Disappointment among Packer fans - MY DRAFT RANT

Ted Thompson has done little if anything to improve the Green Bay Packers this year. If anything they have gotten worse, losing the entire backfield with Green to Houston, and Henderson being released. The Packers could not land Marshawn Lynch, a player 99.9% of Mock drafts had the Packers taking. Instead he went #12 to Buffalo.

The Packers also could not get the Randy Moss deal done. To actually see what it took to get him was a simple 4th round pick. Basically Ted Thompson decide to take OT Allen Barbre from Missouri Southern State, instead of a potential HOF WR and playmaker Randy Moss. I have to say the Packers were one of the most disappointment teams in the entire NFL draft, next to the Redskins who had the #6 pick and then didn't pick until the 5th Rd.

Ted Thompson decide to use #16 on DT Justin Harrell from Tennessee. DT seems to be a position the Packers have great depth at and honestly not a barley need at #16, instead he picks this player who is coming off a torn bicep in 2006 and has a history of injuries throughout his collegiate career. With that pick Ted Thompson passed on:

Brady Quinn QB Notre Dame, Leon Hall CB Michigan, Reggie Nelson S Florida, Michael Griffin S Texas, Greg Olsen TE Miami, Aaron Ross CB Texas, Robert Meachem WR Tennessee, Dwayne Jarrett WR USC, Dwayne Bowe WR LSU, Allan Branch DT Michigan and the list goes on.....you get the point.

If Justin Harrell does not come in and be a difference maker for the Packers D-Line, I'm calling for Ted Thompson's firing!!!!! I refuse to standby and let him single handingly destroy this storied franchise who as already lost the magic of Lambeau and its home field advantage. Now the jury is out on this year's picks and on paper it's always too early to say.

The best picks we seemed to get were at the end of the draft. I like the kicker Mason Crosby from Colorado. He was projected to be in rounds 2-3. We got him in the 6th round, but HE'S A KICKER!!!! I like Korey Hall LB from Boise State. Word is he's a special teams monster and they will convert him to FB A NEEDED POSITION!!!! I do like OT Allen Barbre, our 4th RD pick but I LIKE RANDY MOSS BETTER!!!! Barbre actually was a "gunner" on the punt team, a position usually held by speedy DB's. But the best pick for the Packers actually might be its last in Clark Harris TE Rugters. Harris is a throwback TE who's a punishing blocker, a solid receiver, who's in the top 5 in school history, and he scored a 40 on the Wonderlic test, putting in in the top 3 of the entire draft class for scores. The jury is still out on this years draft, but from a fans perspective Ted Thompson needs to do something......FAST to start improving this team.

Packers picks

Most experts are giving the Packers anywhere from a C+ to a D-. Here are the picks:

1st Rd (pick #16) - Justin Harrell - DT Tennessee 6'-4" 1/2, 314 Lbs

2nd Rd (pick# 63) - Brandon Jackson - RB Nebraska 5'-10", 210 Lbs

3rd Rd (pick# 78) - James Jones - WR San Jose St. 6'-1", 210 Lbs

3rd Rd (pick# 89) - Aaron Rouse - SS Virgina Tech 6'-4", 225 Lbs

4th Rd (pick# 119) - Allen Barbre - OT Missouri Southern St. 6'-4" 297 Lbs

5th Rd (pick# 157) - David Clowney - WR Virgina Tech 6'-1" 185 Lbs

6th Rd (pick# 191) - Korey Hall - LB/FB Boise St. 6'-0" 236 Lbs

6th Rd (pick# 192) - Desmond Bishop - ILB Cal 6'-2" 237 Lbs

6th Rd (pick# 193) - Mason Crosby - K Colorado 6'-1" 212 Lbs

7th Rd (pick# 228) - DeShawn Wynn - RB/FB Florida 5'-11" 230 Lbs

7th Rd (pick#243) - Clark Harris - TE Rutgers 6'-5" 258 Lbs

For more in-depth analysis on the Packers picks click here:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=558566

Trades already affecting Packers #16 Pick

The Houston Texans and Denver Broncos have swapped 1st Rd picks this year. Houston traded the #10 pick to Denver for it's 1st Rd #21 and their 2nd Rd pick #56. What does this mean to the Packers, well Denver has stated that it will use the #10 pick to draft Ole Miss LB Patrick Willis. Willis was rumored to be going to the Buffalo Bills at #12, but now with Willis out of the picture the Bills might take the next guy on their board, Cal RB Marshawn Lynch.

