1) Franchise tag Matt Flynn

The Packers need to franchise Flynn this offseason to prevent him walking away for nothing. Slap the tag on him and then ship him off somewhere. I know the NFL frowns on this practice, but since it’s completely legal the Packers might as well do it. The franchise tag salary for a quarterback is $16.4 million, but the contract can be restructured by the new team Flynn is traded to. I know some people think we should save the tag for JerMichael Finley, and I’ll get to Finley later, but we need to get value for Flynn since he looks like he is the real deal. It will be interesting to see what the Packers can get for Flynn, because both sides think they have leverage. Interested teams know the Packers only tagged Flynn in order to trade him, but the Packers will have plenty of interested teams looking to make a move for a potential franchise quarterback. The Kevin Kolb flop in Arizona probably hurts Flynn’s value the most, because like Kolb, Flynn has very little experience, although he’s looked like a stud in both contests. I think a second round pick is a bargain for Flynn, and wouldn’t be surprised to see a team trade a late first round pick for him. Personally though, I think we’ll get a early second round pick for Flynn if he gets the tag-and-deal.

2) Be reasonable with Finley, but don’t let him leave.

Let me preface this paragraph by saying that nobody on the team is more frustrating to watch than JerMichael. He dropped too many balls this season, ran some shaky routes, and his ego is still somewhat of a problem. If you yell out loud when you watched the Packers this season, you found yourself yelling at Finley more than anyone else.

That being said, all the areas he was weak in are coachable areas. Coaches can work on his hands, he can learn to run better routes and when he matures he’ll control himself better on the field. You can’t teach a guy to be 6-5, 247 pounds and run a 4.65 forty. Plus, he’s only 24. Give the guy a break, he’ll figure it out as he gets a little older.

Looking at his numbers, Finley had a decent season, but nothing crazy like Jimmy Graham or Rob Gronkowski. Finley ranked 14th in receptions and 12th in yards by tight ends, so he shouldn’t be demanding a crazy salary. He proved he could stay healthy for a full season, but the Packers won the Super Bowl without him and lost with him, so who’s to say his presence is needed?

I’m guessing Finley is going to want Jason Witten style money. Witten inked a five-year, $37 million deal in 2011, so I think Finley believes he should be paid in the $7-9 million a year range. The franchise tag salary for a tight end is $5.9 million, so tagging him just to work out a deal for about $2-3 million more a year seems pointless. Get the 2nd rounder for Flynn, and if Finley wants more than $10 million a season, let him walk and use the pick we get for Flynn on another tight end. Tagging Finley just doesn’t seem like the Ted Thompson way of doing business. I see the Packers offering Finley a four year deal in the $20 million range. Sides will squabble and I think we’ll end up getting Finley for something like four years, $25 million with a player option for a fifth year and $12 million guaranteed. I’d be on board with this.

3) Let Ryan Gran go, and find a running back already.

I do not like Ryan Grant. If you watched the playoff game with me, you would know this. I hate watching him run for two yards on 2nd and 10. I’ll admit that he’s a better pass blocker than James Starks, but Starks is by far the better runner. That being said, Starks isn’t the running back of the of the future either. There is a lot of depth in this year’s running back class, and don’t be surprised if Thompson drafts two running backs this year. Trent Richardson, Lamar Wilson, Chris Polk, LaMichael James, David Wilson, Isaiah Pead, and Bernard Pierce are all guys that could step into a major role at the next level. I want the Packers to draft one of them.

4) Do not move Charles Woodson to safety

Woodson had a good, but not a great season in 2011. Everyone thinks he’s slowing down and that he should be moved to safety, but that would only make things worse. Chuck is at his best when he’s playing closer to the line of scrimmage. He’s better at covering receivers because it’s more of a reaction than a thought process, and when he’s at the line the offense always has to account for a potential Woody blitz (just ask Tony Romo, 4-min mark). The biggest problem for the defense this year was the lack of a pass rush, which forced our secondary to cover guys for six-to-ten seconds every play. A better pass rush from the front three would allow our blitzers to get to the quarterback faster and force the opposing quarterback into bad throws, which takes a lot of pressure off our secondary.

5) Draft another Clay Mattews with our first round pick.

Ok, this might be easier said than done, but if offenses have to account for Matthews and Matthews 2.0 blitzing from either side, that will push the quarterback up into the pocket where our big front three should be waiting. A lack of a pass rush killed the Packers against the Giants, drafting another blitzing 3-4 linebacker would help solve that problem.

6) Keep Driver

Driver is set to make $5.6 million in 2012. I know he only caught 37 balls in 2011 (he also made $5.6 million in 2011, so that’s just over $150,000 per catch), but Driver has the attitude I want in players on my favorite team. He was targeted twice in the loss to the Giants, but made nice grabs on both the balls thrown his way. He was clearly focused and wanted it bad. If you watched the Super Bowl DVD you saw how bad Driver wanted to win the Super Bowl even though he left the game with an injury. He was standing on the bench trying to get a better view, living and dying with each play. He’s got the heart of a champion and his attitude would be contagious in the locker room. I don’t even want to play the “he’s earned it” or “the Packers owe it to him” card. The guy still has something left in the tank and is the perfect locker room veteran for this team. If the Packers don’t pay him, someone else will. Driver, a Texas native, could easily sign with the young-but-very-talented Houston Texans if the Packers aren’t careful. Please Ted Thompson, Driver is the anti-Favre, he’s worth the money late in his career. If you don’t listen to me Ted, at least listen to Teddy KGB.

