Sports

Packers

I was on my way back from hunting Sunday when turned on the radio and heard that the Green Bay Packers were down 21-10 at halftime to the Carolina Panthers. I was amazed that the Packers were down by that much in a must-win game.

By the time I had reached home, Mason Crosby had inched the Packers closer by making a 44-yard field goal. After the Panthers pinned the Packers deep in their own territory, quarterback Aaron Rodgers led one of his best drives as a Packer. He was six for six on the drive and ended with a touchdown pass to tight end Donald Lee. Rodgers then converted the two-point conversion to tie the game. The Packers had finally woke up. They recorded a couple stops on defense and had turned those stops into points. 

After the defense forced another punt, Rodgers had connected with Greg Jennings for a 21-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. The momentum had turned the Packers’ way in a hurry. Being at home and having a lead in the fourth quarter, it seemed the Pack was destined for victory and would still have a chance at winning the NFC North Division.

After the Panthers tied it at 28-28 on their next possession, I was still certain Green Bay’s offense could put together a game-winning drive. It seemed like a day where Rodgers might be able to start his own legacy and not have to be compared to the legend of Brett Favre. By the time the Packers were in the red zone, only four minutes were on the clock. It seemed they were going punch it in easily. But when they got to the goal line, they couldn’t move the ball an inch. After a 6-yard run by Brandon Jackson, the Packers had a second and goal on the one. After Jackson was stopped on second down, head coach Mike McCarthy and the Packers had to come up with a touchdown. I was thinking that a play action pass would probably work, or at least give Rodgers, who was having a great game, a chance to put the game on ice. But instead, McCarthy decided to try a give to fullback John Kuhn –– who has had seven carries for 10 yards this year. Needless to say, Kuhn didn’t score. Crosby made a short field goal to give the Packers the lead. Quite a disappointment after a 17-play drive. But the Packers did have the lead, all they had to do was stop the Panthers from scoring. 

But just like the Packers have done so many times this year, the special teams gave up a big return. The Panthers had great field position, starting just short of midfield. On the very first play Jake Delhomme, hit All-Pro wide receiver Steve Smith on a deep pass right down the middle of the field. Smith was tackled at the 1-yard line and DeAngelo Williams scored on the very next play to give the Panthers the lead with just over a minute remaining. 

Rodgers and the offense tried to mount a game-winning drive, but Rodgers was intercepted on a pass intended for Donald Driver.

This was just another big disappointment for Packer fans who had very high expections coming into the season. After a season that had the Packers going 13-3 and making it all the way to the NFC championship game, many people are questioning some of the coaching staff and upper management of the Packers. I believe part of the reason is McCarthy. He is not the same coach as he was a year ago. He doesn't seem to be getting the team fired up or energized to play football. Some of his play calling late in games has been very questionable. One play that comes to mind is against Minnesota, when McCarthy decided to run the ball late in the game and settle for a 52-yard field goal, which is not an easy kick for anyone. Also, I think general manager Ted Thompson is to blame in the Packers’ play this season.  Last year, it seemed Thompson was drafting for depth and not need, which would be fine if the Packers had been in a rebuilding mode this off-season. But they weren't. They were a Super Bowl contender last year.

Thompson traded the first-round pick to stockpile picks in the later rounds. The Packers’ first pick, Jordy Nelson, will be a great player someday, but right now he is not making a great impact. Second-round pick quarterback Brian Brohm has done nothing for the team and late second round pick Patrick Lee looked promising in the preseason, but he has not played much during the regular season.

The year before Thompson had the opportunity to acquire wide receiver Randy Moss. They would have been able to get Moss for a third-round pick at the most, but mostly likely could have offered a fourth-rounder and still would have gotten him. Moss by the way had one of the best years in NFL history at wide receiver last year, recording an astonishing 23 touchdown passes. Just think if Favre could have had that type of deep threat last year to compliment Jennings and company.

Thompson has also underestimated the value of defensive lineman Corey Williams, who was traded to the Cleveland Browns for a second-round draft pick.  Williams was the anchor on the line a year ago. Thompson traded Williams because of the so-called depth we are supposed to have at the position. Obviously the Pack did not have as much depth as they thought. The Packers have had trouble stopping the run all season. Of course Thompson's biggest move this off-season was trading Favre to the New York Jets. Favre, who now has the Jets at 8-4 and looking like one of the best teams in the AFC, is being mentioned as a candidate for MVP. Trading Favre was one of the worst moves in NFL history. Favre would have been the MVP of the NFL last year if it weren't for that Brady guy up in New England who had the best statistical year in the history of the NFL, throwing for 4,806 yards and 50 touchdowns. Favre was a great teammate and an amazing leader on and off the field.

The NFL is a win-now league. If you have the chance to win you have to seize the opportunity. The Packers have had the lowest salary cap and youngest team in the NFL for three years. With the records they have posted and how far they made it in the playoffs, the Packers are just a couple of pieces away from going to the Super Bowl. But Thompson doesn’t seem to believe in free agency.

With the loss of Favre, the Packers became less of a Super Bowl contender. He has the experience and knowledge that any team would love to have. He is a veteran who has seen everything and wouldn't get rattled in any situation. Favre made everyone that he played with better. This is evident this year with the troubles the Packers have had on the offensive line. Favre knew how long he had in the pocket and when to get rid of the ball. Rodgers is still learning and sometimes holds onto the ball too long. This was especially evident in the loss to Minnesota a couple weeks ago.

I am not a Rodgers hater. Rodgers has done a great job running the offense. He will be a Pro Bowler for years to come. He has also shown a lot of toughness this year playing through a shoulder injury and having to deal with the whole Favre saga during training camp. But there have been times this season where he has been shaken. 

I realize there have been injuries this year. But the Packers were 13- 3 last year. This year they may not even post a .500 record with basically the same players. Almost all of the players they did lose were still under contract and could still be playing for the Packers. I'm not sure if its the coaching or the management of the Packers, but something definitely needs to change.