Forrest Gregg Passes

[George Cumby]

I have an odd fondness of ol' Forrest and those 80's Packers. I loved the intense futility of it all; the relentless drubbings by the unbeatable Bears and the very good Vikings. Occasionally there would be hope only for it to be crushed by the team's incompetence. Nostalgia or masochism, I guess. Perhaps nostalgic masochism.

But those years made the Favre/Rodgers DECADES so much more enjoyable.

RIP Forrest.

[mraynrand]

Gregg was 6-2 versus the Vikings. It seems worse because the ‘86 losses were so terrible and ‘87 features one strike win. Not to mention the 9-24 record in ‘86 and ‘87.

[MadScientist]

Gregg was 6-2 versus the Vikings. It seems worse because the ‘86 losses were so terrible and ‘87 features one strike win. Not to mention the 9-24 record in ‘86 and ‘87.

Those 6 wins also include 2 during the Les Steckel era, which really can't count as an accomplishment.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I remember Forrest Gregg declaring he was getting rid of all the "8-8 players" following several mediocre years. Then the team went 4-12. I liked Lynn Dickey, Paul Coffman and other 8-8 players.

I probably am an unfortunate choice to speak here at the Forrest Gregg memorial service.

[MadScientist]

I remember Forrest Gregg declaring he was getting rid of all the "8-8 players" following several mediocre years. Then the team went 4-12. I liked Lynn Dickey, Paul Coffman and other 8-8 players.

I probably am an unfortunate choice to speak here at the Forrest Gregg memorial service.

He needed to start by getting rid of the 0-8 players while keeping the 8-0 players. In the end, like is predecessor, he was a far better player than coach/GM. He did bring about the end of the reign of Lombardi era people at the helm of the Packers. At least his drafting was a step up from Starr's.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Speaking of Lombardi era people, where the fuck is Maxie the Taxi? Is another memorial service in order?

[QBME]

Great Packer.
Great Packer legacy.
Only regret - Friggin' Charles Martin. Took the intensity a step too far.

[mraynrand]

Those 6 wins also include 2 during the Les Steckel era, which really can't count as an accomplishment.

A win is a win, baby!

[mraynrand]

Speaking of Lombardi era people, where the fuck is Maxie the Taxi? Is another memorial service in order?

We are all concerned. 31 May have hired a detective. It’s possible Maxie is caring for his wife and can’t come to the blog. Say a prayer for him.

[KYPack]

Maxie is the man, hope he's well.

As a player, Forrest was a total stud. The great memory of him is the play-offs of '67. I got an early Christmas present, 4 tix to the Rams Packers play-off game. The Rams only lost one game in the regular season. The Packers won the NFL Central, but pretty much limped in ending the season with 2 losses (including a loss to the Rams)

The center piece of the Rams was the Fearsome Foursome. Four snarling Dlineman led by future HOFers Merlin Olsen and David (Deacon) Jones. Jones lead the league in sacks that year. Many writers were forcasting that the Young Rams would run over the aging Packers. One of the key match-ups was Jones vs Forrest Gregg, their LDE vs our All-Pro RT.

The Rams scored early to jump ahead 7-0. The Pack got the ball soon faced a 3rd and long. The Deacon put his best pass rush move on Forrest. Jones was as quick and strong as advertised and went to go by Gregg with his famous Headslap move. He only delivered half a blow though. As Jones was head slapping, the long tall Texan buried a forearm in Jones ribs and drove him to the turf. A huge cheer erupted from all the fans on that sideline, including me. The Pack converted and moved on down field.

At the Ram 44, Bart called a trap play. Jerry Kramer blocked down on Merlin Olsen, Forrest kicked out on Jones, once again burying him. Young guard Gale Gillingham lead the power block thru the 2 hole clearing the highway for rookie speed back Travis Williams. The roadrunner left trail of burning grass down the right sideline. The crowd at the county went absolutely nuts. Part of the cheers were for the touchdown, the other part was for the realization that "Hey, we can beat these sumbitches"!

The game was a blow-out 28-7 and Forrest's performance was a huge part of the victory. Gregg was a Hall of Famer and one of the best ever to play that position.

Old frosty was a great player, so it was so disappointing to me when he totally screwed the job of coaching the Pack.

That shouldn't diminish Packer fans memories of Forrest. Remember as a great player, not the strange man that coached the Pack for a time.

[Harlan Huckleby]

I completely forgot that Gregg was a head coach for Bengals, went to Superbowl in 1981. HC for Browns before that.

[pbmax]

I completely forgot that Gregg was a head coach for Bengals, went to Superbowl in 1981. HC for Browns before that.

I forgot he was HC for Cleveland. It was a forgettable tenure. How bad did it get?

He won the AP Coach of the Year for 1976 for going 9-5. He was gone before the end of the next year.

Same kinda track as Dan Devine. AP head coach of the year in 1972. Devine held on for two years after that.

[Cleft Crusty]

I forgot he was HC for Cleveland. It was a forgettable tenure. How bad did it get?

He won the AP Coach of the Year for 1976 for going 9-5. He was gone before the end of the next year.

Same kinda track as Dan Devine. AP head coach of the year in 1972. Devine held on for two years after that.

The difference is that Devine was a mole, sent to destroy the Packers franchise from within. '72 was just a hold-over error before the deconstruction began.

[Cleft Crusty]

Maxie is the man, hope he's well.

As a player, Forrest was a total stud. The great memory of him is the play-offs of '67. I got an early Christmas present, 4 tix to the Rams Packers play-off game. The Rams only lost one game in the regular season. The Packers won the NFL Central, but pretty much limped in ending the season with 2 losses (including a loss to the Rams)

The center piece of the Rams was the Fearsome Foursome. Four snarling Dlineman led by future HOFers Merlin Olsen and David (Deacon) Jones. Jones lead the league in sacks that year. Many writers were forcasting that the Young Rams would run over the aging Packers. One of the key match-ups was Jones vs Forrest Gregg, their LDE vs our All-Pro RT.

The Rams scored early to jump ahead 7-0. The Pack got the ball soon faced a 3rd and long. The Deacon put his best pass rush move on Forrest. Jones was as quick and strong as advertised and went to go by Gregg with his famous Headslap move. He only delivered half a blow though. As Jones was head slapping, the long tall Texan buried a forearm in Jones ribs and drove him to the turf. A huge cheer erupted from all the fans on that sideline, including me. The Pack converted and moved on down field.

At the Ram 44, Bart called a trap play. Jerry Kramer blocked down on Merlin Olsen, Forrest kicked out on Jones, once again burying him. Young guard Gale Gillingham lead the power block thru the 2 hole clearing the highway for rookie speed back Travis Williams. The roadrunner left trail of burning grass down the right sideline. The crowd at the county went absolutely nuts. Part of the cheers were for the touchdown, the other part was for the realization that "Hey, we can beat these sumbitches"!

The game was a blow-out 28-7 and Forrest's performance was a huge part of the victory. Gregg was a Hall of Famer and one of the best ever to play that position.

Old frosty was a great player, so it was so disappointing to me when he totally screwed the job of coaching the Pack.

That shouldn't diminish Packer fans memories of Forrest. Remember as a great player, not the strange man that coached the Pack for a time.

Fantastic story. Deacon Jones was a terror, but you could get him by avoiding the head slap and getting into his body, just like Gregg did. Gregg was a student of the game and knew how to get Jones



"He was the best drive blocker I've ever seen." —Deacon Jones

[Harlan Huckleby]

The difference is that Devine was a mole, sent to destroy the Packers franchise from within.

He was from Notre Dame - cat-licker. The Vatican was up to its usual dirty tricks