Green Bay Packers: New Year, New Story

The Packers face the reality of the NFL

By Joshua Walls

Last year at this time, fans and football analysts around the nation were shocked at how well the Green Bay Packers were playing and how it was time for Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the team to shine. This season, unlike the past, has not shared the same thrill. This season has brought in some of the same publicity, but more on the negative side.

The Packers have not been able to get the fire under their feet like last year, when they started the season with an impressive undefeated record.  This year, they are one game under .500 and have injuries to key players. This is probably the result of bad refereeing and a team that has not been in sync with one another.

AP Photo/ Mike Roemer

The Cedric Benson injury has done everything but help the Packers franchise.  Without their backfield stud, they have failed on attempts to gain extra yards.  They have also missed great opportunities to win in late-game situations. 

The Packers have been able to present some intense finger-biting games this season. However, they have had no luck in closing any of these games.  All of them have been very close though, as they have yet to lose by more than 8 points this season.

“For the last five weeks we’ve been frustrated, regardless of what our record may be,” said receiver Donald Driver. “We’ve been frustrated as an organization, as a team, as a coaching staff.  The only way we’re going to be successful is we have to work through it.”

Players like Driver show that there is still a reason to be optimistic. The players have, by no means, totally given up faith on their season.

“We’re in a tough spot we put ourselves in,” said defensive lineman Ryan Pickett. “We’ve got to find a way out, but it starts at the top. Coach McCarthy never panics, never changes what we’re doing. Just believe in what we’re doing and keep at it.”

Head coach Mike McCarthy has always had a tendency to go against in the odds and do things out of the ordinary.

During the 2006 season, the Packers started off with a horrifying 1-4 record and ended the season 8-8.  In 2009, they began the season 4-4 and ended it with an 11-5 record.  During the 2010 season, they were performing much like they are this season, kicking off with a 3-3 start, but eventually going 11-3 in the remainder of the season.

McCarthy has great credibility and knowledge when it comes to encouraging and turning his team around, especially when all odds seem to be against them.  Look for the Packers to bounce back and have a successful season.

The Inevitable Ill-fated Injuries

Injuries strike causing fantasy to become reality.

By Gabriella Rusk

Strangely, whenever watching a football game, sometimes it’s best if we’re sitting down. The reason? To be prepared for the knee-buckling shock we’ll endure if our fantasy player gets hurt.

As the NFL trainers run out onto the field to assess an injured player, we cross our fingers that he will get up and brush himself off feeling ready to continue the game. But when our prayers aren’t answered, we stare at our own TV screens horrified as our players are driven into the locker room on that dreaded golf cart.

(AP Photo)

What was once a slow and steady list of injuries, Week 5 was filled with the fall of some of the finest fantasy players.

In the Thursday Night Football, Rams vs. Cardinals match-up, St. Louis wide receiver Danny Amendola suffered a dislocated clavicle when diving for a catch. NFL insider Jay Glazer tweeted about the injury saying Amendola was very lucky.

“Amendola's injury was NOT life threatening but that injury very often is. His wasn't because it didn't slice any arteries.”

In addition to Thursday’s game, Arizona running back Ryan Williams (who was starting for the injured Beanie Wells) took a hit, hurt his shoulder, and is now out for the season.

Alas, the injuries continue. Earlier this week, the New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes was officially put on the injured reserve from his week four foot injury. Also, nursing a foot injury, Green Bay Packer running back Cedric Benson is out for eight weeks.

           

Perhaps with the least serious injury, but still causing fantasy owners a setback, was Robert Griffin III’s mild concussion. Although the Redskins’ quarterback reports to be ready to play this week, he needs to pass all the NFL required concussion tests before he is cleared to play.

Like RG3, our own heads seem to be spinning with all these injury reports and how they will affect our fantasy line-ups. Reluctantly, we are faced to admit that injuries are simply part of the game and unavoidable in both fantasy and reality. In these two worlds, fantasy teams take a hard hit from those hard hits.

And sometimes when you’re hit, it’s best to just sit down.