Pack's new punter a hit...so far

According to reports, the first day of new punter Jeremy Kapinos with the Packers went well. The Green Bay Press-Gazette says, "New punter Jeremy Kapinos drew some cheers and applause when his first practice punt as a Packer spiraled near the ceiling of The Don Hutson Center." The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel provides more details: "When Kapinos launched his first punt inside the Don Hutson Center 50 yards downfield with lots of hang time, he drew a number of loud 'Woooo's from the players. When he did it again on his second punt, this time dropping it along the sideline, the cheers from the gallery got even louder."

But was every punt today a winner? Not quite. The Journal-Sentinel continues, "Most of the rest of his punts were between 45 and 50 yards, but he only got the same hangtime on one other punt. In all, he punted eight times and of those eight two would be classified as low liners." Apparently, that was still good enough for his teammates. According to the Press-Gazette, "it was clear by the reaction of his new teammates that Kapinos' arrival has been well-received." Guess the fans weren't the only ones who were glad to see former punter Derrick Frost hit the road.

But as both of these reports note, Frost also was apparently a good practice punter; he just couldn't carry it over to games. So until we see Kapinos in a game, we won't know for sure what we have. Still, the Packers liked him enough to sign him to a two-year contract.

Oh, Kapinos is a left-footed punter, too. Which puts a different spin on the ball than most punt returners are used to...which could perhaps lead to a muff. At this stage of things, we'll take whatever advantage we can get, right?

Kapinos will not hold for kicker Mason Crosby's place kicks. That duty will fall to backup QB Matt Flynn.

The Packers official website has a nice write-up on Kapinos. You can find it here. The Press-Gazette and Journal-Sentinel reports can be found here and here respectively.

Let's hope the Pack uncovered a gem in the punting game ala Craig Hentrich. That would make up for the last left-footed punter we had (does the name B.J. Sander ring a bell?) as well as the roughly 9 or so others the Packers have tried since they let Hentrich walk away.

Packers pick new punter

The Packers have picked their third punter since the preseason, going with Jeremy Kapinos who beat out three other punters during tryouts yesterday and today. Kapinos was a Ray Guy Award finalist at Penn St. in 2007 and spent a little time with the Jets. He'll be at practice as part of the team tomorrow. No word on whether he will be the new holder for Mason Crosby or not.

Given the state of the punting game this season, Coach Mike McCarthy's expectations seem pretty reasonable. McCarthy said, "I want him to punt the ball in the right direction." Yeah, that would be good.

Poll: how many games will the Pack win down the stretch?

At the three-quarters mark of the 2008 season, and with the Packers sitting in third place (shudder!) in the NFC North with a 5-7 record, it might be of interest to see how many folks out there -- or at least those who care to voice an opinion -- think the Pack will win out...or not.

So, for any readers who care to participate, check out the poll in the righthand column underneath the link for our PackerFansUnited.com store (which, in the interest of a shameful plug, you will really want to visit to get some great gifts for family and friends for Christmas!). We'll keep the poll open until game time on Sunday.

Do you think the Pack will run the table and come up with a 9-7 final record? Or will it be something else? How many more games will the Packers win? Coming up are games against the Texans (at Lambeau), the Jaguars (away), Da Bearz (away), and the Lions (at Lambeau).

What say you? Vote today!

Breaking News: 2 ViQueens Suspended!
Well now here's a piece of breaking news that just might affect Minnesota's ability to hang on to it's #1 spot in the NFC North. Defensive linemen Kevin and Pat Williams (not related, as you know) were part of the six players suspended by the NFL today for four games -- that's the rest of the season, folks -- without pay for violating the league’s anti-doping policy. They were suspended for using a diuretic, which can serve as a masking agent for steroids. It's likely that there might be legal maneuvering of some kind to try to delay the suspensions.

But if the Williams' are done for the season, it would hit the ViQueens' defense hard and perhaps put their division lead in jeopardy as they head down the home stretch of this season. The 'Queens schedule winds up with the next two games on the road at Detroit and Arizona followed by their last two games at home against Atlanta and the NY Giants. According to an article in The Sporting News carried by Yahoo Sports, "The schedule was tough enough with the Williamses in the lineup. A 3-1 December likely would be good enough to win the weak NFC North, but the Vikings, based on the matchups, are now more likely to go 1-3."

As Seinfeld might say, "That's a shame."

