The Head Cheese Blog

Need a center of the future? Sorry. Another running back? Uh-uh. Wasn’t on Ted Thompson’s agenda. Oh, he’ll tell you he followed the integrity of his board. That he drafted six consecutive defensive players to start the draft because that’s the way the players fell. Right. Never had the Packers drafted six straight defenders. But this year, it was the only way to go.

On top of that, Thompson started the draft with 12 picks and ended up selecting eight guys. This is a deep team, with a lot of young talent. Thompson packaged picks to move up and grab guys he really wanted. I love that.

We all know the Packers gave up more yards than any team in NFL history in 2011, though finished 19th in points against. There’s talent on that side of the ball, but not enough. Remove Cullen Jenkins and Nick Collins from the equation and your defense is going to take a step back. The problem is, the Packers D took a giant moonwalk leap back, yet the team still finished 15-2. It was time to bring in re-enforcements.

Let’s start with the first two rounds. After addressing the pass rush in round one with Southern Cal’s Nick Perry, Thompson went against typecast and traded up twice in round two to grab the guys he had his eyes on. Jerel Worthy was considered a late first or early second round pick. When he was still there at 51, Thompson pounced. Worthy is expected to compete to win one of the two D-line spots in the nickel, and will have a chance to start in the base as well.

Perry has some critics who are unsure whether he can transition from defensive end, with his hand in the dirt, to the 3-4 where he’ll be asked to rush the passer from a two point stance. Also, at 270 he’s too heavy to play in coverage. He played closer to 250 and he’ll need to get down closer to that weight to play outside linebacker. I think he has huge upside and will provide an instant upgrade over the Waldens, Zombos and Joneses of the world.

When Thompson got Bill Belechick to part with his late second round pick in exchange for  a third and a fifth, he scored a major coup. The trade value chart gives the Pack the big edge here, but the pick needs to deliver. Casey Hayward seems to have everything you want in a corner except top-line speed. He has all the instincts you want and was an interception machine in the SEC for Vandy. He’ll have a chance to step right in and compete for playing time.

Fast forward to Saturday. Thompson began the day adding three more defenders, beginning on the defensive line, with former Hawkeye Mike Daniels, who is vertically challenged, much like Jenkins, but is tenacious and can rush the passer.

You knew the Pack would add a safety and Thompson surprised by going the Division 1AA route (a la Nick Collins), with Maine’s Jerron McMillian, whose known as a sure tackler and student of the game. I thought Boise State’s George Iloka would be the pick. We’ll see if we got the right guy. The final defensive pick was Terrell Manning, an inside linebacker from NC State who came out as a junior and probably should have played one more year. Once projected as a second round pick, injuries dropped his stock. If healthy, he’ll have a chance to push for playing time.

The Pack’s final two picks, tackle Andrew Datko, from Florida State and QB BJ Coleman from Tennessee-Chattanooga both play positions where the team has openings. Coleman is a Tennessee transfer who is tall and has big hands and long arms, something Mike McCarthy looks for in quarterbacks.

As for the undrafted guys, Thompson signed 12-15 guys, most of whom will be hard-pressed to earn a spot on the 53 man roster. Keep an eye on South Dakota State’s Dale Moss, a former basketball player who played just one year of football. Nicholas Cooper, a RB from Winston Salem State will be moved to fullback and will have a chance to stick. The other back, Marc Tyler from USC, took a step back in 2011 after a big 2010 campaign.  He’s had some issues but he’ll be given every opportunity to replace some of Ryan Grant’s carries. Expect the Pack to keep an eye on the waiver wire for more help at this position.

The biggest surprise is that the Packers didn’t add a center to be groomed under Jeff Saturday. Either (A) they have a lot of faith in the stompee, Evan Dietrich Smith, (B) they think Saturday may have two years left in him or (C) they plan to scour other teams’ castoffs for one in late August.

My instant draft grade: B+. If the top three picks become starters I’ll upgrade it to an A. I’m sure TT will be able to sleep better tonight.

Those were his words, not mine. I got it wrong: I thought Ted Thompson might trade up in the second round if there was a guy there he liked. He ended up doing it twice.

