Secure a Front Row Seat to Your Favorite Collegiate Athlete’s Packers Debut

| 05/02/2019


The NFL Draft signals the emptiness of winter without football has come to an end.  After lying dormant during the deep freeze of the country’s coldest months, the passion of the league’s fanbase re-emerges like greening grass under the melting snow.  Every team, no matter how it fared the season prior, can hit the reset button and restock the roster.  The ability to be active during free agency is not a given, but all 32 front offices can approach draft day with the power to tip the scales of their franchise toward glory…or the bottom of the standings.  It is the excitement of the unknown—the name of your team’s next superstar on the cusp of being announced—that makes the draft must-watch drama for so many fans.
 

The 2019 Green Bay Packers Draft Class

The Green Bay Packers had a total of 10 picks the morning before the 2019 NFL Draft and made a trade on day one, giving their no. 30 pick and two fourth-rounders to the Seahawks for no. 21. With its eight picks, the Packers targeted elite athletes and bolstered the defensive side of the roster. Here’s the breakdown:
 

Round One

Rashan Gary, OLB, Michigan
Ht: 6-4 Wt: 277
The Packers used their first pick in the first round to draft Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary.
Gary is a high-effort, versatile defender considered by many to be a “freak athlete.” He was a two-time All-Big Ten first team selection in 2017 and 2018 but only started nine games in his final season with the Wolverines due to a shoulder injury.
His size, paired with elite measurables and raw athleticism, put him on the Packers’ radar years ago, according to team scout Joe Hueber.
“He has rare gifts,” Hueber said.
This is the eighth straight year in which the Packers chose a defensive player with their first draft pick.
 
Darnell Savage Jr., S, Maryland
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 198
Green Bay traded up to move to pick 21 in the first round, selecting safety Darnell Savage Jr. from Maryland.
A speedy and versatile playmaker for the Terrapins, Savage could fill a major void at safety for the Packers. He blazed through the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds and was a second team All-Big Ten selection last season.  Savage’s four interceptions ranked second in the Big Ten and 13th in the country in 2018.  He also filled up the stat sheet with two passes defensed and 59 tackles.
Savage is the odds-on favorite to end up a starter for the Packers and form a completely new back end of the defense with Adrian Amos, who signed as a free agent from Chicago.
Bucky Brooks of NFL.com spoke highly of the new Packers safety. “Darnell Savage is a monster. Not surprised he made his way into the 1st round after hearing coach after coach rave about him. Packers get a FS with great instincts, awareness and range. Plus, he’s a tough guy,” he tweeted.
Gary and Savage are expected to provide a major boost to a Packers defense that lacked healthy talent in the backfield and lost longtime pass rushing specialist Clay Matthews to free agency.
 

Round Two

Elgton Jenkins, OL, Miss. State
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 310
After focusing on defense with their picks in the first round, the Packers turned their attention to the offense in round two by selecting offensive lineman Elgton Jenkins from Mississippi State.
Jenkins started games at left tackle, left guard and right tackle for the Bulldogs, proving an ability to play any position on the offensive line.
He is a versatile player with the size, power and length to handle a variety of defensive linemen and edge rushers.
“He played all five spots at some point in college. We took him as a guard, but you feel comfortable putting him anywhere he needs to be. We like his combination of size and athleticism and his versatility,” scout Charles Walls said about Jenkins.
“He has a chance to be a good player in the NFL whether it’s center, guard or tackle,” Packers General Manager Brian Gutekunst said.
 

Round Three

Jace Sternberger, TE, Texas A&M
Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 251
In round three of the draft, at pick no. 75, Green Bay selected tight end Jace Sternberger out of Texas A&M.
“He’s got an exciting skill set. He’s a late bloomer. He was late to develop,” the Packers said about Sternberger.
Sternberger made a name for himself as a receiving threat in college, averaging an impressive 17 yards per catch in his only season with the Aggies.
“There’s a reason why I left early. I felt like I was the best tight end in this draft class,” Sternberger said. “I have a lot of work to prove out for me. I’ve always been in a situation where I want to take on the challenge head on. That’s what I plan to do here — prove to Green Bay that they made the right pick.”
Sternberger also said in a WISN 12 Sports interview that Green Bay’s family atmosphere is the type of environment he wants to be in.
 

