Packers' running game takes a hit

The first game of the NFL season took its toll on a number of teams. But the one we care about is the Green Bay Packers. DE Cullen Jenkins had multiple fractures in his hand and could play the entire season with a cast. Back up DE Justin Harrell tore an ACL and is done for the season after being placed on injured reserve yesterday.

Today, however, it was learned that the ankle injury to RB Ryan Grant was more serious than first thought. He sustained ligament damage and, because of the uncertainty of his return time, it was determined to also place Grant on injured reserve, effectively ending his season.

This leaves Brandon Jackson as the primary running back, with FB/RB John Kuhn as the main back up. Rather than working a trade as many thought might happen to bring in an experienced tailback, GM Ted Thompson has opted instead to sign RB Dimitri Nance, a 5-foot-10, 219-pound rookie, from Atlanta’s practice squad. Nance was undrafted out of Arizona State where he received honorable mention All-Pac-10 honors as a senior. He lead the team in rushing for two straight seasons, rushing for 795 yards and six touchdowns in his senior year. He ran the 40- yard dash in 4.63 seconds, had a 33-inch vertical jump, hit 9' 6" on the broad jump, and bench pressed 19 times at his pro day in March. Obviously, he's a developmental player at this stage and a body just in case something else happens to affect running back depth.

All during training camp head coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson were touting Jackson's progress as a running back. He certainly seemed to show a bit more of that power in relief of Grant versus the Eagles. Now he'll have to show that a lot more. Some area sports reporters have said that it seemed as if Jackson finally "got it" this year, as he seemed to be a bit more professional in the approach he took during the offseason and during camp. Maybe maturity will translate into success on the field. The coaching staff and management of the Packers seem to be counting on that. The fans have to, as well.

One of the other personnel moves that happened as result of the injuries Sunday was that the Pack re-signed DE Jarius Wynn to fill Harrell's spot. Wynn was a casualty of the last roster cuts. He was with the team last year and, in comments aired by defensive coordinator Dom Capers, that seemed to be one of the primary factors in re-signing Wynn: he was familiar with the system and could be plugged right in to the scheme without any learning curve. Makes sense.

But back to Grant...he posted the following on his Twitter page: "Guess everyone has heard the news..frustrating, disappointing, all the normal emotions..there was a chance with surgery that I come back... This season but I would miss too many weeks and put the team in a bind roster wise.. It was more severe than initially thought during game.. but I just have to move forward and get it right. Anyone who knows me, understands that my spirits WILL stay high..and I will return even better, stronger.. That's how I operate.. " (Oh, by the way, you can follow this blog on Twitter, as well, by clicking on the link in the upper righthand column or by just going here.)

Come back better and stronger, Ryan. I think many fans will finally realize through your absence what you have brought to the offense over the last three years in particular: the fourth best rushing yardage in the entire NFL.

You can read a truly great concise analysis (by Green Bay Press-Gazette sports writer Mike Vandermause) of the situation with Grant and Jackson, and the Packers' probable decision process, here.

The Packers' win from the day after

In the light of day, the day after the Green Bay Packers victory over the Philadelphia Eagles, a few observations. Nothing original. Just one person's take on what went down in Philly.

• Special teams played far better than anyone expected. Jordy Nelson had some great returns and the coverage units kept Eagles returner DeSean Jackson in check for the most part. Punter Tim Masthay performed well in his debut. And K Mason Crosby set a team-record with a 56-yard field goal. He was long and accurate. Good to see. May all continue to perform at this level throughout the season.
• Aaron Rodgers had a not-so-great game. He was 19-31 for 188 yards. Yes, he threw a couple TD passes and when he was on he was on. But he started poorly and had two picks, one on a deflection and another on a ball that appeared to sail on him and missed his receiver badly. Chalk it up to an abberation.
• The offensive line...well, Rodgers was under pressure especially early in the game. For a while, the O-line was looking like what we saw early last season. There were instances where our two old tackles indeed looked old. I recall one instance where both Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher got beat on the same play. It seemed as if they picked up their protection in the second half. We can only hope they play at that level the rest of the season.
• The defensive line...coach Mike McCarthy had decided to have only four down lineman active for the game because of the scheme they thought they'd be running against Eagles QB Kevin Kolb; rookies Mike Neal and C.J. Wilson were not available. And that made things especially challenging when a couple things happened: Kolb left the game with a concussion sustained on a tackle by LB Clay Matthews (more on Mr. Matthews in a bit) and Michael Vick and his legs entered the game; and Cullen Jenkins sustained a broken hand on the first defensive series and had to play the balance of the game one-handed after being fitted with a club, and the oft-injured back up DE Justin Harrell sustained a left knee injury blocking on Crosby's first field goal of 49 yards. So, for a while that meant the entire defensive line consisted of B.J. Raji and Ryan Pickett. The two heavyweights, to their credit, did a fantastic job all things considered. Harrell, by the way, has been placed on the injured reserve list (yes, again) and is done for the year (yes, again). As the TV crew noted during the game, Harrell had only played in 14 games during his prior three years with the team. At what point, a reasonable fan must ask -- and has asked before -- do you just reach an injury settlement with the young man and move on? Clearly, he's going to have to be replaced by either a practice squad player, a free agent or trade. (We will leave aside the running discussion as to whether Harrell should have been a #16 draft pick to begin with...and, by the way, the answer is "No!")
• Linebackers and secondary...Could Clay Matthews possibly do any more than he did yesterday? Man! He appeared to be operating at an entirely different level of speed and power. Fantastic. On the flip side, because of the scheme the Packers planned on running and then had to run with Vick in the game, it turns out that LB A.J. Hawk never played a down from scrimmage. They typically always remove him on passing downs and because the Pack played a nickel/dime defense most of the day, Brandon Chillar, Brad Jones and even undrafted rookie LB Frank Zombo (who had a sack, by the way!) got the reps. Hawk has seemingly disappeared from the defense. Perhaps he could be packaged and traded for either a defensive lineman or a running back (where depth was a concern going into the season and is even more so now...more on that in a minute). The secondary generally held up well. Charles Woodson was, as usual, constantly around the ball. Tramon Williams held up well as did, for the most part, rookies Morgan Burnett and Sam Shields. Shields got turned around and burned on one TD pass and looked very much like a rookie on that play. But all in all, seemed to hold his own for the most part.
• The running game...just when it looked as if that might come around, Ryan Grant left the game with an ankle sprain. Brandon Jackson had some nice runs taking the bulk of the carries after Grant's departure. And FB/RB John Kuhn had a couple powerful runs, including a TD. Coach McCarthy said in his press conference today that Grant will not play in the upcoming game against the Bills. Jackson will be the featured back with Kuhn as the back up. But for all those fans who wanted the Packers to have more depth at running back, yep, we were right. That doesn't get us anywhere, but we were right. Will Ted Thompson do anything to address the situation? It would be a surprise if he did. But that's what makes surprises surprises, right? Let us pray...

Bottom line is that this was a statement game, if there can be such a thing in only the first game of the season. We knew the offense would put up points; not really an area of concern. Yet, this was a game where the offense, particularly Aaron Rodgers, wasn't especially sharp. They still put up 27 points. The areas that were of concern had to do with the defense and special teams, both of which really helped carry the day yesterday. It's a good sign.

For now, let's hope that the injuries to Grant and Jenkins don't present problems throughout the season. Let's wish Justin Harrell well, as it's obvious the young man worked hard to get back on the field despite his injury history. But let's also hope Ted Thompson makes a few moves to add to the D-line and running back depth before they truly become positions of desperation.

Oh...did I mention that I predicted the actual final score of 27-20? (Yeah, I know...enough already!)

Packers beat Eagles 27-20

"We're calling this one...Packers 27 - Eagles 20."


That's the way I concluded my post of earlier today with the prediction for today's game between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles. Wow. Surprised even myself. Nailed it! Not just the victory call but the actual score. (Anyone know when the last flight to Vegas leaves tonight???)


What a hard-fought first game it was. Some very good plays and some that left a lot to be desired. But the Packers showed the heart of a champion by coming up big when they needed to, even while not playing their best football.  A few concerning injuries to Ryan Grant (ankle sprain), Justin Harrell (likely a torn ACL...stick a fork in him, he's done), Cullen Jenkins (multiple hand fractures but played with a cast) and Nick Collins (bruised ribs). But despite these injuries and game gltiches, it's great to finally come out of Philadelphia with the first win in 10 tries going all the way back to 1962. Holy Vince Lombardi, Batman! Yes, it really has been that long.


More on this victory via a post-game review here at PackerFansunited.com on Monday. Check back then. For the moment, just enjoy being 1-0 on the road to...well...you know where we're headed...Go Pack Go!!!


Lions get hosed on lousy call in Chicago
For those who watched the Lions and Da Bearz in the early game today, you just had to shake your head at the winning touchdown for Detroit that was taken away. A clear touchdown catch by Calvin Johnson -- two feet down, knee down, ball placed on the ground and released as in the origin of "touch down" -- was ruled an incomplete pass because they said he didn't control the ball completely in the "process" of the catch. A-wha??? One of the worst calls I've seen in ages. Or at least since the same call made on a catch/non-catch by Greg Jennings last year...in a game against...Da Bearz! Hmmm...do we see a theme emerging? Well, hey, it's Chicago and all sorts of funny things just seem to happen in Chicago every once in a while, ya know?


But it's just not my opinion. Check out some of the football fan reaction over at profootballtalk.com about this call. It about sums it up: Da Bearz got a gift handed to them. And that's about the only way they can get a win.

Time to get Packer'd up: Packers vs. Eagles preview

For all the fans of the Green Bay Packers throughout the universe, this is the day we have looked forward to since that gut-wrenching overtime playoff loss in Arizona: the start of the 2010 regular season! Oh happy day!!!

And what better way to kick it off than by starting the season in a place where the Packers haven't won since Vince Lombardi was the head coach. No kidding. The last time the Pack won in Philly was Nov. 11, 1962 when the Packers routed the Eagles 49-0. May it be so today. Otherwise, it will be nine straight regular season defeats (10 counting playoffs) in the City of Brotherly Love. But let's not go there.

This is a game the Packers should win. In fact, the current line at the time of the writing of this post has the Pack favored by 3 points. But given that it is the first game and about the only known is that the Packers offense will put up points, there are questions. As followers of this blog and other reports are well aware, for the Packers those questions concern the pass rush, the secondary, and the special teams. That's essentially two-thirds of the team. We just don't know how the switch of B.J. Raji to the nose tackle position and Ryan Pickett to defensive end will work out. We don't know what the departure of Aaron Kampman means long-term. We haven't yet seen how moving LB Clay Matthews to the opposite side will impact his game. And the questions in the secondary? Get outta here! They abound, especially with some key players out and untested rookies being called upon to start and play prominent roles. And special teams? Other than having a definite upgrade at punter there is still no legitimate return threat on either punts or kick offs; using starting receivers and/or defensive backs in those returner roles opens up a whole can of worms should they get injured fulfilling those roles. But as head coach McCarthy pointed out clearly this week when asked about this situation, injuries are part of the game in football and you have to go with the players you have. In other words, it is what it is.

On the Philly side of things, there are also many questions but especially surrounding their new starting QB, Kevin Kolb. The team felt comfortable enough with him to send long-time starter Donovan McNabb to Washington. Kolb's best target as a receiver is DeSean Jackson, who can also do damage as a returner. If the Packers can generate a pass rush, they should have a good day at the office.

Both teams, it should be noted, were great at generating turnovers last year and, generally, taking care of the ball: the Packers created 40 turnovers (1st in the NFL) and the Eagles created 38 (3rd in the league). The Packers also led the league in net turnover margin with 24, while the Eagles had 15 (if memory serves). One of the things coach McCarthy was not happy with this training camp was the number of times the ball apparently was on the ground...that would be a reflection on the offense, of course.

So, the keys today for a Packers win: create a pass rush, contain DeSean Jackson, get a turnover or two, take care of the ball, don't give up any big punt or kick returns (see "contain DeSean Jackson" above), and let Aaron Rodgers work his magic with his talented receiving corps. That will add up to a Packers win.

We're calling this one...Packers 27 - Eagles 20.

Go Pack Go!!!

Ron Kramer, RIP 
Packers' Glory Years tight end Ron Kramer (not to be confused with RG Jerry Kramer) passed away at his home yesterday at age 75. According to the Packers' website, Kramer caught 170 passes for 2,594 yards and 15 touchdowns in 89 games. Kramer's yardage as a tight end ranks second in team history behind only Paul Coffman and 16th in team annals overall. Kramer ranks sixth on the all-time tight ends list in receptions and fifth in touchdowns. He was one of the heroes of the Packers' 1961 championship victory over the NY Giants with two touchdown catches (if memory serves).

Kramer was a three-sport, nine-time letterman at the University of Michigan. He was the Packers' number one draft pick in 1957. It's said on the Packers Hall of Fame site that "Kramer's 6'3", 240-pound size, combined with his speed and athleticism, revolutionized the tight end position." Kramer was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1975.

For more on the late great Ron Kramer, click here.

Packers Season Preview

Now that the roster is set, I feel a bit more comfortable prognosticating on the Green Bay Packers upcoming season. A lot of folks have already had their says, of course. And a lot of the same things tend to get said over and over. In that sense, you'll probably find no news per se here. So, in an effort to save both this writer and you, my dedicated reader, time, I'll just give a quick take on each aspect of the Pack as I see it going into the opener at Philadephia...and beyond.

Offense
The ultimate key to the season lies here. No surprise. And that begins with QB Aaron Rodgers and his receivers. The fact that veteran tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, are back to start the season bodes well. It will be even better if they can stay on the field for most of the season. Having five receivers, four tight ends, three fullbacks and two running backs offers head coach Mike McCarthy and offensive coordinator Joe Philbin plenty of scheme scenarios to drive opposing team defenses nuts.

Figure that the ratio of passes to runs will probably be close to 60-40 and the ability to have these key players stay healthy throughout the season will determine to a large degree just how far the Pack can go. This is a dominating offense, at least in the passing game. To the extent that the running game can keep defenses honest by not blitzing every play, to that extent will there be an opportunity to win the tough games. Not that they all aren't tough. Just, as the saying goes, some are tougher than others. And, looking at the schedule, many of those games come later in the season when weather conditions -- particularly at Lambeau and other northerly outdoor venues -- will dictate running the ball a bit more often. It will be interesting to see what happens when rookie RB James Starks becomes available off the PUP (physically unable to perform) list after week 6. That's when the schedule starts to change, the weather starts to change, and running backs Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson will have already taken a pounding. He might just offer the kind of change of pace that provides the additional surprises needed to let Rodgers and company do what they do so well.

Defense
Other than special teams (more on that in a moment), for most Packers fans the biggest question mark lies on this side of the ball. Yesterday was actually the first time during all preseason that the 11 starters were on the practice field at the same time (Al Harris and Atari Bigby aside, of course). In addition, LB Clay Matthews has been moved to the left side, flip flopping with Brad Jones. Both, by the way, have also battled injuries in the preseason and have not seen any action for quite a while. This week will be dedicated to working on the communication between the players as a unit.

The big problem in the big games last year -- i.e., against top-notch quarterbacks -- was generating a pass rush. Didn't happen much and as a result those great quarterbacks sliced and diced the Packers' defense and handed the Pack losses despite the offense putting up lots of points. Like last year, the Pack's offense will put up points; the question will be whether the defense can hold up their end of the bargain. Yes, stats showed the Packers' defense did well last year. But some of those great stats which figured into the overall rankings were generated via some of the weaker teams on the schedule. Yes, it works that way for all teams, true. But...well...last year was last year and this year is...hmmm...we don't know yet. Lots of talented players, but also some real question marks. And until we see how defensive coordinator Dom Capers is going to deploy his players and schemes, and how they perform when the games count, it is anyone's guess. Do they have the potential to be a very good defense? Yes, definitely. But the proof will come once game day hits.

We know that Clay Matthews will have to once again have a stellar season. We know that A.J. Hawk needs to step up his play as he has yet to live up to the expectations of being a #5 overall draft pick in the minds of many. B.J. Raji will have to be as stout at the point of attack as was Ryan Pickett last year and Pickett will have to perform as highly at his new defensive end position as he did in the middle. Back up players will see lots of action, particularly on the line. Will Justin Harrell's spot on the roster actually be of value to the team or a wasted spot which could have been used on someone else? Time will tell. The Packers -- and even a few reporters -- seem to be optimistic. After three years, that's about all there is. Keep your fingers crossed he can at least be available -- which was Harrell's answer, by the way, as to how he made the final roster -- most of the season. Anything the team gets out of him will be gravy.

The biggest concern on the defensive side of things, not surprisingly, is the defensive backfield. With both Al Harris and Atari Bigby out for at least the first six games, and Harris' return at all questioned in some quarters, Tramon Williams and rookie Morgan Burnett get the starts at cornerback and safety, respectively. With Charles Woodson and Nick Collins holding down the other corner and safety spots, one would think all would be well. But you can bet that opposing QBs will test both Williams and Burnett heavily during at least the initial part of the season. Where things get a bit dicey, however, is when dime and nickel packages are required. Because of the injury to CB Brandon Underwood, the nickel slot looks to be held down by undrafted rookie Sam Shields. You can be sure he will be tested early and often. The dime spot, at least until Underwood resumes his nickel duties, will be manned by Jarrett Bush who has typically been a lightening rod for fan frustration over the years. Bush performed well in the last preseason game. But when the game has been on the line in regular season play, it just seems that Bush has often been out of position and/or unable to make the play necessary. If you read fan comments about Bush being kept on the roster you can get a feel for the fact that until shown otherwise, Packer fans just don't trust Bush to be able to play at the level needed. Obviously, GM Ted Thompson thinks otherwise and that's the vote that matters.

Special Teams
This is the area of the Packers that has been the biggest problem under Mike McCarthy's head coaching tenure. Despite changing special teams coaches, and supposedly devoting more attention to it, the level of performance has not seemed to change year to year. Until the regular season begins on Sunday against the Eagles, we can't really have a clear picture of what to expect. A lot of the players playing on special teams are no longer even on the squad. So what it performs like when it actually is a consistent unit remains to be seen in terms of coverage and returns.

Punter Tim Masthay won the job over Chris Bryan, who was signed as a free agent by the Buccaneers after his release by the Packers. Masthay will also likely be handling kickoff duties, demonstrating a stronger leg in that department than kicker Mason Crosby. Masthay looks to be a definite improvement over...whomever it was we had last season (shock therapy helped block that particular name from resurfacing).

