Week 5 was arguably the most unpredictable week of the 2009 NFL season to date. Chris Johnson does nothing, Matt Hasselbeck explodes with two cracked ribs and the Broncos are still undefeated after beating the Patriots.
Lets try to make sense of what’s to come in Week 6!
Editor’s Note: AJ Kaufman’s weekly MNF coverage on MSF is sponsored by Sadler’s Smokehouse, a producer of premium pit smoked meats that are best described by Sadler’s slogan: Legendary since 1948.
Sadler’s premium meats are perfect for tailgating on Saturday, for grilling out at home on Sunday, or for when you are hosting a group of friends, or even just the family, on Monday night.
With a variety of delicious choices (beef, pork, ribs, turkey, brisket, and more) and availability at grocery stores throughout the U.S., Sadler’s meats are the tasty, convenient choice when you want to watch the big game and eat well while you’re doing it.
Check out Sadler’s Monday Night Football Recipe of the Week: Sadler’s Smokehouse Baked Beans
Each week, you can also listen to the MSF Monday Night Football Podcast, brought to you by Sadler’s. Follow the link to listen to the MSF Podcast on iTunes, or use the in-page player below to listen while you read.
Panthers-Cowboys MNF Preview Podcast presented by Sadler’s
(FYI…audio player may take a second or two to load)
Another day, another video to share with you that I found on Hot Clicks.
The video below features a song by the band The Replicates and chronicles the inspiring tale of a jilted fan base that has had to move on from the most beloved object of its affection and learn how to love someone new.
The fan base in question is the Green Bay Packers, the beloved object of its affection now gone is, of course, Brett Favre, and the man they are moving onto is none other than Scott Stapp Aaron Rogers.
It’s a pretty clever video (after the jump), although they certainly don’t think much of the Packers’ defense.
The St. Louis Rams host the Green Bay Packers Sunday in their home opener. The Rams are winless through two weeks, losing 28-0 to Seattle, and 9-7 to Washington. The Packers are 1-1 following a 21-15 win over Chicago, and a 31-24 loss to Cincinnati.
Here is the TV and odds info for this weekend’s game:
There may be more Packers fans at the Edward Jones Dome than Rams fans with thousands of Packers faithful traveling to see their team. Couple that with disappointed Rams season ticket holders selling their seats, and you’ve got another version of “Lambeau South,” as the Dome was referred to two years ago when Green Bay came to town and left with a lopsided victory.
If the Rams expect to stay close and have a chance to win at the end, they must do these three things.
NFL Week 2 odds will feature a pair of teams that were involved in a couple of thrilling matchups during the first weekend of the season, and there should be a wild affair when Cincinnati heads to Lambeau Field to take on Green Bay.
Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Bengals vs Packers odds - Packers -9.5
The Bengals were stunned 12-7 by Denver when the Broncos’ Brandon Stokley took a tipped pass and ran 87 yards for a touchdown with 11 seconds left on the clock. Carson Palmer, who hasn’t played in a regular-season game since Week 6 of last year, went 21-of-33 for 247 yards, but he was picked off twice by the Broncos. The defense played very well in shutting down the Broncos, but cornerback Leon Hall will see that tipped pass for the rest of the season.
The Packers picked off Chicago’s Jay Cutler four times in his Bears’ debut to pull out a 21-15 win on Sunday night. This was a typically hard-hitting NFC North affair, and the Packers’ offense struggled to get it going against the Bears, although Aaron Rodgers was 17-of-28 for 184 yards and a touchdown to Greg Jennings, who caught six balls for 106 yards. However, the defense proved that they would be the key to Green Bay’s Super Bowl odds, and they look like they’ve been playing their new 3-4 scheme for years under coordinator Dom Capers.
The Packers are a whopping 9-point favorite at Lambeau Field, where the Bengals haven’t played since 1995. However, they’re only 1-3 in four trips to Green Bay, and last year they were an atrocious 1-7 away from home. The Bengals will have to put aside the disappointment of last week’s gut punch from the Broncos, but heading into Green Bay isn’t the best place to get away from your troubles. The Packers’ defense is swarming and opportunistic, while it looks like Palmer needs a little more time to get back into NFL regular-season shape. Rodgers will play much better than he did in the Chicago game, and this offense could possibly hang a lot of points on a disheartened Cincinnati defense. Go with the Packers in your NFL picks.
It is sure to be one hell of an exciting weekend for NFL fans and for football fans in general. The first official Sunday games are only a day away, and there are plenty of good games to watch.
Out of all these great games, there is one that you can’t miss: the matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
The Bears-Packers rivalry is the longest in NFL history, and it’s also one of the greatest. These two teams have played in 177 regular and post-season match-ups with the Bears currently holding the all-time series lead with a 91-80-6 record.
Before looking at the strengths and weaknesses of the Chicago Bears that will have the most bearing on Sunday night’s game, here is all of the info you need to be ready for kickoff:
Chicago Bears (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0)
And now let’s take a lot at the strengths and weakness of the 2009 Chicago Bears, and how they will impact Sunday night’s game against Packers, as well as the rest of the season.
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Chicago Bears’ Weaknesses That Could Lead to a Packer Beatdown
Sunday’s matchup will be a test for how well these teams’ defenses will play in 2009. The Packers, with no doubt, were the best team this preseason. Their new 3-4 defense worked flawlessly and Aaron Rodgers looked sharp, just as he always does. That tandem — an improving defense and an emerging star at QB — could be a nightmare for the Bears.
The Bears had a modest preseason, with neither the defense nor offense really blowing any team away. What worries me the most is the Bears defense. It is a toss-up as to how well they will perform Sunday night because it’s really up to the defense to stop the pass. If they can’t do that, Rodgers and top WR Greg Jennings may make the Bears defense look like an intramural football team.
The receiving positon also makes me worry.
While I believe the Bears have a good enough receiving corps to make the offense work, I still, in the back of my mind, feel like the Bears need a proven go-to receiver. Devin Hester hasn’t shown enough talent as a route runner to show me that he deserves the #1 spot. In fact, no receiver has shown me that, and it worries me the most.
The Bears are going to need every receiver to chip in a little for this team to be successful.