(P.S. Rounders may be my favorite movie of all-time. Thank you Shaun Adamson for putting that on Youtube)

What do you think the Packers should do this offseason? Drop me a line, or tweet me on Twitter @MikeWendt7. I promise to tweet ya back.

36 hours later and I’m still sort of reeling from this Packers loss. I have to start by giving an immense amount of credit to the Giants for forcing this sloppy play and playing mostly error-free football of their own. There was absolutely no doubt that the Packers were outplayed in this game. As torturous as this is going to be, I need to try to figure out how and why it all happened so I’m re-watching the game and writing a Bill Simmons-style retro diary. I will write broader takeaways at the bottom if you want to skip down to that part without re-living individual plays from the game. If you’re interested in a full photo-diary of my trip to Green Bay, read it here.

This hurts badly before I even hit Play on my Tivo remote. Times represent what is remaining on the clock…

First Quarter

12:19 – Giants 1st-and-10 just past midfield. Desmond Bishop drops an interception. Would have been a great play but I’m sure it’s one he’d like to make. Happens, though.

8:37 – After bending most of the way down the field and giving up two big 3rd down conversions, the Packers don’t break inside the red zone. 3-0 Giants.

7:55 – Jermichael Finley drops his first pass of the day, one that would have given the Packers a first down around midfield (although the refs missed a penalty on the play). The Packers move the chains on the next play so this one wasn’t costly but you can’t drop first downs in big games.

6:32 – And Finley drops another ball, this one is completely inexcusable – he was wide open and the pass was lofted perfectly. It would have given the Packers 3rd-and-1 at the very worst just outside the red zone.

5:38 – On third down, Rodgers misses a WIDE open Greg Jennings on what would probably have been a touchdown if he hit Jennings in stride. Worst case would have been 1st-and-goal inside the 5. I can count on one hand how many times Rodgers missed that pass this season. Packers have to settle for a field goal after that drive saw two drops and an errant throw. 3-3.

4:37 – On 3rd-and-11, Eli Manning has all day and hits Hakeem Nicks for a first down. He’s converted third downs for 8, 10, and 11 yards so far. AND NOOOOOOO….

3:47 – The next play, Manning hits Nicks over the middle, Charlie Peprah launches himself at Nicks but doesn’t wrap up, Nicks stands tall, and runs into the endzone without being touched again. AWFUL missed tackle. 10-3 Giants.

1:34 – Packers get extremely lucky. Greg Jennings fumbles before his knee is down, it gets ruled down by contact, and the Giants lose their challenge. This was pretty clearly a fumble and I’m not sure what the refs did or didn’t say on the replay. Unrelated question: why does the referee on the field have to rule challenges under the hood with what I imagine is a tiny screen? Why not have someone in the booth rule on reviews with a massive HDTV? Why not centralize challenges in NFL headquarters? It doesn’t seem as though the current system is optimal.

Second Quarter

14:54 – Kuuuuuuuuuuuuuhn touchdown catch! Bang on the Drums! 10-10…this was a completely undeserved touchdown, though, because Jennings definitely fumbled. Packers are lucky to be tied and not down two scores.

14:52 – Packers surprise onside kick! They fail to recover it, though. I actually said to the three people who would listen to me that I wanted this to be an onside kick. Good idea but it didn’t work out – The Giants got the ball on the Packers 40. Given that they probably would have gotten the ball that far anyway, I think it was worth the gamble for a chance to get the ball back. I think that Mike McCarthy sensed that something was a bit off and tried to give his team a spark.

12:32 – Brad Jones blocks the Lawrence Tynes field goal attempt! No harm, no foul on the failed onside kick. At this point, this feels like an everything-goes-wrong game for the Giants–they lost a challenge and a timeout on a bad call, gave up a touchdown, and got a field goal blocked. In games where you are underdogs by more than a touchdown, you can’t have those things go wrong. At this point, I’m feeling pretty good.

11:15 – Rodgers rushes for a first down on 3rd-and-10. Second time he’s done this so far today and it’s an invaluable aspect of his game. He rushes for another one two plays later before I finish typing this bullet.

9:17 – Relatively inconsequential drop by James Starks. Difference between 3rd-and-3 and 3rd-and-7. Doesn’t make it right.

9:12 – More consequential drop on the next play by Tom Crabtree on a ball that hit him squarely between the numbers–past the first down marker–and the Packers are forced to punt. It goes into the endzone. Damn.

5:34 – Eli Manning intercepted by Morgan Burnett after being pressured by Bishop! Miraculous what can be achieved when the pass rush works. I would have bet a lot of money on the Packers to win at this point.

