motife
11-22-2007, 04:55 PM
Q: Drew Lussenden of Colorado Springs - Will Charles Woodson be able to play vs the Cowboys?
A: Greg Bedard - Nobody knows.
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Q: Bob Hurd of Warrensburg, Mo. - Greg- just an observation, not a complaint (how can any fan complain with their team at 10-1!)- GB seems to play better when the game is close. When they have a big lead they seem to back off a bit. Dallas will also make GB pay for a slow start. Comments?
A: Greg Bedard - How hard would play up 22 in the second half? Don't worry about the Packers starting slow against Dallas. They'll be ready to play for that game. They know the stakes.
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Q: C of GB - Rumor has it Favre routinely hits the ceiling of the Don Hutson center to show off the arm. Heard that's 85 yards high. Is that true?
A: Greg Bedard - I've never seen that. Could be. I don't think it's 85 yards high. Probably more like 50.
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Q: curt switalski of greensboro - Any reason why Rouse wasn't hardly, or at all, in the game during second half. He seems to have a great knack at breaking on the ball? Also, the announcers said Tauscher was not in game in second half due to coach's decision. Was it his ankle?
A: Greg Bedard - Rouse hurt his knee. Don't know how badly yet but I don't think it's too serious. Tauscher was resting his ankle. He'll go on Thursday.
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Q: gary kraiss of St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles - It seems as though both Carolina And Detroit were able to run on the Packers between the tackies and exploit the secondary between the safeties? Your opinion. Back to the Beach
A: Greg Bedard - I think the interior of the defense is something that has worried me. Sometimes it seems like they're more worried about getting to the QB. They have the talent but they just need to get refocused. They've been pushed around pretty good going on three weeks. They're lucky the Pack has had big leads.
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Q: Vince of Millersville - Greg, Can you update us on the multiple injury situation? If ONE of the 3 Packers that could have blocked the last Lion did, would Charles have not got hurt... and score the TD?
A: Greg Bedard - Check the blog on the injuries. If Bush would have blocked his man, Woodson would have scored. But you can't play what-if with injuries. There's no sense in it.
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Q: Sue of Bethesda, MD - Hi Greg, The media seems to make a big deal about the Patriots "finishing games" and not letting up until the final seconds tick off, citing that as one reason they have been unbeatable. The Packers D and pash rush seems to let up in the second half when the Packers have a lead. It's happened for several games but particularly today. Do you think at least today this was MM mandated because of the short week and big game next Thursday? Or do you think this is just the natural inclination of a young D? Happy Turkey Day!!
A: Greg Bedard - I don't think it's a big deal at all. So the Patriots are big bullies. Doesn't mean every team has to be. I think it's nit-picking. The Packers are fine.
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Q: kc of arcata, ca - hey greg good game....just wondering as far as the fans around the packer world, there must be some serious gameday superstitions. what is the craziest that you have heard of...? i have my own, but only goes as far as my gameday beanie i always wear,and the purchase of a new house plant with every win. starting to look like a jungle in here! happy t-day.
A: Greg Bedard - Whoa, that's out there. I guess that might be better than what I did during the Red Sox's World Series run in 2004: at the same Chinese food when they started the streak against the Yankees and had different seats in the living room for different situations. Yeah, we're all a little crazy. That's why we're fan-atics.
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Q: Mike of Platteville - Happy Turkey Day, Greg! I was shaking my head during the first half when, after playing fairly poorly, the Packers found themselves leading the game 14-6. I recall thinking that this might be a sign of a really good team, one that can play poorly yet still come out ahead. Do you have that sense, that this team really is a lot better than most people thought (10-1 record aside)? Great teams can win when they don't play well, and Green Bay has done that. Your thoughts?
A: Greg Bedard - I agree with that thinking. A great team can have an off day and still manage to win the game. No team is perfect. This Packers team is very tough mentally and that shouldn't discounted.
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Q: Randy of Lawrenceville - Hey Greg, I think we need to let Colin Cole go if we can only keep so many D lineman and keep Corey Williams that guy is a monster and I don't want to hear about who we have already we need to keep him.
A: Greg Bedard - Getting rid of Cole is not the problem, he doesn't make that much money. It simply comes down to how much money you want to invest in the defensive line. They have spent a ton there already. It's not fantasy football. You have to make tough decisions that are best for the whole team. But I agree with you, Williams has played great and is a beast. But maybe the Packers know something we don't know. Maybe Williams is playing great because it's a contract year. Maybe he's the type of player that will take a step back once he gets a big contract. I'm not saying that's what Williams would do, but it's something that you have to think about.