As that same article also states, "What does that mean? It’s now a good bet the Bears-Packers game at Soldier Field in Week 16 will decide the division. Green Bay is the biggest beneficiary of the Vikings’ suspensions, because of all the teams in the NFC North, it has the best chance of running the table."

It ain't over yet, Packer fans. Not yet.

At least we're #1 in something right now

While the Packers may be sitting in 3rd place in the mediocre NFC North at the moment, we are first in something: brand strength in our home market. And not just in football. In all sports!

Huh?

According to a report in today's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, "Turnkey Sports & Entertainment, a sports marketing company, has released its team brand index, and the Packers are No. 1 in all of sports. Last year, the index ranked the Packers 10th." Len Perna, president and chief executive of the New Jersey-based company behind this index, explains it this way: "What this is saying is the following the Packers have is more intensely loyal to supporting the Packers than any other team. What this basically says is that all other things being equal, a sponsor gets more value in sponsoring the Packers than any other team."

Like we Packer fans didn't already know that, right?

Granted, the survey behind this index was completed last June. The Pack was coming off a 13-3 season. Perna says in the article that a lot of this loyalty had to do, not surprisingly, with Brett Favre. Big mistake from the brand standpoint of letting him go, Perna points out. Yep, we knew that too, thank you.

Anyway, you can read the article here for more info.

Guess we could probably project a drop in the Pack's index spot next year. But for now, say it with me, "We're number one!!!"

At least we have that goin' for us.

Packers boot punter Frost

After 12 games of mediocre punting -- and that's being generous -- punter Derrick Frost has been released by the Packers, according to an official news release from the team. Curiously, the release doesn't indicate who, if anyone, has now been signed as the punter for the rest of the season. It spends more time talking about the Pack finally placing LB Nick Barnett and DE Kenny Pettway on injured reserve and the signings of DT Alfred Malone and CB Joe Porter from the practice squad to take their roster spots.

Frost was booed handily after 3 of his 4 punts yesterday at Lambeau.

Frost ranked 23rd in the league in overall punting. Jon Ryan, who was released the week before the start of the regular season -- at the behest of special teams coach, Mike Stock (and who should also get the boot at the end of the season, by the way) -- to make room for Frost, is currently ranked 5th overall in the league. Nice call, coach Stock.

There are not currently that many good free agent punters available to be picked up, so it will be interesting to see exactly who GM Ted Thompson has in the wings to replace Frost before Sunday's game against the Texans. Hopefully, he won't be taking any more of coach Stock's suggestions. According to a report in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, the Packers are going to work out three punters tomorrow: Paul Ernster, Durant Brooks and Jeremy Kapinos. Check out the article for more details.

The Frost departure also means that K Mason Crosby is going to have to get used to yet another holder for his place kicks. This will be his third holder since the last week of preseason.

You can read the full Packers news release here.

Final: Packers 31 - Panthers 35

The Packers not only dominated the 3rd quarter but also the 4th. After going up 28-21 at the start of the final quarter, the Packers special teams once again gave up a big return, this one a 51-yarder to set up Carolina in great field position. On their possession, Carolina converted a 3rd and 11 from their own 37-yard line down to the 1 on a pass from Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith. The score was soon tied at 28-28.

The Pack then had nearly a 10-minute drive, but could not get it in from about the 1-yard line with two plays to spare and had to settle for a field goal to go up 31-28.

Once more, the Packers special teams gave Carolina a short field, giving up another 40+ yard kickoff return with under 2 minutes to go. On the first play, Delhomme converted on about a 40 yard pass play to Smith down to the 1-yard line with a minute-and-half left in the game.

The Pack had one possession to try to get a TD to win, starting at about their own 17. Too much to ask. An interception sealed the deal.

The Packers should have won this game. They had more than 400 yards of total offense. But the kickoff return coverage repeatedly gave Carolina a short field to play on most of the day. And the team's inability to rush the ball in for a TD on 2 plays from the 1-yard line with less than 2 minutes to go proved fatal. Despite the Packers overwhelming time of possession advantage, when your opponent only has to play on half the field that doesn't count for much. It's the final score that matters. And once again for the Pack, it was close but no cigar as the saying goes. How many times have we said that this year? What separates the good teams from the mediocre is the ability to win close games. The Packers have been on the short side of that more often than not this season. This was the Packers fourth loss this season by 4 points or less.

