Bart

Don't care what anybody says, all time top playoff QB.

Holds the ball too high.

Fell a little short of Lombardi type success as a coach, but hey, you can't have everything.

I will say this, I think he was right when he said he was an improved coach by the time he was fired compared to when he took over. His last 3 seasons as coach, the Pack did not have a losing record. I think it was just so hard to stomach that '83 defense which was just horrible and destroyed what could have been a repeat division title type season. It's too bad because the offense was spectacular.

Unfortunately for people like myself, I was too young to have seen Starr as a player so I only experienced him as Packer head coach, and great off-the field guy after his coaching days were over.

The best. As a player, as a role model, as a man.

The best.

And he shares his birthday with my lovely wife!!!

quote:

Originally posted by fightphoe93:
Fell a little short of Lombardi type success as a coach, but hey, you can't have everything.

I will say this, I think he was right when he said he was an improved coach by the time he was fired compared to when he took over. His last 3 seasons as coach, the Pack did not have a losing record. I think it was just so hard to stomach that '83 defense which was just horrible and destroyed what could have been a repeat division title type season. It's too bad because the offense was spectacular.

Unfortunately for people like myself, I was too young to have seen Starr as a player so I only experienced him as Packer head coach, and great off-the field guy after his coaching days were over.

If Eddie Lee Ivery doesn't blow out his knee in his rookie year, we might look at Starr very differently as a head coach.

If Eddie Lee Ivery doesn't blow out his knee in his rookie year, we might look at Starr very differently as a head coach.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree!!!

quote:

Originally posted by MichiganPacker:
If Eddie Lee Ivery doesn't blow out his knee in his rookie year, we might look at Starr very differently as a head coach.

Great point. Guy was snake-bitten. Like Eddie Lee Ivery, many of Starr's #1/#2 draft picks lost their careers or were severely hampered by injuries, like OT Mark Koncar, LB John Anderson, LB Mike Hunt and CB Tim Lewis. By the way, Eddie Lee Ivery blew out his knee two years in a row.

But as much or more so, what did Starr the coach in was Starr the GM. He had no GM experience, yet nonetheless surprisingly failed to listen to his top personnel guy, Dick Corrick. If he had, he'd have drafted Joe Montana instead of DT Charles Johnson, and Ronnie Lott instead of QB Rich Campbell. Starr the GM traded a boat load of picks for a washed-up WR in John Jefferson, and also lost #1 picks DT Bruce Clark to Canada and DE Mike Butler to the USFL, helping make that '83 defense so horrible.

Bottom line, I wanted Starr so badly to succeed during those years. Was just sad he never did. But I still consider him the best Packer ever.

I agree with the comments made here.

A great person, a great Packer, and a great ambassador for the game.

quote:

Originally posted by sschumer:

quote:

Originally posted by MichiganPacker:
If Eddie Lee Ivery doesn't blow out his knee in his rookie year, we might look at Starr very differently as a head coach.

Great point. Guy was snake-bitten. Like Eddie Lee Ivery, many of Starr's #1/#2 draft picks lost their careers or were severely hampered by injuries, like OT Mark Koncar, LB John Anderson, LB Mike Hunt and CB Tim Lewis. By the way, Eddie Lee Ivery blew out his knee two years in a row.

But as much or more so, what did Starr the coach in was Starr the GM. He had no GM experience, yet nonetheless surprisingly failed to listen to his top personnel guy, Dick Corrick. If he had, he'd have drafted Joe Montana instead of DT Charles Johnson, and Ronnie Lott instead of QB Rich Campbell. Starr the GM traded a boat load of picks for a washed-up WR in John Jefferson, and also lost #1 picks DT Bruce Clark to Canada and DE Mike Butler to the USFL, helping make that '83 defense so horrible.

Bottom line, I wanted Starr so badly to succeed during those years. Was just sad he never did. But I still consider him the best Packer ever.

I was young enough to experience all these and be frustrated but eternally hopefull. Along with that, too young to know his playing days but by life understand he was a great man.

That picture looks like it was an amazing day when the picture was taken and I fully realize the irony and blessing of Bart Starr becoming the legend he became.

Thanks Bart. If not for you and Lombardi, I probably wouldn't have a team I am so damn proud to be an owner of.. though insignificant, the envy of every other fan in the league, for generations.

Happy Birthday.

Bart was not the GM during the Butler signing with the USFL. Judge Parins had taken over GM duties by then. Starr was really upset the Parins would not spend the money to sign Butler. Remember too he was also hampered with lack of talent that could be acquired drafting in his early years of coaching because of Dan Devine making the Hadl trade.

When Tim Lewis went down against the Bears in 1986 I thought this franchise was cursed for eternity. Turns out it was the Bears who were cursed.

quote:

Originally posted by sschumer:

quote:

Originally posted by MichiganPacker:
If Eddie Lee Ivery doesn't blow out his knee in his rookie year, we might look at Starr very differently as a head coach.

Great point. Guy was snake-bitten. Like Eddie Lee Ivery, many of Starr's #1/#2 draft picks lost their careers or were severely hampered by injuries, like OT Mark Koncar, LB John Anderson, LB Mike Hunt and CB Tim Lewis. By the way, Eddie Lee Ivery blew out his knee two years in a row.

But as much or more so, what did Starr the coach in was Starr the GM. He had no GM experience, yet nonetheless surprisingly failed to listen to his top personnel guy, Dick Corrick. If he had, he'd have drafted Joe Montana instead of DT Charles Johnson, and Ronnie Lott instead of QB Rich Campbell. Starr the GM traded a boat load of picks for a washed-up WR in John Jefferson, and also lost #1 picks DT Bruce Clark to Canada and DE Mike Butler to the USFL, helping make that '83 defense so horrible.

