Packers

2/1/10 Green Bay, WI - The announcement that Packers' quarterback Kurt Warner will retire leaves Packer nation in quite a pickle. It was known that he didn't have much playing time left in the NML, but it was hoped by owner Mike Phillips that he'd at least come back one more season. After all it was Phillips who traded the franchises first ever draft pick, Adrian Peterson, in order to land Warner in a deal with the Giants. While it turned out to be another shakey season for the entire franchise, Warner did help the team get much better. He even earned the first offensive player of the week award for any Packer... ever. Kurt meant so much to Phillips that when word that the Steelers organization was up for sale he inquired about purchasing the team and selling the Packers. He decided to stay all because of his quarterback.

Now with Warner gone what does it mean for the Packers? Two things right off the bat.

First, the trade turned out to be for all intents and purposes Frank Gore for Adrian Peterson. Not a bad trade since Peterson obviously had injury problems this season. Mike Phillips can rest easy with that.

Second, the Packers need a quarterback in a terrible way! This couldn't really come at worse time for Green Bay since there will be 8 expansion teams also looking for a signal caller along with any other teams that may not have been happy with their QB's play this season.

The Packers could trade for a veteran, and there are plenty of decent ones out there. None with the caliber of Warner I must state. The problem with trading is that none is allowed until after the expansion draft. Realistically all of those quarterbacks could be taken in that draft which would leave Green Bay with the draft... definetly no one of their stronger points.

Good news for the Packers is they get the 11th pick. Top quarterbacks to choose from would be Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, Tony Pike, and Dan LeFevour. Again all this is speculation; it'll all come down to what happens the night of the expansion draft.

Now onto the next order of business, or perhaps it should be the first. Head coach Mike Tomlin has not fared well here in Green Bay. His team has finished at the bottom in both seasons of its existence. With newly formed teams such as the Buccaneers and Jaguars performing so well, surely Tomlin's time in Wisconsin is near the end of its rope.

While nothing has been mentioned thus far as to the status of the head coach position, one would speculate that Phillips will be given a third and final chance at making this team into a contender. Or at least into a viable competitor. If Phillips was to let Tomlin go, he should do so sooner rather than later so that a new coaching staff would have what little time is left to prepare. April will come sooner than expected, it always does.

Green Bay and owner Phillips can not afford to get this wrong. What they decide will dictate which route this team will go for at least the next five years. With such a passionate fan base, ticket sales may never be an issue. But if there are ever any hopes of winning a Power Bowl the time to act is now.

2/19/10 Green Bay, WI - Green Bays starting right tackle Brad Butler announced his retirement Thursday.
The news comes as a surprise to the Packers after Butler, who's 26, just completed his first NML season.

"My passion for education, country and community is something that I am ready to devote my full attention to," Butler said in a statement released by the team. "I believe the best way to pursue these spheres of interest is to step away from the game of football at this point in my life."

While this stunning announcement doesn’t appear it will cripple the Packers in the 2010 season because of competent starters Nick Kaczur and Mark Tauscher. After the conclusion of the 2009 season the beloved QB of the Packers Kurt Warner hung up his cleats and walked away from his one true love, one has to hope that no other Packers determine its time to pack it up and head over the hill.