NFC North Free Agent Moves for 2019 | Ticket King Green Bay

The 2019 NFL Free Agency period is about wrapped up, and many teams made headlines with surprising moves. Before we get to the draft, let’s take a look at what each of the four NFC North teams did in free agency.

Chicago Bears: The Bears top move of free agency was to add former Packers safety Ha-Ha Clinton Dix to shore up their back end. They also added two other players- quarterback Tyler Bray, and wide receiver Marvin Hall for one season each. Other than that they took care of their own in house free agents, bringing back the likes of tight end Ben Braunecker, defensive lineman Nick Williams, and punter Pat O’Donnell.

Minnesota Vikings: The Vikings entered the offseason with little cap space, but were able to move some money around enough to add running back Ameer Abdullah, then bring back kicker Dan Bailey, linebacker Anthony Barr, and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen. Their big move was to extend wide receiver Adam Thielen to a four year, 64 million dollar contract. At this point, the Vikings don’t have the cap space to sign their draft choices, so it will be interesting to see what kind of voodoo magic Rick Spielman pulls out of his hat to create the space to do so between now and the draft.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers made the biggest headlines in the entire division, and maybe league for that matter, going away from years of staying out of free agency to becoming perhaps it’s biggest players. They made four big moves on March 14, when they added offensive lineman Billy Turner, safety Adrian Amos, plus outside linebackers Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith. They released linebackers Nick Perry and Antonio Morrison, and also decided to bring back veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis for 2019.

Detroit Lions: After endless speculation towards the end of the season and into the offseason that they might trade quarterback Matthew Stafford, they elected not to. On March 14 they added offensive lineman Oday Aboushi, safety Andrew Adams, cornerback Justin Coleman, defensive end Trey Flowers and tight end, Jesse James. They also re-signed several players, including cornerback Marcus Cooper.

With free agency settled, it is time for the biggest non-competive sporting event in the world, the NFL draft.

Packers 2019 Mock Draft | Ticket King Inc.

The 2019 NFL Combine has come to a close, so that means it is time for everybody to update their mock drafts.  

Round 1A: Montez Sweat/OLB/Mississippi State- For the first time in a while, the Packers are in a position high enough in the draft where they can get a true impact edge rusher from the top of the draft. Sweat is a monster who will fit like a glove in Mike Pettine’s scheme.

Round 1B: Noah Fant/TE/Iowa- The Packers need to stop kicking the can down the road at the tight end position and they need to get younger, better player. Fant, who is a pass catcher first, but can also block, will fit well in Matt LaFleur’s offense that he is bringing to Green Bay.

Round 2: Nasir Adderley/S/Delaware- Adderley is an athlete from a small school who shot up the boards during the combine, he fits well, he is the grandson of the cousin of Packers Hall of Fame corner back Herb Adderley.

Round 3: Kaleb McGary/OT/Washington- The Packers need to fix the right side of that offensive line via the draft and free agency. McGary has a lot of talent, and could be the Packers right tackle down the road.

Round 4A: Greg Gaines/DL/Washington- Adding depth to the defensive line in the middle rounds of the draft every year is a must. At 6’2” and 316 pounds, Gaines is a big body who could be a nice rotational player up front in Green Bay.

Round 4B: Austin Bryant/OLB/Clemson- This is a selection with massive boom or bust potential. At 6’6”, 280 pounds, Bryant is a heck of an athlete. If Mike Pettine can motivate him to play to his full potential, the Packers just won the lottery.

Round 5: Zach Gentry/TE/Michigan- At 6’8”, 262 pounds, Gentry would be a good fit as a blocker and third tight end.

Round 6A: Antoine Wesley/WR/Texas Tech- The Packers did well last year with their trio of rookie receivers. Now they could add someone behind them. At 6’5”, 200 pounds, Wesley is an intriguing prospect.

Round 6B: Marquise Blair/S/Utah- In addition to a safety high in the draft, they could also use one late. Blair could provide depth and play special teams.

Round 7: Dakota Allen/LB/Texas Tech- to finish the draft, the Packers could add some depth on the inside of the linebacking unit.

Who To Keep on the Packers 2019 Roster | Ticket King Green Bay

With the Patriots 10-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 52, the NFL off season is officially upon us.The first order of business for most teams is deciding who to keep and who to let go. Let’s play “Take em or Trash ‘em” for the Packers.

