Hey Flynn?!?! Your In!

September 29, 2008 by Patrick Mulroy
Filed under NFL Football, Packers

In just his fourth game of his young career, adversity has once again come knocking for Aaron Rodgers - this time Mr. Injury could be at the door. Enter rookie QB Matt Flynn, in the 3rd quarter of yesterday’s game. Even with temps in the high 80’s (20’s C), you would have thought it were autumn if you were covering the Packers down in Florida Sunday - it seemed no player was immune to falling, nor were passes.

Everyone will find out a little bit more tommorow when Mr. Rodgers is rexamined today in Green Bay. Early speculation and rumour swirling is some sort of issue with the right arm - possibly shoulder related (bruised was how the coach described it after the game). I want it at least mentioned within my blog that Rodgers put himself back in the game despite pain (which he has done before - something most people fail to acknowledge at all) amd that after ‘the incident’, even completed a 48-yard throw to Jennings for a TD. Rodgers has the mental and physical makeup of a good, if not great QB to be able to compete at this sort of level and it should not be lost throughout all the other media spins this week. I am not going to be surprised to see him back out there next week. It also needs to be mentioned that Rodgers was finally intercepted not once, not twice but three times.

Here’s hoping the one player any NFL team fears losing the most, thier starting QB, isn’t injured or out to long. There will be enough interest in the fact Rodgers was injured (again) to keep talk swirling throughout Packerland until his next start. The fact is Brett Favre was a freak when it came to avoiding injury in this physically demanding sport, and it is most likely without question, any comparisons of Rodgers to Favre here are just ridicoulous and not warranted. I just hate it when they toss up Favre name next to Rodgers each time anything doesn’t go his way.

Oh yeah - The other big news yesterday, the fact the Packers lost, Tampa 31, Green Bay 20.

Unable to rebound from their home loss against Dallas last Sunday, the team retreats with a .500 record of 2-2 heading into their next game. Luckily, they face a young, rebuilding team in the Falcons at friendly Lambeau Field. In my opinion, the team needs just this sort of game to regain their early 2-0 start momentum.

Charles Woodson, already playing on a painful broken toe, gave Flynn a 1-point lead to work with when he took the ball via interception for a 62-yard touchdown return. However, miscues and a determined Griese lead Tampa outfit countered when it mattered and got the job done.

The Packers sustained varying injuries to some other key contributors namely; A.J. Hawk, Nick Collins, Cullin Jenkins and Aaron Rouse (not a good day if your name was Aaron I guess!). It’s unclear who of these players may not be able to go next week yet.

The Packers stud running back, Ryan Grant was pretty quiet, along with the rest of the offensive crew - with the exception of the always reliable Greg Jennings who went ran for two touchdowns on the day.

The coaches post-game comments were directed toward mistakes - and making them over and over again. McCarthy will need one heck of a game (and I think he will get it) next weekend vs. Atlanta at home. With a very possible lack of key players available next week, an offense that has yet to really click this year and a coach who knows his team well - next week somethings got to give. Of all the team areas, offense is the most healthy and when it comes together finally, will post great numbers. The upcoming Atlanta game is almost there Week 1 over again now, to regain and take back control of the season from a few different standpoints.

Things change quickly in pro sports. Two weeks ago the Packers were 2-0 and all seemed well. Fast forward two weeks and your 2-2 with a season settling in and things developing fast. The Packers are in good shape though, with a resourceful coaching and coaching staff along with a good mix of solid young guys and veteran leadership despite some mounting injuries. As a Packers fan, the most concerning thing is changing course on mistakes being made, which McCarthy is all over now. You can beat he didnt sleep very well last night and won’t be taking it easy on the bye week either.

On special teams, punter Derrick Frost has been going downhill quick since Game 2. It would not be out of the question to see the Packers make a move here this week, but the practice squad contains no punter so there will have to be some sort of transaction.

In closing, an unrelated game story. I did a little voluneenterring Saturday with my son in Green Bay - and on our drive home, happened to pass by none other than Mr. Ted Thompson. In Green Bay, with a population of just over 100,000 - it is very common to see Packer folks in and around town.