Annoyance of the week: Packers dynasty talk

Maybe it's the Bears fan in me, but I'm thinking it's more of the sports fan in me when a talk of "Dynasty" comes up. That's what made all the talk this week about the Packers being able to get back to the Super Bowl for MANY years to come.
My favorite Packers writer, Jason Wilde, had it about right with his post earlier this week on them "being built to last" but that doesn't mean they'll get back to the big game multiple times over the next handful of years.
Now, before you jump down my back, hear me out here. You can look at history to show you dynasties don't come around too often. You can look at more recent history and see they are even more uncommon.
Let's look at that recent history. Dan Marino went to the Super Bowl in his rookie season. He never went back.
The very next year, the Chicago Bears were supposed to be the next dynasty after winning the Super Bowl with the youngest team in the NFL. Well, the strike in 1987 derailed that, after the Bears made the NFC title game in January 1987.
The 49ers, Cowboys and Bills are all dynasties of the 90s and late 80s, so there's a point to you Packers fans thinking it was going to happen.
But the Packers in 96 and 97 were thought to have many more coming, but Brett Favre never made it back after that, either.
In the 2000s the Rams had two years. The Giants have gone twice, with vastly different teams, but the last team, that beat the Pats was supposed to be a young group and could be a dynasty, but that went nowhere.
Yes, the Patriots are the only dynasty in the last 10 years. I would not count the Steelers, because for me, one of the criteria for a dynasty is at least back-to-back appearance in the Super Bowl.  Yes, they could have won three, but that doesn't do it for me.
So, can the Packers become a dynasty? It's possible. For me, though, for all of those guys that had to step up this year, that means more guys think they deserve a piece of the pie and want to get the payday they feel they deserve either with the Packers or somewhere else if the Packers won't give it too them. That will make things a little more difficult for the Packers. That will already start this offseason (after a CBA gets agreed upon) when a handful of guys, including A.J. Hawk could end up in different places. Hawk is due $10 million if he stays around and was on the trading block before injuries went down, but Ted Thompson is not the guy that spend big money on good players.
To me, it was a perfect storm that got the Packers here. The story surrounding the Packers is injuries, but for them to not strike the key parts for multiple games (Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews each missed one) and it was up to the role players to come through when called upon. The chances for those guys to come through in the future is less likely. Obviously the core should stay in tact, but look at every title team in every sport and it's those role players that make the difference. Dare I say this was the best group of role players ever assembled outside of the big time players on the team and if a big chunk of them seek out the big payday, things could go south.
The one thing the Packers have to control this is what Thompson and Mike McCarthy have taken a lot of credit for over the last couple of months and that is talent evaluation. They might be two of the best at it in the NFL. That will be the biggest key to keeping things going and getting the Packers back to the Super Bowl. If some of those role players leave, different guys will have to be ready.
Things will have to fall perfectly for that to happen, though, and I don't think it will.


The big news yesterday from 1 Miller Park Way was the Brewers announcing their bobblehead days. As a fan, this might be as big of a day for me as Opening Day. This is the day I plan out and know at least a handful of games I will be attending. Leaving with some free garb doesn't hurt things.
Here's the schedule (And the full schedule from the Brewers)
Sun. April 24: John Axford Bobblehead (It's what's pictured and looks awesome!)
Sun. May 22: Casey McGehee Bobblehead (My favorite guy, so you know I'm pumped for this)
Sun. June 12: Zack Greinke Bobblehead (The Cy Young winner and the guy lots are putting all their hope behind)
Sun. July 10: Hot Dog Bobblehad
Sun. Aug. 14: Craig Counsell Bobblehead (Milwaukee's favorite son in his final season)
Sun. Sept. 25: Randy Wolf bobblehead (Have to give the big money guy his bobble)
While I was a bit upset there was no Yovani Gallardo bobble, I saw Adam McCalvy post this on his blog and it was pretty clear he was flexed out in favor of Greinke in what could be his only year in town. It's a safe choice and Yo is here for a few more years, so it's not the time to get upset about this. Either way, this should be a great season. All of those, minus the hot dog, will be welcome additions to my bobble family.

A bit of this day in history before we get into the Nussie Hunter segment. Bust Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson on this day in 1991. So good and so historical.


Now to the Nussie Hunter. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will show up in my mailbox next week and the folks at SI are drubbing up the press machine for it. One of our favorite girls, Brooklyn Decker was featured on this promo poster below. Will she make it back to back years on the cover? We'll have to see. Either way, check this out. And get ready for Monday night on Letterman to see who is on the cover!