First he jumped up eight spots to grab Michigan State defensive lineman Jerel Worthy, a guy many mock drafters thought the Pack might take in the first round. When he was still sitting there at #51, Thompson pounced. The team preferred him slightly over Penn State’s Devon Still (the Big Ten’s defensive player of the year), because he has more wiggle. Okay.

The knock on Worthy is that he had a penchant for taking some plays off. My guess is that will be coached out of him by Mike Trgovac and he will be the opening day starter next to BJ Raji. Adding Worthy and Perry to the front seven gives the Pack a whole new look and the chance to be a much stronger pass rushing unit.

Thompson struck again, moving up 28 spots and back into the second round to grab Vanderbilt corner Jason Hayward. I’ll be honest: I never heard of the dude before the draft. But after reading scouting reports and listening to him, it sounds like the Packers got a guy who will be a starting corner down the road. And if Charles Woodson moves to safety, that could happen sooner rather than later. Hayward was incredibly productive at Vandy, matched up against talented SEC receivers and seemed to play his best in the red zone. He should instantly be in the mix for the dime corner job, and though he played some safety in college, it looks like the Pack will play him exclusively at corner.

Despite trading its third, fourth and fifth round picks on Friday, Thompson still has a bunch of picks to make on Saturday, including two compensatory picks in the fourth round. Expect him to add a safety, running back, and an offensive lineman or two before he’s done.

There’s been a lot of speculation that he will add a QB as well, but late reports on Friday indicate the Pack is in trade talks with the Browns to acquire Colt McCoy, who is now expendable, after Cleveland drafted Brandon Weedon in the first round. I’d love to see this. I’m not comfortable with Graham Harrell as the backup. I’d love to see a guy with some starts under his belt backing up Rodgers. If he costs only a late round pick, it seems like an easy decision. Plus, give McCoy some time learning from McCarthy, Clements and Rodgers and he could develop into a future starter, a la Matt Flynn.

After going offense with his first three picks last year, Ted Thompson is likely to flip and address defense early and often in this draft. He pounced on Southern Cal’s Nick Perry with the 28th pick, a bit of a surprise since Perry professed his desire to play end in a 4-3 defense in the NFL when asked at the NFL Combine.

With the Packers he will be asked to stand up and play outside linebacker to complement fellow Trojan Clay Matthews. I’m guessing he won’t hesitate to embrace his new position. Dom Capers can’t wait to get his hands on him. Moments after the draft he reminded everyone that Perry ran a 4.5 at 270 pounds. Think about that for a second. What do you think it feels like to get hit by a guy that big and that fast. We’re hoping opposing QBs find out, beginning this season.

Capers maintains that having explosive ability to come off the edge is the #1 priority in a 3-4 outside linebacker. He also knows that you need two of them on the field to really make that 3-4 hum.

Perry will struggle in coverage and is not too good against the run, but what he provides is a nice bookend for Matthews and a chance to develop into an all around player. He played against very good competition in the Pac 12 and had his way with Stanford tackle Jonathan Martin, likely an early second round pick.

It would be a surprise if he’s not the opening day starter, opposite Matthews. So what will Thompson do on Friday? I expect a defensive lineman (Nebraska’s Jared Crick?) and maybe a safety (‘Bama’s DeQuan Menzie?). Will he package a few picks to try to pick twice in the second round? Will a running back catch his eye?

What would you like to see the Packers do in the second and third rounds?

With 12 picks in this week’s draft Ted Thompson most likely will do plenty of wheeling and dealing, packaging picks to move up and back. There’s not room on the roster for 12 rookies, plus a handful of undrafted free agents. But assuming Thompson makes all 12 picks, here’s a stab at who he might like.

First, I think there’s a decent chance he elects to move up in the second round, possibly to grab Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith, or an outside linebacker if he goes D-line in the first round.

Round 1 (#28): Devon Still, DE, Penn St. Thompson will either go D-line or pass rushing outside linebacker here. If Nick Perry is still on the board, he’s likely the choice. There’s a lot of momentum for Shea McLellin from Boise St. as well here. I get the feeling Thompson addresses the line first and grabs a linebacker with his next pick.

Round 2 (#59): Ronnell Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma A raw talent who got bounced all over the front seven with the Sooners, Lewis is emotional, hungry and willing to be coached up. He was productive against very good QBs in the Big 12, three of whom could be drafted in the first round. Kevin Greene is handed a talented lump of clay to mold into a pass rusher.

