Retired Numbers

[Patler]

I don't see Woodson's number getting retired. As Harv said, you have to be a legend, not just a hall of famer. I don't think Woodson is at legenary status. The only players I could see is if Matthews continues his current play for the next 10 years and Rodgers conitnues his current play for another 7-10 years. They would both probably need to add another 1-2 championships as well. Favre will get retired one day.

Why would Matthews and Rodgers "probably need to add another 1-2 championships" while you assume (I think correctly) that #4 will be retired and #92 already has been?

Personally, I was against retiring White's #. I'm not discounting the impact he had on the franchise by signing with the Packers, but after all, they did offer the most money. I don't think the name "Reggie White" immediately evokes thoughts of the Packers for most NFL followers, after all he really was a Packer for barely 1/3 of a career that took him to four professional teams. The bulk of his stats were as an Eagle, when his play was at its best and where he played the longest. I don't think of White as a "Packer" anymore than as an "Eagle".

The Packers are quite conservative in retiring #s, and I just didn't see that White's career required the retirement of "92".

[Pugger]

Thought we'd look at another angle to this question.

Here's the retired numbers:


1) 3 - Tony Canadeo
2) 14 - Don Hutson
3) 15 - Bart Starr
4) 66 - Ray Nitschke
5) 92 - Reggie White

There really haven't been an offensive and defensive player chosen to have their number retired from each of the championship eras. There's not really a defensive player from the Lambeau era. (of course, Hutson and Canadeo played both ways at times)

What was common from each candidate prior to Reggie was lifetime Packer who bled Green and gold. There was some opposition to Reggie when his number was proposed. He started with another team and finished the same. Reggie also manged to say a few rude things at the door before he left Green Bay. I think the next number that might be retired is #1. That was Curly Lambeau's playing number. Lambeau wasn't a Packer when he quit, but he was the founder and all that.

The Packers could quite possibly close the books on retiring another number or wait 20 years or so before doing so.

I think that 4 guy allowed to much purple blood to flow into his veins to ever get his number retired by the Pack.

I thought I heard at the time of the proposal to retire Reggie's number that the NFL was frowning on this activity and discouraging teams from doing this, so will teams no longer honor players in this manner? But I agree with KYPack - Lambeau's number should be retired long before #4 if teams can still retire numbers/jerseys.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I was reading an article on Herb Adderley on packers.com today. It got me to thinking. If the Packers were to retire more numbers, which one or two players do you think are most deserving the honor (excluding Brett because he'll have his number retired shortly)?

The guys I can think of off the top of my head are Adderley, Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, and Willie Wood. For me personally, I think James Lofton is the best player I've watched in my 30+ years of following the Packers. Other than Brett and Reggie--excluding Aaron because of longevity. I know most probably wouldn't consider Lofton next in line. I think Hornung might have been slightly overrated. That leaves Adderley, Davis, Gregg, and Wood. For me it would Gregg (9x All-Pro, 6x champion), Adderley, and Wood as the next three legends in line. Is there anybody on this forum that watched Adderley and Wood? If so, who do you think is more deserving of those two.

[sheepshead]

I was reading an article on Herb Adderley on packers.com today. It got me to thinking. If the Packers were to retire more numbers, which one or two players do you think are most deserving the honor (excluding Brett because he'll have his number retired shortly)?

The guys I can think of off the top of my head are Adderley, Willie Davis, Forrest Gregg, Paul Hornung, and Willie Wood. For me personally, I think James Lofton is the best player I've watched in my 30+ years of following the Packers. Other than Brett and Reggie--excluding Aaron because of longevity. I know most probably wouldn't consider Lofton next in line. I think Hornung might have been slightly overrated. That leaves Adderley, Davis, Gregg, and Wood. For me it would Gregg (9x All-Pro, 6x champion), Adderley, and Wood as the next three legends in line. Is there anybody on this forum that watched Adderley and Wood? If so, who do you think is more deserving of those two.

Its a true honor to be retired as packer and it should remain so. The white sox retired harold baines' number a few years back, what a joke. Reinsdorf is an idiot anyway. I also brought it up to Hornung once at an autograph session. It is not a good subject for him. I heard that the equipment guys have never given 5 out out of respect. I always thought that was an indication of what an honor it was. No one will wear 4 again. I see no one else getting retired in the near future.

[pbmax]

The Packers are quite conservative in retiring #s, and I just didn't see that White's career required the retirement of "92".

White was the face and number (more than Favre until his departure) of the Return to Competence. The over celebration of which has elevated Harlan, Wolf, Holmgren and Favre (temporarily, as it turned out) to a mythical status. But I am not sure how you avoid it given the crushing disappointment of the prior 20 years.

[woodbuck27]

That TT leaves? He just signed a 4 year extension. He's signed through 2015. How is that sooner than a lot imagine?

OK please get this straight. Brett favre has ZERO difficulty with anything Green bay and certainly not any problem withn Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy. I do my best to keep up with it and Brett Favre is cool.

Given that what does it say if we are considering the question of retiring Favre`s Number Four ...`only`after Ted Thompson is gone as the Packer GM and that tenure may go on for over another decade.

If that`s the case and I don`t believe it will prove to be. Yet if it was that. It would be obvious to me that the problem or baggage issue lies with Ted Thompson.

It`s not with Brett Favre. Brett Favre is long over that nonsence.

