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Per Greg Aiello, the NFL’s Senior VP of Public Relations, the 2013 NFL schedule will be released at 8pm ET this Thursday, April 18th.  Aiello announced this via Twitter earlier today.

2013 regular-season schedule will be announced at 8 pm ET on Thursday (April 18).

— Greg Aiello (@gregaiello) April 16, 2013

The Green Bay Packers’ schedule will surely offer some great matchups this season.  They will, of course, face their divisional opponents twice each with what I’m sure will be a keen interest specifically on the Minnesota Vikings matchups.  That may or may not have something to do with a former Packers wide receiver who recently joined the Vikings in free agency.  For those who have been stuck under a rock over the past month, I am, of course, referring to Greg Jennings.

The Packers will face each 2012 NFC division winner, including a rematch with the San Francisco 49ers.  The 9ers beat Green Bay during both the 2012 regular season and in the Divisional playoff round en route to Super Bowl XLVII.  The Packers will also square off against the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Redskins.

Due to the normal rotation of the out-of-conference scheduling, Green Bay will see each of the AFC North teams this season, highlighted by a matchup with the reigning Super Bowl-champion Baltimore Ravens.  The Pittsburgh Steelers will visit Lambeau Field and bring about a rematch of Super Bowl XLV.  Read more... (343 words + 2 images, estimated 1:22 mins reading time)

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2013 NFL Draft

Since my Packers Mock Draft a little while back, I’ve received request for a Bears mock draft as well.  So here goes nothing. But I do have one disclaimer. I am not familiar with the long term work of PHIL EMERY, so this one is purely on me with no inside information to draw from. And at the request of more than a few folks whose favorite division is the NFC North, here’s the whole division for you.

(As with my previous PACKERS MOCK the number in parenthesis after the Pick name and vitals is where I currently have the player ranked on my Regardless of Position Prospect list.)

DA BEARS   2013 MOCK DRAFT

Round 1, Pick 20    ALEC OGLETREE/LB/GEORGIA/6’3/242(22)

The LB position is the biggest rebuild unit on this team now that VFA has been used to finally upgrade the OL. If EMERY can get past the off-field issues OGLETREE could be an instant starter for them, on the outside in my opinion. He’s an excellent athlete and his ex-S skills can be put to best use outside rather than in the Middle where he’d be a bit undersized for the NFL.

Round 2, Pick 50    MARKUS WHEATON/WR/OREGON STATE/5’11/189(50)  Read more... (2532 words + 1 image, estimated 10:08 mins reading time)

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Thompson appears to have made another tough but good decision in letting Greg Jennings test the free agent market

After the 2010 season, Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones was not offered a new contract and became a free agent.  Having just come off of a Super Bowl win, it was widely speculated that Jones would see some decent demand throughout the league.  Jones was looking for something in the neighborhood of $5 million/year.  Not a single offer came his way.

Packers GM Ted Thompson emerged and offered Jones a three year deal worth $9.4 million.  Jones signed that deal and he was back in Green Bay.  This past season, Jones led the NFL in touchdown catches with 14.  For $3 million, that type of production was a very good return on investment when you consider that the team was without two of their top receivers in that of Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson for much of the season.  You need only remember that several higher-paid receivers were not nearly as productive as Jones, and many of them also had good quarterbacks.  Thompson clearly came out on top on the Jones decision.  Read more... (1019 words + 3 images, estimated 4:05 mins reading time)

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While many feel that Jennings is all but out of Green Bay, he would still be a valuable and vital piece of Packers offense

Recently on Twitter, free agent wide receiver Greg Jennings posted a picture of his empty locker with the following note:

“My #packers locker is empty. Reply w/ a caption letting me know if you want it to stay that way or not! #freeagentlife“

I am one who thinks the Green Bay Packers need to do what they can to keep Jennings and this post was actually a bit encouraging.  It seems as though Jennings is doing the “litmus test” to see how Packer nation feels about the possibility of him leaving.  I responded in support of his staying as did many others.

I realize that the large majority feel that Jennings is headed out of Green Bay when free agency starts in March.  I have heard all of the stats about how much he could command on the open market and how the Packers have several other vital pieces of their team that are up for free agency soon.  Losing good players is just part of the business of football.

