FritzDontBlitz
10-30-2007, 04:09 PM
Its been a while since I've posted anything longer than a paragraph on here, so I thought I'd share my experience watching the game last night with the rest of you. Lord knows I need to practice my typing skills a lot more than I have because my typos have become almost unintelligible, and I am sure someone might even enjoy the story, so here we go...
My Brett Favre/MNF Story 10/29/2007 (Original Thread Title)
I didnt realize the Pack was playing on Monday Night Football until after I cancelled my cable TV coverage last week. I had pretty much decided to follow the game on nfl.com until I said "what the hell" and decided to make the 30 minute drive to downtown Chicago to catch the game at the ESPNZone on the near north side. (If you're ever passing through Chicago on I-94, take the Ohio Street East exit and it will take you right to it). Anyway, I expected a nice quiet atmosphere in a Zone pretty much deserted because the woeful Bears had already played and because everyone in Chicago claims to hate Brett Favre and co. so bad I was wondering if they would even be showing the game. Trust me, there have been times where the Pack was playing on Sunday or Monday night and instead of a live broadcast of the games Chicago sports radio has played a rerun of the last time the Bulls won the NBA championship, some lame-o talk show, the replay of the White Sox winning the World Series in 2005 or anything that would give them an excuse NOT to run the feed of the most hated player and team in Chicago.
Boy, was I shocked.
When I got there, not only were there Packer fans everywhere in Green and gold "G" emblazoned attire, as soon as I walked in the door I could hear cheering going on all over the place. I ran upstairs to view the big screen broadcast of the game, and it was just the beginning of a very fun and fascinating night I'd never expect to have in Chi-town of all places.
I missed the 79 yard bomb from Favre to Jones because I was still travelling to my destination, but i did manage to get to the Zone just after Nick Barnett recovered the Cutler fumble at the Green Bay one yard line. I got to see Ryan Grant run so well I thought they had brought Dorsey Levens out of retirement. Unfortunately, M3 wasnt paying attention to the success of his new running weapon because he kept trying to short circuit the drives in the red zone by going to that empty backfield set in obvious running situations. In fact, it seemed like as soon as they got to the red zone they would abandon the running game altogether. It just started to irk me that M3 kept forgetting about the most dangerous weapon the threat of a running game gives you: the play-action pass. Being an ex-LB I have always had a love/hate relationship with the play-action pass: it forces you to call a more balanced defense because if you get too preoccupied with stopping the run or the pass either one will eventually kill you. It is the one play that can completely paralyze a defense up the middle because linebackers and safeties have to account for every conceivable option each time its run. Some QB's make their living with this one play: remember how Drew Bledsoe brought the Patriots back in Super Bowl 31? Remember how Rex Grossman ate teams up during the first two months of the 2006 season? Each QB was running the play-action pass to perfection, and safeties often get caught looking in the backfield because they are so fooled by the play fake they come up for run support and never see the receiver streaking down the sideline (or right past them as Nick Collins did when the Bears TE ran right past him to catch the game-winning TD pass in week 5).
(By the way, as the game progressed there was a ridiculous shouting match going on that began when two Denver Broncos fans showed up and made the unfortunate decision of sitting at the bar and starting to yell crap in support of Denver, not realizing that before they got there the woman sitting next to them had been loud and boisterous in support of Cap'n Favrelous and the Green Angels. At first they were both going toe-to-toe with her but as time wore on she first quieted the one nearest to her - apparently he had the hots for her and backed down because he was hoping to get lucky based on the murmurings I overheard between the two guys after she left - but the other guy wouldnt shut up and then in frustration he started to get even louder and as he was glancing around the bar looking for support - he got none, not even from the pro-Denver trio that were sitting to his immediate right - he decided to get personal. Very bad move. I swear, she just poured it on Chicago style and positively punked the guy. I mean, by the time she was done he was looking around almost as if he was begging for security to save him. Eventually security did arrive after she decided to move over and sit next to him to yell directly in his face and he shoved the chair away to keep her from doing so. Thing is, by then she was obviously a little too drunk to control herself so she was escorted out by her companion and he was allowed to stay. But get this: as soon as he knew she was gone he started trying to talk even more crap, trying to go for bad about how ignorant she was, about what he woulda done if she hadn't been escorted out blah blah blah, all the while glancing around the bar looking for co-signers but all he managed to get were a ton of "yeah, right" looks and eyerolls from other guys sitting at the bar because everyone saw the whole thing. I was sitting right behind them the whole time, so close in fact that when he shoved the chair away it actually hit me in the left knee as it fell. I got a little irritated when the chair hit me but other than that i was joking with her as me and the other guys at the bar were laughing our asses off the whole time).
