Jersey Al Bracco's Sportswriter Profile

Jersey Al Bracco joined November 2008

Syndicated Writer

69,467article reads
Rank: 281
63articles written
Rank: 722
2,225comments written
Rank: 74

About Jersey Al »

A lifetime Green Bay Packer Fan living in the land of the Giants (and Jets).

I am one of the Green Bay Packers Community Leaders on Bleacher Report. Anything you want to discuss, send me a message - I will always respond.

I refuse to write about myself in the third person...

Though relatively new to blogging, writing has always been an interest. Currently, I am the Official Packer Fan voice at www.NFLtouchdown.com, a great site run by Andy Benoit, who has received many accolades for his NFL Draft guides.

My articles also appear on two of the best Green Bay Packer fan sites: Lary Garot's www.Packerchatters.com and Alex Tallitsch's www.Packerslounge.com.

I also maintain my own blog at http://jerseyalgbp.blogspot.com

I consider myself very fortunate that I have been asked to write for these great web sites, and even more fortunate that some of my articles have appeared on foxsports.com and cbssports.com. I have also received mentions from JSonline.com, a top Wisconsin newspaper covering the Packers.

And of course, I love Bleacher Report and all the great interaction between writers. We are a community and need to help and support each other out.

In addition to my Packer fan status, I am also a big fan of what we call "soccer" here in the US, "calcio", futbol" or "football" in other parts of the world. I try to be a fan of the MLS, but it's tough, since I really prefer to watch high-quality soccer. Therefore, I try to catch Champions League games, as well as games from various European leagues (mostly Serie A and EPL). In addition, I support my country's National team, which is also difficult at times.

I've always been a closet soccer fan, but only played the "American" sports, as my Dad would say. Of course, my High School didn't even have a soccer team... I was a fan of the NY Cosmos and the great superstars that played there. I went to many a Cosmos game when they were setting attendance records, putting 75,000 fans in the seats for a soccer game. Pele, Beckenbauer, Alberto, Chinaglia, Birkenheimer, I won't name them all. That, of course, is what spoiled me. How could I ever watch just average soccer after that?

While I wouldn't consider myself a soccer expert, I have become a big fan and ended up coaching youth soccer for 12 years, even leading a Super Y League team one year. So if nothing else, I watched a lot of youth soccer over the last 15 years. Ironically, my very first soccer article, about Landon Donovan and the Men's National Team got picked up and published on foxsports.com.

I have a special fondness for humor articles, sarcasm and tongue-in-cheek stories. Humor is my stress relief.

The Shortlist »

Favorite Athletes

Bart Starr, Willis Reed, Mark Messier, Bret Favre (until he becomes a Viking)
Favorite Sports Teams

Green Bay Packers, Penn State Football, NY Yankees, Rangers and Knicks, Juventus, A.C. Milan, NY Red Bulls
Favorite Coaches

Vince Lombardi, Joe Paterno, Red Holzman
All Time Sports Moment

Messier and Rangers finally win the Cup.
Most Memorable Game Attended

Green Bay vs Seattle - 1/08 playoff game at snowy Lambeau
Most Unbreakable Sports Record

Cal Ripken's consecutive game record
Ruth or Mays?

Ruth
Unitas or Montana?

Starr
Jordan or Russell?

Clyde Frazier
Gretzky or Orr?

Messier
Pele or Maradona?

Pele
Federer or Sampras?

who cares
Tiger or Nicklaus?

golf is not a sport
Petty or Earnhardt?

me on the NJ turnpike
Schumacher or Senna?

Huh?
Pac 10, Big 12, Big 10, SEC, ACC, or Big East?

Big 10 - go PSU!

Latest Articles »

Green Bay-Dallas: Three Reasons To Smile After Packers' Win Over Cowboys

11/18/2009

1398 reads 52 comments 5 likes

Green Bay Packers Coach Mike McCarthy Said What?!?

11/10/2009

2773 reads 105 comments 5 likes

Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings, II: Three Plays Tell the Story

11/06/2009

1093 reads 13 comments 1 likes

Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings: The History, the Rivalry and Favre

10/30/2009

1203 reads 39 comments 7 likes

View Jersey Al's full archive »

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bret favre commented on Green Bay-Dallas: Three Reasons To Smile After Packers' Win Over Cowboys

No reason to smile. I still smoked you guys twice. Don't forget that.

Tanner Thoms said...

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Just finished my latest, updated mock draft. Would love your opinion on the picks. Let me know what you like/dislike on it. Thanks!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/294588-nfl-2010-mock-draft-rounds-1-3#page/37

- Tanner

1 day ago

James Southerton said...

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So that's what a "short" message from James looks like...

You should see how much I can type after a few pale ales! :)

Thanks for the response - take care, Al!

2 days ago

Jerome Harrison said...

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Fair enough Al. There's a reason people want you to post on their sites. You do great work...keep it up!

Go Pack!

-Jerome

2 days ago

James Southerton said...

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Al,

Nice article on last week's game. I'm not a coach or a tremendous X's and O's guy, so your analysis is much appreciated.

You mentioned the running game as a positive in last week's game. When you get the chance, I would like to hear about your thoughts on what Green Bay should do with the future of our running game.

I'm going on philosophy here, and I could get quite wordy, but I'll try to keep it short.

My thoughts are to draft a huge offensive line (like the Cowgirls of the 90's), and get a really solid (big) back who doesn't fumble often. (I know - easier said than done.)