Now that we’ve discussed the Bears’ weaknesses, let’s take a look at this team’s strengths.
———-
Bears’ Strengths That Could Lead to a Victory Over the Packers
Every team has their weaknesses and strengths. It’s just a question of which category will shine through on game day.
As a team, the Bears have a lot of reasons to be optimistic about their chances of winning Sunday night’s game against rival Green Bay.
First of all, there is Matt Forte.
Forte was just breathtaking last season. A steal in the 2nd round, Forte has the talent to be a Pro Bowler for many years to come. A strong, yet agile running back, Forte can run, block, and catch. Is there anything else you could ask for from a back?
I think not.
If the Bears have any chance of having a good game Sunday night and a good year in 2009, Forte has to at least repeat his success from his rookie year.
Jay Cutler also has to perform like a Pro Bowler.
All eyes will be watching this guy after the Bears gave up a lot to get him. He could be the answer the Bears need at the QB position after failed attempts with the likes of Jim Miller, Chris Chandler, Rex Grossman, Kordell Stewart, Chad Hutchinson, Kyle Orton, and many more.
Most Chicagoans are optimistic about the 2009 season and the future with Cutler taking the snaps, but the truth is that it could be a hit or a miss for the Bears. If Cutler doesn’t perform it could be really bad. When you give away that many draft picks for one player, you better 100% believe he can drive your team victory. If not, there are going to be lots and lots of formerly optimistic Chicagoans who become angry and frustrated.
Probably the most underrated part of any football team is the O-line. In the Bears’ case, the O-line has to play well or, like with any other team, the whole season will be lost. If there is no protection, neither Forte’s nor Cutler’s talents will be worth anything.
The Bears’ O-line is significantly younger this year, and that’s actually a positive thing. It seemed that every year in the recent past the old O-line would be bullied around by the defensive tackles. It wasn’t a pretty sight to see the Bears suffer so much on offense. With the offense not killing time so the defense can rest, both parts of the team suffered.
This aspect of the Bears’ attack should be improved this season.
All strengths don’t have to be 100% percent perfect this Sunday, but they darn well better be close, or I sense a beat down by the Packers.
In reality, this game could be a spectacular coming-out party for the Bears, or it could be a nightmare. It can really go either way. That’s something you don’t want to think about as a fan.
No matter what the turnout of the game is, it’s still football season and that’s all I need to make me happy.
**********
* – Jay Cutler / Matt Forte photo credit: Chris Sweda, Chicago Tribune via ChicagoTribune.com
After all of the games are played Sunday afternoon, there will be one remaining – and it’s the oldest rivalry in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will meet for the 178th time Sunday night at Lambeau Field. It will also be the 21st time the two teams have met in the season opener.
The storied teams split last year’s series, with the Packers routing the Bears at home 37-3, while the Bears escaped with a 20-17 overtime win on a frigid December night at Soldier Field. (I should know. I was there.)
Before we break down the two rosters, here are the particulars for Sunday night’s Packers-Bears matchup:
Chicago Bears (0-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-0)
This year brings with it a lot of questions for both teams:
The questions go on, and most will be answered, at least in the short term, Sunday night.
The Packers have been downright dominant in the preseason, posting a 3-1 record — the same as the Bears — with the first-team offense scoring touchdowns on nine of 13 possessions. The Packers were 3-0 before dropping the backup-filled finale to Tennessee.
The Pack seem to have a slight edge at quarterback, mainly because Cutler’s effectiveness is a relative unknown with receivers such as Earl Bennett, Devin Aromashodu, Rashied Davis and rookies Johnny Knox and Juaquin Iglesias. The supposed top receiver for the Bears is Devin Hester, who is still learning the ropes on offense bytdefinitely trumps any return specialist the Packers have.
The Packers certainly have a huge edge is at wideout. Aaron Rodgers has a plethora of weapons, including Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Jordy Nelson. Jennings, in fact, just might be emerging as the best player from the 2006 draft. Add Donald Lee and Jermichael Finley at tight end, and it makes the weapons pool even deeper for Rodgers.
The Bears have their own talented tight end in third-year player Greg Olsen, but neither Desmond Clark, Michael Clark, nor Kellen Davis give Chicago a 1-2 punch at tight end like Lee and Finley.
The running back edge belongs to Chicago, mainly because the versatile Matt Forte can flat out carry the rock and is effective catching passes out of the backfield. The second-year stud from Tulane ran for 1,238 yards last year to set a new franchise record for rookie tailbacks. Adrian Peterson is a nice change-of-pace back for Chicago, which recently lost Kevin Jones for the season.
Green Bay has plenty of runners, but none with the talent of Forte. Ryan Grant did eclipse 1,200 yards last year, but averaged less than four yards per carry. If he can get that number back up this year, the Packers will be all right. Spelling him in the backfield will be Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn.
Both teams have solid offensive lines, which they’ll need against the aggressive defenses they’ll see on Sunday night. Despite finishing the year 6-10, the Packers led the NFL in defensive touchdowns last season. Where they struggled was in the pass rush, something the new 3-4 scheme is supposed to remedy. Cornerbacks Charles Woodson and Al Harris are two of the best in the business, and safety Nick Collins was a Pro Bowl selection in 2008.
Chicago has another aggressive unit led by linebackers Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs. If they can control the middle, the Bears can exert their will on pretty much any team. Green Bay’s backers are also good with Nick Barnett, A.J Hawk, Brandon Chillar, rookie Clay Matthews, and now Aaron Kampman added to the mix as an outside linebacker.
Kampman led the Packers with 9.5 sacks last season, his first year without registering double-digit sacks since 2005. If the Packers can get some pressure on Cutler, it could be curtains for the Bears.
It’s hard to overlook that Green Bay led last year’s game in Chicago 14-3 before imploding and handing the game back to Chicago. The Packers were clearly the more talented team last season, and look to be again this year.
Green Bay wins its home opener by beating up on the Bears, 31-13.
**********
* – Brian Urlacher getting owned photo credit: Mouth Piece Sports
Yes, not long now before every fantasy football nut is tearing apart the Internet and those extremely overpriced magazines to help them decide who to draft, when, where, why and how! This year I am at a disadvantage, as I am passing on my knowledge to all of you.  My competition in the Midwest Sports Fans Fantasy Football League will be able to gain insight into my strategies and opinions, which for the most part are nails, and use that against me.Â
Oh well, it is what it is, and you will still see me in the Super Bowl.
