PackerBuddies - For Over 20 Years Friends Migrate to Green Bay!

Friendship!  Packer Football!  Green Bay!  Lambeau Field!  Flights to Chicago & Milwaukee!  And, coolest & greatest experience, the people we meet!!!!!

Yes, for over twenty years, a group from Pennsylvania & one from New Jersey have been making their annual pilgrimage to Lambeau Field!  The "Final Four" Jim, Bill, Terry & Phil have been a constant!  We have invited friends & family!  We have taken side trips & adventures!  We have seen history made!  And, we have LAUGHED & ENJOYED SO MUCH!!!  This post is dedicated to my "Packer Buddies!"

My first trip, November 29, 1998!  Packers 24 Eagles 16.  A little background, believe it or not, from about 1965 to 1988 I was a Dallas Cowboy fan!  (Yes, The Ice Bowl I weeped for the Cowboys!)  And then, 1988 - Jerry Jones buys Cowboys, and hires Jimmy Johnson!  I was devastated!  I was broken hearted!  Rodger Staubach, Bob Lilly, Walt Garrison, Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Bobby Hayes..........  I was crushed, I dumped MY TEAM!  I would NEVER love another NFL TEAM!  And, then a bunch of guys I coached with, taught school with invited me to Green Bay!!!  And, I fell in love!  Lambeau, Green and Gold, Brett Favre, Ahman Green, Antonio Freeman, Leroy Butler, and ALL that Packer History - Vince Lombardi, Curly Lambeau, Don Hutson, Paul Horning, Jimmy Taylor, ..........

Yes, I was becoming a Green Bay Packer Fan!  November 29, 1998!!!

And, after 22 years, I still say Go Pack Go!!

My Games:

Many Memories, and incredible people! A few Memories!

My first game was a blur, flying Baltimore to Chicago, driving up to Green Bay, buying a ticket on the street!  And, then, seeing Lambeau Field for the first time! (AND, the feeling of the famous ICE BOWL!) Wow! It was special, it was exciting, it was different (especially from Eagle games, remember, I am from Pennsylvania!) It was a blur!

Next 5 years, I made two more games.  Still, trying to find a team, the Packer team was luring me in, Brett Favre, Mike Holmgren, my Packer Buddies.  Something was happening.

The next 5 years, my education & coaching career was winding down, from 2005 to 2009, 6 games!  And, 2 away games - Dolphins & Bucs AND, a little old playoff game - FAVRE's last game as a Packer, on an incredibly cold night(wind chill below zero!), a SAD night, a miserable loss to the Giants!!!!!  That was it, I had a FAVORITE NFL team!  The Green Bay Packers were my TEAM!  GO PACK GO!

And then, 2010, no games.  How about THIS excuse, Open-Heart Surgery!  Quintuple ByPass!  Oh Baby!  This is an entire other story, on a different blog!!!

And, then, a great run!  2011 to 2019! And of course, 2020 - COVID!!!

Some memories!

Segway Tours of Green Bay!

Meeting an older couple that was at the Ice Bowl Game!!!

A tour of a tugboat in Sturgeon Bay!

Great meals at The Lighthouse, The Prime Quarter, The Hobo, Bay Family Restaurant, .......

More away games, Giants, Chiefs, Colts, Bengals, Ravens, Steelers, Redskins

Trip to Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio and Packers in Hall of Fame game that was canceled!!!!

September 9, 2018 - Packers 100th Season!

Visiting the Packer Hall of Fame!

A trip or two on the Fox River Cruise!

Tubing!!!!

"Turtles" at Culvers!

Yes, 2020, the Packer Buddies are missing Green Bay!  But, all the trips were VERY special! What will 2021 look like?  Hopefully, more trips to Green Bay!

And, my Packer Buddies!  More Packer trips in 2021!!!!

Terry, Jim, Bill, & Phil

Green Bay Packer First Quarter of the 2020 Season & What Comes Next?

 The 2020 season.  Nice Start!  The 2020 Year!  SUCKS!

Well, got that off my chest!  The season has started well!  Rodgers seems happy & locked in!  LaFleur seems to be more comfortable & his offense seems to be creative & fresh!  And, Rodgers has bought in? Our playmakers seem to be thriving - Aaron Jones, Davante Adams, & Rodgers!  New playmakers are emerging, Lazard, Tonyan, Valdes-Scantling..  An, the O-line appears to be solid.

