Packers' news...

James Jones,a Packers' unrestricted free agent,re-signed a three year contract,with Packers,today... Jones dropped many passes during Super Bowl XLV,but made critical catch to clinch Super Bowl,taking football down,to four yard line,to kill off precious time,to win Packers' fourth Super Bowl,in team history...

major NFL signing...

Plaxico Burress signed with the New York Jets....

Packers' history...

Clarke Hinkle(Packers' Hall of Fame member;Class of 1964*) led Packers,in rushing,from 1932-1934,and 1937 -1941
*Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted first class,in 1963,with 17 members

breakdown of the Packers-special teams...

even with the Super Bowl win,special teams were one of the worst in the NFL,for the Packers... critical breakdowns,like in game one one,when a Packers' player actually stepped on football,basically on first punt of the season(he was pushed into football,actually),but he did step onto football... Mason Crosby did connect on a 56 yard field goal(team record),against the Eagles,in opening week,but also hit a goal post,as time ran out,against Miami,last year,and the Packers lost game,in overtime...
Tim Masthay had a very strong leg,as a punter,averaging 50+yards a punt,against the Lions(a 7-3 loss),but breakdowns on punt coverage cost the Packers,at least three games,against the Bears(third week,when Devin Hester went 62 yards with a punt return touchdown),against the Patriots,when a offensive lineman went over 70 yards,with a kickoff,to clinch a 31-27 win,for the Patriots,and a facemask penalty,cost Packers a win,against Atlanta,giving the Falcons,a very short field to kick a field goal,for a 20-17 Falcons' win..
the Packers drafted Randall Cobb,out of the University of Kentucky,in second round... the coaches say that he reminds them,of Josh Cribbs,of the Cleveland Browns,who is the son of the legendary(at least in Buffalo)Joe Cribbs,who was a very good,and tough running back,for the Bills... if Cobb is anywhere near the talent of Cribbs,being a strong runner,and not a fumbler,on punt returns,and kickoffs(when you have one that is not a touchback),the Packers will improve,but they need to improve on punt,and kickoff coverage,to help the Packers defend their Super Bowl championship,this season...

major NFL moves...

Vince Young signed an one year contract,with the Philadelphia Eagles...
Chad Ochocinco was traded to the New England Patriots,by the Cincinnati Bengals...

NFL trades,and a story...

Reggie Bush have been traded to the Miami Dolphins,by the New Orleans Saints,and have agreed to terms with the Dolphins(a two year contract)... Donovan McNabb have been traded to the Minnesota Vikings... McNabb will give Vikings a very good quarterback,but is he the quarterback,in Philadelphia,or the one in Washington,last year,when Mike Shanahan disrespected him,by mistreating him by telling him he was not in plans(taking him out against the Lions for Rex Grossman,in last two minutes,of game,and then telling the media that Grossman "gave" team better chance to win,in two minute drill)... funny thing,for the Redskins,was that Grossman fumbled ball,and Ndamukong Suh ran football into end zone,for a Lions' win... Shanahan is no class act!!!!!!!!!! Vikings have same problem as last year,because they need a barnburner to go deep,and unfortunately,Sidney Rice,their best receiver last year,have been traded to the Seattle Seahawks... the Vikings will fight Chicago for a playoff spot...

Packers' news...

Mason Crosby,and the Packers,have agreed on five-year deal,as kicker for the Packers...

2011 Packers' regular season schedule...

September 8th-New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (Thursday Night Football-pairing of last two Super Bowl Champs)
September 18th-Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers
September 25th-Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
October 2nd-Denver Broncos at Green Bay Packers
October 9th-Green Bay at Atlanta Falcons(Sunday Night Football)
October 16th-St. Louis Rams at Green Bay Packers(will be somewhat sad that day,as Packers beat Rams,as Rams were Mom's favorite team)
October 23rd-Green Bay at Minnesota Vikings
week of Halloween-bye week
November 6th-Green Bay Packers at San Diego Chargers
November 14th-Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers(Monday Night Football)
November 20th-Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Green Bay Packers
November 24th-Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions(early game of three Thanksgiving Day games)
December 4th-Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
December 11th-Oakland Raiders at Green Bay Packers
December 18th-Green Bay Packers at Kansas City Chiefs
December 25th-Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
January 1st,2012-Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers will become first NFL team,in NFL history,to play on Thanksgiving Day,Christmas Day,and New Year's Day...

pre-season schedule...

Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns-August 13th
Arizona Cardinals at Green Bay Packers-August 19th
Green Bay Packers at Indianapolis Colts-August 26th
Kansas City Chiefs at Green Bay Packers-September 1st

Green Bay reports to training camp on Friday July 29th

fun facts...

for a change of pace:what is the address of Lambeau Field? answer:1265 Lombardi Avenue,Green Bay Wisconsin,54304...

NFL LOCKOUT OVER!!!!!!!!!!

after 136 days,NFL lockout is officially over... both NFL commissioner Roger Goodell,and union head DeMaurice Smith are at podium... a ten year deal of labor peace,with,reportedly,no opt-out of deal,by either side,at all... i am smiling ear to ear,and very happy... more details later today!!!!!!

football news...

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?

NFL lockout over? (cross fingers!!)

several reports indicate that NFL owners,and players have agreed in principle,to the new CBA... press conference,at 8 am,Pacific Coast Time,or shortly thereafter... vote on CBA,by players,supposedly by noon,Pacific time,or early afternoon... some other matters need to be resolved,but they can not be done,without NFLPA being re-certified,which should be done in teams' buildings,when they report to training camp...

lockout update...

there has been progress on lockout talks between the players,and their "trade association",as they call it,right now... it looks like that the NFL lockout could(?)end on Tuesday,and NFL business(the league year) could start Wednesday,but i just hope the player representatives would just shut up and do their business...i do not hear about the small stuff anymore... to quote Hank Williams Jr.,all i want to say is to say,"are you ready for some football?"... i am ready for the Packers to defend their World Championship,and that is all i want...

commentary...

i am really upset with the NFL lockout,and it all comes down to the almighty greenback,in the long run... NFL owners,and the players all say that it is all for the fans... that is absolute bull... the reactions of the plaintiffs,who are in lawsuits(Brady et,al versus NFL,and others)just point out that the fans do not matter one bit,to anyone... they get screwed by putting money down on seats,suites,collectibles,hats,and jerseys,and other things,then get treated like a big slab of meat to be carved up like a Thanksgiving turkey... i know it takes time to do a collective bargaining agreement(do not get me wrong,i know),but it seems to me that the closer to the end of things,the more arrogant they both get,and all the fans want is to watch football... any more arrogance by player representatives,saying that they do not know what is in the CBA,and they need to look at it,and they do not like it,saying that the owners slipped something that was not agreed to into the agreement,or the owners basically saying,"take it or leave it",after ratifying the deal,and i am going to vomit... (the player representative who said that was Heath Evans,of the New Orleans Saints,and the owner who showed arrogance,was Jerry Jones,of the Dallas Cowboys(to name just one,including Roger Goodell,commissioner of the NFL)... the players,and owners have had six months to know what is in the CBA,basically,and to tell the long suffering fan in the stands,or suites,that they have no idea what is in the CBA,is absolute garbage,so days,weeks,and months go by,and the fans get screwed every single day of this lockout,and the owners,and players get richer,and the fans get nothing to cheer for,period...

labor news,and some unique football trivia...

NFL owners approved a collective bargaining agreement,late last night,but players are not happy with deal,and need to re-certify,as union,and vote on CBA,after settling on major issues,like the settlement of the new television deal,which players want a piece of that,too,and Brady et,al versus NFL,which is still not settled... i am getting real upset with this stuff... i am usually talking about football,and getting pumped up about football,but this offseason has been a real bummer... that is reason that i took off a week from blogging... the owners are trying a last power play,by voting on so-called framework of CBA,and the players are being real jerks,by saying that they need to see completed CBA,before settling on deal,and some plaintiffs,in Brady et al versus NFL,are being pigheaded about money(reports say:$10 million to two plaintiffs,and/or being unrestricted free agents-San Diego Chargers' Vincent Jackson,and New England Patriots' Logan Mankins,who both sat out some of 2010)... whether it is true,or not,it makes the fans the real losers,in this deal,when all they want to do is cheer for their teams... i am usually re-signed for the Packers' fan club by now,but i refuse to give dime one,to both the greedy owners,and players,unless this stuff is settled,and maybe not even this year,because this stuff has made me really upset,and i am a true football fan,and a diehard fan of the World Champion Green Bay Packers,and like i have said earlier,i am a true fan of the game,not just the jersey,or the team,like i love the Detroit Red Wings,and the true game of hockey,from pee wee,high school,college,minor(junior) league,the AHL,ECHL,and the NHL,and Europe... i even watch the Canadian Football League(note:Sacramento(Gold Miners)actually had a CFL team,in 1993,and 1994;they played at Hornet Field)

love my blog...

back to football on blog...

switcheroo day...

