Morning Buzz: Montgomery's star on the rise
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about the Packers.
Pete Dougherty starts us off with a look back at the decision to release Josh Sitton on the final cutdown day this past summer. At the time, it looked like a very dramatic move that might come back to bite the Packers. Instead, Pete writes, the Packers have clearly been vindicated.
The move was proof for many Packers fans that general manager Ted Thompson was unfit for duty.
They wondered, is Thompson insane? Does he even care whether he wins? Why would he cut a Pro Bowl player? How could this possibly be?
Now here we are, about 3½ months later. Could anyone watch the Packers’ 14 games this season and truthfully conclude the team is any worse off with Lane Taylor at left guard instead of Sitton? No. Way.
It’s an object lesson in how things often work in the NFL. Most players are replaceable, especially once they’ve inched past their prime. Some positions are more important than others. And better to part with a guy a year early than a year late.
Be sure to read the whole thing.
Jordy Nelson is a prime candidate for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year award. Ryan Wood takes a look at what it would mean for the veteran wide receiver and who Nelson’s main competition is for the award.
From being named to his first Pro Bowl, to winning NFC Defensive Player of the Week to celebrating his birthday Wednesday, it’s been a big week for Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Still, Ryan writes that Packers safeties coach Darren Perry is pushing Clinton-Dix for more.
Speaking of guys getting Pro Bowl nods, T.J. Lang reflected on his first-time selection in the locker room Wednesday:
T.J. Lang on overdue Pro Bowl honor
My latest podcast is up, wherein I talk about Pro Bowl snubs and the playoff outlook for the Packers:
Tom Silverstein leads his notebook with Dom Capers defending his calls in the fourth quarter in Chicago.
Montgomery certainly made a splash Sunday. The Ringer wrote him up:
Pro Football Focus ranks all 32 quarterbacks. Find out where the analytics site has Aaron Rodgers ranked:
You can check out NFL Films’ preview of Saturday’s game below:
Here’s a look at where the Vikings-Packers game will be shown on TV:
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky makes the case for the Packers keeping around Jared Cook long term:
Mike Zimmer called out one of his linebackers:
Rodgers’ bomb to Nelson is the NFL’s Ultimate Highlight this week:
Suddenly, everyone is back on the Packers’ bandwagon:
Adrian Peterson may not play in Saturday’s game:
While the news that Jeff Triplette will be the referee for Vikings-Packers on Saturday is less than encouraging (he is, without question, the worst referee working NFL games) , Kevin Seifert points out one advantage it may give the Packers: