() FA Rank 

RB Brandon Jackson 

FB John Kuhn

FB Korey Hall

WR James Jones

TE Donald Lee

G Daryn Colledge

C Jason Spitz

3-4 DE Cullen Jenkins (#47)

One of the league’s best defensive linemen when healthy, but he’s missed 17 games in the last 3 seasons. He had a career high 7 sacks in 2010, despite missing 5 games. He has experience in both a 4-3 and a 3-4.

MLB AJ Hawk- resigned 5 years

MLB Spencer Havner

CB Josh Bell

S Atari Bigby

S Charlie Peprah- resigned 2 years 2.3 million

S Anthony Smith

K Mason Crosby 

Offseason moves:

Cut AJ Hawk

Resigned AJ Hawk

Resigned Charlie Peprah

Draft 

By Packrphan 

Sometimes, Packer fans, the only thing that can be said about a game is: Whew!

The Green Bay Packers narrowly hung on to garner a 28-26 victory over the Detroit Lions in Lambeau Field yesterday. For those who watched it, it was painful. We will not recount the ways; you can find all that coverage and angst elsewhere this time around. For those who didn’t see it, consider yourselves blessed.

My prediction of a blowout in favor of the Pack was clearly off the mark. Apparently, there was still a bit of a hangover from the Monday night loss to Da Bearz. And, also apparently, Detroit does have more ability than perhaps they’ve been given credit for. When some of the people they are currently missing from the lineup return, they could actually be a dangerous team now and then. They are very close. But, as their mistakes revealed on Sunday, not yet close enough.

What can the Packers take out of this game? Besides the “W” and a share of the lead in the NFC North with Da Bearz, who lost to the Giants last night (yeah!), the Pack might also be able to recognize their vulnerability on defense to the dink and dunk offenses that show up during a game, their difficulty handling scrambling quarterbacks, and the fact that they can win a game — or, at least, put one away — with the running game when they need to. Granted, there’s nothing flashy about it, and there is little to no threat of a Packers’ running back taking one to the house from a long way out. But they can grind it out. Perhaps, that’s at least one area of good news emerging through the ugly games of the past two weeks.

Other than that….whew!

http://PackerFansUnited.com 

By Packrphan 

First, Packer fans, in the interest of full disclosure I offer the following: due to my own schedule this weekend, I’m writing this a few days ahead of time. So it’s possible some things might change between now and noon Sunday. But one thing that won’t change will be the outcome. The Green Bay Packers will take out a Monday night hangover on the Lions. It should be pointed out, by the way, that the Lions haven’t beaten the Packers in Green Bay since before Brett Favre was the Pack’s starting QB…and that’s now two teams ago! (For the stat geeks out there, that would be 1991.) 

Anyway, currently the spread has the Pack favored by 14.5 points. That’s the biggest spread of the weekend, folks, and generally when things get that out of whack it doesn’t pan out so well. But you just have to believe that after their disappointing showing in ChiTown Monday evening, and now back on home turf, the Pack will play like the team they are and take out their frustrations on the guys from MoTown.

There really aren’t many phases of the game which favor Detroit. They have a good defensive line and a good rookie running back, but the latter is a bit hobbled with turf toe. Starting QB Matthew Stafford is still out and replacement Shaun Hill is the Lions equivalent of Trent Edwards. We already know how well he fared at Lambeau. Hill doesn’t have the arm to allow the Lions to take advantage of some of their receivers’ abilities. Bad for them, good for us.

Detroit, as I noted in my review of Da Bearz game, is just what the doctor ordered for the Pack to get back on track.

I’m calling this one 38-10 in favor of the Pack.

http://PackerFansUnited.com

By Packrphan

As a blizzard is set to hit Wisconsin, the Green Bay Packers are set to hit the Lions in Detroit. The Pack took to the air in time to beat the snowstorm. Still, a few players will not be on the field Sunday when gametime arrives. Key among them from the Packers’ standpoint is DE Cullen Jenkins; he strained a calf muscle in last weekend’s game vs. the 49ers. Trying to fill that sizable void on the D-line will be C. J. Wilson and Jarius Wynn. It’s possible Howard Green might also be moved around in the rotation as well with B. J. Raji and Ryan Pickett. 

