*Kyle* Brandt ?
Kyle Brandt is rong...
He said they could have drafted Justin Jefferson and Brandon Aiyuk...both were gone at 22 and 25 respectively.
They could have taken Queen though. Or Blacklock...he would have helped the run D for sure. Or Chase Claypool.
I just don't get talking heads or fans either. Half say the Packers needed to get more weapons for . While the other half said Packers needed to improve D so there is not so much pressure on Rodgers to play flawlessly. So how in the hell were they supposed to spend a 1st round on both?
You trade Rodgers for multiple 1st rounders.
I wish that Gutey had Jerry Kraused us. You had 6 championships before he tore the team up.
Almost 30 consecutive years of an MVP at QB and two SB Championships. I guess that’s good. But really should’ve been more, especially given the talent on many of those rosters. Favre’s years,I don’t believe, were wasted with lack of talent. But for AR, the front office hasn’t really done him any favors save the MLF hire.
Looking at the last 3 decades collectively, it’s a bit maddening.
Outstanding post. But don't be to negative about your maddening frustration because BK will take offense.
So ... what do folks think Gutey's overall plan is with regard to roster building at this point?
Between the time he took over in January of 2018 and the start of the 2019 season, cleared out much of the veteran "talent" he inherited like Matthews, Perry, HaHa, Daniels, Montgomery, Nelson, Cobb, etc.
He also signed Jimmy Graham to a not very cheap contract in 2018, which remains an odd (and not very effective) signing, because it seemed like a "win now" move for a team that was clearly in the midst of a purge of its veteran players.
Then, after McCarthy got fired at the end of the 2018 season, Gutey signed 4 high-profile unrestricted free agents.
His 2019 free agent haul resulted in a record amount of spending (for the Pack) when he added Z & Preston Smith, Amos, and Turner. Those were definitely "win now" moves.
However,, after advancing to the NFC Championship game with a rookie head coach, in the 2020 draft, Gutey used his 1st, 2nd, and 4th picks on what can only be described as "win later" players in Love and Dillon.
Gutey also let several veterans go, though arguably Bulaga was the only one the team probably wanted back that badly -- resulting in the addition of 3 compensatory picks in the 2021 draft.
While Gutey did not sign any unrestricted free agents this past offseason, he did do some street FA shopping and added Funchess, Kirksey, and Wagner, which (if Funchess had not opted out) added >$10M to the Packers' salary cap. These seemed like win now moves although hardly high-risk win now moves.
Now, with the Pack sitting at 5-2 and with obvious holes in the roster, Gutey, unlike virtually every other GM of a contending team, makes no move to improve the Pack's roster at the trading deadline.
So the question remains, has Gutey been intent on tearing down the roster so he can build it back up (though the 2019 free agent splurge seems to suggest otherwise as it resulted in the Pack is being right up against the Cap this season)?
Is he eager to move on from Rodgers and for the Love era to begin?
Or, is Gutey actually aggressively trying to add talent to a roster right now that he thinks is ready to compete for a SB now and that is being quarterbacked by an elite, but very expensive and aging, Aaron Rodgers (though the 2020 draft and the 2020 trade deadline inactivity suggest otherwise)?
Did the COVID outbreak alter his master plan somehow?
Do others have a better handle on what Gutey is trying to accomplish because reviewing the record it is not easy to discern.
The guy on the left is sitting around. I can't help but wonder what this roster would look like with him at this position...
If Johnny Football can turn water into wine, then I'm an Irsay-level alcoholic. #browns #NFLDraft
— John Dorsey (@FakeBrownsGM) April 22, 2014
@ammo posted:I just don't get talking heads or fans either. Half say the Packers needed to get more weapons for
. While the other half said Packers needed to improve D so there is not so much pressure on Rodgers to play flawlessly. So how in the hell were they supposed to spend a 1st round on both?
You don't. You use the 2nd, 3rd and the 4th rounder you pissed away to fill those positions.
