Blogtalk radio: JZ Sports Football Withdrawal Special

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Jordy Nelson: The Unsung Hero of SuperBowl XLV

As the bulbs flashed, the crowd roared, and confetti flew, all eyes of the Cowboys stadium crowd and the record-breaking 111 million T.V viewers were on Aaron Rodgers, the clear MVP of Super Bowl XLV.

Off to the side though stood another Packer, one who was instrumental in the historic victory, one who managed to rise from obscurity this year to become a critical piece of the puzzle: wide receiver Jordy Nelson.

Buried on the Green Bay depth chart behind Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones, Jordy Nelson has never been a top weapon of Aaron Rodgers; having been drafted in the 2nd round of the 2008 draft, he came after the Favre era while Rodgers was still getting his feet under him. He played a minimal if not completely insignificant role in the '08/'09 seasons, recording only 55 catches for 686 yards in 2 full years.

His role in 2010 showed some change. He ended up recording 45 catches for 582 yards and 2 touchdowns, though he did not record the first 100 yard game of his career until he racked up 124 against the Giants in Week 16. Though he picked up his play during the last few regular season games, he was a non factor against the Eagles in the Wild Card round, leading many pundits to leave him out of consideration as a factor player for the postseason.

He worked his way back into the picture against the Falcons and Bears, posting 12 catches for 146 yards and a touchdown. It was in Super Bowl 45 however, that Nelson cemented his place in Packer lore forever.

With just over 3 minutes to go in the 1st quarter, Nelson beat Randall Gay to make a jumping catch of a beautifully thrown 29-yard pass from Rodgers, putting up the first points of the SuperBowl.

Nelson proceeded to be the go-to guy for Rodgers throughout the game, totaling 15 targets and racking up 8 more catches for an astounding 140 yards. Despite his stellar play, Nelson did have 3 critical dropped passes, fully half of the team's drops. Rodgers continued to rely on the young receiver, and one play after his final drop, on 3rd and 10 early in the 4th, Nelson snagged a pass, dodged a few tackles and dashed laterally across the field, going 38 yards and eventually being brought down on the 2 yard line. Greg Jennings caught what would be the game winning touchdown 2 plays later, though Jordy Nelson was the one who put the team in position.

Aaron Rodgers will be the first one to tell you that his teammates deserve all the credit; obviously this is untrue, but his teammates do deserve SOME credit. Rodgers played a historical game, but Jordy Nelson's SuperBowl should never be overlooked. A young and unknown player rising up to help his team win the championship is the stuff of legends. Nelson has his whole career ahead of him, and if he ever ends up in the SuperBowl again, the opposing defense better hope they have a corner that can match him.

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Green Bay Stardom

"As the clock dwindled, the Green Bay Packers only seconds away from a legendary Super Bowl victory, fans began to reminisce, grins and gratification omnipresent... "        click here to read the full article

Congratulations to the Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers and their loyal fanbase. The team has come a long way since the Brett Favre days and could not be happier with their franchise quarterback Aaron Rodgers leading the charge. Read why Rodgers will dominate the league for years in my latest Bleacher Report piece. Click Here to Read

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Super Bowl XLV: Keys to Victory

This comical collection detailing the matchup in this year's Superbowl featuring Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers against Big Ben and the Steelers is all thanks to the Onion Sports Network. Read and Enjoy. To see the full article, click here.

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Blog Talk Radio: JZSports Championship Sunday Aftermath

Recap of the wild NFC and AFC Championship games. Also, tune in for our JZSports regular season awards winners, and the first Superbowl Preview. We will also be announcing the Silver Puma award, for our favorite player of the year.

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Jets Make Their Mark

28-21 win by the Jets. What a victory. Confidence omnipresent, the trash-talking was finally backed up. Tough battle but they reigned victorious. Aside from a team standpoint, this game was one of the most entertaining playoff games in recent memory. This 28-21 win reeks of the Giants' Superbowl upset over the undefeated Patriots in '08. Jets can't relax now as they have the current Steel Curtain next week in the AFC Championship game featuring always confident Big Ben. There's going to be bloodshed. The game will be brutally physical. Enjoy Ladainian Tomlinson after the game in this clip.

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Pigskin at its Best

"Three of the four NFL playoff games this weekend figure to be played in arctic conditions and the results could lead to the ultimate showdown — Green Bay at Chicago."                                 

