Ten things (I think) I know about the Packers – Packers News @ PFT

fpadmin | 05/21/2012

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‘] GREEN BAY – It has been a long, trying offseason for the NFL.
The New Orleans Saints’ “Bounty Program” and subsequent stories, including the eight-game suspension of Packers defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, coupled with lawsuits filed by former players against the league, have been front and center.

Meantime, the Packers go about the business of getting back to the Super Bowl. There isn’t a lot of fanfare, and scant little hype. There haven’t been many big stories surrounding the Packers. Recent headlines in the state media have been pretty ho-hum.
For example, safety Charlie Peprah intends to retain his starting job at safety. Really? And here I thought he would just hand it over. Another headline, “Brett Favre to be inducted into Packer Hall of Fame.” That was revealed during the Packers’ Tailgate Tour. No surprise. The real question – when? – was not addressed.
In light of the slow news, I am presenting readers with a list of “Ten Things (I think I know) about the Packers.”
Number 10: At least one and perhaps more players will emerge from the Packers’ ranks of the undrafted. It is a routine offseason occurrence. In 2010, it was cornerback Sam Shields who caught fans’ eyes and earned a spot on the final roster of a Super Bowl champion. So did punter Tim Masthay and the aforementioned Peprah.
In 2011, corner M.D. Jennings, running back Brandon Saine and several other undrafted free agents contributed.
Who will it be this year? Nic Cooper, a fullback from Winston-Salem State, and corner Otis Merrill from Illinois State might be the next undrafted free agents to make their mark. Rest assured, some will.
Number 9: The Packer Hall of Fame Golf Outing, which takes place Monday, July 9, is my favorite golf outing of all-time. Every ex-Packers player that can make it does so. It makes for a star-studded list of men that qualify as friends to Packers’ fans. Packers’ greats such as Willie Davis, Dave Robinson and Lynn Dickey are always great to see. It makes for a memorable day, and a terrific show on 107.5 FM The FAN from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with all the wonderful player interviews.
Number 8: I think Jerel Worthy wearing No. 99 is a good thing. A tough, rugged NFL defense should have a kick-butt player who wears No. 99. One of the Packers’ more recent No. 99, Jamal “Too Small” Reynolds, didn’t quite cut it. Worthy certainly has the size and pedigree to make No. 99 stand tall and proud.
Number 7: The defense is better. It has to be. Worthy, Nick Perry and Casey Hayward in addition to the later defensive draft picks and undrafted free agents infuse the defense with talent and physical prowess it sorely lacked. The attention GM Ted Thompson paid to that side of the ball is going to bear fruit.
Number 6: Aaron Rodgers is the rare great player who not only can get better, but actually will get better. Count on it.
Number 5: The Packers are putting a lot of faith in running back Alex Green. It is one position that failed to be addressed in the recent draft. It shows that Thompson isn’t giving up on Green, and that last year’s third-round draft pick from Hawaii still figures in the team’s plans. Green has to because it’s up to him, James Starks and Brandon Saine to carry the load out of the backfield.
Number 4: When Anthony Hargrove’s suspension ends, the veteran defensive end is going to contribute in a big way. Hargrove and others involved in the Saints’ “Bounty Program” – in my opinion – were given much too harsh punishment. The commissioner should have placed great blame and responsibility on the men (Gregg Williams, Sean Payton, etc.) who ran or allowed the programs, not the players.
Number 3: When the Packers hired Mike McCarthy over Brad Childress, Sean Payton and others in 2006, they got the pick of the litter.
Number 2: The Packers will win fewer games in 2012 but be a better team than in 2011. Count on it. Thompson and McCarthy have invested major time in making this a more-rounded team. They generally accomplish what they set out to do.
Number 1: I can’t wait for the start of training camp, and the Milwaukee Brewers aren’t helping the situation.
Stay tuned, and have a safe, reflective and fun Memorial Day Weekend.
Chris Havel is a Packers News expert and national best-selling author. His latest book is Lombardi: An Illustrated Life. Havel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. CDT on WDUZ FM 107.5 The Fan, or on AM-1400, as well as Fan Internet Radio (www.thefan1075.com). Havel also hosts Event USA’ Player Autograph Parties the evening before home games.

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Kudos to Amy for making sure that the tickets to the tailgate party were waiting for me at the reception desk! Your personal phone call and text messages went above and beyond customer satisfaction! I can't wait for the 2024 season, rest assured that my go-to Packer's game supplier will be Event USA for a long time.
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-Jean-Pierre Mallette, Montréal, Canada

"Thank you so much Cathy, greatly appreciate your help. As always, EventUSA has been awesome to deal with in booking the Lodge Kohler package for the Tampa Bay Game, particularly for me traveling from Sydney, Australia, it takes the stress out of the booking process. "

