Fan Nation Blog

By: Marques Eversoll

Team A wins 127 games in a two-year stretch. But then, Player X leaves Team A, and he plays four years for Team B. Without Player X, Team A goes 97-215. With Player X, Team B goes 224-88 and makes four straight trips to the NBA Finals.

Then, Player X comes back to Team A. After winning just 31 percent of their games while Player X was out of town, Team A went 53-29 and is now in the NBA Finals. Team B missed the playoffs, entirely.

Player X is LeBron James. Team A is the Cleveland Cavaliers. Team B is the Miami Heat. One guy – a four-time MVP – switches teams, changes the makeup of two teams, and thus, flips the landscape of the NBA as a whole. What LeBron has done in the past five years is absolutely incredible. In the grand scheme of sports, we’re not spending enough time on LeBron … because it’s LeBron.

In with LeBron. Out with logic.

The man walks on water. We say it’s only because he can’t swim. That’s just how it is.

LeBron left Cleveland in the summer of 2010. The Cavs were coming off back-to-back 60-win seasons; they won 66 games in 2008-09 and 61 games in 2009-10. After deciding Antawn Jamison, Zydrunas Igauskas, Mo Williams and a 38-year-old Shaq weren’t enough to get to the next step, LeBron made The Decision.

He was taking his talents to South Beach. On to Miami.

Over the next four years, LeBron and the Heat went to the NBA Finals every year. Four straight NBA Finals for LeBron, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and Erik Spoelstra. They won 224 games and lost 88.

Meanwhile, in Cleveland, Life After LeBron was less than ideal. The Cavs, despite “earning” young star Kyrie Irving with the No. 1 pick in 2011, went a combined 97-215 during LeBron’s time in Miami.

Basketball is a team sport, and typically one guy doesn’t make or break a team, but LeBron absolutely does. LeBron is the catalyst for everything the Cavaliers do offensively. They’re fun to watch in that they get the ball to LeBron, he forces the defense to make a decision one way or another, and more often than not, he makes the right decision and the Cavaliers get a bucket. It’s that simple with LeBron.

You couldn’t take one other player, put him on another team, and have that team in the NBA Finals the next season. Not the MVP, Steph Curry. Not the runner-up, James Harden. Only LeBron.

But nowadays, you can’t be great unless you’re great like someone else. If you’re an all-time great in basktball, you better be Michael Jordan because he’s the best to ever do it. (We ignore the fact that LeBron is nothing like Michael. He’s more Magic than Michael, but this is the world we live in.) Comparing athletes is fun for fans, but it’s pointless and often off base. Stop comparing LeBron to anyone; he’s the best player of his generation and he’s just different.

Once upon a time, the Cavs were 19-20. People questioned whether or not LeBron and Kyrie could co-exist, if Kevin Love was on a one-year rental, and whether or not LeBron and David Blatt ever spoke off the court. Then, they made a couple trades, bringing in J.R. Smith, Iman Shumpert and Timofey Mozgov. At the time, it reeked of desperation.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Since the trade, the Cavs are a combined 46-11 through the Eastern Conference Finals. They just swept a team (Hawks) that went 60-22 in the regular season. Kyrie Irving sat out two of those four games.

Next up for Player X (LeBron) is likely going to be Team C (Warriors), led by the MVP. Golden State went 67-15 in Steve Kerr’s first year as head coach. The Warriors are deeper, more talented and (most importantly) healthier than the Cavs. The only difference? LeBron. Therefore, it’s a series.

Appreciate him.

Marques Eversoll is on-air on SportsLine every weekday afternoon from 4:00-6:00 PM on The Fan, and he hosts the Saturday Morning Showcase every weekend 8:00-10:00 AM. Follow him on Twitter @MarquesEversoll.

Bucks’ new uniforms should be awesome
The Fan Blog
3:46PM May 20, 2015
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Tags: milwaukee bucks uniformsbucks uniforms
By: Marques Eversoll

The last time the Milwaukee Bucks unveiled new uniforms, I thought they were pretty cool. Looking back on it, I guess I just like change. Those uniforms that were cool at first really weren’t that cool at all.

