In a question and answer session published in the Chicago Sun-Times over the weekend, former Chicago Bears coach and current ESPN broadcaster Mike Ditka said he considers Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers the best in football history. “I look at guys like [Tom] Brady and [Drew] Brees .?.?. the talent is phenomenal,” said Ditka. “The guy up in Green Bay [Aaron Rodgers], I think is the best in football. But that’s my opinion. I like what he does, and I like his leadership qualities. And I think that’s the other thing you have to look at. He has to be the guy in charge. And the team has to know it.” Some people might find it surprising that a Bears coach might compliment a Packers player, but the more surprising part is that Ditka was asked about all quarterbacks past and present. That’s some lofty praise.
More outlets commented on the Mike Ditka and Aaron Rodgers story, including NFL.com, ProFootballTalk.com and Lombardi Ave.
Packers running back Eddie Lacy was the subject of a feature article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel over the weekend, in which he discussed his childhood when he was displaced by Hurricane Katrina while growing up in Louisiana. It was an event that affected Lacy deeply and continues to affect him to the current day. “I never really got over it,” Lacy is quoted as saying by reporter Tyler Dunne. “I don’t really know how to explain it. It’s something that I never really got over and I don’t know how to get over it still to this day.” Lacy also talked about attempting to find true happiness and that football and the prospect of millions of dollars has not always filled the void in his life. Lacy doesn’t seem suicidal by any means, but here’s to hoping a fulfilling career can help him overcome some of difficult past.
Former NFL defensive end and coach Chuck Smith was interviewed for the weekly column by Len Pasquarelli published at the National Football Post on Sunday, and Smith had some encouraging words about Packers first round draft choice Datone Jones. Speaking about the first-year players he tutored in the offseason, Smith said, “Datone Jones is the most explosive guy of the bunch, (and he) really comes hard with that first blast and has natural (sack) instincts. I think he’s the best rusher. He uses his hands really well, and uses his length to kind of create leverage. I’m really high on the guy.” Smith went onto say that Jones was just scratching the surface as a pass rusher.
A couple features were written by Wes Hodkiewicz of the Green Bay Press-Gazette over the weekend, including one on rookie running back Johnathan Franklin and another on the second-year defensive players on the roster.
Wide receiver Jordy Nelson was named the 12th most important Packer of 2013 at ESPNMilwaukee.com.
Questions are posed at JSOnline, which asks who will start at safety, and at AllGreenBayPackers.com, which asks who will start at cornerback.
Lombardi Ave. collects reaction from Packers players on Twitter to the George Zimmerman verdict and has another post on offensive lineman Bryan Bulaga.
Several articles are published at Packer Report on the best player in franchise history, an expanded Lambeau Field and the continuing training camp countdown series.
Some potential breakout players at named at PackerAddicts.com.
Video: Former Packers running back Johnny White, who played four games for Green Bay in 2012 (mostly on special teams) hosted a youth football camp in North Carolina over the weekend…
Brian Carriveau is the author of the book “It’s Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America,” and editor of Cheesehead TV’s “Pro Football Draft Preview.” To contact Brian, email carriveau@uwalumni.com.
Source:
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