Packers vs Vikings - It's Time

After the disappointing dismantling of the Green Bay Packers by the NY Giants last Sunday night, we don't quite know what to expect today. Will the ViQueens' defensive front, led by Jared Allen, wreak havoc on the Pack's sieve-like offensive line and take away any chance for Aaron Rodgers to connect with his receivers before getting mauled in a collapsing pocket? Or, will the guys on the line look for some redemption? Will their collective pride be such that they want to emulate the Wisconsin Badgers' offensive line who thoroughly dominated the Nebraska Cornhuskers last night to win their third straight Big 10 title and trip to the Rose Bowl? (Can you tell I'm a proud Badgers fan?)

Of course, last Sunday's problems weren't only with the offensive line; there were problems aplenty on the defense, as well. But as we saw last season, if the Packers' offense does what it's capable of doing, even a Swiss cheese style defense can be covered up.

So, the key on offense today will be the Packers offensive line and how well they are able to stand up to the 'Queens pressure and protect Aaron Rodgers. They need to give their QB time to make his throws. The return of WR Greg Jennings today, even in a limited role, should help open up the passing game...if Rodgers has time. The line also needs to create just enough room to let the running back committee have an impact. If there is no running game for the Packers, as there wasn't against the Giants, it's going to be another long day for the line and Rodgers and that would not bode well for the final outcome.

The key on defense -- as it always is facing the 'Queens -- is keeping RB Adrian Peterson from scampering all over the field and into the endzone. No easy task. And it's a task made even more difficult with the absence again today of LB Clay Matthews, as well as defensive lineman C.J. Wilson who was injured in last week's game. Peterson is a medical marvel not even a year removed from his reconstructive knee surgery. He's amazing to watch...against other teams. The Packers must keep him from deciding the game.

Apparently, the pundits think the Packers will rebound from their New York fizzle, staking them as 7-1/2 point favorites over the ViQueens. If the Packers play their game -- get their mojo back at home as they should -- they should get the win, although I'm not so sure about covering the spead...if someone was a betting person, that is. By the way, the over-under for the game is set at 47 points -- only three games are higher today.

I called last week's game in favor of the Giants. I had a feeling that the Packers were due for a dip after five straight wins; plus the Giants and Eli Manning seem to always play well coming out of a bye. I hoped I was wrong. But I was right.

Will I be right today? I hope so, this time around. We'll know in about four or five hours' time. The Packers under coach Mike McCarthy rarely play clunkers back-to-back (think about the games versus Colts and Texans). Make no mistake, this will not be an easy game to win and, depending upon whether Packer pride shows up on the field or it continues to snooze, that win could be in doubt. The Packers are a better team, especially at home. They just have to play like it.

I think it will be close. I'm calling it 27-24 Packers. Yes, I realize that means heretofore unreliable kicker Mason Crosby will have to make two field goals. But given the great weather conditions -- balmy for Dec. 2 in Green Bay -- I think today is the day Crosby starts to get the monkey off his back and helps win one for the Pack (fingers -- & toes -- crossed!). It's time. It's definitely time.

Go Pack Go!!!

Two to IR and two to roster
As an article by Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports, "The Green Bay Packers put tight end Andrew Quarless and safety Sean Richardson on injured reserve and signed running back DuJuan Harris and wide receiver Jeremy Ross off their practice squad to their 53-man roster, the club said Saturday."

It's possible we might actually see some action by Harris today. As Silverstein notes, "The decision to elevate Harris was evident this week when he started getting snaps with the No. 1 offense and with the special teams units. The 5-foot-8 Harris has been a standout on the practice squad after being signed Oct. 24." Ross might see action on special teams.

For the complete article, go here.

Packers lasso Texans 42-24

In their most dominating performance on both sides of the ball in a long time, the Green Bay Packers upset the Houston Texans in Houston last night 42-24. It was even better than the score indicated; Houston's final touchdown came courtesy of a late blocked punt recovered in the endzone for a TD.

This is the game Packer fans have been waiting for all season long. At 2-3, the Pack's back was against the wall. After blowing a second half 18-point lead in Indianapolis last Sunday, the Packers dominated this game -- both offensively and defensively -- from the start and never let up.

