Good Team = Good Reading

They say that living well is the best revenge.  In the world of football, I suppose that means playing well.  And winning well.

I don’t know how motivated by revenge Ted Thompson, Mike McCarthy, or Aaron Rodgers are.  But if revenge is what they wanted, they got it!  They played well, won it all, and now are living well in the wake of their championship.

Actually, revenge is probably the wrong word.  Vindication is more appropriate.  Vindication for Thompson in his approach to building the team.  Vindication for McCarthy in his confidence in Rodgers.  And vindication for Rodgers, who suffered an embarrassing draft-day fall and then was forced into the supporting cast of “As the Brett Turns” soap opera. 

Peter King has an excellent piece about Thompson, McCarthy, and Rodgers.  It’s hard not to like how these guys go about their business.  And it’s hard not to bust-a-button with pride in our team and ‘the Packer way.’

Almost the entire first page of this piece is about the Packers.  If you don’t read any further, though, you’ll miss this additional good word from near the end of King’s column:

I think if you're depressed about the current state of athletes -- their greed, their ego, their selfishness -- spend some time around Aaron Rodgers. He's what's right about sports.

Meanwhile, Kerry Byrne, also of SI.com, has also recently written some very encouraging words about our great young QB.  His is not about personality; just statistics.  And according to Byrne, the Packers’ statistics -- and Rodgers’ in particular -- not only explain the success of 2010, but give us plenty to be excited about in 2011!

And, finally, it is worth noting and quoting this detail of particular Packer pride:

By the way, the highest-rated passer in postseason history before Aaron Rodgers rewrote the record books in Super Bowl XLV? Yes, none other than Green Bay Hall of Famer and ultimate big-game assassin Bart Starr (104.8 postseason passer rating). Starr is the only guy with a championship ring for every finger on his throwing hand. It is NO coincidence that he held the postseason passer rating record for more than 40 years.

 

Technorati Tags: Peter King,Aaron Rodgers,Ted Thompson,Mike McCarthy,Bart Starr,Kerry Byrne

Good Riddance

Any follower of this blog knows that Randy Moss is one of my least favorite people in the NFL.  I’m not sure when my contempt for him began, although I can recall several occasions when it was exacerbated.  Anyway, I have taken perverse pleasure in how a Super Bowl ring has eluded him -- especially that one close-but-no-cigar year with the Vikings and the infamous 16-1 year with the Patriots.

And now it seems that the coveted ring will elude him forever.  One of the more interesting developments of the offseason was the news of Moss' retirement after 13 mixed-review years. 

Everyone agrees that Moss was a rare talent, and yet the general consensus was that he was a problem child.  They say that he took plays off, that he was hard to coach, that he was sullen and unpredictable, and that he was poison in a locker room.  Brad Childress shared some post-mortem thoughts on that theme recently. 

Meanwhile, there were some rumors that Moss might be coaxed back out of retirement.  He never loved the game as much as Brett Favre, however, and so he might be more inclined to stay retired.  One suspects that Favre was happiest when he was playing the game, and so it was (is) hard for him to give it up.  In Moss’ case, however, one wonders if he is ever happy.

Whatever the case, it is time for us to wave goodbye to Randy Moss.  He was frequently a Packer-killer, as well as a boorish presence on and off the field.  For both reasons, I will not miss him, at all.

Technorati Tags: Randy Moss

We’re Back!

Well, it’s just a month until Week One of the 2011 NFL season, and we’re all back where we belong now.  Specifically, I’m thinking of three things that are back…

The first thing, obviously, is this blog.  I just didn’t have the heart to write about labor negotiations and all the rest of the offseason shenanigans.  But now that there is real football to watch, I’m back to writing about it. 

The second thing, meanwhile, is the most important thing:  that is, the players are back.  Most of us lived with considerable unease during the weeks of lockout, wondering what was going to become of our beloved sport.  In casual conversation, I always told folks that I felt sure they would settle things in time for the season to start -- too much money on the line for everyone involved.  Still, as the weeks passed, my optimism flagged somewhat.  But now the teams are all back in place, practices are going on, exhibition games are ready to be played, and the season will start on September 8th in Lambeau Field. 

Which brings us to the third thing that is “back.”  Me!  I’m back to my birthplace and to the home of the World Champion Green Bay Packers! 

During the offseason, a job change resulted in my being moved from southeastern Wisconsin right into Green Bay itself.  The photos above and below, therefore, are no stock photos -- they’re mine.  I took them myself because I’m here now

Technorati Tags: Lambeau Field,2011 season,Packerland

.  And I get to spend the 2011 season in Packerland!

Technorati Tags: Lambeau Field,2011 Season,Packerland