Joseph Tirabassi

We were all informed yesterday that Rodgers is upset he will not be playing this week against the Vikings. Here’s my three reasons why he’s so disappointed.

1) I believe those 3 interceptions he threw against Carolina are driving him crazy! Two of them were likely TDs. If his arm strength was 100% (which it is not), he never underthrows those passes. In a game with poor secondary play, the Packers still win if Rodgers connects.

2) Obviously he would love to make it tougher on the Queens getting a #1 or #2 seed and bye. If they make a run in the playoffs, he knows in his mind he beat them this year, especially since they’re red-hot! He’s a competitor, that’s what competitors do. Losing the chance to beat them at Lambeau and exact revenge on the team that sidelined him for eight weeks is eating away at Twelve.

3) My final reason is simple: It’s the last home game for all the fans that haven’t watched him play for over two months. There is nothing he loves more than playing in Green Bay in front of his hometown fans. Who wouldn’t?! I’m sure there is nothing he would love more than to give all the DHPFs a victory over the division rival Queens. That sounds like a perfect Christmas present, doesn’t it? Remember, Aaron is a giver by nature and now he can’t give.
 

Sorry, one final note….  For those that think or believe Aaron will eventually test the market or opt out of his contract, I say NO WAY! The dude has it made in GB!

The Packers are going to eventually pay him a boatload of money to keep him around for another 4-5 years. He’s going to end his career on the gridiron of Lambeau Field.  Aaron Rodgers leaving Green Bay would be the equivalent of LeBron James leaving Cleveland to end his career with the Memphis Grizzlies. Why would he? I’ll even take it a step further, Aaron is no dummy. The organization is worth somewhere around a $1.5 billion. It wouldn’t surprise me in the least to see him running the whole entire corporation one day.  Matter of fact, that might be part of his next contract.

Hey….they tried to keep Favre around when he changed his mind from retiring to wanting to play again. Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong but I believe the offer(to remain retired)was approximately 20 million for 10 years.  All they wanted him to do was shine around the organization.  Evidently, at that time he was such a commodity, GBP Inc. didn’t want to lose him entirely. Do you remember that?

@DieHardPackrFan #DHPF #JoeyT @JoeyT_DHPF

I’d like to mention something I’ve been thinking about and currently having a difficult time with.  I was wondering how some of you feel.

Over the last 3-4 weeks we have noticed an exuberant amount of fans, hoping the Packers would lose out(or tank the season) to receive a better draft pick. I actually understand this way of thinking. In recent years,(if that were to happen) the thought of having a top eight pick is quite appealing. It wouldn’t hurt anyone’s feeling by putting solid young talent around Aaron Rodgers in his final years. Is that what it will take to get back to the big dance?  Well maybe.

I’m not going to lie, I thought about what it would be like to finally have a Von Miller type pass rusher on our defense. How sweet would that be?  

A while back, I had the opportunity to share a meal and some conversation with former place kicker Chris Jacke. We discussed numerous topics about playing in the league back then and how different it was compared to now. I had to laugh when he mentioned how much cash Mason Crosby receives compared to his pay scale in the 90’s. He’s joked with him about it.  Nonetheless, what I found interesting was how he mentioned the difference between the fans and players. For the fans, it’s all about the tradition, history, a family orientated organization and all those wonderful things that Curly and Vince created over the years. But to the players, as much as they love everything about being a Packer, it’s still a job. Think about how many have short-lived careers or don’t even get beyond the practice squad. Basically, here today and gone tomorrow. As difficult as it is to wrap your brain around that, it’s the truth.

With our record being 5-6, it made me think about the situation our team is in now. The majority of these players are thinking about their future. Do you think the ones who receive very little playing time are thinking about losing or let alone tanking a season so we receive a higher raft pick? How about Mike McCarthy?  Whether you like him or not, would he want to lose out?  No way!