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Q: Gar Saeger of Oceanside, CA - Hi Greg, Happy Thanksgiving to you, hope you enjoy a good meal after this good victory. I know T. Brady is having a lights out year but it is getting harder and harder for me to think Favre isn't going to figure into this MVP thing, especially if they win out. Is it a possibility of another co-MVP title? Also, any predictions for next week..assuming of course the Cowboys beat the Jets???
A: Greg Bedard - It's possible, but unless Brady comes back to earth, he's going to win it. A QB simply has never had a season like the one Brady is having. I don't have a prediction yet, but it should be a very tight game. The Packers are really beat up at this point. That's going to play a factor.
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Q: Bill of Gainesville, Va - Greg...I saw A.J. Hawk on the sidelines quite a bit in the forth quarter. Any reason for him being out or was it situational? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
A: Greg Bedard - The Packers ran a lot of dime today for the first time all season with Barnett being the only linebacker.
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Q: Randy of Lawrenceville GA - Hey Greg, Can you give us an injury report, Woodson, Tausher, Driver?
A: Greg Bedard - Check over on the blog.
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Q: Paul of Viroqua, WI - Greg, before you reply to the dozen or so posts you're liable to get concerning a rout turning into a one TD game; please cut and paste the following to each of those posts: "The Packers won, stop whining!!!"
A: Greg Bedard - (No comment).
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Q: Owen of Grand Rapids - Why didn't McCarthy challenge the 4th down spot in the 3rd quarter? The worst that happens is you give your D a rest.
A: Greg Bedard - I totally agree with you. That was definitely worth a challenge. Don't know if McCarthy was asked about that because I was in the locker room. He'll surely be asked on Friday. And stop calling me Shirley.
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Q: John Casper of Milwaukee - Greg, thanks for the great in-game blog. In the 1st quarter the Detroit center, Raiola, was called for a chop block on Kampman. From what I saw on the replay, it looked awfully intentional. OT, Calvin Johnson's early drops may be the reason the Packers won?
A: Greg Bedard - I know Kampman didn't like that block. It's something I'll be writing about for the paper. I thought the Packers won because the Lions' defensive backs couldn't cover the Packers WRs to save their lives. It was a really terrible performance by the Lions.
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Q: Cheezehead 4 Life of Milwaukee of thee Wisconsin - Greg, what's the record of your football fantasy league team? Any chance I can get a invitation to your league next year?
A: Greg Bedard - 5-6 and losers of three straight. Ronnie Brown's injury really hurt me. So did not getting a Patriots player. Maybe if I still like all of you I'll start a Packers Insider-only league next year. You can all take your best shots at me, since you guys are such know-it-alls. ;)
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Q: Mike Blahnik of Bahston, Mass - Would you agree the most overlooked play of the first half was the Charles Woodson punt return? He showed his burst was still there and vision as well. That was going to be a TD if #24 had just been aggressive and made a half-block. But he didn't and that guy then made the tackle. It also hurt Woodson.
A: Greg Bedard - I don't know if it was overlooked but I thought the two biggest moments in the game were Raiola's chop block that erased a first-and-goal at the 1, and the Packers holding the Lions to a field goal after Green Bay's fumble on its first play.
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Q: Bill of Columbus, OH - I dont't know if Woodson's toe injury happened on special teams but it seems to me that the benefits of Woodson returning punts are outweighed by the potential of losing one of your starting corners. This seems especially true in the type of man-to-man scheme the Packers run combined with the poor quality of backups. Do you think Woodson will return to special teams when he's healthy?
A: Greg Bedard - I know everyone's going to be asking about the injury situation, so look over on the blog and I'll update it as I know things. Bill, I'm sure that's something that they'll look at. But I don't think you can say his injury was caused by playing special teams. He had a foot problem long before that punt return. I wonder what the reaction will be if Tramon Williams fumbles a punt return in a big spot against Dallas? I think Woodson has made it look so easy that some fans thinks returning punts is easy. It's not. And usually more bad happens than good, which is why the Packers like having Woodson bad there.
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Q: JV of New York - Greg, I missed your blog post about the meaning of Favre's 3-19 call, when & why he uses it. Thanks.
A: Greg Bedard - http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/archive/2007/11/16/favre-on-cadences.aspx
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Q: Gareth Rogers of Saline, MI - Hey Greg, Detroit for Thanksgiving two years in a row. How'd you get so lucky :)
A: Greg Bedard - Yeah, seriously. First the Dolphins, now the Packers. Hey, at least the teams I covered came to play with big victories. I learned a lesson, though, last year that I applied this season. Just before halftime last year I said, 'Wow, Joey Harrington is playing a perfect game.' Probably the first and last time that line has ever been spoken. Harrington threw an interception on the very next play. Needless to say, I made no mention of the consecutive pass streak Brett Favre had going today. You and he can thank me.