[Editor's Note: Kurt's trash talk has been left in, unedited, because...well...we all need a good laugh every now and then.]
Onto ESPN’s current Fantasy Football Top 10 players based on their projected 2009 stats through their point scoring system, and whether or not I think each player will over- or under-perform the projections.
T-1. Tom Brady, QB, Patriots (288 Points) OVER!!! Even though I think that New England will run more this year than any of their previous three years, you have to have faith in the quarterback with the most prolific statistical passing year ever, which was only two years ago. Brady has more weapons now than he did then, including a better running game then ever before. The Patriots will, however, run more for two reasons. First, to keep the defense honest and avoid heavy blitzes intended to either make Brady a non-factor, or remove him all together from the game. Secondly, to remove some pressure from the offensive line in having to protect the greatest quarterback ever 40 to 50 times a game. If healthy, Brady will have another 300 plus point season.  He is my number 1 overall pick.
T-1. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers (288 Points) Rodgers tied with Brady? Under, but not by much. Compare Rodgers’ weapons with Brady’s… that’s right, you can’t. There should be no tie here. Although Rodgers finished second among QB’s last year with 286 ESPN fantasy football points, the Packers will have to establish the run this year to win games. Establishing the run is not only a quarterback’s best friend, but the defense’s as well. Ground and pound eats minutes off of the clock, allowing the defensive personnel time to recover in between possessions. There are several other QB’s that I would take over Rodgers this year.
3. Drew Brees, QB, Saints (287 Points) Over, and over Rodgers in my opinion. Brees was the #1 QB last year with 311 fantasy points. I don’t see him beating last year’s numbers, but Brees has been an owner’s best friend since landing in N.O. I do, however, have a somewhat bad feeling on Brees this year. Look back on all of the previous fantasy gods who posted incredible numbers over the past few years. Brady, Peyton Manning, Tomlinson, Larry Johnson, Kurt Warner and on and on. What do they all have in common? After posting god-like statistical years, they came back and posted subpar years, if they played at all. All of these players suffered from injuries or reduced effectivness the year following their epic years.  He should still be very, very good…but will Brees be added to the aforementioned list as a 2009 letdown?
4. Peyton Manning, QB, Colts (277 Points) Under! I may eat my words on this one, but there are too many intangibles that make me see it this way. Manning finished sixth among QB’s last year with 253 points. You cannot tell me that he will have a better year than last after losing Tony Dungy as his head coach and losing Marvin Harrison, his record setting wide receiver for over a decade. Not to mention, the loss of Harrison will place more pressure on Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez. Wayne often made double team attempts look stupid last year, but Gonzalez’s stats suffered when he was not burning slow safties out of the slot position. And will Joseph Addai return to his 2007 form?  He must improve upon last year’s numbers to help Manning.  Peyton Manning is the smartest quarterback in the league, but is he smart enough to make up for all of these key losses? Time will tell.
5. Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings (272 Points) Push. Peterson, even with injuries, finished third among RBs last year with 237 points. Their offense will be more productive this year regardless who is at QB. Farve, Jackson or Rosenfels will be able to produce in this offense, which will open up the door for A Pete.  I take Peterson after Brady and Brees.
6. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars (252 Points) Under.  There are questions surrounding MJD now that he has no Fred Taylor to spell him.  They formed a great 1-2 punch, and Jones-Drew has flourished in his role as a change-of-pace back.  Also, will David Garrard return to 2007 form? If the box is stacked on MJD, he will not be successful. Will he still be on special teams? If so, the physical toll could hurt him offensively as the season goes along. I would take several backs over MJD, starting with Michael Turner.
7. Kurt Warner, QB, Cardinals (250 Points) Under. Warner had 265 fantasy points last year. At 38 years old, can he repeat that this year? I think not. At some point, Matt Lienhart will have to see the field become an actual NFL QB (he already has the salary and ego) and earn his ridiculous paycheck. More importantly, can Warner stay healthy for a full season?  Will Arizona ever figure out how to run the ball?  Edgerrin James looked incredible on the ground in the playoffs, but that was to prove a point. Without him on the roster, will they ever get more than .2 yards per carry out of touchdown monster Tim Hightower? I avoid Kurt Warner in the first three rounds this year for these reasons.
8. Matt Cassel, QB, Cheifs (247 points) UNDER, UNDER, UNDER. Have you lost your minds? He scored 238 points last year with more weapons than a naval ship…more nukes than North Korea! How can anyone possibly score more points on what has been a dismal Kansas City offense? Cassell will make them better, and Dwayne Bowe’s stock goes way up with his addition, but New England’s offensive talent versus Kansas City’s talent, not to mention offensive line comparisons, is like comparing….well, never mind.  You get the picture.
T-9. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers (246 Points) Push. I take several players over LT, including the other two that ESPN had him tied with, just because they both have a greater upside than LT. I do think he will benefit from Sproles getting more carries, as this combo could mirror the one-two punch that the Titans and Jaguars displayed last year. LT only had 216 fantasy points last year, and even though his best years are behind him, if healthy, LT is still a top-5 running back.
T-9. Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys (246 Points) Over. Romo had 208 fantasy points last year while missing 4 games. Romo lost a migraine when T.O. landed in Buffalo, and still his a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball. Romo is in my top 10, and much higher than number 9. Romo rebounds after the Terrell Owens brick!
T-9. Philip Rivers, QB, Chargers (246 Points) Push. Rivers had 279 points last year, and benefited greatly from the Chargers’ inability to run the ball. This will not be the case this year, and ESPN adjusted his numbers accordingly. Rivers is still a no brainer though if available in the first round.
There was ESPN’s top 10 (11). I am lost as to how Michael Turner and Jay Cutler were left off of this list. And more importantly, how ESPN has David Garrard at #17. There are at least 60 players I would take over Garrard. I will say this about Garrard: he must produce this year to save his head coach’s job, now two years removed from his punting on long time starter Byron Leftwich. Jack Del Rio may be sent packing if the Jags do not find themselves playing in late January.Â
Getting back on track, Michael Turner is an absolute beast, and is arguably the best back in the NFL going into this season. And Jay Cutler is going to play with such a large chip on his shoulder, he will only make those around him better, and has something he did not have in Denver: talented tight ends!