A great second half effort wasted. A season basically wasted. The Packers are 5-7, and will go 2 games down with 4 remaining to either Chicago or Minnesota after their game tonight. Face reality, Packer fans: barring a miracle of Biblical proportions, there will be no playoff berth for the Pack this year.

Pass the Pepto, please. It's enough to make ya sick. Really.

P.S. Did I mention that special teams coach Mike Stock should be fired at the end of this season? No? Well, I'm mentioning it now.

End of 3rd quarter: Packers 21 - Panthers 21

It was gut check time for the Packers at halftime. And the team responded by dominating the quarter. They picked up a field goal by Mason Crosby early in the quarter to make the score Packers 13 - Panthers 21. Then they put together a 95-yard drive, keyed by a 46-yard rainbow pass play from Aaron Rodgers to Donald Driver. The Pack got their TD on a pass from Rodgers to TE Donald Lee. The Packers also converted a 2-point play on a pass from Rodgers to WR Greg Jennings to even up the score at 21-21.

As the quarter was winding down, the Pack was driving again.

Go Pack Go!!!

Halftime: Packers 10 - Panthers 21

The Pack had to settle for a field goal early in the quarter, to make the score Packers 3 - Panthers 7.

After giving up a big kickoff return -- something the Packers special teams have been doing more and more as the season has worn on -- and setting Carolina up at almost midfield, Carolina was soon to score. The key play was a 43-yard run by rookie RB Jonathon Stewart. He was bottled up at the line of scrimmage and somehow broke through. There was no one there to stop him once that happened. Tramon Williams eventually caught up with him before he hit the endzone and actually helped cause a fumble, which unfortunately was recovered at the 2 by the Panthers. Jake Delhomme scampered in for a TD two plays later to put Carolina up 14-3.

The Packers then got a drive of their own going, combining some good running by Ryan Grant and some key receptions by Donald Driver. The key run, though, turned out to be a rush by Brandon Jackson, who took the ball down to about the 5. He replaced Grant who appeared to limp off the field a play earlier. On third and goal, Aaron Rodgers drilled a pass to Donald Driver for a TD. Packers 10 - Panthers 14.

After then holding Carolina to three and out and apparently gaining some momentum, the Packers took over inside their own 30. On the first snap, however, that momentum came to a screeching halt: center Scott Wells (who has been playing with a bad shoulder) snapped the ball well over Rodgers' head. You guessed it: recovered by Carolina at around the Packers 20-yard line. From there, it only took four plays for the Panthers to find the endzone, with DeAngelo Williams walking in untouched around the left side of the line. Packers 10 - Panthers 21. A costly turnover for the Pack that gave Carolina an easy 7 just before half.

Jason Spitz took over at center for Wells on the Pack's final series of the half, with Josh Sitton coming in to take Spitz' spot on the line.

The Packers had the ball for roughly seven minutes longer than Carolina in the half. Unfortunately, they didn't do much with it. It's going to be a tough second half.

End of 1st quarter: Packers 0 - Panthers 7

The Packers averted an opening play disaster by causing and recovering a fumble on a flea flicker pass reception that would have put Carolina on about the Packers 20-yard line. Unfortunately, the Pack didn't do anything with it.

And remember what I said in my game preview about trying to keep our punter Derrick Frost from punting? Well, he's punted three times in the first quarter...yikes.

The Pack did get a sack along the way. But also gave up a 15-yard run by DeAngelo Williams on a short field -- which Carolina had most of the quarter -- to set up the Panthers touchdown.

The Pack finally got something going at the end of the quarter, which will hopefully get them a score early in the second quarter.

But there doesn't seem to be much of a sense of urgency or energy by the Pack, yet again. And, other than the sack by Aaron Kampman, the D-line is once again exerting no pressure whatsoever.

Packers - Panthers preview

It's just a few hours until kickoff at Lambeau. And this time of year, in addition to the teams and individual players we also start to pay a bit more attention to the weather. The weather forecast for Green Bay today calls for temps in the upper 30's, winds at 15-25 mph, and a chance of steady snow at some point in the afternoon. Oh, and did I mention that there is actually a winter storm warning in effect until 6 a.m. Monday? The forecast seems to indicate most of that possibility coming this evening, however, and with most of the accumulation to the south of Green Bay. So those folks traveling back to the Milwaukee area after the game, for example, may have to be wary of road conditions. As we all know, when it comes to these first of the season major snow warnings, it's a bit of an iffy proposition.

