Past and present members of a legendary football franchise meet a legendary Northwoods mascot. From left, are Mark Murphy, Ahman Green, Brett Hundley, Aaron Ripkowski, Jake Ryan and Ryan Longwell.

BY KEVIN BONESKE
RHINELANDER STAR JOURNAL

The Green Bay Packers Tailgate Tour bus cruised into Rhinelander on Fri., April 7, when some Packer players past and present made a visit along with team President/CEO Mark Murphy.

Alumni Ahman Green – the Packers all-time rushing leader – signs a football for a fan at Mulligans restaurant during the VIP Tailgate Tour event.

The stop in Rhinelander was fourth of five for the week, which wrapped up Sat., April 8, in Iron Mountain, Mich.
Packers Tailgate Tour celebrities on hand for the Rhinelander visit included Murphy with three current players – backup quarterback Brett Hundley, fullback Aaron Ripkowski and linebacker Jake Ryan – and a pair of Packers alumni – running back Ahman Green and kicker Ryan Longwell.

Fullback Aaron Ripkowski and quarterback Brett Hundley toss mini footballs into the crowd at RHS.

The tour stopped at the Northwood Golf Course for a private dinner at Mulligan’s Restaurant before posing for pictures with the Hodag statute in front of the Rhinelander Area Chamber of Commerce building. The tour then traveled along Brown Street – escorted by police and fire department vehicles – on the way to Rhinelander High School for a tailgate party with hundreds of fans on hand.

Jake Ryan smiles as he signs, with Brett Hundley in the foreground.

Tour members took the stage set up in the Jim Miazga Community Gymnasium to speak to the crowd and also fielded questions from the audience.

The Tailgate Tour bus came into town via Brown Street, on the way to Rhinelander High School.

Given that two running backs on the Packers roster last season – Eddie Lacy and James Starks – won’t be playing for the green and gold in 2017, Green was asked whether he would consider making a return to the team.

Packer fans come in all sizes. Braylee Karaba was ready to meet the players.

“You’ve got to talk to my wife about it,” Green quipped. “Right now, she’s very happy with me being home most of the time and not getting all beat up.”

This young boy won’t be held back by pesky things like traffic cones.

After the question-and-answer session concluded with souvenir mini footballs being throw into the crowd, the fans waiting in line were able to get autographs from the tour members.

Ahman Green signs the jersey of a fan in Rhinelander High School on Fri., April 7.

The event in Rhinelander – which last hosted the tour in 2010, leading up to the season when the Packers last won the Super Bowl – also served as a fund-raiser for the Northwoods Alliance for Temporary Housing.

Fans at the VIP event at Mulligan’s Restaurant had a chance to mingle with the players.