Want more info to follow heading into and throughout the season, I am now on facebook and twitter.
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Kurt Fraschetti
Senior Fantasy Football Writer-MidwestSportsFans.com
Earlier today on 103.3 ESPN Radio in Dallas, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was a guest on the Michael Irvin show. Naturally, Irvin and his sycophant co-host Kevin Kiley talked about Brett Favre while introducing Aaron Rodgers, and then peppered him with questions about Brett Favre throughout the interview.
It was actually relatively interesting though, considering the candor with which Rodgers answered their questions, and his palpable reluctance to broach the subject. The nearly-complete transcript of the interview is below. (Note: I left out some of the stuff towards the end, and I guess I shouldn’t make fun of Irvin and Kiley for getting hung up on the Favre angle, because it’s the non-Favre stuff I left out).
The highlights are Aaron Rodgers saying that Brett Favre’s will-I-won’t-I saga last offseason definitely affected the team, and that he has not spoken to Favre since they left Lambeau Field after their disappointing NFC Championship Game loss to the Giants last year. Of course Favre’s offseason primmadonna show affected the team, but it is somewhat unexpected for Rodgers to be so blunt in saying so on a semi-national stage.
The other highlight, for me anyway, is Kevin Kiley saying “I don’t want this to be about me, I want this to be about you,” and then Rodgers saying, “Well you’re the one talking.” For anyone who lives in Dallas and listens to the Michael Irvin show, you know that while they are able to get athletes to open up and be relatively candid, they barely give their guests a chance to speak in between in their rambling questions/comments/mumbles. As you will see from the transcript, Kiley and Irvin do most of the talking, but Rodgers does make an impact with the few words he gets in edgewise.
Onto the transcript:
(FYI…you can listen to the podcast at the ESPNRadio.com.)
Kevin Kiley (KK): My position on the GB Packers were, was, is – Aaron Rodgers coulda waited, they shoulda kept Brett Favre, he took ‘em to the NFL title game last year, it was DUMB to let him get away, and that Aaron
Rodgers was put in a position unlike any other quarterback that has ever played the game.
Michael Irvin (MI): And I was the first to say after watching Aaron Rodgers step on that field in Dallas TWO years ago – I came in the next day and said “Ooh, oh my God, do you see what GB has.†And everybody thought I was crazy then, ‘cuz when you stepped on the field Aaron, and you started bringing the Packers back against the Cowboys I said Oh get him off the field and bring Brett back in so we could win this game. And from that day on I thought they shoulda made the move THEN to Aaron Rodgers.
KK: Yeah, and that’s exactly right. He did say that.
MI: And let this team grow as a young team together with a nucleus and move forward and do great things herein. Aaron Rodgers it’s a pleasure to have you on the Michael Irvin show man.
Aaaron Rodgers (AR): I’m glad one of you guys actually likes me.
MI: Yeah!
KK: Now don’t go there. It’s not like or dislike. I thought you’re a terrific quarterback. I just thought they shoulda kept Brett another year because –
MI: Aww, stop it, stop it.
AR: Where were you between like…March, and June?
KK: How do you mean? What, when he was retiring?
MI: When he was retired, came back, retired, came back, retired.
KK: I was feeling that Brett Favre, and I don’t want this to be about me, I want this to be about you–
AR: Well you’re the one talking.
KK: — but I thought that Brett Favre had the right –
MI: The right!?
KK: — to do whatever he wanted to do.
MI: The right?
KK: That was my feeling. What was your feeling on that Aaron?
MI: It amazes me – the right!? – isn’t, what, aren’t we’re talking about football teams?
KK: He earned the right to do in Green Bay anything he wanted to do – he wanted to retire, unretired, yes, no, yeh eh, when it’s time to play ball, if he wanted to come back and play ball, he should have been allowed to play ball.
MI: How can that not affect your football team? How can you say – and I’m asking you this Aaron – to find out; he’s in, he’s out, he’s in, he’s out, he’s in, he’s out, he’s in, he’s out, how can – how can that not – how does that affect your football team?
AR: It does. How can it not affect it? I mean, when he flew into Green Bay the day after—or the day of the Family Night scrimmage, I mean that was…talk about an awkward locker room. I mean, I’ve been the guy since March, you know? And then everybody’s like well okay, what’s gonna happen? Brett’s gonna come back, he’s gonna be the guy? Or Aaron’s gonna be the guy? Or they’ll compete for the job? Nobody knowing what’s going on, of course that’s going to affect your football team.
MI: What was the relationship like with you, uh, and Brett?
AR: I was under the impression…that it was good.
MI: Why would you say that you were under the impression?
3 second pause…
AR: You know what — We got along very well, especially the third year. Umm…but…I just wish…at some point he’d reach out to me. Honestly.
KK: In what way? In what way do you mean reach out to you?
AR: Talk to me?
KK: He never talked to you?
AR: No.
KK: Never spoke to you?
MI: Wait, wai, wai, wait. When you were playing together, how much speaking did he do with you.
AR: I mean, it was me and him. The last year, ’07, we had no other quarterback on the roster, it was me and him, you know, we’d see each other every day, jog around with eachother every day, you know he knew how I felt about him, that I had the utmost amount of respect for him, you know…and to not have talked to him in over a year? That’s disappointing.
MI: Through all of this, going back and forth, putting you in the position that you were in – and it was a tough position – it was a tough position because now you’re sitting having to respect him for what he has done, dealing with it, and let’s just get real here that the pain of him not calling, or talking, or saying ‘this is what’s happening, this is what’s going on’…after all of that, he still hasn’t talked to you?
Pause…
AR: No.
KK: Why do you think that is?
AR: I’m not gonna speak for him, so I don’t — I’m not sure.
KK: But I mean you must say to yourself, why doesn’t Brett speak to me? What could it possibly be? I can see by the look on your face that clearly you don’t think you did anything to be put in that position. So why do you think – did you become…an automatic…I don’t even want to use the enemy, but, but, you were on the other side because you had that job? But do you think that that’s the way he looked at it? And that you just, just…not speak to you? That seems odd.