As to the return game, Packer fans again seem to be generally frustrated. GM Thompson did nothing in the draft or via trade or waiver claims to bolster that area of the team. As a result, coach McCarthy said during his news conference yesterday that CB Tramon Williams and WR Greg Jennings will be the current options at punt returner, and WR Jordy Nelson and RB Brandon Jackson will be returning kicks. Again, from both fan and reporter comments, the thought of exposing one of your top receivers -- Jennings -- to possible injury returning punts is something that leaves many aghast. If something were to happen to Williams, the depth issue in the secondary then starts to come into play, as it does if something were to happen to Jackson despite the fact that he is not a starter. It leaves many fans wondering -- for another year -- why it is that the Packers cannot somehow find or acquire a returner. Granted, they thought they had it in Will Blackmon, but ongoing injuries just made that impossible. There is a possibility that Blackmon could return to the team somewhere down the line following his release with an injury settlement. But still, it is an area which just does not seem to figure that largely into Packer plans. And yet, it is an area which could help determine how far the Packers go into the post-season.

A football team is like a three-legged stool: if all of them are there it works; if one of them isn't there or is wobbly...well, you get the idea.

Applying this analogy to the Packers, the offense is strong, the defense is -- we don't know -- and the special teams seem wobbly at best. How will that translate into the season?

Season Prediction
Without going into predictions for individual games -- we'll do that on a week-by-week basis prior to game time -- we finally need to give our prediction on wins and losses for the upcoming season.

From reviewing what others have to say, it seems as if most projections for the Pack have the team going anywhere from 10-6 to 13-3.

It should be apparent that, with the schedule stiffening in the latter part of the season, the team must make real headway in the first part. And the schedule sets up for them to do just that. Typically though, as with any team, they lose a game they should win and win a game they should lose. I'm not sure which will be which in the first 6 games, but I see that stretch resulting in a 5-1 win-loss record. In the next 10 games, I can see 4 possible losses, although again an expected win and an expected loss might flip flop that scenario but the net result is the same.

So, bottom line projection: 11-5. The Packers will win the North Division outright and, obviously, make the playoffs. More than a few pundits have the Packers reaching the Super Bowl. If key players stay healthy and some of the youngsters that Thompson is relying on yet again to step up to NFL-level play come through, that is certainly within reach.

Check back at PackerFansUnited.com this coming weekend for a projection on the Packers vs. Eagles game.

Until then...Go Pack Go!!!

(P.S. Sorry this wasn't as "quick" an overview as I initially intended. Mea culpa.)

Packers sign running back to practice squad

The Green Bay Packers made a running back the eighth and final signing to its practice squad. According to the news release from the Packers: "A 5-foot-11, 207-pound first-year player out of Kansas State, Johnson entered the NFL as a non-drafted free agent in 2008 with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played in four games in ’08 for Cincinnati, spent time on the Bengals’ practice squad in 2008 and 2009, and was with Cincinnati during the preseason this year. Johnson also was with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason. He will wear No. 39."

The signing of Johnson completes the practice squad announcements. The other seven members of the squad were noted in my prior post and were all with the Packers during this year's training camp.

Johnson at least provides a third running back for the team should something happen to either Ryan Grant or Brandon Jackson. Depth at that position has been a concern.

Packers practice squad almost set

According to reports floating on various media sites, the Green Bay Packers have their practice squad set, almost. The seven names that have been reported as having been signed are: QB Graham Harrell, T Breno Giacomini (yes, that one), WR Chastin West, LB Robert Francois, T Chris Campbell, LB Maurice Simpkins and S Anthony Levine. There is one slot remaining and we're waiting for the official release of the entire list by the Packers, which GM Ted Thompson said would come "first thing" this morning.

Graham Harrell had been quoted over the weekend as saying he really wanted to stay in Green Bay to learn under coach Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers. Some folks speculate that the Packers will trade current back up QB and third-year player Matt Flynn -- who apparently several NFL personnel guys are hot on already -- next season and then move Harrell into the back up slot. Both of those moves are a long way away...next season. We haven't even gotten this one underway yet. Relax.

One of the surprising signings for some was the retention of Giacomini who by all accounts has been an underperformer during his time with the Pack. After he was cut on Saturday, however, the ViQueens reportedly tried to sign him. Then again, what ex-Packer haven't the 'Queens signed? Instead of allowing that to happen, though, Thompson somehow was able to work a deal to keep Gaicomini with the Packers despite the 'Queens reportedly offering more money. Go figure.

For fans looking for depth via the practice squad for the defensive line, running back and defensive back positions, not really much has been done. Nor was there much done in the way of waiver claims to give a boost to the return game; Thompson said during his press conference yesterday that no claims were made on any players. Just for the record, five players released by the Packers were claimed by other teams. The only one going to a team within our division, however, was TE/LB Spencer Havner who regrettably found a home in Detroit.

We'll get back to you later once the official list is announced by the Packers and we find out who that eighth player is.

Packers GM Ted Thompson says...

Ted Thompson, GM of the Green Bay Packers, just concluded a 20-minute press conference at which he answered questions from the media regarding the roster cuts, waivers, etc. Here in no particular order is a summary of some of the things Thompson had to say.

• Several questions were asked at the start about defensive back and returner, Will Blackon, why he was put on injured reserve, the pending injury settlement, etc. From what Thompson said, it sounded as if the Packers are still interested in what Blackmon could offer but when push came to shove regarding getting down to 53 players, they had no choice given Blackmon's health status but to do what they did. Apparently, there are scenarios under which Blackmon could still be available to the Packers this season because of the use of the injury settlement. Depending on the date that is finalized -- and Thompson made it clear he would not discuss such details -- Blackmon could be activated as early as 6 weeks after the date of injury settlement. Thompson basically said they will see where things are at at that time.
• Thompson stated that the Packers did not put in waiver claims on any players.
• When asked about carrying 3 fullback and 4 tight ends, Thompson said that he just felt those players had earned spots on the team. He also said several times that he feels very good about the 53 men they have on the current roster.
• When asked about FB Quinn Johnson, Thompson said he thought Johnson was "very valuable," and will be especially so in November and December when you need to get tough yards. He felt Johnson was a powerful lead blocker and his value would really be demonstrated in those situations where tough yards are needed.
• When asked about TE/LB Spencer Havner, Thompson said that cut was not an easy call because of all that Havner has done. He said the decision was more a factor of what the other players had done rather than what Havner had not done. (Havner, by the way, has been claimed on waivers by Detroit.)
• Thompson was asked about retaining rookie TE Andrew Quarless on the basis of "potential." Thompson grinned and replied, "Potential is overrated." He then added, "We want to win and win now." Amen, Ted, amen.
• In reply to a question about what he liked about undrafted rookie LB Frank Zombo, Thompson said, "I was very impressed with Frank." He then discussed in some detail how Zombo had sustained and then practiced and played through a pretty severe ankle injury. He noted that Zombo "made the team because he showed he could play at a high level."
• Thompson also mentioned that the announcement of the practice squad players would be made "first thing tomorrow." It has already been reported through his agent that the Packers signed QB Graham Harrell to the squad.
• Thompson stated that they view FB John Kuhn as a viable option at running back "in certain schemes."
• As for his linebacking corps, Thompson used such words as "athletic," "play hard," "quality" and "a pretty good group" when describing them.

Check back tomorrow for info on the practice squad signings and any other ramblings yours truly happens to kick out.

Packers' roster set, waiver pick ups to come?

The Green Bay Packers initial 53-man roster for the start of the 2010 regular season was set yesterday afternoon with 20 cuts and a pair of players assigned to the injured reserve list. A few of those cuts were surprises to yours truly and others. The release of TE/LB and fan fave Spencer Havner was one of those. But it seemed from reports that the coaching staff was enamored with TE Tom Crabtree, who supposedly is one heckuva blocker. Hated to lose Havner's versatility. But apparently, the powers that be felt that the combination of free agent LB Frank Zombo and Crabtree offered a better return than the dual-role Havner.

I'll get back with a fuller commentary on the roster and a preview of the upcoming season later on. That's because there might yet be changes to the roster as players throughout the NFL who were cut yesterday are now eligible to be claimed on waivers (claims had to be turned in to the league by 11 a.m. today). Will the Pack pick up a returner? Perhaps a defensive back? Have to wait to see who might actually be added to the active roster yet, as well as those 8 players who will get signed to the practice squad. A lot of talent was on the chopping block yesterday. So until all the dust has settled, I'm waiting.

For now, though, check out the Packers roster here. And if you want to see a very helpful overview layout of yesterday's roster keepers and cuts by offense, defense and position, be sure to see this spreadsheet prepared by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Greg Bedard. (Nice work, Greg! Sounds like I know the guy personally but, you know, just a note of appreciation regardless.)

Final Packers cut list

The Green Bay Packers released 20 players and placed 2 on injured reserve to get to the required 53-man roster today. Here's the official list as released by the Packers:

• P Chris Bryan
• T Chris Campbell
• WR/RET Jason Chery
• CB D.J. Clark
• C/G Evan Dietrich-Smith
• WR Charles Dillon
• LB Robert Francois
• T Breno Giacomini
• QB Graham Harrell
• TE/LB Spencer Havner
• LB Alex Joseph
• S Anthony Levine
• RB Kregg Lumpkin
• LB Cyril Obiozor
• LB Maurice Simpkins
• DE Ronald Talley
• NT Anthony Toribio
• WR Chastin West
• WR Patrick Williams
• DE Jarius Wynn

Tackle/guard Allen Barbre and safety Will Blackmon will be placed on injured reserve. Barbre was previously said to have been cut and received an injury settlement. This, however, is the official list from the Packers.