Round 5

Kingsley Keke, DL, Texas A&M
Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 288
 

Round 6

Ka’dar Hollman, CB, Toledo
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 196
Dexter Williams, RB, Notre Dame
Ht.: 5-11 Wt.: 212
 

Round 7

Ty Summers, LB, TCU
Ht.: 6-1 Wt: 241
 
The NFL draft is settled.  The picks are in.  Franchises across the country, the Packers included, are welcoming new talent to town.  Those players, the best of the collegiate ranks, draw new allegiances, but fans who watched them star in the NCAA don’t have to let those new locations knock the luster off their loyalty.  Stars of the college game are just as fun to root for professionally, and Event USA can help you get a front seat to their first season!
Event USA has everything a fan needs to make his or her trip to Green Bay complete:

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Packers’ defense gets younger, faster quick

| 04/29/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Green Bay’s offense adds G/C Jenkins, TE Sternberger as possible starters
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers entered free agency and the NFL draft with several clear objectives.

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First, GM Brian Gutekunst was determined to give defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s unit an infusion of youth and talent. That last year’s defense ranked as high as 18th still amazes.
Second, he was committed to upgrading the offensive line and the tight end position by adding players who could contribute immediately while being groomed as future starters.
Third, he sought players with mental toughness and an edge.
So how did Gutekunst fair in his second offseason?
Not too shabby.
A glance at the Packers’ unofficial depth chart reflects real potential for improvement on both sides of the football.
Gutekunst’s first eight acquisitions – four free agents and the first four draft picks – took aim at major needs.
Free agents Preston and Za’Darius Smith represent a pair of outside linebackers in their prime. They are rugged, seasoned veterans who are champing at the bit to win in Green Bay.
Top draft pick Rashan Gary will be a starter one day, but for now he will be asked to get after the quarterback in obvious passing situations. It’s an ideal situation for Gary, who spent his time at Michigan dealing with double- and triple-team blocks.
I’m curious to see what Gary can do in one-on-one matchups. If I’m right about Gary, a lot of so-called “draft experts” are going to have to eat their words.
At safety, another glaring position of need, Gutekunst added veteran Adrian Amos to anchor the defense’s back end. Then he traded up from the 30th pick to select Maryland safety Darnell Savage, Jr., with the 21st pick acquired from Seattle.
Amos and Savage are a major upgrade over Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Kentrell Brice and all the rest that lined up back there.
That’s five impact players on defense: Four starters and a key reserve (Gary) in one offseason.
The prevailing theory is Gutekunst did a great deal to overhaul the defense, but not nearly enough on offense.
I would disagree.
Two of the GM’s top eight moves beefed up the offensive line. Gutekunst signed Billy Turner in free agency to make an immediate impact. Turner, who has experience in Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s wide-zone scheme, should start at right guard.
Gutekunst also drafted Elgton Jenkins, an interior offensive lineman from Mississippi State, with the 44th pick. Jenkins started at center the past two seasons for the Bulldogs, but is going to begin at guard for Green Bay.
