Yes, I am serious. I'm too lazy to look up specifics, but off of memory, most if not all of the players I listed were around 30 if not younger. I could list many other FA failures too, but my point is I don't see how FA is this silver bullet that you seem to be making it out to be.

As for bargain shopping, I like Vic Ketchman's article on Packers.com. I admit he's basically paid to write green and gold frosted articles, but one of the things he said during the Jarius Byrd situation is that the Packers are not an ideal destination for FAs - it's cold, small town, income tax unlike a few states with NFL teams - so to get a FA, in all likelihood you'll have to outbid most if not everyone else. Neither you nor I can know that for sure, but I tend to believe that he's correct, and under that assumption, in order to consistently dip into FA you'll be overpaying consistently as well. That's not a healthy way to sustain a franchise and long term success. Consequently, bargain hunting and green guys as you put it are a necessitated strategy in a market/franchise like Green Bay.

As for Seneca, no, I was not a fan of that or what Ted did with the backup last year. You're always going to have calculated risks on every team at some position, though. You're just not going to have All Pros at every position in a capped league. Last year was QB, this year it's center in my opinion and we have to hope it pans out.

Originally Posted by: musccy 

Simply put, the Packers cannot afford to take the high price free agent risks that teams with an owner can.

Example: Albert Haynesworth signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Redskins on the first day of free agency. Two seasons with Redskins, 6.5 sacks in 20 games.

Do you have any financial clue what would that kind of swing and miss would do the Packers franchise? The Packers are the smallest market professional sports team. Think about that for a second. NBA. NHL. MLB. NFL. Packers have the smallest market. And it's by a landslide too. Then factor in the weather. How many people love the winter weather in Wisconsin?


It is somewhat mind boggling that some can think that this is monopoly money and go ahead spend big on this free agent because he did well in system X which differs from system Y which we have. But hey, it is a big name on that ESPN show so they must be great and they will blend in perfectly!


Free agency isn't simply pulling a guy onto your team and you instantly get those stats. It does not work that way. [palm]

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

This thread has shown that most fans here are perfectly content with the plodding not quite good enough ways we're being operated. I've not seen one legitimate reason for us not to be more aggressive.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

Actually I think GB pays into revenue sharing because they are more profitable than a lot of other teams. The difference is there isn't a huge pool of money to pull from to actually pay guys if needed. We don't have some deep pockets owner to foot the bill when we give some guy 30-40m guaranteed. All the money to pay players has to be saved up and taken care of and spent wisely.

Originally Posted by: steveishere 

You're saying...don't swing because you might miss? Well, I'm sure glad we didn't have that philosophy when Reggie White was a free agent or the Favre years would've ended ringless...and Reggie wasn't all Ron Wolf brought to this franchise to get us over the hump.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

I am saying, and it is quite clear what I am saying, is that the Packers have to be more fiscally wise than other teams. How many Reggie White's have there been in Free Agency? lol nice example.

Brett Favre would have been Jeff George 2.0 if it weren't for Mike Holmgren. Another great example that helps prove my point.

Another factoid that you cleverly omit in your mentioning of Favre. The Packers went into the 1992 with the 5th and 19th overall picks trading the latter.

Helluva lot easier to trade the 19th overall pick for a QB that you are confident that is going to be your franchise when you got the 5th overall sitting in your jacket now isn't it? Suddenly when the facts are exposed, it wasn't so risky.

Reggie White - when has a player of his talent or skill or promise hit free agency?
Brett Favre - packers needed QB, had two 1st round picks and a GM who felt confident Favre was "it"

Charles Woodson and the 2009 draft make me feel confident that if White and/or Favre were available in the same exact situations, he'd have pulled the trigger.



I did like Ron Wolf's approach and would like to see Ted Thompson venture out more. That doesn't mean I think he should be replaced unless the brass KNOWS they have someone gooder. You remember Mike Sherman? He took a lot of risks and it screwed the Packers over. I bet you loved the Sherman days and winning the "offseason" wet your fan appetite. Not me.

Famously, I bemoaned the Greg Jennings pick. I wanted Chad Jackson, thanks to the talking ESPN heads and my college ignorance. It was that season I realized to put more trust into Thompson's decisions. I also educated myself on the process of free agency and all the variables that go into it.

Even with that, I wanted the Packers to spend extra to get Chris Canty when they switched over to 3 - 4. Probably a good decision not to have done that.

Originally Posted by: Zero2Cool 

They’d be even higher if Rodgers had the help that other franchise quarterbacks enjoy. Specifically on defense. And everyone knows it. Maybe that’s why recent remarks from Rodgers that easily could have been interpreted as a slap at the front office and/or the locker room didn’t ruffle many feathers.

There aren't many Reggie White's...but supposedly we were in for Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez and Marshawn Lynch and each time wouldn't give up high enough picks to bring the guys in. All 3 of those guys would've been worth a pick higher up the food chain to get them in here.

Ted Thompson has a plan to be good and hopes for the anomalous run every so many years. What a waste to have the best QB in the NFL and not do enough.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa