Well the NFL draft is history for another year, and the professional teams are restocked with young talent. How did your team do? Did they get what they needed?

The Packers pursued a strategy of trading down, going for quantity in the later rounds. They had enough needs that this may have been wise. Some of those players will work out, and others won't.

The main success for the Packers was getting Rodgers at quaterback in the first round. Brett Favre is probably playing his last season. At most he will play only another two years. It was time to get someone, and he could be the guy. Part of the trading down strategy is that they will want to sign Rodgers to a long term deal. That will be expensive, and with Favre being paid as well, the cap could be a problem. Fortunately they shed a lot of high salaries during free agency. Unfortunately many other teams got some good players.

The team that worries me the most this year is the Vikings. They have improved their defense a lot. Darren Sharper, while older, is still a competent safety. With the right scheme, he could regain pro-bowl form. The Vikings also drafted Erasmus James the outstanding DE from Wisconsin. I project him as a starter this year, and if he remains healthy he will be a great player.

The Indianapolis Colts drafted:

RD SEL NAME School POS
1 29 Marlin Jackson MICH CB
2 60 Kelvin Hayden ILL CB
3 92 Vincent Burns KY DE
4 129 Dylan Gandy Tex. Tech G
4 135 Matt Giordano CAL S
5 148 Jonathan Welsh WIS DE
5 165 Rob Hunt N. Dakota St. C
5 173 Tyjaun Hagler CIN LB
6 202 Dave Rayner Mich St K
7 243 Anthony Davis WIS RB


I'm glad we spent 6 picks on Defense.... because we sure as hell need it....

The Packers selected the following platyers in the draft.

Rd Sel# Player Pos. Ht. Wt. School
1 24 Rodgers, Aaron QB 6-2 223 California
2 51 Collins, Nick FS 5-11 206 Bethune-Coookman
2 58 Murphy, Terrence WR 6-1 202 Texas A&M
4 115 Underwood, Marviel FS 5-10 205 San Diego State
4 125 Poppinga, Brady OLB 6-3 259 Brigham Young
5 143 Coston, Junius C 6-3 310 North Carolina A&T
5 167 Hawkins, Michael CB 6-1 175 Oklahoma
6 180 Montgomery, Mike DT 6-5 276 Texas A&M
6 195 Bragg, Craig WR 6-1 196 UCLA
7 245 Campbell, Kurt CB 6-1 225 Albany (N.Y.)
7 246 Whitticker, William G 6-5 329 Michigan State


Green Bay also selected 6 defensive players. There should be some intense competition for jobs in the secondary, defensive line, and at guard.

Decka, I notice you got a couple of players from Wisconsin. Anthony Davis could be the surprise of your draft. He was fantastic last year until he was injured (a partially detatched retina). Welsh did not get the attention that Erasmus James got at the other defensive end, but he is also very talented.

I'm worried about the ViQueens too - they had an excellent draft. Rodgers was a steal for the Pack and under the circumstances they pretty much had to take him. Hopefully he'll learn something from Favre. The strategy of drafting a bunch of receivers seems a little odd though - I could've sworn we already had some and that it was the defense that needed help.

In the television special I saw on the Packers draft last night they said that the recievers picked had all been kick and punt return men in college as well. I think they will probably be looking for someone new in those areas.

Originally posted by Decka

3 92 Vincent Burns KY DE


Hey Now...

It's "Sweetpea Burns"

We had two first round picks and nailed it on both of them.

The Vikings did have one of the best drafts in a long time. They overhauled in the off-season on defense, along with their free-agency moves, and still managed to pick up a quality (and speedy) WR in Troy Williamson. We also picked up Erasmus James, who we think will fill a big void at CB.

As for the Porkers, it's pretty clear that they're planning for the future. I think their worst move was picking up a failed Arena League player, Michael Hawkins of Oklahoma, and Texas A&M WR Terence Murphy, whom was called an "underachiever" by his coaching staff, and the problem with Rogers is that he's had troubles with handling the ball and numerous mistakes. It'll be interesting to see how well Favre and Rogers work out in the pre-season.

