Tauscher Visits Kansas City

The biggest thing that I'm worried about as the Packers get set to travel to Minnesota is how well the offensive line will hold up against the Vikings defense. We already know that Favre will suck, but in order for Rodgers to out play him he's going to need more than 1.3 seconds to throw from the pocket. The way our offensive line has been playing (not against the Rams, that doesn't cut), that might not be easy.

One of the possible suggestions regarding the improvement of our offensive line has been bringing back Mark Tauscher, although Ted Thompson showed zero interest in signing him last offseason. It appears that he still has zero interest in him, because I think if he did he would have been signed already. Tauscher has been out with an ACL injury, and has been looking for a chance to prove that he's recovered. He's got that chance now as the Chiefs have brought him in for a tryout.

Even if Kansas City passes on Tauscher, I still don't see him coming back to Green Bay, which will upset all the Thompson haters out there. I've noticed that there is a select group of people that will hate Thompson and McCarthy no matter what they do, and their latest target is their so-called mismanagement of the offensive line. Granted, the line has sucked so far, but that doesn't mean that Ted Thompson should be fired. Some people will just never be happy.

NFL Coverage Maps: Week Four

Hey, who's ready for some coverage maps? We got them for week four, courtesy of the guys at the506.com. The weeks where the Packers either don't play, or play in primetime, are always a little different, and we'll definitely get a little different flavor of teams this week. Well, kind of. As always, I'll list the game that will be shown in Wisconsin.

CBS Single Coverage Map - Baltimore at New England (noon)

Fox Early Game Coverage Map - Detroit at Chicago

Fox Late Game Coverage Map - Dallas at Denver

So there's that, and then of course the biggest game in the history of life when the Packers travel to Minnesota on Monday Night. The Sunday night game is San Diego vs. Pittsburgh, but we all know I'll be watching "Hell in a Cell", the WWE pay-per-view for this month!

Look At This Photograph

I've wanted to post this for a couple of weeks, but have never been able to find a reason. I still don't have a reason, but I'm going to post it anyway. From the "Bloomington Bros", here's the real version of Nickelback's photograph.



And I still don't know why it says continue reading after each article. I've taken that out of the HTML layout and everything, but whatever.

Milwaukee Iron Defy the Odds

So, this was pretty much the best picture of a Milwaukee Iron game that I could find, but it doesn't look like this will be a problem for long. Despite everything I've ever known to be true in this world, the Milwaukee Iron have somehow made it to a second season.

The feature of arena football was in question throughout the country after the Arena League folded but arenafootball2 was still alive. Well, now it looks like both leagues are a thing of the past as a new league, named Arena Football One, will kick off next April.

The Iron will be one of the 16 charter member teams in this league, some of which have been announced and some yet to be determined. Either way, it's actually cool to see that despite the rocky start, the Iron will be back for year two. Sure, the franchise has a lot of work to do before they can start to afford to pay the people that work for them, but at least they're trying. I made it down to one game last season, odds are I'll likely be back for year two.

In related news, there have been rumors that the Iron were looking into changing their name to the Milwaukee Mustangs, and going back to the colors and logo of the team that took Milwaukee by storm in the 90's. I think that would be cool as hell, and the name change alone would generate some interest. We'll see.

Don't Forget Samkon Gado

So yeah, lot of Favre talk going on this week, but Big Dunc has sent something over that might lighten the mood. You get eight minutes to try and name every receiver that Favre has thrown a touchdown to as a member of the Green Bay Packers (not the Falcons, Jets, or Vikings). I got about 70% of the names, it's tougher than you might think.

Your eight minutes start now. Good luck, and make sure you don't forget the hint I gave you.

Bucky Five: Already Freaking Out About Next Week

1. What Time Was That Game? - I know I'm not alone when I say that it really didn't feel like the Packers played this weekend. I mean, I remember watching a game, and cheering and stuff, but this week didn't have the same kick to it that the last two weeks did. Perhaps it was because the Rams are brutal, perhaps it was because this was about as expected of a win as you're going to get, or perhaps the sting of last week hasn't quite left. Either way, kind of a dull week. The Packers did put up a nice score on St. Louis, 36-17, but we didn't play particularly well, so this is a tough one to gauge. But hey, Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh this weekend so that makes us look better. I'm telling you that Cincy team isn't one to be taken lightly.

2. Love a Good Driver Meal - Rodgers is doing a real good job lately of not really impressing me, but having great stats. He was 13/23 with 269 yards and two touchdowns, but to me he still doesn't look like the guy he was during the preseason. I mean he's good and all, but something's different. Oh, that's right, the offensive line blows. Either way, when Rodgers was able to get good protection, he found Driver four times for 95 yards, one of those catches being a touchdown and the other the great one handed catch you see above. Driver's having a great year so far, even if Greg Jennings has been a little disappointing. Jennings did have a very Devery Henderson-like two catches for 103 yard performance somehow though. Credit to the roomies for the Devery comparison.

3. I Might Give You 99 - Many running backs in fantasy often lose touches to the plethora of touchdown mongers on their team, and today John Kuhn was that monger to Ryan Grant. Kuhn had two touchdowns, one via the run and one via the air, while Grant didn't find the end zone for the first time this season. Grant however did have 99 yards, although I'd like him to work on that 3.8 average he had today. He did look like he had his legs back in this one more so than any other week however, and hopefully he'll be the back we think he can be next week against a very formidable Vikings run defense. As for those Vikings, well, we'll get to that in a moment.

4. Super Boller - Shades of Jason Garrett and the many other backup quarterbacks that burned us ran rampant when Kyle Boller replaced Mark Bulger in the first half. Just as the Brewers love to give up home runs to opposing pitchers, the Packers love to let backup quarterbacks shine. For awhile, Boller looked like he was going to lead a comeback, as he had two passing touchdowns, including one right before halftime. By the way, how bad is Marc Bulger? He's been this mediocre bad for like three years now. Why haven't the Rams signed anyone, or drafted somebody? These are questions I'm glad I only think of once a year, instead of week after week like the poor Rams fans do.

5. And Then, The Bullshit - Maybe what made Sunday feel like the Packers were on a bye week was because of what happened in Minnesota about ten minutes after the Packers victory. By now you've all seen Favre's ridiculous throw to Greg Lewis to give the Vikings a last second victory over San Francisco, a victory which puts the Vikings at 3-0 heading into their huge Monday Night Showdown against the faithful Packers. It was actually a nice play by Favre to keep the play alive, and a miracle that Lewis was able to even catch that thing, but it was total bullshit. Especially because this was a game where Favre got away with another crackback block, got handed 15-yard late hit penalties at his beckon call, and was able to throw the ball three yards past the line of scrimmage.

Now, I know that this is a Packers article, and that I talk about Favre way too much even though I keep saying I never will again, but I just can't understand how there are people that still say they like both Favre and the Packers. THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE! You just can't be a Packers fan and root for Favre, because that means you cheered when the Vikings, the arch-rival Vikings, won on a last second miracle that put them at 3-0 and first place in the NFC North. That means that next week, when the two teams play, you're going to be satisfied no matter what the outcome is, because you're essentially cheering for both teams. It's like cheering for both the Montagues and the Capulets, even though the two families are bitter enemies. We all know that whole forbidden affair didnt' end well, and this one won't either, so I just don't get it.

