New poll open: what position should be the Pack's first pick?

We've just opened up a new poll in the righthand column (under the PackerFansUnited.com store link) asking what position should be the Packers' first draft pick this year. It may be hard to imagine, what with March Madness going on, baseball season starting up, and snow and freezing temps still lingering in the upper Midwest (wait...how'd that get in there???), but the NFL draft is exactly one month from today. True! April 26 kicks off day one of the two-day extravaganza.

So, what are your thoughts on who the Pack should pick first? A corner? Linebacker? Maybe another running back? Can never have too many O- and D-linemen, either, right? Maybe, dare we say it, a QB? Whatever, now's the chance to express yourself on this matter. Go to our poll and vote. The poll will be open right up until the start of the draft. So until then...let the speculation begin!

No more Super Bowlers

The last remnant of the Packers 1997 Super Bowl team announced his retirement today. Long-snapper Rob Davis, who along with Brett Favre were the last remaining members of that Super Bowl roster, decided to call it quits after 12 seasons, 11 with the Pack. In fact, after Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187), Davis' 167 games played ranks third in team history.

Davis won't be out of work, though. In fact, he won't be leaving Green Bay. Packers GM Ted Thompson named Davis director of player development.

Thompson named NFL's Top Exec

In an award sponsored by The Sporting News and decided in a vote of general managers and other team executives, Packers' GM Ted Thompson has been named as the George Young NFL executive of the year. Thompson will receive the award at next week's NFL owners' meetings. There will be an article about Thompson in the March 31 issue of The Sporting News which hits newsstands tomorrow.

Congrats, Ted. A job well done. Despite all the doubters over the last few years, your plan is working. May it always be so.

A Good Friday for Bigby

Yes, indeed. It's a good -- not great -- Good Friday for Packers' safety, Atari Bigby. He's reportedly signed a one-year contract from the Pack with a base salary this year of $445,000. Like I said, good not great. It's quite possible, given Bigby's performance as last season wore on, that there may be various incentives that come with this new contract as well, making it quite likely he'll earn much more than that. Last year, he earned $360,000 and received an additional $253,177 from the NFL's player performance pool, which rewards players with low base salaries who wind up with a lot of playing time. That would describe Bigby: he started 16 games last season, and finished with 86 tackles, five interceptions and nine passes defended. He had his coverage troubles early in the season but down the stretch became a crushing tackler and defender who made opposing receivers think twice about coming into his territory. Bigby was an exclusive rights free agent, which meant he wasn't eligible to even negotiate with other teams. If he has another year like last year, expect a larger pay day to come.

Tell us something we don't already know: Pack to retire Brett's number

There was never any doubt that the Packers would retire Brett Favre's #4. The only question was when. That was answered Wednesday when Mark Murphy, the Packer's new president and CEO, said it would happen sometime this coming season. Murphy was also careful to indicate that plans are preliminary at this point, with many details, such as at which game this will occur, yet to be determined. Stay tuned.

By the way, in case you wanted to know who else in Packers' history has worn #4, here ya go: *Vern Lewellen (B), Nebraska, 1925-26; *Herm Schneidman (B), Iowa, 1935-37; Chuck Fusina (QB), Penn State, 1986; Dale Dawson (K), Eastern Kentucky, 1988. The folks with the * wore multiple numbers during their years with the team, which was not uncommon in the early years. I guess you could say, looking at this last that, yeah, Brett kinda made that number his own. Ya think???

Monster Chillar Horror Theatre!

The old timers here will hopefully get that play on spelling...and the reference itself. For those with no clue -- not as in no clue at all, just with regard to this reference (never insult your readership!) -- it's a nod to the regular comedy sketch called "Monster Chiller Horror Theatre" that appeared as part of the old classic TV show, SCTV.

So, what's up with that? Well, Packers' GM Ted Thompson finally made a free agent signing, a linebacker by the name of Brandon Chillar...get it? Chillar...get it?

Anyway, Chillar is only the second unrestricted free agent signing Thompson has made in the last two years, the other being defensive back Frank Walker who was a major dud and is now collecting a paycheck elsewhere. Chillar, on the other hand, has been a two-year starter for the Rams. According to reports, he took less money than he was being offered by the Rams and the Cardinals to play for the Pack because he wanted to play -- and start -- for a winner. Chillar will challenge current Packers' starter Brady Poppinga for the strong-side linebacker spot. That can only be a good thing. His agent, according to reports, indicated that Chillar understands he is not guaranteed the starting spot.

You can read more about Chillar here. That same story will also tell you that the Pack also re-signed two of their own free agents, tight end Tory Humphrey and fullback John Kuhn. Because both were exclusive rights free agents, neither were eligible to negotiate with other teams, and signed minimum wage contracts.

Backup QB speculation

Almost as soon as the reality of Brett Favre's retirement set in, Packer fans started contemplating not only Aaron Rodgers as the new man under center but also who would now become his main backup. Other than unsigned free agent Craig Nall, the only other QBs on the Packers roster are a couple of undrafted first year players. The need for a competent and capable backup is huge, especially give the questions that fans and Packers staff have about Rodgers' durability. Heck, compared to Favre, any quarterback is going to be seen as a lightweight if they can't make it through even one season let alone 17! The exceptional -- i.e., Brett -- became our norm. We are going to have to readjust. And part of the process is perhaps seeing the backup QB play. A lot.

So, assuming that the Packers are not enamored of any of the folks currently on the depth chart behind Rodgers, what are the possibilities? ProFootballWeekly.com has some interesting speculation, some of which has been confirmed by other independent news reports. For example, ex-Jaguars QB Quinn Gray paid a visit to the Packers this week. The Pack like him and have been apparently looking at him for some time. The Raiders are reported to also be interested in having him back up second-year QB Jamarcus Russell, perhaps even start if Russell comes in to camp in as bad a physical shape as he has been reported to be in. Given that Drew Rosenhaus is Quinn's agent, the thinking is that Rosehaus would be more apt to try to cash in on a possible starting gig in Oakland for Quinn than a backup role in Green Bay. So, Quinn might be wishful thinking.

Who else? Trent Green and Mark Brunell were rumored to be of possible interest. Take them off the board; Green re-signed at Kansas City and Brunell is said to be signing with New Orleans. As for others, Gus Frerotte, Tim Hasselbeck, and Daunte Culpepper are all free agent possibilities. As to trade possibilities, these reportedly include Sage Rosenfels (Texans), Chad Pennington (Jets) and J.P. Losman (Bills). Supposedly, Rosenfels is the best possibility among this group.

And don't forget there is a fairly deep draft in terms of QB talent. With two second round picks, it might not be out of the question to see GM Ted Thompson pull the trigger on a QB with one of them.

You can check out the ProFootballWeekly.com analysis of the current situation here.

Sad story about Willie Wood
A couple days ago there was a moving story in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the life these days of Packer great and Hall of Famer, Willie Wood. As the article says, "Today, Wood, at age 71, lives in an assisted living facility in Washington, D.C. He has had a host of physical problems, sits in a wheelchair and suffers from dementia." I had the priviledge of meeting Mr. Wood several years back when he and other 60's Packers were making appearances in area grocery stores as part of a Packers Glory Years videotape release. He was seated in a folding chair, looking very uncomfortable and somewhat bored. Didn't really say too much at all. It could have been the beginning stages of his dementia. Still, he graciously signed my tape box and shook my hand. Very dignified. Anyway, back to the story...apparently a number of readers contacted the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel asking how to send cards of best wishes to Mr. Wood. You may do so by addressing your cards and letters here: Sunrise Assisted Living at Thomas Circle, 1307 Massachusetts Ave., Washington, D.C., 20005.

Packers Fan Fest 2008

The latest edition of the renowned Packers Fan Fest is now complete. Fans from around the country -- perhaps even some fans from outside the U.S. -- traveled to the Frozen Tundra to see the stars of past and present. It's quite a love fest. You can see some great pix from the event courtesy of 620WTMJ radio's Bill Michael's blog. WTMJ is the flagship radio station of the Packers, so coverage and access is quite good. You can see some great photos here, as well as access some audio and video.

Can you believe it?

By now, most if not all Packers fans have either heard, read or seen Brett Favre's retirement speech. Very moving. But apparently, his emotions were too much for one of the right wing-nut radio jabberers (if you are also a right wing-nut, no offense intended). Laura somebody (sorry, folks, don't want to mention her name as that would be giving her the dignity which she obviously does not give to Brett). She spent a segment on her show the other day ridiculing Brett for the emotions he showed. She even has a "Soundbite of the Week" featuring one of Brett's comments interspersed with such words as "sniffle" and "snort." Curious though, that this "soundbite" doesn't actually provide sound, just text that they could play with. Hey, here's a tip, Laura: when you have something you deem to be a "Soundbite of the Week," maybe the point would be to actually have sound...ya think?

Not only that, she even has a poll on her site: "Did Brett Favre embarrass himself by crying at his retirement press conference?" So far, by a vote of 66% to 34% those responding (however many) are giving a resounding "No".

It's very odd that a crackpot such as this would even bother to comment about Brett. What's her point? Does she know what a football is? Does she know where Green Bay is? Had she ever heard of Brett Favre before? Does she understand the concept of human empathy? Would seem the answer to all those questions is no. Perhaps, then, her point was to drive traffic to her website where you can pay for the privilege of listening to this drivel? Sorry. No suckers here. And we certainly don't want to drive traffic there, so no links to it.