Not to be picky, but Erasmus James is a defensive end, not a cornerback. That said, he has the potential to be a pro-bowl defensive end right now. He can take over a game in the manner of a Reggie White.
Based on their off season moves and draft, as of this writing I would have to pick the Vikings to win the NFC North this year. It pains me to say that, and I will still be rooting for the Packers, but the packers are rebuilding now.
The drafted wide recievers are competing for backup spots, and in particulair punt and kick returner spots. That has been one of the Packers weaknesses, and hopefully one of those recievers might fill the job.

Originally posted by Imagineer
Not to be picky, but Erasmus James is a defensive end, not a cornerback.
hmm....don't know where I got CB from...

Based on their off season moves and draft, as of this writing I would have to pick the Vikings to win the NFC North this year.
We're long overdue for one of those.

49ers got first overall pick and went with a QB, Alex Smith. he seems to have a good attitude and growing up in San Diego learned what NOT to do form another highly drafted QB, Ryan leaf

Originally posted by silverbulletkc
The Vikings did have one of the best drafts in a long time.

Well, they managed to get their picks in on time for one thing.

Originally posted by LionelHutz
Well, they managed to get their picks in on time for one thing.
Now if we can avoid our routine of a midseason collapse, we should be in great shape.

Going off on a tangent here...........

I do not think Alex Smith is the best QB in the draft. If I were choosing one...I'd personally go with Campbell from Auburn.

campbell form auburn???? WTF are you smokin'?

The Eagles selected the following players in the draft.

Round 1: DT Mike Patterson
Round 2: WR Reggie Brown
Round 2: LB Matt McCoy
Round 3: RB Ryan Moats
Round 4: FS Sean Considine
Round 4: OT Todd Herremans
Round 5: DE Trent Cole
Round 5: OG Scott Young
Round 6: OT Calvin Armstrong
Round 7: DT Keyonta Marshall
Round 7: LB David Bergeron

Originally posted by silverbulletkc
Now if we can avoid our routine of a midseason collapse, we should be in great shape.

Isn't it funny how that collapse always seems to come when the Vikings are about to play the Packers.

Originally posted by Imagineer
Isn't it funny how that collapse always seems to come when the Vikings are about to play the Packers.
Actually, to be more accurate, it's happened for the past two years right after we lose to the NY Giants.

Silver Bullet, the Packers collapse seems to be coming very early this year with the arrests of Ahman Green for domestic violence and Al Harris for the sexual assault of a stripper. In addition, Javon Walker is holding out for a new contract. Hopefully all this will be resolved before the season, but it does create a bit of chaos.

There there, Imagineer...they've had their fun, now it's time for someone else turn to play;)

At least none of our players have dropped dead during practice yet.

that was low

Yes it was low, but it was also true.

I guess these packers/vikings rivlarys are pretty intense

The rivalry is intense. It is more than just on field success that makes it so. There is a history of dirty play, and dirty tricks that goes beyond records and championships. It has become personal.
I can't speak for what the Vikings fans may see as dirty tricks and tactics, but here are some of the incidents that I remember. One of the ongoing tactics involves the sound system at the metrodome. There are large speakers aimed at the field to amplify the crowd noise during the opponents offensive plays. It is turned down when the Vikings have the ball. It makes it nearly impossible to call audibles or even here the snap count.
Then there was the incident of the eye poke. Frankie Winters, the Packers starting center, was standing around after a play. A Vikings player came up to him and poked him in the eyes three stooges style. There was a fifteen yard penalty, and Winters missed the next several games.
There are rivalries that are based on mutual respect, such as the Packers - Bears, or the Packers - Forty Niners rivalry during the 1990's. These types of rivalries produce great memories and great games. Even when you lose a game to a rival like that you respect them.
The Vikings are different. The Vikings have a reputation for playing dirty, and beating them is a way of beating an organization and a style of play. It is fighting for an idea of what the NFL should represent. Vince Lombardi said, "Winning isn't everything, it is the only thing." He always meant that to be taken as striving within the rules. Fair play and sportsmanship are important. Off field conduct is important.
The Packers have released or traded many players because of their off field conduct, or because of their dirty play on the field. There have been incidents of despicable play by the Packer's players and coaches. For example, the dirty hit by Chuck Cecil on Jim McMahon of the Bears. The NFL fined Cecil for that hit. The Packers suspended him, and released him after the season. They also replaced the coach, Forrest Gregg, who had encouraged and condoned such play. That was appropriate.
The Vikings do not replace or fire players that go over the line. As an organization, they encourage dirty play. It isn't about records or championships with the Vikings. It is personal dislike of what the Vikings represent.

