Brett Favre Squared

Parents of twin boys born in Florida, March 5, 2008 have named the boys "Brett" and "Favre". I think people need to get off of our plan to name our son, "Kaiser".

The Gunslinger Rides Out of Town

After the season ended in January, I wrote that even after coming off of an MVP type year and with all signs logically pointing otherwise, Favre was just enough of a contrarian to go and retire. Unfortunately, I was right (again). Thanks for the memories, Number 4.

Remembering Max McGee

I never saw him play live but every Green Bay Packers fan has seen the greatness of his play in Super Bowl I and knows the legend of his pre-Super Bowl preparation. Many remember Max McGee for his color commentary during Packers games for 19 years. McGee had all the passion for the Packers that Ron Santo has for the Cubs except McGee could string an occasional coherent thought together.

On October 20, 2007, McGee died as a result of a fall from the roof of his home in Deephaven, Minnesota while removing leaves from the roof with a leaf blower. While one may question why a 75 year old needed to be climbing around on a roof, that was just McGee's everyman, self-reliant style. He will be missed.

2007 Packers Draft

Haven't had a ton of time to analyze the draft since the weekend what with the move and all but with a few days to reflect I guess the best that can be said is "Wait and see."

The Packers' first round draft pick was interior defensive lineman, Justin Harrell, from Tennessee. He only played 3 games his senior year after blowing out his bicep. Film from his junior year show him to be a high-motor upfield pursuer with long arms. A defensive tackle that can get to the quarterback can help any team and one hopes the Packers did their due diligence in testing his medical condition. A stud wide receiver would have been nice at #16 but after Calvin Johnson, there wasn't a sure-fire impact player at wideout and with a deep draft at that position quality still could be found in later rounds.

The second pick concerns me more. Again, they selected a player with a history of injury problems, junior running back Brandon Jackson from Nebraska. He posted gaudy numbers in split duty but a running back with injuries to both shoulders can be a worry given the pounding they take. He is supposedly a good receiver but needs to work on his blocking (as do most rookie running backs). Scouts have indicated that had he not come out early, he might have been considered the top back in college in 2008. Hopefully, he can replace departed Nebraska alumn, Ahman Green.

The rest of the draft saw the Packers taking WRs James Jones of San Jose State with their 1st 3rd round pick and David Clowney from Virginia Tech in the 5th round. Jones seems to be more of a possession guy with Clowney being the burner who needs to learn how to run routes but can make an immediate impact in the return game.

Needs were filled as they took Hokie safety, Aaron Rouse, in the 3rd round and Division II All-American, Allen Barbre, from Missouri Southern State in round four. Round six saw the Packers taking the top kicker, Mason Crosby, from Colorado who will compete with Dave Raymer. Also Korey Hall, of Boise State, was taken in the 6th as a possible replacement for retired William Henderson at fullback after being converted from his college position of linebacker. The Packers also selected another linebacker, Desmond Bishop, from California in the 6th round. I would have liked to see them take a run at tight end, Ben Patrick, in the 6th round.

Running back, DeShawn Wynn, from Florida was taken in the 7th round and could also compete for the fullback spot. Finally, another need was addressed in the 7th round with tight end, Clark Harris, from Rutgers. Of course, can you really expect needs to be filled in a big way that late in the draft? It definitely can happen but you can't count on it.

While I'd like to wait a couple of years to grade the draft, Packers GM Ted Thompson, probably deserves the benefit of the doubt given how the 2006 draft class was able to step up and contribue right away. So, I'll give the Packers a B-.

Green Gone

In a somewhat surprising development, free agent RB Ahman Green has left the Green Bay Packers to sign a 4 year $23 million contract with the Houston Texans. The Packers apparently hoped the market wouldn't bear such a price for a 30 year old workhorse running back with a history of fumble issues. Unfortunately, the desperate Texans ponied up the money and Green understandably took it.

This leaves the packers with another hole to file on the offensive side of the ball. With Favre back for at least (only?) another year, the Packers have to provide him with offensive weapons. If this means a free agent signing or a trade there are not a lot of explosive top names available with the exception of Oakland WR Randy Moss and that will come with a price and considerable baggage. RB Corey Dillon has been released from New England but is not the same running threat he was when the Patriots were dominating the Super Bowl landscape. Travis Henry and Chris Brown formerly Tennessee RBs are available but neither truly inspire the imagination.

Of course, the the Packers might look to the draft with their 16th pick. While some speculation was that Oklaholma RB Adrian Peterson might fall, the Packers will probably be looking at California's Marshawn Lynch.

One way or the other the Packers have to address the ending of the Ahman Green era and figure out how to replace a six-time 1,000 yard rusher (who was just 46 years shy of breaking Jim Taylor's all time Packer record for career yards of 8,207). It was a good run. It didn't contain a Super Bowl champion, but Green was a fine player for many years whose contributions and efforts can't be overlooked.

That said, I couldn't find this last picture of Ahman Green and not post it as he leaves town: