By CHRIS HAVEL
Las Vegas has over/under at 11
In all the excitement of the NFL Draft, Brett Favre’s Packers homecoming and the new PAT rule, Green Bay’s 2015 schedule was a bit overlooked in the shuffle.
Here are my fearless predictions for the Packers this season:

Sunday, Sept. 13 @ Chicago

This noon NFC North game at Soldier Field is the perfect season-opening opponent. The Bears have a first-year head coach in John Fox, who is a radical upgrade from Marc Trestman. That’s the good news. The bad news is Trestman left a mess that still begs the question: What to do about quarterback Jay Cutler?
Packers win this one going away.

Sunday, Sept. 20 Seattle @ Green Bay

This Sunday night rematch of the NFC Championship should be a dandy. The Seahawks are the Packers’ kryptonite, or so it seems. That should change with a new venue, an ascending defense and a new attitude on special teams.
Still, the Seahawks are NFC Champs until someone knocks them out. I think the Packers take care of business in a 27-17 victory that’s closer than the final score might suggest.

Monday, Sept. 28  Kansas City @ Green Bay

Chiefs’ head coach Andy Reid and GM John Dorsey are among the NFL’s best. It will be interesting to see how far they’ve come in their program. I think the Chiefs pull off the home upset and Green Bay goes to 2-1.

Sunday, Oct. 4 @ San Francisco

The 49ers aren’t what they used to be even a year ago. The Packers should exact a fair amount of revenge.

Sunday, Oct. 11 St. Louis @ Green Bay

The Rams are an ascending team in the NFC coming off a productive off-season. Still, the Packers’ high-powered offense should prevail against a pesky Rams team.

Sunday, Oct. 18 San Diego @ Green Bay

Will Philip Rivers be the Chargers’ quarterback? Yes. Will the Chargers be able to come to Green Bay and get a road victory? No.

Sunday, Nov. 1 @ Denver

The Mile High City on Sunday Night Football against John Elway’s team. It doesn’t get much better than that. This should atone for the Monday night loss at Kansas City in what could be a scoreboard explosion.

Sunday, Nov. 8 @ Carolina

The Panthers added Devin Funchess to catch passes opposite Kelvin Benjamin. Cam Newton should like his new weaponry, and he could give the Packers problems. Ultimately, though, the Packers have been good against the Panthers.  The Packers should be 7-1 at the midpoint.

Sunday, Nov. 15 Detroit @ Green Bay

The Packers’ defense should be hitting its stride at this stage and the special teams, under head coach Mike McCarthy’s watchful eye, should be more help than hindrance.

Sunday, Nov. 22 @ Minnesota

Upset special right here! The Vikings’ defense is better than most fans think and QB Teddy Bridgewater is going to be a good one. If the Packers aren’t careful they could find themselves 8-2 by day’s end.

Thursday, Nov. 26 Chicago @ Green Bay

Happy Thanksgiving to Favre and the Packers. The celebration will include Favre’s No. 4 going up on the stadium’s façade, and it will end with a Packers’ rout.

Thursday, Dec. 3 @ Detroit

The back-to-back Thursday games are strange at this point of the season, and the Lions are always pesky there. The concern here is that the Lions will be playing for their playoff existence. I’m seeing an upset here. The Packers fall to 9-3.

Sunday, Dec. 13 Dallas @ Green Bay

The Cowboys might be offering a preview of the NFC Championship game with this matchup. Look for the Packers to defend home turf. The winner of this game probably ends up hosting the NFC title game.

Sunday, Dec. 20 @ Oakland

The Raiders are trying to refurbish under GM Reggie McKenzie but it’s been an uphill struggle. QB Derek Carr is someone to build around, but I don’t see the Packers stumbling in the Black Hole.

Sunday, Dec. 27 @ Arizona

The Cardinals will be a handful if QB Carson Palmer is still standing upright and playing. The Packers might have some matchup issues with Arizona and this could be a loss.

