March 2009 - Posts

• Packers Daily Links 3.31.09

  Posted Mar 31 2009, 12:00 PM by Brian Carriveau

  

  Does Packers Daily Links sound too much like the the JSOnline's Packers Daily Briefing? Should I change the name? If so, to what? I do like the sausage links idea.

  I guess those heretics over at VikingsUpdate.com were wrong about John Kuhn ending up in Cincinnati. The agent for Kuhn told the Green Bay Press-Gazette's Rob Demovsky that his client will likely be back with the Packers next season. "We made an agreement with (the Packers) that he could work out with them and still pursue his free agent rights," Kuhn's agent is quoted as saying. "The deadline is the week before the draft, so it's possible someone could come out of the woodwork, but the way it looks now is he's going to stay there. He likes it there and would like to stay there long term." It's nice to see the good faith by Kuhn by participating in the Packers' offseason workout program without a signed contract.

  Johnny Jolly's drug trial was postponed again for what seems like the 20th time. It looks like the trial will now be on June 26. According to Andy Nelsen of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "June 26 is the day after the Packers' mandatory minicamp ends. That means Jolly should be on hand for all of the Packers' voluntary offseason activities, which are under way at Lambeau Field." That's good news, but fans can only wait for a verdict and a possible subsequent ruling by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on whether Jolly will be suspended by the league or not.

  There's an interesting interview with B.J. Raji conducted by a blogger from the SportsBlogs family of sites that Acme Packing Company is a part of. Even more interesting is the commentary provided by the blogger following the interview basically calling out Raji for acting unprofessinal during the interview. It really left me scratching my head. I personally didn't find much of what Raji said to be objectionable in the interview. Maybe it's a case of making a mountain out of a molehill, but I'll reserve judgement. I'd love to actually hear the interview and decide then.

  There's a nice article on CBS Sports by Pete Prisco about the new UFL (United Football League). There's actually been talks between the NFL and the UFL to use it as some sort of minor league. The UFL actually has a couple things working in its favor including a television deal with Versus and a modest beginning with only four teams and a six game schedule. However, the NFL supposedly wants to start up another developmental league in the spring. Bad idea. Years ago, I proposed an idea for a sort of "minor league" football. I still stand by that idea. Eight teams, one shared by each of the NFL's eight divisions, played in the fall on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Read the proposal. Any investors?

  New to the Packer blog family, Jersey Al's Green Bay Packer Blog lists some of the biggest first round busts in Packers history. The story is also on Packers Lounge.

  Author Chris Havel will be speaking at the Brillion Public Library about his books on Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers on Wednesday April 15 at 6:30 p.m.

  Former Packer Gus Cifelli passes away.
  

  Enjoy "Better Than" by Australia's John Butler Trio. Those who attended the Madison Roots Festival last summer were able to catch these talented musicians from across the Pacific. Were you there?
  

   

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  Filed under: Johnny Jolly, John Kuhn

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• Some Packers are tweeting and anyone can listen

  Posted Mar 30 2009, 06:47 PM by Brian Carriveau

  Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett isn't feeling very good.
  

  "I think I have a stmoach flu," texted Barnett, spelling error and all, somewhere in the realm of 3:50 p.m. CST on Monday March 30, 2009.

  Barnett also indicated indicated that he was unhappy. But not in so many words. He added a little frowning face to his text message.

  Technically Barnett wrote, "I think I have a stmoach flu :-("

  But maybe what's ailing the inside linebacker wasn't due to some little virus. Moments later Barnett let about 200 followers know that the possible cause was just from "Stupid traveling!!!"

  After all, Barnett had to hop three flights on Sunday to get the tiny little outpost known as Green Bay.

  "Just got off one plane in atl boarding another one headed to detirot then gb man this is a crazy flight !!! Lol," wrote Barnett apparently while chuckling.

  Perhaps there was more than meets the eye to that stomach bug, though. It could have been what the former first round draft pick ate for dinner yesterday.

  "Jst got done eating wings," Barnett let a chosen few know last night.

  In actuality, it doesn't take much to be part of those chosen few. Anybody with an Internet connection has the capability to learn more than you wanted to know about the personal life of Nick Barnett.

  Barnett is keeping anyone who cares to know updated on his day-to-day happenings via Twitter, a form of micro-blogging that is sweeping the nation.

  Twitter encourages users to answer the question, "What are you doing?" which Barnett has been following to a "T."

  But he's also been interacting with fans on Twitter as well. Barnett let fans know that he's excited for the 3-4, and that he's been giving Aaron Kampman a hard time now that the former defensive lineman is practicing with the linebackers.

