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Seven Packers, Two Vikings Named to Pro Bowl

By Adam Roberts – 12/22/2020

While the format will not be typical this year, the list of 2020 NFL Pro Bowlers was released yesterday, and as usual caused discussion over who had been snubbed from the list.

Green Bay had seven players named to the Pro Bowl, which will be played as a virtual video game event this year in lieu of an actual game due to the pandemic, while the Vikings received two Pro Bowl honors. They include:

Green Bay

QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Aaron Jones, WR Davante Adams, RG Elgton Jenkins, LT David Bakhtiari, OLB Za’Darius Smith, CB Jaire Alexander

Minnesota

RB Dalvin Cook, WR Justin Jefferson (R)

The virtual Pro Bowl will be a week-long event consisting of what the league says “celebrities, NFL Legends, current players, and streamers playing as the official Pro Bowl rosters”. This would allow for players on Super Bowl-bound teams to participate, something that hasn’t happened for quite awhile.

Former Packer LB Coach Kevin Greene Dies at 58

By Adam Roberts – 12/21/2020

While he certainly made a name for himself as an All-Pro linebacker between his rookie year in 1985 and his final season with Carolina in 1999, it wouldn’t be until the 2010 NFL season when Kevin Greene would get his coveted Super Bowl ring. The third-leading sacker in league history missed out on a ring shot when the Steelers lost to Dallas in Super Bowl XXX, and with Charles Woodson out of the game suddenly for the Packers in Super Bowl XLV, the now linebacker coach needed to light a fire under someone’s rear.

That someone turned out to be a then-second year stud Clay Matthews, who drew Greene to the Packers in 2009 after seeing a lot of himself in Clay, plus skills he admitted he never had. After telling Matthews that Woodson was out for good, and that the team needed a leader to speak up, Matthews responded by hitting Rashad Mendenhall on the first play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter to force a fumble recovered by Desmond Bishop. The Pack never lost their lead, and secured their 13th world championship that night.

Greene’s stats speak for themselves; the Hall of Famer also had 23 forced fumbles and five interceptions to go with his 160 sacks. But his fiery passion and knowledge of what the right thing to say in the moment to inspire a young star was why finally put that ring on his finger. A fiery passion many teams would certainly give an arm and a leg for today.

Greene was 58 years old.

Vikings Fall to Bears

By Adam Roberts – 12/21/2020

While they’re not out of the race just yet, playoffs are starting to look less and less likely for the Vikings.

Tyler Conklin scored with eight minutes to go to put the Vikings within three but they were clipped 33-27 by the Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kirk Cousins finished 24 of 35 for 271 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss.

Minnesota is 6-and-8 and falls to third in the NFC North, but is still in the playoff hunt. As of right now, here’s how the wild card race is looking in the NFC:

5. LA Rams 9-5

6. Tampa Bay 9-5

7. Arizona Cardinals 8-6

8. Chicago 7-7

9. MInnesota 6-8

The Vikings would need to win out against both the Saints in New Orleans and against Detroit at Ford Field, then hope for some help to try for that seven seed. A loss to the Saints would end their playoff hopes; as of right now, a Bears win this weekend over Jacksonville would dip the Vikings’ chances to 28%.

Bucks Lose 2022 Draft Pick Over Attempted Bogdanovich Deal

By Adam Roberts – 12/21/2020

The NBA is docking the Milwaukee Bucks a 2022 second-round draft pick for speaking to free agent Bogdan Bogdanovic too early.

The league announced the Bucks violated league rules when they spoke with Bogdanovic prior to the allowable date.The Bucks did not end up signing the forward after a failed sign-and-trade with Sacramento, which was taken into account when the league decided on the severity of the punishment. Bogdanovic ultimately signed with the Atlanta Hawks.

The Bucks did acquire Jrue Holiday this offseason and also re-signed Giannis to a five-year supermax extension, so many would consider that and the addition of Sam Merrill and drafting of Jordan Nwora as net wins for the franchise. Milwaukee begins the regular season this Wednesday against Boston.

Wisconsin QB Jack Coan to Enter Transfer Portal

By Adam Roberts – 12/21/2020

After missing the 2020 season following a practice injury, Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan will try to find success elsewhere.

