 1-1 with both games being played at Lambeau Field when Smith was a 49er. In 2009 Rodgers won 30-24, but in the first game of the 2012 season won 30-22. Later that season Smith suffered a concussion in week 9 and lost his job to Colin Kaepernick. This is the first time Smith faces Rodgers as a Chief.

 

This season Smith has thrown for 434 yards - four yards behind Rodgers - with 3 touchdown passes and two interceptions. By the way, Rodgers has 5 TDs and no interceptions.



Facing Jamaal Charles is a scary proposition

Back to Charles and the Packers' defense. It seems no one thinks the job they did against Marshawn "I've been here all along" Lynch was a harbinger of things to come. That performance fell off their radar and they think Charles will tear up the Packers. Let's hope not because it is beginning to shape up to be a lost season for one of our best runner stoppers strong safety Morgan Burnett, who is out again after tweaking (or worst) his calf injury.

 

The Chiefs top receivers are tight end Travis Kelce (10-164-2TD), wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (9-109-0TD) and Charles (9-48-1TD). Who? Kelce is a former 2013 third-round (63rd) pick and Maclin, who is a former No. 1 pick by the Eagles, who was allowed to leave in free agency after last year despite having cap room. But, of course, I read somewhere Coach Chip Kelly hates black players. Those aren't my words, but former Eagles running back LeShon McCoy's.

 

Let's hope Dom Capers comes up with another great game plan to cover the tight end, to get pressure on Smith and to stop the run. Besides Burnett, the defense is almost at full strength (except for the loss of backup nose tackle Josh Boyd), game 3 of the 4 game suspension of defensive end Letroy Guion and backup cornerback Demetri Goodson (hamstring). Outside linebacker Mike Neal (groin) and safety Sean Richardson (ankle) are listed as questionable. The Chiefs are healthy coming in.

 

Normally I would say something about Capers and the defense, but today I will just say this should be where the game is won or lost.

 

Now the Packers offense verses the Chiefs defense. The Chiefs give up 347.5 yards a game (268 passing/79.5 rushing). I feel the Packers will be using running back James Starks more this game because of Eddie Lacy's ankle injury (questionable). Wide receiver Davante Adams (ankle) is also listed as questionable, so maybe we'll see more of Jeff Janis (hey, Andrew), as the fourth receiver behind Randall Cobb (probable-shoulder), Adams and Ty Montgomery, but if recent history means anything Janis won't play much, if at all, on the offense. Probably tight ends Richards Rodgers and Andrew Quarless will take up the slack.

 

Controlling Justin Houston is job No. 1

The Chief defense brings the heat led by outside linebacker Justin Houston (3 sacks), defensive end Allen Bailey (2 sacks) and their No. 1 draft pick this year cornerback Marcus Peters with 2 interceptions with 1 TD. The hallmark of this defense is they don't miss tackles, while the Packers have trouble tac....oops I can't say that. Let's just say the Chief defense has that one on us.

 

The outside pass rush could be a problem, but if Don Barclay and David Bakhtiari hold up enough to give Rodgers breathing room to roam like last week then that shouldn't be a major problem.

 

Let's hope the game plan is to target Peters and give him a schooling from the best quarterback in the league. Make him uncomfortable and it should it be a good day in the passing game for the Packers.

 

The Chiefs lead the overall series 7-3-1 and have won six of the last seven, including 19-14 in Week 13 of the 2011 season to hand the Packers its first loss during a 15-1 season.

 

Now here's a weird factoid about tonight's game. The Chiefs have never lost to the Packers at Lambeau Field. They have won three and tied one. So I think it's Miller High Life time to end that streak in front of the Super Bowl I Alumni and I think the Packers pull this one out, 24-17.

Thoughtful Thoughts: Bears Game

The perks of beating the Bears being interviewed by Erin 'I Love My Ass' Andrews

 

Contrary to what Ask Vic (Vic Ketchman) from Packers.com says we can enjoy the win, but still realistic that we were lucky to win. So I think I will analyze the game, instead of putting on Vic's rosy glasses and ignore the Packers have serious problems trying to live up to being one of the two Super Bowl teams at the end of the season.