Offense Clicks
Despite a few sacks and dropped balls, the offense showed what it is capable of doing. The offensive line generally held up well against arguably one of the league's better defensive fronts to this point in the season. RB Alex Green, getting his first start in place of the injured Cedric Benson, performed quite well and did his job by making the defense respect his running ability. He had 22 carries for 65 yards, with a long run of 10 yards. The wide receivers made some remarkable catches which helped to mask a few inconvenient drops. Jordy Nelson had 9 receptions for 121 yards and three touchdowns. After only having one TD catch all season, Nelson had his coming out party for 2012. Second-year standout Randall Cobb had 7 catches for 102 yards. James Jones had just three catches for 33 yards, but two of those were for touchdowns and were amazing catches. Even TE Tom "Mr. Tattoo" Crabtree had two catches for 62 yards and a touchdown, including an evening-long 48 yards. Oh, yeah...the man throwing all those passes was of course QB Aaron Rodgers who was 24 of 37 for 338 yards and those six touchdowns. His quarterback rating was something like 133 if memory serves.

Defense Dominates
The defense played fast and aggressive at the start, stopping the run and getting to Texans' QB Matt Schaub for three sacks on the night. They also forced three interceptions, one by Sam Shields and two by rookie Casey Hayward. Playing without NT B.J. Raji who was sidelined with his ankle injury from last week's game, veteran Ryan Pickett was extremely stout against the run. Rookie Jerel Worthy played extremely well, as did C.J. Wilson and Mike Neal. LB A.J. Hawk also played a good game at the line, even picking up one of the three sacks on the night. While LB Clay Matthews didn't get a sack on the evening, he was making life miserable all night long for Schaub. Safety Charles Woodson was often used in the position of an outside linebacker as the night went on and the Packers began sustaining injuries.

Injuries Hit Hard
In that regard, the win was a costly one for the Packers on the injury front. Reports are that LB D.J. Smith (starting in place of the injured Desmond Bishop, who is out for the season) and running back Brandon Saine suffered significant right knee injuries. Both players were said to be on crutches in the locker room with their knees heavily wrapped. Both players could be lost for the season. Rookie LB Nick Perry sustained a knee injury in the second quarter and didn't return to the game. CB Sam Shields got kicked in the right shin late in the game and also didn't return.

What's Ahead
This is the game we've been waiting for, Packer fans. Now let's see if the team can put two wins together back-to-back for the first time this season. They can do that next weekend in St. Louis. The Rams are also 3-3, but that's where the comparison ends.

With two home games, against the Jaguars and Cardinals, following the trip to St. Louis, the Packers could be 6-3 going into their bye week, which would set them up well for the second half of the season. With five of their remaining seven games against NFC North division opponents, the Packers could be in position for a playoff run. If they keep up the intensity on display last night. And if injuries don't disrail them.

There's a long way to go in the season, Packer fans. What we saw last night gives hope it may still be a good one.

P.S. I'm very glad to say my pre-game prediction was wrong. I'm very glad indeed.

From 90 to 53: how the Packers might get there

I wish, Packer fans, that I had the insights that the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Packers beat writer par excellence, Bob McGinn, brings to the table. I wish I had his job. Heck, I just wish I got paid to write about the Packers, period. But alas...such is not the case.

Still, we can be thankful that McGinn shares his rich expertise with us. Today, he serves up an early "what if" type scenario in terms of the final 53-man roster with which the Pack may go into the 2012 regular season. Across each of the team areas, he indicates the players who he feels are locks at their positions (25), good bets (10 or more), on the fence (31) and long shots (24). To be honest, I don't even recognize yet some of these names and a good many will be long gone before we even had a chance to know they were there.

As for my take on McGinn's choices amongst each category, a few surprises for me on his "On the fence" list:

• WR Donald Driver
• TE Tom Crabtree
• T Derek Sherrod
• OLB-ILB Brad Jones
• CB Davon House
• CB Sam Shields
• DE C.J. Wilson
• DE Jarius Wynn

See what you think of McGinn's take on things. He's one of the best football writers in the country. His overview of the Packers' potential roster is worth a read. You can do so here.

