ATHLETES TWEET

While this isn't directly Packers related, it is something I find to be pretty cool. Recently, I had started trying to find out what athlete's "Tweet", or use the site Twitter. I couldn't find anywhere a list of all of the athletes, until today, when I found AthleteTweets.com. Its homepage updates as each and every athlete included on their list on the right side of the page Tweets. Nick Barnett is the only Packer I have found to date that uses the site, but he does it very often and this is a perfect tool for the athletes to get what they want to say out into the media without anyone altering it.

BEERS, BRATS, AND BEATING THE BEARS LINKED TO ON CHEESEHEAD TV

Yesterday, as I went through my usual list of Packers sources (newspapers, blogs, websites) I came across a post on Ol' Bag of Donuts which stated the same case that I had back in February. Naturally, I commented on their post saying "Thank you for noticing this as well. I thought I was the only one." And I linked to my post. Cheesehead TV later posted on the same topic, linking back to Ol' Bag of Donuts, US!, and the piece on CBSSports that orginally triggered my post on the topic.

I posted a comment back to Aaron of CTV thanking him greatly for linking to my post. As far as I know, this was the first time anyone ever has. I doubt I have had any/many readers at all previous to this, and maybe this link could boost the viewership of Beers, Brats, and Beating the Bears! Thanks again Aaron, and on with Beers, Brats, and Beating the Bears!

THE ODDS ON THE NUMBER 9 PICK ARE OUT

Bob Wolfley at the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel included in his SportsDay article today that the odds of who the Packers are going to take with the number 9 pick have been released. B.J. Raji leads the way, followed by Brian Orakpo and Aaron Maybin.

I'M SHAKING IN MY BOOTS

Although it had already been leaked onto the internet because of a mistakenly released toy truck, the new Detroit Lions logo was officially revealed yesterday. I don't know about everybody else, but the the ferocity of the new lion has me forgetting all about that 0-16 season they had last year. I'm even worried that they might win a game. I mean, come on Detroit, it's just like MJD said over at Shutdown Corner.

When you're coming off an 0-16 season, rarely is the logo at the top of anyone's list of concerns. For example, no one in Detroit had this conversation last year:

Fan 1: Man, we went 0-16. We are awful. This franchise is in terrible shape.
Fan 2: I know. And you know what's worse? Our lion logo doesn't even have a discernible mouth!

I will be there when the Packers get their first shot at taking down these new (and improved? no) Lions on October 18th. I hope Aaron Rodgers doesn't fear the new lion like the University of Maryland suggests you should "Fear [this] Turtle."

ON A FUNNY NOTE

I don't know if fans in Wisconsin feel the same way that I do, but growing up in New York, I have a severe hatred of the New England Patriots. Bill Belichick and his dirty cheating ways have made me despise of that entire franchise. Not to mention Josh McDaniel's running a franchise quarterback out of town the second he got to Denver and sending him along to the Chicago Bears. That is why I find this, via FanIQ, absolutely hilarious.

WITH THE DRAFT COMES BUSTS, WITH BUSTS COMES TONY MANDARICH

As we lead into Saturday's draft, ESPN is covering/talking about/rambling about the NFL draft like none other. Figures though, as they will broadcast it live over the weekend. During Sportscenter, Todd McShay gave his most underrated and most overrated players, which naturally segued into a piece about Tony Mandarich, who I had posted about nearly two months ago.

While I was too young to know much of anything about Mandarich, besides the obvious, the piece that Outside The Lines did for Sportscenter was very interesting. Despite the level of a bust that he was, and the many negative things he said about Green Bay and his time there, you have to feel bad for this guy. Check out OTL's story here.

HAPPY DRAFT WEEK 2009!

After a long weekend of beautiful weather, writing papers, and playing softball, it is time to get back to the Packer Blogosphere and wish everyone a Happy Draft Week 2009! As a rookie in the NFL blogging world (I just started in January), I am quite amazed at how long and often people blog about the draft leading up to it. It started all the way back in January and will culminate on Saturday when Ted Thompson makes his pick at number 9 (or trades the pick away). I've tried to keep my draft posts few and far between because there are so many out there mine would be lost in the masses, unless I had a unique and legitimate case to make (ie Michael Crabtree).

But here we are, the week of the NFL Draft. And not much at all is set in stone, not even Matthew Stafford at number one. And while the Pack has been rumored to be looking at B.J. Raji, Malcolm Jenkins, and a few of the hybrids that could play OLB in the 3-4, their views of the offensive tackles might not be the same as what has been said in recent weeks. Bob McGinn of the Journal-Sentinel has an interesting article about the top four tackles expected to be taken, and how not everyone is as high on them as previously believed. That is quite interesting, especially since it has not been discovered until so close to draft day. All I have to say is, as much criticism as people give Ted Thompson for some decisions that he makes, I can only thank God I don't have his job this week.