On the question of any other Packer on the existing team having his number retired. The ònly existing player that we might make an argument for in terms of that question is CB Charles Woodson. Who really made his career in Green Bay in the six seasons since Ted Thompson went out and signed him. Charles Woodson may even make the NFL HOF. Is that essential before getting you number retired in Green Bay; yet ... just a part of the questionÉ

Will the Green Bay Packers suffer egg on the organizations face over retiring Brett Favre`s numberÉ

I don`t think so. Retire Brett Favre`s number ASAP.

[pbmax]

And logic loses another argument.

[Upnorth]

IMO only those who spend the vast majority of their career and leave the organization on the best of terms desreves to have the number retired. Further they should make a lasting mark on the organization in a very positive way, and be a person all fans can be proud of. Finally #'s should not be retired for a minimum 15 years so the players true impact can be remembered. That being said I don't think Woodson should have his # retired. Half his career has been with the raiders. I don't think Favre's should be retired yet as half of the fan base despises his last few years in the league and last few offseasons with the pack. Of the current roster I can think of 6 players in the running, but have a lot of career left to play. Time will tell.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Its a true honor to be retired as packer and it should remain so. The white sox retired harold baines' number a few years back, what a joke. Reinsdorf is an idiot anyway. I also brought it up to Hornung once at an autograph session. It is not a good subject for him. I heard that the equipment guys have never given 5 out out of respect. I always thought that was an indication of what an honor it was. No one will wear 4 again. I see no one else getting retired in the near future.

That wasn't the point of my questions. I didn't ask if you think we should retire more numbers. If they were to retire another number or two, which number(s) do you think should be retired?

[Deputy Nutz]

Favre will get his number retired, I don't agree with Woodbuck, Favre doesn't want to get a phone call from Thompson or McCarthy. He is still bitter. Thompson truly doesn't care one way or another, if Murphy told him he had to call Favre and work out a ceremony he would. He would think it is a waste of time, because anything outside of a film room is a waste of time in Ted Thompson's world.

Anyways Woodson is going to the Hall of Fame because of what he has done as a Packer, not a Raider. If he makes it to the Hall then he has a decent shot at the Packers retiring his number.

[Smeefers]

Things changed after they offered to retire Favres number. It'll probably happen, but it's not a given any more. I'd go 85% that it gets retired. Woodson had nowhere near the impact on this franchise that Reggie did. Oh sure, his words will probably be put up somewhere permenantly (on team, one heart, one trophy - or whatever he said), but Reggie had a huge hand in turning the organization around. He brought a ton of talent to GB. Woodson was just good here. If we're retireing numbers for just being really good, then Cliffy is next. Reggie turned the franchise around, Favre kept the town in the national spotlight for a decade and a half. Rodgers is going to have to do a hell of a lot more to get his name on the ring. Everyone here assumes he's going to continue on the road he's been on, but he could break his leg next year and be out of football forever. If he does stay on the road he's on (being a top 3 QB year after year) then he's a shoe in to get his name on the wall.

[TravisWilliams23]

. That leaves Adderley, Davis, Gregg, and Wood. For me it would Gregg (9x All-Pro, 6x champion), Adderley, and Wood as the next three legends in line. Is there anybody on this forum that watched Adderley and Wood? If so, who do you think is more deserving of those two.

Tough to pick between these two but I'd go with Adderley. He was so good that many games the opposition wouldn't throw the ball anywhere near his side. He had so much talent that he was originally drafted as a half back but with Hornung, Moore and Pitts ahead of him on the depth chart his abilities as a football player were being wasted. Thankfully Lombardi switched him to defense and the rest is history. My best memory of him is his interception returned for a TD in Super Bowl II.
The other story I love about Herb is that although he won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys, he refuses to wear the ring because he considers himself a Packer first and foremost. You gotta love that attitude if you're a Packer fan.

[Upnorth]

Tough to pick between these two but I'd go with Adderley. He was so good that many games the opposition wouldn't throw the ball anywhere near his side. He had so much talent that he was originally drafted as a half back but with Hornung, Moore and Pitts ahead of him on the depth chart his abilities as a football player were being wasted. Thankfully Lombardi switched him to defense and the rest is history. My best memory of him is his interception returned for a TD in Super Bowl II.
The other story I love about Herb is that although he won a Super Bowl with the Cowboys, he refuses to wear the ring because he considers himself a Packer first and foremost. You gotta love that attitude if you're a Packer fan.

That is the kind of thing that gets my vote to retire his number!

[sheepshead]

That wasn't the point of my questions. I didn't ask if you think we should retire more numbers. If they were to retire another number or two, which number(s) do you think should be retired?

favre

[King Friday]

Favre is the only Packer who currently earned a retired number, but he's going to have to wait awhile after acting like a complete jackass on his way out. I could also see a situation where #4 is never "officially" retired but is just never worn again. Personally, I couldn't extend the honor of retiring a number to a guy who forced his way out and went to play for one of our biggest rivals to "stick it to us". That is a slap in the face to guys who were nothing but class and won multiple championships but don't have their numbers retired.

I don't see Woodson having his number retired...we have TONS of guys in Canton who haven't had their numbers retired by the organization. Typically, it will be difficult for a free agent guy to earn that kind of honor. White was in a unique situation where he chose to come here when most others thought he would go somewhere else. Woodson has admitted he did not really want to come here in the first place. That shouldn't necessarily count against Woodson...it just shows why White earned the honor.

I would love it if Rodgers wins another title or two and gets his number retired...while Favre gets passed over. That would be a world class example of karma in action.