Monday, January 31, 2011

Packers having to deal with the smallest of issues

            Will the Packer’s non game issues going into the biggest game of the year affect them

I think so far going into this weekends Super Bowl it sure has been easy to tell which team only has a couple players with super bowl rings compared to the team with over 20 players with Super Bowl rings. The Green Bay Packers are talking about everything except the football game. They have injured players upset about when the team picture is going to be taken and already issues rising about the Super Bowl celebration that will be held if Green Bay wins the game. I find it funny that you have to hear about what team captains Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson are doing off the field to keep everybody calm and happy by solving their own little personal issues, when the captains should be getting their respective offensive and defensive groups ready for the big game. I surprisingly haven’t heard any Pittsburgh Steelers news other then some player injuries that will actually affect the outcome of the game. No Steelers players have to limit talking to the press about non game issues like the Packers players are doing. I am almost starting to get a feeling this could affect the Packers just a little, and in such a big game that is supposed to be close, it might just be something to watch going into the game.
            It all started when injured Packer linebacker Nick Barnett took to the powerful internet tool that is Twitter and complained about how he was a part of the team and should be in the team picture that is usually taken before the Super Bowl. The team picture was supposed to be taken early in the week so it wouldn’t get in the way for the game preparations later in the week and if it was taken early in the week the 16 players on the injured reserve wouldn’t be in the team picture as they don’t show up until Thursday. This then fueled injured tight end Jermichael Finley to also go on Twitter and post that “it wasn’t cool” that he wouldn’t be a part of the team pictures. I do understand both of these players should be in the team picture since they did play in some regular season games this year and will get a ring if the Packers win. It’s just the way they went about it that I think could have been done much differently. I think the players could have contacted team management and something would have been worked out in a much easier fashion. It is also weird from two players that aren’t even using the Packers center for rehab and aren’t even around the team for the last few weeks. They act like they can just leave and rehab in California and all of a sudden fly back to the Super Bowl and have people do whatever they want since they are on a team playing in the Super Bowl.
            These complaints led Aaron Rodgers and Charles Woodson, who were hearing all this media backlash for such a silly issue and take it upon themselves to go to the team management and easily get the schedule changed so the 16 Packers on injured reserve will be a part of the team picture taken later in the week. Aaron Rodgers also mentioned that while he was on the IR he was around the Packers complex getting his rehab and not in California away from the team and facility. This was quickly taken out of context and made more problems as the media made it seem like he was mad the guys chose other places to do their rehab work, when I don’t think he really even cares. It is crazy what a simple tweet can lead to these days. I find it ridiculous that something like this had to be turned into such a big deal. A team picture should not be the most talked about thing going into the week before the super bowl. Can’t they talk about the great growth and leadership Rodgers has shown improving as a quarterback after getting the cold shoulder from the little Greg Oden wannabe Brett Favre? Instead the reporters scour twitter and Facebook just waiting to take it and report on it.
            The other issue that is now getting the great coverage of ESPN is the issue of the the celebration party. Already talking about a victory party before the game? That just seems crazy that it needs to be already being talked about. The Packers are going to not have a parade in town instead they want to charge the fans six dollars and also then for parking and the left over food and beverage that will be sold. I understand everybody wants to make a few more dollars, but this is just ludicrous. Making the fans pay money to come celebrate something of such magnitude with the players. This should be a time of fun and celebration that most people never get to experience.
            I wonder if back in the day what would have happened if these stupid little issues would have been talked about, because of the great reporting by ESPN and other media outlets. You are telling me Joe Namath would have kissed the hot blonde good bye and set the bottle of liquor down to go settle an issue about a stupid team picture? Yeah right! Not even crazy Al in would have been worrying about charging the fans to come celebrate. That also could be because he didn’t think of it yet, he might of just went ahead and done it if he had.  I just think it is ridiculous that the celebration party is another issue these guys have to hear about. They shouldn’t even be worrying about some stupid party about something they don’t deserve yet.
All of this really makes me wonder if all these little petty issues will actually affect the team of guys trying to win there first rings compared to the guys who have won this game before and are being able to relax and not worry about anything so stupid. Not even Roethlisberger has messed up yet and Hines has only complained about money once this week, so that is a good thing for the Steelers. I for one am hoping this stuff doesn’t take away from the Packers and they can win the Super Bowl to allow Charles Woodson to get his ring, since he missed out because of that stupid tuck rule, and my hatred for the Steelers. Or most likely I just sometimes hate the stuff that is reported on by the media. I don’t care about the team picture, party, or what gloves receiver Greg Jennings uses. I want to hear about something that has actually got to do with the game, not turn something so small into something that will affect the game, because they have nothing more to report on. I hold out hope that it won't and the Packers win 31- 27 and I predict the score right to win 10 grand at the bar. We can always dream cant we ?

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