CheezWizHed

Yes, WR is going to be a clear need. We won't keep everyone that is a FA+Cobb. And even if they did somehow, we still don't have a clear #2 WR. And the WR isn't getting younger. TE - Another clear need. Tonyan will probably be out a while at the beginning of the season. Lewis is getting pretty old. We don't have much upside at TE. DL - This was a weakness last year. Just need to keep drafting guys here. Slayton looks like he will be good if he continues to improve. But we don't have much at either DE position. LB - This is certainly dependent on what we do with Campbell, ZSmith, and PSmith. But not much depth regardless, so a 4th round ILB seems like a safe bet.

This isn't the first time I've seen something like this and it seems a lot more rooted in folklore than reality. Like what people think Favre was vs. what he actually was. This is the same guy who had his private locker away from the team and spent the back 9 of his career mostly isolating himself from younger teammates. "“He was such a disappointment to me,” said Samp. “If it was his turn in the quarterback rotation and he saw me at wide receiver, he’d wave Rodgers in instead of throwing to me. Just because I was no one. It wasn’t just me. He had favorites. “I looked up to him. But if I had to run a 12-yard route, he’d wing the ball even before I got to the cut. Then he’d throw his hands up. I’d come back and say, ‘What am I doing wrong?’ He’d say, ‘Forget it. I’m not looking at you.’ He was a jerk. To me. To Aaron.” I'm not saying that Favre was actually a jerk or a bad leader, I don't know what he was. But I a) think his leadership has been glorified and b) Rodgers reputation has suffered disproportionately based on the actual evidence. There are a lot of guys who have defended him and called him an awesome leader and really it's been the words of the same 2 guys that get repeatedly rehashed and used against him. I remember the quote from Samp (a WR that had no prayer of making the roster) and chuckle. Here is a one-sided view from one player that was barely in camp. But regardless, Favre certainly did not "age well" later in his career with the teammate level qualities. But neither did Rodgers. I've seen both of them go through a mid-life crisis late in their career as their "buddies" retired or moved on and they were left with the younger guys that they struggled to connect with. Not saying Rodgers is a bad leader, but he was certainly more the perfectionist and that flowed out in his relationships with players - especially new ones. Rodger ego was often brought out (which I think goes with his perfectionist issues) and when people slighted him, he held a grudge. Favre was no saint. I'm sure there are players that loved both and players that hated both. But I'll take Favre's attitude on the field (never stop, keep fighting, move on from mistakes) over Rodgers every day of the week and twice on Sundays. I'm not saying Brady is a Dilfer level game manager that got lucky, he's clearly much better than that. I'm just saying "he won the most so he's the GOAT" is leaving out a lot of relevant information. Clearly. That was the point of comparing him to Dilfer's SB win (where D and RBs were most of the reason they won). So the context of Brady putting up similar QB numbers as Rodgers, Brees, Manning, etc... yet win SO many more SBs makes it pretty clear. Perhaps he had better defense, but how many game winning drives did he have? Have many SB MVPs did he pull in? How many times did it look like some team had knocked him out and he came back to win it? There is plenty of context to say he is the GOAT, as much as I'd hate to say it. His hardware says it. His stats say it (#1 in TDs, #1 in yds, 4th QB rating). The eyeball check says it. Frankly, you have to squint pretty hard to not say it even with my green and gold glasses on.

