Thank you Packers. Someone’s got to lead the way

When Nike released new uniforms for all 32 NFL teams, was there any doubt that it was a cash grab? From the drastic changes for the Seattle Seahawks to other teams with subtle changes, it looked like Nike was on its way to taking over the NFL so to speak. Not so fast.

The Green Bay Packers (and later the Eagles) said no to the new redesigns. It’s nice to see a franchise step up like this. You know, I was against Nike’s college uniforms. And this is just dumb. For all the “technology” that goes into these new jerseys, let me ask them something. Would those jerseys have made a difference when Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews and company won the Super Bowl? Would Bart Starr have lost the Super Bowl if the new jerseys existed? How about Brett Favre? The answer is no. A team wins because its the best team at that time.

It’s not like the NFL needs stupid publicity stunts like this. It’s already the country’s most popular sport.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Donald Driver to start dancing

“Dancing with the Stars” has had its share of NFL players from Jerry Rice to Emmitt Smith to Jason Taylor. Now, Green Bay Packers wide receiver Donald Driver is set to join the popular show.

All I have to say is… come on Donald.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

Packers lost…so what?

There’s going to be a lot of buzz around the Green Bay Packers finally losing a game, its first loss in more than a calender year. Kansas City Chiefs’ fans should be proud. They deserved to win that game. The Packers sucked on Sunday.

But before everybody goes crazy…the Packers losing was a very good thing. If Green Bay had run the table in the regular season that would have been the worst thing to happen to them. They would be the defending Super Bowl champs who hadn’t lost a game since December of 2010. You want to tell me they wouldn’t be a little cocky? Now, they know they’re not invincible. Now, people will start doubting them. Now, they’ll be motivated to prove the loss was a fluke, not the norm.

In fact, this was about the worst thing for the other NFL teams to have happen to the Pack. They can lock up home field advantage with a win next week, start resting players to get completely healthy (a far cry from last season) and focus on making sure Sunday’s effort doesn’t happen again. A motivated Packers isn’t what opponents should be hoping for. In fact, I’m so much more confident in Green Bay making the Super Bowl again than I ever have been this season.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

 

Green Bay Packers will expand seats…and not a dime will come from taxpayers

The Green Bay Packers are one of the most storied franchises in the NFL. Lambeau Field currently seats 73,128 fans and is the oldest operating stadium in the NFL. The good news for the more than 80,000 fans on the season-ticket waiting list? The Packers plan to add 6,600 seats in the end zones by the 2013 season. Even better news? The Packers said it will fund the project itself, most likely through a stock sale which would allow more fans to own a part of the Packers.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.

NFL vs. NCAA

So I saw this post on http://www.wolfpackchat.com and it is a very interesting debate. With both the college football season and the NFL about to begin, if you could only choose one, would you have college football or pro football?

I had to think long and hard about this. I love the university I attend. And, there’s nothing quite like going to a college football game, sitting with other students. When your team has a special season, like the Wolf Pack did last year, and the elation you feel when it knocks off one of the top teams in the nation is second to none. However, I’m so disillusioned with college football. You know what would have made last season even better? Had Nevada had a shot at playing for a national title in a playoff.

The NFL at least admits it has stars, some with over the top personalities. Then you have teams like the Green Bay Packers. A team where the fans own the organization so it can never move. Where children grow up being as Packers fans, where it’s just as important as family. Oh yeah, and the Packers, who, of course, won the Super Bowl, was a wild card team. Wild card. In the NCAA, it wouldn’t have had a shot to win the Super Bowl. There’s something so exciting about the NFL. Every regular season game matters (even though it’s a playoff system). Given the choice, I’d choose the NFL every time.

Lukas Eggen can be reached at eggen.lukas@gmail.com.