That shot heard ‘round the NFL marked the beginning of the free agent signing period, aka the slow season in Green Bay. The Packers don’t participate in free agency. They observe it. They watch it unfold. They see teams like Houston overpay quarterbacks like Brock Osweiler and they shake their heads. The draft-and-develop approach never looked better, especially when compared with overpay-and-under perform, which happens in free agency.
They say it’s better to be good than lucky. Damarious Randall is both. The Packers’ promising second-year cornerback had a brush with Scottsdale, Ariz., police last week that nearly changed his outlook on the upcoming NFL season.
Bart Starr was one of my idols growing up. He still is. That’s why it was difficult to read Cherry Starr’s recent revelation that her husband’s chronic back pain arose from a barbaric hazing ritual at Alabama. Cherry told AL.com that “members of Alabama’s A-Club would line up with a big paddle with holes drilled in it and it actually injured his back.”
The Packers’ draft-and-develop philosophy under GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy has produced one of the league’s top teams in the past decade. Still, criticism comes quickly to a fan base that is knowledgeable, passionate and teeming with unsolicited but well-intentioned suggestions.
Matt Forte was one of the Chicago Bears’ greatest running backs ever. Forte ranks second only to the great Hall of Fame running back, Walter Payton, on the Bears’ all-time lists for rushing yards, yard from scrimmage, receptions and 100-yard rushing games. Of course, most Packers fans knew that already. They have seen Forte give the Packers’ defenses fits for the past eight seasons. Forte has many of the virtues that motivated the Packers to sign ex-Bears linebacker Julius Peppers.
Packers fans had seen this before. While Carolina quarterback Cam Newton, aka Superman, was reduced to a mere mortal by Denver’s relentless defense, visions of Aaron Rodgers being similarly neutralized came to mind.
How do the Packers get to the podium for Opening Night Super Bowl 51? Here are some suggestions, and frankly, does it really matter if the Packers’ reinforcements come via free agency or the draft?
The Green Bay Packers’ tried-and-true formula for maintaining competitive staying power – “draft and develop” – hasn’t been unilaterally popular among fans. Some would prefer that the Packers pursue a more aggressive approach in free agency to fill chronic, aggravating holes.
The Green Bay Packers were drained, depleted and down. But they weren’t out. After a 60-minute tug-of-war that saw them lose their top playmaker early and their slim lead late they still had a chance. They had one final, astounding shot at victory – courtesy of yet another “Hail Mary!” that was answered – except Packers head coach Mike McCarthy elected to pass on the opportunity.
It wasn’t as if the clouds parted, the sun shone bright and Lombardi himself looked down with that trademark gap-toothed grin to smile upon the Packers. It was even more dramatic. Now that is what the Green Bay Packers’ offense is supposed to look like. Not that cheap first quarter facsimile that lingered into the post-season. This was the real McCarthy…
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