Organized Team Activities are under way for the Green Bay Packers and after the first week there was plenty to talk about. Some of it good news and some of it bad news.

The Good:  Quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ leadership is showing more and more and this now is clearly his team. With Rodgers coming off a superb season in which he became only the second quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 4,000 yards in his first year as a starter and also threw 28 touchdowns to only 13 interceptions, the Packers are in good hands at the most pivotal position. Rodgers has been sharp and his deep ball may even be better than last year when he led the league in completions over 40 yards. The combination of him and wide receiver Greg Jennings could be every bit as explosive as the Tom Brady-Randy Moss combo in New England. If Rodgers puts 16 more games under his belt I believe the Packers will certainly return to the playoffs this season.

Defensive lineman Justin Harrell has been a bright spot both on and off the field. The much maligned, often injured lineman is running with the one’s in practice playing defensive end in the new 3-4 defense the Packers are instituting. Harrell has looked good and claims to be 100 percent healthy for the first time since the Packers drafted him with their number one pick in 2007. He has stepped up to the plate off the field has as well by facing his critics and not making excuses for his lack of production after being drafted so high (number 15 overall). Harrell wants to prove to the world he is not a bust and I think he could easily end up being a starter on opening day.

The aforementioned Jennings, who is a star in the making and is in the last year of his contract is not holding out and showing much more class than most players lately that are in his same shoes. Jennings knows his deal will get done and punishing his teammates by not showing up for OTAs is not his style, unlike a certain safety and receiver to be mentioned later. Just by showing up Jennings proves to the Packers what type of person he is and when the deal gets done he will be worth every penny.

The Bad:  In one of the weirdest situations I’ve ever seen wide receiver Donald Driver is crying for more money yet again. This has become pretty much a yearly occurrence and the Packers would be wise to draw the line this time. Driver probably has only one year left in Green Bay no matter what happens this year. The emergence of Jennings and young receivers like Jordy Nelson and James Jones and Driver’s advancing age make him expendable, especially if he thinks he’s worth $8-10 million per year. Driver probably knows the writing is on the wall and wants to get as much from the Packers this year knowing damn well he won’t be under contract next year. Driver has been a semi-class act during his career in Green Bay so the Packers might appease him, but they have no reason to do so.

Saftey Nick Collins also is also showing his selfish side and hurting his teammates by refusing to attend camp and learn the new defense. His job is supposed to be the “quarterback” of the defense and by not being here he is hurting not only himself but his team. I think the Packers should start grooming his replacement and not worry about him. He had one good year that I think was a fluke and if the Packers open the vault to him they will have a ton of dead money after he flops this year. The longer he stays away from camp the less money he is worth. The Packers have depth in the secondary with several guys who can play both corner and safety, so as far as Collins is concerned, it’s out of sight, out of mind. So long and good riddance.

Finally, what is up with Aaron Kampman? The media is pounding him and assuming that he doesn’t his like his role in the new defense and until he states otherwise that is what people are going to believe. I will give him credit for being here trying to learn the system. If he wanted to wait until he got into some meetings and practices and actually see what his role will be before talking publicly, then fine. A simple statement saying that would have been easy enough to release through the team. Now he just comes off as an immature girl giving the silent treatment. I think the Packers should be seriously shopping Kampman because the Packers have plenty of linebackers who can play the position. Brady Poppinga can play there no problem and with Jeremy Thompson opening eyes so far in camp, not to mention Clay Matthews, the Packers don’t need Kampman any longer. He’s been a good foot soldier but if any other team than the Vikings would have given him that offer sheet a few years ago I think the Packers might have let him go then.

There are a couple of other areas of concern like the offensive line but I think those issues will work themselves out as players get healthy and training camp unfolds. I do think at least one of the positions on the right side of the line will be manned by a rookie. I think Cliffy, Colledge and Spitz will work the left side and center positions come opening day. I just think T.J. Lang is going to get one of those right side spots.

So far I think the good outweighs the bad.

I think the people bitching at me for bringing up Brett Favre are the ones who know I’m right and don’t want to hear it anymore. I don’t either, but Favre playing for the Vikings directly affects the Packers, unlike last year when Favre was in Siberia. Packers’ fans still wouldn’t stop talking about him and ripping Ted Thompson in the process, hence the moratorium on Brett Favre. Now that the storm has blown over, and I believe in my heart that Favre will stay retired rather than go through six months of pain just for the shot to beat the Packers twice, which is highly unlikely. So unless I’m wrong I’m putting a moratorium on myself regarding the waffle king. You do what you want.