Lynch is picked in 9 out of 10 mock drafts for several months now as going to the Packers. This simple trade that seemingly has little effect on the Packers, suddenly has created a domino effect and possibly changed plans for the Packers and their fans. The NFL Draft is 1 day away and I'm sure their will be lots more drama to come.

SLEEPER PICK - 7th RD(???) with FREAK-LIKE SKILLS

OK, so maybe the Packers will look at this guy, most likely not, but the story is too hard to pass on. An article by Lee Jenkins in the NY Times talks about an interesting prospect out of a little college is Mississippi named Walter Thomas.

This guy is 6-5' 374 lbs and runs a 4.9 40 yard dash, which is faster than some Tight Ends in the NFL, benches 475lbs and can squat 800lbs. He began his career at Oklahoma State as a true Freshman, but was soon kicked off the team for academic issues. He was out of football in 2005 and played at Northwest Mississippi Community College in Senatobia, Miss. in 2006 only appearing in 2 games. His stats in 2 games: 16 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss and 4 sacks.

Even with his limited football career teams are looking at this kid and thinking of taking a shot at him based on his freakish skills. “You absolutely cannot run at him,” said Les Miles, the Louisiana State University coach, who recruited Thomas to Oklahoma State. “You have to go in another direction.” But another thing to know about Thomas is he was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to commit robbery, according to the Tate County (Miss.) Circuit Clerk’s office, and never played college football again. So there is the character question. Some team will take a chance on him and he will be a project with his raw skills, but will the Packers take a look. We'll see on Saturday.

Oh yeah did I mention he also can do backflips on command........he's 6-5' 374lbs. AMAZING!!

Read more about Thomas from Lee Jenkin's article in the NY Times here:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/sports/football/25nfl.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin

BREWER'S ACE injuried AGAIN

The Milwaukee Brewers' injury-plagued right-hander suffered a slight groin strain Wednesday afternoon at the end of his third inning and made an early exit in what degenerated into an easy 9-3 victory for the Chicago Cubs at waterlogged Wrigley Field.

Sheets, 28, was looking forward to a healthy season after missing the last five weeks of 2005 with a torn muscle behind his pitching shoulder, leading to ongoing shoulder issues throughout last season. He pitched a complete-game two-hitter on opening day against Los Angeles, then experienced command problems in his next two starts (17 hits, 13 runs in 11 innings) before rebounding with a solid outing (seven innings, two runs) against Houston.


Sheets allowed four hits by the Cubs over three innings but pitched out of trouble to keep the score 0-0 before his early exit.
"I wasn't necessarily dominating but we had thrown up a couple of zeros," said Sheets. "That's what we were out there to do.


"I actually felt pretty good out there. That's why it sucked that I had to come out."
Sheets wasn't sure exactly how he suffered the injury. He didn't remember feeling it on his last pitch of the inning and thought it might have happened when he turned to watch Derrek Lee's grounder to short for the final out.


"It just grabbed me for some reason," he said. "I don't recall doing anything. I'm sure the elements played a part in some of that.
"It wasn't that it was excruciating by any means. But there was really no sense in pushing through it and taking that chance this early, especially with the weather as it was."
Sheets briefly lobbied to stay in the game, but Yost, pitching coach Mike Maddux and trainer Roger Caplinger didn't want to hear it, not at this early stage of the season.



Read more here from TOM HAUDRICOURT'S article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=596481

The PACK interested in LJ

A new rumor has surfaced and with only 3 days till the draft, this one has been the best. The Packers are one of the teams mentioned that has interest in Kansas City Cheifs RB Larry Johnson. Johnson is in the final year of his contract and is due for a huge pay day. The Cheifs have said they are interested in shopping him around. The Packers desperately need help at RB and he could fill that hole.

But any team that trades for Johnson would have to satisfy the running back's asking price as well as the Chiefs', a difficult double play to pull off. One NFL general manager went as far as to say that Johnson was "untradeable -- who will pay that contract demand?"