Anyway...enough of Mr. Meteorologist. What about the game?

These days, that prognostication seems as iffy as the weather forecast. Which Packers team will show up? The team that dominated Da Bearz? Or the team that got blown out by the Saints? It has been an up and down season, as reflected by our team's 5-6 record. Yes, the Packers get the home field advantage spread of 3 points going into the game. But Carolina is 8-3. Statistically? Well, going into Monday night most of that advantage went to the Pack over the Saints...so guess we shouldn't make too much of that comparison this week. Except, perhaps, for the fact that Panthers' running back DeAngelo Williams has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last four games. The Pack hasn't exactly been too consistent in stopping the run. So, he could present problems. As could WR Steve Smith, of course, especially if the Packers defensive backfield falls asleep two games in a row. QB Jake Delhomme is a smart veteran not prone to make mistakes. His arm hasn't fully returned to his pre-surgery strength, but smarts can help him compensate. As to the defense, RE Julius Peppers is a pass rush threat.

On the Packers side of things, the injury report is as long as it's been all season. Lots of guys dinged up. But it's also time for whoever is in there to step it up. Play has been pretty flat of late. If they show up today with the same lack of energy they had in New Orleans you can forget the playoffs. With just four games remaining after today, if the Packers were to lose they'd fall either 2 games behind Da Bearz or the ViQueens (who play each other today...and because of potential tie-breakers, we have to root for the 'Queens today!). In short, that makes today's game a must-win for the Pack. Even with a win, they'd still be a game behind. But 2 games behind? Something we can't even think about it.

The Pack needs to get Ryan Grant cranked up and run, run, run the ball today. The Packers offense needs to minimize the number of times it has to call upon so-called punter Derrick Frost who is more of an asset to the opponent with his kicking game than he is to the Packers. The Pack also needs to somehow, some way stop the Panthers' running game and also get a pass rush once in a while. Delhomme, while no Drew Brees, could certainly do some damage through the air if he's allowed to stand back in the pocket and not worry about getting smacked once in a while.

This is a tough game to call. The Pack needs this game badly. But which team will show up? If Coach Mike McCarthy isn't able to get his team jazzed for this one...

I'll drink that green 'n' gold kool-aide one more time: Packers 24 - Panthers 20.

Go Pack Go!!!

LeRoy's view

There's a concise and insightful analysis of the Packers' loss at New Orleans and more courtesy of retired Packers safety LeRoy Butler here. Bottom line: he called the loss a "collective effort" with players not prepared, but coaches, etc. needing to share responsibility. Having said that, Butler also said "there was nothing wrong with the game plan," that it was the same plan which shut down Peyton Manning and the Colts. Anyway, some interesting comments for you to check out.

Injuries hit again
After having a spate of injuries early in the season, and then seemingly getting a bit healthier as of late, the Pack took a hit coming out of the Saints game. The safeties, especially, came out banged up. Aaron Rouse, Atari Bigby, Charlie Peprah and Nick Collins all are dealing with ailments. Also on the defensive side of things, Johnny Jolly came out dinged up.

On the offensive side of the ball, the most concerning injury is that of RT Mark Tauscher, who left the game after the second play Monday night. He was undergoing tests yesterday to determine just how bad the hamstring injury is but the fact they were doing an MRI indicates it is likely to keep him out of at least this week's game against Carolina. Tony Moll filled in for Tauscher and for the most part did an adequate job. Also nicked up are TE Tory Humphrey and RB Brandon Jackson.

You can read more about the injuries here.

As Butler says, the Packers are the most talented team in the Division, which might not be saying much this year. And the Packers certainly aren't demonstrating that fact either. But injuries going down the stretch run, combined with inconsistent play, may seal the Packers fate...unless they turn it around starting this Sunday.

Day-after game analysis: What the (fill in the blank)?

My pregame score prediction for last night's Packers-Saints game was 30-24 Packers. Well, I was close on the Pack, who wound up with 29. But the Saints? I was just a smidgen off on that one. But after reviewing my notes, I found that I had actually factored those 24 points as the first half score only for the Saints and forgot that I needed to double it for the final outcome.

OK...that's not true. Just trying to have a little fun. You know, gallows humor kind of thing.

But there was nothing funny about the way the Pack got sliced and diced last night in the Big Easy.

