Do the Green Bay Packers have a rebuilding project on their hands? Not if you ask Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers told Jason Wilde he thinks the Packers are just a couple pieces away from being competitive for the Super Bowl again.
“I think this is the end of a window and the beginning of a new one,” he said on his radio show. “This is the year when we can really open up a new window that can last for four or five years. It looks really bright. I think if you look at the core of our team, our offensive line is looking the way we want it, the receivers look incredible. We have a big-time back in Eddie (Lacy). Not sure what James Starks will do, (DuJuan Harris) is coming back.
“We have a lot of things that are setting up to be really good for a long time. A lot of really good young players with Sam (Shields), Micah Hyde, Casey (Hayward), when Casey comes back (from a hamstring injury) and Morgan Burnett and Sean Richardson, and veteran guys playing well, A.J. (Hawk) had his best season, Clay (Matthews), (Ryan) Pickett, (B.J.) Raji, Johnny Jolly coming back.
“This window has a chance to open up and be really bright for four or five years if you can get guys signed and keep them around. My contract is for six more years. I expect to be playing at a high level for all six of those years. We’ll see what happens after that. Maybe I’ll be able to go another three or four after that.”
That’s the right sentiment and what you want to hear from your team leader, but it remains to be seen what’s going to happen with the Packers.
The team does need some more pieces, but you know how they’re going to get those pieces. They’re going to draft them while ignoring free agency and that method has been hit and miss. It’s why people are talking about rebuilding to begin with.
Not enough of the young guys have panned out. Just look at the team’s last three first round picks, who were all expected to provide some sort of immediate impact.
Then there’s the constant glut of injuries the Packers are always contending with. When starters go down, the team is left plugging in some undrafted rookie instead of a veteran who isn’t learning on the job.
Look, the Packers should be better next season if they can stay even relatively healthy.
However, they’ve got some important decisions to make with their own free agents that will shape the roster for the coming years.
Our feeling is that if Ted Thompson doesn’t alter his strategy of draft and develop and fill the bottom of the roster with a bunch of undrafted guys, the Packers are just going to be good and not great.
Yep there’s an open window…with broken glass. Better draft picks fell through it, Eli passed through it, and Kapernick ran through it. Our “window of opportunity” will be boarded up soon if we don’t make drastic fucking changes.
Totally Agree. Ted needs to use the draft as one component and then be smart in free agency and get a player in a position that get come in and make plays. I disagree with Aaron on the offensive line. I don’t think they are that strong of a line and something we need to focus on. Another focal point is our defense for obvious reasons. Especially our secondary! I think even with our starters it has lacked intensity. If Ted can go into the draft and get someone with that intensity and use free agency for quality players then I think we have a shot at a playoff run in the next couple years.
They are physically weak. Period. Every game, I watch what I learned early on and that was that the two yards on either side of the ball are the most precious real estate on earth in the game of football and the Packers routinely yield those with nary the bat of an eye.
Man, he’s really towing the company line. I wish there were video of this interview, I’d love to see if Aaron was able to avoid smiling when mentioning Burnett and Richardson.
I do think this team is very close. We need to make Safety priority #1. Hopefully get an impact ILB. Maybe upgrade TE depth. If we do that, and can catch a goddamn break with the injuries, this is a 12 win team… Every year we have #12.
Unfortunately even if TT was to pull a 180 and turn to free agency, Rodgers’ and Matthews contracts will severely limit his ability to do so. That is why it was so infuriating he didn’t do more when those two were still working on the relative cheap. Clay is the man, but are they going to regret that dump truck of money they gave him when he is playing half seasons every year.
Hopefully TT at least gets some vets to at least be backups and role players. Ron Wolf would at least do that. George Koonce goes down and Ron Cox comes in, Bruce Wilkerson came in at Tackle, having Mike Prior as a back up, signing Andre Rison. At least these guys knew what to do when called upon to play. Ted brings in chumps Victor Aiyewa?
Mentioning Hawk and the safeties must’ve been academy-award winning work to avoid laughing. Watching Carolina, Seattle, and SF this upcoming weekend at all those positions will be like watching a completely different sport.
Compared to 90% of the franchises out there, I will take our situation. We’ve had it pretty good. I agree though….maybe a slight change in te FA issue is needed
The best way to get through life is to be in denial. Rodgers said this shit two years ago.
ANNNNNNNNNNNND Seattles WINDOW HAS JUST OPENED!!! BWAHAHAHA fuck you cheesedicks!!!
I know it’s hard being a hawks fan, having to wake up every morning and try to justify your allegence to an inferior franchise. A franchise more intent on collecting PED suspensions than titles.
By it’s okay, everybody makes mistakes.
Remember that time Seattle almost won the Super Bowl….that was totally awesome. You’ll alway have that.
The nastiest, skankiest cunt I ever fucked was a Seahags fan.
While I was tearing her up and she was screaming about what it was like to be finally fucked by a big, satisfying dick, she kept trying to ask me what her man would think, who posts on TotalPackers under the name SEAHAWKSOWNYOU, while I was blowing my load all over her face.
Then she started crying.
Whore.
so….they’re NOT supposed to cry afterwards? Who knew?
With the way the Packers played in that final game, they’re one good draft and one good safety away from making another serious push. I think that might be what he’s referring to. And I agree.