_2.gif "Time.com 50 Best Websites 2008")
We’re on a roll, kind of.
We’ve cobbled together two straight preseason power rankings write-up things, and we’re onto a third.
At No. 13, the Green Bay Packers.
Yeah, the Packers. We put them on the fringes of the playoffs because, without Brett Favre and with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback, it’s where they deserve to be. Especially since Rodgers, who hasn’t exactly exuded durability, is backed up by a seventh-round draft pick.
Every team that has lost a franchise quarterback during the free-agency era has struggled the next year, with the exception of the 49ers when they transitioned from Joe Montana to Steve Young. But the Niners knew what they had when they traded Montana to the Chiefs, since Young played most of the season that preceded the trade.
In Denver after Elway and Miami after Marino and Dallas after Aikman and San Fran after Young, there was a big step backward. At this point, there’s no reason to believe the same thing won’t happen to the Packers after Favre.
Sure, the Packers still have Ryan Grant, and their defense was solid last season. But their franchise quarterback is gone, and that’s enough to make a playoff team not a playoff team.
In hindsight, we probably shouldn’t have ranked them this high.
September 2nd, 2008 at 11:33 pm
You will all look foolish when they win the NFC and the SB!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.9 / 5 with 9 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:26 am
New England from Bledsoe to Brady?
Or does Bledsoe not count as a franchise QB?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4.5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:45 am
I’m not sure Bledsoe counts as a QB. At all.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:27 am
my money is on rodgers throwing at least 25 tds. packers fans will realize that in all reality, besides last year on a very very talented team, favre just hasnt been that good in the latter part of his career. it was his fault we didn’t play in the super bowl last year, and no one else.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:29 am
Montana to Young?
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:31 am
I have been reading crap on this site for well over 6 months now. This ranking puts the crap over the top. Your site is the only bull**** website that has the packers out of the top 5. There is no reason to think Aaron won’t lead the packers to the playoffs. He doesn’t have to be Favre, or even close, he just needs to manage the game and play within his offense. Something Favre could never do, he had to be the big man on the field and have all the glory, Rodgers is far from that. Ranking them out of the playoffs after returning everyone from a year ago, besides a old QB makes them this low, get the facts and take your head out of your ***. Done with this website!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:16 am
I love how you contradict yourself in this post when mentioning past legendary QB’s that left a team, and they went on to fade into the horizon except the 49ers. Well guess what?
Young was drafted years before Montana left, for one reason, to replace him. Sound familiar? He sits behind one of the most legendary QB’s of all time, gets a good sense for himself what it takes to get to that mental state, and soaked up all the knowledge he could from every coach, player, and anybody that would talk to him. The schemes didn’t change to much, which allowed him to get a good grasp on the offense when his time came. Young already has the physical talent, he vastly improved his computing power, and a star was born.
Eerily similar to the Packers situation, is it not? Judging on the way Rodgers has played in his limited experience in the regular season, his performances in the pre season, the way the team’s formed around him, and Thompson’s drafting history, I’d say Packers are in way better shape then you think they are.
They’ve got stud WR’s on the rise, not only Jennings but Jones is a star coming up as well. Youngest team in the league last year, and almost all of them are starter worthy. Only Vikings fans think the Packers won’t make the playoffs…
oh wait.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.65 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:28 am
This is a fair ranking. Other issue (unmentioned in the ranking) are: the Viking appear to have improved; and the Packers fortunately escaping injury of their starters last year.
The team may not be so fortunate this year. Wells’ back injury is troubling. Al Harris may not be able to play all year with his back. The team is thin at defensive tackle. We do not know how well the Packers will be able to stop the run (we’ll get a mighty good picture of that in week one vs Minnesota!).
I would be pleased with a 10-6 season.
Miami and Denver NEVER recovered from the loss of Marino and Elway.
The Packers have done a better job preparing for the inevitable day.
But Rodgers is not Favre and, while certainly talented, will have to find his own level in the NFL.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:38 am
A good team fights through injuries, and the packers will do that. They have enough talent sitting on the bench that can step in and do the job. That is how a TT team works. Draft young talented yet unoticed guys that can do the job, sure not flashy or big names, but an do the job. Isn’t that what its all about anyways? Before all you Favre lovers, Packer haters, and judgemental ***holes judge a team that has tons of talent, let them play the games. Any team can get injuries so why is everyone so worried about the packers????
