Green Bay Packers: 2010-11 Season Ultimate Highlight

By: Stephen Patterson

Fresh off winning the 2010-11 Super Bowl, the Green Bay Packers will being trying to defend their title this season.

Considering they were a walking M.A.S.H unit last season with a laundry list of injuries and they still managed to run the postseason gauntlet, it's scary to imagine what the Packers could do this season if they can stay healthy.

Heck, they were missing Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley for a majority of the season and they still had one of the most potent offenses in the league behind the arm of Aaron Rodgers.

How do you think they will fair in their efforts to repeat as Super Bowl champions?

Let us know what you think about their chances of repeating after checking some of their highlights en route to last season's title.

A Look Back: Clay Matthews 2010-11 Season Highlights

By: Stephen Patterson

A Look Back: Super Bowl 45 Highlights (Packers Vs. Steelers)

By: Tyler Ward

The Packers and Steelers matched up against each other for yet another great Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers won the MVP award, and the Packers won the game 31-25.

Rodgers had one of the best postseasons ever for a quarterback and he successfully brought the Lombardi Trophy, named for their former famed head coach, back to Wisconsin.

This was the Packers first Super Bowl win in fourteen years. Green Bay now has thirteen championships, nine of which were before the Super Bowl era.

The Packers overcame injuries all year and were named the sixth seed in the playoffs.

Early in the game, the Packers built a 21-6 lead, a lead that they would not let go.

Brett Favre: What Should I Do? (Video - Explicit Content)

By: Tyler Ward & Stephen Patterson

WARNING: This video contains explicit content.

This was one of the funniest videos Stephen and I have ever seen. It was simply awesome.

We'll let you decide for yourselves.

...And for kicks and giggles, here's another funny Brett Favre video:

NFL Top 10: The Top Draft Busts Of All-Time (Video)

By: Tyler Ward

The NFL always has players that never live up to expectations. There always seems to be one every season and all of different "calibers". There's different types of busts - some that didn't fare that well and some that just couldn't do anything right (*cough* Ryan Leaf *cough*)

So, with that being said, here are the top ten draft busts of all-time, according to the wonderful folks at the NFL Network:

10. Houston Cougars Quarterbacks


9. Heath Shuler, Redskins


8. Lawrence Phillips, Rams


7. Art Schlicter, Colts


6. Aundray Bruce, Falcons


5. Tim Couch, Browns


4. Rick Mirer, Seahawks


3. Brian Bosworth, Seahawks


2. Tony Mandarich, Packers


1. Ryan Leaf, Chargers


Courtesy of NFL Network

Green Bay Packers Down Minnesota Vikings 28-24; Favre Struggles..Again

By: Tyler Ward

It was an epic return for Brett Favre in Green Bay, but it wasn't the type of game Favre and the Vikings fans had hoped for. To be completely honest, the only reason the Vikings (2-4) lost the game is because of Favre. The legendary quarterback threw three interceptions in the game, all in the second half and within 7 passes. Not a good game for the player that many consider the best of all-time. Personally, I think Favre has lost his luster. He should not have come back to Minnesota because frankly, he's getting old and has had too many injuries over the past few seasons. He is clearly on the decline. 

Favre, statistically, had the best season of his 20-year career last year. Now, he's on track to have one of the worst seasons of his historic career. Through six games, Favre has not had a 300-yard passing game. He has thrown more interceptions (10) than touchdowns (7). Four of the six games have seen him yield a quarterback rating under 72. Minnesota is 0-3 on the road thus far. He has also led the Vikings, who played in the NFC Championship game last season, to a lousy 2-4 record and the team is currently third in the NFC North. This team is absolutely struggling. It's a mixture of problems - injuries, lackluster defense, poor play by Favre, and the loss of Sidney Rice. It's clearly going to take a lot for the Vikings to win the division and it only gets worse next weekend when they take on the Patriots in New England. Not looking too good. I'm not liking their odds.

I'll be the first to tell you that I had all the respect in the world for him when he retired the first time. Now, he's doing the same idiotic, media-loved act every single year. Simply, it gets annoying. With this still going on, I have little to no respect for Favre. If he wasn't such a great quarterback over his career, I would probably lose all respect. I'm tired of turning on ESPN during the summer and seeing whether he'll return or not. It's just amazing that a player can't make up his mind. It is clear that I will never know what it's like to retire from the NFL, but it seems that Favre is haunted by something. He seems to be scared of retirement and just doesn't want to deal with a lifelong retirement from the game he loves right now. That's understandable, but usually, a quarterback does not last 20 years. At some point, he will get too old and there will be an increase of injuries. When it comes to be like that, just retire. It's better for the team, fans, and spectators. No one wants to see a player like Favre struggle and that's what he's doing this season. If he wasn't Brett Favre, he'd be benched by head coach Brad Childress with the snap of a finger. But, he is, and I really don't see Favre being benched in favor of incumbent Taravaris Jackson, who has showed that he is not a prototypical starting NFL quarterback.