  Barnett's following in the footsteps of other pro athletes using Twitter. Milwaukee Bucks forward Charlie Villanueva gained national attention for "tweeting" during halftime of a recent game against the Celtics.

  Green Bay fans can also follow Packer Hall of Famer Gilbert Brown on Twitter as well in case anyone was wondering.

  Although, fans can only hope the Grave Digger doesn't let everyone know what he's eating for dinner.
  

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  Filed under: Nick Barnett, Gilbert Brown

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• Packers Daily Links 3.30.09

  Posted Mar 30 2009, 02:57 PM by Brian Carriveau

  

  Here's what's going on in the world of the Packers...

  The Packers' preseason opponents were released today. The Packers open the preseason with two consecutive home games against the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills respectively.  That's followed by two away games against the Arizona Cardinals and the Tennessee Titans. Exact times and dates are yet to be determined by the Packers official website gives a range of dates each individual game will fall between. All games are being broadcast by the Packers' statewide network of stations. That means no national TV during the preseason, unless the NFL Network decides to simulcast one of the local broadcasts. Is it just me or do the Packers end the preseason with the Titans every single year? Cheesehead TV bemoans the same thing.

  Our article earlier today detailing the chances of the Packers drafting particular NFL draft prospects has gotten some attention on Packers Lounge. I've tried to translate percentages into similar odds. I don't condone betting on such a thing. On second thought, I do condone betting. I just don't want to be held responsible for any losses:

  • Everette Brown 3-1 
  • Brian Orakpo 4-1
  • B.J. Raji 7-1
  • Michael Oher 10-1
  • Rey Maualuga 15-1
  • Andre Smith 20-1
  • The Field 20-1
  • Tyson Jackson 100-1
  • Michael Crabtree 100-1
  • Malcolm Jenkins 100-1

  New Packers blog Ol' Bag of Donuts argues that 2009 is a make or break year for quarterback Brian Brohm. Perhaps most interestingly, the newbies think Brohm not have any trade value until after the 2010 season. "Brohm’s value has dipped so low that it would be hard to anything close to equal value in return right now," writes Adam Somers. "Best case scenario is that he lights up training camp and preseason the next two years and ups his value to at least the level he was drafted at." The Packers have a good history of trading good young quarterbacks like Mark Brunell, Aaron Brooks and Matt Hasselbeck, but it's hard to see the Packers getting back better value than the second rounder they originally invested in Brohm.

  Wes Bunting of the National Football Post came out with a three round mock draft in which he has the Packers taking Penn State defensive end Aaron Maybin in the first round, Boston College defensive tackle Ron Brace in the second, and Virginia linebacker Clint Sintim and Penn State tackle Gerald Cadogan in the third. According to my above listed odds, Maybin is only a part of "The Field." I personally feel that's where he belongs, but could I be wrong? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

  Lombardi Ave. coins the term "Ted Thompson Treatment" in regards to the way Thompson's "ignoring" of Favre is similar to the same treatment given to Favre by incoming Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

  Greg Bedard reminds us that Johnny Jolly's trial is today. Maybe.
  

  The Packers are sponsoring some interesting contests including a scavenger hunt of sorts.
  

  In case you missed the premiere of Jim Gaffigan's "King Baby" on Comedy Central last night, this is worth a couple laughs. For those you who like to keep things football related, there's a football joke in there. And for the Heads, Jim actually mentions the Grateful Dead.
  

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  Filed under: Brian Brohm, preseason

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• Packers draft odds

  Posted Mar 30 2009, 06:19 AM by Brian Carriveau

  What are the chances the Green Bay Packers draft such and such a player? I'll tell you...

  • Florida State linebacker Everette Brown - 30% - Right now Brown is the odds on favorite to be drafted by the Packers. He's a good fit for the 3-4 defense, he fills a need, and he's most likely going to be available.
  • Texas linebacker Brian Orakpo - 25% - Orakpo is slightly behind Brown in overall athleticism and upside. He can certainly rush the quarterback, but can he do other things required of a 3-4 linebacker?
  • Boston College defensive tackle B.J. Raji - 15% - I think the Packers will take Raji if he's available. The problem is, I don't think he'll be available. Fans can only hope he slips to the Pack at number nine.
  • Mississippi tackle Michael Oher - 10% - If Oher's life wasn't scrutinized in a book, he'd be going a lot higher in some mock drafts. The Packers could be one team willing to look past the scrutiny, and draft a cornerstone at tackle for years to come.
  • Southern California inside linebacker Rey Maualuga - 7% - I know that most places have Maualuga going much lower in most mock drafts. But I just can't deny his big play ability and production level.
  • Alabama tackle Andre Smith - 5% - Smith is kind of in the same boat as Oher. If a team can overlook his flaws, they could have a good tackle. But there's much more risk involved with Smith.
  • The field - 5% - Don't laugh. I probably would have had Justin Harrell as part of the field two years ago.
  • LSU defensive end Tyson Jackson - 1 % - Going for Jackson this high is a stretch, but he's probably the top rated 3-4 defensive end in this year's draft class.
  • Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree - 1% - I also believe Crabtree will be gone by number nine, but if somehow teams are scared off by his injury, he'll be hard to pass up.
  • Ohio State cornerback Malcolm Jenkins - 1% - I just don't believe the Packers are in the market for a cornerback. I'm also concerned he'll be a bust.
    