Ultimately, maybe it will be the Chiefs, who continue to talk contract extension with Johnson in the hopes that the two sides can reach a peaceful resolution before training camp.
But to hedge their bets that they won't, the Chiefs are actively seeking to pick a running back on the first day of the draft. In the past week, they've hosted visits with California's Marshawn Lynch, Ohio State's Antonio Pittman, Florida State's Lorenzo Booker and Louisville's Kolby Smith. They've even told some of the players' agents that they plan to pick a running back high.
It is just one more sign that Johnson's future with the team is, for the time being, uncertain. Most NFL personnel people believe it is a long shot that the Chiefs will wind up trading Johnson within the next week, but it can no longer be overlooked.

Read more from Adam Schefter's article on NFL.com here:
http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10147306

James leaning toward entering NBA draft

Marquette Golden Eagles sophomore guard Dominic James is likely to make himself eligible for the upcoming National Basketball Association draft, coach Tom Crean said on Monday night.

"The decision to declare will be very soon, and I would say from all accounts he's leaning in that direction," he said. "And I totally understand that and am very supportive of it. I feel we've done all the due diligence we need to do and now it's time to see where this process takes him."

The 5-foot-11 James is not expected to hire an agent, thus preserving his college eligibility should he not get the feedback he's looking for in the coming weeks. He said recently that he would remain in the draft only if he were to receive a guarantee he'd be selected in the first round.

James has until Sunday night to officially announce his intention to enter the draft and until June 18 to withdraw his name, should he choose to do so.

If James does indeed declare, the next order of business would be securing a spot in the NBA pre-draft camp, which runs from May 29-June 4 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Invitations are expected to be distributed from May 1-15.

There, he'd play a number of games in front of NBA officials who undoubtedly would be looking at not only his perimeter shooting but also his decision making at the point guard spot.

"That all comes down to the NBA people and what they feel," Crean said. "I would certainly try to do whatever I could do to help push for that. I would hope that the body of work he has had over two years would get him invited."

Following the pre-draft camp, underclassmen like James can then participate in workouts for individual NBA teams.

James led MU in scoring at 14.9 points per game and in assists with 4.9 this past season but struggled shooting the ball, hitting 38.4% of his shots overall, 27.2% of his three-pointers and 65.1% of his free throws.

He was also named first team all-Big East.
Courtesy of TODD ROSIAK of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Fielder caps rally with second homer of the game

Should anyone need an example of how to gut out a victory, the tape or DVD of the Milwaukee Brewers' game against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night would be a shining example.The Brewers overcame a 4-0 deficit, an injury to a key player and a bullpen running out of pitchers, yet prevailed.
Prince Fielder's second solo homer of the game, a one-out shot in the top of the 12th inning, lifted the Brewers to a 5-4 victory at Wrigley Field in a game that seemed certain to go the Cubs' way on at least a few occasions early on.
Carlos Villanueva pitched half of the bullpen's eight shutout innings, and Derrick Turnbow closed the victory with a strong bottom of the 12th, seemingly impervious to the pressure after losing the closer's job the second half of last season.

Read More here from today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=594956

Packers talking about moving up in draft

The Packers have been talking about moving up in this year's NFL draft. The teams they would be looking at would be Cardinals and Redskins. While the Cardinals have proclaimed they are looking to bolster their O-Line with UW's own Joe Thomas, the Redskins seem like the ideal team to work with. The Redskins only have 4 picks in this year's draft. After their pick at #6, the Redskins don't go again until #143 in the 5th round.

The Packers are seriously looking at moving up to grab Oklahoma RB, Adrian Pederson. The rumblings are that Marshawn Lynch is falling on the Pack's draft board. Green Bay could put a package together and get Pederson and still have picks left in the draft. The Packers have a pick in every round and 3 in the 7th.

Although Thompson loves his draft, it doesn't seem so far fetched. An article today in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel by Tom Silverstein, talked about Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson's draft strategies. Ironically it notes "Wolf did trade up three times in the first round during his tenure: in 1993, giving up two second-round picks for the 29th pick, which he used to select safety George Teague; in '94, giving up a first and a third for Miami's pick at No. 16, which he used to select offensive guard Aaron Taylor; and in '98, giving up a first and a second for Miami's pick at No. 19, which he used to select defensive end Vonnie Holliday." The interesting story was how in 2000 Wolf tried desperately to move up and get Brian Urlacher. That fell through and the Pack landed Bubba Franks. Lets also not forget that Wolf gave up a 1st Round pick for the next year's draft to trade for a unkown backup........Mr. Brett "Fireball" Favre.

