Packers Updates (Tidbits)
Tomorrow all across the NFL all teams will be making their 1st of 2 roster 'cut downs' before week 1 of the NFL Regular Season. By week 1, each team must have no more than 53 players on their Active Roster's.
In my opinion expect the Packers to keep RB Tyrell Sutton, RB Deshawn Wynn, LB/TE Spencer Havner and LB Desmond Bishop - and of course some other newcomers as well.
However, I am willing to bet that the Packers to release CB Brandon Underwood (although I wish they would keep him, because I strongly feel that with some development and time this kid could be a good player all around - defense and special teams). Also expect them to release RB Kregg Lumpkin even though I like Lumpkin but he surely seems like the odd man out right now in the RB group in Green Bay. And with the Free Agent signing earlier this offseason of SS Anthony Smith from the Superbowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers - I would expect that Safety, Charlie Peprah will probably be released while the team will (almost positive) keep Nick Collins, Anthony Smith, Atari Bigby and Aaron Rouse as the 4 safeties on the team. Jarrett Bush can play Safety or Corner - they may find room for him on the depth chart.
Today during practice is pretty much (for most players) the last day they get a chance to impress upon their coaches the ability to play the NFL game - their final exam. Did they pass? When tomorrow comes, we shall see. Good luck.
Shawn Andrews Interview After His First Practice Of 2009
THE BIG KID IS BACK!!
NICE MOHAWK!!!
NEW BANG! CARTOON!
This episode is called Preseason Update. It makes fun of Brandon Marshall, Michael Vick, Tom Cable, The Bengals, Jerry Jones, Plaxico, Josh McDaniels, and Brett Favre all in 3½ minutes.
Everyone check it out, because it's funny stuff.
Packers Updates & Other News
The Green Bay Packers have already landed in Arizona to play their game vs the Cardinals. Should be a good contest even though its preseason.
Rookie OLB Clay Matthews, and 2nd year QB Matt Flynn are basically day by day and are being held out from contact right now. Probably more for being cautious.
Rookie DL B.J. Raji continues to participate with the 2nd team defense. Will he start come week 1 or will the current depth chart change?
Veteran ILB AJ Hawk has been rotated or replaced with both Desmond Bishop and Brandon Chillar. Particularly with the Nickel Defenses. It looks like AJ Hawk may be on his way out in GB. I see AJ Hawk as a guy who is more about Run Defense, and not Pass Coverage or Blitzing. In my eyes, AJ Hawk is not your complete LB. And as soon as a guy comes along with the strength, speed, coverage ability, blitzing ability and run stopping ability (a nice combination) I expect AJ Hawk to be tossed aside as soon as the Packers find a more complete ILB to compliment veteran LB Nick Barnett. When AJ Hawk first came in he played on Special Teams and started at LB. He totaled 155 tackles between Defense and Special Teams leading me to believe he was a young stud LB who only had room to improve. Now that a few seasons have passed, I no longer see Hawk in that same light.
In other news:
Brett Favre of the Vikings (ugh) seems to have a few teammates who do not support him as their starting QB. Apparently their is a small 'faction' of players in the locker room who do not approve of him and would rather see QB Tarvaris Jackson as their starter instead. Maybe even QB Sage Rosenfels. This has both been reported and refuted. It seems that their might be some controversy there.
Also laced with some controversy is QB Jay Cutler of the Bears. Apparently he has stated that he wants to have the final say on who stays on the team and who goes. Weather this report is true or not I can not say for sure. I am not in their club house.
So if the Vikings have some controversy and the Bears have some controversy (distractions) and the Lions probability being very low of doing anything good - it surely seems like the Packers may have the edge at this point. Only time will tell.
Micheal Vick looked solid in his Eagles debut last night. He looked solid throwing the ball and running the offense. However, I do have a little concern. I am beginning to wonder if the Eagles are going to continue playing McNabb and Vick at QB back and fourth like that and running strange offenses like they did last night all year long? If so, that could create some confusion. I surely was very confused by what I was watching last night. I did not know who was playing QB from one play to the next. Could this create a problem that the Eagles have not thought about? We'll see as the season pans out.
This 'Titanic TV' at the new Cowboys Stadium is stirring up some controversy as well. During pre game warm ups a punter was seen intentionally punting the ball to hit the screen. This could create a huge problem and in fact, it already has. Many people want them to either raise it or remove it. Interesting. Lets just wait for it to fall down. That would make for a really good 'reality tv' video.