In fact, I just don't get how anyone can wake up and root for this Vikings team in general, and still feel good about themselves. If someone can explain this to me, I'll give you the space in an entire Winks Thinks column to tell me why I'm wrong. You can't like Favre and the Packers anymore, you just can't. God, next week's game is so huge, and I'm so worried that the Packers aren't ready for it. They'll win the one in Lambeau no question, but the Vikings look like the better overall team right now, and I will not be able to live if Minnesota wins with Brett Favre under center next week.

I said that this week didn't feel like anything special, but next week is going to be insane. It's going to be like the NFC Championship Game two years ago, a game where I literally could not breathe while watching. As nice as it was to win this week, I'm already freaking out about next week. I fucking hate Brett Favre, and we can not lose that game (already catching my breath in a brown paper bag).

Let's Give Out Some Player of the Game Awards

It was more or a less of a football weekend, as has been the case lately, but I was able to check out a few innings of Brewers baseball. Prince Fielder continues to impress, Ryan Braun had a nice walk-off on Saturday night, and the Brewers cracked the 3 million mark for attendance this year (which I seriously think meant more to the franchise this season than making the playoffs would have, they are obsessed with the 3 million mark).

All the while, the Brewers split a series with the Phillies, and are two games within .500. For their efforts, we'll give out Player of the Game awards to Casey McGehee, Prince Fielder, Ryan Braun, and Mat Gamel. Click on the player's name for the corresponding box score, if that's your thing.

Up next is a series with the playoff-hopeful Rockies. Here's hoping we can play spoiler and get ourselves back to .500 before the final series of the year.

Also Receiving Votes, the Wisconsin Badgers!

The Wisconsin Badgers and the Top 25 haven't really been acquainted too much lately, but it seems that the Badgers are flirting with the idea of rekindling their old friendship with the college ranking system. After a 38-30 win against Michigan State, a game in which the Badgers controlled more than the score would indicate, the Badgers are on the cusp of cracking the Top 25 for the first time this season.

As it stands after week four, the Badgers aren't quite in the rankings but they are one of the others receiving votes. In the USA Today Poll, the Badgers fall in at number 30, while in the Associated Press Poll, the Badgers fall in at number 32. The 4-0 record has helped them garner some attention, but people still aren't sold on Bielema's squad. If the Badgers can go into Minnesota next weekend and pick up a victory, they'll be ranked for certain. It'd be nice to have the Badgers be ranked before they head into their big matchup against Ohio State in Columbus.

As I've said before, I'm not able to watch as much of these games as I'd like to, because of the whole working on Saturdays thing. As I've also said before, my interest in the Badgers is usually high at the beginning of the season, especially before the Badgers first loss. If Wisconsin keeps playing the way they have been, I just may have to take one of these Saturdays off in the near future.

Winks Thinks: The Bluff Climbers Edition

I don't even know how to explain the column I slapped together this week. I can't even really explain what compelled me to write it in the first place. I just wonder sometimes how a website named SportsBubbler let's me write this nonsense. Here it is, this week's edition of Winks Thinks.

Flash Forward: The First 18 Minutes

It's going to be a busy night in the Winkler/Berenz/Kuitert household, with all the great TV on tonight. There's The Office, It's Always Sunny it Philadelphia, Community, Parks and Recreation, WWE Superstars...., Saturday Night Live Weekend Update, and the new kid on the block Flash Forward, of which you can watch the first 18 minutes above.

It's being touted as the next "Lost", in terms of story with interesting characters and an overarching science fiction theme. It's got a little time-travel element to it as well, which not only excites me, but it's also got me a little worried. Last year, the show I fell in love with was ABC's "Life on Mars". Cancelled. The year before that, it was NBC's "Journeyman". Cancelled. Here's hoping Flash Forward can still around for awhile.

This Guy Had Ten Strikeouts

No, this isn't a bad joke from the American Pie movies, but rather it's Chris Narveson, the Brewers pitcher who threw ten strikeouts against the Cubs on Wednesday en route to a 3-2 Brewers victory. Sure, he gave up a home run to Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija, but Milwaukee loves giving up home runs to pitchers so that doesn't bother me.

Narveson has been in the starting rotation lately, usually going about four or five innings before he's lifted from the game. He ended up going 5 2/3 innings on Wednesday while throwing 70 pitchers, and improved his record to 2-0 and his ERA to 3.82. I'm not exactly sure what the Brewers plans are for Narveson, but if he keeps this up and can extend that arm a little bit, the Brewers may have a truly solid option for their rotation next year.

As for the Brewers scoring, it was again highlighted by home runs. Prince hit his 42nd of the season which brought home Ryan Braun, and Jody Gerut added his 9th of the year. Trevor Hoffman, who will probably end up staying in Milwaukee next season, picked up his 35th save.

Tough to lose a series at home to the Cubbies, but this was a fun one to watch. The Brewers improve to 75-77, two games back of that illustrious .500 mark. They'll start a series this weekend against the Phillies, so getting back to .500 might not be easy, but here's hoping they can (sort of) avenge last year's loss to them in the playoffs. Oh, the playoffs. Remember those?

POTG: Narveson

I'm a hungry man, but I don't want pizza. I'll blow down your house, and then I'm gonna eat ya.

Farewell, Aaron Rouse

The other day when I wrote about how Atari Bigby was injured, I was talking about how the Packers wouldn't really lose much with Aaron Rouse in the secondary instead. Well, actually the Packers did lose something, as in the game against the Bengals. And because of that Rouse lost something as well, as in his job.

It was a "number of factors" that led to Rouse losing his job, according to Mike McCarthy, but the biggest one has to be that he suffered yet another injury last Sunday. Rouse left the game with a stinger, and was replaced by Jarret Bush. Just a warning here folks, Bush could be your starting safety this weekend against the Rams, so stay tuned.

Bush will get some time, along with Derrick Martin, but one other guy who will get some snaps is a guy by the name of Matt "It's Not Delivery, It's" Giordano. Kind of a stretch on the nickname, but whatever. Anyway, Giordano, who has spent the last four seasons with the Colts, was picked up by the Packers on Wednesday. So with the injuries to Collins and Bigby, it could be a rough week for the Packers secondary. Good thing we're playing the Rams.

Another Packers transaction to take note of as well. Fifth round pick Jamon Meredith was on the practice squad up until Monday, when the Bills signed him to their active roster. Tackle Dane Randolph will take his place among the Brian Brohm All-Stars.

Update (3:15pm Thursday) - The Giants have signed Aaron Rouse

NFL Coverage Maps: Week Three

Here's the latest round of coverage maps for the NFL this weekend, as provided by the crew at the506.com. The Packers don't have quite the national exposure as they have the first two weeks, but playing against the Rams will do that to a team. Here's what we got though in Wisconsin:

Fox Coverage Map (Green Bay @ St. Louis)

CBS Coverage Map, Early Games (Kansas City @ Philadelphia)

CBS Coverage Map, Late Games (Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati)

So it looks like we're getting the Packer game, and then if we want to watch any more football we're stuck with another Bengals game. Zar, if you are reading this, I think I might be giving you a call this weekend to check out that NFL Sunday Ticket of yours.