Looking back at this thread is pretty entertaining, especially considering all the love we had for Wolf. Who still hasn't sniffed a GM gig.
And I have seen more then a couple talking heads saying depending how far GB goes this year, Gute could be looking at Executive of the Year and MLF as Coach of the Year..
Rasul Douglas was a better in-season acquisition than Odell Beckham Jr.
— Marques Eversoll (@MarquesEversoll) November 28, 2021
Brian Gutekunst is good at his job.
Ram approach to putting together a SB team also was a big loser yesterday. Traded for Stafford to win that type of game and he continues to perform miserably against better competition just as he did with the Lions.
The difference in the game yesterday was Rodgers vs Stafford. Stafford had two turnovers that led to 14 points.
Switch QB's to opposing teams and the Rams win that one easily.
Gute did not secure Rodgers. In fact, he pissed him off to the point that we almost lost him this year.
@michiganjoe posted:Ram approach to putting together a SB team also was a big loser yesterday. Traded for Stafford to win that type of game and he continues to perform miserably against better competition just as he did with the Lions.
Stafford has also begun his annual __________(insert injury or injuries here) crap that always comes up this time of year. It may not keep him out of games, but this is the time of year where his back or his shoulder or his ribs, etc are now bothering him and affecting his game.
Now it's a back and throwing elbow that is supposedly affecting him. And what's sad is, if the Rams dug deep enough they would have seen that coming as well. They were either oblivious or just pretended this wasn't Stafford's M.O. come December.
I don't think MLF can beat out Belichick for COY if they keep rolling. He's currently sitting in the #2 spot in the AFC with a rookie QB.
@packerboi posted:Looking back at this thread is pretty entertaining, especially considering all the love we had for Wolf. Who still hasn't sniffed a GM gig.
And I have seen more then a couple talking heads saying depending how far GB goes this year, Gute could be looking at Executive of the Year and MLF as Coach of the Year..
Rasul Douglas was a better in-season acquisition than Odell Beckham Jr.
— Marques Eversoll (@MarquesEversoll) November 28, 2021
Brian Gutekunst is good at his job.
We'll see how good he is after Rodgers is gone. The guy he wanted to ship out.
People thinking Campbell is redemption for Gunt are incorrect. Gunt didn't go looking for some big hitter ILB. A one year 2 mil contract does not reflect commitment to the position.
The fact Campbell, an ILB, has had such a massive impact on this defense is a reflection of the stupid mentality you can just ignore a major position wholesale and hope for the best. Was Gunt a good GM when he signed Kirksey? Is he a good GM when the standard UDFA second/third season nose dive occurs (Lazard)?
I would give Gunt credit for churning rosters but when you're just handing out 1 year contracts that's really more just playing it safe because you're not dealing with top tier players in the first place.
Cannot say enough about Campbell or Douglas. Let's also remember Douglas wasn't even on this team until the beginning of October.
You look at the overall picture of injuries, players massively over performing and the guys who are looking really good at their jobs are Matt Foley and Jerry Gray, not Gunt.
Maybe Gunt is a great trash heap hunter. In that case he should've been so wise as to bring in Douglas and not spend 6 mil on Kevin King.
This is a tough gutty team. Even the slugs (Lowry/Lancaster, not Sullivan) of previous years are playing at a much higher level. That ain't Gunt, that's coaching.
Caveat. Considering how fucked up the FO structure is it's also hard to determine who deserves praise/blame. I'm of the camp that Gunt is probably a decent talent evaluator but trying to judge his performance as a GM is almost a fools errand thanks to Murphy.
I'll say another thing, Uncle Milty is a keeper. Maybe Gunt and Milty free of What Me Ballz influence would really shine. Or maybe they're a couple of Gase humpbags. We definitely know Milt has a lot of input on oline picks. I wouldn't be surprised if he's also the one helping to find guys like Campbell considering the Newsome tree he comes from.
If it's me, Hendrickson is the GM, not Gunt.
