So, instead of simply griping about it, I’ve decided to go a different [...]]]> We all know the Green Bay Packers are a beat-up bunch. It’s something we at OBOD have tried to steer away from as much as possible because, well, we don’t like making excuses about our team. We’re just so un-Vikings fan-ish that way.

So, instead of simply griping about it, I’ve decided to go a different way. I’m going to rank the nine key players currently on the team’s injured reserve list (sadly, I left Josh Bell out). This is not a ranking of their skills, but rather their overall importance. For example, the No. 1 player listed is the player I’d most like to see healthy. I’ll also take some guesses on where each player’s future with the team stands.

Everyone good? Okay, here we go. As always, enjoy.

1. Jermichael Finley, tight end (knee) - There is simply no bigger reason for the offensive struggles over the past month than the absence of No. 88. Granted, the offense wasn’t looking elite before Finley’s injury, but with him out, the field has definitely shrunk for the rest of Green Bay’s pass catchers. It’s clear the offense never had much of a plan B in the event of a Finley injury. And, most damning, Aaron Rodgers still seems lost much of the time minus his top read. Finley’s stats, projected over a full season: 84 catches, 1,204 yards, four touchdowns. He likely won’t get that fat new contract now, but should be hungrier than ever come next year.
2. Ryan Grant, running back (ankle) - It took all of about three seconds for us to downplay Grant’s importance upon hearing he was lost for the year. Eight games later, I’d like to take back much of what I said. That’s not meant to be a shot at Brandon Jackson or John Kuhn because, actually, those two have been pretty okay. But, either alone or combined, they do not bring the same threat Grant did. Grant, while certainly not an elite back, at least gave opponents something to think about when gameplanning for Green Bay’s offense. He was at least a threat to break the century mark every week. With him gone, Mike McCarthy has been allowed to fully explore the dark side of his “shotgun, five-wide” philosophy. Not a good thing. With such a big salary for next year (he could earn as much as $6 million in salary and various bonuses), you have to wonder if cheaper options won’t be explored by the team.
3. Mike Neal, defensive end (shoulder) - At first, you might snicker seeing Neal this high on the list. Don’t. Despite only playing two games before seeing his season end, Neal showed some flashes of serious potential. Stout and strong enough to play the run - and quick enough to get to the passer - Neal would have been a key cog on the d-line. His presence would have given Green Bay three dual-threat linemen (Neal, B.J. Raji and Cullen Jenkins). It also would have allowed Dom Capers to do a whole lot more mixing-and-matching, depending on the situation. In 2011: Neal, Raji, Jenkins (he’ll be re-signed, fear not), Ryan Pickett and Johnny Jolly (starting to think he’ll be back). Yes, please.
4. Nick Barnett, inside linebacker (wrist) – The emergence of Desmond Bishop and the improvement of A.J. Hawk knock Barnett a little further down the list than originally thought at the time of his injury. Still, you know those times Hawk goes too high on a tackle or gets caught out of position in coverage? Yeah, those are the times you wish Barnett was still around. And his leadership is still sort of missed, as well, though that void has been filled somewhat filled by committee (Charles Woodson, Clay Matthews, etc.). Hawk is likely gone after this season, so even with a salary approaching the $6 million range, Barnett should return.
5. Morgan Burnett, safety (knee) - Solid, if unspectacular, for the two games he played before getting hurt, it’s highly likely Burnett would just be taking his game up a notch about now. Remember, Burnett has “big-time playmaker” written all over him. Luckily, Charlie Peprah’s emergence and the impending return of Atari Bigby (could happen this week) have made up for Burnett’s loss. With Burnett solidly in the fold for the foreseeable future, it’s likely that either Bigby or Peprah will not be back come 2011.
6. Brad Jones, outside linebacker (shoulder) - Jones played his best game of the season, hands down, in the win over Minnesota. With the luck the Packers have had this year with injuries, it’s darkly fitting that his shoulder injury – problematic since camp – would flair up so bad he’d have to have surgery immediately afterwards. Jones did not provide much pressure opposite Matthews, definitely disappointing. He was good against the run, though, and his pass rushing looked to be improving before he got hurt. Finding a more proven pass rushing commodity to play opposite Matthews – thus keeping Jones in a more limited role – is definitely a possibility in the offseason.
7. Derrick Martin, safety (knee) - As we all know, Martin brings limited value as an actual safety. His true value came as Green Bay’s best special teams player. With the Packers giving up at least one big return in each of the past four games, you can see why he’s been missed. Coming off such a severe injury, his return to the team next season seems in doubt, especially when you consider Green Bay’s considerable depth at the position.
8. Justin Harrell, defensive end (knee) - Harrell would have been a key member of the rotation along the d-line as he turned in a very solid training camp. Of course, we all know what happened next, don’t we? Harrell, as always, was bitten by the injury bug, less than two quarters into the season. Harrell deserves a great deal of credit for continuing to work his way back from injury. Unfortunately, it’s just never going to happen for him in the NFL. The Packers have given him four years. They can give him no more.
9. Brady Poppinga (knee), outside linebacker – Buried on the depth chart to start the season, injuries forced Poppinga into a key role, only he didn’t last long in said role. He showed a bit more potential in the 3-4 than he did last season (example: his huge overtime sack of Donovan McNabb in the Washington game). But when you consider that he’s due over $2 million next season, it becomes clear Poppinga has probably played his last down for the Packers.