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:30 am
Ok, first of all vots, Young was drafted by the Bucs in the supplemental draft after 2 years in the USFL. He tanked there, and was considered a bust, so they traded him off to San Fran. He wasn’t deemed the heir, just a cheap back-up. Then when Montana went down, he stepped in and did a surprisingly great job, but I assure you, this was not part of the master plan, just plain dumb luck.
Now, on to the idiocy of bakler5. So, it was Favre and Favre alone who is responsible for the Packers loss? It had nothing to do with the running game, or lack thereof, which a team is supposed to lean on in extreme cold. Or maybe Al Harris giving up 100+ yards to Burress… in the first half. And then McCarthy refusing to change his defensive scheme to adjust to said torching. Nope, none of that had anything to do with it. It was all Favre’s fault.
Idiot.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3.85 / 5 with 8 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Not to pick nits, but 2000 Cowboys with Aikman 5-11, 2001 Cowboys with Quincy Carter 5-11. Point being that it wasn’t just the QB.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 10:58 am
Hey ARod, want to send me some links to all these “pros” picking the Packers in the Top 5? I haven’t seen them. In fact, most people believe the Vikings are going to win the division.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:55 am
Hey idiot who thinks their opinion is always right. If you look on ESPN’s website and the team previews, you will see that not “MOST” are picking the vikings to win the division, it is 7-6 in favor of the vikings, I would not say thats overwhelming at all. The division is up for grabs between the two. They are betting on T-jack to manage the game and let AP run the hell outa the ball, what is stopping teams from putting 8 in the box and making t-jack beat them, it will happen and it will begin with week 1. We all know, including yourself that their QB is not good enough to put pressure on DB’s. Watch week one and come back and tell me if they are still going to win, until they get a different QB they wont win anything!!!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:56 am
jhitchins1, thank you for a more accurate representation of the NFC championship game that I watched between the Giants and the Pack. Bob Sanders basic vanilla defense that always had difficulty against any respectable offense was too stubborn to adjust as Manning and Burress had a field day against Harris. The Giants D-line also shut down the Pack running game. Didn’t their D-line fair pretty well against the Patriots two weeks later in the Super Bowl? Maybe if Thompson would have found two solid guards since he arrived in 2005 the Pack would have had a better chance to sustain a consistent running game. Good post jhutchins1.
As for A-Rod2008, Rodney Dangerfield once said, “The war is over, get new parts for the brain!” Relax, this website is for rational discussion, not provoking war!
As Packer fans we all want to see GB do well this year but the odds are against us this year. History shows that new QB’s need game experience to be successful in the NFL. Even Favre had rough years when he started in the early ’90’s before he became an MVP QB. My other concerns are the middle of the offensive line (Wells and the two guards) as well as the middle of our defensive line which is banged up and thin in terms of backup replacements (i.e. Harrell on the PUP list). Another thing that concerns me is our schedule. We play the Cowboys, Seahawks (two 1st place teams due to last years finish)and we also face the AFC South which has the Colts, the Jags, and Titans which are much tougher than last years creampuffs (AFC West)of Raiders, Chiefs, and Broncos. Thanks to Favre, we also had a nice upset of the Chargers last year. I hope we are a “Top 5″ team as you think we are, but it looks like we will be a wild card at best and justifies Florio’s more than generous 13th place ranking of the Pack.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 1:13 pm
This ranking is fair, for now. But if Green Bay comes out and beats Minnesota, they should be bumped up at least five spots.
They STILL have the best QB in the division!!!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:12 pm
I love how favre haters blame favre for the nfcc game loss. Besides the torching of harris and lack of running game. How about the worst freakin guy on the team? Jarred bush? He could have fell on a fumble near mid field but tried to pick it up and the giants got it back. Or how he gave up a third and long conversion to steve smith? The whole team blew that one, not just favre. The giants deserved to win that game. Deal with it favre haters
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 4 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 2:33 pm
you do realize that for the top 12 teams you have 7 NFC and 5 AFC teams right? because if im not mistaken…. i don’t think the buccs will do any better than the browns or titans
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
jhitchins1,
Young was traded for the sole reason to make room for what the Bucs believed to be their future franchise QB in Vinny Testaverde. If what you’re saying is true, and it isn’t, the Bucs could have just kept Young as the cheap backup, but they couldn’t because with him on the roster, he would have been an excellent threat to keep Testaverde on the bench. The 49ers traded for Young as Montana’s heir apparent. They believed this even though Young was routinely outplayed by Steve Bono which threw doubt into the 49ers idea, that Young was the one… of course Young was the one and the rest is history… and your info is wrong.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 4:44 pm
” … The 49ers traded for Young as Montana’s heir apparent. They believed this even though Young was routinely outplayed by Steve Bono which threw doubt into the 49ers idea, that Young was the one… of course Young was the one and the rest is history… ”
(sounds like the Brett Favre story in Atlanta!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 3rd, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Much ado about nothing, do you think Florio watches the NFC much, I doubt it. The Packers have got to realize that nobody is impressed with 13-3 last year and if they want to give all the credit to Favre, God bless them. Favre did have something to do with it but he also had more to do with the packers sitting at home for the Superbowl than most of the other 52 players.
