Oh Damn, Not Them Again!

So the New England Patriots are in the Super Bowl again. You can either hate the Pats or loath them (or, in the case of those in the New England states, love them), but you gotta give Tom Brady and Bill Belichick their due.

The Patriots are making their 11th Super Bowl appearance overall. They're 5-5 in those games. But for the Brady-Belichick squads, this will mark a ninth Super Bowl. Brady is currently 5-4 in those games. Overall, 6-7 in AFC title games.

The Patriots are one of the "Original Eight" American Football League squads that started up in 1960.

• Patriots -- began as the Boston Patriots
• Buffalo Bills -- beloved by Buffalo and the area, early AFL champions but shut out in four straight Super Bowl trips
• Titans of New York -- now known as the Jets
• Houston Oilers -- became the Tennessee Titans
• Oakland Raiders -- became the Los Angeles Raiders, then back to Oakland. Next stop, Las Vegas
• Los Angeles Chargers -- moved to San Diego after one season, but are back in LA now
• Denver Broncos -- Orange Crush still the pride of the Mile High City
• Dallas Texans -- after a single season sharing a stadium, and fan base, with the Dallas Cowboys (also born in 1960), Lamar Hunt moved the franchise to Kansas City to become the Chiefs

In an era of free agency, player agents and higher salaries, I think Belichick's continued success is amazing. It's a different NFL from the dynasties of the Green Bay Packers of the 1960s or the Pittsburgh Steelers of the '70s. In Vince Lombardi's run, the Packers lost the 1960 title game, then won championships in 1961, '62, '65, '66 and '67. He was 9-1 in the playoffs. Pretty heady stuff, but a different era.

In those years, teams stayed together longer, players were working regular jobs in the off-season, they didn't get into shape until reporting for duty in late summer, agents were pretty much unheard of (I recall center Jim Ringo showing up in Vince Lombardi's office to negotiate his contract, only to have Lombardi leave the room, return and tell both they had to talk with the Philadelphia Eagles -- Lombardi had just traded him).

As far as player conditioning, well I think the iconic photo of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Lenny Dawson says it all. Taken at halftime of the first Super Bowl, there's Dawson, seated on a metal folding chair, pulling a drag from a cigarette, an open bottle of Fresca between his feet. It's a great photo -- just google Len Dawson in the Super Bowl. Doesn't get much better than that.

In Baseball, You Never Get Something For Nothing

Do you think the San Francisco Giants President of Baseball Operations Farhan Zaidi has called David Stearns of the Milwaukee Brewers during the off-season and had this conversation?

I suggest Zaidi here, because the Giants have yet to name a General Manager, while the Brewers just added President of Baseball Operations to General Manager David Stearns' job title.

Zaidi: So, we're looking to trade Madison Bumgarner......you want him?

Stearns: Sure.....

Zaidi: What do you have to trade?

Stearns: How about a coupla fungo bats and a bag of baseballs?

Zaidi: I'm thinking he's worth a little more than than...

Stearns: I'll kick in a sixer of Spotted Cow. You can't get that in California.

Zaidi: It's gonna take more

Stearns: Geez, you're putting on the squeeze. OK. Make it a CASE of Spotted Cow.

Zaidi: How about Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff and Freddy Peralta? We'll settle for any two of those three. I'm flexible...

Okay, so I'm sure the phone call didn't go exactly like that, but you get the idea. To get something, you have to be willing to give something. The question remains, is Madison Bumgarner (known affectionately as MadBum) worth giving up young pitching talent? MadBum will be 30 in 2019. From 2011 to 2016, he posted a 93-61 record with an ERA under 3.00 and was as dominant as a pitcher an be.

However, over the past two years he is 10-16 with an ERA over 3.00. Blame that on injuries or age. But while it's possible he could bounce back, especially in a contract year, is he worth $18 million as a rental?

Burnes will be 25 this season, Woodruff 26, Peralta 23. Young arms with heady potential. Burnes was 7-0 with an ERA of 2.61 last year, and was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA in the postseason. Woodruff was 3-0 (3.61 ERA) and 1-1 (2.89 ERA) in postseason, while Peralta was 6-4 (3.72 ERA). Peralta pitched three scoreless innings in the postseason.

Pitchers and catchers report in just a couple of weeks. That's the best part of winter!

Matt LaFleur: Risky Choice Or Perfect Fit?

There's plenty of folks on both sides of that equation. Did the Green Bay Packers make a mistake in tabbing Matt LaFleur as the 15th coach in franchise history. OR was it a brilliant move to sign the soon-to-be 40 year-old to a four year contract (with a fifth year option)?

Lacking an accurate crystal ball, I guess only time will tell. But let's consider the Packer head coaching moves since St. Vincent Lombardi stepped away with his five championships (and a 9-1 playoff record) in nine seasons.

