Getting to know the family side of new Packers head coach Matt LaFleur

The name on everyone's lips in Wisconsin: Matt LaFleur.

There's been no shortage of buzz since news broke that the Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator is set to become the next head coach of the Green Bay Packers.

While football analysts, sportswriters and fans dissect his career, study his coaching style and speculate about what the 39-year-old Michigan native will mean to the future of the Packers, we're calling a quick timeout to get to know a little about the family side of LaFleur.

continue at GBPG

I know, I know, it's my job to figure out his religion.  We've been on a roll with the last two being Catholic, but I suspect we may have lost this one.  I think this will prove to be a great hire. 

Mike McCarthy speech at the 2016 Green Bay Catholic Mens Conference still available online

Just talked to Mike McCarthy. Had nothing but praise for the Packers organization. “Im proud I was part of the Packers family, proud to be part of such a great organization.” Said his main focus tonight is his family.

— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 3, 2018

Sparing Mike McCarthy a month’s worth of rumors, plus the indignity of playing out the string, strikes me as a respectful outcome. It’s OK to do things differently from the way they have always been done.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) December 3, 2018

I thought it worth reminding readers after the firing of the long time coach during the Packers 100 year anniversary season, that McCarthy was active in the community, including the Catholic community.  I don't know of any other NFL head coach who takes time in his offseason to talk to a bunch of Catholic men, but that's just what McCarthy did two years ago.  Most sane fans would still root for this guy wherever he lands.


If the video doesn't show up, it can be found here.  McCarthy starts at 6:25:31, I couldn't get the embed to start at that time.

Notable is McCarthy getting choked up right off the bat (perhaps from raw emotion from speaking openly about his faith) and later choked up trying to talk about the recent and untimely death of his brother.

Link: Mike McCarthy admitted he was a bit nervous prior to speaking to 1,500 men at the 2016 “Men for All Seasons”

Also:
ESPN: Mike McCarthy's Irish Catholic roots in Pittsburgh
Announced school closing hits close to home for Mike McCarthy

Randall Cobb finds perfect way to celebrate his big night in Green Bay

View this post on Instagram

Baby boy, I brought you a present home! #MyWhy

A post shared by Randall Cobb (@rcobb18) on Sep 9, 2018 at 11:12pm PDT

Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb, whose 75-yard touchdown was the tipping point of a wild comeback Sunday night at Lambeau Field, found an adorable way to celebrate his success: He brought the game ball home to share the moment with his newborn son.

continue at JS

Lots of sports excitement between the Brewers, Badgers and Packers right now.  The Packers game was one for the ages, but it's tonight's Windy City game that has me the most excited. 

The Packers secret weapon

Packers turn to Mr. Miyagi to save their season. pic.twitter.com/2OsPKBE53W

— NFL Memes (@NFL_Memes) November 7, 2017

Bart Starr's last trip to Green Bay

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Bart Starr returned to Green Bay over the weekend and was introduced during Sunday's game at Lambeau Field as the Packers commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Super Bowl II team, and the Starr family donated several items to the Packers Hall of Fame.

And then Cherry Starr, Bart's wife, said it would be their last trip to Green Bay.

"It's been a wonderful weekend, and I'm emotional saying this, but it will be our last trip back," Cherry Starr sad. "Everyone's been so gracious, it's been absolutely memorable, beautiful, beautiful weekend. All of you were responsible for making it happen for us. We love you all, we love our fans, we love this city and we'll miss you so much."

continue at ESPN

Photo

Background: From The Mag: Inside Bart Starr's drive to honor fellow Packer great Brett Favre

Signal

HT Wiggy

Packers Jordy Nelson adds to family Friday before taking on the Cowboys

The Friday before the Green Bay Packers took on the Dallas Cowboys in Texas, Packers wide receiver Jordy Nelson was doing more than practicing with his team; he was expanding his family.

The Nelson's adopted baby Adda Jo at the Bexar County Courthouse in San Antonio, Texas on Friday October 6.

"This is a wonderful couple and a beautiful family. Congratulations to the Nelsons! They personify service and exemplify love," said Judge David A. Canales of the 73rd District Court in a Facebook post. Judge Canales presided over the adoption.

Adda Jo is the Nelsons' second adopted child.

"After we had Royal, our biological child, we were unable to get pregnant again,” Nelson said in a 2016 video posted to Youtube by Jockey Being Family.

continue at WAOW

Packers' national anthem plans continue to rile fans

NFL players and teams who protested during the national anthem: https://t.co/HCQzm9ENdY pic.twitter.com/MfwCYCOiXc

— Dan Swenson (@NolaGraphicsGuy) September 26, 2017

A request by Green Bay Packers players for fans to join them in a show of unity during the national anthem before their game Thursday apparently did little to calm the debate.