3:37 - An unforced John Kuhn fumble KILLS what I was certain was going to be a Packers scoring drive. At the very worst, they were going into halftime tied, likely were going in up 13-10, and maybe going up 17-10. Because the Packers were receiving the ball in the second half, I had expected them to be up 20-10 the next time the Giants had the ball.

1:56 – Packers stop the Giants inside the 10 and force a field goal, and will get the ball back before the half. A little close for comfort but I’m feeling pretty good…

:06 – WTF?! Ahmad Bradshaw gets out of bounds on a 23-yard run that started in the middle of the field. Horrible defense. Good thing the Giants are stupidly going for it instead of kicking the 54-yard field goal…

:00 – WTFWTFWTFWTFWTFWTF??????!!!!!!!!! Hail Mary touchdown to Hakeem Nicks. Third time I’ve seen the Badgers or Packers give up a devastating hail mary touchdown in person this season. This has to be some sort of ignominious record? This play was shellshocking and the 13-minute halftime feels like hours. Lot of ballgame left but allowing the Giants to score from their own 40 with 15 seconds left was egregious. This series really hurt the crowd.

Third Quarter

14:52 – A drop by Ryan Taylor that would have made it 2nd-and-6 instead of 2nd-and-10. Not terribly consequential as the Packers picked up a first down on the next play but these drops have been contagious today.

13:12 – After uncharacteristically missing Jennings, Rodgers runs for another first down on 3rd-and-10. The Giants aren’t giving room for any big plays, though. This is where Favre would have started throwing INTs trying to get everything back at once.

10:28 – Man, after hitting Driver for a huge first down to get to the Giants’ 35, Rodgers gets stripped by Osi Umenyiora and the Giants recover. Jennings was wide open for a touchdown on the play. Split second difference and the Packers are only down a field goal. Every time the offense starts to get into rhythm, there’s a drop or a fumble.

9:06 – Giants go three-and-out. Other than giving up three huge plays, the defense has been pretty solid thus far. “How was the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”

6:56 – Ryan Grant drops a perfect pass that will make for at worst 2nd-and-1. Six drops so far for the Packers.

3:55 – Jennings drops a touchdown. Pretty good coverage but the ball was placed directly into his hands. Seven drops. Crosby hits a field goal and the Packers are LUCKY only to be down a TD.

3:30 – The crowd hasn’t been all that great thus far but after a holding call pushes the Giants back to 1st-and-20 (then 2nd-and-20) on their own 10, we come alive. Except in rare cases, the home team has to do something to get the crowd into it. The Packers haven’t really put together a period of football to galvanize the masses yet but the crowd is making a reasonable effort to get into this. We sense that there’s a chance to steal this game even while being severely outplayed. We have faith that this team will find a way. Giants have to punt, if ever there were a time for a big Packers touchdown drive…

:49 – Rodgers picks up ANOTHER first down with his feet. That’s his fifth. Not sliding, he opens up his body for punishment. But if there was ever a time and a place for this risky behavior…

Fourth Quarter

13:00 – Kind of a bad throw, but perhaps a catchable ball that Finley drops on 3rd-and-5. Rodgers is pissed about the route and the drop but Finley was WIDE open and the ball didn’t need to be thrown like a rocket. Not sure who to blame there but it’s an unforced error; Aikman says it’s on Rodgers which I suppose is fair. The frustration on offense had really started to compound. Rodgers gets sacked on 4th-and-5 and the Packers are running out of chances. They had no right to only be down seven points at this point and their tenuous hold on this deficit doesn’t feel sustainable. We can still steal this game but it’s starting to feel precarious.

12:48 - Woodson misses a tackle on Hakeem Nicks. Don’t see that often. Difference between 2nd-and-8 and 2nd-and-4.

10:00 – Victor Cruz picks up a huge first down on 3rd-and-5 and you can clearly hear the Giants fans yelling Cruuuuuuuz on TV. I would estimate that there were 7,000 Giants fans in Lambeau. Gotta give them credit. Green Bay isn’t the easiest place to get to–it requires an expensive, two-leg flight or a flight and a two-hour drive from Milwaukee or 3.5-hour drive from Chicago–and the Giants fans mobilized, got this trip scheduled one week’s notice, outbid Packers fans for tickets on Stubhub all week, and showed up in full force to perhaps make a 25% difference in net effect of the Lambeau crowd for a game that they expected to be played in a frigid climate when they bought their seats. Props. These things are more poignant in hindsight but significant nonetheless.

7:51 – Packers defense stands up and holds the Giants to a field goal. Still a chance to steal this game but those chances are wearing thin. Packers have had more than enough and failed as a team to capitalize.

6:53 – And Ryan Grand fumbles, Giants recover and return it inside the Packers’ 5 (great tackle by Rodgers). A touchdown catch by Mario Manningham on the next play will end it. Basically no way to erase three scores in less than seven minutes. Finishing this out would be an exercise in masochism above and beyond what this has been so far. Because my goal was to understand how and why this has loss happened–and I think by and large I do at this point–I’m going to spare myself the rest of this game.