But it’s not the running game that is of primary concern from a defensive standpoint. It’s the passing game of the Lions. And even though their starting quarterback, Matthew Stafford, is still sidelined, the backup to the backup, Drew Stanton, is a serviceable QB. Kinda like Jay Cutler…on a good day. (Ouch!) More importantly, whoever is tossing the ball in Motor City has WR Calvin Johnson on his side. His size and speed make him the Lions’ main offensive weapon. But he’s not the only one. TE Brandon Pettigrew benefits from Johnson opening things up. He’s a big tight end, although not fast. Since linebackers A. J. Hawk and Desmond Bishop will likely wind up covering him, he may get some opportunities. But he should be able to be kept in check.

While a few Packers won’t be on the field this time around, there was at least some good news going into the game: it appears that LT Chad Clifton is cleared to play, and the ankle sprain sustained during practice this week by Charles Woodson was not as serious as initially suspected; he’ll also likely be good to go Sunday…it’s a game in Michigan, right? Woodson won’t miss that one!

The Packers are 10-4 in dome games under head coach Mike McCarthy. Is it surprising? The Packers offense is geared to the air game. And there’s no better place to air out the ball, especially in December, than inside. I know, I know, that’s almost heresy in Packerland. But given perfect conditions in which to throw the ball, guess what’s going to happen? The Packers are going to light up the Lions, particularly given the sorry state of Detroit’s secondary. QB Aaron Rodgers will have a big day, as will his receiving corps. Toss in a seemingly resurgent (yes, for the Packers that does mean just one game) running game with rookie James Starks and the Pack will be far more than the Lions can handle, even if they do happen to make it a game for a while.

Coach McCarthy, if memory serves, is 9-0 against the Lions. Sunday will make it 10-0. Despite the final score of the first meeting this season, most games aren’t that close. The Packers are currently favored by 6-1/2 points. They’ll take care of that going away.

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By Packrphan 

The recently-victorious but serially-injured Green Bay Packers travel to the Big Apple this weekend to take on the NY Jets, who are pretty healthy and coming off a bye week. The Jets also have one of the best rushing games in the NFL to this stage of the season (#2 overall) courtesy of one of the best O-lines in the league blowing holes open for RB LaDainian Tomlinson, who the Packers and many other teams thought was over-the-hill at age 31 and passed him by when he was let go by the Chargers — oops. Oh, and the Jets also have a pretty good young quarterback, although they rank just 27th overall in passing. 

Seems as if no one is giving the Pack much of chance in Sunday’s game: they are currently listed as 6-1/2-point underdogs.

Interestingly, at least if you are a stat geek, the Jets actually lead the all-time regular-season series, 8-2. What’s more, the Jets have won the last three contests against the Packers. Hmmmm…

OK, the Pack is coming off an emotional and physically demanding game against the guys in the funky purple. Pundits and fans both wonder how much the Packers will have in the tank for this game, which, while important, is a non-division and non-conference game. And with roughly half the roster (as shown in a post here earlier this month) on some type of injury list (either full IR or the game-to-game variety), the Packers are seemingly undermanned and probably underwhelmed at the prospect of this game.

Seems as if some players, e.g., Ryan Pickett, Cullen Jenkins and Mark Tauscher among them, might be held out this week so they are ready for the upcoming Sunday night showdown in Lambeau with the ‘boys from Dallas. Seems a reasonable call. Granted, you don’t want to ever go in thinking of a loss. But at this stage of the season and the roster as it is — including several new linebackers and linemen added just this week — keeping some key players healthy to go another day might be a fair trade in the long run.