“We took him as a guard,” Packers’ college scout Charles Walls said. “But with a guy that size (6-4 ½ , 310), that athletic, you watch the tape and you feel comfortable putting him anywhere you need him to be. Definitely a light bulb goes off when a guy falls to you with that much value, that much versatility.”
The Packers believe Jenkins could play center, guard or tackle.
“When you watch him he’s got everything in his body (that you’d want),” Walls said. “When he wants to be dominant, wants to control guys, he can do it. And he does it on a consistent basis.”
According to Pro Football Focus, Jenkins yielded one sack in 762 pass-blocking snaps at center his final two seasons.
“I feel like I’m quick with my feet,” Jenkins said. “I can move people off the ball.”
The Packers’ offensive line, from left to right, projects to be: David Bakhtiari, Lane Taylor, Corey Linsley, Billy Turner and Bryan Bulaga. The competition will be fierce, however, with Jenkins and Cole Madison, a fifth-round pick last year, battling with Taylor for the left guard job.
Jace Sternberger, the tight end from Texas A&M, was the Packers’ third-round pick at 75 overall.
Sternberger, 6-4, 251, was well-traveled by the time he got to College Station, Texas. He originally signed with Kansas, left after two years, and eventually latched on with Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, where he caught Texas A&M’s eye.
Sternberger, who is reputed to be a strong route runner, was clocked at an underwhelming 4.75 in the 40-yard dash. However, the Packers clocked him at 4.66 and aren’t worried.
“He was a riser at Texas A&M,” said Jon-Eric Sullivan, the Packers’ co-director of player personnel. “He didn’t have much of a career at Kansas, moved on to junior college and kind of burst on the scene this year. (Packers scout) Charles Walls went through there, who is our area scout, did a lot of work on him, and did a really good job. And then I went through there myself, and we were very pleased with what we found.”
Sternberger caught 48 passes for 832 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and 10 touchdowns in 13 games.
“What better opportunity can you have,” Sternberger said of being drafted by Green Bay.
“As a young tight end, everybody’s mindset is you want to be the next big thing, and what better way to do it than with Marcedes (Lewis) and then Jimmy Graham – two guys who’ve had amazing careers in the NFL.”
Sternberger left A&M early for a reason.
“I have that big chip on my shoulder,” he said. “I mean, there’s a reason I left early – because I felt like I was the best tight end in this draft class.”
Clearly the Packers thought highly of him, too.
Kingsley Keke, a 6-4, 305-pound defensive lineman, was the team’s fifth-round pick out of A&M. Ka’dar Hollman, a 6-0, 190-pound cornerback from Toledo, joined Notre Dame running back Dexter Williams (5-11, 215) as the sixth-round picks.
In the seventh round, Green Bay selected inside linebacker Ty Summers (6-1, 241) from TCU.
Williams, the running back, is an intriguing pick.
In 2017, as a part-time player, he carried the ball 39 times for 360 yards (a 9.2 average) and four touchdowns. In 2018, he rushed 158 times for 995 yards (a 6.3 average) with 12 touchdowns. Williams’ 97-yard touchdown run against Virginia Tech last year ranks as the second-longest in school history.
Williams ran a 4.57 40-yard dash, but believes he is plenty fast to make big plays because “it’s different when people are chasing you.”
He believes he’s a perfect fit for LaFleur’s offense.
“To get in space – be able to make plays – I can see myself in the offense already and I can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Packers’ defense gets speed at edge, safety