                                                                               ~ Chris Erskine, LA Times

As football fanatics salivate in preparation of the second week of playoff football, Chris Erskine of the LA Times presents the possibility of the NFC championship game out-doing the Superbowl. He predicts the Packers to beat the Falcons and the Bears to beat the Seahawks, giving fans the chance to witness another January rivalry game in the tundra that will be nothing short of hard-hitting with a plethora of blood stained jerseys walking off the field in the end. Personally I do see the Packers overcoming the highly-touted Falcons but the Seahawks defeating the Bears, not allowing Erskine's duel to occur. To read the full article, click here.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh... A hard-nosed rivalry, this one will be fought  hard on both sides, with plenty of blood and bone-breaking. Watch for hard hits by Harrison and Reed, two hungry veterans who know what it takes to win. Ray Lewis will be his usual self, riling his teammates and letting loose on blind-sighted tight ends, while Roethlisberger will find gaps in their vulnerable secondary and will take this one with a 20-17 win.

Green Bay @ Atlanta... With the week off Atlanta loses momentum. The Packers resemble the 2008 Giants who surged through the playoffs as the underdogs with a 10-6 record to beat the undefeated Patriots. The Packers are hungry, humble and ready to make noise. Aaron Rodgers will get routine pressure from John Abraham and the Atlanta defense but will elude it by scrambling as he does so well and finding Jennings consistently. Packers win by 10.

Seattle @ Chicago... Seahawks are on a roll and Chicago has a streaky offense and an overrated quarterback in Cutler. This picture resembles the face Mike Martz will have after seeing his quarterback face constant pressure and throw consistently wild chucks to his receivers. Seahawks win in their second upset of the playoffs, finally reaching .500 at 9-9. Win by 7.

New York @ New England... Jets have a chance to make a statement and Rex Ryan has them believeing, albeit talking too much (Cromartie). In the game of the week, there will be hard hits and emotions flying high. Jets win by 3 and propel themselves into the AFC Championship, having to face yet another elite team in the Steelers.

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JZ Sports' Bill Eckert on the Giants' Coaching Staff

Read NY Times Article: Losses Aside, Giants Unlikely to Fire Tom Coughlin by Judy Battista

     Hey there, gang! Bill Eckert here. I wanted to give a quick blurb regarding the Giants’ season deflation. Clearly there were too many factors in play this week that kept them from making it into the post season. With their collapse in the Eagles game two weeks ago, their loss last week to the Green Bay Packers and their need for Rodgers and the Packers to lose to the Chicago Bears this week, the G-Men were forced to take the long trip home from their victory in Washington to sit out the post season. This, however, isn’t about the Giants’ losses. This is about the effect those losses will have on the future of the coaching staff.

     As you faithful JZ Sports readers may recall, my pop threw the Giants and their Christmas ornaments out the window (figuratively) after they embarrassed their fans in their loss to Philly. He has since expressed his desire to see the G-Men’s coaching staff hit the bricks. This isn’t news, as Giants fans have been screaming for Coughlin’s release, saying that the Giants need a severe change in their philosophy.

     Judy Battista wrote a wonderful and very comprehensive analysis of where Coughlin and his crew stand and why in Saturday’s NY Times. She believes that they’re safe at home and after reading it through, I can understand why (though I don’t see change as a bad thing). 

     Pop said that he finds it, as a fan, embarrassing and disheartening to see this team start with such promise, only to fall apart. “All the lost opportunities,” he said, his voice changing its pitch with a twinge and a crack. “The interceptions, the fumbles, lost yardage . . .” It’s been three years since their Super Bowl Championship and they have had deconstructive seasons since, pop said in a tone that was just slightly strained for a fella who has ceased emotional attachment to the G-Men and now watches as a free agent. It’s OK, pop; we can’t just easily toss our feelings aside after years of investment. He did have one bit of advice for the Big Blue’s front office. “As an owner, you have to get a contract that gives them (the coaching staff) two years to get a [Super Bowl] Championship, otherwise they have to go. If they get the Championship, they get a renewed contract.”

     Dear ol’ dad might be on to something. It might make for a more exciting franchise to see these coaches truly fight for their positions. Hell, we wonder where Andy Reid would be today, as a guy who has never won a Super Bowl. What’s he doing in Philly to keep his job?

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