The Packers, in the three weeks leading up to this match up played the Lions and Browns and got themselves feeling very confident. Overconfident. So it was a definite reality check to see the Vikings, a solid and mature football team, come in and trounce our behinds up and down our (home) field. Here are a few thoughts from one Packer fan:

Booing is a Classless Act
Sorry, but the one thing I always counted on was the class the Green Bay fans have. After seeing the fans boo Favre, a guy that put Green Bay on the map for 16 years, I couldn’t help but to think it left them looking very, very small.

Here’s what should have happened. The minute Favre returned to Green Bay he should have been applauded. He gave the team great years and led them like no quarterback had before. Stand and applaud. Then, stand and applaud even louder for the Green Bay Packers to beat the Vikings fair and square. Support your team. Booing made the fans look like sour losers even before the Packers got beat.

Packers Have Problems That Have Nothing to Do With Favre
Was Brett Favre really our problem on Sunday? Seriously? This game was just about “his revenge?” No. It showed even more clearly the problems the Packers have right now. Our offensive line can’t protect Rodgers, and more than that, Rodgers can’t scramble and come up with a thing even when they do. Rodgers looked every bit the rookie quarterback he really is. Don’t tell me about stats. Rodgers stats may be good, but he hasn’t shown himself to be a leader. The only stat that means anything right now is that he is the quarterback of a losing football team.

Favre Is Worth the Hype
Does Favre have a big ego? Is the hype really worth it? Who cares. You know what’s really important? Favre hit yet another record in his win against Green Bay. He had an outstanding game. He played like a mature, truly great quarterback. The “Favre haters” love to suck down negatively, but they miss one very important point: Favre really is that good.

Quit Comparing Favre to Rodgers
The issue of whether Brett Favre should have been replaced by Rodgers wasn’t about whether Rodgers was better than Favre. Who the heck ever believed that? Rodgers ISN’T better than Favre. The issue was timing. Rodgers was younger and “the future” of the team. But was it a good idea to replace Favre (and make no mistake, Thompson put pressure on Favre to leave) at that year? The year following the fact that the Packers were one game out of the Superbowl?

Thompson obviously believed it was. I’m not sure I agree. But one thing is sure, Rodgers can’t be compared to Favre. He isn’t Favre. NO ONE will ever be Favre. Rodgers has to create his own legacy, and right now, he’s got a long way before anyone can define him as a good replacement. That kind of definition takes years.

Image: Zuma Press

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The Favre Return, a Packer Fan’s Thoughts

And Favre wasn’t just along for the ride. He was arguably the game’s best player. He finished his Week 8 contest 17-for-28 for 244 yards and four touchdowns. In two starts against the Vikings, Favre had seven touchdowns and no interceptions.

Favre and the Vikings got off to a fast start. After Favre connected with Percy Harvin on a 51-yard touchdown two minutes into the second quarter, the Vikings had a 24-3 lead. Aaron Rogers and the Packers battled back but Favre was just too good on this afternoon.

Rogers, who became the new quarterback in Green Bay after Favre was allowed to leave, wasn’t bad himself. He had 287 yards passing and three touchdowns. Rogers also rushed for 52 yards on five carries.

With the win, the Vikings improved to 7-1. The Packers dropped to 4-3 with the loss.

Brett Favre got his revenge (Image: Zuma Press)

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Brett Favre Gets Revenge, Beats Packers

To begin the season, the Buccaneers had Byron Leftwich at quarterback. After three starts, the Bucs changed up and went with Josh Johnson. Neither quarterback was too effective — Leftwich had a quarterback rating of 71.2, while Johnson’s QB rating was 50.9.

In Week 7, Freeman saw his first NFL action. He was 2-for-4 with 16 passing yards. He was also sacked twice.

While the Bucs will continue to struggle, it makes sense to throw their 6-foot-6 rookie into the fire. The 21-year-old out of Kansas State has reportedly frustrated the coaches at times with his lack of stellar work ethic, however his physical skills are obvious.

Freeman will likely struggle early on but if he can show some quality signs, perhaps this season won’t be a complete waste for the Tampa Bay organization.

Josh Freeman will now start for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Image: Zuma Press)

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Rookie Josh Freeman to Start for Tampa Bay

Now, if I own a football team, I’m keeping a player like Aaron Kampman and rethinking the 3/4 defense. Especially if that defense can’t stop a run for the most part and is part of the team’s mediocre start to the season. This slow start has been documented enough that rumors have started flying about Kampman’s departure.

Capers has been noncommittal, saying that “The things we’ve asked him to do, I think he’s done and done a good job. I think he had some good pass rushes (against the Vikings). It didn’t show up in terms of sacks and that type of thing, but he did a nice job.”

Will Kampman stay? I certainly hope so. I’d like to see the defense accommodated to deal with the talent on the team. I’m a “if it’s not broken, don’t fix it” type of fan. Kampman wasn’t broken, in fact, he was one of the few shining stars the Packers had. Whether he will get back to his shining style of play remains to be seen.

Image: Zuma Press

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Packers May Trade Kampman?

