Everywhere they turn, the Green Bay Packers are being told how great they are, with many of the national pundits picking them to win the Super Bowl.
Players normally use a perceived lack of respect as a motivational ploy. But in the Packers case, it could be argued they have received too much respect for a team that has just one playoff victory to its credit in the past six seasons.
In a strange twist, players in the locker room this week were attempting to deflect the bouquets being thrown their way.
We aint worrying about what everybody else is saying about us, (that) were a great team and all that, said Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins. Thats crap right now because we havent proved nothing yet. We aint played a game yet.
Cullen Jenkins went so far as to start cutting on his own defensive unit.
All the hype weve been getting, especially through the preseason and coming off of last year has been for the offense and how good the offense is, said Jenkins, the starting right defensive end. But everybodys always got that question mark about the defense and if were going to show up and if were going to be able to stop the run like we did last year, if well be able to stop quarterbacks from throwing on us a lot. So theres a lot of ifs going around with us and we feel like weve got a lot to go prove.
Usually media members serve as skeptics and pick apart a teams perceived weaknesses while players are left to defend themselves. This year, the tables have been turned. While the press has been fawning all over the Packers, the players have been put in the unusual position of providing the voice of reason.
As the Packers embark on a highly anticipated season, no one seems to be getting a swelled head.
Receiver Greg Jennings hasnt detected any overconfidence in the locker room. Were not in it for the talk, said Jennings. Were in it to actually get it done.
Even tight end Jermichael Finley, who hasnt been shy about publicly sharing lofty goals for himself or the team, believes talk without action means nothing.
I hear it all the time that Im the best tight end, that Im going to be the best tight end, Finley said. Ive still got to prove myself and come out and play the way Finley knows how to play.
And thats the approach the Packers seem to be taking as a team. According to Mark Tauscher, the hype isnt all bad. You want to have high (expectations), he said. You dont want to have a season where you go, Man if we go 8-8 its a great year. I dont think anybody wants that.
What the Packers really want is for the season to start so all the talk can stop.
You cant get caught up in how good people tell you (that) you are, Jenkins said.
It doesnt matter what anybody says or anybody expects you to do. It matters what you go do.