****************

Unlike many big Packer losses over the past ten years or so since I really got into them, this one left me disappointed, not angry. Mistakes were made but they were physical and not mental–and thus more excusable. There were no horrifyingly bad coaching decisions and no lack of effort or passion. It’s hard to be angry at your favorite team when everyone is trying his best and nervous tension causes drops or fumbles.

Therefore, there will be comparatively less long-lasting feelings from this game. This team is full of likable players, is well-coached, and has a tremendous front office and a nucleus that by-and-large will come back strong next year. With the Packers likely still in the first half of their window of opportunity to win championships with Rodgers at quarterback, this game feels more like the end of a chapter than the end of a book.

Off the top of my head, this game was not among the four most hurtful Packers losses of recent memory. I’m not sure whether the 4th-and-26 Eagles game in early 2004 or the Favre-to-Webster-in-overtime game against the Giants in early 2008 was the worst – probably the Giants game because it meant the end of the Favre era and cost the Packers a trip to the Super Bowl – is #1 but they are definitely both 1 and 2. In similarly unclear order, 3 and 4 are the overtime loss to the Cardinals on the Rodgers fumble and the combination of the two games where Favre beat the Packers with the Vikings in 2008. I don’t know if I am more guarded now than in the past but I’m not feeling the sting as badly as I was for those games. I might be overlooking others that also hurt more badly.

That being said, it’s never easy. This was a special team that won the Super Bowl last year and went an emphatic 15-1 in the regular season. I had very high expectations and really didn’t conceive of them losing this game. Until they did. That they had opportunity after opportunity to steal it despite being monumentally outplayed, but failed to sustain any momentum on offense, was quite disappointing. But it’s been a great run and a great season and there is not a sense of finality with this loss.

As frustrating as the Bradshaw-getting-23-yards-and-getting-out-of-bounds/Manning-Nicks hail mary sequence to end the first half was, it definitely could have been overcome–the Packers were 7.5-point favorites in this game and that series accounted for seven of them. The Packers lost this game because drops, turnovers, and, yes, some errant passes prevented the offense from ever getting into a rhythm. Every time it looked like something was building, the drive stalled. They fumbled three times – which should have been four but Jennings’ cough-up was ruled incorrectly – and recovered none of them. Credit to the Giants for forcing many of these errors but this wasn’t the sharp Packers squad that had won 21 of 22 coming into the game. This was the worst game that they played–including the loss to the Chiefs–in that stretch.

The defense is not to blame. It missed some tackles and gave up some big plays generally got its job done. It stopped the Giants several times on short fields and prevented a few red zone possessions from ending in touchdowns. It would be outstanding if they had someone who could get to the quarterback when Clay Matthews is contained but this has been a hole all season. They only allowed two Giants touchdowns before the game was out of hand–it’s hard to blame them for preventing the Manningham TD when the Giants started the drive inside the Packers 5–and did more than enough to keep the Packers in the game while the offense was sputtering.

In the third quarter, the Giants didn’t pick up a single first down. A common motif of the Packers’ past two seasons had been winning their games with great starts to the second half as they outscored their opponents in the third quarter 241-84 over a 32-game stretch. But due to forced and unforced errors, they failed to capitalize. The Giants let them hang around far longer than would be advisable but ultimately found a way to put the game solidly out of reach late.

Once again, much credit goes to the Giants organization and their fans for a successful business trip. With the exception of one Giants fan that resembled a Jersey Shore character who took exception to my common “I really,sincerely hope that the Giants lose tomorrow” refrain, said with a smile, that gets a rise out of most people, everybody we encountered was friendly, courteous, and having a blast in Green Bay. After having iceballs thrown at them by Eagles and Jets fans, they could not believe the hospitality that they were received with and were more than appreciative. They loved Lambeau and everything about and around it.

But part of me will always feel that the Packers lost this game under the auspices of controllable factors. Over the past season and a half, we have become accustomed to coming up with a big play that dramatically shifts the momentum in the Packers’ favor. It never came and the Packers couldn’t put enough small ones together to equal a big one at any point in the third quarter or early in the fourth–when they had opportunities to do so and execution was desperately needed–and suffered an early exit as a result.

As it always is, the offseason will be long and harrowing. For me, nothing in sports compares to the beauty and excitement of the Packers on an NFL Sunday and the loss of those will leave a gaping void in my life forever until mid-September. But perhaps the scarcity of these wonderful days is what makes it so special when it’s football season.

Although they certainly could have done it again this year, you can’t win the Super Bowl every season; winning one every 16 years means you are doing it twice as often as expected. It isn’t just greedy to count every season that doesn’t result in a championship as a failure unconditionally, it’s a self-effacing practice that leads to substantially more unhappiness than joy.

I love this team, am proud of what it has accomplished thus far on its journey, and am optimistic for its future. It never feels like we will make it to mid-September, but we always do. Go Pack Go.

Follow me on Twitter @RGSpiegel.

Let’s get another one of these.  Yeah, that sounds like a plan.