But, anyway, back to the game. The Vikings marched into Lambeau Field in hopes of finally getting to the .500 mark. They failed to do that as Favre threw three interceptions, which one of them was returned by linebacker Desmond Bishop for a touchdown. That was the key turnover and it pretty much ruined the game for the Vikings. When a starting quarterback plays like that, they're not going to win unless the opposing quarterback plays worse. Aaron Rodgers didn't play worse. He outdueled Favre, although he threw two interceptions. Rodgers did pass for two touchdowns and 295 yards. The Packers were just the better team and they showed it.

However, Favre tried to make another amazing comeback, but it just didn't work out in the end. With 48 seconds left in the game, Favre threw a touchdown to Percy Harvin to give the Vikings the lead. But, it just wasn't meant to be. The ruling on the field was incomplete and later in the drive, the Vikings had to resort to a 4th-and-15 on the 20-yard line. It was their last hope. There was no magic left in Favre, as he threw the pass out of bounds and the ball was turned over on downs. The Packers would win the game by that same score, 28-24. 

The Packers and Vikings traded blows in the first quarter, with the Packers getting on the board first with a 1-yard run by Brandon Jackson. The Vikings would answer on their drive, with wide receiver Percy Harvin running in for a 17-yard touchdown. The game was tied at 7-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Green Bay would quickly come back down field and score on a Andrew Quarless 9-yard touchdown from Aaron Rodgers. The drive only lasted 1 minute and 18 seconds. However, this game appeared back-and-forth and on the next drive for the Vikings, running back Adrian Peterson would get his only touchdown of the game to tie the game up again at 14-14. Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell would kick a 28-yard field goal with 3:58 left to give the Vikings their first lead of the game, 17-14. The game would be at that same score at halftime. 

And then, Favre starting playing like Ryan Leaf. The second half was one to forget for the Vikings, especially Favre. Starting the third quarter, Green Bay received the ball and after a quick three-and-out, they punted it away. Favre would complete two passes on the drive to Percy Harvin, but on his third attempt, Packers linebacker A.J. Hawk picked it off for Favre's first interception of the game. In return, Green Bay would receive great field position at Minnesota's 41-yard line. On the fifth play of the drive, Rodgers was able to hit Greg Jennings for a 14-yard touchdown to put the Packers up 21-17. The Packers would not relinquish the lead. 

After the Packers' third touchdown of the game, they kicked off to Minnesota and it turned out to be the shortest drive of the game. Starting at their own 21-yard line, Adrian Peterson was able to break off a 4-yard line. However, Favre would then throw his second consecutive interception - this one to Desmond Bishop, who returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. It was just what the doctor ordered for Packers fans. After being "shunned" by Brett Favre, the Packers were completely dominating the quarterback, who had spent 16 years with the Packers faithful. As boos reigned throughout the stadium for Favre, Packers fans realized that the Vikings would more than likely walk out of Green Bay with their fourth loss of the year. However, the 41-year old quarterback shouldn't be counted out just yet.

Packers kicker Mason Crosby was only able to kick the ball off for 30 yards, giving the Vikings great field position. After a few short plays, Favre was able to launch a 37-yard pass to Harvin to put the Vikings at Green Bay's 12-yard line. Minnesota would gain 8 yards on the next two plays, thus leading to Favre's 4-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss. The Vikings were now only down 28-24 with a quarter left to play.

Both defenses seemed to stiffen up in the fourth quarter, as both teams could not score on each other. On a 4th-and-1, the Packers were not able to convert on a John Kuhn run and the Vikings would receive the ball at their own 34-yard line. Four plays later, on the Packers' 35-yard line, Favre threw his third interception in seven passes - this time, by Nick Collins at Green Bay's 20-yard line. The game was consequently over at the point. The Packers would not move down the field and were forced to punt and punter Tim Masthay landed a punt on the Vikings' 17-yard line. Minnesota had a long way to go if they wanted to steal a victory.