Defense?  We have playmakers, Z & P Smith, Alexander, Clark, Savage...... And, players are stepping up, Summers, Sullivan, Montravious Adams, and more.  

Injuries are still a key, and lately, COVID breakouts!  Stay smart Packer players!

Next 4 Games?

Sunday, October 18 - 4:25 pm - Packers At the Bucs

Sunday, October 25 - 1:00 pm - Packers At the Texans

Sunday, November 1 - 1:00 pm - Vikings at Packers

Thursday, November 5 - 8:20 pm - Packers at 49ers

A few short comments:

1 - The Bucs & Tom Brady!

2 - The Texans - "A wounded animal is dangerous!"

3 - The Vikings - always a danger

4 - The 49ers - This game, of ALL games will tell us if the Packers are for real!"

Enjoy the BYE week! And,..........................................

GO PACK GO!

Packers Head Into Bye Week, Undefeated and Resting!

 OK, NFL fans, usually, an early bye week is bad!  In the Year of COVID, 2020, no old norms are in play! A early bye week, injuries mounting up, this is a GREAT bye week!  Maybe, the NFL should build in two BYE weeks?  First, the Atlanta game!

In the NFL, a win each week is always appreciated!  A win, missing your best two receivers, missing your top defensive lineman, missing your best inside linebacker, other nagging injuries.....  Now, Atlanta was hurting also.  But a win!

Good news:  1 - Rodgers is still rolling!  2 - A Tight End - Tonyan, with 3 TD's!  3 - Holding the Falcons wide receiver, future Hall of Famers in check!  4 - Players are stepping up for injured team mates!

My Packer Drive Chart

1 - TD

2 - Downs - Drove to the 1 yard line!

3 - TD

4 - TD

5 - Punt

6 - TD

7 - FG

8 - Punt

9 - End of Game

That is very efficient!  The offense just seems different!  The eye ball team?  What do you see?  I see a lot of deception!  Motions, crossing patterns, throwing over the middle, running backs receiving, bootleg by QB, and the biggest - Rodgers in not running for his life!  The plays seem to be in rhythm, drop back, plant and chuck it!  (Also, Rodgers is stretching the field - DEEP ball keeps the opposing defense honest!

Defense?  Still a work in progress, the good? Play makers, causing fumbles, interceptions.  The defensive backs, seem to be working well together!  The linebackers, especially the subs, are making plays.  D-line is starting to look more stout!  Still, I see too many missed tackles - need to clean that up!

All, in all - undefeated!  Headed into bye week, time to chill, relax, and enjoy the fall weather!!!

Go Pack Go!

Wow! It Been 17 Days!

 I warned you!  Difficult getting into this season!  But, I'mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm BACK!

So, 3-0, and headed to Monday Night Football against the Falcons!  First. let's recap the last two games!

Packers 42 - Lions 21

Rodgers 18 for 30 - 240 yards & 2 TD's with NO interceptions

Jones 18 carries 168 yards for 2 TD's

8 receivers, with 18 catches - spreading the ball around!

Defense 4 sacks - 1 interception for a TD

Last year we had two CLOSE wins against Detroit, nice to have one with 3 TD win!

Packers 37 - Saints 30

First, a win in the Super Dome

Second, a win over the Saints!

Rodgers over Brees!

Rodgers 21 for 32 - 283 yards & 3 TD's and NO interceptions

Lazard 6 receptions for 146 yards and 1 TD

Defense - 2 sacks - one BIG fumble recovery

A win over a potential Super Bowl team is a great win!

So, would YOU take a 3 & 0 start!  

YOU BET I WOULD!!

No, the Falcons........ what should we worry about?

1 - Key injuries!  After, a career game for Lazard, core muscle surgery - out for 4-8 weeks!  Big defensive pick up - Christian Kirksey, inside linebacker, out with shoulder injury?  Questionable, Davante Adams, hamstring.  Defensive lineman, Clark, groin, questionable.  Other smaller injuries? Cornerback-Alexander,  Tight End-Degurara, Outside Linebacker-Gary, Tight End-Lewis, Outside Linebacker-Z. Smith.  So......

2 - Falcons and Julio Jones at wide receiver?  He ALWAYS has big games against Packers!!

3 - Who plays wide receiver, without Adams & Lazard?  Valde-Scantling, Shepherd, Taylor?

4 - Who starts at inside linebacker? Summers, Barnes, Burks

What will we see?

