Time for TT to hit a blue chipper

[Partial]

Bretsky, if you were the general manager of the Packers and you thought there is a player out there who could put your team over the top this year, would you do whatever it takes to get him, even if it means going 9-7 for a few years after Favre retires?

[twoseven]

It does seem odd to me that some seme to think TT can only do no wrong from the second to the seventh round. Have I missed something, or has he done pretty well with his first round picks too? Partial suggests that TT could also use his big brain to pick the best available up in the middle of the first round and suddenly it's a stupid risky move? Help me out. If TT were able to use that same great knowledge and talent evaluation of his to find a gem in later rounds, why would he struggle to evaluate those much higher up? I still don't agree with trading way up, but think it's equally ridiculous to suggest TT doesn't have a scouting report of players that may already be gone by mid first round.

[Bretsky]

I see your point, Partial. It's one of the easiest things to do is go down each playoff team and say "hey, they're close. If they just do this they're over the top".


There is more to finding great players than just willing it to happen. If teams could just will great players onto their roster, every team would be doing it. It's tough work. You have to do your work, make good picks and if you're good enough you're going to get some playmakers like Osi and Tuck. There are other ways to do it as well. The Grant trade was fantastic. I just think you're assuming it's just a matter of going out and doing it when it's not that easy. Mike Reinfeldt had a comment recently saying you can't just go out and get better quickly any more. You have to do your homework, hit on yoru picks and keep your own. He said the beginning of UFA was different. I think that's why McGinn, Cristl and many here have a hard time seeing the change. It's not just going to happen in a big furry of moves anymore. It's going to happen over time if a GM makes enough good decisions in a row. That's a reoccuring theme around the NFL now if you listen. Cristl and McGinn saw the biggest UFA signing ever and they think that's how it's done. They talk to Wolf (a guy who's out of the circle) and he still thinks that's how it's done. If you look around, that's the exception now. In fact, a move like that was one of a kind. It's never happened before and never happened since.

We've kept out own JH; TT has now had about 33 picks to restock the talent. We are a playoff team. TT will probably use another 8 plus picks this year after the trade downs.

You know deep down I agree with Partial that we need one or two playmakers to put us over the top. I see the TT method as one that keeps us decent for a long long time. I hope his method is one that can win a Super Bowl.

[Bretsky]

Bretsky, if you were the general manager of the Packers and you thought there is a player out there who could put your team over the top this year, would you do whatever it takes to get him, even if it means going 9-7 for a few years after Favre retires?

I'd go for the championship now and worry about two years from now in two years. But that' my mojo. I'd rather win one Super Bowl and be 9-7 for three years over make the NFC title game for four years and never win a Super Bowl.

But I'd make other moves in two years that would hopefully not allow us to fall back to 9-7.

[Partial]

Bretsky, if you were the general manager of the Packers and you thought there is a player out there who could put your team over the top this year, would you do whatever it takes to get him, even if it means going 9-7 for a few years after Favre retires?

I'd go for the championship now and worry about two years from now in two years. But that' my mojo. I'd rather win one Super Bowl and be 9-7 for three years over make the NFC title game for four years and never win a Super Bowl.

But I'd make other moves in two years that would hopefully not allow us to fall back to 9-7.

I agree. Now that we have a very solid foundation, its time to go for broke and get that ring.

[Bretsky]

It does seem odd to me that some seme to think TT can only do no wrong from the second to the seventh round. Have I missed something, or has he done pretty well with his first round picks too? Partial suggests that TT could also use his big brain to pick the best available up in the middle of the first round and suddenly it's a stupid risky move? Help me out. If TT were able to use that same great knowledge and talent evaluation of his to find a gem in later rounds, why would he struggle to evaluate those much higher up? I still don't agree with trading way up, but think it's equally ridiculous to suggest TT doesn't have a scouting report of players that may already be gone by mid first round.

TT has done well in his restocking process by adding mutliple picks that gve him room for error. The jury is still out on several of his picks that some assume will turn out.......etc....Colledge. Now that we are close, it will be interesting if he decides to roll the dice in the draft or free agency or continue the mojo of doing well by stockpiling knowing you will hit on some and not others.