Clay Matthews/OLB- The “Claymaker” is one of the most beloved Packers ever. But he is a shell of his former self. Simply put, it’s time to let him go.

Randall Cobb/WR- The veteran wide receiver and one of the longest-tenured Packers, Cobb has been one of Rodgers’s favorite targets, when he is has been on the field, and “when” is the key word. Cobb has become injury prone, and with the young receivers they have to back up Davante Adams, bringing him back is simply not worth it.

Muhammed Wilkerson/DE- The Packers had high hopes for Wilkerson last off season when they brought him to Green Bay. He is an ideal fit in Mike Pettine’s defense and played his best years under Pettine in New York. Wilkerson suffered a torn ACL early in the season. Pettine returns as defensive coordinator, and so should Wilkerson.

Bashaud Breeland/CB- The Packers signed Breeland in mid-season to replace Davon House, and Breeland turned out to be a goldmine. The trio of young corners, King, Alexander, and Jackson, did not prove they can do it on their own quite yet, so Breeland’s return is a must.

Lance Kendricks/TE- Kendricks was brought to Green Bay to be the Packers reserve tight end. He has not been very effective. He also does not fit in Matt LaFluer’s offense. Time to let him go.

Robert Tonyan/TE- Tonyan was a 2018 un-drafted free agent, and Brian Gutekunst must have learned something from Ted Thompson about un-drafted free agents, because he hit pay dirt with Tonyan. Keep him.

Geronimo Allison/WR- A former un-drafted free agent out of Illinois, Allison has risen the Packers depth chart to become the new number two. He spent most of the season injured, but still should be brought back.

Reggie Gilbert/LB- Right now, the Packers lack depth at linebacker, and Gilbert will cost nothing. Bring him back, but there is no guarantee he will make the roster.

Kentrell Brice/S- The Packers need to rebuild their safety position from the ground up. Brice is a holdover from an outdated Dom Capers scheme. Time to let him go.

Tramon Williams/S- Mid-season, Williams converted to safety from corner back, both due to need and his diminishing skills as a cover man. But that didn’t pan out. Simply put, Williams needs to move on.  

Jake Ryan/ILB- Ryan, who tore his ACL in Training Camp, should return for one more go, as the Packers really don’t have anyone else inside next to Blake Martinez. Keep him. 

Marcedes Lewis/TE- The one tight end that actually fits the new offense. Lewis could be a mentor to the Packers younger tight ends, some of whom haven’t been drafted yet, but will be in May.

Packers Pick LaFleur as New Head Coach | Ticket King Green Bay

Why did the Green Bay Packers organization pick Matt LaFleur as their new head coach? It’s what he did for two top notch quarterbacks that made him their top choice. Aaron Rodgers may be just a bit off the top of his game, as time creeps forward and the distance between Super Bowl XLV grows greater and greater. Still, he’s one of the best in the league, and the Packers think that LaFleur will revive the spark in Rodgers.

Green Bay football fans all recall the NFC Championship game between the Falcons and Packers.  It was a disaster. That was partially the work of LaFleur, coaching Matt Ryan. The same could be said for Jared Geoff of the Rams, when LaFluer brought the best out of Geoff. Now he’s been given the opportunity to work his magic with the cornerstone of the Green Bay Packers team.

Sure, one could look at the Titans record in 2018, and ask “What are they thinking?” But this pick is more granular. It goes right down to working with one of the best in football, Rodgers. As LaFleur builds his coaching staff in the off season, we’ll get a better picture of how he’s going to manage all those other details. For now, it’s just a huge signal to Packers fans across the nation. This guy is here for “A-Rod.”

Five Moments That Changed the Packers vs Vikings Game | Ticket King Green Bay

The rivalry between the Green Bay Packers and the Minnesota Vikings has probably overtaken the Bears – Packers rivalry. This past Sunday, the Packers and Vikings played one of their most interesting games to date, finishing in a 29-29 tie. This is a game that the Packers should have won. Let’s delve into some game-changing moments. 

Moment #1: The first sack of Aaron Rodgers- The Packers got the ball on their own 25 to start the game and they were moving the ball over the first few plays. On 2nd and 8 from the 27, Rodgers found Cobb for a 14-yard completion. Two straight rushes by Jamal Williams totaling 11 yards had produced another first down. After an incomplete pass, the Packers faced 2nd 10 from the Vikings 48 when Rodgers dropped back to pass and was split-sacked by Everson Griffen and Sheldon Richardson. This killed the drive and the Packers had to punt. 