.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess that I’m not the only one who’s counting down the seconds until kickoff tomorrow.  Couple notes as we’re about 24 hours away.

• Scounts Inc. is predicting Packers 28, Giants 27. I know the Packers have been giving up a ton of yards through the air, but would you really give the Giants the advantage in the secondary?  I’ll take Woodson and Tramon over just about anyone.  And I’m assuming the Giants have the worst offensive line in history if Green Bay has an advantage there, especially considering all the injuries on the Packers’ line.
• The players voted on their playoff captains – not a lot of surprises. Offense: Aaron Rodgers and Donald Driver.  Defense: Charles Woodson and A.J. Hawk.  Special Teams: Mason Crosby and Jarrett Bush.  Good to see Bush getting recognition from his teammates.  He’s received a lot of ire from fans over the years, but he’s consistently been one of the top special teamers on the Packers – and possibly in the league.  WE’VE GOT BUSH.
• So, this exists:

.

.

• Who’s gonna make some plays at ROLB? It’s been the definition of a revolving door all season.  Zomboland, Walden, Jones… it’s impossible to say who’s stood out.  Dom Capers agrees:

“What we’re doing is we’re going with the hot hand,” Capers said. “I think each one of those guys has done some good things over the course of the season. I don’t know if any one guy has distinguished himself that he is ‘the guy.’ So when you have that situation in the playoffs, you’re going to go with the guy that’s making plays. So I can see any one of those three guys out there playing.”

• OK, I’ll make a prediction myself: Packers 31, Giants 21. That’s not too crazy, right?  The Giants boast a great 4 man rush, and that is kinda scary, but I just don’t think you can slow down Aaron Rodgers enough to stop him.  I’m envisioning multiple Eli picks and a celebratory night in Green Bay.
• Lastly, there’s a new State Farm ad – featuring Clay Matthews. Enjoy.

RYAN PICKETT TACKLES EVERYONE.

.

• If you don’t love Ryan Pickett, this will change your mind. Another excellent human interest piece (I think?) from the Journal Sentinel (no, seriously, this time I have more on them coming).  Not only does he have 5 kids under the age of 7, but he’s helping to home-school all of them.  And his wife is expecting another child in the fall.  He’s the ultimate family man, while having one of his best professional seasons at the age of 32.  Truly respectable and admirable stuff.  Also, this made me smile:

“On my off-days, I have to teach,” Pickett said.

So Pickett shows the little ones how to hold a pencil and the middle ones how to spell and his oldest where to put the decimal point.

“Right now my oldest is in second grade, but she’s doing third-grade math – and I’m like, this is what third-graders do in math?” Pickett said. “Oh my goodness, I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be able to help her.”

• The Journal Sentinel is launching a digital subscription plan – limiting your ability to read their Packers’ coverage for free. This is certainly something that a lot of newspapers either have considered or will have to consider as circulation numbers dwindle in the digital age.  I’m rather torn about it – on one hand, I applaud them for being proactive and trying to increase revenue before things get so bad that they have to resort to layoffs.  On the other hand, making people pay to read their Packers blog seems crazy.  It is, after all, a blog.  A very good one, perhaps an invaluable one for a Packers fan, but still a blog.  As far as I can tell, it will run you about $120 a year for full access to all of their content.  Otherwise, you’ll be limited to 20 ‘articles’ a month.  I’m very curious to see how this plays out for them.
• This week in ‘Awesome News That Everyone Will Be Happy To Hear’, Greg Jennings fully tested his knee out – and it’s all good. Cutting, sprinting – you name it, he did it.  All signs point towards him being damn near 100% for Sunday’s big showdown with the New York Football Giants.  Oh god, is that a Bermanism?  If it is, I am truly, truly sorry.
• In case you needed more parallels to the last time these teams met in the playoffs, it looks like the temperature will be dropping significantly by Sunday. It’s clear and in the 40′s right now in Green Bay, but come Sunday the temp should drop to the teens.  And there will be a good amount of snow falling between now and then.  This is good though, right?  Isn’t this why we wanted home field advantage?  Wanna beat the Packers?  You gotta come to cold, snowy Lambeau and do it.  I like the sound of that.

According to Matthews, the Packers will be dedicating the Giants game to the Philbins.  Classy move.

.