The senior quarterback will make use of the extra year of eligibility granted to players under COVID protocols this year to enter the transfer portal. Coan suffered a right foot injury that required surgery during preseason practice and only dressed for the team’s final three games without playing a snap.

Despite missing the entire year, Coan does have a number of starts for potential suitors to check the film on. He made 18 starts between 2018 and 19, while guiding the Badgers to the Rose Bowl last year against Oregon. As a starting quarterback, Coan completed 68% of his passes for 3,278 yards and 23 tocuhdowns.

Wisconsin earned a bid yesterday to the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, where they will face 4-4 Wake Forest on December 30th in Charlotte, North Carolina. ESPN La Crosse 105.5 is your official Badgers station, and will have coverage next week Wednesday starting at 9am.

NBA Keeping Coach’s Challenge

By Adam Roberts – 12/18/2020

One sizable change you might have noticed from the 2019-20 NBA season (apart from the obvious bubble format to finish the season and playoffs) was the inclusion of the coach’s challenge. And it appears it will be here to stay, at least for this upcoming season.

The NBA board of governors voted to keep the coach’s challenge for this season after it was introduced last year on a trial basis. Last season, coaches challenged 700 calls and got 308 overturned. Teams will also be able to have 15 players on the roster on game nights instead of 13 this season.

Milwaukee wraps up the preseason tonight against New Orleans.

Canadian NHL Teams May Play In US

By Adam Roberts – 12/18/2020

While Wisconsin doesn’t, and likely never will, have a professional hockey team, there is still a lot of National Hockey League interest in the state and interest in the sport in general. When it comes to playing in a pandemic, the NHL finds itself in a rather difficult position of juggling teams between two nations. Sure, in baseball the Toronto Blue Jays needed a second home and were eventually able to find one, but remember the chaos that came along with that process? Now try applying that to seven teams.

ESPN is reporting the seven Canadian NHL teams were told by the league they may have to play in the United States this season because of the roadblocks put in place by the Canadian health authorities. The league is hoping to play a 56-game season starting January 13th with teams in their home markets.The plan reportedly included divisional realignment and an all-Canadian division because the US-Canada border remains closed to non-essential business — including sports.

The NBA has also had to find a second home for their Canadian franchise; the Toronto Raptors have taken up residence in Tampa, Florida for the basketball season.

Packers to Invite Frontline Healthcare Workers & First Responders to Panthers Game

By Adam Roberts – 12/18/2020

While the general public won’t be admitted to Packers games this regular season, one group of special individuals is being added to the guest list for this weekend’s home contest against Carolina.

WBAY-TV’s Emily Matesic tweeted this morning that both frontline healthcare workers and first responders will be invited to this weekend’s game as a show of appreciation for the work they have done since the pandemic began. They will be at the game along with team employees and their families, who themselves have been at the last few Packer home games.

This move mirrors one the NFL is planning to take for Super Bowl LV with vaccinated workers.

Plans for the Packers home playoff game, whether it’s the first or second weekend of the postseason, have yet to be determined.

Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Cases on Whether NCAA Athletes Should Be Compensated

By Adam Roberts – 12/17/2020

A case that could fundamentally change college athletics in America is going before the top court in the nation.

The Supreme Court will hear two cases on whether NCAA athletes should be paid. The two landmark cases could forever change the current student-athlete business model by examining whether the NCAA violated antitrust law by limiting the amount of college benefits athletes could receive.

An appeals court recently upheld a ruling barring the NCAA from capping player compensation in Division I football and basketball programs. The NCAA appealed the case and it will be argued in 2021 with a decision expected before the end of June.

PGA Tour Won’t Require Golfers, Others To Get Vaccine

By Adam Roberts – 12/17/2020

While the COVID-19 vaccine continues to slowly begin its distribution in the US, different sports leagues will likely be announcing their plans on vaccination for their athletes. One association won’t be requiring it’s members to vaccinate.

The PGA Tour isn’t going to require golfers, officials or spectators to be vaccinated as they look to add more fans in 2021. Commissioner Jay Monahan said Thursday that vaccination is an individual’s choice and he’s not considering mandating it. The PGA Tour already announced most events will be without spectators through February, except for the Waste Management Phoenix Open. That event, traditionally a fan favorite, is expected to have less than 10-thousand fans per day.