It seems like we are all experiencing a little Déjà vu with the seemingly non stop additions to the Packers injury list this season. It was bad in 2010, but this season is much worse. The Packers just can’t seem to get a break.

Luckily I have a lot of free time to sit and think about things like the Packers injury list.

For some reason this afternoon, the song “Everybody Hurts” by REM came into my head today as a possible theme song for the 2012 Packers. It seemed appropriate, as it certainly seems that this season every single player has been listed on the injury report at least once.

The lyrics didn’t really fit the idea for the song, as it is about the pain every person feels in their life, not the pain football players experience. So I started thinking about the song as a background for some new lyrics, dedicated to the Packers.

Here are some updated lyrics to the song, as it relates to the injuries the Packers are experiencing this season.

I would offer to sing it, but my fee is far too pricey:

Every Packer Hurts 

“When your line is gone..and you just can’t seem to run the ball…Aaron Rodgers stands alone..when you think you’ve scored enough..to win the game…hold on….”

“Don’t let James Starks go….was out till Week 5…every Packer hurts….sometimes”

“When your name’s Mike Neal…you just can’t stay on the field….that makes three years in a row….oh no…”

“Don’t look now, but Clay is down….oh shit, Bulaga’s on the ground…every Packer hurts….sometimes”

“Jennings just can’t go…but he sure wants to doe…Jennings just can’t go….no, no, no, he’s a no go…”

“When you’re Cedric Benson…Lisfranc is not your friend…Even Woodson’s missed time this year…what the fuck?…don’t call him Chuck…”

“Bish please…he can’t play this year…thank goodness we’ve got DJ…oh no we don’t…he can’t play…”

“Every Packer hurts…TJ and Crabtree missed time too…every Packer hurts…sometimes”

“Every Packer hurts…sometimes…”

“So hold on…hold on…you listening Finley? Hold on…Hold on…Hold on…You hear me Randall? Hold on…every Packer Hurts…”

John Rehor is a writer at Cheesehead TV’s Eat More Cheese and co-host of Cheesehead Radio (blogtalkradio.com/cheeseeheadradio). He also hangs out at Dick’s Favorite Blog (www.dicksfavorite.com) He can be contacted at johnrehor@yahoo.com.

An element of calm has finally settled over Packer Nation after several weeks of tumultuous times. A 42-24 drubbing over the previously unbeaten Texans has quieted doubts about whether this team was still a force to be reckoned with after a slow start out of the gate. Aaron Rodgers played like Aaron Rodgers-MVP. The defense completely shut down arguably the best running back in the NFL, limiting Arian Foster to 29 yards on 17 carries. It was like 2011 all over again-with a much better defensive performance.

And with that win, the cycle from calm to chaos continued for the Packer faithful. In 60 minutes, we went from one foot dangling off the ledge to both feet planted firmly on the ground, back on track to a successful season, and another Super Bowl victory within sight.

I hate to be the one to do this, but let’s pump the brakes a little bit, and look at a few takeaways from the Texans game before crowning the Packers champions again.

Mike McCarthy and his staff did a masterful job game planning for the Texans. A near perfect game plan. They knew exactly where and how to hit the Texans, both offensively and defensively. No Cedric Benson? No problem, we’ll just run Alex Green right at you. No Greg Jennings? No problem. James Jones is more than proving his worth this season. A very limited Jermichael Finely? That’s OK, we’ve got Tom Crabtree. BJ Raji out? Jerel Worthy showed why he was a second round choice this past April. And lets not forget Aaron Rodgers, who was ridiculous in passing for 6 touchdowns in what was easily his best performance since last year. Like I said, it was a near perfect game plan executed at the highest level.

But this is also the same coaching staff who has come out with some real head scratchers to start the season. Examples are the Seahawks game, where it looked like the Packers forgot how to play on offense. Or the Colts game, where McCarthy and his staff blew an 18 point lead and lost to one of the worst teams in football. The game against the Texans has not erased the sting of these loses. At least, not yet.

During the Texans game, the Packers sustained several injuries, the effects of which have yet to be felt. Linebacker DJ Smith was lost for the season with a torn ACL. Aaron Rodgers was listed on the injury report Wednesday with a calf injury, and while expected to play, one has to wonder how much this will affect his mobility. Lingering injuries to other key players such as Jennings, Raji, and Finley have to cause one to stop and ask just how many more players can get hurt before the roster starts to bend just a little too much.

injuries are part of the NFL. They happen to every team every year. How the Packers can respond to them is going to say a lot about how this season will go.