Moment #2: Offensive pass interference on Davante Adams- The Packers were facing 3rd and 9 up 14-7 with 5:38 left in the second quarter. Aaron Rodgers dropped back to pass and found Davante Adams up the left sideline for 24 yards. However, the play was called back due to pass interference on Adams. The Packers ended up punting. 

Moment #3: Holding calls back Graham touchdown- After forcing a Vikings' punt to start the second half, the Packers got the ball up 17-7 and started marching down the field. The Packers were facing 3rd and 4 from the 12 when Rodgers found Graham for a touchdown to increase the Packers lead. The score was called back for holding on Lane Taylor. The Packers settled for a field goal. 

Moment#4- Clay Matthews roughing the passer- Trailing 29-21 late in the 4th, Kirk Cousins threw a desperation heave that was picked off by Jaire Alexander. However, it was overturned by a very sketchy roughing the passer penalty on Clay Matthews. The Vikings scored a touchdown and a 2-point conversion to send the game to overtime. 

Moment#5- Aaron Rodgers sack in overtime- Despite everything else that had happened before this, the Packers had a chance to win the game. They were facing 3rd and 4 from the Vikings 40 when Rodgers dropped back to pass and was sacked by Mackenzie Alexander off the blitz. The Packers were forced to punt, and minutes later another Daniel Carlson missed field goal, his third of the day, and the game finished in a 29-29 tie. By the way, Carlson has since been released and replaced by Dan Bailey. 

The Packers vs Bears Game That Will Go Down In History | Ticket King Green Bay

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears began the season on Sunday Night Football this past weekend, clashing in what will go down as one of the most memorable football games played since Aaron Rodgers took over for Brett Favre. Coming into this game, Bears fans were thrilled to have Khalil Mack join the team, just in time for the opener. Would he make an impact right out of the gate? The Bears had so much more to prove, with a new head coach, a second year Quarterback, one of the top pass rushers in the league, all going against one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. This was to take place under the spotlight of a Sunday Night NFL game that was sure to draw fans from across the country. When it was over, records were broken, both teams performed at a level that surpassed expectations, and once again, Aaron Rodgers added another “instant classic” to his already storied career, in a game that will surely be mentioned during his Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

It was a three-hour rollercoaster of emotions for Packers fans everywhere. First, the Packers offense stalls out of the gate, looking completely lost. Seeing that he led just one short drive in the preseason, many fans wondered if Rodgers would play very well in this game. At worst, Rodgers might need the first few weeks to shake off the rust. Fans didn’t get a chance to see what he could do, because the offensive line turned out to be “soft butter” for the hot knife that was the Bears pass rush. In fact, it was a complete stall on both sides of the ball that surprised Packers fans. What happened to that revamped and rebuilt defense, with their new coordinator? During the first 30 minutes of play, they looked like the same old Packers defense that couldn’t get off the field to save their life. They made the Bears offense look as good as it has in years. With all due credit, Trubisky was 11 of 14 with a 99.1 passer rating in the first half, and followed his team into the locker room with all the confidence that they would come out for the third quarter and put the Packers away. The fans at Lambeau saw Rodgers get carted off the field, DeShone Kizer get his butt handed to him by the Bears defense, and nobody thought that the Packers would win, much less see Rodgers back under center in the third quarter.

The original fear was a torn ACL for Rodgers, with the season over, again. The energy in the building was gone. Was it time for Packers fans to admit that we had an injury prone, and permanently diminished quarterback? He has already had three major injuries, two of them being broken collarbones. He has had two concussions, along with a history of hamstring problems. This would have been his fourth major injury, and at age 34, he may finally have run out of lives, so to speak.

But yet again, Aaron showed us why he is one of the best we’ve ever seen. When he came walking out of the tunnel on a sprained knee at the start of the second half, Lambeau came unglued. Did his return inspire the lagging Packers defense? Well, they did manage to hold the Bears to a field goal on the next drive, but now it was 20-0.  