I don't know how much credit I'd give TT on his firsts yet

Rodgers looks promising but time will tell
Hawk seemed to be no brainer
Jury is still out on Harrell as well

Hopefully they all turn out fine though

[KYPack]

I'm thinking short term. Super bowl or bust this year. When Favre is gone this team is not going to be in super bowl contention imo.

I know.

Real GM's don't have that luxury. This really isn't a team with one hole that needs to make a "bet the franchise deal" to make the Super bowl. We have a few holes. Thompson is making the right moves to plug those holes and develop a robust roster.

I'm saying your plan and logic are flawed.

TT's plan is to out scout the other teams and get players they overlook by drafting intelligently.

His plan, I like.

Yours, I don't.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Going for broke is for impatient losers.

It happens all the time at the trade deadline in all sports. It rarely works. Usually you don't win the title (it's hard to win the title) and also suffer the consequences later (and 9-7 isn't always the lowside of the consequences).

Who is the one guy to put us over the top? Jonathan Stewart? Give me a break. How about you Bretsky?

You never know who that one guy is. Reggie Bush? Ryan Grant?

Keep building this thing Ted. If there's a guy or two that you think will make a difference in FA, get him. Otherwise, trust your ability to evaluate talent.

[Partial]

Harv, so what happens when we get back to the championship and lose? We get stuck with low draft picks again, Favre retires, and Rodgers turns out to be average at best. Do you want to be 9-7 annually?!?

I would rather have the same end result but a super bowl. If it doesn't work, than at least he gave it his best effort.

At the very least, TT has shown us how quickly you can retool a franchise. I'd go for broke and retool if necessary.

[Lurker64]

What I'm wondering is, if this is such a good idea, of all of the various teams to win superbowls in the modern era, how many of them did so because they sold the farm to get a special player when they were already close.

I can't think of any team that has done this, but I haven't thought too much about it.

[Partial]

What I'm wondering is, if this is such a good idea, of all of the various teams to win superbowls in the modern era, how many of them did so because they sold the farm to get a special player when they were already close.

I can't think of any team that has done this, but I haven't thought too much about it.

I can't think of any, to be honest. One thing that I can think of though is how many teams that don't do anything consistently stay near the top but never win one. Indy squeaked one out despite years at the top. NE consistently restocked using FA and reloading for runs. The Eagles were close how many years but never won? At least they did something by signing TO to put them over the top.

One thing that is different is that thos teams best player is typically entering the prime of their career and they could sustain that for awhile. We probably have one more year with our best player.

[twoseven]

Maybe we can just all agree on everything like a bunch of sheep. One guy/gal can post something, then the rest of us can post 'I agree.' That sounds fun.

[Bretsky]

Maybe we can just all agree on everything like a bunch of sheep. One guy/gal can post something, then the rest of us can post 'I agree.' That sounds fun.

bingo; and kudos to those who question things

[KYPack]

Harv, so what happens when we get back to the championship and lose? We get stuck with low draft picks again, Favre retires, and Rodgers turns out to be average at best. Do you want to be 9-7 annually?!?

I would rather have the same end result but a super bowl. If it doesn't work, than at least he gave it his best effort.

At the very least, TT has shown us how quickly you can retool a franchise. I'd go for broke and retool if necessary.

If we don't make moves, we'll get back to the championship and lose?

How does that work?

You think one guy will make the difference. Who is he, Stewart?

What if he busts? That's happened a ton of times.

Look at Philly. They should be the envy of a lot of teams, but they've fallen short. Obviously, they should have "went for broke". Basically, you can't do it. You are always building your roster. Piss away all the draft picks and let it roll? That's gonna fail way more times than it will work.

One of our big difference guys was Grant. Got him for a 6. You never know where the people that fill out your roster are gonna come from. NE won the Super Bowl with Brady who was a marginal 6. Looks like 6th rounders are the big key. Maybe we should get 10 sixth round picks.

That sounds stupid, but so is trying to make the big splash. The formula is there, but it's boring. Draft 'em better, coach 'em up, & outplay 'em in the big games.

Takes time.

Fans are impatient. They want the big splash. But the big splash fails as often as any quick fix plan does. Your Stewart plan might set the team back a couple years. Thompson's way is boring, but far more sound than anything you propose.

[Partial]

I want to win now with Favre. Obviously, you can't do that long term.