And that’s really what the Packers have to look at at this point: the rest of the season and how they are going to make the playoffs. They either need to win the division — and, let’s face it, it will either be the Pack or the ‘Queens by a game or a tiebreaker (my apologies to my friend, Billy Da Bearz Fan)– or somehow grab a wildcard spot. Getting that win against the ‘Queens was a biggie, and that’s why perhaps being 4-4 after this game, instead of 3-5, is all the difference in the world getting ready for Dallas and then, thankfully, the bye week.

So, what’s the call on this game? Look for a lot of rushing attack by the Jets against the Packers’ understaffed defensive line. If, somehow, the Pack can bend but not break in that area and force young QB Mark Sanchez into some bad decisions, the Packers have a chance. Or, if the Packers offense can do what it did for some of the game against the ‘Queens, and stay on the field and minimize Jets’ offensive plays, there is also a chance the Pack could steal a victory.

My head says Jets but my heart says (of course) Packers. I’ll call it 24-21 Packers.

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By Packrphan

Sunday, January 9, 2011…a day that will live in, well, Green Bay Packers’ lore if nowhere else. And not only for the fact that the Pack beat the Philadelphia Eagles 21-16. This game should be part of the sacred Packers’ canon for years to come because of a few of the “firsts” recorded. 

The first of the “firsts” was that, with his three touchdown passes yesterday, QB Aaron Rodgers became the first NFL quarterback — ever — to record seven touchdown passes in his first two playoff appearances. Obviously, those other four TD passes were made in last year’s overtime loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Congrats to Mr. Rodgers, our Pro Bowl QB. (Wait…what’s that you’re saying? Rodgers didn’t make the Pro Bowl this season? But Michael Vick did? Who’s responsible for this mix up??? Obviously, there’s a bizarro world thing happening here!)

Oh, and this was also Rodgers’ first playoff win as the Packers starting QB.

Another great “first” was a Packers’ rookie playoff rushing record for James Starks. His 123 yards (23 carries, 5.3 yds/carry) rushing yesterday blew past the prior record held by Travis “The Roadrunner” Williams back in 1967. Williams carried 18 times for 88 yards at Milwaukee’s County Stadium as the Packers beat the Los Angeles Rams, 28-7. Congrats to Mr. Starks. Perhaps the Packers can now give opposing defenses a legitimate rushing threat to worry about throughout the playoffs.

Another “first” was the first NFL touchdown catch by TE Tom Crabtree, which was also the first Packers’ score of the game. Congrats to Mr. Crabtree. And we really liked the way you rubbed it in to the fans with your “I can’t hear you” hands-to-the-ears routine as the City of Brotherly Love fans showered their special brand of love upon you. Classic.

On the flip side of things, and it played an important part in the Packers victory, it was the first time the Eagles Pro Bowl kicker, David Akers, missed two field goal attempts in a playoff game. Being so bold as to speak for Packers fans everywhere, this was indeed a good “first” and a great time to have it happen. Sorry, Mr. Akers.

Last, but certainly not least, is the fact that this was the first playoff win by any Packers team in Philadelphia. The Pack had been 0-2 in playoff games in Philly going into yesterday’s game. The only playoff loss by head coach Vince Lombardi was to the Eagles in Philly in 1960. Then there was head coach Mike Sherman’s Waterloo overtime loss in 2004, where a loss was snatched from the hands of victory. That demon has been exorcised.

This was a complete team victory for the Packers, the team’s first road playoff win since the 1997 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco (hey, another “first” of sorts!). Beating any team twice in the same season in their own stadium is no easy feat. Beating a team with Michael Vick running the offense is a challenge anytime, anywhere. Well done, gentlemen, well done!

Next up: the Dirty Birds

The Packers will now have six days to get ready to travel to Atlanta to take on Matt Flynn and the Falcons in a place where the home team rarely loses. But if memory serves, the Packers essentially played the Dirty Birds to a draw last time around, and lost by 3 points in the waning moments of the game. The Falcons are the #1 seed in the NFC, the Packers are the #6 seed. That means jack right now, if you get my drift. And I think you do. The Packers are playing at a level they haven’t been at until probably the last three or four games. The defense is better than it was when they last played the Falcons, and the offense is also more in a groove and now has a rushing threat for Atlanta to deal with as well as Mr. Rodgers and crew.

