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In looking over the Packers current roster, just realized they have only four players on it over 30: Driver (37), Saturday (36), Woodson (35) and Pickett (32). That's it. To me, that's impressive. Guessing it's the league-low. Not even a player who's 31 or 30. Next closest are all 29: Kuhn, Peprah and Tramon Williams. In a young man's league, and considering our roster has been Super Bowl-competitive the last couple of years, it's just another reflection of how great a job Thompson has done. And to boot, analyze those over 30 players: Driver likely gone. If not, he's likely the #5 receiver, already replaced by Jennings, Nelson, Jones and Cobb. We know Saturday is a one, maybe two year starter. Guessing our future center will be our #1 or #2 pick next year -- unless Genus shocks us all. Woodson's replacements already on the roster in Shields, House and now Heyward. At 32, Pickett could have another two or three years left in him. Yet his replacement should be Neal, and may still be. If not, and assuming no Genus-like surprise (e.g. Lawrence Guy), that's the other position I see for our #1 or #2 next year. Assuming we resign our pending free agents (a good bet based on history), at this point in time what else likely would be a high need a year from now -- other than C and (maybe, depending on Neal) DE? A better S prospect than McMillian? A better back-up QB prospect than Harrell, Coleman or Hill? A better (and younger) back-up NT than Muir? Better back-up OLBs than Walden, Zombo, Jones, Lattimore and So'oto? Better back-up G than Dominguez or Dietrich-Smith? Point being, I don't think, on paper, our roster has ever been in better shape, both presently and for the long-term. Thanks Ted!
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Great post and great thread idea. This roster is absolutely loaded for the long haul, with the best player in football just entering his prime. Boy, that's a fun thought.

I actually think Harrell could be a viable backup. MM is a great coach and his calling card is that perhaps no one in football right now (a) knows and (b) develops QBs better than he does. If he thinks Harrell is fine as the backup, which you have to think he does or they would have put more resources into it, then I'm sold.
quote:
Originally posted by sschumer:
...at this point in time what else likely would be a high need a year from now -- other than C and DE?...


Early guesses, sschumer:
It still seems that the defense may get the lions' share of attention once again. DE and CB/S would seem the most likely positions; we can never have high-quality DL for rotation, and because we are so damned young in the backfield.
For the offense, I'd say OL and RB/FB. Ditto the rotation comment above for the linemen, and RB always seems to be a perceived need, whether realistic or not.

I agree with your point about how well TT has the roster positioned. Of course, the things like injuries and player development can always throw a wrench in the works for roster and PS positions, but nobody can say TT hasn't done his job.
I'm not entirely certain Driver is gone but if he is I'll understand it. The other 3 30+ players are locks to make the final (Sept.) roster.

Driver may be the best Packer ever

quote:
Guessing our future center will be our #1 or #2 pick next year.... that's the other position (DT) I see for our #1 or #2 next year


You should know by now, TT isn't locked in to a specific position at any point of the draft, ever. That's why the roster looks like it does today.

Pray for no injuries & we'll be challenging for another title again this season.
quote:
Originally posted by Boris:
In this day & age, with all the prima donna jerks especially at WR, yes even over Don Hutson.

Is Hutson a better football player? Probably, but I'm talking about something more than just on the field. I'm putting Driver right up there with Starr


I agree on Starr/Driver as far as image, community service, clean noses, etc.

But Hutson changed the entire league single handedly, and he did it at a time when nobody was doing the PR thing.
Sorry Boris.

Hutson dominated his position even more than Jerrry Rice did in his hey day-----If I'm doing an NFL greatest player of all-time list, I go:

1) Jim Brown
2) Johnny Unitas
3) Lawrence Taylor
4) Hutson
5) Joe Montana
6) John Elway
7) Jerry Rice
8) Dick Butkus
9) Gale Sayers
10) Bo Jackson

I did this off the top of my head in about 2 minutes and obviously I took "great" into account over "longevity".

I'm probably wrong on a few-----but I'm right on most!