Hopefully TT has something up his sleeve to snag Pederson, the top RB in the draft, and a desperate need for Green Bay.

Read More about Wolf & TT from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=593829&format=print

Read More about other Packer Draft rumors here:

http://www.packerchatters.com/op-ed/view.php?id=2026

Yost gets his 300th victory

Brewers grab control in first inning
By TOM HAUDRICOURTmailto:HAUDRICOURTthaudricourt@journalsentinel.com

Seldom do games turn as dramatically in the first inning as the one Thursday afternoon between the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates at Miller Park.Thanks to some, shall we say, generous defensive work by the Brewers, starting pitcher Jeff Suppan found himself standing on the mound with the bases loaded and one out.
"My job there is to keep the damage to a minimum," Suppan said.

Mission accomplished. Jason Bay sent a shattered-bat liner to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who flipped to second baseman Rickie Weeks for a rally-killing double play.
As if that didn't take enough wind out of the Pirates' sails, the Brewers came back with four runs in the bottom of the inning and never trailed in claiming a 7-5 victory that kept them atop the NL Central standings with a 9-6 record.

Read more from Tom Haudricourt's article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=593704

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Michael Bush - Sleeper pick for the PACK

Injuries are costly. Nobody knows this better than Michael Bush, RB Louisville. Was once considered a 1st Round talent, now a late first day or possibly early second day pick. Bush broke his right leg halfway through the 2006 season. He had a titanium rod inserted in his leg to promote healing, which did not work and went in for a second surgery on March 20th. Needless to say he was unable to workout for scouts.

Some team will take a gamble on Bush which just may work out to be a great move. The latest mock draft courtesy of Packerchatters.com has a complete 7 round Mock draft with the Packers choosing Bush in the 4th round. I say go for it. Buffalo took a chance on Willis McGhaee after his horrific leg injury in the National Championship game.

But can Bush still be a punishing back in the NFL. He has great size at 6'2" 243lbs and is listed as running a 4.55 40. Bush could be a great goal line asset to some team if given time to rehab and recover. Will Ted Thompson roll the dice......we'll have to wait in see.

For more on the complete 7 round Mock draft for the Packers click here:

http://www.packerchatters.com/draft/pattys_report/view.php?id=2018

ICE BOWL replaying

On Friday, the NFL Network is to air a one-hour documentary about the 1967 Green Bay Packers, who beat Dallas in the Ice Bowl and Oakland in Super Bowl II.

Thomas to skip NFL Draft to fish.....

Despite a personal e-mail from commissioner Roger Goodell, Joe Thomas rejected the NFL's repeated written and verbal invitations to attend the draft-week festivities in New York. Thomas wants to maintain a years-old tradition in which he spends draft day fishing for coho salmon on Lake Michigan with his dad. The league repeatedly has reached out to Thomas -- who recently signed a lucrative endorsement deal with Under Armour and will be profiled in an upcoming Sports Illustrated issue -- but it has met the same type of resistance as a defensive end going against him. Thomas hasn't budged. Nor will he. Thomas doesn't believe a trip to New York will do anything to enhance his draft status; he could go as high as No. 2 to Detroit or as low as No. 5 to Arizona.

Courtesy of Foxsports.com:

http://www.benmaller.com/odd_notes_stuff#139541

HOLLYWOOD NFL MOCK DRAFT

So everyone knows there hundreds of Mock Drafts out there, but I came across one like no other. Foxsports.com put together a Mock Draft of Hollywood actors from football related movies and had all 32 NFL teams picking in the 2007 order.

For example, The Raiders at #1 chose Joe Kane, QB Eastern State (The Program); The Cardnials at #5 picked Rod Tidwell, WR ASU ("Show Me the Money!!!!!", Jerry Maguire); The Eagles at #26 picked kick return specialist Forrest Gump out of Alabama, followed by Bobby Boucher going #27 to the Saints also known as the hard hitting "Waterboy".

So who do the Packers end up taking, well at #16 the Pack fill their need at RB taking Darnell Jefferson, RB Eastern State. The Freshman sensation from the Program (Omar Epps).

