Super Bowl 50 Opening Night: QBs steal show

fpadmin | 02/02/2016

Super Bowl 50 in Santa Clara, CA

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By CHRIS HAVEL
Meantime, back in Green Bay: Trying to fill Packers’ holes
Long before Super Bowl 50 Opening Night reached halftime I couldn’t shake the thought: God, how I miss Monday Night Football.
While Carolina’s Cam Newton tried to explain his naïve views on race relations, Denver’s Peyton Manning attempted in earnest to dodge a media-driven blitz led by Father Time.
If passer ratings were affixed to their performances Monday night in San Francisco neither quarterback broke 50. Hopefully, Newton and Manning will be a lot better come Sunday.
In between, there was the usual fun, frivolity and foolishness – without a lot of football – that is associated with “media day,” which was moved up to Monday night this year. All the while, aside from channel surfing, I kept coming back to one question: How do the Packers get to the podium for Opening Night Super Bowl 51?
Here are some suggestions, and frankly, does it really matter if the Packers’ reinforcements come via free agency or the draft?
Here goes:

Acquire whichever tight end the Chargers fail to re-sign: Antonio Gates or Ladarius Green.

Gates is in the twilight of a fabulous career. His leadership and resume coupled with his ability to still rise to the moment makes him a good fit.
Green, at 6-5, 245, with 4.5 speed in the 40-yard dash coming out of Louisiana-Lafayette makes him intriguing. He knows how to play in the NFL and he could make an immediate impact.
Defenses would have to defend the middle of the field, an element which was seriously lacking last season. Green also could threaten the deep seam which would force safeties to adjust, meaning shallow underneath routes should be open.

Add a proven inside linebacker who can strike a blow in the hole against the run on early downs.

Somehow, that doesn’t seem like it should as difficult as the Packers are making it look.
Sam Barrington, Nate Palmer and Jake Ryan all took their shots lining up next to Clay Matthews. Barrington was dealt a season-ending injury, although he didn’t appear to be the answer before he got hurt. Palmer played well in stretches but seemed to plateau and eventually fade before mid-season.
Ryan, the fourth-round pick from Michigan, battled and displayed some toughness. Ryan may become a regular starter, especially with a year under his belt.
But the Packers need to find a solution (aka a veteran) rather than another promising project.

A third down back would be nice.

It’s time the Packers’ offense had a weapon that could catch a simple check-down in the flat, make one tackler miss and take it to the house. That player currently isn’t on the roster. A Darren Sproles-type would perfect.

Add another big receiver who can line up on the perimeter and work the sideline or middle of the field with equal aplomb.

The next Jordy Nelson would be too much to hope for, but it’s worth a shot. To sit back and expect the current receiving corps to rebound would be awful risky. All reports are that Nelson will be even better than he was before the injury, and there’s been nothing to suggest Ty Montgomery’s ankle will be a chronic problem.
Still, the Packers’ offensive dysfunction demands that GM Ted Thompson provide head coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers with another weapon.

Another tackle?

There was a time when I felt the Packers needed to add another offensive tackle. That was about when Don Barclay was struggling mightily, Bryan Bulaga was still recovering from injuries and David Bakhtiari was shaky and injured.
J.C. Tretter’s performance at left tackle in the wild-card win at Washington changed my thinking. Tretter will become a quality swing tackle (left or right side) and could challenge to be the starter.
What the Packers do need is a nose tackle. Re-signing Letroy Guion and/or B.J. Raji is important, but I don’t think relying on one of them, plus Mike Pennel (who played well), is prudent. A tenacious, run-stuffing nose tackle would be greatly welcome.

That’s it.

The Packers’ offseason wish list isn’t that long and it’s certainly doable. Now we can sit back and enjoy Super Bowl 50 now that “Opening Night” has played out.
Chris Havel is a national best-selling author and 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’s MVP 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

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-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

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-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