Round 3 (#90): DeQuan Menzie, CB/FS, Alabama Menzie will compete for Nick Collins’ job. A corner at Alabama, he’s seen as a safety at the next level, though he’s a little short to be a prototypical safety.

Round 4 (#123): Shaun Prater, CB, Iowa Thompson continues to stock up on defenders and needs to get another corner in the mix. Prater is a senior with good cover skills and will compete for the dime spot.

Round 4 (#132): Dan Herron, RB, Ohio St. Named the Buckeyes’ MVP despite missing the first half of the season suspended, Herron will get a chance to step right in and compete for carries, with fellow former Buckeye Brandon Saine and James Starks. Nicknamed “Boom,” he’s a big, strong durable back who’s strong between the tackles.

Round 4 (#133): Matt McCants, T, UAB Solid left tackle whose stock fell at the combine when his 40 time disappointed. He’s 6’6″ with long arms and is seen as a guy with a lot of upside.

Round 5 (#163): Kellen Moore, QB, Boise St. Super productive QB whose height and arm strength, or lack thereof, are the reasons he’s still on the board here. Winningest four year player in NCAA history, he has great pocket presence, intelligence and is accurate. Professor McCarthy is eager to get the kid into his lab.

Round 6 (#197): Tyler Nielsen, OLB, Iowa Thompson adds another Hawkeye to the mix. Nielsen is coming off a neck injury, but when healthy he proved to be a productive, high motor guy in Iowa City.

Round 7 (#224): Tramain Thomas, S, Arkansas When in doubt, find secondary help in the SEC. Thomas provides another body to compete for a backup role at safety.

Round 7 (#235) Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas St. I’m not sure Thompson will draft two running backs, but this guy was the #1 recruit in the nation coming out of high school, being compared by some to Barry Sanders. After transferring from Tennessee, Brown quit the Wildcats midseason and announced he was turning pro. Complete shot in the dark, but with four picks in this round, why not?

Round 7 (#241): Toney Clemons, WR, Colorado Pack already has two WRs-in-waiting on the practice squad, but Thompson was intrigued by the former track star’s 4.36 40 time. A transfer from Michigan, Clemons was a deep threat for the Buffaloes and will get a chance to show his stuff in training camp.

Round 7 (#243) Jason Slowey, G, W. Oregon He had a solid Pro Day, with the Packers in attendance, and gives the team another interior lineman to develop.

For the first time this century, the Packers will start a season with a left tackle not named Chad Clifton. News of his release is not a surprise. Recovering from offseason back surgery, Clifton has been playing on borrowed time for the past few years. His ailing knees have required extra rest and lots of weekly precautions to ensure he could be out there to protect Aaron Rodgers’ blind side.

Clifton will look back at his career someday and consider that he was the last line of defense for (potentially) two Hall of Famers. A Pro Bowl caliber tackle who was asked to keep guys like Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, DeMarcus Ware, Warren Sapp and other great pass rushers at bay. Sapp’s infamous cheap shot on Clifton following an interception caused his most serious injury–a broken pelvis, prompting Sapp to tell head coach Mike Sherman to ‘put a jersey on.’ That type of hit is now illegal in the NFL.

Clifton was never considered an elite left tackle, but he was solid, dependable and allowed two maestros at their position to go about their business without worrying about running for their lives. That’s what you want from your left tackle.

The Packers were not unprepared for this eventuality. Ted Thompson has drafted tackles in the first round the last two years. But it’s a former compensatory pick, Marshall Newhouse, who is favored to be the opening day starter. He was a revelation when forced into duty last year, earning praise from Rodgers and McCarthy and most likely keeping the recuperating Derek Sherrod on the bench this season.

So the Packers’ offensive line should not miss a beat. That’s the way of the NFL. When a guy gets too old or breaks down, the next guy steps up. But it is definitely worth pausing and reflecting on the terrific career of Chad Clifton. For the better part of 14 seasons, he was a big reason why the Packers offense lit up the sky. Let’s wish him the best of luck–and good health–in his post-football life.

Once again, the Head Cheese weighs in with his prediction on how the first round will play out in next Thursday night’s NFL draft. I’ll forgive you if you scroll down to #28 first; can’t blame you there. But here is my mock beginning with the pick that was made in Jim Irsay’s head the moment he knew his Colts had locked up the #1 pick.