| 04/26/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Green Bay gets DE Gary at 12, then trades up for safety Savage at 21
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Well, what do you think?

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It’s the most asked question in the wake of any NFL Draft, especially when Green Bay holds two first-round picks.
My three-word response: I like it.
It would be easy to criticize the Packers and GM Brian Gutekunst for not drafting an offensive lineman when that position seemed abundant at No. 12.
Gutekunst also could be second-guessed for not selecting a tight end or an inside linebacker.
To that I’ve got two answers. The first is long, the second short:
** A) The Packers added a highly talented speed-power edge rusher in Michigan’s Rashan Gary at 12, and they got the fourth-fastest defensive back in the draft with the 21st pick by trading up from 30 to get Maryland safety Darnell Savage, Jr.
Whoever plays inside linebacker next to Blake Martinez is going to be better because of Gary and Savage. It’s the same with the cornerbacks.
Some wanted Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat – myself included – but instead they got a talented player (Gary) who doesn’t have issues regarding a possible heart ailment.
I wanted Sweat at 12 mostly because I doubted Gary would be there. When the Lions chose tight end T.J. Hockenson at No. 8 that sealed the deal on Gary-to-Green Bay.
When the Packers traded up from 30 to 21 with Seattle to draft Savage it was like a thunderbolt. Savage’s 4.3 40-speed and play-making ability is going to be exciting for Packers fans.
Nick Collins is the closest to Savage I can think of. Collins was a bit bigger; Savage a touch faster.
** B) The draft isn’t over yet.
The Packers still own the 44th pick (second round) and 75th pick (third round) going into tonight’s Day 2.
They still could land a tight end, slot receiver, inside linebacker or an offensive lineman.
With the 44th pick, the Packers would be fortunate to land any of these three players: Alabama inside linebacker Mack Wilson, Florida offensive tackle Jawaan Taylor or Mississippi receiver A.J. Brown (my favorite player still on the board).
Wilson would give Martinez a terrific running mate.
Taylor would help solidify the right tackle position.
Brown would give the Packers’ offense a serious jolt of talent in the passing game.
If all three are off the board, I’m taking a long, hard look at either of two tight ends: Alabama’s Irv Smith, Jr., and Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger.
Now, let’s take a closer look at Gary and Savage.
** Rashan Gary, defensive end, Michigan
Gary, 6-4, 277, was clocked at 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. That’s incredibly fast for a man of his size. He also answered questions about a reported torn labrum by benching 225 pounds 26 times. He also flashed a 38-inch vertical leap.
The big question with Gary: Why not more production in college? He had 3 ½ sacks last year as a junior.
Packers college scout Joe Hueber had a ready explanation.
“He commanded a lot of attention at Michigan, double-teams, triple-teams, taking on the tight end,” Hueber told reporters. “You saw it in some of his teammates. They got freed up and they were able to get production. It’s not like he wasn’t impacting the game. You watch him – he was all over the place, getting off blocks, and getting pressure, too.”
Gary was first-team all-Big Ten each of the past two seasons. He played in 35 games with 22 starts and is a high-energy athlete.
What’s the best part of his game?
“Just the energy I bring to the field,” Gary said. “I’m fun. I like to compete. And I love to get after it. Every play I’m ready to bring it.”
Gary got emotional when the Packers drafted him.
“It comes from my love of the game,” he said. “To have an organization like the Green Bay Packers to believe in you – and to have them call my name – means a lot. I can’t wait to start playing there with them.”
** Darnell Savage, Jr., safety, Maryland
The Packers played this one cool.
Of the 29 reported players that had pre-draft visits with Green Bay, none was Darnell Savage, Jr. The Packers had him on their radar for a long time and they coveted enough to trade their 30th pick, plus the 114th and 118th picks (fourth round) to Seattle to move up and select Savage.
The 5-foot-11, 198-pound safety ran a blistering 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He used that speed to make a ton of plays in Maryland’s secondary. He has decent hands and accounted for seven interceptions the past two seasons.
Savage believes his versatility and ball skills set him apart.
“I feel like I’m extremely versatile,” he said. “I really bring that physical presence to the field and to the game. I’m fast. I like to hit. I like to be around the ball. I like to make plays.
“I just love to play the game of football. The game of football is fun to me. Any time I’m out there playing, I’m going to give it my all and just enjoy it.”
Savage began his college career as a cornerback, but like so many top athletes on a college defense, he was moved to safety to maximize his skills.
His height may be seen as a detriment. Savage doesn’t buy it.
“I’ve always been an extremely confident person,” he said. “I’ve always had that chip on my shoulder.”
Savage will be teamed with free-agent acquisition Adrian Amos to form the Packers’ new safety tandem. In terms of ability (Savage) and experience (Amos) it’s a unit with great potential.
Gutekunst called Savage “an absolute difference-maker.”
“He’s obviously a premier athlete,” Gutekunst said. “He’s been an impact player for Maryland for a number of years. He’s able to close the gap, from centerfield to the hash. He’s an aggressive, physical player who can take the ball away. He fits what we’re trying to do on the back end.”
I like Gary. I like Savage.
The defense is going to be vastly improved from its 18th ranking. A speedy inside linebacker with cover skills (‘Bama’s Wilson) might be too much to ask.
I’ll be happy with A.J. Brown and a tight end.