AR: I don’t know. That’s a question for him. I’m not gonna put words in his mouth. But I’m – like I said, when we lost to the Giants, I mean, we left as friends, and, and, I haven’t talked to him in year so that’s kinda where we’re at.
MI: Why will you not reach out to him?
AR: Oh, I did. I did.
MI: You called him and he didn’t call you back?
AR: Yep.
MI: I’m recoiling. I gotta come up with a question. You ask him a question.
KK: Yeah, well this is difficult because I don’t wanna put Aaron in a – I can see Aaron struggling with this. If this was television, you could see he’s uncomfortable with these questions. I don’t blame him because Brett Favre is Brett Favre and Aaron was – was he a popular, was he popular on the team? There were reports that he was a little bit separate from the team and all that. Did you feel that when you guys were making that run for the NFC title? That he was separate from the other players?
AR: I’ll be honest with you, I really don’t want to go into that at all.
KK: Okay. Well let’s talk about Aaron.
MI: Let’s talk about Aaron. We appreciate your honesty there man, I appreciate –
AR: No problem.
MI: –your honesty, and I could see how difficult that must be for you because I know you admired him, I admired him, we all admired him. So…and, but you had the opportunity to work so closely with him…and grab the crumbs of the knowledge that falls off his table. So, you know, naturally there’s a closeness there so we appreciate your honesty with that man, but let’s talk about this football season…
Less than thirty seconds later, Irvin asks if Rodgers felt that, after losses, there were people wondering how things would be different if Brett Favre were still the quarterback. Rodgers responds that he’s sure there were outside of the locker room, but not inside. Kevin Kiley then asks him if there was anything else in his life that could have prepared him for what he would face taking over for Favre. Rodgers responds emphatically.
AR: NO.
KK: How did you piece it together, just day by day?
AR: You know what? I just tried to realize that every time I got in front of the camera was an opportunity to get my message out, and to be myself, and to be real, and genuine, and try to handle it with as much grace and class as I could. I had a great support group. My other brothers, my best friend, I just stayed tight with my family, my guys on the team, and my, and my close friends back home.
MI: And you handled it just that way man, with grace and with class man. I can’t tell ya – I was a huge fan before you got here man, but you just grew with me, in a big way man. I appreciate you stopping by, I know everybody’s grabbing on you man
AR: No problem, thank you.
Then there was about 30 more seconds of Irvin and Kiley hanging off of Rodgers’ balls, basically telling Rodgers to clear out a space in Canton for himself. Seriously, you would think that Rodgers was some cross 
between John Elway and a single father who had just lost his job and was raising ten kids as much as they talked about “what a difficult situation” he was put in. Hmm…let’s see…he is one of 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL, making tons of money, and had the full support of his coaches and teammates. Oh the tragedy! Please.
I realize that I will probably get flamed by somebody for making a mountain out of a molehill — that this interview wasn’t really a big deal; and you know what? You’re probably right. But I was bored and thought it would be fun to transcribe — and some of Rodgers’ comments were relatively interesting.
At the end of the day, Rodgers and Favre haven’t spoken and the legacy of Brett Favre continues to take hits and more and more stories like these get out. He should probably just retire before he can tear down any more of what it took him so long to build up.
Something happened in Green Bay that has seriously destroyed the unity among the Packers players. It was evident Sunday in Jacksonville when the Packers added to the string of disappointment that has been the 2008 season. It became more than evident in Sunday’s loss to Jacksonville when players could be seen screaming at each other when they managed to screw up coverages, routes, formations, and another fourth quarter.
The first implosion I witnessed on Sunday came when the Packers had the chance to put a stranglehold on the game with a third and goal at the Jags’ 5 late in the 2nd quarter. And yet somehow, during a Jags timeout, the offense failed to relay to their tight end what play they were about to run. The ensuing disaster led to a sideline meltdown involving Aaron Rodgers, Mike McCarthy and rookie Tight End Jermichael Finley and a chip shot field goal in lieu of a touchdown. It would prove to be a costly error in yet another close loss.
At the start of the second half, the wheels started to come off, this time on the defensive side of the ball. The Jags lined up on their second play from scrimmage, and the Packer defense left a wide open weak-side slot receiver. In the ensuing confusion, David Garrard managed to connect on a 35-yard completion, leaving the Green Bay defense only one option. Scream at each other.
Unfortunately, yelling at each other seemed to be the only answer the players could come up with on Sunday. The whole demeanor of the team seemed to say “This is not MY fault, this is YOUR fault.†It was such a heart wrenching sight to see, since the reality is, they should be saying “this is OUR fault.â€
Forget the lousy defense, forget Aaron Rodgers, forget the lack of short yardage grit, and forget the inability to close out games. This team stinks because they are not a team. At least, they don’t play like one and they sure as hell do not act like one. Come on fellas, this is December! This is when teams that have as much talent as you do are supposed to come together and get wins. Or at the very least, come together after your losses, find ways to mend, and learn HOW to win. At least that’s what the good ones are supposed to, and the last four weeks have more than exemplified that this team has no business calling itself good because they seem to have no idea how to win games.
Some people might say the residual effect of the Brett Favre drama is rearing its ugly head, but I would hate to believe that summer drama would manifest itself in November and December. This team had time to shake that debacle off, and move on. What they face now seems like an inner turmoil that has managed to break the team from the inside like water frozen inside of a rock.
So what’s the cause and how can we fix it? Perhaps the close losses have begun to haunt the locker room and maybe all the finger pointing has reached its boiling point. Maybe the coaching staff isn’t doing it’s job or maybe injuries have stalled the team this year. While these are all contributing factors to the mediocrity, heck downright lousiness, of the 2008 season, the real cause of the Packers’ problems is a lack of leadership.
My only hope is that this was the high water mark for the Packers’ frustrations and what follows can be a turning point for the young Packers. As I recall, in 2006 the Packers started winning again after a 4-8 start led to a very similar spat of inner turmoil. We all knew who the leader was who pulled them out of that disaster but he can’t help us anymore. So, the only thing we can ask ourselves is who will it be now? Who can bring this talented young team together and get them back into the win column? I think we all know who it should be, but is #12 ready for it?