A: Greg Bedard - Nobody knows.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Bob Hurd of Warrensburg, Mo. - Greg- just an observation, not a complaint (how can any fan complain with their team at 10-1!)- GB seems to play better when the game is close. When they have a big lead they seem to back off a bit. Dallas will also make GB pay for a slow start. Comments?
A: Greg Bedard - How hard would play up 22 in the second half? Don't worry about the Packers starting slow against Dallas. They'll be ready to play for that game. They know the stakes.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: C of GB - Rumor has it Favre routinely hits the ceiling of the Don Hutson center to show off the arm. Heard that's 85 yards high. Is that true?
A: Greg Bedard - I've never seen that. Could be. I don't think it's 85 yards high. Probably more like 50.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: curt switalski of greensboro - Any reason why Rouse wasn't hardly, or at all, in the game during second half. He seems to have a great knack at breaking on the ball? Also, the announcers said Tauscher was not in game in second half due to coach's decision. Was it his ankle?
A: Greg Bedard - Rouse hurt his knee. Don't know how badly yet but I don't think it's too serious. Tauscher was resting his ankle. He'll go on Thursday.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: gary kraiss of St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles - It seems as though both Carolina And Detroit were able to run on the Packers between the tackies and exploit the secondary between the safeties? Your opinion. Back to the Beach
A: Greg Bedard - I think the interior of the defense is something that has worried me. Sometimes it seems like they're more worried about getting to the QB. They have the talent but they just need to get refocused. They've been pushed around pretty good going on three weeks. They're lucky the Pack has had big leads.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Vince of Millersville - Greg, Can you update us on the multiple injury situation? If ONE of the 3 Packers that could have blocked the last Lion did, would Charles have not got hurt... and score the TD?
A: Greg Bedard - Check the blog on the injuries. If Bush would have blocked his man, Woodson would have scored. But you can't play what-if with injuries. There's no sense in it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Sue of Bethesda, MD - Hi Greg, The media seems to make a big deal about the Patriots "finishing games" and not letting up until the final seconds tick off, citing that as one reason they have been unbeatable. The Packers D and pash rush seems to let up in the second half when the Packers have a lead. It's happened for several games but particularly today. Do you think at least today this was MM mandated because of the short week and big game next Thursday? Or do you think this is just the natural inclination of a young D? Happy Turkey Day!!
A: Greg Bedard - I don't think it's a big deal at all. So the Patriots are big bullies. Doesn't mean every team has to be. I think it's nit-picking. The Packers are fine.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: kc of arcata, ca - hey greg good game....just wondering as far as the fans around the packer world, there must be some serious gameday superstitions. what is the craziest that you have heard of...? i have my own, but only goes as far as my gameday beanie i always wear,and the purchase of a new house plant with every win. starting to look like a jungle in here! happy t-day.
A: Greg Bedard - Whoa, that's out there. I guess that might be better than what I did during the Red Sox's World Series run in 2004: at the same Chinese food when they started the streak against the Yankees and had different seats in the living room for different situations. Yeah, we're all a little crazy. That's why we're fan-atics.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Mike of Platteville - Happy Turkey Day, Greg! I was shaking my head during the first half when, after playing fairly poorly, the Packers found themselves leading the game 14-6. I recall thinking that this might be a sign of a really good team, one that can play poorly yet still come out ahead. Do you have that sense, that this team really is a lot better than most people thought (10-1 record aside)? Great teams can win when they don't play well, and Green Bay has done that. Your thoughts?
A: Greg Bedard - I agree with that thinking. A great team can have an off day and still manage to win the game. No team is perfect. This Packers team is very tough mentally and that shouldn't discounted.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Randy of Lawrenceville - Hey Greg, I think we need to let Colin Cole go if we can only keep so many D lineman and keep Corey Williams that guy is a monster and I don't want to hear about who we have already we need to keep him.
A: Greg Bedard - Getting rid of Cole is not the problem, he doesn't make that much money. It simply comes down to how much money you want to invest in the defensive line. They have spent a ton there already. It's not fantasy football. You have to make tough decisions that are best for the whole team. But I agree with you, Williams has played great and is a beast. But maybe the Packers know something we don't know. Maybe Williams is playing great because it's a contract year. Maybe he's the type of player that will take a step back once he gets a big contract. I'm not saying that's what Williams would do, but it's something that you have to think about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Gar Saeger of Oceanside, CA - Hi Greg, Happy Thanksgiving to you, hope you enjoy a good meal after this good victory. I know T. Brady is having a lights out year but it is getting harder and harder for me to think Favre isn't going to figure into this MVP thing, especially if they win out. Is it a possibility of another co-MVP title? Also, any predictions for next week..assuming of course the Cowboys beat the Jets???