To see the complete Mock Draft click here:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/6607716

Robinson begins work release

Suspended Green Bay Packers wide receiver Koren Robinson began serving the 45-day work-release portion of his 90-day sentence Monday at the Brown County Jail, the Brown County Sheriff's department said in a news release
Tuesday.

During work-release, Robinson will be working with team physician Patrick McKenzie to rehabilitate his knee and also will do some work for Bellin Health Care.
According to the sheriff's department release, "Robinson went through the identical process as any other individual being incarcerated at the jail."
Robinson is classified as a minimum security risk and thus is eligible for the electronic monitoring program, the release said.
Read More from Tom Silverstein's article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=592719

UW safety decides not to play pro ball

Stellmacher going in different direction

Article by Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal

Each spring, a handful of draft-eligible players inform National Football League teams that their careers are over. Wisconsin's Joe Stellmacher is one of them this year.
"That is correct," Stellmacher said. "People have called me crazy and criticized me, but I'm not going to have any regrets. I just thought I had my time, had my fun and I was ready to move on in my life."
Stellmacher, the Badgers' strong safety in 2005 and '06, made honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference and finished second on the team in tackles each year. He had 200 tackles in a five-year career that began as a walk-on.

Read More here:

http://www.packerchatters.com/op-ed/view.php?id=2013

UW Eau Claire - Triple Jump

So I just recently found out I have a relative that is currently a Senior at UW-Eau Claire and is on the Mens Track & Field team as a Triple Jumper. Eric Eigenfeld, who went to High School in DeForest has improved in his 4 years at UWEC to become the teams top Triple Jumper. Next on his radar.......CARL LEWIS!!!!!

In 2004 he was 2nd and 3rd in Indoor and Outdoor on his team with jumps of 44'-1 1/2" for Indoor and 43'-10 1/2" for Outdoor. In 2005 he did some Long Jumping landing in the top 5 on the team at 19'-10 1/4" for Indoor. He also posted a career best 44'-6" in the Triple Jump in Outdoor competition. In 2006 he took over the top spot on the team in the Triple Jump in both Indoor and Outdoor with great jumps of 44'-3/4" and 43-11 1/4". (stats from UWEC athletics page)

Best of luck to Eric this year as UWEC's top Triple Jumper.

Eric's Bio:

http://www.uwec.edu/athletics/mtr/0607/roster/EigenfeldEric.htm

http://www.directathletics.com/athletes/track/794070.html

WHAT'S THAT YOU SAY.......FAVRE CERTAIN THAT MOSS WILL BE A PACKER

The rumors on Randy Moss are heating up once again. It seemed like almost daily the trade was going to happen, but has since gone cold. Well Favre made some comments recently that have the talk heating up again.

Courtesy of profootballtalk.com Favre is quoted as saying he is "100 percent certain" that Moss will be a Packer by the time the 2007 season starts.

It's almost certain that nothing will happen until draft day or soon there after. A sure sign that Moss is heading out of Oakland, would be if the Raiders choose Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech with the #1 pick. Sources close to the Raiders are saying that Al Davis wants JaMarcus Russel, but Offensive Coordinator Greg Knapp is pushing for Johnson. Whoever the Raiders go with at #1 is a sure sign of what they intend to do with Moss.

Where did Aaron's 755th land?

Courtesy of Don Walker's Business of Sports weblog.

Next Tuesday, the Milwaukee Brewers will hold a press conference to discuss arrangements to unveil a commemorative marker that would symbolize the landing location of Hank Aaron's 755th home run.That, of course, was the last home run of Aaron's career. It happened on July 20, 1976.The Brewers say they will call upon the services of Alan J. Horowitz, associate academic program director of civil engineering and mechanics at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

I'm pretty sure I know what Horowitz does for a living, but I hope it also means he's watched enough video of the home run and knows where the old County Stadium was built to make a reasoned judgment on the spot in question. I'm thinking the landing is somewhere around the playground equipment just behind Helfaer Field. But we'll know more on Tuesday when the Brewers and Horowitz will gather at THE SPOT. With the attention this season on Barry Bonds and his drive to pass Aaron, it's inevitable that baseball fans will relive Aaron's feat. Judging from this press conference, it appears the Brewers want to be part of the hoopla.A plaque marking the spot will be unveiled in June.