Brett Mueller's Green Bay Packers fan blog

Caught a SportsCenter clip this morning of Dallas Cowboys WR Terrell Owens talking about the "media conspiracy" to divide his team. 

Quoth Owens:

"I understand the political campaign is going on, (and) ESPN really hasn't had the ratings that they've had for a while.  I'm pretty sure that's why they made a big deal out of what I said...I think everybody in this locker room, from the coaches on down, know everything I said was blown out of proportion and shouldn't have been made into such a big deal."*

Mr. Owens, time for a reality check.  The reason your post-Redskins game comments, in which you complained you didn't get the ball enough, were reported at all is because your public complaints on this topic in the past have led to (or at the very least signaled) damaged relationships with previous quarterbacks and teams (Jeff Garcia - 49ers, Donovan McNabb - Eagles).  There's a pattern.  Your willingness to reengage in behavior that's been destructive to your previous teams is thus newsworthy.  

Continue reading "T.O. getting advice from GOP strategists?"

So we're a quarter of the way through the regular season and the Pack is 2-2.  Their starting QB has an injury of unknown severity to his throwing shoulder and is backed up by two rookies.  They've lost their most effective defensive lineman (Cullen Jenkins) for the season.  They may lose their rock of a CB (Al Harris) for the season as well.  And if you count Rodgers, Jenkins and Harris, 10 of their 22 starters were listed on the injury report for this week's game against the Falcons.  Their leading rusher from a year ago (Ryan Grant) is averaging 3.38 yds/carry, has lost two fumbles, and has rushed for fewer yards on the season than he did in a single playoff game against Seattle last season.  Oh, and they may cut their punter (Derrick Frost) if he doesn't show marked improvement this week.

Continue reading "Early season gut check"

I didn't think I'd have a relevant opportunity to revisit one of the points in my most recent Brewers blog entry so quickly.  That point being:  Ray Durham was a great pickup and, given his experience and steadiness - especially in the field - maybe we should be seeing some more of him. 

In my last entry, I noted the comfort I took in seeing Derrek Lee's game-ending double play on Sunday directed at Durham rather than Rickie Weeks - who all season long has displayed a penchant for costly fielding errors.  If you're reading this you probably don't need a recount of how another inexplicable Weeks error changed the complexion, and ultimately the outcome, of yesterday's NLDS opener with the Phillies.  But I'll give you one anyway.  Bottom of the third inning.  Ruiz reaches on a single.  No outs.  Hamels tries to bunt him over.  Hall misplays what could have been a 5-6-3 double play, but still has time to get Hamels at first.  He makes a clean throw to Weeks, who's covering the bag at first for a bunt-charging Prince Fielder.  Weeks lets the ball trickle from his glove for an error. 

Continue reading "As I was saying about Ray Durham..."

Like all of you Brewers fans, I'm beside myself happy about the Crew making the post-season.  CC is THE MAN.  That guy's a frigging bull.  I have never seen a pitcher carry a team the way he has, particularly the last 2 weeks of the season. 

And Ryan Braun, what can you say?  Legit star.  I blogged about his walk-off grand slam versus the Pirates last week.  The Brewers needed that hit, that win, that spark as badly as they've needed anything all season.  Stars make the big plays when they matter. Braun is definitely doing that.

There's one move the Crew made this season that flew under the radar but has made me particularly happy with this team.  Ray Durham.  When I saw that double play grounder head for 2nd base off Derrek Lee's bat for the final outs of the Brewer's regular season, I squirmed with visions of Rickie Weeks chucking it into left field.  But thankfully Durham was there to field it cleanly.  Rickie Weeks may develop into a sensational player over time, but I'll take the stability Durham offers for now.

Continue reading "Giddy about the Brew Crew"

Just caught both a clip of the Al Davis press conference in which he announced why he fired head coach Lane Kiffin, and Kiffin's rebuttal interview on SportsCenter.  Is there any doubt all that California sun has fried Davis' brain?  He sounded like a snotty high school girl justifying why she was dumping the nicest guy in class. 

"He wouldn't spend time with my friends (ie. play the players I wanted him to).  He spread rumors about me behind my back.  When we had bad dates (ie. games), it was because he wouldn't listen to me when I told him what we should do.  He lies.  He talked smack about my friends (ie. the Raiders organization)."

Just as many snotty high school girls who break up with boys for no real reason, Davis fails to recognize that HE is the problem!!!  Not only that, if you asked a girl out because she had a reputation for being classy and glamorous (ie. the Raiders of the '70s and early '80s), and realized while you were dating she was in fact a first class psychotic bee-atch, might that not drive you to do some atypical things to cope? 

Continue reading "Kiffin fired, Davis completely off his rocker?"

By now you've heard all about it.  Last week a youtube video of Dallas Maverick's forward Josh Howard mumbling ridiculousness about the National Anthem surfaced (warning: explicit language).  

Everything about this video and the way it's been handled by Howard and the Mavs is disheartening. In case you haven't seen the video, Howard is shown mugging with other participants before a charity flag football game and says, "The Star-Spangled Banner' is going on right now. I don't even celebrate that [expletive]. I'm black." Then he mumbles something incoherent about "Obama." The videographer moves on to other participants and the whole episode only lasts 10 seconds or so. 

The outrage over the video has been loud and predictable. Race baiters made have made ugly comments in chat rooms and on blogs (including Mavs owner

Continue reading ""

A couple of observations about last night's big Brewers win over the Pirates.

Nice to see Braun hit the fool out of that ball for the game winner. It's been a long September for Braun (avg. around .200 and only 1 HR in coming into Thursday's game).

And anyone catch the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's pics from the game?  Check this out.  Braun could be on infomercials selling ab machines or something.  That's what I like to see from the guy the front office made the cornerstone of the franchise.  Think this guy takes the game and himself seriously?  I do.  Nice to see the Brewers rewarded that.  I'm looking forward to seeing Braun in a Brewers uni for a long time.

Continue reading "That's what I like to see"