Patler's Pompous Pre-season Pontifications

[Patler]

My random thoughts about THE TRADE, Parsons' contract, the future in GB, etc:

- The Parsons trade is the biggest "all-in" deal I have ever seen from the Packers. They gave away the top of the next two drafts, a dependable and highly respected team leader (Clark is the one who called out and challenged the defense after their miserable performance in the first exhibition game) and committed a large portion of the total salary caps for the next 5 years. You can argue about when and where it will be accounted for, but $136M is guaranteed, so at least that amount will come from somewhere the next 5 years.

- I have seen a lot of training camp holdouts over the years, and too often the players have only so-so seasons following a camp-long holdout. Some have season long injury issues, either serious or just the nagging and continuous type. Others just seem to take a month to get up to speed. This is a concern with Parsons having had no camp.

- I wasn't excited over the rumors before the trade happened, because I have always seen Parsons as a pass-rush guy only, with not much other impact. The few times I have seen him play (a couple Packer games and a few others) he didn't have much impact on the game.

- After seeing what GB committed to this relationship in the trade and contract, I am even less excited. To deserve it, Parsons has to impact the game play after play, even when not getting sacks, and the sacks have to come regularly and often from him or from others due to him being there. He has to make others better.

- Parsons strikes me as a bit of a diva; "I have to be the highest paid D guy EVER!" How will this playout a few years from now?

- If they knew they would be trading Clark, I wonder if GB would have tried to keep Slatton? I have a feeling they might regret losing both of them.

- This could be the impetus for a Super Bowl trip, if the presence of Parsons makes life easier for Gary, LVN, Enagbare, Sorrell,etc.; and GB has one of the most-feared pass rushes in the league.

- This could be the beginning of the end for a long, long GB run as one of the better teams in the league. If the Parsons and Love ventures backfire like the Bakhtiari and Alexander contracts did, it could set they Packers back for a while. Things can turn quickly in the NFL, up or down.

- If GB has another one and done playoff run (or worse), it probably should be time to consider replacing Gute. He has been close but hasn't been able to get over the hump. With heavy salary cap commitments to Parsons, Love and several others, no first round picks for two years and perhaps the need to find a QB, Green Bay might not be an appealing place for top GM candidates.

- Gute and Ball have given a lot of their better guys the top or near top contracts for their positions at the time of signing, or contracts surprisingly generous for just good players. Thompson always seemed to get even the best guys to sign a bit cheaper.

- If LaFleur is out, might Hafley get a chance?

[texaspackerbacker]

Sheeeesh what a crock.

The Packers were a loaded team, and now they are a super loaded team.

Did any of ya'all see the Parsons press conference? He sure didn't come across as a diva. He seemed very down-to-earth and normal. His mother is gonna be living with him in Green Bay and helping raise his kid(s) hahahaha.

It's a different NFL now than when Ted Thompson was GM.

[bobblehead]

Sheeeesh what a crock.

The Packers were a loaded team, and now they are a super loaded team.

Did any of ya'all see the Parsons press conference? He sure didn't come across as a diva. He seemed very down-to-earth and normal. His mother is gonna be living with him in Green Bay and helping raise his kid(s) hahahaha.

It's a different NFL now than when Ted Thompson was GM.

PRESS conference? Everyone knows that Tex says if you see it in the press it must be true.

[texaspackerbacker]

The exception, of course, is when the words come directly from players s or maybe coaches or GMs. That's the exception to "fuck the media pukes".

[Patler]

The exception, of course, is when the words come directly from players s or maybe coaches or GMs. That's the exception to "fuck the media pukes".

Ya, I've never known a GM, coach or player to be anything but absolutely honest and straightforward in what they say to the press.

[Patler]

Sheeeesh what a crock.

The Packers were a loaded team, and now they are a super loaded team.

Did any of ya'all see the Parsons press conference? He sure didn't come across as a diva. He seemed very down-to-earth and normal. His mother is gonna be living with him in Green Bay and helping raise his kid(s) hahahaha.

It's a different NFL now than when Ted Thompson was GM.

Apparently you only read my cautionary remarks, not the positive ones?

The dollars are different in todays NFL, but the mechanics of the cap etc. are relatively the same. Every "extra" dollar you give one player is a dollar you don't have to give to another.

[MadScientist]

Valid concerns, and I do share some of them. On the flip side:
1) He sounded genuinely excited to get back on the practice field. He might have sounded like a diva over the contract, but not on the field. Favre and Rodgers were divas about contracts and nobody cared about it when they played.

2) Similarly, it sounds like he is a lead by example type. Hard work and high effort is going to rub off on the rest of the team. (I am worried that this will lead him to push too hard to earn the contract and get hurt.)

3) Clark was a good player, but part of the reason they drafted him was because he was a 3-4 NT, which isn't as critical in a base 4-3. They should have the tackles to handle the run.

4) If Parsons is a pass rush specialist, so be it. The Packers have been unable to get off the field on 3rd down far too often, in large part because they couldn't generate pressure with just 4 rushers. They should be able to do it now.

This is an all-in move that could cost Gute and MLF their jobs if it fails. Regardless, it may make 2028-2030 tough seasons. But tough seasons are easier to handle if they come after a recent SB win or two.