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  Filed under: draft

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• Packers Daily Links 3.29.09

  Posted Mar 29 2009, 10:33 AM by Brian Carriveau

  

  Railbird Central finally has some fans on Facebook. Thanks to those of you that signed up. If you haven't become a fan yet, it's time to do so. Read on...

  Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provides an in-depth look at the offensive line and there's two big items worth noting. First of all, it looks like the linemen are bulking up. "Those are things that you tend to target as a player, preparing your body and yourself for the season," head coach Mike McCarthy said. "I think those guys have done a good job of that as far as identifying that. I've talked to Jason Spitz about that the other day just in (James) Campen's office about his weight. You've watched the guys come up. He's bigger now. Colledge is bigger now too." McCarthy went on to speak about the need to be effective against big defensive tackles like those in Minnesota. He's right. The Packer offensive line has to get bigger.

  The article also touches on how the Packers are running less and less of a zone blocking scheme. According to Silverstein, "Though their base run scheme is zone, McCarthy said they have gotten away from that more and more and are incorporating a number of 'power' or man-to-man plays in their playbook. He said he wants to see the line get off to a fast start and get on a season-long run of effective play." The more the Packers can keep defenses guessing about their blocking scheme, the better. These are some nice developments.

  Just when it looked like the Packers were safe in keeping John Kuhn, the fullback may sign elsewhere yet. When the Bengals failed to sign Minnesota Vikings fullback Naufahu Tahi, their attention may turn to Kuhn. "Word out of Cincinnati is that with Tahi off the board, the Bengals are likely to target Packers fullback John Kuhn," writes John Holler of VikingUpdate.com. Kuhn is a valuable commodity, and the Packers would be wise to match any contract he signs.

  If the Packers happen to lose Kuhn, it appears as they're preparing a contingency plan. Both general manager Ted Thompson and running backs coach Edgar Bennett have met with this draft's top fullback prospect Tony Fimmetta of Syracuse. Fiammetta seems to have a pretty good background knowledge of the Packers. “Last year, they carried two fullbacks and sometimes they were even in the game at the same time,” Fiammetta said in an article for Packer Report. “I really liked that about the Packers and the fact that they really value the fullback. It’s intriguing to me because that’s pretty rare in the NFL nowadays.”

  Linebacker Nick Barnett is on Twitter and says his comeback is going well. Barnett doesn't use perfect grammar, usage and mechanics, but then again, not many people do on Twitter. "Yea rehab is going great I am excited about coming back!! Meet a lot of the new coaches it seems like we have a good team together," writes Barnett.

  The Packers have reportedly set up a visit with small school cornerback Greg Toler of St. Paul's College in Virginia. "Listed at 5-foot-11, 191 pounds, Toler has been clocked as fast as a hand-timed 4.35 in the 40-yard dash," according to The Capital. "He intercepted 14 career passes at St. Pauls's (sic), a CIAA school in Lawrenceville, Va." The article says Toler could be this year's Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie, and that can't be a bad thing.

  NFL Draft Bible says the Packers are interested in Nevada fullback Jerome Johnson and Colorado State quarterback Billy Farris. Their pro day workout numbers can be seen by following this link.

  Gil Brandt of NFL.com says Packers director of college scouting John Dorsey was in charge of the pro day at Jackson State University. The top performer was cornerback Domonique Johnson.

  Packer Update has word from an anonymous source that safety Aaron Rouse may not be around in 2009.

  The Bucky Channel doesn't necessarily think the idea of an 18 game regular season in the NFL is a good idea.

  After a couple of years of hiatus, it's nice to see the Big Wu is having a Family Reunion again. Speaking of, the footage below is from one of their former Family Reunion shows in Wisconsin. Enjoy, "Break of Day," my favorite Big Wu song.
  

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  Filed under: Nick Barnett, John Kuhn, Jerome Johnson, Billy Farris, Greg Toler, Tony Fiammetta

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