A Decade of Wasted Opportunities

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Why should APB have to add material when these points can't really be refuted? That's not to say that the Packers would have been all that much better with Wahle - maybe another 10 win seaon. What's clear is that Sherman was trying to win with Favre before he retired. Sherman got the guy in his 10th year in 2000, with the mileage of a 15 year vet. That Favre continues to play and play reasonably well (he had a pro bowl year statistically in 2004) is a testament to the leadership of Sherman.


The article also stated:
"But Sherman kept shooting himself in the feet by trading up to land players who weren't worth the paper their contracts were printed on. "

Uhh, Sherman never had a chance to draft higher than 20, and even that was due to his moving up to get Javon Walker. Walker, along with Green, and Sherman's running attack (the best in the history of the Green Bay Packers), were the reason the Packers had a shot at the title in 2002 and 2003. If you want to blame Sherman for all the injuries in 2002, go ahead. If you want to blame him for all his decisions going sour in 2003 against Philly, go ahead. But the article fails to ackowledge just how difficult it is to maintain greatness when you draft at the bottom of the first round and the bottom of the second round, etc.

Probably the biggest factor that brought an early demise to the Packers of the 2000s (the aughts) was the blown Reynolds pick. A blue chip pro bowler at a skill position (like Walker - the Packer's best number one pick sine Sharpe), might have saved them. Think getting Richard Seymour instead of Reynolds and you'll see what I mean.

Good post.

[MJZiggy]

I blame Brett himself for that, along with his teammates.

I'm surprised and shocked!! I never could have predicted such a response from you.

[mraynrand]

Oh come ON! Sherman brought us mediocratity! TT proved with his Nick Collins pick you can get a starter at the bottom of the SECOND round if you know what to look for.

Or you could trade a second round pick to move up and draft a pro-bowl wide out, or trade a second to bring in an immediate starter at corner. That is, if you want to win BEFORE your HOF QB slides into oblivion. Different strategies by GMs with different timetables for victory.

[Oscar]

Theres also the option of trading up and drafting an all star punter.

[Noodle]

If I had to choose which coach to blame because Brett doesn't have a 2nd ring, it's Holmgren, not Sherman.

I couldn't agree more with this post. MrAynRand also speaks truth.

It always amazes me how sports fans don't seem to get how much good fortune plays in to Championships. When you get your chance at the show, you've got to make it count, because there's just no telling how injuries, bad breaks, bad calls, etc., are going to affect you.

We had our chance against Denver, and we didn't carpe diem. That's on Holmgren, not Shermy. All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

Yeah, the Pats have had a great run, but what if Vinateri doesn't make all those great, clutch kicks? Then the Pats are just the Bills.

[b bulldog]

Brett's playoff failures can be attributed to Brett himself

[mraynrand]

We had our chance against Denver, and we didn't carpe diem. That's on Holmgren, not Shermy. All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

I blame Tampa Bay, Indy and the NFL refs. Both teams deliberately injured Gilbert Brown during the regular season. That had a huge (pun intended) effect on the Packer D, with Gilbert hurt and out of shape by the Superbowl. Eugene Robinson also had a horrendous day.

[MadtownPacker]

Brett's playoff failures can be attributed to Brett himself

Yes, it is his fault for not throwing in the towel when his crappy defense that included choke artist like darren sharper kept giving up TDs at crucial times. It is his fault for not caring about his stats and continuing to sling the ball.

But I dont know who's fault it is that you are acting like a bears fan dissing on the QB who helped bring the Pack out of the NFL basement.

[Tony Oday]

I blame Sherman for bad play calling in preasure situations. Who here didnt like the Joe Johnson signing? Drafting a stud DE in Reynolds? I would have had no problem with him if he didnt overpay for his own players, and really even some of that is ok, but the Eagles game just killed me. You got there because of a stud running game and an explosive offense that covered for your inept defense...soooooooo....hmmmm....ya lets give the game to the defense and see if they can win it! WTF!!!!

I still dont think that not signing Whale and Rivera doomed us. last year our team was a fricken MASH unit out there. I think this is a nice rebound year and I like the fact that we are going defense now.

[mraynrand]

Brett's playoff failures can be attributed to Brett himself

Isn't this true by definition?

[b bulldog]

Yes it is but I had to get the apologists worked up cause whenever Brett throws a pic, it's the coach's,WR's,sun,noise level,Oline's,did I mention WR's,fans,....fault,never Brett's.

[Scott Campbell]

We had our chance against Denver, and we didn't carpe diem. That's on Holmgren, not Shermy. All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

LOL

This just in. Holmgren won a Superbowl here.

[Bretsky]

Oh come ON! Sherman brought us mediocratity! TT proved with his Nick Collins pick you can get a starter at the bottom of the SECOND round if you know what to look for.

Or you could trade a second round pick to move up and draft a pro-bowl wide out, or trade a second to bring in an immediate starter at corner. That is, if you want to win BEFORE your HOF QB slides into oblivion. Different strategies by GMs with different timetables for victory.

I think the whole 2001 draft was what lead most to our failures of Sherman.
Not only Jamal Reynolds, but Ferguson over Chris Chambers and then Torrence Marshall. In a year when we should have been stockpiling talent to set us up for another few runs, we got nothing out of that draft. And we gave up Matt Hasslebeck to get the nothing so we were left with less talent, no future depth, and one less capable QB.

YUCK

[Bretsky]

We had our chance against Denver, and we didn't carpe diem. That's on Holmgren, not Shermy. All Shermy did was bust his nads trying to get us to the promised land. Holmgren was there and didn't take advantage of it.

LOL

This just in. Holmgren won a Superbowl here.

THAT SUPER BOWL LOSS WAS ON MANY MORE PEOPLE THAN HOLMY.

Where were the defensive adjustments; heck, did our DL even show up ? I have a hard time with people blaming Holmy for that loss; he tried lecturing us against overconfidence, but bottom line IMO was the players believed they had it made (per the media) and didn't come ready to play.

Our defense was horrible all day long that day.

B

[mraynrand]

I think the whole 2001 draft was what lead most to our failures of Sherman.
Not only Jamal Reynolds, but Ferguson over Chris Chambers and then Torrence Marshall. In a year when we should have been stockpiling talent to set us up for another few runs, we got nothing out of that draft. And we gave up Matt Hasslebeck to get the nothing so we were left with less talent, no future depth, and one less capable QB.

YUCK

That was a gawdawful draft. I remember Wolf being excited that they picked up Bill Ferrario on day two - like he was going to be another Tauscher - a late round diamond. Ferrario was a lump of coal in your Chirstmas stocking. That entire draft was for shit. Jue and Ferguson were your 'big contributors' LOL.