OLD BAG O' DONUTS GOT POKED IN THE EYE THREE STOOGES STYLE? lol

I know what you mean about the rivalry. Its the same between the Rams and 49ers. I think the rams are scum, and of course the 49ers are the classiest act in the NFL :D

I gotta disagree with you a little Imagineer. I think the Bears/Packers games were much dirtier than the Vikings/Packers games, and the dirty play goes back a lot longer too. It's just that recently the Bears have sucked and the dirtiness seems to have died down. I don't think the Vikings have been any dirtier than say, Tampa.

Oh, and it was Charles Martin that slammed McMahon, not Chuck Cecil.

The Packers have released or traded many players because of their off field conduct, or because of their dirty play on the field. There have been incidents of despicable play by the Packer's players and coaches. For example, the dirty hit by Chuck Cecil on Jim McMahon of the Bears. The NFL fined Cecil for that hit. The Packers suspended him, and released him after the season. They also replaced the coach, Forrest Gregg, who had encouraged and condoned such play. That was appropriate.

This may have been the case "back in the day", but I hardly think that Green Bay keeps a higher standard of ethics than any other pro team. Professional athletes for the past 10 years have been doing some pretty despicable things off the field. The pro leagues and owners do nothing about it.

Originally posted by LionelHutz
I gotta disagree with you a little Imagineer. I think the Bears/Packers games were much dirtier than the Vikings/Packers games, and the dirty play goes back a lot longer too. It's just that recently the Bears have sucked and the dirtiness seems to have died down. I don't think the Vikings have been any dirtier than say, Tampa.

Oh, and it was Charles Martin that slammed McMahon, not Chuck Cecil.

You're right Lionel, it was Charles Martin. I misremembered that one. It was definitely a dirty hit however. The Bears - Packers games did definitely have dirty play in them occasionally. Mostly it was overenthusiasm rather than deliberate attempts to injure, but there were some of those as well. I don't really know why the rivalry shifted from the Bears to the Vikings. Perhaps it is just the ineptness of the Bears in recent years.
Karankawa, the Packers have indeed moved some players who misbehaved. The James Lofton trade springs to mind. Mossy Cade they just outright released. It will be interesting to see what happens with Al Harris this year.

Randy Moss got traded, Ricky Williams isn't getting re-signed. Does that make the Vikings and Dolphins and Packers all made moves to enforce a certain level of conduct in pro sports? No, they did those things because of the balance of money vs. performance. Until you show me hard rules that say if player X does action Y, then he is punished with Z, you won't get me buying into any sort of theory that the Packers, Dolphins or Vikings is adhering to some sort punishment for bad behavior type of program. All of these moves were made cold and calculated because the management is trying to get the best team for the money.

Originally posted by Karankawa
Until you show me hard rules that say if player X does action Y, then he is punished with Z, you won't get me buying into any sort of theory that the Packers, Dolphins or Vikings is adhering to some sort punishment for bad behavior type of program. All of these moves were made cold and calculated because the management is trying to get the best team for the money.
The Vikings had been talking about trading Moss at least a year before all of what happened last year.