Packers 2015 final roster cuts; now await practice squad designations

Along with all the other teams in the NFL yesterday, the Green Bay Packers had to make some tough choices about who to keep on the final 53-man roster and who to let go. There were only a few surprises along the way.

Second-year player and WR Jared Abbrederis was one of the cuts.
Photo by Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
RB Rajion Neal was perhaps the biggest surprise cut given his very good performance during preseason. In the end, though, the Packers decided to go for more of a power back behind Eddie Lacy and James Starks than the third-down-type back which Neal is. Given that the Packers also kept two fullbacks on the roster, veteran John Kuhn and rookie Aaron Ripkowski, it was a crowded backfield.

Another cut, although perhaps not as surprising, was Wisconsin native and former UW Badger WR and returner Jared Abbrederis. Seeing his first live action during a game since college because of injuries, the deck against Abbrederis was not stacked in his favor given a deep receiving corps, even with the season-long absence of Jordy Nelson. It is hoped by many, including likely the Packers given how much head coach Mike McCarthy seems to like his potential, that Abbrederis will clear waivers today and be able to be signed to the Packers practice squad.

As for all the cuts, here's the list:

• DL Khyri Thornton
• LB Carl Bradford
• WR Jared Abbrederis
• DL Christian Ringo
• RB Rajion Neal
• RB John Crockett
• WR Larry Pinkard (waived/injured)
• WR Ed Williams
• TE Justin Perillo
• TE Mitchell Henry
• OL Matt Rotheram
• OL Garth Gerhart
• OL Andy Phillips
• OL Jeremy Vujnovich
• LB Joe Thomas
• LB James Vaughters
• LB Jermauria Rasco (waived/injured)
• CB Tay Glover-Wright
• CB Ryan White
• S Jean Fanor

The Packers also placed DL Datone Jones and DL Letroy Guion on the reserve/suspended list, with Jones getting one game and Guion three per NFL rulings. This means, of course, the Packers roster will change after the first game when Jones returns and after the third game when Guion comes off suspension; a couple players will have to go or be placed on the practice squad and one or two of those players released.

The Packers can begin assembling their practice squad at noon central time today once all released players clear waivers. Sometimes seeing who makes the practice squad is nearly as exciting as who gets the final spots on the 53-man roster.

Stay tuned, kids...more to come.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packer Flag Giveaway Contest!
Keep checking back, Packers fans, because we'll be announcing the details of our first-ever Packers flag giveaway contest soon! It's a beauty (as shown below). Don't miss out on the chance to get in on this!

Packers beat Saints in final 2015 preseason game, 38-10

After a slow start to a game once again, down by 10 points early, the Green Bay Packers' second, third and etcetera-string players rallied to score 38 unanswered points and beat the visiting New Orleans Saints by a final tally of 38-10 in the last preseason game of the 2015 NFL season. Yay.

Even more "yay" that it seems as if for at least last night the Pack escaped without another injury to a key player. Perhaps that was because few key players actually saw any action. QB Aaron Rodgers was once again in sweats along the sideline, as was his entire starting offensive line...well, maybe not all in sweats but along the sideline. You get the point. The Pack's top two running backs, Eddie Lacey and James Starks, were also not exposed to possible injury before the first game. FB John Kuhn, DE Mike Daniels and OLB Mike Neal were actually and factually the only regular starters seeing action. So it went. The night, instead, was given over to the backups. Many young men were playing if not for their football careers at least for their place on the final 53-man roster or, perhaps, the practice squad or a team elsewhere.

Packers rookie QB Brett Hundley continues to impress during last night's game against the Saints.
Photo by Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Hundley impresses again
One of the clear standouts in last night's action was rookie QB Brett Hundley. While Scott Tolzein is Rodgers' primary backup, the performance of Hundley in these preseason games confirm what the Packers braintrust knew about him in the draft. That's why they traded up in the fifth round to get him, amazed that he was still there. Head coach Mike McCarthy said, "We knew when we drafted him there was a lot there to work with. He has a lot to learn, but it's been exciting watching him get off to a good start." You bet. He had a passer rating of 142.4 against the Saints, pushing his four-game mark to 129.7 which, by the way, is one of the best in Packers' history. The young man looked very poised, in control, and -- dare we say -- Rodgers-esque at times in his movement within the pocket and his scrambling ability.

Other positives

• WR Jeff Janis continuing to progress and perhaps develop (quickly, we hope) into a serious downfield threat that can somewhat mitigate the loss of Jordy Nelson for the season.
• WR Myles White making a strong case to be part of the receiving corps again.
• RBs Rajion Neal and John Crockett having strong performances once again...although Crockett may be a casualty of too many good backs ahead of him when cut-down time comes.
• Solid play from the backup offensive linemen.
• A much-needed good punting performance by veteran Tim Masthay.
• Another good outing by undrafted DB LaDarius Gunter, making a strong case to be on the opening day roster.
• Finally getting to see former Wisconsin Badger Jared Abbrederis take the field in the game both as punt returner and wide receiver. He only had once catch, but averaged more than 11 yards per return on punts...with -- oh-oh -- a fumble (recovered by the Packers). Coach McCarthy likes him, but he's more likely a candidate for the practice squad than the 53-man roster just because he's missed so much training camp with the concussion sustained in the first practice of camp. Let's also remember he missed all of his rookie season with an ACL injury sustained during last year's camp. He could bring a lot to the table, but he's got to stay healthy enough to actually be on the field. (Can you tell I'm rooting for him?).

Note that I haven't said much about the defensive line or the linebacking corps. That's because we really haven't seen much of the starting defense. With all the players that the Packers are trying to look at, it's a bit of a crap shoot on that front right now. But it will get sorted out in short order, that's for sure. The season opener against Da Bearz in Chicago is only about 9 days away. The Pack will be ready. Oh yeah.

Keep checking back for details on our Packers house flag giveaway contest!
Within the next few days we'll post the details for our first-ever Packers flag giveaway contest. So keep checking back or follow us on Twitter @packfansunited.

The flag's a beauty, as you can see in this image.

The contest will be run in conjunction with CollinsFlags.com.

So...stay tuned! In the meantime...Go Pack Go!!

Packers re-sign James Starks, add Letroy Guionlose; lose Evan Dietrich-Smith and James Jones

In the same week in which Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson arguably has his biggest impact free agent signing since Charles Woodson in the form of DE Julius Peppers, Thompson pulled off another surprise by re-signing unrestricted free agent RB James Starks to a two-year deal.

The general line of thought toward the end of last season -- despite the good performances by Starks down the stretch -- was that with Offensive Rookie of the Year sensation, Eddie Lacy, being the primary running back, and with a number of other options for third-down type backs in the fold, Starks might be the odd man out. He's had a history of injuries and not being on the field as a result. Always lots of potential on display but never enough longevity over the course of even a season.

But many Packer fans, including yours truly, thought that in those games where Lacy and Starks were both able to play, the Packers' running game took on an awesome capacity to punish defenses and open up the air attack for QB Aaron Rodgers and company. It would be nice to be able to keep Starks to spell Lacy, the thought was, and also to pair them up in the same backfield on occasion. Wow.

Well, apparently Thompson and others within the Packers brain trust must have been thinking along similar lines.

Now we'll have to see how this affects others in the backfield, including unrestricted free agent FB John Kuhn, who has been such a key cog in the offense for the last several seasons. Will the Pack re-sign him? Hope so. But don't count on it. It might be the case that you see the powerhouse Lacy blocking for Starks on those occasions when Kuhn may have been doing that job.

Thompson, as we noted in a prior post, also signed NT B.J. Raji for about half of what was in front of Raji last Fall in a one-year deal. A good re-signing in our opinion. He also locked up LB Mike Neal for a few years. Another good signing.

Thompson wasn't done trying to beef up the D-line, however. He also signed free agent and former ViQueens defensive tackle, Letroy Guion.

Being near the bottom of the defensive standings apparently was wearing a bit thin around 1265 Lombardi Avenue. Have to give Thompson and crew their due for their attempts to shore up the defense.

