Calling an audible.....

[KYPack]

"Rison played 5 more years and was very productive for 5. Not going to discuss the 2 more in the CFL."

Tyrone, ya freakin' cracky.

Rison played TWO more seasons. He was very productive for us and helped out a lot that year. Andre did a lot of work with the young recievers and brought a lot of energy to his job. His gig was to run routes the DB's respected to leave room for our twin terror TE's, Chew and Keith Jackson. 13 grabs was just a bit of his contributions.

One thing he did for the team may have lead to his demise. At the end of the season, Holmgren was worrying aloud to his coaches on how to fire the team up before an upcoming game. An assistant told Mikey that he had heard Rison could deliver a king hell pre game pep talk. Rison was approached and agreed to give his firey speech, knowing it was fresh material to the Pack.

Rison did a great job, getting the team all fired up, but combining humor. All observers said it was the best pre game pep talk they'd ever heard. Him and Holmgren even worked a bit out that would allow MH to make a joke at Rison's expense, kidding him about the hip hop delivery.

Rison did every thing he was asked and expected to be back next year. The Pack never made him an offer. Andre signed with the Chiefs. He was their top reciever with 72 catches for 1000+ yards. He was pissed and was never told why the Pack let him go.

The scuttlebut of the time was that Wolf & Holmgren were impressed with Rison's quick hold on the team, but paranoid that it could backfire. Rison had a rep as a clubhouse lawyer & Packer mgt didn't want to deal with his alleged dark side.

That read him and Brett made in the Super Bowl is how I remember Dre. He could read secondaries like a QB. He read that hot seam and ran the route. The Gunslinger saw it too, & put that baby right in there. He should have played for us in '97.

[esoxx]

Re: Calling an audible.....

reminded me of the sb where he audibled and threw the td to... was it rison or freeman that he audibled on? i think it was rison's.

Both.

[Patler]

You simply are doing revisionist history. Prior to Rison, they were 2-2, after..undefeated.

Welcome to the negative side of the fence. Arguing with the mob is fruitless.

You can be right, but you'll still be wrong... (FWIW, I'll doom you and your argument by telling you I agree with you. I think the team at the end of the year without Rison would not have been as good as the team was with Rison. Clearly he helped regardless of the touchdown or no touchdown)

No, revisionist history is making Rison out to be a savior. Did he help? Sure he helped. My point was simply that there was nothing "terrific" about getting him. He was a talented player who had rubbed several managements the wrong way, and was available because he was released midyear by Jacksonville, I think.

I will stick with my earlier comment. If he had not caught the Super Bowl TD pass, by now most Packer fans would have forgotten he was even on the team. He would have been a mere anecdote. A late season addition to an injured WR corp.

[the_idle_threat]

Nobody is painting him as a savior. That's laying it on a bit thick, isn't it? He was just a good pickup when the team needed one. Kind of a "right place at the right time" situation. I might even call it a "terrific" pickup given the circumstances and the result. You might not, but then it's a matter of opinion and there's no right or wrong answer.

Rison was a known quantity as a talented veteran receiver. He was not a mere Taco Wallace. (Speaking of whom ... if we remember a guy like Taco Wallace so many moons later, why might we not remember "Bad Moon" Rison?)

There was concern about his issues 'tween the ears, but his pre-existing friendship with Favre seemed to make that less of a concern. Obviously Wolf and/or Holmgren didn't see things the same way.

[Deputy Nutz]

The Packers had pretty much run out of receivers by the end of the season. Brooks was out for the season, Freeman was hurt, Mayes was a rookie, Howard was really just a kick returner, so who ever they picked up was going to play and the ball would be thrown to them. Rison had to start, and under the circumstances his 13 receptions were no great accomplishment.

Don Beebe certainly helped out the team when Brooks and Freeman went down. For several games he was the only outside receiving threat. In fact after Free went down the Packers were starting Beebe and Mickens.

But thats not the point any QB that can really read a defense needs to be allowed to have options. When talent isn't there like in '05 and Favre doesn't have the control of changing the play at the line, bad things are bound to happen, bound baby, bound.