A solid showing is exactly what he showed in the Titans’ preseason finale on Thursday against the Green Bay Packers. Young had a hand in two touchdowns as the Titans won the exhibition game 27-13.

Young finished 7-for-12 for 85 yards and a touchdown. On the ground, the quarterback who played his college football at the University of Texas, Young ran five times for 38 yards and a touchdown.

Overall, Young had some promising signs in 2009 preseason play. He had five touchdowns but also had three interceptions and also fumbled a couple times.

In Tennessee, Kerry Collins is the starter at quarterback. Young and Patrick Ramsey are the backups at the position. Without an injury or extreme poor play by Collins, it’s unlikely that Young will play much during the 2009 NFL season.

Vince Young - Tennessee Titans (Image: Zuma Press)

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Vince Young Shines in Titans Victory

But now that the Favre saga is (finally) past Green Bay, there’s a new rumor that Thompson is having “legitimate discussions” about hiring Michael Vick. The majority of the NFL teams have said that they will not take Vick on because of the potential PR nightmare that might follow. But Thompson, now that the Packers could supposedly focus on football once again and not the shadow of #4, is considering taking Vick on.

When asked of this, he replied:

“Uh, what is the answer that we give to questions like this?” Thompson said. “We’re always looking to improve our team. We look at all options at all times. I wouldn’t care to speculate in terms of the odds or the percentages or anything like that.”

Did Thompson learn nothing from the time Ari Fleisher was telling the team what to say and not say last year?

It’s not that I don’t think Vick would be awesome. I think he’d certainly be better than the backup quarterbacks the Packers currently have, and even think he might give Aaron Rodgers a run for his money. But with the distractions last year having to do with Favre, I think even considering taking Vick on right now is a massive mistake.

In a very interesting bit of trivia, the Wisconsin State Journal reports that, “Vick’s cousins is former Packers and New Orleans Saints quarterback Aaron Brooks, who went to his only Pro Bowl with McCarthy as his offensive coordinator in New Orleans.”

The implication being that McCarthy and his magical coaching skills might be just the ticket to make Vick shine.

I disagree.

I think whoever hires Vick will be a team that can handle the PR that will undoubtedly come with him. The Packers clearly aren’t that team.

Image: Zuma Press

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Packers Considering Michael Vick

Last year with the Jets, Franks was only able to play in eight games due to injuries. In those eight games, he had six catches for 47 yards.

Prior to joining the Jets, Franks played for the Green Bay Packers for eight years. The 31-year-old played his college football at Miami and came into the league as a highly touted tight end prospect. With great size at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds, Franks had his moments throughout the years.

In 122 career games, Franks has 262 catches, 2,347 receiving yards and 32 touchdowns. It’ll be interesting to see if Franks will catch on with another team. Since he hasn’t been healthy the last few seasons, he’ll first have to prove that he has put his injuries behind him and is ready to resume his career.

Bubba Franks Released (Image: Zuma Press)

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Bubba Franks Released by the Jets

Jennings’ new contract will reportedly pay him $27 million — with $16 million of that money being guaranteed. He also has incentives in the contract that could bump it up another $3 million. Prior to this extension, Jennings was due to make less than $600K.

In the last two season, Jennings has been extremely impressive. In 2007, he had 920 yards with 12 touchdowns. In 2008, he finished the season with 1,292 yards and nine touchdowns. The 25-year-old out of Western Michigan has established himself as one of the best wideouts in the NFL.

After missing games in each of his first two seasons, Jennings was able to play all 16 games last season. That note likely allowed the Packers to confidently give him a contract with the thinking that he’ll be the team’s number one wide receiver for the foreseeable future.

Greg Jennings - Green Bay Packers (Image: Zuma Press)

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Greg Jennings Signs Extension with Packers

Lenon fits the mold of what the Patriots look for in a linebacker. He’s good against the run, looks to make plays and has a healthy amount of veteran savvy. The 31-year-old out of Richmond has seven years of NFL experience. The last three years were with the Detroit Lions, while his previous four seasons were spent with the Green Bay Packers.

In the last two years, Lenon has produced his best stats. His 121 tackles last year led the Lions and he also totaled two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. In 2007, he had 118 tackles.

In his seven years, Lenon has never missed a game. That durability should be a good fit for the Patriots because the last few years they have had a lot of injuries in the linebacking corps.

Paris Lenon - New England Patriots Linebacker (Image: Zuma Press)

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Paris Lenon Inks Deal with the Patriots

Last year, Franks played in eight games and had just six receptions for 47 yards and no touchdowns. All six of his receptions came in the first four weeks of the season. By the end of the 2008 campaign, rookie Dustin Keller was starting at tight end for the Jets.

Prior to signing with the Jets last year, Franks played eight season with the Green Bay Packers. A first round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, his best season was in 2002 when he had seven receiving touchdowns to go along with 54 catches and 442 yards. In his career, Franks has 262 receptions for, 2,347 yards and 32 touchdowns.

In the 2009 season, Franks is once again expected to backup Keller.

Bubba Franks (Image: Flickr)

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Bubba Franks to Play for the Jets Again