Packers Daily Links: Aaron Rodgers Honored By PFWA

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers received the Good Guy Award from the Pro Football Writers of America. That and more in today's Daily Links...

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was honored by the Pro Football Writers of America on Monday. "Rodgers, who led Green Bay to the NFL title, won the Good Guy Award given to the player that best helped the media do their job," according to the Associated Press. Rodgers was the fourth consecutive quarterback to win the award and the second in a row to the winning quarterback of the Super Bowl.

Packers beat writer Bob McGinn won the PFWA's Dick McCann Memorial for distinguished reporting on professional football. "McGinn is considered one of the nation's most authoritative pro football beat reporters and is respected for the depth of his reporting, his expert analysis of personnel and games and the network of NFL sources he has cultivated," writes Gary D'Amato of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The award has been given annually since 1969.

A feature article is written about new Packers draft choice Ricky Elmore and how he worked out with Clay Matthews Jr., Clay III's father, prior to the draft. "Under the elder Matthews' guidance, Elmore found himself with long workout days at Proactive Sports Performance, a training facility in Westlake Village, Calif.," writes Lori Nickel of the Journal Sentinel. "Clay Matthews III practically lives there in the off-season; Big Clay is available on a consultant basis before the combine, and Casey Matthews works out there as well." Elmore has not met the Packers' Matthews yet, although it's looking like they'll cross paths at some point at Proactive Sports Performance.

The Arizona Daily Star, a newspaper covering Elmore's college career, points out that uncertainty of rookie's life now that he's joined the locked out NFL. "He has a Green Bay Packers roster spot but, because of the NFL's ongoing labor strife, no jersey number, " writes Ryan Finley. Elmore wrote on Twitter about wanting a number.

Former Packers vice president Andrew Brandt wrote about some of his draft day memories at the National Football Post and how the Packers entertained trade offers before they selected Aaron Rodgers. "I remember that fateful day in 2005 when, with the 24th pick, were left with one name above our first round line: Aaron Rodgers," writes Brandt. "There was debate about taking him as we had the most durable quarterback in the history of football. Finally, I called Aaron and his agent, Mike Sullivan, and get him on the line. I then kept Aaron waiting another ten minutes -- he had already been waiting 6 hours in that lonely green room -- to see if we got an offer for that pick (we didn’t). I often think about how history would be different had any of those players we targeted hadn’t been taken or had we received an offer to move back." Brandt also tells about an amusing story about how the Packers almost didn't draft Michael Montgomery when he didn't answer his phone on draft day.

A recap of the draft is provided by Bill Scott of the Wisconsin Radio Network where he comments about the depth at tight end in Green Bay. "The Packers picked two more tightends, a position where they’re already strong," writes Scott. "That will make for some good competition in training camp when rookies D.J. Williams of Arkansas and Ryan Taylor of North Carolina join the mix. Taylor will have a shot at hanging on because of his excellent special teams play." I was surprised to find the Packers wouldn't try Taylor out at fullback initially.

While discussing the youth added to the roster via the draft, Mike Davidsen of Green Bay Packer Nation broaches the possibility of some veterans being let go. "In addition to the personnel losses stemming from free agency, the team may also choose to part ways with aging veterans Nick Barnett and Mark Tauscher due to declining performance," writes Davidsen. "Even with a fleet of players coming back from injured reserve, the Packers could still be thin at some areas of the roster, and ultimately benefit from the large pool of talent added this weekend." Once the CBA is resolved, it will be interesting to see what the Packers do with those players. Add Justin Harrell to the list of possible subtractions. Davidsen also writes about the addition of offensive firepower early in the draft.

The comments of New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan that he could have beat he Packers in the Super Bowl are scrutinized by a writer at Lombardi Ave. "Here’s a coach who had his team so ill-prepared in the AFC championship game that the Jets fell behind by three scores just minutes in and couldn’t overcome the deficit even when the Steelers let up in the second half to save players for the big stage in Dallas against the Packers," according to the article. Ryan had better win the Super Bowl fast, because if his mouth keep writing checks his team can't cash, he's going to be spit out of the NFL really quick.

Packernet takes a look at the newest members of the Green Bay Packers.

Rock 'N' Roll Cecil Club looks specifically at the Packers' draft choices in the first few rounds.

Total Packers digs into the seventh-round draft choices.

Acme Packing Company discusses passing up on Casey Matthews, Clay's brother.

ESPN has a poll to vote on who had the best draft in the NFC North.

The Packers blog at JSOnline will help make an informed decision with more on the NFC North drafts.

The Packers' draft is looked at from the standpoint of a Bears blogger.

The Packers get an A for the draft by a Bleacher Report writer.

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Comments (3)

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Abe's picture

May 03, 2011 at 10:34 am

Is the Good Guy Award the writers way of telling Florio to suck it?

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PackersRS's picture

May 03, 2011 at 10:50 am

No kidding. The same year he tells Florio and Kornheiser to suck it, Rodgers gets an award for best media player???

Wow, the journalists must really hate those guys.

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Jayme's picture

May 03, 2011 at 02:01 pm

I'm so disappointed. I thought I had an original thought. But it seems that this is the obvious conclusion.

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