Former NFL linebacker and current ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi criticized the Packers for not holding any player-ran workouts this offseason. “I’m very surprised at the leadership that they have on this team, that they’re not going to get together,” Bruschi is quoted as saying by Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com. “Being the Super Bowl champions, you’d think they’d want to repeat. We’re into June. It’s June now. You’ve had your little celebration the week after the Super Bowl. It’s time to move on. I think that they’re still worried about celebrating and basking in the glory of being a Super Bowl champion is a little bit worrisome if I were a Green Bay Packers fan.” Video of Bruschi's comments are in the above video after an interview with wide receiver Donald Driver.

Lambeau Field was named the NFL's toughest venue by a panel of writers at ESPN.com. "Lambeau Field, home to the Ice Bowl, the Frozen Tundra and even a trend-setting Leap, shrugged off an icy stare from AFC East blogger Tim Graham and a cold shoulder from the NFC North's own Kevin Seifert to emerge as the toughest venue for visiting teams," writes Mike Sando, ESPN's NFC West blogger. "Four of the six other ESPN.com NFL bloggers ranked Lambeau first on their ballots, lifting the Green Bay Packers' hallowed home over Pittsburgh's Heinz Field for the top spot." Video is included at the webpage about the bloggers breaking down the stadiums.

The Packers are predicted to repeat as Super Bowl champions by the staff of the Sporting News. "It’s hard to repeat, but it’s easier when you’re as good as the Packers. Rodgers and company will be too much for the Patriot," writes Clifton Brown. The early time frame on Super Bowl predictions likely comes from the annual season-preview magazines likely to hit shelves soon.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers may not have been on the cover of Madden 12, but it appears he will have a rating of 98. "Earlier today we learned that Tom Brady was the highest rated quarterback in Madden 12, but perhaps more impressive than that is the news that Superbowl MVP Aaron Rodgers is only one point away at a 98 overall rating," according to GoMadden.com. "In Madden 11, Rodgers started the season with only a 94 overall and was far from what you might call fast. In fact, his then-73 speed certainly didn’t do him any justice at all." The article goes onto describe how his speed increased by six points as well.

Defensive lineman Mike Neal looked back at his rookie season in an interview with Bill Huber of Packer Report (subscription required). "He's a Super Bowl champion but Mike Neal called an injury-plagued rookie campaign a 'waste' and one of the 'hardest' things he's dealt with during his career," writes Huber. "Almost 100 percent healthy, he's expecting much more from himself as the potential replacement for Cullen Jenkins." Neal had a shoulder injury that ended his rookie season in Week 5 of 2010.

NFL RedZone's Eliot Harrison ranked last year's Packers-Patriots match-up as the #3 game of the 2010 NFL season. "Once a season, a game comes along that serves as a sign of things to come," writes Harrison. "Watching Week 15's Sunday nighter, Packers at Patriots, I felt like I was watching a Super Bowl preview." You'll remember that game as the one Matt Flynn started at quarterback for the Packers. Though the Packers lost, it was an impressive outing for a backup quarterback.

Radio play-by-play voice Wayne Larrivee also reflects on the 2010 season and a drive that stands out in his memory from the Week 4 early-season win over the Detroit Lions. "Great teams, good offensive lines at some point in a season have to just hunker down and kill the clock, even in the most predictable of situations," writes Larrivee at JSOnline.com. "The Lions game last fall at Lambeau Field show everyone the Packers were capable of doing just that against a very stout opponent up front. Although the Packers would struggle to mount a potent ground game all season, they ranked  24^th in the league averaging just over 100 yards rushing per game, they proved that when they had to, they could 'grind it out.'" John Kuhn received Larrivee's signature "dagger" call with a first down late in the game.

A couple of Packers front office executives are featured in an article by Len Pasquarelli appearing at Packer Report (sub required). "Eliot Wolf and Shaun Herock were given head starts in their front office careers thanks to their fathers," writes Pasquarelli. "But both are rising talent evaluators for the Green Bay Packers the old-fashioned way: through hard work."

The starting left guard position is debated at Acme Packing Company.

Badger Days were held at Lambeau Field yesterday were Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland was in attendance.

The best Packer to wear #36 is being debated at the Packers official website.

A couple crowded positions as analyzed at Green Bay Packer Nation.

The staff at AllGreenBayPackers.com weighs in on the players most likely to spend the season on I.R.

A few unheralded players are profiled at AllGreenBayPackers.com as well.

Lombardi Ave. says it's nice not to panic.

Commenting on Tedy Bruschi's comments is Packer World Central.

Weighing in on Lambeau Field as the toughest venue in the NFL is Total Packers.

Questioning whether the Packers will play the Patriots in the Super Bowl is a Bleacher Report writer.

Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Packers Annual. To contact Brian, email [email protected].