Almost Perfect

The game against the Raiders at Lambeau Field was almost a perfect outing. If you take away a play here or there and the injury to second string quarterback Brett Hundley the Packers played well both offensively and defensively.

 

First and utmost Brett Hundley is the real deal. When he gets healthy, if he does, (remember Ty Montgomery had an ankle injury and never recovered after the second hurting), will demand a pretty penny next year when Thompson trades him. He has to. Unless Hundley is going to push Aaron Rodgers out as the starter like Rodgers did it wouldn't be fair to have him sit. Favre was closer to retirement (hahahaha) than Rodgers is.

More Wonderful Woodson Musings

Charles Woodson's Hall of Fame Jersey

It seems now that retirement is all so real as is a spot in Canton Charles Woodson has changed his mind about which team he will represent when he goes into the Hall of Fame. The announcers said during the win over the Chargers that Woodson has now decided to represent both the Raiders and the Packers when he is enshrined after saying earlier he was going to represent the team he retired with, which is the Raiders.

Whatever epiphany hit Woodson between last week and this week the "Playmaker" realized one absolute truth about his storied career. If it wasn't for the Packers he probably would have been out of the league nine years ago and would never have had a Hall of Fame Career.

"Black Hole" of Oakland Edition

The 'Black Hole'

Aaron Rodgers will be making his first trip back home to play at the O.co Coliseum, which is know more as the "Black Hole" in Oakland and the home of the Oakland A's. The Packers will be playing in Oakland for the first timein 12 years with the last game being the infamous Dec. 22, 2003 game the day after Brett Favre's father died. Favre threw four TD passes and beat the Raiders, 41-7. Ahman Green rushed for 127 yards.

 

We could only hope for a similar outcome, but not similar circumstances. The Packers go in with a one game lead in the North Division over the Vikings, who hosts at the Bears Sunday at noon.

 

The Packers will be playing the game without cornerback Sam Shields (concussion) and wide receiver/kick returner Ty Montgomery (ankle). Wide receiver Davante Adams (foot), defensive tackle Mike Daniels (hamstring), guard T.J. Lang (shoulder/ankle) and center Corey Linsley (ankle) listed as questionable.

The Playmaker Before The Claymaker

The Playmaker

I don't know if any of you Johnny Come Lately Packer Backers remember there was a face of the defense that wasn't William "Claymaker" Matthews III, who during his brief 7-year stay with the Green and Gold was better than Clay Matthews has been and probably ever will be.

 

His name is Charles Woodson and Sunday when the Packers invade the "Black Hole" Aaron Rodgers and company will face him again as the starting strong safety for the Oakland Raiders. He is the oldest defensive player in the NFL at 39 years of age and is currently tied for 4th in the NFL with 5 interceptions.

 

During his time with the Packers Woodson (2006-2012) was as good as they come culminating in him being named NFL Defensive Player of the Year, something Claymaker has yet to achieve, and finished his time in America's Vacation Land tied for fourth on the Packers all-time interceptions list with 38 behind safety Bobby Dillon with 52 (1952-59), strong safety Willie Wood with 48 (1960-71), cornerback Herb Adderley with 39 (1961-69) and tied with strong safety LeRoy Butler (1990-01).

The sad fall of James Jones

I checked this morning on whether former Packers wide receiver James Jones had found a new team after being cut by that offensive powerhouse the Oakland Raiders after just one season.

 

I found not only has he not found a new team yet, but, apparently, the NFL decided that he won't find a new team, because he has been totally removed from the players stats page on NFL.com as an active player, instead of being designated as a free agent. The NFL powers that be must know something, so that doesn't sound good for Jones finding a job.

  

James Jones One Handed Catch

Jones had a checkered career with the Packers after being drafted out of San Jose State in the third round (#78) of the draft as the 14th wide receiver taken out of a total of 34 drafted. He was drafted behind Calvin Johnson (#1-2-Lions), Ted Ginn, Jr. (#1-9-Dolphins), Dwayne Bowe (#1-23-Chiefs), Robert Meachem (#1-27-Saints), Craig "Buster" Davis (#1-30-Chargers), Anthony Gonzales (#1-32-Colts), Sidney Rice (#2-44-Vikings), Dwayne Jarrett (#2-45-Panthers), Steve Smith (#2-51-Giants), Jacoby Jones (#3-73-Texans), Yamon Figurs (#3-74-Ravens), Laurent Robinson (#75-Falcons) and Jason Hill (#3-76-49ers).

 

Of those guys only Calvin Johnson (643-10,405-74TD) and Dwayne Bowe (532-7,155-44TD) have had better careers than Jones. When Jones left the Packers he ranked 9th in career catches (310), 10th in touchdowns (37) and 11th in career receiving yards (4,305). Since then Jordy Nelson has passed him in all three categories.

 

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.