Ted, Just Say No to Tebow.

When the news came out that Peyton Manning had signed with the Broncos a new question started getting asked. Where will Tim Tebow end up? At first everyone thought it would be one of the Florida teams, since he's from there and with both Miami and Jacksonville struggling to sell out at times, it makes sense (my guess in Miami because Ireland and Ross keep striking out and they need to do something in the offseason). Tebow brings a huge fan base. Tebow would put butts in the seats. So I assume he'll go to one of those two teams and head to sleep.

I woke up this morning and didn't think anything of it. Got in the car and turned the radio on to find that Skip Bayless was on Mike and Mike. Ugh. Couldn't listen so I changed the channel. I guess it should have been an omen. Then I get to work and see that Green Bay is being discussed as a landing spot for Tebow. I laughed it up. But then fan bloggers that I like and agree with most of the time started talking about how they could see Tebow in Green and Gold. I've had enough

There are three reasons why I don't want Tebow in a Packers uniform. First, he's not accurate passing the ball and that is essential to the Packers offense. He's had several years to work on his accuracy and throwing motion. If it's not fixed by now, it won't be getting better.

Second, I don't think you should have a back up QB who can't run your offense and I can't see Tebow running an offense anything like what the Packers run. Sure, Packers fans have been spoiled in this regard over the past several seasons. We've had Matt Hasselback, Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks, Aaron Rodgers and most recently Matt Flynn backing up our starting QBs. That's quite a haul and I know better than to expect the next backup QB to be as good as any of those guys. But he has got to at least be able to run the base offense. The Broncos had to vastly simplify their offense last year when Tebow became the starter. While it worked, I don't see it working if Aaron Rodgers misses a quarter due to injury or even a game or two during a season.

The third and biggest reason is I'm scared what would happen if Rodgers had a bad game or two. How many INTs before Tebow fans start clamoring for him to start? A 2 game losing streak? A 2 pick game? What would it take? We watched it play out on national TV last year. I think it would happen sooner than people think. Skip Bayless would be after McCarthy to put Tebow in after Rodgers 1st incompletion. Tebow would bring a huge contingent of fans that would expect Tebow to take over quickly as well. While I have faith that a large core of fans would stick by Rodgers, I'm scared that it would bring about a rift in the fan base and quickly as well.

So please Ted, just say no to Tebow.

Where is Brett Favre's Place in History?

When I went to Green Bay for the Rams game, I bought my son and daughter each things from the stadium Packers Pro Shop. I knew that these things would mean more to them because of where they came from. One of the things I got for Hunter was a 2011 Packers team set of football cards. He thought it was awesome. He looks at the cards over and over and is constantly asking questions about Not just the stats on the cards, but what I think about the team and who I think are the best Packers of all time. He also asked if I had cards from when I was a kid. Up into the attic I went. I happen to have a decent sized collection of football and baseball cards, including a Tony Gwynn rookie, 2 Ken Griffey Jr rookies and a few different Brett Favre rookies.

I also have a 1995 Team Pinnacle insert card with Favre on one side and John Elway on the other. Well, Hunter is already a Packers knowledge sponge and he knows that the Packers lost to the Broncos in Super Bowl 32. So Hunter starts asking me questions. About that Super Bowl. About why Favre was in a Falcons jersey on his rookie card. About Don Majkowski. And then he dropped the bombshell on me. "Dad do you think John Elway was a better QB than Brett Favre?"

The real bombshell to me was that the answer came to me so quickly. I told him that yes, I did think Elway was a better QB than Favre. Elway took the Broncos to a total of 5 Super Bowls and won 2. He had led the Drive. He was THE comeback QB for the Broncos before there was Tebow. And I think in a different era Elway would have had more yards and TDs.

The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I got. I'm a Packers fan. How could I dare to take Elway before Favre? I just kept coming back to the early Super Bowls and what could have been. I also remember thinking about how Elway grew as a player. As he got older, Elway became a much more thoughtful QB. His completion percentage went way up in the 2nd half of his career and his TD/INT ratio was much improved as well.

You can't say the same for Favre. He was the same gunslinger at 41 as he was at 23. The more I looked at the stats, the INTs, the playoff runs that were ended by horrible throws, the more I realized why I've been so mad at Favre for so long. It wasn't because he went to Minnesota. It wasn't because he thumbed his nose at the fans by saying the Viking fans were better. And it wasn't because of the obscene texts he sent. I'm mad at Favre because instead of continuing to grow as a QB, Favre chose to just sling the ball around. I'm mad because Brett Favre is the most talented QB I've had the pleasure to watch live. I'm mad because Brett Favre's place in History should be at the top of the mountain by a long shot and he's not.

