In a couple of interesting exchanges on Twitter last evening, Bigby seemed to reassure fans that he would be present for what is shaping up to be a mission to the Super Bowl.

Fan: “What’s good Atari?”

Bigby: “I’m hearing Super Bowl or die.”

Jersey Al: “You gonna be there for the ride?”

Bigby: “Yesssir”

Now there is still plenty of extrapolation to be done here, but that sure sounded like a yes to me. Bigby goes on to solidify his answer a little bit later stating:

“I’ll be there, don’t trip”

Of course take that for what its worth, but that’s a holdout telling his fans not to worry he will be there. Did Jersey Al just break one of the biggest stories of the pre-season?

Time will tell.

All of a sudden there is a butt load of things to talk about. Six topics is just not going to be enough today. Time to squash the Tim Tebow talk and start dissecting the latest Green Bay Packers news. Here is your Six Pack.

The Six (Plus) Pack

1. Let’s start with Tim Tebow. Okay, let’s move on.

2. Jeremy Kapinos is pissed off apparently. I suppose that doesn’t bother me too much, and I agree he wasn’t the sole problem. It’s not worth losing any sleep over either way. Like I said last year, pony up the dough for Hunter Smith and get somebody decent in here. I also like Jersey Al’s thought that Matt Turk would be a nice fit.

3. I am going to take number three to beg Ted Thompson to make a concerted effort to get Leon Washington. If there ever was a Ted Thompson guy to be had, Leon Washington is it. Great player, coming off an injury, at a vastly reduced price. Ted please, this has your name written all over it. This is the type of guy we NEED to be going for.

4. On to tenders. It looks like Bigby will stick around for more hoes. I can’t see any team giving up a second for Atari, and if they do – great. What sickens me even more is you can have Leon Washington at the same compensation. Oh yeah, that was number two.

5. I think it was Bedard who eluded that Daryn Colledge was going to be upset after seemingly being less favored than Jason Spitz. Cry me a river.

6. As far as the rest of the tenders on Blackmon, Collins, Jolly, Kuhn, Spitz, and Williams – I can’t see any reason barring John Kuhn that all these guys aren’t back. Get the Collins deal done.

7. Free agency begins tomorrow. Any thoughts?

8. Thanks to everyone who has been putting up with the changes around here. This is all learn as you go for me, and I know everything works kind of weird at times. However, with cutting edge technology like LoungeBook there is only room for improvement. I promise as soon as I get the time and money I’ll get the kinks worked out. But, it’s starting to get better.

9. Why on God’s green earth does Arrigo’s article pop up every time I google Packers. How many frickin’ mocks can you have?

10. Thanks to Brian Carriveau for pointing out this Finley interview. He is predicting 80 catches and 10 touchdowns. I hope so.

11. Finally, I’m going to end on a non-Packers note. One of our longtime Lounge members Erik Cieslewicz is finishing up filming his first television series Hard to Be Me.  Congratulations Erik, and don’t forget about us little people.

I was doing some reading this morning and noticed quite a bit of optimism concerning the return of Atari Bigby and Brandon Jackson. Although I am happy to see them back, I don’t agree that things will automatically improve.

According to Rory over at PackerChatters:

“Bigby is assignment steady (meaning if he was playing, we likely wouldn’t have seen Brint make some of the big plays he did, especially the long completions to both Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin), and he is a hard hitting, fear inducing tackler.”

At this point, I don’t think Bigby is any of the above. Maybe at one time he induced a little fear after a couple of big hits, but assignment steady hardly. The truth is Atari Bigby hasn’t done a single thing since the middle of last season. He hasn’t been able to stay healthy, he isn’t game ready, and I can’t think of a single monster hit that isn’t a long gone memory.

Now I agree he is probably a better alternative than Derrick Martin or Jarrett Bush, but the truth is giving Bigby the benefit of the doubt right now is way off base. Atari Bigby had one good half a season since he has been a Packer. Thinking that his return is a solve all for the secondary breakdowns is naive at best.

The same can be said for Brandon Jackson. If you read this page regulary you know I have often called for less Ryan Grant and more Brandon. However, as it stands right now you really don’t know what Jackson brings to the table. Yes, McCarthy has lauded his efforts in practice for nearly three seasons now, but never has had the confidence to hand him the rock on a regular basis.

Jackson may be the change of pace back that we need, but his return hardly guarantees the missing “spark” that the Packers are looking for. Once again, you have a player who can’t stay healthy, doesn’t have any reps this season, and hasn’t been utilized enough to predict any kind of guarantee.