The Packers can begin signing players to the practice squad tomorrow. Stay tuned to PackerFansUnited.com for additional developments.

Packers cuts and keeps

With a bit more than an hour to go before the 3 p.m. 53-man roster deadline, some of the moves by the Green Bay Packers are starting to be reported.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Greg Bedard has a running post of the Packers moves. The Green Bay Press-Gazette is also closely following moves. Shocking, I know.

Here's the latest rolling report gathered from available sources...

Cuts

• DT Anthony Toribio
• DE Ron Talley
• RB Kregg Lumpkin
• S/RET Will Blackmon (injury settlement likely, which keeps open the possibility he could return down the line)
• WR/RET Jason Chery
• WR Charles Dillon
• OLB Cyril Obiozor
• TE/LB Spencer Havner - Note: Bedard states: "...will be cut at 5 p.m. if the Packers can't find someone interested in trading for him, sources said. That means Tom Crabtree has made the team, and Donald Lee, too. The only way someone would trade for Havner is if they thought someone would claim him in front of them."
• G/C Evan Dietrich-Smith (if no trade possible)
• LB Alex Joseph
• DE Jarius Wynn - Bedard states that the Packers' defensive line will thus consist of "Ryan Pickett, B.J. Raji, Cullen Jenkins, Mike Neal, Justin Harrell and C.J. Wilson."
• OT Chris Campbell
OT Breno Giacomini (GB Press-Gazette says, "His agent said the Packers will cut him if they can’t trade him.")
• LB Maurice Simpkins

Keepers

• OLB Frank Zombo
• OL Nick McDonald
• G/C Jason Spitz (Packers reportedly turned down trade offers)
• TE Tom Crabtree (see above re: Havner cut)
• TE Donald Lee (ditto re: Havner cut reference above)
• DE Justin Harrell (see above re: Wynn cut)

Packers release Barbre with injury settlement

As speculated in a post here yesterday, the Green Bay Packers did indeed reach an injury settlement with offensive lineman Allen Barbre and today released him from the team. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Greg Bedard confirms this news.

Stay tuned for further developments on the roster front. Lots of action with the Pack and throughout the league to come in the next few hours. There are quality players getting the axe across the NFL, some of whom might very well be waiver pick ups for the Pack. Maybe.

What will Ted Thompson do?

According to reports, Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson, the coaches and scouting staff began their roster pow-wow at about 3 p.m. Central time today. By the time they are done, whether late tonight or continuing until the 3 p.m. deadline Saturday, the Packers will have their 53-man regular season roster set.

But between now and then, everyone speculates. If you want to read one person's notion of what Thompson will do, check out Green Bay Press-Gazette sports reporter Rob Demovsky's article here. It's an interesting take on things. Where do agree? Disagree? You can gather for yourself where I might agree and disagree with him by checking out my post from earlier today.

In the meantime, you have to feel a bit like you do as a fan going into the NFL Draft weekend. Lots of anticipation, which will soon be coupled with moments of surprise and disappointment as the final roster is announced, which may include trades, as well.

Exciting times. Especially for a team with the potential to go all the way this season. The roster that Thompson et al put together in the next 21 hours will go a long way to determining just how likely that is over the course of the upcoming 16 games.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers drop final preseason game, 17-13

In a typically uneventful fourth and final preseason game, the Green Bay Packers lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 17-13 last evening in KC. No biggie. Many starters were on a short leash in terms of playing time, and a few -- Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Charles Woodson and Chad Clifton among them -- never even hit the field. Keeping essential players safe is a main goal of the final game and not playing them is keeping them as safe as you can get. Good call, Coach McCarthy.

While I was providing real-time Tweets during the game (you can follow me, by the way, on Twitter by clicking the icon link in the right hand column cleverly labeled as "Follow Me on Twitter"), thought I would offer a few summary comments here.

Observations
So what can a Packers fan make out of the hodgepodge that is a game like this? It is an interesting game to watch, not for the quality of play overall, but for what individual players do. In that regard, a few observations:

• Backup QB Matt Flynn is a keeper, and has really made a jump in level of play from last season to this. He started off a bit rough in the first quarter, but especially in the second half was very much on target. Showed pocket toughness and arm strenth. Clearly, he and WR Brett Swain have developed a great rapport working together as part of the 2nd offense. Fans should feel comfortable if Flynn has to come in to replace Rodgers for a game or two.
• WR Brett Swain should clearly grab the #5 wide receiver slot. He was catching nearly everything thrown his way, had great route-running ability, and flashed speed...at least until he got a bruised knee at the end of the first half. After that, he appeared a bit gimpy on a 77-yard wide open pass play which, if he had been at full speed, probably should have resulted in a touchdown. Hopefully, it's just a bump and not something more serious.
• WR and returner Jason Chery did not seize his opportunity. He put the ball on the ground three times, twice on the initial kickoff! As head coach Mike McCarthy said when asked about it, there's no way you stay in Green Bay if you don't hold on to the ball. Good luck, Jason. A lot of folks were rooting for you. Look instead to a likely return combo of Will Blackmon (assuming he can get back on the field) and Jordy Nelson. Not great, but steady. (Sigh)
• DE Justin Harrell played. He didn't do much of anything other than be a body. He showed little push on any rush and appeared to be on the ground a lot. Still, most of the local sports guys that follow the Packers believe he will make the final roster, primarily because of his 1st round draft status and what coaches hope he could do if he stays healthy, not necessarily because of what he's done so far. As we all know, though, staying healthy and on the field has been his primary problem since college. What more can you say?
• Punter Tim Masthay looks like the likely survivor of this summer's kicking competition. Not only has he punted well but he is also handling kickoff duties, showing a stronger leg in that department than Mason Crosby. If you can do more than one thing it certainly helps your chances of making the team. Welcome aboard, Tim!
• Back up slots on both the offensive and defensive lines have some very good battles. There will be tough choices for the coaching staff here. Rumors are that T/G Allen Barbre will be cut and given an injury settlement and that Jason Spitz and Breno Giacomini may be trade bait.
• Coaches apparently like first-year free agent TE Tom Crabtree but doubt that the team would keep five tight ends. The scuttlebutt -- for what that's worth -- is that he will be among the cuts, with the Packers hoping he makes it through waivers so they can grab him for the practice squad. One would think the same would also be true with 3rd string QB Graham Harrell, who has also shown some flashes during his play.
• All LB Frank Zombo has done has been make plays. Lots of 'em. It would be sad if he got caught in the numbers crunch. I have to believe that he has certainly demonstrated enough to make the team. While the positions are different and area needs are different, you can never have too many good players on a team; given a choice, I'd keep Zombo over Justin Harrell. He's shown more in one summer than Harrell has in three seasons. Sorry, Justin.
• Rookie offensive guard Nick McDonald has played well and got plenty of action last evening. He should be a keeper.
• If the Packers wind up trading Spitz, they should feel comfortable with G/C Evan Dietrich-Smith who has performed well and who also showed the ability to long snap last night after usual long snapper Brett Goode was sidelined after sustaining a blow to the head. Again, the ability to assume multiple roles is a plus. The ability to play guard, center and long snap...it's all a plus.

Without looking at film -- which is somewhat difficult to do since I don't have access to film -- it's hard to say who else distinguished themselves last evening. Nothing was too obvious, that's for sure, other than what has been previously mentioned.

Keep checking back here for more as the weekend unfolds with the various roster moves. Or follow me on Twitter. Just look for "packfansunited" and you're there!

Pack vs Chiefs Preview - Preseason Game #4

The finale of the 2010 NFL preseason takes place for the Green Bay Packers tonight in Kansas City. The 2-1 Packers take on the 0-3 Chiefs and, as always with the preseason, records mean very little. The key thing is for teams to make it through this last game without any significant injuries. Which means we can probably expect starters, especially on the offense, to play about one series before they retire to the sidelines for the rest of the game.

The only ones to whom this game means a lot are those players who are on the bubble...those players who are playing for one of the rare roster spots available on this possible Super Bowl-bound team. And of course, we're talking the Packers here, not the Chiefs.

The final roster cuts have to be made by 3 p.m. Saturday. All teams need to go from the current 75 to the 53-man roster required for the season. Holy chopping block, Batman! Even head coach Mike McCarthy said this is one of the toughest week's of the season not only for players but for the coaching staff, as well. They will have to cut players that they've worked closely with through the off-season, OTAs, mini-camp and summer training camp. They may even have to cut players who have contributed to the Packers during prior seasons. Can't be easy for anyone involved.

But that's what makes this game tonight interesting. Some players are literally playing for their careers, not just roster spots. Among that group one would have to think is the perennially injured DE Justin Harrell. When he hasn't been injured, he has shown little production on the field. Given some of the other prospects pushing for roster spots, Harrell has to play like an All-Pro tonight to have a chance of saving his spot with the Packers if not in the NFL altogether.