1. Colts: Andrew Luck, QB Stanford  This one has already been officially reported and has been assumed for months. The only way you let go of Peyton Manning is if you’re lucky (and bad) enough to own the #1 pick, particularly when Luck is being called the most complete prospect since John Elway.

2. Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor I love the aggressiveness by the Redskins here. Enough fooling around at quarterback. You’re in a division with Eli, Tony and Mike and you need to compete. Griffin’s season was Newton-like and he doesn’t bring self-proclaimed “icon” status like last year’s QB phenom did. I don’t think he’ll put up the numbers Newton did last year, but I think his upside is just as high.

3. Vikings: Morris Claiborne, CB LSU I’ve flipped on this one and here is where my mock diverges from 99% of the others. Rick Spielman has done his job making it sound like Kalil is not a shoo-in, that he believes Super Bowl teams today can get by without a superstar tackle (if they have the right QB). Matt Kalil is the safe, unquestionable pick. But I get the sense Spielman would rather address the other side of the ball and add a potential #1 corner for a team that currently doesn’t have one. A team that will face Rodgers, Stafford and Cutler six times. First shocker of the draft. If Spielman can’t trade back a few spots, he goes for the corner.

4. Browns: Trent Richardson, RB Alabama Real tempted to put Kalil here and move him to right tackle, since Joe Thomas mans the left side and is the best in the business. Team wiz Mike Holmgren has won a Super Bowl without a superstar running back and the West Coast scheme doesn’t demand one, but he can’t pass up the talent Richardson brings to the table and the pressure he will take off the passing game. It’s hard enough to get run production in this division as it is. Richardson would provide a test for the aging defenses in Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

5. Buccaneers: Matt Kalil, T, USC Obviously, the Bucs didn’t expect the best tackle in the draft to be sitting here and they scoop him up. They had hoped Claiborne might be waiting for them here, but gladly pick up a guy who will give Josh Freeman peace of mind.

6. Rams: Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St. It’s time to get Sam Bradford some weapons. The addition of Scott Wells to steady the line was a good start and Steven Jackson remains one of the game’s best backs. The team desperately needs a playmaker and they’ll roll the dice a bit that Blackmon can handle stepping right in.

7. Jaguars: Quinton Coples, DE, UNC These guys are always unpredictable and could go with a number of defensive linemen here. There is a clear need for a pass rusher and I say they go with the upside Coples brings to the table.

8. Dolphins: Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M This is an organization running in circles and will likely be looking up at the other three teams in the division. They swung and missed a few times in trying to get a QB this offseason and now most of the free world believes they’ll reach a bit, like the Vikings last year, and grab Tannehill who played for new offensive coordinator Mike Sherman at A&M. Michael Floyd could also be the pick here, since the team ditched Brandon Marshall in the offseason.

9. Carolina: Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St. This side of the ball needs a lot of attention in this draft. With the offense in very capable hands, the defense must improve to keep the Panthers from playing all of their games in the 30s.

10. Bills: Riley Reiff, T, Iowa The fan base, and most mocks, expect Floyd to go here and he might. But I think their WR group is OK–their line needs an upgrade. Ryan Fitzpatrick is being counted on keep pace in a very competitive division and giving him more protection should be a priority. The team made a big defensive splash in free agency–now they need to upgrade the line.

11. Chiefs: Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis The Chiefs could use some beef up front and this workout warrior is the choice. Disappeared in games against s0-so competition but has physical tools you rarely find.

12. Seahawks: Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame I’m guessing Pete Carroll won’t have a problem with this Fighting Irish player who has improved his draft standing 180 degrees in the past six months. The Seahawks need to give their new QB some toys, and Sidney Rice can’t be counted on till he proves he can stay on the field.

13. Cardinals: Michael Brockers, DT, LSU With no pick in the second round, this one’s important and the Cards grab a guy who will help them stop a stable of RBs from the division like Steven Jackson, Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch.

14. Cowboys: Mark Barron, S, Alabama Huge area of need for the ‘Boys, who need a lot of help all over the place on defense. Thought hard about corner Stephon Gilmore here, but the lack of a top flight safety has really hurt this team and Barron’s the only surefire first round safety in the draft.