I hope they both return healthy and are able to contribute as the season goes on. That being said, anointing them bonafide saviors upon their return will do nothing more than set you up for disappointment.

I’ve tried to temper my excitement so far this pre-season. This hasn’t been easy, but tonight will go a long way in convincing me the 2009 Packers are for real.

Tonight’s game against the Cardinals will be in my eyes the first real test of this season’s team. It’s the first time on the road, with some weather, and the starters playing at least the first half.

Here is what I am going to be looking for to solidify my belief that the Green Bay Packers are legit.

Al Harris

Can Al Harris take on a big? Not just any big either, the best big in the game Larry Fitzgerald. I am sure Charles Woodson will get his share of Fitz too, but if not, can Al Harris hold his own and will the new defensive scheme cater or inhibit Al’s style of play.

Atari Bigby

Can we get a Bigby sighting please? So far, we haven’t seen a whole lot out of Atari. Bigby was supposed to be the hard hitting missile ala Troy Polamalu in Dom Capers defense. To date, this hasn’t been the case. Atari Bigby, please stand up.

Brady Poppinga

What Poppinga will show up tonight? Was last week’s ball hawking performance just an anomaly, or is Brady Poppinga finally for real?  I have never really been on board the Poppinga bandwagon, and tonight will go a long way in deciphering exactly what we have at outside linebacker.

Brian Brohm

The kid has taken a ton of heat this week. Tonight may be Brohm’s last stand. Can he man up in the face of adversity, or will he wilt under the pressure? Brian Brohm is playing for his future; will he show up to greet it?

Tyrell Sutton

Is Sutton the real deal? We will find out this evening as he gets time with the ones. The Packers haven’t had a solid number two for quite some time. Does the rookie have what it takes?

Swagger

Last season, I attacked the toughness of the Green Bay Packers. In 2008 we had a bunch of unemotional pansies hitting the field every week. This year, it seems we have fire, we have swagger, and we have toughness. Will that attitude continue? I hope so.

I don’t know if I have ever been more excited for a pre-season game. Are the 2009 Green Bay Packers a force to be reckoned with? Tonight will go a long way in finding out that answer.

Housecleaning

There is two weeks left to get your entry into the Packers Lounge Limerick contest. We have some great entries so far. Make sure and get yours in by posting it here.

The Packers Lounge fantasy league kicks off tomorrow night with a live draft. We have 13 teams and really would like just one more. If you are interested in playing “Lounge Ball” this season, make sure and send me an email by clicking here.

Finally, make sure to check out the in-game blog at Cheesehead TV or Railbird Central this evening. If you are looking for a more open platform, check out the Packers Lounge Gameday Chat sponsored and run by Mark at PackerHQ. I’ll make sure to make a stop at both spots… if I can drag myself away from the television.

Go Pack Go

Since there is not a whole lot going on right now in 2009, let’s take a look at 2010.

If you thought this free agent period was a frustrating one, prepare to take your Valium early for 2010. With 13 unrestricted free agents, there are bound to be some even tougher decisions looming for management next season.

I understand it is hard to come to any firm conclusions without factoring in the play in 2009, but barring Hall of Fame performances, I think we can already take a good shot at a guessing game of who stays and who goes.

This is how a see it:

Staying

Will Blackmon: Provided he stays healthy and continues to improve, I think it is safe that the Packers will make a run at keeping Will around for the long term.

Daryn Colledge: The guy has done everything the Packers have asked him. The versatile lineman is rewarded with a new deal during the off-season.

Jason Spitz: Spitz has continued to improve, and barring a complete meltdown, Spitz will be a Packer in 2010.

Atari Bigby: If he returns to the player he was in 2008, expect Atari to remain a Packer. If he fails to get healthy, the dread locked defensive back will be hitting the streets. Not to mention that fact that he gets tons of hoes.

Tony Moll: Like it or not, the Packers keep Moll just in case. With uncertainty higher than ever on Rodger’s blindside, Moll makes the cut as a warm body. Great.

Ruvell Martin: Every year I say it’s time for Ruvell Martin to break out. Ever year I keep waiting. However, even with an average season, I think you see Ruvell sticking around. A good friend of Rodgers, an aging Donald Driver, and plenty of opportunity, leave Ruvell knocking out a friendly Ferguson type contract but actually playing his worth.

Out of Here

Chad Clifton: It’s been a great run for Clifton. His days as a Packer end in 2010. He is just too much money for too many questions. Like many great players, his body is going to finally let him down.