With time ticking away, Favre was able to look like the vintage version and he led the team down field, even though it took much time off the clock. They were able to get down to the Packers' 20-yard line, but a facemask penalty by Phil Loadholt knocked the Vikings all the way back to the 35-yard line. On 1st-and-30, Favre was able to launch a 35-yard pass to Harvin and it was ruled complete. However, since it was less then two minutes in the game, the play was challenged by the reply assistant in the booth. The play would subsequently be overturned and the Vikings were still down. After a 15-yard pass to Adrian Peterson, the Vikings were able to get in the redzone again at the 20-yard line. On 3rd-and-15, Favre threw an incomplete pass to Moss, perhaps setting up the last play for the Vikings. On 4th-and-15, Favre threw another incomplete pass to Moss, ending the game. Aaron Rodgers would proceed to kneel on the next play and the Packers escaped with a 28-24 victory.

The Packers (4-3) are currently second in the division behind the Chicago Bears - the Bears are also 4-3, but lead the division due to their victory over Green Bay earlier this season. The Vikings (2-4) sank even further in the division and are only one game ahead of the Detroit Lions for the bottom spot. 

Minnesota will travel to New England next weekend and it is now a must-win for the struggling Vikings. Green Bay will also travel to the east, where they will take on the Jets. The Packers aren't at the "must-win" point, but they need to win and hope for a Bears loss to take control of the NFC North.

NOTE: At the postgame press conference, it was clearly noticeable that Favre had a strong limp. He was having to hold on to objects and was putting zero pressure on his left foot. To me, he just seemed mentally-crippled. I firmly believe that if there was a game that Favre would miss, it would be their upcoming game against the Patriots. Of course, it is unclear if he will play or not, but we can always expect Favre to somehow play in the game. But, if he does play, I know the Patriots are going to be after his left foot and if he gets hurt again, it could possibly be the end of Favre's historic career. We'll see...

NFL Week 7: Top 5 Most Intriguing Match-Ups

By: Stephen Patterson

With several teams entering Week 7 in "All-Out Panic" mode, this could be a make-or-break week for some of the struggling teams in the NFL.

Can the Dallas Cowboys begin the daunting task of turning their season around on Monday Night Football against the New York Giants? Will the struggling San Diego Chargers be able to put a stop to their annual slow start and turn things around at home against the New England Patriots?

Perhaps the biggest question of all surrounding this weekends' match-ups is whether or not Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings can put back-to-back wins together for the first time this season against Favres' former team, the Green Bay Packers. Will Favre be able to lead the Vikings back up in the standings? Or will Green Bay finally get a win against the former face of their franchise?

#5: Washington Redskins @ Chicago Bears

The Story: Both teams are coming off losses and will look to regroup when they match-up at Soldier Field on Sunday. The Chicago Bears currently control their own destiny in the NFC North, as they would continue their hold on the division lead with a victory. The Washington Redskins are a game behind the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants in the NFC East, but a victory would keep them close to the top. Look for this to be a hard fought, low-scoring game with several big plays being the difference in this one.

Key to Victory: Defense. The Redskins head into Chicago allowing an NFL-worst 432.5 total yards per game, a number they hope will drop with a strong performance against a struggling Bears' offense. Chicago, on the other hand, is expecting to turn around their offensive misfortunes. However, if their offensive line can't offer any better protection than they have previously this season, it could be a very rough day for Jay Cutler. If the Bears are going to win this game, they need a solid performance by Matt Forte, who has struggled on the ground this season averaging only 92.3 yards per game rushing.

Prediction: Washington Redskins 17, Chicago Bears 14


#4: Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins

The Story: The Pittsburgh Steelers' defense will be hungry to show the league they can still knock opponents silly without getting flagged for "devastating hits", and unfortunately for the Miami Dolphins, they will be on the receiving end of those hits. Ben Roethlisberger is making his second start of the season after sitting out the first four games due to suspension, and he will look to make another strong impression. The Dolphins are coming off a hard fought overtime win at Lambeau against the Green Bay Packers and they will look to build upon that win.

Key to Victory: Brandon Marshall/Mike Wallace. Both teams have solid defenses, but they are also both better at stopping the run. Both teams will be looking for huge games from their star receivers, and the player that has the biggest game might just be the difference in this one. Look for one or both of these guys making huge plays late in the fourth quarter with the game still on the line. Marshall has had a relatively slow start to the season in Miami, having caught only one touchdown pass so far this year. Look for him to break out of that slump with a big game against the Steelers' secondary.

Prediction: Pittsburgh Steelers 17, Miami Dolphins 21


#3: New England Patriots @ San Diego Chargers

The Story: This is almost a must-win situation for the San Diego Chargers, as they are once again off to a painfully slow start to the season. Luckily for them, they are playing at home, where they are 2-0 this season. The bad news? They've lost all four games they've played on the road this season and they can't afford to drop a game of this magnitude at home. The New England Patriots will look to continue developing their offensive and adapting to no longer having Randy Moss. Deion Branch had a nice game last week against the Ravens, and the Patriots will need another big game from him to win this game.