Let's get a modern cultural reference point on the relevance of Brett to Laura whomever. Let's use...Google hits and YouTube video posts! (Yes, very unscientific but still makes the point). A search on "Brett Favre" returns 3,520,000 Google hits and 1,390 YouTube videos. A search on the name of Laura who-cares returns 502,000 Google hits and 245 YouTube videos, some of which show her raving out at various targets. For comparison, there are 490,000 Google hits on the term "jock itch." So, by comparison, Laura whosits is closer to jock itch than Brett Favre in terms of her cultural relevance. And somehow, doesn't that seem very fitting in this context?

I guess when you need ratings the easiest thing to do is to latch onto a beloved icon and bash away. Fortunately, Brett is too big of a man to be sucked into such small-minded tactics that are the staple of such persons as this. And so are we. Just wanted to make our readers aware of this garbage so it can be avoided altogether.

The only question I have for Miss Laura: how the heck did you get so bitter about everything?

Harlan re-tells the story of Favre acqusition

One of the jewels of information which came out during the time between it became known that Brett would retire and his actual press conference was the story by recently-retired Packers' CEO Bob Harlan of how the Pack came to trade for him. Then-GM Ron Wolf had just started with the Packers and the Atlanta Falcons had just come to Lambeau to play. Wolf wanted to watch their back up QB, a first-year player by the name of Brett Favre out of Southern Mississippi. Wolf, while at his prior job with the NY Jets, had rated Favre as the best QB in the draft, and was set to take him. The Falcons nabbed him one slot before the Jets picked. Good thing, as it turned out, for both Wolf and the Packers. The Falcons got a first round pick in 1992...whoever that turned out to be. The Packers got Brett.

But for the rest of the enchanting story, go here. Worth the read.

Be your state or country's ultimate Packers fan
The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel is looking "to find one fan to represent every state in the country, and every country in the world." The first fan from each state or country to e-mail them at packersworld@jsonline.com with the information they're looking for AND a photo will get a spot on their map. Who's the ultimate Packers fan? We all are. We are Packer Fans United! But if you'd still like your individual distinction and place in cyberspace, go here for more details.

Favre: "I know I can play, but I don't think I want to."

It was an emotional scene. About 20 seconds or so into his retirement press conference the finality of it all finally hit Brett Favre. "I promised I wouldn't get emotional...it's never easy...you know, it's funny, I've watched hundreds of players retire, and you wonder what that would be like...you think you're prepared ...," Favre said haltingly. At points, he couldn't speak, he was so taken with the emotion of it. At times, tears streamed down his face. "I'd like to thank the Packers, for giving me the opportunity as well. I hope that every penny...I hope that every penny that they've spent on me, they know was money well-spent." I don't think there's any question about that, Brett.

The bottom line was summed up in this statement: "I've given everything I possibly can give to this organization, to the game of football, and I don't think I've got anything left to give, and that's it."

Brett had lots of thanks to give out. As for the fans? This part of his speech we should all hold dear: "I can't leave without saying thank you to the fans. When I laughed and when my family laughed, they laughed. When I cried, they cried. When I cheered, they cheered. When I threw an interception, well, you know. But it was a perfect fit for me. Little ol' Southern Miss, southern boy from Hancock County who had big dreams, no different than any other kid, to play here, and there's no better place to play. I had a conversation with Ron Wolf yesterday, and we had that discussion. To be thought of as one of the best players to play in this league, and to be mentioned within an organization that has players like Reggie White and Bart Starr and Paul Hornung and Willie Davis and Willie Wood and Herb Adderley and Jim Taylor, Ray Nitschke, Vince Lombardi. To be mentioned with those people, ... I'm honored. Really ... I am honored. I hope everyone knows how special this is and I truly appreciate the opportunity, and as they say all good things must come ... come to an end."

Brett admitted to finally watching TV last night and seeing some of the coverage of him. He said now he knows "what it's like when you die." In typical Brett fashion, he was bemused by that.

One Milwaukee sports reporter, who said he was in the back of the room in which the press conference was held, said even some of the most hard-bitten reporters in that room were holding back tears. Brett has always been a man everyone could relate to, in good times and bad. Today was a sad one, for sure. But it was also one where Brett seemed to be at peace with the decision. He also said he knows exactly what he's going to do next: "nothing." He's earned it.

Thanks, Brett..."4" Everything.

You can read the entire transcript of the retirement speech here.

Favre set to speak

In a little over one hour from the time of this posting, future Hall of Famer and Packers legendary QB, Brett Favre, will address the media at Lambeau Field. He will be accompanied by his wife, Deanna. It is there that he is expected to officially announce his retirement from the game. ESPN will carry it live, and it will also be streamed live via the Packers.com website. You can find the links for that streaming media page in the preceding post.

Several members of the morning radio team on WTMJ620-AM in Milwaukee were asking the question this morning, "Do you think he'll cry?" "Yeah, he'll cry." How could he not? But watching Brett all these years, he may just suck it up too and gut out what will undoubtedly be the most difficult professional moments of his life. Whichever way it comes out, you know it will be genuine Brett. He's never hidden his emotions, but he's also a person with incredible mental toughness. It should be an interesting news conference. It will also put some closure to this for Packers fans, many of whom admit they are still not over the loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game.

But, this is it, Packers fans. That age-old expression keeps coming to mind: "The king is dead. Long live the king."

Half-hour or so delay in start of news conference
There has been an announced delay of at least 30 minutes or so in the start of Brett Favre's press conference due to flight delay.

Favre will address media Thursday

According to a statement on the Packers' official website, Brett Favre will address the media tomorrow (Thursday, March 6) at 11 a.m. Central Time. Perhaps more importantly to Packers fans across the nation, Packers.com will broadcast the event "in its entirety and free of charge, LIVE from Lambeau Field," according to the statement. You will need the Adobe Flash Player in order to view the streaming media. No doubt if you are near a TV you can catch this on ESPN, as well.

The entire, but brief, story is here. The live media link is here. (Note: according to that page, "A live video window will appear on this page approximately 5 minutes before a scheduled live event. If you do not see the window above, please refresh your page." Remember folks, that's for the Packers page, not this one.)

Fan Remembrances
The blogs and bulletin boards are filling up with fan remembrances of Brett. Here's a sampling from PackersNews.com...which includes a posting from one of the readers and occasional posters here at PackerFansUnited.com, by the way. Yes...we're everywhere!

The morning after: the mourning after

The horror...the horror...

Apocalypse Now. Great movie. Marlon Brando as Col. Nutjob. Martin Sheen as the assassin. Dennis Hopper as...himself. A dark and chaotic journey into a surreal existence.

All those who feel this way today after hearing of Brett's retirement, please raise your hands. Yikes!

Those within TV or radio earshot of Wisconsin over the last 24 hours were bombarded with non-stop coverage yesterday of this momentous event. You heard or saw it all day long and went to bed with it being talked about. And you awoke this morning to your radio and TV once again reflecting on the aftermath of Brett's announcement that he was done. It's exhausting. One friend, known to joke about sticking one's head in the oven over dramatic events related to the Packers -- such as losses to Da Bearz, for example -- was asked by a buddy if he was going to have "an oven party" last night. The reply was that he was too depressed to even make it to the oven. So it is in Packerland. We have become Mudville. There is no joy.

OK, OK...we have to snap out of it, people! And forget all the finger pointing related to the Pack not getting Randy Moss and that's why Brett retired. Moss wanted to stay in New England, as is obvious by the fact that he turned down more money, according to reports, to sign with the Eagles. As one Packers reporter said this morning, the Packers played this situation "right down the middle." Meaning that they were not going to put undue pressure on Brett one way or another. As GM Ted Thompson said, it was Brett's decision. So, as the Packers reporter noted, if Brett decided to return, great. But if he didn't, the Packers have a first round draft pick who's been riding the bench for three years, absorbing everything possible from the greatest QB of all time, and being coached the last two years by one of the better QB coaches in the league, who just also happens to be the head coach, Mike McCarthy. The reporter noted that the Packers are anxious to see exactly what they have while Aaron Rodgers has two years left on his contract. They need to see him play this year to determine whether they will want to ride this pony and re-sign, or cut bait and go in another direction.

It's Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood Now
Yes, this is the direction of the conversation now, as it needs to be. We are now in the Aaron Rodgers era, kids. And it's scary, because no one yet knows what we have or what that means. Fortunately, he's had time to mature and get playbook smart. But he hasn't played much. And the last two seasons, as most any fan will tell you, he's gotten hurt almost immediately during or after what little game time opportunities he did have. According to Wayne Larrivee, who is the radio voice of the Packers, he has no doubt that Rodgers has the mental make up to do the job, as well as the physical tools to be a good QB. His opinion is that he will do well with the Packers, although he also acknowledged that the glare of the spotlight will be intense. Following a legend is not easy. It may be impossible. The pressure to perform well immediately will be extreme. Fan tolerance...we'll have to see.

Then there is the matter of durability. We won't see another Packers QB -- likely any QB anywhere -- surpass Brett's string of consecutive starts. And that's the thing, Larrivee said, that will be missed most: knowing that week after week the same guy will always be there. We haven't even been able to say that about Rodgers as a backup, let alone as a starter. Which means the Packers also better scour the wires or deal for an experienced backup. Who do the Packers have on the roster currently as possible backups to Rodgers? Veteran Craig Nall and first-year free agents Dalton Bell and Jerry Babb...yup...better start looking.