Nick Collins: Too much dough for too much show. I suppose there is a possibility that Collins gets re-signed this off-season. If not, so ends the

Charlie Peprah: Sorry Charlie, you can be replaced much cheaper by someone much better.

Ryan Pickett: The big grease gets greased from Green Bay. The converted 4-3 nose tackle will leave the Bay for one more payday in a more comfortable scheme.

Johnny Jolly: After sitting out a likely suspension in 2009. The Packers part ways with what could turn out to be a public relations nightmare. No way Jolly gets any kind of big payday from the Green and Gold.

Tory Humphrey: Finley will start to come into his own this season. If Tory makes the team in 2009, he becomes disposable in 2010.

Aaron Kampman: Here comes the arguments. Aaron Kampman will not be a Packer in 2010. The guy has one nice payday left, and he isn’t going to get it from the Packers regardless. He will be lauded as Packer people and replaced with a more reasonable option. I love Aaron Kampman, but the Packers will never pony up what the pro-bowler is going to ask.

Here ends my predictions for the 2010 off-season. I expect it to be profanity filled and twice as heated as usual. I think the Packers are left with four big holes at NT, OLB, T, and safety. Hopefully, someone steps up to fill those empty shoes this season, if not, expect Ted to dip deeper into free-agency than he ever has in the past.

That is if Ted is still running the show.

At least that’s what someone claiming to be Bigby’s cousin is quoting as fact from the Packer’s safety’s mouth.

“Pro Athletes #%^& about 40 hoes a month” — Atari Bigby

Yes, we are using a third hand unverified party, but that’s why we are not a reputable news source, a fairly accurate Packer site, or even a decent place to go. But seriously, 40 hoes a month? I mean I am not really up to snuff on the whole hoe scene nowadays, but that seems a little extreme.

If my math is correct that is approximately 10 hoes a week. I suppose a one-hoe-a-day policy would be admirable, but you NFL guys are throwing in an extra three hoes a week just for good measure?

I suppose if you look at it a little closer it could be possible, albeit exhausting. To illustrate this point, let’s theoretically break down what the calendar on Atari’s fridge looks like.

Monday

“Coffee, get my hoe, light workout.”

This would be your pretty standard day, get your hoe out of the way in the morning before the pain hits from game day. Then you have the time to relax in the afternoon.

Tuesday

“Couple of egg whites, heavy practice, late dinner, before bedtime hoe.”

I mean it’s a brutal Tuesday getting prepared for next week, but you got to move ‘dem hoes.

Wednesday

“Get  hoe, breakfast, practice, dinner, late night hoeage.”

Wednesday would be an obvious choice for a double-hoe day. I am assuming that Atari counts the previous night’s hoes as eligible for the total count, so using Tuesday night’s hoe right away on Wednesday morning is brilliant. Thursday practices are often a little bit lighter, and knocking off two hoes in the middle of the week would be a smart move here. You are through hump day and you already got four hoes out of the way.

Thursday

“Breakfast, light practice, early dinner, after-bar hoe.”

Thursday has always been a classic ladies night in Wisconsin, so it would be relatively easy to find yourself a good hoe. The potential for double hoe action would be quite high here depending on the H.A.C. (Hoe Alcohol Content). I don’t really understand how the rulebook works, and this may not be legal, but I think Atari would be smart if he just sat back here and watched a couple of hoes batting for the other team. Why strain yourself midweek? Now you only got four hoes to go.

Friday

“Light walk through, fish fry, Friday night hoe.”

Atari really needs to start saving it for game day at this point. It’s going to be a long Sunday, but it crucial he knock out at least one hoe here. Having to go back-to-back double hoe days on the weekends would be asking a lot.

Saturday

“Sleep in, afternoon hoe, high carb dinner.”

I really hope that Atari is taking it light on Saturday’s. If he ever needs a day of rest, Saturday would be it. Sit around a bit, check off a hoe, and get ready for game day.

Sunday

“GAMEDAY, hot tub, double hoes.”

You obviously need the endurance of an NFL player to get through Sundays. This is where only a double hoe night will get you to your goal, and you better be at the top of your game. Atari needs to have a great Sunday every week of the season.

The perfect stat line: 3 Tackles, 1 INT, 1 TD, 2 HD’s (Hoes down).

So, I guess it is possible in theory, and I am glad to see Atari (barring the authenticity of the quote) finally clearing up the age long question of exactly how many hoes a typical NFL player can expect to nail down in an average month’s time.

I am a much better person for knowing this information, and I truly appreciate the amount of time and statistical analysis it must have taken to render this data.

