Steven Helmer Publications

Here are some of my thoughts from yesterday's game: 1. I used to watch a lot of pro wrestling when I was younger and I remember countless matches that ended with a seemingly clear-cut winner only to have the referee reveal the time limit expired, there was a disqualification, etc. I felt that way when Clay Matthews got his sack on Alex Smith only to have it overturned with yet another questionable roughing the passer penalty. The NFL needs to get that corrected sooner rather than later. 2. I think my biggest problem with the roughing the passer controversy (besides the fact they seem to be picking on Matthews) is I believe, at some point, the over enforcement will result in the opposite of what the league is trying to do. If accidentally landing on a quarterback is going to be treated the same as hitting them helmet-to-helmet or slamming them to the ground, there's really no incentive for a defender to avoid the latter. I think it's only a matter of time before defender...

The thing that is going to kill the National Football League isn't players kneeling on the sidelines. It's going to be ridiculous rules that make quarterbacks virtually untouchable.  When Clay Matthews was flagged for roughing the passer on Sunday (pretty much costing the Green Bay Packers a win over the Minnesota Vikings), I took it in stride because I figured the NFL would review it, see the error of its ways and correct it going forward. That, however, was not the case. Instead, the league ruled the call was the correct one ,  Look, I'm all for player safety and taking precautions to give them protection against unnecessary injuries (especially to the head). But, these new rules (or, actually, newly-emphasized enforcement on old rules) are going to make the games look more like a scrimmage, when the quarterbacks wear red shirts and are off limits. The only difference is, these games count. I understand quarterback is the most important position/highest p...

Now that the backup quarterback situation (at least on paper) has been settled with Brett Hundley being traded to the Seattle Seahawks, I am going to attempt to predict what the Green Bay Packers final roster will look like after they make their cuts following their final preseason game tomorrow night. Please note, I am just listing the players at random. I am making no attempt to predict the opening day depth chart. I am also not going to attempt to predict what this roster will look like after week 1. Quarterbacks - Aaron Rodgers Deshone Kizer Tim Boyle Running Backs - Aaron Jones Jamal Williams Ty Montgomery Bronson Hill Fullbacks Aaron Ripkowski Tight ends Jimmy Graham Marcedes Lewis Robert Tonyan Lance Kendricks Wide Receivers Randall Cobb Davante Adams Geronimo Allison Trevor Davis Jake Kumerow Marques Valdes-Scantling J'mon Moore Equanimeous St. Brown Offensive Line David Bakhtiari Lane Taylor Corey Linsley Justin McCray Bryan Bulaga K...