MY BID FOR TAKING MICHAEL CRABTREE IF STILL AVAILABLE AT NUMBER NINE PICK

First of all, I realize that this does not fill one of the immediate needs that has been created by either the switch to the 3-4 or the aging and injuries to our offensive tackles. This pick, however, could do so much for the team. And we know Ted Thompson likes to take highest value/best player available over need. So at number nine, Michael Crabtree has inexplicably fallen because of his injury and is still available. The Packers choose him. Why?

1. As I already stated, Thompson is known to pick for highest value/best player available.

2. Donald Driver, while still a very legitimate receiver, will not be for very much longer. He turned 34 in February, and even Jerry Rice had somewhat of a downturn (in Jerry Rice-esque fashion) after he turned 34. He was only elected to two Pro Bowls after the season during which he reached 34. Same with Cris Carter. After he turned 34, he was elected to one Pro Bowl (when he was 35) and only played three more seasons. Marvin Harrison's last Pro Bowl season was the year in which he was 34. Since, there has been a strong downturn in production, and he is currently struggling to even find a team.

3. The Arizona Cardinals defense. Also, see Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald, and even Steve Breaston. The Cardinals finished 28th in the league in 2008 in team defense. Yet, they made it to the Super Bowl? How the...? Oh that's right, Kurt Warner and his receivers. They finished DEAD LAST in rushing yards as well. Their passing game was just too good. The Packers defense finished 26th in '08, and the rushing game 17th. But think about this: Aaron Rodgers would have Greg Jennings and Michael Crabtree for the future. That sounds like a Boldin/Fitzgerald-esque 1-2 to me. And that leaves room for Donald Driver to continue producing at whatever level he can for the next few years until he is done, and then James Jones or Jordy Nelson can step in and be Steve Breaston-like. It gives more leeway to Thompson if either Jones or Nelson doesn't develop and equate to the third and second round pick, respectively, that he spent on them. The team wouldn't need to continue trying to find a pass-catching tight end; Ben Patrick was the leading receiver at TE for the Cards and only had 11 receptions. They could stick to a run-blocking tight end, and Ryan Grant and Brandon Jackson could be solid running backs for the future that would, for sure, keep the team from ever finishing last in the league in rushing.

While I know it is said that offense wins games and defense wins championships, this one pick could sure as heck win a lot of games in the future for the Pack, and the issues on the defensive side of the ball could be addressed later in the draft.

SUPER BOWL REACTIONS

First off, what a game. Two years in a row, Super Sunday has lived up to its name with spectacular football games. Although the game started out slow, it sure picked up and was one of the best finishes I have ever seen from a Super Bowl. Admittedly, I was rooting for the Cardinals. I mean, how can you not root for Kurt Warner? (unless he's playing the Pack of course). Not to mention he once was a Packer, in 1994, fourth on the depth chart behind Brett Favre, Ty Detmer, and Mark Brunell. That was one pretty darn good group of quarterbacks.

Penalties and one very costly play call were the thorn in the side of the red birds last night. They were flagged 11 times for 106 yards, and many of the penalties either cost them drives or aided big drives of the Steelers. And that slant call on the goal line... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING TODD HALEY? You have the best receiver in football right now, who has proven that he can catch nearly anything you throw his way, and you decide to throw a slant: the most dangerous goal line play possible. If the pass is intercepted, there is no one to stop the player from taking it all the way back to the house, something Haley and the Cards learned the hard way. I know first hand the detriment that can be caused by such a play call. (In Turkey Bowl 2008, on the goal line, I intercepted a quick slant and returned it on a shortened field 80 yards for the touchdown haha) IT JUST DOESN'T WORK. Instead of possibly being ahead 14-10, or tied 10-10 at the half, Arizona trailed 17-7. That's possibly an 14-point turnaround. Give Fitz a chance Haley! Everybody saw later in the game what happens if you do.

Anyways, to get back to tying all of my ranting back to the Packers... According to my research on NFL.com, there are three members of the Pittsburgh Steelers who have once been part of the Green Bay Packers organization. First, tight end Sean McHugh was with the team in 2004 and played in one game. No official stats were recorded. Second, defensive tackle Scott Paxson, who after being signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2006, was let go and joined the green and gold for several weeks during the '06 regular season, only to return to Pittsburgh in January of '07. And finally, Dick LeBeau. The mind behind the newest version of the Steel Curtain. He was on the coaching staff in Green Bay from 1976-1979. Congratulations to these three former members of the Packers organization on becoming Super Bowl XLIII champions.