T.T. gives the media no ammo

[Patler]

What is the fascination with Smith? He couldn't even hold onto a job in St. Louis.

Well, TTT did put in a waiver claim for him as well

Which would have made him what, their 6th, 7th or 8th safety for the year and maybe their 16th-18th DB of the season? Doesn't mean very much that they put in a claim at that time.

[Joemailman]

Except it might mean by then that they realized he was better than Derrick Martin.

[mraynrand]

Smith and Rouse had weak points? Smith couldn't keep a job very long with any other NFL teams after the Packers released him. You sure he was better than Bush? Rouse continued to make the same mistakes with the Giants as he did with the Packers; beyond that, he's a safety not a corner like Bush was playing.

As the Leaper's point about great GM's = great lines, then this Doug Farrar quote concerning Bryant Mckinnie's being kicked off the NFC pro bowl team should be of interest: "The Vikings got to the NFC Championship despite their line, and everybody knows it."

This suggests Minny's GM is not one of the best, either.

I've never heard of Doug Farrar.......but how would you compare the line of MN to Green Bay position to position ? Come on.......they are not close

No one, in the history of football has ever played position by position.

Packer's Adjusted Line Yards (Rushing) (footballoutsiders.com): 8th ranked at 4.29 yards

Vikings Adjusted Line Yards (Rushing): 20th, at 4.01 yards

And that is with Adrian Peterson/Chester Taylor versus Ryan Grant/Brandon Jackson. Tell me you thought the Packers were a better running team. Pass blocking its the reverse: Min 14th (average) and Green Bay 30th (horrible overall but far better in the 2nd half)

Here are some more things most people don't pay attention to when discussion the Packers O line:

Success in Power Rushing (short yardage and goal to go): 73% success 3rd ranked
Stuffed (tackled at or short of LOS): 16% of attempts, ranked 4th

More proof that the Vikings failed to surround Favre with the talent he needed to win.

THANKSRICK

[Patler]

Except it might mean by then that they realized he was better than Derrick Martin.

I don't think so. TT put in the claim for Smith when Derrick Martin was out with a concussion. Collins was dinged up and Bigby was back only a couple weeks from having missed three games. That's why TT was looking for another safety.

If TT was going to replace a safety with Smith, it likely would have been Giordano, not Martin. Martin was considered a staple on special teams.

[Scott Campbell]

Except it might mean by then that they realized he was better than Derrick Martin.

It's hard to get overly excited about those borderline players at the bottom of the roster. I remember how it seemed that Aaron Rouse somehow became more valuable once he was starting for the Giants - like Ted had suddenly made a huge blunder. But he was still the same crappy player he was when he was here. Some of these guys always look better in another teams colors.

[Pugger]

It is kinda funny how these marginal players are ignored when we cut them but then some fans howl when another team picks them up off the street afterwards like we somehow lost an All-Pro or something.