I just think that in Green Bay (in December and hopefully in January) if we TRULY want "home field advantage," that kind of power running game, along with an aggressive Capers-like defense, could be the ticket to perennial success. Big receivers would be nice, too.

I know that cold and snowy Denver had the zone-blocking scheme in the late '90's, but I think that was the exception. (Their smaller "athletic" guys really WERE "athletic." Don't know if TT would draft O-linemen in the first three rounds and flip the bill for guys like them.)

Teams should be built to their environment or surroundings, in my opinion.

The Kurt Warner-led Saint Louis Rams (still call them the Cardinals) had a track team built for domes and carpet. Worked for them . . . indoors. Pretty much the same thing with Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts (still call them Baltimore).

With cold, windy, muddy, snowy Green Bay, however, I think we should ideally build a power team like the St*****s. They always seem to to have a chance, and I think it is because they are built for their conditions.

I have loved watching Green Bay over the years pass the ball all over the field, and that is an incredible weapon in many situations. However, I don't see that type of football consistantly winning championships - especially in outdoor, cold, windy stadiums. We won in '96-'97 with a really solid running game. Edgar Bennett and Dorsey Levens were not great, but they were good and tough. Both were GREAT "mudders" too.

In comparison, in 2008, we eventually asked Brett to win or lose (still hurts) for us against the G****s in HORRIFIC conditions. It didn't work (REALLY hurts to say that). Our running philosophy didn't come close to working in that weather. Neither did our passing game. I know that the G****s had big passing plays, but their running plays and passing plays were well-balanced.

Remember, we killed them at Giants stadium that year (early) in decent weather, but they came into our house in January and . . .

So . . . if TT and MM are still around after this year, what are your thoughts about scrapping the "zone-blocking" scheme with the smaller "athletic" guys, and going with the big "smash-mouth" type guys? Let's get a running back like Mendenhall for the St*****s or Jacobs for the G****s. TT wouldn't necessarily have to break the bank on a guy like this. Perahps get a little guy to change it up a bit, too - a guy LIKE Sproles or Dunn who can hide behind the big guys.

This would open up the passing game and give us a more balanced attack. Periodic slants to big receivers could move the chains. Rogers wouldn't feel the unbelievable pressure (physically and mentally) that he has right now. That pressure eventually became too much for #4. (How Rodgers has held up as well as he has thus far is amazing to me - that includes, of course, last year's drama.)

I guess I said that I was going to try to make this short - sorry. Anyway, give me a reply when you get the chance sometime. I know that you probably have other articles going on right now, so please feel no rush for a reply. Heck - you might want to even wait 'til April before the draft.

I can handle a difference of opinion with the best of them, so let me have it if you think I'm crazy with these opinions. I look forward to Your Excellency's opinion.

Thanks,
Jamie Southerton

2 days ago

JW Nix said...

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tell me your thoughts :

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/292018-time-to-stop-pandering-to-quarterbacks-and-suspend-brady-quinn

4 days ago

Jerome Harrison said...

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Hey Al I love reading your articles on the Packers! Definitely turned things around with the win today.

I also wanted to invite you to post on my new site, www.wiscosotasports.com. I am still getting the site all worked out, but it is a Wisconsin and Minnesota sports fan community that covers all the major sports teams in both states.

The Packers happen to be the biggest focus of the site, and the quality of your coverage of the Packers could only improve the site.

So if you are interested in also posting your articles on WiscoSota, please let me know, we would love to have you on board!

Jerome Harrison
jeromefharrison@gmail.com
www.wiscosotasports.com

5 days ago

y5nthon5a said...

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...So, what do you think we should do with Kampman? Let him start next game? I bet he will, sadly, even though Brad Jones was making some plays. Defense played by far its best game this season and last season...

And Rodgers looked poised in the pocket even though he was sacked 4 times.... I really liked what they did.

6 days ago

Alex Johnson said...

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Pats/Colts, Brady vs. Manning, a possible NFC upset and much much more in Week 10!!!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/290840-sunday-morning-under-the-helmet-what-to-watch-for-in-nfl-week-ten/show_full

6 days ago

Jackson Dworak said...

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/288859-grab-the-power-tools-there-is-a-lot-of-work-to-be-done-in-green-bay

9 days ago

JW Nix said...

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I HAD to get this rant out :

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/288641-the-redskins-discover-their-problem-no-testicles

9 days ago

Ray Tannock said...

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An Article/rant that was sparked by ongoing revelations thanks to the USA today. you don't have to agree with me and I'll probably alienate myself a bit in the College sports section of Bleacher, but this is an important subject. Please support when you have some free time, Thanks, Ray!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/288158-whats-more-important-america-college-football-or-a-college-education?just_published=1

10 days ago

Craig Santucci said...

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Looks grim for GMEN!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/287454-truth-be-told-the-new-york-giants-franchise-is-a-sleep

11 days ago

Tony Tucker said...

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Will the Packers make the playoffs? Packers were one of three NFC teams that cost themselves a shot at the post season.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/286959-falling-down-the-yellow-brick-road-giants-niners-packers-oh-my

peace - T

12 days ago

Isaac Barrow said...

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The Ravens lost a heartbreaker to the Bengals today, 17-7. I write about the three positives and negatives at the halfway point, and examine why the Ravens are still in good shape going forward to earn the 5th or 6th WC spot.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/286684-ravens-lets-look-in-the-mirror-and-rebound?just_published=1

13 days ago