After a heartbreaking NFC Championship loss, the Green Bay Packers were one of the favorites to play in Super Bowl 50.  They resigned Randall Cobb, returned all offensive starters, including reigning NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers. On draft day, they added another weapon, Ty Montgomery from Stanford.  Before camp, Montgomery was nothing more than a rookie on the depth chart.  The wide receiver unit was solid, with Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, and DeVante Adams rounding out the top three.  There were talks of Mike McCarthy possibly keeping six wide receivers, on the roster. 

Jared Abbrederis was the first victim of injury, in the wide receiver unit, suffering a concussion.  Then Jordy Nelson tore his ACL, and now Randall Cobb injured his shoulder.  Nelson is out for the year, and Cobb's return is unknown.  He suffered a minor AC joint sprain. Bigger injuries loom as Bryan Bulaga sprained his ankle, and has had a history of injuries.  Micah Hyde left the game with a neck injury.

The American League wildcard race is heating up heading into September.  Six teams are within 2.5 games of claiming the final wild card spot.  The Torono Blue Jays and New York Yankees will battle for the American League East title, with the runner up most likely being the number one wildcard.  The Houston Astros have increased their lead to five games, over the Texas Rangers.  Kansas City continues to cruise at 78-49, which is the best record in the American League.

The National League playoff picture is beginning to take form.  The Pittsburgh PIrates and Chicago Cubs have a strong hold over the San Francisco Giants.  The Giants are only 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the NL West, and that could be the only way they will make the postseason.  The New York Mets have increased their lead in the NL East to 6.5 games, while the St. Loius Cardinals just keep winning and have the best record in baseball.

With September baseball, on the horizon, is there a team that will put together a big winning streak and make a surprise run into the postseason?  Listen in and call the show with your thoughts.

When a coach wins four division championships; in a row, you would not think that a coaching change would take place.  John Fox led the Broncos to the Super Bowl, but could not bring the Vince Lombardi Trophy back to Denver.  John Elway decided to make a coaching change, and hired Gary Kubiak.  Peyton Manning battled injuries last season, and did not look like an elite quarterback.  The expectations are high, and it is apparent that it is Super Bowl or bust.  

San Diego and Kansas City have been the bridesmaids, in this division.  Is this the year that they can overtake the Broncos?  The Chargers had a rotating door at running back last year so they drafted Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordan.  The Chiefs passing attack has been weak in the red zone, and getting touchdown production from their wide receivers.  In free agency, they signed Jeremy Maclin. The Oakland Raiders signed a lot of veteran free agents, on defense, in 2014.  That project failed, but they have many young pieces on offense.  

Can this division claim the two wild card spots, in the AFC?  Listen in and call the show with your thoughts.

The NFC South was created, in 2002.  The only team, from the division, who has not went to the Super Bowl are the Atlanta Falcons. No team had won back to back division titles, until last year.  The Carolina Panthers defended their NFC South title.  However, there was much debate about them hosting a wild card game, because of their 7-8-1 record.  Will this years division champion eclipse the .500 mark?

Can the Carolina Panthers make it three division titles, in a row?  The Panthers did not make any major moves in free agency.  They picked up a few role players, and the only real loss was DeAngelo Williams.  However, he has had a history of nagging injuries, and signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  The biggest news before the season is the lose of Kelvin Benjamin. He tore his ACL during practice.  This could be a big blow offensively.  Defensively, they have a kid named Luke Kuechly, who is one of the best tacklers, in the NFL.  They have a good front seven, and added depth by drafting linebacker Shaq Thompson.  The secondary could be a question mark, but with a good pass rush, you can take pressure of average cornerbacks.

After failing to make the Super Bowl, and then having a disappointing 2014, Mike Smith was fired as the Atlanta Falcons coach.    The Atlanta defense can only go one direction, and that is up.  After finishing dead last in yards allowed per game, they signed a handful of defensive players, and then added more with their first two picks.  Vic Beasley and Jalen Collins could be inserted into the starting lineup sooner than later. Offensively, Matt Ryan has Julio Jones and Roddy White to toss the ball to.  DeVonta Freeman will get his chance at running back.