Event USA Teams Up with the Green Bay Distillery for the Ultimate Tailgating Experience

| 04/23/2019


Green Bay’s game-day tradition of tailgating just got taken up a notch! Along with its new home turf at the Green Bay Distillery, Event USA has revamped the roster of its World-Famous Tailgate Party packages to include a NEW menu and NEW VIP indoor area to keep you warm before entering the Frozen Tundra. 
Beginning with the first regular season home game on Sunday, Sept. 15, you and your friends can bring a starting-calibur appetite to Event USA’s all-you-can-eat buffet stocked full of traditional tailgate fare. The parties also include alumni player meet-and-greets, giveaways and musical entertainment to put you in the proper mood for the day’s matchup. All the festivities come with stunning views of the Packers training field, Don Hutson Center, and world-famous Lambeau Field. Now closer than ever before, the party is just a block away from 1265 Lombardi Avenue!

 

What’s included?

Traditional Tailgate Party Package – $25/person

  • Enjoy unlimited food: Bratwurst, Hamburgers, Pulled Chicken, Pasta Salad, Chips and Cookies
  • Drink unlimited beverages: Beer, Soda, Water, Bloody Marys and Vodka Lemonades
  • All NEW cash bars for specialty drinks such as Wine, Moscow Mules and Wisconsin’s world-famous Old Fashioneds
  • Musical entertainment including traditional Packers songs to get you pumped in time for the first play
  • Special children’s admission– Kids 12 and under get a special souvenir!
  • An alumni player to greet fans with autographs available for purchase during regular season games ONLY
  • Live radio broadcast
  • Prizes, special promotions and other celebrity appearances

VIP Tailgate Party Package – $45/person
Our VIP Party will have the same features as the Traditional but will also offer the following:

  • Enjoy unlimited food: Bratwurst, Hamburgers, Pasta Salad, Chips, Meatballs, Chili, Jambalaya, Salad bar and Cookies
  • Full open Bar with call brands, Bloody Marys and Craft Beers
  • All NEW cash bars for specialty drinks such as Wine, Moscow Mules and Wisconsin’s world-famous Old Fashioneds
  • INDOOR with some high-top tables and chairs
  • Large screen TVs and screens with projectors to watch pre-game programming
  • Access to indoor restrooms

So, come join in on the fun, and get your tailgate tickets today!
Event USA’s Tailgate Parties always begin three hours prior to kickoff and end thirty minutes before kickoff.
 


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Packers’ draft must solidify OL, TE, ILB

| 04/22/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Green Bay’s draft flexibility makes weekend exciting, unpredictable
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Trade up? Move down? Stay put?