Sunday, Jan. 3 Minnesota @ Green Bay

There’s nothing like closing out a 13-3 season with a sweet revenge victory over the Vikings.

There you have it.

The Packers, at 13-3, will host the Cowboys in the NFC title game.
Really, the most difficult question is this: Who will represent the AFC in Super Bowl 50?
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Risk of injury increases because live play means kicker, holder must tackle
This week the NFL adopted a new rule governing a play that has been a source of irritation for a long time.
The problem is that it didn’t involve pass interference, what exactly is and/or isn’t a catch or any change to increase player safety. On the contrary, the NFL elected to pick on the little ‘ol PAT.
Since when did the “Point after Touchdown” become a point of emphasis that must be addressed?
Clearly, there existed a PAT problem that I was totally unaware of. Who’d a thunk it?
With all the potential bad press from ongoing NFL headlines involving everything from domestic abuse to murder, not to mention deflating footballs, the league’s priority is getting the PAT correct?
I’d be willing to play along if that was the case, except the NFL didn’t get it right. For a few insignificant percentage points (the difference between a previous 19-yard PAT and the new 32-yard PAT), the NFL has opened up the door to injury on a play that used to be merely innocuous.
In the league’s effort to increase 2-point attempts, it failed miserably. There are unintended consequences.
For instance, a PAT now is considered a “live” play, meaning the defense can return a blocked PAT for 2 points. Therefore, the holder and kicker have no choice but to attempt to make a tackle. It could be the difference between winning and losing.
It also could be why a team such as the Packers has a lot to risk with its punter as a holder, and a kicker (Mason Crosby) who is so invaluable.
Initially, an idea was proposed to do away with the PAT altogether. When a team scored a touchdown, it could accept 7 points and kick off, or it could take 6 points and try for 2.That’s pretty simple.
Immediately, it removes the monotony of 98-percent good PAT tries, and it removes the element of injury from a defensive player crashing down on an offensive player’s knee, for example. Instead, the NFL ups the ante on player safety.
Furthermore, the 15-yard line is so random. Why not try it from the 20? Why not from the 25? Why not give a team four points, instead of three, if it attempts and converts a field goal from 50-plus yards?
Why? The NFL shouldn’t be a circus. It is more than a PAT sideshow away from being fun to watch. It is unnecessary and it hurts the league’s image on player safety.
There are other unintended consequences, such as:

• If a team scores a touchdown to go up by one point there is no reason to risk losing by a blocked PAT. Teams will simply take a knee.
• What happens if a team lines up for a PAT, it gets blocked and an offense player recovers and runs it into the end zone? Is this good for one point or two?
•  How will penalties be enforced? Is this going to open the door for the defense getting a “free shot” on the offense?

