MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

[Deputy Nutz]

We all worshiped Favre and only wanted the best for him, that was to go out with another Super Bowl Title or at least an appearance. For the last 16 years we have all hung on every move, every word, and most importantly every play he has ever made. In good times he was Super Man, and in bad times, he was still Super Man with Cryptonite hidden in his jock. He was our Hercules, carrying the Packers team, coaches, organization, and the state of Wisconsin on his shoulders, humping it all down field for that go ahead score in the 4th quarter. It is hard to look past #4 and see the other 52 Green Bay Packers, ready and willing to compete and conquer the NFL.

[The Leaper]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

Another point to consider when crowning the king of GM's is the Harrell pick. I'm tired of the injury and in-mature, out of shape excuse. The 16th pick of the draft has to make more of an impact than he did.

I'm sure everyone was saying the same of Favre in Atlanta. I bet they are glad they ran him out the door after a full evaluation of his abilities and potential based on one season of work.

[Deputy Nutz]

This is a pretty unique situation. I don't remember too many QB's hanging it up with a team on the upswing. Most hang it up as a team is about to crash.

Rodgers really has no excuse for performing poorly. He hasn't started too many games, but like Romo, Young and Rivers, he's had time in the NFL to get adjusted to the offense. Maybe he won't be great, but if he plays like crap for most of the year, there is little tolerence outside of devastating injury around him.

As far as Thompson goes, this is his real measuring stick. He's shown he can build from 4-12 to 13-3 with a HOF QB on the backend of his career. Now, can he do it without that luxury? Time will certainly tell. I have a lot of confidence in Thompson, but I do agree that Favre and Sherman have clouded judgement of his performance so far. As far as I'm concerned, the real judgement of Thompson will start now and end when his tenure is done. The first 3 years were just getting the base set.

Anyone remember how bad Bubby Brister played for the Super Bowl Champs after John Elway retired? Everyone thought Brister could step in and manage a well maintained offense. It really didn't work out well.

[KYPack]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

With Brett Favre on the roster, it was always my mojo that we should try to win sooner rather than later. To me that was a consistent combo of free agency and the draft. As a GM of Green Bay with Brett Favre, I am still luke warm on TT.

I still don't understand this thinking. The Packers were devastated by the cap when he took over and bottomed out at 4-12 in 2005. We did sign FAs after 2005 and improved in 2006 to 8-8. Then, we took a huge leap. Would we really have done any better if Thompson GM'd like you wanted (ala the Redskins) and tried to buy Favre a championship? I doubt it. That rarely works--especially with a 4-12 team. Maybe Moss would have been the difference. Maybe he would have disappeared in the big games like he's always done and like he did with New England.

I think you just have to admit that Thompson has done a hell of a job. If he did like you said, we very likely wouldn't have won a championship (or at least we wouldn't have had any better chance than we did this year) and our future wouldn't look as bright. We wouldn't have found many of these young kids that now look like they can play.

To say Favre was the reason we went 13-3 is silly too. Favre has been here 16 years, and we only won 13 games three times. They went 13-3 because Thompson reshaped a 4-12 team to 13-3 in two years BY BUILDING THROUGH THE DRAFT. Think about that. That's insane. Now, we actually look like we have a chance in the post-Favre era. Nobody thought we would--including me (and including you, I'm guessing).

Reality check time Harv! Favre had a ton to do with going 13-3. To diminish his contributions in order to boost your hero is just plain WRONG! Favre freakin CARRIED this team the first half of the season when we had NO RUN GAME. His ability to read defenses and get rid of the ball, protected a less than avg O-line. Some of our biggest plays came as a result of him changing the play after reading the initial defensive alignments.

Yes, Thompson gave him some talent. In fact I'm convinced no one on the planet evaluates WR's as well as TT. The trade for Grant might very well go down in the future as an example of criminal theft.

...

[Zool]

This is a pretty unique situation. I don't remember too many QB's hanging it up with a team on the upswing. Most hang it up as a team is about to crash.