But the Packers also lost two good players this week, as well. Center Evan Dietrich-Smith signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and WR James Jones signed with the Oakland Raiders. Word leaked out yesterday that apparently Rodgers wasn't happy that the Packers let his center depart; for at least the fourth time in as many years, Rodgers will be lining up behind a new center come this season. No doubt he wishes the Packers would settle on somebody in the middle and let him develop a rhythm with his center. Not this season anyway. James Jones was, in the view of some (including this writer) a bit under-appreciated in Green Bay. He wasn't flashy, and he could have frustrating lapses of concentration, especially on easy catches. But he was generally clutch, including in his yards-after-the-catch performances. I think the Packers will miss him more than they will admit to when it's all said and done.

Stay tuned, Packer fans. Perhaps Mr. Thompson still has got a few free agent signing tricks in his bag.

Packers surprise everyone and sign DE Julius Peppers

Was it really any surprise to anyone that the Green Bay Packers hadn't picked up any free agents -- except a few of their own -- during these first few days of free agency? If you are a true Packer fan, no. You know how GM Ted Thompson likes to roll: keep your own free agents (at least the ones you think are worth it), let the dust settle on the market, and perhaps -- perhaps! -- pick up an outside free agent at a bargain for a year or two.

Well, Packers fans, that all changed moments ago when reports started emerging that the Packers have signed veteran Pro Bowl DE Julius Peppers to a three-year deal.

ESPN reports that Peppers signed a three-year deal totaling a maximum of $30 million, including $7.5 million guaranteed. The first-year salary is $8.5 million. The way the deal is apparently structured basically makes succeeding years dependent upon performance, so it can likely be viewed as a one-year trial of the 34-year-old defensive end. The salary cap hit is reportedly around $3.5 million, which is very reasonable indeed.

How big could this be for the Packers and its woeful defense? Huge. HUGE! Even if Peppers is only a situational player at this stage, the impact on the field and in the locker room cannot be overstated.

Stay tuned for more on this story as it develops.

Now, back to our regularly-scheduled post...

What has Ted done so far (in addition to reportedly signing Peppers)?

• Kept LB Mike Neal around for two more years.
• CB Sam Shields is also in the fold for a while with a fairly sizable deal (although it is back-loaded on the contract dollars, according to reports).
• Re-signed TE Andrew Quarless for a reasonable amount.
• Got NT B.J. Raji for another year...at half the price of the offer on the table last fall.

Center Evan Dietrich-Smith was signed by Tampa Bay, so for the fourth consecutive year QB Aaron Rodgers will have to line up behind a new center. Speculation is that young and untested J.C. Tretter will be given every opportunity to win that job. But don't be surprised if the Packers try to pick up a veteran center...just in case.

The Packers also let safety M.D. Jennings -- he of the infamous Seattle "Fail Mary" game -- walk away. Just down the road, though. Chicago signed him, which should bring much delight to Rodgers and his receiving corps for those divisional games. (And really, how sweet is it that in exchange we pick up Peppers, whom Da Bearz released? That's one of the best non-trade "trades" we can think of.)

Speculation today is that TE Jermichael Finley is close to signing a deal with Seattle, despite not officially being cleared to play. Will see how that works out. The Packers always seem skittish -- perhaps rightly so -- with players coming back from what can be career-ending injuries. They are more willing to let some other team take the risks and the rewards. In their estimation, the downside to re-signing Finley is greater than the upside. He's had a hard time staying on the field the last couple seasons. Great potential and performance. But apparently no longer worth the money and the risk.

Here's the other remaining Packers' unrestricted free agents still available:

• WR James Jones
• FB John Kuhn
• RT Marshall Newhouse
• RB Kahlil Bell
• QB Matt Flynn
• ILB Rob Francois
• DE Johnny Jolly
• ILB Jamari Lattimore
• DT Ryan Pickett
• RB James Starks
• QB Seneca Wallace
• DE C.J. Wilson

Obviously, it would be great if the Pack could re-sign a few of these players. In this writer's view, none are indispensible, obviously, or they would have already been re-signed...or signed elsewhere by now. Keeping Matt Flynn as a back-up to Rogers would be a nice safety blanket, but Scott Tolzein obviously showed enough last season to warrant keeping around and developing. That might be the way the Packers go. Keeping veterans James Jones and John Kuhn would also be a plus overall. Having Johnny Jolly around, who reportedly has made great progress in his injury recovery, is something that would be a feel-good story. But with the signing of Peppers, that might no longer be a realistic hope.

There is still a lot to play out. And don't forget the draft...or the young players who had to sit out portions of the last year or two with injuries. Get some of those players back, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and the Packers could once again have as good a defense as anyone in the league.

Wow. It's been an interesting few days, Packer fans. And it just got a whole lot more interesting with the addition of Peppers to the Green 'n' Gold.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers offseason filled with lots of questions

Packer fans, let's be honest: the 2013 Green Bay Packers were a pretty good football, perhaps an over-achieving team given the level of injury they had to get through on their way to the NFC North Division title. OK, a bit of luck and a couple division opponents who couldn't take advantage of the Pack's decimated roster and missing starting QB Aaron Rodgers for a critical chunk of the season didn't hurt any either.

Comeback player and fan fave, Johnny Jolly, may not be back in 2014.

But now what? Pretty good is not good enough, as the last few years have shown. While the offense looks as if it will be set for some time to come, barring injuries once again, the defense needs an overhaul. Looking at the divisional playoff games this past weekend, especially in the NFC, the Pack's defense seems slow and soft especially down the middle.

Questions have arisen once again from fans and pundits alike about the future of defensive coordinator, Dom Capers. In Mike McCarthy's last press conference of the season, he defended Capers. You'd expect no less. And to be fair, Wayne Larrivee, one of the best analysts in the business and the person who also just happens to be the radio voice of the Packers, has said repeatedly since the end of the season that he is convinced the problem does not lie with the coaching staff, but rather the personnel the Packers have.

The Free Agent Free-for-All
Here is the entire list of free agents on which the Packers will have to make decisions. Note that the letter designations following the name indicate the type of free agent each player is: "U" = Unrestricted, "R" = Restricted and "E" = Exclusive Rights.

NAME	POSITION	AGE	SEASONS	ACCRUED 2013 BASE SALARY
Ryan Picket - U	NT	32	12	$5.4 million
B.J. Raji - U	DE	27	4	$4.49 million
Jermichael Finley - U	TE	25	5	$4.45 million
James Jones - U	WR	29	6	$2.95 million
Sam Shields - U	CB	26	3	$2.023 million
John Kuhn - U	FB	31	7	$1.8 milliion
Evan Dietrich-Smith - U	C	27	3	$1.323 million
Marshall Newhouse - U	T	25	3	$1.323 million
Andrew Quarless - U	TE	25	3	$1.323 million
Seneca Wallace - U	QB	33	9	$840,000
TMatt Flynn - U	QB	28	6	$715,000
Johnny Jolly - U	DE	30	4	$715,000
Rob Francois - U	LB	28	3	$630,000
Mike Neal - U	LB	26	3	$630,000
James Starks - U	RB	27	3	$630,000
C.J. Wilson - U	DE	26	3	$630,000
M.D. Jennings - R	S	25	2	$555,000
Jamari Lattimore - R	LB	25	2	$555,000
Chris Banjo - E	S	23	0	$405,000

Decisions, Decisions...
The Packers will have lots of decisions to make regarding its players, particularly along the defensive front and in the secondary. Ryan Pickett is getting up in years, but has expressed an interest in returning to the Packers. B.J. Raji didn't show up much in the stats this year, yet coaches say he is doing exactly what they want him to do: hold the point. He'll test free agency and likely not return unless the Packers decide to really make a play for him. Fan favorite and Packers' comeback player of the year (in this writer's opinion), Johnny Jolly, may be finished with his comeback and NFL career because of the neck injury he sustained late in the season.

It could also be argued that there needs to be some adjustments in the linebacker corps, as well. For even as much as the stats show A.J. Hawk is key in terms of tackles, defensive assignment calls, etc., it became more and more apparent that he is slow especially in coverage. Nick Perry, who was supposed to complement Hawk in the middle has basically been a non-factor in his brief time with the Pack. Clay Matthews is a beast, but in the last two years he has only been able to play in 11 and 12 games. No one can predict injuries, but when your best defensive player can't be on the field for an entire season -- especially at the salary he's being paid -- it takes its toll on the team in many ways.

