macbob
  • macbob
  • Veteran Member Topic Starter
14 years ago
http://detnews.com/article/20110208/SPORTS0101/102080341/1126/rss14 

Make no mistake.

Green Bay is here to stay.

And that means the Lions will have to go through an old nemesis in hopes of taking over the NFC North.

The Packers, who beat the Steelers to win the Super Bowl, are built for long-term success.

Consider some of the factors in favor of the Packers, the only team in the NFC North to make back-to-back postseason trips the past two seasons: They are the second-youngest team in the NFL at an average age of 26.2. (The Lions, by the way, will be at 27.1 when next season begins).

The Packers are led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who at 27 is a Super Bowl MVP and just hitting his prime. He's coming off one of the best postseasons in history for a quarterback nine touchdowns, two interceptions and 1,094 yards in four games.

When next season begins, the Packers will have only three starters on their current roster older than 31 Charles Woodson (34), Chad Clifton (35) and Donald Driver (36). Woodson and Clifton were Pro Bowlers this season.

Throw in running back Ryan Grant (28), Pro Bowl receiver Greg Jennings (27) and tight end Jermichael Finley (23), and there's a nice nucleus of weapons for Rodgers.

On defense, outside linebacker Clay Matthews (24), cornerback Tramon Williams (27) and safety Nick Collins (27) are in their prime. Add defensive tackle B.J. Raji (24), corner Sam Shields (23) and inside linebacker A.J. Hawk (27) to the mix, and the defense has a core group of young, talented players.

They won the Super Bowl despite finishing the season with 15 players that were listed on injured reserve.

Among those hurt were Grant, who was eight carries into his season before breaking an ankle; and Finley, who lasted five games before he suffered a knee injury.

Both are expected to return at full strength next season.

And don't forget about all-pro inside linebacker Nick Barnett, who played in four games.

They have solid leadership in place.

Packers president Mark Murphy indicated this week general manager Ted Thompson and coach Mike McCarthy are in line for contract extensions.

Thompson and McCarthy have two years remaining on the five-year deals they signed after Green Bay's trip to the 2007 NFC Championship.

They don't stand to be hurt too much by free agency, whatever the format ends up being with a new collective bargaining agreement.

Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins, receiver James Jones, guard Daryn Colledge and kicker Mason Crosby would be unrestricted free agents under the current four-year eligibility format. And, Driver also will be a free agent.

But, the Packers have 69 players under contract next year.

Plus, the Packers also have eight picks, plus a likely compensatory selection (loss of free agent Aaron Kampman) in the draft in April.

So, add up those factors for Green Bay, and you can expect the streak of 10 different NFC teams in the Super Bowl the last 10 years to be in jeopardy.

Detroit News wrote:

Fan Shout
Zero2Cool (8h) : It's the cycle of civilizations. Get lazier, lazier, softer, softer and vanish.
Martha Careful (9h) : great point. every aspect of society, including art, culture and sports has degraded.
dfosterf (20h) : Green Bay sweep meant something to society about stopping pure excellence. We have the tush push now
dfosterf (20h) : We old Martha.
Martha Careful (21h) : *front four
Martha Careful (21h) : Re frout four, I wish we had some Green "People Eaters" or a fearsome foursome
dfosterf (4-Jun) : *directions*
dfosterf (4-Jun) : Just don't ask him for driving direct
dfosterf (4-Jun) : Jim Marshall was an all-time great DE for the Purple People Eaters. Didn't like him. That's a compliment. RIP
Zero2Cool (3-Jun) : ooppppss
Zero2Cool (3-Jun) : “Kenny Clark played all of last season hurt by the way and got surgery to fix it in January”
Mucky Tundra (3-Jun) : @ByRyanWood How much did the injury affect him last fall? “A lot.”
Mucky Tundra (3-Jun) : @ByRyanWood Kenny Clark said he had foot surgery in January. Injured his foot in opener against Eagles and played through it all year.
Zero2Cool (3-Jun) : Golden is wearing guardian cap again. I bet he plays with it on too.
Mucky Tundra (3-Jun) : All the stuff I'm reading from Lions fans are pointing at his toe; he more or less has permanent turf toe in one of his big toes
dfosterf (3-Jun) : Kenny played through it, and a shame he gets little credit for that, imo
dfosterf (3-Jun) : Big men. I hope it's not the undoing of Kenny Clark
dfosterf (3-Jun) : Probably his toe. Pretty much a great center. Toe injuries are brutal to bigen
Mucky Tundra (2-Jun) : Lions All-Pro C Frank Ragnow retires
wpr (30-May) : It's all good.
beast (30-May) : Yeah, and I enjoyed your comments and just attempted to add to it. Sorry if I did it incorrectly.
wpr (30-May) : Beast I never said Henderson was the salt of the earth. Nor even that he was correct. Just quoting the guy.
Zero2Cool (29-May) : What did you do??
Zero2Cool (29-May) : Whoa
beast (29-May) : OMG the website is now all white, even some white on white text
beast (29-May) : Henderson, who admits to taking cocaine during the Super Bowl against the Steelers, might dislike Bradshaw as he lost two Superbowls to him
wpr (28-May) : Hollywood Henderson said Bradshaw “is so dumb, he couldn't spell 'cat' if you spotted him the C and an A.”
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Cooper stock=BUY BUY BUY
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : Also notes he’s playing with more confidence.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : @AndyHermanNFL MLF says there was a time last year where Cooper was at 220 pounds. Now he’s at 240 and still flying around.
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : And don't even get me started on Frank Caliendos "impersonations"
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I got tired of them being circle jerks with them overlaughing at each others jokes.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : It used to be must watch TV for me. now it's "meh" maybe to hear injury update
Mucky Tundra (28-May) : I haven't watched the pregame shows in years and I don't feel like I've missed a thing
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Love says knee affected him all season, groin injury didn't help matters.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : I used to enjoy him on FOX Pregame. Now it's like a frat party of former Patriots.
Zero2Cool (28-May) : LaFleur on Watson: “Christian is doing outstanding. I would say he’s ahead of schedule.”
Martha Careful (28-May) : Bradshaw is a dumb ass cracker. I am so tired of his "aw shucks" diatribe. He should shrivel up and go away.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : He wad all butt hurt because Aaron duped the media saying he was immunized.
buckeyepackfan (28-May) : Bradshaw needs to retire. He's been ripping on Rodgers ever since the covid crap. He was all hury
Zero2Cool (28-May) : Terry Bradshaw doesn't want Rodgers in Pittsburgh lol wow
Zero2Cool (27-May) : one day contract, which he also feels is pointless, but if Packers came to him, he would
packerfanoutwest (27-May) : Aaron Rodgers talks possibility of retiring with Packers, just another rumor
dfosterf (27-May) : Go watch 2001
Zero2Cool (26-May) : 1984
dfosterf (26-May) : That movie sent a chill through many. 1968.
dfosterf (26-May) : "Open the pod bay doors, HAL"
buckeyepackfan (25-May) : Haven't we all seen thus movie? It doesn't end well!! Lol
Zero2Cool (25-May) : lol Anthropic’s new AI model turns to blackmail when engineers try to take it offline
dfosterf (25-May) : Claude Opus 4
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