The other two suggestions were equally ridiculous.
The Patriots proposed snapping the ball from the 15-yard line for the one-point kick, or placing the ball at the 2-yard line for the two-point attempt. However, a team’s choice wasn’t final and was subject to change following a timeout or penalty.
The Eagles proposed snapping from the 15-yard line for the kick but moving the ball to the 1-yard line for the two-point conversion. The Eagles also wanted the defense to be able to score points if it returned a turnover to the other end zone.
Why?
The difference between kicking from the 19-yard line (98 percent) and from the 32-yard line (93 percent) isn’t worth all of this nonsense.
Oh, the new rule also removes the potential for a fake PAT in order to score two points. Who is going to fake it from the 15? Teams are better off lining up at the 2-yard line and going for two points straight up.
How does that improve strategy? This reminds me of the NFL’s rule change on overtime. The league went into the meeting with the intent of making sure that BOTH teams got the football at least once in overtime.
Instead, they came up with the current cockamamie rule that states (and I paraphrase): If the team that receives the first possession scores a touchdown on the opening drive they are declared the winner and the game is over.
Glad they got that fixed, just like the PAT rule.
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Top two defensive backs, third-round WR-return specialist draw attention
For the first time since the 1992 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers didn’t select an offensive or defensive lineman in the first five rounds. That says a lot about how Packers GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy feel about their depth in the trenches. It also suggests a belief that the Packers are only a few pieces away from a championship.
Bad teams are forever searching for quarterbacks, pass-rush specialists and offensive and defensive linemen in the draft. The Packers selected a centerfielder-turned-defensive back, a point guard-turned-cornerback and a receiver whose impact will be as a return specialist and a weapon out of the backfield.
Damarious Randall, Quinten Rollins and Ty Montgomery bring the athleticism and enthusiasm that comes with youthful talent. They also bring a level of maturity and football passion that can’t be discounted.
Jake Ryan, the linebacker from Michigan, and Brett Hundley, the UCLA quarterback, also share those qualities. It doesn’t mean that the Packers’ Class of 2015 is going to be exceptional, but it does indicate a theme – one that has been discussed here before – known as Packer People.
It doesn’t mean these are choir boys. It means they share a love of football with a respect for the opportunity before them.
A cynic would say that guarantees next to nothing in terms of predicting their on-field success at the NFL level. A realist would counter by saying that maturity, especially if it’s born out of adversity, is a terrific indicator that:

• The player isn’t a quitter, and that he believes no challenge is too great. The switch from baseball to football for Randall, and basketball to football for Rollins, suggests a very tangible mental toughness. It also takes a special athlete to succeed while not “specializing.”
• Ryan, who recovered from a torn ACL as a junior, came back with a vengeance. The fact is players who possess a genuine passion for the game will do all they can to return from an injury. That’s big.
• Life experiences breed maturity and the Packers’ top five picks all have had their share of ups and downs. Now it is time for them to capitalize on the chance to be a very good player for the Packers.
• The Packers already have a pretty good idea of who the new players are. The rookies need to show them what they’re all about.
• “The notice part is over,” McCarthy said. “I told everyone Thursday night you’re here for a reason. Challenge for a roster spot. A lot of these guys, it’s been really impressive. You have to go into this with an open mind; stick to your philosophy.”
• The rookies, undrafted free agents and returning first-year players impressed McCarthy with their athleticism and high energy. “The two practices, today (Saturday) was definitely a step up from yesterday. I was very pleased with the quality of it. It’s been an excellent two days. The energy is tremendous.”

