It was quite the eventful couple days on the one week anniversary of the Packers' Superbowl championship. One of the major highlights was the Badgers upending #1 ranked Ohio State (again) in Madison. Instead of football though, this time it was Bo Ryan's basketball Badgers getting the student section to rush the field/court. If not for the fact that I was there for the football game, this game at the Kohl Center on Saturday might even rank above that one. Down 15 in the 2nd half, Jordan Taylor literally put the team on his back and carried them all the way to victory, lighting up the Buckeyes for 21 points with multiple assists. Give credit to the rest of the Badgers for coming up with clutch shots, but no one was as impressive as Jordan Taylor was. I've liked him ever since he started seeing time on the court his freshman year (despite some rookie mistakes). He has blossomed into a player who could eventually carry his team when they need him to in the tournament next month. Simply a game to remember, and the performance of a lifetime, it had been 40 years since the Badgers upset a #1 team in basketball. And who was that unfortunate loss handed to? Well, none other than a Bobby Knight-led Ohio State. It all comes full circle, doesn't it?
Following the Badgers' (and maybe the Golden Eagles?) participation in next month's college basketball tournament will be the NFL draft...and it could be a very interesting one as the pending CBA expiration is right around the corner. Player after player will be drafted, but none may even get contracts until the following year! It all depends how stubborn the owners and players union want to be. In the mean time though, the Packers need to decide what to do with a few fairly big names: DE Cullen Jenkins, LB AJ Hawk, RB Brandon Jackson, and QB Matt Flynn.
Jenkins' health history and a possible Johnny Jolly return could very much lead to the end of his tenure as a Green Bay Packer, quite sadly I might add. I like Jenkins as a player, makes an impact when he's on the field, but its always a question of whether or not he'll be on the field week to week.
Hawk is a different case. In what surely can be now called his best year, Hawk stepped in for an injured Brandon Chillar and Nick Barnett to become the Packers' tackles leader on defense. Hawk is by no stretch the elite player the Packers hoped he'd be when he was selected with the 5th overall pick in 2006, but certainly can pack a punch inside. He's owed $10 million, which there is 0% chance of the Packers paying, but if he's willing to take a cut, he could be brought back in a more featured role than planned.
Jackson and Flynn are in different situations, but serve a somewhat similar role. They are really nothing more than depth at each position, yet important depth, as both Grant and Rodgers missed time this year with injuries. Of all the QBs who will be available, I simply think Flynn would be the best option of them all, as he's young, smart, and durable. The Packers should really only lose Flynn if they choose to trade him, and I think they'd have to be really motivated to trade him, like 1st round pick or bust (which with the QB situation around the league, might be conceivable). Jackson on the other hand is a free agent, and would need to be signed to a contract. His value really comes in the passing game, where he proves to be an great blocker from the backfield, as well as good receiver. As a runner though, he is quite lacking in comparison to Starks and Grant. Very tough decision here, for all the players mentioned. It will be interesting to see who stays and who goes.
And last but not least, I did indeed watch the Grammys, if for no other reason than I had nothing better to watch. And yes, they are still terrible. Lady Antebellum is talented, but that song of theirs is now so overplayed that I want to punch a baby every time I hear it. Lady GaGa was her usual bizarre self, and Katy Perry continues to make me wonder how on earth Russell Brand gets to sleep with her every night. Arcade Fire won best album of the year, which according to hipsters everywhere was "redemption". They gave two performances tonight, which I was actually looking forward to since I had heard so much about them. The result was utter disappointment. I expected a little better from a band with a name as great as "Arcade Fire". I don't know if its just that they stink live, but I was left unimpressed. It also could be my musical preference, 'alternative' music (however the hell you even define it now) just doesn't seem to be my bag, bands who sound like them just don't do it for me. Although watching the awards, I realized a lot of music today doesn't do it for me. I'd really like to start a "Save Usher" campaign, he does not need auto-tune. Ever. And he should not give in to some of the talentless hacks who need it to sell records. You're better than that Usher, and we all know it.
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