Watching AJ Hawk pass rush is painful

[Guiness]

As I recall there was a huge debate back then (and on this board) between those who wanted to draft Hawk and those who were high on Mario Williams. Hawk was the consensus favorite. The debate ended when Houston with its number one pick offered Williams a huge contract.

If you go back and read the comments of those favoring Hawk, it was like he was some kind of god. It's definitely unfair to Hawk to saddle him with those kind of over-hyped expectations. He is what he is and many of us saw that at the time. When Mario became unavailable, I was glad we drafted him. We could have done a lot worse.

Yes, but I also remember some saying that the Pack got the third best LB in the draft, after both Sims and Greenway.

[Maxie the Taxi]

Yes, but I also remember some saying that the Pack got the third best LB in the draft, after both Sims and Greenway.

You know it all goes to show that judging how college talent will translate into the NFL is far from an exact science. So much of it is subjective. Look at Aaron Rodgers. All the "experts" said he was a system QB. No one -- probably not even TT -- projected him as the best QB in the league.

[Cheesehead Craig]

Yes, but I also remember some saying that the Pack got the third best LB in the draft, after both Sims and Greenway.

Which has proven to not be the case with those 2. Hawk is better than both. Just not as awesome as many hoped he would be.

[mraynrand]

As I recall there was a huge debate back then (and on this board) between those who wanted to draft Hawk and those who were high on Mario Williams.

I was hot for VD

[hoosier]

I was hot for VD

Knowing what you know now, who would you rather have for the next few years, Vernon Davis or Finley? Davis is more reliable and less brittle, but that aside I do not think there is much difference between them in terms of productivity and potential. Hawk was the safe choice, Davis was scary in a drug-resistant kind of way--too much potential to turn into a Mike Mamula or a diva.

[mraynrand]

Knowing what you know now, who would you rather have for the next few years, Vernon Davis or Finley? Davis is more reliable and less brittle, but that aside I do not think there is much difference between them in terms of productivity and potential. Hawk was the safe choice, Davis was scary in a drug-resistant kind of way--too much potential to turn into a Mike Mamula or a diva.

Honestly, I'm glad we have Finley. But in 2006, I thought the situation on offense and with offensive weapons was dire. But if you wanted to go defense, shoulda traded down and gone with Ngata and/or Hali. Kinda 20/20 hindsight, but there were those who really liked Ngata, including Scoops McGinn.

[Pugger]

The biggest reason folks rag on Hawk is because of where he was taken. We were all hoping he'd be the second coming of Brian Urlacher. Had he been a late 1st/early 2nd folks this isn't a thread. We didn't get our dynamic LBer until 2009.

[Smidgeon]

Also that, but remember that Hawk's combine workout numbers were off the chart. He should have been lightning in a bottle with that athleticism. Has he lost that or did he never really have it?

[mraynrand]

Also that, but remember that Hawk's combine workout numbers were off the chart. He should have been lightning in a bottle with that athleticism. Has he lost that or did he never really have it?

more like a lightning bug in a bottle

[MJZiggy]

Knowing what you know now, who would you rather have for the next few years, Vernon Davis or Finley? Davis is more reliable and less brittle, but that aside I do not think there is much difference between them in terms of productivity and potential. Hawk was the safe choice, Davis was scary in a drug-resistant kind of way--too much potential to turn into a Mike Mamula or a diva.

He also REALLY did not want to come to Green Bay and I'm sure he made that clear before the draft. The big baby literally cried tears of joy when we did not draft him and I'm sure that attitude helped in the decisionmaking...

[hoosier]

He also REALLY did not want to come to Green Bay and I'm sure he made that clear before the draft. The big baby literally cried tears of joy when we did not draft him and I'm sure that attitude helped in the decisionmaking...

That is what I was thinking of with the diva comment. Who knows how VD came across during his contact with the Packers during the combine, but he probably did not send "pick me!" signals.

[MJZiggy]

That is what I was thinking of with the diva comment. Who knows how VD came across during his contact with the Packers during the combine, but he probably did not send "pick me!" signals.

It wouldn't surprise me if he told them that he wouldn't play and would try to force a trade...that's pure speculation, though.

[SnakeLH2006]

As I recall there was a huge debate back then (and on this board) between those who wanted to draft Hawk and those who were high on Mario Williams. Hawk was the consensus favorite. The debate ended when Houston with its number one pick offered Williams a huge contract.

If you go back and read the comments of those favoring Hawk, it was like he was some kind of god. It's definitely unfair to Hawk to saddle him with those kind of over-hyped expectations. He is what he is and many of us saw that at the time. When Mario became unavailable, I was glad we drafted him. We could have done a lot worse.

Snake wanted Bush since there was chatter they could trade up for for him or Mario Williams but that is moot. I don't hate Hawk..he has some value and is dependable and smart and WAAAAYYYYYY overachieved with a hottie wife considering he looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger's half-breed cousin. So for this Snake will give him props.

As far as his playmaking/passrushing ability..it's funny..I was chilling at my black..yes black buddy's house during the draft (who is cool as shit and is a money-making legit school teacher representative) and he said out the blue fuck AJ Hawk...he's overhyped cuz he's white. I called bullshit. I was wrong. He has toughness, savvy, and smarts, but absolutely NO playmaking or gamechanging skills.

For a 4th round pick..he'd be ok...then again even with a paycut...he should be making no more than $2million yearly. In the NFL you get paid on gamechanging plays...if you can sack a qb, pass the lights out, catch a ton of balls, or pick the ball out the air...you get paid...AJ can't do any of those things and held out hope for about 3-4 years he could...he never could. He'd be a good coach, but a game manager that plays most days is ok, but not worth much money.

[Smeefers]

It wouldn't surprise me if he told them that he wouldn't play and would try to force a trade...that's pure speculation, though.

I thought it was Bush who wouldn't play for GB

[Smeefers]

Honestly, I'm glad we have Finley. But in 2006, I thought the situation on offense and with offensive weapons was dire. But if you wanted to go defense, shoulda traded down and gone with Ngata and/or Hali. Kinda 20/20 hindsight, but there were those who really liked Ngata, including Scoops McGinn.

Kinda 20/20? Sure, its easy to look back and say "man, we should of traded back for two of the best players in the NFL!" I'm sure there's guys out there who thought some of the drafts busts would do great. Revisionist history man. Lets face it, we got the solid, not great guy that everyone said he would be.