Ted Thompson will, one would assume, now also be looking to pick up a QB in the upcoming draft, as well, although probably in the second (where the Pack now has 2 picks) or later rounds. Who are the prospects there, after you get by Matt Ryan, out of Boston College, who is a top 5 pick? Brian Brohm from Louisville who also is a likely first round pick. There is also Andre Woodson of Kentucky, Chad Henne of Michigan, Joe Flacco of Delaware (who, according to scouting reports, sounds a lot like a raw young Brett Favre in terms of arm strength...and wildness), John David Booty of USC, Erik Ainge of Tennessee, Colt Brennan of Hawaii, and a host of others which offer some intriguing possibilities. It would seem that this would be a unique draft for the Packers in this regard: having to draft a QB who would not only be a serviceable backup, but also potentially a starter should Aaron Rodgers fall flat or get injured. Fortunately, there is a bumper crop of QBs who just could fill that bill.

This is different, isn't it? Talking about something we haven't really had to deal with since 1992. 1992! Wow. It is surreal. But real it is.

Favre says he was "mentally tired"

In a message Brett left on ESPN's Chris Mortensen's voicemail, he said he was "mentally tired." That statement confirms that he was ready to step aside. "I know I can still play," Brett said, "but it's like I told my wife, I'm just tired mentally. I'm just tired." That's the sign it's time to go. You still can do it. But do you want to do it? The answer Brett gave himself? "No."

You have to respect the fact that he goes out on his terms, without injury or a decline in skills. In fact, Brett had one of the best years of his career, and set NFL milestone after milestone in the process.

The Packers will hold a news conference at the 3 p.m. Central time today. You may be able to hear or see it via streaming media at Packers.com. Of course, tune in to ESPN and other programs or online resources and you can also read, hear and/or see much more on this retirement of a legend. This is what classifies as a major sports news story, so coverage is already plentiful.

If you want to read and hear more about the message Brett left for Mortensen, you can check it out here.

If you'd care to express your view as to whether or not you agree with Brett's decision, you can have your say in our latest poll in the righthand column, right below our PackerFansUnited.com store link.

Breaking News: Favre to retire

According to a report by Jay Glazer on FoxSports.com, Brett Favre is set to retire. The news is being reported also by local Milwaukee media. As of this time, there is no announcement or confirmation from the Packers.

However Lance Allen, sports reporter for WTMJ TV in Milwaukee, while doing an on-air telephone interview with his news team, said he was text messaging Brett's brother, Scott, during the on-air time and was asking if the rumor was true. At approx. 8:35 a.m., Lance reported that Scott just wrote a text message back that "It's true."

More details to follow as they become available.

It's the day we all dreaded. The end of an era. We will not see anyone like this again.

You can read the Jay Glazer report here.

More on the Corey Williams trade

As reported here last evening, the Packers traded "franchise player" Corey Williams to Cleveland for a second round pick in this year's draft. Was a head scratcher, given the salary cap room the Packers have even considering the number of defensive linemen the team has on hand. Of course, now the Pack will have about $6-$7 million more to add to the war chest, which will now total about $24 milliion.

What is emerging, according to an article in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, is that the Packers will get the Browns' second round pick, which sits at #56 overall. The Packers have the 30th pick in the first round, as well as their own pick at #60 in the second round.

Let's review: with the acquisition of the Brown's selection, that's now three picks for the Pack within the first 60 players. We are all aware of GM Ted Thompson's penchant for accumulating draft picks. But, could he possibly break form and use this handful of ammunition to perhaps move up for the first time in his tenure to grab a pick in the top portion of the draft? That's the speculation in this article. Of course, nobody on the Packers' staff is commenting. It's also noted that this is supposedly a deep draft which -- if Thompson stays true to form -- would seem to lead one to believe that Thompson will stay put, or perhaps even use some of these picks to move down and acquire even more picks in later rounds.

To read more on this, check out the article here.

Corey Williams traded to Browns

Breaking news: the Packers have traded defensive lineman Corey Williams, to whom they just applied their franchise player tag, to the Cleveland Browns for a second round pick. With all that salary cap room...go figure.

Keeping with the Ohio theme, at least in terms of names, the Packers signed offensive tackle Joe Toledo, a 2006 fourth round pick by the Dolphins.

More details on both of these moves may be forthcoming. Stay tuned.

Favre retires! Oops...guess, not quite yet

This is good. Apparently there was an inadvertent posting today of a Brett Favre retirement announcement on the Packer's official website. It came and went before too many people saw it. It was somewhat like an Internet equivalent of a newspaper prematurely publishing an obituary of a famous person for whom they already have the obit "in the can." Oops.

But rather than explain it here, why not just read this blog entry from the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel about the gory details, including comments from Brett's agent about it, and some explanatory comments from the Packers' PR director about the faux pas. You can even see an image of what the announcement looked like...so you won't be entirely shocked when that sad day actually does come.

Free Agency Underway

The NFL's free agency period is now underway. Some of the top players who were going to be eligible have been tagged with their team's franchise player designation effectively removing them from the pool of available players. So who's left, and would the Packers have any interest in any of them? See for yourself here.

NFL Combine underway

The 2008 NFL Combine is underway in Indianapolis. It's the place where prospects can make or break their spots in the draft. If you're a hardcore fan -- and I'm guessing if you're reading this blog you qualify -- you can check out all the goings on on the NFL Network. If, also like most fans, you don't have access to the NFL Network you can check things out online here.

It's interesting to ponder what the Packers might do in the draft. Our online poll here at PackerFansUnited.com is almost evenly split between those who see the Pack's greatest need in the draft as an offensive lineman and those who see the greatest need at defensive back.

A few of the mock draft sites that are up and running have the Packers selecting DOMINIQUE RODGERS-CROMARTIE, a cornerback out of Tennessee State. Yes, he is a cousin to Antonio Cromartie, cornerback with the Chargers. "DRC's" stock apparently went up with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl. He would not be forced into a starting spot with the Pack, but could learn behind two of the best in the game, Charles Woodson and Al Harris. One of the scouting reports on him says that "even though he has to bulk up he is a rare athlete with terrific height, leaping ability and ball skills." While both Woodson and Harris have been great, both are also aging; Woodson just turned 31 and Harris will be 33 by the time next season ends.. For as good as Harris played most of the season, we may have also gotten a glimpse of the start of his decline during the NFC Championship Game. The Pack will definitely have to find a top-notch replacement and Rodgers-Cromartie might in fact be a great pick if he is available when the Packers pick at #30. Some mock drafts have Rodgers-Comartie moving all the way to be a top 10 pick. If he's gone, and the Packers are targeting a CB, other names mentioned in this selection for the Packers are Aqib Talib out of Kansas (also noted in at least one mock draft as a possible top 10 pick), Reggie Smith from Oklahoma, Tracy Porter from Indiana, and Antoine Cason of Arizona, who was mentioned in several mock drafts. Very interesting, the number of drafts that have the Packers going with a cornerback with their first selection.

As to other possibilities, various mock drafts have the Packers selecting: underclassman Felix Jones, the "other" RB out of Arkansas; Dan Connor, LB from Penn State; Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh; Gosder Cherilus, OT, Boston College; Sam Baker, OT, USC; Pat Sims, DT from Auburn ...among others. Our friends over at Packer Chatters have the Pack taking Erin Henderson, OLB, out of Maryland based on the assumption that all the top defensive backs will be gone by the time #30 is on the clock.

One of the possibilities which hasn't been widely discussed, at least in terms of a first-round pick, is tight end. Now that Bubba is gone and Donald Lee essentially the only legitimate tight end on the squad, and with this draft apparently deep in tight end talent (albeit with no exceptional standouts), the Packers could indeed pick up a TE in the second round; the first round might be a stretch. Of course, GM Ted Thompson always says he goes for the best player available not need. Maybe there will be an exception to that rule this draft. There is a good article about the tight end possibility at PackersNews.com. It also has a sidebar article profiling seven of the top TE prospects.

Brett and Ted talk

After reports emerged that Brett might be a bit miffed that he hadn't heard from GM Ted Thompson since the end of the season -- even though Brett and Head Coach Mike McCarthy have spoken -- Ted apparently picked up the phone and called Brett. Of course, Ted isn't saying much about the conversation other than to say Brett still hasn't made his decision to return and, further, that he's earned the right to take his time with the decision. Last season, Brett decided by Groundhog's Day. A couple years ago, things went into April. Let's hope Brett decides soon so the Pack knows how to proceed in free agency and plan for the draft. Odds still have him coming back for one more run.

Breaking News from GB: Williams gets Franchise tag, Bubba released

The offseason moves are now officially in gear. In what comes as a true surprise -- especially after virtually no contact with his agent -- the Packers slapped the franchise player tag on DT Corey Williams. It was almost a forgone conclusion that the Pack would not want to come up with the coin needed to re-sign Williams as he became eligible for free agency. By being designated with the franchise tag, according to the Packer's website, "Williams has a one-year contract tender offer at the defensive tackle franchise number set by the NFL. The Packers maintain a right of first refusal to match any team's offer received by Williams." The Pack has been increasingly impressed with Williams over the last two seasons. And, given Williams'reaction after the Pack's upset loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game -- where he knelt on the frozen tundra for a while as if to take it all in, just in case it was his last game in a Packers uniform -- it would seem he'd like to stay. It will be interesting to see what the final salary numbers are when the dust settles.

In the other move of the day, and one which fans could probably see coming, eight-year veteran TE Bubba Franks was released. Always a sentimental favorite, Bubba was not the same player over the last few seasons that he had been early in his career, although this last season was a bit of a redemptive one for him. He was again a solid blocker and also showed the good hands which made him such a red zone threat for so many years. Bubba's stats show that he was one of the most productive tight ends in Packers' history. Thanks and farewell, Bubba. We will miss you.

You can read more of the details about both of these personnel moves here.