So for the mental Rolodex, the next time you cheer on Atari, the next time your kid wants you to grab a #20 jersey for under the Douglas fir, or your wife is sporting the Bigby tee at the family Packer cookout, there is only one thing you really need to know: Atari Bigby $%&#’s mass hoes.

Classically sad.

It’s fairly safe to say that Lambeau field will certainly hold the dreaded Atari Bigby for another season. According to the GB Press-Gazette, the Packers safety has been tendered.

Bigby received a second round tender:

“The second-roud tender for Bigby is worth $1.545 million and means he is free to sign a contract with another team, but the Packers have the right to match the deal, and if they don’t they’ll receive a second-round draft pick as compensation.”

Even if Bigby does explore his options, if the deal is reasonable, I am sure the Packers will at least think about matching any other offers. If I was Atari I would be grateful that my rags to riches story is allowed to continue, and continue it in Green Bay.

At least that’s what I would do.

(Stay Tuned)

How close does the Packers’ Atari Bigby match up with Troy Polamalu of the Super Bowl champion Steelers? Closer than you think.

I think Bigby can be our Polamalu. In 2007 he showed he was the man. He would fly all over, hit people, even get picks. He had more picks than Troy in 2007.

More importantly, you could count on him and the mistakes were minimal. Atari was coming onto the scene. In 2008 he got hurt and didn’t play much. In 2009 though, get ready for Atari Bigby.

Both men, Bigby and Polamalu, have the same body type. Bigby is one inch taller and five pounds stronger than Polamalu, but they’re very similar.  Atari is very smart for a young player.  This allows him to put himself into position to make huge plays.  He always seems to pick the right time to go all out on something, unlike Collins, who gets that right only half of the time.

I think we’ll see Atari and Troy together at the 2010 Pro Bowl.

Caution to the Wind

The first thing people think of when they hear “Polamlu” is “hair” and “hard hits.” Those are the first things I think of when I hear “Bigby.” Bigby is younger, faster, and stronger. I think he can be the X factor of our 3-4 defense. If Capers is looking for someone in the backfield to send, send this guy. We’ve seen him HURDLE blockers just to get to the quarterback. This playcall would be followed up by not sending Bigby the rest of the game.

Those days are done.

You probably thought this whole thing was going to be me comparing Troy’s big hair with Atari’s dreads. No, but since you brought it up, they both have sweet hair. I say Atari’s is better. He has the whole predator thing going on.

In 2009, the Atari is making a comeback.

Highlights: Defensive Backs 2008

[podcast]http://dl-client.getdropbox.com/u/26190/podcast.nine.halloween.mp3[/podcast]

Here is the week nine podcast Halloween edition. Talkin’ Titans, talkin’ healthy, and talkin’ Halloween of course.

Problems? Click here.

Remember the Titans – not only a good movie, but something we should keep in mind for the rest of the week. Why you ask? Well simply put, come next weekend that is all they’ll have…the memories.

As the 1972 Dolphins begin their annual sweat fest, I say calm down, get the champagne on ice, and get ready to bust the cork after Green Bay’s thrashing of the 7-0 overachievers.

I didn’t see anything last night that warranted a whole lot of concern. I’m sorry, but Indy is not an elite team this year. They can’t run the ball, and Peyton Manning is a shade of what he was last year.

The Titans, although stout on defense, are simply a one trick pony. Take that pony down, and that one dimension becomes non-dimensional.

The Packers on the other hand, have never been in a better position to meet a team on what can only be described as a curious roll.

The Packers bye week came at the perfect time. On Monday, all but four players practiced, and two of those four will still be ready for the game. An injury report of fourteen now stands at four.

Let’s see – we have Al Harris returning, Bigby is back, and James Jones finally feels like he can take the field.

Let’s see what the Titans answer to eight in the box is. They don’t have a receiver that can’t be handled by Woodson, Harris, and Williams. We all know that Kerry Collins couldn’t throw the ball forty yards if he tried - so worrying about over the top help shouldn’t be a concern either.

Let’s throw our guys across the line of scrimmage and force them to beat us through the air. As we all know, that game plan doesn’t work against the Pack and I don’t expect that to change.

Get ready to break out the bubbly Don – seven weeks is all the longer you will have to wait this year.

(Comment Below)

Maybe it’s the dreads, maybe it’s something in the Green Bay water. Whatever it is, even after physicians told him he was bleeding internally, Al Harris knew he’d be back.