• Terrible, terrible news for OC Joe Philbin and all of Packers Nation. His 21 year old son Michael was found dead in the Fox River this past Monday.  I know we all love the Packers, and some think of them as a way of life.  But please try to remember that at the end of the day, football is just a game.  There are many, many more important things out there – family being the biggest.  I’m far from a father, but I have to imagine losing your child is one of the most difficult things any human has to experience.  I feel comfortable speaking on behalf of Packers fans everywhere when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the Philbins.  RIP, Michael.
• I have no idea how to transition from such devastating news, but the beat will go on, and the Giants are coming to town on Sunday.
• Opening line for Packers/Giants: -9. But that is already moving down, as people are dumping money on the Giants.  In case you somehow don’t know this by now, Vegas lines are set to get an equal amount of money on both sides.  It is NOT just a prediction of the actual point difference will be of any given game.  So when you see the line go from GB -9 to GB -8, you can safely deduce that people are all over the Giants.  This might get as far down as -7, -6.5.  Stay tuned.
• I understand the ’07 Giants/Packers and ’12 Giants/Packers parallels. I really do.  But let’s not go overboard.  NONE of these guys played int he previous installment:
  • Aaron Rodgers (he’s kinda good)
  • Jordy Nelson
  • Jermichael Finley
  • Clay Matthews
  • B.J. Raji
  • Victor Cruz
  • Hakeem Nicks
  • Jason Pierre-Paul
• I guess my point is that it’s a fun thing to mention if you’re a writer looking for subject matter, but if you’re planning on doing some kind of actual analysis, you need to try a little harder.
• Former Packers employee Reggie McKenzie has taken over as GM of the Oakland Raiders. His first order of business?  Firing Hue Jackson as head coach.  I don’t blame him – Hue was all about the Carson Palmer trade that threw away valuable draft picks for a team that still didn’t make the playoffs.  And there’s nothing wrong with a GM wanting to bring in his own people that are in line with his philosophy.  How do you think the Packers have gotten to where they are now?
  • Keep in mind, there’s a good chance that he hires someone from the Packers to take over as coach of the Raiders. Top target?  Assistant Head Coach and ILB Coach Winston Moss.  As a Badger fan, I can tell you that watching your coaches get swindled off to other programs/organizations is not fun – but it’s also a sign of respect and indication that you’ve been hiring the right people.

IDK.  Why not?

.

Bye week for the Pack, so we’re going to focus on a few more trivial subjects today.

• If you had to pick the play of the year for the Packers, what would you choose? That’s the question the JSOnline (more about them shortly) asked its readers.  And it’s a pretty damn good question.  As far as I can tell, these are the contenders:
  • Randall Cobb’s 108 yard kickoff return for a touchdown against the Saints. Special teams just got a whole lot more exciting, and it confirmed something we all were thinking: this Cobb kid might be a steal.
  • Packers D stuffs the Saints on the 1 yard line to seal the win. That game set the tone for the entire season – defense bending, but not breaking.  Winning a shootout.  Great night.
  • The game-winning drive against the Giants. Rodgers was in total control, Finley and Jordy made huge plays, and Crosby buried the winner on the road in a hostile environment.  You do not want to leave any time for Rodgers to play with.
  • Matthews picks off Eli and takes it to the house. I just love watching Matthews make plays.  He does so much more than rush the passer, and this was just one great example.
  • GregJen’s 29 yard touchdown against Atlanta. A little drag route where Jennings somehow beat the defender to the corner, turned up field at full speed and laid out full extension for the pylon.  A thing of beauty, and one of those examples of how tight of routes he runs.  Not always the easiest thing for the casual fan to notice, but this was beautiful.
  • Jordy’s 84 yard touchdown against Carolina. Not only did Jordy flash his speed and field awareness, but the play was capped off with Jennings hustling all the way down the field to blow up the closest Panther, allowing Nelson to coast into the end zone.
• Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson were named to the NFL All-Pro Team. Which really is a bigger honor than being named a Pro Bowler.  The Pro Bowl is without question the dumbest all-star game in sports.  So many players withdraw because of injury or they’re still playing in the playoffs, not to mention football is a game that thrives on physicality.  No one is trying to get hurt in Hawaii.  Just get rid of the damn game already.
• In case you haven’t seen, there’s a new Aaron Rodgers State Farm commercial. The Freezer makes a nice appearance:

[youtube]RxYJb2ScuXM[/youtube]

.

Definitely a step up from the first State Farm commercial,  But you can do better, Rodgers.  Let’s go.

Enjoy the opening weekend of the playoffs, everyone.  Just a week away from the Packers beginning their quest to repeat.  Best time of the year.  Go Pack Go!

I also remember The Wonder Years because Kevin always had a way of passing on good advice. One thing he said that stuck with many fans of the show was “memories are a way of holding onto the things you love, the things you are, the things you never want to lose.” When we remember back to some of the happiest and saddest parts of our lives, we remember who we were with, and how they made us feel. People hold on to memories because, ultimately, we are only made up of our experiences and interactions with others.

I bring this up because there has been a lot of backlash about the Packers selling stock certificates to fans, with the promise of any stockholder being able to call themselves an “NFL owner”. We’ve all heard the comments by now. “I wish (insert team name here) could sell stock and raise money off idiot fans”, or “Green Bay has the smartest front office and the dumbest fans in the league, who would throw away $250 for a piece of paper that is worth nothing”.

In a sense, yes, the stock certificate is worth less than the postage used to ship them. But in another sense, the stock is worth so much more than $250.