Packers vs. Lions Preview

As a blizzard is set to hit Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers are set to hit the Lions in Detroit. The Pack took to the air in time to beat the snowstorm. Still, a few players will not be on the field Sunday when gametime arrives. Key among them from the Packers' standpoint is DE Cullen Jenkins; he strained a calf muscle in last weekend's game vs. the 49ers. Trying to fill that sizable void on the D-line will be C. J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. It's possible Howard Green might also be moved around in the rotation as well with B. J. Raji and Ryan Pickett.

But it's not the running game that is of primary concern from a defensive standpoint. It's the passing game of the Lions. And even though their starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is still sidelined, the backup to the backup, Drew Stanton, is a serviceable QB. Kinda like Jay Cutler...on a good day. (Ouch!) More importantly, whoever is tossing the ball in Motor City has WR Calvin Johnson on his side. His size and speed make him the Lions' main offensive weapon. But he's not the only one. TE Brandon Pettigrew benefits from Johnson opening things up. He's a big tight end, although not fast. Since linebackers A. J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop will likely wind up covering him, he may get some opportunities. But he should be able to be kept in check.

While a few Packers won't be on the field this time around, there was at least some good news going into the game: it appears that LT Chad Clifton is cleared to play, and the ankle sprain sustained during practice this week by Charles Woodson was not as serious as initially suspected; he'll also likely be good to go Sunday...it's a game in Michigan, right? Woodson won't miss that one!

The Packers are 10-4 in dome games under head coach Mike McCarthy. Is it surprising? The Packers offense is geared to the air game. And there's no better place to air out the ball, especially in December, than inside. I know, I know, that's almost heresy in Packerland. But given perfect conditions in which to throw the ball, guess what's going to happen? The Packers are going to light up the Lions, particularly given the sorry state of Detroit's secondary. QB Aaron Rodgers will have a big day, as will his receiving corps. Toss in a seemingly resurgent (yes, for the Packers that does mean just one game) running game with rookie James Starks and the Pack will be far more than the Lions can handle, even if they do happen to make it a game for a while.

Coach McCarthy, if memory serves, is 9-0 against the Lions. Sunday will make it 10-0. Despite the final score of the first meeting this season, most games aren't that close. The Packers are currently favored by 6-1/2 points. They'll take care of that going away.

What's my prediction on the final score? You'll have to check back Sunday morning for that. Barring a blizzard-born power outage, you'll get my call then.

For now...Go Pack Go!!!

If it's a new week there must be new Packers

You know that old saying, "You can't tell your players without a program"? Perhaps never has that been more true for fans of the Green Bay Packers than this season.

We're just coming up on the half-way point and there are now 10 Packers on the season-ending injured reserve list, eight of them from the defense (see my post from Tuesday regarding the situation Dom Capers has been dealing with as the defensive coordinator). Defensive lineman Mike Neal and linebackers Brady Poppinga and Brad Jones -- the latter of the Favre-ankle-fracture tackle -- are the latest.

So, over the course of this week, GM Ted Thompson has had to find some bodies. He's added several linebackers and a D-lineman who, perhaps not coincidentally, was picked up on waivers from the Packers' next opponent, the Jets.

You can read more about the new pick ups in the following articles: DT Howard Green, LB Erik Walden, LBs Diyarl Briggs and Erik Wilhelm.

To make room on the roster, LB Maurice Simpkins was cut.

With CB Al Harris and S Atari Bigby ready to be activated either this week or next, the roster is still very much in flux.

While the Packers' linebacking corps has certainly been decimated with injuries, it's interesting that only one defensive lineman has been added given its current lack of depth, as well. Sunday evening against the ViQueens, for example, the Pack was down basically to only three available D-linemen: B. J. Raji, C. J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. Ryan Pickett was sidelined after a mere seven snaps with a bum ankle and Cullen Jenkins -- already playing one-handed with his other in a cast for the rest of the season -- strained a calf muscle in warmups and was unable to play.

