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.

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.

Depression And Reality Setting In

Don't Say Anything Dad

There are possibly four things going on with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense. The first one could have been avoided and the second and third can be fixed, but the fourth is catastrophic.

Week 2 - Musings And Predictions

It looks like starting cornerback Sam Shields will not be playing because of a concussion. Outside linebacker Jayrone Elliott (hamstring), cornerback Josh Hawkins (hamstring) and safety Chris Banjo (hamstring) did not participate in practice and may be inactive on Sunday night. The other two on the injury list wide receivers Trevor Davis (shoulder) and Jeff Janis (broken hand) were full participants.

 

The Vikings will be without starting defensive tackle Shariff Floyd (knee) and may be without starting right cornerback Xavier Rhodes (knee) and starting left tackle Matt Kalil (hip). Last week's hero inside linebacker Eric Kendricks has an ankle injury, but he was a full participant as was running back Adrian Peterson (ankle). Former Packer wide receiver Charles Johnson has a quad injury, but he was also a full participant.

 

With that out of the way now down to tacks. Even though Shaun Hill did a decent job at quarterback in the win over the Titans No. 1 draft pick Sam Bradford will start this week. The key to him or anyone is getting a rush on him, so if the pass rush is there the Packers should keep the game a low scoring affair.

Trump Comes To The Rescue When The Vikings Panic

Spielman's Role Model Comes To The Rescue

Two days ago (Sept. 1) Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman made this statement, “The one thing we will not do is put our organization in a situation where it’s going to inhibit us or hurt us going into the future. People are asking for some crazy things. People think we’re desperate. We’re not going to do something that in my estimation, in talking with Coach (Mike Zimmer) and our ownership, that puts us in a situation that jeopardizes the future of the franchise. You’d be amazed at what’s being asked to give. We’ll have to wait and see. Expectations change. Everybody’s playing tonight and wants to make sure they get healthy through this game.”

 

So Pioneer Press beat writer Dane Mizutani could state yesterday (Sept. 2) without reservation because he got this straight from the horse's mouth that, "Spielman made one thing very clear Thursday night when addressing the media before Vikings squeaked out a 27-25 win over Los Angeles Rams: Although it sounds like the Vikings indeed plan to bring in another quarterback — whether that’s via trade or the waiver wire has yet to be determined — the organization will not mortgage its future to do so. That more than likely means high draft picks are off the table. Spielman isn’t about to part with one for a one-year rental at quarterback whileBridgewater recovers. Spielman also isn’t going to give up any of the Vikings’ up-and-comers, which it sounds like he’s been asked about since Bridgewater went down on Tuesday afternoon."

Thompson and Rodgers are the Problem

The loss to the Vikings at Lambeau Field following losses to the Bears and the Lions at the Shrine proved three things. First, the 2015 Packers are NOT Super Bowl material. Second, the Packer offensive line is a disaster at worst and not the best offensive line in recent memory at best. Third, Aaron Rodgers is NOT an elite quarterback any more.

Sad State of Affairs

As Always Aaron Rodgers is the Key to Victory

The Packer season has at least two games left with the Packers assured of the third seed or the fifth seed in next week's playoffs.

If the Packers win then they host the wild card playoff game against the sixth seed, which would be against the Vikings if the Seahawks beat the Cardinals or against the Seahawks if Seattle loses. If the Packers lose then they hit the road against the fourth seed Washington.

The best scenario might be to lose and go to Washington that hosting either Seattle or Minnesota. It's sad to think about how far the Packers have fallen under Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy when it would be better to play a road game than play at Lambeau Field.

Which Packer Team Will Show Up?

The win over the Detroit Lions in the Miracle in Motown proved just one thing. You never know which Packers team will show up. Will it be the team that played the first 30 minutes of the Lions game or will it be the team that played the second 30 minutes.

 

The 2015 Packers are definitely a flawed team. The offense, of all things, is the problem right now. The line is beat up and even when it was healthy, or relatively healthy, it wasn't opening holes after the first three games. Eddie Lacy is up-and-down. The receivers don't get open and when they do they drop the pass. Aaron Rodgers has not been himself since the first three games missing and overthrowing open receivers when they do get free.

 

Rodgers Has To Be Healthy

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.

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.

 

Maybe It's Not Olivia After All

Olivia Hoping to Kiss and Make Up

The revelation that Aaron Rodgers has an injured shoulder should take some of the heat off Miss Olivia Munn, if she has taken my advice and kept her mouth shut.

 

The disturbing thing about the Munn Polarization is how fast the RC Packer Fans and TITs turned on her. I would have thought Packer Backers were above that sort of thing, but I guess I forgot Wisconsin is mainly conservative country and today's conservatives are always ready to make it us against them and poor Miss Munn is about as them as they come being a liberal actress. It's only a small step to go after Rodgers because he is from California and they all know that is where all the nuts and liberals are.

 

It's funny how it started with Miss Munn taking umbrage at an ESPN columnist suggesting Rodger's less than stellar play could have something to do with a situation at home. If she had not said a word it would have come and gone and I bet the Packers fans wouldn't have picked up on it. But fighting back turned it into a bonified excuse for some segments of Packer society and they jumped on it and Miss Munn.

 

Once a conservative digs up a bone they don't let it go. Even if the truth comes out like a shoulder injury that makes no difference because they already have their explanation and they are sticking to it. Like I said before I'm afraid this has already gone too far and it won't end up good. I only hope those narrow minded Packer fans understand that going after Miss Munn might end up with Rodgers asking for a trade. Think about the unintended consequences.

 

Now back to the real world. The season is at that make or break point. A loss to the Vikings will only follow with a loss to Bears at Lambeau Field. The skid has to stop Sunday and all facets of the team playing at peak efficiency. The Vikings are not a pushover anymore.

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.

 

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.