Larry Brown Sports

As expected, the sports world has yet to stop buzzing about Hail Mary-gate. Social media sites and sports blogs have been overtaken by the call that will likely define the 2012 replacement officials. Amid a see of angry tweets from players and fans and cries for the NFL to end the madness, there have been a few comments that stand out above all the rest.

After flying back to Green Bay and sleeping on the heart-breaking loss, Packers tight end Tom Crabtree summed up the controversial evening the best way he could:

We’ve heard players say the officials are affecting the integrity of the game and others reportedly telling them to kill themselves, but no player, coach or fan has used a better metaphor to describe the situation than Crabtree. If someone crapped on your prized painting, you would not be pleased. The NFL and it’s replacement officiating crew dropped a steaming pile right on Green Bay’s canvas on Monday night.

H/T SI Hot Clicks

The Packers were livid after being robbed of a 12-7 victory over the Seahawks by the replacement officials who gave the Seattle a 14-12 win on a controversial call to end “Monday Night Football.” Offensive lineman T.J. Lang was the most vocal Packers player after the game, dropping f-bombs on Twitter:

Teammate Josh Sitton was just as profane:

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If there was a call by the replacement referees controversial enough to spur a settlement between the NFL and the regular officials, this was it.

The Seahawks were given a 14-12 win over the Packers on Monday Night Football after the referees awarded Seattle wide receiver Golden Tate a 24-yard touchdown catch on the final play of the game though it was clear he didn’t control the ball.

Most fans, media members, commentators, and impartial viewers agreed that safety M.D. Jennings intercepted the pass. He possessed it and appeared to control the ball. It was only after Jennings had the ball that Tate seemed to wrestle it from him. And as you can see in the image below, the referees disagreed on the ruling of the play:

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The day will soon come when Brett Favre and the Packers decide to play nice. The way their relationship ended was obviously less than ideal, but time heals all. When you consider the fact that Favre played 16 seasons with the Packers and brought Green Bay a Super Bowl, it would be crazy to think the feud will last forever.

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Mike Tirico, Favre sounded open to making the way his relationship ended with the team a thing of the past.

“I know that day (will come),” Favre said according ESPNMilwaukee.com. “How that will unfold, I have no idea when that will happen. I don’t think their side is thinking about it. They’re trying to figure out how to get back to the Super Bowl, and really I’ve got my plate full. I think that’s good for both sides, not that we don’t need to shake hands and move on. I think in some ways that has happened, but you know, I do see the day, it’s going to happen. When? I have no idea.

“You look at Lambeau Field and where that place has gone and how it’s evolved, I can’t help but feel a sense of being a part of that. And so, even though it’s a shame the way things went down between I and the Packers, as time goes by, you just kind of, it’s kind of like a grudge, you just kind of get over it.”

Back in July, Favre gave an indication that he was ready to move on when he praised Aaron Rodgers and talked about what a well-rounded player he is. Prior to that, the Packers said they would probably wait a year or two before retiring Favre’s jersey just to let some of the bitter feelings pass.

The bottom line is Favre loves attention, so he’s not going to be able to resist accepting any type of offer the Packers might make to honor him. Although he became an annoying drama queen over the past few years, Favre probably deserves recognition for his remarkable career.

H/T Game On!

Thursday night in Green Bay couldn’t really have gone any worse for Jay Cutler and the Bears offense. After passing all over the Colts in Week 1, Chicago was confident it could enjoy similar success against the Packers. The Packers are not the Colts, and the 23-10 final reflected that.

Earlier this week, Cutler and Brandon Marshall basically said Green Bay’s defenders would be making a mistake if they tried to get physical and play press coverage against the Chicago receivers. Considering Cutler finished the game with a modest stat line of 11-for-27 passing, 126 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, I think it’s safe to say the Packers knew what they were doing.

“I don’t know if we took (Cutler’s comments) personal,” Charles Woodson said after the game according to the Chicago Tribune. ”But we thought it was kind of funny, that all of a sudden they were the team to beat because they got a couple of new guys. They had no answers up front.

“Jay is a guy, he’ll give you a chance. You just have to be in position. It’s the same old Jay. We don’t need luck, Jay will throw us the ball. Proof is in the pudding.”

Woodson couldn’t be more right. In seven career games against the Packers, Cutler has thrown 15 interceptions compared to only eight touchdowns. His QB rating of 60.5 against Green Bay is by far the lowest against any team he has played more than two games against. The Packers defense has figured out a formula for beating Cutler and the Chicago offensive line, and obviously the addition of Marshall did not crack the code.

H/T The Big Lead

The 2012 installment of the Packers-Bears NFC North rivalry is set to kick off on Thursday, and there are plenty of enticing story lines. For starters, the Packers will be looking to rebound from a tough loss against San Francisco and cannot afford to drop their first two home games of the season. Aaron Rodgers did not look like the same guy who threw 45 touchdowns and only six interceptions last season, although the Niners are the toughest defense in the NFC. To make matters worse, Green Bay could be without Greg Jennings (groin injury).

Then, there are the Bears. Jay Cutler seems to have a renewed confidence with his old buddy Brandon Marshall in town. He showed that on Tuesday when asked about the Packers potentially jamming his receivers and playing press coverage.

“Good luck,” Cutler said according to CSNChicago.com. “We invite press coverage. We invite man.”

Brandon Marshall, who has already made a very bold prediction about the Bears, echoed Cutler’s confidence.

“It’s all about matchups,” the receiver said. “I’m 6-5, 230 pounds and there’s not too many DB’s walking around that big. If they want to get physical, I do welcome that.”

Cutler and Marshall each had a big game against the Colts, but it was the Colts. They aren’t exactly an NFL powerhouse anymore. Confidence is a good thing, but they would be wise to not look too deeply into Green Bay’s loss to the Niners. If anything, that game will only serve as further motivation for the Pack in a game they already knew they had to have.

When the Drug Enforcement Agency arrested several people in connection with a drug trafficking ring on Monday, they seized all the items you would typically associate with a drug bust: Heroin, guns, ammunition, and a Packers Super Bowl 45 championship ring. On second thought, maybe the bust was slightly unusual.

According to the Chicago Tribune, the drug organization included several Chicago-area members who had been under electronic surveillance for “several months.” The ring was accompanied by 20 kilograms of heroin, 18 weapons, and about $1.4 million in cash. How they came across it is unknown, but the ring had recently been reported stolen by a team executive.

Last week, a Packers employee sold her ring to a pawn shop and it was purchased by a 71-year-old lifelong fan. A popular new form of currency seems to be establishing itself in front of our very eyes.

H/T Shutdown Corner
Photo credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE