WHAT HE SAID,,AND GO PACK NEXT YEAR

Al, I will agree with you that they are a pass first team, but just look at the season that you are analyzing. In the beginning of the year, when they were last in the league in rushing, they were squeaking out wins. When Grant emerged, they dominated teams. They had some breaks early that they capitalized on that they simply didn’t do against the Giants…Favre included. That being said, in poor conditions like that game, its that much harder to throw the ball all over and win. Yes, they still could have and still should have, but Favre could have played the exact same game he did and if anyone else on the team had stepped up when their opportunity arose {Martin’s drop at the 10, Collins roughing the kicker, Harris’ pass interference, Bush falling on the ball} among others then you are probably looking at a team that wins that game even with 29 yds rushing!
The point being that everything else being equal that you are now wanting to hand over a team to an unproven commodity from a quarterback who was 2nd in the MVP balloting over an entire SEASON, and with anybody else on the team making a play is a Super Bowl quarterback. Now don’t get me wrong Rodgers played extremely well, and I like the Packers’ future with him, but he has played 2 halves of football. Todd Collins looked awfully good for the Redskins down the stretch, but I don’t think they are confusing him with Joe Theisman. Another thing of note with Rodgers, just because they aren’t using him now doesn’t mean he is being wasted. Quarterbacks can play for a long, long time {Testeverde} and all this means is that he is not getting beaten on while he is maturing. Also ask yourself how good would Rodgers have looked at the beginning of the year with Deshawn Wynn in the backfield? I’m not saying he would suck, but Favre did succeed in those games. They have a ton of money to re-sign him, the ONLY concern is if he wants to. So why not try to have your cake and eat it to. This is a young team that has a few holes to fill and money to fill them. They also have very few free agents over these next 2 seasons. They can win now, and be a contender in the future. I do have to say that I think the argument that Favre can’t win the “big game” anymore is silly. As I said before, that was said about Manning {Peyton and Eli}, Young, Elway, etc. Tom Brady, quite frankly, looked awful throughout the playoffs, but I don’t think New England is looking to replace him.
As for your worries about troubles next year, like the Bears, I live in Chicago and I see them all of the time. They were a team that got progressively worse during their Super Bowl run. The second half of the season they were middle of the pack, or below, across the board. Their problems are front office related. They have a quarterback, that they devote themselves to, who, in his best season, was dubbed as the potentially the worst quarterback to take his team to the Super Bowl before the game was even played. They had the oldest o-line in football, let their top rusher go for another unproven back, and had a defense that is only successful when they get turnovers, which they didn’t do this year. They overpay for marginal talent{Muhammed, Archuletta}, which then costs them the ability to keep who they need to {Briggs, Boone, Harris}. I just don’t see these issues with the Packers, but with injuries and such, anything can happen. I think I am done now…..sorry

Let’s also remember that the Pack is the youngest team in the league and all their players are under contract for some time. From an overall team perspective the Packers improve their team next year whether Favre is the starter or Rodgers is the starter. Not saying Rodgers is better just saying this young team improves in so many areas next season that their still a better team even with a drop off at QB. The Pack is a few moves away on defense from having top 5 defense or maybe even #1. Ted Thompson will make those moves happen just like he made every other move happen throughout the 4-12 to the 8-8 to the 13-3 season. Thompson may not make every move people want him to make but in the end he does it the right way and get’s the job done. The Packers are a better team next season and a Superbowl contender.

Statistics can be manipulated in some many ways that the only reliable way to judge play is to watch the tape. That is how Thompson makes solid acquisitions. I caution anyone that gets too attached to the numbers.

I agree with Al. I think Favre should be asked to retire or traded. I personally prefer players that play smart and Favre has not done that for a number of years. It’s my opinion that he made bad decisions in big games this season, which a player playing smart would not have made. I do not believe throwing to a covered receiver when three other receivers are wide open, is smart. This is shot illustrates man people’s opinion about Favre. http://www.profootballtalk.com/FavreThrow.jpg

I also question Favre’s leadership the past few years. There have been some stories reported about Favre being aloof and callous towards Jennings, Rodgers and I speculate others. Maybe the youth of the team has passed him by, not his age.

I think Rodgers will be a fine quarterback. It is time to let him play and assess our future options.

Al,
Again thanks for the site.

Matt,

Deciding to retire or trade Favre based on that photograph is as ridiculous as Admin Al suggesting that 29 yards rushing is all that is to be expected of a West Coast Offense (see my response to Admin Al above).

Indeed, this photograph is meaningless for at least two important reasons:

1. It is NOT from field level; hence it does NOT depict what Favre could see or should have seen.

2. It shows Favre’s right arm – he’s right handed, in case you didn’t know – DOWN, meaning the ball was released some time BEFORE this photograph was taken, meaning the decision whether to throw, and to whom to throw, was made BEFORE this photograph was taken; hence it does not depict the field at the moment Favre decided whether to throw and to whom to throw.

For these reasons, the photograph does NOT support your claim that Favre “threw to a covered receiver when three other receivers were wide open”.

