Another Packers Fan

It doesn't happen often, but I have allowed a fellow Packers fan to post to my Packers blog. She might be going hog wild now that she has the ol' log in information! What if she is a Bears fan in disguise? What if she is an old castoff of Aaron Rodgers' and wants revenge? Uh-oh, what have I gotten myself into?

Here goes:

I have grown up in Milwaukee and grew up a Green Bay Packers fan. My earliest memory of the Packers goes back to when I was 6 years old running around the basement of a family friends house with my sisters dressed in a Packers cheerleading outfit waving around my pom-poms as the Packers play in Super Bowl XXXI. The Packers have had their phenomenal seasons and there not-so-great seasons, but through it all Packers fans across Wisconsin have stuck by their side and supported them. At the end of last year and beginning of this year us fans went through a lot with the news of Brett Favre retiring and then deciding to come back. We all cried along with Brett as he made his farewell speech, and then we all got excited at the thought of him coming back. I think we all would have liked to see him play another season. He is a living legend that we watched break record after record. I have had a Farve jersey since as long as I can remember and have attended numerous Packer games in the “Frozen Tundra” at Lambeau Field; games were it has been so cold I could see my breath or feel my fingers or toes. Walking up to the stadium and feeling the rush of game time is so exciting.

I was a little unsure of Aaron Rodgers being our quarterback. I said he would have some pretty big shoes to fill, and I think that he has done a pretty good job at it so far. I must say he is no Brett Favre, but I am definitely starting to warm up to him. It might be a little unfair to compare him to Favre seeing what an amazing quarterback he is, but after being a Farve fan for so many years it is kind of hard to just start liking someone else all of a sudden. I think it is only fair to give Rodgers the chance to show us all what he is made of. Now as far as Farve playing for the New York Jets, I was pretty heartbroken at first. Watching him play with another team it almost seemed like he was betraying us! I understand his love of the game and desire to come back. Since the Packers weren't interested in taking him back, he really had no choice but to find another team to play for. I guess on the other hand if he is going to play for someone else I would rather it be the Jets instead of someone like the Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings.

I already have my Packers tickets for the Carolina Panthers game on November 30th. I think it will be a great end to my Thanksgiving weekend. This will be my husband's first Packers game ever, and my first game seeing Rodgers. I am really looking forward to being at Lambeau. The tailgating, the beer, the face paint, crazy hats and gear! Packer fans are definitely a loud and crazy fun bunch! No matter what happens I will always be a Packer fan. I have grown up with the Packers and you will always find me either at the game or in front of a big screen TV watching it. I am one of those die hard Packer Fans!!!

Rumor Mill

If I have to wake up one more morning hearing the local radio guys talking about the latest rumor involving my Brett Favre Quarterbacking for another NFL team, I might just lose it. It started with the rumor that Favre hadn't filed his retirement papers and might go play for the San Francisco 49ers. Then he was going to play for the St. Louis Rams or the San Diego Chargers. NOW, it appears that they say Favre is going to bookend his football career with the Atlanta Falcons. Say it isn't so. This cannot go on much longer. We have the announcement of the Packers Vikings Monday Night Football game opening the 2008 NFL season in Lambeau Field on September 8. This news has Packers fans riled up, but with the excitement comes the stress of our former lover cheating on us. RIGHT IN FRONT OF OUR OWN EYES.

This better not be true. Favre, you really do look best in green and gold.

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.

Top 10 Reasons Why I Still Love My Packers

10. Their fans come to Lambeau Field from all over the world.

9. Not sell-outs, the Packers are the only non-profit, community-owned team in all of professional sports

8. Packers tickets have been sold out since 1960.

7. What am I going to do? Cheer for the Bears?

6. Packers fans are rock solid. The salt of the earth.

5. That super awesome music they play at Lambeau. (I am kidding. Let's update for 2008, ok guys?)

4. From the exhibition game in August to this years' NFC Championship game, Green Bay is abuzz with excited football fans who fill up Lambeau Field to capacity.

3. I look good in Green and Gold.

2. Old School football. No sharpies or popcorn allowed in the end zone.

1. Do I even have to say it? Brett Favre. Without him, the Packers wouldn't have even hosted the NFC Championship game to begin with.

Draft Dodging and the Packers

Like I stated previously, I don't really have the time to fully analyze the NFL draft like dudes do, BUT I do have a good enough understanding of what it was the Green Bay Packers were missing on the field last season to know that when the team announced it's first round pick was a defensive lineman in Justin Harrell out of Tennessee, there was going to be controversy.

It boils down to philosophy. Pick the best player available, regardless of position, at the time of your pick. Pick the player who will fill your highest priority need when your pick is up. Or draft a player who you might be able to use to negotiate with. Is more, better when it comes to defensive weapons? Is Brett Favre all it takes to bring the offensive line up to a competitive level 100% of the time?

The expectations EVERY SINGLE SEASON with Green Bay Packers fans is that this team is going, at minimum to the NFL Playoffs. Will the moves, or lack of moves made by Packer GM, Ted Thompson in this off-season help to meet fans' expectations? Only time will tell.