What transpired over the next 24 minutes and 14 seconds of the game time defied pretty much every rule of logic in the book. Aaron Rodgers got the ball, and on one leg he led one of the most amazing comebacks in the history of the franchise. He first took the team down the field for a solid drive, coming up short, but showing us that he could manage to stay on the field. The Packers got a field goal to start. The defense pulled off a stop, and there was a glimmer of hope. Things were looking up when the Packers got the ball back and scored a touchdown. The defense pulled off a three and out. Aaron gets the ball back and three minutes later, touchdown. It’s now 20-17. The Bears march down the field and finish the drive with a field goal. 23-17. All this time, we’re watching Aaron Rodgers play the short game, aside from that first 39 yard touchdown strike to Allison. The short passing game was the only remedy for a hobbled quarterback, going up against a not stop pass rush. He was connecting, his passer rating hit +154 at one point, but could he lead a winning drive and could the Packers defense then stop the Bears from scoring a mere field goal to pull off a win on the road? Rodgers got the ball back one more time with three minutes to go, and needing a touchdown to pull ahead for the first time of the night. We’ve seen this all before.

When Randall Cobb got away from the Bears defense and crossed the goal line for the go-ahead touchdown, Lambeau field erupted. Still, there was too much time on the clock, the Bears had all of their time outs, and they just needed to chew up enough yardage and time to kick one for the win. We’ve seen this one before too, and we know just how this one has ended before. Not this time. That new-look defense showed us how good they can be, pretty much throughout the second half. Now with the lead, Mike Pettine could finally dial up the exotic stuff he couldn’t earlier in the game. In fact, they forced the Bears off the field, twice. The first time the stopped them on fourth down, Clay Matthews hit Trubisky way too late, and the Bears got fifteen yards and a second chance. A few moments later, the Packers defense got the Bears to fourth down again, and this time they got off the field.

In one hundred years of football, the Packers have only come back one other time from such a deficit. Aaron Rodgers did what was nearly impossible, did it with ony good leg, showing us why he is currently the best quarterback in football. Sorry Patriots fans, Rodgers has never had the offensive line that Brady has year after year. This one will be rememberd for years to come.  

Packers Face Steelers in Week Two 2018 Preseason | Ticket King Inc.

Week one of the 2018 NFL Preseason has already come and gone. Let’s dive right in and take a look at what the Packers did. It was an impressive showing on Thursday night for the Packers. If the score is important, they defeated the Titans, 31-17. It’s not the score that was impressive, but rather how the players listened to the coaches, made adjustments on defense, and how the back up quarterbacks gave it their best shot. Keep in mind that the Packers and Steelers face off this Thursday night. 

Packers quarterbacks- Brett Hundley started the game for the Packers as has become standard protocol in Green Bay for week one of the preseason. He played decently. Hundley finished the day 9-14 for 108 yards and a touchdown. However, he also had a bad interception in the first half which negates much of what he did. Remember though, they have seen this before from Hundley, great preseason performance, so keep that in mind. To be honest, I don’t think that there is much Hundley can do to lose his roster spot. Deshone Kizer meanwhile got off to a slow start, and finished strong, going 9-18 for 134 yards. He was replaced by Tim Boyle, who had a monster finish to the game, going 7-15 for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Boyle might be pushing hard to pull the upset and be the backup quarterback this season. That is unlikely, as he’s a young “pocket passer” without much in the way of running ability. He had two deep ball passes that impressed the fans, but he’s a very raw talent.  

Packers Receivers- The rookies and veterans looked great, save for  J’Mon Moore. “MVS”, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, finished the night with 5 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown. Jake Kumerow, who won’t likely make the roster and is playing to make it on another team’s roster, finished with three catches for 76 yards and a touchdown. His age is working against him, as well as the fact that the Packers invested a ton of money on receivers in this past draft. Equanimous St. Brown, who is pushing hard to be the fourth or possibly third receiver, finished with four catches for 61 yards. J’Mon Moore meanwhile finished with 3 catches for 27 yards. One “bad” preseason game doesn’t mean you discard a highly talented rookie receiver. Remember what people once said about Davante Adams.

So what are we looking for this upcoming Thursday night at Lambeau Field?  For starters, we have the debut of Aaron Rodgers. How will that rebuilt collarbone feel for Aaron, after healing during offseason ? Does he still have the same arm strength? Can he still be Aaron Rodgers? We will find out. Also, fans would like to see a better game out of the running backs when compared to  last week. Granted, the starting offensive line wasn’t in full form last week, but none of the running backs were very effective. It will also be time for the tight ends to take the field, which includes Jimmy Graham. This upcoming game will feature more of the starters on both sides of the ball. At the end of the day, fans want to see the starters get off the field without injury, and for the rookies to get more playing time in before it all starts for real.