Rodgers really has no excuse for performing poorly. He hasn't started too many games, but like Romo, Young and Rivers, he's had time in the NFL to get adjusted to the offense. Maybe he won't be great, but if he plays like crap for most of the year, there is little tolerence outside of devastating injury around him.

As far as Thompson goes, this is his real measuring stick. He's shown he can build from 4-12 to 13-3 with a HOF QB on the backend of his career. Now, can he do it without that luxury? Time will certainly tell. I have a lot of confidence in Thompson, but I do agree that Favre and Sherman have clouded judgement of his performance so far. As far as I'm concerned, the real judgement of Thompson will start now and end when his tenure is done. The first 3 years were just getting the base set.

Anyone remember how bad Bubby Brister played for the Super Bowl Champs after John Elway retired? Everyone thought Brister could step in and manage a well maintained offense. It really didn't work out well.

Geeze thats hardly fair. Bubby sucked in Pittsburg long before he went to Denver. We dont know if Rodgers sucks yet.

[pbmax]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

Haven't been on in quite a while. so let me say it was beyond a pleasure to watch Favre play each and every year. I agree entirely with his sentiments that he has nothing else to prove, he goes out on top and he owes nothing more.

However, I would like Packnut to explain how the Favre of the first eight games of '07 was playing like Brian Griese in 06 and 05. Because if Thompson isn't responsible for the difference, then it must be the QBs fault, right? [Edited(thanks KYP) because I still don't know what year this is]

I mean it can't be the receivers, the pass blocking, the TE or the coach (or the Defense). Those were all Thompson moves. It all revolves around Favre. So he apparently took 06 off and reported back mid-season in 07.

Reality check time Harv! Favre had a ton to do with going 13-3. To diminish his contributions in order to boost your hero is just plain WRONG! Favre freakin CARRIED this team the first half of the season when we had NO RUN GAME. His ability to read defenses and get rid of the ball, protected a less than avg O-line. Some of our biggest plays came as a result of him changing the play after reading the initial defensive alignments.

[dissident94]

THe point is it isn't all Farve. But a team can be vevery good in all areas but lack in that one position and fail. By far the most important position in football. Only comparision in importance is possibly pitcher in baseball where you can be great in all areas but if you can't pitch you have no chance.

Since 1992 Packers have the most wins in football. Only thing that is constant the whole time is Favre. Not a coicidance. If Rodgers is average next year we will be average. If he is below average we will win about 5 games.

Everyone must realize we are taking a major step back. Could we win 10 games next year. Sure. Not likely. Rodgers could surprise and be very good. I could see ten wins then.

We will be playing a tough schedule next year sincve we won the division.

[Lurker64]

We will be playing a tough schedule next year sincve we won the division.

Winning the division just gives us Dallas and Seattle as opposed to two other games. Other than that, having won our division doesn't affect our schedule at all.

(Teams always play: one NFC division, one AFC division, their own division twice, and the teams in the two other two same conference divisions that finished in the same position in the standings. Which NFC division and which AFC division to play is simply cyclic, and its predictable; we go NFC: South, West, East, etc. and AFC: North, East, West, South etc. This is why, for example, despite the fact that New England went 16-0 last year, they play the AFC West and the NFC West, in addition to their own division, Indianapolis, and Pittsburgh, to amount to the 7th easiest (on paper) record in NFL history.)

[PaCkFan_n_MD]

But a team can be vevery good in all areas but lack in that one position and fail.

I agree with this statement. That's why I don't see us going that far until Rodgers has more in game experience. Am looking for the year after next to once again compete for a title, but not next year because their will be growing pains in the most important position on the team.
It really is to bad Favre retired, this could have been the year…….

[Cheesehead Craig]

I see no reason we can't go at least 10-6 this year. That would not be a knock on Rodgers at all. How many teams have won 13 games in back to back seasons? None. The Colts are the only team that can flirt with 12-14 win seasons year after year with that ridiculous offense they have.