The Packers are clearly a step behind, literally and figuratively, on the defensive side of the ball and unless changes are made they will find themselves an early out in the playoffs next season, as well (and, yes, I'm assuming the Packers will be in the playoffs again next season). Keeping S Sam Shields in the fold will be a trick, but the Pack can certainly use his athleticism and, now, veteran skills.

TE Jermichael Finley is, as is the case with Jolly, likely done with the Packers because of his injuries. Whether another team will pick him up is anyone's guess. He's been hurt a lot for a young man. So much potential, but...

As for fullback John Kuhn, he's starting to age, but for what he does on this team who would you replace him with? He's a leader, a player, and a clutch performer. Just remember that block he was able to get on the Bears' Julius Peppers to spring Rodgers for the winning throw to Randall Cobb in the final game of the regular season and the NFC North Championship. 'Nuff said about Kuhn. As for RB James Starks, the general line of thinking is that he is likely not going to return to the Packers given the other backs the Packers have had on ice during this past season, especially DuJuan Harris and Johnathan Franklin. Still, the combination of Eddie Lacy and James Starks seemed to me to be a very good one-two punch. The Packers can't keep them all and Starks has had his issues staying on the field. But if healthy, in my mind he's as good or better than the other two relatively unproven backs whom the Packers are perhaps more likely to retain.

Adding Outside Free Agents?
CB Tramon Williams has already said that he thinks the Packers need to have more veterans on the team. GM Ted Thompson's ongoing reliance on young and unproven talent acquired through the draft works...to a point. But look at what both San Francisco and Seattle did in the offseason to upgrade their talent through free agency. Then look at which two teams are playing in the NFC Championship this coming weekend. Perhaps Thompson needs to take another look at his approach. Salary cap will play a big factor in what he can and can't do given the salaries already tied up in Matthews and QB Aaron Rodgers. But one or two veteran free agents in key spots, even with the likelihood of overpaying, has to be a consideration.

Conversations are starting to note that the Packers may be squandering Aaron Rodgers' prime years -- as some argue Ron Wolf did with Brett Favre -- because of a limited personnel viewpoint, particularly as regards to adding free agents. The time window for a great quarterback to lead his teams into the Super Bowl is a small one. Thompson needs to open up that window a bit by adding not only through his draft-and-develop scheme on which he's an expert, but also by adding veteran free agents to fill the gaps in talent.

There is so much more that could be said on this and related subjects. But we now have the entire offseason to kick all that around. Keep checking back in. We'll have lots to say as the days, weeks and months go by.

Packers beat Bears in ChiTown Chiller Thriller

By now, you and all the football-following world know that the Green Bay Packers defeated the Chicago Bears 33-28 Sunday in a classic, down-to-the-wire battle for the NFC North Championship. The win was in doubt until the last 38 seconds when QB Aaron Rodgers found a wide open Randall Cobb, running past a flat-footed defender, heading toward the endzone. They connected on a nearly 50-yard touchdown pass that sealed Chicago's fate.

What kept the last half-minute of the game in doubt, however, was the fact that the Packers failed to convert on a two-point attempt that would have made the lead 7 points. Up by 5, and Da Bearz still having a shot to win it with a touchdown, the hearts of Packer fans were racing. No doubt years have been taken off the life spans of many Packer fans this season. This was just one more instance of the "Cardiac Pack" in action. However, thanks to a last-ditch Hail Mary pass by Jay Cutler and an endzone interception by Sam Shields, the victory was secured.

NFC North Division Champions, baby! For the third consecutive year! (Shouldn't they just rename this the Packers Division?)

There were key plays aplenty, not only by Rodgers, but by FB John Kuhn (with a key block on the final TD pass to prevent a sure sack), Jordy Nelson (as always), Jarrett Boykin (picking up a Rodgers' fumble and finally taking it in for a TD), and Eddie Lacy and James Starks pounding Da Bearz' defense. There were missed opportunities, as well, especially early on. The Packers defense? Well, doing what they have pretty much done all year: doing what they need to do at the last moment, at least in victories. Much has been said about all this and that elsewhere already. Don't need to tell you what you already know by now.

So...

Next up: the 12-4 San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field on Sunday. More on that game later. For now...Go Pack Go!!!

Packers outlast Ravens 19-17

It wasn't pretty, that's for sure. But the Green Bay Packers had just enough to beat the Ravens in Baltimore today. It was the first win for the Pack in Baltimore since MacArthur Lane was the running back and, coincidentally, the first time they had a 100-yard rusher in a game versus a Baltimore team since Jim Taylor against the Colts in 1963.

Those historical markers aside, the game was memorable on a few other counts...as well as forgettable on still others.

The nod to the memorable part of the game has to go to the defense which, for most of the game, held the Ravens in check with smash-mouth play. LB A.J. Hawk was a man possessed, seemingly everywhere on the field, responsible for three sacks on Ravens QB Joe Flacco. The defensive front on two separate occasions stopped Baltimore deep in the red zone, once with 1st and goal from about the 2-yard line. On the offensive side of things, Aaron Rodgers threw for more than 300 yards and Eddie Lacy rushed for his first 100-yard game as a professional.

(Karl Merton Ferron, Baltimore Sun, October 13, 2013)

One of the forgettable parts was the almost similar 4th quarter collapse (but not this time) as occurred against the Bengals, including a 63-yard pass completion on 4th-and-21 which brought the Ravens to within 2 points of the Packers late in the game. John Kuhn touching and muffing a blocked punt, which instead of giving the Packers the ball deep in Ravens' territory gave the Birds a first down, was another forgettable play.

Perhaps the most forgettable, however, were the injuries. Actually, we probably won't be able to forget these injures anytime soon. First, WR James Jones went down with a knee injury. He was out of uniform and walking stiffly on the sideline in the second half. Then, WR Randall Cobb went down after being hit low on the right knee after making a catch. He was taken to the locker room on a cart and was on crutches on the Packers sideline late in the game. In his post-game interview, head coach Mike McCarthy said he didn't know the severity of the injuries yet but should know more tomorrow.

So the Packers were down to two wide receivers for the second half of the game: Jordy Nelson and Jarrett Boykin.

The Packers now have a couple of starting linebackers sidelined and a couple starting receivers, as well. The injury bug has hit the Pack big early this season. And with the bye week already behind them, there's no time to "get healthy." GM Ted Thompson will have to figure out what to do to bolster the roster. Some pundits are already saying the Packers might have to become a serious contender in the trade market because of today's hits to the receiving corps.

It's not going to be easy. But the Packers have perhaps gone through the gauntlet of the toughest part of their schedule. Sure, there are 11 games left, no more byes and and it's all tough. But the Pack has already played three championship-caliber teams in their first five games and have come out with a 3-2 record. They have -- or had -- the talent to make a deep playoff run. In their last Super Bowl season, they also were plagued with injuries and found a way to win it all. Will that be possible this season? It remains to be seen.

All we can say right now is ... Go Pack Go!!!

Week 5: Packers vs. Lions Preview

The Green Bay Packers come into Week 5 off their bye week and much-needed time off in order to get some of the injured players back on the field. The Pack's record is 1-2 after an ugly loss at Cincinnati. The Lions come to Lambeau Field sitting atop the NFC North at 3-1 after a fairly solid handling of Da Bearz in Detroit. The Lions defense looked very good, particularly along the front seven.

The Lions have not won in Green Bay since 1991. They are tired of hearing about it. This is a team, truth be told, that has the best chance to break that streak.

So this is what is at stake in Sunday's game:

• For the Lions, going to 4-1 and holding onto first place in the NFC North with a 3-0 division record.
• For the Packers, going to 2-2 and staying within a game of the Lions (and perhaps Da Bearz, who play the Saints in Chicago and are 1-point underdogs).
• For the Lions, dropping to 3-2 and perhaps falling to second place in the division (with a Bearz win).
• For the Packers, dropping to 1-3 and a tie for last place in the NFC North with the ViQueens, who have their bye week.