He's Also Killing My Fantasy Team

The selfish prick that I am, I am going to turn the unfortunate story about a man's death into a complaint about my fantasy team. Angel Villalona, the future third basemen for the San Francisco Giants, was jailed on murder charges in the Dominican Republic after a 25 year-old man was fatally shot in a coastal city of the country. Villalona was visiting his home country and was apparently at the bar where the man was shot, after a fight broke out between the man and Villalona's friends.

A lot of you might be thinking, who the hell is Angel Villalona in the first place? If you do know who he is, you are either a Giants fan, a citizen of the Dominican Republic, or in my uncle's crazy ass fantasy league. The only reason this guy is on my team is because we are supposed to draft minor leaguers. So basically, I tanked this season in order to stockpile young talent like Stephen Strasburg, Buster Posey, Madison Baumgartner, Dominic Brown, and Villalona.

The strategy there is to build a good team for the future, and then dominate for years. There is the understanding though that some of these guys might not even pan out. But never though did I think I might potentially lose a guy because he might have killed someone. Not sure what's going to come out of this one, but I guess things could be worse. I mean, I could be dead.

Cubs Continue to Play Spoiler

Earlier this week I talked about how it'd be something if the Cubs were in the playoff race, and we could have played the spoiler. But actually, now that I think about it, it's the Cubs that are playing that role as they keep pushing the Brewers away from our new goal, a .500 season. The Cubs smoked Milwaukee again on Tuesday night, knocking off the Brewers 7-2 and sending them to three games under .500 with less than two weeks to go.

Tuesday was a night that Dave Bush would like to forget, as he didn't even last through the second inning. From there, the game was pretty much over, although Prince Fielder did pad his stats with a home run in the second. The rubber match is Wednesday night at 7pm.

POTG: Prince Fielder

Don't waste your time on me, you're already the voice inside my head.

Cubs Crush Crew, Cooper Canned

We often do a lot of speculating about what the Brewers roster is going to look like next season, but what about the coaching staff? The little brain trust of Ken Macha, Willie Randolph, and Dale Sveum hasn't exactly paid dividends, and I'm sure Randolph will be looking for a managerial job next season. Hell, Sveum might have his eye open as well, if he doesn't end up replacing Ken Macha (never know). But one guy that could fill any of these guys positions should they leave is former Brewer Cecil Cooper, who was fired Monday from the Houston Astros.

Cooper hasn't been all that great of a manager, but the Brewers organization does have a thing for bringing back guys that used to play for them. If you don't believe me, then how do you explain people still talking about 1982 like it was last Thursday, and how do you explain that Bill Schroeder does plugs for next season's fantasy camp as early as May. We're a franchise that lives in the past, one that's not even all that great to begin with. So you never know, gut feeling tells me if Cooper lands anywhere, it's somewhere in the organization, be it Milwaukee or Nashburg.

The present of the franchise hasn't been all that great either, although the Brewers are climbing closer to .500. They could have got back to that mark on Monday night, but the Cubs decided to come to Miller Park and beat Milwaukee 10-2. I can't even believe how huge these games would be if both of these teams were contending, but I will tell you I am happy that the Cubs aren't in the playoff race either.

I know some people wish that even if we are having a down season, they wish that the Cubs were at least in it so that we can play the role of spoiler. No way for me though. If we're going to go down sinking, I'll gladly take the Cubs with us. But Chicago definitely got the upper hand in game one of the new series, destroying Braden Looper in the process.

Dave Bush and Chris Narveson will throw the next two games, so on paper we've already been swept. But if the Brewers decide that being .500 is actually worth something, maybe they'll try to rebound and play the kind of baseball they have been lately. Kudos and Player of the Game nod to Mike Cameron in this one, who scored each of the Brewers two runs off solo homers. Well done.

Forget about your boyfriend, and meet me at the hotel room.

Don't You Look Like...

Matt Damon in The Informant! and Eddie Murphy in the classic Saturday Night Live sketch where he pretends to be white.

Bucky Five: Who Sold Those Seats to Bengals Fans?

1. Ocho Leapo - Well that wasn't cool. The confidence many of us have in this Packers team was sliced in half on Sunday when the Bengals beat the Packers at Lambeau 31-24. I still think everything is fine, and I'll get to that in a minute, but what's going to be lame is how often this Chad Johnson, excuse me, Ochocinco, leap is going to be shown for the rest of the season. Actually, now that I think about it, whoever that guy is that flipped off the cameras and Chad is the coolest dude ever, because now networks will be too afraid to show the footage as they worry about FCC fines. I'm sure by Tuesday some obscure blog will track down that guy and interview him, get posted on Deadspin, and then never be heard from again. Oh, how I wish I was that blog.

2. Rodgers vs. The Bengals Defense - Rodgers didn't play a perfect game, there was that pass downfield at the end of the 4th quarter he probably shouldn't have made, but he was by far the best player on the offense. He really got very little help from anyone not named Donald Driver. Jennings looked poor, Jones dropped a couple of balls as well, and I swear this receiving corp leads the league in that category. Then there was the terrific play once again of our front five, who even before the injury to Chad Clifton made a star out of Bengals defensive end Antwan Odom. Odom practically stole NFL Defense Player of the Week honors from Charles Woodson with each time he threw Rodgers to the ground. And then when Green Bay did have a chance to tie the game, Jermichael Finley had to have a seizure on the line of scrimmage. One of the biggest things Rodgers tries to work on is his consistency. Well, Sunday he was consistent. The offense, however, was far from it.

3. Crosby vs. Cosby - Special teams often play a larger factor in games than we like to give credit for. And while Mason Crosby did deliver huge with a field goal and the onside kick, the confidence level in Crosby definitely isn't what it was a year ago. He's not quite at tiptoeing with a chainsaw status, but he's definitely scaring me. On the other hand, Quan Cosby of the Bengals delivered with some huge punt returns late in the game, which really helped seal the victory for Cincinnati.

4. Cedric Benson? - So the Packer hold a guy like Matt Forte to under 50 yards, but the guy that Forte ran out of Chicago, Cedric Benson runs for 141 on us? Not cool. I thought our rush defense was actually pretty good, but they didn't look it today. There were some tackling issues too that will need to be worked on.

5. No Need to Panic - So most of you are probably thinking, "OMG, we lost to the Bengals at Lambeau! We suck!" True, this was a game we probably should have won. However, I don't think the Bengals are that bad of a team, and I've been saying that for awhile now. I like how they are a bunch of misfits and castoffs that can band together, and I really think Carson Palmer is going to have a good year. And even so, what if they do end up sucking? It's only one loss, and as we've seen today, a lot can happen in the NFL. After two weeks, the following teams are also 1-1: New England, Pittsburgh, Chicago, San Diego, Philadelphia, Arizona, and one of either Dallas or the Giants. The season is young, and we're going to be alright. Plus, the Packers started 2-0 last season, and ended 4-10. It's not how you start, it's how you finish, and while Sunday was a bump in the road, I don't see a major need to panic as long as we address the few mistakes we made today.