What do you think of my rankings? As always, comment baby, comment!

-Chris Lempesis

(Wait, wait – I got my papers mixed up there. Okay, now I’m good.)

Clay Matthews.

Now, keep in mind, I am not talking about next year or the next five years. I am strictly focusing on the remainder of this season. And, for that stretch, you will not find a more important player on Green [...]]]> Brett Goode.

(Wait, wait – I got my papers mixed up there. Okay, now I’m good.)

Clay Matthews.

Now, keep in mind, I am not talking about next year or the next five years. I am strictly focusing on the remainder of this season. And, for that stretch, you will not find a more important player on Green Bay’s roster than the long-haired, wild beast of a human being that dons jersey No. 52.

Do not take that as a sign of disrespect towards Aaron Rodgers. As many of you pointed out, both in our comments section and Twitter, a franchise quarterback is the most important thing a team can have in today’s NFL. No arguments on that. But a franchise quarterback alone does not equal success. Last time I checked, Phil Rivers’ squad is 3-5, for example.

Remember, Rodgers has been on the field the entire way thus far. That includes the stretch in mid-October when things were looking awfully bleak for the Pack. Rodgers should have played better, certainly, but even if his play stayed where it was, the team would have been fine – if Matthews hadn’t hurt his problematic left hamstring, that is.

For the six quarters Matthews missed because of the injury – the second half at Washington and the entire Miami game – the Packers generated almost no pass rush, racking up a grand total of two sacks and little pressure. The lack of pressure was perhaps the single biggest reason Green Bay lost both games in overtime.

Go back to the Redskins game (a game all of OBOD had the misfortune of attending). At halftime, Green Bay was only ahead 10-3. But you figured things would be okay because Washington couldn’t generate anything offensively, namely due to the Packers’ pass rush. The constant pressure Matthews – responsible for 1.5 of Green Bay’s three sacks in the half – put on Donovan McNabb had led to a brutal first half showing for the veteran, McNabb going 10-of-21 for 132 yards (52 coming on one completion). Halftime adjustments or not, you have to think Matthews could have kept that up all day. Even if he’d been shutdown, the attention he garnered would have allowed others to make plays (another thing he’s provided all season, by the way).

Once he left with the injury in the third quarter, though, a different story unfolded. Over the final two quarters (plus overtime), McNabb was given a great deal of time in the pocket and he made the Packers pay, going 16-of-28 for 225 yards, one touchdown and one pick. There is simply no way he puts up those numbers if Matthews stays in. As a result, you have to think Green Bay would have pulled out the win.

Similar story the next week at home against Miami. The Packers recorded zero sacks and, again, almost no pressure. Miami’s offensive line is much better than Washington’s, of course, so it’s hard to say Matthews would have made enough of a difference to earn Green Bay a win. But things were so close throughout, it doesn’t seem unfair to at least suggest it. Still, the Packers would have won at least one of those two games. With the way the NFC is shaping up, one extra win could make for a huge difference at the end.

Alright, enough with the “what-ifs.” Let’s now simply focus on the plays Matthews has made. The walk-off tackle of Michael Vick – in which he got past not one, but two, blockers – in week one. The drive-and-game-altering face masking call he drew on Minnesota’s Phil Loadholt on the Vikings’ final drive. The game-changing sack of Mark Sanchez late in Sunday’s win. The first of those ended the game, obviously, but the last two were just as important. In many ways, they were plays that took the final bit of life out of those teams. Lesser players do not make such things happen.