The Pack's season-long flaws were on display for all to see: no pass rush, average linebacking, horrible punter and sieve-like special teams coverage, vanilla defensive schemes. A new starting QB and defensive backfield -- the former actually in the top 5 in the league and the latter heretofore the best in the league -- were also not at their finest. The running game? Looked OK to start, but as the third quarter spiraled out of control, that had to be shelved entirely.

A couple observations, for what they're worth.

First, special teams coach Mike Stock should be sent packing, along with his chosen punter, Derrick Frost, after the season. His dumping of Jon Ryan for Frost has been a major personnel blunder. When a punter is shanking and short-kicking the ball in a dome, you know there's problems. Combine that side of things with horrible punt and kick coverage...think about it: seemingly every time the Packers have a score and get some momentum the kick coverage team gives up a big return and fritters that momentum away in a matter of seconds.

Second, defensive coordinator Bob Sanders should also be shown the door. Now, granted, injuries and GM Ted Thompson combined not to do him any favors in terms of the personnel on the defensive line. Other than Aaron Kampman, the Packers have no pass rush whatsoever. Combine this with the fact that the Packers rarely if ever blitz, and a quarterback like Drew Brees has easy pickin's, just like last night. Example: somewhere along the way the Saints had a 3rd and 15, if I recall. The Packers dropped 8 into coverage and "rushed" 3 -- I put rushed in quotes because it is really more a euphemism than an actual description of what happened. Brees had all the time in the world to find an open receiver and get the first down. Hey, coach Sanders...here's a new scheme for you: why don't you just drop everyone into coverage and not rush anyone at all...if would work just as well as what you're calling now.

Yes, injuries along the D-line are playing a role. But so is the fact that Thompson, with a boatload of salary cap money to spend in the offseason to bolster that line, essentially did nothing.

So, what next? Nothing to do but get ready on a short week for the 8-3 Carolina Panthers. At least it's home at Lambeau. But unless the Pack regains the attitude they had in demolishing Da Bearz -- and gets it back this weekend -- we might as well start thinking about draft picks for next season. We aren't there yet. But with what's broken on the Packers, there are no quick fixes. Chicago and Minnesota play each other this weekend in the HumpDome. The Pack needs to win to stay just one game behind in the Division, even with the win. If they drop the game to Carolina, they'll be 2 back with just 4 games left. Not impossible, especially with games against Da Bearz and the Lions among them. Winning out is what's needed. But is it likely? You need to make that call for yourself.

Which team is the real Packers? The one that smacked Da Bearz? Or the team that got whipped by the Saints? The Packers have been inconsistent all season long. That pattern, regrettably, seems to be the only thing that's been consistent about this team.

Stick a fork in it: Packers 29 - Saints 51 final

The Saints wound up tying their own team record for points scored in a game at 51. They actually could have set a new team record if they had kicked a PAT after their final TD rather than bizarrely going for a two-point conversion.

The Packers did score a TD and a went for their own two-point conversion, which they made. But Aaron Rodgers also threw his third interception of the evening on a 4th and 16 play to the endzone with about 6 minutes to go.

The Packers had their butts kicked. The offense, especially Rodgers, was not sharp. But worse, the defense was missing in action and generated no pressure on Drew Brees, and allowed two 70-yard TD passes, with most of those yards coming after the catch.

It was not the game the Packers needed. With five games remaining, this loss deals a serious blow to their playoff possibilities as they are now a full game behind both Chicago and Minnesota.

For as well as they played last weekend against Da Bearz, they played just as badly tonight. Embarrassing. Simply embarrassing.

End of 3rd quarter: Packers 21 - Saints 45

The Packers scored...nothing in the 3rd quarter. Turned the ball over twice.

The Saints? Scored 21 in the quarter. Including another 70-yard TD pass.

The #1 pass defense was shredded by the #1 pass offense.

Embarrassing. No pressure on Saints QB Drew Brees, who is using the Packers defense for target practice. Aaron Rodgers was victimized on his two interceptions by a slip by Greg Jennings and what appeared to be an incomplete route to the inside by rookie WR Jordy Nelson. But he also has been a bit off all night and that hasn't helped.

All the energy is with the Saints. The Packers defense has been non-existent.

Again...embarrassing.

Game over, regardless of what happens in the 4th quarter. The Pack will drop a game behind Da Bearz and the ViQueens.

