Brett Farrey

I understand that this Edgwater plan would increase jobs, and potentially revitalize a college student inhabited neighborhood, but at what price to the taxpayer? As it is, the new budget will have Madison paying an additional average of $76 on taxes. That’s ridiculous!

I’d be all for paying more taxes on something that would improve the city. Hmmm, like say, improving our streets. There are a ton of streets that need some major work. Example: Midtown Road.

The council made only modest changes to the mayor’s proposed operating budget “for hard times” for next year, and on a voice vote early Thursday morning approved a $239.8 million spending plan that increases city taxes 4.1 percent ($76) to $1,936 on the average $245,000 home.

$16 million to revitalize a hotel, but only $25,000 to help the homeless. Really???

Due to the tough economy, the council added $100,000 to boost community services and $25,000 to help the homeless.

Council sets aside $16 million for Edgewater proposal

I have no problem with contact sports, but Elizabeth Lambert was just plain ignorant. This is was well beyond playing a physical game. It was classless and it makes Lambert look like a dumb redneck. She should be ashamed of herself. The one question nobody has been asking is why didn’t the UNM coaches stop it from happening? Lambert never got pulled from the game, so I also believe the coaches should be suspended.

Elizabeth Lambert has been the product of much speculation after her aggressive behavior during the University of New Mexico v. Brigham Young Women’s Championship Soccer game. Part of the reason that this story has gained national attention is because this behavior is surprising for women’s sports, but even more so for women’s college athletics.

Elizabeth has already offered a public apology, but she may also decide to be interviewed to offer an explanation for her actions. Afterall, we are only seeing a few clips of the game. During the interview between ESPN and Sports Correspondent, Jared Lloyd, we learn that the refs set the tone for this game by not calling penalties on Lambert sooner.

Elizabeth Lambert: Interview on ESPN (Video)

New Mexico Women’s Soccer Player Suspended Indefinitely

The Packers hit one of their all-time lows this past Sunday after getting beat by the winless Buccaneers. It seems to be the same story each and every week, and Mike McCarthy’s excuses aren’t good enough for the fans and media. I’d have to imagine the Packer’s board of directors will be having a long discussion on the future of Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy.

Ted Thompson

I’ve heard many people say it takes five years for a general manager to turn around a football team. It’s been five years for TT and four years for MM. Ted has built through the draft, and has created the youngest team in the NFL for three years running, which leaves little room for veteran leadership. For the most part, he’s done a good job of stocking the team with young talent, but he’s also missed the mark with some high draft picks such as AJ Hawk, Brandon Jackson, Darynn Colledge, and Justin Harrell. He’s also turned a blind eye toward free agency. I agree with his philosophy of building through the draft, but free agency has helped some very good teams, such as the Patriots and Vikings.

I believe Ted’s biggest fault is he should have built from the inside out; meaning he should have drafted higher for both the offensive and defensive lines. The offensive line has been in shambles ever since he let Rivera and Wahle leave town. I’m not suggesting he should have kept those players, but he didn’t fill those voids. He attempted to fill one by drafting Colledge, but he’s been horrible.

I find it interesting once Thompson left Seattle, it took the new GM, Ruskell, to put together a Super Bowl bound team via free agency and the draft.

Just a thought, but why not see if Holmgren would be interested in a GM position?

Mike McCarthy

I’m still a fan of Mike McCarthy, but I can look past the fact the team is undisciplined, we keep hearing the same excuses each week, and he’s slow to make game-time adjustments. The hiring of Bob Sanders was a huge mistake, but he took too long to fix the issue. Dom Capers was a good hire, but the team doesn’t have the right players for a 3-4 scheme. The special teams coach should have been fired after the last Vikings game. Ted needs to have a heart to heart with Mike and get him on track. Mike is a talented coach, but if he can’t fix these issues, it’s time for him to go. The fact is, the Packers could do much, much worse.

At this point, I really think they need to get a new GM, and unless they think they can land Bill Cowher, I suggest they stay with McCarthy for at least another year. The rest of this season could be a deciding factor on a lot of jobs.

Time to Talk Firings

It’s either the players Thompson is signing, the way McCarthy and staff are preparing them or a conflicting combination of the two that is impeding the progress of a team that should be further along in the fifth year for the general manager and the fourth for the coach.

I just love this song, so I had to post it. Jason will be playing at the High Noon Saloon on November 21st.

Ugh, another heart-breaking loss to the Vikings. It’s mostly heart-breaking because we lost to our most hated rival, the Minnesota Vikings, and the fact Brett Favre now plays for the enemy.

Thumbs Up

Clay Matthews looks like he’s going to be a really good linebacker.

I thought rookie LT TJ Lang did a pretty good job against a really good defensive end in Jared Allen.

I liked the intensity of the defense. They seemed to be playing with more passion than I’ve seen in the past.

Thumbs Down
I’m going to give Aaron Rodgers a HUGE thumbs down. I think he’s actually regressed. He appears scared to throw an interception and would rather take a sack than throw the ball away. He even appears scared to squeeze the ball into a small space. The coaching staff needs to address this immediately.

Special teams were atrocious. The Vikings were repeatedly starting with great field position due to Percy Harvin, while the Packers had Ahman Green returning kicks.

McCarthy abandoned the running game. Yes, the Vikings have a great run defense, but you have to keep them honest, and it would help Aaron Rodgers out immensely.

Mike McCarthy. I’m also giving Mike McCarthy and the coaching staff a thumbs down. They make adjustments way to slow, and this has been going on for a long time. I also think the coaches are responsible for all of the penalties. He needs to light a fire under these players asses, or get out of coaching. There should have been a coach right in Johnny Jolly’s face after that stupid head butt penalty.