The last point above is the one which should make every Packer fan very nervous. The historical odds of a 1-3 team making the playoffs is not great. (Sorry, can't locate my exact stat at present but seem to remember that it is less than 15 percent.) So, that's a place we don't even want to go. Losing this game is not an option for the Packers. They need it more than the Lions, although the Lions certainly have enough incentive, as well.

The good news for the Packers during the bye week is that LB Clay Matthews will play. After going on a tear in the first half of the game against the Bengals, Matthews' hamstring acted up and he and medical staff decided to pull him and not risk injury. The second half of that game was one where his lack of presence was certainly felt. But having him rested and available for the Pack's first divisional game of 2013 may well have been worth it in the long run if he's able to stay on the field. Running backs Eddie Lacy and Johnathan Franklin are also expected back, as is FB John Kuhn, and TE Jermichael Finley. After being down to one running back by the end of the Cincinnati game, the Packers should be able to offer a more balanced effort on offense. The key will be how well the Packers' offensive line is able to handle arguably one of the best defensive lines in football. Without a running game or a threat of it, it could be a long day for QB Aaron Rodgers.

A couple other things to keep in mind: the Packers are generally a very good post-bye-week team under head coach Mike McCarthy; Rodgers has a record of playing extremely well following his rare bad games. Rodgers had an off-game by his standards against the Bengals. That won't happen against the Lions. Especially not at Lambeau Field.

The Packers are very much a work in progress. Just one example: a quarter of the way into the season and they still don't have a solid kick and punt return arrangement, with Jeremy Ross having been cut the day after his disastrous performance in the Cincinnati game. It will be return by platoon until someone steps up. Coach McCarthy is understandably reluctant to expose WR Randall Cobb to work as a returner, but he may not have another choice. Sure hands are needed.

The oddsmakers have set the Packers as 7-point favorites at the time of this writing; that's the third-highest margin of the weekend. We'd be very happy to see that margin come true. The over-under is currently set at 54 points, again, the third-highest total of the week. With Lions QB Matthew Stafford having one of his better seasons so far, with WR Calvin Johnson being his usual nearly-unstoppable self, and RB Reggie Bush giving the Lions a look at running back that they haven't seen in Detroit since Barry Sanders, the Packers defense will have its collective hands full.

What's our prediction? If you are one of those working the odds, take the Lions. Straight up, take the Packers in a very close and hard-fought game.

We're calling it 30-28 Packers.

Go Pack Go!!!

Looking ahead to Packers vs. Bengals

Green Bay Packers fans have to feel good coming off last Sunday's romp over the Washington Redskins. The only downside was the loss of rookie RB Eddie Lacy to a concussion on his one and only carry of the day. Of course, the flip side was that replacement James Starks romped to the tune of 132 yards. That was sweet!

While some pundits are suggesting that this Sunday's game at Paul Brown Stadium might be a preview of things to come, as in Super Bowl XLVIII, the questions for the Packers going through the prep week for the Cincinnati Bengals are more immediate and basically have to do with the following:

• Can Starks repeat his 100+ yards performance?
• Can Lacy play at all Sunday?
• If Lacy is unavailable as a back up -- Starks has already been named as the starter this week -- is rookie RB Johnathan Franklin finally ready to show something out of the backfield, including being able to pass protect for Aaron Rodgers?
• Will FB and Rodgers' personal body guard in the backfield, John Kuhn, be available to play following his hamstring injury?
• If Kuhn is unavailable for the game -- and that seems to be a good possibility -- which of the tight ends will be taking up the fullback spot in certain formations?
• How will an admittedly sieve-like secondary hold up against one of the top receivers in the league, A. J. Green?
• Can the offensive line, which performed admirably from about the second quarter on against the 'Skins, reprise their effort against a defensive line that might be nearly as good as San Francisco's front seven?

If Rodgers has time -- and that is a question at this point given the ups and downs we've seen with the Packers' O-line -- he can have success against the Bengals secondary. Conversely, Bengals QB Andy Dalton -- while a capable but not top-tier passer -- could find success against the Packers secondary if the Pack's front seven can't get to him.

At the time of this writing the Packers are favored by 3 points. The over-under is currently set at 48.5 total points, tied for third most of the entire weekend; obviously the oddsmakers figure there will be lots of scoring going on. That can all change by game time, of course.

Still, you have to like the way the Pack rebounded in Week 2. We'd expect that momentum to carry over to this week. Once this game is out of the way, the Packers will have 14 days before their next game...the bye week happens in Week 4, way too soon. So the Packers will undoubtedly not push their injured players to play this week, preferring to rest them for the long haul of 13 games in a row coming up after the bye. Who plays and who is held out may very well determine whether the Packers emerge 1-2 or 2-1. It likely will be that close unless one team or the other collapses.

Be sure to check back here no later than Sunday morning for our final game preview and prediction. Bookmark us!

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers Bits and Pieces

It was an exciting post-draft week for the Green Bay Packers and their fans. Firstly, the Pack had, by most accounts, a successful draft overall. We gave it an A- and that seemed to be a popular grade among many if not most pundits. Yes, it could be argued the team needed to add a safety and didn't. Or a starting left tackle, and didn't. A few things like that brought down some people's opinion of the Pack's draft.

But on the other hand, the Packers picked up arguably the best running back in the draft -- Eddie Lacy -- and, according to some others, the second best back, Johnathan Franklin. Barring injury, that duo could be the starting backfield along with fullback John Kuhn. Given the paucity of a Packers running game since the departure of Ryan Grant at least and, some might say, Ahman Green, these two picks alone will give a much-needed boost and variation to an offense that for the last few years has been far-too one dimensional.

On the defensive side of the ball, DE Datone Jones may provide enough of a pass rush presence to make offenses account for more than just Clay Matthews in their protection schemes. DT Josh Boyd should help bolster and give relief to a defensive front that needed some depth. LB Nate Palmer spent time already with linebackers coach Kevin Greene. Greene, according to reports, told Palmer that he could help take his play to another level. Apparently, the Packers see something in Palmer they like. Very much.

The Flip-Flop
While the lack of offensive tackle picks bothered some, the Pack did add depth with the selections of David Bakhtiari and J.C. Tretter. But the other way the Pack addressed the offensive line issues of last year -- far too many sacks given up -- was to shuffle the existing players.

This week, head coach Mike McCarthy announced that they were moving Bryan Bulaga from the right tackle position to the left and also flipping Josh Sitton from right guard to left. Bulaga and Sitton are the two best offensive linemen the Packers have and it makes sense for them to be protecting the blindside of the $100+ million quarterback, Aaron Rodgers. Evan Dietrich-Smith will anchor the line at center, while T.J. Lang will move from right guard to left. Marshall Newhouse will move from left tackle to right. So the personnel is the same, but they will now be playing different sides of the line. Let's hope it works out as planned. Let's also hope they are able to create some lanes for what could be the best running attack the Packers have had in a generation.

Al Harris Retires as a Packer
Former Packers CB Al Harris retired as a Green Bay Packer this week, despite not playing for the team for about 3-1/2 years. But that's OK, Al wanted to retire with the team and in the city that meant the most to him during his long career. He had many memorable moments as a Packer before a torn ACL ended his run with the team. But can we ever forget that interception off Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck in overtime of the playoffs? No. But if you need a reminder, just click here

Packers Shareholders Meeting Set for July 24
For those who are proud shareholders of the Green Bay Packers, the team announced that its annual meeting will be held at Lambeau Field on Wed. July 24. Once again, each shareholder will be able to bring a guest and, of course, revel in all things Packers. It doesn't get any better than that!

Learn more about the shareholders meeting here.

Packers storm Vikings 24-10

The NFL Wildcard game at Lambeau Field last evening between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings unfolded a bit differently than expected. The outcome was the same: a victory, as most had predicted, including yours truly, by a final score of 24-10. But how it all played out was...different.

Ponder out, Webb in
First, and to the surprise of many, ViQueens QB Christian Ponder was declared inactive a mere few hours before the game. The injury to his passing arm elbow sustained when it hit Packers' defensive back Morgan Burnett's helmet in last week's game led to a bad case of bursitis. So bad, he couldn't throw.

