Jersey Al's Packers Blog

Expectations can bring worries. And folks, I’m worried. I expect the Packers to do well this season. I expect the offense to be better balanced and more productive. I expect Dom Capers’ revamped defense to be a big improvement over last year. And finally, I expect them to challenge for the NFC North Division Title.

So what am I worried about? Well, those of you who are superstitious turn away. If you believe in jinxes or “the evil eye”, stop reading. Go ahead and knock on wood, because I’m going to say it;

What if Aaron Rodgers suffers a season-ending injury?

What if the Packers come together in preseason, then beat the Bears, Bengals and Rams (totally conceivable) to get off to a quick 3-0 start. But the unthinkable happens towards the end of the Packers romp over the Rams. Mike McCarthy is slow to get Rodgers out of the game and some 3rd string Ram DE trying to make an impression crashes into Rodgers knee. One torn ACL later, Rodgers’ season is over.  Read more... (1246 words + 6 images, estimated 4:59 mins reading time)

Now that draft euphoria was worn off, let’s meet the Packers’ second first-round pick:

Clay Matthews III didn’t start as a 166-pound linebacker his Junior year in High School, even with his father as his coach. Nor did he start a college football game until the fourth game of his senior season. He played as a stand-up DE, not a linebacker, when he finally became a starter.

Clay Matthews III was not even rated by NFL scouting services coming into his senior season. He also started a “White Nation” Facebook group as a Junior in College as a joke.

Are you worried yet?

Ted Thompson and the Green Bay Packers traded a second-round and two third-round draft picks for the opportunity to select Clay Matthews. Giving up all of that for a player with only 10 starts in college and taking him in the first round? Does this not go against all logic?  Read more... (1074 words + 6 images, estimated 4:18 mins reading time)

In an amazing development, the NFL has just revealed that a sleeper cell of radical Packer fans successfully pulled off a plot to kidnap Packers GM Ted Thompson before the NFL draft and replace him with a look-alike puppet.

Thompson was found this morning, bruised but otherwise unharmed, in a dumpster outside of a Holiday Inn in nearby Appleton, Wisconsin. Thompson had been drugged and woke up confused in the dumpster. His calls for help attracted the attention of hotel guests, who helped him out of the dumpster and untied him.

Upon being found, Thompson was quoted as asking what had happened in the NFL Draft. When told the Packers had drafted strictly at need positions, he fell to his knees and cried out “no wide receivers”?

Packer fans everywhere suddenly have an explanation for the strage events that took place this weekend. The Green Bay Packers drafted for need with every selection, ignoring the “best player available” mantra they normally espouse.  Read more... (324 words + 5 images, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)

Did anybody see this coming?

The Green Bay Packers, after seeing B.J. Raji fall into their laps (and turning their backs on Michael Crabtree), pulled a rare move up the draft board.

Ted Thompson traded the Packers’ second-round pick and both their third-round picks for New England’s first rounder (26th overall) and a fifth-round selection.

Sure, if one bases evaluation solely on value points, the Packers were taken, but Ted Thompson got the object of his desire at 26: USC Linebacker Clay Matthews.

Again, I ask, did anyone see this coming?

According to Thompson, for weeks the Packers have been exploring trade possibilities to move up and select Matthews. He thinks Matthews is the best of the three USC linebackers and the perfect fit for Green Bay’s new defensive scheme.

Matthews is fast, athletic, and smart and made tremendous improvements in his game last season. He has come from being a walk-on at USC to having a great year as a starting linebacker for the Trojans. He is considered to have the most upside of the USC linebackers.  Read more... (325 words + 5 images, estimated 1:18 mins reading time)