Packers Look Ahead To Wednesday's Practice and The Vikings Issue An Ultimatum

by Brandon on May 19, 2010 8:01 AM CDT in Green Bay Packers News

- Nothing much to read about on the first day of OTA practice. But tomorrow is open to the public and there should be some reports from practice. At this point I'm just interested in reading about who's playing with the first team units.

- Another item that could effect the NFC North after the 2011 season is the Vikings stadium situation. The Vikings issued a statement that it's up to the Minnesota legislature to find a solution and it "must be finalized in the 2011 session." And that sure sounds like an ultimatum. What did the team expect? Minnesota has budget problems and the team put together a seemingly inept effort to push a bill through in the last session. It's possible the team could move, but I expect the state will be pressured into coming up with the money eventually.

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As a Minnesota resident

and with absolutely no due respect to Wilf and the Vikings organization, don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.

by Charlie Kelly on May 19, 2010 8:23 AM CDT reply actions

A game of pretend

Let’s say the Vikes do move (a big if, I think something gets done). Here are my two questions:

1. Does the NFL redraw the divisions? (and if yes, where would you put the Vikes and who would you put in their place here?)

2. What NFL team affiliation does MN then become? They were Packer territory once, would they become so again? Is there too much bitterness there for that to happen?

by PackApologist on May 19, 2010 8:37 AM CDT reply actions

1. Yes. They will have to. Either the Rams or Chiefs would have to come over here. Most likely I would think the Rams would make sense. The Chiefs have a lot of history with their division rivals…I can’t see the NFL breaking that up. I would rather have the Chiefs cause they have a great fanbase but I doubt it happens.

2. No way they cheer for the Pack. Flip it around, would you cheer for the Vikings? A lot will probably stick with the same team. Other will choose a random team…

by TrevorR on May 19, 2010 8:48 AM CDT up reply actions

Although South Dakota and North Dakota are primarily Viking fans on the east side of each state

Many people on the western side of these states are fans of a variety of teams. Denver, Carolina, Cowboys, Giants, Packers, etc.

With that said, I would expect the Minnesota residents to become fans of their 2nd favorite team if they have one. Otherwise, they’ll just be football fans. In no way would they become die hard fans right away, but over time they will. Over time, I will expect the Packers to draw interest and support from Minnesota as they don’t have an NFL team of their own.

Think of it like this, why are there so many Chicago Cubs fans in Wisconsin? When the Braves left and before the Brewers came in, the Wisconsinittes at the time had to root for somebody. I would expect a similar situation in Minnesota if the Vikings moved. Nothing right away, but over time, they would gain interest in the Packers.

"No player is greater than a team."
-Vince Lombardi

by Jabooty on May 19, 2010 8:56 AM CDT up reply actions

I think a lot of the younger Minnesotans will start to like the Packers. The die hard Vikign fans wouldn’t let themselves cheer for the Packers though.There are some that I know of that like the Packers as well (I think its Favre hangover…they liked watching him so started liking the Packers a little too).

by TrevorR on May 19, 2010 12:46 PM CDT up reply actions

Key difference

Minnesota used to be Packer territory once upon a time. There are still many Packer fans left in the area, and let’s face it, the Twin Cities are really more passionate about the Twins or hockey in general. I think there would be more turn coats than you think.

Compared to Green Bay, well that place is crazy (grew up there I know). There is no way people would turn easily there, but it’s more devoted as a whole to the team.

by PackApologist on May 19, 2010 3:08 PM CDT up reply actions

I think you underestimate the football fanbase a little. I live in the Twin Cities…while the fans are a little fairweather, their hatred for the Packers is DEEP. While there is a very loyal group of people who love the Wild and hockey, the general sports fan in MN doesn’t really care all that much, they are very passive. That is how they lost the NOrth Stars back in the day. If you listen to KFAN, the main sports station, its football, baseball, hockey, basketball in that order. Most of the guys have one day a week they talk hockey. Basketball is an afterthought that is only mentioned when there is something really important to talk about (like the lottery last night). Football gets about 40-50% of the talk both from the DJs and the callers.

by TrevorR on May 19, 2010 11:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah but

Even K-Fan has a Packer show on Sunday mornings. I live in the TC area as well and I know more Twin fans than Viking fans.

by PackApologist on May 19, 2010 11:34 PM CDT up reply actions

True…that is more because of how many WI transplants (like me) there are though. Most of the MN born people I run into are Viking fans. Just my experience I guess.

by TrevorR on May 20, 2010 9:32 AM CDT up reply actions

The Chiefs will never move from the AFC

for reasons displayed on the AFC Championship trophy. Plus, I don’t want to see it, because they will always be my AFC team.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on May 19, 2010 4:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Chiefs are entrenched in the AFC West

by ktenreb on May 19, 2010 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Fat fingers

Posted before I was finished. I hope that doesn’t get me banned . . . .

The Chiefs have a traditional rivalry with the Raiders, and they seem to be doing just fine financially, so they aren’t going any where. Don’t expect the Vikings to bail from Minneapolis, however. I expect that things will get worked out.

Fortunately for us, we will always have the Bears. This is a perfect5 example why you should always have a backup archenemy.

by ktenreb on May 19, 2010 5:24 PM CDT up reply actions

forgot one important point

besides the rivalries, lamar hunt and the chiefs basically started the a.f.l., which turned into the afc, so there’s no way you move one of the founding teams from the afc and put them into the nfc.

bad business———says vito corleone

by hermitcrab on May 19, 2010 6:37 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree. Just pointed out that they would be the only other logical possibility if they are reorganizing. It would be a terrible change for them to make though, I agree!

by TrevorR on May 19, 2010 11:28 PM CDT up reply actions

Then again, the Browns and the Colts are old NFL. …not that I necessarily disagree with your reasoning, but I’m just saying that conference loyalties have switched for teams that you’d think were entrenched.

I do agree, though, that moving the Chiefs would raise more eyebrows than when they moved the Seahawks.

by Curly Lambeau on May 20, 2010 12:36 AM CDT up reply actions

I know what you mean.

I was a Cincinnati Reds fan as a boy and eventually, as an adult, got to where I was a Reds fan in the NL and a Brewers fan in the AL
Then, they switched the Brewers.

-
The glass is more than half-full.

by NorthStarr on May 22, 2010 4:00 PM CDT up reply actions

Welcome to the NFC North, St. Louis

I see St. Louis coming in and the vikings going to the NFC west (since they’ll be in LA).

by Tim V on May 19, 2010 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions

Assuming they stay in St. Louis

They are crying that they need a new stadium too. Maybe they can move back to Anaheim when the Vikings go to LA.

by Brandon on May 19, 2010 11:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh sweet, sweet irony

Ok that would be way too funny if that were to go down like that. Some how I just don’t see the NFL gods allowing such a thing to happen though…way too much work in redrawing division lines and so forth.

by PackApologist on May 19, 2010 11:55 PM CDT up reply actions

It seems that way, but who would care, really? I mean, I remember that the Bucs were in our division, but it’s not like I miss them. I know the Cards used to be in the NFC Central, but I don’t care that they’re not anymore.

Bottom line, fans will adjust to any move that makes sense. And, if the Vikings are in LA, the divisions would have to be adjusted and that’s all there is to it.

by Curly Lambeau on May 20, 2010 12:40 AM CDT up reply actions

meant to say that the Cards were in the NFC East.

by Curly Lambeau on May 20, 2010 12:42 AM CDT up reply actions

Keep in mind, the Cardinals were originally in Chicago and then they moved to St. Louis before finding their current home in Arizona. That explains the NFC East location early on!

by TrevorR on May 20, 2010 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions

I miss the Bucs though

It would be nice to have a cupcake team like that in our division. It’s kinda like Detroit during the Matt Millen years.

by PackApologist on May 20, 2010 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions

Well, they won the Super Bowl almost right after they left. It was great. We kicked sand in their face for about 15 straight years (give or take) when they were the 90 lb weakling, and then the leave just before they get good and might’ve given us trouble. Perfect!

