My Official Green Bay Packers blog

Is it just me, or does the way the final game of the NFL regular season unfolded seem like a “last stand”?  The NFL moved the game to Sunday evening, which I suppose, recognizing the possible playoff implications at the time of the decision, add to that the possibility that Favre is going to retire (he has retire to sometime, right?), and it all seems kinda reasonable.

But the way the receivers were catching almost anything thrown their way reminded me of another game from not too long ago - the Monday Night Football game against the Raiders, right after Irv Favre had passed away.  They played almost possessed then, and they did again tonight.  Like there was something special going on tonight.

Like maybe Favre sat down with everyone before the game and told them he was leaving, and asked that his teammates put together going away present, putting a beat-down on the Bears like they did on the Packers at the beginning of the season.

Aw, crap.  Favre is being interviewed by Andrea Kramer right this moment, and he’s crying.  She said they were taking pictures after the game, Favre with the O-line, Ahman Green.  Only one reason I can think of to take pictures.
Shit. This was probably it.

Helluva run, Brett.  Thanks for bringing the pride back to this little town in the northern midwest.  These folks don’t have a lot to cheer for, but you gave them plenty, and for a long time.  You’ve been the example of a gentlemanly football star, shooting straight but always thoughtful of your words.

A modern-day Bart Starr.

But maybe with a little cajun spice thrown in.

Thanks for the memories.

Technorati Tags: Green Bay Packers, Brett Favre, retire, goodbye

Detroit Lions head coach Rod Marinelli will be having hip replacement surgery next week.  If you’ve seen him on the sidelines at all (which has been hard to do, because the networks have been begging off on Lions coverage like your best friend with your girl’s friend - you know, the one with the great personality), you’d see he’s been walking around with a limp.  When asked about the timing of the surgery, Marinelli replied: “I gotta get this in while I still have the good coverage.”

Technorati Tags: Detroit Lions, Rod Marinelli, hip replacement, NFL Major Medical

When Charles Woodson came to Green Bay, I was pretty sure it was going to mean trouble in the locker room that would find it’s way onto the field. I can vaguely recall an ESPN interview of Woodson where he was bad-mouthing his coach on live TV, via satellite. He was wearing sunglasses (indoors) not unlike the ones pictured here, except I believe his were diamond-studded. The diamonds may have spelled the word “diva” on the sides.*

At the time of the interview I was embarrassed for Michigan. Having won the 1997 Heisman award (and as a defensive player, beating out players like Peyton Manning for the honor), this guy could do no wrong in the Big House. But now he was on the Left Coast, where reality sometimes takes a back seat to la-la-land. Maybe that clouded his mind and made him think he owned the town. Al Davis has never been known as a player disciplinarian, so maybe he promised the town to Woodson. Whatever the cause, the result was he was hanging filthy jockstraps out on the community clothesline for all to smell. And that was pretty much the last I’d heard about him until he came to the Packers.

So I was expecting this huge investment of cap dollars for an oft-injured athlete sometimes characterized as a malcontent to be a huge waste of money. And frankly, I’m still not sure we should’ve spent that kind of money on him. But he’s been here, putting in the work, making the plays. Shutting things down. And all without the lip flatulence I feared would be included in the package.

So I apologize to you, Charles Woodson. I made some early judgements about you that appear to have not been true. I’m not often glad to discover I was wrong about something, but I am today. You bring much to the defensive table and do it without attitude.

But Charles - can you please lose the sunglasses? They make you look like a black George Michael. And you know about George, right? The whole…you know. Thing?

Technorati Tags: Green Bay Packers, Charles Woodson, defensive backs, apologies, the future’s so bright

* May be an exaggeration.