Enter back up QB, Joe Webb, who hadn't taken a snap or thrown a pass the entire regular season. Playoff game. Primetime Saturday night. January. Lambeau Field. Against the Packers. Good luck with that, young man. To no one's surprise, Webb's efforts came up woefully short. He had 6 passing yards in the first half. He finished with 180 yards, 1 touchdown and one interception. Fifty of those total yards came on a blown pass coverage that went for a late TD. Webb was also stripped of the ball in the pocket by LB Clay Matthews who then recovered the fumble. He ran 7 times for 68 yards, usually being flushed from the pocket; his longest run was 17 yards.

The other key difference to this game as compared to the first two times these teams met was that the Packers defense was able to keep likely league MVP RB Adrian Peterson from having his usual breakout game. The Pack actually kept him to 99 yards...a good day for any normal running back, but about half his average against the Packers this season. By bottling up Peterson -- who carried 22 times with a long run of 18 yards -- the Packers put the game in Webb's hands. In this regard, the Packers' defensive scheme was the same as they had planned for going into the game. The difference was that it was Webb not Ponder who would then have to win the game for the 'Queens. That became an impossibility almost from the moment the game started, despite Minnesota's first drive which resulted in them going up 3-0.

The return of Charles Woodson
Another difference from both of the two prior games between these two teams was the presence this time of future Hall of Fame cornerback, Charles Woodson. After missing about two months of the regular season with a broken collarbone, Woodson returned last evening and was his usual relentless self. He made tackles, got after the quarterback...in short, all the things that Woodson does best. He also seemed to be quick last night, no doubt due to having fresh legs from the time off. For sports reporters, asked about the difference Woodson makes, compare him to LeRoy Butler late in Butler's career. He makes sure everyone is lined up correctly and has their assignments. He provides the real veteran leadership among a generally young defensive unit. If some Packers fans were wondering what difference Woodson would make given how well the young secondary has performed going down the stretch of the season, I think you saw it last night. And with another young and playoff un-tested QB coming up this Saturday in the person of 49ers rookie Colin Kaepernick (born in Milwaukee, by the way), Woodson can again play a big role in defensive coordinator Dom Capers' disruptive schemes.

A tale of two offenses
For as dominating as the Packers offense was in the first half and opening drive of the second half, it stalled out for most of the second half. In fact, the Pack only had one first down in roughly the final 25 minutes of the game, and finished with five three-and-outs on the team's final six possessions. Not great. What they were doing, some might argue, was protecting a three touchdown lead, being up 24-3 early in the third quarter. Others might say they took their collective foot off the pedal. Aaron Rodgers mentioned the latter in an on-field post-game interview. He alluded to not really throwing a knockout punch when you have a team on the ropes. Guard T.J. Lang mentioned it in an article by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel sportswriter, Tyler Dunne. Lang said, among other things, "Whenever you're not playing up to your capabilities, that's very disappointing, very frustrating. I'm just speaking for the line here, but we have to do a better job. We had way too much penetration, guys in the backfield, negative yardage. We have to make sure we clean up what we're doing up front."

For as moribund as the Packers offense was for most of the second half, it earlier was able to put the Minnesota defense back on its heels through a balanced run-pass attack. RB DuJuan Harris got the start last night and made the most of his opportunities, accounting for 100 yards in total combined yardage. Rodgers spread his passes around to 10 different receivers on the night, all of whom combined to give the Packers' QB 274 yards passing for the evening. The ViQueens defenders took away most of the deep threats, so Rodgers and company used swing passes and short routes to go underneath. Oh, and did we mention that FB John Kuhn had two rushing TDs on the night?

San Francisco here we come...
With the Wildcard victory the Packers now travel to San Francisco for a meeting with the 49ers next Saturday evening. The Packers are 4-1 all-time in playoff appearances vs. San Francisco, 2-1 at Candlestick Park, with the only loss being in 1998.

This is Aaron Rodgers' neck of the woods. He'll want to perform well, and all expectations are that he will. The Niners beat the Packers in this season's home opener at Lambeau. But Alex Smith was the quarterback then. Kaepernick is the QB now. He'll bring a different set of challenges to the Packers defense. But as a rookie starting his first playoff game, the Packers should be able to throw enough at him to benefit from any mistakes. How well the Packers offense can perform, for a full 60 minutes, against one of the best defenses in the NFL, will likely ultimately be the key to the game. Early odds have the Packers as 3 point underdogs going into the game.

We'll have more on this game as the week unfolds. Stay tuned...

Packers vs. Lions: Big Game for Both Teams

In the unofficial start to the second half of the NFL season for the Green Bay Packers following the team's bye week, the schedule-makers begin to serve up a heapin' plateful of NFC North Division opponents. Five of the Pack's final seven games are within the division. The NFL has finally decided to create a schedule that keeps things interesting right until the end of the season. First up for the Packers is the Detroit Lions at Ford Field.

The Packers are 6-3 and the Lions are 4-5. The Pack is favored by 3-1/2 points. This is a huge game for both teams. With a win, the Packers will go to 7-3 and thus will likely be tied for the division lead with Da Bearz who, especially without QB Jay Cutler, will likely be on the losing end of their game with San Francisco Monday night. Actually, because the Pack beat Chicago in their first meeting, Green Bay holds the tiebreaker and actually would be in first place based upon that factor. If the Pack loses today, and Da Bearz also lose, they will remain one game behind...not horrible, but with this game setting up so well to pick up a game on Chicago, it really is a game they need to win. On the outside chance the Pack loses and Chicago wins, they'd be two behind Chicago and doing themselves no favors coming up on the stretch run, especially with a game against the Giants in New York coming up next Sunday evening.

For the inconsistent Lions, they need this game to avoid falling to 4-6. There are lots of mediocre teams sitting in that vicinity. If they lose today, the Lions would have to likely win all their remaining games to even keep open a chance of getting a wildcard spot with a 10-6 record. It's not likely that would happen, nor that the Lions would win out. Winning today to go to 5-5 would at least give them a lifeline.

Let's look at the matchups
For the Packers, they will likely be without six starters today including Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and Bryan Bulaga. There has been a great deal of discussion on the radio call-in shows this week about whether Matthews or Bulaga is the biggest loss for today's game. Some feel that without the pass rush threat from Matthews, Lions' QB Matthew Stafford will have time to find WR Calvin Johnson and rack up yards and points; of course, CB Tramon Williams will have something to say about Johnson's success or lack thereof no matter what happens on the line. Others feel that the loss of Bulaga created two moves on the offensive line for the Packers: LG T.J. Lang moves to right tackle and back up Evan Dietrich-Smith fills Lang's spot at left guard. This obviously creates a different dynamic along the whole offensive line. More worrisome, however, is if additional injuries occur on the O-line there are only two backups to fill in: Don Barclay and Greg Van Roten. Can you say, "Yikes!"?

Back to the Matthews vs. Bulaga debate...My take is that knowing they would be without Matthews for this game, Mike McCarthy and Dom Capers will get creative with their schemes and personnel to still pressure Stafford and keep the passing game in check. As for the Lions running game, RB Mikel Leshoure, a 2011 second-round draft choice from Illinois, will be making his debut against the Packers. If the Packers let him get active, it could give the Lions enough balance to cause problems defensively for the Pack.

Early reports today are that the Packers will get WR Jordy Nelson back in the lineup. That would return the full complement of receivers except for Greg Jennings. In other words, pretty much the full set of weapons QB Aaron Rodgers wants and needs on the field, particularly against one of the worst secondaries around.

The trick here will be how effective the Packers newly configured line will be against a very good and disruptive front four of the Lions. If the Packers offensive line can't handle defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley especially, it will be a long day for Aaron Rodgers and the offense. That would open the door to the real possibility of an upset. Of course, if the Packers can generate any semblance of a rushing game with Alex Green and James Starks that will help considerably in all aspects of the game. Getting FB John Kuhn back today will also be a plus in pass protection and short yardage situations.

Prediction
The oddsmakers have set the over-under for this game at 52 points, the third highest of any game this weekend. A shoot-out apparently is expected. I think that's the case as well, although I'd be on the "under" side of things. It seems as if, while acknowledging Detroit's desperate state and upset chances, most pundits are picking the Packers to win. The Packers are the unanimous choice of the ESPN pundits. I know, that should make us all nervous.