I wasn’t a huge fan of the purple, so when they went to the green-and-red color scheme, it was a nice change of pace. The red alternate uniform was (by far) the best option of their soon-to-be retired uniform rotation.

But even before seeing the new uniforms, I can say comfortably that I’d be very surprised if the Bucks’ new jerseys weren’t my favorite Bucks jerseys ever. Why? Because the green-and-cream color scheme is (by far) the best color scheme the Bucks have had (will have) since I’ve been on this planet.

Purple and green? Fine. (Better as a throwback.)

Red and green? Okay. (Better on Christmas.)

Green and cream? Awesome. (Especially with a *little* blue as an accent.)

I’m hoping the Bucks give a new-school twist, while also giving a nod to their past. Back in the day, the Bucks had some pretty cool uniforms. The striped side panels were great – that’s something I’m hoping they bring back.

Also something to watch – I’m curious as to just how much cream they’re going to use on the uniform. Will it be their “white”? I’m hoping for as much cream in the uniform as possible. Green and cream looks awesome together.

We’ll find out June 6 what the Bucks’ new threads will look like. They’re hosting their inaugural “Summer Block Party” that Saturday in Milwaukee. I can’t wait.

Packers throwback uniforms: What’s next?
The Fan Blog
2:00PM May 19, 2015
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Tags: packers uniformspackers third uniformpackers third jerseypackers jerseys
By: Marques Eversoll

It’s officially time for a new third jersey for the Green Bay Packers. Gone are the 1929-30 “Powerball” throwbacks, making way for a new throwback uniform.

Team president Mark Murphy made it clear that the Packers’ new third uniform would be an “old jersey,” rather than “a Nike.” (Of course, in the NFL all uniforms will have a Nike swoosh, whether it’s a 1929 model or a 2015 Oregon Ducks lookalike.)

“We’re definitely going to do it, it will come up soon,” Murphy said at the league meetings in March. “It’s going to be exciting. It’s going to be an old jersey. It won’t be a modern jersey, a Nike… This will be from a past era. I think the fans like it. From what I’ve seen those games are always kind of fun and the players really enjoy it, too.”

The last time around, it was like the Packers said, “Alright, we’re going with a throwback. Let’s see how throwback we can get.” The result: A brown helmet (the original 1929 uniform used a leather helmet) to go along with tan/khaki pants and solid navy blue socks.

But that uniform was first introduced in 2010; the NFL has since (2013) adopted new rules in regards to their equipment – specifically the helmet. Given the lawsuits over concussions and emphasis on player safety, the league apparently doesn’t want teams to wear a new helmet at any point. Once a player is comfortable with a helmet, that’s his helmet. The only modification can be the removal/addition of decals on the exterior.

That’s exactly why the Packers wore their standard gold helmet with a green facemask (without the logo or stripes) for the past two seasons. It’s not an ideal match to the navy blue/yellow/tan color scheme of the jersey and pants, but they didn’t have much of a choice. (To me, that was the biggest problem with the 1929 throwbacks. A green/gold helmet with a navy blue/yellow/tan uniform doesn’t work.)

Assuming the rules remain the same, and the Packers go with their standard green/gold helmet with their new third uniform, then they’ll probably stick with the green-and-gold color scheme overall.

2. 1935 – First green uniform. (Curly Lambeau Era)

This isn’t one of the more iconic Packers uniforms, but the team has used (and is currently using) all of the most recognizable options. The current uniform is basically the Vince Lombardi uniform, save for the facemask color and striping in the sleeves. The uniform synonymous with the Curly Lambeau Era (1939-47) was used as a throwback in 1994.

This uniform would look a lot like their current uniform in terms of the green-and-gold ratio. It looks good with the standard yellow helmet. You can wear the all green socks. It’s a clean looking uniform, looks like a Packers uniform, and it’s different enough to get people excited and sell a little merchandise in the process.