League to Curb drinking at NFL Games in 2009
General idea here is for the safety of the fans. And what do the fans do after the game? Some have drinks, get drunk, watch the game, party up, and then go drive home. It is a big safety issue. I am not sure what the numbers are, but I am pretty sure that the numbers are staggering as to how many people are killed in drunk driving accidents after an NFL game.
The NFL will try to promote responsible drinking as well by putting the following message on all beer cups at every game this year: “Fans don’t let fans drive drunk.” This is a wonderful idea by the NFL and they should have done this to help promote responsible drinking, and helping to save the lives of many.
In the effort teams will try to sign up a combined 200,000 designated-driver fans this season versus 140,000 designated-driver fans last season and the fans who sign up will receive free soft drinks and the chance to win Super Bowl tickets.
Original Source/Credit: USA Today’s, Michael McCarthy who wrote about the NFL trying to limit the drinking and tailgating by its fans and to promote better safety and responsibility by its fans - gave me the idea to post this. Friday, August 21, 2009 issue. Sports, section.
Michael Vick Has Court On Gameday
This felon is already causing problems!
The Extra Point: Green Bay Packers Updates
Packers DT Justin Harrell has been a bust up to this point, and he has been oft-injured for most of his career to this point. Earlier in the off-season Justin Harrell was feeling great in Mini-Camps and OTA's and through the first week in Training Camp. Now, he's out once again with a back injury. I honestly feel like Justin Harrell could be a decent player if he was healthy. Obviously with him still being on the roster the Packers must feel highly of him. I would not be surprised if he ended up being cut sometime before the season starts. It has been reported that Justin Harrell is worried about his playing career. I am too. I think the guy could be decent, if not better, if he could just stay healthy – but he can not stay healthy.
QB Brian Brohm should be released already from the team. At first I felt that Brohm could come in and contribute if QB Aaron Rodgers could not turn out to be the QB the Packers thought he could be – however, Aaron Rodgers is that QB the Packers thought he would be and more. So the use for QB Brian Brohm is little to zero. Besides that, Brian Brohm has shown me nothing since last pre-season. I feel like he has no confidence in his own abilities and lacks the ability to see the field and read the defense. He lacks the arm strength and has little to no mobility (scrambling). I do feel that Brohm will be out of the NFL in about 5 years. In fact he has been hardly able to complete passes to his WR's. This is not good. What if Rodgers goes down and Flynn too? If that were to happen and Brohm was put in there, the Packers are in a world of hurt!
This young kid. RB Tyrell Sutton is an excellent runner. Hes small, strong, quick. He can see the field, find the gap and attack it hard and fast. He seems like your prototypical RB that you could throw into the game and get some positive yards. In the two pre-season games he's played in you can see his quickness and speed and his ability to see the field and just when you think the play is over as Sutton runs around inside a crowd he gains a few extra yards. In my view, the Packers need to keep this guy and get rid of Deshawn Wynn and Greg Lumpkin. Although I like Lumpkin but their can only be so many RB's on a single team. Unfortunately, I believe this Sutton kid gives the 'goodbye' to both Lumpkin and Wynn. This kid is really impressive.
LB Desmond Bishop is tearing it up in Green Bay. Hes been delivering big hits on running backs, intercepted 2 passes, forced a fumble, recovered a fumble, had (I think) 2 sacks, and probably 10 tackles and been all up in the backfield every time the Browns and Bills dropped back to pass the ball. Hes been disruptive, intense, and all over the field. A tremendous play making linebacker in the making in my book. I like this Bishop kid a lot. He is young, talented, intense, and hyped up. The perfect mentality for a linebacker and you can clearly see that with the way he is playing that Kevin Greene is their linebackers coach. Although I would not put that solely on Kevin Greene's coaching because I recall Bishop late last year coming to the team and beginning to play due to injury and he began playing well, making nice hits, being all over, showing his talent and ability. I liked him from the start.
Other Notes:
K Mason Crosby has been making plenty of kicks in practices but missed 2 long field goal attempts in the 1st preseason game. Made them in the 2nd game. Kind of worrisome.
The two FB's this year should be starting FB John Kuhn and rookie FB Quinn Johnson.
It looks like the Packers are going to be playing a lot of 2 TE sets this season. I have been seeing a lot of 2 TE sets so far in preseason. Mainly with Jermichael Finley and Donald Lee and both have been playing extremely well in the formation – blocking, and catching. Looks like Rodgers numbers will improve from last year's numbers.
WR's Donald Driver and Greg Jennings are playing very well and seem to be in good synchronization with QB Aaron Rodgers. 3rd WR James Jones seems to be playing quite well also. 4th WR Ruvell Martin has been pretty much a non-factor in this year's preseason. And 5th WR Jordy Nelson has been basically a non-factor as well. Not that both Nelson and Martin are bad it is just that niether guy has gotten the ball thrown to them a whole lot.