Well I guess that I was wrong, yet again. Green Bay lost to the Jacksonville Jaguars by 4 points on Sunday, their 6th loss by 4 points or less this season, ending all hopes of a playoff appearance. Green Bay needed to win out, which means they had to win their last 3 games, and Minnesota had to lose out their last 3. We needed a lot of help for the playoffs, but ultimately we screwed ourselves over.
Jacksonville started strong. They scored on their opening drive with a 30 yard touchdown pass to Dennis Northcut. Maurice Jones-Drew ran well on the dive and David Garrard, the Jags’ quarterback, looked comfortable in the pocket and was virtually under no pressure from the Green Bay defense.
The Packers’ first possession got off to a dismal start. However, Ryan Grant ran the ball well and James Jones had a huge reception, the first of the game for the Packers. In spite of Green Bay’s impressive red zone statistics, they were stopped and had to settle for a field goal attempt by Mason Crosby, which was good from 22 yards out.
Mike McCarthy, a coach who doesn’t use the challenge flag all that often, challenged a completed pass made by Jacksonville in the second quarter. The call was overturned, which set up a Jacksonville field goal attempt. The ball was 51 yards out, but hit the left upright and bounced back into the center of the field. Jacksonville
was still on top, 7-3.
Because of the missed field goal, Green Bay took over on downs. A personal foul (roughing the passer) against Clint Ingram of Jacksonville and good running by Grant put Green Bay in good field position. On this drive Ryan Grant had his first 1,000 yard rushing season. Aaron Rodgers connected with James Jones to put the Pack on top, 10-7.
Green Bay went into the locker room after the first half with a 13-7 lead.
The third quarter of the game was virtually defunct. Both teams handled the ball poorly and as a result, neither side scored. There was a positive for Green Bay, however. Their defensive line had not been doing so hot for most of the season, but during the third quarter, they were able to put pressure on Garrard.
The fourth quarter is where the Green Bay collapse finally happened. The Jags started out the quarter by stopping the Packers’ fourth down attempt. On Jacksonville’s subsequent drive, after taking over with good field position, Jones-Drew scored a touchdown, putting them on top of Green Bay, 14-13. The score was set up by a fourth down conversion by Garrard.
Green Bay answered by putting up 3 points late in the fourth. The Packers were unable march down the field with as much authority as they had earlier in the game. A few dropped passes and a sack of Rodgers made a try for 7 impossible for Green Bay. Crosby’s kick put the Packers up, 16-14.
Jones-Drew scored his third touchdown of the season just inside the two-minute warning. This fortuitous event was set up by a 40 yard pass to Northcut and aggressive running by Jones-Drew. The Jacksonville offense came alive in the fourth quarter and the Green Bay defense seemed to take a nap.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Aaron Rodgers has no two-minute drill poise. Sure, this loss was not entirely his fault, but he didn’t help. Driver and Jones both made good catches to keep the drive alive. However, Rodgers put a pass too high, and it was intercepted with only 40 seconds left in the game. The booth reviewed the call, but anyone with eyes could see that it was a spectacular interception of a poorly-thrown ball.
Jacksonville took their victory knee, sealing the Packers’ fate. There will be no appearance in the playoffs for the Packers. This game was as much of a disappointment as many others had been this season. However, some good things happened. It was the first time in a while that I had seen the entire team come together. The offense played with passion even though they could not translate that energy into points and the defense even found it in themselves to stop the run some of the time and put pressure on Garrard.
But I can’t help but die a little inside after watching so much promise vanish in the final 15 minutes. Even though Green Bay is first in the NFL in scoring fourth quarter points, past success could not inspire victory. Maybe I should ask Santa to give the Packers some fourth quarter courage. With the outcome of Sunday’s game, it really looks like they need it.
I have finally recovered enough after Sunday’s loss to write about the Packers again. I needed a few days to get over it.
In a game where turnovers should have led to a Packer win, the Texans’ offense came out on top instead. Way to go defensive line. I love you, but you really need to man up against the run.
So what does all of this mean for the rest of the season — because I’m pretty sure that this is the end of the season for the Pack and we’re just working toward next season. Sure we have 3 games left, but I’m not delusional. I know that we’re not going to win our division. Although after the Vikings almost lost to the Detroit Lions, who knows what can happen? But I’m not expecting any miracles, and neither should any of you.
For those of you who missed the game, let me provide a brief summery.
Things started out badly. The Texans managed to score on their opening drive. Well I shouldn’t say managed. Our defense let them. It was more of a gift. “Here you go Houston. Here’s a touchdown.†Sure, we put some pressure on Schaub, but he still made the throw, and two of our guys got tangled up on the coverage.
On our first drive, we punted. This was the first time Jeremy Kapinos, the guy we signed on Wednesday to replace Derrick Frost, would be able to prove himself. His punt went 25 yards. That did not bode well for the Packers. However, his subsequent punts throughout the game were 40 yards or more, with one of them pinning the Texans inside the 5. So kudos to you Mike McCarthy for making the right choice. At least every single Packer fan is hoping that you made the right choice. I know I’m still crossing my fingers.
Turnovers should have been the big difference-maker for the Packers. They ultimately kept the team in the game. During the second quarter, Houston fumbled the ball at the goal line as they were trying for a score. We didn’t capitalize on the fumble and Mark Tauscher was eventually hurt on the drive. Reports from today’s team report indicate the Tauscher is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Because of the long recovery time, Tauscher probably won’t be ready until training camp next summer, and because he’s a free agent, he might not even come back to Green Bay.
Tramon Williams intercepted a pass made by Schaub in the second quarter. Donald Lee made the touchdown catch thrown by Rodgers, and things were tried up 7-7.
Houston reclaimed their lead near the end of the first half when Kris Brown knocked in a field goal to bring the score to 10-7.
Will Blackmon had a stellar punt return for a touchdown, what would have been his third this season, but unfortunately it was called back because someone on the punt return team got to cozy with a Texan and decided to hold him for a while. I was jumping up and down in my apartment, so excited that we were finally on top, until I saw the flag. What an unfortunate turn of events.
