My intent was to ask:
Since there is and always has been a lack of interest on the palyers part to come to GB (even though they are wrong in their way of thinking) what do we as fans think GB (Uncle Teddy) should do to overcome the player's mind set? We seldom discuss that issue.
I wish the thread was locked and we move on to a real Packers topic.
"wpr" wrote:
IMO, this is very much a Packer related topic. While some of the back and forth has gotten a little chippy the point remains that this is how we are viewed by the very men that fill the roster spots.
Part of successful planning and implementation of said plan for any organization is to have a brutally honest view of whom you are and where your organization is at. No bullshit or fluff.. bare bones brutally honest assessment.
Then you go from there... in this case, we all know that for the better part of the post merger days, Green Bay has been viewed as an outpost to the NFL.. for the last decade or so, maybe the perception was a a bit different but more so because of the players here than anything else.
That doesn't mean Green Bay is any less of a location.. it is all about perception. I lived there on two stints, from 90-94 and from 98-2000... as far as a city goes, it is one of the better ones I have lived in..
Anywho.. once players get to Green Bay, they often don't leave because of the city or the way of life here. And it is most definitely not because of the organization itself. Sure there are a few players that clash with someone in the organization, but that isn't exclusive to Ted and Co. as well. But that is a different topic for a different thread.
So what do we think we know?
* Green Bay is a fine place to live and play ball, based on the players comments that play here.
* The perception is different from the outside looking in.
* This is nothing new to the franchise or its fans.
So how does a franchise respond?
Just like we have, built through the draft and sign players on the free agent market that actually want to play here. Maybe Ted has taken it an extra step by deciding not to overpay for players whom in their heart might not really want to be here.
I think if you look at it from a realistic stance, cut out all the other emotional bullshit, you get to the heart of why we have decided to operate the way we do.
Draft a player from college that is eager to prove themselves no matter where it is located, develop them, and once they realize that Green Bay is a fine place to live and play ball, we re-ink them and keep them as part of the franchise. In addition, invest in free agent players that want to become part of the Packers and it is a fit both in player and salary.
Now Ted and Co. can't come out and admit that maybe this is why we operate the way we do, because that would be invalid criticism to the Green Bay community as a whole.
But reality is reality.. and if you realize it, then you can properly plan to be successful in spite of it.
"The oranges are dry; the apples are mealy; and the papayas... I don't know what's going on with the papayas!"