Members of the Green Bay Packers have become obsessed with a board game called ‘Settlers of Catan.’
For years we heard the legend that was Michael Jordan’s obsession with gambling. On road trips, he would get the team together to do a little gambling to pass the time.
It wasn’t enough for him that he made $30 million a year, he also needed to take a rookie’s money during a cut-throat poker game while on the plane.
Be that as it may, teams need activities to get through those down times on the road. The Beats By Dre time can only suffice for so long.
The Green Bay Packers are not immune to this sentiment. However, they’ve chosen an interesting way to go about it and it seems many players have dove in head first.
According to The Wall Street Journal, players of the Packers have been playing the board game “Settlers of Catan” to pass the time. Some have really taken to this new pastime.
The game involves players trying to build settlements through acquiring resources. Players are given points as they develop these settlements, and the winner is declared once 10 points is achieved.
Green Bay offensive tackle David Bakhtiari is the culprit here. He’s the one that introduced the game to his teammates. Naturally, in this technology-filled world, the game was not a hit initially.
“At first we’re like, ‘What the hell is this? Brick? Wool? What kind of game is this?'” Green Bay center Corey Linsley told The Wall Street Journal.
But then, something interesting happened along the way: they became obsessed.
“We are completely addicted to it, we play it whenever we can,” Packers tight end Justin Perillo said.
Backup quarterback Matt Flynn can back up the reports. He claims even victory celebrations are cut short because of Settlers of Catan.
“I was just trying to play some music—some Pearl Jam—and [Bakhtiari] wouldn’t let me,” Flynn said. “He wanted to hear the players talk and strategize. He was very serious. They take it to a different level.”
Some Packers have even been found slamming the board out of frustration.
With the news of such a seemingly non-relevant story comes the unveiling of a possible issue. Packers fans have often wondered why their team has played so well at home and so miserable on the road.
This season saw Aaron Rodgers and company finish a perfect 8-0 at home in Lambeau Field (9-0 including playoff game against Dallas), but a very average 4-4 on the road.
Could “Settlers of Catan” be the culprit? Are these guys breaking out the game too often on the road?
Russell Wilson and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks hope Bakhtiari and the boys are at it right now, instead of focusing on how to beat that vaunted Seahawks Cover 3 defense.
H/T Bleacher Report
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