[Patler]

Nobody is painting him as a savior. That's laying it on a bit thick, isn't it? He was just a good pickup when the team needed one. Kind of a "right place at the right time" situation. I might even call it a "terrific" pickup given the circumstances and the result. You might not, but then it's a matter of opinion and there's no right or wrong answer.

Rison was a known quantity as a talented veteran receiver. He was not a mere Taco Wallace. (Speaking of whom ... if we remember a guy like Taco Wallace so many moons later, why might we not remember "Bad Moon" Rison?)

There was concern about his issues 'tween the ears, but his pre-existing friendship with Favre seemed to make that less of a concern. Obviously Wolf and/or Holmgren didn't see things the same way.

This discussion has mushroomed because I objected to the statement that Rison was "a terrific FA pickup." It's not like the Packers had to outbid anyone for his services. He had been fired mid-season. It was a no-brainer, with little risk because the minute he caused trouble he would have been handed a ticket and driven to the airport.

[Patler]

The Packers had pretty much run out of receivers by the end of the season. Brooks was out for the season, Freeman was hurt, Mayes was a rookie, Howard was really just a kick returner, so who ever they picked up was going to play and the ball would be thrown to them. Rison had to start, and under the circumstances his 13 receptions were no great accomplishment.

Don Beebe certainly helped out the team when Brooks and Freeman went down. For several games he was the only outside receiving threat. In fact after Free went down the Packers were starting Beebe and Mickens.

But thats not the point any QB that can really read a defense needs to be allowed to have options. When talent isn't there like in '05 and Favre doesn't have the control of changing the play at the line, bad things are bound to happen, bound baby, bound.

Beebe did help. Didn't he tweak a hamstring or something later in the season? It didn't keep him out, but as I recall he was a bit hobbled for a few games.

[Noodle]

Thanks Tyrone and others for gettin' my back against the brutal ambushing Patler laid on me.

Of course he was a terrific FA pickup. And at the time, I don't remember it as a "no brainer." There were concerns about how he would fit in and that he would be a disruptive hot head. Wolf took a chance, and I still say it paid off nicely.

Here's an excerpt from the Packers.com series on the SB year:

"Bad Moon Rison."

Even if you had no idea about the man, the nickname alone might cause you to have a few preconceived notions about him.

The "Bad Moon Rison" term had been attached to Andre Rison throughout most of his NFL career and often times led people to view the 6-foot-1, 195-pound wide receiver in a negative light regardless of whether they knew him or not.

So, when 1996 rolled around and the Packers were in need of a wide receiver, many people raised their eyebrows when Rison was claimed off waivers from Jacksonville.

The Packers had a 6-1 record at the time Robert Brooks suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and patellar tendon in his right knee, but they went 2-2 without his services. Sitting at 8-3 and at a crossroads in the season, Green Bay was entering the stretch run without one of its top playmakers.

And that's when Rison entered the scene.

Rison came in and helped make up for the loss of Brooks by starting in seven games and giving the Packers another vertical dimension in the passing game. Still, some thought that he'd be a bad influence on a team with such strong chemistry. Others said Rison wasn't going to be satisfied without being the focal point of the offense.

So, was this a bad move for the Green and Gold?

Well, considering the Packers were 8-0 with Rison in the lineup and became Super Bowl XXXI champions, it'd be difficult to argue against the addition of "Bad Moon."

Actually, he wasn't really "Bad Moon" anymore according to several teammates.

Defensive tackle Bob Kuberski said the Packers had nothing to worry about when it came to Rison's attitude or personality.

"Everything was fine," Kuberski explained. "Everybody made a big fuss about it, but he came into the team, and was assimilated into the team. And I think he came in and said, 'Ok, I see what these guys are doing, and I'll do the same thing.'

"You know, he was great."

Keith Jackson, who also played an instrumental role in the Packers' success, echoed those sentiments.