Perhaps lost in the glory of a dominating victory was the blocked punt the Texans had in the fourth quarter.  This was the first glaring Special Teams snafu for the Packers in some time. Shawn Slocum has gone from goat to hero in the eyes of Packer fans. Having Tim Masthay and Randall Cobb at your disposal hasn’t hurt either. But it was kind of odd to see this type of play occur in such a runaway victory for the Packers.

So far this season, the Packers have alternated loss-win, now sitting at 3-3.  The win against the Texans was exactly the type of victory Packer fans needed to calm everyone’s nerves. What I would like to see is another strong performance against the Rams this Sunday. Doing this would help remove some of the doubts I still have, and others may have as well. A less than stellar performance, and the vicious cycle of calm to chaos would continue yet again.

John Rehor is a writer at Cheesehead TV’s Eat More Cheese and co-host of Cheesehead Radio (blogtalkradio.com/cheeseeheadradio). He can be contacted on Twitter at twitter.com/jrehor or by email at johnrehor@yahoo.com

I like soccer. I really really like soccer. Most people in America don’t. Because it’s a sport played by wussy little boys who flop around on the field pretending to be hurt. Oh, wait, that’s not soccer, that was last Monday night’s football game.

Pathetic? Yes. Bad Acting? Yes. Unsportsmanlike? Most definitely. But let’s all be real here. This is not the first time a player has faked an injury, either to stop the other team’s momentum or give their own team a free time out. Why do you think they run ten seconds off the clock when you’re within the two minute warning if you do it on offense and have no time outs left? Because people have faked it before. But I don’t know if I have ever witnessed a more obvious attempt at faking an injury, and I watch A LOT of soccer.

So a lot has been made this week of how to put a stop to such an awful thing. People have suggested penalties (which, FYI, if you do it on offense a second time in the two minute warning you do already get penalized), but it brings about the question, how do you know when a player is faking it?

This is the new NFL, the concerned about concussions and player safety NFL. So they responded with this memo:

“Going forward, be advised that should the league office determine that there is reasonable cause, all those suspected of being involved in faking injuries will be summoned promptly to this office … to discuss the matter. Those found to be violators will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action for conduct detrimental to the game.”

Okay, just so I’m clear. The NFL wants players to be free to tell them about even the smallest lingering effects or even the slightest possibility of a concussion, but if you can’t prove it, you could be in trouble? Today on ESPN radio I heard a couple of people suggesting that perhaps the injured player should have to sit out a series instead of just the next play. So it’s the end of the game and my team’s driving and I get hurt.  I’m not sure how bad it is, but I can’t act hurt then I’m done the whole series. Rub some dirt on it and go.

I’m not pro-faking injuries. I think it’s dumb. If your coach and players can’t figure out how to stop the other team, rolling around on the ground like you’re trying to win an Oscar shouldn’t be your next option. But I do think the NFL needs to tread wisely on this subject. You can’t on the one hand tell players that they should feel free to be up front and honest about injuries and encourage them to share and then penalize them if they can’t prove it. (I had a concussion after my head met a cement door frame. It happened right before St. Patty’s Day. Despite the two CAT scans and one MRI, I still have people who thought I was over reacting to avoid going out with them).

I really thought that this whole situation would eventually become a non-issue. The NFL issued that warning, and I assumed no team would be so blatant and then we’d all move on.

But then this ad appeared today.

We all already know how I feel about fantasy football. So I’m going to do my best not to rant about that as well. But come on, NFL! Forget about the fact that his injury probably actually hurt, as is the long recovery. Forget about the fact that he’s probably going to be making less money this year then he planned on seeing as he won’t be making any of those roster/yardage bonuses that I’m assuming are worked into his contract. Forget the possibility that this might completely alter his career. Forget his, his teams, and the team’s fans’ disappointment, let’s instead using him as a poster child for how people can save their fantasy football season!

NFL, wise up. I had thought we moved past this discussion once you decided to stop making the “best hits of the NFL” montage videos, but apparently not. No one’s going to believe that you actually care about player safety if you try to make money off of their injuries.

I have no words left. NFL, you are a massive fail today.

J just gave me the consent Ive been waiting 5 years for, TONIGHT I get to wax his arm pits. YESSSSSSSS. Im stoked.