“That’s the last thing I thought was that it was an internal injury just from getting hit in my side, then to come in the locker room and I would be gone for six weeks, I never felt my season was over. It’s not what they say, I just believed I would not be done for the year,” Harris said.

Perhaps the dread effect is infectious. Atari Bigby will be back, Charles Woodson’s toe is healing, and AJ Hawk will be ready to go.

Maybe the story about a former Packer quarterback traitor might actually be a blessing in disguise. With everyone paying attention to the Motor City conspiracy, there is a good chance no one will notice that even Aaron Burr err…sorry, Rodgers is going to be one hundred percent as well.

(Stay Tuned)

Atari Bigby will not appear in this week’s game against the Cowboys. “Coach Mike McCarthy all but proclaimed Bigby out for Sunday night’s game against Dallas”

This is a big blow to the secondary. Let’s hope Aaron Rouse can show up this time. There is a complete write up at the Green Bay Press-Gazette.

Enjoy, and put him on your daily list of Packer reading.

By: The Vegas

Did that win feel good or what? Sure, it wasn’t all pretty and perfect, but it means 1-0 and a victory over the Vikings. In the end, that’s what matters right now.

You know what else makes me happy? Jared Allen having one of the least productive games of his life, according to #69 himself. He forced two holding calls on Clifton, but I’ll take that over Rodgers being planted in the ground on an Allen sack. Besides one pass defensed, he didn’t record a single tackle or sack. Oh, and Rodgers wasn’t sacked at all, rarely pressured, and when he was forced out of the pocket, he made plays with his feet.

Remember when I asked for good pass protection before the game? Wish granted.

The good: Aaron Rodgers, of course. Efficient and accurate would be the best term to describe his performance. 81% completion percentage. Butter. He only threw for 178 yards, but then again, only passed 22 times and that number would have been higher if it wasn’t for the Moll penalty on the 68 yard touch to DD. But hey, who am I to complain about stats? He accounted for 2 of our touchdowns, had no turnovers, and was great at running the offense. That’s fine by me.

The bad: Penalties. Granted, it was the first game of the year and I guess teams are prone to being a bit sloppy and committing more penalties than usual, but 12 of them for 118 yards? Boy, was that frustrating. During a point in the first quarter, I was happy for them to run a play without seeing the little yellow “flag” symbol pop up on the bottom line score. They got away with it this game, but if they keep that number in double digits throughout games, they won’t always get away with it.

The ugly: Atari Bigby. Atari, I love you man. I even named my fantasy football team after you, bra. But seriously, why did you insist on running around with the ball after your interception that put the game away? GO OUT OF BOUNDS. Fall on your ass. Curl up in the fetal position and never let go of the pigskin. I don’t care what you do, just don’t run around like that in a game when you run the risk of fumbling the ball and giving Minnesota a chance, again. So maybe, this is me just knitpicking, since nothing came of it, but it could have been ugly if he gave the ball away there.

Some other quick thoughts from the game:

QB sneak for a touchdown? Name the last time you saw that in Green Bay. By the way, I loved the classic spiking the ball celebration out of Rodgers afterwards. The spike will always be my favorite touchdown celebration. I loved when Bubba used to do it, southpaw style.
Remember all the praise Brandon Jackson got in the off season? 7 carries, 12 yards, one fumble that could have turned ugly. Yes, I know it’s only one game but he didn’t look good. And why did McCarthy have him taking the carries at the end of the game, when we needed a first to put the game away?

Where’s Grant?

Speaking of McCarthy, I had to question some of his calls throughout the game. Even before Crosby’s kick got blocked at the end of the first half, I thought MM made the wrong call. 30 seconds was on the clock and they had good field position plus one more timeout. Why not take some chances in the endzone there? Rodgers was on fire throughout that whole posssession.

And I still won’t understand some of his calls on third down. Maybe it’s because I’m not a coach or because I want to see the offense pick up a first down, but why run a designed 7 yard quick out pass to Jennings when it’s 3rd and 15?

Even though on the stat sheet we only had one sack, I thought the d-line did an excellent job with rushing the quarterback. Jackson seemed to get rid of the ball just in time on numerous occasions and he got knocked around pretty good by the d-line. KGB and Kampman both looked explosive. So did Montgomery on a few plays.

Peterson rushed for over 100 yards, but besides his one long run that only led to a FG, they kept control of him pretty well. No big runs that really changed the game, which the Vikings can really use in their favor.

No matter all the penalties and other things that weren’t perfect, a win is a win, my friends. And against a team like the Minnesota Vikings, that feels great after Week 1.