Yardbarker: Brian Brohm

Rodgers Does Little; Won’t Throw Till Friday

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 20:33:03 -0500

"I want to give Aaron Rodgers every chance to play in the game."A Those were the words by Packers coach Mike McCarthy today as he talked about his QB, who will now NOT throw till Friday to see if he can try and play against the Falcons.A At first it was said that Rodgers would throw today and see how his sprained shoulder would be, but instead, now they will wait to re-examine him on Friday and see if he can at least practice.A If Rodgers cannot throw on Friday, it will probably be Matt Flynn or Brian Brohm that gets the start.A Both rookie backups got most of the work in practice today.

The Case for Andre Woodson

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:41:48 -0500

As the Chiefs are mired in their worst quarterback situation since the 1980's every fan, blogger, and radio talk show host has had their own ideas on how to address the Chiefs QB situation my self included. Most people want Brady Quinn but that deal appears unlikely to happen as the Browns reportedly want two first and second round picks in the next two drafts for the rights to Quinn, who was picked with the 22nd pick in the 2007 draft. The Chiefs under the Herm Edwards regime value draft picks too much to make that deal happen. One thing is certain the Chiefs do not have the answer for the foreseeable at QB. Even when Brodie comes back he is at best a 50/50 shot to be the man and that is if he can stay healthy. Tyler Thigpen has proven the saying " People are promoted to the level of their ignorance" to be true looking ineffective and lost in the game time he has got to see. Other speculators have said the Chiefs should trade for Brian Brohm who was aquirred in Green Bay in the second round of the draft this year and is currently third on the Packers depth chart. That is not a good idea for K.C. the Packers would at minimum want their second round pick back in return. The Chiefs second round pick next year figures to be top five. The Chiefs could have a first round talent fall into their laps at that position in the draft. If a trade is out of the question the Chiefs would need to go the free agent route to bring in another body at QB. There maybe a answer still out there for the Chiefs. Enter former Kentucky QB and current NFL rookie Andre Woodson. The NY Giants currently have Woodson on their practice squad meaning the Chiefs would have to give the Giants zero compensation for the rights to Woodson. But would Woodson fit in Herm's system? Herm requires a QB who is "available" meaning that he does not want a QB who is injury prone, Woodson is 6-5 230 and can absorb a hit or two. Compared to Croyle who is listed generously at 6-2 206, Woodson looks like a giant. Herm says he wants a low turnover guy, Woodson held the NCAA record for most consecutive passes without a interception at 325 pass attempts. Compare that to Tyler Thigpen's stat line this season 69 passes 4 interceptions that is a interception every 17.5 attempts. Woodson is more of a Herm QB than any other QB's currently on his roster. Andre has the tools to excel in Chan Gailey's system and looked like a natural leader with the Wildcats the past two seasons. Woodson threw 71 touchdowns and 18 interceptions his last two years at Kentucky and completed over 60% of his passes. Considered a Heisman candidate at the beginning of his senior season, Woodson gave way in the voting due to the fact he played on a mediocre team and was over shadowed in the SEC by the likes of Darren McFadden and Tim Tebow. At the conclusion of the season Woodson was projected to go late first round after the combine he dropped his stock to the third round. Woodson felt confident he would not fall later than the fourth round but was not picked till the sixth and had fell five rounds in five months most of which he was not playing football. The chances are slim that Andre Woodson would turn out to be the field general the Chiefs need, but he has a much better body of work than Ingle Martin and higher upside. The Chiefs had a opportunity with the injury to Croyle to go out and get a player that could push the competition at QB. The Chiefs came away with Ingle Martin. I know there is not a lot of ideal options on the quarterback free agent market once the season starts but in desperate times you can get more creative than Ingle Martin.