Packers fans on Wednesday continued to blast the NFL, the team and players for what they perceive as showing disrespect for the nation, the flag, the military or the national anthem by sitting, kneeling, remaining in the locker room or locking arms during the national anthem. Supporters say players are peacefully exercising their free speech rights on the best stage available.

"We’ve had a steady stream of feedback beginning Monday morning and it continued into Wednesday. We’ve heard on both sides of the matter," said Aaron Popkey, Packers director of public affairs. "We take note of their concerns."

continue at GBPG

So let me get this straight, it is OK for the NFL owners to refuse to sign Colin Kaepernick to a contract, but because Trump pointed out he should be fired, now NFL owners are the good guys.  Yeah, okay.

2017, we haven't been to Mars, cured cancer, have hover cars, and this is what dominates the news cycle, everyone protesting each other and no one even remembers why.

Vox: Can the NFL fire players for kneeling during the anthem? 9 Legal experts say yes.

The Federalist: 5 Problems With The NFL’s National Anthem Protest

Hard Data, Hollow Protests - FBI crime figures paint a very different picture of crime and policing than this weekend’s demonstrations suggest.

NYT Douthat: Trump’s Empty Culture Wars

The Frontier Lab: Black Lives Matter repackages call to divide

Domenech: When he was dying in Georgetown, Vince Lombardi would talk in his sleep. One night, according to David Maraniss’s biography, he yelled out: "Namath!" Lombardi shouted. "You're not bigger than football! Remember that!" Forget the celebrity. Forget the politics. They don't help. But the real problem is the damn game. It's just not good right now. Let's demand a better one, one where we actually want to see the highlights, instead of listening to overpaid commentators yell at each other all day about ephemeral political fights. http://vlt.tc/30pv

Aaron Rodgers talks religion, and his move to Progressive Christianity

 In case you were blaming Olivia Munn for his poor play, now you know the real reason.

"I think in people's lives who grew up in some sort of organized religion, there really comes a time when you start to question things more," he says. "It happens for some at an early age; others, you know, maybe a little older. That happened to me six or seven years ago."

Like so many players in the NFL, Rodgers devoted much of his young life to those twin pillars of American culture: football and faith. As a boy growing up in Chico, he attended a nondenominational church with his parents, both devout Christians, and absorbed the religion's traditional tenets. And yet, even as he soaked up those lessons, there were aspects of dogma that left him dissatisfied. "I remember asking a question as a young person about somebody in a remote rainforest," he tells me. "Because the words that I got were: 'If you don't confess your sins, then you're going to hell.' And I said, 'What about the people who don't have a Bible readily accessible?'"

For years, these concerns nagged at him, especially as he met more people from other walks of life -- teammates who grew up in different parts of the world, friends with different religious backgrounds. He started reading books that delved into alternate interpretations of theology. Then, not long after he became the starter in Green Bay in 2008, he met Rob Bell, a young pastor from Michigan whom the Packers invited to speak to the team. When the talk ended, Rodgers waited for the group to dissipate and then introduced himself to Bell, best known for his progressive views on Christianity. The two men struck up a friendship. Bell sent Rodgers books on everything from religion to art theory to quantum physics, and the quarterback gave him feedback on his writing. Over time, as he read more, Rodgers grew increasingly convinced that the beliefs he had internalized growing up were wrong, that spirituality could be far more inclusive and less literal than he had been taught. As an example, he points to Bell's research into the concept of hell. If you close-read the language in the Bible, Rodgers tells me, it's clear that the words are intended to evoke an analogy for man's separation from God. "It wasn't a fiery pit idea -- that [concept] was handed down in the 1700s by the Puritans and influenced Western culture," he says.

Full article at ESPN 

It's laughably shallow (amazingly the 1700 Puritans influenced Dante 500 years earlier, perhaps by use of a time machine), but what do you expect from a superstar celebrity.  Without any connection to actual Western history he's left to wallow in La La Land.  I'm just glad it wasn't the Norbertines who turned him into a ditz.

Wisconsin-Notre Dame football series at Soldier Field and Lambeau Field appears imminent

Wisconsin and Notre Dame football series at Soldier Field and Lambeau Field likely to be announced soon 🔥🍀🔥🔴⚪️🔥 pic.twitter.com/lH2VlygwLO

— Barstool Irish (@BarstoolIrish) July 24, 2017

CHICAGO – The idea of Wisconsin facing Notre Dame has intrigued Badgers fans, and several years ago school officials began looking at a potential matchup.

