Terry Bradshaw should be liked by Packers fans

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Terry Bradshaw dislikes Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre, and he used to say that he would be glad if Favre really decided to return. Such comments irritated a lot of Vikings fans but also received strong supports from Green Bay Packers fans.

A lot of Packers fans take Favre’s joining the Vikings as betrayal to his former team Packers, and they hated him even more after Favre led the Vikings to beat the Packers twice in 2009 season. However, they may forget that it was the Packers who first traded Favre away to the Jets after a disappointing 2007 season. At that time, Favre was 38 years old and the Packers did not see much remaining value on the quarterback. Indeed, Favre had a terrible season with the Jets in 2008, but he had one of his best seasons after joining Vikings. Bradshaw was disgusted with Favre’s decision changes on retirement, probably because he feared that 40-year-old Favre could break his own legend of winning four Super Bowl rings with the Steelers to be the first 40-year-old champion leader. With Favre being the new legend, Bradshaw could attract even less attention from the public.

The Packers fans hated Favre probably for similar reason. They feared that Favre would prove Packers made wrong decision to trade him away and the Vikings would have been a better team for their beloved player. While Favre really proved that, their fear turned to hatred. Therefore, Packers fans and Bradshaw found supports from each other to their critical attitude toward Favre. With that understanding in mind, we may stay calm if we see Packers fans wearing Bradshaw jerseys to watch Steelers games.

Packers officially approved speculation on NT Pickett: franchise tag was used

Shortly after the San Francisco 49ers used franchise tag on their nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, speculation began to spread that the Green Bay Packers would be the next team using franchise tag to retain nose tackle Ryan Pickett. Well, they did the next day.

General Manager Ted Thompson says in a statement Wednesday that the 340-pound Pickett has been designated with the franchise tag as he has been a productive player and the team wants him to continue playing football in Packers jersey. With the tag on, Pickett will make just over $7 million next season if the sides don’t reach a long-term agreement first.

The nine-year veteran has spent the last four seasons in Green Bay and totaled 47 tackles and played a key role on one of the NFL’s best run defenses. The Packers has been negotiating on a long-term deal with Pickett to keep the hefty center of their 3-4 defense. Hope good news will come soon.

Three Packers were fined, $5,000 each

The Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy is not happy with last weekend’s loss to the Minnesota Vikings, nor with the fines his players received from the league. Three players of the team were fined $5,000 dollars each for actions in the loss, making the team ranking top in numbers of players being fined.

The three are defensive tackle Johnny Jolly, cornerback Al Harris an rookie defensive tackle B.J. Raji. Jolly was fined on Friday for unnecessary roughness for head-butting running back Chester Taylor, who was wearing Vikings jersey; Harris was fined for unnecessary roughness for grabbing a helmet-opening to make a tackle; and Raji was fined $5,000 for a major facemask violation.

“Not very smart,” McCarthy said. “We had them stopped. Personal fouls in that situation and the way it happened, from my understanding, it’s unacceptable, to extend the drive like that and it cost us four points.”

Because of Jolly’s head-butting to Taylor, the Vikings had an automatic first down at the Packers 7 and scored a touchdown four plays later. But Jolly refused to tell what caused his aggressive act, only saying that he was playing on edge.

Packers QB Rodgers proved him good replacement of Favre

On Saturday night, the Green Bay Packers won another preseason game, and quarterback Aaron Rodgers gave another rhythmic playing as a starting quarterback and big music fan.

After Brett Favre left the Packers, Rodgers became the one replacing the star quarterback. Fortunately, he managed to meet a lot of people’s expectation. He led the Packers to victory in two preseason games.

“We’re doing some really good things. I think the key is it starts up front. I think the guys—in two games, I haven’t been sacked, really haven’t been touched—and it gives you a lot of confidence as a passer,” Rodgers said after Green Bay’s 31-21 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday night.

Rodgers said he was watching HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” the behind-the-scenes look at Bengals’ training camp while Favre was having his debut with the Vikings on Friday. The next night he also managed to attract enough attention and praise by scoring early and often in the exhibition.