So, if you’re keeping score, Matthews’ absence has accounted for at least one loss. His presence was largely responsible for closing out three wins. Again, no disrespect to Rodgers, but you can not say he’s had the same impact. After all, his best game of the season came in a loss to Chicago.

But it’s more than just the raw numbers. Matthews’ presence brings an extra fire that can only come from great defenders. It’s the fire that Ray Lewis brings, the fire that Troy Polamalu brings. It’s the fire Reggie White used to bring.

If that player is in uniform, the entire team – not just the defense – seems to respond in a different way, because it knows that guy will bring effort from wire-to-wire. The results might not happen right away, or even for most of the game, but at some point, they’ll come.

Great quarterbacks provide a team with confidence, certainly something you need to win. But great defenders provide a team with passion. And when you’re as beat up as this current bunch of Packers are, that’s every bit as vital.

As long as No. 52 is crushing quarterbacks, delivering non-stop effort and, okay, flipping that hair, Green Bay will have a chance in every game it plays the rest of the way. Without him, the Packers would likely spend the rest of the season on a long journey towards the middle.

-Chris Lempesis

Since our last mock, three weeks ago, there have been a handful of trades/signings that have caused this third mock to change. But more than anything, the array of pro days and increased overall chatter amongst “insiders” (which we at OBOD are definitely not) [...]]]> Two mock drafts down, two more to go until draft day (15 days from now!!).

Since our last mock, three weeks ago, there have been a handful of trades/signings that have caused this third mock to change. But more than anything, the array of pro days and increased overall chatter amongst “insiders” (which we at OBOD are definitely not) has had the biggest effect on this new mock.

What does it look like now? Well, let’s find out, shall we?

(By the way, the “Ocean’s Thirteen” reference is strictly a joke. I can guarantee this mock will not be as bad as that film. God help me if I’m wrong.)

1. St. Louis Rams – Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma. Monday’s release of Marc Bulger, coupled with Bradford’s very good pro day showing last week, make the likelihood that he goes to the Rams exponentially greater. They clearly need a guy and, while my doubts about Bradford remain, he’s the best of the bunch and a pick St. Louis can sell to its fans.

2. Detroit Lions – Ndamukong Suh, DT, Nebraska. Truth be told, I think the Lions would love to trade out of this spot. But I’m just not sure anyone will want this pick badly enough to make a move. In the event Detroit hangs on to the pick, Suh has to be the guy. He’s equally good against the run and the pass and would give the Lions a genuine difference-maker in the front seven, something head coach Jim Schwartz desperately needs.

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma. I’ve had the Bucs going with Eric Berry in my first two mocks. This time around, I think McCoy will be pick. The Bucs, much like Detroit, need an impact player along the line as they only recorded 28 sacks last season (tied for 26th in the league). McCoy isn’t quite as good against the run as Suh is, but his pass rush skills will allow him to make an immediate difference.

4. Washington Redskins – Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State. Sunday’s trade for Donovan McNabb eliminates any speculation that Washington will select Jimmy Clausen. That trade also leaves the ‘Skins with just one pick in the first three rounds and you have to think they’d love to trade down. Like the Lions, though, I doubt they find much interest. In that case, they’ll go with Okung, the best o-lineman in the draft and someone who can help cover McNabb right away.

5. Kansas City Chiefs – Eric Berry, S, Tennessee. People seem to be cooling on Berry a little bit, and I’m not sure why. Forget about all the postseason workout stuff and just put on the tape. This kid’s a star in the making. Works out well for the Chiefs, then, as they need secondary help – particularly at safety – in a major way. In five years, we very well could be looking at Berry as the best player to come out of this draft.

6. Seattle Seahawks – Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa. While questions initially existed as to how high Bulaga’s ceiling really is, he seems to be gaining momentum in recent weeks. His size (6-feet, 6-inches, 312 pounds) and the recent track record of former Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year winners (Jake Long, Joe Thomas) likely have a lot do to with this. Plus, Peter King reported in his “Monday Morning Quarterback” column this week that Seattle GM John Schneider – remember him? – loves Bulaga. Makes too much sense not to happen.