I think the Packers are in serious need of a running back. The list of Ryan Grant, DeShawn Wynn, Brandon Jackson, Kregg Lumpkin and Tyrell Sutton do not exactly strike fear in the hearts of their opponents. Looks like Aaron Rodgers might be throwing 40 times a game this year.  I mean Grant is OK, but he needs to prove his worth this year or the Packers overpaid for him. Behind Grant, Lumpkin might be the best of the worst. Wynn and Jackson get hurt when the wind blows and Sutton wasn’t even drafted. The worse problem is there isn’t anybody out there to get. I hope Lumpkin’s injury last year wasn’t a career killer, as he is clearly the most talented of the backups.

I think I’m really getting sick of the talk about how hard it is to switch from a 43 defense to a 34 defense. The Packers have an abundance of linebackers to play the scheme and plenty of candidates to fill the three lineman positions. You have to wonder if this wasn’t the plan all along. The media is way off on this one.

I think it is going to be a uneventful June and July for the Green Bay Packers and I thank the good Lord for that after what we went through last year. What a joy it will be to just focus on the mini-camps and OTAs and not have to worry about that other stuff. I bet the players feel the same way and I truly believe the opposite of last year will occur – instead of a dark cloud to start the season, as Johnny Nash would say, “it’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, sunshiny day.”

I think if the Packers do flop this year and Ted Thompson gets fired I would love to see The Big Show come back to Green Bay. Mike Holmgren has always understood the history and tradition of the Packers and returning them to glory for a second time might appeal to him. He could bring in Jon Gruden as head coach and it might be just like old times.

I think Nick Collins is an idiot. He is very replaceable and the Packers shouldn’t throw big money to a guy who is letting down his teammates by not being in town learning the new defense. Family issue my ass. Does he deserve a new contract? Maybe. But one good year out of four and you turn into T.O.? If it was up to me it would be so long and good riddance. With a new DC, everybody is starting fresh, which means Collins isn’t even guaranteed a starting job no matter what he did last year. Dom Capers will play the players who give him the best chance to succeed and with Collins staying at home he could very well be out of a job if he doesn’t wise up. Personally, I hope he holds out and the Packers replace him.

I think the Packers new practice field is going to be awesome. Finally we won’t have to look through a chain-link fence to watch the team at training camp. Can’t believe it took this long, but getting Lambeau redone was the top priority I guess.

I think I might not have much to say for a few weeks. Golf season is here. Baseball is boring. Minicamp isn’t until June 22. Take a break.

I think I’m going to have a cocktail now.

Now that word is out that decrepit quarterback Brett Favre is set to sign a deal to join the Minnesota Vikings, here is one vote hoping he does just that. Favre joining the Vikings would be the best thing to happen to the rest of the NFC North. The Vikings are a quarterback away everybody says, forgetting they have no receivers, either, but thinking Brett Favre is their ticket to greatness? Good luck with that. Ask Eric Mangini how that worked out for him.

Guys coming back and playing after retiring is nothing new to sport. Look at Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Deion Sanders, they all came back and all pretty much sucked in doing so. The difference is all of the aforementioned came back because they loved the game, not because they wanted to stick it to their former employer. I mean, come on Brett, are you really that big of a baby? I sure hope so. I can’t wait to unleash Aaron Kampman and Clay Matthews on the extremely immobile Favre, in the Metrodome no less, where Favre just loves playing. I remember an old Favre NFL Films’ video where Favre would say a person could be “dumber than a sack of hammers”, who would have thought he was talking about himself?

I would love to see Favre sign with the Vikings, especially for a low-paying contract. Favre’s intention’s would be perfectly clear – to play two good games this year and who cares about the rest. If Favre could beat the Packers as an opposing quarterback, his career would be complete. Screw the Super Bowl, beating the Packers is Favre’s Super Bowl. Favre already admitted he came back last year to stick it to the Packers and their fans, but he had a horrible season leading the league in interceptions once again. It must have left a good taste in his mouth, however. Or maybe he is trying to set the interception record so high that it is even more unbreakable than it already is.

Brett Favre could have been the greatest quarterback in Green Bay Packers’ history even though he only won one championship, but he choose to stick it to the Packers and their fans instead. I for one hope to hell that Favre does indeed join the Vikings and he can stay upright until October 5 when the Packers visit the Vikings on Monday Night Football. My guess is Sage or T-Jack are starting by then, anyway. How would you like to be Vikings’ coach Brad Childress? Either you bench Brett Favre or you lose your job at the end of the season. Wouldn’t want to be in those shoes.

I know this is all pretty much speculation, and until Brett Favre comes out and speaks one way or the other, just like last year, this will go on for three more months. The good thing is this year instead of wishing Favre would stay retired, I am begging for his return. Probably so are the Lions and Bears. And just like last year the main reason we all know Favre is coming back is because he refuses to face the press and say he isn’t. This text-messaging thing is getting childish. OMG, BF is back! Give me a break. Go on record and end it if you are not coming back. He must love being the center of attention. What a loser he turned out to be.

A guy we worshiped for 16 years hates us.