Brewers Inching Closer to .500

Due to not only my lack of Brewers coverage, but also some recent comments I've made in my real life, some people have been whispering that I'm growing into a bandwagon Brewers fan. While that couldn't be farther from the truth, I will admit that I could be doing a better job finding time to watch the Crew. However, 90% of the reason I haven't been watching Milwaukee is because I'm playing Madden obsessively, so that give me some leeway.

But I am still invested in this team, and I do still want to care even though the playoffs are a distant dream. The Brewers have been playing better baseball lately, led by the home run smashing Prince Fielder, the ever improving Jody Gerut, and the rookie of the year candidate in Casey McGehee. So there is definitely still reason to watch these guys, one of those being that after a sweep of Houston they they are now 74-75, one game back of .500.

Surely, .500 isn't what it used to be, especially with the Brewers tasting the playoffs last season. But watching them try to pull together another winning season is something certainly worth making the time for, and hopefully they can use these last couple of weeks to build some momentum heading into next year.

Unless I'm busy playing Madden, of course.

POTG's: Casey McGehee, Jeff Suppan, Jody Gerut.

Badgers Stay on the Right Path Against Wofford

You'd think playing a game against a team like Wofford would have made me feel confident before the kickoff, but after last year's joke of a game versus Cal-Poly, you can never be too sure. But the Badgers were able to erase any memories of that game by dominating Wofford 44-14, improving to 3-0 on the season.

A few things stand out to me in this game that I really like. The first thing would be that the Badgers went into halftime with a 31-0 lead, which gives me plenty of confidence about what this team can do. The second is that Scott Tolzien continues to impress under center for Wisconsin, tossing two touchdowns. The third would be that the rushing attack was strong as usual with 258 yards, including 92 from backup quarterback Curt Phillips.

The only major issue in this game also game as a result of the running attack though, as the fumbles were ever prevalent. John Clay had a few of them, losing two, and Zach Brown lost one as well. But the Badgers still won by 30 points, so I'm not too concerned.

Camp Lambeau is dead on with his analysis of the Badgers so far this season, or as he affectionately calls it, the Badgers "preseason". These first three games are meant to be tune-ups for the Big Ten season, and even though there was a scare against Fresno State (who gave Boise State a decent run on Friday night), Bucky comes out unscathed at 3-0. Of course, things haven't really gotten started yet, and no matter how good we might think this team is, we'll know a lot more after next week's game against Michigan State.

Could I Be Coming Around on Jody Gerut?

I've often been critical of Jody Gerut, but at the same time I've agreed with the comments that if he was given more playing time he might show what he can really do. Well, the second half version of Jody Gerut is a lot different than the guy we saw in the first half, and Gerut is not only getting more playing time but also taking advantage of it when it comes to him.

Thursday afternoon was a prime example of that, when Gerut hit a grand slam in the 4th inning to give the Brewers a lead against the Cubs, one they wouldn't relinquish. Gerut's home run helped the Brewers split a series with the Cubs that could have been a lot more meaningful had both of these teams not struggled this season.

With the win, the Brewers are 71-75, and playing better down the stretch. I'd like to see them get to at least .500, but to do that they'd have to go 11-7 in the final couple of weeks. It's definitely plausible, but I think they're probably going to start resting guys more and I wouldn't be surprised if Gallardo gets shut down this weekend. A .500 record would be nice, but we have to start preparing for next year, if we haven't already. I'll have some thoughts on what I'd like to see this offseason as soon as I'm over this Madden addicition.

POTG: Gerut.

Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down. Any place but those I know by heart.

Winks Thinks: The Sorry Gweeds Edition

This week's edition of Winks Thinks acts more or less as an apology to one of my roommates, for I was not the most pleasant person to follow along with fantasy football stats last weekend. Also in this week's edition, I call out Megan Fox and the guys who love her, look at which divisions are worth watching in the NFL, and try to justify my lack of Brewers coverage. All that and more, in Winks Thinks: The Sorry Gweeds Edition.

Atari Bigby Out For At Least One Month

When I think of the phrase, "crunked up", this picture of Atari Bigby is always the first thing that comes to my mind. Unfortunately for Bigby, he will have plenty of time to be as crunked as he wants to be on the bench, as he is out four weeks with what McCarthy has called a "significant injury".

I've always been a Bigby fan, so this news is a little unsettling, however I have no doubt Aaron Rouse will do a decent job filling in for him at safety. The difference between the the Packers' production is actually minimal when either of them are on the field, so I'm assuming Rouse will do just fine. If not, Jarrett Bush could also step into the role, and perhaps Derrick Martin. The first thing I thought of when this happened, however, was why did we cut Anthony Smith.

We'll have to see how things so this weekend, and Cincinnati is as good of a team to try new things against defensively, because they are not very good on offense, at least it seems. Hopefully Rouse can step in and not miss a beat, and help keep Ochocinco from doing a Lambeau Leap.

Brewers Score

Player of the Game.

Reference.

It Just Doesn't End With This Guy

Months after he "retired" from the Jets, Brett Favre decided to come out and say that he should have been listed on the injury report last season. After these comments, the NFL decided to look into the matter which ultimately could have led disciplinary against the franchise. The following parties were then fined for what happened:

New York Jets - $75,000

Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum - $25,000

Former Jets coach Eric Mangini - $25,000

Brett Favre - $0

It looks like burning one former team and their fanbase wasn't enough for Favre this offseason, so he threw the Jets under the bus as well. What a dick.

NFL Coverage Maps: Week Two

Time to take our weekly look at the coverage maps for this weekend's slate of NFL games, as well as which game we'll be getting in the great state of Wisconsin. These maps, as always, are provided by our good friends at the506.com.

CBS Early Games (Cincinnati @ Green Bay)

CBS Late Games (Pittsburgh @ Chicago)

FOX Single Header (Green Bay area will get Tampa Bay @ Buffalo at 3pm, the rest of the state will see Minnesota @ Detroit at noon)

Ruvell Martin Found a Job

I read somewhere yesterday that the recession is apparently over. Debatable. However, it looks like Ruvell Martin's brief period of unemployment is over, as the Packers odd man out at wide receiver has found a job with the St. Louis Rams.

Ruvell beat out David Tyree and two other former NFL receivers for a job with the Rams, a team that failed to score in their opening week matchup against Seattle. Martin will probably get more opportunities in St. Louis than he would have with the Packers, so this is good for him. Well, it sucks that he's on the Rams, but at least it's better than going to the UFL.

POTG: Cubs 13, Brewers 7

Hey Corey Hart is back. Let's give him a Player of the Game.

Me fail english? That's unpossible.

Crew Opens the 2010 Season at Home

Whether it actually happens or not, to me it usually seems like the Brewers end up opening their season on the road. Well, that won't be the case next season when the Brewers welcome the Colorado Rockies to Miller Park on April 5th. And yes, we are already looking forward to next season, if you haven't already noticed.