Anyway, as the second half of the game began, every Packer fan at the bar became frustrated with M3's playcalling in the second half. The opening drive to start the 3rd quarter was atrocious. Other Packer fans were starting to get irritated at M3's stubborn affection for the shotgun and empty backfield sets, trying to understand why he insisted on giving away his intentions to pass on nearly every offensive down instead of keeping a back in the backfield to keep the linebackers and safeties guessing. The score was only 13-7; A fumble return, interception or busted play on defense could have given the game away at any time the entire second half. By the time the 4th quarter started "what about play-action???" had almost become a mantra of sorts for me and another guy sitting at the bar, in fact I was saying it so much by then I was wondering if I was starting to get on everyone else's nerves.
I could sense everyone in green-and-gold beginning to tense up as Denver began to put together their first FG drive in the second half. We were fascinated at all the yellow hankies flying about: it seemed like every time Green Bay's defense did make a play, there goes another yellow hankie flying in to give Denver another chance. I think Atari Bigby's ill-advised pooch kick of the ball on one drive symbolized the frustration of the entire Packer nation: its a nationally televised game, it seemed well in hand by the end of the first half, but here we were once again watching silly penalties, bad playcalling, youthful mistakes and questionable calls by the referees giving us that sinking feeling that once again instead of seeing our team dominate an inferior opponent we were in the midst of viewing another game that would go in the "SWC" (Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda - don't thank me, its something my sophomore football coach used to poke fun at us and motivate us the season we went 9-0, which suggests he mighta been onto something) column at the end of the season.
As the Pack mounted their last drive of the second half I specifically remember saying aloud "all the Pack needs to do is throw one play-action bomb and this game would be over already." My new compatriot at the bar nodded his head in disgusted agreement.
Denver's final field goal drive was more than a little fascinating. We in Packer nation were all a little perturbed every time Mr. pootbutt Bronco fan got a little louder every time he yelled "c'mon Genius, do something" - "Genius" being one of the nicknames of Mike Shanahan. We all tended to agree with the notion that M3 was about to be outcoached by a superior mind for the game.
But then, things got a little weird.
Al Harris - who might have had his worst game of the season thanks to some awesome catches by Brandon Stokely - misses a sure tackle and allows Stokely to gain even more yardage as they closed in on the game-tying field goal. Then, it got even worse. Selvin "what was the NFL thinking by letting this guy go undrafted" Young fakes out everyone in the Green Bay organization except maybe Bob Harlan and falls foward for what looks like an obvious first down. Inside the 5. With less than a minute to play. The Packers are forced to call an equipment timeout to recover their jocks, which are strewn all over the field after trying in vain to tackle Young during his most spectacular run of the night.
Bronco Billy Badass the drunken midget barfly is extolling the virtues of Mike Shanahan. Other Packer fans present are grimacing like the cheese fondue was curdling. My compatriot at the bar waved goodbye, hung his head and walked out.
The clock was ticking. Denver had no timeouts left. They tried a quick out: underthrown. They tried a QB draw: stopped cold. I can't even remember the other play, but I do remember the fascinating scramble to get the special teams units onto the field as the clock dwindled down. (BTW: why in all that is holy would M3 risk a penalty by trying to race his special teams unit onto the field in order to defend what would be an obvious field goal??? Did he forget to read the rule book and not realize that even if the kick was missed the Broncos would get another try on a defensive penalty if too many or too few men were on the field? Not only was it amazing that Denver got their FG unit onto the field, it was even more amazing Green Bay got their base defense off the field in time for the kick attempt). Here we go: Denver gets the kick up and its gooooooood!!!! Elam and co. start celebrating the kick so much I actually thought the game was over.
It wasn't.
OVERTIME!!!
But I am not optimistic. Even high-motor Aaron Kampmann was sucking wind on that game-tying field goal drive. Whatever energy the Green Bay defense had was sucked out of them by the Selvin Young dance to get the Broncos down inside the 5. I say aloud "whoever wins the coin toss is gonna win the game."
Greg Jennings.
Talk about being the go-to guy.
With all the footnotes Jennings has already acquired in Packer lore in less than two seasons, will his coin toss call at the start of overtime in Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium on October 29, 2007 even be remembered?