People can say Starr is the Packers GOAT QB because he has the most rings, but I'd say that is taking a very narrow focus & not really considering the full historical context. I'm not saying Starr was the Packer greatest of all time (sorry, I can't think say Starr is a "goat", because a goat to me is a stubborn animal that eats anything), because I didn't experience that generation of football. But I would say it is far more than just getting rings. He stood out above his peers as a QB and was an incredible leader. Obviously you can't compare stats from different eras directly (even Favre to Rodgers is quite different). But that would also be the difference (to me) between Rodgers and Brady. Rodgers is a great arm talent - the GOAT of interceptions. Rodgers isn't (IMO) the team leader Brady is. Actually, I've thought that if you took Favre's heart and leadership and combined it with Rodger's arm talent and football intelligence, you'd have something like Brady (probably better honestly, but more aligned). If Brady won 7 SBs with the Ravens and put up Trent Dilfer-like numbers, no one would think the wins matter. But Brady was obviously a huge key to so many of their wins and had neck-and-neck stats with his peers. An no... I'm no Brady fan. I cursed every time he won another SB and cheered when he lost. But I can't deny that he was something special... the whole was more than the sum of the parts type player. Once you have 7 championships it gets hard to make a case for anyone. But it's always going to be a joke how people use them to elevate players. Prior to this year people thought Stafford was a turnover-prone, good but not great QB. He plays a decent Super Bowl in which his defense surrenders very few points, and suddenly he's a Canton shoe-in and clutch and daring and all this other nonsense. Stafford was a big part of the team's win, but he wasn't the key player either... In fact, he was probably third in line for the SB MVP. He still looked (to me) like an above average QB (like Ben Roth or Eli Manning) to me. (Even though Ben and Eli will make the HOF, that doesn't change my opinion that they shouldn't).

Just remember that writing shock articles (i.e. where it is greatly different than others) is a great way to get publicity and clicks.

I'll admit that you have to take a very narrow focus to not see Brady as the best. The point of football isn't to score TDs, gain yards, or not throw INTs. It is to win and win championships. That is why people say Bart Starr was better than Rodgers or Favre. Brady had an incredible knack to win when the pressure was on and elevating those around him. I'd trade Favre+Rodger's legacies if it meant winning 7 Super Bowls and losing another 3. Sorry, but that is what it is about...

I also work with someone that tried out for the Olympics in swimming. He swam for U-MN and was one of 16 competing. This was early Phelps era swimming, but he didn't compete in the same events as Phelps. He didn't qualify, but was good enough to be in a pool with those that won medals that year. Now he sits at a desk and manages engineers. Sometimes you never know...

Lately, Tivo started adding a commercial when you start a recording. And almost all of them have been ED or KY commercials...so much for family friendly.

Actually, yeah, I grew up with someone who was a competitive speed skater with Olympic aspirations. And she worked/trained way harder than the other best athlete at our school who ended up having a successful pro sports career. That makes one of us, and I've lived in 11 different cities in 7 different states in three different time zones including NY, LA, and Chicago. I've met a helluva lot of people. As for your second point, that is my point - natural talent for a sport is more important than how hard you train. There is a pretty good chance that those of us that lived in Milwaukee area during the 90s knew a speed skater. It was the training grounds for the US with Dan Jensen and Bonnie Blaire headlining it there. I knew someone at the very lower levels, but mainly because we would go to the free skates open to the public. Knowing a speed skater was like finding a burger&custard restaurant...they were on every corner. I moved away in the mid-90s, so I'm not sure what that scene looks like anymore.

If he isn't getting regular ABs, I wouldn't want him (or any other highly valued pitcher) anywhere near the plate or base paths.

Snowboardcross was born out of the X-games I believe. Or maybe they just popularized it? This is one of the new ones I actually like. A lot like the short track speed skate race... so much can happen in the race.

The 2011 Giants got hot at the end of the year but I think by roster stand-point, they were clearly inferior.

LA is a weird town for football. I'm sure there are people that love the victory, but I don't know if that embeds the Rams in LA. How many teams have come and gone there? Seems like when things go south, people just do something else. I wonder if the Rodgers extension will happen quickly? Frankly, I really hope they don't have to make Rodgers the highest paid (by year) QB in the league. I'm hoping it is posturing so when he takes a low figure, people will see it as Rodgers being gracious instead of the Packers being cheap...