OLB Brady Poppinga has been playing very solid, intense football and has made some nice plays so far. He is definitely trying to win that other OLB job. But I think that job will probably go to Matthews if Matthews can get healthy and get in there and show what hes got. Although, if I were Capers and I had to make a choice right now and tomorrow was game day, week 1, I would go with Poppinga.
ILB AJ Hawk finally showed a little spark yesterday. He seemed to play up and more intensely than the previous game. He seemed to make better tackles (not many though). As far as Pass Coverage goes I have not seem much of Aaron Kampman or AJ Hawk yet in pass coverage so I can not yet make a judgement call on that. Although Kampman seems to be doing well at his OLB spot rushing the passer. I think he is starting to like it.
ILB Nick Barnett is saying via Twitter that he is hoping to see some action next weekend. I am guessing that he is starting to feel much better and is anxious to get in there and get some hitting in. He has been wearing his 'superman' glasses and growing out the 'fro' saying that once its unleashed (the fro) it can not be contained. I am guessing that he is referencing how he is going to perform this year. He has not had any hitting or contact since midway through last season. So I am sure he is just aching to get out there and 'lay the wood' on someone.
:Original Post:
New Blog & Name
You guessed it, it's krazy.
Here is the new address: The Extra Point - with Jay.
Check it out. And yes, I will continue to write on both blogs.
Take care.
Plaxico Gets Two Years In The Slammer
LOL What an idiot. He killed the Giants season last year, and now his own career. This makes me think of one of Bang's Cartoons last year. If you have not seen it, you must check out this Plaxico Burress cartoon>>
I bet Tony Dungy already has Plaxico's visiting hours jotted down somewhere.
My Open Letter to Brett Favre (Updated)
Brett,
You were the man in Green Bay for many years. You were beloved, adored, respected and wanted/needed. You felt the embrace of Packer fans everywhere and NFL fans everywhere as well. We shared tears for you after your father died and watched you light up the national stage and every fan - even Raider fans - cheered for you that night and expressed their condolences. As one of the many faces of the NFL you are truly a legend for your style of play, toughness, and excitement you have brought to the NFL over the 17 seasons you have played. We cried when you retired and said our own farewells and you said yours. We thought it was done. Over. Brett Favre leaving Green Bay and the NFL and going off into the sunset gracefully - the way it should have been.
But you had other ideas:
You have slapped all Packer fans in the face and punched us right in the gut - with this signing with the Vikings. Granted your a professional QB, and an adult and you are entitled to make whatever choice you like. But the way you go about that decisions you make: The flip flopping, the diva attitude, the attention seeking, and the audacity to wait it out until training camp is almost over and the only reason you decided to sign was because you saw Michael Vick in the spotlight and wanted to get a piece of the action. I honestly believe you wanted to not be in camp. You are not above the Packers, Jets, or Vikings much less the NFL. You're a player, not a GM or a Coach. You even admitted that you got mad because you wanted Packers General Manager Ted Thompson to sign Wide Receiver Randy Moss 2 or 3 years ago. Brett, it is not your job to worry about what the General Manager is going to do, or has done. You're job is to play Quarterback, lead the football team and help the team your on win football games. The world does not revolve around 'Brett.'
You know that the Packers and Vikings hate each other. You went from one side to the other side. And I hope and I wish that you get your ass beat via the Packers defense and every other defense you and the Vikings play this year. I hope you get sacked 100 times, throw 40 interceptions and fumble at least 20 times this year. I hope you do terrible and do not live up to your contract. Because quite frankly, Brett, you're not worth 7 million dollars much less 10 or 12 million. I am tired of hearing about you. I am tired of hearing your name. You have turned your back on the Packers and their fans and the only reason you signed with Minnesota was because you have a 'beef' with the Packers and their fans.
You ruined every bit of respect you had. You did this Brett. You did this to yourself. And I will never forgive you for it.
Call me stubborn. Call me crazy. Hell, call me fucked up if you want. I do not care. I have no further use for you. And when you go into the Hall of Fame as a Packer - I will boo you, and I will not watch it. And I feel no remorse for you if you ever want to get back into the good graces of Packer fans.
Fuck you Brett.
August 18th, 2009
2:09PM CST
:Original Post:
Packers Updates
Tom Pelissero, of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, reports Green Bay Packers DL Justin Harrell (back) feels his recurring back problems could end his career. "Most definitely," Harrell said Monday, Aug. 18. "Anytime you have back surgery, it's always a red flag, and then having two in one year. It's one of those things, man - you're trying to fight through it and trying to fight through it, and ... Hey, I don't want to think about that right now, because hopefully, that's (not going to happen). But it's definitely in my mind."