The Case for Andre Woodson

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 00:41:48 -0500

NFL Punchlines: Ricky Williams Wants to be a Doctor

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:15:24 -0500

Along with fantasy owners everywhere the Saints are waiting for Reggie Bush to start paying dividends. (USA Today)

Joining Ben Roethlisberger and Hines Ward as Steelers team captain is FG kicker Jeff Reed. Yes, that is really Jeff Reed. (Post-Gazette)

Fred Taylor spoke publicly yesterday for the first time since being arrested on Saturday at 4am in Miami Beach. (Orlando Sentinel)

If the Saints are displaced for a long period of time due to Hurricane Gustav will the team play in Los Angeles? (Times-Picayune)

Matt Flynn beat out Brian Brohm for the backup job in Green Bay. Why would the Packers have not acquired a seasoned veteran to backup Aaron Rodgers? (Journal Sentinel)

Get this, Ricky Williams hopes to retire as a Dolphin and attend medical school after his playing days are over. Was he high when he said this? Probably. (Miami Herald)

Chiefs rookie Braden Albert looks like he may play this Sunday in the season opener. (KC Star)

Like every year, the Colts will be depending on rookies to fill huge roles with the team. (Indy Star)

After Jerome McDougle was cut by the Eagles on Saturday the Giants picked him right up to add depth to their depleted d-line. (Hartford Courant)

In order to make room for Rudi Johnson the Lions cut RB Tatum Bell. (Detroit Free Press)

Domonique Foxworth does not know what team he will be playing for this season, he just knows it won't be for the Broncos. (Rocky Mountain News)

The Raiders are stocking up on underachieving former Broncos receivers, they signed Ashley Leile yesterday to join Javon Walker. (Rocky Mountain News)

Tony Dorsett and Emmitt Smith have their doubts on whether Marion Barber can play the season injury free with the way he runs the ball. (Dallas Morning News)

First test for the Panthers run defense? LaDainian Tomlnson. (Charlotte Observer)

The Pats signed Deltha O'Neal who was cut by the Bengals this past weekend. Could he be the Asante Samuel replacement? (Boston Globe)

Joe Flacco will start the season opener for the Ravens due to Troy Smith's tonsils and Kyle Boller's shoulder. (Baltimore Sun)

Pack Give #2 Nod to Flynn

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 11:30:58 -0500

Continuing with their unorthodox approach to the team this season, Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson have named rookie seventh-round pick Matt Flynn the number two quarterback on the depth chart behind first-year starter Aaron Rodgers and ahead of highly touted second-round pick Brian Brohm. Flynn had

Flynn or Brohm - Either Way the Packers Lose

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 08:32:19 -0500

The Green Bay Packers list 7th Round draft pick QB Matt Flynn ahead of 2nd rounder Brian Brohm on their depth chart. This would not be a big deal if the competition between them were for the #3 slot behind Aaron Rodgers and some veteran backup - but the Packers don't have the veteran backup, and therefore

Report Says Flynn Moves Ahead of Brohm as Packers Backup QB

Mon, 01 Sep 2008 20:59:53 -0500

While Aaron Rodgers is the unquestioned starter for the Packers as they kick off the 08 season, who the backup will be is a little bit harder to figure out. The Green Bay Post-Gazette is reporting that the team will go with Matt Flynn as the teams number two QB, passing up rookie Brian Brohm who was the early number two QB in camp. The second-round pick in Brohm will now be the teams 3rd stringer. Flynn was the teams 7th round pick, and with Rodgers being injury-prone, could very well find himself on the field at some point in 08.

Packers Take It Somewhere Unpleasant from 49ers

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 15:13:34 -0500

Last night the Packers took it hard in your favorite body cavity from the San Francisco 49ers. But guess what? I don't really care. The porous offensive line, despicable backup quarterback play, lack of a rushing attack, and inability to stop the San Francisco 49ers(!) offense should concern me.

Packers Offense Goes Flat, San Francisco Destroys Green Bay 34-6

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:41:27 -0500

J.T. O'Sullivan is if anything else making the race for the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback job competitive; he had an impressive performance on Saturday as he led the 49ers on consecutive touchdown drives, leading the 49ers to an impressive 34-6 thrashing of the Green Bay Packers in San Francisco. O'Sullivan led the 49ers on consecutive touchdown drives while throwing the team's first passing touchdown of the preseason while Alex Smith clearly struggled during his stint during the third quarter. On the other hand, Packers QB Aaron Rodgers wasn't very sharp, as he couldn't get the Packers into the end zone during his time on the field during the first half while getting sacked 4 times and a pair of passes were dropped. O'Sullivan led all 49ers quarterbacks as he went 8-of-17 for 154 yards with a TD and an interception, while Smith struggled, going 5-of-12 for only 62 yards. Rodgers led the Packers' QB trio who saw action, going 9-of-16 for 58 yards while Brian Brohm went 4-of-9 for 33 yards. DeShaun Foster led all 49ers rushers with 37 yards on 11 carries with a TD while Frank Gore added 6 rushes for 29 yards. Kregg Lumpkin led all Packers rushers with 51 yards on 10 carries while Noah Herron added 35 yards on 6 rushes. Rookie wide receiver Josh Morgan led all 49ers receivers with 5 receptions for 114 yards and a TD while Jason Hill added 46 yards on 2 catches; Dominique Zeigler added 42 yards on 4 receptions. Vernand Morency led the Packers receivers with a catch for 20 yards. The 49ers play again on August 21 as they visit Soldier Field to take on the Chicago Bears while the Packers play on August 22 as they visit Invesco Field as they challenge the Denver Broncos.

