And Then There Were Four

Go ahead and say it – the Green Bay Packers are in the NFC Championship game. We like how that sounds too.

We expected a win. We never expected the massive blowout of the Falcons that happened. This raises our post season record of predictions (as well as coach hiring announcements before the fact) to 5 – 1. We’re not sayin’, we’re just sayin’…

Okay, so we missed the Jets by picking the Pats. We’re not alone. Maybe the Jets do have something to back all their brash talk. It still is grating, but there is something refreshing about hearing players call each other out that keeps us tuned in. Wherever there’s a microphone, you’ll find a Jet with an open mouth and a pretty good sound byte.

Bill Belichick (L) and Rex Ryan making
plans to have dinner together.
Rex is buying.

Bill Belichick loses the “Hoodie vs. Rex Ryan” battle. Some games the Pats look flatter than a beer that’s been open for 3 days. He actually outcoached himself, especially the badly botched fake punt attempt. This performance was reminiscent of their flaccid Super Bowl Dud against the Giants.

And that was THOSE Giants. It’s right up there with “…4^th and 26…”

Here’s an interesting tidbit… throughout the regular season and playoffs, 18 games in all, the Packers have never trailed by more than 7 points.

Rex Ryan is entertaining and can coach a lick too. Sure, at times he comes off like the blowhard he is, but there is a strong sense of this is a guy you’d want to play for.

The NFL has grave concerns over the Falling Bird epidemic currently sweeping the country. 53 dead birds were found at the Linc in Philadelphia last week while 53 more were found in Atlanta and Pittsburgh. The NFL is concerned that the Packers may be cited by the Dept. of the Interior as they are directly responsible for at least 106 of them, this in addition to the coaches who they have already killed off this year.

If anyone can explain these drops/ muffs/ fumbles of the Packers wide receivers please contact Head Coach Mike McCarthy immediately.

Seattle. Really???

Atlanta is a team a couple years and heartbreaking playoff appearances away. We called it last week – youth is not generally rewarded in these endeavors.

James Starks has picked a great time to unveil what he can do.

Mr. Forte? Meet a playah. Mr. Williams, I presume?

The Bears almost snagged Starks in the 6^th round ahead of Green Bay last year. But the argument made that they would have a healthy Matt Forte and their need for a backup QB for Jay Cutler saw them shift their intent at the last second. Our programmers have cued up “Who’s Sorry Now?” for Da Bears.

The Bears manhandled Seattle last week. Wow. The Seattle Seahawks. Wow.

The Bears have maintained all along the want the Packers. Ummmm, is this a case of be careful what you wish for?

The Seahawks showed they could move the ball effectively against the Bears. The Packers are well aware of that fact.

When will teams finally learn to not challenge Tramon Williams? He has risen over and above every expectation so far that he is still under the radar. Not challenging Charles Woodson is understandable. But even the best QB’s are finding out that Tramon is a player the hard way. His 2 picks against Atlanta were game altering plays. His status went in one season from nickelback to emergency starter (until injured Al Harris returned) to starter to big game player to shut down corner to lockdown corner in less time than it took to read that sentence. Next year he can add All Pro to his list of achievements.

There was a lot of carping by the fans and media that a corner was not taken in the last draft. Tramon and emerging stud Sam Shields have shut the critics’ mouths.

Mike McCarthy is all smiles after Atlanta

While on the topic of critics we are going to man up and print a full retraction and apology to Head Coach Mike McCarthy fort being so critical of his play calling earlier this year. McCarthy has been nothing short of brilliant in almost every department in these past 6 games and deserves as much credit as possible for the Packers run.  Mike – we apologize. The full blown humble pie eating apology is to follow.

The Bears still aren’t convincing. They should have beaten the Seahawks, and that game was never as close as the score indicates.

If any kicker on the Packers even comes close to kicking the ball to Devin Hester or Daniel Manning he should be cut on the spot. Tim Masthay? Mason Crosby? Got it???

