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Just read an article where Walter Payton was named the Bears best player over the past 100 years and it got me thinking who is the Packers. 

The list has to be Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, and Don Hutson.

I would love to say Rodgers is the best followed by Hutson, Favre, Starr, and Hornung. I never saw Hutson play but the articles I have read make make it seem as though he was a special player and years ahead of his time. Could Rodgers have survived the beatings Qbs took during Starrs era. Could Starr be a HOF player if he had to throw 40 times a game without a running game.  Favre could have played in any era. Hornung probably would not make a team today. Walter Payton seems like a no brainer for Bears fans. I am not sure who I would vote for if given the opportunity for the Packers. 

Maybe it is Hutson, Favre and Rodgers followed by the rest. 

 

 

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Floridarob posted:

Just read an article where Walter Payton was named the Bears best player over the past 100 years and it got me thinking who is the Packers. 

The list has to be Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, and Don Hutson.

I would love to say Rodgers is the best followed by Hutson, Favre, Starr, and Hornung. I never saw Hutson play but the articles I have read make make it seem as though he was a special player and years ahead of his time. Could Rodgers have survived the beatings Qbs took during Starrs era. Could Starr be a HOF player if he had to throw 40 times a game without a running game.  Favre could have played in any era. Hornung probably would not make a team today. Walter Payton seems like a no brainer for Bears fans. I am not sure who I would vote for if given the opportunity for the Packers. 

Maybe it is Hutson, Favre and Rodgers followed by the rest. 

 

 

In no particular order I would go with Hutson, Rodgers, Favre, and Starr being the best Packers of all time.  I also would have to include Reggie White somewhere  in that discussion as well even though he played six or so seasons in GB.

The reason I say Reggie is because not only was he one of the best Packers ever but also his impact on the team to help get them out of the dark years.

I think Rodgers or Favre could have played in any era and done well.  I think their passing ability and command of the field would have made them successful.  I love Bart Starr but I struggle with feeling he could play in any era and won big. 

I wish I could have seen Hutson play but by all the things I have read he was crazy dominant in the passing game and helped get the NFL to pass the ball more.  

So long story short my choice for all time best Packer is Rodgers.  

 

Last edited by The Heckler

I think you have to judge each on their value to the team in their respective eras, then look at comparing them to each other, as well as how they rank in the league. Starr was a coach on the field and able to carry out Lombardi's vision for several years, and helped mold the team into a powerhouse. He was a top-three QB, but probably not THE top QB (I like Johnny U there). Favre was tough as nails (until that cold January day in 2007) with an arm like a howitzer. At his prime, he was the epitome of a leader who carried the team and made everyone better. Rodgers is probably smarter than almost any other player to wear the green-and-gold and his physical gifts are way above average.

Yet, I keep going back to Hutson, who on film looks like he could step into the locker room today and start. Rodgers would love to have him running routes! But the thing that seals it for me is Hutson's ability to play offense and defense. Hutson was without parallel as a split end and was also a talented safety who once led the league in interceptions (1940). He was miles ahead of other receivers during his era and helped create the modern receiver route, and then he'd flip sides and stop the other team's players -- he was great on both sides of the ball.

That makes Hutson without parallel and the greatest Packer to suit up (IMHO).  

In my opinion, a huge measure of greatness is how one compares to their peers from the same era----Ruth and Gretsky literally obliterated records and surpassed them by 30, 40 or 50%. Only Hutson would be in that same discussion, although upon reflection, some of Rodgers #'s are pretty damn impressive, especially his TD/Int ratio. I still would chose Hutson.

Reggie White is arguably the best defensive player in the history of Pro Football. 

Hutson’s best year was nearly 70 years before his numbers would have received All Pro in 2019. He was Gretzky before Gretzky was born. Hutson changed football. 

In closing. I’m going with Aaron Rodgers. Who is the greatest video cheat code at QB I’ve ever watched in my lifetime. 

Last edited by ChilliJon
Blair Kiel posted:

In my opinion, a huge measure of greatness is how one compares to their peers from the same era----Ruth and Gretsky literally obliterated records and surpassed them by 30, 40 or 50%. Only Hutson would be in that same discussion, although upon reflection, some of Rodgers #'s are pretty damn impressive, especially his TD/Int ratio. I still would chose Hutson.

Good point.

I used to like looking at stats for a given year, such as a year Ruth led in HR's.  I would take the difference between #1 (his total)  and the #2 guy and then subtract that difference from #2 and see how far down the list you have to go until that difference is again reached.

Often, with Ruth, it was never reached.  If you subtracted the difference from the #2 guy, you would be in negative numbers.  So he just obliterated yearly stats.

Rodman did it with rebounds sometimes.  I'll bet Hutson did it with receptions.  Gretzky with scoring.  Chamberlain with scoring.

I always knew how Hutson dominated but I didn't know he still holds some NFL records (well if Wikipedia stats are accurate that is)

As of the end of the 2017 NFL season, Hutson still holds the following records: most seasons leading league in pass receptions (8), most consecutive seasons leading league in pass receptions (5), most seasons leading league in pass receiving yards gained (7), most consecutive seasons leading league in pass receiving yards gained (4), most seasons leading league in pass receiving touchdowns (9), most seasons leading the league in total touchdowns (8), Most consecutive seasons leading league in pass receiving touchdowns (5), most seasons leading league in scoring (5, now tied), and most consecutive seasons leading league in scoring (5)

The NFL was hardly a big time passing league in his time and in 1942 he had 74 receptions for 1200 yards and 17 TDs.  And to put that in to perspective the Packers only played 11 games that year.  

If he played a 16 game season he would average about 108 receptions, 1800 yards, and 25 TDs.  

 

Tough choice.  Off the top of my head I would say Hutson.  Maybe Rodgers or Favre.  

But I have to say in all of my time watching the Packers the guy I would go with is Sterling Sharpe.  I realize his career was cut short due to injuries, but by any objective measure he was a dominant player.  And he dominated in an era where he was double teamed and before rule changes that allowed DBs to get physical with receivers.  

Sharpe could run over you or run by you and racked up some crazy stats being literally the only weapon on the field.  To me,  that says a lot.  It’s like they know you are the only guy that can hurt you but they can’t do anything about it.   I feel the same way at times about Rodgers but he’s playing in an era that allows QBs to put up monster numbers. 

It's tough to compare guys like Hutson to modern era players but his greatness when he played cannot be disputed.

For me, the best player is Favre before the retirement/no retirement drama and the bitter divorce from the organization.  He was the most exciting football player I've ever seen.  Tough as nails.  Rocket arm.  He did some amazing things and some amazingly stupid things... but damn was he fun to watch. 

Brokenclock posted:

Tough choice.  Off the top of my head I would say Hutson.  Maybe Rodgers or Favre.  

But I have to say in all of my time watching the Packers the guy I would go with is Sterling Sharpe.  I realize his career was cut short due to injuries, but by any objective measure he was a dominant player.  And he dominated in an era where he was double teamed and before rule changes that allowed DBs to get physical with receivers.  

Sharpe could run over you or run by you and racked up some crazy stats being literally the only weapon on the field.  To me,  that says a lot.  It’s like they know you are the only guy that can hurt you but they can’t do anything about it.   I feel the same way at times about Rodgers but he’s playing in an era that allows QBs to put up monster numbers. 

Well I'll be damned.

It's Sharpe.

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