Another player who will be given all the chance in the world tonight to make the squad is first-year free agent WR Jason Chery. While he may get some repetitions at split end to see if he can grab the #5 receiver slot, the plan is for Chery to be showcased tonight as both punt and kick returner. Following his 75-yard punt return last week which got the coaches' attention, McCarthy wants to see what Chery can do as the designated returner. If he breaks another return for a TD or otherwise acquits himself well, Chery could be another one of the few unheralded players who secures a spot on the team. The Pack has been searching for a reliable return threat since the days of Desmond Howard who, by the way, Chery was unfamiliar with when that name was brought up by media this week as a point of comparison. OK. The kid doesn't have to know about the former Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl MVP. He just has to hold onto the ball and run for positive yardage. Hopefully, lots of positive yardage ending in the opposite end zone.

Aside from players to watch -- which also includes rookies S Sam Shields and LB Frank Zombo (who has to make the team based upon last name alone!) -- the coaches will also want to continue to see solid play out of backup QB Matt Flynn, who had a solid performance last week against the Colts. One might also expect to see a lot of play by the backup tight ends tonight. Other than Jermichael Finley and the versatile do-it-all Spencer Havner, will the Pack stick with veteran Donald Lee or opt for youth in the form of either rookie Andrew Quarless or first-year player Tom Crabtree, both of whom have demonstrated potential?

One lingering question for Packer fans, which will carry over to the first game at Philadelphia, is exactly what kind of defense will the Packers have? Due to injury, the Packers have yet to field a complete defensive unit with all starters on board. Coach McCarthy has addressed this situation with the media by saying that extra time and attention will be devoted to getting the #1 defensive unit geared up for the game against the Eagles. They won't have had the advantage of real-time game reps, but they should be able to get up to speed fairly quickly. At least, that's the hope.

As for a prediction about tonight's game...naaaaaah. None necessary. Other than to say watch and see which players are doing their best to grab the golden ring. And which will be catching a ride out of Green Bay come Saturday afternoon via cut or, less likely, trade.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packer Fans United now part of Yardbarker Network

Green Bay Packers fans: just in time for the start of the 2010 regular season, PackerFansUnited.com has affiliated with the Yardbarker sports network which in turn is affiliated with FoxSports.com (yeah, a lot of affiliatin' goin' on, isn't there?). You can see some of the effects of this development in our right hand column, which -- along with all the regular links, etc. you've come to know and love -- now features recent headlines served up by Yardbarker, which as its tagline says, has "Realtime Rumors, Gossip, Opinions and Humor from the Best Sports Blogs."

Basically, it just means more ways for more readers to find and read PackerFansUnited.com, and for readers here to have access to more content.

But wait! There's More!
The affiliating hasn't stopped with Yardbarker, Packer fans. Yours truly is now the designated Packers blogger for the Football Fan Spot site. If you want to check out the Packers page just click here. Currently, it has verbiage from the site owner and a link to a bio of sorts for this writer. It will be featuring at least one post a week from me during the season. You'll also find a link to the site in the Links section in the right hand column.

Why am I doing all this? Hmmm...well, I guess it boils down to love for the Packers. That explains a lot of aberrant behavior, doesn't it?

Anyway...thanks again for your continued support. Please keep coming back. And if you feel so inclined, click through on the various headlines, ads, links and logos which appear all down the right hand side of this blog. Maybe even take a look at the PackerFansUnited.com store and stock up on some great stuff: clothes stuff, gift stuff, that kinda stuff. 'Tis the season. Or at least it will be starting September 12 in Philly.

Go Pack Go!!!

McCarthy: Harris to go on PUP list

As posted here yesterday, the Green Bay Packers were facing a tough decision regarding what to do with veteran CB Al Harris: save him one of the valuable 53-man roster spots even if he wasn't ready to go for the first few weeks of the regular season, or put him on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and lose his services for at least the first 6 weeks.

According to a report in this afternoon's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, head coach Mike McCarthy has apparently made his decision: the PUP list. McCarthy reportedly told USA Today that, "Al Harris is definitely getting better, he's getting close. But he's going to have to start the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform list).''

Perhaps not coincidentally as part of a live interview on an early morning segment on 620WTMJ-AM radio out of Milwaukee, McCarthy indicated that the area of the team that is most unsettled is cornerback. Ya think? McCarthy did not mention Harris' status during that interview, however.

Harris is now out for the first 6 weeks and that leaves backups Brandon Underwood (currently out with a shoulder injury), undrafted free agent Sam Shields or oft-injured Pat Lee as the possibilities for nickel back. Jarrett Bush's stock seems to be dropping for that position, at least as long as the coach's want to see what Shields can do.

In addition to Harris, S Atari Bigby and rookie RB James Starks were also placed on the PUP list, while RB Quinn Porter was assigned to injured reserve.

Pack faces tough decision on Harris

Packers CB Al Harris is still hoping. And so are the Packers. Hoping he'll be on the active roster for the start of the season and not the PUP (physically unable to perform) list. There still is a little time to go before the required final roster cut to the 53-man squad, but it sure seems likely the Packers will face a tough decision with regards to Harris. If he's not 100 percent for the first game or two, do you allocate a roster spot for him anyway in the hope he's ready to go in game 3 or 4? Or, do you give that valuable roster spot to someone else for at least the first 6 games of the season, the required number of games Harris would have to sit out if he is placed on the PUP list? Guess this is why management gets the big bucks, eh?

For how Harris views his situation, check out ESPNMilwaukee.com's Jason Wilde's article. Harris says it like it is: "“I won’t step out there too early and I won’t step out there too late." But what exactly that means...well, read the article here.

Taking the Lambeau Leap into Twitter

I have put it off as long as possible, Packer fans. But the inevitable march of technology has finally sucked me in to yet another way to waste time. Yep, I've finally signed on with Twitter.

So, for those of you who just can't get enough of the scintillating commentary here at PackerFansUnited.com, now you can follow me at: http://twitter.com/packfansunited

I'll throw some widgets and buttony thingies on here sooner or later once I get everything figured out to hopefully make it easier for you. So they say.

Anyway, Twitter will perhaps make it easier for yours truly to vent more often and in 140-character outbursts during games. That should keep me out of therapy for at least another season.

As always, thanks for reading.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers blow out Colts in preseason game #3

Wowie kazowie, Batman! Did anyone see that coming? A 59-24 whupping of the Colts? Yowza! Sure, it's just preseason...but still...ya gotta like it, Packer fans!

There were no doubts coming into this game about the explosiveness of the Packers' offense. And no doubts emerged after the game. If anything, we should feel very good -- at least going into the regular season -- that the ol' veteran tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, held up very well indeed against the Colts' two Pro Bowl defensive ends. And with rookie Bryan Bulaga held out because of a hip injury, Daryn Colledge got extended time at left guard and no doubt secured the starter's role going into the season. He may not have been spectacular but he did what he needed to do which was help keep QB Aaron Rodgers upright.

And speaking of Rodgers, he not only stayed upright during his half of play but also played superbly. He connected on 3 TD passes during his time on the field. He missed on a couple of long throws, but even the ESPN booth crew was commenting on how Rodgers is now one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. They were particularly impressed with his ability to get the ball out quickly and without even having his feet set. His arm strength, delivery and decision making were tremendous.

Backup QB Matt Flynn also demonstrated his command of the offense during his time in the game, also looking very sharp. You could see last night why several personnel guys around the league have said that Flynn is a player they'd like to have on their teams as the best backup in the league.

As to the defense, coordinator Dom Capers dialed up the pressure a little bit more than what we've seen so far in the preseason. Despite missing a handful of starters due to injury or precaution, the defense did a good job holding its own against Peyton Manning and the Colts. Well, OK, there was that two-play, 22-second touchdown "drive" to start the game. That looked as if the defense was asleep. And they did give up 17 points while Manning was at the helm. Some of the d-backs looked out of position at times. But there was some pressure on Manning and that obviously made him uncomfortable. He was probably most uncomfortable when rookie free agent LB Frank Zombo -- who played virtually the entire game for all intents and purposes -- stripped him of the ball after which LB Robert Francois scooped it up and took it down to about the five yard line. Zombo has played himself through an ankle injury and onto the roster; there is no way he will not make the team after his performance, especially over the last two games.

Another undrafted free agent, CB Sam Shields might have also secured himself a spot on the roster. He had a great interception in the waning minutes of the game where he showed great anticipation and even greater athleticism in going up for the ball. He is also a speed demon on special teams...just don't use him as a returner!

Yet another rookie, S Morgan Burnett, has also demonstrated the ability to start. He nearly had an interception early in the game and later on, while Manning was still at quarterback, read the play perfectly and jumped in front of the receiver to make the pick. Great instincts.

WR Jason Cherry might have gotten a spot on the roster not in the crowded wide receiver corps but perhaps as a punt returner. He scored late in the 4th quarter on a tremendous 75-yard punt return to close out the Packers scoring.

In the punting competition, Tim Masthay probably has the edge on Chris Bryan thanks to one punt in the second quarter. He booted a 53-yard punt with 5.06 second hang time. It was at least in part that hang time that perhaps flustered returner Brandon James who muffed the ball inside the Colts' 10-yard line. The ball rolled into the end zone, where special teams standout Korey Hall recovered it for a touchdown. Been a while since there's been that kind of excitement -- at least going the Packers way -- on special teams. But at least on this night, even the special teams play was an asset and not a liability.