On the contrary, the photograph itself clearly shows that Favre’s intended receiver (deep right) was OPEN at the moment the photograph was taken. Based on this photograph, then, the most that can be said is that Favre MISSED THE THROW. But that’s a PHYSICAL mistake, not a MENTAL mistake as you and the Favre haters suggest.

As such, it is you and the Favre haters who are “manipulating” this photograph by claiming it shows something it just doesn’t show.

That Green bay rushed for only 29 yards against the Giants, on the other hand, is a STATISTICAL FACT, not a “manipulation”.

There is a back/TE on a safety release. A quick lob like we have seen so many times in the past to Ahman Green would have diffused the blitz. Or even throwing it away would have been smart. Smart players don’t commit turnovers, especially in defining moments. That was the defining moment in that game. It’s really that simple.

I suppose all of you were TT haters and MM haters until you saw the results………. You can flip-flop when things improve…

2008: I really don’t think the Packers would have beaten the Patriots (not Cheatriots) if they were in the Super Bowl. The Giants defense had tremendous focus and veteran leadership on the defensive line. This translates into consistent play at a really high level. It is so difficult to stop the run and sack the passer. It really takes it out of you, and credit should be given to the Giants defense.

With that in mind, I think the Packers will benefit the most from reflecting on their season and maturing in the months to come. I think they have seen how to play consistent football when it matters most. Their defensive line has to continue to grow and improve their technique, while D-line players have to realize that they may be called on to play the entire game and cannot allow their play to slip. The offensive line seems to be more comfortable with the back-side cut blocks this year. Clifton and Tauscher seemed to improve in that area.

Acquisitions: The team may need to acquire an offensive guard with a pugnacious temperament. It may be that Colledge isn’t tough enough. However, it is remembering that offensive linemen take a few years to fully develop. Other Packer O-linemen of the past have taken a few years. At least they are excellent pass blockers.

I think they decide the longevity of Frank’s career. Is his time up? But it seems that he’s another pretty good player that just isn’t very consistent. Finding another TE might be a priority. Although they are hard to come by late in the draft.

Corner is another area I would straighten, however I like Tramon Williams and I would not use a high draft choice or an impact free agent, only to sit him on the bench. I think some more 4-6th round draft picks to compete would be best.

I would draft a late round safety to possibly push Collins to improve. I don’t think he is coming close to fulfilling his potential.

I would also draft quality offensive and defensive lineman. They really are the key to the team. Defensive lineman are really key and you can’t pass on a good one. One or two offensive linemen to push someone out of the mix would maximize the play of the others.

Then I would draft a low round QB. It is time to prepare.

matt,

I agree with you about drafting a QB late, Ron Wolf always drafted one in later rounds and many of them stuck around a while, they are always worth a shot.

Matt, I agree with you about Collins Colledge. Although, I like what I saw out of Rouse. I also agree on corner, but I think that going and getting proven players for those spots might be best. Faneca is a FA. I don’t know if he can do zone blocking. I just think with the position they are in, and the money they have, why not get someone who can do it right now, ala Dotson, Robinson. As for corner, how about Samuel. He is a FA. He’s a great corner, and young, and for maybe 2 years they have 3 of the top corners in the game. Corners also last a long time. You are right, he could have dumped the ball off to the back, but by NFL standards, Driver is open. It was A bad throw, in horrible conditions that was off by 3 ft. Who knows maybe he slipped . just a little, when he threw it, or maybe his footing wasn’t quite solid as he planted. The throw was bad for whatever reason, not the decision.

Sorry to keep adding, but this “defining moments” stuff infuriates me. Manning threw a pick in the end zone against the Chargers, Harrison fumbled at the 5. Brady missed an open Moss with 20 seconds left in the Super Bowl, Thurman thomas forgot his helmet and then fumbled in the Super Bowl, Elway threw a pick in the end zone against Green Bay, Bettis coughed it up in the championship game at the 1, only to get saved by Rothleswhatever. These are all hall-of -famers, either now or future, who failed in “defining moments”. In some of them their TEAM picked them up and in some of them the TEAM didn’t. The PACKERS didn’t make enough plays to win that game…thats it.

Why don’t you let go of the one bad throw that lost the game? The Giants had 4 3rd downs and 1 4th converted by penalties in the third quarter alone. That and our inability to fall on two fumbles lost the game to the Giants. The Patriots lost to the Giants because they couldn’t hold on to 2 easy interceptions. Tough breaks, but that’s life. For eight weeks teams took away the run and the Packers beat seven of them–and should have beat the Bears. I don’t get your point. Favre is hardly the weak link. The fallacy of your logic is the notion that playing Rodgers now will make us better in 5 years. In 5 years we won’t have Al Harris, Charles Woodson, Donald Driver and several others will be past their prime. The difference between us and Chicago is that we are younger getting better with a core of veterans and they experienced getting worse with a core of veterans. Brett will play 1 more year–maybe. I’d take him over Aaron (who I like a lot) for one more year. That gives Aaron 4 more to make us better.

