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• Packers sign GM to new deal

  February 11, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  The Green Bay Packers have signed Ted Thompson, the team’s executive vice president, general manager and director of football operations, to a new, multi-year contract, team president/CEO Mark Murphy announced Friday.

  Thompson, who recently concluded his sixth season as the leader of the team’s football operations, has built the Packers into one of the NFL’s strongest young teams. That was highlighted by a Super Bowl XLV win over the Pittsburgh Steelers last Sunday as Green Bay became only the second No. 6 seed since 1990 to win the world championship.

  “We are thrilled to have Ted lead our football operations for the foreseeable future,” said Murphy. “He has done an outstanding job of building this team. We worked on this and reached an agreement in December, and we are pleased to be able to make the announcement today.”
  
  Thompson strongly believes in the NFL Draft and has chosen to mostly stay out of free agency to build Green Bay’s roster since he took over in 2005. It’s a model which other teams in the NFL might start to follow.

  “This is a great organization and I am very humbled and appreciative,” said Thompson. “Green Bay is a special place and I am honored to work with such a great group of people that have all contributed to our success.”

  Since taking over general manager duties in 2005, Thompson has built the foundation for a Green Bay team that has made three playoff appearances in the past four seasons and has posted a 40-24 (.625) regular-season record since 2007. Of the Packers’ 53 active-roster players in Super Bowl XLV against Pittsburgh, 49 were acquired by Thompson, with 26 of them drafted during his tenure.

  The 58-year-old Thompson is a native of Atlanta, Texas. He was a three-year starter at Southern Methodist University and enjoyed a 10-year playing career as a linebacker with the Houston Oilers (1975-84). Thompson previously served an eight-year tenure with Green Bay’s personnel department (1992-99) and five seasons in Seattle (2000-04) as the team’s vice president of football operations before re-joining the Packers in 2005.

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• 2,000 Super Bowl attendees also affected by seating issue

  February 10, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  Apparently, the Super Bowl seating fiasco wasn’t limited to just 450 people.
  
  NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Thursday that approximately 2,000 fans in the temporary seating sections at Super Bowl XLV will receive a choice of either a refund of the face-value amount of their ticket or a free ticket to a future Super Bowl game of their choice. These 2,000 fans were significantly delayed in gaining pre-game access to their seats due to the problems with the installation of some of the temporary seats at Cowboys Stadium.

  Once their Super Bowl XLV ticket is validated, these fans can choose to receive one of the following: 1) a refund of the face value of their ticket, OR 2) one free ticket to one Super Bowl game of their choice. Eligible fans, subject to appropriate review and verification, are those that held tickets in any of the following sections:

  * Sections 426A, 427A, 428A, 429A -- all rows and all seats

  * Section 425A -- Row 11 seats 22-33; Rows 12-18 seats 22-31; Rows 19-32 seats 22-33; Row 33 seats 22-36

  * Section 430A -- Row 11 seats 1-12; Rows 12-18 seats 3-12; Rows 19-33 seats 1-12

  Fans who had tickets in any of those sections and rows should go to www.nfl.com/sb45reseating and enter the required ticket and other information. Fans should retain their tickets to help in the validation process.

  The plan announced today is separate from the one announced on Tuesday by Commissioner Goodell to the approximately 400 fans that were denied a seat. Those 400 fans can choose one free ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game plus a cash payment of $2,400 or one free ticket to any Super Bowl game plus round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations provided by the NFL. In the event of a work stoppage that impacts next year’s Super Bowl in Indianapolis, the fan would have a choice of one free ticket to the next Super Bowl.

  NFL senior staff members so far have personally contacted 260 of the 400 fans to explain their options and how to confirm and fulfill their choice.

  There were 13,000 temporary seats installed at Cowboys Stadium for Super Bowl XLV. The Arlington Fire Marshall inspected and cleared for use 11,740 of those seats.

  Commissioner Goodell has initiated a complete review of the matter, including all seating and stadium entrance issues.

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• Class action law suit filed against NFL for seating issue

  February 09, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  After 400 fans were unable to sit in their seats for Super Bowl XLV, it had been speculated that those people could decide to file a class-action lawsuit.
  
  According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that’s exactly what has happened.
  
  Eagan Avenatti, a Los Angeles-based law firm, filed a class-action lawsuit Tuesday against the Dallas Cowboys, owner Jerry Jones and the National Football League seeking damages for Super Bowl ticket holders assigned to unfinished temporary seating sections and fans whose view was obstructed, the paper reported. The lawsuit seeks more than $5 million in damages.

  The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Dallas, accuses the team of putting Cowboys season-ticket holders who bought tickets for Sunday's Super Bowl XLV between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers in folding chairs with obstructed views of the game. It also represents the 400 ticket holders who could not use their seats because guard rails on stairways leading to the seats were not completed by game time.

  The lawsuit alleges breach of contract, as well as fraud, deceit and concealment, and violations of the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act. It seeks to recover the economic loss of the ticket holders, which under the DTPA can be tripled, and punitive damages.

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• Source: Packers re-sign offensive tackle

  February 08, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  With the Super Bowl over, practice-squad contracts from the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers have expired.
  
  The Super Bowl champion Packers didn’t waste any time and already have re-signed OT Chris Campbell to a three-year contract, a source confirmed.
  
  Campbell, 24, was signed by the Packers as a rookie free agent out of Eastern Illinois after the 2010 NFL draft. After being waived before the start of the regular season, Campbell signed with Green Bay’s practice squad and stayed there for all but one week.

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• NFL offers options for Super Bowl XLV seating issue

  February 08, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  NFL commissioner Roger Goodell announced Tuesday that two options will be offered to the approximately 400 fans that purchased a ticket to Super Bowl XLV and did not receive a seat in the stadium due to the installation failure involving their seat in Cowboys Stadium. Each of the holders of the approximately 400 affected tickets will have a choice of:

  1. One free ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game plus a cash payment of $2,400 (three times the face value of the Super Bowl XLV game ticket held by the individual). The ticket to next year’s Super Bowl game is transferable.

  [OR]

  2. One free ticket to a future Super Bowl game of the fan’s choice, including next year’s if so desired, plus round-trip airfare and hotel accommodations provided by the NFL. This offer will be personalized in the ticketholder’s name and is not transferable.

  The NFL office, in conjunction with the Steelers, Packers, and Cowboys, is in the process of obtaining contact information for the approximately 400 individuals that did not receive seats in the stadium bowl at Super Bowl XLV. Contact information for any of those individuals can be emailed to SBXLV@nfl.com. A personal call from a senior NFL staff member will follow to answer questions and provide information on how the fan’s choice will be confirmed and fulfilled.

  Commissioner Goodell has initiated a complete review of the matter, including all seating and stadium entrance issues, to determine where the breakdowns occurred.

  “We are ultimately responsible for the fan experience and we want it to be the best it can possibly be,” Commissioner Goodell said.

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• Steelers' Ward to play next season

  February 07, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  Pittsburgh Steelers starting WR Hines Ward turns 35 next month, so it’s not surprising rumors have surfaced that he might retire.
  
  However, he put the rumors to bed after Pittsburgh's Super Bowl XLV loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
  
  “I’ll be back. I’m not going anywhere,” the veteran said.
  
  Ward is signed through the 2013 season and carries a base salary of $3 million for the 2011 season. He also is carrying a $1 million roster bonus for 2011.

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• Packers' game plan was to throw vs. Steelers

  February 07, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  The Green Bay Packers knew coming into Super Bowl XLV against the Pittsburgh Steelers that they likely would have trouble moving the ball on the ground, so they decided to pass to win the game.
  