And while this isn’t the uniform a Packers historian will recognize as the “Lambeau uniform,” it was, in fact, worn in the Curly Lambeau era. In 1935, the Packers were 8-4; in 1936, the Packers were 10-1-1 and won the NFL Championship. Much like their navy blue “Powerball” throwbacks, the Packers enjoyed a lot of success in this uniform.

1. 1950 – Green-on-Green. (Gene Ronzani solidifies green into color scheme)

If the team’s second head coach Gene Ronzani put his stamp on the franchise, it’s that he (literally) put the green in the Green Bay Packers. Lambeau preferred his Notre Dame color scheme, but when Ronzani took over the team in 1950, he made green the primary color. (Which makes sense, clearly.)

Not that I was on the planet at the time, but I feel like the Packers had some “swag.” They’d mix and match gold and green pants with gold and green tops. They had some nice socks. Honestly, a remake of the 1950s throwbacks may be an upgrade to their current uniform. Sorry if that sounds like blasphemy.

The only problem with this uniform is that Ronzani’s Packers didn’t, you know, win. While they won a lot in the 1929 “Powerball” throwbacks back in the day, and in the Lambeau Era throwbacks they wore in 1994, Ronzani was just 14-31-1 as head coach. If the team wants to go with a uniform that the Packers had success in, there are better options. If they want to go with a good-looking throwback, I like this.

It’s different, but I think a modern twist would make it look sharp. The jersey itself (with the solid gold digits on the green jersey) would fly off the shelves. It’s sharp.

Of course, the Packers could keep it basic and turn back the clock (kinda) and honor Lombardi’s Packers simply by adding some stripes to the sleeves and socks. But seeing as that’s not a big change from their current ensemble, I think they’ll go with something different.

Kendricks trade would make sense for Packers
The Fan Blog
12:00AM May 8, 2015
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Tags: packers tradepackers mychal kendricksmychal kendricks trademychal kendricks
By: Marques Eversoll

If the Philadelphia Eagles are indeed willing to part with linebacker Mychal Kendricks for a fourth-round pick in next year’s draft, then the Green Bay Packers should pull the trigger.

Jason LaCanfora – NFL insider for CBS – reported that Eagles head coach Chip Kelly was “calling all around the NFL” trying to trade Kendricks for a second-round pick last week. Kelly’s initial attempt was unsuccessful, but La Canfora opined that the Eagles could get a 2016 fourth-round pick for the 24-year-old linebacker entering the final year of his rookie contract. La Canfora still believes Kendricks and Eagles guard Evan Mathis will be dealt. Because, Chip Kelly.

This offseason, the Packers lost cornerbacks Tramon Williams and Davon House. The Packers could receive a fourth-round compensatory pick for Williams, and perhaps House, too, depending on how the 2015 season plays out.

It’s easy to understand why Packers general manager Ted Thompson is reluctant to part with his draft picks; the fourth round is where Thompson picked his two starting offensive guards (Josh Sitton, T.J. Lang), left tackle David Bakhtiari and defensive tackle Mike Daniels. However, the compensation the Packers will receive for losing Williams and House lessens the blow of the “Kendricks investment.”

Of course, it’s not as simple as “trade fourth-round pick, get starting linebacker, live happily ever after.” That fourth-round pick becomes more expensive when you factor in his next deal, which seems inevitable if a trade were to go down. Kendricks graded out as the No. 6 linebacker in the NFL in 2014, and racked up eight sacks and five forced fumbles the past two seasons. For a template, Rams linebacker James Laurinitis signed a five-year extension in 2013, paying him an average of $8.3 million per year; Lions linebacker Stephen Tulloch signed a five-year deal in 2012, which pays him about $5 million per year. I’m no salary cap expert, but I’d imagine Kendricks would command (at least) as much as Tulloch on his next contract.

