Infographic: Packers/Chargers Preview

Packers.com just posted this week's infographic, looking ahead to Sunday's game with the Chargers.

In addition to the all-time Packers-Chargers series, this week’s infographic takes a closer look at Green Bay’s turnover margin in 2015 and the production of the offense’s top two receivers this season, James Jones and Randall Cobb.

There's a small problem with this one, though, in the "Throwback Debut" section.

It describes the throwback uniform as "a re-creation of the team's uniform from 1927-48". That is most likely a typo, since we know this uniform was actually introduced in 1937 and persisted into the 1949 season. And I'm not sure why they keep using that number font for jerseys in the infographics, when the actual font would look so much better.

Packers/Chargers Game Program

The program for this weekend's game against the Chargers is now available at the Packers Pro Shop.

They've moved away from the busier covers of the first two weeks and reused the template from last week's program. I was rather hoping they would do something special for the throwback game.

Icon-oclastic

A few months ago, I wondered if the Packers would be using their new throwback wordmark as a proper logo during their throwback-uniform weeks. Well, yesterday the team made it official by adopting it as their Twitter icon.

I do love this wordmark, inspired by the late 1940s sideline jackets. The letters are obviously hand-drawn with all the idiosyncrasies you'd expect. It would probably be more effective as a social media icon if the team had put it on a blue background; gold text doesn't read very well against white, especially at this small size.

To compliment this new icon, they have also updated their Twitter header photo, with a blue-and-gold photo of Don Hutson and Tony Canadeo, the legendary Gray Ghost.

Nice overall effect; I always like to see the throwback colors.

Interestingly, the Packers have not updated their main website to match, as they did in 2010, 2011, 2013, and last year (the Packers didn't wear the alternate uniforms in 2012).

Shame. I always look forward to that.

"A Forties Classic Is Back in Fashion"

Got this email this morning:

That gold shirt is part of the coaches' sideline gear - they're going to stand out, especially if it turns out to be a sunny day.

Nice to see them emphasizing the Curly Lambeau era, even if in the context of selling us stuff. Our "Forties Classic" never went out of fashion in the first place.

Pink at Lambeau

Yesterday saw the first Packers home game in October, which means our first opportunity to see how the league's pinkwashing scam would be promoted at Lambeau Field.

The answer: not as bad as I feared.

We had the now-standard assortment of pink towels, gloves, wristbands and even cleats:

Green Bay Packers' Quinten Rollins (24) runs back an interception for a touchdown during the first half an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Pink accessories aside, is there any color combination that looks so good under a bright autumnal sun?

Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers reacts during the first half an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)

Never mind. Rhetorical question.

While we're at it, here's a closer look at the back of Aaron's helmet.

We have, from left to right, the two-events-in-one pink and gold NFL ribbon, the player identifier, the green "radio equipped helmet" dot and a big honkin' American flag. Too much.

On the field itself, the small black-and-gold NFL logo on the 25-yard line was embellished with a pink ribbon.

I'll be glad when this scheme finally gets stale and the NFL drops it. If they haven't already gone past the point of no return.

Packers/Rams Game Program

Here's the game program for tomorrow's contest against the Rams at Lambeau Field.

I like the striking design, much simpler than the other two programs so far. But man, Matthew's custom jersey sleeves are ugly.

What a mess.

Infographic: Rams at Packers Preview

Here's Packers.com infographic preview for this weekend's game against the Rams:

This week's infographic takes a look at the all-time series between the Packers and Rams and Green Bay's success in the month of October in recent years. Also, there’s a breakdown of how the Packers defense has spread out its sacks this season, and a closer look at QB Aaron Rodgers' current streak of TD passes in home games without an interception.

This one's not quite up to the usual standard: minus a point for using a photo-negative version of the Rams' logo, and those jerseys would look better with the Packers' regular number font instead of whatever that is. Still, minor quiblles. Love this series.

Lindy Infante Dies at 75

Packers.com

The Packers have announced that former head coach Lindy Infante, who guided the Pack from 1988-91, has died at the age of 75.

From his New York Times obituary:

Lindy Infante, who was named the N.F.L.’s coach of the year in 1989 when he revived the fortunes of the Green Bay Packers, and who later coached the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs, died on Thursday in St. Augustine, Fla. He was 75.

The Packers announced his death on their website. LeRoy Butler, a Pro Bowl safety for the Packers who had played for Infante and spoke with his wife, Stephanie, told The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that the cause was pneumonia.

Coaching the Packers from 1988 to 1991 and the Colts in 1996 and ’97, Infante had only one playoff squad: his first Colts team, which lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a wild-card game. His overall record was 36-60, but he was the victim of bad timing, losing both his head-coaching jobs in the seasons before his teams obtained two of pro football’s greatest quarterbacks.

Infante was fired by the Packers after they went 4-12 in 1991. The next season, they obtained Brett Favre in a deal with the Atlanta Falcons. Infante was fired by the Colts after they went 3-13 in 1997, although they had achieved a major upset with a 41-38 victory over the Packers, the defending Super Bowl champions and eventual National Football Conference champions. The Colts drafted Peyton Manning in 1998.

Gelindo Infante was born on March 27, 1940, in Miami. He was a running back at the University of Florida for three seasons and then an assistant coach with Florida, Memphis State and Tulane before coaching the Giants’ wide receivers in 1977 and ’78.

