Packers GM NFL Executive of the Year

Sporting News magazine conducted a recent poll and named our Green Bay Packers GM Ted Thompson as the NFL Executive of the Year. Sounds about right, given the unexpected year the Packers had!


Ted Thompson's other titles include executive vice president and director of football operations for the Packers. He received the most votes (19) among the 48 votes cast by NFL GM's and other executives for the George Young NFL Executive of the Year.

Jerry Reese, the New York Giants' general manager, came in second in the poll with nine votes.
Sporting News said Thompson had a good eye for talent and the ability to maintain the right mix of players on the Packers. Also mentioned is the fact that Thompson hired current Packers head coach Mike McCarthy, who won the division championship in just his second year as head coach. He didn't pull off the NFC Championship, but he came darn close and for that Packernation is grateful.

Hopefully this picture of Thompson and Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will continue the legacy.

Free Agency Moves for Packers

The Green Bay Packers agreed to a two-year, US$5.4-million deal with free-agent linebacker Brandon Chillar. Big news for the Packers who rarely deal in free agency.

Free-agent linebacker, Brandon Chillar has just signed with the Green Bay Packers for two years and $5.4 million, plus incentives. Chillar comes to Green Bay from the St. Louis Rams and will likely compete with Brady Poppinga for the starting spot. He was drafted by the Rams in 2004 from UCLA.

At six-foot-three, 242-pounds, Chillar started 15 games last season with the Rams, made 65 tackles, including 52 solo tackles. Brandon Chillar had a career-high 2 1/2 sacks and three forced fumbles last season.

Welcome to the Frozen Tundra, Guy.

Is it noon yet?

10 Ways to Keep Your Packers Spirit Alive Until Fall

10. Road trip to the Packers Hall of Fame.

9. Book your hotel in Canton for the first weekend in August 2013. Do I need to explain?

8. Buy some fresh and clean Packers gear for cryin' out loud.

7. Quit the tears over Brett Favre's retirement and get on board the Aaron Rodgers' train.

6. Start thinking about your Fantasy Football 2008 draft.

5. Start a Green Bay Packers blog to get your thoughts down versus floating around in your head.

4. Post your favorite Packers fan memory on Packers.com for all the world to enjoy. Warning; Some make you tear up.

3. Take a tour of Lambeau Field with your family.

2. Green and Gold paint, a friend with benefits and a bottle of tequilla.

1. Move to Hattiesburg, MS and do some good, old fashioned stalking.

Did you change your mind yet Brett?

Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers (that hurts to write) may have had the best teacher to help prepare him for the upcoming NFL season, but until he takes snaps in back to back games, I will be cautiously optimistic.

Another 13-3 season for the Green Bay Packers would be unreal. Playing host to another NFC Championship Game at Lambeau Field would be unbelievable. Ushering in a replacement for beloved #4 in Rodgers and having it go swimmingly would be a dream come true. A dream I wasn't planning on having for another year or two, but I will go with it if it's what makes Brett happy.

The Sports Illustrated Commemorative issue is on the newstands and on ebay and on my nightstand. As someone else wrote, "a super hot dude just retired from the NFL". I concur.

Day One Post Favre Press Conference

WOW. Once set to music by my local Fox affiliate, the Brett Favre retirement press conference brought me straight to tears. I kept my composure at the office as we all listened to Favre speak. Favre was so great. He spoke from the heart, without a word written in front of him, he answered the reporters' questions honestly and unapologetically. Favre said if it just required him on the football field Sunday afternoons, no NFL player would ever retire, but the mental time and energy fully preparing for a successful NFL season was something Favre couldn't commit to. I give him credit for being so honest with himself. Checking his ego. What ego I ask myself? He has been in a unique position, playing arguably the toughest position in all of sports, for the MOST beloved team in all of sports. Ok, in all of football. Yes, that includes the Cowboys. Please.

Brett Favre even said the pressure of this last surprisingly great season piled up and piled up each week so much so that when a game ended one week he started mentally preparing and watching film for the next week's opponent immediately. The sign of a true competitor, yes. But exhausting for sure.

It was great to see Deanna Favre there. She sure has been through a lot. I hope they find their forthcoming quality time together fulfilling. Nothing like retirement to bring a couple together. Right, Mom and Dad?

Now we have to sit and wait. Wait and sit. For Aaron Rodgers. For the Packers. For the first Green Bay Packers game without Brett Favre.

I will miss you Brett!! Have fun hunting and mowing the lawn.

Brett Favre Press Conference

Reports are that Brett Favre will hold a press conference Thursday to discuss his retirement from football and the Green Bay Packers. Maybe Favre will have a change of heart between now and 11am cst Thursday? Maybe he will hit the podium and say, "Just kidding guys; one more year". That would be awfully crazy, but a welcomed remark. It is a long shot.

The media coverage of Favre's retirement is never ending. Not that I am complaining, but one has to be impressed with the work that print reporters and videographers have done to mark Favre's accomplishments. Hours and hours of primetime television hours were dedicated to his retirement. Thanks to my DVR I will be in good shape for my Favre fix for years to come. Seeing Favre's fashion through the years is a trip! The rolled-up, cut off jean shorts, the sport coat when he announced his rehab trip to the casual fashion of recent years is enjoyable.

I wish Favre and his family nothing but the best, but I sure would love to see a change of heart??? Come on Brett, one more year?

Go Packers!

Looks Official; Favre Retires

The cruel, cruel world. The news came as I was pulling in to my parking lot at work. What a wonderful way to start a work day! With the terribly sad news of my quarterback, Brett Favre deciding to retire from football and the Green Bay Packers. He has led the team from all of these years. When he first hit the field for the Packers I was graduating from high school and now look at me, all mature and responsible and so on. Just kidding, but when you look at what you have done in your personal life since 1992, it is crazy to think that each of those years, Brett Favre was our quarterback. Packers fans the world over are shedding a collective tear today.