• Phil Bengston:  6-7-1 in his first season. Anointed by Vince, his well-respected defensive coordinator (saddled with an aging,over-the-hill roster) won his opener and was mediocre for three years with records of 6-7-1, 8-6 and 6-8.
• Dan Devine: 4-8-2 in his first season. Things were far from divine with this coach, who was successful at the college level (at Missouri before Green Bay, Notre Dame after). Granted, he did get the team to the playoffs in 1972 with a 10-4 record (on the success of running backs John Brockington and McArthur Lane). His other seasons were 4-8-2, 5-7-2 and 6-8. Perhaps his greatest sin was trading away a boat-load of draft picks for an old, OLD quarterback in John Hadl. Left the franchise ham-strung for several years/
• Bart Starr: 4-10 in his first season. No coaching experience of any kind, but he came to the job when asked by a franchise he loved. Never won more than eight games in his nine seasons, going 53-77-3. Packer fans were very, VERY patient with Bart.
• Forest Gregg: 8-8 in his first season. Another Lombardi alum, won eight games in each of his first two seasons, but only nine the next two years. His teams were sullied by a lack of discipline, as much from him as from the questionable characters he brought in.
• Lindy Infante: 4-12 in his first season. Four years saw a high of 10-6 in 1989, but that was sandwiched around seasons of 4-12, 6-10, 4-12.
• Mike Holgrem: 9-7 in his first season. The Walrus brought Green Bay back to respectability, and spoiled Packer fans. Went 84-42 and won a Super Bowl; had a 9-5 playoff record.
• Ray Rhodes: 8-8. After the success years under Holgrem, Green Bay was not about to stick with mediocrity, especially with Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre on the field.
• Mike Sherman: 9-7 in his first season. Respectable record of 59-43 BUT only 2-4 in the playoffs.
• Mike McCarthy: 8-8 in his first season, finished career with 125-77-2 record and a Super Bowl title; disappointing 10-8 in the playoffs.

So, the general theme among these nine coaches? In their first seasons, none posted more than nine wins. Can LaFleur break that mold?

Well, so far there has been several changes in the staff. Though all of McCarthy's coaches were under contract for 2019, six have either been fired or taken jobs elsewhere as of this writing: Offensive run game coordinator/line coach James Campen, wide receivers coach David Raih, defensive pass game coordinator Joe Whitt, defensive run game coordinator Patrick Graham, quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti and special teams coach Ron Zook.

Zook was a no-brainer, as the Packer special teams have been all but during his stint.

The one name noticeably missing? Defensive Coordinator Mike Pettine. Retaining Pettine would be a great move by LaFleur. Working with a patchwork lineup racked by injuries all season, Pettine's teams still played well. Keeping his system is a plus for the Packers. And for LaFleur, it gives him a veteran coach who also has head coaching experience -- someone who can be a sounding board for a young coach.

The key for LaFleur? Surrounding himself with top-notch people and letting them do their jobs, but holding them accountable. The only hire so far is Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, although LaFleur has said he will be calling the plays and relying on Hackett for support.

Oshkosh Will Welcome A Women's Pro Basketball Franchise

This item might have slipped under my radar if not for a Fox Valley contact -- my thanks to, Stevie Wonder, who keeps his eyes open for items of interest (and is a regular companion at Opening Day).

Oshkosh, home of the G-League Wisconsin Herd, the team owned by the Milwaukee Bucks, will add a women's pro basketball franchise to the Menominee Nation Arena.

While the NBA has set up the G-League as a minor league feeder system, the WNBA has no such organization. The WNBA has, for years, been propped up financially by the NBA. Closest WNBA franchises are the Minnesota Lynx and the Chicago Sky.

I get the desire by the Menominee Nation Arena to get more bookings. After all, there's only so many home dates for the Herd. And there are just so many concerts and performers out there for the facility. And an empty building doesn't pay any bills.

One of the names being considered is Oshkosh Does. Not really a new concept, as back in the early 1980s, there were the Milwaukee Does of the Women's Professional Basketball League. The team played  the 1978-79 and 1979-80 seasons, and then the league fell apart. I still have a ticket from that team.

Greg Pierce is the president of Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. I would be curious to hear what the break-even point is for this new franchise, as well as hopes for attendance. I worked with the Wisconsin Flyers of the Continental Basketball Association in 1983-84. This was an established pro league that attracted players, and coaches, who were hoping to raise their game high enough to get an NBA contract.

Several of players from the league got 10-day contracts. Joe Kopicki of the Flyers comes first to mind. He spent the 1982-83 season with the Flyers, got a contract with the Washington Bullets (now Wizards) and spent another season with the Denver Nuggets before playing in Spain for five years.

Can the Oshkosh women use this as a road to the WNBA? Time will tell, and I wish them luck and success.

The Kingdom of Green Bay

When the NFL was taking huge steps in popularity in the 1960's, the small-market Green Bay Packers were at the heart of it.

Led by Vince Lombardi, the club won five NFL titles (and the first two Super Bowls) over the course of seven seasons. And could well have had six.

