It's time to examine who should represent the only non-profit professional franchise in the world on the offensive side of the ball, as well as special-teams positions.
As with the last edition (defense), there will be the standard starters and one backup. I also put a premium on number of games played with the franchise and how they fared in their era, versus how impressive their entire careers were or their raw abilities, such as speed, agility, size and strength. Modern day players might be bigger and stronger and faster, but that will not be held against players of the past.
However, I also am mostly restricting my picks to players in the television era, so that I can personally analyze the player by seeing them in person or watching them on tape. The only exception to this rule is the above-pictured Don Hutson.
QB: Brett Favre is the obvious first choice here, no matter what you think of his prima donna approach to the team in this offseason. He is first in almost every historical category at his position in league history and could be counted on to play every game so one never has to use a backup.
Moreover, his TD:INT ratio is far superior to anyone else with double-digit TDs in team history, despite the perception that he throws so many picks, and despite not having the talent to work with of the other player on the list.
QB: Bart Starr was a consummate champion and one of the greatest managers of the game. He won five championships in seven years, a feat that will likely never be repeated, and was a Super Bowl MVP.
RB: Paul Hornung may have had problems off the field (drinking, womanizing, and gambling that cost him a year of his career), but Lombardi put up with it because the Golden Boy played his best in the biggest games. He was also a quintuple threat, capable of receiving, passing, blocking, and even kicking, as well as running, for scores.
RB: Ahman Green is reluctantly on this list for me, because I found his fumbling completely correctable since it usually happened because he refused to carry the ball in his right arm. (I had often asked for a chance to coach, because I would have broken that left arm and told him "now if you wanna play, you'll use your right!") He also was only with the team five years, and the last was unremarkable.
However, he was the best at his position in all the phases. As a receiver, he and Faulk were in a class by themselves. He was as good as anyone blocking in pass protection. And he ran for speed (among the five fastest) and power, making the Packers literally unstoppable on third or 4th-and-1 for almost two full seasons.
FB: Jim Taylor was a beast, preferring to run over someone than around them. He actually ran for more yards than Hornung in their time together with the team, and could block and catch as well.
FB: William Henderson was a devastating blocker who ranked among the top fullbacks in the league in catching the ball, even being capable of the acrobatic catch. The only reason he did not run for many yards was the offense simply did not make the fullback part of the rushing, but he did well when called upon.
OT: Vince Lombardi called Forrest Gregg, "The greatest player I ever coached." He was a dominating blocker against the run and pass and was quite intimidating, even in his 60s.
OT: Ken Ruettgers had to be talked out of retirement by Mike Holmgren because he was so good at protecting Favre's blindside. He could neutralize the best blitzing linebackers or defensive ends and carve openings for a running game, even if few of his linemates could.
OT: Bob Skoronski was the other tackle that carved openings for the greatest running game of the modern era under Vince Lombardi, and he was a tremendous pass blocker as well. On any other team (out of Gregg's shadow), he would have been a perennial Pro Bowler.
OG: Jerry Kramer, besides being a good writer (read Instant Replay), Kramer carved out the hole for the most famous play in the most famous game in league history: the QB sneak that sealed the Packers' victory in "the Ice Bowl." He was a steady pass blocker and phenomenal run blocker, especially in the open field.
OG: Fuzzy Thurston played the more important backside guard position, and along with Kramer, enabled Lombardi to run the power sweep with pulling guards. This was not a standard skill-set at the time for the position, and without players that could pull it off, Lombardi may not have been recognized as the greatest coach of all time.
OG: Ron Hallstrom was one of the few bright spots in the 1980s on the offensive line. He helped hold down the middle of an otherwise porous line, allowing quarterback Lynn Dickey to make enough big plays to make the offense electric.
C: Larry McCaren was the other bright spot in the line and had the team's longest streak of consecutive starts until Favre broke it. He was so impressive, his peers voted him to the Pro Bowl many times, despite the weakness of the line in general.
C: Frank Winters not only anchored down the middle, but he protected Favre, not only his roommate and friend, but as an enforcer. Teams knew there was a mean—okay, dirty—player that had his teammates' back, and that kept them from taking cheap shots.
TE: Mark Chmura also reluctantly makes this list. He was a hypocrite who would not go to the White House because of Clinton's adultery but was a well-known womanizer, who eventually was caught in the hot tub with his 16-year old babysitter. He also was only with the team for a few years.
However, he was Favre's downfield security blanket and had a knack for getting open when his friend was in trouble. He also could make acrobatic catches and was a tremendous run blocker.
TE: Paul Coffman was my favorite player for years and one of the best two or three receiving tight ends in the game during the '80s. He was sure-handed and could get open as well as anyone I have ever seen. He kept teams from being able to roll coverage to the great wide receivers (off whom he benefited as well, which is why I placed him behind Chmura, despite his longevity) the Packers had.
WR: Sterling Sharpe still has among the most receptions all-time, twice breaking 100 before it was thought an attainable goal. He was the Packers' entire receiving corps for the first three years of Favre's time with the team. He also substituted for their running game, taking the quick pitch and plowing forward for three yards through two to three tacklers.
At the time, he was by far the strongest player ever at his position, and yet had underrated speed. While he would lose focus occasionally and drop passes, he was among the best ever at making the catch below his knees.
WR: James Lofton may have only played about half his career with the Packers and been run out of town for off-field issues regarding charges of sexual assault (for which he was acquitted); however, he could not only make the leaping catch but absorb the hit that sent him heels-over-head. He was a great deep threat and the best at running reverses in his day. He held the NFL record for yards for a few years.
WR: Don Hutson is the only player I have made an exception for on either unit because he changed the game with his abilities. He is the only wide receiver (called an "end" in his time) for whom one could even argue greatest of all-time over Jerry Rice, and his number still stack up with players of the modern, more pass-friendly era.