Party on, Aaron

That would be the new starting QB for the Packers, Aaron Rodgers. And it's not really a party party in the style of what McGee and Hornung made famous. Or even the kind of partying that ol' #4 used to engage in in his younger days. What we're talking about here is more like inviting the buddies and their wives over once in a while. Not like inviting our buddies who bring Red, White & Blue Beer and the generic potato chips -- you know who you are! -- but football-playing buddies. Teammates. Guys whom you are counting on to not only protect your sweet behind the way they did for Brett Favre, but...well...if you're a QB that's probably about it, right?

Anyway, Mr. Rodgers sprung for quite a little soiree (look it up!) at his pad in Green Bay last night. With almost the entire roster in town for Packers' OTAs, more than 30 players were expected to be there. Wives were also encouraged to attend. Video games, pool, BS'ing and no doubt lots of food awaited the guests. Now, here is where that scenario differs, likely, from our get-togethers and theirs: Rodgers had the party catered. He could afford it, of course. And, again, when you're counting on people to protect your paycheck, you better not stick 'em with a bad burrito, know what I'm sayin'? I think you do.

Anyway, you can read more about this social event here.

Harrell's latest MIA due to earlier back surgery
Was I the only one that missed the Pack's #1 pick from last year, Justin Harrell, having back surgery about a month ago? No? You didn't hear about it either? Good. I feel better now.

Anyway, as noted here yesterday, Harrell is out of the OTAs -- missing in action for the second straight year (that would be his only two as a Packer, of course) -- due to injury. Apparently, he had injured himself lifting weights and had outpatient surgery. According to the article in The Capital Times, the surgery was done "to correct a disk problem." OKaaaaaaaaay. At least the youngster is realistic. "He said he realizes he may get the label as being injury-prone," the article states. Ya think? If you care to know more, check out the article here.

Packers sign tight end
Looking for still more help at the tight end spot, it was announced today that the Pack signed undrafted free agent Evan Moore out of Stanford. Moore has pretty good size at 6-6, although he'll have to beef up at only 237 pounds. That's because Moore played all his years at Stanford as a wide receiver. He finished his four-year career with 103 receptions for 1,555 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Sending Max off in style

The memorial service for Packers great and broadcaster Max McGee was held yesterday in Minnesota. Teammates, family, friends, and fans all showed up to send Max off with, according to reports, as many laughs as tears. And how could it be otherwise? Max was one of those unique personalities that not only knew how to enjoy himself, but also to help others do the same. That came through in the remembrances that some of his teammates shared. Broadcast partner Jim Irwin had one of the most tearful moments, as he recalled the feeling he had the last time they broadcast together (Packers playoff loss to San Fran) and how he felt like "the loneliest broadcaster on the planet" because he didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his old friends; he said -- fighting back tears -- he felt the same way now, because he didn't have a chance to say goodbye to his old friend, Max.

You can read more about the service, as well as access other recollections about Max, here and here.

Thanks for all the memories on the field and in the broadcast booth, Max. Now you're moving on to the really Big Game! Say hello to Vince and Ray and Curly and Tony and Don...

RIP Max McGee

You know something is wrong when you turn the radio on in the morning and the sports guys are not doing their regular 15-after-the-hour time slot, but are talking with the other news folks at an odd time...words and phrases are spoken like "tragic," "Packers legend," "one-of-a-kind," "he was 75," "Minneapolis suburb," "fellow teammate Paul Hornung." First thoughts: an old Packer had died. When I heard Hornung's name, I immediately thought of Max McGee. Eventually, the radio folks got around to repeating the sad news: Max McGee is dead. Fell off the roof of his Minnesota home late Saturday afternoon while cleaning off leaves, despite his wife apparently telling him not to do so; it's unclear whether he was alone at the time, but sounds like it. Emergency personnel attempted to revive him, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Gone. A Lombardi Legend. A great player who also became a great radio broadcaster of Packers games along with Jim Irwin.

Here's a piece of trivia for the youngsters reading this: who was the first person to catch a touchdown pass in a Super Bowl? That's right, Max McGee in Super Bowl I. He had had one of his infamous nights on the town the evening before, figuring he wouldn't be playing much if at all. He had only caught four passes all year long in a reserve roll, after all. According to the the story, he wound up catching about an hour's sleep on the bus to the game. When an injury to starter Boyd Dowler on the second play of the game necessitated Max going in, he couldn't even find his helmet; had to play the first series with someone else's. He wound up having one of the best performances in Super Bowl history: seven catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns.