Tails.
At least I think that's what he called. Sounded like tails to me, but the Zone was getting a little restless by then so its hard to tell what he called.
Whatever he called, he won the toss.
The Pack sets up at their own 18 after the kickoff. There are 8 in the box expecting Green Bay to patiently work their way into field goal range by handing Ryan Grant the ball on first down. In fact, Denver had been successful in shutting down the run late in the 4th quarter by crowding the line with 7 or 8 defenders in the box. I start saying "Finally! a two back set, now at least they can keep the defense gues...."
Whoa.
Brett fakes the handoff.
I am speechless.
He drops back, cranks up and throws.
DEEP.
The ball seems to be in the air for at least 15 minutes. The two opposing players are so close together I can't even tell who they are. Is it Driver? Jones? Jennings? Did Ruvell Martin finally get a ball thrown his way?
At first it looks like the defender - turns out it was Dre Bly - is in position to knock the ball down or even intercept. Oh crap, another "Brett Favre throws a costly interception, cost the Packers a victory" story is soon to follow.
And then the receiver adjusts his route.
And seperates.
OMG.
Its him again!!!
Its number 85 (which, for those of you scoring at home, is also referred to as "one better than 84" according to most mathematicians. Yeah, all you Javon Squawker lovers I am calling you the fugg out. Meet me outside, I'll be the big, black, bald guy with the grizzled beard putting my green and gold foot up Mr. Beer muscled Bronco fans mangy ass - we'll call me "the guy in the Denver Boot" for now).
The ball falls softly into the grasp of Mr. Jennings and he gallops gleefully into the endzone and the legend of the Kid from Kiln, Mississippi grows.
I am jumping and screaming like a three year old on Christmas morning. The bar goes wild. I think Mr. Denver dived into his beer and drowned. Never saw him again.
As I was leaving, I asked a couple of the Packerbackers in the Zone where they were from, they replied "Milwaukee." I swear, one of them looked just like Mike Sherman. I told them about Packerrats.com, wrote the site name and my handle down on an old business card some gave me. They chuckled as we fondly remembered how good Mr. Shurmur's defensive philosophy was.
As you can tell, I had a great time. And I wasnt even drinking. Scary thought, huh.
I think I'll be hanging out at the Zone more often on Monday nights. The Pack might not play on MNF next week, but there's this cutie of a barmaid I have my eye on.
My Brett Favre/MNF Story 10/29/2007 (Original Thread Title)
I didnt realize the Pack was playing on Monday Night Football until after I cancelled my cable TV coverage last week. I had pretty much decided to follow the game on nfl.com until I said "what the hell" and decided to make the 30 minute drive to downtown Chicago to catch the game at the ESPNZone on the near north side. (If you're ever passing through Chicago on I-94, take the Ohio Street East exit and it will take you right to it). Anyway, I expected a nice quiet atmosphere in a Zone pretty much deserted because the woeful Bears had already played and because everyone in Chicago claims to hate Brett Favre and co. so bad I was wondering if they would even be showing the game. Trust me, there have been times where the Pack was playing on Sunday or Monday night and instead of a live broadcast of the games Chicago sports radio has played a rerun of the last time the Bulls won the NBA championship, some lame-o talk show, the replay of the White Sox winning the World Series in 2005 or anything that would give them an excuse NOT to run the feed of the most hated player and team in Chicago.
Boy, was I shocked.
When I got there, not only were there Packer fans everywhere in Green and gold "G" emblazoned attire, as soon as I walked in the door I could hear cheering going on all over the place. I ran upstairs to view the big screen broadcast of the game, and it was just the beginning of a very fun and fascinating night I'd never expect to have in Chi-town of all places.
I missed the 79 yard bomb from Favre to Jones because I was still travelling to my destination, but i did manage to get to the Zone just after Nick Barnett recovered the Cutler fumble at the Green Bay one yard line. I got to see Ryan Grant run so well I thought they had brought Dorsey Levens out of retirement. Unfortunately, M3 wasnt paying attention to the success of his new running weapon because he kept trying to short circuit the drives in the red zone by going to that empty backfield set in obvious running situations. In fact, it seemed like as soon as they got to the red zone they would abandon the running game altogether. It just started to irk me that M3 kept forgetting about the most dangerous weapon the threat of a running game gives you: the play-action pass. Being an ex-LB I have always had a love/hate relationship with the play-action pass: it forces you to call a more balanced defense because if you get too preoccupied with stopping the run or the pass either one will eventually kill you. It is the one play that can completely paralyze a defense up the middle because linebackers and safeties have to account for every conceivable option each time its run. Some QB's make their living with this one play: remember how Drew Bledsoe brought the Patriots back in Super Bowl 31? Remember how Rex Grossman ate teams up during the first two months of the 2006 season? Each QB was running the play-action pass to perfection, and safeties often get caught looking in the backfield because they are so fooled by the play fake they come up for run support and never see the receiver streaking down the sideline (or right past them as Nick Collins did when the Bears TE ran right past him to catch the game-winning TD pass in week 5).
