It's no secret that Packers General Manager Ted Thompson believes the way to build an NFL roster is through the draft. In his four-plus years as GM, Thompson has utilized 14 trades to turn 31 picks into 43.  Of those 43 selections, 29 are on the current 80-man roster.

But with the recent departure of former 2nd round pick Brian Brohm to the Buffalo Bills, I was curious to see just how much value the Packers have received from each of their picks. Making the roster is step one. Step two is developing to the point where the draft choice is validated.

I went back an analyzed each of Thompson's drafts and assigned a letter grade to each pick. When grading, I placed heavy emphasis on productivity against the round the player was taken.  For example, as a first round pick (and a top 5) AJ Hawk has been average. Let's say Hawk were a 5th or 6th round pick, he'd liklely grade out as an "A" player.

To reach my final grade for each draft, I simply averaged out all the grades. An "A" and a "C" averages out a "B" in this system. There are some incomplete grades (primarily from this years draft), but if I felt like I've seen enough of a player to grade them, I went ahead and did so.

What was staggering to discover is just how few "A" players the Packers have drafted in Thompson's tenure as GM. I counted five players worthy of such a ranking: Aaron Rodgers, Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, Johnny Jolly, and Clay Matthews. Certainly, this is a fluid process and grades can and will change, but sizing things up today, here's my gradeout for each player that Thompson has drafted. The end result is exactly what can be expected of a team that many consider to be "pretty good". Pretty good can make the playoffs, but rarely advances beyond the first post season game.

Before you read on, please understand that I started doing a similar exercise with Mike Sherman's draft picks but became so infuriated with his mind boggling, franshise compromising picks, that I had to stop before I erupted in a fit of rage. Oh - and as a side note, Thompson doesn't dip into free agent waters too often, but Ryan Pickett, Charles Woodson and Brandon Chillar have all been pretty solid to say the least.

OK - I digress...onward! Feel free to play along at home and grade out your own special way:

Ah, Jeff Falconio and Greg Matzek, such dedicated sports fans that they've decided to spend 24 hours of their lives letting their eyeballs bounce up and down at the sight of a basketball bouncing on a college campus.

Yes, they're taking off of work and everything else in their lives to eat unhealthy food, drink as many energy-filled liquids as possible and attempt to stay up for the entire 24-hour ESPN college basketball marathon.

(According to ESPN's web site, 620WTMJ has twice as many on-air staffers watching all 24 hours as the four-letter-network is devoting to its own project.  Please inform me, ESPN folks, if I'm wrong.)

They're too busy to even post a blog, so ever the team guy for the cause of the Sports Extravaganza, so I, Jay Sorgi, am doing it for them.

Anyways, if you want to pay attention to Jeff and Greg's efforts, and see if they can actually pull off this miracle, check out Jeff and Greg's individual Twitter accounts.  (Click on each college hoops junkie's link.)

E-mail us, by the way, if you're crazy enough to be doing the same thing.

There are a variety of sites on the interweb which offer their take on 'NBA Rookie Player rankings'. Consistent with the majority of these sites is that Bucks rookie PG Brandon Jennings is in the top two. You need not be a fan of the Bucks...or basketball for that matter....to realize that what Jennings has been able to do to start his career is nothing short of remarkable.

"The Zone" is that special place an athlete gets to where everything slows down. With Jennings on the floor, other players seem to stop. The opposition can't stay with him on defense, and the other Bucks on the floor can't help but stop and take notice of how this kid sheds defenses with lightning quickness and surprisingly soft touch. 

We know he's off to a great start for the Bucks; and among his rookie class he's the top dog, but how has Jennings stacked up against some of other notable point guards in the NBA?  The numbers don't lie:

Most remarkable to me about Jennings is not his ability to score, but it's the efficiency at which he does it. His shooting percentages are far above what was anticipated. What doesn't show up in the stats above is how Jennings has been able to carry his team to victory; and how he is able to reach any spot on the floor when he has the ball due to jackrabbit-like quickness. 

Jennings is ushering a new era of play in Milwaukee...one that already has his name mentioned in the same breath as Wilt Chamberlain, Earl Monroe, Rick Barry and Elgin Baylor - the only other players to score 55 points or more as an NBA rookie.

Take notice.

Spooky things happen on daylight savings...and when coupled with Halloween, well, it's just thunderdome.

Case in point: How about a rogue bat harrassing the players and crowd at an NBA game, and Manu Ginobli swatting it out of thin air ala Ralph Macchio.

CLICK HERE FOR STRANGE VIDEO

The start of the 2009-2010 NBA season is upon us, and as in years past, the start of the season coincides with Halloween weekend. In light of this once a year tradition and the start of a fresh NBA season, I thought it pertinent to point out some of the worst costumes…er…uh uniforms in NBA history. There are many lists out there relative to the topic, but this is the only list that should be considered ‘official’.

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According to the New York Daily News undrafted rookie Marcus Landry (Wisconsin) has earned a roster spot with the New York Knicks. In addition, Wesley Matthews (Marquette) is inching closer to doing the same with the Utah Jazz.