Key to Victory: Special teams. The Chargers have been absolutely abysmal on special teams so far this season, and they can't afford to have those kind of lapses in this game. The Patriots destroyed the Miami Dolphins earlier this season because of special teams' gaffes, and if the Chargers want to avoid the same fate, they will need an all-around effort from everyone involved on special teams. If the Chargers can manage the ball and avoid mistakes, they will be in this game until the final whistle. Sadly, I'm not convinced that can happen for this team.

Prediction: New England Patriots 31, San Diego Chargers 21


#2: New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys

The Story: If there is a team facing a must-win situation in Week 7, it has to be the Dallas Cowboys. After starting the season as one of the favorites to reach the Super Bowl, the Cowboys came out and fell flat on their faces to start the season. Unluckily for them, they are still tumbling and have to find a way to avoid a 1-5 start if they want any chance of even reaching the postseason. The New York Giants started off the season slowly, but they have looked increasingly better over their past three games. If they can knock off the Cowboys in this one, it will make their own run for the postseason a lot easier.

Key to Victory: Pride. The Cowboys must come out and play smart, competitive football for sixty minutes in order to have a chance in this one. If they continue to show poor judgment by celebrating prematurely and getting called for stupid penalties, this game could get out of hand very quickly for Dallas. I think they need to come out early and dominate both sides of the ball if they really want to win this game. If New York strikes first, and the Cowboys get off to a slow start, I think the Giants will be able to control the game and hold off a desperate, late flurry by Dallas.

Prediction: New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 21


#1: Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

The Story: What's not to like about this game? Brett Favre will be going all-out against his former team in an effort to show them they made the wrong choice by letting him go. Aaron Rodgers will look to get his first regular-season victory against his former mentor. There are so many storylines surrounding this match-up that you could literally write a book and still probably miss a few of the smaller stories. Considering this a divisional rivalry and both teams are trying to make up ground in the race to catch the first-place Chicago Bears, I'd expect this game to be one of the most entertaining of the weekend.

Key to Victory: Brett Favre. One way or another, the aging Vikings' quarterback will be directly linked to the outcome of this game. Last season, Favre had two memorable victories against his former team, as the Vikings went 2-0 against the Packers. But, Favre was also playing at a much higher level last season as well. If Favre plans to improve his record to 3-0 against his former team, he better be willing to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson often and not try to press his luck against a formidable defense by forcing bad passes. Unluckily for the Vikings, Favre usually doesn't pass up opportunities to throw into coverage and turn the ball over.

Prediction: Minnesota Vikings 17, Green Bay Packers 27

Injury Woes Continue For Packers

By: Stephen Patterson

The Green Bay Packers continue to lose players at an alarming rate to injuries, and the news just continues to get worse for the franchise. Jermichael Finley, who was previously expected to miss at least three weeks after undergoing knee surgery, will likely miss eight to ten weeks according to multiple sources. Finley injured the knee on the first play from scrimmage in Sunday's overtime loss to Washington and did not return to the game.

There has been talk within the organization about placing Finley on injured reserve, which would end his season. However, no decision is expected to be made this week on that move. Finley was off to the best statistical start of his young career, with 21 receptions for 301 yards and one touchdown this season. He was on pace to put up career best numbers in receptions and receiving yards.

Finley's replacement in the game against the Redskins, Donald Lee, also was injured and will likely miss several weeks with a chest sprain. If Finley goes on injured reserve, the team will have to rely on Tom Crabtree and Andrew Quarless at tight end until Lee is able to return.

The Packers continue to lose key players, and with so many long-term or season-ending injuries, it will be hard for them to even reach the postseason, much less be considered serious contenders for the Super Bowl. They were my preseason pick to represent the NFC, but it's hard to imagine them beating teams like New Orleans, Minnesota, or Dallas in the postseason without so many key players on both sides of the ball.

Green Bay was struck early in the season by the injury bug, as they lost RB Ryan Grant for the season in their season-opening 27-20 victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. Linebacker Nick Barnett injured his wrist in a Week 4 victory over Detroit, and could also miss the rest of the season. They lost starting safety Morgan Burnett for the season with a torn ACL. 

Those are just the long-term injuries the team is facing and having to deal with. Franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a concussion on their last offensive play of Sunday's game, and his status heading into their Week 6 match-up with the Miami Dolphins is uncertain. If he is unable to go on Sunday, the team will have to rely on rarely used back-up Matt Flynn.