Wow did he look young there. I'll take something like this to a nut-shot or taking out their legs while in the air type of thing. Plus needing to go back as far as you did to find something like this speaks to it being the exception rather than the norm. I don't think we get to give Giannis a pass for being young when we're talking about Allen's college exploits. That hit on Dunleavy Giannis sprinted from three quarters court away and tackled him like a cornerback hitting a WR over the middle, he was lucky not to be hurt. It's not shown in that video but I remember it. As I've said I didn't feel sorry for Dunleavy (he had just shoved Giannis down to the floor) but it's a bad thing he did. Actually here it is in more detail around the 1:40 mark. Giannis has had his share of questionable moments. There's a video of him continually getting into the space of jump shooters so they come down hard on his foot underneath them and twisting ankles, including last season in the playoffs when Kyrie got hurt. He's very good at showing concern for guys he gets tangled with, I think he's being authentic but can we be absolutely sure? How hasn't he done a better job of keeping his feet out of harm's way if it's been this repetitive and he's drawn multiple flagrant fouls doing it? Kyrie: (I don't think it was on purpose but go ask some Nets fans about it.) Mix tape: This happened tonight against the Suns, called for a flagrant foul: He also had a pretty hard foul on Westbrook the other night vs. the Lakers, Westbrook initially got upset but calmed down after Giannis made sure he was ok. I don't think Giannis is dirty, that's not the argument I'm making, but what if all those plays were by Greyson Allen instead? Hmmmm. Giannis' reputation and likeability saves him some grief for sure. My comment on Giannis' age was not meant to be part of the "dirty" conversation. Just surprise on how much he has changed physically. I remember how much he grew, but it is still surprising when you see him in the "pre" state again. I commented that it has been a while since he had a real dirty shot like that. Everyone came make mistakes, but the real dirty player is someone that does it often or continually. Obviously, intent is pretty hard to gauge when people step on ankles and things like that. Plus, with people jostling and playing hard defense, including things like that really opens the numbers of people that would be considered "dirty". Anything that would be considered a non-basketball type move -- punches, flying elbows to the face, hitting someone low when they are in the air, crotch shots... those are all pretty clearly not "accidents". The people that do that and do it regularly are the true "dirty" players. Honestly, I don't follow non-Buck players enough (or even the NBA enough) to know Allen's nor Ibaka's career history to say they are or aren't dirty. But anyone that intentionally goes for someone else' privates (yes, Brad Davis too) is pretty much the lowest of the low, IMO.

What have the Angels been doing when Ohtani pitches? Can't imagine they use the DH. So we're going to have a pitcher batting for years yet. the factoid is "traditional bad-hitting" pitcher. Fixed.

Wow did he look young there. I'll take something like this to a nut-shot or taking out their legs while in the air type of thing. Plus needing to go back as far as you did to find something like this speaks to it being the exception rather than the norm.

I got tired of the Sirius game a few years ago. No idea why I should pay for Sat-radio when I can get it for free on my phone.

Wasn't Bobby Portis considered "dirty" for being a feisty, in-your-face type player when we got him last year? Personally, I don't care for cheap-shot type players. I hated it as a player, I hated it watching the 80s-90s Piston team, I don't care for it now. I do think players can grow and learn and given that type of play is very anti-Giannis or Bud, I'd hope that a player like Allen follows the lead. I don't mind players with a bit of an edge, like Portis, if they are defending their own. No idea where Ibaka fits in with those two examples though. Ugh... Now I know:

I don't see Harden being able to produce a champion as the main guy. And he doesn't seem to play well with those that are his equals or better.

Thanks, but my point was that the general public probably doesn't matter nor care (I'll forget what you told me by the next time I end up watching it). I enjoy watching it, but to me (the casual observer), it is a lot of the "same" between the various races. Its almost like if they played basketball on a US court, then a Euro court, and 3on3 half-court. Each would have their nuances that make more difference to the player than it does the casual spectator.