Kills me that I put two Bears in there.
quote:
Originally posted by Boris:
quote:
Guessing our future center will be our #1 or #2 pick next year.... that's the other position (DT) I see for our #1 or #2 next year


You should know by now, TT isn't locked in to a specific position at any point of the draft, ever. That's why the roster looks like it does today.


I agree Boris. My point wasn't that Thompson will necessarily draft this way. I was attempting to guess at this time how we -- and he -- would rank our needs going into next year's draft.
Oops! Sweetness over Sayers!

quote:
Originally posted by bvan:
quote:
Originally posted by DeepChicago:
You're missing one more, Bimbo.

Walter Payton.


I might put sweetness over Payton. (can't project what non injury careers might have been)
The B's have had some great running backs.
I'm old enough to have watched Willie (The Wisp) Galimore.
quote:
Originally posted by RatPack:
ILB with a mean streak would likely draw a 1 or 2 also.


Here are MM's comments on the new ILB, Terrell Manning

" Terrell Manning was really in charge, commanded the huddle very well, I think you’ll see his ability to play sideline to sideline and things like that."

Control and command at ILB ? Sideline to sideline at ILB ?
Sounds like MM is looking at a new defensive play caller in the near future...
quote:
Originally posted by Goalline:
quote:
Originally posted by DeepChicago:
You're missing one more, Bimbo.

Walter Payton.


And Jay Cutler.


They got rid of the two best QB's they ever had!

George Blanda
Blanda was signed by the Chicago Bears for $600 in 1949, an amount owner George Halas demanded back when he made the team. Later commenting on his testy relationship with Halas, Blanda noted, "he was too cheap to even buy me a kicking shoe." Blanda later reflected that by the 1950s the pro game had moved beyond Halas, who seemed to lack the interest he had earlier.

Zeke Bratkowski
The Packers acquired veteran quarterback Zeke Bratkowski for the $100 waiver price in 1963. He became an ideal backup and spot starter during the Lombardi championship era.

Bratkowski was an experienced veteran when he came to the Packers having played for the Chicago Bears and L.A. Rams. In the 1965 Western Division playoff versus the Colts, Bratkowski relieved the injured Bart Starr and led the Packers to a 13-10 victory.
quote:
Originally posted by Hungry5:
Buh-bye AJ? Or at least lights a fire under his arse.


TT likes to draft the replacement one year ahead of the actual decision so he gets to see a year from the new guy before he makes the call

My guess is AJ and Manning both play this season, then the decision comes next spring
Blair I saw Johnny U in person at least 8 times. I don't think he is as good as the top QB's of today. He couldn't run around much and he got a lot of Pub for being a free agent. Good QB yes. Better than Montana, Manning even Marino I doubt it. Absolutely the best of his era but his era was a running game era. Very little blitzing, fewer even nickle and dime defenses. He probably is really somewhere in the top ten and thats it.
quote:
Originally posted by Blair Kiel:
Sorry Boris.

Hutson dominated his position even more than Jerrry Rice did in his hey day-----If I'm doing an NFL greatest player of all-time list, I go:

1) Jim Brown
2) Johnny Unitas
3) Lawrence Taylor
4) Hutson
5) Joe Montana
6) John Elway
7) Jerry Rice
8) Dick Butkus
9) Gale Sayers
10) Bo Jackson

I did this off the top of my head in about 2 minutes and obviously I took "great" into account over "longevity".

I'm probably wrong on a few-----but I'm right on most!

Kills me that I put two Bears in there.
How about the all time winningest QB and Yardage and TD leader in that Top 10. Big Grin

Boris is right though, in this day of age, the way the game is played now, Driver is one of the best if not the best in Packers lore. Football out of all the sports has evolved, so it's hard to make comparisions to the "golden years". Hutson dominated, but that competition wasn't nearly as fierce as the modern era, IMO.
quote:
Originally posted by bvan:

Zeke Bratkowski
The Packers acquired veteran quarterback Zeke Bratkowski for the $100 waiver price in 1963. He became an ideal backup and spot starter during the Lombardi championship era.



Those of us old enough to remember Zeke are probably still too young to remember his hair.

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