Hey Quarterback, Does Hand Size Really Matter?

Among quarterback, one advantage that Aaron Rodgers and Brett Favre have/had over their peers is that they've got big hands. As you might expect, it helps in bad weather games to be able to grip the football, and Rodgers has said that he's been blessed with some pretty big hands.

This all came up recently at the NFL combine because Cal's QB Jared Goff could be the first quarterback drafted in April and there were concerns before he measured up with nine-inch hands. This might have been specific to Goff because he notably was benched during a 2013 game (sheets of rain were coming down) because he couldn't hold onto the football. So having big hands that grip a football probably helps avoid fumbles and it might even help with QB accuracy.

But it doesn't help with the other 99 things a quarterback has to do like read defenses, checkdown receivers at the right times, audibles, leadership, etc. etc., so it isn't a sign that someone is going to be great just because he has meat hooks. But it also looks like you can't have average size hands and expect to be a starting NFL quarterback.

NFL QB hand size chart for those wanting to compare while you’re supposed to be working pic.twitter.com/C4ug6Ra3kG

— Busted Coverage (@bustedcoverage) February 25, 2016

Packers Host Bears On Thanksgiving; Plus Brett Favre Is Honored At Halftime

I'm never thrilled to see the Green Bay Packers play on a short week, so I'm not a fan of them playing on Thursday night. But it is cool that this is the first Thanksgiving game in Green Bay since 1923.

In honor of the ceremony for Brett Favre at halftime, Packers.com has put together a very slick interactive webpage and it's really about time he's been honored. I've been a reluctant to say much about him lately, the dramas in 2008 and 2009 still linger with me, but he's one of the all time greats and should have his number retired.

While it's been a surprisingly good season for the Chicago Bears, and QB Jay Cutler is back to being a good quarterback (he's currently ranked No. 8 this season according to Football Outsiders), the Bears were/are in danger of coming into this Thanksgiving game severely undermanned.

6 #Bears questionable for Thursday: RB Matt Forte, WR Alshon Jeffery, LBs Pernell McPhee & LaRoy Reynolds, S Antrel Rolle & Sherrod Martin.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) November 25, 2015

They're already going to miss TE Martellus Bennett and WR Eddie Royal, two players who'd start if they were healthy, and losing Jeffrey and Forte too would take away almost all of Cutler's supporting cast. They survived last week without them (Bennett played but was hurt mid-game) against the Broncos; RB Jeremy Langford had a touchdown and WR Marquess Wilson had a career game. Even if Jeffrey and Forte do play, they'll be hurting and somewhat limited on the field. And I haven't even mentioned that they might be without their best pass rusher; Pernell McPhee.

Unfortunately the Packers aren't in perfect health either. The big problem is the offensive line, where every starting lineman is on the injury report and C Corey Linsley is not going to play. Backup C JC Tretter should be fine in his first career NFL start. Since Tretter was supposed to be the starter last year over Linsley (before Tretter got hurt) it's appropriate that he's getting some recognition, finally.

Maybe none of these injuries matter because Cutler's always been very bad at Lambeau in addition to a 1-13 lifetime record against the Packers, but this has been the year for long losing streaks to be broken (the Lions won for the first time in Wisconsin since 1991). Still I'm not expecting the Bears to win on Thursday and they might not even be competitive if the Packers play like they did last Sunday against the Vikings.

Reaction: Packers to retire Favre's #4

With it being the early offseason, there isn't much to talk about around the NFL. However, there was one piece of Packers news this week: the overdue but still likable announcement that Brett Favre will have his number retired by the team this summer. 

Ever since the months leading up to Favre's 2008 trade to the Jets, it seems few in the Packers' fanbase are still supporters of the former quarterback. The common argument appears to be that his playing for the Vikings is simply unforgivable, no matter how much he previously did for Green Bay. 

But I guarantee you: those 16 seasons from 1992-2007 would've been a lot worse had Favre not been there.