Thank You Skip Bayless

I know, I know. WTF am I thinking? Thanking Skip Bayless? Why would I do such a stupid thing? I dislike Skip just as much as the next Packers fan. He's a troll, plain and simple. I've been begging people to stop feeding him. So why am I saying thank you? I'll get there. But first, some of the tweets that get everyone so torqued off.

1. "All I'm saying about Packers: They don't have that 1 win vs. NE, Balt, Pitt, SF, @N.O., Dallas or any hot/healthy team that made me say wow." So, he's saying we didn't play the Saints the first week of the year I guess.

2. "You'd better believe I'm taking Tebow over ARodg in last 2 mins. I've SEEN Tebow do it again/again/again. ARodg hasn't had many chances." I was left speechless after this one.

3. "Kevin Smith lost early, more DB injuries, Hanson missed easy FG, Suh self-destructs - this season meant-to-be for Green Bay. More breaks!" Yep, they've caught every break. Nothing like the great breaks of losing one of your top DBs in the second game of the year, losing your long time LT for several weeks and having a starting DE miss more than half the season.

4. "For that matter, I dare Aaron Rodgers to try to convince me face to face how all-time great HE is. He's certainly arrogant enough to do so." This one angers me more than anything. Rodgers has never claimed to be anything. It's fans, the media and Rodgers own play (but certainly not his words) that have put him on the pedestal.

So, why do I say thanks to Skp? Simple. Rodgers himself has spoken about using falling in the draft and the fallout from trading Favre so Aaron could start as fuel to keep getting better. We as fans get to watch an 11-0 football team that still plays with a chip on their shoulder.  I truly believe that the naysayers like Skip are a big reason for it. So here's to hoping Skip can naysay Rodgers to the MVP and the Packers to the SUPER BOWL.

THANKS SKIP!!!

Is This the Week the Trap Game is Actually a Trap Game?

I say it every week. "a lot of people think this game against the Broncos is a trap game. I agree." "The Packers are 7-0, so why am I worried?" If you listen to Cheesehead Radio (Hi Guys!) you heard me in the Throwback Weekend Party Line call telling the world I thought the Packers would win a close one 27-21. Now, I'm like Brian Carriveau. Every week the team proves me wrong I'm happy. But I keep saying it. "TRAP GAME!" And I'm saying it again this week.

If you watched their game two weeks ago, you saw the Jets tear the Chargers apart in the 2nd half with 17 unanswered points to win. Then you saw the Chiefs rip the Chargers heart out on Monday Night Football with an overtime victory. In that game, the Chargers had the ball on the KC 15 with 1 minute to go preparing to kick the winning field goal. The Chargers come into this game with a 4-3 record. Philip Rivers looks like he's just off this season. Antonio Gates is playing hurt. Ryan Mathews, Shaun Phillips, Malcom Floyd and Na'il Diggs are all at least questionable on the Chargers injury report. They are missing G Kris Dielman and DE Luis Castillo due to injury. So, why am I saying trap game once again?

First, the Chargers have not lost at home this season. I know there will be a ton of Packers fans in the stadium Sunday so I'm not as concerned about the home field advantage as I would be. Also, their wins at home are against the Chiefs, the Dolphins and the Vikings. Still, undefeated is undefeated and I can't discount the long flight and the time change as well.

Second, Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates scare me. Even with Gates battling a foot injury, he can be deadly if he gets covered by LBs. And Jackson is one of the better big WRs in the league. The Packers are giving up almost 300 passing yards per game (31st in the league). Two different QBs have gone for over 400 passing yards against the Packers defense. If this is the game Rivers gets going, he could be #3 with Jackson and Gates to throw to.

Finally, the Chargers are still tied for first in the AFC West even though the Chargers seem to get off to a slow start every year under Norv Turner. They know that a win against the Packers will get them to 5-3 and right back in the hunt for a playoff spot. Heck, they'd only be a game out of a bye week in the wide open AFC. In contrast the Packers are two games in the loss column ahead of the Lions and in control of their own destiny to earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs.