Ty Conklin signed with Red Wings,one year,worth $750,000

Chris Osgood's NHL,and playoff career...

he was 401(wins)-216(losses)-66(ties)-29(overtime losses),in 744 NHL career games,with the Red Wings,New York Islanders,and the St. Louis Blues,with a lifetime goals against average,of 2.49,and a save percentage,of .905... in 129 playoff games,he was 74-49,with a goals against average,of 2.09,with a save percentage,of .916,with 15 shutouts... his last two playoff seasons were in 2007-2008,when he relieved Dominik Hasek,was 14-4,with a save percentage,of .930,and a spectacular goals against average,of 1.55,with three shutouts,and,in 2008-2009,he almost duplicated those numbers,in a losing effort,against the Pittsburgh Penguins,when he was 15-8,with a save percentage,of .926,and a goals against average,of 2.01,with two shutouts... only injuries,to Pavel Datsyuk(broken foot),and Nicklas Lidstrom,and a lack of offense,by Red Wings,in last two games of that Finals series,kept him from winning Stanley Cup,in 2008-2009... he won three Stanley Cups(1997,1998,and 2008);two as a starter,and one as a backup...(i made mistake in posting this blog;i accept this,and for the only time,a hockey posting will remain on blog)

sad news...

Myra Kraft,wife of the New England Patriots' owner,Robert Kraft,has died of cancer,today...

Packers' history...

Earl L."Curly" Lambeau won six NFL titles,as Packers' coach(1929-1931,1936,1939,and 1944)...

NFL news...

Indianapolis Colts' quarterback Peyton Manning underwent minor neck surgery sometime in last month,and being cautious with his rehab,but sources say even though he may miss the start of training camp(whenever that may be?),and yet,since he has never missed a NFL start,in his career,he should be ready for the upcoming season...

lockout update...

NFL,and NFL players' lawyers met today,and will meet on Tuesday,and owners,and players' union meet on Wednesday... timeline for completed proposal to be presented to NFL owners,at owners' meeting,on July 21st...

NFL news...

Kansas City Chiefs' linebacker Mike Vrabel retired after 14 years,and has been hired as an assistant coach,at Ohio State,coaching the linebackers,where he went to college... Vrabel won three Super Bowls,with the New England Patriots,in his career...

NFL history...

which active player hit Tom Brady to cause fumble(and it was a fumble,in Oakland,and by the way in Foxborough,too,but not by referees),during the Oakland/New England famous "tuck rule" playoff game,in 2001? answer:Green Bay's Charles Woodson...

3,000 hits for Derek Jeter...

this is normally a football blog,but this is of note in another sport:
Derek Jeter,of the New York Yankees,had a day to remember on the day that he reached 3,000 hits... he went five for five,became the first,and only Yankee to reach that plateau,and the second player in Major League history,to hit a home run for his 3,000th hit(Wade Boggs,then of Tampa Bay Devil Rays,is the other player)... he hit a slider,off David Price,into left field stands,and had winning run batted in(RBI),in a 5-4 win,over the Tampa Bay Rays,today... he hit a single,off Tim Belcher,of the Seattle Mariners,for his first hit,in 1995(May 30th,1995)...

NFL history,and unique trivia...

who is the only player,in NFL history,to score touchdown with interception,fumble,punt return,and blocked punt? answer:Ed Reed,of the Baltimore Ravens,who ran back an interception 108 yards,against Kevin Kolb,and the Philadelphia Eagles,in 2008;he has also run an interception back 104 yards,in 2004...

BREAKING NEWS...

the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled 2-1(three judge panel)that the NFL lockout is legal... no big surprise there,but the 54 page decision does say that the antitrust litigation can go forward,and owner liability is still on the table,for that lawsuit(Brady,et al vs. National Football League)...

Packers' history...

the last time that the Packers played in Milwaukee,in the regular season,was December 18,1994,when Packers beat the Atlanta Falcons,21-17...

funny story...