Tractor Watch 2008

As some of you may recall from prior years, many Packer fans have come to refer to this time of year as the "Tractor Watch," a euphemism coined by WTMJ radio in Milwaukee to refer to Brett Favre's penchant for riding his lawn tractor when not playing football. The theory goes, the more you see Brett on his tractor back in Mississippi the longer his decision to retire is in flux. Got it?

Which brings us to the latest report, this one by WTMJ TV4 out of Milwaukee: Brett is still undecided. (Didn't we already know that?) But the news was more that while Brett mended fences with GM Ted Thompson last season after what Brett felt was Thompson's failure to sign Randy Moss, "sources close to Brett" (that's the standard phrase these days) indicate that Brett is now a bit miffed at Thompson once again. This time, it's because Thompson hasn't contacted Brett since the end of the season. Yeah, seems a bit childish, if true. Sometimes a GM just can't win. Leave the guy alone and let him make his decision, or contact him and be accussed of undue pressure.

Most fans and pundits feel Brett will be back. But he seems to be taking more time than what he initially said would probably be a fairly quick decision. Granted, he's earned the right to take as long as he wants. But let's hope he decides soon...whether or not Thompson calls to say hello.

Wahle signs with Seahawks
After indicating last week that he would really like to re-join the Pack, free agent guard Mike Wahle instead signed a multi-year deal with the Seahawks, rejoining instead his first head coach.

It's a Ball world after all

As had been widely speculated in media reports of recent days, Russ Ball was named the Packers new vice president of football administration/player finance yesterday. He had held a similar job for the last few years with New Orleans. Ball replaces Andrew Brandt who resigned several weeks ago to pursue other opportunities. Brandt became well known and respected for the manner in which he conducted contract negotiations and handling salary cap issues.

Ball has a number of contacts within the Packers' organization, including head coach Mike McCarthy, whom he worked with when McCarthy was with the Saints.

Why is this guy important to the average fan? Because he's the money man, so to speak. He will be the point man on contracts and will thus be responsible for helping manage the Packers' salary cap to keep the team competitive. Aside from GM Ted Thompson, he'll be the one most directly responsible for making sure the Packers can match up with anyone on the field. Yeah, at least in this regard, it's a bean counters' world, too.

You can read more about Mr. Ball here.

Could Wahle return to Pack?

What goes around comes around, as the saying goes. Usually, that's something that's said regarding a negative. In this case, maybe not. There's a report today that former Packer guard Mike Wahle might return to the Packers. Recall that Wahle was one of those one who got away in free agency in 2005 when GM Ted Thompson decided not to open up the vault to keep him. Wahle wound up going to the Panthers on a five-year $27 million deal. The Panthers released Wahle yesterday, and it didn't take Wahle long to let it be known he wouldn't mind coming back to the Pack.

Aside from rehashing the well-worn discussion that Thompson never should have let Wahle leave in the first place because the Pack has been looking for a left guard basically ever since, and the fact that the Packers have a glut of young but still questionnable guards on the roster, the reunion between Wahle and the Pack might be dependent upon Wahle playing for a lot less than he's been accustomed to. Admittedly, the Packers need a solid guard. Perhaps one of the youngsters will emerge yet to take on that role. But so far...? Wahle could fill that gap until the young players develop. On the other hand, in order for those players to develop, they need reps and playing time, which they would not be as likely to get if Wahle moved into the starting spot.

What to do? Begin by reading this article.

Let the draft talk begin!

With the Super Bowl already a distant memory...football fans' thoughts turn to the NFL draft. Which, if you read our post here yesterday, was already part of the present discussion. In fact, we're also a poll through this month (righthand column, just below the PackerFansUnited.com shop link) asking what you think the Pack's greatest needs are. Be sure to vote.

Interestingly, at least if you are a hardcore fan, there are already mock drafts starting to pop up. This one at rivals.com has a mock first round courtesy of Frank Coyle of draftinsiders.com. Who does he say the Pack will pick at #30? Running back Felix Jones of Arkansas. He's an underclassman who, needless to say, ran in the shadow of that other Razorback RB -- and possible #1 pick -- Darren McFadden. Still, Jones carried the ball 133 times for 1,162 yards (8.7 yards average per carry) and 11 touchdowns. He also had 16 receptions for 176 yards. So, not too shabby for a #2 back. Doyle says this: "The Packers will look to address their backfield early in this deep class. Jones would give them an impact weapon in several roles." Doyle has Jones as the third back picked, behind McFadden and Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall.

While Ryan Grant really distinguished himself after getting the starting nod, most of the other backs the Packers had on the roster either didn't have a chance to prove themselves because of injury, or just didn't pan out at all. As this season proved, you can never have enough running backs, and you never know which one will rise to the top.

Patriot-ism ain't what it used to be

It's the day after. The day after the heretofore unbeatable Patriots finally succumbed and tasted a most bitter defeat at the hands of the Giants. Some thought that the Giants had a legitimate shot going in. Others expected the Pats to blow the Giants off the field. Having seen how the Giants handled our beloved Packers, however, I was among the camp that felt the Giants could pull off the upset. We knew their blitzing defense could be the difference if it was able to get to Tom Brady. And they did. Often. The only question would be whether the Giants' offense could peform. And they did enough, just as they had done against the Pack two weeks earlier.

All this shows what many Packers knew a couple weeks ago and still know now: the Pats were vulnerable and, had the Packers played at the level they were capable of, could have beaten them as well. But the Giants had all the momentum behind them. And I have to say, while I know some Packers fans were rooting against the Giants because they beat the Pack, I was rooting for them for that same reason. At least this way we can say we lost to the Super Bowl Champs. (I know, it's all a rationalization, but...)

So, here's to the Giants! And to the Manning brothers, back-to-back Super Bowl Championship quarterbacks! And here's to the 1972 Miami Dolphins who can still live in that exclusive neighborhood called "Undefeated." And here's to our Green Bay Packers, who gave all of us a heckuva ride...and a look at what's to come.

What's ahead for the Pack?

Given the replies to the last poll here at PackerFansUnited.com, the unanimous conclusion of those voting was that the Packers will be better off next year with Brett still at QB rather than Aaron Rodgers. I have to agree. One more year. Brett hasn't given any indication as to what his decision is, but is there any Packer fan out there who really believes Brett would retire with his last pass being an interception in overtime in the NFC Championship game?

So, let's assume that Brett does come back. What then are the Packers' greatest needs? GM Ted Thompson isn't one to do much with free agency, although he has the salary cap room this season to play in that market if he thinks there is a real difference maker out there. But based on his past history, look for Thompson to mine the draft as he has year after year. So, the latest poll question here (see the righthand column under the PackerFansUnited.com store link) asks you: what is the Packers' greatest need in the draft? The poll is open this entire month, so be sure to cast your vote and let us know what you think.

10 years later, Wolf still blames Holmgren for SB loss

It's Super Bowl week and all converation is not necessarily about the Patriots vs. What-Should-Have-Been-the-Packers. Some talk is about What-Should-Have-Been-Wins. In this case, it's about that loss by the Packers to Denver in Super Bowl XXXII. And, in particular, it's about then-GM Ron Wolf blaming then-head coach Mike Holmgren for blowing it by failing to make obvious adjustments. As it turns out, some of the other coaches, although not named, apparently raised this issue with Wolf a few years ago. And players, who have no problem being named, basically concur. The Pack was favored to win by 11-1/2 and lost in a 31-24 upset to the Broncos.

As you'll no doubt recall, it was widely speculated that Holmgren's mind was not where it should have been. Which was on the field in San Diego. (He did admit to losing track of downs when the Broncos scored on what amounted to a freebie to go ahead with less than 2 minutes to go.) Instead, it's claimed, Holmgren was distracted by the possibility of a new job in Seattle. We know how both the game and the job deal turned out.

It all apparently still eats at Wolf, who famously said in the locker room after the game, "We're a one-year wonder, just a fart in the wind." There are a lot of his comments, and those of others, to chew on in this article by that great sportwriter, Bob McGinn, of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. You definitely will want to check it out. But have your antacid ready. We are still working on the loss to the Giants...and now we have to re-live SB XXXII? Brutal, man, brutal.

Games are hazardous to your health and other living things

You know that feeling before, during and after a game where you think your head and/or heart is going to explode? Your stomach is churning? You think you're gonna hurl? Or have the big one?

Now it can be told: being a sports fan can be hazardous to your health.

Shocking, isn't it? But finally, we have documented medical evidence indicating what many of us already know all too well: it ain't easy being a dedicated sports fan.

According to a report out of Germany, cardiac events were about triple the norm during Germany's 2006 World Cup appearance, hosted in Germany. They won, they lost. Sound familiar? Either way, people were keeling over faster than teetotalers at Oktoberfest.

There's a report about this study from NPR. You can read the transcript of the report here. Or you can find the link for the podcast at the same location.

Oh, and let's not forget that fans sometimes really get a bit too wound up and can take out their frustration on other living things. Such as old head coach Dan Devine's dog. Remember that one? Rumors/reports of violent acts on people also pop up occasionally.

So...be careful out there! And remember: it's only a game. Ri-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-ght.

The best QB of all time? Might not be who you think.

There's an interesting -- and very cogent -- analysis of the 10 best QBs of all time at coldhardfootballfacts.com. Two Packers are on the list. Actually, one is ranked #1 and the other is ranked #10.

But it might not be who you think at #1: Bart Starr.

They make the point that Starr has perhaps never really gotten his due in the "greatest" discussions. But they set forth a compelling case. Five world championships is a heckuva starting point. So is Starr's playoff record: 9-1. But if you want to know more -- and there is much more -- and see who else is on the list, check it out here.