"You had heard all of this stuff about him," Jackson recalled. "Bad Moon Rison, how he used to do this and how is he going to conform. But I learned a life lesson. I learned if you really are unwavering in a commitment to one another, a person on the outside will come in and they will become a part of the group instead of pull someone out of the group.

"And Andre Rison came in and he was the perfect gentleman. He did everything that the coaches asked him to do. That was a huge play in the Super Bowl that he made to help us secure that game."

The play Jackson is referring to is arguably one of the biggest in team history and it came on only the Packers' second offensive play from scrimmage. Brett Favre saw a favorable matchup at the line of scrimmage, and he made eye contact with Jackson, Rison, and Antonio Freeman to make sure everybody was on the same page.

Seconds later, Favre found Rison wide open and the star receiver made an over-the- shoulder grab for a 54-yard touchdown. The play set the tone for the game and Rison finished with two catches for 77 yards.



You see Patler, your statistics just can't tell the whole story.

[woodbuck27]

The Packers had pretty much run out of receivers by the end of the season. Brooks was out for the season, Freeman was hurt, Mayes was a rookie, Howard was really just a kick returner, so who ever they picked up was going to play and the ball would be thrown to them. Rison had to start, and under the circumstances his 13 receptions were no great accomplishment.

If that was true..whoever. How come in 97 the #3 receiver had 18 catches in 12 games. That without Keith Jackson who snared more balls the year before.

As for 1 touchdown. Ok. Perhaps you don't wanna talk about the other shoulda been td where brett missed him and threw it behind him on what shoulda been an 80 yarder.

You simply are doing revisionist history. Prior to Rison, they were 2-2, after..undefeated.

And, convenient that you don't mention the td in the san fran game.

And, my point was that it was a fine accomplishment in the short time he was here. He wasn't a west coast receiver and had to learn different routes.

The offense was really designed to get production at flanker, where newcomer Rison was still adapting to the system. And, don't kid yourself, Favre's best plays came when he broke the pocket and threw on the run. It takes a very disciplined secondary to stay with the receivers until Favre crosses the line of scrimmage. With veteran free-lancers such as Rison and Beebe, Favre loved to scramble and look for them downfield.

Furthermore, considering how the rest of those receivers turned out we definitely coulda used him.

1. Mayes..el busto
2. Mickens..oh, lord
3. beebe..tail end of career
4. Brooks..done in one

etc, etc. etc. You of all people know the numbers don't lie. And Rison's prior to GB #s were great and post GB were well above average.

Rison played 5 more years and was very productive for 5. Not going to discuss the 2 more in the CFL.

There is no way you can tell me that in 97 you would have preferred any of the #3 receivers over Rison.

Nice re-buttal.

Still steak not hamburger.

I am happy that I can always picture the Favre audible where he hit Andre Rison to his left for that huge - thumping TD.

Without that Favre to Rison hook-up we would have been ** in a hole in the first quarter by a score of 14-3.

** Not too comfortable given the pressure that would have placed on Favre even as it turned out all big Packer scoring plays in the 2nd quarter.

Just wondering if. . .

If being a very smart NFL fan is much akin to being overbearing or stubborn to accept anothers view with some degree of obvious comportment and respect (question mark)

GO PACKERS !

[MadtownPacker]

You simply are doing revisionist history. Prior to Rison, they were 2-2, after..undefeated.

Welcome to the negative side of the fence. Arguing with the mob is fruitless.

You can be right, but you'll still be wrong... (FWIW, I'll doom you and your argument by telling you I agree with you. I think the team at the end of the year without Rison would not have been as good as the team was with Rison. Clearly he helped regardless of the touchdown or no touchdown)

What the hell does this have to do with anything????

[Patler]

"Brutal ambush"????
What the heck does that mean?

Geeze, all I did is disagree with you.

[Patler]

Thanks Tyrone and others for gettin' my back against the brutal ambushing Patler laid on me.

Of course he was a terrific FA pickup. And at the time, I don't remember it as a "no brainer." There were concerns about how he would fit in and that he would be a disruptive hot head. Wolf took a chance, and I still say it paid off nicely.