[CaptainKickass]

My random thoughts about THE TRADE, Parsons' contract, the future in GB, etc:

- The Parsons trade is the biggest "all-in" deal I have ever seen from the Packers. They gave away the top of the next two drafts, a dependable and highly respected team leader (Clark is the one who called out and challenged the defense after their miserable performance in the first exhibition game) and committed a large portion of the total salary caps for the next 5 years. You can argue about when and where it will be accounted for, but $136M is guaranteed, so at least that amount will come from somewhere the next 5 years.

- I have seen a lot of training camp holdouts over the years, and too often the players have only so-so seasons following a camp-long holdout. Some have season long injury issues, either serious or just the nagging and continuous type. Others just seem to take a month to get up to speed. This is a concern with Parsons having had no camp.

- I wasn't excited over the rumors before the trade happened, because I have always seen Parsons as a pass-rush guy only, with not much other impact. The few times I have seen him play (a couple Packer games and a few others) he didn't have much impact on the game.

- After seeing what GB committed to this relationship in the trade and contract, I am even less excited. To deserve it, Parsons has to impact the game play after play, even when not getting sacks, and the sacks have to come regularly and often from him or from others due to him being there. He has to make others better.

- Parsons strikes me as a bit of a diva; "I have to be the highest paid D guy EVER!" How will this playout a few years from now?

- If they knew they would be trading Clark, I wonder if GB would have tried to keep Slatton? I have a feeling they might regret losing both of them.

- This could be the impetus for a Super Bowl trip, if the presence of Parsons makes life easier for Gary, LVN, Enagbare, Sorrell,etc.; and GB has one of the most-feared pass rushes in the league.

- This could be the beginning of the end for a long, long GB run as one of the better teams in the league. If the Parsons and Love ventures backfire like the Bakhtiari and Alexander contracts did, it could set they Packers back for a while. Things can turn quickly in the NFL, up or down.

- If GB has another one and done playoff run (or worse), it probably should be time to consider replacing Gute. He has been close but hasn't been able to get over the hump. With heavy salary cap commitments to Parsons, Love and several others, no first round picks for two years and perhaps the need to find a QB, Green Bay might not be an appealing place for top GM candidates.

- Gute and Ball have given a lot of their better guys the top or near top contracts for their positions at the time of signing, or contracts surprisingly generous for just good players. Thompson always seemed to get even the best guys to sign a bit cheaper.

- If LaFleur is out, might Hafley get a chance?

All I keep thinking is this:

"Wow. This has been the most exciting Packers offseason I can remember or have ever experienced. I've thoroughly enjoyed the ride and am incredibly stoked for the season to finally begin."

[texaspackerbacker]

Apparently you only read my cautionary remarks, not the positive ones?

The dollars are different in todays NFL, but the mechanics of the cap etc. are relatively the same. Every "extra" dollar you give one player is a dollar you don't have to give to another.

I reread it, and all I could find was that sounded positive was that the dead obvious line that Parsons' presence will make the other pass rushers better, and rightly or wrongly in the context of all the weird negativity, I got the impression you didn't believe even that.

I say again, we had a loaded team before the trade, and this trade elevates things to absolutely super - with the one caveat, of course, that Parsons stays healthy.

LaFleur and/or Gutekunst's jobs in danger? Sheeeeeeeeesh

[Patler]

The health of Love is their only excuse for not making post season noise. If Parsons goes down...oh well.

So why do YOU think Policy has said he is not interested in talking extensions with Gutekunst or LaFleur at this time? Typically, discussions would start now, the year before their contract year. Apparently, Policy has shut that door. Why?

[Patler]

All I keep thinking is this:

"Wow. This has been the most exciting Packers offseason I can remember or have ever experienced. I've thoroughly enjoyed the ride and am incredibly stoked for the season to finally begin."

Actually, adding this to last off season has been very interesting. Interesting FA moves and drafts.

[texaspackerbacker]

The health of Love is their only excuse for not making post season noise. If Parsons goes down...oh well.

So why do YOU think Policy has said he is not interested in talking extensions with Gutekunst or LaFleur at this time? Typically, discussions would start now, the year before their contract year. Apparently, Policy has shut that door. Why?

I've read that media crap about Policy not extending those contracts, etc. I'd say it's just more know nothing media idiocy i.e. uninformed speculation.

I tend to agree, Love getting hurt would be a bigger factor than Parson. That goes along with the idea that the Packers were plenty good enough, I would say loaded, even before the trade. The way Willis has played, though, it wouldn't surprise me to see the Packers have great success even without Love - again because the team is loaded.

[Patler]

I've read that media crap about Policy not extending those contracts, etc. I'd say it's just more know nothing media idiocy i.e. uninformed speculation.

Uh....Policy is the one who said it, not the media. At the same time, he also said he is generally opposed to having the GM or coach go into a lame duck season. In other words, he will either extend them or replace them next offseason. If he was sure he would extend their contracts, there is no reason to say he won't do it now. He does not seem sure about what he wants to do.

[Patler]

Curiously, Policy also said this:

“I think normally, you have a pretty good idea of where that relationship is going when you have two years left — not always, but normally, Policy continued.”

So, why isn't he extending them now????

[smuggler]

I disagree with a one-and-done playoff appearance dooming Guter. Context is king. If they get badly hampered by injury, as happens frequently in the league, but still make the playoffs (for instance), I think that is a win for Gute and LaFleur.

Time will tell. I'm reserving my judgment at least until Parsons is spun up and in full game shape (maybe week 3 or so) and we see how he looks in the defense.