This should come as a surprise to most Packer fans, as neither Mike McCarthy or the post-game injury report eluded to any need for Finley’s dermal surgery. Packer fans can only hope that the procedure goes well and that Finley returns to form on Sunday. According to a source, he’ll be ready to go.

He’ll be ready to go. This is something Jermichael has been meaning to do for awhile. It should help to promote a little less air resistance on some of his shorter routes.

With the seemingly endless injury list, the Packers cannot afford to lose yet another key starter on any side of the ball. If history is any indicator Finley should be okay. Says a physician familiar with the procedure:

Although often messy and painful, this procedure is minimally invasive. Most patients tend to recover within 24 hours, although their reputation may never be the same.

We will keep you updated as we get further details on Finley’s condition.

I’m not surprised I guess. Quite simply, the guy has never been able to stay healthy. He’s never been one to play through injury, and his helmet off routine at the end of the playoff game against the Cardinals was atrocious.

I had high hopes for Atari this season at least to show some of the promise and flash he did a couple of games early in his career. You have to admire the guy for coming through the ranks of NFL Europe and onto the big stage, but perhaps Atari’s time has finally come to an end.

It is most certain that at the very least Atari will start the season on the PUP list at best. If Morgan Burnett turns out to be the real deal, we may have seen the last of Bigby in a Packers uniform.

Perhaps that is best.

Just one year removed from a 13-3 NFC Championship appearance, the Green Bay Packers took a major step back in 2008.

The team that always seemed to find a way to win in 2007, seemingly always found a way to lose in close contests in 2008. Orchestrating poor execution, defense and special teams was more of the signature for the 2008 Packers. Added into that some key injuries and it was truly a lost season for the long-time franchise.

Injuries to Cullen Jenkins, Atari Bigby, Justin Harrell, Josh Sitton, Nick Barnett and Al Harris proved to be tough to overcome during the season. While Aaron Rouse and Tramon Williams filled in for Bigby and Harris decently, the injuries to Jenkins and Barnett were detrimental to the team. Jenkins, injured early in the season, provided a defensive anchor at the end position. In Jenkins’ absence, teams rushed the ball more effectively against the Packers’ defense. Barnett had a slow start to the season, but surely was missed as the Packers couldn’t find a true replacement for the seven year pro.

While injuries are always an uncertainty, changes in coaching and philosophy certainly could help spark the motivation in the players. With the addition of the 3-4 defense and coaching additions Dom Capers, Kevin Greene, Darren Perry and Mike Trgovac, players could have added enthusiasm and more attention to detail. While nothing is certain to succeed, it is evident the players will have to focus to learn the new defense. Providing the players buy into the system the coaches present, a better defense should appear eventually.

In addition to defense, the Packers also axed special teams coach Mike Stock for previous assistant Shawn Slocum. Another non-move in many fans’ eyes, this could provide a great improvement, especially with the 3-4 defense enabled. With the 3-4 defense, it means the Packers will carry more linebackers, giving their special teams a significant advantage. Generally when you look for special teams players, they are big and fast. That’s the typical makeup of a majority of linebackers as well. As well as the roster change, getting Mike Stock (the man who pushed for Derrick Frost) out of town isn’t all bad either. I’m sure Slocum will bring some fresh enthusiasm to the special teams, maybe teach the boys how to stop a kickoff return.

Coach McCarthy also decided to modify the atmosphere of the weight room. In firing long-time friend Rock Gullickson, McCarthy must have felt an urgent need to change the system. New strength and conditioning coordinator Dave Redding will provide the Packers with a different philosophy in weight training. Focusing on speed and endurance as opposed to bulk will provide a different program for many of the green and gold. As life-long Packer fan Redding says, he wants to produce football players, not body builders. Sounds like the motto that weight room junkie AJ Hawk needs to live by.

The Packers could fail to pick up another free agent and strike out in the draft, but I know this is a team with enough talent to win 13 games as they did in 2007. With new coaches aboard in every aspect they struggled in a season ago, the outlook is hopeful if they stay healthy.

While going 6-10 in the 2008 season was ugly, we don’t need a major overhaul. We don’t need to go crazy in free agency or the draft. We need to get healthy.

It’s easy to get lost in free agency. Free agency kicks off and you suddenly think back to how ugly things got in 2008. You think about how bad things were on the defensive line. You think about the lack of pressure on the quarterback. You think about an inconsistent running game. You think about how Charles Woodson has to play safety for a couple weeks.

Not all of these issues need to be resolved through free agency.