The Packers are confident and ready. Watch out Atlanta. The Packers are heading your way.

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By Packrphan 

This game was literally a situation of whoever had the ball last would win the game. Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers directed a final drive to tie the game at 17-17. But Atlanta got the ball back with under a minute left and, courtesy of a facemask penalty on the kickoff return, started at mid-field.

As TV commentators are saying, the one-dimensionality of the Packers’ offense — i.e., no rushing game by the Pack — is showing up big time in a game like this, and was the difference today between these two teams. One could run the ball, the other couldn’t. I don’t have to tell you which is which.

Add in the inability of the Packers’ special teams to do something big when it mattered most, with time running out. Instead, they gave up a big return and then added another 15 yards with a penalty to allow a short amount of yardage needed for a winning field goal by Atlanta.

A turnover at the goal line by Aaron Rodgers meant two trips inside the 10-yard line for the Packers with only 3 points to show for it. Killer.

Missed opportunities. As with the 3 other losses this season — all by 3 points, by the way — that’s the theme of today’s game.

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By Packrphan 

Happy Dirty Birds Day to you, Packer fans! No, I’m not referring to the recent day on which you dropped turkey on the kitchen floor after carving, tossed it back on the plate, and then served it to your relatives. I’m talking about today’s game in Atlanta between our Green Bay Packers and the Falcons. 

The Falcons are coming into the game with a NFC-leading 8-2 record, with the Pack at 7-3. Atlanta is favored by 2 points.

The Birds fly high in their dome. They are 18-3 at home over the last three seasons. This team is not like the last two teams the Pack has faced. They are good and they won’t quit on their coach the way those teams did. Statistically (you can look elsewhere today for that info if you are a stat geek), the Packers and Falcons are fairly close in many areas. However, the Packers have an overall better defense, particularly in the secondary. That is an area that will need to execute well today, as they have been doing, for the Packers to come out on top. WR Roddy White leads the league in receptions, if memory serves, and is up there in reception yards as well, not surprisingly. Expect the Packers to likely have CB Tramon Williams on White most of the time, although they may shift Williams and Charles Woodson around as needed so that rookie safety Sam Shields isn’t stuck on an island against White.

The Falcons also have veteran TE Tony Gonzalez as a receiving threat and RB Michael Turner as the featured rusher. Gonzalez is still dangerous, despite perhaps losing a step, and Turner is quick and powerful and can move the chains and eat clock. The Packers’ defensive line has handled running backs all season long and I expect them to bottle up Turner today as well; he may get some yards, but as long as they don’t allow him to break long runs or get 5+ yards per carry, it will be OK. QB Matt Ryan is similar to the Packers’ own Aaron Rodgers: cerebral, strong arm, and generally won’t make mistakes.

So, if the Packers’ defense can continue to do what they have been doing, and special teams holds its own, it comes down to the offense executing its game plan. The Packers have more weapons in the receiving game and they are going against a 24th-ranked passing defense. So if the offensive line gives Rodgers time and he’s on his game, the Pack have the advantage. But expect a closer game than we’ve seen recently.

This is a game which will tell us a great deal about how good the Packers really are. As fans, we are all beginning to think they are very good. A win in Atlanta today will reinforce that perception. More importantly, though, it will also go a long way to helping determine homefield advantage in the playoffs. If the Pack plucks this one away from the Falcons, things are looking rosy.

I’m calling this one 27-24 Packers.

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C Chris Anzevino (Kent State)

G Brandon Brooks (Miami-OH)

S Trevor Coston (Maine)

CB Antonio Dennard (Langston)

G Gino Gradkowski (Delaware)

S Brandon Hardin (Oregon State)

CB Jeremy Lane (Northwestern)

S Jeron McMillian (Maine)

3-4 DE Drew Nowak (Western Michigan)

TE Adrien Robinson (Cincinnati)

MLB Bobby Wagner (Utah State)