  “Well, a huge part of our game plan was really putting the ball in (QB) Aaron Rodgers’ hands. He did a great job at the line of scrimmage,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said Monday. “A majority of our plays were run and pass options. We were really feeding off of how they were going to play our personnel groups, and Aaron’s discipline, ability to throw the ball away when it wasn’t there, didn’t take any chances, just gave me the ability to be aggressive as a play caller.
  
  The Packers had 41 called pass plays and just 11 running plays.
  
  "But it was a game plan that we were going to put the ball in Aaron’s hands, put it on his shoulders, and we knew he would produce," McCarthy added.
  
  

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• Records set or tied in Super Bowl XLV

  February 07, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  Here’s a look at the records that were set or tied in Super Bowl XLV, compiled by Elias Sports Bureau:

  SUPER BOWL RECORDS BROKEN IN SUPER BOWL XLV

  Fewest rushing attempts, game, both teams – 36, Green Bay (13) vs. Pittsburgh (23)

  SUPER BOWL RECORDS TIED IN SUPER BOWL XLV

  Most games, team – 8, Pittsburgh (tied record set by Dallas)

  Fewest turnovers, game, team – 0, Green Bay (tied record shared by 17 other teams)

  Most points, first quarter, team – 14, Green Bay (tied record shared by six other teams)

  Largest Lead, end of first quarter, team – 14, Green Bay, led 14-0 (tied record shared by Miami Dolphins, Super Bowl VIII and Oakland Raiders, Super Bowl XV)

  Fewest first downs by penalty, game, both teams – 0, Green Bay vs. Pittsburgh (tied record set in five other Super Bowls)

  Fewest rushing attempts, game, winning team – 13, Green Bay (tied record set by St. Louis Rams, Super Bowl XXXIV)

  Most two-point conversions, game – 1, WR Antwaan Randle El (tied record shared by five other players)

  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
  
  Green Bay has won 13 NFL championships (including nine in the pre-Super Bowl era), the highest total for any team.

  Green Bay committed no turnovers; Pittsburgh committed three. Teams committing the fewer turnovers have a 33-3 record in Super Bowls.

  WR Jordy Nelson had nine receptions for 140 yards, breaking the Packers’ record for receiving yards in a Super Bowl, set by WR Max McGee, who had 138 yards in Super Bowl I.

  Green Bay scored two touchdowns within 24 seconds in the first quarter – the fastest pair of touchdowns scored by one team in a Super Bowl since Super Bowl XXVII, when Dallas scored two touchdowns in 18 seconds after having scored two touchdowns in 15 seconds earlier in that game.

  For the third consecutive postseason game, Green Bay scored a touchdown on an interception return, becoming the first team in NFL history to score a touchdown on an interception return in each of three consecutive postseason games.

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• Woodson breaks collarbone during win

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  Green Bay Packers starting CB Charles Woodson didn't play in the second half of Super Bowl XLV because of a broken collarbone.
  
  "I knew I did something, and I knew it was pretty severe," he said, "but I went in and took the X-rays. And as soon as I looked at it, there was no question. It broke me down, but I'll deal with it. We won, so it's all good."

  The X-rays revealed the injury.

  "I broke my collarbone," Woodson said.

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• How the NFL handled seating problem

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  The NFL issued one final update Sunday evening on the seating issue for Super Bowl XLV:
  
  "The 400 fans in sections 425A and 430A that were not able to be accommodated with seats were taken inside the stadium to watch the game on monitors in the North Field Club behind the Pittsburgh bench.
  
  "They also had the option of viewing the game from standing-room platforms in each corner of the stadium. In addition, these fans will each receive a refund of triple the cost of the face value of their ticket. The face value of these tickets is $800.

  "We regret the situation and apologize for the inconvenience it caused. We will conduct a full review of this matter.”

  How did the NFL relocate the approximately 850 fans who were affected?
  
  “We routinely hold back tickets in the event problems may arise. In addition, the Cowboys and the NFL returned tickets.”

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• Packers' Rodgers comes of age

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wound up winning the MVP award for Super Bowl XLV.
  