He won a Super Bowl, simple as that. Some teams only dream of contending nowadays.

We should just admit it, this generation of Packers fans is spoiled. While the Bears and Vikings get a new quarterback every few years, the Packers have been blessed with Favre and Rodgers. They've made us view an 8-8 season as a failure and an appearance in the conference title game as okay. Some people's refusal to like Favre right now is an obvious side effect of their unfamiliarity with losing.

I'm a younger fan, so I'm more attached to Rodgers than Favre. But I will say that if Rodgers takes off in six or seven years to become a Viking/Lion, I'd forgive him. He'd still have done a lot for the organization, as is the case with Favre.

Bottom line: I'm happy Favre's getting his number retired. I don't think it'll be as well received as it should be since some still view him as an enemy, but I'm glad to see it finally happening. 

You should be too. 

Favre: "I Was Always a Packer"

Shortly after it was announced yesterday that his number will be retired and that he will be inducted into the team's HOF next season, former Packers QB Brett Favre attempted to downplay the time he spent with the Jets and Vikings. 

According to Fox 11's Drew Smith, Favre is now claiming that he "was always a Packer," before later adding that the time he spent outside of Green Bay was "like borrowed time."

You may remember that earlier this offseason Pack President Mark Murphy was reluctant to bring the retiree back to Northern Wisconsin, citing the possibility of fans booing as a reason.

Favre Not Worried About Possible Booing

Former Packers QB Brett Favre isn't worried about possibly being booed when he returns to Lambeau Field. 

In a recent interview with Chicago's ESPN 1000, Favre was quoted saying that he's "aware that you can't please everyone," before also claiming that true Green Bay fans don't care that he played for other teams.

Earlier this offseason, Pack President Mark Murphy announced that the club won't retire his number in 2014 due to fear of fan negativity, something that, while understandable, doesn't seem to justify delaying the event.

Yes, some people still hold grudges against Favre for the time he spent with the Vikings, although the fact that he did play 16 years for the Packers prior to that has got to be considered, as a bad ending doesn't always ruin a good story.

Packers Likely Won't Retire Favre's Number in 2014 Due to Fear of Booing

The Packers likely won't retire Brett Favre's number in 2014 due to a fear he'll be booed, Fox Sports Wisconsin's Paul Imig reports.

According to Imig, Favre going to a game this fall and being introduced to the crowd is still a possibility, although anything more serious is an almost definite no, as Green Bay's front office simply doesn't believe their fanbase is ready yet.

Favre, currently a high school coach in his home state of Mississippi, played 16 seasons for the Pack from 1992-2007, something that has been unfairly forgotten in the last few year's due to his multiple unretirements.

Rodgers: Young QBs on Bad Teams Should Be Patient

In today's day and age, it's no secret that many young QBS are expected to be good early.

With the recent emergences of college stars like Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater, NFL teams are beginning to desperately seek a quick fix to their problems, something that simply doesn't work.

Despite that, the Packers' Aaron Rodgers, in an article published Tuesday by Pro Football Talk, is urging those new arms to stay patient, as their time will eventually come.

Rodgers, as we all know, sat on Green Bay's bench from 2005-2007, backing up Brett Favre before he was traded to the Jets.

Favre Planning On Returning to Green Bay Soon

Former Packers QB Brett Favre is planning on returning to Green Bay soon, he recently told USA Today's Weston Hodkiewicz.

Favre, who played for the Pack from 1992-2007, was invited to a game last season, but didn't go due to the high school team he helps coach's run in the Mississippi state playoffs.  

According to the future Hall of Famer, Favre hasn't been to Green Bay since his last year with the Vikings, when he was often hurt and the team struggled.

During his 16 seasons with the Packers, #4 set multiple records, even winning Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.

Rookie DT Khyri Thornton was a Packers Fan Growing Up

Since the draft happened, so much has been made this offseason about Wisconsin Wide Receiver Jared Abbrederis.

