The Packers are the best team in the NFC North. Ted Thompson has done a remarkable job in the offseason upgrading the defense. Cullen Jenkins was a huge loss for the D last year in week 4 and he's now back. Barnett should be back soon, Raji is signed, the front 7 is going to be much improved. Capers >>>>>>> Bob Sanders. The D is going to be good.

The Pack are deep at WR and they have the best QB in the division. Ryan Grant is coming in this year fully healthy. This was already a good offense last year and now Rodgers has a year under his belt with everybody else returning. If the o-line can hold up, the Packers will be one of the best in the NFC this year. It's a young team, lots of cap room for the future, Ted Thompson for 2009 Executive of the year.

What about Cutlahhhh?

I think the D is going to have some big time growing pains, but this is a good young team for sure.

Just watched the first 2 series of last nights game, was very impressed with both the offense and defense. Rodgers looked really, really good. Good to see Raji finally sign and not have to miss anymore time. I thought the defense looked better than I would have imagined, granted it was the Browns. It will be interesting to see how they fare against teams that spread them out early on. Luckily, the NFC North has below average passing teams.

Excited for the season for sure.

desmond bishop.

and i agree wtih most of OP. last year they ran real cold in close games and their defense wasnt agressive enough. hopefully that is fixed and they can put teams away. last year they were just as close to being 10-6 or w/e as they were 6-10. they just didnt close games.

Following the live blog from practice....kind of surprised to see hawk not with the first string

Sucks that harrell can't stay healthy

Serious question

Do you hate Brett Favre, or wish him the best even though he's joined the good guys?

I don't understand the Favre hate. I wish him the best.

That being said, I will be rooting for the Packers to crush him 2x this season.

But I don't wish bodily harm or anything like that on him. The Packers traded him. Good for him that he can still find contenders to play for.

I feel the same. A lot of people here are irrationally angry at him now. I wish him well and a small part of me wants the Vikes to win the Super Bowl now. I can't forget that Favre (along with Freeman, Reggie, and Sterling) were the guys who made me a huge Pack fan at an early age. I still remember almost every play of the '96 Super Bowl. That said, I hope the Pack's defensive line injures him for good.

Couldn't have said it any better myself tbh

If I'm fortunate enough to go to the game in November, I will give him his credit, but I won't mind another 4/5 INT game from him. But when the Packers season is over, if the Vikings are still alive, I will root for them for this season at least...

irrationally angry? how is their anger irrational? he jerked the packers around for 3+ seasons, then left to go play for one of their biggest rivals.

i dont hate him. i think this whole thing is hilarious, but i could certainly understand the people that own jerseys, posters, and gigantic cardboard cutouts of a man they treasured being a little bit upset about him going to a team they absolutely despise.

Many Packer fans are probably angry, many others are just indifferent like me. I've been put off the past few years from all of his retire/comeback drama and just don't care about Favre anymore. The Vikings can have Favre, we'll take Aaron Rodgers.

He'll probably be an upgrade over what the Vikes had, but I don't think he makes them that much better than the Packers. It also has the potential to turn into a massive trainwreck which will be hilarious to watch, especially if he comes into Lambeau, tries too hard, and throws 3-4 picks.

This is a gimme. The game in Lambeau is going to be an absolute trainwreck.

Favre's still my favorite player of all time, but I basically ignore him now. He did GB a favor by making way for Rodgers anyway.

No, I understand that we should be angry and in a way most all of us are. When I say 'irrationally angry' I mean people here who are burning their Favre jerseys (not so bad since it's going to be really stupid to wear one until at least 2012, but just throw them away), debating about whether Favre is the most disgraced football player of all time (hello, Vick? O.J.?), or talking about how not only is he a waffler, but a genuinely terrible person.

I am excited for this season. With the Bears having an addition (Cutler) and of course the QB upgrade for the Vikes (yes it is an upgrade), this should be exciting as I think all 3 teams can contend for the NFC North title. GB has a young team but not as young as paper suggests. They have been together a few years now and hopefully this transition to the 3-4 is very positive.

I hope to see more of Brandon Jackson personally. I think he is going to have a good season.

They have to become a closer team. What I mean is no more slip ups at the end of games by the D, and if they do, the O is going to have to put them on their back and get it done at least 1 time guise.

No penalties would also be a huge positive. That might be asking too much though, especially first year in a new defense.

what a terrible team to watch last year, watching so many games slip away in the 4th quarter because the defense wasnt agressive enough. painful.

i think in general they were a lot better of a football team than people suggested they were last year, and i see the defense being a lot better in the 4th quarter this year under some new direction. i think the 3-4 will work out fine, those suggesting that the packers dont have the players for it, have lost their minds imo. they are stacked with young LB's who can play, and their d-line might finally be healthy this year.

anyways, i suspect they can easily win the north, go 11-5, and vindicate ted thompson for his good moves the last couple of years.

2 sacks and 2 takeaways eight minutes into the game.

And the offense marches right down the field for the TD. I can't wait for the season to start.

I was hoping for another shutout but am extremely impressed from what I've seen so far. Can't wait for the season to start! Both the offense and defense are looking great!

If Rogers goes down, the Pack won't win a game.

1. It's Rodgers
2. You can say that about the Saints, Colts, Bengals, Bears, etc.
3. Great post. Keep trolling.

Watching the Bills game currently. The team looks crazy good, although it's only preseason and they have played the Bills and the Browns.

Raji looking good so far, especially for his first NFL game.

If the way he played is any indication on how he will play this season, DROY IMO!!!

I think they are going to surprise people this season defensively, players are flying to the ball and good things (as you can see) happen when you do that!!!!

JayTeeMe good observation BTW, I mean yeah GB is the only team you can say that about if their starting QB goes down they don't stand a chance.

its hard not to get excited about this team at this point.
i understand theyve only played the bills and the browns, in preseason no less, but...their first teams have crushed.

Agreed, they looked much better than I was expecting. With all the Cutler/Favre/Stafford talk the Pack have gotten the least press in the NFC North, but it looks like they're the team to beat. Granted, it's only preseason, but they've got determination...

Jermichael Finley looks like he's gonna emerge as a big target for Rodgers this season. They just look better and better every week.