No matter what happens when the Packers open the 2006 NFL season against the Chicago Bears today at Lambeau Field, one thing is certain: it’s going to be a long season for the Green and Gold Faithful.
You want to believe Brett Favre when he says that this is the most talented team he’s ever played for. You want to believe Mike McCarthy, the Packers’ newly-appointed grand poobah, will have the ability to reign in Favre’s gunslinging, all-or-nothing ways. And, you desperately want to believe that Ted Thompson has a solid plan for building the team’s roster.
But there is little evidence to show that any of those beliefs will eventually be justified.
Saying the sun has set on the Packers’ second glory period would be a tardy assessment. This team’s moment passed the second Freddy Mitchell hauled in Donovan McNabb’s perfect, 28-yard strike at Lincoln Financial Field.
Sure, the Packers won the NFC North the next season, but by then...the magic was gone.
It’s time for Packers fans to start preparing for a long future. Aside from Favre, who despite an obvious loss of effectiveness is still one of the better players in the league, there is little to no top-level talent in the locker room.
Players earned spots on this year’s squad more because of injuries to others, than by any sort of merit. Question marks abound on this team, and they start with the quarterback himself.
The same man that was nearly run out of town for throwing 24 interceptions in 1993 has been given nearly free reign to do whatever he wants and the result was 29 picks last year. He left Packers fans hanging in the lurch while deciding whether to return for another year or ride his tractor, finally making his decision after the NFL draft.
No doubt, injuries took a toll on the team last year and Mike Sherman’s failure as general manager led to an almost total-absence of depth. But still, Favre’s attempts at carrying the team on his back -- for a familiar coach in a comfortable system -- played a big part in the team’s demise.
Now, with even less talent surrounding him (no matter what he says to the press), what makes you think that Favre won’t be trying to single-handedly win games in 2006?
That’s where McCarthy, who was once Favre’s position coach, comes in. How is a first-year, first-time head coach going to have any more control over Favre than Sherman did? He has, to his credit, already tried to show he’s the boss by leaving Favre in late during the exhibition season, but nonetheless, when the Packers find themselves trailing big, in a third-and-long situation, and Favre is under center, will McCarthy have enough presence to keep him from throwing into triple-coverage?
Further, what kind of example will it set for the tam if the coach can’t keep the leader in line? If Favre doesn’t respond to coaching, will the younger players (and there are a lot of them) follow? Looking at the big picture, it’s easy to see one simple altercation flushing the whole season down the toilet.
All of this will eventually fall at the feet of Thompson, who in his first season as general manager has done little to inspire optimism in Green Bay. He and Favre looked like they were playing a game of chicken during the off-season, waiting to see who would blink first.
If Favre and McCarthy don’t get the job done, Thompson will have to make a decision. And with the level of reverence the franchise seems to have for Favre, will he make the right one? Favre has already hinted that playing for another team isn’t out of the question. If things don’t work out this year, it may be time for a move to be made.
Even in a less-than-stellar NFC, it’s hard to picture the Packers as any sort of postseason contender. An aging quarterback playing with sub par talent provided by a puzzling GM, all conducted by a rookie coach is not a recipe for success.
You want to believe Brett Favre when he says that this is the most talented team he’s ever played for. You want to believe Mike McCarthy, the Packers’ newly-appointed grand poobah, will have the ability to reign in Favre’s gunslinging, all-or-nothing ways. And, you desperately want to believe that Ted Thompson has a solid plan for building the team’s roster.
But there is little evidence to show that any of those beliefs will eventually be justified.
Saying the sun has set on the Packers’ second glory period would be a tardy assessment. This team’s moment passed the second Freddy Mitchell hauled in Donovan McNabb’s perfect, 28-yard strike at Lincoln Financial Field.
Sure, the Packers won the NFC North the next season, but by then...the magic was gone.
It’s time for Packers fans to start preparing for a long future. Aside from Favre, who despite an obvious loss of effectiveness is still one of the better players in the league, there is little to no top-level talent in the locker room.
Players earned spots on this year’s squad more because of injuries to others, than by any sort of merit. Question marks abound on this team, and they start with the quarterback himself.
The same man that was nearly run out of town for throwing 24 interceptions in 1993 has been given nearly free reign to do whatever he wants and the result was 29 picks last year. He left Packers fans hanging in the lurch while deciding whether to return for another year or ride his tractor, finally making his decision after the NFL draft.
No doubt, injuries took a toll on the team last year and Mike Sherman’s failure as general manager led to an almost total-absence of depth. But still, Favre’s attempts at carrying the team on his back -- for a familiar coach in a comfortable system -- played a big part in the team’s demise.
Now, with even less talent surrounding him (no matter what he says to the press), what makes you think that Favre won’t be trying to single-handedly win games in 2006?
That’s where McCarthy, who was once Favre’s position coach, comes in. How is a first-year, first-time head coach going to have any more control over Favre than Sherman did? He has, to his credit, already tried to show he’s the boss by leaving Favre in late during the exhibition season, but nonetheless, when the Packers find themselves trailing big, in a third-and-long situation, and Favre is under center, will McCarthy have enough presence to keep him from throwing into triple-coverage?
Further, what kind of example will it set for the tam if the coach can’t keep the leader in line? If Favre doesn’t respond to coaching, will the younger players (and there are a lot of them) follow? Looking at the big picture, it’s easy to see one simple altercation flushing the whole season down the toilet.
All of this will eventually fall at the feet of Thompson, who in his first season as general manager has done little to inspire optimism in Green Bay. He and Favre looked like they were playing a game of chicken during the off-season, waiting to see who would blink first.
If Favre and McCarthy don’t get the job done, Thompson will have to make a decision. And with the level of reverence the franchise seems to have for Favre, will he make the right one? Favre has already hinted that playing for another team isn’t out of the question. If things don’t work out this year, it may be time for a move to be made.
Even in a less-than-stellar NFC, it’s hard to picture the Packers as any sort of postseason contender. An aging quarterback playing with sub par talent provided by a puzzling GM, all conducted by a rookie coach is not a recipe for success.