The Packers are 5-1 after their bye weeks under Mike McCarthy. McCarthy is also 11-1 against Detroit overall. You have to like those trends. Even without some of their best players on offense and defense, the Packers are the better team. They will, however, have to play like it for a full 60 minutes today to get the win. But win they will.

I'm calling it 27-20 Packers.

Go Pack Go!!!

Bulaga to Injured Reserve

The big news -- and bad news -- of the day for the Green Bay Packers, hinted at toward the end of last week, was that veteran RT Bryan Bulaga is being placed on the Injured Reserve List with what has so far been described as a hip pointer, and is done for the season. He joins rookie LB Nick Perry who also was placed on the IR recently because of wrist surgery. They join 10 other players who were starters or projected starters who have been hurt this year, missing a total of 40 games. Ouch!

This move of Bulaga to the IR list means LG T.J. Lang moves to right tackle and Evan Dietrich-Smith takes Lang's placed at left guard, just as happend after the injury during the game with the Cardinals. The depth of the offensive line is now a serious concern with not many favorable options available should another starter get injured.

To take Bulaga's spot on the roster, the Packers signed linebacker Vic So’oto. So’oto played in seven games with the Pack last season and was with the Oakland Raiders for four games this season.

Others return to practice today
According to a blog post by Mike Spofford at packers.com, a number of players returned to practice today in preparation for this Sunday's game against the Lions, including CB Sam Shields, DL Jerel Worthy, and -- surprise! -- T Derek Sherrod, who has been on PUP list since the start of the season. The Packers can allow Sherrod three weeks to practice, apparently, before deciding what to do with him for the rest of the season. The fact that he is practicing at all shows what a sad state the O-line depth is in as it was only about two weeks ago that articles were being written saying he wouldn't see the field at all this season. That may still play out in the end. But for now, it's wait and see.

LB Clay Matthews, FB John Kuhn, WR Greg Jennings and DE Mike Neal did not practice today.

If things feel like the 2010 season with the MASH unit Packers, let's just hope it has a similar ending. The fact that both the Lions and especially Da Bearz lost yesterday tightens up the NFC North considerably. With five of the seven remaining games coming against division opponents, injuries or not, the Pack will have to be ready to roll.

Go Pack Go!!!

Packers vs. Jaguars preview and prediction

Despite perhaps having more players injured than at any time since 2010, a beat-up Green Bay Packers team has a few things going in its favor today: they are playing at home for the first time in nearly a month, and the 1-5 Jacksonville Jaguars are the opponent.

Now, in any given game...blah blah blah. If this is that kind of game, Packer fans, we should all fill our pockets with rocks and walk into the nearest body of water available. The Packers are favored by 15 points at the time of this writing. Yowza! Oddsmakers don't just lay out that kind of spread for no reason.

Jags' offensive woes
So what might at least one of those reasons be? How about second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert? Since trading a second round pick in the 2011 draft to Washington for the right to move up from the No. 16 to No. 10 slot to pick the Missouri QB, and giving him the starting role in game 3 last season, Gabbert and the Jags have gone 5-15. He isn't very likely to run although can when flushed from the pocket, but he is more of a pocket passer. There are questions as to whether he sees the pass rush well. He was also struggling this week with a shoulder problem sustained in last weekend's game. All in all, this should set the Packers up for a sack marathon today.

Now, LT Eugene Monroe is regarded as the Jags' best O-lineman. Generally, we can expect LB Clay Matthews to be lined up against him most of the day. It will be a good match up on athleticism but Matthews strength and speed give him the definite advantage in this match up. As for the rest of the Jacksonville offensive line...well, if the Packers don't pick up more than a handful of sacks today something is very wrong.

As for the Jags' offensive weapons, there aren't many. Rookie WR Justin Blackmon hasn't shown much yet depsite being a No. 5 overall draft pick. But the biggest blow to the Jaguars' offense was the loss last Sunday of RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who suffered a major foot injury. He will be replaced by Rashad Jennings who is just an average running back at best.

The Jags have scored 88 points in the six games they've played so far. Their one win on the season came in Week 3 when they beat the Colts in Indianapolis, 22-17 (there's that "In any given game..." thing again!). The Jaguars' offense ranks dead last in points scored, passing yards, and total yards gained. Its defense ranks near the bottom in all related categories.

Without the threat of a legitimate running game, a so-so offensive line, an average set of receivers, and a second-year QB who is still trying to figure out the pro game and will be under pressure all day, the Jags are justifiably two-touchdown-plus underdogs coming into Lambeau Field.

Packers problems today
The biggest problems the Packers will have today are themselves, namely in the way of injuries. WR Greg Jennings is out for an undetermined length of time as he has opted to have surgery for his lingering groin problem. FB John Kuhn is out today with a hamstring problem. LB Nick Perry is out with a knee injury sustained in last week's game, as are CB Sam Shields (ankle) and CB/S Charles Woodson with a broken collarbone. WR Jordy Nelson is listed as questionable with a hamstring problem that developed during the course of this week; my guess is he will not play today. On the positive front, the Packers will see NT B.J. Raji return to the D-line...that's a great thing for the Pack and not so great for whoever is across the line from him.

The injuries to the linebacking corps, defensive backfield, and receivers open up opportunities for other players to step in. I think that will be very much the case today for the Pack. This squad is nothing if not deep. The depth of the Packers backups, combined with the skill of the starters, will be more than enough to handle the Jaguars. And, of course, there is also Aaron Rodgers. 'Nuff said.

Prediction
I'm calling this one Packers 41 - Jaguars 13.

Say it with me: Go Pack Go!!!

Let the season begin! Packers vs. 49ers and season preview

Finally. It's finally here. Rejoice! Rejoice! The Green Bay Packers 2012 season kicks off this afternoon. Oh, happy happy joy joy!

As all good Packer fans know, the Pack plays the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field, with kickoff at roughly 3:25 CT. Today’s game is a matchup of the highest-scoring offense in the league in 2011 (Green Bay, 35.0 ppg) against the No. 2 scoring defense (San Francisco, 14.3 ppg) from last season. Something's gonna give, as the saying goes.

The Niners were one of the surprise teams last season, going 13-3, with some even going so far as to project them going to the Super Bowl this season. Those people, however, regardless of the outcome of today's game, are delusional.

A look at the Niners
Let's be honest, however. This is a good football team. It has a great defense, and that, rather than its offense, is what will take them to the promised land if they are indeed to get there this season. They have a maniac defensive tackle in Justin Smith, who will give LT Marshall Newhouse and LG T.J. Lang a handful all day long. If they don't slow him down, it could be a long day for QB Aaron Rodgers. See this article for more on Smith.

Ditto for handling the Niners' linebackers, which are arguably among the best in the NFL right now (don't just take my word for it...see this article for more). ROLB Aldon Smith starts this season after registering 14 sacks as a rookie who played fewer than half the snaps on defensive. He's a pass rusher and the Packers will have to find a way to handle him at the line, as well. The biggest challenge among the Niners' linebackers, however, will be inside/middle linebacker Patrick Willis. He's fast, can play the run like a beast and can drop into coverage, as well. A key match up today will be the Packers' tight ends on Willis. Jermichael Finley needs a big day against Willis to help keep the chains moving, whether through his receiving or helping open up running lanes or crossing routes for other Packer weapons to exploit.

The Niners' defensive backs are better moving forward than backward, which means that if Aaron Rogers is able to run his patented bootlegs with long downfield passes there are chances for real success. If the Pack's O-line can handle the two Smiths, and the Pack can run its four (and maybe five!) wide receiver sets, the 49ers will have their hands full figuring out who to cover. The Packers just have too many weapons in their receiving corp for defenders to stay with all day long; something will give, and when it does Rodgers will find the opening.

