After watching the first day interviews of the Packers’ 2008 draft picks, I think I like these guys. Brian Brohm said all the right things and it is clearly evident he went to college four years and was in the spotlight most of those years. He was as smooth as can be even though he was asked many times about his role on the team with Brett Favre retired and only Aaron Rodgers ahead of him. Brohm seemed to me, anyway, a man that will put pressure on Rodgers, and that is what general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy want. No free rides on this team.

I was also extremely impressed with cornerback Patrick Lee. This is one confident mother. When asked how he beat out incumbent Jonathan Wilhite, who went to the Patriots in the fourth round, Lee simply said “I made plays”. A hamstring injury to Wilhite might have played a factor, but I like the confidence, and the fact he is used to playing the bump-and-run style of defense the Packers play.

I was also impressed with the way quarterback Matt Flynn handled himself and the fact that he already knows his role on the team and even that is not guaranteed. I think the Packers will keep three quarterbacks this year and I’m sure Brohm is number two and it is up to Flynn to be better than a guy like Ingle Martin who the Packers drafted a few years ago. I think Flynn is a guy the Packers can develop. I think Brohm is a guy they develop and maybe trade if Rodgers does what I think he is going to do.

With all due respect to Jon Ryan, I would love to see the home town boy, Ken DeBauche, a guy I covered as a high-school guy for the Green Bay News-Chronicle when he played for Bay Port five, six years ago. The kid has a chance. A four year punter at Wisconsin he is consistent with his lowest average at 41.6 yards and high average of 44.8 in his four years. Wisconsin weather will come easy to him. Hopefully he provides good competition for Ryan and at least finds a job in the NFL.

Finally, I am loving Jordy Nelson more and more each time I see or hear him. And with the reports I’ve heard about Koren Robinson not wanting to work out in Green Bay this offseason, him being the last person who shouldn’t be in Green Bay, tells me his short stint in Green Bay is over and that’s fine. It didn’t cost the Packers anything and Jordy Nelson will make fans forget that Brett Favre favor in no time.

Rodgers and Nelson. Might someday be as common as Favre and Driver, or Favre and Freeman, or Favre and Brooks, or Favre and Sharpe, I could go on and on, but pretty much any one of those combinations I would take. The reality is that because of Ted Thompson the Packers are in the best possible position they could be to deal with the retirement of Brett Favre. Thompson is no dummy.

More to come…

Let me just preface this by saying that I am a lifelong Packers fan from Appleton, WI, who now lives in the Twin Cities. Since I’ve lived here I’ve learned that watching the Vikings games and rooting for them to lose is almost as fun as watching the Packers. I’ve been keeping up with the Vikings news probably more than most Vikings fan, just so I can have the insider info on our most hated division rivals.

It’s been very interesting, and somewhat laughable as of late in regards to the Vikings news around here. Once DE Jared Allen was signed, suddenly all the local TV stations and newspapers are reporting that the Vikings could possibly make a super bowl run this year. Wow, really? Apparently they have already forgotten about their mostly dreadful 8-8 season last year, that they still don’t have a decent QB, and a delusional coach that said the Vikings offense “kicks ass” right after getting a hefty bludgeoning by the Pack in ‘06.

I must admit I was a little shaken by the Jared Allen signing at first. However, by landing the deal a few days before the draft, it allowed all teams in the NFC North division to react by beefing up their O-lines through the draft, which is exactly what they all did. The Lions and the Bears both picked up OT’s in the first round, and the Packers did the same in later rounds.

By making the Jared Allen trade, the Vikings also paid a pretty hefty price. They gave away their 17th overall first-round pick and two third-rounders, ultimately leaving them with only 5 picks this year. Not to mention they are paying the guy $31-74 million.

In my opinion the Vikings and the state of Minnesota are putting too much stock in one guy. I was worried the Minnesota D-line would be hard to defend when they signed Erasmus James, but look how that panned out. Actually, the Vikings have had a lot of talent on their D-line over the last several years, but they just haven’t been as productive as predicted (not that I mind).