Returning players such as linebackers Joe Thomas and Adrian Hubbard caught McCarthy’s attention with their comeback from injury and work ethic. Both should contend for roster spots.
While the rookie practice is interesting, it isn’t as revealing as the beginning of training camp. Once the pads come on it’s a lot easier to see who can’t play. It doesn’t take long to get exposed. In turn, it doesn’t take long to see which players “flash” and catch the coaching staffs’ eye. After that, the good ones find a way to keep them watching.
It all makes for an interesting lead-up to training camp. The  Packers appear ready to smooth out the wrinkles, define roles for players and be ready to hit it running come late July.
Between now and then fans simply have to be patient, stay tuned for the latest news and pray that none of it involves injuries.
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Perhaps the relationship between Packers head coach Mike McCarthy and GM Ted Thompson could be best-described as this: Highly effective without the drama.
There are no major crises, just problems to be fixed. That’s how the Packers set about tackling last week’s NFL draft.
They took a realistic, big-picture assessment of the team. This is a Super Bowl-caliber team in need of several key weapons. Obviously, the Packers needed to reload in the defensive secondary. They also got major special teams help (McCarthy’s big-picture input), an inside linebacker in the fourth, a quarterback in the fifth and a pass rusher late.
This draft had a special feel to it. Special in that it addressed some very specific needs on a team that is close to being an NFL champion. What culminated in the past several days began several months ago.
McCarthy recognized a need to redefine his own job description and reorganize his staff. Then, he and Thompson set about to re-sign receiver Randall Cobb and right tackle Bryan Bulaga. It sustained the excellence and depth of the receiving corps, and it kept intact and under contract Aaron Rodgers’ offensive line for at least the next two seasons.
Meantime, the Packers lost cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House in free agency. Williams hit pay-dirt in Cleveland, while House hit the jackpot in Jacksonville. Good for them. The Packers’ response – both sensible and strategic – came during last weekend’s NFL draft in Chicago.
They selected Arizona State defensive back Damarious Randall with the 30th overall pick. Randall (5-11, 194) will line up at cornerback and contend for a starting job. The Packers doubled down in Round 2 by choosing Miami (Ohio) cornerback Quentin Rollins, who played just one season of Division I football after playing college hoops.
My take: Randall will challenge to replace Williams in the starting lineup. Rollins is similar to House in that he has terrific potential. The difference is that Rollins’ upside at this point is significantly higher. Rollins’ ball-hawking skills are impressive. Generally, when this former point guard gets his hands on the football he catches it. He runs a 4.54 and is a strong and willing tackler. He is raw, but with great upside.
In the grand scheme, some Packers fans may be disappointed because Green Bay didn’t fill a need at inside linebacker. To them I say consider this: The Packers’ greatest asset is its top-ranked offense. Its greatest liability is trying to sustain leads after Rodgers and Co. forge a lead.
A pass rush is critical. The Packers better hope that Julius Peppers does indeed have another strong season left in those 35-year-old legs. They also better pray that Clay Matthews doesn’t have to be miscast as an inside linebacker on early downs. Common sense suggests it has to dilute his pass-rushing ability.
Beyond that, the Packers needed defensive backs to combat opponents trying to rally after they fall behind. Players such as Randall and Rollins possess excellent ball skills. They can locate the football and they can catch it. That’s a great skill set to have for a Packers’ defensive back.
Then, in the third round, the Packers selected Stanford receiver Ty Montgomery. Think of Montgomery as a bigger, much less expensive Randall Cobb. When Cobb signed his off-season contract extension it was time to get him out of the offensive backfield and off special teams.
Those days are over. Montgomery, who is 6-0, 215, clocked a 5.51 40-yard dash. He might’ve gone higher in the draft if not for a poor season last year. He has excellent kick- and punt-return skills, and could be lined up in the backfield to catch bubble screens and run quick pitches. He moves easy for a player his size and has fine elusiveness.
Jake Ryan, an inside linebacker from Michigan, should fill the bill at that position. Ryan, a year removed from ACL surgery, has recovered to the point that he clocked a 4.65 in the 40-yard dash. At 240 pounds, he is big enough to strike a blow at the point of attack.
In the fifth, the Packers selected UCLA quarterback Brett Hundley, an exceptional athlete (4.6-second speed in the 40) with a strong arm and huge hands. Hundley is first-rate clay for McCarthy and Co. to develop.
Aaron Ripkowski, a fullback from Oklahoma, and Christian Ringo, a defensive tackle from Louisiana-Lafayette, fill specific needs. Ripkowski could be a long-term replacement for John Kuhn and a short-term solution on special teams. He runs 4.74 in the 40-yard dash, is a willing lead blocker and was the No. 2 fullback on many teams’ boards.