To many Packer fans around the country, myself included, the stock sale gave us a tangible way to hold onto the things we love, the things we are, the things we never want to lose. We always remember who we were with at cherished moments in our life, but what we were doing is sometimes just as special. Like many fans, I can remember the first Packer game I attended (August 11th, 1996) and who I watched the game with (my father, uncle and cousin). I remember almost getting ticketed by Green Bay police while trying to scalp tickets before the Divisional playoff game in 2007, a game where my friends and I sat in a blizzard with MVP painted on our shirtless chests to watch Brett Favre earn what would turn out to be his final win as a Packer. I remember partying to the wee hours of the morning on State Street with friends and fans alike after winning Super Bowl XLV, many people drunk on the thrill of victory more than the beer that flowed so freely that February night.

Forty years from now, while I’m all but certain these won’t be my dearest memories, I know those experiences will never be forgotten. Without the Packers, some of my favorite experiences never would have been possible. I won’t always have my dad, but I’ll always remember him taking me to my first Packer game. I know that it will be tough to keep in touch with my friends who went to the playoff game with me, but we’ll always have the memory of those big white snowflakes melting as they landed on our bare shoulders and chests that cold Lambeau afternoon.

I have no shame in admitting that I love the Packers. While it may be a different love than the love I have for some of the people in my life, it’s a much stronger bond than the love that is casually thrown around in conversations like “I love the movie Forrest Gump”, or “I love the way my hips look in these jeans”.

For me, buying stock was, in many ways, a way to further my connection with the team as well a chance to thank the Packers for all they have meant to me growing up. The stock was purchased for me by money left by my late grandfather, which in itself will become another memory of him. Looking at the stock certificate will forever connect me to family as much as it connects me to the Packers.

There will always be people who will never understand why someone would spend $250 on something that, in their mind, is worthless.

To me, the stock is a culmination of the memories I’ve shared with so many people along the way. To me, the stock, and the memories, are priceless. They are something I love, something I want to hold onto, something I never want to lose.

Thoughts on the piece or the stock sale? Drop me a line at wendt@brentfavre.com or on Twitter @Mikewendt7.

.

A lot of things going on with the conclusion of the regular season and the playoffs looming.  Let’s get to it.

• The Packers will play Sunday, January 15th at 3:30 pm on FOX. Unless the Lions pull off an upset in New Orleans, the winner of the Atlanta/New York game will travel to Lambeau.  For the record, this means that the Packers won’t play for another 45 years.  Or at least it just feels like that.  Price of being the best, I guess.
• Big changes in Chicago.  GM Jerry Angelo was fired and offensive coordinator Mike Martz resigned.  Although, it’s worth pointing out that Martz resigned when his contract was due to expire.  If that isn’t a George Costanza move, I don’t know what is.  Regardless, it’s clear that the Bears are tired of messing around and desperate to get back in the contender tier of the division (along with Green Bay and Detroit).  Too early to really know what’s gonna happen as a result of these moves, but a quick scan on Twitter shows a lot of excited and hopeful Bears fans.
• A GM change in Minnesota as well.  Rick Spielman was promoted from vice president of player personnel to general manager.  Immediate results: Leslie Frazier will remain head coach, and the Christian Ponder decision will be his to make.  I still think that if I’m Minnesota, I’m drafting a QB or considering signing Matt Flynn.  I’ve seen enough of Ponder (and Joe Webb for that matter) to know that no matter how he pans out, he still won’t be better than the Rodgers/Stafford/Cutler triumvirate.
  • UPDATE: Christian Ponder said during a radio interview that he has been assured that Minnesota will NOT be taking a quarterback at the 3rd pick.  Interesting.
• Matt Flynn was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In other news, no shit.
• Injury updates – and they’re mostly good:
  • Greg Jennings was back at practice for the first time since injuring his knee against Oakland.  All signs are pointing to him being full-go for the playoffs.  Wonderful.
  • Bryan Bulaga was back in his normal spot, practicing in full.
  • Chad Clifton was also participating, indicating he’s good to go after getting some reps against Detroit.  The offensive line should be in as good of shape for the playoffs as it’s been in a long, long time.  Somewhere, Aaron Rodgers is smiling.
  • Randall Cobb was out there returning punts.  Maybe it’s just me, but I really do think he’ll make a difference at a key moment in the playoffs.  This kid is special.
  • Ryan Taylor returned from an ankle injury, and did some work with special teams.
• If you believe in cover jinxes, then it’s time to start doing all of your reverse juju jinxing. Because this is about to drop:

.

.

MATT FLYNN MATT FLYNN MATT FLYNN.  I just love saying his name right now.

THE GOOD

• THE MOTHERFUCKIN’ MATT FLYNN SHOW. 480 yards and 6 touchdowns.  Both Packers records.  Are you kidding me?  Most Packers fans knew that Flynn was talented after watching him nearly beat the Patriots last year.  But it’s safe to say that no one saw this historic performance coming.  Simply incredible.
• Matt Flynn’s trade value. If you’re Ted Thompson, you have to franchise and trade Flynn, right?  No way the guy wants to sit around being a backup his whole career, and he’s about to hit free agency.  I guess I don’t get why teams would rather risk their future on a kid that hasn’t taken a snap in the NFL when they can just give up 1 or 2 draft picks for a guy that’s been groomed to succeed.  Between the coaching from Tom Clements and relationship with Rodgers, Flynn is primed for a great career.
• Jordy Nelson is a monster. White Lightning got a whopping 15 (!!) targets, turning those into 9 catches for 162 yards and 3 touchdowns.  That’s 277 yards and 5 touchdowns in the last two games.  But yeah, he probably needs Greg Jennings out there drawing attention to be good.  Idiots.
• Ryan Grant didn’t looks slow and broken down. I mean, he did almost get caught on his 80 yards touchdown reception, but credit where credit is due.  Maybe it’s just me, but I think a well-executed screen is one of the prettiest things in football.  I thoroughly enjoy watching offensive linemen run down field killing cornerbacks.