Also, the Packers may be without linebacker Clay Matthews, who suffered a strained left hamstring late in Sunday's game against the Redskins. While he will likely play against the Dolphins on Sunday, expect him to be slightly limited and for head coach Mike McCarthy to be extremely careful with his playing time. He has been by far their player on the defensive side of the ball this season, and is leading the league in sacks with 8.5 heading into Week 6.

Green Bay's biggest roadblock in their potential run to a Super Bowl appearance this season has definitely been all of the injuries they have suffered. For now, the Packers need to remain focused on the short-term, and just try to rehab their star players over the next couple of weeks and not rush them back into a situation where they could miss even more time. 

If Rodgers or Matthews were to go down for an extended period of time, I don't think there's anyway the Packers could recover from that. They are already trailing the Chicago Bears in the NFC North, and with the Minnesota Vikings still lurking behind them in the standings, they are all but a lock to even make the postseason now.

NFC North Preview

By: Tyler Ward and Stephen Patterson

1. Green Bay Packers (Head Coach: Mike McCarthy)

Key Arrivals: OG Bryan Bulaga (draft), DT Mike Neal (draft), S Morgan Burnett (draft)

Key Departures: LB Aaron Kampman, RB Ahman Green

SP: The Packers kept most of their team intact, with Aaron Kampman being the only major departure. While he will definitely be missed on the defensive side of the ball, Green Bay's offense should be able to cover for the loss. Aaron Rodgers is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, and could be an MVP candidate this season. With receivers such as Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, and Jermichael Finley, the Packers have one of the best offenses in the NFC. The only real question is the offensive line, but the team hopes Bryan Bulaga will be able to help keep Rodgers safe, who was the league leader in getting sacked, a category you don't want to lead. Charles Woodson, A.J. Hawk, Nick Barnett, and Clay Matthews will lead the way for the defense, which could potentially be one of the Top 10 in the NFL this season. While the Vikings got another year out of Favre, I don't think Minnesota will be able to outlast Green Bay down the stretch this season. Barring any major injuries to Aaron Rodgers or one of the Packer's other key players, expect Green Bay to have a solid season that could potentially end with an extended postseason run.

- SP's Prediction: 11-5

TW: Despite no veteran signings, Green Bay went out and selected well at this year's draft. With their offensive line getting slightly older, the Packers used their first selection on Iowa tackle, Bryan Bulaga. He will not start the season as the starter and will back up Daryn Colledge at left guard. But, Bulaga is expected to be a great offensive lineman - however, he will end up being the backup as of now. Green Bay has a high-powered offense, especially with Greg Jennings currently in the prime of his career. Donald Driver, although he is also getting older, is still a top 20 receiver in the NFL and gives leadership to the young Packers team. Jermichael Finley is expected to get more playing time and start at tight end. Finley has great athleticism and gives Aaron Rodgers another target on the field. Rodgers could be an MVP candidate this season, as he has been a good successor to current Vikings QB Brett Favre. Personally, I think there's a very good chance (as long as the Packers win games) that Rodgers could be the best player in the NFL this season - Brees, Chris Johnson, Peyton Manning, and Adrian Peterson are also in the running. Green Bay also has one of the best defenses in the league and their second-round selection, Mike Neal, will probably be the backup to second-year pro B.J. Raji. Ryan Pickett is a prototypical defensive tackle, but Green Bay has him listed as a defensive end on the depth chart. The Packers are running a 3-4 defense and have one of the best linebacking corps in the league with Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Clay Matthews, and Brandon Chillar as the starters. Their cornerbacks could be the weak link in the Packers' defense, as there is not much depth at that position. They are very young, but could be good in a few years. Charles Woodson, last year's Defensive Player of the Year, is one of the best all-around players in the league, so with him on the roster, it adds so much to the Packers' defense. I think the Packers can be a Super Bowl contender this season, but will have to go through New Orleans and Minnesota if they want to get there. I really like what the Packers have on boths sides of the ball - they may not advance all the way to the Super Bowl this season, but will definitely make it to the playoffs and win the NFC North. Watch out for Greg Jennings this season - I think he will make his way into the Top 5, as far as wide receivers go. I also suspect that Aaron Rodgers will be this year's league leader in passing yards. It seems like since Brett Favre left the Packers, the team has just gotten better and better as the years progress. They will be contenders in the NFC for years to come if they keep at the pace they're at now.

