I used to look forward to hearing that little chime on my phone.  The one that is the alert sound from packers.com.  I would anxiously log on to the team’s official website to see what new bit of information they were pushing out.

 

Now I wince every time I hear it.  I dread that it is a message telling me that another player has been placed on the Covid list, as happened with receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling this week.  The complexion and outlook of a team can change drastically with just one positive test for the sickness.  Especially when you take into account the close contact protocol, which could involve several players at a time, usually at the same position.

 

My first concern is for the health of the player.  So please don’t interpret this as being insensitive to the medical issue.  But since this is a football website, let’s consider the effect on a team.

 

Green Bay’s opponent on Christmas day, the Cleveland Browns, are a good example.  One day they are one of the strongest teams in the AFC, a contender for the number one seed.  Then the virus hits.  They played their Monday night game against the Raiders without quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Case Keenum, running back Kareem Hunt, receiver Jarvis Landry, tight end Austin Hooper, their two starting tackles, and a couple of starters on defense.   The reserves played valiantly, but the Browns lost on a walkoff field goal.   Cleveland is now considered a long shot to make the playoffs, and is a heavy underdog to the Packers on Saturday.

 

Earlier in the season, most Packer fans felt pretty good about Green Bay’s chances to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.  Then came the news that Aaron Rodgers had gone on to the Covid list.  Immediately, the outlook for that game changed.  The Packers became a solid underdog, and did go on to lose.  We can debate whether the blame goes to Love, or the failure of the field goal units, or the coaches, but there’s no doubt the sudden loss of Rodgers completely changed that game.

 

Despite the one game loss of their starting quarterback, overall, knock on wood, you would have to say the team has done an outstanding job following protocols and staying reasonably free of the disease.  Currently, only two players are listed as being on Covid/Reserve, albeit they are two very important players, Kenny Clark and, as mentioned, MVS.  As of this writing, Clark, who missed the Ravens game and whose absence was acutely felt, seems to have a good chance of being cleared to play against the Browns.  MVS likely not.  The Browns have already gotten back Hooper, and will get a few more back in time for Saturday’s game.  Obviously, quarterback will be the critical position to watch.

 

Regardless, what looked like a highly competitive game at the beginning of the season, now looks like a bit of a mismatch because of the Browns’ battle with Covid.  A battle the Packers could face at any moment down the stretch.  The Packers will be favored in all three of their remaining games against the Browns, Vikings and Lions.  But Covid makes every game a wildcard.  What makes this a scary propostiion for the coaching staff is that they only control the protocols while the players are on the premises.  They are on their own once they go home to their families and friends and social circle.  Some are tested daily, others intermittently, some not at all minus symptoms. 

 

Here’s where having players who are effective leaders plays a crucial role.  Veterans such as Rodgers, Davante Adams, Marcedes Lewis and Adrian Amos go a long way toward keeping everybody in line.  Guys know they will be accountable to the rest of the team.  It’s not perfect, as the infamous Halloween party will attest to, but for the most part, it seems to be working.  The vast majority of the roster seems to be doing a great job recognizing they need to be careful and available.  As we head to the playoffs, that will be as important as blocking, tackling, passing and receiving.  

 

Actually, more important.

 

Once again, the Pro Bowl is a Joke

I don’t know why I continue to be frustrated by this.  The Pro Bowl lost its relevance the minute fan voting became part of the selection process.  Fans vote for their favorites.  As a result, it’s more of a celebrity name recognition achievement to make the team, as opposed to those having the best seasons.  Case in point is Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell, who was left off the squad.  The inside linebackers chosen for the NFC side were Micah Parsons and Bobby Wagner.  I won’t argue with Parsons, who has had a phenomenal rookie year for the Cowboys.  But Campbell should have been taken ahead of Wagner.  Campbell has more tackles for loss, more quarterback hits, more interceptions, more forced fumbles and more sacks than Wagner.  But fans recognize Wagner’s name from his days with the long-gone Legion of Boom.  Campbell is relatively new to the elite level at his position.  I had to chuckle  at seeing Rasul Douglas listed as an alternate, while Campbell was left off completely.  No disrespect for Rasul, who has been a godsend, but he made it because of a couple of splashy pick sixes on national television.  He wasn’t even on an active roster until October 6, while Campbell has been a stalwart in every one of the Packers’ fourteen games.  

 

All star games work in baseball and basketball because you can still play the game pretty much without hesitation.  Football is a brutal game of profound physical contact.  Nobody wants to get hurt in a game that means nothing.  So the game itself is a glorified touch football scrimmage.  I stopped watching it years ago.  But it still bugs me when a Packer player gets disrespected.