7. Cleveland Browns – Earl Thomas, S, Texas. Another change from my first two mock drafts comes in this spot, where I originally had the Brownies going with Florida corner Joe Haden. But last week’s trade for former Eagle Sheldon Brown crosses corner off Cleveland’s list of needs. The Browns will still look to upgrade their secondary, one of the worst in football in 2009, but will do so with Thomas. A bit undersized (5-feet, 10-inches, just under 200 pounds), Thomas makes up for it with dynamic playmaking skills and excellent speed.

8. Oakland Raiders – Jason Pierre-Paul, OLB, South Florida. Crazy Al loves measurables. Pierre-Paul has measurables (6-feet, 6-inches, 265 pounds, amazing speed). Crazy Al loves Pierre-Paul. Done and done.

9. Buffalo Bills – Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame. Where Clausen lands is quickly becoming one of the big stories surrounding this year’s draft. Some think he could go top five, while others have him a bit lower. Put me in the latter group as I still think Buffalo is his likely destination. As I’ve said before, the Bills need hope of some kind, any kind. As of now, they have nothing. While my doubts about Clausen are even bigger than those of Bradford, he’ll definitely provide some hope.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars – Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State. I’ve said all along this is where Bryant goes and I’m sticking to it. The Jags need a big-time threat in the passing game. And Bryant, despite some character issues (mainly listening to Deion Sanders), is the closest thing to a big-time wideout in this draft. He’s not overly fast, but is big and tough with very good hands. Could be an immediate impact player for Jacksonville.

11. Denver Broncos (from Bears) - Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama. No movement here, either. McClain is by far the best ILB in this draft and a perfect fit for the 3-4 scheme that Denver runs (it’s the scheme he played in at Alabama). With a (presumably) healthy Jamal Williams eating up space in front of him, McClain should be able to punish ballcarriers for quite some time in Denver.

12. Miami Dolphins – Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee. Same position, different play for this pick as I originally had Miami going with UCLA’s Brian Price. I’ve got the Dolphins going with Williams this time, though, as he’s more of a prototypical 3-4 nose tackle. He’s got the size (325 pounds) and strength to be a force at the position, good because Jason Ferguson is old (35) and will miss the first eight games of the year (performance-enhancing drugs).

13. San Francisco 49ers – Joe Haden, CB, Florida. The 49ers will be doing cartwheels on draft night if Haden is indeed here, and I think he will be. His slight fall isn’t caused by anything he’s done (or hasn’t done), but rather because the teams above San Fran don’t really need a corner that badly. Haden is the best corner in this draft and should contribute right away.

14. Seattle Seahawks (from Broncos) – C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson. Spiller seems to be rising in the eyes of some “insiders”, but really, I doubt he goes before this spot. That doesn’t mean he’s lacking potential to be very, very good, because he isn’t. I just don’t think anyone else will look running back before here. That’s a good thing indeed for the Seahawks as Spiller could be Bush 2.0 for Pete Carroll. With Bulaga and Spiller in the fold, Seattle’s offense should be much better next season.

15. New York Giants – Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma. As I’ve stated previously, I have it on good authority – and by “good authority”, I mean my good friend/Giants superfan Matt Anderson – that Big Blue would love to snag McClain with this pick. I’m not sure he’ll be there, though, and if New York can’t get him, it will go with Williams. He’s got solid upside and would provide an instant upgrade at right tackle – his likely spot in the pros.

16. Tennessee Titans – Sergio Kindle, DE/OLB, Texas. The Titans struggled getting to the quarterback last season, their first without Fat Albert. That area looks to be even weaker now with Kyle Vanden Bosch’s departure to Detroit. In order to boost it back up, Tennessee will look to Kindle. At 255 pounds, you can forget about Kindle playing defensive end in the NFL. But as an outside linebacker, he brings much to the table, mainly his relentless nature and instinctive knack for getting to the QB.

 17. San Francisco 49ers (from Panthers) – Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers. My previous mock had Davis to the Niners with the 13th pick. I still think this is where he ends up, though he’ll have to wait a little bit longer now. Davis’ solid pro day showing put some of the doubts surrounding him to rest, but questions about his work ethic and weight still remain. He’s got potential to be very, very good – if he can get with a coach that stays on him at all times. Enter Mike Singletary.