There's no other team in the league that has been hit as hard as the Packers with injuries this early in the season: 10 players on IR among whom are eight members of the defense and which also includes five starters from both sides of the ball. Wow.

If somehow Thompson and the coaches can keep this all together with string and baling wire it will be one heckuva personnel job from top to bottom. Still a long way to go in the season. But it can't get any worse from an injury standpoint, can it? No, really, it can't. Can it???

Packers beat Favre and Vikings...finally!

As the football world knows today, the Green Bay Packers -- depleted by injuries coming into the game and wounded even more throughout it -- prevailed last evening over their border rival Minnesota Vikings, 28-24.

This was a much-needed win, a character win, as they say. What else can you call a game where you overcome two turnovers by your own QB in or near the red zone by getting three interceptions of your own and holding the opponent scoreless in the final 15 minutes of play? Where you have only one of your starting defensive lineman still playing at the end of the game? Where backups on offense and defense -- in some cases, players way down on the depth charts -- had to perform at a level and on a national stage they never had before?

Yes, character. That's what this game was about. Granted, it was also about getting a win against a divisional opponent that the Pack will be battling for the NFC North title (yes, we are writing off Da Bearz and Lions as contenders...I mean, c'mon...). But a game like this can go a long way to bringing a team together perhaps in a way which nothing else can. Injuries have made the journey to the playoffs and Super Bowl not what anyone expected prior to the start of the season. The games to date have not been pretty. And a couple were giftwrapped for the opponent. Last evening had it's ugly moments as well. How many times, for example, were Aaron Rodgers and his receivers running apparently different plays? Looked occasionally as if Rodgers was using the Jay Cutler Pocket Guide to Being a Mediocre Quarterback. But he threw for nearly 300 yards. And many of his passes that were on target were, dare I say, Favre-esque in their zippiness (is that a word?). In his post-game comments, Rodgers admitted the game meant not only a lot to the team but to him personally. I bet. Exorcising the ghost of quarterbacks past is no small thing. Especially in Green Bay.

Rodgers and company did enough on offense, despite missing opportunities to score which has been an unsettling and ongoing trend to date. Head coach Mike McCarthy mixed up his play calling enough to keep the ViQueens defense from blitzing on every play. The running backs made just enough contributions. Veteran TE Donald Lee came up large on two screen passes. And WR James Jones was the receiver du jour, also making big plays. Huge kudos to LT Chad Clifton who made 'Queens DE Jared Allen a non-factor. Yes, Allen got that one interception handed to him...almost literally; but that was on Rodgers, not Clifton. Rookie RT Bryan Bulaga, filling in admirably for the still injured Mark Tauscher, also held up his end of the line. All together, the Packers offensive line held up well, and that was a big difference over last season's two meetings with the funky purple folks. The only disappointment, as Rodgers himself noted, was that Donald Driver was unable to get a catch, snapping his 133 consecutive game streak. Hampered as he was with a quad injury, it was to Driver's credit that he was even on the field. Warrior. That's Donald Driver. And that was this entire Packers team last evening.

Ol' #4 for the 'Queens was also looking very old limping out of Lambeau. He got knocked around quite a bit last night, something that didn't happen at all in the meetings of last year. Sure, there was only one sack recorded (by Jarius Wynn, who just recently rejoined the team). But C. J. Wilson got a great lick on Favre, and Clay Matthews was breathing down his neck most of the night. All that pressure led, not surprisingly, to Favre mistakes. Interceptions by A. J. Hawk, Desmond Bishop (returned for a TD!) and an acrobatic Nick Collins (who promised his young son he'd get a pick in the game) helped turn the game in favor of the Pack.

Favre was feeling and looking every bit the grandfather he is as he left to a mix of applause and boos (bad show on that note, by the way, fans). Favre said in his post-game comments that he was "devastated" by the loss. With all the off-the-field mess going on around him, this was -- to quote Packers' radio voice, Wayne Larrivee -- no doubt a "dagger" that he was looking to avoid.