O’Sullivan’ s Passing Helps 49ers Destroy Packers 34-6

Sun, 17 Aug 2008 13:28:23 -0500

What To Watch For: Green Bay @ San Francisco

Sat, 16 Aug 2008 13:08:42 -0500

When Green Bay traveled to San Francisco to play the San Francisco 49ers in the past, it was always a duel between Brett Favre and Steve Young. These two teams played some great games: the 1998 NFL Championship Game, which the Packers won to play the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII and the 1999

TOP 10 SIGNS THAT BRETT FAVRE WASN'T COMMITTED TO THE PACKERS

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 21:24:01 -0500

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

10. Threatened to retire unless the Packers replaced coach Mike McCarthy with Roger Goddell

9. Made sure to stop by Brian Brohm and Matt Flynn's locker to make sure they know he was going to screw them, too

8. Keeps talking about how much better Brad Childress runs a meeting

7. Was wearing a wire for ESPN the entire time he was in camp

6. Refers to general manager Teddy Thompson and coach McCarthy by his new nicknames, "Judas" and "Pilate"

5. Barely could summon up the energy to throw a back-breaking pick

4. Kept taking calls from Jerry Angelo on his cell phone

3. Deeply offended by the fact that the Packer players seem less than enthused about talking about him 24/7/365

2. Was mortally offended by the fact that the Packers kept asking him if he really, truly, seriously wanted to play, or if this was just a plea for attention

1. The fact that the team is still named the Packers, rather than the Green Bay Favres

Meet the Draft Picks: Patrick Lee

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:37:45 -0500

Patrick Lee Many of us felt this pick was coming at #30 during the NFL Draft. But that got traded to the New York Jets. Then we thought it was coming at #36. Jordy Nelson came instead. #56? Sounds good to me. Wait, nevermind. Then it finally came at #60, 30 picks later than we thought: the Packers drafted a cornerback. Al Harris is going to be 34 this season. Charles Woodson is going to be 32. Harris was absolutely destroyed by Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants during the NFC Championship Game (which prompted me to push for the drafting of James Hardy). It was the general feeling that the Packers were drafting a cornerback at #30, whether Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Aqib Talib, Mike Jenkins, or Antoine Cason dropped to the Packers or the Packers picked Brandon Flowers. None of the happened. The Packers went with Nelson at #36. Packers fans and analysts were left waiting until #56 to see which cornerback the Packers were going to choose. The Packers threw a curveball by selecting Brian Brohm (I'm still scratching my head). This left #60, where the inevitable happened: the Packers picked a cornerback, the tenth defensive back taken in the draft, Patrick Lee, from Auburn University. From what has been said about Lee, he seems to be the perfect pick for the Packers system. At 6?0?, 200 pounds, he has decent size for a corner and is big enough to imitate the physical style played by Packer starters Woodson and Harris. There is a lot of youth in the secondary currently, with Will Blackmon, Jarrett Bush, and Tramon Williams all with three or less years of experience competing for the nickel back slot next to Woodson and Harris. Williams played there the last few games of 2007 and did a decent job. In his senior season at Auburn, Lee had 55 tackles (40 solo), four interceptions, and 10 passes broken up. Lee can also throw his name into the kick return competition if he so pleases, as he averaged 25.8-yards per kickoff return as a senior. GM Ted Thompson said Lee was a "real good value pick" for #60. I agree with that sentiment as this draft was saturated with cornerbacks, and we definitely do not want an Ahmad Carroll repeat. Thompson also said: "He's a tough guy. He likes to play bump-and-run. We think he's going to fit well with what we do on defense in terms of putting these guys in lockdown situations." I think I'll pick Lee to win the competition for the third cornerback slot. If he doesn't win it, I expect him to have it sometime during the season.

