woodbuck27
07-28-2006, 02:20 PM
FROM: PACKERNET
Woe is the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are about to open training camp and if you listen to the national media, you have to wonder why even bother? The Packers are pretty much ranked as the worst team in the NFL destined to a 3-13 or 4-12 season. They don't have an offense, a defense, or special teams. Their quarterback is washed up and the defense works with mirrors.
It is really amazing how a guy who works in Boston or New York or L.A. and sees maybe one Packer game a year can come to these conclusions. It's like me writing a column on NBA basketball. I watch a couple of games a year, so I'm qualified as media expert. Well, the Packers will get there revenge. In a weak NFC North division, the Packers are clearly in the mix. Here are my reasons why.
The Chicago Bears.
The mighty Bears are defending division champs who got whipped in their own stadium in the first round of the playoffs. The Carolina Panthers shredded their vaunted defense. The Bears were so concerned about that loss that in an attempt to get better they did nothing. That's right. Nothing! The Bears return all 22 starters from a mediocre team. In this day and age, if you are returning 22 starters you are losing ground. Even Super Bowl champions have new starters each year. The Bears are about to learn a lesson. I won't even get into their draft because they didn't really participate. If you are not getting better you are getting worse. The Bears are getting worse.
The Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings have a chance to be competitive, but a lack of a quarterback will doom them in the end. Brad Johnson is older than Brett Favre for crumps sakes! Johnson can throw a mean screen, however, so the Vikings should be able to get some yards on third and long. They don't have a running game and the defense was horrible last year. Former Packer Darren Sharper made is annual three big plays mixed amongst mistakes, injuries, and missed tackles. The addition of Ryan "it was the holder" Longwell only adds to the Vikings problems.
The Detroit Lions.
What a proud franchise. Their general manager Matt Millen couldn't spell "win" if you spotted him the "w" and the "n." How this guy still has a job is beyond pretty much everybody in the NFL. The only thing worse than the firing of Wayne Fontes was the hiring of Millen. This guy has run the franchise into the ground and now his hopes lie in a former defensive line coach who wasn't considered head coaching material by any of the other teams looking for a head coach last offseason. Rod Marinelli? Good luck with that one. The players already complained about his drill sergeant approach that got the team penalized by the NFL for offseason practice activities.
The Green Bay Packers.
The Packers clearly have the best quarterback in the division, last season not withstanding. Favre still has the arm and ability, but like any great player, he needs players around him. He didn't go to two Super Bowls with third-string players around him like he had last year. Favre will have a good season this year and 30 touchdown passes are distinct possibility again.
The Packers will have an improved running game because of the emphasis of the new coaching staff and reinstatement of the basic West Coast offense that Favre excelled in earlier in his career. The last few years under head coach Mike Sherman Favre pretty much called the shots, from the offseason to the practice field to the game. That all changed when Mike McCarthy took over and the fact that Favre still wanted to come back says much about his will to win. If he stays healthy for the whole season for remarkable 15th time in a row, the Packers will return to the playoffs.
Last year the Bears' defense finished second in the NFL and on a downslide, the Packers finished seventh in the NFL and climbing. In the offseason the Packers improved at defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback. That gap has been closed.
I predict the Packers will win at least 10 games this year and win the division title. Alright, let me have it.
By Al Davis
Email Me at: mailto:packernet@gmail.com
Woe is the Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are about to open training camp and if you listen to the national media, you have to wonder why even bother? The Packers are pretty much ranked as the worst team in the NFL destined to a 3-13 or 4-12 season. They don't have an offense, a defense, or special teams. Their quarterback is washed up and the defense works with mirrors.
It is really amazing how a guy who works in Boston or New York or L.A. and sees maybe one Packer game a year can come to these conclusions. It's like me writing a column on NBA basketball. I watch a couple of games a year, so I'm qualified as media expert. Well, the Packers will get there revenge. In a weak NFC North division, the Packers are clearly in the mix. Here are my reasons why.
The Chicago Bears.
The mighty Bears are defending division champs who got whipped in their own stadium in the first round of the playoffs. The Carolina Panthers shredded their vaunted defense. The Bears were so concerned about that loss that in an attempt to get better they did nothing. That's right. Nothing! The Bears return all 22 starters from a mediocre team. In this day and age, if you are returning 22 starters you are losing ground. Even Super Bowl champions have new starters each year. The Bears are about to learn a lesson. I won't even get into their draft because they didn't really participate. If you are not getting better you are getting worse. The Bears are getting worse.
The Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings have a chance to be competitive, but a lack of a quarterback will doom them in the end. Brad Johnson is older than Brett Favre for crumps sakes! Johnson can throw a mean screen, however, so the Vikings should be able to get some yards on third and long. They don't have a running game and the defense was horrible last year. Former Packer Darren Sharper made is annual three big plays mixed amongst mistakes, injuries, and missed tackles. The addition of Ryan "it was the holder" Longwell only adds to the Vikings problems.
The Detroit Lions.
What a proud franchise. Their general manager Matt Millen couldn't spell "win" if you spotted him the "w" and the "n." How this guy still has a job is beyond pretty much everybody in the NFL. The only thing worse than the firing of Wayne Fontes was the hiring of Millen. This guy has run the franchise into the ground and now his hopes lie in a former defensive line coach who wasn't considered head coaching material by any of the other teams looking for a head coach last offseason. Rod Marinelli? Good luck with that one. The players already complained about his drill sergeant approach that got the team penalized by the NFL for offseason practice activities.
The Green Bay Packers.
The Packers clearly have the best quarterback in the division, last season not withstanding. Favre still has the arm and ability, but like any great player, he needs players around him. He didn't go to two Super Bowls with third-string players around him like he had last year. Favre will have a good season this year and 30 touchdown passes are distinct possibility again.
The Packers will have an improved running game because of the emphasis of the new coaching staff and reinstatement of the basic West Coast offense that Favre excelled in earlier in his career. The last few years under head coach Mike Sherman Favre pretty much called the shots, from the offseason to the practice field to the game. That all changed when Mike McCarthy took over and the fact that Favre still wanted to come back says much about his will to win. If he stays healthy for the whole season for remarkable 15th time in a row, the Packers will return to the playoffs.
Last year the Bears' defense finished second in the NFL and on a downslide, the Packers finished seventh in the NFL and climbing. In the offseason the Packers improved at defensive line, linebacker, and cornerback. That gap has been closed.
I predict the Packers will win at least 10 games this year and win the division title. Alright, let me have it.
By Al Davis
Email Me at: mailto:packernet@gmail.com