The Jared Allen trade could be another Herschel Walker fiasco (which btw is pretty much a swear word around here) in the works. Here’s hoping.

Go Pack!

Kevin the Viking Spy

Ted Thompson has taken a team that went 4-12 his first year as general manger and turned it into a Super Bowl contender in two years. One thing is sure, Thompson is a confident man who is not afraid to make a decision and this weekend’s NFL Draft proves that once again. While I have to wonder about some of the picks made, I will give TT the benefit of the doubt. While we all agree Brett Favre had a great deal to do with last year’s 13-3 record, if not for the players Thompson added to the roster in the last two years the Packers would not be in the position they are in today.

That position is a pretty good one at that. Even with the retirement of Favre, the Packers are expected to be in the hunt again next year because of the depth of talent the Packers have accumulated under Thompson. This weekend’s draft only adds to that depth and certainly creates competition at key positions starting with quarterback. After taking Brian Brohm with their second second-round pick yesterday the Packers took LSU quarterback Matt Flynn in the seventh round today. Not to say Flynn is a threat to Rodgers or Brohm, but it is another example of Thompson taking the best player available. If you are worried about Rodgers being upset about the Packers taking two quarterbacks this weekend, don’t concern yourself. Rodgers is a big boy and he and the rest of us knew the Packers were going to draft a quarterback to back him up. Rodgers is just fine and only a lack of talent or injury will keep him from succeeding this year. His head is just fine.

The Packers addressed their tight end need in round three with Texas’ Jermichael Finley, a sophomore with only two years of college playing experience. He was a redshirt freshman starter and still caught 31 balls, but seems to be a little bit of a project, sure to make the team though.

Josh Sitton, an offensive linemean from Central Florida was a shocker as a fourth-round pick. At the time of selection I had a hard time finding even his height and weight online. I hope they get lucky with this guy.

In the fifth round the Packers grabbed Breno Giacomini, a tackle out of Louisville. At 6-7, 303, he has a chance if he develops to replace Chad Clifton at left tackle in a year or two, I have to believe that is hope of TT anyway. I can’t find much to argue with here.

I already talked about Flynn in the seventh round but the other pick, wide receiver Brett Swain seems kind of intriguing. Another four-year player which I always like and a versatile guy who can return punts. Current Packers like Koren Robinson and Ruvell Martin need to step it up or they are out of a job. More than likely at least one of them is already gone with Jordy Nelson coming in. One thing is sure, Aaron Rodgers is going to have plenty of targets to choose from. Now, if we can just get him a running game.

On that note, I am surprised that no running back was taken to provide competition to a rather unproven stable of backs the Packers have led by the unsigned Ryan Grant. The usual formula for helping a young quarterback is to have a strong running game to support him, apparently the Packers are not taking that approach. It looks to me like head coach Mike McCarthy can continue to throw the ball much like he has the first three years of his tenure, even without Favre.

With such a late pick in the first round and the way Thompson wheeled and dealed, I have no real complaints at this time. I do think they could have gotten Jordy Nelson later than the second round, but what do I know? I do know if he plays like he did in college he will help the Packers and probably this year. The guy was unstoppable last year and while it was only one year, sometimes that is all it takes. Confidence is an amazing thing.

Now we wait three months to see anything real out of these guys. Let’s at least hope everybody is signed, sealed, and delivered by the opening of training camp July 28.

Thoughts on Rodgers my next entry…

The Packers addressed their need for a backup quarterback and future starter at cornerback with the selections of Louisville’s Brian Brohm and Auburn’s Patrick Lee. The Packers have been in the market for a backup quarterback since Brett Favre retired and now they were lucky enough to get a good young quarterback in the second round when many experts thought Brohm would go in the first round. Lee was a one-year starter at Auburn but fits the mold of physical cornerbacks the Packers like. He should be able to play right away as a nickel back.

The Brohm pick is going to be highly criticized, but I think it is a good move. Aaron Rodgers is clearly expected to be Brett Favre’s successor but having competition is never a bad thing. Also, Rodgers hasn’t been able to stay healthy thus far and without a backup quarterback that can play, the Packers would be in big trouble. I would much rather have a young quarterback like Brohm on the bench than an old has-been who can’t play. I guess this ends the Daunte Culpepper negotiations. Being a second-round pick I don’t think there is any way Brohm will be the third-string QB.