I'm sure you all think I'm crazy for thinking every game is a trap game. You're probably right. I'm hoping so at least. But I can't get a certain cliche about a wounded animal out of my head. Here's to hoping the Chargers don't lash out until after they've lost to the Packers.

The Packers are 7-0, So Why Am I Worried?

I struggled this week, trying to think of something to write about.  I mean it's the bye week, the team is undefeated, what's to worry about? Well, I did some thinking and I did some thinking and I found two things I'm going to be concerned about for the rest of the season. First, there are a lot of losable games left on the schedule (Detroit x2, Chicago, @ the New York Giants, and of course @ the Chargers next Sunday). I'm also worried about the amount of yardage the defense has been giving up.

Yes, I know I said the Packers would go undefeated this year, but I think every game left on on the schedule except for the Vikings game in two weeks are losable. As we get further into the season every game becomes a trap game in my opinion. There's not a lot of separation of talent in the NFL. Every player in the NFL is a great athelete so if a team gets overconfident or complacent they are in trouble. I don't think the Packers have as much of a problem with this as most teams, but I still worry. Will Aaron Rodgers find another perceived slight to drive him? Will Mike McCarthy keep finding material to keep the rest of the team fired up? Does Dom Capers have the game plan to solve the problems on defense? Can the team continue to stay relatively healthy?


With the way the defense has been giving up yards (27th in the league at 391 YPG), I think I have reason to worry. Give a team like the Giants 424 yards of net offense and they will put up a lot more than the 3 points the Rams did. I don't think the Packers can continue with this bend but don't break philosophy. The Packers only have one more rookie QB on the schedule this year (poor Christian Ponder), so it won't be as easy to cause turnovers and keep points off the board. The defense has to improve on their run stopping. Green Bay's D is 14th against the run, but it's deceptive. Opposing rushers are averaging 4.6 yards per carry against the Packers. It really puts pressure on the offense to keep putting points on the board and force the opponents to put the ball in the air. If the offense sputters for a whole game like it did in the 2nd half against the Rams, I don't think the defense will hold up.

Finally today, with the injury to Alex Green I think the Packers need to think about claiming Tashard Choice who was waived by the Dallas Cowboys earlier today. I know he's been fighting a couple injuries himself the past few weeks, but when healthy he can be a difference maker. With both James Starks and Ryan Grant having some injury issues in the past, I don't think you can trust them enough to go through the rest of the season with only two pure running backs.

Positions of Concern for the Packers

Is T J Lang the answer at left left guard?

I'm not one to question Ted Thompson. I was ready for Brett Favre to go a season before the trade to the Jets. I've always been a fan of building through the draft. As they say "In Ted We Trust." But, I can't get away from my concerns at two positions, left guard and defensive end.

This offseason saw the departure of the last two players to start at LG for the Packers with Daryn Colledge signing with Arizona and Jason Spitz signing with Jacksonville. The preseason has seen third year G/T T. J. Lang and rookie first round pick Derek Sherrod alternate on first team reps. Most people think Lang has the lead in the race to start the season with the first team offense. I'm not sold on either Lang or Sherrod though. I'm sure Sherrod has a lot of talent, but coming into camp so late because of the lockout I think he's too far behind. He's looked slow and at times seems to come off the ball too high. This has led to a lot of pressure on the QB. I think he has a future with the team for sure, I just think both Sherrod and the team would benefit from him learning from the sidelines this season. I'm hopeful that we'll see Lang clean up his play if he gets more reps with he first team. If Lang doesn't improve Aaron Rodgers is in trouble.

B. J. Raji is one of the top 3-4 ends in the league. The problem is you need two DEs in a 3-4 defense. With the loss of Cullen Jenkins in free agency, Mike Neal has inherited the starting spot opposite Raji. Neal has all the talent in the world and he's played well when he's been healthy. He just hasn't been healthy much. He went down early last season with a shoulder injury and ended up on I.R. This year he hurt his knee in a non contact practice drill and is listed as day to day. Backup C. J. Wilson left the Cardinals game with a concussion but he should be ready for opening day. Jarius Wynn is serviceable in the rotation but isn't more than that. I think if all four can stay healthy the position will be ok, but the Packers are an injury away from needing T J Lang to play defense again.

What concerns do you have for the Packers' upcoming season? 

