FrankRizzo
Cheesehead
Some notes from Bedard:
- Unless Thompson is suddenly going to overpay, DeAngelo Williams isn't available. IMO, Ted missed his chance. A third for Marshawn Lynch, just to see what happens -- he's cheap so you could cut him if he becomes an issue -- should have been a done deal. And people in the building think that too. Ted should have done the deal.
- I'm all for leaders emerging and holding people accountable. In my opinion, I think it works better when it comes from the players. From people I have talked to, McCarthy has changed the way he gets after players this season and for the better. But the great teams, the players police themselves. I think McCarthy would prefer it that way -- like he encouraged the dialogue after the Tampa loss last season -- but Thompson hasn't given him those types of players. Woodson, Harris, Hawk, Driver, Jenkins....those guys don't speak up until it really needs to be done. The one guy that does get in people's faces, Barnett, won't be around for a long while. I think Matthews is going to be that guy. And that would be huge.
- I made light of this on Twitter, but I really meant it. I think Sunday will be the Packers' Apollo 13 game. You know the part where NASA dude says something about this being the worst disaster in the history of NASA? Ed Harris responds with, 'With all due respect sir, I think this will be our finest hour.' Can you imagine if the Packers can somehow manage a victory on Sunday, what that will do for them? And then maybe getting Matthews and others back for the Vikings -- let alone Bigby and possibly Starks and Harris from PUP? I think this is a chance for this Packers team to play with some real heart and emotion for one of the first times under McCarthy.
- Sunday is one of those games where most of that goes out the window. All you are trying to do is survive and win. You know, what football is really all about. If the Packers can discover that passion and heart for the game again -- all of them -- look out. I'm serious. Of course, I also wouldn't mind seeing McCarthy get in front of the chalkboard and say, 'OK, right now we have the healthy talent to get us here (X). We need to get here (X). Failure is not an option gentlemen. Make it happen.' OK, so I'm a sentimental movie freak.
- Thompson has always, always, always kept his eye on the future. Most of the times that's great. I think they should keep Finley up for a while and see what happens. I know there are people in the building who would like to do that. But it's a question of what Ted will do, and how bad the injuries get. I do think the Packers could survive without McDonald, Newhouse and Johnson.
- As for Rodgers, he technically has two fourth-quarter wins in 41 games. Chicago in the '09 opener -- 50-yard TD to Jennings with 1:11 left (Packers caught the Bears on PA on 3rd and 1 and Jennings was wide open) -- and the Packers trailed Detroit in the fourth quarter in '08 before running away. That's it. Then again, he's only started 41 games. Not a big sampling. I know, I know about Favre. That being said, Rodgers needs to do better and he needs to lead the Packers to a win in a game they have no business winning. The greats do that.