Tuesday teams have to cut down to 75 players, while Sept. 4 is the final cut down to the 53-man roster. It won't be hard to get down to 75. But as even the ESPN guys noted last night, the Packers are going to face some difficult decisions getting down to 53. There is a lot of talent on this team at many positions. It's one reason many pundits are picking the Pack to play in the Super Bowl at the end of this season. With some of the players, moving them to the practice squad won't accomplish much in the way of protecting them as other teams can claim them. Dang. Whether or not GM Ted Thompson receives any trade offers for any of these players remains to be seen.

One player who observers just have to think will finally be on the cutting block is Justin Harrell. He played again last evening in a very undistinguished performance. He was either on the ground being blocked or was not near the play at all. Looked very slow and unaggressive. For someone who is literally playing for his NFL career you would think there would be a sense of urgency. Maybe there was. But it sure didn't come out in terms of his play. Harrell by all reports is a nice young man. But he was damaged goods coming out of Tennessee, should never have been drafted at #16 in the first round, and has had nothing but health problems since joining the Pack, including in the week prior to this game. It's time for Thompson to make that roster spot available for someone else. Sorry, Justin.

There's more to chew on and discuss about this game and the upcoming season. But for now...enough.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers - Colts preseason game preview

Game time for tonight's Bishop's Charities Game at Lambeau Field is just a little more than 2 hours away. Being game #3 of the preseason, this is the dress rehearsal for the starters prior to the first game of the regular season Sept. 12 at Philadelphia. The Packers' starting units are expected to play at least through the first half of the game this evening. This will also be a warm up in the sense that the game will be nationally televised, so for the rookies on the team it will be a whole new experience, even if it is just a preseason game. They will get the feel for what the national spotlight is like.

As was the case last week, the Packers are thin tonight at running back, linebacker and in the defensive backfield. S Atari Bigby, LBs Clay Matthews and Brad Jones, RBs Kregg Lumpkin, James Starks and Quinn Porter, DE Cullen Jenkins, and CB Al Harris are not expected to play; LBs A.J. Hawk and Alex Joseph, and Ol Allen Barbre are questionable.

The plus side of the lack of running backs right now is that Ryan Grant should get a fair number of carries this evening. Of course, the offense will be pass-dominant as we've come to expect. But Grant needs the work, as does Brandon Jackson. Hopefully, Coach McCarthy will give them at least a few reps tonight.

Reports have also been circulating that CB Al Harris likely won't be ready for the start of the regular season, in which case the nickel position will go to one of the 4 backups: Brandon Underwood, Jarrett Bush, Pat Lee, or rookie Sam Shields. Underwood got torched last weekend at Seattle; he needs to step up his play considerably tonight. Bush has been a regular underperformer and Lee can't seem to stay on the field. The Packers are intrigued by Shields, or at least by his speed. The experiment as a punt/kick returner appears to be over as he has mishandled the ball on nearly every occasion. His performance as a gunner on punt coverage teams, however, might be the way Shields garners a roster spot. Whether he is used much tonight in the nickel or not is anyone's guess, although that would certainly be an expectation in next week's game where roster spots are on the line.

Tonight will also be a good indicator of how well our aging tackles, Chad Clifton and Mark Tauscher, stand up to a strong pass rush. If QB Aaron Rodgers gets pressure consistently tonight it might raise more concerns about the offensive line than initially thought.

On defense, it will be interesting to see if defensive coordinator Dom Capers dials things up a bit. So far through the preseason the defensive schemes have been plain vanilla. He still doesn't have his full complement of personnel available, but it would still be a good test of the backups to see what they can do when called upon.

The third preseason game is always an interesting one to watch as we get our first real chance to see the starters in extended play. But it also might give us some early insights into who might make the squad and who might not come cut down day.

Packers - Seahawks preseason post-game review

The quick take: Packers 27, Seahawks 24. The Packers pulled out the win in the 4th quarter. Junk time, really.

The good
Let's start with the offense. The first unit has had four possessions in the two preseason games and have scored four touchdowns. Both of the first unit's touchdown drives last evening were for more than 70 yards. QB Aaron Rodgers has been outstanding, being decisive and on target with his throws, including the bombs. TE Jermichael Finley is clearly going to be one of the main weapons on offense this season. The Packers lined him up in several spots last night. The receiving corps will give defenses nightmares. The running game was adequate. Ryan Grant seemed to recover nicely from the concussion he sustained early in last weekend's game and had a few nice runs. Brandon Jackson also ran with authority and scored the game-winning TD late in the game. The offensive line, at least the first unit, never let anyone get near Rodgers. Backup QB Matt Flynn also acquitted himself nicely with the second unit, looking very sharp on his throws. When third and fourth stringers came in in the second half, well, any quarterback would have had problems. The starting defense, despite being short seven starters from last season, also held up...sort of. They did give up two scores to Seattle's starters (who also played much longer than did the Packers' number ones). But some of that can be attributed to shorter playing fields resulting from poor kick coverage.

Which brings us to...

The bad
It is clear that if the Packers have to rely upon some of their backup defensive backs much this season the offense will need to score a bunch each time out. Brandon Underwood, in particular, looked overmatched at every turn. There is also still not much of a pass rush, but remember that there has also been a decidedly vanilla approach to the defense so far.

Other bad news continues to be on the special teams. Punt and kick coverage was generally miserable. And finding reliable returners still seems to be a work in progress. It is clear that undrafted rookie Sam Shields is not ready for prime time. He may be the fastest man on the roster. And he may have picked off a pass while on defense. But his attempt at handling a kickoff was horrendous; he allowed the kick to bounce, didn't get on it fast enough, and the result was a kick recovery by Seattle. Terrible. He looks scared and confused for two weeks in a row.

One of the other bad aspects of the game last evening was the ongoing reminder what a bonehead move it was to cut punter Jon Ryan just prior to the start of the 2008 season. He was booming punts and stopping the ball inside the 5-yard line with almost pitching wedge-style spin. The best that can be said is that at least this year's punter -- whoever it may wind up being -- will not be as bad as last year's. But he also won't be as good as Jon Ryan.

Final Thoughts
The Packers at least were able to chalk up a win, even though it doesn't mean much. The parts of the team we thought would be working well are, so far, and the parts we felt might be problematic are, as well.

Thursday the Colts come to Lambeau for the unofficial warm up to the regular season for most of the starters. Will be curious to see what happens and what adjustments the coaching staff puts in place, particularly for the linebackers and defensive backs if injuries continue to play a part as they have so far in camp. It will also be especially interesting to see how the special teams get their acts together before things count. A lot of work needed there.

Packers - Seahawks preseason game preview

It's less than two hours to kickoff for the second game of the preseason, Packers vs. Seahawks. And, to be honest, this isn't really a preview as much as an overview. Hope that works for you.

What to look for tonight? Well, Coach McCarthy says that most all players are available for tonight's game, although in fact neither RB Kregg Lumpkin or RB James Starks made the trip. And even though Ryan Grant came back from his concussion of last weekend to practice this week, and will play tonight, expect most carries to go to backups Brandon Jackson and free-agent rookie Quinn Porter. That will be good to see. Porter is raw, but shows flashes. Need to see what he can really do in extended play. This may be the best opportunity he gets, as next Thursday's game at Lambeau versus the Colts is technically the dress rehearsal game for the starters. Game #4 is a grab bag. If Porter is going to legitimately challenge for a roster spot he needs to make an impression tonight.

As for the rest of the offense, no worries at this point. OK, there are the offensive line questions but it already is in better shape than last season. And there is a distinct possibility that rookie Bryan Bulaga will beat out Daryn Colledge to start at left guard.

So let's move on to defense, where there are indeed questions.

Now, let's not expect to see much in the way of scheming and blitzing tonight. The Packers are definitely holding their cards close in the preseason. So if it doesn't seem very exciting, it's not. Might see some flashes of things in the next game when the starters get more extended play, but don't look for anything too exciting this evening...still pretty vanilla.

The pass rush is something that was non-existent last weekend. Need to see who is able to get pressure tonight. Without Clay Matthews last week (and without him again tonight), the Pack had nothing in that department. And will Justin Harrell (who is listed as questionable for tonight because of his ongoing back problems) actually make an appearance? And how will second-year player B.J. Raji hold the point at nose tackle this evening?

In the defensive backfield, Al Harris will not play nor is it likely that Charles Woodson will see action. So Will Blackmon, Pat Lee, rookie Morgan Burnett and others in the backfield will gets lots of exposure...good or bad.

As for special teams that haven't been special in a long, long time...well, the coverage and return units are still works in progress. Need to see if one of the punters begins to separate himself from the other this evening; so far, they seem about even. Also still need to see who will emerge as reliable and productive punt and kick returners.

Well, Packer fans, that's the overview. Will do a recap tomorrow.

Go Pack Go!!!

Rodgers makes you ask, "Brett who???"

With the circus in the land of the funky purple people at the return of Ol' #4 -- because he "owed it" to that organization (see my earlier post) -- Packer fans can instead be very thankful that we have a young man named Aaron Rodgers at the QB slot. Just check out this video to see Rodgers get nothing but net on what's said to be a 60-yard toss at the end of practice yesterday designed to work on long-throw accuracy.

Check!

What the Favre? Part 23

Ol' #4 made official today what was reported here and elsewhere yesterday: he's back for another year with the ViQueens. (Yawn.)