I readily admit that I haven’t a clue whether Rodgers will be lights out (30 tds, less than 10 INt’s, plus 90 QB rating) or as bad as T Jack Off ( more Int’s than TD’s, QB rating lower than 70).
My guess is that he will be better than most pundits give him credit for and most likely be the best QB in the NFC North which is sort of like being the prettiest girl at reform school, it ain’t too hard to do.
But I most enjoy reading the venomous posts of the BIQUEENs fans especially as it relates to any Packer news. Their most recent history (one playoff appearence in the past 7 years, 0-4 to the Packers in the last two years) combined with their rich history of choking (0-4 in the Superbowls, losing their last two NFC games) have left them near suicidal. Which is probably a good thing because there are too many of them anyway.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 8:29 pm
brasho,
The reason the Bucs drafted Vinny was because in Young’s 2 seasons in Tampa, they went 4-28, 3-16 with Young as a starter. Young’s stat line: 11 TDs, 21 INTs. He was not traded for as the heir, just the backup. He sat behind Montana for 3 years, and would have sat longer if Montana didn’t get hurt. And even after the year of starting for Montana, the 49ers weren’t convinced Young was a full time starter. In fact, they tried to trade him, but were unable to finalize a deal. Had Montana recovered in time, he would have been the guy in 92. And Young wasn’t outplayed by Bono, Bono only went in when Young himself got hurt. So no, my info isn’t wrong, it’s fact. Look it up, rather than spewing garbage onto the page that you more than likely made up.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
September 3rd, 2008 at 9:37 pm
I just love watching by as so many Cheeseheads who worshipped at the altar of Brett Favre for so many years are continually throwing him under the bus now and blaming him for all of their losses.
Aaron Rodgers MIGHT be a decent quarterback in time, but then again he could just as easily turn out to be a huge bust. All the weak excuses you give for why he will be as good or better than Favre from day one are falling on deaf ears around the league.
Not all Packer fans are acting like this, but for the half of you who are, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Brett Favre was one of the best quarterbacks in the history of the game. For you to be the ones tarnishing his legacy is very sad. I guess if you can convince yourselves that if Favre was a bad quarterback, then you will be ok with Aaron Rodgers - a player who has done nothing but pick splinters out of his backside for the last three years. To that all I can say is “Welcome to the Rodgers Era in Green Bay.” The only question I have is, if you have spit on the legacy of Brett Favre, and Aaaron Rodgers turns out to be average or below average this year, what excuse will you use then? It will be fun watching all of you scurry for cover after Week 1, and even more after you are about 2-5 after Week 7.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 3rd, 2008 at 11:29 pm
1979_Lincoln –
I totally agree with your comment.
The downside of doing your job brilliantly for many years is people begin to take it for granted and stop appreciating how difficult it is.
I am a long time Packer fan (and stockholder) who remembers the dark years after Coach Lombardi left.
I believe Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy have done a good job preparing for this day — but no one should underestimate the enormity of the task.
Hall of Fame quarterbacks do not grow on trees.
I hope Brett has a great season, and will keep my fingers crossed for the Pack.
A 10-6 season will be a huge triumph.
It would be great — but I have no expectations of making the play-offs.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 5th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
My haiku:
Monday night football
Vikings and Packers brawl late
Who will take Norris division?
Hey JimmySmith, have you heard any news regarding your impending
election to the post of Executive Dictator of the NFLPA? I’ve
been battling a bad hard drive and an XP install and so I have
been in a different loop (Ctrl-Alt-Del) for a few days.
Vote for JimmySmith because he’s funny as f@ck!
Can’t wait for the game to start.
Go Vikes!
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated
September 5th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Funny, last year I think the Vikings were picked to win the NFC or was it the Bears?
It’s also amusing how “T-Jack” only needs to “manage” the game. So what does that mean Rodgers’ needs to do?
Let the games begin.
(report as inappropriate)
Rating: Not yet rated