Give credit to the Saints. But the Packers defense never showed up.

Halftime: Packers 21 - Saints 24

It's a high-scoring 1st half in N'awlins!

The Pack got 2 TDs in the second quarter, one coming early on a pass from Aaron Rodgers to Greg Jennings, and the second coming with less than 2 minutes left in the half on a 10-yard scramble by Rodgers. In between, there was another Saints TD, with again no pressure on Drew Brees at all.

Unfortunately, after the Pack tied the score at 21-21, they gave up a huge kickoff return setting up the Saints deep in the Packers' territory. Combined with the total lack of pressure on Brees except for the last few plays, another score in the form of a field goal, was a piece of cake for the Saints.

The Packers have to figure out a way in the second half to get pressure on Brees. Heck, give you or me the time he has to pass and we could even complete some passes...OK, that's an exaggeration, but you know what I mean. The Pack doesn't like to blitz. But unless they start mixing it up in the second half and making Brees worry a little bit it's going to be a long night.

The other correction the Pack needs to make is special teams, which has directly contributed to 10 points for the Saints tonight: 7 set up through a bad punt by Derrick Frost -- those are almost synonymous terms, aren't they? -- and the field goal set up through horrible kickoff coverage that gave the Saints -- who really don't need it -- a short field.

The Pack can score on the Saints. The problem is that the Saints can also score on the Pack. If it keeps up like this in the second half it might go down to which team has the ball last.

End of 1st quarter: Packers 7 - Saints 14

No Reggie Bush for the Saints tonight. And for the Pack, RT Mark Tauscher goes to the locker room early with a reported hamstring injury.

The Packers struck first, with a TD drive set up by a good punt return by Will Blackmon and finished off with a 1-yard TD plunge by FB John Kuhn. Then the Saints came back on a 70 yard pass in the flat and a blown coverage by Atari Bigby, who never laid a hand on the receiver. Then the Pack, courtesy of yet another lousy punt by Derrick Bush, set up the Saints at the Packers own 41. A few plays later, the score is 14-7 Saints.

The Packers are getting no pressure whatsoever on Saints QB Drew Brees, which is going to make for a long night unless they figure out a way to do so. Conversely, Aaron Rodgers has been off on a few throws and seems not yet to be in sync. He missed a wide open Greg Jennings on what would have been a sure TD had he not underthrown the ball; Rodgers' reaction, caught by the Monday Night Football cameras, showed he was well aware of that.

Packers vs Saints preview

Hope you all enjoyed your day off from Packers football yesterday. If you're like me, though, somehow it seems to all get out of sync with no Sunday game. Sure, there are other games to watch. Like many folks, I checked occasionally on the Jets game to see how ol' #4 was doing. He done good, as he himself might say. The Jets halted the Titans' unbeaten streak. Some folks are actually starting now to suggest the possibility of a Giants-Jets Super Bowl. As boring as that might be for many beyond the East Coast, there are quite a few Packers fans who would love to see it. Firstly, for seeing Brett in the Big Game again. And, secondly, because if the Jets get to the Super Bowl the Packers wind up getting a first round draft pick in compensation for Favre. Go Brett Go!!!

Oh sure, we were also able to watch or at least catch the scores of other games that matter. Da Bearz and ViQueens, sadly, both won, and are again tied atop the Division. The Packers need to win tonight in order to stay even.

So, what do we know? Firstly, that the spread has gone from about 2-1/2 points in favor of the Saints this weekend down to 1 point now. We also know that the Saints ain't the 'aints any more. With Drew Brees at the helm, they have the #1 rated offense in the NFL, rolling up over 400 yards per game. Still, at 5-5, the Saints are sitting at the bottom of their division, 3 games behind leaders Tampa Bay and Carolina and 2 behind Atlanta. Kind of ironic, isn't it, that going into this weekend that same record would tie them for the lead in the NFC North? So it goes.

With such a high-powered offense how is that they are bottom-feeding? Only winning one of five road games will do that to you. As will only having a +17 point total scoring differential versus your opponents after 10 games. In that stat category, the Pack have a +65 point differential versus opponents; only six other teams in the entire NFL have a better point differential than the Pack. In fact, the Packers have actually outscored the Saints 274 to 266. So who's got the high-flying offense? Hmmm. Just as importantly, the Pack have held opponents to 209 points over their 10 games. The Saints, by contrast, have given up 40 more points than the Packers, 249 overall.

