PRESEASON OPPONENTS ANNOUNCED

Yesterday, the NFL released the 2009 preseason schedule. The Packers schedule is quite peculiar to me. In order, they host the Browns and Bills, then travel to Arizona and Tennessee. Why would the NFL schedule the Browns and the Cardinals during the preseason if they were already set to square off during the regular season? Also, why does the Pack have to travel to Arizona TWICE now? Their regular season match-up is going to be in Glendale as well. While I'm not a professional athlete and I can't speak from experience, I'm sure the miles add up over time. In 2007, when the Packers went 13-3, they flew just 10,738 miles during the regular season (fourth fewest in the league), and that was more than a 6,000 mile drop off from their 8-8 season in '06. While it's clear that more than the traveling contributed to the different seasons' outcomes, I'm sure it had its impact.

LOOKING FOR A LITTLE DEPTH ON THE BACK LINE

Former Browns safety Mike Adams is in Green Bay today to visit with the Packers. He is the first player outside the organization that the team has had in for an official visit. The Pack already has Atari Bigby and Nick Collins looking to start in 2009 with Aaron Rouse, Charlie Peprah, and Jarrett Bush also listed as safeties. Adams, however, would bring another cover safety into the mix, which the Packers could use knowing that Bigby and Rouse (the top 2 listed as playing strong safety opposite Collins) prefer to play closer to the line of scrimmage.

MY FIRST REAL FEELING OF HOPE... KINDA

While at the Pro Bowl, Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers admitted to NBC's Tiki Barber he wants out of Carolina, saying, "I just feel it's time to move on." He also went on to admit he wants to play in the 3-4 next season. Could this be the moment Ted Thompson has been putting off making any big free agent splashes for? Peppers has averaged over 10 sacks per season in his career, and Aaron Kampman led the Packers with 9.5 in 2008. It's hard to predict how smoothly Kampman's transition to OLB will be in Dom Capers new scheme, but bringing in a threat like Peppers could only help Aaron by taking a little bit of pressure away from him. While excited at the possibility of Peppers being in green and gold next season, I have seen Ted Thompson's lack of spending free agent dollars over his first few offseasons in Green Bay, so I try to remain realistic. Other teams in the mix according to Rotoworld.com are the Browns, Broncos, Dolphins, and 49ers.