18. Pittsburgh Steelers – Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho. I still can’t believe the Steelers won it all two seasons ago with such a weak offensive line. That group wasn’t a whole lot better last season, either, and Pittsburgh must improve up front if it hopes to get back into serious AFC contention. Iupati could definitely help that cause. A 6-feet, 5-inch, 330 pound beast, Iupati is a throwback type of lineman. No zone blocking schemes for this guy – he just wants to maul.

19. Atlanta Falcons – Derrick Morgan, DE/OLB, Georgia Tech. I had Morgan going to Atlanta in my original mock. After a quick detour for our second mock, he’s back in Atlanta this time. Morgan is perhaps the best all-around defensive end in this draft. He’s solid against the run and a terror as a pass-rusher (12 sacks, two forced fumbles last season). His addition will be a big boost to Atlanta’s defense and should put the Falcons solidly back in playoff contention next season.

20. Houston Texans – Brian Price, DT, UCLA. Same position, different player for Houston this time around, as I previously had the Texans going with Penn State’s Jared Odrick. With Price still on the board, though, he’s likely the guy. He’s a hair better against the run than is Odrick, with equal pass-rushing skills. Houston hit a home run by taking a Pac-10 defensive player last season (USC’s Brian Cushing), so why not do it again?

21. Cincinnati Bengals – Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida. Toughness is lacking for the Bengals’ offense. That changes significantly with the addition of Pouncey, a physical, nasty lineman. He’s also intelligent, athletic and incredibly versatile (having played both guard and center for a big-time program). The Bengals could also look for another playmaker on offense here, but Pouncey is too good to pass up. They can grab a wideout in round two.

22. New England Patriots – Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. Again, little change at this spot. New England still needs to improve its pass rush and Graham will give the Pats the best chance to do that. He’s an incredibly smart player who never stops coming at you and just knows how to get the job done (averaging nine sacks a year over his last three seasons at Michigan). The Hoodie has never been scared off by tweeners and I doubt that changes now. He’ll love this guy.

23. Green Bay Packers – Charles Brown, OT, USC. As usual, I’ll go a little longer here as this is a Packers blog. First, as draft night nears, I’m becoming more and more certain that Ted Thompson will trade out of this spot. The Packers have a few holes to fill, and if Thompson can pick up a couple more selections in the first few rounds, he can pretty much fill them all. He can not do so if he hangs on to this pick. As for the idea of taking an outside linebacker here, I’d say it’s certainly possible. But Brad Jones has a lot of potential and I think the Packers will wait on that spot. Hence, if they keep the pick, they’ll have to go with a tackle and Brown is the best left on the board. Again, yes, he’s got weight left to put on, but his pass protection skills are already very good. He could be the guy for a long, long time. This team can not wait any longer to find its left tackle of the future and history shows you have the best chance of getting Pro Bowl talent at that position in round one.

24. Philadelphia Eagles – Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State. While trading Brown filled Cleveland’s void for a corner, it opened a void at that spot for the Eagles. Wilson has excellent ball skills, can play both man and zone and is an excellent return man. He’d look good opposite Asante Samuel. Philly is flush with picks after its two trades and can address its need for a pass rusher in the second round.

25. Baltimore Ravens – Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma. Baltimore’s trade for Anquan Boldin originally had me thinking it would look defense with this pick. Then I remembered just how inconsistent/ineffective Todd Heap really was last season and changed my mind. Gresham has some concerns due to his knee injury from last season, but when you look at him on tape, it’s clear he can be a big-time playmaker. You can never give a young quarterback too many of those, right?

26. Arizona Cardinals – Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland. My first two mock drafts have had the Cards going defense, specifically outside linebacker. The recent addition of Joey Porter crosses that off the list, though, and I now believe Arizona will look to upgrade along the line. Campbell certainly has his share of question marks, but his upside is too much to pass on here. If anyone can get the most out of this guy, it’s Russ Grimm.

27. Dallas Cowboys – Taylor Mays, S, USC. Having recently cut Flozell Adams, it’s a good bet the Cowboys will be looking for his replacement at this spot. Unfortunately for them, the top six tackles are already gone. That being the case, Dallas will look to replace Ken Hamlin – also recently released – with Mays. Mays projects as a strong safety in the pros. In fact, he’s so big (230 pounds) and such a good tackler/hitter, some have suggested he could be moved to outside linebacker eventually. Either way, he’s got good value for Dallas here.