Jameis Winston was the first overall pick, by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Lovie Smith will need to turn this team around to keep his job, after a disappointing 2-14 season.

"With the second pick in the NFL draft, the Tennessee Titans select Marcus Mariota" and "With the third pick in the NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Dante Fowler, Jr."  The AFC South proudly had the Indianapolis Colts, in the AFC Championship game.  However, they also had two teams that drafed second and third, respectively.

The Indianapolis Colts have won back to back AFC East titles, and played in the AFC Championship.  Andrew Luck has been everything the Colts hoped for when they drafted him with the first pick.  Offensively, they can line up against defense and put up points. The finished third in passing offense, but a disappointing 22nd, in rushing.  Defensively, the ranked a modest 11th, in yards allowed.  The lack of pass rush was evident, in the AFC Championship.  Through the draft and free agency, the Colts added Andre Johnson, Frank Gore, and Phillip Dorsett.  Two areas of concern: the offensive line and defense.

Houston finished 9-7, and made the division race interesting, at one point.  However, J.J. Watt can not do everything even though he tried.   This team is the complete opposite of the Colts.  They win with defense.  They added Vince Wolfork, and are hoping that Jadeveon Clowney can return from his knee injury, and be as good as advertised.  Adrian Foster is going to miss significant time, which will hurt an already struggling offense.  The biggest question will be quarterback play.  They traded for Ryan Mallett last year, let Ryan Fitzpatrick leave, but Brian Hoyer is listed as the starting quarterback.  There should be no concern about defense, but offensively there are huge question marks.

Jordy Nelson and Maurkice Pouncey both suffered major injuries, in Sunday's preseason game, between the Green Bay Packers and Pittsburgh Steelers.  The debate about the NFL preseason has been going on for years. The tradition has been four games, to prepare and evaluate players.  Times have changed, and many people believe that the NFL should reduce the pre-season, and add games to the regular season. 

Jordy Nelson and Kelvin Benjamin both sustained non-contact knee injuries, this past week.  Maurkice Pouncey suffered a broken ankle. In the case of Nelson and Benjamin, both injuries happened when planting.  This injury could have occured at any time.  Pouncey was playing in a third of five pre-season games, that the Steelers have this year. Can you blame it on the number of pre-season games?

Hypothetically, if the NFL were to reduce the preseason to two games, and make the regular season 18 games, would it have prevented these injuries?  At some point, the length of the season will come into play.  In this case, maybe it would have been the season opener, for the PIttsburgh Steelers.  Rewind to September 8, 2013. Pouncey was carted off the field with a knee injury.  This was the opening game of the season, and was injured in the first quarter.  Injuries can occur at anytime, contact or no contact.  The only true argument, the injury occured in a game that meant something.  Listen in or call the show with your thoughts.

The World Series is not won in August. However, you must win games in August to make the postseason. The MLB season has around 40 games left for each team.  Besides the Kansas City Royals dominating the AL Central (leading by 14), every other division is within 4.5 games.  Therefore, every game become important in August and September. 

The Wild Card race; in the AL, is intriguing.  There are five teams within four games of the two wild card spots.  The NL wild card race is basically a three team race.  The Pittsburgh Pirates still have hopes of catching the St. Louis Cardinals, for the division title (4.5 games behind).  The Chicago Cubs hold a four game lead over the San Francisco Giants.  The Giants visit Pittsburgh this weekend, which could help position the Giants or send them further back. 

It is also that time of the year to start throwing names in the hat for MVP and Cy Young awards.  Do you think that there are clear cut favorites to win either of these awards? Listen in or call the show with your thoughts.