Culpepper Spurns Packers

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 08:46:37 -0500

Out of work quarterback Daunte Culpepper, most recently of the Oakland Raiders, will most likely be out of work this season after reportedly refusing a one-year deal worth $1 million to backup Aaron Rodgers in 2008. Culpepper, who also spent time with the Miami Dolphins and is best known for his time with the Minnesota Vikings, was brought in to Green Bay for a physical and interview along with Gus Frerotte and Quinn Gray. Culpepper is the only one who was offered a contract. Donald Driver put some perspective on the situation: "Daunte's a good guy, but I guess he felt like he wanted to come in and vie for a starting spot and (the Packers) already knew who their starting quarterback was. So what do you do? They felt like if he didn't want the title to be a backup, you have to move on." Culpepper would have added much needed game experience to a quarterback depth chart that has the least amount of experience in the league. Brian Brohm is set to backup Rodgers for 2008 along with fellow rookie Matt Flynn. I forget the last time I heard about two rookie quarterbacks backing up a starter. Brohm and Flynn are able bodies, no doubt about it, but if Rodgers gets hurt or can't finish a game, or the Packers need a spot start from Brohm, will the Packers be in the best situation to win?

#18? You Really Think That?

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 00:19:24 -0500

Now, I have no idea on God's green earth who the heck Rick Gosselin is. All I know is that he was no clue what he is talking about in "Rick Gosselin's NFL offseason power rankings." Apparently he is the NFL columnist for The Dallas Morning News. Hey, Landry Hat, wanna throw me a bone here? I have no clue who this guy thinks he is. I stumbled across his offseason power rankings and was shocked that he had the Packers at #18. #18? Really? You are putting the Green Bay Packers, who went 13-3 last year and were one errant Brett Favre pass away from the Super Bowl at #18? Behind the Houston Texans, an 8-8 team with offensive and defensive line issues? Behind the 7-9 Buffalo Bills? The Cincinnati Bengals at #15? You are definitely crapping with me now. The team is in jail. And they lack an important part of a winning football team: a defense. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the 14th-best team in the league right now? They went 9-7 and barely won what is arguably the weakest division in the NFC (close competition with the West). The Tennessee Titans? Yes, I know my Super Bowl pick for last year as Packers-Titans (no one thought either would even make the playoffs), but for a team with a quarterback who almost doubled the number of touchdowns with interceptions last year, and a team that has enough running backs for two teams and no wide receivers, they are not as good as the Packers. The New Orleans Saints at #12 is a little more respectable, but the Minnesota Vikings at #11? Not so sure about that. The Vikings have improved, I will give them that. But to be seven spots higher than the Packers? Not so fast my friend. Other questionable teams ranked ahead of the Pack: Seattle Seahawks and Philadelphia Eagles. I hate to go Fire Joe Morgan on this guy, but the situation calls for it. So please, Mr. Gosselin, step right up. The retirement of Brett Favre takes the winningest and most prolific passer in NFL history out of a Green Bay uniform this season. Inexperienced and untested Aaron Rodgers replaces him. This is a talented team. The Packers reached the NFC title game last January. But how much of that was Favre? Suddenly, the defense must carry the Pack. Ok, that all looks good as one big block of text. But sentence-by-sentence, not so much. The retirement of Brett Favre takes the winningest and most prolific passer in NFL history out of a Green Bay uniform this season. Oh really? How insightful. Did you realize this is your longest sentence that takes up the most space and states the obvious? Yessiree. But did you really think we didn't know this? Inexperienced and untested Aaron Rodgers replaces him. Good job. At least you aren't calling for Brian Brohm to take the helm. I'll admit Rodgers does lack some experience, but something that many, many people cannot grasp is the fact that to have experience, you need to get experience. People always want to skip the getting experience part. I wouldn't say that Rodgers is totally inexperienced and incapable of commanding an NFL offense after sitting behind Favre for three years. He should do better than, say, Alex Smith in his first game. I wouldn't call Rodgers untested either. Being thrust into the biggest game of the regular season in a hostile environment on a game televised to a few thousand households (yeah, I'm still bitter about missing