How creative on offense will LaFleur be with wide receivers?  Can defense have a SHUT DOWN game?

Good news, the Early BYE WEEK is usually NOT good.  This year, it IS GOOD.  Heal up Adams, Lazard, Kirksey, Clark  & others!

Go Pack Go!

Packer Win Opener! Always Good to Beat Vikings!

 Well, still trying get into this NFL season! 

- Pandemic - Sick of COVID

- Not attending a Packer Game (Been doing this since 1998 will my Packer Buddies!)

- Tired of the Politics (NO COMMENT)

I will give it a shot - Packers 43 - Vikings 34!

What made me smile?

1 - Rodgers

2 - Adams

3 - Alexander

Aaron Rodgers looked like the old Aaron Rodgers - before Danica, before Before Olivia!  What did I notice about Aaron?

1 - Rodgers used the middle of the field

2 - Rodgers threw deep

3 - Rodgers & Adams may be approaching Rodgers & Nelson

So, we need to see more, BUT, I like what Aaron Rodgers was doing game day!

Davante Adams is definitely an NFL top 5 receiver!  Nice catches, crossing patterns, throws were delivered before the the cut, and as mentioned earlier, Rodgers & Adams may be on that same page!

Jaire Alexander - how about a safety & interception to change the games momentum?  Most great football teams have that "lock down" corner! Not quite there (Theilen, Vikings top receiver had a good game), but Alexander is a play maker!

Concerns?

1 - Injuries.  The NFL is a game of attrition!  We lost Lane Taylor at guard.  We cannot lose Clark at defensive tackle!  So far, just a groin, need to get hime healthy!  NEED TO STAY HEALTHY!

2 - Defense!  This is the year for Pettine to prove himself!

3 - Inside Linebacker!

4 - Offensive Right Tackle

So, while I try to get into the season, the Packers will try to BEAT the Lions!

GO PACK GO!

Packer Roster Cuts - Getting to 53!

Packers 53

QB(3) - Aaron Rodgers, Tim Boyle, Jordan Love 

RB(4) - Aaron Jones, Jamaal Williams, AJ Dillon, Tyler Ervin

WR(5) - Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, 

    Equanimeous St. Brown, Malik Taylor

TE(4) - Mercedes Lewis, Robert Tonyan, Jace Sternberger, Josiah Deguara

OL(9) - David Bakhtiari, Corey Linsley, Lane Taylor, Billy Turner, Elgton Jenkins,

    Rick Wagner, Lucas Patrick, Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan

25 Offensive Players

DL(5) - Kenny Clark, Dean Lowry, Kingsley Keke, Tyler Lancaster, Montravious Adams

ILB(4) - Christian Kirkey, Kamal Martin, Oren Burks, Ty Summers

OLB(5) - Za'Darius Smith, Preston Smith, Rashan Gary, Randy Ramsey, Jonathan Garvin

CB(6) - jailer Alexander, Kevin King, Chandon Sullivan, Josh Jackson, Ka'Dar Hollman,

    Kabian Ento

S(5) - Adrian Amos, Darnell Savage, Reven Greene, Will Redmund, Vernon Scott

25 Defensive Players

K(1) - Mason Crosby, P(1) - JK Scott, LS(1) - Hunter Bradley

3 Special Team Players

Here is the initial team, with changes coming!!  

8 days till First Game!!!!!

Ten Days To Go - Packers vs Vikings!!

The NFL Season for the Packers is 10 days away - does it seem strange?

OF COURSE!

Are the Packers ready? Are the Vikings ready? Is the NFL ready?

ONLY TIME WILL TELL!

Are the fans ready?  Will fans be at games?

ONLY TIME WILL TELL!

Back to Packer's  - Will Packer's  Offense be better this year?   Will Adams have help at the wide receiver position?  What Tight Ends will step up?  Will the running game be more dangerous will Dillon?  Will the offensive line be able to replace Bulaga at right tackle?  Will Aaron Rodgers have an MVP season????

Packer Defense?  Will the defense be be better against the run?  Will the Packer D-backs be one of the better groups in the league?  Will the Smith Brothers be better than last season? Will Rashan Gary take a BIG step in year TWO?  Can we beat the 49ers????

Coaches How will Matt LaFleur do in year two?  Can our Defensive Coordinator finally create a consistent defense??

Will our General Managers draft classes begin to take charge?

Will the Green Bay Packers be back in the Super Bowl?????