The Knicks set their regular season roster four days before it was due to the NBA and the 6'7" Landry, a Milwaukee native (Vincent) who led the Badgers in scoring (12.7) and blocked shots, has made a New York Knicks team desperate for tough, versatile defenders.

In September, Landry literally paid his own way to the Madison Square Garden Training Center to get into workouts with the players and earn an invite to training camp. He was rewarded by being signed as a free agent on September 24th.  Before joining the Knicks, Landry averaged 9.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 21.8 minutes in five games for the Sacramento Kings in the 2009 NBA Summer League.

The versatile 6'5" Matthews, a Madison native (Memorial) was also undrafted, and while the Jazz opted to select Michigan State center Goran Suton with their No. 50 pick in the second round, they were on the phone with Matthews to express their interest before the draft was even over. Suton was waived by the team on October 21st.

Matthews joined the Jazz for summer league play and averaged 6.2 points while shooting 34.8 percent from the floor. While his summer league numbers may have been pedestrian, his relentless practice habits impressed Head Coach Jerry Sloan.

On a related note, the L.A. Clippers waived former Marquette standout guard Jerel McNeal on October 19th.  In two preseason games played with the Clippers, McNeal averaged 3.5 points in 4.5 minutes per game.

OUTLOOK:

The situation looks pretty good for Matthews. One day after cutting three players, the Jazz waived two more trimming their roster to 14. In addition, two of the current roster spots are filled with players who are injured (SG, C.J. Miles; FW, Matt Harpring).

There is the potential that Head Coach Jerry Sloan could still acquire a veteran released from another team which could make Matthews vulnerable, but at least for now, Matthews chances of making the final regular season roster seem pretty good.

Landry should stick with the Knicks for the season, but regular playing time will be tough to come by.  He will be low on the depth chart, but could see some time as the Knicks struggle to find an identity. If Landry expects to see the floor, he'll have to prove his defensive value day in and day out in practice.

Both Landry and Matthews made headlines by remaining in state to play college basketball, but leaving their home cities to do so. Landry left Milwaukee to play for Bo Ryan in Madison, and Matthews left Madison to play for Tom Crean (and eventually Buzz Williams) at Marquette.

Neither passionately loyal fan base can look back at the decisions these two players made and say they made the wrong one. Both players ended up playing in systems where their talents could be maximized, and both played for outstanding coaches. Moreover, both programs have proven the ability to develop players and prepare them for the highest level of competition because at the core of each program is a rock solid foundation: family, work ethic, and a higher power.

Have a comment for Greg? E-mail him at matzek@620wtmj.com

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Wisconsin sports fans - consider yourself fortunate.  Since the turn of the century we have been witness to some great moments in sports from a variety of state teams...

...A Final Four appearance for both Wisconsin and Marquette (along with a couple magical years for UWM).

...The Brewers won the wild card and made a playoff appearance.

...The Packers advanced to an NFC championship game.

...The Admirals and Wave have continued to field championship caliber talent.

Granted, it's been since the Packers championship season in 1996 since fans of Wisconsin sports have seen a championship trophy from one of the major teams, but when any non-Wisconsinite makes an ignorant attempt to beat down Wisconsin sports, you can rattle off the above, or simply explain that, "at least we're not Cleveland."

Cleveland's sports history is defined as being on the wrong end of historic moments in sports beginning with "The". The Catch, The Drive, The Shot, The Fumble...and perhaps in the near future, The Brady Quinn era. The challenge of developing a list of Cleveland's worst sports moments is not finding enough heart breakers...it's figuring out which ones to omit.

Cleveland fans have been waiting since 1964 for the Browns to win a title...since 1948 for the Indians to win a World Series...and while the Cavs have come close, they have never won an NBA Championship. Yet, because Cleveland sports is a tradition; a rite of passage for millions in Northern Ohio, fans wait with baited breath year after year, only to be disgruntled at seasons end (or in the case of the Browns, by week 2...of the preseason). Unfortunately for northern Ohioans, there doesn't appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel.

WHY IT'S NOT GETTING BETTER:

...The Indians purged themselves at the trade deadline, and the fans had to watch Victor Martinez become the most consistent hitter for the Red Sox down the stretch. 

...For the second year in a row, they traded away their best pitcher and it looks like they could be facing each other in a World Series game (C.C. Sabathia of the Yankees versus Cliff Lee of the Phillies).

...The Cleveland Browns just traded away one of  their most talented players before watching that player, Braylon Edwards, catch a touchdown pass for the Jets on Monday Night Football. This merely scratches the surface on the Browns...they are a complete mess.

...And in the ultimate shot to the groin, Lebron James will likely be breaking the heart of millions of Cleveland fans at the end of the season when he takes his act to a team that isn’t saddled with Shaquille O’Neal’s massive contract.

Yes, Cleveland owns bragging rights when it comes to the biggest, longest, worst drought in professional sports championships. If there is one championship title Cleveland can grasp and hold proudly aloft, it's "Most Miserable".