Another caveat, yes, he absolutely gets credit for Gary, Alexander and the Smiths.
The difference is having the foresight to finish the job while you have a HOFer QB on the roster.
All that said, I love 2/3rds of this team. It is a tough group that is finding ways overcome big hurdles.
The ST are the exact opposite. They find ways to get worse each week.
This is a Super Bowl caliber team if the ST doesn't make the collective team sit on their nuts first.
@Packiderm posted:I'm currently arguing with our favorite dumbass Viking fan in RC about this very topic.
While you're at it, tell him how bad it looks for his whiny ass bitch of a coach to complain about not getting calls, especially after getting them all last week.
@Harry Manback posted:While you're at it, tell him how bad it looks for his whiny ass bitch of a coach to complain about not getting calls, especially after getting them all last week.
Already did that last week! 
But I did post that ESPN link today!
@Henry posted:Caveat. Considering how fucked up the FO structure is it's also hard to determine who deserves praise/blame. I'm of the camp that Gunt is probably a decent talent evaluator but trying to judge his performance as a GM is almost a fools errand thanks to Murphy.
I'll say another thing, Uncle Milty is a keeper. Maybe Gunt and Milty free of What Me Ballz influence would really shine. Or maybe they're a couple of Gase humpbags. We definitely know Milt has a lot of input on oline picks. I wouldn't be surprised if he's also the one helping to find guys like Campbell considering the Newsome tree he comes from.
If it's me, Hendrickson is the GM, not Gunt.
Agreed. When Murphy decided to structure the FO like he did, he not only showed what an egomaniac he is, it also showed how stupid he is. So stupid, he almost hired Ballz as GM - who has also become too big for his britches. They're thick as thieves. So we know this - Gunt wasn't Murphy's first choice and Ballz wanted Gunt's job. Who knows, maybe Gunt gets micromanaged to death by MurphBallz. It wouldn't surprize me. Whose decision it was to take Love with the plan to move on from AR...who knows? Some of the wording that came from Murphy seemed to suggest he felt like AR was becoming a cancer. "Don't be the problem." Maybe it was Murphy's grand plan to move on from AR that he dictated to Gunt. I wouldn't put that past Murphy based on his words. Can't get rid of that egomaniacal fool soon enough. Take Ballz with him.
What I do know is Gunt is a good evaluator of talent. When you have so many blue chippers you can't afford to keep them all, that's a good sign. True, he inherited AR, but he's brought in some really good players. I think middle linebacker has too long been ignored, along with a #1 receiver, but they had so many needs it's hard to fill them all. I like that he saw potential in Campbell and Douglas which turned out to be great decisions, and I think we'll be in a position next year to grab a #1 wide receiver. The fact that long term contracts weren't given to Campbell and Douglas just means probably two things: first, they weren't established stars, they were floating from team to team. Second, with the uncertainty behind AR for 2022, it was probably wise to put them on short contracts to see how FA pans out in 2022.
I also know this is a hell of a coaching staff aside from ST. What they've been able to do with this mash unit is nothing short of incredible. We've got a tough team - as tough of a team we've had since 2010. If/when we can start getting key guys back on the field, look out. Mo Drayton better be the first coach out the door after the season, and they need to take the time to hire someone who can get ST to perform at least to a level where they're not losing games.
I have to admit, before I saw the date on this thread, I got excited that Murphy changed his mind and was letting Gunt be a real GM. No such luck. 
@BrainDed posted:The difference in the game yesterday was Rodgers vs Stafford. Stafford had two turnovers that led to 14 points.
Switch QB's to opposing teams and the Rams win that one easily.
Gute did not secure Rodgers. In fact, he pissed him off to the point that we almost lost him this year.
Loved the pick 6 Rodgers took off STAFFORD, the fumble on the strip sack and the blocking Rodgers provided as a 3rd string oline.
Any Packers fan who essentially gives all credit to Rodgers every time we win is a knucklehead. In that case he is also to blame when we lose.
