An open letter to Packers fans

Jim Baumbach

12:10 PM EST, January 17, 2008

Green Bay Packers fans may be a little wacky, but one thing we can't take away from them is they care passionately about their team. (Getty Images Photo)

Dear loyal Packers fans,

So a Wisconsin father gets arrested this week for forcing his 7-year-old son to wear a Packers jersey - by taping it to him - and I'm thinking these Green Bay folks sure have lightened up.

What happened to the time when fathers taped cheese to their son's heads, as well?

In all honesty, I have great respect for you people of Green Bay, despite the actions of this Packer-crazed father. The deep love you display for your football team is so obvious every Sunday when you show up at Lambeau Field oblivious to the fact that the windchill effect makes it feel like it's 10 below. You're a crazy bunch.

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Giants schedule

• Week 1: Thu., Sep. 4 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.
• Week 2: Sun., Sep. 14 at St. Louis, 1 p.m.
• Week 3: Sun., Sep. 21 vs. Cincinnati, 1 p.m.
• Week 4: Bye week
• Week 5: Sun., Oct. 5 vs. Seattle, 1 p.m.
• Week 6: Mon., Oct. 13 at Cleveland, 8:30 p.m.
• Week 7: Sun., Oct. 19 vs. San Francisco, 1 p.m.
• Week 8: Sun., Oct. 26 at Pittsburgh, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 9: Sun., Nov. 2 vs. Dallas, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 10: Sun., Nov. 9 at Philadelphia, 8:15 p.m.
• Week 11: Sun., Nov. 16 vs. Baltimore, 1 p.m.
• Week 12: Sun., Nov. 23 at Arizona, 4:15 p.m.
• Week 13: Sun., Nov. 30 at Washington, 1 p.m.
• Week 14: Sun., Dec. 7 vs. Philadelphia, 1 p.m.
• Week 15: Sun., Dec. 14 at Dallas, 8:15 p.m.
• Week 16: Sun., Dec. 21 vs. Carolina, 1 p.m.
• Week 17: Sun., Dec. 28 at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Last six games: Times subject to change due to flex schedule.
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Now to all you Packers fans who have e-mailed me this week complaining about the New York media's focus on the weather, please understand just where we are coming from. Last Sunday night the local weathermen called for an overnight storm with 4 to 8 inches of snow, and people here seemingly flocked to supermarkets in droves. Alas, the temperature never fell below freezing, so all we got was a nasty night of rain.

Some storm, huh?

So, Packers fans, cut Giants fans some slack if they arrive in your state this weekend feeling concerned about the cold weather, and the potential negative effect it will have on their quarterback. After months of booing and criticism, Giants fans and Eli Manning are just beginning to form a positive bond. And these fans surely don't want this surprisingly consistent and impressive run to end with a clunker thanks in part to the weather.

A colleague of mine, Mike Casey, did some fine research into Manning's season on Wednesday. He went through each game this season, noted the weather conditions and determined Manning's quarterback rating. As you might imagine, Manning didn't play all that well when the conditions weren't too good.

Two of his worst three games of the season happened in horrific weather. Two of his 15 pass attempts were intercepted during a game in Buffalo last month that resembled a monsoon. And he had more incomplete passes than any quarterback in 40 years in a Sunday night game against the Redskins that had wind gusts strong enough to knock an offensive lineman over. Yes, you can make the case most quarterbacks would have struggled in those conditions. But Giants fans don't have much patience with Eli. So they worry.

According to weather forecasts for this weekend in Green Bay, the wind isn't supposed to be too much of factor. Not yet. But the temperature is slated to be in the single digits. Giants fans can only hope they won't be in a position in which Eli must win the game. Interceptions have been a problem in all types of weather.

Okay, sick of me talking about the cold? I know, I know, you guys live there every day dealing with this. And Brett Favre has thrived in this weather all these years. And this is the homefield advantage you earned.

But, please, go easy on New Yorkers. We're not used to this.

If you see someone wearing a Giants jersey before the game already shivering, don't look the other way. Please just find it in your heart to give them some cheese to wear on their head.

Just, whatever you do, don't tape a jersey on their chest.

Sincerely,

Jim Baumbach

Eli and the cold

A look at Eli Manning's quarterback rating in each game and the weather in the corresponding games.

(Scroll to bottom)

Game	Opp.	Weather	QB Rating
1	at Dallas	Dome	113.1 rating
2	vs. GB	64 degrees	75.5 rating
3	at WAS	82 degrees	63.7 rating
4	vs. PHI	67 degrees	65.4 rating
5	vs. NYJ	81 degrees	86.4 rating
6	at ATL	Dome	87.9 rating
7	vs. SF	69 degrees	78.2 rating
8	at MIA	59 & rainy	44.9 rating
9	vs. DAL	47 degrees	72.7 rating
10	at DET	Dome	100.7 rating
11	vs. MIN	46 degrees	33.8 rating
12	at CHI	46 & windy	63.0 rating
13	at PHI	36 degrees	88.0 rating
14	vs. WAS	36 degrees	51.1 rating
15	at BUF	52 with rain, wind	32.2 rating
16	vs. NE	44 degrees	118.6 rating
WC	at TB	70 degrees	117.1 rating
DIV	at DAL	Dome	132.4 rating