2010 NFL Question Marks: Green Bay Packers
Posted by Anthony Stalter (08/09/2010 @ 4:40 pm)
Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the Packers and whether or not Green Bay fans can expect the offensive line to keep Aaron Rodgers upright this season.
You’re dreaming if you don’t think the Packers have what it takes to reach the Super Bowl this year. Aaron Rodgers proved last season that he could play at an elite level and Dom Capers was a miracle worker (he only had one offseason to transform the Packers from a 4-3 to a 3-4 and they finished 2nd in the NFL in total defense) in his first year as Green Bay’s defensive coordinator.
But even though expectations are high right now in the land of cheese, one question continues to loom large: Can the offensive line keep Rodgers upright?
I don’t know how Rodgers didn’t wind up breathing out of a tube at some point last year. The amount of blows he took on a weekly basis was flabbergasting, but to his credit he somehow went on to throw for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns.
I don’t think you’re listening: He threw for 4,434 yards and 30 touchdowns with the equivalent of a FINISH LINE ribbon for an offensive line.
Now, was some of that his fault? Yes. At times, he took far too long to get rid of the ball and he sometimes took sacks that he shouldn’t have. But most of the blame could be laid at the feet of the offensive line.
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Posted in: NFL
Tags: 2010 NFL Question Marks Series, Aaron Rodgers, Allen Barbre, Anthony Stalter, Bryan Bulaga, Chad Clifton, Daryn Colledge, Dom Capers, Green Bay Packers, Josh Sitton, Scott Wells, T.J. Lang, Ted Thompson
Seven Packers questioned in sexual assault investigation
Posted by Anthony Stalter (06/06/2010 @ 8:00 am)
The Green Bay Press Gazette reports that six Packers players were questioned in an alleged sexual assault case in Lake Delton. While all six (Clay Matthews, Matt Flynn, Brad Jones, Khalil Jones, Josh Sitton and Korey Hall) were cleared of any wrongdoing, an unnamed seventh player remains under investigation.
Police responded to Canyon Road in Lake Delton around 4:20 a.m. Saturday to a report that two women were sexually assaulted, Grimsled said. The assault reportedly occurred between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. at a rental condominium at 1050 Canyon Road at the Wilderness Resort Golf Cabins.
Seven players staying at the condo were questioned, and all cooperated, according to police. They were all released, but police are still investigating whether one player was involved in both assaults. The six others are not suspected of criminal activity, Grimsled said. They are Matt Flynn, Khalil Jones, Josh Sitton, Korey Hall, Brad Jones and Clay Matthews.
The women initially indicated more than one player was involved, according to police. After further interviews, the six men were allowed to leave. The seventh was further interviewed before being released, but his involvement remains under investigation.
The players were reportedly in Lake Delton for a golf tournament hosted by Matthews. No other details are currently available, so it’s best not to jump to conclusions without any hard facts being made public yet.
That said, if the unnamed player is eventually charged with sexual assault, how stupid does he have to be to get nabbed for that with everything that Ben Roethlisberger has gone through over the past couple of months? Again, let’s not jump to any conclusions. Nobody knows what actually happened at this hotel and for all we know, these women are looking for money and/or attention.
Still, this is troubling news to say the least and not just for the Packers, but for the NFL as well.
Update: The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that cornerback Brandon Underwood is the unnamed Packer that is under investigation for sexual assault.
“(The) seventh did have contact with the two females,” Grimsled said. “We were pretty sure of that. Everybody was cooperative.
“It comes down to ‘was it consensual sex?’ One side says yes, the other says no.”
When apprised that the investigation centered on Underwood, 23, several players who wished to remain anonymous said he had been a problem since he was drafted in the sixth round in 2009 out of Cincinnati. Cornerbacks coach Joe Whitt talked last season about Underwood being immature early in his rookie season.
Photo from fOTOGLIF