‘Thunderfoot’ is back! Mason Crosby hit a 43 yarder and missed a 50 yard FG attempt when his kick dinged the upright. It hit the upright no more than 10 feet from the top. Had he made it that kick would have been good from 70 yards.

The best CB tandem in the NFL right now is NOT in New York. Darrelle Revis and Antonio Rogers-Cromartie are second to Sir Charles and Tramon.

Pittsburgh is a machine. They can find ways to pull games out. It is seldom pretty and the Steelers get zero style points, but a win is a win is a win no matter how it happens.



T.J. Houshmanzadeh demanded the ball.
He dropped it.
Maybe he should have opened his mouth?



T.J. Houshmanzadeh bellyached and whined about not getting the ball enough. Of course, when Joe Flacco hit him right in the hands on 4^th down in crunch time, at a time when the playmakers need to step up and a first down is an absolute must or your season is over Hooseyermama drops the damn ball. That’s one way to keep a receiver quiet. Think that won’t be brought up during his next negotiating session?

Hines Ward is a beast no matter what he is doing. The 3 most compelling players from the Steel City are Ward, QB Ben Rothlisberger, and FS Troy Polemalu. No matter what, they command attention.

The jury is still out. Did the Steelers win the game or did the Ravens lose it?

Mike Tomlin could do a pretty good Darth Vader

Mike Tomlin looks like the only coach who could grab a set of pads, suit up, and knock someone’s head into the middle of next week.

Some curious oddities about the teams left in the Big Dance. Every single team has an offensive line that has been described as “wretched”, “horrible”, “awful”, “weak”, “porous” “overmatched” or “underwhelming”. Only the Jets have been spared the week in week out criticism that the Packers, Steelers, and Bears front 5 have drawn on a regular basis.

Okay, we’re stunned The New York Jets backed their pregame bravado up with a solid dismantling of the Patriots. When the Patriots are hitting on all cylinders there is not a team in the world that looks like they can beat them. But the Pats sometimes look defeated, like when the Giants beat them in the Super Bowl. Or this week past against the Jets. When the Pats misfire as they did against the Jets they look pedestrian.

The 14 - 2 Pats are in a rebuilding year on offense this year. And they have 6 picks in the first 3 rounds as well as 3 picks in the top 33. Ted Thompson is envious.

Curious oddity # 2 – The Packers this year have never during the regular season or playoffs, been behind by more than 7 points.

"BOOM!!!" John Madden, one of a kind

We love invoking other coaches from other sports and other teams. We love John Madden. A great Madden quote on team ‘discipline’: “ ‘Discipline is NOT having everybody wearing a jacket and tie on an airplane. ‘Discipline’ is a guy that won’t jump offsides on a 3^rd and 2 play from either side of the ball in a close game”. We love coaches who make sense.

Conn Smythe, the longtime coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs back when the Leafs were still winning the Stanley Cup once said regarding the tough style of play he expected:”If you can’t beat ‘em in an alley you can’t beat ‘em on the ice”. Old time hockey, eh?

With every passing game B.J. Raji is looking more and more like a steal at #9. Quick – name the 8 taken in front of him*.

There is a tune making its’ way around Green Bay radio stations of late. It is a remake of the Jimmie Dean oldies classic “Big, Bad John” and it is about John Kuhn who now has the entire state of Wisconsin eating from his hand. John, we knew ya when, kid.

Aaron Rodgers can’t win a close game. Aaron Rodgers can’t win a playoff game. All together now - SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*The 8 taken before Raji were 1) Matthew Stafford, Det., 2) Jason Smith, Rams, 3) Tyson Jackson, KC, 4) Aaron Curry, Sea, 5) Mark Sanchez, Jets, 6) Andre Smith, Cin., 7) Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oak, 8) Eugene Monroe, Jax. Yeah, there were a few duds before B.J.

The Packers against the Bears for all the marbles in the NFC. Meeting #187. Yeah, we like the Packs chances…