Ringo, at 6-0 ½, 293 pounds, is an inside pass rusher who could be deployed in the Packers’ sub-packages on passing downs. Tight end Kennard Backman, at 6-3, 243 pounds, will contend to be the team’s No. 3 on the depth chart behind Andrew Quarless and Richard Rodgers. Backman has nice hands and is fast enough to challenge the seam against a defense.
Ultimately, the Packers got something for everyone. They got much-needed special teams help. They got an inside linebacker with acumen. They got a quarterback with talent worth developing. They got a tight end with soft hands and nimble feet. They got a fullback who is a gung-ho Joe on special teams. They got an inside pass rusher with promise.
What they didn’t have was drama. Now it’s time to see them on the field. My guess is it will be a pleasure watching them find a role, just like it was watching McCarthy and Thompson work together during the draft.
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL
Arizona State’s Damarious Randall can play cornerback or safety in scheme
Damarious Randall isn’t a ‘tweener or a project. He’s a player.
When the Packers selected the Arizona State “safety” Thursday night with the 30th pick in the first round of the NFL draft, the choice seemed to come out of left field. In fact, it came out of center field, where Randall roamed before a shoulder injury forced him out of baseball.
In hindsight, so much of what NFL scouts have said about Randall is quite flattering. Excellent speed (4.41 in the 40), explosiveness (a 38-inch vertical leap) and above-average ball skills were repeatedly cited.
A few mock drafts even had him being drafted in the mid-20s. But when it came time for some of the media’s draft “experts” to fill out their mock drafts, Randall was largely lost in the shuffle. He didn’t have prototypical safety size (5-11, 196) or much experience at cornerback. As a result he got a bit overlooked by some.
That’s the difference between media gurus and NFL GM’s such as the Packers’ Ted Thompson. The media is filling out mock drafts. Thompson is filling out an NFL roster. If the Packers selected a player the media predicted then it was a good draft. End of story. For Thompson, and especially for Randall, that is just the beginning. Time will reveal whether this was a wise choice or a reach.
The reality is this: Thompson and his scouts believed in and coveted Randall. So rather than agreeing to trade down when teams came with low-ball offers, the Packers pulled the trigger and got their guy. They trusted their board.
Randall was highly productive in college, and his Wonderlic score of 18 suggests he has the capacity to grasp the complexities of an NFL scheme. Furthermore, it’s impressive that he didn’t quit sports altogether after a shoulder injury ended his baseball aspirations. Instead, he changed direction, turned to football and developed into a first-round draft pick. It’s even more impressive that he went from playing baseball to football, rather than the other way around. It suggests genuine mental and physical toughness.
Many liken Randall to the 49ers’ Jimmie Ward, the former Northern Illinois safety, which is a flattering comparison. Another comparison could be made to former Packers cornerback Doug Evans, whom ex-Packers GM Ron Wolf selected out of Louisiana Tech with the 141st pick in the 1993 draft. Evans, 6-1, 188, lined up as a hybrid linebacker/safety in college. Wolf was one of the few NFL GMs who accurately projected Evans to be an NFL-caliber cornerback. Remember, in 1993 there wasn’t the proliferation of draft news that exists today. To find Evans at Louisiana Tech, and to accurately project him as an NFL corner is nothing short of brilliant. There’s a reason Wolf is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and it’s because of draft picks such as Evans.
Wolf was right, of course, and Evans was a key cog in the Packers’ 1996 Super Bowl XXXI championship team. He routinely drew the opponent’s best receiver and he won a lot more battles than he lost. Louisiana Tech played him inside as a linebacker/safety in order to utilize his speed to make plays and cover for teammates’ mistakes.
Evans, as unselfish a player as any I’ve met in 25 years of covering the Packers, had no problem lining up where he was told. He did what the coaches asked, rather than complain about it affecting his draft status.
Randall’s story is similar in that his coaches at ASU lined him up wherever he could be best-utilized for the good of the team. Randall, for those who might be wondering, is “Packer people.” It’s not because he’s a choir boy. It’s because he has a passion for football. It’s what matters to him, and it’s what he’s all about 24/7, 365.
Now, the Packers must find an inside linebacker such as Miami’s Denzel Perryman, an edge pass rusher such as Virginia’s Eli Harold, and perhaps a play-making tight end such as Minnesota’s Maxx Williams or perhaps Michigan’s Devin Funchess. Wherever Thompson decides to go, rest assured it will be an incredibly considered, thorough and well-investigated choice.
If Thompson had an alter-ego his name would be Due Diligence. It’s how Wolf unearthed a Super Bowl-winning cornerback from Shreveport, La., and it’s why Thompson had no reservations about drafting Randall.
Was he the best available player? Who cares? What matters is that Thompson stuck to his guns, didn’t get suckered into being low-balled in a trade down, and got a player his scouts endorsed. Now it’s up to Randall and the coaching staff.
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.