Rodgers has not won a single game by himself. Not without significant input from his teammates. Otherwise, it would be perfectly acceptable to blame Rodgers for all the NFCC losses.
Moving on. Tired old topic.
@Henry posted:We'll see how good he is after Rodgers is gone. The guy he wanted to ship out.
People thinking Campbell is redemption for Gunt are incorrect. Gunt didn't go looking for some big hitter ILB. A one year 2 mil contract does not reflect commitment to the position.
The fact Campbell, an ILB, has had such a massive impact on this defense is a reflection of the stupid mentality you can just ignore a major position wholesale and hope for the best. Was Gunt a good GM when he signed Kirksey? Is he a good GM when the standard UDFA second/third season nose dive occurs (Lazard)?
I would give Gunt credit for churning rosters but when you're just handing out 1 year contracts that's really more just playing it safe because you're not dealing with top tier players in the first place.
Cannot say enough about Campbell or Douglas. Let's also remember Douglas wasn't even on this team until the beginning of October.
You look at the overall picture of injuries, players massively over performing and the guys who are looking really good at their jobs are Matt Foley and Jerry Gray, not Gunt.
Maybe Gunt is a great trash heap hunter. In that case he should've been so wise as to bring in Douglas and not spend 6 mil on Kevin King.
This is a tough gutty team. Even the slugs (Lowry/Lancaster, not Sullivan) of previous years are playing at a much higher level. That ain't Gunt, that's coaching.
He found his guy in Campbell by being patient while you GM geniuses were pushing the likes of Patrick Queen who is looking like a bust at ILB and has already been moved to the weak side where is struggles reading and diagnosing are not as much of a liability.
IOW, if he had listened to you and taken Queen you’d be screaming at him for his incompetence. Guy can’t win.
@Goalline posted:Loved the pick 6 Rodgers took off STAFFORD, the fumble on the strip sack and the blocking Rodgers provided as a 3rd string oline.
Any Packers fan who essentially gives all credit to Rodgers every time we win is a knucklehead. In that case he is also to blame when we lose.
Rodgers has not won a single game by himself. Not without significant input from his teammates. Otherwise, it would be perfectly acceptable to blame Rodgers for all the NFCC losses.
Moving on. Tired old topic.
Packers are 6-11-1 when Rodgers does not start. That's not some high powered roster with Rodgers being the cherry on the top.
QB is the most important piece in any team sport. When you are gifted a generational talent at that position, you should do what you can to keep it and turn it into Championships.
So far, our boy, has come close to losing it due to a public feud and has zero championships. Hopefully that changes this year and I'm actually feeling more optimistic than I have in a long time.
@Goalline posted:He found his guy in Campbell by being patient while you GM geniuses were pushing the likes of Patrick Queen who is looking like a bust at ILB and has already been moved to the weak side where is struggles reading and diagnosing are not as much of a liability.
IOW, if he had listened to you and taken Queen you’d be screaming at him for his incompetence. Guy can’t win.
By being patient? 1 year 2 million dollar contract. Just like Kirksey. June 9th Campbell was signed. Nothing about that says anything but bargain shopping just like always for ILB position.
Go ahead and ignore the decade long ILB desert and tell me a flyer contract on Campbell is being patient.
The defensive staff is doing more with the garbage that was already on the team and Campbell and Douglas, a cast off and a PS player, are excelling.
Sorry, everything points to coaching, not some genius GM who thought so much of both guys to give them nothing contracts while giving King 6 million and pissing off a HOFer QB that makes him look good.
Who knew Campbell would be such a find this year? He did okay in the past, and this year has already tied his tackles stats from last year over 16 games. If you wanted to give credit, you could say that Gunt looked at the stats and game film and said he was a) better than anything we have now, and b) poised to hit his stride, but it's not a sure thing. Giving him a one-year deal was probably the smart thing to do. Can't win.
It was the smart thing to do because he wasn't some super star. The guy was sitting there well after FA started. He wasn't some guy who could pick and choose his offers and was biding his time.