- TW's Prediction: 12-4
 

2. Minnesota Vikings (Head Coach: Brad Childress)

Key Arrivals: CB Lito Sheppard, RB Ryan Moats, RB Toby Gerhart (draft), DE Everson Griffen (draft)

Key Departures: RB Chester Taylor

SP: Well, Minnesota got their wish. After yet another season of waffling on whether or not he should retire, Brett Favre decided he would come back for yet another season. The Vikings saw their season come to a disappointing end last year when the team fell to the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Championship game. Favre took a massive beating during the game, and had to come off the field at one point when he feared he had broken his ankle after a hard hit by Bobby McCray. The Vikings are banking a lot of faith, not to mention money, on the fact that Favre could reproduce last season's miracle year. Regardless of how well Favre may do with the Vikings this season, his numbers will not be on par with or better than his stats last year. Favre has constantly seemed to whore for media attention over the past few seasons, and especially the offseasons, and this year has been nothing different. While the team seemed to be able to handle all of the attention and publicity surrounding them last season, I'm not so certain the ship will sail so smoothly this season. I'm expecting a few things that could happen to this team: Favre will suffer an injury bad enough for him to miss 1-2 games and end his streak. His interceptions this season will be much closer to 20 than 5 this season. Childress will be gone after this experiment if the Vikings fall short of the Super Bowl, regardless of regular season success. Those are just a few of the very real, and very scary possibilities that could happen this season with this team. It has been reported tonight that Sidney Rice could miss up to half the season with a hip injury. Percy Harvin apparently doesn't understand the concept of a visor on his helmet if looking into a clouded sky makes him collapse or gives him migraines. Adrian Peterson will need to learn to hold the ball during key games and situations after a horrid season for the back in the category. This entire offense is surrounded by question marks, and quite frankly, I'm expecting some very mixed answers to some of those questions. The defense could take them very far, and if both sides of the field can catch fire during the same game, not very many teams even have a chance to stay in the game with them. Health is my major concern for this team, especially on the offensive side of the ball, and I think injuries will eventually cost this team late in the season.

- SP's Prediction: 12-4

TW: Minnesota definitely had one of the most quiet offseasons in the league. The "make-or-break" option of the team is Brett Favre, who announced last week that he will return to the NFL for a 20th season. Without Favre, the Vikings have absolutely nothing that can be considered top-half-of-the-league material at quarterback (Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels). So, with Favre coming back, the Vikings are automatically a contender in the NFC. They will also not have to heavily depend on running back Adrian Peterson, a Pro Bowl-caliber player. Peterson, fresh off another stellar season, is looking to have another one this year and should do so. To help with Peterson's workload, Minnesota drafted Toby Gerhart, who almost won the Heisman Trophy last season while playing at Stanford. He could very well never be a starting running back in the NFL, but should be a decent backup (the Vikings also added Ryan Moats to compete against Gerhart). The Vikings are also set at wide receiver with Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and 2009 Pro Bowler Sidney Rice. Harvin, last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year, is a deep threat for the Vikings, along with Berrian who also adds athleticism to the corps. Rice is looking to improve his numbers and become one of the elite receivers in the NFC - and he should do so...with Favre as his quarterback, not Rosenfels or Jackson. The Vikings are also notably known to have one of the best offensive lines in the league with Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie holding it down. Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan have shown promise for the Vikings and they should be marquee names in a few seasons. Not only is their offense stacked, but their defense is, too. Jared Allen, a sack machine, is in the prime of his career and will likely get selected to the Pro Bowl. They also have big bodies in the middle with Pat and Kevin Williams, which immediately helps their 4-3 defense. Linebackers E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway have shown consistency for the Vikings and they are hoping to rely on them this season, as they do not have much depth at that position. They also added Lito Sheppard to the team during the offseason, which already consists of Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin. The Vikings will certainly be a force this season, as they were so close to representing the NFC in the Super Bowl last season. Favre will not have a season like he did last year, but he should be one of the top-tier QB's in the league. I just think that the Packers are stronger and will end up barely beating out Minnesota for the NFC North crown.

- TW's Prediction: 11-5
 

3. Chicago Bears (Head Coach: Lovie Smith)

Key Arrivals: DE Julius Peppers, RB Chester Taylor, CB Tim Jennings, S Chris Harris, RB Harvey Unga (draft), S Major Wright (draft), QB Dan LeFevour (draft)

Key Departures: DE Adewale Ogunleye, DE Alex Brown, RB Kevin Jones, FB Jason McKie, CB Nathan Vasher, LB Pisa Tinoisamoa