Bears-Packers Round 3 should be one for ages

Some won't call it a domination because of the tack on points at the end, but for all intensive purposes, the Bears dominated the Seahawks Sunday at Soldier Field. Jay Cutler was the second QB in playoff history to run and throw for two touchdowns. Greg Olsen had a TD and had a career high for receiving yards. The offense racked up 437 yards of offense, the most by a Bears team in franchise history. Of that, 176 yards were on the ground. It may be the most telling number of any stat, really. For an offensive line that has been suspect all year, they may finally be pulling it together enough to get this team where it wants to go. Both Matt Forte and Chester Taylor showed some flashes Sunday afternoon. I know it was the Seahawks, but they didn't just barely win. They did it in convincing fashion.
The defense was on point like none other until, they went into the prevent defense and then had to recover a couple onside kicks. I'm not worried about them at all. In fact, while Julius Peppers was pretty quiet in the pass rush, Tommie Harris re emerged as a possible threat in the middle of that line. something the Bears had been waiting for all season. If he can return to anywhere near the form he was in four years ago, this team could have something with its front four.
And the special teams. What didn't they do well. Devin Hester had a couple solid returns and when he wasn't returning the ball, he was goating the Seahawks into kicking out of bounds. Most impressive though was the punting by Brad Maynard in the snow and wind on the Lake.
That performance sets up a showdown with the Packers for the NFC Championship. If the two meetings during the season were good, this one should be that much better. Put your 18 penalties excuses to bed. Don't count much on that Week 17 victory when the Bears' hearts were clearly not in it. Get ready for the mother of all show downs. There will be no smack talk from either side during the week. Both sides respect each other and this rivalry too much to degrade it like that. It's all respect and football.

What the teams are playing for is the Halas Trophy, named for the owner and founder of the Bears back in 1910. It has a new look this year.



I have a few things planned for this week and before you think I'm going I"m going to paint this solely in Bears love, just know I've reached out to a few of my friends in the media game and have some great stuff panned for later in the week that should show some great perspective on both sides.
Here's a look at the main pieces the rest of the week:
Wednesday: Media Day will give us another chance to hear what some of the key parties involved have to say about the game.
Thursday: Mail bag. I've reached out to a number of friends on both sides of the aisle who will make their prediction. These are from key media friends I have. So these should be good.
Friday: Wilber's Way Official Preview of the showdown. I already have received the five keys from a Packers fan explaining why his team will win the game. I'll pen the 5 reasons why the Bears win. Both will have score predictions.

Off to the Nussie Hunter feature of the day. I'm pretty sure if you've watched an NFL game during the playoffs, you've seen the commercial for the new Adam Sandler movie "Just Go With It" and had your jaw drop when Brooklyn Decker comes up. Yeah, it's pretty awesome. Here she is, just because you can't get enough!

Who dat! Going to the Super Bowl?

Judging by the ratings Sunday's AFC and NFC title games were some of the most watched non Super Bowl games in 30 years. And with the great story lines coming in, it is hard to argue with that.
I'll say Peyton's great comeback against the Jets was great and was topped by the great game that finished the night. I'll say the Saints and Vikings delivered more twists and turns than Road America race track in Elkhart Lake, Wis. (That means a lot!)
I'll have to say it was right here where I correctly picked the winners of both games. My first perfect week of the playoffs. Yeah, it was a rough one. But when it mattered most I came though.
I'd have to say I was pretty happy to see the Saints win probably more than Peyton and the Colts. Almost because that win almost seemed like a no-brainer.  But the Saints, with that certain quarterback playing for the Vikings had a bit of a story to go against and a damn good team.
I am alone in being tired of the Katrina story? Now I'm all for getting the city back together and the people being happy, but that was about four years ago. Maybe it's because instead of talking about talent on the team, everything is about the people of the city. I feel like we got to know more about the PLAYERS  on the Vikings as much as we did the PEOPLE of New Orleans. Guess that's just a gripe I have with media.


January 26 is also a pretty special day. It is the birthdate of one Bob Uecker, aka "Mr. Baseball" aka the voice of MY Milwaukee Brewers. The man has spent 55 years in baseball. The 2010 season will be his 29th as play-by-play man of the Brewers and turned 75 today.
Yeah, I'd have to say he is back in rare form. I was a bit critical of him a couple years ago. He had been calling such a bad team he just let his stories take over the game. Then when the Brewers started winning, he had to find a good mix. Well, he's figured it out and is back on point.
I'm sorry for doubting you. I loved Mr. Belvadere! Haha. That pic above, by the way, is from a couple years back. There was a furry convention at the same hotel the Brewers were staying at. Comedy ensued on the air that day, too.
A couple rare baseball facts for you, he caught the game that made Warren Spahn the winningest left handed pitcher in MLB history. Also, he's a career .200 hitter. That would be why he jokes about his on-field shortcomings all the time.
He's a good pitchman....


Alright, a bit of a random video here. But hey, this is quite funny. Note to the City of Grand Forks.


Alright, time for the Nussie Hunter portion of the show. Andy Roddick fell this morning in the Aussie Open. With the loss I couldn't help but think of his wife and how much she must feel bad. Yeah, when it's none other than SI swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker, you think about this sort of thing... Check it!