The Packers at a glance
As most everyone knows, the Packers' defense was its Achilles Heal last season. That's why there was a real emphasis in the draft on upgrading the defense. The Packers have added to their defensive line and linebacking corps, and some second-year players in the secondary are ready to make their mark. San Francisco has good receivers of their own and one of the keys to the game today will be how much pressure the Packers can put on QB Alex Smith. (What is it with all these Smiths on the 49ers? Did they get a deal on Smith jerseys???) We'd like to see the Pack shut down and shut up WR Randy Moss, who joined the Niners this off season. WR Michael Crabtree and TE Vernon Davis will also present their match up issues. The Packers defense will also have to keep RB Frank Gore from running loose behind a big offensive line; its often easy for the smaller backs to hide behind the big push and before you know it they've picked up five yards. The Pack can't let them happen. This will be a great test for B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett and others at the line, as well as the Pack's linebackers.

As to the Packers' offense, it's the best in the game. The quarterback is the league MVP, there are six top-notch receivers, all of whom can break a defense down, and now also a consideration in the running game for defenders in the name of Cedric Benson. If Benson can pound for several yards a carry as needed -- and hold onto the ball -- and if Alex Green and John Kuhn can pick up third down yardage on screens, it will keep the defense from loading up entirely on a pass rush or dropping into nickel coverage throughout the game.

Special teams play may also factor into this game, as it sometimes does especially early in the season where young players are getting their first exposure to the speed of NFL play. If second-year player Randall Cobb can get loose, as he did last year, he could score on a return or set the Pack up in good field position for a score. Punter Tim Masthay was rewarded with a big contract for his past performance and their should be no let down this season. Kicker Mason Crosby, however, seemed a bit inconsistent in his field goal attempts at times during the preseason and you have to hope that's not a precursor of things to come today or throughout the season.

Game Prediction
The Packers are still listed as 5-point favorites today, with the over/under set at 46.5 points, among the highest point totals for Week One.

I think this game will be closer than five points. In the first game of the season, anything can happen. This is a game that the Pack could indeed lose. Still, according to gameday notes at packers.com, "Under Head Coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers have won five straight season openers (2007-11), which matches the franchise record." So you know McCarthy will have a great game plan in place and have the team ready to go. Niners coach Jim Harbaugh will likewise have his team ready to go. So, will it be the league's highest-scoring offense from last season that prevails or the league's No. 2 scoring defense that wins the day?

I give the nod to the Packers. My prediction: Packers 24 - 49ers 23. Go Pack Go!!!

Season Prediction
I know that many bloggers and prognositcators do a whole game by game preview for you. Sorry, gang...not gonna get that here today. Not enough time. And, really, do you need another such review? I didn't think so.

So my bottom line win-loss projection for the Pack is 12-4, good enough for winning the NFC North. Playoffs and Super Bowl...yes.

I tend to break down the season by quarters. In looking at the tough first four games -- Niners, Da Bearz, Seahawks and Saints -- I think it's reasonable to assume the Pack will drop one of those games, particularly with two tough games coming within five days of each other (49ers and Da Bearz). The second quarter of the season sees the Pack playing the Colts, Texans, Rams and Jaguars. The Packers should take all of those, but playing on the road against the playoff-ready Texans will be the biggest challenge; that game could result in a loss. The Cardinals, Lions, Giants and ViQueens is potentially a tough stretch in the third quarter of the season with the Lions and Giants back to back on the road. I'd expect one of those games to be a loss. In the final quarter of the season, the Packers play the Lions, Da Bearz, Titans and ViQueens. There's one potential loss among that group. That's how I get to 12-4.

Whether 12-4, 13-3 or even the unexpected 15-1 of last season, say it with me: It's great to be a Packer fan!

Packers vs. Chiefs: victory #14 on the horizon

The undefeated Green Bay Packers roll into Kansas City today for the last of this season's road games. If the Packers win, they will have gone undefeated in all their road games, which is something that has only been done a handful of times in the history of the NFL. (Or is it 2 handfuls? Look it up!) More importantly, it will give the Pack 14 wins on the season and secure homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. It will also set the stage for the final two home games of the regular season against Da Bearz and Lions. 16-0 is just a hop-skip-jump away.

But first, the Packers must dispose of the Chiefs. The oddsmakers have installed the Packers as 13-1/2-point favorites and with the over/under at 45.5 points.

What's to stop the Pack from getting a "W" today? There are always the lists that are put out about "10 things the Packers need to do to win, etc." Ya know, all they have to do is one thing: show up. Now, I don't say that to slight the Chiefs. They can play -- especially on the defensive side of things -- and if the Packers let them hang around long enough anything can happen. Kyle Orton is getting the nod at QB today. But in terms of offensive weapons, they just don't have much. Defensively, the KC defensive backs will have their hands full all day long even without having to cover WR Greg Jennings. The Packers are loaded at receiver and tight end and, obviously, present huge matchup problems for any team. Plus, the Chiefs have really been hit by injuries as well.

Of course, the Packers also have injury issues. Inactives for today just announced are: Graham Harrell, Brandon Saine, James Starks, Desmond Bishop, Chad Clifton, Ryan Pickett, and Greg Jennings. LB Vic So'oto and RG Josh Sitton are active.

Pickett's presence will be missed. The Packers have had problems stopping the run all year and that has been with Pickett having a good season. With Saine and Starks both inactive, that means the only two running backs active for this game are Ryan Grant and John Kuhn. Grant had his best game all season last week against the Raiders and Kuhn was his typical Kuhn-esque self late in the game. Let's hope they both hold up again today. The emphasis, of course, will once again be the passing game. Shocking, yes.

So, what's it all boil down to? That the Packers will come away with their fourtheenth victory of this season, 20 in a row going back to last year. An amazing run, and something not before seen in the history of the Packers. The players want to go 16-0 in the regular season, so I can't imagine them tripping up in a supposed "trap game" against the likes of KC.

I'm calling it Packers 41 - Chiefs 17.

GO PACK GO!!!

P.S. A big congratulations to the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater football team, who Friday evening won their third consecutive Division III football championship, defeating (again) Mount Union, 13-10. It's a great college program and another winner in the fine Wisconsin tradition. Congrats, Warhawks!

Jones back in Green Bay after all

Several days ago, it looked as if Green Bay Packer wide receiver and unrestricted free agent James Jones was as good as gone. First, to the ViQueens...but then they signed Michael Jenkins from Atlanta instead. Then, it looked as if Jones might got to the Jets...but they wound up signing Plaxico Burress. Opportunities for the big deal Jones wanted seemed to be drying up. And, given the abbreviated time teams now have to make deals, evaluate talent in training camp and come to their final roster decisions, free agent players also have to make some quick choices.

Whatever and however it finally came together, James Jones will be back with the Pack for a reported three-year deal. That has to make his quarterback very happy. Aaron Rodgers not only publicly said that re-signing Jones should be the team's number one priority but also is said to have personally lobbied GM Ted Thompson to get Jones back. Fellow wide receivers Donald Driver and Greg Jennings also added their support for Jones rejoining the team.

Certainly Jones showed real moments of brilliance last season. He has the makings of being a great receiver, no doubt. But he also drove Packer fans and coaches crazy with drops in too many key situations. If he can overcome that lack of focus, Jones could have a breakout season and can make the Packers receiving corps even a greater threat than last year.

As I wrote in my post here yesterday, I thought the chance of Jones returning was less than 50 percent; but that was before the Jets signed Burress...that changed the dynamics of the situation considerably.

Congratulations, Mr. Jones. Glad you're back with the Pack for another Championship run.

You can read more about Jones deal here.

Kuhn also back with the Pack
Late breaking news: FB John Kuhn has also signed a three-year deal to return to Green Bay. Kuhn was another player that Rodgers felt was key to the offense and the team's Super Bowl run of last season.

...And on the first day of the new CBA...

Day One of the new NFL collective bargaining agreement saw many players arriving at team facilities, many others in transit and teams beginning the frenzy of signing, trading and releasing players.

The Green Bay Packers made a number of moves today. The most important from a personnel and budget cap standpoint is the pending trade or -- more likely -- release of eight-year veteran LB Nick Barnett. GM Ted Thompson met with Barnett early this morning and told him of the team's plans. Certainly had to hurt, but just as certainly Barnett couldn't have been too surprised. Given the Packers' cap situation, the fact that Barnett would have been due more than $5 million in salary, the fact that Barnett has been injured two of the last three seasons, and the fact that the Packers made their successful end-of-season/playoff/Super Bowl run without him, the writing was on the wall.