He was the offensive coordinator for the Cincinnati Bengals team that went to Super Bowl XVI on Jan. 24, 1982, losing to the San Francisco 49ers, 26-21. He was head coach of the Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League for two seasons, and then spent two seasons as offensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns before getting the Packers’ head-coaching post, taking over what had been a losing team under Forrest Gregg, a star Green Bay offensive tackle in the Vince Lombardi dynasty years.

Infante’s first Packers team won only four games, but his 1989 squad went 10-6. Although the Packers did not reach the postseason, The Associated Press’s poll voted him coach of the year.

But two losing seasons followed, resulting in his ouster.

Infante’s 1996 Colts playoff team went 9-7, but Indianapolis was 3-13 the next year, and he was fired once more.

In addition to his wife, Infante had two sons and six grandchildren, The Florida Times-Union reported. A full list of survivors was not immediately available.

“I kiddingly call myself the ‘before coach,’ ” Infante told The Times-Union. “I was at Green Bay until one year before they got Brett Favre, and at Indianapolis one year before they drafted Peyton Manning.”

If he had either one of them, he said, “my career might have taken on 15 more years.”

It's easy to forget that era in Packers history. He was preceded as head coach by high-profile former players Bart Starr and Forrest Gregg, and replaced with Mike Holmgren.

I personally have fond memories of those years, especially quarterback Don "Majik Man" Majkowski. The æsthetics of the era have largely faded away like the silkscreen numbers on their jerseys, but as I review photos of him now I'm struck by the mesh trucker's cap he is often pictured wearing. The simple (even generic) "Breen Bay block over large "Packers" script was a commonplace style in the 1980s, and I'm strangely nostalgic for it today.

Farewell, Coach. Thanks for everything.

Pinkwashing Redux

It's October, so the NFL's reprehensible pinkwashing scam is back. Time for the league to pretend that it cares ever-so-much about breast cancer research in the hopes that you'll buy stuff and not look to hard at the actual numbers.

On the whole, the Packers' game against the 49ers was very good-looking. Two of the best-dressed teams in the NFL head-to-head in the bright California sunshine. And although everyone was wearing pink towels, overall the pinkwashing accessories didn't seem as ubiquitous as years past.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) runs during the NFL regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 4, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ric Tapia/NFL)

Look at all those Braisher stripes! That's what an NFL matchup ought to look like.

There were some players, still taking it to the limit, though.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) is tackled during the NFL regular season game against the Green Bay Packers on Oct. 4, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ric Tapia/NFL)

It wasn't just the defense; running back Eddie Lacy also went for the pink-spats look.

Green Bay Packers running back Eddie Lacy (27) runs during the NFL regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 4, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ric Tapia/NFL)

The stadium itself was decked out in pink, with banners bordering the field. You can make them out in the background of this photo:

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws during the NFL regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 4, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ric Tapia/NFL)

Even the security guards got into the act with pink shirts.

(Uni Watch)

There is one difference this year - the standard shield-over-ribbon logo on the back of every helmet has been altered to include this year's golden-themed NFL shield.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, left, celebrates with tight end Richard Rodgers after connecting for a 9-yard touchdown pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

You can just make out the helmet decal on the back of Richard Rodgers's helmet. This is particularly creative double-event branding, promoting the cause as well as the 50th Super Bowl coming up.

But, of course, it's not really about the pink decal on the back of every helmet. It's not about the pink towels or the pink spats or the pink logo emblazoned on the field. It's about the pink-tinged merchandise they want you to buy.

You may have noticed Aaron Rodgers's pink-and-gray cap, shown prominently on the sidelines or after the game as he shook Colin Kaepernick's hand.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) shakes hands with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the NFL regular season game on Oct. 4, 2015 in Santa Clara, Calif. (Ric Tapia/NFL)

That cap wasn't necessarily Aaron's choice; sideline caps, like the rest of the team uniform, are carefully laid out for the players in their lockers. For this game, the equipment managers placed a gray-and-pink Packers cap in every locker.

And once you've seen it worn by your heroes on the field, the NFL made sure that you could buy that very same cap online.

This is all part of what they call "A Crucial Catch", their program of pink-emblazoned merchandise.

There are currently six hundred and twenty-nine "Crucial Catch" products available for sale. The most expensive is a field goal wrap from last year's Eagles/Rams game. That'll set you back a cool $499.95. But hey, free shipping.


The least expensive is a Chicago Bears "A Crucial Catch" bumper sticker. Perfect for your silver Corvette.

It's a depressing and cynical attempt to monetize good intentions. Sadly, our Packers aren't immune.

Not that they're no longer even making a pretense towards fundraising; the product descriptions are all about "raising awareness". Check out the product category for the Packers Pro Shop's pinky products:

"Cancer awareness".

It's particularly scummy and exploitative, and I'm sad that the Packers continue to be a part of it.

Infographic: Packers at 49ers

This week, the Packers travel to Santa Clara to take on the 49ers. And as always, Packers.com has an infographic preview.

This week's infographic takes a look at the all-time Packers-49ers series, along with QB Aaron Rodgers' current trend of protecting the football, WR Randall Cobb's touchdown prowess over the past season-plus, and LB Clay Matthews' franchise ranking in multi-sack games.