Here's an excerpt from the Packers.com series on the SB year:

"Bad Moon Rison."

Even if you had no idea about the man, the nickname alone might cause you to have a few preconceived notions about him.

The "Bad Moon Rison" term had been attached to Andre Rison throughout most of his NFL career and often times led people to view the 6-foot-1, 195-pound wide receiver in a negative light regardless of whether they knew him or not.

So, when 1996 rolled around and the Packers were in need of a wide receiver, many people raised their eyebrows when Rison was claimed off waivers from Jacksonville.

The Packers had a 6-1 record at the time Robert Brooks suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and patellar tendon in his right knee, but they went 2-2 without his services. Sitting at 8-3 and at a crossroads in the season, Green Bay was entering the stretch run without one of its top playmakers.

And that's when Rison entered the scene.

Rison came in and helped make up for the loss of Brooks by starting in seven games and giving the Packers another vertical dimension in the passing game. Still, some thought that he'd be a bad influence on a team with such strong chemistry. Others said Rison wasn't going to be satisfied without being the focal point of the offense.

So, was this a bad move for the Green and Gold?

Well, considering the Packers were 8-0 with Rison in the lineup and became Super Bowl XXXI champions, it'd be difficult to argue against the addition of "Bad Moon."

Actually, he wasn't really "Bad Moon" anymore according to several teammates.

Defensive tackle Bob Kuberski said the Packers had nothing to worry about when it came to Rison's attitude or personality.

"Everything was fine," Kuberski explained. "Everybody made a big fuss about it, but he came into the team, and was assimilated into the team. And I think he came in and said, 'Ok, I see what these guys are doing, and I'll do the same thing.'

"You know, he was great."

Keith Jackson, who also played an instrumental role in the Packers' success, echoed those sentiments.

"You had heard all of this stuff about him," Jackson recalled. "Bad Moon Rison, how he used to do this and how is he going to conform. But I learned a life lesson. I learned if you really are unwavering in a commitment to one another, a person on the outside will come in and they will become a part of the group instead of pull someone out of the group.

"And Andre Rison came in and he was the perfect gentleman. He did everything that the coaches asked him to do. That was a huge play in the Super Bowl that he made to help us secure that game."

The play Jackson is referring to is arguably one of the biggest in team history and it came on only the Packers' second offensive play from scrimmage. Brett Favre saw a favorable matchup at the line of scrimmage, and he made eye contact with Jackson, Rison, and Antonio Freeman to make sure everybody was on the same page.

Seconds later, Favre found Rison wide open and the star receiver made an over-the- shoulder grab for a 54-yard touchdown. The play set the tone for the game and Rison finished with two catches for 77 yards.



You see Patler, your statistics just can't tell the whole story.

Well that particular series put out by the Packers made every member of the roster sound like a Hall of Famer.

I really don't understand the adamant glorification of a guy who came in, played five regular season games and the playoffs and did nothing exceptional other than the SB hook-up. I never said he was a problem, or performed poorly or anything of that nature. But, there was nothing "terrific" about having signed a street free agent, which is what he was. That was my only point. It was not that big of a deal.

[Bretsky]

I do think Rison was a major free agent signing and a risk. Stat wise, it appears to not be a big deal.

But he was a character risk coming into a team with a great mentality. He could have disrupted that as he probably disrupted past teams.

I also think his level of talent allowed the other WR's and TE's to get open more because they really had to account for Rison as well.

[Noodle]

"Brutal ambush"????
What the heck does that mean?

Geeze, all I did is disagree with you.

Just playin' with you, Patler. Lighten up, buddy, there's nothing but love for you here.

[the_idle_threat]

"Brutal ambush"????
What the heck does that mean?

Geeze, all I did is disagree with you.

Just playin' with you, Patler. Lighten up, buddy, there's nothing but love for you here.

Agreed. Some of us want to beleive the Rison pickup was a bigger deal than you think it was, Patler, and there's some evidence to support either view. Certainly nothing personal.

Cheers to the Pack and to all Packerrats!