CBSSports.com reports Green Bay Packers DL Cullen Jenkins, DL B.J. Raji, SS Atari Bigby, DL Johnny Jolly, CB Patrick Lee, C Scott Wells, OT Chad Clifton, WR JaRon Harris and WR Patrick Williams did not practice during the morning session Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Tom Pelissero, of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, reports Green Bay Packers DE Johnny Jolly (ankle) sat out the team's practice Monday, Aug. 17.
Tom Pelissero, of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, reports Green Bay Packers WR James Jones (hamstring) is day-to-day with a hamstring injury he suffered Saturday, Aug. 15, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Tom Pelissero, of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, reports Green Bay Packers C Scott Wells and C Jason Spitz will continue to split snaps at center with the No. 1 offense this week, according to head coach Mike McCarthy.
Tom Pelissero, of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, reports Green Bay Packers LB Brad Jones (back) made his camp debut Monday, Aug. 17. He is on a one-a-day practice schedule. Head coach Mike McCarthy said Jones could play Saturday, Aug. 22.
Updating a previous item, Tom Pelissero, of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, reports Green Bay Packers LB Nick Barnett (knee) did not participate in team drills Monday, Aug. 17, and head coach Mike McCarthy has all but ruled him out for the team's preseason game Saturday, Aug. 22. Barnett is hoping to hit his target of playing in the team's third preseason game Aug. 28. Barnett is expected to sit out morning sessions Tuesday, Aug. 18, and Thursday, Aug. 20, as the team's training staff gauges how both the knee and the rest of Barnett's body respond.
By, "TheKrazySays"
:Original Post:
Michael Vick Updates
The Associated Press reports Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb said Monday, Aug. 17, he would not mind if QB Michael Vick took some of his snaps. "I wouldn't have a problem with it if it's helping us win," McNabb said. If Vick lines up behind center, McNabb won't necessarily be watching from the sideline. "I'll be a receiver. I might be a tight end. I might be a running back," McNabb said. "You never know where I'll be."
The Associated Press reports Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick has spent his three practice days with the team playing quarterback, although it's more likely he'll see most of his action in a nontraditional offense. With his speed and powerful arm, Vick is an ideal candidate to run a variation of the Wildcat formation. Head coach Andy Reid, however, would not disclose what Vick's role will be this season.
By, "TheKrazySays"
:Original Post:
The Brett Favre Saga Continues...
Updating a previous item, Jay Glazer, of FOXSports.com, reports Minnesota Vikings players have said that free-agent QB Brett Favre (Jets) is on his way to Minnesota and they believe a deal could be done as early as the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 18. According to one player, the deal seems to be a formality. "I'm telling you it's already done ... I don't think anyone here doesn't think that," the player said.
WDAM-TV reports free-agent QB Brett Favre (Jets) boarded a plane from Hattiesburg, Miss., Tuesday morning Aug. 18, and was heading to Minnesota. According to WDAM, Favre boarded the plane by himself and said, "We may know something by dinner," in regards to a deal with the Minnesota Vikings.
Ed Werder, of ESPN, reports free-agent QB Brett Favre (Jets) has a slight tear in his rotator cuff. The Minnesota Vikings, however, are aware of the injury.
Updating an ongoing story, Chris Mortensen, of ESPN, reports doctors have told free-agent QB Brett Favre (Jets) that his injured shoulder is as good as it is going to be at his age.
Judd Zulgad, of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, reports a top Minnesota Vikings official confirmed Tuesday, Aug. 18, that free-agent QB Brett Favre (Jets) was en route to Minnesota and on board one of team owner Zygi Wilf's planes. Favre is expected to sign Tuesday, Aug. 18, and might even practice with the team. Favre is also expected to start in the team's next preseason game. According to a source, the Vikings began actively re-recruiting Favre Wednesday, Aug. 12, after QBs Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels had a particularly rough practice. The Vikings also had concerns about Jackson after he suffered a sprained medial collateral ligament in his left knee on the second day of practice.