The Philadelphia Eagles finished 10-6, in 2014.  Leaving them on the outside looking in, when the playoffs started. Chip Kelly made and interesting move, trading away LeSean McCoy.  In return, the Eagles received Kiko Alonso.  He missed all of the 2014 season, with a torn ACL.  The Eagles also released Trent Cole and Cary Williams, in a salary cap move. Then they signed free agent running back DeMarco Murray.  At quarterback, the Eagles devised a trade for often injured Sam Bradford.  Nick Foles, who is recovering from a broken collarbone, head to St. Louis.  Many moves in the off-season, equals many questions for the Eagles.

The Dallas Cowboys lost running back free agent DeMarco Murray, in free agency.  However, they have one of the best offensive lines.  The signed Oakland Raider free agent Darren McFadden, who has had his share of injuries.  In the preseason, he has already been battling a hamstring injury.  The passing combination of Tony Romo to Dez Bryant, will remain intact.  However, the question is how much did the running game help Romo last year. 

Washington is trying to figure out the quarterback situation.  All indications are that Robert Griffen III will get another shot.  He has started both pre-season games.  On the other side, they need to stop people.  As a unit, they allowed 27.4 points per game, in 2014.  This ranked 29th, in the NFL.  Jay Gruden needs to find some answers, on both sides of the ball.  

Eli Manning has not lead the New York Giants to the playoffs, in three years.  However, he wants to be the highest paid quarterback.  Is that a distraction needed before the season? The Giants were 13th in scoring, but had some inconsistent play defensively.  No matter what contract Manning has, they need to find people to protect him.  It could be another long year in New York.

The New England Patriots have been the AFC East Champions for six straight years, and have won 12 of the last 14 dating back to 2001.  In retrospect, the Buffalo Bills have not won the AFC East since 1995.  

The optimisim is high, in Buffalo.  Rex Ryan was dismissed as the New York Jets head coach, and then subsequenltly hired as the Bills head coach.  The Bills did everything on paper to try and compete against the Patriots.  However, it is to be determined if a trade for Matt Cassel is the answer at quarterback.  They picked up dynamic running LeSean McCoy, in a trade with the Philadephia Eagles. They also added Percy Harvin at wide receiver.  

The New England Patriots are coming off of another Super Bowl victory.  However, controversy has surrounded the playoffs, with "Deflate Gate."  Tom Brady was suspended four games, by Roger Goodell.  Brady has brought this case to the court system.  In either case, to be the best you have to beat the best. 

The Miami Dolphins may have signed the biggest free agent, when they signed Ndamukong Suh to a 6 year $114 million contract.  With a progressing Ryan Tannehill, can the Dolphins find a way to overtake the Patriots? They found a formiddle running game, in 2014, that ranked 12th overall, and a passing game that ranked 17th.  

After a preseason fight, the New York Jets will be without Geno Smith.  Was he really the answer?  The Jets are coming off a horrid 4-12 season, where they scored a league low 27 touchdowns (tied with Jacksonville). Usually, the Jets have a sound defense; however, they finished 24th in scoring defense.

Rob Reischel has authored seven books.  He joins the show tonight to talk about his latest, "Leaders of the Pack: Starr, Favre, Rodgers and Why Green Bay's Quarterback Trio is the best in the NFL."  There have been a handful of teams that can boost a trio of quarterbacks.  The Dallas Cowboys had Roger Staubach, Troy Aikman, and Tony Romo. The San Francisco 49ers can boost about Y.A. Title, Joe Montana, and Steve Young. However, the group of quarterbacks in Green Bay could be considered the best of all-time. 

Reischel takes a look back at Starr leading the Packers to the first two Super Bowl victories.  Then he talks about  all of the records that Favre set. Finally, a look at current Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and his rising stock as one of the best, in the NFL. 

When he is not authoring books, he is a Packers contributor to Packers Plus.  He is also the Sports Editor at News Publishing Company, which is a family of newspapers, in Wisconsin.  Listen in and get the latest scoop on the Green Bay Packers.