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Hall of Famer Paul Hornung passes away

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Photo Courtesy of Packers.com

Former Green Bay Packers great and Pro Football Hall of Fame tailback Paul Hornung passed away on Friday in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, after a battle with dementia.  Hornung was 84.

“The Green Bay Packers Family today is mourning the loss of Paul Hornung,” said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.  “Paul was one of our special alumni whose mere presence in Lambeau Field electrified the crowd during  his returns.  His performances in big games were unparalleled and over time were appreciated by generations of Packers fans.  He played a key role in four of Vince Lombardi’s championship teams of the 1960’s.

“With Paul’s passing, we are deeply saddened that we continue to lose our greats from the Lombardi era, a run of unprecedented success in the National Football League. [Read more…]

Bears parting company with Sitton

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Josh Sitton – WRN File Photo

According to reports, the Chicago Bears are cutting ties with starting left guard Josh Sitton after two years with the team.

After spending eight years with the Green Bay Packers, Sitton spent the last two years in Chicago, missing three games last season with rib and ankle injuries.  The four-time Pro Bowl lineman signed with the Bears after he was released by the Packers before the 2016 season.

Carr passes on Monday

Former Green Bay first round draft pick and Packers Hall of Famer Fred Carr passed away Monday at the age of 71.  Carr had been suffering from dementia and prostate cancer.

Carr played football and basketball at Texas-El Paso before playing linebacker for the Packers from 1968-’77.  The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker was inducted into the Packers Hall of Fame in 1983.

Vince Lombardi selected Carr with the Packers’ first pick, fifth overall in the 1968 draft.

 

 

 

 

 

Could this finally be Jerry Kramer’s time?

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Jerry Kramer

Green Bay Packers legendary guard Jerry Kramer was nominated as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the seniors committee on Thursday.  But Kramer has been here before.  It’s the 11th time that Kramer has been a finalist, more than any current player not enshrined in Canton.

Kramer was a centerpiece of coach Vince Lombardi’s five world titles, which included Super Bowls I and II.

Kramer still must secure 80% of the vote when the selection committee meets at the Super Bowl in February.

Kramer was last a finalist for the Hall of Fame in 1997, when the Packers reached Super Bowl XXXI.  But the votes didn’t come and Kramer failed to gain entrance for the 10th time.  So Kramer is certainly optimistic, but it’s guarded optimism.

Kramer could be the 12th player from Vince Lombardi’s Packers teams to be enshrined in Canton.  Fellow lineman Forrest Gregg and Ringo Starr have already received induction.

For now, Kramer is known as the best player not in the Hall of Fame.  Six months from now, Kramer is hoping that distinction no longer applies.

McCarthy gets multi-year extension from Packers (AUDIO)

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Mike McCarthy - UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Mike McCarthy – UPI/Bill Greenblatt

The Green Bay Packers announced the signing of head coach Mike McCarthy to a multi-year contract extension.  Terms of the contract weren’t disclosed, but the new deal likely keeps McCarthy in line with general manager Ted Thompson’s new deal that he signed in July.

In a statement from Ted Thompson, the Packers general manager said, “We are very happy to extend our relationship with Mike.  Over the past nine years, he’s provided great stability and consistency to the Packers organization and our community as an excellent coach and leader.  He’s a good man and we look forward to the future with Mike as our head coach.”

McCarthy’s 98 wins rank third all-time in team history behind Curly Lambeau (212) and Vince Lombardi (98).  McCarthy is ahead of Mike Holmgren (84) and Mike Sherman (59).

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on being 5-wins away from Vince Lombardi :21

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy asked how much longer he’ll coach :15

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy isn’t looking ahead, trying to make the best of the here and now :19

Since taking over a 4-12 Packers team in 2006, Green Bay has reached the postseason six times under McCarthy.  He won the NFC North four times, reached two NFC Championship games and won the Super Bowl back in 2010.

 

 

Lombardi voted greatest NFL coach

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ESPN says Green Bay Packers coaching legend Vince Lombardi has been voted

Brad Jones

Brad Jones

ESPN’s “Greatest Coach in NFL History”.

The results were released on Tuesday which also just happen to mark Lombardi’s 100th birthday.  Lombardi was born June 11, 1913 and passed away Sept. 3, 1970 at the age of 57.

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy on Lombardi :14

AUDIO: Mike McCarthy said Lombardi is a great influence on everyone :20

A collection of NFL analysts and commentators at ESPN voted the top 20 coaches in the history of the National Football League.

Packers linebacker Brad Jones sais the tradition in Green Bay with regards to Vince Lombardi is second to none.

AUDIO: Brad Jones asked if he would have wanted to play for Lombardi :07

The rest of the top 5 consists of Bill Walsh, Don Shula, George Halas and Chuck Noll.  Curly Lambeau is 10th.

Lombardi would have turned 100 today

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100 years ago today, a football legend was born.  The legendary coach of the Green

Vince Lombardi

Vince Lombardi

Bay Packers, Vince Lombardi would have turned 100 years old today.

Lombardi coached the Packers to five World Championships in his nine-year tenure in Green Bay.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers said you can feel his presence at Lambeau Field daily.

Football fans have been asking if Lombardi era players could have played today and been successful and could Lombardi himself have been successful.  Rodgers certainly things he could have made it work.

AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers has no doubts about Vince Lombardi being able to coach in today’s era :13

Rodgers and the Packers wrapped up their final open OTA workout today.

Robinson thrilled to finally make Hall of Fame (AUDIO)

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Former Green Bay Packers linebacker Dave Robinson wasn’t sure this day would

Dave Robinson

Dave Robinson

come.  But after nearly 40 years, Robinson has been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Robinson played 10 of his 12 seasons with the Packers.  His induction comes with the support of the senior committee.  That support got Robinson to the dance and the Hall of Fame selection committee agreed and voted him in.

At 71 years of age, there’s a great sense of relief. He was all-NFL three times, a three-time pro bowler  who had 27 career interceptions and was named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 1960’s. [Read more…]