SP: While Chicago definitely upgraded this offseason with the additions of Julius Peppers and Chester Taylor, I don't think they are going to even threaten to win their division. This whole team revolves around Jay Cutler, and if he doesn't learn how to keep the turnovers over down, this team will suffer another disappointing season. The Bears were the "lucky" team to land Cutler after he had multiple disagreements Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniel. He has a decent group of receivers, but none of them are really superstar players. Matt Forte also needs a strong year for Chicago to be successful, but I think Taylor could take a lot of his carries if he is impressive. The Bears have always been known for their defense, but with a Pro Bowl caliber QB in Jay Cutler, they have high expectations for both sides of the ball. Peppers and Brian Urlacher will be the defensive leaders and could have spectacular seasons. While the Bears have many of the tools to get the job done, I'm just still not convinced they can beat Green Bay or Minnesota, both of which are considered favorites to make the postseason. While Cutler has several quality receivers around him, I still think they need one more All-Pro caliber player at WR or TE for him to be successful.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

TW: The Bears did mildly decent this offseason, but they are still not a playoff team. Jay Cutler, who threw 26 interceptions last season, has to do a lot better this season and should with Mike Martz being named the offensive coordinator. Cutler has shown great power, but his accuracy could be a problem. However, if he limited his mistakes, Cutler could be one of the best quarterbacks in the league. It just depends on him if he wants to stay turnover-free and learn the offense that surrounds him. Running back Matt Forte will get the bulk of the carries, but the Bears added Chester Taylor to help carry the load. Forte should be a 1,000 yard back. Chicago is also looking for wide receiver Devin Aromashodu to have a big year, along with Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Although they aren't name-brand receivers, Cutler should have a solid year if everything goes right. Tight End Greg Olsen should also have a stellar season because he will be one of Cutler's main and most steady targets. The Bears also need solid performances out of tackle Chris Williams, who was a first round pick in 2008 - it could possibly be a make-or-break season for Williams, a teammate of Cutler at Vanderbilt. Perhaps the biggest signing of the offseason, the Bears signed defensive end Julius Peppers to help a defensive line that played inconsistently throughout the season. Mark Anderson will take Adewale Ogunleye's place on the line, as Ogunleye was released earlier this offseason. Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs are back and one, if not both, should have a great season if they stay injury-free. Their secondary could be in trouble, as there is not much depth - Charles Tillman and Zack Bowman will have to be heavily relied on if the Bears want to resurrect a defense that was top of the line a few seasons ago. I just don't see the Bears staying injury-free and I expect at least one key loss happening. I can also see their receiving game hurting the offense, which could possibly hurt Cutler's performances. They have a lot they need to work on if they want to return to their Super Bowl form.

- TW's Prediction: 7-9
 

4. Detroit Lions (Head Coach: Jim Schwartz)

Key Arrivals: DE Kyle Vanden Bosch, DT Corey Williams, CB Chris Houston, QB Shaun Hill, TE Tony Scheffler, WR Nate Burleson, CB Dre Bly, S C.C. Brown, DT Ndamukong Suh (draft), RB Jahvid Best (draft)

Key Departures: QB Daunte Culpepper, LB Ernie Sims, LB Larry Foote, CB Anthony Henry

SP: Detroit is definitely on the right track to making the playoffs in a few seasons. Eventually Brett Favre will have to retire, meaning their will be a shift of power in the division, although it may only be small changes. The Lions have been a laughing-stock for as long as I can remember being a fan of the NFL. They had to suffer through the Matt Millen era. Millen was the brainchild behind Detroit's moves for eight seasons in the last decade, and he single-handedly help destroy any ounce of respect any fan ever had for the Lions. The differences since Millen left the team are astonishing. The team is now led by Matthew Stafford, who is entering his second season in the NFL. He has veterans such as Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson as primary targets, along with tight end Brandon Pettigrew. The team also took Jahvid Best in the draft, who I think will be one of the most productive rookies this season. If he isn't the starter in week 1, expect him to be the starter by the end of the first month of the season. Their defense has also seen major upgrades, especially on the line with the additions of Vanden Bosch and Suh. If they can add a few more decent pieces over the next offseason or two, the Lions will definitely be a major threat in the division in the very near future. For now, I can't see any way this team is breaking .500 this season, and they will fall just short of that mark.