15. Eagles: Melvin Ingram, DE/OLB, S. Carolina The Eagles thought they might get Barron here, but are thrilled to see Ingram still on the board. This defense is loaded with talent up front, but can use another young pass rusher and Ingram’s the best one left.

16. Jets: Courtney Upshaw, DE/OLB Alabama Rex Ryan can’t wait to add another pass rusher to his defensive arsenal. With the offense in flux thanks to the arrival of Tebow, the defense needs to get younger.

17. Bengals: Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina The Bengals pick again four picks later and will go to offense for that pick. The defense was a big surprise last season and is poised to be solid again, but secondary help is needed and Gilmore is the second best corner in the draft.

18. Chargers: David DeCastro, G, Stanford If you watched the Chargers last season you know their line needs a lot of help and they’re happy to scoop up the best interior lineman of the draft.

19. Bears: Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama Like Minnesota at #3, the Bears know they need more talent at corner in a pass-happy division. Many believe they’ll go offensive line here, especially with Tice running the offense, but I think they believe they’ll find linemen later and coach them up. Besides, they took Carimi in the first round last year.

20. Titans: Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois Knocked as a one year wonder, the Titans can’t pass up the chance at a serious pass rusher.

21. Bengals: Kendall Wright, WR A four year starter at Baylor, Wright can line up immediately opposite AJ Green and force defenses to decide who they want to shadow. At 5’10″ he’s smaller than a lot of first round receivers, but his quickness and productivity have offensive coordinators drooling.

22. Browns: Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech They really wanted Wright, but will settle for Hill. An offensive lineman is possible here as well, but I’m going with a receiver with upside to provide McCoy a downfield threat.

23. Lions: Jonathan Martin, T, Stanford The offensive line needs attention. They have to run the ball a bit this year and Martin provides an instant upgrade.

24. Steelers: Luke Kuechly, Boston College Pittsburgh can’t believe its good fortune that Kuechly fell into their lap. He will provide an instant youth transfusion into a linebacking corps that has said good-bye to some longtime stars.

25. Broncos: Derek Wolfe, DT, Cincinnati The Broncos hit a home run with last year’s #1 pick, Von Miller, and this year they look to add another piece to what is becoming an elite level defense, especially in the front seven.

26. Texans: Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford The Texans saw what a stud tight end can mean in today’s game and watched one of theirs (Dreesen) walk away this offseason. They’ll enter the season tabbed as a Super Bowl favorite, and adding Fleener makes an already potent offense, even more dangerous.

27. Patriots: Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse First of two picks in the first round, the Patriots address their mediocre pass rush with a guy who’s climbing up the boards and is definitely high on Ted Thompson’s board at this point.

28. Packers: At this point, the top guys left on Thompson’s board include a few outside linebackers like Southern Cal’s Nick Perry and Boise State’s Shea McClellin and a couple of defensive linemen in Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) and Devon Still (Penn State). I think Thompson may have designs of moving up in the second round to grab either a safety or an outside linebacker–maybe offering up his third and fourth rounders to do it. I think he realizes the drop-off for quality d-lineman is precipitous and he takes one here. Worthy has consistency issues and was unimpressive at the combine. I say the pick is…

Devon Still, DT, Penn State Still will have a chance to step right in next to BJ Raji and try to replace Cullen Jenkins. Thompson knows now he has to move on from Mike Neal and put a stud in there who can make plays and take pressure off Clay Matthews. Still was an All American at Penn State with 17 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. He suffered a turf toe injury right before their bowl game and was still dealing with it at the combine. A great 3-4 needs a great line, and with Pickett getting older, Thompson needs to strengthen this unit now.

29. Ravens: Peter Konz, C, Wisconsin Konz can watch and learn from Matt Birk and take over in 2013.

30. 49ers: Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State The league’s best defense gets better.

31. Patriots: Janoris Jenkins, CB, N. Alabama The troubled corner has top 10 talent and Bill Belechick will believe he can set the kid straight, especially since he has this extra pick.

32. N.Y. Giants: Cordy Glenn, G/T Georgia Top guy left on their board, will help out an offensive line that got its act together in the playoffs, but can use some re-enforcements.