It’s obvious that many of the fans are disgruntled and have been for a long time. Honestly, not sure I’ve ever saw it this bad. Yes we lost the game against Pittsburgh but think about how great it felt when we took a 21-14 lead. So many around the league, in the media(including our own fans) thought we didn’t have a chance. Those of you that feel the season is a wash, did you stand up cheer?  I sure did!  We did because we love the Packers and a side of us never gives up hope. I believe the majority of us feel this way. Next year is just that, next year.  When we are mathematically out of the race, then and only then should worry about who’s coaching the team and playing on it. I rest my case
 

On a final note.

Do you remember in 2010 when Eagles were down 31-10 in the fourth quarter but came back to tie it at 31-31.  The punter failed to kick it out of bounds but instead kicked it to where DeSean Jackson could field it, and he ran it back all the way as time expired. On the same day, Lions’ kicker and former Packer Dave Rayner kicked a game-tying and game-winning field goal to end their 26-game road losing streak and defeat Tampa Bay, a team who also had playoff hopes.  Those two games helped the Packers get into the playoffs and eventually win the Super Bowl. Think about that one for a moment and get back to me.

In the words of my 82 year old Father who attended SB 1 and 2 “Never Say Die”. I live by that statement. Go Pack!

@JoeyT_DHPF @DieHardPackrFan #JoeyT #DHPF #DHPF4Life

From Day 1, something about Lance Kendricks hit me like a lightening bolt. Along with other Wisconsinites and Pack Fans throughout, when he signed with the Packers, I was ecstatic!

He was born and raised in Milwaukee, so being from Kenosha, I remember hearing about Lance when he played for Rufus King High. It came as no surprise to see him picked up by the Wisconsin Badgers where he played for four years.

He’s a Wisconsin kid, built like a S..t Brick-house!

Along with great hands, he’s a fantastic blocker. For some crazy reason, he reminds me of John Kuhn or the Aaron Ripkowski of receivers; just a gritty, hard-nosed athlete, playing with a vengeance!

With all the attention going to Martellus Bennett (and don’t get me wrong, I love Bennett) it almost seems as if Lance Kendricks has something to prove.

He continues to shine at every practice and show he’s worth every penny and more. The only one needing to keep their eye on Kendricks is the opposing defense.

I see this guy progressing as the year goes on, to the point where Rodgers will eventually become very comfortable throwing to him. It’s just a matter of time folks, this guy is going  to steal the hearts of Pack Fans everywhere.

Lance Kendrick; my breakout receiver of the 2017 season!  He’s that good!
 

Who’s with me?
 

#JoeyT #DHPF

If you’re wondering how Jeff Janis is doing, let’s just say, he looks like a man playing with a vengeance.

On the opening day of mini camp, Janis was perfect!  He moved around the field like a true veteran. He snagged every pass out of the air like it was a fresh baked piece of cake. It was a thing of beauty!

Vince Lombardi is known for his famous quote “When you get into the end zone, act like you’ve been there before.” That statement personified   professionalism and class. Even though Janis was not scoring a touchdown, he resembled an athlete who has been there before.  

With social media becoming more popular everyday, information tends to get thrown in our face. If Janis pays attention to it (which I’m sure he does considering he and his wife are fairly active on Instagram) he’s probably read that he could be one of the WR’s on the bubble. In other words, might not make the 53 man roster.

Another noticeable attribute is his physique.  You can always tell when an athlete puts the extra time in the gym and Jeff has that feature.  

I am officially taking Jeff Janis off the “on the bubble” list, especially if he continues to perform like he is. If he continues to work hard, I would even go as far as saying he deserves some serious playing time. It’s great to see a player we all know who has the potential to be something special. Janis has always had that gift.

So I say, way to go Jeff Janis!  Be that player we always knew you could be, Joey T’s opening day mini-camp MVP!

How exciting would it be, attending your first game at Lambeau? There is something unique about waking up knowing you might be traveling to Green Bay for the first OTA (Organized Team Activities). You will often hear fans say, they would do anything to attend a practice. Now, I completely understand. Imagine being a fan for 40+ years and seeing your first practice ever; especially since it’s been 4 months since we’ve seen them on the field? Safe to say; I was stoked!