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The Packers’ possibilities going into Thursday night’s first round of the 2019 NFL Draft are many, but their goal is simple: (A) to stay put and choose wisely when possible; and (B) to bend the draft to their will when necessary.
Packers GM Brian “Gunslinger” Gutekunst did both in last year’s draft.
Gutekunst’s draft-day maneuvering in his first go-round – coupled with his free-agent signings in the offseason – gives the Packers great flexibility.
Green Bay holds the 12th, 30th, 44th, 75th, 114th and 118th picks. That’s more than enough ammo to build around the free agents.
Za’Darius and Preston Smith are bookends at outside linebacker. Adrian Amos affords leadership in the secondary. Billy Turner is an experienced, athletic and versatile offensive lineman.
A stud inside linebacker, a speed edge rusher and an athletic safety all would fit nicely in defensive coordinator Mike Pettine’s attack. Each position may be addressed in this draft.
Either Delaware’s Nasir Adderley or Virginia’s Juan Thornhill makes sense for Green Bay with the 44th pick.
Retaining Jimmy Graham and resigning Marcedes Lewis doesn’t preclude them from taking a tight end in the first round. But it does remove the urge to reach for one.
Iowa’s Noah Fant is a speedy, sure-handed tight end that could make an immediate impact on passing downs. Fant would be a serious option if he’s still available at 30.
If not, Alabama’s Irv Smith Jr. may be around at 44.
Either fits the bill as an instant impact player with long-term potential as the starter.
Fifth-round pick Cole Madison’s return after a year off should help the Packers’ offensive line, but it doesn’t mean they won’t select one, perhaps as early as the 12th pick.
Without further ado, here is my “Packers draft plan” for 2019, also known as their best-case scenario:
** If LSU inside linebacker Devin White is available when the Packers are on the clock with the 12th pick, they should take him. It should be a no-brainer. He would be a Day One running mate alongside Blake Martinez in a revamped defense.
White’s sideline-to-sideline speed and play-making ability make him too good to pass up.
If White’s gone, Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat would be the next-best option. Sweat could play on passing downs right away, while being groomed as a one-day starter.
Sweat’s a beast.
If Sweat is gone it becomes decision time. A call from another GM wanting to trade up for a quarterback would be sweet.
One possibility is the New York Giants at 17.
If Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins falls to 12, and the Giants want to trade up, here’s what the NFL’s trade value chart says:
** To trade down with the Giants, the Packers would receive New York’s 17th pick and its 37th pick. In return, the Giants would get the Packers’ 12th, 75th and 118th picks.
I would make that deal in a heartbeat.
The Packers would hold the 17th, 30th, 37th and 44th picks. That’s four Top 50 players in one draft.
In this scenario, Green Bay’s flexibility would be endless.
Here’s how I would go:
** I would draft Oklahoma offensive lineman Cody Ford at 17. He’s a rare athlete at 6-4, 329 pounds who has played both guard and tackle. He would be the Packers’ Day One starter at either left or right guard, with potential to play tackle later on.
With Ford, Turner, Madison and Bryan Bulaga’s return, the Packers’ offensive line would be in its best shape in a long time.
** At 30, I’m all in on Mississippi receiver A.J. Brown. He’s a terrific athlete who can play in the slot or on the perimeter. At six feet, 226 pounds, he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash and has both the agility and power to run past or run over would-be defenders.
If Brown’s gone, I would take the best tight end. If Iowa tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Fant are gone, I would take Alabama’s Smith. If he’s gone, too, I would select Alabama inside linebacker Mack Wilson.
They can’t all be gone.
** At 44, Delaware’s Adderley would be a nice fit at safety. Texas A&M tight end Jace Sternberger, a nifty pass-catcher, needs to get stronger in the run game.
Clearly, the possibilities are many.
My best guess is Green Bay stays put and drafts either the best offensive lineman or defender on their board.
On Friday morning, I’ll have a column recapping the Packers’ first round of the draft. Wish me luck.
Better still, wish the Packers luck.

Packers’ 12th pick? No Sweat! It’s ‘Tez

| 04/15/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA
Packers’ family loses Hall of Famer Forrest Gregg: Lombardi’s ‘best ever’
GREEN BAY, Wis. – In 10 days the Green Bay Packers likely will be on the clock with the 12th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