We don’t necessarily need a right end. We need a healthy Cullen Jenkins.

We don’t really need safety help. We need a healthy Atari Bigby.

We don’t need a linebacker overhaul. We need a healthy Nick Barnett.

We don’t need to break the bank for a running back. We need a healthy Ryan Grant(in camp from the start). Or at least Brandon Jackson getting more carries.

We don’t need new offensive linemen. We need Giacomini, Sitton, Wells, Barbre, and Clifton to be healthy. People easily forget how lights out these guys were in camp and pre-season, then they all died.

We should still make a move for most of these positions and I think we will. We missed out on getting Canty but reports say Green Bay was pushing hard for him so it wasn’t for lack of trying.

Going to the 3-4, it seemed at first we’d have to make a lot of moves, but it seems it isn’t needed as this team has a good amount of talent that can fit the scheme already. We’ll make some moves, mostly in the draft because college tweeners are easier to mold to a 3-4, but we won’t need to make a ton.

But let’s not get carried away. We’re not as bad as our record seems. With better coaches this year, another year under the young players’ belt, and HEALTH, we’ll be back to 13-3 or better.

Remember how good we are when we’re healthy.  Even Mike McCarthy knows we need to do a better job in the weight room.  Mike McCarthy said he thinks “we can get a little more out of the weight room this time around.”  I hope so.  It starts now, and news is breaking from fan fest that James Jones is now 100 percent.  That’s a start!  Let’s get healthy, then stay that way.

Here’s to hoping Ted Thompson spends the money wisely. Here’s hoping he makes smart and decisive free agent moves while taking care of our own boys like Greg Jennings.

Author’s Note:  Yes, I have run out of ideas to talk about. Sign someone, Ted!  Bail me out, buddy!

Yes, once again I am talking about injuries. It was just our year for getting hit big. It happens, but I will ask you this: Would it have been different had these players been playing?

YOU! Answer me.

Would we have lost against the Bears by three points if Atari Bigby was playing? How about Nick Barnett chasing Matt Forte and not AJ “I slipped” Hawk? What about Cullen Jenkins, our second best pass rusher? Lord knows Orton forces it when he’s under the tiniest amount of pressure, would he have forced more bad throws if Cullen was there? Would Bigby have caught the bad passes and not dropped them like the other safeties?

Would it have made a difference? I am curious as to what packer nation feels about it. Most say you can’t use injuries as an excuse, and I agree, but you can’t ignore them all.

We should have won most of these games we lost, but would we have won them with Nick Barnett, Atari Bigby, Mark Tauscher, and Cullen Jenkins playing?

The games would have been different, that’s for sure. Whether we won or lost, I don’t know. I think we probably would have.

Would these players being on the field have made a difference? Your thoughts on this are welcomed by me. I know most or your thoughts on whether we should have won these games are, so please sideline those. I want to know if we would have won these games with these players on the field.

Depth is important, and Ted Thompson is one of those general managers who gets quality backups. But that’s what they are, BACKUPS.

Occasionally a guy will step up and put his name in for someone’s job(Tramon Williams), but for the most part these are special teamers and guys who come in to spell a tired player. They aren’t there to play every down of every game. Now with THAT said, some of these backups are top notch. Rouse is awesome, Tony Moll\Barbre are pretty serviceable for being non-starters. Kuhn is good and Brandon Jackson is awesome at catching the ball out of the backfield.

But you can not have a winning season playing mostly backups. You just can’t.

Let’s take a look at some of the injuries that have hit our beloved Packers.

- James Jones was hurt, missed time.
- Al Harris got his insides destroyed, missed most of the season.
- Ryan Grant was hurt in preseason and it took a while for him to get a healthy grade from the trainers.
- Scott Wells had\has trunk issues most of the season.
- Atari Bigby seemed to miss most of the season and is finally back, but playing like a man who’s missed most of the season.
- Aaron Rodgers has been playing with a bad shoulder most of the year but seems better than before now, health-wise.
- Cullen Jenkins is out for the year and it really hurt our defensive line. Killed our pass rush.
- KGB was hurt a lot this season before we decided backups were INDEED better than he was.
- Lumpkin is out for the year.
- AJ Hawk had a bad groin and was playing hurt, and some people think he still IS playing hurt.
- Wynn was hurt most of the year but is back.
- Woodson’s been playing with a broken toe but you wouldn’t know it.
- Clifton’s been banged up(and sucky) meaning more time for Colledge who plays like he’s hurt.
- Rookie stud(as in he’s hot) Pat Lee has missed most of the season after a promising camp.
- Do I even have to mention Justin Harrell?
- Nick Barnett is now out for the year.