THE BAD

• The Packers still suck at running the ball. 81 yards and less than 4 yards per carry… no bueno.  Fortunately, the Packers have the two best quarterbacks in the league on their roster.
• Mason Crosby missed another field goal. But I still have total confidence in him.  I’m sure Mike McCarthy does as well.

THE UGLY

• Anyone associated with the Green Bay passing defense. Matthew Stafford just beasted Green Bay for 520 yards and 5 touchdowns.  Obviously having the studs on the bench hurt the Packers, but you’d still like to see a better performance.
• Lack of Zomboland. FREE ZOMBO.
• This:

]]> http://brentfavre.com/2012/01/01/packers-45-lions-41-the-matt-flynn-show/feed/ 0 http://brentfavre.com/2011/12/30/week-17-nfl-picks/ http://brentfavre.com/2011/12/30/week-17-nfl-picks/#comments Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:15:16 +0000 Big Cat http://brentfavre.com/?p=2601 Originally posted at TheHotGlove.com

My reaction to the fact that it is now Week 17

Picks…

Tennessee -3 @ Houston – Houston is like that one friend in your fantasy league that never checks his team and gives up after week 4. Everyone loves playing that friend. Cakewalk win. In my league his name is Josh. Way to totally Josh the end of the season and playoffs Houston. Kudos.

Seattle @ Arizona -3 – Its not goodbye, its see you later.

Indianapolis +3.5 @ Jacksonville -I think we can all agree that after all was said and done with the 2011 NFL season I was right and David Bailey was wrong, Peyton Manning is in fact made out of glass.

Chicago @ Minnesota -1 – I may or may not have an under 7.5 wins for the Bears season future. And by may or may not I obviously mean I do and yes I fully understand that I’m a lucky son of a bitch because Cutler and Forte went down, the bears lost 5 in a row and I am now in a position to miracously win the bet. Which of course will not happen. I’ll get punched directly in the dickhole by the gambling gods. Its so Obvi its not even obvi.

NY Jets @ Miami -2.5 – When you win football games and say funny things and “ground and pound” you’re a genius and the class of the town. When you lose games by double digits and miss the playoffs because your team gave up a 99 yard touchdown and your terrible quarterback threw it 60 + times you’re just a fat asshole. Welcome to being just a fat asshole Rex. Glad to have you.

Sidenote – I hate Brandon Jacobs but telling Rex Ryan to “Shut the fuck up fat boy” opens up a little piece of my heart where BJ can live forever.

Carolina @ New Orleans -8 – Drew Brees broke a record or something. Not sure why it got so little press.

San Francisco -10.5 @ St. Louis

Washington @ Philadelphia -8.5 – I hate the “hot” team you did not want to play in the playoffs if they didnt suck so bad in September and October to be mathematically eliminated from the actual playoffs. I may start doing a shitty job at work every day from 9-4 then get real efficient from 4-5 just so I can be the guy you do not want to face in the playoffs.

San Diego @ Oakland -3 - Good thing the Raiders traded for Carson Palmer.

Tampa Bay @ Atlanta -11.5 -Raheem Morris said this week that he will “never fire himself”. I like that. Not enough to say it myself because I know who I am and I know at some point in my life I will most likely need to fire myself.

Detroit -3.5 @ Green Bay – Has everyone seen this guy on NFL Network?

Who is this guy? And what is up with his ears? Seriously, I’m like half intimidated, half grossed out, and half impressed. You would think with ears like that you’d maybe put a little scotch tape behind them before you went on air no? Or pick up MMA as a hobby and hope some guy in your gym boxes them back into place. There has to be a solution for ears like that. I refuse to believe otherwise.

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland +7 – I don’t know if you guys know this but Ben Roethlisberger has an ankle and its pretty hurt and its basically the most important ankle in the history of ankles.

Buffalo @ New England – 10.5 - Here’s a quick way to put me in an early grave. Put up a bunch of headlines that says Brady has x-ray on shoulder right before week 17 only to have the story say he’s all good. Thanks a lot ESPN. All this poop in my underwear was completely unnecessary.

Baltimore @ Cincinnati +2 - The Bengals had to do Buy one get one free deals for this game. And people say Cincinnati is a terrible place to live, pffft.

Dallas @ NY Giants -3 – Sweet looking hand Tony

*Note, may not be Tony Romo’s actual hand. May be the first image when you google “swollen hand”

**That’s Totally Tony Romo’s hand though.

Enjoy the last full sunday slate of the year.