Surviving Sunday: Packers News, Notes and Links for the Football Deprived

February 1, 2015 /   /  Adam - ALLGBP.com, Adam Czech, Packers, Surviving Sunday

Congratulations to former Green Bay Packers general manager Ron Wolf on his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Wolf (with a lot of help from team president Bob Harlan and a quarterback who goes by the name of Brett Favre) took the Packers from a floundering franchise to one of the most respected and successful organizations in all of sports.

Also, congratulations to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on winning his second NFL MVP award. Despite a strong challenge from J.J. Watt, I thought Rodgers was the clear-cut MVP this season. Rodgers is the ninth player to win the AP NFL MVP award more than once.

Now, onto the usual nonsense and shenanigans of “Surviving Sunday”……

I find myself asking “What if” over and over again about the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks. Not about what happened two weeks ago during that God-awful game, more long-term, big picture, fantasy-world “What ifs.” For example:

  • What if Ted Thompson listened to the fanbase and traded for Marshawn Lynch in 2010? Would the Packers still have won the Super Bowl that season? Might they have won more Super Bowls? Or would Lynch’s mood swings create a rift in Green Bay and it would have been a mess? Is Seattle what it is today if it didn’t give up a fourth-rounder for Lynch that season?
  • What if the Packers drafted Russell Wilson to back up Aaron Rodgers? How would the Packers’ record been different if Wilson took over for an injured Rodgers last season? What type of draft pick could the Packers have fetched for Wilson once they traded him away? How successful would the Seahawks have been with Mighty Matt Flynn at quarterback instead of Wilson?
  • What if the Packers didn’t cut Jon Ryan back in 2008? Would he have been able to duplicate the success he’s had in Seattle in if he was still punting in Green Bay? Would some other punter have thrown a touchdown on a fake field goal against the Packers in the NFC title game?

There are a few more “What-ifs,” but I think you get the point. It’s strange how the Packers and Seahawks are connected in a few odd ways.

Packers News, Notes and Links

  • What was your favorite moment of the Shawn Slocum era in Green Bay? The special teams coach was fired on Friday.
  • Ty Dunne with the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel makes the case for the Packers retaining veterans and not relying so much on youth and upside in 2015.
  • Apparently, Ndomukong Suh wanted to fight T.J. Lang in week 17. These two have been bickering at each other so long, it’s time to sign them up for a Wrestlemania grudge match.
  • A must-watch here: Aaron Rodgers surprises a couple of kids who lost their fathers in the military.
  • Clay Matthews could still play inside in 2015. Good. I thought his talents were utilized better when he played all over the field.

Non Packers links and other Nonsense

Don’t want to watch a Super Bowl involving a team jacked up on God knows what who beat the Packers play the cheating Patriots? Here are 8 things you can do today besides watch the Super Bowl:

  • Play this cool board game called Pandemic. A few weeks ago, I asked you all for board game suggestions. I picked up Pandemic a last week and love it.
  • Watch the new Louis CK comedy special. Louis is the best, and his new special is only $5.
  • Read this amazing story about a Holocaust survivor’s liberation from Dachau.
  • Make fun of Jay Cutler and sing the “Bears Still Suck” song.
  • Play Action PC Football from Dave Koch Sports and see if you can repeat the success of the 2010 Packers on your computer screen.
  • Go see a movie. I highly recommend both American Sniper and Selma.
  • Binge-watch a TV show. I finally got my wife to watch my personal favorite show, The Wire, and she loves it. If you’re looking for a show that’s still ongoing, try The Americans.
  • I just sold my house. You can come over and help me pack.