By CHRIS HAVEL

Cornerback, inside linebacker and edge pass rusher make most sense

The Green Bay Packers are sitting pretty at 30.
They earned that late-round slot because they were among the NFL’s best teams last season. Now, they can capitalize on it by being patient, trusting their scouting department and letting the best players fall.
The big question is which player the Packers are going to take?
As difficult as that may be to answer, there are probably a handful of players who would be nabbed by the Packers if they were available.
Here’s a look at several just four days before the NFL draft:

If the Packers go for an inside linebacker it appears they have two fine options.

They may be able to choose between Clemson’s Stephone Anthony or UCLA’s Eric Kendricks.
Kendricks is on the small side (6-1, 232) but is very instinctive and runs well enough to cover backs and tight ends while also being able to play the run off the edge.
Anthony (6-2 ½, 243) is bigger, faster (4.56) and more athletic. He also possesses an explosive 37-inch vertical jump.
So which way does Packers GM Ted Thompson go?
I still prefer Anthony to Kendricks for several reasons.
Kendricks, for all his instincts, isn’t a downhill run stuffer. He doesn’t bring the lumber like other more notable inside linebackers in a 3-4. As a weak-side linebacker in a 4-3, Kendricks might be an ideal fit. As an inside linebacker in a 3-4 he would be a liability against the run. Already, I have images of Marshawn Lynch and other powerful backs blasting their way through and over Kendricks.
Anthony’s talents are more suited to play in a 3-4 alignment.
His height (6-2 ½) makes it more difficult to complete passes over him and beneath safeties. His athleticism allows him to tip passes and create havoc in the passing game.
His size and striking ability give him at least a chance to slow down the likes of Lynch and other big, powerful backs.
Early reports had Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers being really impressed with Anthony. I see why.

If the Packers go elsewhere here are two possibilities:

LSU cornerback Jalen Collins has excellent size (6-1, 203) packed on a long, rangy frame. He also runs a 4.48 40-yard dash with loose hips and the ability to turn and run in man-to-man coverage.
Recently, reports have surfaced that Collins failed “repeated” drug tests at LSU. That could be misinformation planted by teams who truly covet the LSU cornerback and hope others bypass him because of it.
Another possibility is more of a long shot due to a toe injury that could sideline him 4-5 months. Thompson hasn’t been shy about drafting injury risks, especially if it’s believed surgery and rehab will allow the player to return to top form.
Collins could be the Packers’ man. Also, he’s not sophisticated enough to step in and be an NFL team’s “top corner” but is much better suited to be the No. 2 corner behind a player such as Sam Shields.
If the drug reports are true, and worrisome to teams, the Packers might pass. On the other hand, if they doubt the validity of such claims, I wouldn’t put it past Thompson to take his pick at 30 and then wait to pounce by trading up higher into the second round to nab Collins.
Another long shot is Missouri outside linebacker/defensive end Shane Ray. The 6-3, 245-pound edge rusher is explosive and has the ability to quickly close on quarterbacks and ball-carriers alike.
Ray’s injury status might push him into the second round as well. Again, expect the always vigilant Thompson to be poised to pounce.
I would be surprised if Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams is available at 30, but not as surprised as I would be if the Packers selected him.
I can’t see Thompson going tight end at 30.
The most likely outcome is that Thompson will select a player who he has highly rated AND fits a need. That definition applies to several players, including those mentioned above.
If Thompson can land Anthony at 30 and then trade up in the second round to grab Collins or Ray that would be a might good bit of work.
Regardless who the Packers select this much is true: Thursday night can’t come fast enough.
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’ MVP Parties the evening before home games.