Lee is an interesting choice but since all the top-rated CBs were gone, and the fact that the Packers don’t need a starter this year, giving time for Lee to develop, it could end up being a very good choice.

As a whole, I guess the Packers did alright on day one. Jordy Nelson is still a shocker, but who knows, I must admit is highlight film is awesome. Check it out at:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6B_VmbiR7o.

Can’t wait for day two.

More to come…

General manager Ted Thompson has done it again, taking wide receiver Jordy Nelson with the Packers first pick in the 2008 NFL Draft which was actually the 36th pick in the draft after the Packers traded out of the first round with the New York Jets. If Nelson was the best player available left in the draft, the Packers and the rest of the league are in trouble. Nelson was ranked as about the tenth best receiver available if even rated at all. The Packers might have been able to sign him as a free agent or at least get him in later rounds. My prediction is the Packers will forever be questioned for not taking Brandon Flowers when they had the chance.

Maybe Thompson is counting on Nelson to be the return man they so desperately need, but he wasn’t a return man in college, so that could be a reach. Obviously this means the Koren Robinson experiment is probably over, as the Packers are now overloaded at receiver. Very interesting. I bet Thompson got booed at the stadium for the second year in a row.

More to come…

When it comes to the Green Bay Packers, it doesn’t matter if their record is 13-3 or 3-13, under general manager Ted Thompson, like his mentor Ron Wolf, the Packers will draft the best player available with their three picks in the first two rounds Saturday. That is, of course if they keep them all. It seems to be a given that Thompson won’t keep both second round picks, but I think he might. This draft has good depth according to most experts which makes me think the Packers can get three really good players with those first day picks and unlike previous years when they were rebuilding, they don’t need more picks.

Like last year proved, who Thompson will take with the first pick is a crap shoot, my guess is a defensive end or cornerback only because I think those positions will have the best player available when the Packers pick at number thirty. I really think the tight end class is horrible and even though that is a position of need, it is highly unlikely the Packers can find any help this weekend in that department. Thompson maybe should have kept Bubba one more year, because I can’t see any help coming this weekend. Can you say Jeremy Shockey? That would be my move if I was going to trade one of those second-round picks.

The Packers will take a quarterback, but not Saturday. I’m hoping for John David Booty sometime on Sunday. Call it a hunch, but I have a good feeling about him. Thompson missed part of the owners meetings last month to visit USC and while I’m sure he wasn’t there for just one player, but he does have scouts, doesn’t he? Something intrigued him.

One player that I know intrigues him is Daunte Culpepper, who visited Green Bay Tuesday. Not sure what Thompson has in mind this close to the draft, but I wouldn’t mind Culpepper backing up Aaron Rodgers with Booty learning the ropes as third-string. That could hinge on Thompson taking a quarterback on Saturday. If Thompson feels a quarterback is the best player available with those top picks he will take him and in that case that player would likely be the backup to Rodgers. It is going to be interesting, but I doubt Culpepper is signed this week.

Many think the Minnesota Vikings are the team to beat now in the division thanks to the Jared Allen trade. Give me a break. Did they need a new driver for the Love Boat? Here is a team with an owner who says he is cleaning up the franchise and they give up a first and two thirds for a two-time drunk driver when just two years ago they dumped Koren Robinson like a bad habit for a speeding ticket. Allen was suspended for two games last year for his drunkenness and I can’t wait to see him in Minneapolis. I hark back to the good old days of Tommy Kramer and company. Booze and the Vikings seem to go hand-in-hand from generation to generation. And now the Vikings put their future in the hands of another boozer. Good luck with that.

It is going to be a fun weekend I think. Could be a few trades late in the first round and early second round. I’ll be updating all day. Can’t wait.