The only point of interest in his meeting with reporters -- we can't really call it a "news" conference, can we? -- was that he said, "I owe it to this organization to give it one more shot." Wha-a-a-a-a-a-a??? You "owe it" to the 'Queens? Brett, Grampa, what the heck are you talking about? You played there one year! Hell-o-o-o-o-o-o!

Too bad you apparently never thought that you "owed" it to the Packers' organization -- you know, that one you played for for about 16 years?! -- to say whether or not you were going to play from about the year 2004 onward.

Very interesting perspective you have on what you "owe" and who you "owe" it to. If you had had the same type of integrity a couple years ago that you have apparently found now it's quite likely you'd still be in the green-n-gold and retire proudly instead of being dressed out in that funky purple and retire as a punchline for comics everywhere.

I just thought I owed it to you readers to put things in perspective since Ol' #4, with all due respect, certainly seems to be a bit short in that department recently.

Oh, by the way, Favre says this, his 20th year in the NFL, will definitely be his last. Sure. Whatever.

What the Favre? Part 22

In merely the 22nd installment (22nd?!!!) of our ongoing drama, What the Favre?, breaking news out of Minnesota is that Ol' #4 has returned to Minnesota for his 20th season in the NFL. Literally. His plane landed not long ago.

Former fellow Green Bay Packer, Ryan Longwell, and two other ViQueen shmoes flew to Mississippi yesterday to beg Brett to return...er...ask what his status was.

This is actually a good thing for Packer fans. Really. The Packers' defense now gets a do-over for letting Brett and the 'Queens sweep them last year. One great way to make sure this is in fact Favre's last season will be to send him away with two losses to the Pack. That will stick in his craw as long as he rides his lawn tractor in Hattiesburg...two losses to the Packers in the final season of his career.

I can almost see the tears now.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers preseason game #1 post-post-analysis

Hello, again, Packer fans! Great to be back from a little break to get refreshed and recharged for the upcoming season.

Of course, as any truly green-n-gold-blooded Packer fan knows by now, the Pack dropped their first preseason game 27-24 on a last-second field goal by the Browns. The Packers started off poorly and finished poorly. But in between, so-so.

I have to confess to not actually having seen the game. I was attending one of those ill-planned activities that, when the date was chosen, somehow failed to consider the fact that hey, it's football season! Weddings..harrumph! (I didn't get a "harrumph" out of that guy!...sorry, slight homage to a line from Blazing Saddles.) But I did hear the closing minutes of the game on radio and of course saw and heard many of the post-game reports and comments.

You can check out all the specifics of the game elsewhere, if you haven't already done so. The quick-take: Rodgers did great, defense didn't even qualify as "vanilla," special teams are still mediocre.

So, based on one preseason game, looks as if the season is...whoa, there, Packer fans! Let's not get ahead of ourselves. And this is the thing I find most amazing reading "fan" comments elsewhere. Holy shanked field goal, Batman! It's the first preseason game, for cryin' out loud! The Browns wanted to jack it up to impress new GM Mike Holmgren (remember him?); the Pack clearly just wanted to get through the game, run some of the offense, see some players, not get anyone hurt. Yet, to read some of the comments, some folks are ready to consign the Packers to a pathetic season based upon what they saw Saturday night. (I'm tempted to go into that Saturday Night Live bit about, "Really? Really?", but I will refrain.) People: get a grip. First of all, it's only a game. Secondly, it's only a preseason game! The Packers did exactly what they needed to do. Granted, a little more energy and fewer mistakes to start the game might have made for a more entertaining night. But given how hard Cleveland had to play -- blitzing (sending 5 or more players) more than 80 percent of the time when Rodgers was in the game...and how did that work out, by the way? -- just to pull it out on the leg of their robo-kicker as the clock hit zero, well, the Packers are just fine.

Now sure, adjustments still need to be made and players still need to be coached up (in coach-speak). But it's OK at this point. Yes, special teams is still a concern both in terms of coverage as well as returns. But that's really not much different than it's been since the year of Desmond Howard, let's be honest. Quite a contrast with Cleveland's approach, where they keep five players on the roster just for special teams play...and that does not include the punter and kicker. This is the one area in particular that we should keep an eye on for major progress from game #1 to game #3, which is generally considered the dress rehearsal for the regular season opener. If we don't see some improvement by then, settle in for yet another ho-hum special teams season under Coach Mike McCarthy.

But, again, back to the main point of this post: take a deep breath, Packer fans. Chill. No, not the kind you get at Lambeau in December and January. The kind you need now. The kind of chillin' that will keep you realistic. It was only preseason game #1.

Thanks for reading and checking back. We'll keep you posted on anything of interest as the Pack prepares for their next game at Seattle.

The pause that refreshes

Yes, that's an old Coca Cola ad slogan...which then got appropriated by some 1960's-70s types with a whole different meaning....but I digress...

You may wonder how, with Packers summer training camp now underway, that this slogan even comes into play. After all, the players and coaches have had their pause come to an end. Now it's a long haul through the season, the playoffs and, the Super Bowl. Yes, let's get on board that bandwagon!

Well, the players may have had their vacations come to an end for a while, but here at PackerFansUnited.com, we're going to take a little pause so that we can come back rarin' to go for the preseason games and beyond. We'll have to leave you in the capable hands of other bloggers and news outlets for Packers news for a bit. But you can always get the latest headlines here in the meantime in the creatively named "Latest Headlines" area in the righthand column; that's a continuously updated area that operates automatically (yeah!), so you can still feed your need for info while the regular blog is a bit irregular, so to speak.

Thanks for reading and helping make PackerFansUnited.com one of the more popular Packers blogs available. Keep checking in. We'll be kickin' it up a notch soon.

In the meantime...Go Pack Go!!!

Bulaga signed, Packers kick off camp with everyone on board

The Packers' first round draft pick, offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga, is signed, sealed and delivered. Bulaga came to terms with the Packers this morning, according to reports, on a 5-year deal. ESPN reports that the deal totals nearly $15 million with almost $9 million of that guaranteed.

With Bulaga's deal, all 82 Packers' players are under contract for the start of training camp tomorrow afternoon. Pretty darn good.

Packers chances of hosting a Super Bowl?

One of the questions that naturally started to surface after the NFL awarded the 2014 Super Bowl to the cold-weather, non-domed new stadium in New York, was: What about Green Bay and Lambeau Field? Well, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell actually addressed that matter during yesterday's annual Packers' shareholder meeting. He said the issue wasn't so much the weather, as some might have expected, but rather the "infrastructure." Goodell said there needs to be about 25,000 hotel rooms within 60 miles of the chosen venue. With approximately 3,000 or so rooms in the Green Bay area, as Maxwell Smart might say (does that reference date me, by the way?), we probably will miss by that much. In other words, the chances are about the same as a snowball's chance in h-e-double hockey sticks...or, since we're talkin' football, h-e-goal posts.

The Packers also shared some interesting plans they have in and around Lambeau Field. One of the other cool little tidbits to emerge was that the new movie about Vince Lombardi (staring Robert -- "Are you talking to me?!" -- DeNiro) will debut in Lambeau Field the week before the Super Bowl. It will be very cool indeed if shown outside in the stadium rather than inside the warmth of the atrium.

For more on the above and other highlights from the shareholders' meeting just go here.

Packers shareholders meet today, players suit up Saturday

A few hours from now, Packers' shareholders will be gathering at the currently warm tundra of Lambeau Field for the annual shareholders meeting. Packers officials will present the financial report (not great, as previously reported here and elsewhere), talk about the state of the team, and so on. They will also hear from NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell, who will also respond to questions submitted previously by shareholders. Should be an interesting session. Hope to provide follow up to that later today or tomorrow for you.

B & B signings?
In other team news, currently the only player on the Packers prospective roster not yet signed is first round draft pick Bryan Bulaga. Reports are, however, that he and the Pack are close to coming to terms on a contract. Bulaga Tweeted yesterday, if memory serves, that he was probably done playing golf for a while, which one would take to mean he's going to be on the practice field in Green Bay very soon. Perhaps, if reports are correct, in time for the team's first practice at 2 p.m. Saturday. That would be a great thing for not only Bulaga but the offensive line as it tries to assess whether Bulaga will be in the running for starting at left guard this season or whether he'll be groomed solely to replace venerable veteran Chad Clifton at left tackle when the time comes.

Safety Atari Bigby was reported on Tuesday to have finally agreed to his one-year tender offer. However, because of roster limitations the Packers have not yet apparently turned in the contract to the league office. When they do, and when Bulaga signs, the Packers will have to make a couple roster moves to get to the 80-man limit.

You can read more about the Bulaga and Bigby situations here.

Ad patches hit the unis
And now, coming to a practice jersey near you, advertising patches!

That's right, kids, the Packers finally caved to the demands of economic necessity over tradition (and when that happens even in Green Bay you know things are tough) and will be sporting an advertising patch on their practice jerseys this season. Two good things about that. First, it's a practice jersey, not something that will be worn on pre- or regular-season uniforms. Secondly, it's a local organization, Bellin Health, which is a major healthcare provider in the Packers neck of the woods and with which the Packers have partnered for a number of years. Bellin is the presenting sponsor for this summer's training camp, so a patch seems fitting, I suppose. For those on the lookout, the patch will be worn on the player's left side near the shoulder. As to the size, according to the Packers' director of marketing, it's tasteful. Ah, what's the diff...it's a practice jersey. And if you want to know more, read this.