Farewell, Mr. Barnett, thank you for your service and for being a great Packer. Good luck wherever you land next.

There is no word at the time of this posting as to the status of Cullen Jenkins, James Jones, Mason Crosby or John Kuhn, all unrestricted free agents. Speculation is that Jenkins will take a bigger deal elsewhere, while Crosby is expected to be re-signed; there are reportedly 12 free agent kickers on the market. Kuhn indicated that he would test the market. As for Jones, QB Aaron Rodgers was reported to have stated that re-signing him was "priority number one," at least as he saw it. So, stay tuned. These will be interesting days ahead, full of roster activity.

Undrafted free agent signings

Teams across the league were busy today signing undrafted free agents. The Packers were no different, adding 16 players according to various sources. They are:

• WR/KR Antoine “Shaky” Smithson, Utah
• WR Tori Gurley, South Carolina
• LB Jamari Lattimore, Middle Tennessee State
• C Sampson Genus, South Florida
• S M.D. Jennings, Arkansas State
• DE Vic So’oto, BYU
• QB Diondre Borel, Utah State (possible WR in the NFL)
• OL Theo Sherman, James Madison
• OL Ray Dominguez, Arkansas
• WR Kerry Taylor, Arizona State
• NT Eli Joseph, Temple
• LB Peanut Joseph, Temple
• S Anthony Bratton, Delaware
• FB Jon Hoese, Minnesota
• DB Brandian Ross, Youngstown State
• RB Brandon Saine, Ohio State

Among the most intriguing, at least on paper and/or video seem to be Shaky Smithson and Tori Gurley. Smithson in particular could finally be the punt and kick returner the Pack hasn't had since the days of Desmond Howard. He will no doubt be given every chance to secure that role. As for Gurley, the length of his arms is apparently sasquatch-like and that makes him attractive as a receiving target...along with his 6'4" height and 4.53 40 speed, of course. And let's not forget the Joseph twins, Eli and Peanut, from Temple. Whether they make the final roster or not, it's at least a bit of future trivia that there was once a player in camp named "Peanut" AND his twin brother was in camp at the same time.

What a week!

As I write this, ESPN is announcing that the NFL Players Association has just decertified. And so, the negotiations between the NFL owners and players now goes to the courts. The NFLPA is dissolved and the union no longer exists; it is now a trade association. Players can individually file antitrust lawsuits. If the NFL locks out players, players can file lawsuits to block the lockouts. Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are expected to be among the lead plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the league. Basically, nothing can happen business-wise with players who are currently in the league once this hits the courts. The NFL Draft supposedly can take place as usual because those players are obviously not yet in the NFL, although I heard one report indicate that, depending upon how the judge rules, the Draft could be out the window, too.

So, after a week's extension of time to negotiate...nada. Now it's gonna get nasty. There's a lockout coming, Packer fans. Just a matter of how long it will last.

Hard to image that these folks can't figure out how to negotiate a win-win situation when there's $9 billion-plus to be had. Can you say "greed"? Even kids learn that it's good to share. These folks must have missed that day in kindergarten.

Other happenings

Head coach Mike McCarthy's contract extension was finalized. He and GM Ted Thompson will be leading the Green Bay Packers' field deployment through 2015 (if memory serves). Both are being rewarded well for bringing the Lombardi Trophy home to Titletown.

The Packers put some tenders on a few players: James Jones, Daryn Colledge, Atari Bigby and John Kuhn (am I missing anyone?). Basically, they are more defensive maneauvers than anything, especially since the entire collective bargaining deal with the NFL Players Association is out the window...no one knows at this point now whether these players will be restricted or unrestricted free agents as there is now no collective bargaining agreement that defines that.

LB Nick Barnett may be the odd man out of the inside linebackers (interesting grammatical construction there but I think you get the drift). Coach McCarthy told reporters that A. J. Hawk (recently re-signed to a new big dollar deal) and Desmond Bishop (big deal signed before end of the season) are his starting inside linebackers. Barnett, coming off his second season-ending injury in the last three seasons, may or may not be back with the Pack if and when football is next played. Consensus among fans, if you can gauge such things from the comments about the various stories and scenarios related to this topic, seems to be that Barnett will be gone and the Packers will be looking to pick up new and younger and healthier linebacker help in the upcoming draft.

Natural and man-made disasters

We awoke this morning to the sad and terrible news of the earthquake (now quakes) in Japan and the ensuing tsunami which has killed hundreds of people and destroyed much property in Japan. A damaged nuclear reactor is also in the mix and is a major concern not only within Japan but from a global perspective. We need to keep the people of Japan and other affected areas in our thoughts and prayers. If you wish to support relief efforts, text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or go here to donate online.

Finally, while it's a matter that I generally try to keep out of this blog, the happenings of the last weeks and days in the state of Wisconsin regarding the collective bargaining rights of public employees and the state budget came to a head when the governor, newly-elected Republican Scott Walker, signed into law this morning the bill passed by the Republican-controlled legislature. Anyone who has tuned into any of the news shows -- or even Comedy Central's Daily Show and Colbert Report for that matter -- are aware of this matter. Regardless of one's political persuasion, this event has nationwide implications either positive or negative depending upon your view. The state senate majority leader told Fox News the real reason for banning these collective bargaining rights; you can view the video and decide for yourself whether it was about the state budget or something else. Events are scheduled at the Wisconsin state capitol building in Madison for Saturday, March 12. But unscheduled events are just as likely to occur for a long time to come.

For a current list of events in Madison and around the state in support of workers' rights, see here. You can also take a stand for workers in Wisconsin and elsewhere where rights are similarly threatened by going here. And if you use Twitter -- to follow this blog at @packfasnunited no doubt! -- you can see all the various posts related to this situation by using the #wiunion hashtag.

It's a Packivus miracle!

Yes, it's Packivus for the rest of us!

For any team to make it to the Super Bowl it is a bit of a miracle, isn't it? And when we really contemplate what this season's version of the Green Bay Packers has accomplished it truly is an amazing accomplishment.

Consider:

• Fifteen players were placed on injured reserve during the regular season, including six starters.
• The team's six losses were by a combined total of 20 points.
• The Pack had to win their last two regular season games just to qualify via tiebreaker for the playoffs as the last seed.
• The team had to go on the road for all three playoff games...and win. In doing so, they became the first #6 seed from the NFC to advance to the Super Bowl.
• At no time, in any game this season, have the Packers trailed by more than 7 points.
• The Packers' defense is either at or near the top in just about all statistical categories, despite being the unit that lost the most starters and backups to season-ending injuries.

It's an amazing story. The Packers were the preseason pick of many to go to the Super Bowl because of the talent on board. Much of that talent was left by the wayside as the season went on. Other players, many of them virtual unknowns and/or street free agents -- Sam Shields, Howard Green, Erik Walden, John Kuhn, James Starks and Tim Masthay among them -- had to step in and play at an exceptionally high level even for the team to have a shot at making the playoffs. The player personnnel side of things, beginning with GM Ted Thompson, and the coaches and staff -- especially head coach Mike McCarthy and defensive coordinator Dom Capers -- had to do a remarkable job of getting these players in a position to succeed. And succeed they did.

There is much to be proud of about this team. They have one goal remaining, four quarters of football, to bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown USA. Their upcoming opponent is almost a mirror image of the Pack, especially on the defensive side of things. The Steelers have 25 players on the roster with Super Bowl experience; the Packers have two, Charles Woodson and Ryan Picket (although John Kuhn was on the Steelers practice squad when they won in 2005). But would you put it past this group of Packers to once again exceed expectations? Nope.

It will be a knock-down, drag-out battle for the title. If the Pack puts it together they way they can, they way they have been, Super Bowl XVL will go down as the fourth such title for the team, and their 13th overall NFL championship title...more than any other NFL team. They want it. You have to believe they'll earn it. After all, it's the season of Packivus miracles!

Oh, and a word to the NFL for next season: just imagine what the Packers will be like when they get all their players back! Be afraid...be very afraid.

Go Pack Go!!!