So, looking at those stats, offensively and defensively, the Packers should come out on top. But you have to play the game, right? And if the Packers play the way they did last weekend against Da Bearz, the result should be equally as good. Don't expect as much of a blow out, though. After all, the Saints do have an offense. The best defense -- other than the Pack's top-notch defensive backfield, that is -- would be to keep the Saints offense, including RB Reggie Bush who is expected to play this evening, on the bench. That also means keeping the Pack's newly-revitalized ground game churning as much as possible to eat up the clock. Also, protecting Aaron Rodgers as well as they did last week.

There may be more to discuss here prior to kickoff. But just in case, let's make our call right now: Packers 30 - Saints 24.

Go Pack Go!!!

Grant and McCarthy win weekly awards

Thanks, no doubt, to the surge of votes from readers of PackerFansUnited.com (yes, a shameless plug, but what the heck), RB Ryan Grant was selected as the FedEx Ground Player of the Week and Head Coach Mike McCarthy was named as the Motorola NFL Coach of the Week. Arizona QB Kurt Warner -- a former Packer, remember??? -- was named the FedEx Air Player of the Week.

As we well remember, Grant racked up 145 yards rushing and a TD in helping demolish Da Bearz last Sunday. And, of course, Coach McCarthy was the whiz who crafted the game plan that led the Pack to that great victory. What was the score again? Oh, yeah: 37-3!

You can read more about Grant's award here and McCarthy's here.

Congrats to Mr. Grant and Coach McCarthy. Oh...and you have 6 more of these awards to win yet this year if you care to. Good luck!

Glory Years CB Bob Jeter Dies

Cornerback Bob Jeter, #21, who played with the Packers from 1962-1971 and was part of three World Championships with the team, passed away unexpectedly at his Chicago home yesterday. According to reports, death was apparently due to cardiac arrest. Jeter was 71.

Jeter was arguably one of the best cornerbacks of his time. He made the Pro Bowl in 1967 and 1969. He played in 107 regular season games with the Packers, plus an additional three years with Da Bearz after being traded to them in 1971. Jeter finished his career with 26 interceptions for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He is a member of the Packers Hall of Fame.

With this kind of record, one might think this was the position Jeter played from college onward. Nope. He was a running back at Iowa. He actually set a Rose Bowl record in 1959 with 194 yards rushing in just nine carries as the Hawkeyes beat California 38-12. Wow.

Instead of playing in the NFL, however, Jeter signed a contract before the NFL draft with the Canadian Football League, where he played two years. This contract signing, though, didn't prevent Vince Lombardi from spending a second round draft pick on him anyway just to have his rights. After sitting out a year after leaving Canada, as required by NFL rules at the time, Jeter joined the Pack. Lombardi apparently wanted to play him at receiver, and envisioned him as a backup to Boyd Dowler. But after dislocating a finger on one hand, and then on the other, on two consecutive days, the story goes that Lombardi told him he had "soft bones" and to start practicing with the defense. Thank goodness those soft bones still let him haul in those 26 interceptions and, along with Herb Adderly, be part of one of the best cornerback duos of that era.

Jeter's son, Rob, is currently head coach of the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee's men's basketball team.

If you want to read more about Jeter, check out this story.

Photojournal from Packer win

If you want to relive some of the finer moments of the Packers demolishing of Da Bearz, check out this "Along the Lines" slideshow by Green Bay Press-Gazette photojournalist, Evan Siegle. You also get his commentary about some of the shots, the game, and insights into what it must be like to be a sports photographer on the football field. Very cool, and some great pix.

Check it out here.

Vote early, vote often
Yes, that tried and true strategy (another gift from Chicago) is nowhere more true than in the Pro Bowl balloting. If you haven't yet cast your votes for your favorite Packers -- which would be all of them, right? -- just click here to go to the official site.

And since Ryan Grant ran all over Da Bearz to the tune of 145 yards, he's one of the nominees for this week's FedEx NFL Ground Player of the Week. Cast your vote for him here.

Head Coach Mike McCarthy is also a nominee for this week's Motorola Coach of the Week honor. Who's he up against? Eric Mangini and Mike Singletary. C'mon...no contest. Vote here.

And last but not least, be sure to vote for this year's inductee into the Packers Fan Hall of Fame. Go here for more.