Packers Daily Links: Rodgers Is NFL Air Player of the Year Finalist
Aaron Rodgers is competing with Peyton Manning and Tom Brady for the Air NFL Player of the Year. That and more in today's Daily Links...
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been named a finalist for the NFL's Air Player of the Year Award. A press release from the Packers reads: "Rodgers finished the 2012 season as the NFL’s leading passer (108.0) for the second consecutive season. Selected as the NFC’s starting quarterback for the 2013 Pro Bowl, Rodgers threw for 4,295 yards and 39 touchdowns which was second best in the NFL." Tom Brady of the New England Patriots and Peyton Manning of the Denver Broncos are the other finalists. Fans can vote to determine the winner at the NFL's official website. The winner will be announced during the week of the Super Bowl.
More on Aaron Rodgers comes from Fox 11.
It's possible that defensive lineman Jerel Worthy has escaped major injury. According to a report from the Green Bay Press-Gazette, "Team doctors still are waiting for the swelling to go down before making a final determination, but Worthy is hopeful it’s only a serious bone bruise rather than a torn anterior cruciate ligament." Even if Worthy does miss the remainder of the season, avoiding a major injury like a torn ACL would be a bonus to his future development. It would be detrimental to Worthy if he were to miss the offseason program and training camp.
A few folks at ESPN dig into the Packers' philosophy of limiting the snaps of their defensive players with columns penned by John Clayton and Kevin Seifert, something also researched by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel few weeks ago. Providing updated numbers, Seifert writes, "The most obvious non-injury reduction in playing time happened with nose tackle B.J. Raji. After playing more than 80 percent of the snaps last season, Raji has been on the field for 59.2 percent this season -- a significant difference of 238 snaps. He missed two games because of an ankle injury, but his snap totals would have been down even if he had played both at his regular rate." Raji has been particularly effective after the bye. It seems like ever since he came back from a mid-season ankle injury, he's been playing better in both phases of the game and is more explosive.
Piggy-backing on the snap count theme is Acme Packing Company.
Special teams coordinator Shawn Slocum is profiled in a feature by Lori Nickel at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Thoughts on outside linebacker Erik Walden are shared by Tyler Dunne at JSOnline.
Running back DuJuan Harris is featured in an article by the Associated Press.
A column on Aaron Rodgers' performance in big games is written by Mike Vandermause of the Press-Gazette.
John Dorsey is a front-runner for the general manager job of the Kansas City Chiefs, according to an article at FoxSportsKansasCity.com.
Scouting reports on the San Francisco 49ers appear at the Journal Sentinel and Press-Gazette.
Taking a look at the injured left arm of the 49ers' Justin Smith is Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette.
The Sacramento Bee dives into Colin Kaepernick's roots in New London, Wis.
A video previewing the Packers-49ers game is posted at JSOnline.
A replay of Tom Crabtree's weekly Clubhouse Live show can be viewed at PackersNews.com.
Looking at the matchup between Tramon Williams and Michael Crabtree is AllGreenBayPackers.com.
Over at Acme Packing Company, they take a look at the roster makeup of the Packers and 49ers.
Some Packers-themed ice sculptures are shared at Fox 11.
Fans are warned of Packers playoff ticket scams from Fox 11 and the Press-Gazette.
Video: Fox 11 finds out about Packers fans buying ticket packages to San Francisco...
Brian Carriveau is the author of "It's Just a Game: Big League Drama in Small Town America," a member of the Pro Football Writers of America and an editor at Cheesehead TV. To contact Brian, email [email protected].
Comments (14)
January 08, 2013 at 10:22 am
IMHO Rogers is hands down the MVP. Adrian Pederson is the only other possible consideration since the Vikes had no QB to speak of.
Rogers won without an O line. He won without a top running game. He had receivers hurt. Kickers hurt. Everyone was hurt but he kept motoring on.
Look, if you saw Peyton Manning - were required to watch him every week in Minnesota, so the football world has decided, you see a guy who has a wall of an offensive line that lets him stand there in the pocket and take his sweet time passing. Pretty dam nice indeed.
Brady had another good year and is deserving as well but only one guy played on a team decimated with injuries and kept it together. That is what an MVP player does.
All the other's had good years but Rogers had an MVP year. Period.
January 08, 2013 at 08:44 pm
you gotta figure that the law of averages will eventually allow the Packers to have an oline that doesn't give up sacks at record breaking rates.
January 11, 2013 at 11:57 pm
Same as it ever was. No QB in history has ever had the protection PM has always had. I'm a new fan for him, disliked him and his adoration by the media forever. Coming back from the serious injury in a new environment, shows not only heart but greatness. MVP was always a subjective designation. If I could vote, I would vote for AR, but I'm not sure it would be the right vote.
January 08, 2013 at 10:42 am
Couldn't agree more on Raji. He was bad last year and somehow got a gift invite to the Pro Bowl. He looks so much fresher and disruptive now, which is what you need this time of year. Having Worthy, Mike Neal, Daniels and a healthy Pickett have really helped Raji stay fresh.
January 08, 2013 at 12:15 pm
I thought Worthy was IR'ed, did I hear that wrong (hopefully!)?
January 08, 2013 at 02:03 pm
Listening to Seattle sports radio. SO EFFING ANNOYING! FYI - apparently, they've already won the SB. If there is a god, there will be a Seattle vs. GB NFCCG. That is all.
GBP 4 LIFE
January 08, 2013 at 07:41 pm
I could not agree more with this, Fitz. Being a resident of the Emerald City, there is nothing worse than listening to sports radio in the town. Being a homer is one thing, being an idiot is another. These guys are think the NFC playoffs "are a mere formality" for the Gulls.
I too hope for a Sea v GB NFC championship. If there's a god indeed.
For the record and as long as I'm on the topic, Brock Huard is the biggest tool bag this side of Troy Aikman.
January 08, 2013 at 08:45 pm
playoffs are a formality.
here's your Super Bowl...
SF 24
NE 17
January 08, 2013 at 09:24 pm
I'm just hitting reply to let you know I didn't read what you posted.
January 09, 2013 at 11:19 am
Brock sucks. Salk can be humorous. Mitch in the morning has some laughs. Do you fill out a bracket for 'The Dance'?
January 08, 2013 at 07:52 pm
After the debacle in Seattle I hoped all season that one game difference wouldn't hurt us. We took the North. When the playoffs were set, I wanted them. At our house. I want it, and I know the boys want it, too. I also want a clean game. No revenge calls. No pity. We will destroy them on our own accord. If not, I think the speedy dome in Atlanta will suffice. We got this.
January 12, 2013 at 12:10 am
Agreed. We don't lose in Atlanta. I'm not sure anybody does. If they don't beat the Hawks, in perception, they might as well be 8-8.
January 09, 2013 at 08:10 am
Sad thing is, if it wasn't for a fail mary pass, the Seachickens wouldn't even be in the playoffs. It would have been all NFC North.
January 12, 2013 at 12:06 am
Wow. I didn't know that. Are you sure? Nowadays you can't hide that kind of thing. It would go viral on the net.