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Looks like Mark Tauscher could be back in the fold as early as today. When asked if signing Tauscher was imminent, head coach Mike McCarthy told the press including the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "I would think so, if it works out. You know how those things go. It
would be great to have Mark back here. I have spoken to (right tackle)
Allen Barbre about it. He knows he is coming in. This is something that
has been planned." The timing seems to have worked out almost perfectly. The Packers knew he wouldn't be ready to play at the beginning of the season. But they also knew that a football season takes its toll and will have room for him by October.
We won't be seeing Will Blackmon anytime for the remainder of the season. "Will Blackmon,
who returned punts for touchdowns in both games against Minnesota last
season, had his season end on Monday when he injured the ACL in his
left knee during a kickoff return at Minnesota," writes Bill Huber of Packer Report. It's an unfortunate situation, but this could signal the end of Blackmon's career in Green Bay. He was a solid return man but not spectacular. It would be hard to believe the Packers would want to go with him next season coming off an injury.
As for who will replace Blackmon: "Receiver Jordy Nelson will remain the Packers’ kickoff returner, but
the team hasn’t determined a new punt returner now that Will Blackmon
has been lost for the season because of a knee injury," reports the Green Bay Press-Gazette. Likely candidates to return punts are either Nelson, Tramon Williams or perhaps even Brett Swain. Given Williams' return for a touchdown in the past, I think he has the inside edge if he can get in a little practice during the bye week.
Monday night's game was the highest rated show in the history of cable television. "The game was seen in 15.1 million cable TV households," reports the Press-Gazette. "An estimated
21.8 million viewers watched the Brett Favre-led Vikings beat the
Packers, 30-23." This is not surprising. The previous record was also held by a Monday Night Football game between the Ravens and the Patriots in 2007.
Woodson was critical of both the coaching staff and management after Monday's game, but McCarthy didn't seem perturbed. "McCarthy said he didn't have a problem with Woodson's comments about the game plan, or when Woodson said that Anthony Smith, who was released before the season, could have helped with some of the breakdowns the team was having at safety," according to the Journal Sentinel. The release of Smith was probably the biggest personnel mistake the Packers could have made. With Nick Collins set to become a free agent, the Packers could have some gaping holes at safety by next season.
The stats show the Packers are among the worst in the entire NFL at dropping passes. "Rodgers' receivers keep dropping balls," writes Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel. "Tight end Donald Lee dropped
what would have been a touchdown pass; wide receiver Donald Driver
dropped a pass inside Minnesota territory; and running back DeShawn
Wynn dropped a pass in the flat. According to STATS, the Packers rank
tied for third in the NFL in dropped passes with 10."
Tony Wilson of Mike McCarthy's Feedbag is especially ticked off at Lee.
Howie Magner of Milwaukee Magazine thinks Monday's loss was especially painful.
Aaron Nagler of Cheeshead TV thinks Dom Capers was exposed.
Railbird endorsed video: Enjoy "Amplified Messiah" by Assembly of Dust...