(By the way, as the game progressed there was a ridiculous shouting match going on that began when two Denver Broncos fans showed up and made the unfortunate decision of sitting at the bar and starting to yell crap in support of Denver, not realizing that before they got there the woman sitting next to them had been loud and boisterous in support of Cap'n Favrelous and the Green Angels. At first they were both going toe-to-toe with her but as time wore on she first quieted the one nearest to her - apparently he had the hots for her and backed down because he was hoping to get lucky based on the murmurings I overheard between the two guys after she left - but the other guy wouldnt shut up and then in frustration he started to get even louder and as he was glancing around the bar looking for support - he got none, not even from the pro-Denver trio that were sitting to his immediate right - he decided to get personal. Very bad move. I swear, she just poured it on Chicago style and positively punked the guy. I mean, by the time she was done he was looking around almost as if he was begging for security to save him. Eventually security did arrive after she decided to move over and sit next to him to yell directly in his face and he shoved the chair away to keep her from doing so. Thing is, by then she was obviously a little too drunk to control herself so she was escorted out by her companion and he was allowed to stay. But get this: as soon as he knew she was gone he started trying to talk even more crap, trying to go for bad about how ignorant she was, about what he woulda done if she hadn't been escorted out blah blah blah, all the while glancing around the bar looking for co-signers but all he managed to get were a ton of "yeah, right" looks and eyerolls from other guys sitting at the bar because everyone saw the whole thing. I was sitting right behind them the whole time, so close in fact that when he shoved the chair away it actually hit me in the left knee as it fell. I got a little irritated when the chair hit me but other than that i was joking with her as me and the other guys at the bar were laughing our asses off the whole time).
Anyway, as the second half of the game began, every Packer fan at the bar became frustrated with M3's playcalling in the second half. The opening drive to start the 3rd quarter was atrocious. Other Packer fans were starting to get irritated at M3's stubborn affection for the shotgun and empty backfield sets, trying to understand why he insisted on giving away his intentions to pass on nearly every offensive down instead of keeping a back in the backfield to keep the linebackers and safeties guessing. The score was only 13-7; A fumble return, interception or busted play on defense could have given the game away at any time the entire second half. By the time the 4th quarter started "what about play-action???" had almost become a mantra of sorts for me and another guy sitting at the bar, in fact I was saying it so much by then I was wondering if I was starting to get on everyone else's nerves.
I could sense everyone in green-and-gold beginning to tense up as Denver began to put together their first FG drive in the second half. We were fascinated at all the yellow hankies flying about: it seemed like every time Green Bay's defense did make a play, there goes another yellow hankie flying in to give Denver another chance. I think Atari Bigby's ill-advised pooch kick of the ball on one drive symbolized the frustration of the entire Packer nation: its a nationally televised game, it seemed well in hand by the end of the first half, but here we were once again watching silly penalties, bad playcalling, youthful mistakes and questionable calls by the referees giving us that sinking feeling that once again instead of seeing our team dominate an inferior opponent we were in the midst of viewing another game that would go in the "SWC" (Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda - don't thank me, its something my sophomore football coach used to poke fun at us and motivate us the season we went 9-0, which suggests he mighta been onto something) column at the end of the season.
As the Pack mounted their last drive of the second half I specifically remember saying aloud "all the Pack needs to do is throw one play-action bomb and this game would be over already." My new compatriot at the bar nodded his head in disgusted agreement.
Denver's final field goal drive was more than a little fascinating. We in Packer nation were all a little perturbed every time Mr. pootbutt Bronco fan got a little louder every time he yelled "c'mon Genius, do something" - "Genius" being one of the nicknames of Mike Shanahan. We all tended to agree with the notion that M3 was about to be outcoached by a superior mind for the game.
But then, things got a little weird.
