Welcome to the Neighborhood

I can't think of a better way to start the first post of this blog than with the intro the legendary Fred Rogers became known for "It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood..."

My partner on this project Josh Burton and I are both lifelong Green Bay fans, our families bleed Green and Gold and I thought I'd start this thing out by giving you guys some perspective on where I come from as a Packer fan.

My grandfather was originally from Milwaukee and you could say he was a Packer fan, although the years he spent buying me Chicago Bears' attire for my birthday as a running joke on my Dad would say differently, and my Father inherited this fandom from him.

My Dad came along at an unfortunate time in Packer history. He was too young to truly experience the glory days of Bart Starr, Jim Taylor, and the many other stars of the Lombardi era but instead grew up with Packer "legends" like Dan Devine and Lynn Dickey. I'm not sure he ever really had a Packer "hero" as a kid. The 70's and 80's were mostly lean years in Green Bay including the terror of having to watch the Bears hoist the trophy named after OUR legendary coach in 1985.

I was born in 1992 which just happened to coincide with the resurgence in Green Bay and maybe the greatest Packer ever coming into the fold. I mentioned my Dad never really had a Packer hero but then along came Brett Favre. He was my father's hero and my father was my hero so the love that we shared for the Packers and Favre just kind of made sense and it's something we've bonded over ever since.

Many of my earliest memories are watching games with my Dad whether it was the win over the New England Patriots in Superbowl 31 or the heartbreaking loss to the Broncos the following season in Super Bowl 32. I remember holiday dinners moved to the living room to watch a Green Bay game. I remember tears shed over heartbreaking losses (4th and 26, the interception, the onside kick, etc...) and triumphant victories (Super Bowl 45).

I say all of this to say that out of all the teams throughout sports that I consider myself a "fan" of, there is something special about my connection to the Packers and I genuinely hope that comes through in the coverage I bring to you guys this season.

Over the next week or so before the season gets started, Josh and I will be bringing you all the news and notes you need to get ready for kickoff including our season previews, potential breakout players, and more.

Welcome to Mr. Rodgers' Neighborhood!!!