It’s hard to fathom that not too long ago teams played six exhibition preseason games. That number decreased to four in 1978 and then three in 2021. It’ll eventually settle at two once the players agree to an 18-game schedule. That’s going to happen – it’s a matter of when and not if. Anyway, the following are a few Packers-related thoughts that ran through my mind in recent days:
1) Tony Boselli and Dick Vermeil getting inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last weekend only made the absence of Mike Holmgren and Sterling Sharpe even more inexcusable. As coach of the Eagles, Rams, and Chiefs, Vermeil went 1-1 in Super Bowls while compiling a winning percentage of 52.4%. Holmgren went 1-2 in Super Bowls, and his winning percentage with the Packers and Seahawks was 59.2%. The Walrus will eventually be fitted for a gold jacket, but there’s no question he should already be wearing one. As for Sharpe, longevity has been the most popular argument for keeping him out of Canton. The three-time All-Pro played only 112 games in the NFL. Well, guess what? Boselli played 21 fewer games. And as good as the former Jaguar was at left tackle, Sharpe was even better at wide receiver.
2) While All-Pro David Bakhtiari looks good doing individual drills during practice, it’s probably not a great sign that Yosh Nijman continues to take most of his reps at left tackle. If the coaches were truly optimistic about Bakhtiari being ready for Week 1, Nijman would be spending the majority of his time getting acclimated to right tackle – a position he hasn’t started a game at since college. The Packers were able to more than survive up front without Bakhtiari and Pro Bowler Elgton Jenkins last season, but there aren’t versatile veterans like Billy Turner, Dennis Kelly and Lucas Patrick around now – at least not yet. Plus, Adam Stenavich, one of the premier O-line coaches in the league, is currently busy designing plays in his new role as coordinator – plays that might not work very well unless his former unit gets its act together.
3) Green Bay hasn’t had a front office executive hired as a general manager by another franchise since John Dorsey in 2013. That’s difficult to believe considering how successful the team has been over the past nine years. And if that streak is going to end any time soon, it probably won’t be by any of Brian Gutekunst’s current top lieutenants – Milt Hendrickson, Jon-Eric Sullivan, director Jon Wojciechowski, or Matt Malaspina. The two names actually getting the most buzz around the league are 38-year-old director of pro personnel Richmond Williams and 42-year-old football administrative director Chad Brinker. The former is given a lot of the credit for the signings of De’Vondre Campbell and Rasul Douglas last season, and the latter is highly regarded for his ability to both judge talent and manage the salary cap.
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Hey Michael,
Great article as always. I think we take for granted how good the o line has been the past 3 seasons. We’ve plugged guys in with no issue, can we do it again?
Curious how you know about front office folks. That info seems to be impossible to find without league sources?
Thanks, Bryan.
A friend of mine from high school worked in the Eagles front office for years. He’s no longer there, but he still knows a lot of people. We talk from time to time and he mentioned Williams and Brinker.
Great stuff as always. Holmgren was actually 1-2 in Super Bowl…1-1 in GB and then that brutal loss with Seattle vs Pitt.
You’re obviously correct. My mind blocked out the Super Bowl vs. Denver.
Gale Sayers only played 68 games in seven seasons and is deservedly in the HOF. Sayers played in every game in three seasons. Terrell Davis played 78 games in seven seasons. Davis played in every game in two seasons. Sharpe played 112 games in seven seasons and played every game in all seven seasons.
Holding Sharpe’s short career against him doesn’t seem to reasonable, maybe WR bias.
In my opinion, 7 great seasons should be more Hall-worthy than 15 very good seasons.