On the contrary, assume Kendricks is on a one-year deal and leaves after 2015. Best-case scenario, Kendricks becomes a key piece of the Packers’ defense, gets them over the top in the NFC, and moves on. Worst-case scenario, Kendricks doesn’t pan out, the defense doesn’t improve, and you’re without your fourth-round pick. Is the worst-case scenario really that bad? “Go down swinging,” right?

The Packers just spent a fourth-round pick on Michigan linebacker Jake Ryan, who could step into the starting lineup next to Sam Barrington. But even the biggest fan of Ryan and/or Barrington wouldn’t say the Packers are “set” at the position. The depth chart at inside linebacker remains frighteningly thin, and if they’re able to acquire Kendricks, he instantly becomes the only “sure thing” as far as a starter at the position. Ryan and Barrington would battle to be the “thumper” next to Kendricks.

Clay Matthews’ role would become clear; he’d move back the outside, opposite Julius Peppers. Kendricks and either Ryan or Barrington would man the middle in the base. For a position group in question throughout last season, that’s a clear step forward.

Clay’s brother, Casey Matthews, signed with the Minnesota Vikings this offseason as an unrestricted free agent. Those same Vikings drafted UCLA linebacker Eric Kendricks a week ago in the second round. Eric’s brother, Mychal, is (reportedly) still available via trade. Perhaps the Packers could add a second brotherly connection by bringing in the eldest Kendricks.

Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez and Marshawn Lynch didn’t happen. Those rumored trades never got off the runway to Green Bay.

But to me, Kendricks-to-Packers isn’t the crazy, out-of-the-box trade so often suggested in professional sports today. It fills a need – (yes, it’s still a need) – for a team that was a play away from the Super Bowl a year ago. A fourth-round pick for Mychal Kendricks could give the Packers exactly what their front seven lacks, and the risk is minimal. It makes sense.

Packers post-Draft: Battle at inside (or outside?) linebacker
The Fan Blog
5:00AM May 5, 2015
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Tags: nfl draftjake ryan packersjake ryanpackers draft
By: Marques Eversoll

Of the Packers’ 2015 rookie class, fourth-round pick Jake Ryan seems to have the best chance to earn a starting job. In the Packers’ base 3-4 defense, three spots are all but spoken for. Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers will start, and Sam Barrington will likely join them, considering he helped improve the run defense in making nine starts last season.

The question then becomes: Does Matthews “start” on the inside or outside?

If Matthews is outside, then Ryan enters training camp locked in a battle with second-year linebackers Carl Bradford (who didn’t play a snap last season after converting from outside linebacker) and Joe Thomas (who also didn’t play a snap, and went undrafted last year).

But if Matthews “starts” on the inside, then it’ll be Nick Perry or Mike Neal on the outside. Peppers and Perry/Neal on the outside, Matthews and Barrington on the inside certainly give the Packers’ their most experienced group. But is that what wins out?

Josh Francis, who played at West Virginia for two years, was signed in March after stints in the Canadian Football League and the Indoor Football League. The Packers also signed Tavarus Dantzler, a linebacker from Bethune-Cookman, after the draft. The possibility that an rookie free agent could get into the mix for playing time can’t be overlooked, as such players have played more snaps for the Packers than any other team in the NFL over the past 10 seasons.

Best guess: OLB Peppers – ILB Matthews – ILB Barrington – OLB Perry

Matthews gets the “start” on the inside alongside Barrington, while Peppers and Perry hold the edge on the outside. Regardless, Matthews’ versatility will allow several players (inside and outside) to have an opportunity to see the field. Ryan seems like a good bet to be a core special-teams player, and probably has a good shot at leading the 2015 rookie class in snaps played.

The Packers play more sub-packages defensively than any team in football, constantly rotating defensive backs throughout the game. But with Matthews’ versatility, and frankly, a lack of top-end talent on the inside, that rotation may very well extend to the linebackers. Matthews, Peppers, Barrington, Ryan, Perry and Neal will all play. It’s just a question of who gets credit for the “Game Started” because we like that kind of thing.