Check this out; I get up Tuesday morning at 6:00 AM and in a moments notice, decide to drive 2.5 hrs to Green Bay from Kenosha. This is a completely different situation if you are an out of state fan; it would take a tremendous amount of planning to attend practice.

Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with numerous people that literally moved to the Green Bay area, to attend events like OTA’s and minicamp. Why’s that you ask? Because attending a game or two a year wasn’t enough; they needed to attend year-round functions. How many of you have considered it? Most of us can relate with destination Green Bay.

As I headed North towards the Don Hutson Center, I noticed very few vehicles. My first thought was that it might be cancelled. The wind was howling; it was overcast and about 50° outside. Even at the end of May, that was not uncommon for North Central Wisconsin.

I pulled into the main parking lot approximately 50 feet from Hinkel field. Btw, parking was free. Bonus!

While walking towards Allied Forces Drive and approaching the Don Hutson Center, I observed multiple media and networking people uncomfortably lugging heavy cameras by their side. I thought, “that’s cool but where are all the fans?”

As I walked up to the fence, I gazed at the players jogging onto the field for the first time in 4 months. My eyes were wide open and once again, I noticed very few people in attendance. In my estimation, there were approximately 200 fans present surrounding the west side field. That was shocking as I anticipated at least 1000-2000. Not that day! So you know what that meant; “look at me I’m in the front row!”

As I walked along the perimeter looking to find the best spot possible (which wasn’t hard with so few people) the first person I recognized was one of my favorite sports writers, Rob Demovsky. Rob is a writer for ESPN and covers everything about the Green Bay Packers (my kinda guy). He seemed cold as hell as if a golf course in South Florida would’ve been much more appealing at that moment. If you didn’t know, he loves to swing the sticks.

I showed him the DHPF page and he thanked us for sharing his material. I was going to ask him to take a selfie with me but I didn’t have the guts. Plus, it didn’t feel right as the poor guy was freezing his jewels off. Oh well, I shook his hand and we both gracefully walked in different directions.

Show Time!

My immediate interests took me right to Coach James Campen and the offensive lineman. All I can say is Jahari Evans is a beast and looks ready to step right in and make an impact. Left tackle David Bakhtiari, has some of the quickest feet I’ve ever saw for a guy his size. Quite frankly, I don’t think there is a better left tackle in the league. When watching Bakhtiari alongside 10 other lineman, it’s obvious why they pay him 10 million a year. He’s worth every penny. Basically, he’s a man amongst boys.

My next course of interest was in the DB class. With all drafted and undrafted free agents, plus practice squad players, I was glad they handed out pamphlets. When you have 90 players on the field it becomes difficult remembering who the players were, from last year and recognizing the new players this year. Plus, they all have similar builds ranging from 175-200 lbs.

It was disappointing not seeing Kevin King, but I respect him finishing up his College education at the University of Washington. An education lasts a lifetime and we all know a career in the NFL can end at any given moment.

It was great to see Quinten Rollins and Damarious Randall on the field. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Rollins as a backup to veteran Davan House and second-round pick Kevin King who are probable as the opening day starters outside at CB. Randall has plenty of experience at safety and is a great tackler so he would be an ideal candidate in the nickel position.

Josh Jones was as speedy as can be and flying all over the field. In my eyes, he stood out more than any player. I will continue looking forward to his play tomorrow.

When I glanced over and started watching all 4 quarterbacks throwing the ball to multiple receivers running routes, it was obvious who the number one man is in Green Bay. I am a huge fan of Brett Hundley, but when he’s side-by-side with Rodgers, the realization of Aaron’s greatness is obvious.

All I can say folks is we better enjoy it while it lasts.

No matter how dedicated and honorable we are as Packer fans, you have to admit one thing, it tends to get a little boring this time of the year. After reading what felt like the 50th mock draft in a row and realizing half the athletes will never wear a Packers jersey, I began to reminisce down memory lane.

One of the hardest hitting middle linebackers ever to put on a Green Bay uniform was Desmond Bishop. He had great speed and a fantastic nose for the ball. When he would run from sideline to sideline and hit somebody, not only would you hear it; you could damn well feel it!