Think about it. Favre's last time on the field as a Packer was a loss. And now, in all likelihood, his last time on this hallowed field as a player is also a loss. Ouch. Hopefully, when all the dust settles and time soothes the wounds on both sides of things, Brett will be welcomed back to Lambeau Field with cheers, the same kind he brought to life for so many years wearing the Green 'n' Gold. It will happen again someday. But on this night, before the third-largest crowd to ever see a game at this historic venue called Lambeau Field, the cheers rightly went to the home team for an outstanding and gutsy win.

Now, the Packers have a day off and then begin to get ready for their next opponent: the Jets. On the road. The Jets are, at this stage of the season, arguably one of the better teams in the league. The Packers are still beat up. Going on the road and winning after this emotional victory will be a challenge. But we can at least now be confident that this team knows how to face such challenges and come out on top.

Let's just enjoy this victory a while longer. We'll get back to worrying about the Jets later this week.

Say it with me: It's great to be a Packer fan!

By the way, if you want to read a great article on last night's game, check out this one from Gregg Rosenthal at ProFootballTalk.com. But whatever you do, be sure to read the comments which follow. Priceless.

Packers vs. Dolphins Preview

The Miami Dolphins pay a visit to Lambeau Field today to meet the Green Bay Packers. The Fish are 2-2, the Pack 3-2. Believe it or not, the Dolphins lead the all-time series 9-3. But today, the Packers are listed as 3-1/2 point favorites, basically as a result of the home field advantage.

The Dolphins come in healthy and off their bye week. The NFL schedulers really dropped a gift in their laps by having them visit Green Bay on a balmy 60-degree mid-October day. (Gee, couldn't it have been in mid-December? What's a couple months among friends, right?)

But the Pack, as the entire football world is aware, has...oh...just a few injury issues to deal with. On both sides of the ball. And that will undoubtedly affect the game. A few players on defense that could perhaps play -- e.g., Clay Matthews and Ryan Pickett -- probably won't. This is a non-division, non-conference game. It won't figure in most tiebreaker situations. Not that you don't always want to get the "W". But when do you want Matthews and others available? For the Fish? Or next weekend versus the ViQueens? Please. Let's get 'em as healthy as possible for the game against the 'Queens.

While it's not final until gametime, QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to get the OK to play. That's a big plus for the offense, although the game plan likely won't feature the emphasis on the play of the tight ends quite as much with the loss of Jermichael Finley and, possibly for this game, Donald Lee, although he's listed as "probable" on the injury list. The wide receivers will need to do a much better job than they did against Washington, where they had seven dropped passes. On the line, rookie Bryan Bulaga will once again get the start at right tackle in place of an ailing Mark Tauscher.

And the running game? Wha-a-a...??? The Pack has a running game? Yes, it just hasn't been counted on much this season -- especially after the first-game loss of Ryan Grant -- so no reason to expect that to change now. As a matter of fact, there's a good article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel about head coach Mike McCarthy's commitment, or lack thereof, to the running game. Great insights into the coach's mindset, using his own words to have a look inside, so to speak.

As for the Packers' defense, that's where the injuries will show up against a capable Fish offense. The absence of Matthews, Pickett, Brandon Chillar and Nick Barnett (who is done for the season) leave the Pack with basically its second unit linebacking corps and perhaps even rookie C. J. Wilson starting on the line for the still-injured Mike Neal. The Fish have a two-headed running attack with Ronnie Brown and Rickie "One Toke Over the Line" Williams. The primary receiving threat is Brandon Marshall, who is a good one. Starting QB Chad Henne has a strong arm but is a bit cumbersome in the pocket and, in only his second season as a starting QB, still locks onto receivers a bit too often. If the Packers could generate any pash rush today they could create some turnovers. But against a very good offensive line, and with the Pack's best pass rushers out, that type of rush doesn't seem very likely.

The Dolphins got beat 41-14 in their game versus New England the week before their bye. Thirty-five of the Patriots' points came in the second half. Hmmm...considering that the Packers seem to have a second-half drop off in most games so far this season, that certainly doesn't mean much.

