2019 Dumb Things I Read

[Bretsky]

Does anyone agree with the current beat writer consensus that draft and develop cost the Packers veterans who could be backups and excel on ST? There are more than a couple of examples of those guys getting released at the end of camp or midseason due to roster adjustments/injuries.

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I would agree with this for sure and I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I agree with the premise

[pbmax]

I would agree with this for sure and I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I agree with the premise

So you don't think ST can work without veterans dedicated to the units?

[gbgary]

rizzi didn't come to Green Bay for the interview because he wasn't interested. the only conclusion is that they didn't meet his price. supposedly he was the best guy out there and they wanted him. the fact that he left is telling. the Packers haven't realized that when it comes to signing the best at something they're going to have to pay the Green Bay tax to seal the deal.

[Fritz]

rizzi didn't come to Green Bay for the interview because he wasn't interested. the only conclusion is that they didn't meet his price. supposedly he was the best guy out there and they wanted him. the fact that he left is telling. the Packers haven't realized that when it comes to signing the best at something they're going to have to pay the Green Bay tax to seal the deal.

Part of the problem here is that we don't know what Rizzi wanted. If it was "just" a huge contract, then maybe you're right - although you'd have to consider the possible reverberations of paying a special teams coach more than, say, your offensive or defensive coordinator.

But maybe Rizzi wanted more power. And that could be problematic. Maybe he wanted some play-calling authority so he could show his chops as a potential head coach somewhere ("We're going to run a fake punt!"). Maybe he wanted to be an assistant head coach, and LeFleur does not like that model (how'd that work out for MM and Winston? Hard to say).

Or maybe having a better selection of strippers in places like Miami or New York or L.A. was worth way more to Rizzi than making three mill a year instead of two mill.

We just don't know.

[pbmax]

rizzi didn't come to Green Bay for the interview because he wasn't interested. the only conclusion is that they didn't meet his price. supposedly he was the best guy out there and they wanted him. the fact that he left is telling. the Packers haven't realized that when it comes to signing the best at something they're going to have to pay the Green Bay tax to seal the deal.

Gary, we have been dealing with FA for quite a long time. There isn't much, if any, evidence of a FA tax for GB. Some players won't want to play outdoors in the cold, but you can't eliminate personal preferences like that. Jimmy Graham didn't cost 10% more just because its GB; he wanted to play with Rodgers.

It is possible Rizzi used GB as a stalking horse to get an offer, reject it because it wasn't enough, and try to improve the deal elsewhere.

But nothing about this case seems to be about the Packers misjudging the market. They signed Pettine and Hackett without trouble. Rizzi may have been the most obviously qualified candidate, and the Packers know that too. If his demands went beyond that, its fair to let him go.

Patler is right. Just because we can't identify the next best candidate doesn't mean they can't.

The big question is this: does anyone at GB KNOW how to find the next most qualified candidate and identify them? Look at ST over the years. They were a catastrophe under Sherman too until he hired Bonamego. Just like drafting pass rush, I have my doubts they know what will work.

[Fritz]

Detroit just hired Bonamego.

[pbmax]

So about the too young for good special teams:

Packer Report @PackerReport
This isn't surprising. Been charting average ages for last decade. Some #Packers ages and where it ranked among youngest rosters
2007 — 25.72 (1st)
...
2009 — 25.70 (1st)
2011 — 25.74 (T-3rd)
...
2018 — 25.74 (T-10th)
So, essentially same age those seasons but look at ranking


There are multiple ways to measure this, but I don't think the youth argument holds much water. I suspect the only veteran different between the Packers and most teams on ST is one to three guys who are on the roster to play ST.

[MadScientist]

In an article about the Madden simulation of the SB:

Now, using a video game to try to see into the future might be a bit unorthodox (and completely inadvisable), but consider that Madden has predicted five of the last nine winners, For the Win noted.

5 out of 9 is basically random chance. smh.