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In this week’s edition of “Tuesday’s with Aaron” with Jason Wilde (a must listen if you are a Packers fan), Aaron Rodgers tried to describe what is a “rhythm offense”:

“I don’t know… I think a rhythm offense is an offense that operates best in favorable down and distances and making consistent plays and not having negative yardage plays, whether its a negative run, sack, penalty…and making the plays that keep you on the field”

Rodgers is always insightful during his interviews so his response took me a little by surprise; I’m not entirely sure Aaron Rodgers knows what really is a rhythm offense because no one really knows what a rhythm offense is.  Teams either are in a rhythm or they aren’t; some teams (typically with great quarterbacks) tend to be in rhythm more often than teams that don’t have great quarterbacks, but conversely having a great quarterback doesn’t necessarily mean the offense will be in rhythm.  As far as I can tell, it just happens.

If you’ve watched any Packers games at all this year, it should be pretty apparent that the Packers weren’t in a rhythm in beginning of the season and maybe have “righted the ship” with a 6 touchdown demolition of the Houston Texans last week.  To me this seemed a little odd since the Packers managed to start off hot during the 2011 season, and that was without the benefit of having an offseason due to the CBA lockout; so if anything the 2012 Packers should have been even more ready than the 2011 Packers.  Read more... (1406 words + 2 images, estimated 5:37 mins reading time)

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Nick Perry hits Andrew Luck in the chest, gets fined

In the latest edition of players getting fined for playing football, Packers linebacker Nick Perry was fined $15,000 for his hit on Colts quarterback Andrew Luck this past Sunday.

According to Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Perry plans to appeal the fine.

On the play, the official referred to Luck as a “defenseless player,” which is usually a term reserved for a receiver attempting to make a catch with no way of shielding himself from an coming collision. Luck, however, was standing in the pocket with five competent offensive linemen in front of him.

So in essence, labeling Luck a “defenseless player” is perhaps the biggest slight one could possibly give to an offensive line. Watch the play again, and see exactly what Perry was flagged, and fined, for.

Luck clearly didn’t see the Perry coming, and as a result, he was smacked by a 270-pound freight train. Perry does something that players nowadays are taught not to do, which is leading with the helmet. However, Perry hit Luck directly in the acceptable, yet constantly shrinking region to hit quarterbacks–square in the chest. The ball popped lose, and Packers linebacker D.J. Smith recovered.

The nine-yard sack was Perry’s second of the season, but a 15-yard penalty negated the turnover altogether. But if there’s a bright side to the story, it’s that Perry finally flashed his massive potential.  Read more... (267 words + 1 image, estimated 1:04 mins reading time)

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Weekly Green Bay Packers News from Twitter and other Sources by Al Bracco and Amanda Lawson (As heard on Cheesehead Radio – 10/04/12 ). Special Guest was Ty Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (and soon USA Today).

The show can be downloaded from itunes here, or just click on the play button below:

CheeseheadRadio News 10-04-12:

Al:  Well, the Packers survived a scare from the Saints and Jeff Tripplette to persevere and hang on to an  important home win. The Saints were a desperate team, not wanting to go 0-4, and played like it. The referees performed more like their replacements did the week before, missing some obvious calls that almost cost the Packers a win. Fortunately, they pulled it out and evened their record to 2-2.

Amanda:  Speaking of the replacement referees, seems their still in the news. Wayne Ellliot, crew chief during the Packers Seahawks game, admitted this week that they made the wrong call on the last play of the game, even though the NFL upheld the ruling. I appreciate his honesty, but confirmation that the NFL handling of the matter was a sham  just adds insult to injury.

Al: Two more interesting things from Elliot. First, he revealed that during their training, the replacement officials were instructed not to call offensive interference on Hail Mary passes, but rather to just let it go. Elliot also said that Mike McCarthy called him and left a voice mail with some kind words, commending him on his handling of the situation, regardless of whether it was the right call or not.  Read more... (743 words + 3 images, estimated 2:58 mins reading time)

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Rodgers and the offense got back on track while McCarthy’s red flag nearly cost the team a win

Not even Jeff Triplette could deny the Green Bay Packers this time.

The Packers hung on for a wild 28-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints in a game where offenses ruled the day as both defenses gave up a combined for 895 yards and quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees both had stellar days and were able to move the chains almost at will.

The Packers go to 2-2 with the victory after their heartbreaking “loss” to the Seattle Seahawks last Monday evening and will move into second place in the NFC North behind the surprising 3-1 Minnesota Vikings should the Chicago Bears lose to the Dallas Cowboys tonight.  The Saints fall to 0-4 as the team struggles to get going without head coach Sean Payton, who was suspended for the entire season for his part in the Saints’ bounty program.