By, "TheKrazySays"
:Original Post:
(Twitter Posts) RE: Favre's Return to Vikings
Greg Bedard - Aaron Kampman: "The red jersey will be off." 08-18
Greg Bedard - Nick Barnett (without malice): "After all those years of not being able to hit him, do I want to hit him? Of course I want to hit him." 08-18
Greg Bedard - Lori Nickel has all the Favre scoop in the blog. He may even practice today. http://bit.ly/112k5z 08-18
Greg Bedard - None of the Packers players would touch the Favre thing with a 10-foot pole. It was like they were told what to say -- actually not to say. 08-18
Green Bay Packers - Packers fans mixed on Favre playing for Vikings - Green Bay Press Gazette http://bit.ly/ISVk6 08-18
Green Bay Packers - Favre reportedly headed to Minnesota to sign with Vikings - Kansas City Star http://bit.ly/JmE36 08-18
Greg Bedard - Somebody needs to open the bars in Wisconsin....stat. 08-18
Greg Bedard - Favre's agent, Bus Cook, just comfirmed to @FootballPost that Favre will sign a contract today. http://bit.ly/SkETo 08-18
Greg Bedard - McCarthy on Favre's return: "I'm not surprised by it. I don't think anybody should be surprised by it." 08-18
Greg Bedard - N....M....P :) 08-18
By, "TheKrazySays"
Favre to sign with the Vikings today
Anyways, I am completely livid. I hope Favre gets carted off the field in Green Bay. I am so sick of everything. Sick of the flip flopping: "I wanna play." And the following day: "I do not wanna play." The coming back to GB last year expecting to start while the team had spent time preparing for Aaron Rodgers. Who does he think he is? Then we hear that he wont sign until the 3rd week of the preseason. Now today, again, more saga bullshit. He's going to sign with - of all teams - the Vikings. As a Packer fan (most of us anyways) feel somewhat betrayed, and angry that he would sign with the Vikings. It's pretty pathetic if you ask me. I am very sick and tired of hearing about Brett Favre and his indicisiveness as to weather or not he wants to play. Im sick of the Favre Saga year after year. I honestly feel like Brett Favre has this 'grudge' against Green Bay. That is how I feel. That is all I have for you right now.
*Update: Word has it that Brett Favre has landed in Minneapolis to sign his new 2 year contract.
By, "TheKrazySays"
:Original Post:
Brett Favre Signs With Vikings
This news is not all that shocking since Favre has technically gone into retirement 4 times, only to come back to football not long after. Favre just has the desire to play, and I think Brad Childress got down on his knees and begged him to come back.
A healthy Favre makes Minnesota a real contender in the NFC. If Favre's shoulder can't hold up for the entire season, then look for a repeat of the Jets season last year.
You have to give Minnesota credit for this move. They had no shot at winning a Super Bowl with Tavaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels. Now they have a real chance.
I am guessing Vikings fans are very happy. How will Packers fans react to this news?
Ray Diddy: Vick Not A Good Fit With Eagles
On the football side, mine is a minority view. I don’t think Vick will have much impact. I don’t think he will be a huge difference maker, nor do I think he will be a distraction or a team-wrecker. In a football sense, I think he’ll be the one thing he’s never been in his whole life: I think he’ll be just another guy.
He has been away from the game for two whole years, which is a long time for any player and an eternity for a quarterback. He is coming back without the benefit of training camp, which means he won’t have much time to learn the plays and get back in football shape. The opener is less than a month away, so the team doesn’t have time to stop, or even slow down, to work the very odd fit that is Michael Vick into the offense.
Read the full article here>>
I can't agree more with Ray Didinger. Michael Vick doesn't fit the Eagles at all.
- Vick is not an accurate passer. That is pretty important to play in a west coast offense.
- Vick has been out of football for two years. Who knows how fast he even is anymore?
- Coach Andy Reid insists Vick will play QB, when asked how he will be used.
- Reid also says that Kevin Kolb is the backup QB.
In other news profootballtalk.com started a rumor that Donovan McNabb says he wants Plaxico, too'. I don't know whether or not McNabb actually wants Plaxico or not, but I do know that this rumor is based off a simple comment in McNabb's weekly press conference.
McNabb was asked if he would like the Eagles to bring in Plaxico, and he just gave a typical PC answer that he would be for anything that improves the team. Pretty big stretch by PFT. I wouldn't expect anything else from them.
Michael Vick's Apology
Turns out Vick did not write this. It's a fake blog probably written to gets hits to their web site.
Sitting in a prison cell didn't make me feel remorse. It was meeting so many animal lovers, speaking with them and looking them in their eyes. Staring at them. Looking so deep into their eyes that I began to feel their pain. Allowing that pain to enter into my body is when I started to understand how bad it really was. I have been trying hard to connect with people who feel this pain,because for my whole life I was disconnected from the suffering of animals.
You can read Michael Vick's full blog apology at Global Grind>>
I find it hard to buy any of this crap. Actions speak much louder than words. Vick needs to stop talking and start doing.