Rodgers threw his first interception of the game on that drive with 33 seconds left in the half. Houston
started at the 40 with 3 timeouts left. There was plenty of time for them to get into field goal range to attempt to secure a 6-point lead. Brown was lined up for a 41-yard field goal attempt but pushed it just to the right. At least the turnover didn’t cost the Packers anything at the end of the first half.
The second half for me is pretty much a blur. Sure, somehow we ended up tied at 21-21, but I can barely remember how. I’m still amazed that it even happened. Houston raked in over 500 yards. That’s not something our defense should be proud of. We capitalized off of turnovers and tied the game.
Just when I was starting to feel like we might miraculously win, time just sort of ran out. The drive that should have ended in point for Green Bay was destroyed by penalties and even a sack of Aaron Rodgers, pushing the Packers out of field goal range.
The Texans marched down the field. Schaub made some good throws and the rookie Steve Slaton was definitely utilized by their offense. The Packers’ defensive line just couldn’t hold things together, and Houston found themselves in field goal range with one second left.
Brown had missed a 41 yard field goal right before the close of the first half. The commentators for the game said something that made sense to me, for once. Kickers rarely miss more than one in a game. This one was marked as a 40 yarder. As much tense as I was, and as much as I wanted him to miss, in the bottom of my heart, I knew that it was going to be a solid kick. Of course he made it, right down the middle.
This game ended in much the same way as other games this season. The Packers’ defense couldn’t find a way to stop the run and the offense only had brief moments of brilliance. After the Houston Texan’s first visit to Lambeau, they left with a victory. Once again the Packers brought less than their best and lost by three points.
Alright, so here it is. I’m pretty sure that Aaron Rodgers is a keeper for us. I know there are many Packers fans out there that are ready to place the blame for this season’s less than satisfactory progression squarely on his shoulders. But look at the guy. He has a 92.1 quarterback rating. Now let’s wander over to the Jets and look at Brett Favre’s stat—88.2. Now I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with the way Favre is playing this season. I’m just saying, Rodgers is doing a heck of a job.
I think he can do some good things for next season, because I’m pretty sure that’s where we should put our focus. Sure, we need to go out and try to win the last three games, but we need to be realistic.
The Green Bay Packers are sitting at 5-8 right now, still solidly at third in the NFC North. We need to fix whatever is ailing our defensive line, because there’s something going on there that’s not meshing with the rest of the team. Our offense is playing reasonably well and special teams stepped it up. The last piece of this little trio is the defense, and they’re acting like the clichéd square peg in the round hole.
Somehow we need to get our shapes to match up. It’s time to get back to basics, everyone. Remember those good old kindergarten days?
I will be the first to admit that my heart broke that early March morning as I was eating my Frosted Flakes.
I was sitting in the cafeteria just like any other morning when I heard the news that my beloved quarterback, Mr. Brett Favre, was finally handing in his papers and retiring from good ol’ Green Bay. We’ve heard it before, of course. It seems like he teased us every offseason with his inability to make a decision. To stay or to go? Of course to stay. Always to stay.
With a miraculous 13-3 season (with, miraculously, two of the losses coming to Chicago), an NFC North win, and an appearance in the NFC Championship game, there was no doubt in my mind that he would be coming back. Sure, he’s been in the league for 17 years. Sure, splitting up his family between the Midwest and Mississippi was killing him slowly in ways we could never understand. Sure, his last pass of the season 
happened to be a gut-wrenching interception. But with all those negatives, I honestly thought the positives made the situations worth fighting through.
Many said he was washed up, took too many risks, and couldn’t lead such a young team anywhere except to the playground. He proved many of those nay-sayers wrong, with the exception of the risk thing. My breathing always stopped and my heart constricted when he lofted the ball toward the endzone, fearing the interception that came all too often. But he drove through the season, managed a spectacular core of WRs and TEs, and reminded fans of the reasons why we love our team so much.
Without Favre returning for the next season, the hopes of the Green Bay fans for another playoff run rested on the shoulders of Aaron Rodgers. I, for one, did not think he was up the challenge. I didn’t think he had the leadership skills or the talent to lead my Packers in their battle for victory. Of course I was a bit biased. Brett Favre came to Green Bay from Atlanta in 1992. I was only 3 years old at the time, so he was really the only Green Bay quarterback that I’d ever known. I was very reluctant to let Aaron Rodgers prove me wrong.
He did prove me wrong, however. I’ve never been more happy to be wrong. Despite some inconsistency with regards to 2-minute drives in crucial situations, he has been what Green Bay needs to help keep our team glued together.
Loading ...Aaron Rodgers is a decisive quarterback in the pocket with good instincts. My heart doesn’t leap into my throat quite as often as it used to when he drops back to throw deep to Driver or Jennings. I am beginning to trust him to make the right decisions and to make smart plays with the ball. Sure, it can’t be like that all of the time, and it certainly hasn’t, but I no longer cringe when I see him under center. I no longer think the words “glass bones†when someone mentions his name. I am astonished that he played through his shoulder injury and admire him even more for dealing with not only that, but also all of the criticism he h
as received for taking over for a legend.
With our disappointing loss to Carolina yesterday, the playoffs will be a goal for next season. As saddened as I am about that fact, I have hope. His name is Aaron Rodgers. He has shown that he is capable of handling this team and can lead it in a positive direction.
I knew that we wouldn’t have another 13-3 season with a first year quarterback who rarely saw playing time during his 3 years since being drafted. We all hoped that a miracle would happen, but realistically we knew it wasn’t meant to be. Aaron Rodgers may not be the type of quarterback that Brett Favre continues to be with the Jets (so much for retiring), but Rodgers has his own style that works for him, and more importantly, works for the team.
Green Bay will never forget what Brett Favre has done for us, but now we have an opportunity to appreciate what Aaron Rodgers will give us to remember.
There was a moment toward the end of the third quarter when it looked like the Packers were going to get things back on track against the Panthers at home. But the Packers special teams and defense let the Panthers right past them like Roger Dorn trying to reign in a hot shot down the third base line. I could almost hear someone yell, “Ole!â€
In a must-win game that would give the Packers a chance to regain ground against at least one NFC Norris opponent, the Packers let all hope of the playoffs go when Jake Delhomme found Steve Smith on the Packers’ 1-yard line on two straight possessions. The second completion setup the go-ahead and winning touchdown for Carolina.
