Hello again Packers fans! Sorry for the long absence but I had to take care of a lot of personal stuff . Since the end of last season too many things happened that really changed the face of the franchise. Gone are old favorites like Ahman Green and William Henderson. From what I saw yesterday they are going to be hard to replace.

The team FINALLY got rid of Robert Ferguson. I personnally have nothing against him but, he couldn't stay healthy and he just wasn't the same since the big hit from Donovan Darius. He's Minnesota's problem now.

The defensive backfield made a major upgrade when Atari Bigby was promoted to starter and the woefully inadequate Marquand Manuel was released.

After seeing the game yesterday I can see why Mason Crosby is our new kicker and Dave Rayner is waiting by the phone. I know one game doesn't make a career but you had to like the kid's first game.

The victory over Philadelphia was in a word laborous. I had the pleasure of watching the game at Champs in Brookfield with my wife Carol, her sister Janice Kowalski, and Jan's boyfriend Richard. Our spirits rose and sank with every twist and turn of the game. Add in the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers were destroying the Reds on a different tv and I'm suprised my head didn't fall off from all the swiveling. But the game brought to light some glaring deficiencies.

The running game is very suspect. When your 2 top backs are rookies with zero NFL experience you are going to really wish Ted Thompson had made some kind of deal. Chris Brown from the Titans was out there for the taking. Why not trade the first round pick to San Diego for Michael Turner? Did we really need another defensive lineman? And the wide receiver position isn't much better. Rookie James Jones looks to have all the tools to be , in the words of Brett Favre, "The next Sterling Sharpe". But he has to run his routes better and unfortunately that will have to come with time.  Greg Jennings was hurt , but Ruvell Martin did an adequate job filling. in. Makes you wonder though, what if Ted had pulled the trigger a little faster for Randy Moss? Moss only had a feast of a day plying his trade for the Patriots. Thanks Ted.

Now for the everything else part of the article. First I would like to thank Jay Olstadt from WTMJ-TV Channel 4 for giving me a little face time when he did a quick interview with me at Champs. Hope I didn't scare away any viewers.

And I guess this article wouldn't be complete without some kind of commentary on the Mchael Vick controversy. This is more than just a little indiscretion. He took part in brutalizing and killing dogs for fun and profit. Was it really worth the pittance you made on this compared to the fortune you threw away? Mike, here's a little advice. Don't do business with people who have less to lose than you do. Even with your apology AFTER you lied to everyone who asked you about it, do you really think you have a chance of back into the league? Was the risk and rush worth it?

Roger Goodell has ,so far, proved he won't put up with "Street Thug" mentality. If you doubt this, ask Chris Henry or Pacman Jones. When you work for something as high profile as the NFL you better think twice before you do something stupid. Even coaches like Wade Wilson prove they can brain-fart with the best of them. Well enough for now. Needless to say I'm glad to be back among you here "From The Cheap Seats". Til next time, SEEEEEE YAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!