More to come…

Chad Johnson wants to leave the Bengals, I think the Packers should pick him up!
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3351518&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

I know a lot of people consider CJ to be one of those “problem receivers” like T.O. or Randy Moss, but I think the difference with Chad is that his antics are generally good natured, not harmful to team chemistry. As much as I hate it when players hold out, I think Chad would be a huge asset to the team and the deep threat we need. From what I hear, Rodgers throws the deep ball with more accuracy and finesse than Favre, so this could be a good pairing.

What does everyone else think?

The release of the NFL’s schedule today showed that the Green Bay Packers are still a national TV favorite even without Brett Favre. Maybe its the curiosity factor or maybe the powers that be think the Packers will again be Super Bowl contenders in 2008. Either way, as of right now the Packer will play six nationally televised games including three Monday night games and a Sunday Night game. Not too shabby.

At first glance the schedule does not look all that daunting. No Thursday games, no Saturday games. I don’t like playing four-out-of-six on the road in the middle of the season, however, and not once in the first half of the season can the Packers stay home two weeks in a row. The only good thing is those teams in the first half are teams the Packers should beat home or away. At Detroit, at Tampa Bay, at Seattle with the Falcons Vikings and Cowboys at home. A good team goes 5-1 against those squads.

The last ten features the Colts, Bears, Panthers, Texans and hapless Lions at home and the Titans, Vikings, Saints, Jaguars, and Bears on the road. 7-3 should be a realistic goal for that stretch. So I guess I’m predicting 12-4 right off the bat. If course this year every prediction will be prefaced with the phrase “If Aaron Rodgers stays healthy the Packers…”. So you can consider mine in that same vein.

Good to see the Packers still in the spotlight. It says a lot about the organization and especially its fans. The Packers are still America’s Team.

For at least one week in 2008 the Green Bay Packers will play in prime time. The Green & Gold will open the season with a home game against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. What a way for Aaron Rodgers to begin is reign as starting quarterback. No pressure there.

Personally, I like it. Rodgers will have a chance to come out show the world the Packers are still a force to be reckoned with even without the great Brett Favre. The Vikings are a team Rodgers should be able to beat with a little help from his defense in shutting down Adrian Peterson. A big win and the Packers will be off and running.

The rest of the schedule might come in out in the next week or so and I could see the Packers getting another Monday night game and maybe even a Sunday night game

More to come…

I think the Packers are doing the right thing right now in free agency. Simply put, there is nobody that is worth the money out there worth signing. The NFL has adapted to free agency by following former Green Bay Packers’ general manager’s example of building from within and keeping the core of your team intact while picking and choosing free agency. The problem is, now there are not any good players available in free agency if they are not a contract or attitude problem player, both of which want huge contracts. Green Bay Packers general manager Ted Thompson is doing the right thing, believe me. This guy has the utmost confidence in his ability to find players in the NFL Draft and the last three years as the Packers’ GM proves him right so far.

That said, as far a backup quarterback for Aaron Rodgers, there is nobody out there other than Mark Brunell that would be better than last year’s third-stringer Craig Nall. Nall has played well when he had the chance in Green Bay, after Favre spotted him a lead in last year’s finale against Detroit Nall did OK for not having playing in a long time. Nall is better than the brittle Trent Green, the hurt Culpepper, or the fat Quinn Gray. Send Nall through head coach Mike McCarthy’s quarterback school and he should be fine, but that means signing him in the very near future.

I would love to see the Packers snag Colt Brennan in the upcoming draft to put some pressure on Rodgers. He might very well be available for the Packers depending on where they have him ranked. You don’t want Rodgers thinking he is the man with no competition. I think the drafting of Rodgers inspired Brett Favre to the good seasons he has had the last two years after throwing 29 picks in 2005. Even a legend knows he has to be the best player at his position to keep the team’s confidence in him, Favre stepped it up the last two years and I think he showed Rodgers the way and I have to wonder if Favre, the most unselfish player of all time, thought it was not only best for himself, but best for the Green Bay Packers to retire at this time.

Either way, I love Brett Favre. Packers’ fans are the most luckiest of all time. This is another argument, but how many passes did Joe Montana throw backhanded for touchdowns?

Anyone? Anyone?….

More to come…