Since the season ended we knew the Packers opponents in 2012. Now we know the order and when we play them. Some instant observations: on paper the Pack has the second easiest schedule in the league (.469 winning percentage a year ago). They face five playoff teams from a year ago (six total games: two vs. Detroit).

Green Bay gets the maximum number of five prime time games, three on Sunday night, one on Monday night (away) and the week two Thursday night game against the Bears. Odd scheduling twist: with two games in the first five days of the season, the Pack will have only six home games between 9/16 and 12/30.

Let’s take a look at each quarter of the season and an early prediction of the team’s record for each quarter. Obviously, once the draft takes place and rosters shake out at training camp things might look a lot different.

1st Quarter: Three of the first four are at Lambeau, beginning with an epic opener, and possible NFC title game preview against the 49ers. It’s a 3:15 start which benefits the Niners, who are crossing a couple of time zones. The Alex Smith-Aaron Rodgers showdown will get a lot of play. But this game features the top offense in the NFC against the league’s top defense and will have playoff implications even though it’s week one. Five days later, the Bears come to town, fresh off their home opener against Andrew Luck and the Colts.  Obviously, this one needs no build-up.

The Pack gets 11 days to get ready for their lone appearance on Monday Night Football, at Seattle in what will be billed the Matt Flynn Bowl. The Seahawks are always tough at home and Qwest Field will be rocking, but the extra days of preparation and rest will give the Pack the edge. Of course a Monday night game leads to a short week and the Pack gets the Saints for a 3:15 start (the last one on the schedule). It’s hard to know in what shape the Saints will be in, with interim coach Joe Vitt still sitting out his suspension.

Three home games in the first four, all against potential playoff teams. The Pack should take care of business and start the season 4-0.

2nd Quarter: The three game road trip kicks off this quarter, beginning in Indy with the Pack’s first look at Andrew Luck, a guy who will likely look a lot like Rodgers with his ability to move around the pocket. The Packers hopefully-revamped pass rush should make things confusing for the rookie and the team should breeze to 5-0. Week six is a Sunday night road game in Houston and likely the team’s first L of the season. If the Texans’ defense survives the loss of Mario Williams and Demeco Ryans and remains one of the league’s best, this will be a tough prime time affair against a similarly high powered offense. The third game on the road is in St. Louis and then the Pack finally comes home to play the woeful Jaguars. This team will handle both of them to hit the halfway point at 7-1.

3rd Quarter: The Cardinals come to Lambeau to kick off the second half of the season. They’re improved defensively, but will come in as heavy underdogs. After the bye, the Pack finally plays its second divisional game of the season in week 11 at Detroit. The Lions will have to beat the Packers before I predict that they do it. Having two weeks to prepare gives the Pack the edge and I have a hunch the Lions take a step back this year and are not a playoff team. The Pack is now 9-1. Fortunes change the following week: a Sunday night affair at the Giants. This time the G-men are coming off a bye and get the extra prep time. The Pack has revenge factor working in their favor, but I get the feeling the Giants come out on top again. The third quarter ends with another gimme, the Vikings at Lambeau. They’re 10-2 through three quarters.

4th Quarter: The fifth and final prime time game starts off the final quarter, with the Lions coming to Lambeau on a sure-to-be chilly evening in early December. The Pack sweeps the Kitties. Next up, a third straight division game, at Soldier Field. I get the feeling the Bears somehow get the job done, much as it kills me to type that. They bounce back with a home win against the Titans in week 16 and then head to the Twin Cities to close out the season against the Vikings. No, I’m not going to take a shot and call this potentially the last Vikings game in Minnesota. I absolutely refuse to consider that possibility. I do know this: the Pack will smoke them, finishing the season at 13-3.

The announcement wasn’t expected this week, but when it came I greeted it with surprise and a contented sigh. Although the NFL’s kickoff game has become an event of near Super Bowl proportions, it’s not as much fun when your team is the road meat.

When the Giants welcome the Cowboys on Wednesday, September 5th, the Super Bowl champs will look to make it 9 for 9 for the home team in these games. This is only the second time a divisional game has been selected–a main reason most believed the NFL would pit the two most recent Super Bowl champs, as well as a rematch of January’s playoff game.