In an odd déjà vu kind of situation, the Panthers fought back against a well oiled offensive Packer machine with two eerily similar touchdown scoring drives. Both began with 50 yard kick-off returns, which were followed by long downfield connections to Steve Smith, and were finished off by DeAngelo Williams touchdown runs.
These two scoring drives were an eerie reminder of just how disappointing the defense has been in close games. With four losses this season coming by four points or less, the Defense has failed to step up in crucial situations and make stops when the team most needs them. If there is anyone to put the blame on for the Packers being a mediocre team in a mediocre division, a good chunk of the blame lies squarely on that unit’s shoulders.
The Defense can’t shoulder all the blame. There are bigger issues facing this team beyond just that. Luckily, well hopefully, some of these issues can be worked out in time, because they are Rodgers’ problems.
Though I think Rodgers is already a phenomenal quarterback in his first year as a starter in the NFL, he has no 2 minute drill poise. In nearly every close loss this season, Rodgers has looked like a completely different man in the pocket when the team is in a close game with less than two minutes remaining. If he wants to be the man with the ball in his hands, he’s going to have to find a way to engineer better drives when the team needs them if they want to make the playoffs or win a Super Bowl under his tenure as a starter.
Last week on Monday Night Football, the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills played an ugly game that was nonetheless exciting. The Browns ended up winning after the Bills missed a 47-yard field goal in the waning seconds of the game.
This week, at least on paper, we should have another thrilling matchup on Monday Night Football; and hopefully the level of play is a little bit more aesthetically pleasing.
Tomorrow night, November 24, the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints take the field in New Orleans. The Packers enter the game at 5-5, and 1/2 game behind both the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings in the NFC North standings. The Bears and Vikings were both victorious on Sunday. The Saints enter the game at 5-5 as well, but in a much more precarious position in the NFC South. They are in last place, behind Carolina, Tampa Bay, and Atlanta.
As with most games during late November and December, both teams look at this game as a virtual must-win.
Before we get into who will win, let’s take a look at the injury report:
The biggest injury news in this game is that Saints RB Reggie Bush will not play. Reggie Bush continues to suffer from an injured knee. Sean Payton and the Saints had hoped Bush could give it a go, but announced early on Sunday that he would not play. (Luckily for fantasy owners of Reggie Bush, like myself, the Saints announced this twenty minutes before the early games on Sunday started. I was able to quickly put Le’Ron McLain in my lineup and enjoy his solid day against the Eagles.) Aaron Glenn and Mike Karney are also out for the Saints. For the Packers, linebacker Nick Barnett is out. A whole slew of other players are questionable, but none are starters or key players.
Now let’s get your impression before I give you mine:
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My first impression is that I don’t like this matchup for the Saints.
I think if people were asked who has the better offense, the majority would answer the Saints. And with a healthy Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, and Jeremy Shockey, that could be true. But the truth of the matter is that the Packers have actually scored more points this season: 274-266. This, despite the fact that Brett Favre is playing in New York and running back Ryan Grant is averaging less than 4 yards per carry.
Still, the Packers have the better running game. Without Reggie Bush, the Saints have been relying on Deuce McAllister and Pierre Thomas to provide balance to the passing attack led by Drew Brees. Unfortunately for New Orleans, McAllister is only averaging 3.7 yards per attempt. Pierre Thomas, however, has been running well of late. He is gaining 4.4 yards per carry and should continue to get carries even when Reggie Bush returns.
The Saints are also trying to assimilate Marques Colston back into their offense. Colston was injured for a while, but it has not stopped Drew Brees from amassing a ridiculous 3,251 passing yards through 10 games. Brees has also thrown for 18 touchdowns, but has been picked off 11 times. With ball-hawking cornerbacks like Charles Woodson on the other side of the ball, Drew Brees will have to be careful not to throw to the other team.
Amazingly, Aaron Rodgers (or is it Scott Stapp from Creed?) is having almost as strong a season as Drew Brees — if not better. He does not have the ya
rdage and touchdowns of Brees, but Rodgers has been more efficient. He has thrown only 6 INTs and has a passer rating of 94.5, nearly equal to Brees’ 95.4. Aaron Rodgers has developed a great rapport with wide receiver Greg Jennings, who is emerging as one of the most electric deep threats in the NFL. Greg Jennings has caught 48 passes, which is less then 5 per game, but he is averaging an eye-popping 18.0 yards per catch and 5 TDs. With New Orleans possessing a secondary that is more like a sieve than a last line of defense, I would expect Greg Jennings to get behind the secondary for at least one or two big plays.
The Saints are 4-1 at home this year, but three of those wins were against struggling teams such as the Raiders, 49ers, and Chargers. They did hand Tampa Bay one of their few losses this year, but the Saints’ other W was against the Chiefs. The Saints have not fared well against teams with records of .500 or above, dropping games to Minnesota, Washington, Carolina, Atlanta, and Denver.
I would say that the Packers are much closer to the second group of teams — the good ones — than the list of patsies that the Saints have beaten. And coming off last week’s dismantling of the Bears, this Packers team seems to be hitting their stride.
I am an unabashed Drew Brees fan, have him in nearly every fantasy league, and remain pissed off that the Miami Dolphins did not draft him back when he came out of Purdue. Drew Brees is an outstanding QB and I think he will play well on Monday night.
Still, I doubt it will be enough to win.
The Packers have their own solid QB to go along with a better running game, a more consistent receiving corps, and a much better defense. Without Reggie Bush to add his dynamic play-making ability to the Saints attack, and keep the Packers D off balance, I think the Saints will put up a valiant fight but ultimately fall short.
Prediction: Packers 38 | Saints 31
(Editor’s Note: For purposes of full disclosure, JRod also picked Texas Tech to beat Oklahoma, thought the Browns would go 9-7 and make the playoffs, and predicted the Chicago White Sox would beat the Tampa Bay Rays in this year’s playoffs. So basically, if you are thinking of wagering money on this game, put it confidently on the Saints. The Packers have now been given the official JRod Kiss of Death.)
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