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The Green Bay Packers’ bye week is over, and the players on the team are largely heading back into town today for the first practice of the week on Tuesday. As we begin to ramp up for the final nine games of the 2017 regular season, we take a look around the league on week eight as well as examine a few Packers-related items moving forward for 2017 and beyond.
Seattle-Houston on Sunday was probably the most exciting game of the year so far, or at least it was right up there with Packers-Cowboys for that title. We also got a hilarious celebration and the Packers saw a divisional rival blow a chance at a big home victory last night.
For the Packers themselves, we find a bit of a look forward to the team’s 2018 offseason, as it’s another year with several key players set to hit free agency. Thankfully, the running back situation appears to be in good hands, with Aaron Jones at the helm — and his entire family behind him in support.
Check out today’s curds as we begin to prepare for the second half of the season.
Family support at core of Aaron Jones' success | Packers.com
Both of Jones' parents served in the U.S. Army, meeting when they were stationed in South Korea at the same time. Meanwhile, his twin brother Alvin was able to attend the Packers-Saints game, and their father, Alvin Sr., knew Aaron was due for a big game with the whole family cheering him on.
Retirement could be costly -- $17.15 million costly -- for Martellus Bennett - ESPN
Bennett would be sacrificing not just the $12.95 million he's due to earn in 2018 and 2019, but he also would likely need to give back two-thirds of the $6.3 million signing bonus that he got in March.
Looking ahead to the Packers’ 2018 free agent class | Packers Wire
Morgan Burnett, Corey Linsley, and Davante Adams are the top names on the list for next year's class.
Without Aaron Rodgers, Packers just another team | Packersnews.com
Pete Dougherty is ripping off a real humdinger of a hot take piece, saying that the Packers’ roster is about the same as the Browns when you take out Aaron Rodgers. The analyst he speaks to also doesn’t give either team credit for a “blue chip” player — an All-Pro or at least Pro Bowl caliber player — and even lists David Bakhtiari as an “average” starter.
Steelers vs. Lions: JuJu Smith-Schuster celebrated with a tribute to his stolen bike - SBNation.com
Fun fact: Smith-Schuster rides his bike everywhere because he doesn't have a driver's license. So when his bike was stolen this week, he got inspiration for a hilarious touchdown celebration - putting a chain around a stationary bike on the Steelers' sideline to secure it.
NFL Week 8: Thirty-three takeaways from Sunday - NFL.com
The Seahawks beat a team with a rookie quarterback on Sunday, but they did it in a very different way than ever before. Meanwhile, the Lions blew some big red zone chances and most of the favorites won on Sunday.