Side note: I’m sorry if you already saw my Tweet – this one – then I’m double dipping here, but Ryan definitely fits the Packers’ mold at linebacker. How do I know this? Because he wore No. 47 in college and has (had?) long hair. So did Clay Matthews at USC. So did A.J. Hawk at Ohio State. I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

Packers post-Draft: What does Ty Montgomery bring?
The Fan Blog
1:23PM May 4, 2015
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Tags: ty montgomery packersty montgomerypackers draft
By: Marques Eversoll

Last season, the Packers ranked second-to-last in the NFL returning kicks, averaging a meager 19.1 yards per return. Their primary return man DuJuan Harris – who has since signed with the Minnesota Vikings – ranked second-to-last among qualifiers with a pedestrian 20.7 yards per kick return.

Ted Thompson spent his third-round pick (#94 overall) on Stanford wide receiver Ty Montgomery.

What? A wide receiver?

Yes, a wide receiver who was one of the most dangerous return men in the country during his time with the Cardinal. A wide receiver that Packers west regional scout Sam Seale referred to as a “bigger Randall (Cobb).”

While Harris struggled to get anything going in the return game a year ago, Montgomery averaged 27.3 yards per kick return in four years at Stanford, and he ran three back for touchdowns. Following the draft, Packers coach Mike McCarthy reiterated his preference for returners of Montgomery’s body type; at 6-0 221, Montgomery is built like a running back and bounces off of defenders.

The punt return game wasn’t nearly the problem for the Packers in 2014 that the kick return game was. The Packers ranked fifth in the NFL, averaging 11.5 yards per return on 29 attempts. Micah Hyde returned two of his 14 punts fielded back for touchdowns, meaning about 14.2 percent of the time he catches a punt he scores. Hyde has three punt-return touchdowns in two seasons with the Packers.

Montgomery, last season at Stanford, returned punts for the first time. And it probably won’t be the last time he does so. He scored twice in the punt return game and fielded just 13 punts all year – one fewer than it took Hyde to score twice. (Sports math: Montgomery scored on 15.3 percent of his punt returns last season.)

Montgomery could be used as a “gadget player,” perhaps coming out of the backfield as a third-down back, or running routes out of the slot, a la Randall Cobb. But in his first season, he’s the odds-on favorite to be the team’s kick return man, and will likely compete (or perhaps rotate) with Hyde as the punt returner.

Best guess: Montgomery will be the KR, PR and “gadget player”

Hyde could see some time as the return man, considering he’s returned 38 punts in his two-year NFL career, but Montgomery looks the part as a natural return man. He’s got the size, speed and strength to be a game breaker returning kicks and punts.

Ted Thompson’s track record picking wide receivers in the second and third rounds speaks for itself. Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and James Jones all were selected in the second and third round, and Montgomery became the latest addition to that list Friday night when Thompson plucked him with the 94th pick.

With Davante Adams ready for his sophomore campaign after a stellar showing in the Divisional Round of the Playoffs against the Dallas Cowboys, it’s unlikely that Montgomery will be anything more than the No. 4 option at receiver, but as a return man and versatile weapon at receiver (and maybe running back?), Montgomery could play a key role in making the league’s top scoring offense from a year ago even more explosive.

Packers post-Draft: Competition at cornerback
The Fan Blog
5:00AM May 4, 2015
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Tags: quinten rollinspackers draftdamarious randallcasey hayward2014 nfl draft packerssam shields
By: Marques Eversoll

Never before had Thompson spent his first two draft picks on the same position. But he did exactly that by making Arizona State safety-turned-cornerback Damarious Randall his first-round pick at No. 30 overall, then grabbing Miami, (OH.) point-guard-turned-cornerback with his second pick at No. 62. Clearly, the Packers brass thought cornerback was a need position. Which just so happened to fit the “best player available” mantra.

Sam Shields, just one year into a four-year, $39 million extension, will start – that much we know. But who will be the other outside cornerback in the base defense? Casey Hayward played some on the perimeter as a rookie in 2012, but he’s been at his best in the slot. Perhaps Micah Hyde could get into the mix, but he’s more of a safety and slot corner himself. Which sounds a lot like Randall’s “boundary safety” position at Arizona State.