Still, I saw a lot of value in what Jennings brought to the team after he returned from injury in early December this past season.  Jennings caught 24 passes and had three touchdowns.  He had another six catches and a touchdown in last week’s divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.  Not gaudy numbers by any means, but many of Jennings’ catches were made because he found a way to get open.  Read more... (755 words + 3 images, estimated 3:01 mins reading time)

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Clay Matthews and the defense stepped up big and the Packers are on their way to San Francisco.

“Revenge is a dish best served cold,” or so the saying goes, and the Green Bay Packers got their revenge against the Minnesota Vikings by winning their NFC Wild Card game 24-10 a week after the Vikings beat the Packers 37-34 which cost Green Bay a first round bye.

The Packers spotted the Vikings an early field goal as the Vikings marched down the field. Some fans began to experience a sense of déjà vu as the Packers went three and out on the following drive.  Thankfully that malaise didn’t last long as the Packers got into the end zone on the next drive and went up 7-3.

Green Bay never looked back as they got to Vikings quarterback Joe Webb and raced out to a 24-3 lead that held throughout most of the second half and gave up a touchdown pretty much in garbage time as the score settled to 24-10 as time expired.

Here are the good and the bad for the Packers in the victory that eliminated the Vikings.

Game Balls

LB Erik Walden

It was not even a week ago that the Packers allowed Adrian Peterson to run all over them, but the Packers put forth a much better effort Saturday and Walden was a big part of it.  Read more... (1129 words + 1 image, estimated 4:31 mins reading time)

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Erik Walden

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings:

My unfitered game day running blog post of comments, observations and first impressions.

Inactive for Packers today:  WR Jarrett Boykin; CB Davon House; RB James Starks;LB Frank Zombo; WR Donald Driver; DT Jordan Miller; DE Jerel Worthy

Inactive for Vikings today:  QB Christian Ponder, WR Stephen Burton, OT Troy Kropog, DE George Johnson, DE D’Aundre Reed, LB Tyrone McKenzie, CB Brandon Burton

Game Notes:

It’s come to this: inactive for a home playoff game. Gotta feel bad for Donald Driver…

Vikings throw a  monkey wrench into the Packers defensive game plan – Christian Ponder inactive.

Packers are 2-4 in their last six home playoff games. In all six of those game, the opposing team scored on their first possession.

16 of the last 21 Packers – Vikings games have been decided by seven points or less.

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Mike McCarthy Pregame Show on 620 WTMJ:

Ponder: Joe Webb – very athletic QB. Had some time to look at him during the week, even today as it became more apparent he will play.

back-to -back same opponent: In a lot ways, we feel we’ve had 2 weeks to prepare for this game. QB change is an adjustment for our defense.

Stopping AP: Good solid run defense. It’s about us. We’re at home, it’s about the mission we have before us.  Read more... (1197 words + 3 images, estimated 4:47 mins reading time)

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Ponder’s status for tonight’s playoff matchup is still somewhat in question

UPDATE:

As of 5:30 Lambeau time, Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder has been ruled out for tonight’s game and is inactive.  Joe Webb will get the start.

At 4:20pm CDT, Ponder was seen heading back into the Vikings locker room with head athletic trainer Eric Sugarman.  Ponder had spent 15 minutes throwing to test his elbow.  More to come shortly.

Earlier:

At the eleventh hour, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and 1500 ESPN’s Tom Pelissero have reported that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder is still dealing with elbow bursitis suffered when he hit a Packer defender’s helmet in last week’s game.  There has been speculation all day that Minnesota may turn to back up quarterback Joe Webb to start tonight.

“The expectation is the Vikings will work out Ponder at Lambeau Field a few hours before the 7 p.m. kickoff to make sure the issue is not significantly impacting his throwing motion,” 1500 ESPN’s Tom Pelissero wrote on the website.

An NFL source said Ponder should be able to play with the injury, which generally is treated with rest but may take weeks to fully heal. The bigger concern may be his limited practice reps this week.  Read more... (373 words + 3 images, estimated 1:30 mins reading time)

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