The baseball schedule isn't as fun to look as as other schedules, because it's pretty much the same every year. The only real key things to look for are who do they play the first and last series of the season, who do they play in interleague play, and when do they play the Cubs.

As mentioned, the season will open with a three game set against the Rockies, followed by another three at home against St. Lou. The Brewers will then play 152 more games before they wrap up the season with a three game set in Cincinnati.

As far as the interleague opponents, Milwaukee will be hosting the Rangers and the Mariners. Kind of intriguing as Melvin used to run the show down in Texas, while his protege Jack Z is now with Seattle. We'll probably also get to see former Brewres Nelson Cruz, Bill Hall, and Russell Branyan make their return trips to Miller Park during that time. The Brewers will also be making a trip to Los Angeles to take on the Angels, and then partake in their annual home-and-home against the Twins.

As for the Cubbies, we'll have a home-and-home with them in April, host them again in June, go down to Wrigley in August, and then welcome them back in September. Here's the full slate of games for next year.

I don't know about you, but it can't come soon enough.

Packers Looking at Runyan

While the play of Allen Barbre had most of us hoping for Ted to call Mark Tauscher, it looks like he may have actually been on the phone with former Eagles lineman Jon Runyan, according to an ESPN.com insider article. I guess I wouldn't mind this, even though Runyan has had his injury problems. Still, I think Barbre stepped up in the second half on Sunday night, and deserves another shot before we call in for a reliever.

The Anti-Climatic Series Begins

Back in April, I honestly thought that I would have been locked in to the Brewers/Cubs game on Monday night instead of watching this never-ending Raiders/Chargers game. But, since both the Cubs are Brewers are looking towards next season, that was the case.

Player of the Game: Wow. I'm giving it to Jeff Suppan. Sigh.

I want to hold them like they do in Texas please.

Bucky Five: Rodgers Gets Clutch

The five thoughts I'm walking away with after the Packers 21-15 win over the Bears.

1. Like I Said, Cutler Sucks - I have been going on and on about how I don't think Jay Cutler is going to be the savior to this Bears franchise, much less even a good quarterback, and boy did he look bad tonight. He did have his moments, I'll give him that, but four interceptions is very um, well, shitty. The best one of the night was by far the one that Johnny Jolly somehow came up with. Granted, the Packers could have done a better job creating points off the turnovers, but that still doesn't change the fact that Cutler has four interceptions next to his name.

2. Barbreshop - A friend of mine brought up the fact that Ted Thompson better have Mark Tauscher on speed dial, because maybe Allen Barbre isn't going to be able to hold down this starting position for a whole season. He did do better in the second half, but looked awful in the first half. In fact, the offensive line kind of got owned a lot in this game, and Rodgers definitely felt a lot of pressure. I know the Bears have a better defensive attack then most teams, but this is definitely something they can work on this week.

3. Illegal Contact? - This will get glossed over because the Packers ended up winning, but that illegal contact call on Al Harris in the fourth quarter was a bunch of crap. Man, was that brutal. There was a similar kind of call in the first quarter as well, which lead to Al Michaels giving a plug to my hometown of Fond du Lac live on the air. By the way, it's a fact that the Packers have intercepted a pass after every time that Fond du Lac has been mentioned on a nationally televised game.

4. Patrick Mannelly is Awesome - If that wasn't the dumbest play in the history of the world, then there are only a few others that could be ahead of it. Patrick Mannelly maxed out his long snapper power abilities when he audibled from a punt to a fake punt without letting anyone know. Sure, he pointed at Garrett Wolfe, but that's not really a thing. The Packers were able to get a field goal out of it, which gave them the lead at the time. It had to be pretty awkward for Mannelly in that locker room after the game, almost as awkward as the interview between Bob Costas and Jay Leno.

5. Thank God - After not really playing well during the game, Aaron Rodgers came back in a big way with the game winning 50 yard pass to Greg Jennings. Rodgers didn't play terrible terrible, but he didn't really play with the same gusto he had in the preseason. It was almost as if Rodgers was putting a lot of the weight on his shoulders, especially because of how disappointing last year was. Rodgers knows that he is a good quarterback on a good team, but knowing is only half the battle. You have to actually execute your talents, and they had a hard time doing that throughout the game. But yes, he did totally redeem himself with a game winning drive, and shed that monkey off his back. Rodgers actually lead similar drives last year, but the defense would then crumble, so it was nice to see them pull through, and it was great to see Al Harris give us the same finger point interception he gave us back in the 2004 playoffs. Overall, a nerve-racking game that ended beautifully, and the Packers enter week two 1-0.

POTG: Brewers 5, Diamondbacks 3

I haven't been really following the Brewers as much as I did when they still had a chance, but Chris Narveson started on Sunday? Interesting. The Brewers used seven different pitchers and got a Trevor Hoffman save to give the Brewers a sweep of the Diamondbacks. Coool.

POTG: Alcides Escobar

I always feel like, somebody's watching me. (the artist, not Geico)

My Boy Kyle Orton

This is way unrelated to anything Wisconsin, but I just wanted to make my affection for Kyle Orton public. I always liked him even when he was with Chicago, mainly because he lead the Bears to like ten wins that season but nobody gave him any credit. Ten wins is ten wins, no matter how you get it done.

My love for him grew even more when he was traded to the Broncos, because all these Bears fans think that Jay Cutler is a huge upgrade over Orton, an upgrade that can help get them to the Super Bowl. I know many people disagree with me, but I don't think Jay Cutler is very good. He's never been better than 8-8, but all of a sudden he's going to take an average Bears team to the promised land? I don't get it. I am however, excited to watch him suck against the Packers tonight.

Now, my boy Orton played decent against the Bengals, but he definitely lucked into a victory. It what could end up being the play of the year, Orton's pass was deflected and then caught by Brandon Stokley for an 87-yard game winning touchdown. I'm not really a Broncos fan by any means, but I do have a soft spot for Orton and will be rooting for him all season. Just wanted to get that out there.

POTG: Brewers 9, Diamondbacks 2

Casey McGehee gets the honors as he smacks two home runs in the desert.

Dr. Funke's 100% Natural Good Time Family Band solution was a nightmare.

Badgers Edge Fresno State in Overtime

I'm sure there were a lot of negative thoughts in your head and mine when the Badgers were down 14-0 to Fresno State in the early goings of the second quarter. I never expect the Badgers to actually win all of their games, but you never want to lose these first three games at home, no matter how good Fresno State might be.

Actually, I lied. I didn't start watching this game until the Badgers were down 14-7, because unless I'm going to the game, I usually don't wake up until the second quarter. Isn't waking up hungover and half watching the Badger game what college football Saturdays are all about?

Anyway, despite my claim that I'm a fairweather Badger fan, I actually found myself very intrigued with this game, as it was a great game. The play of the game had to be John Clay's 72-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter that gave the Badgers a three point lead. Fresno State would tie the game with a field goal, and the Badgers were headed to overtime.

I'm too lazy to look it up right now, but I really don't remember the Badgers playing too many overtime contests. Experience wasn't needed though as the Badgers won the game with ease, care of a Scott Tolzien pass to Nick Toon, and then a Philip Welch field goal in the second overtime period.