For many Packer fans, the thought of being featured in the opener is attractive because it shortens the offseason by a few days and puts the attention on the Pack in the days leading up to the game. But you can bet Mike McCarthy and his staff are high-fiving after hearing the news that the training camp schedule won’t be affected by an early start. The game in New York may be the only one all season where the Packers aren’t favored (maybe at Houston as well, depending when it falls on the schedule).

I’m also happy for selfish reasons. I much prefer the Packers open the season on Sunday, so “Packer Preview” that morning gets us set for the game later that day. Also, Wednesday night is my weekly poker game. I would’ve hated to miss the game to watch the Pack. Now I can play cards with the boys and root for both the Giants and Cowboys to lose.

I’ll close this one with a programming alert. I’m filling in for Dan Barreiro this Thursday on KFAN, 3pm-6:30pm. Trent Tucker will join me for a special Thursday edition of “In the Zone.” Hope you can catch part of it either on the radio or on I Heart Radio.

Most NFL wonks assumed free agent center Jeff Saturday would wait to see where Peyton Manning landed and if that team could use an upgrade, he would head there to once again welcome Manning’s hands on his behind.

And so most believed the 5-time Pro Bowl center would join the Broncos at any moment, after visiting the Packers earlier in the week. But apparently Ted Thompson put our money where his mouth was and delivered a stronger offer than the Broncos. So Jeff Saturday is the new starting center for the Pack.

Maybe Denver believed he’d come running to join his longtime battery mate so they lowballed him. Contract terms have not been released as I write this, but it’s believed the Pack’s offer was much stronger than Denver’s and so Saturday agreed to join up with Aaron Rodgers. Friendship with #18 aside, he knows his time is short and the Packers give him a better chance at another Super Bowl ring this season.

Saturday will be 37 in June, so this signing presents the rare free agency double whammy. For one thing, it marks Thompson’s first such signing in three years; it also represents a one (or maybe two) year fix–something we rarely see from Thompson. But this one makes sense for a number of reasons.

First, the departure of Wells leaves the Packers with a gaping hole at the position, without a clear-cut successor in place. Second, the Packers enter 2012 as Super Bowl favorites and uncertainty at center would potentially slow down their high-powered offense, at least to start the season. Saturday has been an integral part of Manning’s play-calling at the line for years : he’s always in rhythm with his QB and always makes sure he and his linemates are ready. Expect Rodgers and Saturday to work together well and look for Thompson to find a potential successor in the later rounds over the weekend.

This signing eases concerns on the offensive line and allows Thompson to spend the rest of the next six weeks focused on one thing: improving the defense.

UPDATE: Thompson wasted no time looking toward the other side of the ball, re-signing defensive tackle Daniel Muir on Friday. An undrafted free agent who had a cup of coffee with the Pack in ’07, Muir has been a sometimes starter for the Colts  the past three seasons and adds a little depth and experience to the defensive line, which needs additional assistance. All in all, a very good Friday indeed.

If there’s one thing we’ve learned about Aaron Rodgers, it’s that he’s used to being snubbed and it fuels him to achieve greatness. He wasn’t recruited by the big schools as a high school senior, he saw his draft position plummet to the point where he was the only dude left in the green room. And now this.

It was reported on Wednesday that the New Orleans Saints put a bounty on Rodgers’ head before the 2012 opener of $5,000. It was also reported that a similar bounty was put on Brett Favre before the 2010 NFC title game. But for $10,000.

Sure, you can argue that knocking the indestructible one out of a championship game was worth more than leveling the reigning Super Bowl MVP in the season’s kickoff game. But it would have set the tone for the season. How could Rodgers not be worth $10k?

You can almost feel Rodgers simmering over this one. Really? Half as much as Favre? Appalling. OK, I’ll remove my tongue from my cheek. Actually, the concept that coaches would encourage players to achieve “cart-offs” is appalling. Saints coach Sean Payton received an email before kickoff of the 2011 opener letting him know that $5,000 was on the line if anyone knocked out #12. And he endorsed it. And there are fans who think he got an unfair shake with a one year suspension. Expect a few players (Jonathan Vilma) to be hit with suspensions that are longer than they expect.

This kind of brazen activity has no place in the NFL. Yes, it’s a brutal, violent sport. But it is just that. Sport. And without sportsmanship the game we love would belong in medieval times.