The last time I saw a middle linebacker hit like Bishop was in the mid 80’s by a player named Brian Noble. Noble suffered a terrible “back contusion” injury during a Bears game in 1992. Unfortunately, after an 9 year career in Green Bay, he never played another game in a Packer uniform. At that time, it was a terrible loss to the Packers defense, the organization and its fan base. Noble was fun to watch and was as pure of a football player as they come.

Back to Bishop.

Who could forget that unfortunate play in 2012 when he tore his right hamstring in the team’s first preseason game in San Diego. The Packers had high hopes for Bishop, who had 5 sacks in 13 games the year prior in 2011. The image of him being taken off the field by the medical staff and trainers is branded in many heartbroken Packer fans brains.  

Bishop’s injury was a crushing blow to the Packers defense at a pivotal time. It virtually ended his stay in Green Bay. He went on playing for a year in Minnesota and finished his career in San Francisco. You have to wonder if he had never sustained that torn hamstring, what type of player he would’ve turned out to be. I believe he was on the verge of being a major influence and a difference maker on defense.  Ultimately, Bishop was never the same player again.

In my opinion, the top 3 middle linebackers to ever wear a Packers uniform were Ray Nitschke, Jim Carter and Brian Noble.  Bishop probably wouldn’t have cracked the top 3, but one thing we know for sure; the Packers organization hasn’t found a replacement for him yet.

JoeyT #DHPF

It’s not every day, a man walking into the mall in Riverview Florida stumbles across an up-and-coming star receiver from the Green Bay Packers. On March 21st that’s exactly what happened.

In a gentlemanly fashion, Russell Johnson proved that chivalry isn’t dead.

“As I was walking into Brandon MalI, I was holding the door open for the guy behind me when he happened to notice my DHPF tattoo,” Johnson said. “Right away, he looked at me and asked “Are you a Packer fan?” I said, “You know it!”

For those that live in Wisconsin, being a Packer fan is our birthright, but not so much in the state of Florida where you have 3 NFL teams, in 3 different cities.

Johnson was wearing a solid red shirt with khaki shorts, so it wasn’t like he was dressed in Packer gear that would’ve made him an obvious fan.  

He proceeded to ask Russell if it was a Packer tattoo on my forearm. ”Yes, it is DHPF.”  Wait one second, I’m with Geronimo Allison and you have to show it to him.”

Johnson waited patiently while Allison was with his daughter in the nail salon. He walked up and said, “Let me see your tattoo, so I showed him and he was blown away!  Wow you are a Die Hard!” Allison said.

Johnson discussed being picked DHPF of the month last year in June 2016, and how honored he was to be selected. He told Geronimo, “I follow and love everything Packers.” It’s a dream of Johnson’s to one day see a live game at Lambeau, something  he has not been able to do, but knows he will.

Before Geronimo left, he agreed to take a couple photos. A perfect way to make any Packer fans day.

“He is a great guy and I’m looking forward to seeing him have a standout year”  

Much like John Khuuuuuuun, Packer fans hope to continue yelling Geronimooooooo this up and coming season. Safe to say, Allison probably does too.

What about Clay Matthews?

We’ve come to the conclusion, the Packers should probably honor Randall Cobb’s contract and move on. Do we really want a contract battle with a player we not only love but comes up major in critical situations.

With Matthews, there seems to be a difference in opinion. Packer fans have been extremely verbal about restructuring his contract. Think of it this way, if the Pack reaches out to him, it’s not like he’s going to welcome the organization with open arms. He’s not going to say, “Cool, I was wondering when you guys were going to call and ask me to take a pay cut.”  As we’ve heard time and time again, it’s a business and he’s going to want his money. All of it!

In 2013, Mason Crosby was one of the few players who actually restructured his contract.  Fortunately, for Crosby, his mission was simple; make the field goal and life is good. Basically, the deal made complete sense. It was a smooth transition for both Crosby and the Packers. Ultimately, he regained his rhythm and was able to reclaim his full pay.  No problem.