Al Harris - who might have had his worst game of the season thanks to some awesome catches by Brandon Stokely - misses a sure tackle and allows Stokely to gain even more yardage as they closed in on the game-tying field goal. Then, it got even worse. Selvin "what was the NFL thinking by letting this guy go undrafted" Young fakes out everyone in the Green Bay organization except maybe Bob Harlan and falls foward for what looks like an obvious first down. Inside the 5. With less than a minute to play. The Packers are forced to call an equipment timeout to recover their jocks, which are strewn all over the field after trying in vain to tackle Young during his most spectacular run of the night.
Bronco Billy Badass the drunken midget barfly is extolling the virtues of Mike Shanahan. Other Packer fans present are grimacing like the cheese fondue was curdling. My compatriot at the bar waved goodbye, hung his head and walked out.
The clock was ticking. Denver had no timeouts left. They tried a quick out: underthrown. They tried a QB draw: stopped cold. I can't even remember the other play, but I do remember the fascinating scramble to get the special teams units onto the field as the clock dwindled down. (BTW: why in all that is holy would M3 risk a penalty by trying to race his special teams unit onto the field in order to defend what would be an obvious field goal??? Did he forget to read the rule book and not realize that even if the kick was missed the Broncos would get another try on a defensive penalty if too many or too few men were on the field? Not only was it amazing that Denver got their FG unit onto the field, it was even more amazing Green Bay got their base defense off the field in time for the kick attempt). Here we go: Denver gets the kick up and its gooooooood!!!! Elam and co. start celebrating the kick so much I actually thought the game was over.
It wasn't.
OVERTIME!!!
But I am not optimistic. Even high-motor Aaron Kampmann was sucking wind on that game-tying field goal drive. Whatever energy the Green Bay defense had was sucked out of them by the Selvin Young dance to get the Broncos down inside the 5. I say aloud "whoever wins the coin toss is gonna win the game."
Greg Jennings.
Talk about being the go-to guy.
With all the footnotes Jennings has already acquired in Packer lore in less than two seasons, will his coin toss call at the start of overtime in Invesco Field at Mile High Stadium on October 29, 2007 even be remembered?
Tails.
At least I think that's what he called. Sounded like tails to me, but the Zone was getting a little restless by then so its hard to tell what he called.
Whatever he called, he won the toss.
The Pack sets up at their own 18 after the kickoff. There are 8 in the box expecting Green Bay to patiently work their way into field goal range by handing Ryan Grant the ball on first down. In fact, Denver had been successful in shutting down the run late in the 4th quarter by crowding the line with 7 or 8 defenders in the box. I start saying "Finally! a two back set, now at least they can keep the defense gues...."
Whoa.
Brett fakes the handoff.
I am speechless.
He drops back, cranks up and throws.
DEEP.
The ball seems to be in the air for at least 15 minutes. The two opposing players are so close together I can't even tell who they are. Is it Driver? Jones? Jennings? Did Ruvell Martin finally get a ball thrown his way?
At first it looks like the defender - turns out it was Dre Bly - is in position to knock the ball down or even intercept. Oh crap, another "Brett Favre throws a costly interception, cost the Packers a victory" story is soon to follow.
And then the receiver adjusts his route.
And seperates.
OMG.
Its him again!!!
Its number 85 (which, for those of you scoring at home, is also referred to as "one better than 84" according to most mathematicians. Yeah, all you Javon Squawker lovers I am calling you the fugg out. Meet me outside, I'll be the big, black, bald guy with the grizzled beard putting my green and gold foot up Mr. Beer muscled Bronco fans mangy ass - we'll call me "the guy in the Denver Boot" for now).
The ball falls softly into the grasp of Mr. Jennings and he gallops gleefully into the endzone and the legend of the Kid from Kiln, Mississippi grows.
I am jumping and screaming like a three year old on Christmas morning. The bar goes wild. I think Mr. Denver dived into his beer and drowned. Never saw him again.
As I was leaving, I asked a couple of the Packerbackers in the Zone where they were from, they replied "Milwaukee." I swear, one of them looked just like Mike Sherman. I told them about Packerrats.com, wrote the site name and my handle down on an old business card some gave me. They chuckled as we fondly remembered how good Mr. Shurmur's defensive philosophy was.
As you can tell, I had a great time. And I wasnt even drinking. Scary thought, huh.
I think I'll be hanging out at the Zone more often on Monday nights. The Pack might not play on MNF next week, but there's this cutie of a barmaid I have my eye on.