Given that the Packers' special teams are yet again in flux because of the injuries to key players and the movement of some special teams players into those starting or key back up roles, don't count on much out of this unit today. But again, we haven't really counted on much from them most of the season. So anything we get in the way of returns from Tramon Williams, Jordy Nelson or whomever the coaches decide to throw back there today is a bonus. On the flip side, it's possible coverage units could give up big yardage because of the new mix of players.

Could the Pack rise to the occasion, kind of like a wounded rogue elephant, and pull out a victory at home today? It's possible. But I think the injury situation for the Packers just might be too much to overcome. The Packers have lost -- given away -- two games they should have won. Here's a game today that, by all counts, they should probably lose.

This game is one of those toss-up games for me. My head says the Fish will swim out of Lambeau with a victory because of the state of the triage unit known as the Packers. My heart, of course, bleeds Green 'n' Gold and says somehow, someway, the Pack will get a much-needed "W". This is one time when a score prediction eludes me. It's much more basic than that.

Go Pack Go!!!

Oh boy...troubles, troubles

Before hitting the news of the day, I should make note of the fact that the reason there has been no post here in a few weeks is because I was off celebrating the 1,200th post of PackerFansUnited.com! That occurred with the May 17 post and it's been nothing but non-stop festivities ever since. 1,200 posts! Woo-hoo!!!

OK. That's not true. Well, the 1,200 posts part is. But the celebrating part is not. The reason there has not been a post is I was just waiting to get around to it. Problem was, just like the car keys, I couldn't find that darn round tuit (I know, bad pun, but it's all I got).

Anyway, as the summer rolls on with OTAs, minicamps and finally summer training camp on the horizon, you can be assured we will be back in full coverage mode (or as close as we can get) here at PackerFansUnited. You've come to expect...well, whatever it is you've come to expect from PackerFansUnited.com...and we plan to do our best to deliver...whatever that is.

So, without further ado, let's get to the stories of the day. Unfortunately so, in this first instance.

Brandon Underwood joins Johnny Jolly on the watch list

Fans are well aware -- going back to last season -- of D-lineman Johnny Jolly's run-in with the law back home in Texas. He's had trials delayed, and the latest development is that the prosecutor is ramping up the charges against Jolly, to include, according to reports, that Jolly "bought, sold, funded, transported and aided in the buying, selling, funding and transportation of illegal narcotics including cocaine and marijuana" in Harris County (TX) from 2006 through May 2008." To make his case, the prosecutor has even decided it's worthwhile to use a convicted felon still sitting in prison to testify against Jolly. Read about that here. The prosecutor seems determined to bring down Jolly any way possible. Of course, Jolly didn't help himself any by failing a polygraph test, appearing "deceptive" about matters related to his bond stipulation (apparently related to alcohol). Regardless of how this turns out, no doubt Jolly is facing a league suspension of some kind. Which makes Ted Thompson's addition of two rookies -- second-rounder Mike Neal and seventh-rounder C.J. Wilson -- along the defensive line seem most wise indeed. The Packers obviously had some misgivings about Jolly's availability both short and, perhaps, even long-term, But one of the things that is most curious is that Jolly has yet to sign his one-year tender offer. If Jolly doesn't sign it by June 15 the Packers are essentially allowed to decrease their tender offer to 110 percent of last year's salary, thereby handing a major decrease in money to a restricted free agent such as Jolly. So...facing perhaps career-threatening legal matters...and still not signing a tender in time to make more money? OK...good luck with all that, Mr. Jolly. So much potential...let's hope you haven't thrown it away.

Now another Packers player may be in hot water.

The news broke yesterday afternoon that seven Packers players had been interviewed by Lake Delton, WI police in conjunction with an alleged sexual assault. Six of the players were found to have had no involvement with the incident. But police said a seventh player, identified today by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as second-year safety, Brandon Underwood, was still under investigation. He says it was consensual, the two women (yes, two), said it wasn't. You can read about the Underwood situation here. According to the article in today's Journal Sentinel, "(Lake Delton) Police Chief Tom Dorner said he doesn't expect to conduct more interviews. He said he would take the case to the district attorney on Monday or Tuesday to consider charges." You can view the actual police report of the incident from within the linked article; just scroll down and click on the graphic link you'll see. As with the Jolly case, it would be likely that regardless of outcome a league sanction of some kind against Underwood may be forthcoming. The league doesn't like this kind of publicity, let alone activity, as Commissioner Roger Goodell has demonstrated in a few other recent incidents.

