This is excerpted from an ESPN.com Insider piece by John Clayton:

The Packers got the most votes of any team among 6 executives asked to predict the next SB matchup. NE and Pitt received two votes, while we received 3.

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers looked unbeatable toward the end of the 2016 season, but things caught up to the Packers in the NFC Championship Game. Their receiving corps was injured. They battled injuries at cornerback all season and weren't as good at that position. But they have Rodgers, and with Rodgers there is hope.

What NFL executives said:

"I would imagine [general manager] Ted Thompson will be a little more aggressive in free agency. Ted disdains using free agency and loves to build through the draft and undrafted players. But you can sense a lot of people are getting in his ear and suggesting filling some of the holes by signing a few extra veterans."

"Aaron Rodgers was the game's best quarterback down the stretch, and he should carry that over into next season. Think about it. They were 4-6. Rodgers was in a slump that went back into the 2015 season. Rodgers ran the table until the Atlanta game. He should play the whole season at that high level. Watch out."

"The Packers need help at running back and on defense. Well, guess what? It's a great draft for running backs and a very good one on defense. That should work in their behalf."

http://www.espn.com/insider/ 

--So, we're the favorites because of ????????? Mike McCarthy? Ted Thompson? Anyone else? Yes...Aaron freaking Rodgers...and the belief that Ted will actually do something this offseason to improve this team which seems a long shot. It wouldn't be a long shot with a different GM. Everyone knows we need to be more aggressive in FA...everyone but Ted. He's going to do it his way...the UDFA way so people can say what a genius he is when Aaron carries us to the playoffs again and loses there for lack of talent elsewhere.

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DAMNIT!!!!! NOW LAST POST!!!!!

TED THOMPSON SUCKS!!!

MIKE MCCARTHY SUCKS!!!!!

THE WHOLE PACKER ORGANIZATION SUCKS!!!!

oh....Except Aaron Rodgers.

DISAGREE? THEN YOU KNOW NOTHING AND I AM A MUCH BETTER FAN THAN YOU ARE!!!!!

ALLABOUTUFFDA .COM !!!!!!!

I WIN!!!! I WIN!!!!! I WIN!!!!!

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Just embarrassing, Buck.

I'm sorry I don't believe that... Everything is awesome. Everything is cool when you're part of a team.

This thread is Packers flattering. What's the issue? Oh, right. Me. Your favorite subject

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Big deal ESPN, I predict the Packers will be in the Super Bowl every season. [pinkele]

I don't know what that emoticon signifies, I used it because I like elephants.

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Good post.

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This team must be a minimum of 80% Aaron Rodgers. It would be nice if it was more like 50-70%, but I'm not holding my breath.

Seriously guys.

Yes it's obnoxious when people fetishize the failures of the Packers. Yes, it doesn't make any sense to expect this team to win it all every few years (implying this is an extremely talented, top 3 team) and yet constantly complain about the failures of the coaching staff, players on offense and defense, and GM.

But seriously, let's stay on subject.
[End of PSA]

The defense needs a ton of work. The Packers need someone besides Montgomery in the backfield in order to keep him as effective as he is when he has been running it. Rodgers needs to put in a full 16+ games and work on consistency. And maybe we could not have a MASH unit out there, but not much you can do about that (or at least I don't see that improving).

I don't believe we're Top 3 in talent. Rodgers and everyone else. Dallas minus a great QB drafted Top 5. With a great QB, and Elliott, a legit SB contender.

No fetishising our failures. Would've preferred we beat Atlanta and then New England.

What's wrong with wanting a new and better direction? Why is Aaron pleading to go all in? Why? Because we're not and haven't been. Translation...We should've been.

Why such a huge disconnect in understanding that when you have Aaron you should be winning more than you are? Jerry freaking Jones set up Dak better in his 1st season than Ted set up Aaron in the last 6.

For 25 years I've heard that with our QB we always have a chance. Amazed how sporadically that chance has panned out while NE just played in their 7th SB with Brady and 8th if you count the Bledsoe one vs. us.

Sucks only seeing 3 for us in 25 years of Brett and Aaron. Then, again, NE has had Parcells and Belichick.

12 years of Ted and one SB appearance is good work? Good enough?

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We beat Dallas - Wouldn't that also make us a legit SB contender? Do we all remember how insane everyone was going over Cam Newton as a rookie, and what's the opinion on the Panthers now? What about RGIII? Dak is neither of these players but it's early to say he's going to be an excellent QB. All this talk about going all in may be right but what happens if we go all in and don't win the super bowl? I mean, we were one win away from the super bowl this year - If we're not top 3 in talent, why would having one or two additional players necessarily put us over the hump to win it all? Especially since plenty of people hate Ted Thompson picks?

I don't know, it just all seems inconsistent to me. Completely addressing the post, I absolutely hate superbowl talk prior to the postseason no matter what team it's about, period. Completely useless garbage and a lazy way to generate clicks and fill up airtime.

We're always going to be legit with Aaron playing out of his mind. We're a 4-6 type team when he doesn't.

Yes. Aaron just needs a little help. He's good enough to do the rest. Put a hill on his back and not Mt. Everest and it'll be very different. Signing a former underachiever in Jared Cook made a huge difference to Aaron. That took nothing to accomplish. Just the realization that your 3rd round TE wasn't ever going to be good enough. See it? Give Aaron RR at TE and it's hard to succeed because he sucks. Give him just a decent talent in Cook and... Magic. Do that upgrade in a few more areas and it'll change everything. Not some illogical inconsistent ramblings of a mad fan. Just the truth. Aaron is asking for what I've been asking for. Is that not true? Most of you haven't asked and don't even think to. Contentment leads to not winning.

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