Gunt gets the nod for pulling the trigger but there is zero chance he is some wily GM that outfoxed everyone else. Like he was going full poker face on a guy with this kind of production until June so he could give him a one year contract.
I don't think anyone thought Matt Foley would be competent. Hell, the first game of the season he looked like a putz but then so did the whole team. That's on Mayo. They got their shit together and that defense, Lowry, Lancaster and all, are looking tougher than shit. Maybe scheme, maybe motivation, maybe both. But the production on the field is coming from coaches getting the most out of these guys and Rasul Douglas is front and center as an example.
One more thing: I don't know how anyone can overlook this coaching staff. Okay, I get that the national guys will take a look at MLF and say, "But Rodgers makes any coach look good," but they have to look past that. Except for STs, his hand-picked coaches have done a hell of a job in all positions -- and if he had gotten his own guy from the start for STs, it would probably be across the board. Not only that, but except for that Saints game, this team has been prepared to play every week. I thought the Rams game was prime for a letdown with so many guys banged up and the bye week coming up, but instead, he had them ready to play and fight for a win. The injuries to so many top guys would have a lot of teams making excuses. Yes, the players play, but MLF and this staff of coaches are doing a lot more with less than any other NFL staff.
And no, that FO will rarely get the benefit of the doubt from me considering the years of dumbfuckery previous to this year.
I am absolutely convinced if given the chance those assholes will take this team back to the 80's.
@BrainDed posted:Packers are 6-11-1 when Rodgers does not start. That's not some high powered roster with Rodgers being the cherry on the top.
QB is the most important piece in any team sport. When you are gifted a generational talent at that position, you should do what you can to keep it and turn it into Championships.
So far, our boy, has come close to losing it due to a public feud and has zero championships. Hopefully that changes this year and I'm actually feeling more optimistic than I have in a long time.
Most teams will suck hard with a shitty QB. That doesn’t mean the rest of the team is useless. Most QBs suck hard with a terrible team. That has included Rodgers and Favre. They are not immune from this.
ATM, we have a good team and an amazing QB. Good jog, Gute not dumping a shitty team on 12’s lap.
@Henry posted:It was the smart thing to do because he wasn't some super star. The guy was sitting there well after FA started. He wasn't some guy who could pick and choose his offers and was biding his time.
Gunt gets the nod for pulling the trigger but there is zero chance he is some wily GM that outfoxed everyone else. Like he was going full poker face on a guy with this kind of production until June so he could give him a one year contract.
Henry, I agree Campbell was just sitting there and Gunt didn't have to outfox someone for his services. BUT, you do have to realize that 31 other GMs passed on Campbell, poker-faced or not. Right now, there's a lot of other, smerter GMs who wish they had been the ones to give him a contract. Campbell was on the street, but Gunt was the one to sign him. Give a little credit where it's due... Same with Douglas...
I gave him the nod for the sign. The contract, the timing and what we knew of the player at the time says zero commitment to the ILB. He literally had to sign someone. I won't say he got lucky because I really believe Campbell and Douglas playing astronomical ball is due to scheme and coaching. Both of those guys are playing in the right system with the right mindset. Call me a Matt Foley fan.
Douglas was pulled off the Cards PS when Jaire went down. Gunt also traded a turd for a turd in Yiadom before being forced to sign Douglas. Again, not the sign of some genius GM. (Another nod to coaching to get Yiadom off the field asap)
So it's not so much about Campbell or Douglas themselves but what the FO shown again and again that certain positions can be abandoned wholesale. Campbell comes into a new scheme and all of sudden ILB position is a huge difference maker.
Whoddathunk?
9-3. Damn near have the division sewn up. One helluva shot at a 1st round bye and HFA in the playoffs. All this without several studs and we will likely get Z, Alexander and Bak back very soon to really bolster the roster...
And some of you dipshits still want to talk about the front office.
Jesus fuck.