The players were in Lake Delton, which adjoins the Wisconsin Dells resort area, to participate in a charity golf tournament hosted by LB Clay Matthews. Some of the players interviewed are among the many Packers scheduled to participate today in a charity softball game hosted by WR Donald Driver in Grand Chute, south of Green Bay.

This flurry (OK, just two that we know of) of behavioral problems is starting to remind us of the bad ol' days of the 1980s when Mossy Cade and James Lofton made news for all the wrong reasons. Let's hope these matters get resolved justly for all parties concerned and we can get back to focusing on football.

Lambeau changes?
The Packers have been holding focus groups in Green Bay and Milwaukee to talk with fans about the possibilities of expanding Lambeau Field. The whole idea, of course, is to somehow generate more in-stadium revenue for the team as that revenue stream does not have to be shared with other teams. In order for the Packers to stay close to big city teams with new stadiums such as the Cowboys and Giants, they will have to look at every way possible to generate needed revenues. You can read about the variety of ideas the team is considering here. Of course, being the fan friendly -- and shareholder owned -- team that they are, if you have any better ideas you think the team should consider, be sure to send them on to the team.

Another topic that has popped up since the awarding of the 2014 Super Bowl to the The New Meadowlands Stadium jointly owned by the Giants and Jets is the possibility of a Super Bowl ever being played in Green Bay. After all, if a Super Bowl can be played in one cold weather venue then why not another? Esteemed sports pundits have waxed wistfully about how there would be no better place than Lambeau Field to host a Super Bowl...it's the best place to watch a football game, Lombardi, history, the Ice Bowl, etc. But then the realities of a Super Bowl kick in. It is noted that a Super Bowl today is more about what goes on off the field than on it. There needs to be plenty of off-field party space, hotel rooms, etc., etc. Green Bay and its surrounding area is just not set up to handle such an event, they say.

As a Packer fan, I have mixed feelings about this. Yes, it would be great to see Lambeau Field host a Super Bowl. I'd probably try to be there myself if I could. However, as a realist, I also have to say...nope. Sitting outdoors at Lambeau Field in late December or early January is a battle of survival against the elements. People are dressed in parkas and snowmobile suits, each doing their best imitation of the Michelin Man. And for those who have never been to Lambeau, let me share with you that the seating -- apart from your luxury box digs -- is on metal benches with numbers marked on them...yep, just like most college or high schools stadiums. With 70,000+ fans crammed onto these benches, attired as they are, you're lucky to get one cheek (if you know what I mean) on that bench...and you better have a blanket or two under that cheek to keep it from going numb by the end of the first quarter. It takes a tough breed to stand up to that kind of weather. Packer fans know how to deal with it. Unfortunately, many if not most of those who would likely be attending a Super Bowl wouldn't have a clue how to stay at least moderately unfrozen in such circumstances. Remember, we're looking at around the beginning of February for the 2014 Super Bowl. The mean temperature for Feb. in East Rutherford, NJ is 30 degrees; in Green Bay it is 20 degrees. Oh, and yeah, there is that thing called snow, too.

To Packer fans, Lambeau Field will always be the premier stadium in football. It doesn't need a Super Bowl to add to that status.

Pack's final pick: DL C. J. Wilson

With the 230th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Packers selected DE C. J. Wilson from East Carolina.

Wilson has good size and apparently good speed coming off the edge. Not great ability to drop into coverage. But at #230, what the heck.

To read a good overview of all the Pack's picks, go here.

The Pack addressed some needs despite their usual best athlete available stance. Not a lot of flash, but that's not what was needed. Overall draft grade: B+.

Undrafted signings yet to come. So keep checking back here at PackerFansUnited.com for news and views.

Go Pack Go!