It wasn't a pretty win, but it was a good win. I'm still not sure how good this Badger team can be, but it's a lot better being 2-0 then being one of the alternatives.

Braun Hits Home Run #100

The season may be over, but that doesn't mean there's not still time to pad the stats. Braun hits his 100th career home run as the Brewers beat the Diamondbacks 6-3. He'll get the player of the game, for sure.

...Some call me Mr. Wiggles.

A Thought on 9/11

I've always had kind of a love/hate with high school football, and that was never more true than when I was actually in high school. I love going to the games, the atmosphere is cool, and there have been a lot of great movies made regarding the sport. However, when compared to other sports and athletes in a given high school, I feel the football program gets catered to way too much. Spare me your backlash, I've already heard it all. And clearly, yes, I didn't play football.

But that's besides the point. As we all know, eight years ago America was attacked as two giant planes crashed into the heart of New York City. We all know where we were when we first found out, that's just something you can't forget if you tried. The rest of the week though is kind of a blur. I remember watching a lot of cable news, doing a lot of reflecting with my high school classes, and doing a lot of wondering about just how safe we really were in this country.

I think the biggest thing that sticks out from that week is the feeling of wondering if our lives would ever be the same. Late night talk shows were afraid to do comedy, professional sports leagues were afraid to play ball. Everything seemed to be put on hold, and rightfully so, as we all tried to determine what 9/11 would do to our country.

That's where high school football comes in. It was my senior year of high school, and the Fox Valley Association decided not to cancel football games for the week. The games would be played on their normal Friday night, just three days after the events of 9/11 occurred. Some questioned the move, others applauded it, but it was a decision we weren't really going to be able to judge until it was over.

I remember driving from Fond du Lac up to Appleton to the home of the Appleton West Terrors. The ride up was basically me and some friends blasting Lee Greenwood's "Proud to be an American", intertwined with discussions about if the Packers would ever wind up playing the Giants that season as they were scheduled to do in week two. As we pulled into Appleton, I remember just an onslaught of American flags everywhere you looked, and people would give us the thumbs up when they heard the boisterous voice of Greenwood.

When we got to the football field, it was business at usual. We spent the first half cheering, while the cool kids talked on their cell phones in the front row. But then at halftime, it was a picture I distinctly remember. The lights were shut off, everyone had candles, and we sat there in an extended moment of silence, reflecting on all the heroes and victims that died just three days prior.

So much was going through my head at that moment, but most importantly was this: This night wasn't about Appleton West against Fond du Lac. Two high school rivals battling it out on the gridiron just seemed so insignificant. The night was about all of us, all Americans, coming together and paying tribute to those who had their lives forever changed that day. This was about us having the freedom to be able to gather together, watch a bunch of kids play a meaningless game of football, yet scrutinize over every yard all at the same time. This was about us enjoying the very thing the terrorists wanted to take away from us.

Eight years later, that reflection isn't there. Sure, the cable news channels over the anniversary, but as far as everyday citizens, 9/11 is just another day. More often than not, jokes are made about the attacks rather than people reflecting on them. Sometimes I feel is if 9/11 never happened, and instead it was just another Hollywood blockbuster we all watched at the same time.

I know I'm getting borderline preachy here, and that wasn't my intention. Words and feelings are coming out of my fingers that I didn't even know I had. I just think that even though high school football is a little over the top at times, but for that one night it provided the perfect example of why America is so great. I just feel like that's something we need to remember a little more, especially on this day.

That's my thought on 9/11.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Winks Thinks: The Madden Moments Edition

So I wrote a Winks Thinks about Madden, specifically how great of a moment I experienced on Wednesday night. What this column doesn't tell you is that after I wrote this column I ended up quitting the game and threw a bag of chips at the wall. Yeah, I'm a stable guy alright. Check it out in this week's edition of Winks Thinks.

One Game Away

A 26-yard blast from Richardo Clark was all that the United States needed in a very competitive game in Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday night, as the U.S. picked up the road victory by a score of 1-0. Tim Howard played stellar once again in the net, although one almost did sneak by him in the first half only to hit the crossbar. The U.S. got the win they needed though, and are one game away from the World Cup.

Because of the win, they can finish no worse than 4th in the 6-team group, which would put them in a playoff game with the 5th-place team in the South American group. The win against T&T means that the USA clinches a birth to South Africa if they can knock off Honduras on October 10th. It really hasn't been a question as to if the States would qualify for the Cup, it's really been a matter of when. It looks like we'll soon know that answer. Here's the standings, with two games to go for everyone.

United States - 5 wins, 2 losses, 1 tie (16 points)

Mexico - 5-3-0 (15 points)

Honduras - 4-3-1 (13 points)

Costa Rica - 4-4-0 (12 points)

El Salvador - 2-4-2 (8 points)

Trinidad & Tobago - 1-5-2 (5 points)

POTG: Cardinals 5, Brewers 1

I got a text from a friend today at about 3:30pm. It said, "at the Brewer game, r u jealous?" Um, no April, I was not jealous. Hope you had fun though!

POTG: Felipe Lopez

She took the midnight train goin' anywhere.

Reminder

World Cup Qualifier: United States at Trinidad & Tobago - Tonight, 5:30CT (ESPN Classic)

Don't Be Surprised When This Makes the Billboard Hot 100

One of the things I remember most about the Super Bowl season back in 1996 was how many Packers-themed songs there were on the radio all the time. Having complimentary music to your team's victories is a great compliment for any quest to the Super Bowl. And I've noticed that trend coming back this year, although many of the songs have so far revolved around Brent Favre.

The t-shirt we all know and love was made by the guys at sconnie.com, and they've just posted a great video on their Facebook site that I wanted to share with you. So here it is, set to the tune of "Save the Last Dance For Me" by Michael Buble, "We'll Never Forget You Brent" by the Flip Flops. Awesome.

Hoffman Blows Save to Holliday

Oh well. I actually could have went to this game tonight. Good thing I didn't. At least Gamel and Hart are back up.

Player of the Game: Prince Fielder

If you wait around awhile, I'll make you fall for me.

NFL Coverage Maps: Week One

This is something I like looking at every week, so I thought I'd pass it along to you guys. There is a site, the506.com, which is very awesome about putting out the NFL coverage maps for the weekend's games. This is especially cool for those of us that haven't taken advantage of the NFL Sunday Ticket. You can check out the maps via the links below, and I've listed the game that will be shown in Wisconsin in parenthesis.

Fox Early Game Coverage Map. (Minnesota at Cleveland)

Fox Late Game Coverage Map. (Washington at New York Giants)

CBS Single Came Coverage Map. (Jacksonville at Indianapolis)

Thank You, Jody Gerut

Oh man. I think earlier today I wrote that the next time we'd talk Brewers we would be talking about a Chris Carpenter no-hitter. That would have been a little depressing. The Brewers 3-0 loss to the Cardinals was actually just one Jody Gerut hit away from being a no-hitter, so thank you Jody. Looks like that trade finally paid off after all!

Player of the Game: Actually Dave Bush, pitching pretty well through seven innings.

Help control the pet population. Have your pet spayed or neutered.