I’ll stop there before I feel the urge to drink a bottle of UV Vodka. I’m sure I missed some and that list should be a little longer, but you get the point.

Every year, a hand full of teams are absolutely decimated by injuries. It hasn’t been us in a while, but it looks like we were due.

We used to win these close games, now we seem to be losing them. Injuries are probably a factor there.

Like I said, I’m not making excuses but ignoring the fact we got bombarded with injuries kind of sells the team short a bit.

This is still a talented team that just needs to step up to that next level to succeed. With two games against the Bears, and another against the Lions(freebie!), we can turn this around. We just have to fight through the pain and step up! One game out, baby!

GO PACKERS!

According to coach Mike McCarthy, starting linebacker Nick Barnett is out for the season. In his Monday press conference the Packer’s stated the bad news.

“We’ve lost Nick Barnett for the season because of a ligament tear in his knee,” said Mike McCarthy. “Got the word about a half-hour ago.”  The coach did not say which ligament, though odds are it’s the ACL.

Desmond Bishop should start in his place.

I never like to see a guy go down. I hope Nick makes a speedy recovery and comes back at one hundred percent next season.

However, with the total lack of presence by Barnett this season, perhaps the blow won’t be as terrible as it seems.

Here is more on McCarthy’s quotes on Barnett.

“We’ve lost Nick Barnett for the season because of a ligament tear in his knee. So, we just got the word here about a half-hour ago. He’s very disappointed. It’s unfortunate. But we need the other guys to step up. He has a ligament tear.”

When asked about who will start?

“Well, that’s what we’re talking about. We talked about it as a defensive staff this morning, the potentials. Obviously, Desmond Bishop. A.J. Hawk, and Brandon Chillar also factors into that, too, so we’ll probably make that call tomorrow.”

(Stay Tuned)

According to ESPN Aaron Rodger’s will start today’s game against the Falcons. Sweet.

Here is a video of comments from Aaron Rodgers talking about his injuries and his chances on starting this weekend. He doesn’t sound all that convincing. Some ESPN breakdown too.

With the injuries mounting at the safety position, it looks like Charlie Peprah will be starting this week against Atlanta. With Bigby and Rouse both injured, it is Peprah’s time to shine.

According to the Wisconsin State Journal:

“Neither Bigby nor Rouse practiced Friday, and both are listed as doubtful. Coach Mike McCarthy said Bigby was “sore” after testing the hamstring with trainers on Thursday, while Rouse tried to practice Wednesday before being shut down for the week.

“Charlie will start if Aaron and Atari are not ready, which looks to be the case,” McCarthy said. “He’s had a good week of practice. He’s been here three years now, so he has a complete understanding of the system. I have confidence in all those guys.”

The complete story can be found here.

Here is the official injury report for October 5th against the Falcons. This was updated today by the Green Bay Packer’s website. Injury list to follow.

Atari Bigby S Hamstring Doubtful
Chad Clifton T Knees Probable
Nick Collins S Back Probable
Korey Hall FB Knee Doubtful
Al Harris CB Spleen Out
A.J. Hawk LB Groin Questionable
Jason Hunter DE Hamstring Doubtful
Cullen Jenkins DE Chest Out (Not Listed)
James Jones WR Probable
Kregg Lumpkin RB Hamstring Doubtful
Ryan Pickett DT Knee Probable
Aaron Rodgers QB Right Shoulder Questionable
Aaron Rouse S Doubtful
Charles Woodson CB Toe Probable

That list is way too long.

Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins is done for the year with a torn pectoral muscle. This is the same injury suffered by free-agent Joe Johnson several years ago.

According to the National Football Report:

“Green Bay Packers starting defensive end Cullen Jenkins will be placed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral muscle sustained in Sunday’s loss at Tampa Bay.  The fifth year player out of Central Michigan had 13 tackles, 2 ½ sacks, and 1 forced fumble through four games with the Packers this season.  Jenkins tear is another blow to a Green Bay team that is already dealing with injuries to starting cornerback Al Harris (spleen) and Aaron Rodgers (sprained shoulder).”

This is a devastating loss for an already battered team. Yet another sad day for this Packer fan.

There is more on the injury status and Jenkins here.

For the rest of the day can we please just talk about Tony Mandarich some more?