There is a solid team all around in GB. All Rodgers has to do is manage the offense, not try and be the second coming of Favre and we'll be fine and playoff bound.

[The Leaper]

The dropoff in experience between Favre and Rodgers is enormous. I don't think many of you really have put any thought into that. Teams will not respect the pass as much as they used to with Favre under center...and our running game will suffer as a result.

Until our interior OL starts producing at a consistent level, this team is no better than .500 team with a first-time starter under center.

[woodbuck27]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

Post Favre, I think the TT mentality is a very good fit in Green Bay.

As a fan I've said time after time it's about winning a championship.....nothing less.

That will be my final judgment on TT, as it was with Ron Wolf, Tom Bratz, and Bart Starr as GM's.

With Brett Favre on the roster, it was always my mojo that we should try to win sooner rather than later. To me that was a consistent combo of free agency and the draft. As a GM of Green Bay with Brett Favre, I am still luke warm on TT.

But now that the legendary quarterback has hung his cleats up, the TT methodology would seem to be the perfect rebuilding concept for Green Bay

We may make the playoffs; heck 8 wins might do it in the pathetic NFC North; but its logical to figure we'll take a step back and IMO we're not winning a Super Bowl anytime soon.

We're not hands down the youngest team the NFL with Favre and Rob Davis retiring and it's time for TT to continue to rebuild this squad through the effective stockpling of talent and draft picks.

The best way to make AROD successful is ask him to do less in his early years as he develops and stockpile talent on the defensive side of the ball.

If we choose not to sleepwalk through free agency again, it would seem wise to look at youthful players who will are not yet at their peak.....and if we are signing a starter they should be young and probably not yet in their prime

It may be a few years at best; it may never happen. But to me I think TT is the right GM to have in the Post Brett Favre Era.

Whether TT himself wins a title and his place on the pedastal remains to be seen IMO

WOW!

I entirely adorse this message as I feel just the same B.

We'll now see what the TT influence really is. What he's got.

Scott Campbell (poor soul) carries my prediction around (of TT and no Super Bowl appearance through 2013, moreso then no win) like a rusty anchor.

I stand by it. Why?

I don't see that term mojo in our GM. I see far from that but once in a strange while, people do get the moxy to change. They just have to get past their own skin.

PACKERS FOREVER!

[Scott Campbell]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

Scott Campbell (poor soul) carries my prediction around (of TT and no Super Bowl appearance through 2013, moreso then no win) like a rusty anchor.

Sorry. I had hoped it wouldn't bother you.

It's just a reminder of where your true loyalties lie. Your hatred of Ted always comes first.

[KYPack]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

Scott Campbell (poor soul) carries my prediction around (of TT and no Super Bowl appearance through 2013, moreso then no win) like a rusty anchor.

Sorry. I had hoped it wouldn't bother you.

It's just a reminder of where your true loyalties lie. Your hatred of Ted always comes first.

That's right boys.

Always hold a grudge.

I will MF Tank until they put the pennies on his eyes.

Then I'll steal 'em so he don't get into hell.

( I pray with all my might they don't sign Harrington, then he will be right about something for the only time in his life!)

[Scott Campbell]

Re: MODIFIED EXPECTATIONS OR VIEWPOINTS with the LEGEND GONE

Scott Campbell (poor soul) carries my prediction around (of TT and no Super Bowl appearance through 2013, moreso then no win) like a rusty anchor.

Sorry. I had hoped it wouldn't bother you.

It's just a reminder of where your true loyalties lie. Your hatred of Ted always comes first.

That's right boys.

Always hold a grudge.

I will MF Tank until they put the pennies on his eyes.

Then I'll steal 'em so he don't get into hell.

( I pray with all my might they don't sign Harrington, then he will be right about something for the only time in his life!)

A mere signing won't make Tank right. Harrington would have to play great here for that bit of prophesy to come true. And even then, there's always Michael Huff.