Brett Favre is listed at #10, although the site says this season is what bumped him into the top 10. What has him so low, then? His play in the big games. Given recent history, that's a fair critique perhaps.

This is another of those lists that makes for good discussion material. Especially since the author(s) of this list state clearly that all the others are wrong. Hey, Starr's on top and Brett's on the list? Hard to argue with those picks. Although some of those left off the list...well, see for yourself. Then...you decide. (Was that stated with enough feigned drama?)

Thanks, Mr. Harlan

Without much fanfare last week, the Chairman and CEO of the Packers -- Bob Harlan -- retired after 19 years at the helm of football's most storied franchise. As of today, Harlan officially becomes Chairman Emeritus and recently-hired Mark Murphy takes over as President and CEO. Harlan no doubt -- like the rest of us -- thought he'd go out with a trip to the Super Bowl and another Lombardi Trophy. The happy ending script didn't quite work out that way, as we all know.

But, think back for a bit, you longtime Packers fans, about what Harlan came into when he took on the job: a history in the 70s and 80s of mostly mediocre teams, so-so coaches, player scandals, an aging stadium generating revenue for the team only a handful of days a year, a split "home" schedule between Milwaukee and Green Bay...well, it wasn't a great situation.

Harlan enters the picture. He hires Ron Wolf as GM. Wolf hires head coach Mike Holmgren and trades for a young and unknown bench-riding QB in Atlanta by the name of Brett Favre, and also picks up the most highly prized free agent of the time, Reggie White. Harlan makes the call to return all home games to Lambeau Field, while still accommodating the loyal Milwaukee fan base who had helped keep the franchise afloat in other difficult times. He begins to plan for a way to make Lambeau Field a year-round venue that can generate income for the team day in and day out to keep it competitive for years to come.

During Harlan's tenure, the Pack had 13 straight years of above .500 football, and went to the playoffs 11 times, including the Super Bowl twice with one Super Bowl win. The Packers only had three losing seasons during Harlan's reign. Can you say "turn around"???

That's the Reader's Digest version of things. There is much, much more. Harlan told his own story in the book he authored this past year entitled, "Green and Golden Moments: Bob Harlan and the Green Bay Packers." You can get it from the Packers Pro Shop by clicking here.

You can read an exit interview of sorts with Harlan about his time with the Pack here.

In the long history of the Green Bay Packers, many individuals have played key roles on and off the field. But it could be argued that Bob Harlan has played as critical and as an important a role as any. So, for that and everything else, and for representing the Packers with such class, thank you, Mr. Harlan. See you soon in the Packers Hall of Fame.

Withdrawal Sunday

We knew this was going to be an off-week, the time in between the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl. But we thought it would be a chance to indulge our speculation regarding how the Pack will in fact beat the Pats. Instead, it's a time to reflect on what could have been, should have been. And, if you happen to have access to any Wisconsin-based print or broadcast media, it is the weekend to grade the Packers' season and opine about what the Pack will do in the offseason to complete the story next year.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's long-time Packers sportswriter, Bob McGinn, once again did his annual report card on the Pack. Unfortunately, the only way you can access this via the 'Net is to subscribe to the publication's Packers Plus edition. In short, here's what he had to say: not a bad year. Shocking, I know. But to be fair, he really does a tremendous job examining all facets of the team's play, as well as grading out each of the players on offense and defense, the coaching staff, and GM Ted Thompson's personnel moves.

While the overall grades from McGinn were favorable for the season, he was generally less generous with his grades to many of the Packers' players. In this regard, he's consistent with his past evaluations. I would have hated to have this guy for a teacher...man, tough grader! But he's also fair where that is called for. Several players received "incompletes" because of injuries, etc.

But one of the more shocking statements in his report card is this: "The internal debate on Favre began late Sunday night and isn't going to end any time soon, even if he decides to return for an 18th season. For perhaps the first time, there are advocates within saying it's time move on." Read that last sentence again: "For perhaps the first time, there are advocates within saying it's time move on." Yeow!

McGinn talks about how Ted Thompson may be getting itchy to get his draft pick, Aaron Rodgers, into the saddle. McGinn notes that Rodgers came into the league a year after Eli Manning, but is now 59 starts behind him. Admittedly, Brett did not play well in the Championship game, or the Dallas or final Chicago game. His play, although not his alone, helped account for three of the Pack's four losses. But his play, although not his alone, also helped account for 14 wins...which no one had predicted even in their wildest dreams.

So it does become an interesting point of conversation, perhaps more so this year than the last two: will the Packers be better off moving on to the Aaron Rodgers era, or is the team best positioned to ride Brett's arm one more time in the hopes of getting to the Super Bowl? If you care to voice your opinion on this question, we've set up a poll in our usual place in the righthand column. We'll keep it open through Super Bowl Sunday.

We can also discuss what needs the Packers may try to meet in the draft and free agency. But we now have plenty of time for that in the weeks and months ahead.

For the stat-heads

Everything - well, almost - you wanted to know about this Packers' season (dang, it still hurts to talk about it in the past sense, doesn't it?) from a statistical point of view can found be in this article. Good bar bet info at the least. Cheers!

Getting attention

As noted in the visual component of our Monday post, the Packers Bikini Girls were about the only bright spot of the game on Sunday. Guess we weren't the only ones who noticed. The young ladies -- two sisters and a cousin, and all college students -- have been on ESPN, Good Morning America, Inside Edition, and in Sports Illustrated. Can Maxim be far behind? Nope. Check out this article for more.

Frozen game plan

A few of the things being cited for the Packers' loss to the Giants on Sunday are lack of rushing attempts and CB Al Harris getting burned repeatedly by receiver Plaxico Burress. (Yes, there are plenty of other things, too, some of which are mentioned in the poll you can vote in located in the righthand column.) But both of those are really part of a single item: the game plan.

For whatever reasons, the Packers' coaches devised a game plan geared almost solely toward a passing attack to exploit the Giants' banged up secondary, while also keeping their man-to-man bump-and-run coverage in place on defense. Couldn't really argue with the defensive part of the plan given the success most of the year. The rationale of going with an almost an exclusive passing attack given the perceived gaps in the Giants' secondary also seems logical, although perhaps not given the weather conditions which need to be factored in as well...and not to mention a 200+ yard rushing attack just the week before.

The only problem with the game plan was this: it wasn't working. And it wasn't working early. The coaches then had two options: adapt the plan to emphasize the rushing game more to at least keep the passing game viable and change the defensive coverage to give Harris help; or, stick with what wasn't working. The answer wasn't as obvious as most of us would have thought. The coaches decided to stick with the plan and sink or swim with it. Sadly, we know how that worked out.

Coach Mike McCarthy and his assistants will have the offseason to evaluate not only their players' performances during this game, but also their own. For the tremendous job that McCarthy has done in resurrecting the Packers, this was his first time as head coach in a championship game. The lesson of being adaptable is one which is sometimes learned the hard way. As in this loss.

There's a good article about this same topic in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. You can read it here.

Football loss hangover

Let's see a show of hands of those with a football loss hangover today (no, not that kind of hangover)? You know, the general malaise that sets in knowing it's all over? OK...guess we're going to need a much bigger room...

I was able to rationalize the loss last night before going to bed. But, during the night...am I the only one whose subconscious was on overdrive, waking up throughout the night with crystal clear explanations behind the loss? Man...

The post-game analysis -- i.e., therapy -- will continue in the days ahead. What can we do in the meantime to raise our spirits? Well, one bright spot yesterday had to be the appearance of the Packers Bikini Girls. Yes, it's a cheap thrill. But at this point, it's about all we have.

Final: Giants 23 - Packers 20

On the second play from scrimmage in overtime, Brett Favre threw his second interception of the game, allowing the Giants to take over the ball at about the Packers' 35-yard line.

The Pack gave the Giants opportunity after opportunity and they finally took advantage of it on a 47-yard field goal.

Congrats to the Giants.

And congrats to the Pack on a most unexpected -- and successful -- season. Too bad it had to end this way. This was not the Packers' best game, by any sense of the word.

The loss hurts for many reasons. It's a game the Pack could have and should have won. But more on this tomorrow. Including hopefully learning why the Pack stayed away from the running game from the get-go, never even giving it a shot to work.

If you care to express your opinion on the most disappointing aspect of the Packers' loss, I invite you to vote in the new poll (open through Friday afternoon) in the righthand column.

We're going to overtime: Packers 20 - Giants 20

The NFC Champs for this year are...not quite yet.

In a game where they controlled the time of possession by more than a quarter, and where the Packers' offense was moribund in the second half, the Giants did what they needed to do when they needed to do it. Except make two field goals, including a short one as time expired which would have won the game.

Stay tuned. Momentum is all with the Giants. But anything can happen....especially since the Packers just won the coin toss and will receive first in overtime. Go Pack Go!!!

Halftime: Packers 10 - Giants 6

The Packers' defense has held the Giants' scoring drives to two field goals, much as the Patriots did versus the Chargers in today's earlier AFC Championship Game. Give 'em the field goals, just don't let them into the end zone. The Pats let the Chargers kick four field goals and won 21-10. The Packers, despite -- surprisingly -- not running the ball at all, after being down 6-0, went up 7-6 quickly on a 90-yard TD pass from Brett to Donald Driver. That's how quickly it can change. The Pack had field position late in the half but had to settle for a 37-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to make the score 10-6.

Both Brett and Giants' QB Eli Manning seem to be passing the ball well. The Pack has only pressured Manning a few times and wound up the half with a 4th and 8 sack by A. J. Hawk. Plaxico Burress is winning the battle versus Al Harris at present, but if they keep going to that well don't be surprised if Harris winds up getting a pick in the second half.

