DId Anybody See This Chicago Steal Coming?

 All through the late- and post-season of baseball, the talk surrounding Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell was "Will He Go Or Will He Stay?"

Asking permission to talk with Counsell before his contact expired on Oct. 31st, the New York Mets were thought to be the front-runners. Especially so with former Brewers GM David Stearns now leading them.

So, as far as anyone in Wisconsin was concerned, those were the only suitors involved. And the Mets had the money to out-bid the Brewers.

Like thieves in the night, in swooped the blasted Chicago Cubs this week to steal away Counsell. Hey, it's not like they drove into town, put a bag over Craig's head and rushed him down to Wrigley Field.

No, they did it the old-fashioned way: With MONEY. And lots of it. $40 million over five years, making Counsell the highest paid manager in all of Major League Baseball. As my Mom used to say about people piling up wins "them that has, gets." And I say that about the deep-pocket Cubbies.

Hell, Counsell can stay living in Whitefish Bay and helicopter to work if he wants to for that kind of cheddar.

The Cubs not only land a manager who had a Milwaukee franchise record wins with a 707-625 record, but one who had taken the Brewers to the playoffs in five of the last six years. And been a thorn in the side of the Cubs the whole time.

Tired of seeing him in the opposing dugout on the opposite side of the field, the Cubs decided if you can't beat 'em, hire 'em. And promptly showed popular ex-player and manager David Ross the door.

Where will the Brewers turn to fill the managerial position now? If they stay in-house, maybe bench coach Pat Murphy gets a shot.

But let me throw out a wild suggestion. How about looking to a former Clintonville, Wisconsin kid named Mike Jirschele? He's been a part of the Kansas City Royals organization for 32 years, as a minor league player, minor league manager, major league coach.

Seems like he's paid his dues.

When the Houston Texans lost their kicker to an injury Sunday, they were ham-strung. No longer confident on kicking extra points, they went for two over and over again. 

Yet with nine minutes to play, tied with Tampa Bay 30-30, they trotted out running back Dare Ogunbowale to attempt, and make, a 29-yard field goal to take a lead. He became the first non-kicker or punter to make a field goal in a regular season game in 19 NFL seaons.

Wisconsin fans might remember Ogunbowale as a former Badger who grew up in Milwaukee. He hadn't kicked since high school.

Makes you wonder just who is the emergency kicker, or punter for that matter, in Green Bay.

Those of us a certain age remember that, back when NFL rosters were smaller, offensive guard Jerry Kramer filled in as kicker in 1962, 1963 and 1968. He made 29 of 54 field goals (53.7%) and 90 of 95 (94.75) extra points (the distance was shorter then, not today's 35-yards).

Answers To Those Pressing Questions

Every now and then there are questions that come up from calls or emails. So let's take a look in the ol' mailbag and see if we can't come up with some answers, shall we?

Dear Cheeseheadrants: What The Hell is going on in Green Bay??!! Granted, I didn't have high expectations for the season, but I did have some! Now they go and trade away defensive back Rasul Douglas and weaken the team even more. Pondering in Prairie du Chien.

Dear Pondering: Just because I'm an owner doesn't mean I have the answers to this 3-5 start to the season. Am as shocked and dismayed as you are with this situation. Still think that Jordan Love has shown enough to be encouraged. What makes me confused is why the lack of success in the first half. Can't Coach Matt Lafleur get this rocket off the ground quicker?

Looks like Green Bay is in a real rebuild mode now, which puts more pressure on General Manager Brian Gutekunst with more scrutiny. Do I think that Green Bay will follow the action of the Las Vegas Raiders, firing the coach and GM in the season? No, that's not the Packers' style. And keep in mind that team president Mark Murphy's term expires this year, so there will be changes there as well.

Stay patient, Prairie du Chien, as should Packer fans everywhere. I liked what I saw, for the most part, in the win over the Rams on Sunday. The team has to continue to grow and move forward.

Dear Cheeseheadrants: I  see Craig Counsell has interviewed with both Cleveland and the New York Mets. Do the Milwaukee Brewers have a chance at bringing back their very success manager? Stumped in Sonoma

Dear Stumped: I don't blame Craig for checking out those teams. It makes sense to sit down and listen. And let's fact it, the Mets can pile a boatload of money on the table in front of Counsell. After all, this is the club that had the highest payroll in MLB this year (of course, they finished 75-87 and 29 games out of first, so just how much did all that payroll help? And they are STILL paying off that contract to Bobby Bonilla -- $1.19million every July 1st until the year 2035 no less!).

If the money and appeal of the Big Apple makes sense, and can't bet ignored, then Counsell is gone. BUT I still hold hope that this Wisconsin-born guy comes back. And as I answer this, am hearing the Mets have put a boatload of money on the table -- and that the Brewers have also put forth a substantial offer.

Dear Cheeseheadrants: How can I get a job as an offensive coordinator in college football, suck at it by having the WORST offense in all of college football, but stay employed for seven years? Asking in Oshkosh

Dear Asking: This one is easy. Your dad is Kirk Ferentz.

Scanning the paper recently, I noted there were 31 college football games on television in some form or another.

Geez, for those of us of a certain age, we can recall when there were two, or maybe three college games on TV on any given Saturday. And one of those was ALWAYS Notre Dame, which had it's own deal with NBC.