Thought it would be fun to review how the 2021 Draft picks faired in their rookie year: 1 29 Eric Stokes CB Georgia This pick caused a lot of surprise, followed by grumbling and complaining. Stokes silenced many of those complaints with the best Packer CB rookie year I can think of. He wasn't perfect out there and dropped a few potential INTs, but he was very solid and showed a lot of veteran poise out there. The Packer D would've been lost without his solid play this year. Really excited to see him and Alexander (with Douglas?) starting together. It has been a long time since we have this much upside at the CB position. 2 62 Josh Myers C Ohio State Took the starting role right out of the gate and proved it was earned in his first few games. He looks like a wide-body masher, but has good athleticism to go with it. I can't think of any serious mistakes he made out there, but remember MANY times when he and Runyan combo blocked a huge hole up the middle. I look forward to seeing that for many years. Too bad injuries marred the season, but once again an excellent start to a career. 3 85 Amari Rodgers WR Clemson I have to admit that I didn't expect much from a rookie WR and he delivered just that. I was hoping to see a little more wiggle and athleticism from him, but maybe he will show that more in year 2 when the game starts slowing down for him? Didn't show much on ST either. I was surprised to see how much difficulty he had in catching the ball (two fumbles and several times where you could see he was fighting himself a bit) given his experience in college. Given how many WRs we might lose this year, he will have ample chances to step up. Hopefully he has the big year 2 jump because he needs it. 4 142 Royce Newman OL Ole Miss Could Royce continue our string of excellent 4th round OGs? I have to admit that I couldn't wait to get him out of the starting lineup late in the season. But even at that, I was surprised to see Patrick start at RG over him (I was anxious to get him out as C also). Newman was strong in run blocking, but really needs improvement at pass block. He struggled mightily at picking up stunts. However, he isn't that far off from being very good. Certainly has the tools, but just needs to clean up some technique and understanding of how the OL is being attacked. I wouldn't be surprised (or disappointed) to see him starting next year again. 5 173 T.J. Slaton DT Florida Slaton played a backup role at NT and was very inconsistent - which isn't surprising for a 5th rounder. Some plays, he was blowing up the OL and others, he was being blown up. Certainly has the physical attributes for an NT and has more upside than any other backup DL we have. Should see him more next year. Hopefully, he can resurrect the #93 Gravedigger image in Lambeau once again (pun intended). 5 178 Shemar Jean-Charles CB Appalachian State Didn't see too much of SJC this year, except on ST. For such a small CB, I expected more speed and quickness, but looked pretty ordinary out there. Often trailing his man in coverage when he did see the field. Time will tell on him. 6 214 Cole Van Lanen OL Wisconsin He did a nice job amping up the crowd on Christmas Day (the one game I saw in person). That is all I recollect from him this season. Nice to have the hometown boy on the team. Looks like he needs work on his strength and technique to make the squad next year. Good development opportunity for him. 6 220 Isaiah McDuffie ILB Boston College Didn't get on the field much and only a bit on ST. Seems like he has the physical capabilities, but needs more coaching. I'm guessing he had little coaching for ST last year. Will have a good shot to fill the backup ILB role next year with both Burks and Sommers most likely on the way out. 7 256 Kylin Hill RB Mississippi State Looks like a 7th round steal. Looked great in pre-season and decent in the regular season. Seemed to understand both how to setup his blocks and how to pass block; which is rare for a rookie. Did ok with kick returning, but I felt like he was just getting into the role when he got injured. Unfortunately, an ACL tear might take him out of most of next year. All in all, it seemed like a very good rookie year with a lot of positive immediate contributions and future upside. Rodgers was probably the most disappointing, but rookie WRs rarely contribute right away; x2 for a rookie with AROD.

I still don't understand the difference between Super G and Downhill. I think I figured it out once and it didn't stick. Evidently not a big enough deal for me to remember. I do like watching it though. They need to cut back on the amount of different events with people doing flips and racing at the same time. I like the artistic flip/skill type events...and I like the racing events. Mixing the two seems weird.

I wasn't implying it didn't physically take place...but that it quickly dematerialized to nothing happening. I've had interviews where I know in 5 min that I won't be hiring this person. I got the impression (at least via the sport announcers) that something like that occurred.

Grammarly, Grammarly, Grammarly! As an engineer I'm bad at grammar. Which is why I have Grammarly installed on my personal PC (can't use it at work unfortunately). The basic (free) part will even grammar check your BF.net posts! *hint*, *hint*...

Well, until this year, Harbaugh was on the ropes at U-Mich, so I doubt this was a money play. I read that they made some changes to his contract to be more incentive based. I'm guessing he was trying to cash in on his last year's success incase he can't replicate it. The sports here in MN was all a twitter (pun intended) over Harbaugh coming in. When he unceremoniously left, it sounded like the "interview" barely happened. I think he was thinking he was going to be crowned coach and when he found out he was competing against others, just slithered back to Ann Arbor. Or maybe the sports casters here are just idiots...probably both.

I wonder if they might be fishing for a draft pick in return to allow them more flexibility on other trades? DDV for Schroder+1st/2nd rd pick. I think I read Schroder is a better ball handler, too? So we could shore up a couple weaknesses, plus flexibility on other trades. Or maybe I'm dreaming.