  Not that anyone doubted his skills, but Rodgers took his game to another level with his effort in the Packers' victory: 24-for-39 passing, 304 yards, three touchdown passes and no turnovers. His receivers had at least five drops in the game.
  
  “He played great. We put everything on his shoulders. He did a lot at the line of scrimmage for us against a great defense. He did a hell of a job,” Packers head coach Mike McCarthy said after the team’s 31-25 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
  
  Rodgers’ performance wasn't lost on the Steelers.
  
  “I have a lot of respect for him," Pittsburgh defensive end Brett Keisel said. "He is the reason they won. He is a phenomenal guy.”

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• NFL issues another statement on seating fiasco

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  Here's an updated statement from the NFL on the Super Bowl XLV seating issue:
  
  "Incomplete installation of temporary seats in a limited number of sections made the seats unusable.

  "Approximately 850 fans with tickets in sections 205A, 215A, 230A, and 240A were affected and were relocated to similar or better seats.

  "Four hundred fans in sections 425A and 430A were not able to be accommodated with seats inside the stadium. These fans will each receive a refund of triple the cost of the face value of their ticket. The face value of these tickets are $900.

  "The safety of fans attending the Super Bowl was paramount in making the decision and the NFL, Dallas Cowboys and city of Arlington officials are in agreement with the resolution.

  "We regret the situation and inconvenience that it may have caused. We will conduct a full review of this matter."

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• Some fans don't get their seats for Super Bowl XLV

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  The NFL issued a statement in regard to some fans who weren't able to get in their seats for Super Bowl XLV:
  
  "There are a limited number of sections in temporary seating areas inside the stadium that have not been fully completed. We are working to resolve the matter and expect that by game time most of the fans affected will have been accommodated in their seats or relocated to similar or better seats.
  
  "Those fans that are affected by this will be directed to the Party Plaza area while the matter is resolved.
  
  "Fans who are not accommodated with seats inside the stadium will each receive a refund of triple the cost of the face value of their ticket.
  
  We regret the situation."

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• Super Bowl XLV pregame notes

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  The Pittsburgh Steelers placed starting C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle) on injured reserve.
  
  The Steelers will also be without starting DE Aaron Smith (triceps) for the 12^th straight game. Second-year DE Ziggy Hood will start for the 12^th time this season and for the ninth straight game.
  
  Here’s Pittsburgh’s full list of inactives:
  
  DE Aaron Smith (triceps)
  QB Charlie Batch (third QB)
  RB Jonathan Dwyer
  G/C Dorian Brooks
  CB Crezdon Butler
  OT Chris Scott
  OLB Jason Worilds
  DT Steve McLendon
  
  The Green Bay Packers will be without OLB Erik Walden (ankle-questionable), who was limited in practice all week. OLB Frank Zombo (knee-probable) will start for him.
  
  Here’s Green Bay’s full list of inactives:
  
  QB Graham Harrell (third QB)
  CB Brandon Underwood
  FB Quinn Johnson
  RB Dimitri Nance
  CB Josh Gordy
  G Evan Dietrich-Smith
  G Nick McDonald
  OLB Erik Walden (ankle)
  
  The Packers like to dress three fullbacks, so Johnson being inactive could mean they will use more multiple-receiver sets in the game.

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• Steelers place Pouncey on IR

  February 06, 2011 by AdamCaplan

  The Pittsburgh Steelers will be without starting C Maurkice Pouncey (ankle-out) for Super Bowl XLV, so they decided to place him on injured reserve.
  
  To take his roster spot on the 53-man roster, the team signed undrafted rookie G/C Dorian Brooks from the practice squad. Brooks, out of James Madison University, spent all of the regular season and playoffs on the practice squad. His practice squad contract would have expired after the Super Bowl. Because the team does not have another backup center on the roster, Brooks likely will be active for the game.
  
  Backup C/G Doug Legursky will start for Pouncey.

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