In the past year, (along with Peppers) Matthews went through the PED allegations with all that Al Jazeera crap. The league found no new evidence and both players were cleared of any wrongdoing.

In 2017, Matthews is expected to make $13.7 million, with incentives it could reach over 15 million.  Including the defensive ends and all outside linebackers, Matthews holds the most expensive contract.

Matthews has become injury prone and has not been the same player of recent years. We all know the NFL can be a crazy business. Even if you were once a serious threat, as soon as you start falling off, you will lose fan support quickly, especially when you are receiving top dollar, as Clay most definitely is.  

Now that Matthews has been cleared and doesn’t need shoulder surgery, this means he should be ready OTA’s and minicamp instead of rehabbing. That’s a big plus.

That being said, much like Cobb, should the Pack move on and live with Matthews or approach him to restructure with a more incentive based contract?  Or, should Ted simply trade him and see what comes of it?  

In my opinion, we are a better defense with him on the field than off. I’m just not sure he’s worth that kind of ching. Thoughts?

#DHPF

JoeyT

OK Packer fans, let’s think outside of the box for just one moment.

Forget Adrian Peterson ever played for the Vikings. Forget he has been injury prone. Forget that he suffers from the (oh so apparent) chronic fumblitis. Forget he was accused of child abuse (I know that’s a tough one). He’s had a terrible offensive line and sub-par QB’s almost his entire career (except for Brett Favre).  As difficult as it would be, forget it all.

With that in mind, I’m reminding you again to think outside of the box.

Now, add Aaron Rodgers as your quarterback and a top notch offensive line. Imagine Peterson remaining healthy all season and being the type of threat Jordy Nelson is, especially since he has reunited with our receiving corps.  

Whether you like him or not, Ted Thompson has a very unique interest when it comes to certain kinds of free agents. It would not surprise me to see TT intrigued with Peterson. Not in the least!  

When it comes to a running back at 31 years old, he’s clearly on the wrong side of the fence. So the question remains, in a win now league, are you saying Peterson wouldn’t help the offensive side of the ball? Especially when his body is a freak of nature. Bottom line, he can still bust it wide open at any given moment.

He’s an athlete that wants to win a Super Bowl, and the Packers are only a few players away. The rotation of Eddie Lacy, Ty Montgomery and Adrian Peterson is exactly what the Packers need to have a Super Bowl type ground game. If you think differently, than it’s safe to say you are thinking with a closed mind. Remember, AP is not your typical 31 year old RB. Plain and simple, the guys a beast.  

I’m going to end it with these final thoughts:

The Packers have so much cap space that they can afford to sign Peterson and still have plenty of money left, to pursue at least one quality DB.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, it’s obvious the Packers need to toughen up the defense. But what Peterson would do for our offense as a whole, could be unprecedented. Think of the relief valve he would be for Rodgers, let alone Lacy and Montgomery. Especially if one or both of them suffer from a minor or major injury.

An example of a player that made an immediate impact was  Andre Rison. Much like Peterson, he was a malcontent but extremely talented receiver. In 1996, the team lost Robert Brooks, Antonio Freeman for several weeks and Mark Chmura for a few games. Rison wore out his welcome in Jacksonville and Ron Wolf saw him as an opportunity to fill a need. He was released by Jacksonville and became available just in time for the Packers to fix their receiving woes. Wolf convinced Holmgren that Rison could really help the team. They just came off road losses to Kansas City and Dallas, but Rison helped fill a hole. The team went 8-0, including the playoffs, with Rison on the roster. Green Bay ended up finding their winning ways once again and never looked back.  

They say time is a healer. None of us will ever forget the feeling watching Favre in purple. If you can find it in your heart to forgive and forget, could you imagine him in Green and Gold in the upcoming season?  This is a classic case of what comes around goes around.  What would it be like for Viking fans seeing Adrian Peterson wearing a Packer uniform? And heaven forbid if he finally holds up the Lombardi trophy at US Bank Stadium standing next to Aaron Rodgers.  

Now that my friends, would be a story for the ages.

#DHPF