The Packers offense finally appeared to find its rhythm against the hapless Saints defense that ranked dead last in the NFL entering the game, allowing an average of 477 yards per game. Rodgers picked apart the Saints secondary and Cedric Benson had another solid outing.

So who stood out and who stood down?

Game Balls

QB Aaron Rodgers

All eyes were on the reigning MVP this week after last week’s debacle in Seattle and Rodgers’ strong comments during his weekly radio show on ESPN 540. Many were expecting Rodgers to come back with a vengeance and he didn’t disappoint.  Read more... (1064 words + 1 image, estimated 4:15 mins reading time)

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Ed Hochuli’s arms: coming to an NFL stadium near you THIS WEEKEND!

Like Jason Wilde said on Twitter, we figured this is how it would happen. Just not against the Green Bay Packers.

Regardless, the NFL and NFL Referee Association (NFLRA) have come to an agreement on an eight year CBA to lift the lockout of the regular officials as confirmed by NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. A regular crew will be in place for the Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens game Thursday night.  Officials will meet Friday and Saturday to ratify the agreement.

From the official NFL statement:

“Our officials will be back on the field starting tomorrow night,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “We appreciate the commitment of the NFLRA in working through the issues to reach this important agreement.”

It’s unfortunate that it had to cost ANY team a game for this to happen.  It stings more because it happened to the Packers, but wouldn’t you be just as angry if it happened to any other team?  Judging by the amount of support seen from fans of the other 31 franchises, it’s likely that Packer fans would have expressed similar thoughts.

So now the criticism can get directed at the real officials.  Will there be more bad calls? No doubt.  Let’s also be clear about this as well: the replacement officials were put into a ridiculously difficult position by the league.  They did the best they could in a situation in which they were way over their heads.  They should be commended for accepting such a daunting task. I personally wish them all the best in the future.  Read more... (348 words + 1 image, estimated 1:24 mins reading time)

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RIP NFL: 1921-2012

My friends, we gather today to mourn the passing of a close friend.

It was a friend that many almost considered a big brother.  It was a close friend of millions of people in multiple countries around the world.   While it was a product of the United States, it transcended nationality.  It truly was a universal language.

Of course, it had its flaws.  Nothing and no one on this earth is perfect.  We accepted those flaws and figured that those in charge of its caretaking would always keep its best interests at heart when trying to fix those flaws as well as any other urgent need that would arise.

Sadly, around four weeks ago, many of us saw trouble ahead for our dear National Football League.  The regular officials were locked out by the league under the leadership of Commissioner Roger Goodell.  We were told a deal would be coming and that the replacement officials would not be used more than a couple of weeks.

So the games went on and we as fans continued to watch.   As the young season progressed, warning signs began to emerge. Players were taking blows to the head and defenders were not being flagged for it, despite the NFL allegedly cracking down on such hits.  Holding and blatant pass interference ignored, giving quarterbacks a kicking ball, forgetting which teams are playing (“Holding, number 93 red”), awarding extra yardage and timeouts….the list goes on.  Read more... (1095 words + 1 image, estimated 4:23 mins reading time)

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Green Bay Packers will unite at Lambeau Field this Sunday

By now, you’ve all probably read everyone’s take on last night’s embarrassing showing by the NFL.  I’m a bit late to the party but I have the benefit of some extra time to digest what took place and having read it all too.  I don’t have it figured out, probably never will.  But I do know that I feel very disappointed.

I’m not going to break down the numbers, re-hash the stats or talk about the “shoulda, woulda, coulda”.  So what am I going to do?  I’m just going to shoot straight from the hip.  I’m going add this one to the list of disappointments in recent Packer history:

- The Terrell Owens TD catch in the end zone to beat the Pack during the 1998 season playoffs.  A loss that ironically was affected by another bad call by a referee as an obvious Jerry Rice fumble was ruled down by contact.  Back then there was no instant replay and the call stood.  9ers drove down and. . . .

- 1^st playoff loss at Lambeau Field against the Atlanta Falcons (a dome team) during 2002 season playoffs

- 4^th and 26 a year later

- The embarrassing playoff loss to the Vikings during the 2004 season playoffs

- The entire 2005 season

- The gut-wrenching NFCCG loss to the Giants during the 2007 playoffs that would be Brett Favre’s last game in a Packer uniform  Read more... (1467 words + 3 images, estimated 5:52 mins reading time)

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