Some Thoughts on the Packers Cuts

In the last three days, I have probably been on the internet for a total of four minutes. If you know me at all, you'd know how uncharacteristic that is of me. I'm not sure if I was going through actual withdrawals, but I did feel an uncontrollable shaking sometime last night. I figure it was lack of internet related.

The point I'm trying to make is that even though I really had no chance to use the net this weekend, I made sure to find access to it for one thing, and that is to see who the Packers cut on their way to a 53-man roster. I'm sure you've heard the cuts by now, but here's the full list.

Of course, the biggest surprise of these cuts may have been Brian Brohm, as you would have thought the Packers would have given more time to a second-round pick from last year. However, it seems like the Packers knew what they were doing in taking the risk of cutting him. Brohm cleared waivers, and after talking to five other teams, decided to rejoin the Packers as a member of the practice squad. Joining him are WR Jake Allen, CB Trevor Ford, LB Cyril Obiozior, RB Kregg Lumpkin, OT Jamon Meredith, DE Ronald Talley, and NT Anthony Toribio.

Overall, I'm not too shocked by Ted's moves, but there were a few interesting notes. I like the trade of Tony Moll for Derrick Martin of the Ravens, because we got something for a guy we were likely to cut anyway. I'm excited to ssee what Martin brings to the table, but unfortunately it resulted in the cutting of Anthony Smith. Smith was brought in the guy to basically be the expert on the 3-4 in the secondary, but now he's a member of the St. Louis Rams. That's too bad too, as he's been kicking ass for us on Madden.

I'm not too surprised that the Packers kept all three fullbacks, as I'm not sure which one of those guys they would have cut. Keeping that third fullback likely led to the cutting of Brohm, but again, that was a move that worked out in the end.

Everyone seems to be saddened by the cutting of RB Tyrell Sutton, but I think we kept the right guys. Wynn is a veteran presence that has played well in big games in the past, and was needed in case Brandon Jackson isn't ready to go in the early going of this season. He's now a Carolina Panther.

Ruvell Martin was also an interesting cut, although Brett Swain has been playing well on special teams, and we all know how much Teddy likes youth. Martin is a cut that didn't really please his teammates, because he was pretty good friends with a lot of people on that team, especially Rodgers and Jennings.

Either way, this final roster from one to fifty-three might be one of my favorite lineups of all-time with this team. They have good depth at all positions, minus quarterback I guess. The punting situation will be something to watch this season as well, but I'm excited going forward with the roster Ted has assembled. Next Sunday night can't come soon enough.

Not Sure How I'm Covering the Badgers This Year

So here's the irony of this whole site "The Bucky Channel". Bucky, clearly is the mascot for the Wisconsin Badgers. The majority of my color scheme is red and white, a take off on the University of Wisconsin's color palette. A very poor knock-off of Bucky Badger is the first thing you see on this site. However, the Badgers (both football and basketball) are probably the thing I cover the least.

Don't expect that to change this season. The PR-friendly excuse that I'm going to give you is that I'm working on Saturdays this fall, and will miss most of the games. Also, when I'm done with work on those days I'll probably go out with friends, which limits the blogging time. By the time I get around to writing about them, it will be Sunday afternoon, when I'll be knee deep in fantasy football.

The real reason though is because I'm a self-admitted fairweather Badgers fan. I mean, without question they are my team of choice in college football, but I have a hard time following this time once they lose, and the current postseason structure of college football is what is to blame. I do follow the team, and try to watch them when I can, but I'll be honest with you. I looked at the box score from Saturday's 28-20 win against Northern Illinois and I recognized three names: John Clay, Zach Brown, and I figured that the Toon guy at wide receiver was probably Al Toon's kid. That's it.

Now, I did get to watch a little of the replay (didn't watch the game live - wedding), and I did like some of the things I see. The quarterback situation will be interesting, as both Tolzien and Phillips looked legit enough. This Issac Anderson receiver could be something special. And our defense looked good, at first anyway.

My best case scenario for this team would be a two-loss season, but I figure they'll wind up in the middle of the Big Ten. Honestly though, nothing that happens would surprise me this season, whether they win the Big Ten or don't win another game. I guess those are the kind of expectations I have when I don't know a damn thing about this football team.

With that said, Fuck 'em Bucky!

For One Day Only, Brewers Become Relevant

Let me first being by clearing something up with everyone. I know that lately I have been very hard on the Brewers, in a way that makes it seems like I am very bitter that the Crew haven't been able to duplicate the success they had last year. I can't say I mean for it to come across that way, but the fact of the matter is I just really wish that as I type this post on a Labor Day afternoon I would be doing so while watching competitive baseball rather than waiting for my turn to play Madden.

How great would it be if I could just relax today while watching the Brewers and Cardinals battle it for the NL Central lead on my new HDTV. Last year at this time, the Brewers were doing just that, as they were nearly 25 games over .500. Success like that was something that I wanted to get used to, and it's just been hard dealing with the fact that we won't be experiencing the joys of October this season.

Despite the fact that Milwaukee is limping to the finish line, they found a way to put on a very entertaining ballgame against the Wild Card contending San Francisco Giants on Sunday. From a Brewers triple play, to Jason Kendall's diving catch behind the backstop, to the Prince Fielder's game winning home run and then explosion at home plate, this was a game littered with top ten highlights. Getting the upper hand over a contending team in the extra innings is something that is going to send the home crowd happy every time.

Of course though, the Giants are pulling a Pujols and bitching about the Brewers celebration on Sunday. Honestly though San Fran, who cares. Let the Brewers have their one moment this season, and you guys should be going back to concentrating on catching the Rockies. The Brewers may be viewed as a little cocky, but this is just a group of guys trying to have fun when they win a ballgame. To some teams, winning is all business, but to the Brewers, it's kind of fun. In the rare cases when that happens, let us celebrate a little bit. Thanks, and good luck. Pricks.

Plus, the Giants came out of Milwaukee with a series win anyways, as it was your typical Brewers series where they win one game and lose the other two. Prince will get the player of the game for Sunday, Villanueva can have it for Saturday, Cameron will take it for Friday, and Braun gets it for the win last Thursday.

As far as the Box Score Contest is concerned, I'm going to throw up four different lyrics from various 90's songs that I heard today on the radio. The catch is that you can only get one point per person, so one person is not going to be able to get all four. There will be another one then later today after the Brewers likely get no-hit by Chris Carpenter.

Never had to knock on wood, and I'm glad I haven't yet.

She says she's never been so happy, but Lisa is in fear.

Life is demanding, without understanding.

But when they finally made her they found birthmarks all over her body.

Huge Wisconsin Related Sports Move

No, I'm not talking about the fact that the TimberWolves signed Ramon Sessions to a 4-year, $16 million offer sheet. I could give two shits about Sessions at this point. It's not that I don't like him, because I really, really do, it's just that if he was going to be a Buck next season that is something that would have happened a long time ago. This is just kind of a whatever move at this point.