At the heart of a talent-laden team was Bryan Bartlett Starr, who turns 86 today.

Starr, the Hall of Fame quarterback who, like his peers, called his own plays and ran the offense his way -- after building that playbook with Lombardi. This wasn't the era of passers throwing for 4,000 yards a season. This was an era of game control; for Green Bay, that was Jimmy Taylor and Paul Hornung on the Packer Sweep, turning the corner behind guards Fuzzy Thurston and Jerry Kramer.

It's hard to picture Starr even getting a sniff at today's NFL. At Alabama, from 1952-1955, he completed just 155 of 285 passes (54.4%) for 1,903 yards with 10 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. Hardly the numbers of a guy who would go on to win five NFL titles. After all, he was picked in the 17th round (yes, SEVENTEENTH) in 1956. The league had just 12 teams then.

Yet Starr and his wife of 65 years, Cherry, are probably the closest thing to royalty that Wisconsin has ever seen. The Starrs, in 1965, were involved in starting the  Rawhide Boys Ranch to give back to the community. Based in New London, it continues today to offer at-risk youth programs, programs that help reshape lives and provide counseling services for boys, girls, adults and families.

For years, and on his own, Starr would call Green Bay draft picks and welcome them to the Packer family. Not even an ill-advised stint as head coach could dim the shine on this Starr. Without any coaching experience, he responded when the franchise asked him to come in as head coach -- because of the loyalty he felt to the Green Bay Packers. From 1975-83, he directed the Packers to a 53-77-3 record (he was 1-1 in the playoffs).

I was covering the Packers then for the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern, and Starr never offered excuses or was anything but a pro's pro.

Despite that lack of success as a coach, Starr is beloved by Packer fans. Whenever he has returned to Lambeau Field for Packer Alumni reunions, no one gets a bigger ovation than Bart Starr, no matter who shared the field with him.

Remember when former persona non grata Brett Favre returned to be honored and mend fences, Packer faithful forgave him because Bart Starr did as well, attending Favre's special evening despite health issues.

Starr is on the mend after heart issues and a couple of strokes. Cherry was on a local sports talk show recently to say he was doing better after stem cell procedures -- well enough, in fact, to head over to be photographed with a couple of quarterbacks at his alma mater, Alabama

I'm sure all Packer fans agree with me here -- that it would be nice if the Royal Couple could walk the Lambeau Field Kingdom just once more.

No Need To Rush On Lombardi Avenue

Let's face it, of the eight head coaching vacancies in the National Football League (yes, a fourth of the NFL is turning over), the job at Lambeau Field is perhaps among the most attractive.

You've got a future Hall of Fame quarterback at the helm and a lot of pieces in place. AND you have a solid organization on one of most prestigious franchises.

So, that said, let's pump the brakes a little bit. No need to rush out to grab the first coaching candidate we run across. Mark Murphy and Brian Gutekunst have the luxury of being able to take their time, weigh the pros and cons and, ultimately, make the best decision possible for a 100-year-old franchise. A decision that will take full advantage of the closing window of opportunity that rests with QB Aaron Rodgers.

That said, it's also going to be an important draft/off-season for Gutekunst. The Packers have six picks in the first four rounds, two in the first round. That means six of the top 128 players -- three of the top 75 -- in the country will be available. Every pick could be a difference-maker.

The areas to target? Edge rush and outside linebacker, of course. Offensive line because you HAVE to protect Rodgers. Tight end because it's clear Jimmy Graham has lost a step. Defensive backs -- injuries proved you need lots of quality. A return man, because let's face it, Green Bay's special teams have sucked under Ron Zook.

I wouldn't resign Randall Cobb simply because, while he can be productive, he can't stay on the field. I would resign Clay Matthews -- BUT ONLY IF he signs a team-friendly contract and moves inside. He just doesn't have the speed to be effective on the outside.

                                                  *   *   *    *    *    *    *   *

While we don't have specific dates, we do know the Packers' 2019 road and home schedule. Green Bay will face five teams that reached the playoffs this season, six if you count the Bears twice. And if you do, then four of the away games will be on the road.

The Packers will host the Bears, Lions, Vikings, Eagles, Redskins, Raiders, Broncos and Panthers.

Road games include the Bears, Lions, Vikings, Cowboys, Chiefs, Chargers, 49ers and Giants. Since Green Bay has NOT played in London yet, and will only do so with a road game, I expect their game against the Los Angeles Chargers to be played in London. Why? Because until the Chargers move into their new stadium (shared with the Los Angeles Rams), they play in a soccer stadium, the StubHub Center.

StubHub Center holds 30,000 fans. All other NFL venues hold at least 60,000. So, the Chargers would actually gain by playing in London at a new stadium that will seat 62,062.

The NFL is, after all, driven by money. So get ready for an early, early kickoff (for those of us viewing on television) of the Packer-Charger game.