Even their board of tourism video takes a few cracks: watch it here (caution: a foul word is used in this video...but can you blame them?)

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The moment the last seconds ticked off the clock at the Metro and Edward Jones Dome last weekend, the focus has been on the Packers/Vikings matchup. I understand the hype and hysteria that surrounds this game, but think we have all become a little too saturated with it all.

Are you feeling the same way? If so (or even if you're not), I hope this short video can at least divert your attention for a short time and make you laugh...Lord know there will be plenty of anxious moments on Monday.

I present to you, a guy catching a laptop in his butt.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW (totally safe for kids and the workplace)

On second thought, maybe creating a Halloween scene that reenacts Steve McNair's murder scene WASN'T such a great idea. I could see your drunken neighbor doing something this tasteless, but an amusement park? I hope someone lost their job because of this.

Click here to see the awful display.

I hinted at this in the "Our Experts Predict" feature at 620WTMJ.com, but I wanted to flush it out a little more in a blog entry. What can I say, the creative juices are flowing and I need to capitalize on it...never know when they'll flow again.

So, rather than give you a simple Packers/Bengals preview and prediction, I'm gonna spice things up and use album titles to tell the story - that's right, album titles.  The reason for this angle is purely because the Emmy's air on Sunday night (check your local listings). I realize the Emmy's award television greatness, but it always makes me think of the Grammy's.  A bit of a reach I know, but whatever...let's get nuts:

Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will try to open 2-0 for the third straight season Sunday at Lambeau Field, where they will take on a Cincinnati Bengals club that is seeking Rejuvenation (The Meters, 1974) having lost four straight on the road to NFC foes.

The Packers were not sharp offensively in their opener against the Bears - leaving some to wonder What's going On (Marvin Gaye, 1971), but Rodgers was able to hit the Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones, 1971) of Packer WR Greg Jennings in the final minutes to seal the deal and start 1-0. Who's Next (The Who, 1971...wow...1971 was a crazy good year for music)? The sports team equivalent to "Cash For Clunkers", the Cincinnati Bengals.

There are Rumours (Fleetwood Mac, 1975) that with a physically healthy Carson Palmer, and a mentally healthy Chad Ochocinco, This Year's Model (Elvis Costello, 1978) of the Bengals is primed to restore the Mothership Connection (Parliament, 1975) that took them to the playoffs just a few seasons ago. That notion may just be a Siamese Dream (Smashing Pumpkins, 1993) however, after the Bengals stunning 12-7 loss to the Denver Broncos following an 87-yard, Immaculate Collection (Madonna, 1990) by Brandon Stokely off a tipped pass from, Mr. Excitement (Jackie Wilson, 1992), Kyle Orton.

In regards to the Packers, The Blueprint (Jay-Z, 2001) for playing right tackle was not followed by Allen Barbre who allowed two sacks against the Bears in his first NFL start. Despite the frequent Rush Of Blood To The Head (Coldplay, 2002) of Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy told the Packers' official Web site that he is not ready to replace Barbre or any of the starting offensive lineman yet.

Meanwhile, Carson Palmer and the Bengals will be facing Green Bay's newly installed 3-4 defense that has an Appetite For Destruction (Guns 'n Roses, 1987). The scheme worked well last week, as the Packers built The Wall (Pink Floyd, 1979) against Chicago's run game, limiting the Bears to 2.8 yards per carry and forcing Jay Cutler into a Downward Spiral (Nine Inch Nails, 1994) with a career-high four interceptions.

Palmer, who missed 12 games in 2008 after partially tearing a ligament in his right elbow, wasn't Bad (Michael Jackson, 1987), but he wasn't exactly a Ten (Pearl Jam, 1991) going 21 of 33 for 247 yards and two interceptions in week one. He will try to avoid the Natty Dread (Bob Marley and the Wailers, 1974) of Al Harris and show that the Bengals are not Pretenders (the Pretenders, 1980) while leading his team to their first road win versus an NFC club since a 31-16 victory over New Orleans on Nov. 19, 2006.

Packers safety Atari Bigby who had three tackles Sunday, may be unavailable against the Bengals after suffering a knee sprain in week 1. But the Packers have Help (The Beatles, 1965) in the waiting - one of their Toys In The Attic (Aerosmith, 1975), Aaron Rouse or Derrick Martin could start in place of Bigby.

Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco caught five passes for 89 yards in Sunday's loss. He has been The Stranger (Billy Joel, 1977) to the end zone having not caught a touchdown in his last five games. Still, Plastic Ono Band (John Lennon, 1970) said he'd do the "Lambeau Leap" into the stands if he scores Sunday.

Green Bay won 24-10 on Dec. 3, 1995 in the last meeting of the two teams at Lambeau Field; and there's no reason to think there won't be Blood On The Tracks (Bob Dylan, 1975) again when the two teams meet at the Funhouse (The Stooges, 1970) on Sunday.

I have more, but Nevermind (Nirvana, 1991).