 

Offensively, the Packers scored on five of its seven drives that didn't end the half or the game against the Bears. There was one throw-back series when the Packers defense made its second of three stops on eight drives that left the offense at the two-yard line. The calls were safe, but except for the first play weren't designed to make a first down. Coach Mike McCarthy doesn't take chances, but with punter Tim Masthay and the rest of our un-specials teams not being an asset I would say punting from the end zone is taking a chance.

Quick Takes From Chi-Town

The quickest take from the win over the Bears was same old, same old. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions and Jay Cutler threw an interception at a crucial time. Result: Packers 31, Bears 16, oops I mean 23 (more on that later).

 

The next quickest take is the win snapped a three-game opening game losing streak. If you've been reading I was worried about this game and being down 13-10 at the half didn't give me much confidence.

 

Now for some slower takes. Rodgers and the offense was rusty. Rodgers and the offensive line hadn't played together since the second pre-season game. I don't care what you pampered, over-paid prima donnas say pre-season games do mean something. Football is the ultimate team sport that depends on 11 men (so far) playing in rhythm to be successful. One game (as our Mr. Rodgers wants) is not enough to develop that rhythm and today's game proved that in spades. The second half was when Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood started to click.

James Jones finds the endzone not once but twice

Speaking of rusty James Jones wasn't. The old rapport with Rodgers was there and it resulted in the first two of what I hope is many touchdowns. He caught all four balls thrown his way (two with spectacular catches) for 51 yards with a long of 34.

Can the Packers Defense and Special Teams Turn It Around?

Well the clock is ticking as I write this Friday morning (2 DAYS, 3 HOURS, 41 MIN, 25 SEC) to the opening kickoff of the 2015 season. The memory of the Packers last game still haunts me and despite Brandon Bostick being 1,921,04 miles away on the Cardinals practice squad I have a lot of doubts about two of the three units.

Watch the return of Clueless at noon on Sunday

NO-DEFENSE: The last time the first-string defense played it was dismantled by four future Hall of Famers (tongue in cheek) Sam Bradford, Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow (who isn't even in the league anymore).

INTEREST HEATING UP FOR COBB

Randall Cobb

It seems someone does love Randall Cobb and I'm afraid its not the Packers. Reports today (Feb. 24) are the Raiders have put out the welcome mat for the Packers' No. 1B wide receiver/slot receiver/halfback, who was coming off an injury plagued season where he missed 10 games in the middle of the season with a broken shin only to put up big numbers during his contract year with career highs of 91 catches, 1,287 yards and 12 touchdowns.

 

The lack of movement on a new contract during the season was curious considering Cobb was going to attract attention and his demand of $9 million contract is very reasonable and isn't a budget buster. Thompson will have around $30 million cap money to spend and maybe more when he purges the roster of the expensive deadwood (i.e. hopefully Count Hawkula), so what's the deal?

 

First, it seems Thompson saw an $8 million saving when rookie wide receiver Davante Adams moved up the depth chart leaping over Jarrett Boykin to claim the No. 3 spot and then turning it up a notch at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs proving he could be the go-to man on the outside when Jordy Nelson was being double-teamed. I think that is the reason no contract talks were started during the season.

Peyton Manning

An interesting scenario seems to be forming along the corridor between Mile High Stadium and Soldier Field.
 

Over the weekend quarterback Peyton Manning was reported to have told John Elway that he was healthy and willing to return to the Broncos for another season.

(US Presswire)

 It wasn't a surprise to me. I said all along that Manning was going to return whether or not he was on one leg and possessed half a throwing arm. Manning is all about "me" and that means records and he wants to retire the holder of every passing record, which would mean breaking all of Brett Favre's records.

 

He broke Favre's record for touchdown passes this past season (530 to 508) and will break the yardage record (needing 2,148 yards and he will do that easily in the first eight games) next season. So reason one to return.

 

Now I will digress for a rant. There are two people that gripe my butt as far as breaking records. No. 1 A pretender like A. J. Hawk breaking a truly great outside linebacker John Anderson's Packer record for tackles. More on that later. No. 2 Peyton Manning break the touchdown passes record.