In Green Bay, Richard Ryman notes Vikings-Packers on Saturday at Lambeau Field "isn't as attractive as it was three days ago," with Packers QB Aaron Rodgers now on IR for the rest of the season. It is "going to be cold, snow-covered, and the Packers for the first time in nine years are not on their way to the playoffs." Ryman also notes the game will be nationally televised on NBC and kick off at 8:30pm ET. The average "lowest get-in price, based on a survey of eight secondary-market ticket brokers, was $112 on Tuesday, down from $145 last week." The price "might keep dropping" with Rodgers out (GREEN BAY PRESS-GAZETTE, 12/20).
SPEND WISELY: In N.Y., Brian Costello notes the Jets are "projected to have" more than $80M in cap space to "spend this offseason." This is GM Mike Maccagnan’s chance to "add an influx of talent to a roster that has plenty of holes." But should fans "trust him to find the answers?" Maccagnan has "shown he can identify talent, but, oddly, he usually does better on the small-ticket items than the big-ticket ones" (N.Y. POST, 12/20).
NUMBERS GAME? THE ATHLETIC's Travis Sawchik writes it is "folly" that the Browns and NFL should "not embrace analytics" after the team fired Exec VP/Football Operations Sashi Brown. Analytics is "not a magic pill, it is a tool" (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/20). ESPN.com's Pat McManamon notes Browns GM John Dorsey has "discussed how analytics fit in football" with Chief Strategy Officer Paul DePodesta. But Dorsey said that he "believes that in the NFL it should be" 85% scouting and 15% analytics. He said that he "believes there can be a place for analytics 'if it's used right'" (ESPN.com, 12/20).