Nothing came to fruition, but Monday both UW head coach Paul Chryst at Big Ten media day and Packers President Mark Murphy at the shareholders meeting in Green Bay confirmed a Chicago Tribune report that discussions are again being held.

The series would be held at Lambeau Field and Soldier Field, and Murphy said he expects an announcement soon.

continue at JS

I suspect I will be making several wagers on these games....  I wish there was a way to bet on which team has more practicing Catholics.

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Esto Vir Men's Conference in Green Bay March 4th featuring Matt Fradd, Packers Ast. O-Line Coach David Raih

Registration

Getting another Packers coach for a Catholic men's conference.  These guys have got the right idea.

Watch: Run The Table

RUN THE TABLE: Go Pack Go from Nial Nelson-Hopkins on Vimeo.

Penance

via Scott Eastman

ESPN nicely defines the "Hail Mary"

Yup. @AaronRodgers12 just threw ANOTHER Hail Mary.

UNBELIEVABLE. #GoPackGo #NFLPlayoffs https://t.co/ou4kvnMITb

— NFL (@NFL) January 8, 2017

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The "Hail Mary" is, by definition, a prayer. It is taught to young Catholic children as part of a nightly bedtime ritual. Specifically, this prayer asks for help -- for the intercession on the praying individual's behalf by a celestial figure believed to have the ear of the highest of higher powers.

"Hail Mary" wasn't a football term until 1975, when Dallas Cowboys quarterback and former Catholic school kid Roger Staubach hit Drew Pearson for a 50-yard game winner in the playoffs against the Minnesota Vikings. Asked about the play after the game, Staubach explained that he was knocked down as he threw and had no idea what was happening. "I just closed my eyes," he said, "and said a Hail Mary."

continue at ESPN

3 Hail Mary's by Rodgers in his career.

There IS a national Marian shrine in the @GreenBayDiocese. #NotSayinJustSayin #Packers

— Jay Sorgi (@jsorgi) January 9, 2017

I'd prefer the same result in a less heart-attacky manner

It's hard to believe this Packers team is anywhere close to a shot at the playoffs.

Packers' Ha Ha Clinton-Dix pursues degree in criminal justice: "To help kids understand that the law isn’t against you, it’s actually for you."

For Clinton-Dix, that purpose is clear. While he understands the resentment and animosity, he wants to help find a peaceful solution.

“I went into criminal justice because I want to learn more about the law, about what’s going on in this world, and be a mentor to kids from where I’m from," Clinton-Dix explained. "To [help them] understand that the law isn’t against you, it’s actually for you.

“You have to put yourself in people’s shoes in certain situations because you don’t know what people really think or what they’re really going through. I feel for the cops, I feel for us as a society as a whole, period. I just hope we can find peace and justice and get back to getting better in this world. That’s how it was going. We were getting better. And I just hope it goes back to that way.”

full article at ESPN

New State Farm commercial with Aaron Rodgers and Clay Mathews is fantastic

I know we are getting a bit footbally here(and I've got several of your emails to follow up on), but, well just watch.

Green Bay Packers backup center pens article on how football strengthened his faith

Photo via GBP

One NFL rookie is quietly using his new position to encourage others in the Christian faith. Green Bay Packers center Jacob Flores recently wrote an article explaining “3 Ways the NFL Taught Me To Deepen My Faith.”

Flores graduated in the spring from Dartmouth College and “started every game over the last three years, spending his sophomore and junior seasons at left tackle and his senior season at center…[and] In 2015, he was a co-recipient of the Alan Hewitt ’34 and Robert Hewitt ’40 Award, presented to the varsity player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement.”

His athletic ability paved the way for quarterback Dalyn Williams to set new Dartmouth records and Flores was chosen to be a suitable backup for the Green Bay Packers, eventually being tapped to protect the Packers’ most valuable player, Aaron Rodgers.

He graduated with a Religion major and participated in a FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students) mission trip over spring break, where, among other service projects, he played American football with children in Ecuador.

continue at Aleteia

FYI, Flores got put on the IR but I haven't seen what the injury was.

Important! Aaron Rodgers Cowboy Mustache Alert!

Bishops' Charities Game set for Thursday at Lambeau Field

I actually attended last year with BC contributor Oshkosh Hermit, but we got there too late to meet Bp. Ricken. We did randomly see Gov. Walker outside the stadium.