Hayward is the odds-on favorite to start opposite Shields, but perhaps someone will emerge this summer, allowing Hayward to bump into the slot where he’s proven to be most comfortable.

Rollins, the second-round pick, is an interesting option. Having only played one season of college football at Miami, Rollins picked off seven passes and was named 2014 MAC Defensive Player of the Year. He seemingly doesn’t even comprehend the word “potential” Although Rollins and Randall are relatively the same size, Rollins played more on the perimeter than Randall. It’ll be interesting to see if Rollins – in just his second of year of football post-high school – is ready to play significant time in the NFL.

It’s funny how quickly things can change in pro football. Just look at the Packers’ secondary.

A year ago prior to the draft, safety was the Packers’ No. 1 question mark. Clearly, the Packers addressed that issue and now it’s arguably the deepest position on the roster with last year’s first-round pick Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Morgan Burnett, Sean Richardson and Hyde pulling double-duty as a corner/safety.

As recent as last season, cornerback was among the deepest positions on the team. The Packers likely would have put Shields, Hayward, Tramon Williams and Davon House up against anyone’s top four cover men. But unrestricted free agents Williams and House left the team for Cleveland and Jacksonville, respectively, suddenly turning a position of strength into one of uncertainty.

Much like the linebacker position hinging on Matthews, the “who’s where” question at cornerback depends heavily on Hayward. If he shows he can play outside, he’ll probably be the second starter. If one of the rookies, second-year player Demetri Goodson or even Hyde proves to be a more natural player on the perimeter, then Hayward’s time could be reduced to the nickel and dime.

Best guess: LCB Casey Hayward – RCB Sam Shields – NB Damarious Randall

Hayward has been a consistent player covering the slot and doesn’t have as much experience on an island on the perimeter, but it’s not as if it’s a completely foreign position to him. Training camp will be telling, but Hayward obviously has more experience outside on an NFL field than Randall or Rollins. (#Analysis)

Hayward graded out as the No. 9 cornerback in the NFL last season among 108 players to have played at least 25 percent of their team’s snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. He had a lost 2013 season due to nagging injuries, but people forget how sensational Hayward’s rookie year was. He was targeted 74 times and allowed just 33 completions (44.6%), didn’t allow a touchdown and had six interceptions – opposing quarterbacks had a combined passer rating of 31.1. He was the No. 4 corner in the league as a rookie. Perhaps the Packers would have been more inclined to dish out the cash to House and/or Williams if they weren’t so comfortable with Hayward.

Rollins’ best shot at cracking the regular rotation would be to prove he’s the team’s next-best perimeter corner behind Shields. Hayward and Randall could man the slots, while Rollins could lock up receivers on the perimeter. That seems like a tall order, considering he’s coming off just one season of college football, but then again, he’s a four-year starter on the hardwood, who threw his hands up and gave football a try, picked off seven passes and was the best player in the conference on the defensive side of the ball. I’m not putting anything past Quinten Rollins.

But the better bet – as outlined above – is for the first-round pick, Randall, to be the nickel back, manning the slot while Hayward and Shields handle the outside in the base defense. When the Packers spent the 30th pick on Randall, it was surprising to most. First, because he wasn’t on the same list as Eric Rowe, Byron Jones, Jalen Collins and other cornerbacks to which Packers fans became familiarized. Second, because his position and college, while labeled as a safety, was awfully similar to what Hyde and Hayward have proven to be with the Packers. There’s certainly no shortage of players on the roster that can cover the slot.

This competition features a “been there, done that” guy in Hayward, a second-year player in Goodson, who was kept last summer over Jumal Rolle (who had a nice year with Houston), and then there’s Hyde. The team’s top two draft picks have a golden opportunity at their hands, but as Whitt told the media during the draft, nothing will be handed to them and the best players will play. Game on.

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