- SP's Prediction: 7-9

TW: Although they did a lot in the offseason, I still don't think that the Lions are anywhere close to be considered a playoff contender. Stafford could be a star in the league someday, but as of right now, he is still a work in progress. With a rocket arm, the former Georgia Bulldogs star can thought to be inaccurate and has shown that at times. But, with a receiver like Calvin Johnson, he could do nothing, but get better as time progresses. Detroit also added Nate Burleson through free agency, who has shown great athleticism and versatility throughout his career. Tight End Brandon Pettigrew, along with newly-acquired Tony Scheffler, could form a good combination at that position and round out the receiving core at the same time. With their second round selection in this year's draft, Detroit selected Jahvid Best, their "running back of the future". He should have a solid rookie season and will get better as the seasons go. Like most teams, it comes down to the offensive line for their weakness. Former first-round pick Gosder Cherilus, like Stafford, is a work in progress, also, but has taken baby steps to stardom since being drafted. Tackle Jeff Backus is getting older and it is unknown how much he has left in the tank. Other than those two players, they have an "iffy" offensive line. I do like what they have done defensively, especially with the decision to draft the talented defensive tackle, Ndamukong Suh. With Corey Williams and Kyle Vanden Bosch also on the line, they could have a very formidable defensive line. They also have Cliff Avril, who played very well last season after bullying through to the starting role. With so many new additions, it's going to be hard, chemistry-wise, to succeed and for that, I see them being one of the lower teams in the NFC.

- TW's Prediction: 5-11

Packers' Jolly Suspended For 2010 Season

By: Tyler Ward

The NFL suspended defensive tackle Johnny Jolly for the 2010 season without pay for violating the league's substance abuse policy. 

In July 2008, Jolly was arrested in a Texas parking lot that has been known to house drug and gun use. After 1 A.M., a police gang unit pulled over Jolly for playing his music too loud and the bass turned all the way up. According to the police report, the gang unit smelled the strong odor of codeine. They found at least 200 grams of codeine on Jolly, who was immediately arrested. The unit sent the codeine off to a lab, and they verified it as being codeine. If convicted, he faces up to 20 years in prison.

In July 2009, Jolly's charges were subsequently dropped so lab technicians could learn how to use their new machines. After a five month hiatus, they tested it again and came back positive - Jolly was reindicted in December 2009.

However, this wouldn't stop Jolly from messing up. In May, flyers were found in a parking lot, advertising a party that Jolly was allegedly hosting. 

At court, the judge placed Jolly on a serious form of probation. He would have to submit a hair sample for every drug test and also abide by a curfew of 6 P.M. - 6 A.M. In addition, he could not go to any places that served alchohol or anywhere where drug use was happening. Jolly would also have to be evaluated by a drug counselor and would not be able to miss one appointment.

Ryan Pickett, a friend and teammate of Jolly, said last month, "If this stuff doesn't cause you to change, what will?" Pickett said. "All this stuff he's going through -- you're missing practice, you can't be around your teammates, that'll make you feel isolated from the team. So if this stuff doesn't change, then that's an issue. I'm expecting him to be changed by this experience, definitely."

Jolly could be in serious trouble and the Packers didn't want to sink at an already thin defensive line. In this year's draft, they drafted defensive tackle Mike Neal in the second round. With the loss of Jolly for the season, Green Bay would have to heavily rely on Neal to shore up the defensive tackle position. The Packers are expected to be one of the elite teams in the NFC and they can't afford a mishap in their new 3-4 defensive scheme.

With an offense that includes Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, and Greg Jennings, they are expecting to win the division, regardless of Brett Favre's retirement decision. Rodgers can now be considered a perennial 4,000 yard passer, with Jennings being a 1,000 yard receiver. Last year, Grant didn't do as well as many thought, but he could ultimately be a 1,000 yard rusher year after year, barring inuries. Led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year Charles Woodson and a solid linebacking corps, the Packers will have a Top 5 defense. 

Without Jolly, they lose a run-stuffing tackle that can dominate the opponent's offensive line. Neal will not immediately play like Jolly and that leaves a big gap for the defensive line. They will have to rely on their blitzing schemes to get to the opposing quarterback. The 3-4 scheme is primarily known for having two linebackers rush the quarterback, while the other two go back in coverage. They lose a heavily relied-on player that can significantly help the team.

Packers GM Ted Thompson said in a statement today, "Johnny is a good player that loves everything about the game of football. We appreciate the contributions he has made to the Packers the past four seasons. His focus and priorities now lie elsewhere -- our thoughts are with him during this difficult personal time." The Packers had no additional comments and have not released any further information regarding Jolly.

Jolly was selected in the sixth round of the 2006 draft by the Packers. After playing in a total of 16 games his first two seasons, he has participated in every game since then. He has not had a high number of sacks in his career - only having 2 along with 113 tackles (88 tackles, 1 sack the past 2 seasons).

The Packers will not be expecting Jolly to come back this season, and he could possibly miss more. Facing possible jail time, he could serve many years in prison. He could also never play another down in the NFL, which is why players shouldn't associate with illegal activities. It's a dark day for Johnny Jolly and the Packers as they both forced into a horrible situation.