The Pack defense has a done a great bend-don't-break job in the first half. The Packers' passing offense has worked pretty well given the conditions. But the running game has got to be turned up a notch in the second half to control time of possession and put some more points on the board.

Thirty minutes away from the Super Bowl. Go Pack Go!!!

Let's play already!

So, this is it. The NFC Championship Game. A replay (of sorts) of the last time the Packers and Giants faced off for the championship back in 1962. Except that was played in New York (when the Giants actually played in New York and not a neighborhing state). And the players were different. And it wasn't anywhere near as cold. But other than that...

Anyway, game day has finally arrived. Although judging by all the sports coverage -- particularly if you reside in the great state of Wisconsin -- game day has been happening since the Pack beat the Seahawks last Saturday...and then it cranked up exponentially once the Giants sent the Cowgirls home earlier than many expected.

Are there any story lines that haven't already been discussed, aired, debated, or even complained about? Probably somewhere. But they are getting harder to come by. Which means that if the Packers do as most expect and go to the Super Bowl, we may be digging even deeper into sports minutiae than previously thought possible.

Still, some of these stories have been pretty good ones: Ryan Grant, obviously; Tauscher and Seubert; Brett as always; the guy from Australia who moved his whole family to Green Bay for this season; folks from around the country and around the world being Packers fans; churches re-arranging services to not interfere with kickoff time; superstitions that fans have while watching the game (for the record, I am once again wearing exactly the same combination of Packers gear as last week and will again be imbibing my preferred libation from my PackerFansUnited.com mug -- yes, a shameless commercial plug, but what the heck); the list could go on.

One new story that is worth checking out, though, concerns how the "old" Packers are rooting for these "new" Packers. "Glory Years" players such as Jerry Kramer, Jim Taylor, and Herb Adderly have some interesting insights, as well as advice for the youngsters on how to play in perhaps the coldest game they will ever play in. And Jerry Kramer admits to getting so excited about this game today that "I'm starting to throw a forearm shiver at the door jam." This from a 71-year-old...who would probably still throw on a jersey and execute a key block if asked to.

Kramer would also offer this pregame advice to the team: "Shut out the noise. Get by yourself and think about things a little bit. Think about where you are and what your opportunity is and what it represents. There's no need to get overly excited. Stay cool. Keep your temperature down. Keep your pulse rate normal. But here's an opportunity to step on a world stage and perform. The only reason you're here is because you're very good, so you don't need to worry about being very good. But you can worry about being perfect. So just try to play the best game you've ever played and if you leave everything on the field, and you give it your best shot, Mondays aren't so hard to deal with. Go get them."

Go get them, indeed! Chances are, he might have used some different verbiage outside of a family newspaper, but you get the idea. You can read that story in its entirety here.

The Prediction

The spread for the game is still 7 points. And judging from the poll here at PackerFansUnited.com (open until kickoff time today), more than 80% of those voting believe the Pack will win by at least that much.

This is one of those games where, if the weather were not a factor, it would be an easy call. Maybe it should still be. But as the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Packers reporter, Bob McGinn, points out in his Packers Insider article (online subscription only, unless you can find a print copy) the weather may well negate some of the Packers' inherent advantages, especially in the passing game. Running the ball will be a key for the Packers today. If Ryan Grant can have even half the game he had last weekend that will go a long way toward helping the Packers control the clock and the game. That means the "O" line has to control the Giants excellent front four. It also means when the Giants come with their myriad blitz schemes, the line picks them up, protects Brett, and makes creases for Grant to squeeze through. It means hanging on to the ball. And on the defensive side of things, it means getting pressure -- lots of it -- on Eli, as well as bottling up the Giants' two good running backs. If Atari Bigby can put the fear of God into the Giants' receivers as he did last week against Seattle, all the better. We want them looking for where the big hit is coming from, not for the ball. And special teams? Please, be special... whether kicking or receiving or covering...don't blow it. And if you can contribute a big play, all the better.

The Pack is the better team playing at home. The only way they lose is if they self-destruct. They learned that lesson well in Chicago a few weeks ago. It will be colder. But it won't be as windy. The team learned a valuable lesson there: for 60 minutes, you have to shut out the conditions and play as if you want it more than the other guys. Don't believe the hype about "a team of destiny"; that and a dollar will buy you tomorrow's paper outlining how you got beat. This is a chance to make a statement. It doesn't come around very often. And you have to make the most of every play because you don't know which play can make the difference between a win and a loss.

So, having said all that -- oh yeah, there could be more, but why bother? -- here's my call: Packers 27 - Giants 17.

Go Pack Go!!!

A tale of two Wisconsin guys

Yes, that headline could definitely be a set up for more than a few jokes. Likely concerning such things as beer, cheese, deer, bratwurst and any number of bodily functions. Individually or all together, the possibilities are mind-boggling.

But in this case, it's the story of two small town -- about 10 miles apart -- Wisconsin boys who find themselves playing against each other in the NFC Championship Game. That would be Mark Tauscher, starting right tackle for the Pack, and Rich Seubert, starting left guard for the Giants. Both are examples of what happens when you believe in yourself and work hard, as neither were sought-after players going into or coming out of college. Tauscher was a 7th round draft pick and Seubert was an undrafted free agent. Yet, here they are in the biggest games of their careers playing for a shot at the Super Bowl.

It's a great story. And you can read all about it here.

Yes, if it had been the Pack vs. the Cowgirls tomorrow instead, we'd still have a similar story line with QB Tony Romo, another small town (relatively speaking) Wisconsin guy. Guess that one will have to wait to another year.

Packer fans go the distance...literally

It's well known around the country that Packer fans travel to follow the team wherever they may go. At several stadiums this season, the number of visiting Packer fans in the stands gave the home team fans a run for their money.

But some fans' ideas of travelling to follow the team take on different dimensions. How about actually moving to Green Bay to be near all things Pack? That's exactly what some fans have done over the years. This season is no exception. Although one of the fans this season came from a bit farther away than usual: Australia. You may have already heard his story before. But if not, and if you also want to read the stories of some of these other Packer fans that moved to Green Bay, you can read the article here.

Sunday, Sunday...

Sunday. The Sabbath. The day of rest. A time to reflect. And, at least this Sunday, a time for at least one church in Wisconsin (guarantee: there are plenty more!) to move up its late Sunday afternoon service so folks can get home in time for kickoff.

The Madison Church of Christ is bumping it's usual 5 p.m. service to 4 p.m. And they recommend service-goers wear their Packers gear as well. (Now this is an enlightened church!) A smart move by the MCC. Instead of preaching to an empty church, now there is at least a chance of a few folks in the pews. (Pewgating, anyone?)

This is not an unusual occurrence in Wisconsin. Going back as long as I can remember -- which is longer than I can actually remember -- there have been instances of churches of all denominations moving schedules around to accommodate Packers' games. There also have been more than a few priests and ministers over the years that have cut their sermons short and hurried through their 11 a.m. services on game day so they could be back in their rectories for noon kickoffs. And there is at least one church not far from Lambeau Field that has been known to cancel or reschedule Sunday services to make their parking lot available for fans...for a small donation to the collection bucket, of course. (Let's see: regular Sunday collection, or parking fees...hmmm...?)

It's well known that the Packers are the Almighty's favorite team. When you have the professionals -- that would be the reverends -- making all these moves, that becomes even more evident.

Bart Starr to be honorary captain Sunday

Who could be a more fitting Packers' honorary captain for the coldest game since the Ice Bowl except the quarterback of that legendary game?

According to the Packers' official website, Bart Starr will be the honorary captain for this Sunday's game, and is thrilled by the honor. And, should the Packers win the game, he will also present the championship trophy to the team. While Brett Favre will be a first ballot lock for the Hall of Fame, Bart is already there. Any QB that leads their team to five championships should be, right? Bart has been a Packer through and through, not only during his playing career but afterwards, as well, as head coach and always as a faithful supporter of the franchise. He was and is a true Packer Legend.

If you want to read more about Bart, his role Sunday, and a few of his memories of that last really cold game 40 -- count 'em, 40! -- years ago, click here.

Forecast for Sunday's NFC Championship Game

Last Saturday the Pack beat the Seahawks in the Snow Bowl, "a winter wonderland" as Coach Mike McCarthy called it. Indeed, the temperature wasn't bad and neither was the wind. But the forecasters were all wrong, saying there would perhaps be a half-inch of snow by the end of the game. As viewers were able to see for themselves -- especially by viewing the snow-laden hat of Seattle coach Mike "The Snowman" Holmgren and having to squint at times to see the players through the falling snow -- the forecasters were just a weeeee bit off.

So, what's the forecast for this Sunday's game? Temperature forecasts that range from 8 above to 4 below...and that's not counting wind chill. According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "The wind at game time is expected to be about 10 mph from the west. 'It shouldn't be all that bad,' said weather service meteorologist Phil Kurimski, but will be enough to drop the wind chill to about 10 degrees below zero." Some forecasts indicate the wind chill will be colder than that. As Brett Favre mentioned in his press briefing today, whichever team makes the fewest mistakes in these conditions will be the team that comes out on top. He said that everything you do in a game like this, even something as simple as a handoff, needs to be done with thought, with concentration.

Last weekend's game was positively balmy compared to what's expected for this Sunday night's game. But this game will still not compare to the legendary Ice Bowl between the Pack and Cowboys back in the Glory Days of 1967. This could very well be a close second, though. What can we call it? The Frostbite Bowl? The Brrrr Bowl? The Frozen Bits Bowl? (If any of these get picked up, remember I hold the copyright and trademark! You read it here first!) I'm sure lots of creative variations will emerge.

