I swear, the Metrodome is the loudest echo chamber in the world. But normally I don't wear ear plugs, even though I have them from all of my days of covering races.
Yet I did feel bad for good friend Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who already had a headache in the pregame intros. So I gave him my Milwaukee Mile/Helio Castroneves inspired earplugs, complete with a band between so you don't lose them. All this means is that today, Tom can hear...and I'm still trying to shake that stupid OWWWWWW!!!! horn sound out of my dome.
News and views from the Twin Cities:
Despite Aaron Rodgers running for his life, the Packers going 1-11 on 3rd downs, the defense coughing up a late TD as AP (Adrian Peterson) ran it down their throats....despite all that, the Packers still would have won the game if they weren't so conservative in their play calling in the final 2 plus minutes. Mason Crosby from 40? Automatic. A 52-yard field goal is expecting a lot of anyone.
The NFC North is very mediocre. It's likely the Packers beat the Bears, the Vikes lose at Tampa, and there's a 3-way tie at 5-5 for first in the Central/Norris/Black and Blue/North division.
Can you believe that Lovie Smith has beaten the Packers in each of his 4 trips to Green Bay? I guess when he said in his opening press conference, "the number one goal we'll have, the number one goal we'll have is to beat Green Bay."
Boy, it sure looks like Chad Clifton is getting old in a hurry. And while Mark Tauscher will take a discount to stay in his home state, he's not going to play for free. Add in the weakness in the interior line, and you have a whole lot of problems and change on the line....o-line that is for the Pack in the offseason.
And while pressure gave Rodgers little time to react in most cases, he is holding onto the ball too long in some situations, and his accuracy has also been off the past 2 weeks. Plus going 1-11 on third downs is inexcusable.
It's not fair to Aaron Rodgers, to compare him to Brett Favre. But don't let the Ari Fleischer spin of the Packers fool you...yes, the Jets are 6-3...the Packers are 4-5...and while many ripped Favre for not knowing the play book, and losing to the Raiders...the other green team has won 5 of 6, and seems to be a contender in the AFC.
And finally, one official told Mike McCarthy that on Aaron Rodgers first safety, his "unnatural throwing motion" and "illegal forward pass" was a safety no matter how you sliced it, because the flag was thrown in the end zone. McCarthy says he asked the ref what he would have called if Rodgers completed the pass, the Packers coach merely said "it's ok. That's the communication I was a part of."
Now I'm really confused. It almost seems like it was like the old Raiders-Chargers "holy roller" play, where you can't advance a fumble. But I could be wrong, because no one has still given a good explanation on that one!
Emails at lallan@todaystmj4.com
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