A: Greg Bedard - It's possible, but unless Brady comes back to earth, he's going to win it. A QB simply has never had a season like the one Brady is having. I don't have a prediction yet, but it should be a very tight game. The Packers are really beat up at this point. That's going to play a factor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Bill of Gainesville, Va - Greg...I saw A.J. Hawk on the sidelines quite a bit in the forth quarter. Any reason for him being out or was it situational? Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
A: Greg Bedard - The Packers ran a lot of dime today for the first time all season with Barnett being the only linebacker.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Randy of Lawrenceville GA - Hey Greg, Can you give us an injury report, Woodson, Tausher, Driver?
A: Greg Bedard - Check over on the blog.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Paul of Viroqua, WI - Greg, before you reply to the dozen or so posts you're liable to get concerning a rout turning into a one TD game; please cut and paste the following to each of those posts: "The Packers won, stop whining!!!"
A: Greg Bedard - (No comment).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Owen of Grand Rapids - Why didn't McCarthy challenge the 4th down spot in the 3rd quarter? The worst that happens is you give your D a rest.
A: Greg Bedard - I totally agree with you. That was definitely worth a challenge. Don't know if McCarthy was asked about that because I was in the locker room. He'll surely be asked on Friday. And stop calling me Shirley.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: John Casper of Milwaukee - Greg, thanks for the great in-game blog. In the 1st quarter the Detroit center, Raiola, was called for a chop block on Kampman. From what I saw on the replay, it looked awfully intentional. OT, Calvin Johnson's early drops may be the reason the Packers won?
A: Greg Bedard - I know Kampman didn't like that block. It's something I'll be writing about for the paper. I thought the Packers won because the Lions' defensive backs couldn't cover the Packers WRs to save their lives. It was a really terrible performance by the Lions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Cheezehead 4 Life of Milwaukee of thee Wisconsin - Greg, what's the record of your football fantasy league team? Any chance I can get a invitation to your league next year?
A: Greg Bedard - 5-6 and losers of three straight. Ronnie Brown's injury really hurt me. So did not getting a Patriots player. Maybe if I still like all of you I'll start a Packers Insider-only league next year. You can all take your best shots at me, since you guys are such know-it-alls. ;)
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Q: Mike Blahnik of Bahston, Mass - Would you agree the most overlooked play of the first half was the Charles Woodson punt return? He showed his burst was still there and vision as well. That was going to be a TD if #24 had just been aggressive and made a half-block. But he didn't and that guy then made the tackle. It also hurt Woodson.
A: Greg Bedard - I don't know if it was overlooked but I thought the two biggest moments in the game were Raiola's chop block that erased a first-and-goal at the 1, and the Packers holding the Lions to a field goal after Green Bay's fumble on its first play.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Bill of Columbus, OH - I dont't know if Woodson's toe injury happened on special teams but it seems to me that the benefits of Woodson returning punts are outweighed by the potential of losing one of your starting corners. This seems especially true in the type of man-to-man scheme the Packers run combined with the poor quality of backups. Do you think Woodson will return to special teams when he's healthy?
A: Greg Bedard - I know everyone's going to be asking about the injury situation, so look over on the blog and I'll update it as I know things. Bill, I'm sure that's something that they'll look at. But I don't think you can say his injury was caused by playing special teams. He had a foot problem long before that punt return. I wonder what the reaction will be if Tramon Williams fumbles a punt return in a big spot against Dallas? I think Woodson has made it look so easy that some fans thinks returning punts is easy. It's not. And usually more bad happens than good, which is why the Packers like having Woodson bad there.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: JV of New York - Greg, I missed your blog post about the meaning of Favre's 3-19 call, when & why he uses it. Thanks.
A: Greg Bedard - http://blogs.jsonline.com/packers/archive/2007/11/16/favre-on-cadences.aspx
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Q: Gareth Rogers of Saline, MI - Hey Greg, Detroit for Thanksgiving two years in a row. How'd you get so lucky :)
A: Greg Bedard - Yeah, seriously. First the Dolphins, now the Packers. Hey, at least the teams I covered came to play with big victories. I learned a lesson, though, last year that I applied this season. Just before halftime last year I said, 'Wow, Joey Harrington is playing a perfect game.' Probably the first and last time that line has ever been spoken. Harrington threw an interception on the very next play. Needless to say, I made no mention of the consecutive pass streak Brett Favre had going today. You and he can thank me.