But if you're attending the game, the recommended attire is at least 5 or 6 layers of everything. And no, that is not a joke. What will be funny is seeing 70,000+ fans crammed into the stands all looking like the Michelin Man...except for the guys without the shirts, of course.

WIN PACKER TICKETS!!

Win Packer Tickets Here


You can enter once per day and the winner is announced on Jan 17th, this is offered through the Packers Official Website.

Hey, you've got about a 4 in 250,000 chance.... Why not ?

Packers are early 7 point favorites

The oddsmakers have made the Packers an early 7 favorite for Sunday's NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field. Considering the Packers are as healthy as they have been all season, and the Giants are hurting, that seems to be a fair spread at this point. Now, factor in the weather forecast for Sunday and that adds another entire dimension to the game. Single digit temperatures are forecast for the game, with perhaps a high of 7. Throw in the wind chill...maybe not the Ice Bowl, but could be close. This will be the latest that a game has ever been played at Lambeau.

The early take -- at least from here -- is that the Packers' defense should be able to keep -- change that, must keep -- the Giants' offense in check. If they can get to "the other Manning" a few times, he can be rattled. Given the air temps, and depending upon the wind, the ground game will be key. The Giants have two good running backs. But if the Packers' "D" plays as they did against the Seahawks, their impact can be minimized.

That takes us over to the offensive side of things. The Packers are firing on all cylinders, and have their full complement of weapons. The offensive line will be challenged once again by a very good front four, including perhaps the best pair of defensive ends they've faced all year. When the Pack played the Giants earlier in the season, Michael Strahan was still rounding back into form after a training camp holdout and Osi Umenyiora had a banged up knee. Strahan played with a groin injury yesterday against the Cowboys, but replays showed many occasions when the Cowboys still double-teamed him. Tackle Mark Tauscher will once again be called upon to bring his best...as he always does. He neutralized league sack leader Patrick Kerney into a non-entity during the game Saturday. He will need to do the same with Strahan. Chad Clifton will have to maintain control of Umenyiora, who has quick moves. But given the fact that these teams have both played each other, they pretty well know what to expect.

Brett will need to manage the passing game as he did Saturday, and Ryan Grant will need to reprise his fumble-free game. Hanging on to the football will be key. Conditions will be challenging, the field may be frozen, and the Super Bowl is on the line.

It's kind of like the Blue Brothers equivalent of "We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, we're wearing sunglasses, and it's night. Hit it!"

Poll Open
Newly added to the righthand column (under the PackerFansUnited.com store link) is the poll for this week's game: What will be the Packers' margin of victory versus the Giants? Voting is now open and will continue until gametime on Sunday.

It's Packers vs. Giants in NFC Title Game

Who'da thunk it at the beginning of the year? The Pack vs. the Giants in the NFC Championship Game? At Lambeau Field next Sunday? Quite an improbable season for both teams.

The Giants took care of the Cowboys 21-17 in Dallas this evening, with the Giants' defense coming up big when it needed to down the stretch, finishing with an interecption in the endzone on 4th down in the closing seconds of the game. Let's hear that sound of heartbreak for Dallas, shall we? (sound of crickets only here) Yeah, it's a shame. (Apply your own sarcastic tone as you say that.) It's the first time since the NFL seeding process was instituted in 1990 that the #1 seed lost in the Divisional playoff round. Awwwwwww...

There will be more on this upcoming game in the days ahead, of course. But for now, isn't it sweet to know that the Title game comes back to Lambeau, and the Pack is one step away from going to the Super Bowl? Oh, yeaaaaaaaaaah, baby!!!

BRING IT HOME!

Packers v. Giants at Lambeau! We are so happy right now! I cannot explain!

Snowy Day in Lambeau!

What a great game... I sit here now watching Dallas play the Giants. All I can say is that I hope Dallas loses.

On another note: I would like to thank the most faithful blogger, packerphan Thanks for your tireless updates!

Packers beat Seahawks 42-20

The 4th quarter saw the Pack get a 1st and goal from the 3 following a nice drive and a roughing penalty. On 2nd and 1 from the 1, Ryan Grant got his 3rd rushing TD, setting a team playoff rushing record and taking the Packers out to a 42-20 lead. He also set a team playoff rushing yards record with 201 yards before exiting the game to rest up for next week. In doing so, he became only the seventh player in NFL history to rush for 200 yards or more in a playoff game. I guess you could say he made up for those 2 early fumbles.

The Packers scored on 6 straight possessions following the opening turnovers. It wasn't until about 9 minutes left in the 4th quarter that the Packers had to punt for the first time.

The Packers 42 points also set a team playoff record, as did their overall 235 rushing yards.

The Pack dominated in every phase of the game. They are looking like they are on a roll. Let's keep an eye on tomorrow's game between the Giants and Cowboys to see who the Pack gets to dissect next.

But for now, this is as very very very sweet win. Enjoy it, fellow Packers fans!

Go Pack Go!!!

End of 3rd quarter: Packers 35 - Seahawks 20

On the Packers first drive of the second half, after holding Seattle on their first drive, they scored a TD on their fifth straight drive to go up 35-17. Ryan Grant went over 100 yards for the game on the drive, and Brett threw his first TD pass of the season to a running back (not his first TD pass of the season...well, you know what I mean). Brandon Jackson took a little dump off pass 12 yards for a TD.

On Seattle's next series, they were able to take the ball down to within field goal range and converted to make the score 35-20.

On the Pack's next drive, Grant broke off a 41-yard run to take the ball down to the Seattle 16. Grant has already set a Packers playoff record for rushing yardage with 167 yards on 20 carries...and we're just going into the fourth quarter.

The snow is falling hard and you can't even see the yard markers any longer. It's becoming hard to even see the players...especially the guys in the white uniforms.

End of half: Packers 28 - Seahawks 17

What a game! The 2nd quarter began with a Seattle screen pass and a hard hit from Atari Bigby causing a fumble, recovered by Aaron Kampman at Seattle's 16-yard line. A few plays later, Brett threw a beautiful touch fade pass to Greg Jennings in the endzone. Packers 21 - Seattle 14.

The Pack then held Seattle on their next drive to fourth and inches. However, Brandon Jackson roughed the punter and the Seahawks were able to continue their drive, culminating in a 29-yard field goal. Packers 21 - Seattle 17.

The Packers the drove the ball down the field. The highlight of the drive was Brett nearly getting tripped up in the pocket, stumbling out, seeing Donald Lee a few yards ahead, pitching the ball to him and getting a first down. A few plays later, Ryan Grant rushed the ball in from the 3 to put the Packers ahead 28-17 going into the half.

The 28 first half points by the Packers tied their own playoff record from 1983 set by the Lynn Dickey-led Packers.

Take a deep breath Packers fans. Amidst the snow, the turnovers, the hard hitting, and the great play by Brett and others, the Packers lead by 11. If they continue to play with the urgency and passion of the first half, Seattle might as well start packing for home. But you know a Mike Holmgren-led team won't go away easily. They'll try for more turnovers, which is the only way they can stay in the game. Packers turnovers and penalties in the first half led directly to the 17 points the Seahawks now have. If the Pack doesn't turn the ball over and plays as crisply as they did in the first half, we can take this one to the bank. But let's just make sure we close it out strong and give next week's NFC Championship Game opponent a lot of things to worry about.

Go Pack Go!!!

End of 1st quarter: Packers 14 - Seahawks 14

The game couldn't have started any worse for the Packers. After taking the kickoff, Ryan Grant fumbled on the 1st play, a screen pass, and Seattle recovered at the Packers 1-yard line. One play later, Seattle led 7-0. On the second play of the next series, Grant fumbled again at the 50. The defense failed to hold and with about 11 minutes remaining in the first quarter, Seattle led 14-0. Not good.

But, on the ensuing kickoff, Tramon Williams returned the kick to about the Packers 40-yard line. The Pack then drove for a TD to trail 14-7. The drive saw Brett go 5 for 5 on passing, including a 15-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings. It also saw Grant get some redemption with runs of 25 and 16 yards.

The Pack defense then held Seattle, and put together another drive. Fittingly, Grant scored on a 1-yard run. As the commentators were saying, Grant was running like a man possessed on the drive.

The quarter ended with the Packers and Seahawks tied, 14-14.

Packers vs. Seahawks: Let's get ready to...

WIN! That's what it's all about, baby. Win and go on, lose and go home. Let's see, the Seahawks have to get on a jet anyway to return to Seattle. So might as well send 'em home with a loss.

And that's what the Packers will do today. They will beat the Seahawks and former coach Mike Holmgren by a score of 24-17. There are lots of storylines within this game, most of which have already been covered by the national media ad nauseum. So no need to go into those here.

What it all boils down to is who wants it more, who executes, and who makes the fewest mistakes. You have to believe that Brett and the veterans on this team -- Rob Davis, Donald Driver, Mark Tauscher, KGB, Aaron Kampman, Ryan Pickett, to name a few -- will show the youngsters on the squad the way to the promised land, starting today. Take care of business the way you have most of the season and only good things can happen. That's what it comes down to.

So. without further ado...Go Pack Go!!!

Another reason the Seahawks should lose

It's always difficult to think of a kicker deciding a game, especially with so many other stars that can impact a game. But as we all know, many games are won or lost on the foot of a kicker.