-Kayle

"Good Morning, Nicole - Everything you did turned out great. The seats were great. Access to the air conditioned club lounge was great. Lots of Packers fans in the club lounge and overall at the stadium. The tailgate party at the fancy restaurant in the hotel was fabulous. The servers just kept on bringing out different sliders and desserts. Good thing that I got in a 30-minute run along the river in the morning. So, thank you! You may be speaking with me in November if I can work out getting up to Green Bay for a game. It's been too long since my last time. One of the best aspects of this weekend was interacting with so many people from Wisconsin and learning their personal stories of things Packers. And we even met a couple from St. Petersburg, Florida (my home county) and were able to tell them about the Varsity Club tavern and Packers bar in Clearwater where Mark Murphy's mother is in attendance -- very nice lady whose retirement home is in Clearwater, which borders my little city of Dunedin. Pre-COVID, I always went to the Varsity when the Packers games weren't televised locally -- lots of Wisconsin natives there, too + they serve brats and sauerkraut during Packers games. I'm glad that you are working for Event USA. "

-- Martin Lawyer, Dunedin, Florida

"Dennis - I was blessed to join Amy and some of your customers at the Morton's tailgate as well as after the game. She does an amazing job for you. Every single customer I met praised Event USA for being able to arrange the hotel and tickets and fabulous tailgate party in such a quick time. Having been to some great tour tailgate parties in Jacksonville and Kansas City and old San Francisco, a lot can be said of the long-term benefit of having really great tailgate parties. Morton's was probably one of the best - amazing food, patio sitting on the riverfront, walk to stadium, open bar!!! It was first class fun!!!"

-Matt

"Hi Amy- Just wanted to say thank you for making Jacksonville happen! We had a wonderful time and looking forward to more Packers games with Event USA in the future! Even though the game was not what we expected- we are packers fans for life-lol! Go pack go!!"

-Julie Mastrianni

"I want to thank Event USA and in particular Amy Flores for the Jacksonville trip. We have used you before and always were very pleased with the packages you have set up and your service. My son who lives in Charleston, SC and myself who lives in Minnesota, decided we needed to do a guys trip and decided to go through your company to see the opener in New Orleans. I initially called and talked with Amy about some questions I had and booked our trip. After itinerary and info was emailed to us, it soon became apparent that the trip to New Orleans wouldn’t happen. In steps Amy, wondering if we would be interested in Dallas if the game was moved there and a package was set up. Then finally the move to Jacksonville and continued communication from Amy on our interest. It was getting late at that point and I was wondering if she would be able to pull off setting up a package in Jacksonville. She did it. We went to Jacksonville and had a great time. The accommodations and the tail gate were fabulous. If only the Packer team we were hoping for had made the trip. Thank you Event USA and in particular Amy Flores."

-Tom Sohrweide, White Bear Lake, MN

"Thank you for all your help. I had a great time at the Packer-Raider game opening day. I have already begun telling interested Packer fans in Sacramento about your service. The next time I come to Green Bay for a game, I’ll be sure to ask for your help. God bless you and God bless the Green Bay Packers."

-Frank Chavez, Sacramento

"I just wanted to say that I had such a great time. The whole weekend was so much fun. I enjoyed the Player Autograph Party and the tailgate party was just the best. After coming from a country that loves soccer, it was nice to mix with people who have the same interests as me. Thank you once again, Green Bay is one very special place."

-Beverley Moore, Lancaster

"My accommodations at the Best Western Midway were excellent. I was picked up at the airport and returned promptly. No problems at all. Your representative at the hotel on game day was very pleasant and helpful. The tailgate party was super, great food, great drinks and lots of fun. Obviously, Lambeau Field and the game itself was great. I will continue to use Event USA in the future, and I will definitely tell anyone who I come across to give you a call. One last thing, the hospitality I experienced in Green Bay was incredible. I have traveled to many places, and I don’t think there are more friendly people than the people of Green Bay. Thank you again and see you next year!"

-David Anastas, Worchester

"My wife and I booked the tour to Tampa. The trip was so well organized from start to finish. It started with the people in the office with their friendly help over the phone, to receiving the tickets in the mail, and meeting the tour guides with their upbeat personalities. Signs guided us in the airport and information was posted in our motel lobbies to keep us posted. Your people had everything in order. Talk about organization, you had it. Event USA made this a most memorable trip. Thanks for all involved."

-Dick Koerner, Neenah

"I wish to convey my sincere thanks and gratitude for providing my husband and I with, what he refers to as the greatest experience of my life, apart from my wedding day."

-Lara and Matt Appleton, Thornhill, Ontario

"Thanks for all your help, the great tickets and service, and the chance to help me make one of my son’s dreams come true, seeing the Packers playing at home in Lambeau Field."

-Sam Jones, Sedalia

"I just want to thank you for the wonderful job your staff did last weekend for the Packers vs. Lions game. This was our first time utilizing your program and we were not disappointed at all. In fact, we can’t wait to schedule and event for next season’s games. From my first experience with your staff placing my order until the very end at checkout of the hotel, everything was perfect. You truly out-do yourselves to please everyone. Thanks again for making our stay in Green Bay one of the best."

-Kim Ewing and Bruce DeMaine, Ann Arbor

"Thanks so much for the best weekend ever! You not only got us in all the Magazines, TV, WWW pages and even the big screen at Lambeau Field, but Disney World on the side? Nice job – You and your family are top notch – we were on the best tour for the Super Bowl! Seeing the Green Bay Packers win back the Lombardi Trophy was a life long dream of this Packer fan, and you all were so dedicated to the job of taking care of us that, like the Packers, we were a winning team! Keep me on your list."

-William D Lorge, Representative to the Wisconsin State Assembly