28. San Diego Chargers – Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State. My first two mocks have had the Bolts going with Alabama’s Terrence Cody. This time around, though, I think Matthews is the pick. San Diego needs a presence in the run game, something Darren Sproles just doesn’t provide. Matthews is a good combination of power and speed and his lack of pass-catching skills wouldn’t be a problem with Sproles in the fold.

29. New York Jets – Sean Weatherspoon, OLB, Missouri. The Jets are moving in the right direction, offensively, provided Mark Sanchez continues to develop. The defense is pretty damn good, too, but could use one more player, particularly another outside linebacker. Weatherspoon should quickly become a favorite of Rex Ryan’s. He’s a hard-hitting, hard-working linebacker who knows how to play the run and blitz the quarterback.

30. Minnesota Vikings – Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama. I still think Minnesota wants to snag a corner with this pick, but I don’t think there’s anyone left on the board worth taking this high. The Vikes will then turn their focus to the d-line. The possibility of dual four-game suspensions for Pat and Kevin Williams, plus Pat’s age (38 in October), make upgrading that spot a priority. Cody has some issues (weight, focus, etc.), but if he’s reigned in, he could become a dominant run-stuffer in the pros. Minnesota looks for a back to compliment Adrian Peterson in round two.

31. Indianapolis Colts – Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State. The Colts will likely hope one of the top six tackles fall to this spot (previously, I had them going with Campbell, for example) as Charlie Johnson just isn’t the long-term guy at that spot. Since they are all gone, however, Indy will look to solidify itself at d-tackle instead. The Colts need to get an impact player between Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. Odrick has decent size (306 pounds), recorded seven sacks last season and should help take some heat off those two.

32. New Orleans Saints – Carlos Dunlap, DE/DT, Florida. The recent release of Charles Grant leaves a void along the d-line for the defending champs (still feels weird writing that about the Saints). Dunlap lacks motivation at times – and has an unfortunate DUI arrest – but he’s also a monster talent. He recorded nine sacks in each of the past two seasons and, if New Orleans can keep a fire under him, it could end up with great value here.

One final note: This will be my last solo mock before the draft. Our final mock will be a three-man super mock, featuring Adam, Gene and myself. We’re going to run that the day before the draft, so stay tuned. It should be a lot of fun and will hopefully sound nothing like Asia (they were a super-group from the 80s…damn you kids).

-Chris Lempesis

Nevertheless, I figured I’d offer up some quick thoughts on tonight’s announcement that quarterback Donovan McNabb has been traded from Philadelphia to Washington for a second round pick this year and either a third or fourth round pick next year. After all, the trade does [...]]]> Yes, yes, I know this is a Green Bay Packers blog.

Nevertheless, I figured I’d offer up some quick thoughts on tonight’s announcement that quarterback Donovan McNabb has been traded from Philadelphia to Washington for a second round pick this year and either a third or fourth round pick next year. After all, the trade does involve two NFC teams (who play in the same division, which makes this trade even more shocking) and, like we’ve always said, we at OBOD like to focus on league-wide news from time-to-time.

(Oh, by the way, happy Easter everyone!)

The first thought that comes to mind on this trade: The Eagles better be damn sure Kevin Kolb is a winner. Because while McNabb has only made it to one Super Bowl – which he lost – despite five trips to the NFC Championship Game, the fact remains that he’s made it to five NFC Championship Games. He’s still a top 10 quarterback who, at age 33, likely has at least three very good seasons left in him. Kolb, on the other hand, is still very much an unknown. If he can play, the Eagles should be just fine. If Kolb bombs, head coach Andy Reid won’t be long for Philly - even if he has that new extension in his back pocket.

For Washington, this is ultimately a very good deal. While I like Jason Campbell (he’s never really been given a fair shake, mainly due to consistently subpar supporting casts), McNabb is a massive upgrade. If things work out for him there, he’ll probably sign an extension – this is the last year of his contract – and the Redskins will have a nice three or four year window to do some good things. If things don’t work out, Washington can simply franchise him and trade him next spring, in effect re-gaining whatever it gave up to get him. In other words, a no-lose proposition.

For the NFC East, as a whole, this trade makes New York and Dallas the teams to beat as of now. Philly will likely take, at the very least, a small step back. Washington will be better, no question, but McNabb alone can only do so much (subpar offensive line, lack of real playmakers at the skill positions, etc.).