Max McGee: Packers Hall of Fame member. #85. A legend as a player and as a person.

He was truly one of a kind. Perhaps it's fitting there is no Packers game today. Gives us a moment to reflect on the life of one of the great receivers and personalities in Packers history.

You can read an article about Max here. No doubt there will be lots of tributes coming over the days ahead. And rightly so. Thanks, Max, for all the memories and all the laughs.

Blasts from the Past: Podcasts with Lombardi Legends

The 37th Annual Vince Lombardi Golf Classic tournament is taking place this weekend in Milwaukee...well, Menomonee Falls actually, a Milwaukee suburb. And it is one of the best places to see a lot of former Packers and other NFL and sports celebrities gathered together. Inevitably, stories turn to days of yore. After all, this is a tournament in honor of The Coach himself. Some stories relate to today, as well. On occasion, a microphone is nearby and we get to listen in.

We are treated to two such episodes in the form of podcasts courtesy of 620WTMJ radio in Milwaukee. Sports poobah (and did you know that the term "poobah" originated in Gilbert and Sullivan's The Mikado?), Bill Michaels, landed both interviews.

One compelling conversation is with Packers great Jerry Kramer, one of the best guards to ever play the game and who is still not in the Hall of Fame...but that's a whole other topic. In this interview, Kramer talks about his fight for better pensions and treatment of former NFL players. He has created an organization dedicated to this effort called Gridiron Greats which, by the way you can find in the Links area of PackerFansUnited.com. You can listen to this podcast by clicking here.

Michaels also hosted a one-of-a-kind roundtable discussion with a group of Packers who played in the Ice Bowl 40 years ago: Bart Starr, Jerry Kramer, Max McGee, Bob Jeter and Zeke Bratkowski. WTMJ's Jay Sorgi also helped facilitate things. Check it out here.

Barry Released

Packers offensive lineman Kevin Barry -- of "U71" package fame -- was released by the team yesterday. Barry was a favorite of former coach Mike Sherman for the power run blocking scheme he favored. However, with the move last season under new head coach Mike McCarthy toward a zone blocking scheme Barry no longer was a good fit. He was also hurt in training camp, rupturing a thigh tendon which sidelined him for the season. A Racine, Wisconsin native, Barry was a fan favorite. Being released by the Packers stung a bit, according to reports. But immediately upon being released his agent began receiving calls. A player of his size and ability, assuming he can make a full recovery from his injury, will certainly find a place somewhere in the league. Good luck, Kevin. It was fun watching you pancake opposing players. Just hope you don't do it to any of your former teammates any time soon.

10 Years Ago...

We can't let the date pass -- Jan. 26 -- without fondly recalling the day the Lombardi Trophy once again returned to where it belongs: Green Bay. It was on this date 10 years ago that the Packers defeated the New England Patriots 35-21 to win Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.

If you want to take a brief walk down memory lane, click here. You can also hear a couple Packers Radio Network audio clips from the game -- with Packer radio greats Jim Irwin, Max McGee and Larry McCarren -- by going here. Ah, those were the days!

To help refresh your memory, Desmond Howard was named MVP after returning a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown and tying a Super Bowl record with 244 total return yards. Brett Favre passed for two touchdowns, the first coming on a 54-yarder to Andre Rison on the Packers' second play from scrimmage to give the Pack a 7-0 lead. (Earlier this week, Rison was on one of the many ESPN talk shows and was asked what he remembered about the catch. He said it was the best catch he ever made. Not only was it caught in full stride but, for Rison, the fact that he had a lot of family and friends at the game just made it that much more special. He also said that it was great to be part of that Packers team and to help bring another championship to Green Bay after such a long dry spell. Rison was a great pick up for the Packers at the time, and made his contributions that year and that game.)

It Was 40 Years Ago Today, Sgt. Pepper Taught the...No..Wait...

Lest we forget: it was 40 years ago today that the Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs 35-10 in Super Bowl I...although it wasn't called the Super Bowl then. It was the AFL-NFL World Championship Game in those days. Starting with the third game in January 1969, the name "Super Bowl" became official. (The previous two games were renamed as Super Bowls I and II.)

We should give special kudos to Max McGee for that game. He had been out the night before and didn't expect to play. He was a bit "under the weather" shall we say. Still, he wound up making some spectacular catches and playing a key role in the win. He had 7 catches for 138 yards and 2 touchdowns.

You can read a great article about McGee's exploits -- both the night before and during the game itself -- here. Those were the days!