Abbrederis, as we all know by now, grew up rooting for the Packers in the Badger State, making him the guy we all want to succeed.

However, Abbredris actually isn't the only new guy who grew up watching Green Bay, as it was recently revealed to Packers.com Staff Writer Mike Spofford that Southern Miss Defensive Tackle Khyri Thornton was also a Cheesehead fan during his youth.

“It’s a blessing right now. I couldn’t have asked to come to a better team, the Green Bay Packers,” Thornton told Spofford at the team's recent rookie orientation. “Who wouldn’t want to come to the Packers? This was my favorite team growing up, my best friend’s favorite team. I’m enjoying it right now.”

Apparently, Thornton's Uncle Tyrone Bolware played for the Golden Eagles from 1994-1997, just four years after Brett Favre's departure.

So, the youngster watched Favre and the Pack from his Florida home instead of any of the Sunshine State teams, although he did come close to playing college ball at Florida State before failing to meet NCAA requirements, making him go to Southern Miss.

Packers "wanted Favre to come to a game last year"

According to ESPN's Rob Demovsky, the Packers "wanted Brett Favre to come to a game last year." That Mark Murphy quote, taken from the article, seems to imply that the two sides are done hating each other, which can only be a good thing. 

I mean, when you think about it this whole "Favre's a traitor" talk doesn't make much sense anymore. Yea, the guy went to Minnesota for two seasons, but still, it's not like he wasn't in the right for doing so. He wanted to play, the Vikings wanted him on their team, and that was it. I honestly don't see the complications in that, especially since #4 still played 16 years for Green Bay beforehand.

Favre: "I'd be leery of my son playing football"

In a recent interview with the Today Show, former Packers QB Brett Favre, who by some is considered the best quarterback of all time, was quoted saying that, if he had a son, he'd be "leery" of him playing football.

"I would be real leery of him playing football," Favre said. "In some respects, I'm almost glad I don't have a son because of the pressures he would face. Also the physical toll that it could possibly take on him, not to mention if he never made it, he's gonna be a failure in everyone's eyes. But more the physical toll that it could take."

I don't know about you guys, but this seems pretty big to me. Favre, whether you liked him or not, was one of the best players in NFL history. So for him to say that he might not let his son play the game is incredibly news-worthy. 

Brett Favre: "I Was At Fault"

I'm not surprised things have cooled off between the Green Bay Packers and Brett Favre. As he said last September: "it's like a grudge...you just kind of get over it." On Thursday, he said in an interview with WGR in Buffalo (of all places) that "I was at fault" for the end of his career as a Packer, but this is an interesting observation on the comment:

As for the "I was at fault" one-liner, make sure you listen to the full Favre interview. Wasn't the emphasis of his point to WGR.
— Tyler Dunne (@TyDunne) June 7, 2013

Maybe it was just a throw-away line, but at least he said it.

I wasn't happy with how Favre retired, and then un-retired. After years of going back-and-forth on retirement, his actions in 2008 were the final indecisive blow-up. I can understand why he had second thoughts, he could still play, but he should have given that some more thought before announcing his retirement in March 2008.

On the other hand, I wasn't thrilled with how the Packers acted either. Instead of trading him, they should have just released him. The Packers had even released Vince Lombardi from his contract, and more recently    the Colts released Peyton Manning. Favre's trade was intended to keep him away from the Vikings, but that obviously didn't work. However, the 3rd round pick they got from the Jets for Favre was then part of the trade to acquire a second 1st round pick in 2009 that became LB Clay Matthews, so as usual, GM Ted Thompson knows what he's doing.

Over the past few years, I've avoided writing about Favre because it's a hot button issue for many readers, and I've read (and deleted) many angry comments about it. But time heals wounds and the issue is cooling off, though it's never going to go away. At some point the Packers will retire Favre's number, so says Aaron Rodgers, and they already tried to do it in 2008. When it does happen, it will be the public end to whatever bitterness remains between Favre and the Packers. It looks like his comments are starting to clear the way forward.