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What should they do? Who should they select?
Based on a dizzying look at the highlight film, statistics, player evaluations and mock drafts, I’ve come to two conclusions.
** No. 1 – The Packers are going to get an impact player at 12. If LSU inside linebacker Devin White falls (he won’t), or Florida tackle Jawaan Taylor tumbles (I doubt it), they would have to consider the speedy ILB or the OL building block.
It would be a nice problem to have.
An added bonus would be if Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins falls to 12, in which case another team might try to trade up for the signal caller. That could lead to a strong offer.
Otherwise, it’s most likely my No. 2 scenario will shake out.
** No. 2 – The Packers should select Mississippi State edge rusher Montez Sweat if he’s still on the board.
The addition of Za’Darius and Preston Smith in free agency doesn’t mean the Packers no longer need a pass rusher. In fact, it sets up a scenario where the Smiths can bang away on early downs, with Sweat entering in obvious passing situations.
It carves out an immediate niche for the rookie without putting any undue pressure or expectations on him beyond the norm.
Sweat, at 6-6, 260, ran a blistering 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine. He also showed a 36-inch vertical jump while doing 21 reps at 225 pounds in the bench press.
He reminds me of two NFC North pass rushers: the Vikings’ Danielle Hunter and the Bears’ Leonard Floyd.
Sweat can be in their class as a pass rusher.
After signing with Michigan State out of high school as a tight end, Sweat moved to defense and played in two games before taking a redshirt year. He played in two games in 2015, as well, but was suspended for undisclosed reasons and left the team. From there, he transferred to Copiah-Lincoln College and showed enough to earn a scholarship from Mississippi State.
Once there, he captured back-to-back all-SEC honors by terrorizing SEC offenses for two seasons. As a senior, he also received second-team All-American honors from the Associated Press after notching 53 tackles, 14 for loss, and 11 ½ sacks.
Sweat was diagnosed with a heart condition this offseason, but it’s reportedly nothing that will curtail his NFL career. The Packers shouldn’t be dissuaded by it.
If Sweat isn’t available at 12, and neither White nor Taylor falls, the Packers would have to seriously consider trading down.
They could move back a handful of spots, garner additional picks, and still select from a pool that could include: Iowa tight ends T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant, Florida State edge rusher Brian Burns, and perhaps (if they’re lucky) Michigan inside linebacker Devin Bush.
Any of those four would have an immediate role in Green Bay, but I can’t see the value at No. 12. Now, at 15 or beyond, plus an additional late-first or early second-round pick, I’m all in.
In fact, I’m willing to guess that either Hockenson or Fant will be available when the Packers pick at 30. They also have the 44th overall pick, so they could go in several directions.
In a perfect world, I could see the Packers drafting Sweat at 12, and then drafting players at two of these four positions: tight end, slot receiver, offensive lineman and inside linebacker.
A.J. Brown, the slot receiver from Mississippi, would be ideal.
Like Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings and James Jones before him, he enters the NFL ready-made to contribute after an incredibly productive college career.
Brown, 6-0, 226, is fast (4.49 in the 40), powerfully built (19 reps at 225) and athletic (36 ½ inch vertical).
He eclipsed his own school records with 1,320 receiving yards and 85 catches last season.
Next week, I’ll give my final draft overview and prediction.
On a sad note, the Packers lost legendary offensive tackle Forrest Gregg, whom the great Vince Lombardi called “the best player I’ve ever coached.”
Gregg, 85, passed away last week in Colorado Springs, Col., after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease, according to his wife, Barbara.
The Hall of Famer played in a then-record 188 straight games over 15 seasons, garnering All-Pro honors seven times. He played from 1956 to 1971, with his final season in Dallas.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barbara and the Gregg family,” Packers president Mark Murphy said in a statement. “He was a legendary player for the team, one of the greatest in our history. The ultimate team player, he raised the level of play of those around him. He also had a great connection with the organization over the years. We enjoyed welcoming him back to Lambeau Field and seeing fans appreciate him around the state.”
Bill Curry, the starting center on the Packers’ Super Bowl I team, marveled at Gregg’s attention to detail.
“The first time I set foot on the practice field in Green Bay, I noticed a player in the distance working on his stance, his technique and his footwork,” Curry said in an interview with me Friday on The FAN. “It was Forrest Gregg, the best lineman in the league. I asked him what he was doing. He said, ‘It’s all about the fundamentals. That’s where it all begins.”
Curry said Gregg was the consummate technician and pro. The two became friends and stayed in touch through the years.
“He will be missed,” Curry said. “He was a great man and teammate.”
 

2019 Preseason Opponents Released

| 04/12/2019

Date                     Opponent                                           Time (CT)/TV             

Aug. 8-12             HOUSTON TEXANS                          TBA/Packers TV Network
Aug. 15-19           at Baltimore Ravens                           TBA/Packers TV Network
Aug. 22-25          vs. Oakland Raiders                            TBA/Packers TV Network
Aug. 29               KANSAS CITY CHIEFS                       TBA/Packers TV Network

Specific dates and times to be announced

NEW Tailgate Location!

| 04/12/2019

Event USA has partnered with The Green Bay Distillery on Mike McCarthy Way for our World Famous Tailgate Party! Come join us in celebrating our exciting new tailgate menu including our all NEW VIP indoor area to help keep you warm before entering the Frozen Tundra.

Get Tailgate Tickets

Packers must learn from coach-QB rift

| 04/12/2019

By Chris Havel
Special to Event USA

Rodgers responds to Bleacher Report; OL Cole Madison to join team today

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Packers’ best news lately is the NFL’s 100th season will feature the league’s oldest rivalry, Packers at Bears, in the Thursday, Sept. 5, season opener.

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It’s a terrific start to what’s going to be a special season.