I was actually referring to Matt’s comments, but anyone who thinks that Favre is the only big time player who makes some mistakes at big time moments will do. Yes Al it is a tough business, and the Pats are quite irritated I’m sure, but I am also pretty sure they aren’t going to show Brady the door after his playoff performance this year

Admin Al says: “I’ll be pleased when the Lombardi Trophy comes home. Do you think the Patriots are pleased with 18-1?”

No. But they’re not calling for Brady’s head, either, despite his lackluster Super Bowl performance and his post-season quarterback rating lower than Favre’s:

FINAL 2007 NFL POST-SEASON QUARTERBACK RATINGS

Brett Favre 99.0
Peyton Manning 97.7
Tom Brady 96.0
Eli Manning 95.7
Philip Rivers 85.8
Ben Roethlisberger 79.2
David Garrard 77.5
Matt Hasselbeck 76.6
Todd Collins 69.2
Tony Romo 64.7
Jeff Garcia 60.5
Vince Young 53.5

Also, the good thing about that silly photograph that Matt linked to is that, as the objective people on this forum have observed, it clearly shows that Favre’s intended receiver – deep right – was OPEN and that the MOST that can be said is that Favre MISSED THE THROW.

But MISSING A THROW is a PHYSICAL mistake, not the MENTAL mistake Admin Al and the Favre Haters want to lay on Favre.

Too bad Admin Al and the Favre Haters don’t have the integrity to admit that what Favre did was make a physical mistake and miss an open receiver. Why is that so hard to admit, Al?

Indeed it says much about Admin Al and the Favre Haters that they want Favre retired for that single physical mistake but have been mum about the multitude of physical mistakes committed by Al Harris covering Plaxico Burress (11 receptions, 154 yards).

Yeah; keep Harris; get rid of Favre; geniuses, all of you, I tell you.

The stats merely illustrated that Favre competed on a level with Brady, and both Mannings. We ALL want the trophy. You think we have a better chance getting it with Rodgers in there rather than Favre. We all disagree.

If you are looking at 2009 or 2010, you need to get Rodgers in the game.

I’d trade a superbowl victory in 2008 for both 2009 and 2010, heck I’ll even throw in another 8 years, just for kicks.

Favre gives a very good team their best chance to win a superbowl in 2008.
Rodgers is the great unknown – maybe he’s Steve Young, maybe he’s Brain Griese.

I’d say next season is the best opportunity we’ve had to win it all in the last decade, since Holmgren screwed us and went on a power trip to Seattle. And it may be our best chance in the next decade, too – only time will tell.

What I do know is that we were on the verge of winning it all this year and should be there (barring injury) again next year. The window is open – we have to go for it NOW! Favre gives us the best chance to win (he was the runner-up MVP for cripes sake)! To mortgage next year and “develop Rodgers”, in the name of the future makes no sense at all, since Lombardi trophies are so rare. Last time I checked, we’ve only got 3 and have a great chance to get #4, next year with #4. EVERYTHING else doesn’t really matter…

Everyone has their opionion but there is really only one way the Favre thing is going to happen. He is going to retire when he feels like it. Thompson has already said Favre will play for the Pack as long as he wants to. They won’t trade or cut him, you can’t do that with a legend there would be too much fallout from it.

Now it would be nice if some of you guys would stop disrespecting each other by calling people “Favre haters” or sarcastically calling Al “Admin Al” at his own place here on Packernet. Some of you guys show no class what so ever.

Nobody hates Favre. Just because someone as an opinion that he should retire doesn’t mean they hate him and just because someone has a different opinion than you does’t mean you need to start name calling or get upset. Don’t be surprised when people have different opinions than you.

It’s Al who puts out his opinions and lets us on for free–thanks Al. If he can’t take it, he should close down the blog. I think he secretly enjoys it. As for you, Paul. Faneca isn’t coming to Green Bay. Briggs? Same as Faneca. Why pony up the coin? They’re great players but like Al says, we’re looking 5 years down the road. Immediate difference makers–in our schemes? Probably not as big as where they just played. Who are we sitting? Brady? AJ? We play nickle half the time as it is. Pacman is intriguing, but no thanks. We can’t cure everybody! Another great corner would make us impregnable, however. That and a healthy power back.

Quick . . . someone set this sports writer straight that Elway is GOD, not SIXTH:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/football/nfl/stories/021008dnspocowlishaw.3a0e2fd.html

Lare,

You’re so smart!

Yeah . . . Favre had the highest “postseason” quarterback rating in the NFL because of his poor “postseason performance” . . . that makes sense.

And, Green Bay rushing for 29 total yards against the Giants, at home, in conditions that called for a running game, had NOTHING to do with Green Bay not going to the Super Bowl . . . that makes sense, too.

You better believe you can forget the Bears ! They are done ! They are clearly the worst team in the division. Packers will control this division for the next 4 years.

Ryan Grant was running the ball down people’s throats since week 8 in the west coast offense.