Originally Posted by
Patler
I agree with everything you wrote, and would add a number of other names to the "who is better" arguments that were common: the "Willies" on defense, Davis & Wood, as well as Henry Jordan and Forrest Gregg. What set the Packers apart is that the same Packers were in those debates for years, but the players against whom they were compared changed several times. For example, early in his career Adderley was compared to Lane, later in his career it was Barney. In the middle of his career guys like Fisher and LeBeau were compared to Adderley, but Adderley's greatness stood the test of time. The one Packer I remember who was compared to only one other for his entire career was Jim Taylor. The debate was Taylor vs Brown, with various occasional interlopers from time to time.
I agree that Ron Kramer was ahead of his time, and the best there was for a number of years; but when John Mackey got going, I think he took it to yet another level for TEs. As Kramer's career began winding down, about the time he went to Detroit, I remember admitting to myself that as good as Kramer had been, Mackey was/would be even better. (That was quite an admission for a Packer fan to make regarding a Colt, and one I have never made in the Unitas/Starr debate.)