that game) is a pretty big test I'd say. And Rodgers performed admirably in it, bringing the Pack to within three points before they succumbed. So there is some experience and he has been tested. This is a talented team. I'm not going to deny this sir. Seems you have gotten something else right. But wouldn't it seem more right if a talented team was ranked higher than half the teams in the league? Because right now you're saying that half the teams in the NFL are better than the Packers. The Packers reached the NFC title game last January. Another statement of fact that does not show how there are seventeen teams better than Green Bay in the NFL. But how much of that was Favre? Good job, Rick, you made a valid point. The first eight games were all Favre. No way they would have been 8-1 if he was not quarterbacking it. There was no running game. Brandon Jackson was a bust and DeShawn Wynn was hurt, making Favre paint the sky brown with footballs. However, this guy you may have heard of, Ryan Grant, rushed for over 950 yards in the last eight weeks of the season. Favre's passing totals dropped while Grant emerged as a go-to option. So the first eight weeks of the season were Favre. The second eight were Grant. 50-50. Suddenly, the defense must carry the Pack. Hmm. The Packers are returning ten starters on a high-powered offense and nine or ten of their starters on a decent defense. The Packers defense was seventh in points allowed, 11th in yards allowed, 12th in pass yards, and 14th in rush yards. Those are all in the top half of the league. And for real Rick, you make it sound like the entire Packers offense hit free agency and the only way they can win is through their defense. They're only losing ONE starter, albeit a big one. But they have the rest of their core still present. Grant. Donald Driver. Greg Jennings. The names keep coming. The Packers are not dead in the water without Favre. Sheesh, Rick. Enough about the Packers. Let's see what he had to say about our NFC North rivals. Minnesota Vikings: #11 With the quarterback concerns in Green Bay and Chicago, the Vikings see an opening in the NFC North and took a win-now approach this offseason. They traded for NFL sack leader Jared Allen and signing Chicago go-to guy Bernard Berrian away from the Bears. But contention will hinge on the development of their own young QB Tarvaris Jackson. Hmm. That doesn't sound #11 worthy to me. Let's take a closer look. With the quarterback concerns in Green Bay and Chicago, the Vikings see an opening in the NFC North and took a win-now approach this offseason. Again, I don't buy the "quarterback concerns" excuse for Green Bay. See above. Chicago and quarterback concerns, heck yes. Minnesota is improved and the Vi-Queens will compete with Green Bay for the division. They traded for NFL sack leader Jared Allen and signing Chicago go-to guy Bernard Berrian away from the Bears. The Allen acquisition will help the Vikings already strong defense. It appears their defense is currently stronger than the Packers, but time will tell. The Berrian signing makes me laugh. Anytime you were Rex Grossman's go-to-guy, that's just not good. Berrian will be the number one target in Minnesota. That doesn't mean he'll be a number one receiver though. Berrian is good for Jackson, but in the grand scheme of things, he will have been overpaid. But contention will hinge on the development of their own young QB Tarvaris Jackson. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Excuse me, but can't this be considered a "quarterback concern"? It most certainly is. Which means that Minnesota is in the same boat as Green Bay and Chicago, which, accoring to Gosselin should mean they will not be able to compete on a high-level. I sense just a little bit of hating going on here. Jackson, Rodgers, and Grossman/Orton all have flaws and issues. I would have been fine with Gosselin putting Minnesota one or two spots ahead of the Packers, but not seven. This guy needs to watch some football. Chicago Bears: #22 The Bears must have a ton of confidence in young tight end Greg Olsen because they let starting wideouts Muhsin Muhammad and Bernard Berrian walk out the door. They cut Muhammad and let Berrian sign in free agency with the Vikings. The quarterback position remains unsettled. Said everything that there really is to be said. Although he could have added some input into the defense. Detroit Lions: #25 The experiment with Mike Martz and his Greatest-Show-on-Turf offense fizzled. Too many turnovers cost him his job as offensive coordinator after one season. So defense and the running game are back in. Third-round RB Kevin Smith is a sleeper candidate for NFL Rookie of the Year. Nothing shocking here either. Less hate for these teams than the Pack. It's only June, but the Packers already have their doubters.