The real story is that after months of dominating Nashville, Corey Patterson is finally on his way to Milwaukee! Even though Nashville is in a tight pennant race, the Brewers brass felt that Patterson was more needed at the big-league level, so we'll see just how much they use him. He is a contender to join the Brewers outfield ranks for good next season, although the chances of that decreased when Mike Cameron said he'd take a pay cut to stick in Brewtown. If there was one thing that could revitalize my interest in this Brewers season, trust me, it was Corey Patterson. And I'm not being facetious here, this is legit.

Actually, now that I've written this article, are you telling me Sessions is only going to earn $4 million per year with the T'Wolves? Wasn't his agent trying to get him like $8-9 million for him. I know that the Bucks would go over the luxury tax if they signed him, but for a price like that then maybe we should hop on board. I know the Bucks are leaning towards making this Jennings' team, but a bargain is a bargain.

Happy Labor Day for real this time.

Packers Drop the Preseason Finale

Alright, so maybe my preseason boner has subsided, but that's okay. After the display the Packers put on for the first three weeks of the season, I could not be more excited for the real games to get underway. Thursday night's game against the Titans was just a formality, as the Pack lost 27-10. Oh well, it's only preseason, as I've been saying all along (actually, no, I haven't, I have been loving this preseason!)

There were a couple of injuries, including B.J. Raji who got roughed up a bit, but it appears to just be a sprained ankle. Other than that, this was the Brian Brohm show today, as our apparent third-string quarterback played pretty much the whole game. Brohm did alright, going 20 for 28 in the air with 154 yards, but his 5.5 yards per throw is one of the lowest totals I have seen in a long time.

Kregg Lumpkin made a say for a roster spot with a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but that was pretty much the only highlight. Well, besides the discovery that Patrick Ramsey is the third string quarterback for the Titans. Who knew?

So now we'll just have to wait and see as to who gets cut, and it should be interesting, especially in the backfield and in the linebacking core. I'll have my thoughts on the cuts on Monday, as Labor Day is the first holiday I've had off in awhile, so I'm going to take full advantage of the weekend. What a minute, does that mean three straight days without Bucky Channel updates? Well, it does, but after this week, I'm sure we're all used to it. Ha! But regular programming will resume next week. Happy Labor Day.

Sports Illustrated Gets More Awesome by the Week

Are you kidding me? Last week, it was a Favre-free issue, and now this week Aaron Rodgers is on the cover. It's the first time that a Packer has been on the cover since the famous Favre Sportsman of the Year edition, although I've probably seen that issue in purple more than I have in green and gold throughout the past year. Still, I will gladly give SI free publicity if they continue to please me so.

Now of course, when you see an SI cover, you think SI cover jinx. But who cares about that crap at this point. I mean, Aaron Rodgers being on the cover of Sports Illustrated is awesome. Clearly the nation is recognizing that even though the Packers had a 6-10 season last year, they are not to be taken lightly in 2009.

Seriously, have you looked at Yahoo!, CBSsports.com, Foxsports.com, or ESPN.com in the last couple of days. From Rodgers, to Grant, to Finley, Packers are popping up everywhere both online and on the shelves. I really think that this is going to be a special year, and I can honestly say I've never been more excited for a season to begin. So far, we're off to a good start.

Packers play tonight against the Titans at 7pm in the final preseason game. One goal: NO INJURIES.

Cameron Might Stay For a Discount

When thinking of what lineup the Brewers will be trotting out next season (and yes, you should be thinking about next season already), it's often assumed that Mike Cameron will no longer be with us in centerfield. In fact, his $10 million or so contract is one of the reasons he was nearly sent to either the Yankees or the Marlins before the waiver wire deadline last week. However, Cameron has enjoyed his time in Milwaukee, and may be looking to stick around.

It's appearing more and more like Cameron would be willing to take a discount to stay in Brew City, a move which I would have no problem. You can't deny Cameron's defensive presence, and his untucking tradition has become the symbol of this team. He's also pretty good with the stick (usually).

What I have long been saying is that I want to see Weeks moved to center, with Lopez sticking around at second. That though, was assuming that Cameron would be gone. I still think Weeks would be best suited in the outfield, and maybe if we kept Cameron we could put Weeks in right, assuming we get rid of Hart for pitching. Lopez could also play some third base if we wanted him too. As you can see, I am getting way ahead of myself, but those are just some things to consider.

As for the actual Brewers, they played a couple of games since we've last talked. On Wednesday night, they got destroy by the Cardinals 10-3, but then they took care of business Thursday afternoon, winning 4-3. But um, 13 games back, so, yeah. As for box scores, here's two different quotes, but same movie. Players of the game go to Braun and McGehee.

Why does everything I do sound like a leprechaun?

License to Sell.

So, About Those Brewers...

See these guys? Do you have any idea who they are? If you can't already tell, these are your 2009 NL Central champions. Anyone who thinks otherwise is beyond foolish, at this point.

Supporting the Brewers at this point is one thing, but believing in them is a whole different story. The Brewers season ended weeks ago, but unfortunately I feel that some of you may have been thinking, "well, if the Brewers sweep the Cardinals here.... then sweep them the next time we play them... maybe get hot down the stretch...." Please, if that's you, don't waste your time. There's a whole other world out there waiting for you.

If you follow this blog even remotely, you already know that I've soured on the Brewers this season, which may or may not be due to the fact that I lost some money because they won't be making the playoffs this season. But that's neither here nor there. You may also notice, however, that I haven't really updated this site in a while, for whatever reason. But I can tell you it wasn't because I was busy watching Brewers games. I actually think the last game that I saw a little bit of was when they came back in the 9th inning against the Reds last week, only to lose in extra innings. I'm not bragging or anything, that's just the state of the team at this point.

But if you are one of those people that never says die until we are mathematically eliminated, I suppose it has been an interesting couple of days. The Brewers swept the Pirates at home to make it 20 straight wins against them at Miller Park. They lost to the Cardinals last night, but that's nothing new. Oh, and Chris Smith and J.J. Hardy were the only two September call-ups, even though Hardy is being a whiny little turd that can't deal with the reality check that he's just not a very good hitter. There's going to be a lot of sad little girls when Hardy gets traded in three months.

So that's pretty much where I stand with the Brewers at this point. Now that I think about it, maybe not posting anything for the last three days was a good thing. Because instead of three different articles where I act like a whiny little turd about the Brewers, there is only the one.

Anyways, as far as the last three Player of the Game awards are concerned, McGehee gets them for Sunday and Monday, while Escobar earns one for Saturday. No actual box score links, but here's the next reference for the Box Score Contest:

Y'all go ahead, I think I'm gonna kick it with my girl today.

And, hold the phone for one minute here, are you seriously telling me that more than 40,000 people showed up for JEFF SUPPAN bobblehead day on Sunday? How much can that thing be worth?

Where the Hell is this Winks Guy?

Hey, blogger friends. Is it just me, or are things kind of dead at The Bucky Channel right now? Usually I find time to slap a few things on here throughout the day, but the last couple of days have been a whirlwind, and time has been at a premium. Finally moving out of my parents house, crazy new responsibilities at the job, and still trying to find time to watch wrestling have slowed things down here a bit. Just wanted to say that we'll be back on track here soon enough (only to take off again for Labor Day weekend!)