Packer fans: Let's party like it's 1929!

Ah, 1929. What a great year. Well, except for that "Crash" thing and the start of The Great Depression. But at least Packer fans back then were happy, because that's the year our beloved Packers won the first of their many World Championships! Called the Acme Packers in those days -- yes, kids, Acme as in the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons -- the uniform look was a bit different back then, too. The colors were blue and gold, a bit like that of the University of Notre Dame today. Except for the brown leather helmet of course. That would be the '29 Packers, not the modern day ND Irish, of course.

Now, just in time to re-live those Championship memories (after all, if it worked in one Depression it might just as well work in another), the Packers Pro Shop has just today unveiled its "Third Jersey Collection" featuring a whole bunch of, well, jerseys and other goodies featuring that throwback look of '29. This look will actually hit the field at Lambeau this season as the team's third jersey (hence the "Third Jersey Collection" name...a-duh!). You can even get an Acme Packers bobblehead. With the leather helmets worn back then you have to figure that this is a pretty accurate replica as most of the players would have been living bobbleheads during the course of a game. In fact, you can even get yourself one of those helmets...although not the leather kind, just a modern version with the leather brown color. Just imagine the fun as you pit yourself against a clueless leather-helmeted friend in a head-butting contest. It doesn't get any better than that! Anyway, if you want to see the entire collection, you can do so here.

But another great alternative to yet more Packers gear is yet more Packer Fans United gear! Today through July 30 you can receive Free Shipping on orders of $45 or more! Yes, this is a shameless plug for which we make no apologies. We have some really cool items at our shop just waiting for you. T-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, cups, etc. If you can't find it...well, it means we probably don't have it, but that's beside the point. What we have there is good stuff. For men, women and kids. We have you covered. Stock up now for Christmas and get free shipping to boot. C'mon, Packer fans! You need it, you crave it, you know you want it...so get it, already! What are you waiting for? Just click on the scrolling banner or shop link in the righthand column. Or if that is too overwhelming for you, just click here. That will do the trick, too.

Packers' Rodgers can bring Lombardi Trophy back to GB

There's a great article by the always on-target Packers beat writer, Bob McGinn, in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. McGinn examines the situation with the Packers' quarterbacks focusing, not surprisingly, on starting QB Aaron Rodgers. The point which comes through loud and clear, if it didn't last season, is that Rodgers isn't the heir apparent to Ol' #4 any longer. He is now clearly Da Man. And not just with the Pack and its fans. Rodgers is now establishing himself as one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL. And if he stays healthy, Rodgers could go a long way toward giving the Packers something that rarely comes along in the NFL: back-to-back premier QBs.

McGinn's article examines the history of Rodgers, his blossoming since taking over from Ol' #4, his strengths and weaknesses as seen by his offensive coordinator Joe Philbin and an unnamed personnel director for another NFC team, and the potential that lies ahead.

Oh, there's also a brief review of backup QB Matt Flynn. Bottom line there is that the Packers are so satisfied with his progress that once again they will likely go into the season with only Rodgers and Flynn on the active roster. No doubt they will try to find a third for the practice squad.

Rodgers is a confident, driven young player who went a long way last season to helping Packer fans forget...whatshisname. But as the article also points out, until Rodgers actually wins a playoff game, let alone a Super Bowl, he can be a very good QB...just not a great one. All the makings are there. And as the article also reminds us, "Two football writers from Sports Illustrated have placed the Packers atop their preseason power rankings. Pro Football Weekly did the same."

As we so often say here at PackerFansUnited.com, it's great to be a Packers fan!

You can read the entire Bob McGinn article here.

Packers' shareholders meeting and training camp in week ahead

Here it is, Packer fans, the week we've waited for since the end of last season's great run. In the coming week, Packers' shareholders will gather on Thursday morning (and, yes, you need a ticket to get in) at the currently un-frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to hear from Packers' management and coaches about the status of the team on and off the field. They'll also hear a bit from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell who'll be on hand, as well. No doubt, a major area of interest will concern the current and upcoming contract negotiations with the NFL Players Association.

While the annual shareholders event certainly is an important part of things, what most fans wait for, of course, is the start of training camp. That gets under way Saturday, July 31, at 2 p.m. with players in full pads on Ray Nitschke Field and is open to the public. If weather doesn't allow outdoor practice, things move inside to the Don Hutson Center where, because of space limitations, the practice is closed to the public. You can check out a day by day practice schedule here. You can also download a PDF version of the schedule here.

Now, if your green 'n' gold juices aren't flowing already, check out this article in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel which begins the talk about the Packers' Super Bowl hopes and chances this season. The key, which is the same every year, really, is to start fast. No surprise there. With a tough schedule and questions on defense given Johnny Jolly's year-long (indefinite) suspension and Al Harris' return from his major knee injury, that means the offense has to come out with guns blazing. Barring injury, that will be a given.

But with camp a week away from today, it sure is nice to be able to realistically talk about the goal: Super Bowl.

More on Jolly's suspension by NFL

Since yesterday's announcement that Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly has been suspended "indefinitely" by the NFL for violations of the league's substance abuse policy, some folks have wondered how Jolly can be suspended without yet being convicted of anything. There is a very good review of the scenarios under which this may have come about in an article in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

And since Jolly had signed a one-year tender with the Pack for about $2 million-plus this season, he can also kiss that goodbye, as the suspension stipulation also indicated it was to be without pay. Man, that was a mighty expensive cough syrup joy ride. Wonder how much his "friends" had to lose in comparison?

What a waste.

Jolly suspended for season by NFL

As some have speculated since defensive end Johnny Jolly was busted by Houston police in July 2008, and as Packers draft picks along the defensive line this season seemed to indicate, the NFL has told the Packers today that the league has suspended Jolly for the entire 2010 season. Actually, it's an indefinite suspension without pay. Jolly can apply for reinstatement after the next Super Bowl.

Reading GM Ted Thompson's statement about the matter doesn't seem to hold out much hope for Jolly rejoining the team after his reinstatement. You can read between the lines, so to speak, by checking out the report here.

A player with a wealth of talent but apparently not enough smarts to avoid the situation and crowd he traveled with back in his home town. Sad on many counts.

What the Favre? Part 21

We haven't done a "What the Favre?" segment in a long time. But now, with an interview with Ol' #4 appearing in the new issue of Men's Journal (on sale Friday for those who wish to line up), we have yet another opportunity to ask that question. Because every time Brett speaks, well..."What the Favre?".

According to excerpts released and/or picked up by other outlets, it becomes quite clear that Brett's decision to un-retire (for the first time) had nothing to do with just wanting to play football, as he had so often claimed. It was, as most realize by now, purely for the chance to get back at the Packers and GM Ted Thompson. He says so himself. According to an excerpt appearing in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Favre says, "They (the Packers) made it pretty clear I wasn't going to play there, and I said, 'How about the Vikings or even the Lions?' I wanted to stay in the same division. They said that wasn't going to happen, but maybe Tampa. I said, 'Fine, trade me to Tampa. I'll whip your asses in week four.' Maybe that was a mistake. I'm flying back to Hattiesburg thinking I'm going to the Bucs, and I get off the plane and Bus tell me I've been traded to the Jets. I said, 'Bull,' but they were smart; they released the news so I'd look like an ass if I backed out."

How much of a rocket scientist do you have to be to understand that when he said he wanted to play for the ViQueens or the Lions -- the Lions, for the love of God! -- that it was all about revenge..."whip your asses" as Brett puts it? And isn't it interesting that Brett had always said that he never wanted to play for the ViQueens originally. No, not at all. Yet, here he is saying it was the first thing out of his mouth.

Question: what, if anything, can we believe that he says? Not that he's going to retire. That was said and then changed twice (it was just twice, wasn't it???). Not when he says he just wanted to play and it didn't matter who with. Clearly, from his comments that wasn't the case, even at the start of unretirement #1.

As has been said here many times over the last couple years, it is so sad that someone who was and is such a great quarterback and a Packers legend has basically turned himself into a running sitcom every time he speaks. About the only thing we can count on, no matter what he says one way or another, is that he will be back for another season with the 'Queens trying yet again to sweep the Pack as was accomplished last season. We'll see how that all works out this season.

You can find excerpts from the Men's Journal and Star-Tribune articles here and here respectively.

Packers profit...sorta

As all true Packers fans know, the team is the only publicly-held team in the NFL. So, in anticipation of its upcoming shareholders' meeting at Lambeau Field (where else?) in Green Bay on July 29, the Packers today released their financial statement highlights for the last fiscal year. The good news, somewhat, is that net profit went up from about $4 million last year to $5.2 million this year. But the bad news is that profit from operations dropped big time: from $20.1 million last year to $9.8 million this year. This continues a trend of several years of declining operations profits for the Pack.

According to an article just hitting the airwaves (question: is the Internet "the airwaves"??? Hmmm....) in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy said, “Player costs are growing at twice the rate of revenue.” For the record, player costs were up 11 percent while revenue only increased 5.5 percent.

The Packers might be viewed by some -- especially team owners and management -- as the canary in the coal mine, particularly with negotiations ahead for owners and the NFL Players Association. Management may use Packers' financials -- albeit the only team that makes its books public and the smallest market team at that -- as part of its case for reducing the players' portion of the overall take that comes in to the NFL.

Be sure to check out the article link above for more on this developing story.