The next-best news is that Packers head coach Matt LaFleur began implementing his program in earnest today. The Packers’ offseason workout schedule begins with LaFleur at the helm.

As a side note, offensive lineman Cole Madison will report to the Packers. The fifth-round pick had off-the-field issues a year ago and elected to take the season off. It appears to have been a wise decision, with Madison’s health the most important factor.

Now, it seems, he’s ready to contribute to the Packers.

All that good news couldn’t have arrived at a better time.

The winds of change already swept through Lambeau Field when former Packers head coach Mike McCarthy was fired after a dismal Dec. 2 loss to lowly Arizona at home.

Now, it is LaFleur’s time to take the team in a winning direction.

Last week, two stories circulated that painted the Packers in a disappointing light. In an ESPN article, McCarthy said the Packers couldn’t have handled his firing any worse.

He focused long and hard on the “how” and “when.”

He said the messenger was cold and the timing (in-season) was a mistake.

What McCarthy didn’t discuss was the “why?”

Maybe this will clear it up.

McCarthy was fired on Dec. 2 because his team would fail to reach the playoffs in consecutive seasons. He was fired because he couldn’t control his quarterback. He was fired because he was flailing about instead of fixing the stagnant offense.

Then, in a Bleacher Report article that was unflattering at best, Aaron Rodgers was portrayed as a prima donna and McCarthy as running a program that lacked discipline and innovation.

Rodgers on Monday called the article a smear campaign.

Rodgers responded vehemently to the allegations that he called McCarthy “a low-IQ football coach” and that Packers president Mark Murphy told him “not to be the problem” during a phone conversation in which Murphy told Rodgers of LaFleur’s hire.

He also said he never held a grudge against McCarthy because his coach, when with the 49ers, allegedly said he believed Alex Smith was the better quarterback.

Rodgers, to ESPN Milwaukee, said:

“The two main things I think I really want to talk about and just clear up, which are really central themes to the article, the first is the Mark Murphy conversation because part of the article seems to want to say the Packers are worried about me as the leader of the football team moving forward.

“And before I get into what actually happened in the conversation with Mark, I want to say two things: One, if they knew that, why would they offer me a contract last year? And two, which goes into my second central thesis point that I’m going to take down, is if I really disliked Mike (McCarthy) so much, why would I re-sign knowing that if I play and we do what we do around here – we made the playoffs eight straight years and then I got hurt and we missed the playoffs – it’s going to be me and Mike my entire career. So if I really disliked him that much, do you think I’d re-sign. Is the money that important to me? I’ll tell you it’s not. Quality of life is important.”

Rodgers added that Packers fans should be grateful for everything that McCarthy accomplished in his time here.

“We had a hell of a run,” Rodgers said. “We had 13 years, four NFC Championships, one Super Bowl, eight straight playoffs, 19 straight wins … So instead of trashing this guy on the way out, let’s remember the amazing times that we had together.

“Packers fans, remember this, especially those of you who live in Green Bay: Mike lives here. Mike has young kids here. So Mike has to be here. Think about how difficult that is for him.

My favor that I would ask of you, strongly, is if you see Mike, shake his hand. Tell him thanks for the memories … show him the respect that he deserves.”

Fair enough. Rodgers has tried to graciously move on from the Bleacher Report article, and to make an effort to repair/maintain his relationship with McCarthy.

It’s the right thing to do.

Still, all eyes will be on Rodgers to see if he’s truly buying into LaFleur’s scheme. What choice does he have but to be aboard? And why wouldn’t he be?

When all is said and done this is what matters: LaFleur has an opportunity to write his own history here. He enters the job with open eyes, and if that wasn’t entirely true before last week’s double-barreled barrage of disappointment, it ought to be now.

Perhaps some good can come of this.

Let’s hope so because the Bears aren’t messing around. They intend to capture the NFC North title in back-to-back seasons, beginning with the Thursday night opener.

It will be here sooner than you think.

Meantime, the Packers are beginning operations under a new coach, and GM Brian Gutekunst is just 17 days away from overseeing the Packers’ draft for a second time.

There’s a lot to look forward to.

It’s time to leave the past in the past.