That's why we have reason -- another one -- to believe in our heart of hearts that the Seahawks will lose the game tomorrow against the Packers. Their kicker, Josh Brown, has battery-powered warm up pants that he'll be wearing on the sidelines. Puh-leze. Check the story out for yourself here. And then cheer that he shanks every kick he attempts during the game.

Who's the leader of the Pack?

Undoubtedly we'd answer that question with the name Brett Favre. And that's true in so many ways, on and off the field. But you might be surprised to learn that, among a survey of some Packers' players, another name pops up that you might not expect, especially as regards leadership in the locker room: long snapper Rob Davis. Today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has an excellent article about this topic of team leadership and Davis in particular. You can find it here.

Packers Pep Rally Underway
Tonight's sold-out fan pep rally at Lambeau Field is underway. 15,000 fans are bundled up and enjoying themselves. Actually, some have been enjoying themselves for hours: where else but at Lambeau would fans tailgate before a pep rally? Bring on some fomer Packer favorites -- Jerry Kramer, Frank Winters, Dorsey Levens, Antonio Freeman and more -- along with outgoing Packers CEO Bob Harlan and GM Ted Thompson, and you have the makings of a fun night. For those fans in Wisconsin who couldn't get a ticket tonight, the rally is being broadcast live on WTMJ-4 TV out of Milwaukee. Again, where else but here?

Pre-rally coverage showed fans on hand from all across the country, and even one fan from Germany.

It's great to be a Packers fan! And it will be great to get a win tomorrow!

Brett will be back, he tells Biloxi newspaper

In an exclusive with the Biloxi SunHerald newspaper, Brett Favre basically says he'll be back next season for his 18th year. "It's been a fun year and winning has made it a good year," Favre said. "For the first time in a couple of years, at this point, my focus is solely on Seattle and winning a playoff game at home." He also said, "For the first time in three years, I haven't thought this could be my last game. I would like to continue longer."

And why wouldn't he? He's playing as well as ever. If Tom Brady hadn't been on a 16-0 team, Brett likely would have won his 4th MVP Award. The Packers have surrounded Brett with a young and explosive team on offensive and defense. And with cap room of more than $20 million available for the offseason, GM Ted Thompson can wheel and deal for free agents and draft choices that might cement the Pack's status as one of the elite teams in the league for years to come. Brett can ride this team as long as he's healthy and has that fire, which certainly shows no signs of diminishing.

It's nice to not be looking at these playoff games as also seeing Brett ride off into the sunset. The only thing he'll be riding will be his lawn tractor until camp starts again...and that will be after the Pack wins this year's Super Bowl.

If you care to read the entire story from the SunHerald, go here.

Packers favored by 8

We're just two days away from the Divisional playoff game between the Packers and Seahawks at Lambeau Field. The early weather forecast has temps in the upper 20s, with a chance of scattered flurries. So, not bad for mid-January. But, when it comes to weather this time of year in the upper Midwest, that can change pretty quickly, too. Game day conditions could be quite different. And winds can and do affect the ball down inside the stadium bowl. One would hope that kicker Mason Crosby gets out of the indoor practice facility during the next day or two and kicks inside Lambeau to get a better feel for the field and the winds. While you'd hate to see this game come down to a field goal, it certainly isn't out of the question.

But, oddsmakers now have the point spread up to 8 points in favor of the Pack. That's a lot for a regular NFL game, let alone a playoff game. You can be sure the Walrus, er, Coach Holmgren, will have his Seahawks players whipped into a frenzy with the "no respect" aspect of this. It's a veteran team, with more than a few players who were on the squad for the overtime loss the last time these two teams met in the playoffs...and which, by the way, was so wonderfully summarized by that photo of Al Harris' interception posted by happyguy...can never get enough of that one.

This time around, though, one would expect Holmgren and QB Matt Hasselbeck to try to exploit Atari Bigby, Tramon Williams and those DBs whose names don't end in Harris or Woodson. How well that ultimately works -- and perhaps, which way the game goes -- might be dictated by whether or not the refs decide to decide (not a redundancy) the game with ticky-tack pass interference penalties early on. If that happens, that will take the Pack out of its aggressive bump-and-run coverage approach and open things up for the Seahawks receivers. Holmgren has four good receivers, and he will spread things out early and test the Pack's young DBs. If he doesn't get the reception he may get the penalty call. Either way, it takes the Pack away from it's game, and could allow the Seahawks to go downfield quickly on penalty yards.

The best scenario, of course, is for the Pack to come out on fire, both offensively and defensively. On "D," the Pack has to get pressure on Hasselbeck. Aaron Kampman and KGB must be on top of their games. In the middle, Ryan Picket and the other run stuffers must keep Shaun Alexander in check. The linebacking corps has to support the line and watch for the screen passes which are sure to come. The DBs have to play smart. As for the offense, Brett has to get off to a quick start and good rhythm. The line has to protect against a fast Seahawks front 7, while still opening holes for Ryan Grant, who could have a big day. The Packers receiving corps could also have a banner day if Brett gets the protection he needs.

And while we're talking about Packers receivers, let's not forget the Koren Robinson angle. Don't you think he'd like to break off a big kick return or pop for a TD against his old team? You bet.

So...this is the early take on things. More to come before the game.

But in the meantime, you can vote in the poll posted in the righthand column under the PackerFansUnited.com store link. If you're a Packers fan, you already believe the Pack will win; the only question is, by how many points? And that's the poll question. So, have your say. Will the game be close? Or a blowout? My prediction will be posted the day of the game.

Here is what I plan to see Saturday

Excited for Packer Playoffs

This is an horribly anxious week for me as no Green Bay Playoff game. I for one am very excited about Seattle and Mike Holmgren's return to chilly Green Bay. Let's pray for some decent weather, and a good Farve showing. I hope for a complete blowout. This will show the NFL that Green Bay might just make it all the way this season! Let's give Seattle a run for their money, as we continue to wait for the Super Bowl of New England v. Green Bay! At least that's my prediction!

Packers face Seahawks next weekend

Seattle beat Washington this afternoon, 35-14, which means Mike Holmgren and Matt Hasselbeck will be returning to Green Bay next Saturday for their Divisional playoff game against the Pack. At least one reader here saw it coming and voted as such in today's poll...in fact, the vote was unanimous (OK, there was only that one vote, but still...)

So...more analysis to come in the days ahead.

In other voting -- by a nationwide panel of sportswriters -- Brett got one vote for league MVP...Tom Brady got all the other votes...which would be 49.

Who will the Packers play next weekend? Vote!

We'll get our first indication today of who the Packers might play next weekend in the Divisional round of the playoffs: Washington plays Seattle this afternoon. If Seattle wins, they come to Lambeau. If Washington wins, we wait until tomorrow to learn whether the Giants or the Buccaneers will be coming to town.

But, in the meantime, we can have a little fun. You'll see a new poll in the righthand column right under the PackerFansUnited.com store link. It's open for voting until the start of today's game. So...what the heck...have your say before the teams do. And follow the Chicago political approach: vote early and vote often!

And if you haven't looked at some of the things in that sidebar area in a while (or ever), now's your chance to peruse them. Some cool links, news, and charities for you to check out.

Road signage we'd like to see

This signage will make sense to you if are driving near Milwaukee, WI. (For the geographically challenged, that would be about 2 hours south of Green Bay and about 90 minutes north of Chicago.)

Packers will have the 29th pick in '08 draft

According to the draft order released by the NFL, the Packers will have the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Here's the details:

2008 FIRST-ROUND DRAFT ORDER
* - Subject to Playoffs
# - Subject to Coin Flip

#, Club
Win-Loss-Tie
Percent
Strength of Schedule
Opponents' Record

1. Miami
1-15-0
.063
.539
138-118-0

2. St. Louis
3-13-0
.188
.512
131-125-0

3. Atlanta #
4-12-0
.250
.516
132-124-0

4. Oakland #
4-12-0
.250
.516
132-124-0

5.Kansas City #
4-12-0
.250
.516
132-124-0

6.New York Jets
4-12-0
.250
.523
134-122-0

7. New England (from S.F.)
5-11-0
.313
.465
119-137-0

8. Baltimore
5-11-0
.313
.516
132-124-0

9.Cincinnati
7-9-0
.438
.461
118-138-0

10. New Orleans
7-9-0
.438
.480
123-133-0

11. Buffalo
7-9-0
.438
.516
132-124-0

12. Denver
7-9-0
.438
.516
132-124-0

13. Carolina
7-9-0
.438
.523
134-122-0

14. Chicago
7-9-0
.438
.543
139-117-0

15. Detroit
7-9-0
.438
.543
139-117-0

16. Arizona
8-8-0
.500
.434
111-145-0

17. Minnesota
8-8-0
.500
.504
129-127-0

18. Houston
8-8-0
.500
.516
132-124-0

19.Philadelphia
8-8-0
.500
.563
144-112-0

20. Tampa Bay *
9-7-0
.563
.469
120-136-0

21. Washington *
9-7-0
.563
.555
142-114-0

22. Dallas (from Cleveland)
10-6-0
.625
.430
110-146-0

23. Seattle *
10-6-0
.625
.414
106-150-0

24. Pittsburgh *
10-6-0
.625
.453
116-140-0

25. Tennessee *
10-6-0
.625
.500
128-128-0

26. New York Giants *
10-6-0
.625
.516
132-124-0

27.San Diego *
11-5-0
.688
.500
128-128-0

28. Jacksonville *
11-5-0
.688
.516
132-124-0

29. Green Bay *
13-3-0
.813
.469
120-136-0

30. Dallas *
13-3-0
.813
.496
127-129-0

31. San Francisco (from Ind.) *
13-3-0
.813
.516
132-124-0