We might have to think about transfering the Lions out before they stop being the Loins that we all know and love. That D-line that they’ve got has me a little concerned. I’m just glad our O-line has as much depth to start this season as I can ever really remember in the past.

by Curly Lambeau on May 20, 2010 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Insanity...

Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Wilf bought a team that had been trying to get a stadium for years with no luck…not just no luck but not even close. Yet he buys the team and expects that things will just change. The one thing he did do was open up the purse and start spending which the old owner NEVER did…he was a tightwad.

I can see why they are frustrated when the other two teams they shared with both got new stadiums and they are stuck. That said, this is THE WORST possible time to be trying for this. They are showing no sensitivity toward a government that is in a HUGE deficit and has big unemployment numbers. The new stadiums that just opened were approved during better times, they opened during bad ones but they were approved during good times. they are going to have to wait until better times if they want one.

by TrevorR on May 19, 2010 8:46 AM CDT reply actions

times

It is about the worst time to try to get a new stadium… But they have to TRY! Economic times aside, it is in their best interests to get a stadium sooner rather than later! THe cost is only going to increase and they have THE WORST stadium deal in the NFL by far, if memory serves!!!

The Minn fans won’t become Packer fans initially, but since they would likely get Packer, bears and Ram games the most thats were they would end up. It won’t happen right away, but I don’t think it would take too long. Pretty sure they are fare wheather fans anyway!!! LOL

by Strohman on May 19, 2010 10:52 AM CDT up reply actions

I thought the Ultimatum was issued to Farve, not the Minnesota legislature...

But they’d probably be even less successful if that happened…

by OBrienSchofieldismyHero on May 19, 2010 12:04 PM CDT reply actions

Good article

Hey, here’s a good article about the Packers’ strengths and weaknesses, as well as their chances this year.

They mention how the Pack could’ve won their playoff game if Rodgers hadn’t overthrown Jennings on the first play of overtime. I’d forgotten about that. I read it and was like “ah, dammit, that’s right” haha. Oh well. Water under the bridge.

by Curly Lambeau on May 19, 2010 1:10 PM CDT reply actions

Twitter Packers

Hey I ran into three Packers on Twitter (from other Packer player sites):
20ataribigby
cjwilson95
bbulaga

You can add those to your list…

by TrevorR on May 19, 2010 1:11 PM CDT reply actions

Do you all fear the Vikings that much !!!!

The Vikings built a college stadium first . They call it education . The NFL apoligized for not kicking in funds earlier and they are now making the push for a new stadium . I know it hurt to hear that Brett’s minor procedure …. You know the one he wouldn’t do for years in Fudgeland because they didn’t have the dream setup for him that the Men in Purple do !!! The successful surgery means the Fudge can only afford 3 losses realistically . Anticipating thee annual sweep by the Vikes , Which three teams will dominate the PackQueens . Remember if you miss I’ll be all over you . Ask trev . I own him , his mom,sister ,truck,dog, and lunch money . Who will respond and be me and Brett’s next victom .
    Apoligist you called my correct analysis of Brett’s bonespurs and recovery time a wild conspiracy . I’ll accept any reply from you as a humble apology from ya . Why you are the one to apoligize now aren’t you .
       Minn will not be allowed to leave the North since they are the only proven commodity . You sound like Sayers and Urlacher out there ! Show some reguard for the team that swept and destroyed you in their last meeting . You were given the weakest matchup and couldn’t , or shall I say never have won a playoff game in your new field generals career . Peppers may even eliminate you this year . WOW deal with reality boys . Block me if ya can’t get a handle on reality . Packer fans seem so deflated . You act like you broke up with the best lay of your life and you can’t stand that someone else is bangin’ her . You lost the ole Cougar . Get use to that Virgin cow that just lays there and you wonder why she , I mean Erin never gets asked to the big dance . Hell not even the little dances . LOL
     You will compete 3 years after Brett removes Ted & McCarthy !!!

by gothicpurple on May 21, 2010 11:19 PM CDT reply actions