S.O.S. from 1265 Lombardi Ave.

What would it really take for Snotap’s first superstar and local celebrity to come out of work sabbatical? One would think a Packers team riding high into the playoffs ready to enter the tournament healthy and playing well in all three phases of the game. Only if that was oh so true at this moment…

With my life tied away in the corridor of Northeast Ohio and more specifically the Cleveland bar scene when time allows, I have never felt more separated from my favorite sports team of all-time. One would think Snotap’s founder and CEO Charlie Tritschler just picked up the phone asking me to deluge on the state of 1265 Lombardi Ave. with my response unfolding like this:

( One love Chuck, we can only dream of situations of that magnitude)

For whatever it is worth, I did not put a call into Ohio's chapter of the Logan Thomas fan club, but I am glad to see Murph writing again - CT 

As well documented, Green Bay Packers have lost three straight games for the first time since 2008, when they were midst of their first full season since 1991 without the messiah himself, Brett Lorenzo Favre. Packers that year went 6-10, Mike McCarthy and Aaron Rodgers only sub .500 season paired together and after their bye week, they lost seven of nine. This included two losses at home after Thanksgiving to the juggernauts that are Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers. 

Since then all the Packers and their mustache ringleader Aaron Rodgers have done is take the league by storm offensively, winning the Super Bowl in 2010 after clinching a wild card birth. Then followed it up with a 15-1 regular season campaign that I will refuse to rehash the ending and then a historically embarrassing postseason loss to the 49ers. 

Growing up an anti-Badger football fan has had me making jokes about Wisconsin quarterbacks since dial-up Internet existed. I have in recent years had to eat crow since the “Godfather” Barry Alvarez lured Russell Wilson to the capitol. Regardless, even imagining the likes of Scott Tolzien being other than practice squad mule for the "Green and Gold" seemed unthinkable.

A year ago, I spent my Tuesday nights transcribing for one of the more entertaining media member-player programs in the nation; now I find myself trying to fend off Cleveland Browns diehards whom are amused by me dealing with quarterback issues. With the Packers similar to most NFL teams, the injury status of “12” has been in doubt and unavailable since an odd Monday to begin November, in which they were poised to make a run in the NFC.

Heading into Week 12, the Packers face an almost do or die NFC North matchup vs. the helpless  Minnesota Vikings, parlayed with my least favorite matchup of the year; Detroit for Thanksgiving. I mean what American let alone NFL millionaires would enjoy spending Turkey Day in the nation's most depressing city.  The Packers need momentum and a victory in the worst way.

In the past weeks I have thrown almost every superstition of mine out the door, even falling to the lowest of lows and throwing the Green Bay in a three-team teaser in Week 11 (Which I lost two of three). Tolzien has looked like any other Badger quarterback over the last 20 years not named Russell Wilson. Sunday, he needs to forget all of that and just pinch himself and realize no one ever gets the chance to start for their childhood team. Running out to 75,000 screaming, drunk, blaze orange-downing Wisconsinites as the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers only happens in pastures in Waupun during imaginary games.

If the Packers defense ever needed to shut Adrian Peterson down one more time in Lambeau, Sunday would be an ample time to show up.  Tolzien just needs to manage this game in hope of literally throwing the reigns to Rodgers four day later for the unofficial NFC North Championship game.

For what it's worth I'm Tolzien in a fantasy matchup this week, go Scotty go?

Until next time Packer Nation is in disarray or I’m in New York celebrating in the city Eli owns.

- Nolan Murphy