Thoughts from the first half of the Packers/Cards Game

I sure hope the Packers use the no huddle more. It’s the only thing the first team has been successful with so far this preseason. They really seem sluggish coming out of the huddle for some reason. Then they go no huddle, Rodgers calls the right play every down and it’s an easy touchdown. I like the back shoulder fade.

I do worry that Rodgers will rely on Finley too much again this year.

Grant looks like he’s rounding into shape. Seemed slow at first, but he made a great cut and run during the TD drive. I think he’ll be ready for the regular season.

I’m concerned about the offensive line. Way too many sacks and pressures so far. Lang has looked better than Sherrod so far, but I’m still not comfortable with him protecting Rodgers.  I know it’s too early, but I wish they’d found a way to keep Colledge. 

ALEX GREEN! What a great cut on that screen play. He ran with good power to score the TD. He also has amazing hair. I can't wait to see what he says about his first Lambeau Leap.

I’m not happy with the run defense so far. Beanie Wells had way too many big runs in the first half. Dodged a bullet with CJ Wilson. Concussions are bad, but unless it’s severe he’ll be ready for the season opener. I have concerns about the backups at pretty much every position in the front 7. Definitely a thinner team up front in my opinion.

Thanksgiving 1986: A Fan is Born

The year is 1986. I was 10 years old and torn between two teams, the Packers and the 49ers. See, dad was a big 49ers fan and they had Roger Craig, Jerry Rice and of course Joe Montana. The Packers had Randy Wright and a big legacy they weren’t living up to. But my mom was a huge Packers fan, and she got so into the games. Mom’s a bit of a screamer when it comes to football. You wouldn’t know it to look at her, but when the game starts, the veins start popping out in her neck. It was hard not to root for the Packers when they were on TV because I loved my mom and she loved the Packers. But they sucked! I mean, look back at those years. What good came out of them aside from James Lofton?  So as a normal 10 year old, I told everyone I was a 49ers fan.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving Day, 1986. Uncle Erick was down from Milwaukee. The Packers were on TV. It was a good day. Uncle Erick had the classic WI accent and I loved hearing him talk. We talked and talked about Lofton and how next year would be a good year for the Packers. He also talked about Mossy Cade, how he didn’t like Kenneth Davis (I totally disagreed, what a great name!). He also had a hunch Walter Stanley was going to have a big game against the Lions. And what a game he had. The two teams combined to score at least 17 points in every quarter. Walter Stanley was electric, catching 4 balls for 124 yards and 2 TDs. But nothing could stop the juggernaut that was the 1986 Detroit Lions and the Packers were down 10 in the 4^th quarter. And then it happened. After a Wright to Carruth TD pass the defense forced a Lions punt. Stanley caught it and had some room. He cut back, he broke tackles, he just kept running. I remember it seemed to take forever. But he managed to run it back. It was electric. My mom had the biggest smile on her face I’d ever seen. And the Packers had a fan for life.

Ken's Take on the 2011 Packers 53 man roster

I won't get too wordsy on this one. This is how I think the roster will shake out barring any injuries in camp (I'm looking at you Mike Neal). And yes, I'm on the 5 TE bandwagon. You gotta keep your 53 best players. (Starters italicized)

QB (3) – Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, Graham Harrell
RB (3) – Ryan Grant, James Starks, Alex Green
FB (1) – John Kuhn
WR (6) – Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Chastin West
TE (5) – Jermichael Finley, Andrew Quarless, Tom Crabtree, DJ Williams, Ryan Taylor
OL (9) – Chad Clifton, Bryan Bulaga, Josh Sitton, T J Lang, Scott Wells, Marshall Newhouse, Derek Sherrod, Nick McDonald, Chris Campbell
DE (4) – Ryan Pickett, Mike Neal, CJ Wilson, Jarius Wynn
DT (2) – BJ Raji, Howard Green
OLB (4) – Clay Mathews, Erik Walden, Brad Jones, Frank Zombo
ILB (4) – AJ Hawk, Desmond Bishop, Robert Francois, DJ Smith
CB (5) – Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Josh Gordy, Davon House
S (4) – Morgan Burnett, Nick Collins, Charlie Peprah, Jarrett Bush
Specialists (3) – Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode

Practice Squad Possibilities: Diondre Borel, Tori Gurley, Caleb Schlauderaff, Lawrence Guy, Cardia Jackson, Jay Ross, Brandian Ross, M D Jennings


Updated with news of Diyral Briggs being cut. Updated again with T J Lang in at LG and adding Harrell to the active roster.