Bottom line, I wanted Starr so badly to succeed during those years. Was just sad he never did. But I still consider him the best Packer ever.

Passing up Ronnie Lott for Campbell was almost indefensible since Starr did this over the objection of his entire scouting staff with a very high pick in the first round of the draft. I don't think you can criticize him as much over the Montana pick. Joe Montana was the last pick in the third round of that draft so basically every team passed on him at least twice.

The Eddie Lee Ivery injury sticks out because of the excitement he had generated in the preseason. We had drafted Lofton in the first round the year before and it was obvious he was something special and then Ivery comes in and looks like a future superstar during the 1979 preseason. The previous year they had gone 8-7-1 and looked like they knew what they were doing. I remember watching the season opener against the Bears with my father and when Ivery went down he said "that's the season." They ended 5-11.

The other thing that often gets missed is the Lynn Dickey injuries. We've been spoiled by having first ballot Hall of Fame QBs for the last 20 years with Favre and Rodgers, but Dickey was a pretty good pocket QB. He threw a lot of interceptions, but so did most of the QBs back then. If he played today, he'd likely be a much better player with the rules that protect the QB. Back then, the QBs were absolutely blasted every chance a pass rusher got. Helmet-to-helmet contact was almost encouraged as was driving the QB into the ground. Dickey threw a great deep ball, but after he broke his leg a couple of times he was very gunshy in the pocket.

quote:

Mike Hunt

Bart Starr: Green Bay's NFL legend

Sound familiar these days?

Too friggen familiar.

 

I hope your back surgery went well.

Thanks, SJ!

As matter of fact, it's worked wonderfully so far. It's still very sore where the work was done, but the gawdawful pain on my left side is gone!

Sciatica?    I'm dealing with that too.......not fun.

quote:

Mike Hunt

 

 

I can still hear Lionel Aldridge smiling on the radio every time he would refer to "Michael" Hunt. 

I had some herniated discs in lower back; one of them bulging. The nerve pain from the bulging disc was producing sciatica symptoms that ran through my entire left side from waist down.
Surgery has finally relieved all those symptoms. (knock wood!)

 

Bart Starr had a mild ischemic stroke and is recovering. Starr's family: "Bart's doctors are confident for a full recovery."

 

 

Slightly more info here:

 

http://www.packers.com/news-an...11-a994-1bd7325d53d3

 

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/274655261.html

Get well soon, Bart!

Mr. Starr, I hope you're well enough to attend the alumni game. 

Here's to a full and speedy recovery for you Bart!!!!

 

http://bleacherreport.com/arti...est-details-and-more

 

Class.

 

The best there ever was.

 

Get well sir!

From JS Online.....it captures the man's essence.:

 

I wish Mr. Starr a complete recovery.

 

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Just posted on packers.com, a statement from Bart's wife Cherry:

 

http://www.packers.com/news-an...al_20141004_32887116

 

A statement from Cherry Starr:

Bart and I have enjoyed all of the sweet cards and messages from packers.com. Your kindness has been so encouraging and we are grateful for your concern. Many have asked for an update and we now have enough information to share. Bart’s doctors have confirmed on Tuesday, September 2nd he suffered an ischemic stroke followed on September 7th by a hemorrhagic stroke and a mild heart attack. His progress was additionally slowed by seizures which now are under control through medication. Although there have been many bumps in the road over the past several weeks, we remain optimistic for Bart’s quality of life going forward, as he is becoming medically stable and beginning to make progress through rehabilitation. Our family appreciates your prayers and patience while Bart takes the necessary time to recover. We love you all.

After all the mess in the league lately, I am going to wear a jersey with my name on it. I am tired of buying a jersey and finding that Chmura, Favre or whomever has disgraced their name. But Bart is an exception. I will get a #15 for my next jersey, since that is a name I would wear with pride.

 

Glad to hear that he is doing better and hope for a solid recovery. He's in my prayers.

He still looks pretty darn good in that photo above!

I am old enough to have watched Starr play.  He would be one Packer/Former Packer who I would like to meet.  Anyway, I have his jersey.  I got it for Christmas one year.  When I open the package and held it up, one of my kids asked "whose jersey is that?  There is no name on it."  I laughed a little, got to tell them about Bart, and how in his day there were no names on their jerseys.  I now have Starr, Favre, and Rodgers jerseys.  I consider myself blessed to have a life that has spanned their careers. 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^

I've met Bart several times, both when he was playing and also after he had retired. What people say about him is not an exaggeration. He is the definition of a true gentleman.

Honestly I think he was kept around as a coach for so long is because he was such a good guy so therefore I wish he wouldn't have been such a good guy because he sucked as bad as Devine when he was a coach...possibly even worse

Jesus.  You are one miserable **** when you post aren't you?  

 

 

Holy crap.  

 

 

If McCarthy's reputation as a high-character man who is a good role model is what's keeping him around, then I hope he eats a few babies before the end of the year.

I remember when my grandmother had a stroke.  Everyone was talking about how they loved her and what a great person she had been to that point in her life.

 

I set all those idiots straight by reminding them of a dinner she made for all of us once that wasn't very good.  I got them to realize that the only reason we wanted her to pull through was because she was nice, and it would've been better if she was nasty.  That way more of us would focus on that bad dinner.

 

This place never fails...

 

 

I thought it was reprehensible when AR was openly punching juvenile cancer patients.

I had no idea it was simply an effort to prolonging his career.

These peg boards help make sense of this wild blue marble.