Finally, for the NFL, this trade is a grand slam as it gives the league two more games that are guaranteed to draw massive ratings next season. Somewhere, Roger Goodell is smiling.

-Chris Lempesis

You know what? I’m going to say that one again, this time with feeling:

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE IN THE (EXPLETIVE DELETED) PLAYOFFS!

YES!!

Sunday’s 48-10 home demolition of the woeful Seattle Seahawks – what’s happened to THEM? – combined with a New York Giants loss puts the now 10-5 [...]]]> The Green Bay Packers are in the playoffs.

You know what? I’m going to say that one again, this time with feeling:

THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE IN THE (EXPLETIVE DELETED) PLAYOFFS!

YES!!

Sunday’s 48-10 home demolition of the woeful Seattle Seahawks – what’s happened to THEM? – combined with a New York Giants loss puts the now 10-5 Packers back in the posteason after a one year absence.

The game itself was a mini-vacation to bizzaro world – A.J. Hawk and Jarrett Bush had interceptions and Brandon Jackson and Ahman Green combined for four touchdowns, after all – so we won’t really be focusing on that.

Instead, let’s take a look ahead at the possible playoff opponents for the Packers. Things won’t fully shake out until late Sunday afternoon next week – the numerous scenarios are truly mind-boggling as Gene and I figured out on the phone Sunday night - but for now there are four possible opponents for Green Bay. And here they are, ranked by least-to-most fearful:

1. Arizona Cardinals, 10-5, winners of the NFC West – The Cardinals, who will play the Pack next week, present some difficult matchups, no question about it. Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin form the best receiver tandem in the game, Kurt Warner can pick defenses apart with his quick release and the defense is much better than it gets credit for. Plus, this group knows how to win in January. It’s still weird to say that about the Cards, but it’s true. On the other hand, the Cards don’t present much of a threat in the ground game, offensively (27th in rushing) or defensively (19th in run defense). The Packers’ ever-improving run game could take advantage there, allowing Green Bay to eat time up and keep the offense off the field. When Arizona’s offense is on the field, Warner is pretty immobile and prone to turning the ball over at times. The Packers could be able to tee off on Warner, as he plays behind a somewhat shaky offensive line.
2. Dallas Cowboys, 10-5, second place in NFC East – The Cowboys clinched a spot with their win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday night. A win over Philadelphia next week will give Dallas the division. The Cowboys seem to have pulled themselves out of their usual December nosedive, Tony Romo is playing better ball as of late and the front seven can still wreak havoc for opposing offenses. Plus, as Gene likes to say, the mob refs will be in the house for the first playoff game at Jerry Jones’ new palace. Don’t discount the trouble that could cause. On the other hand, Green Bay already proved it could beat Dallas (a 17-7 win in early November saved the Pack’s season). Outside of Jason Whitten and Miles Austin, Dallas doesn’t have much in the way of gamebreaking talent on offense. Quick throws and timely running can stifle the Cowboys’ pass rush. Finally, with all the pressure that will surely be on Romo and head coach Wade Phillips, don’t you think a quick 10-0 or 14-3 deficit would cause Dallas to fall apart fast? I sure do.
3. Minnesota Vikings, 11-3, winners of the NFC North – Believe it or not, the Packers could be in for round three versus Judas in the first round of the playoffs. Just thinking about that almost makes my head explode. Can you imagine? Anyways, obviously we know about the troubles Minnesota presents. In two wins over Green Bay this year, the Vikings got stellar efforts from Judas, the receivers and the offensive line. The defense was pretty good, too, particularly in rushing Aaron Rodgers. On the other hand, this would not be the same Vikings team Green Bay saw earlier. Judas is doing his usual December flopping act (plus, there’s trouble in paradise between him and head coach Brad Childress). Adrian Peterson is still being shutdown far too often. Percy Harvin’s medical issues take away a key Judas target. Most importantly, the defense is not the same monster it was. The front four is tiring considerably as the season goes on and E.J. Henderson’s gruesome knee injury took away the leader of the defense. Most importantly, the Packers proved to themselves in the second half of the second game that they could indeed play with Minnesota. They didn’t know that before, in my mind. A third meeting would give them a chance to see that through.
4. Philadelphia Eagles, 11-4, first place in the NFC East – Without question, the worst possible matchup for the Packers in the first round. Donovan McNabb can still avoid pressure with the best of them and is usually great in January. The defense thrives on pressure and turnovers (much like Green Bay). What scares me the most, though, is the overall offensive speed Philly has. I’m not knocking Green Bay’s defense or anything, but let’s be honest: It’s not the fastest group you’ve ever seen. You saw Minnesota take advantage of that twice already this season. I mean, I see the name DeSean Jackson and I see six catches, 131 yards and two scores against the Packers’ defense. Jeremy Maclin is also a burner and Brent Celek has emerged as a top-five tight end this season. On the other hand, the Eagles haven’t really beaten anybody special as their four biggest wins have come over New York (twice), a Matt Ryan-less Atlanta and Denver. There might not be a playoff team in that bunch if Denver misses out. Philly is also not much of a threat to run the ball, healthy Brian Westbrook or not, and head coach Andy Reid can get tight in big games. A game with the Eagles would almost surely be a high-scoring affair, which could play into Green Bay’s hands because of its ability to run the ball.