Dallas Cowboys' wide receiver Roy Williams mailed a $76,000 engagement ring along with marriage proposal,to a former Miss Texas... she declined,reported ring lost,or stolen,to insurance company... insurance company found out that father had kept ring... Williams sued;father said he did not mean to do an end around on Williams,and has said that Williams said originally to keep ring... what hooey!! her father is a real piece of work,lying to insurance company,and she must be proud of her father... he said that he will return ring to Williams... i can not mention what i think of the father,but will say that he may be lower than an amoeba,personally...

RIP,John Mackey,1941-2011...

Hall of Fame tight end,and Baltimore Colts' legend,John Mackey has passed away,at age 69,today...

NFL North team rankings for 2011-2012(update)...

this post is my update of the teams' standings:
Green Bay Packers:A(Super Bowl hangover-being fat and sassy,do not believe that,honestly,with Clay Matthews,and Aaron Rodgers,around-two passionate football players,who love to play,and win)
Chicago:B- (Questions about Jay Cutler's health,and defensive backfield)
Detroit:B-(Questions about Matthew Stafford's fragility-shoulder surgery?,and defensive backfield-chic pick to make playoff run)
Minnesota:C(Christian Ponder-starting quarterback-relying on Adrian Peterson,and aging defense,even with a veteran quarterback,coming in-only the right one-Donavan McNabb?,would help)

lockout update...

lawyers for both sides,of NFL lockout,are still working on paperwork,and NFL owners,and players' union,will join them Thursday...

lockout update...

NFL,and the players met today for sixth round of labor talks...

Packers' trivia...

what do Mark Brunell,and Ty Detmer have in common,when it comes to the Packers? answer:they both played behind Brett Favre,and never played a regular season down,with the Packers...

players choice;number one...

the players ranked Tom Brady,of the New England Patriots number one of "the top 100 players of 2011"... he had 36 touchdowns,and only four interceptions last season... had 339 passes in a row,without an interception(NFL record,by a long shot);10+games,without an interception,period...

lockout update...

according to many NFL sources,the lawyers are still working on drafts of proposals for a CBA,for everyone involved... the NFL,and players are scheduled to resume negotiations,Tuesday,or Wednesday,and the 8th Circuit of Appeals' decision,from lawsuit(Brady versus the National Football League),from the first week of June,is due within a couple of weeks... if there is a deal in hand,that decision will be rendered moot... i expect a deal by the day of training camp opening(July 22nd,or 23rd),or shortly thereafter...

NFL news...

the Vikings' new stadium,in Arden Hills,Minnesota,is stuck in two ways... Minnesota state government has shut down,in a dispute,with Governor Mark Dayton,and there is a funding gap,in their private finances for the stadium... love it,who really cares about the Vikings? i do not care a whit,because the funding comes for the most part,from the taxpayers,so i feel sorry for the taxpayers more than the team,because they get soaked for the money,anyway...

Packers' trivia...

Willie Davis is the only Green Bay Packers' player,and member of the management team,to own all four Super Bowl rings... he was on roster for Super Bowl I,and II,and was on the Board of Directors,for Super Bowl XXXI(1994-2005),and was a director emeritus,for Super Bowl XLV...

trivia...

Jim Taylor led NFL,with 272 carries,for 1,474 yards,in 1962(the only time that Cleveland Browns' Jim Brown did not lead NFL,in rushing,in his NFL career)... Brown missed only a half of one game,when he suffered a broken arm,during a game,in his entire career...

commentary...

the last two years the Packers have been 21-11,and two playoff berths(a wild 51-45 loss to Arizona,in overtime,in which Packers' receivers dropped a sure fire touchdown pass,just before the fumble,by Aaron Rodgers,that Cardinals' defenders almost ripped off his head,with an uncalled facemask penalty,and the Cardinals ran in fumble for winning score)... that game was a toss up,and i am not upset about that,but wanted to tell you that the Packers were a playoff team the last two years... last year was magical,with the Packers losing a lot of players,to injured-reserve list,and also losing Rodgers,for a game,to a concussion(the loss to New England,31-27,in Foxborough,and their last loss,of the season)... losing six games by four points,or less,was nearly perfect,of a season,in which everything went the Packers' way,in which they were in every game,last season,and then steamrolled their way to the Super Bowl XLV win,31-25,over Pittsburgh... i will not say that they have another run in them,like last year,but they are a playoff team,this coming year,if they have a year in NFL...