Anyway you slice it, the Packers will be in for a fight. It’s the playoffs, after all.

But ever since the loss to Tampa Bay – seven weeks ago, essentially a lifetime in the NFL – the Packers have shown an ability to fight, an ability to battle back from adversity. They’re mentally prepared for what they will face.

So, in the end, maybe we shouldn’t worry so much about our young, sometimes bipolar, Packers. Maybe we shouldn’t worry at all.

Our squad is in the playoffs. The season is already a smashing success.

I know I’m smiling.

-Chris Lempesis

First, the team has signed No. 9 overall pick B.J. Raji (RAJI!! Second Raji reinstated), according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The same story suggests the contract is for five years.

The other comes in the form of the Philadelphia Eagles inking Michael Vick to a [...]]]> Two big Packers-related stories broke within the past hour and change.

First, the team has signed No. 9 overall pick B.J. Raji (RAJI!! Second Raji reinstated), according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The same story suggests the contract is for five years.

The other comes in the form of the Philadelphia Eagles inking Michael Vick to a two-year contract, according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. The news was announced during ESPN’s broadcast of the Pittsburgh-Arizona preseason game.

No monetary terms were available on either of the contracts.

(Update: the Journal Sentinel is now reporting the deal is a five-year contract worth $28.5 million with just under $18 mil in guaranteed dough. That’s a lot of burgers and cookies for the big fella.)

Obviously the Raji story is the most important as his nearly two-week long holdout is now a thing of the past. The signing comes roughly two days after Raji had left Green Bay as it seemed contract negotiations had reached a stalemate. Interesting that he signed despite the fact that both the No. 8 (Jacksonville tackle Eugene Monroe) and No. 10 picks (San Fran’s Michael Crabtree) remain unsigned.

Either way, this is very good news indeed. Just a couple of days ago, I wrote that Raji could be risking a big part of his rookie season if he allowed for his holdout to go on much longer. Now, though, that shouldn’t be a problem. He likely won’t play in Saturday’s preseason opener against Cleveland, but I would guess he’ll have enough practice time under his belt to play some in game two against Buffalo. He’ll likely play even more in game three against Arizona. That he will be ready for game three is very good because, as we all know, game three is the big dress rehearsal game of the preseason.

As of now, he’s quite a bit behind the rest of the d-line in terms of conditioning and learning the new scheme. But he’s a good enough player where he can likely catch up fairly quick, certainly in time for the season opener, anyways. The Packers can now count on a rotation of Raji, Ryan Pickett, Johnny Jolly and Cullen Jenkins for the three d-line spots. Not bad at all and if Justin Harrell can give the team anything – anything – Green Bay should have a very good rotation.

Now to the Vick story. I was hoping the Packers would make a move for Vick, but that was probably wishful thinking. He could have really added an extra dimension to the offense as an X-factor/slash-type player and, just maybe, become a solid quarterback under the grooming of Mike McCarthy. Not that he would have overtaken Aaron Rodgers or anything, but maybe he could have become a player that Green Bay could then trade for help elsewhere. Oh well.

That said, this is a good move for the Eagles. Donovan McNabb has had trouble staying healthy (and he was benched for a brief period last season, as well) and it doesn’t sound like the Eagles are totally sold on Kevin Kolb as their QB of the future. The team will get some time to see if it can salvage Vick as an actual passer and, until then, Philly can use him in multiple roles, providing a potentially big-time playmaker to its offense.

-Chris Lempesis