Brian Gutekunst: Smart Person
Brian Gutekunst's plan for the Packers is coming together nicely.
By markoldacres
“Oh, Gutekunst, we’re just assuming is a smart person?”
Those were the words of a certain former NFL punter, while the general managers of the Packers and Jets, Brian Gutekunst and Joe Douglas, were locked in talks over a trade for Aaron Rodgers.
Speaking to Ian Rapaport, Pat McAfee continued: “Being like ‘well, we’ve got two really good negotiators’, do we know that? I don’t know if we know that”.
McAfee was half right. There is only one GM involved in this deal who appears competent right now, but it is not the one who currently employs his weekly paid guest.
Although Rodgers officially ended the relationship by announcing he wanted to play for the Jets, it remains understood – while never explicitly stated – that Gutekunst equally wanted to move on from Rodgers.
That decision looks like a masterstroke as the young team he assembled, led by quarterback Jordan Love, grows exponentially before his very eyes, while Jets fans slowly come to terms with the reality of everything that comes with Rodgers.
In the trade itself, Gutekunst extracted two second-round draft picks (one of which would have been a first-rounder if not for Rodgers’ injury) plus a first-round pick swap, for a 39-year-old signal caller coming off arguably the worst season of his career.
In doing so, he also freed the Packers of the constraints Rodgers’ contract would have placed on their salary cap for years to come.
Of course, all of that mattered for little if Gutekunst was wrong about Love and his potential to be the long-term answer at quarterback, and if the young core which Green Bay’s GM had assembled through the draft fell flat.
Just a few weeks ago, the picture was not looking so pretty. In the midst of a four-game losing streak, Love had hit a wall in his first year as the starting quarterback, not helped by below par performances from the skill position players around him.
Yours truly wrote that the Packers were out of playoff contention, and questioned whether Gutekunst’s youth movement was backfiring and clouding the evaluation of Love.
But after that mid-season lull, Love has been incredible in the last three weeks, showing he is absolutely someone the Packers can win not just with, but because of.
The collection of first-and-second-year pass catchers have stepped up, too. Receivers Christian Watson, Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontayvion Wicks, and even Malik Heath look like hits from the GM, as do tight ends Luke Musgrave, Tucker Kraft and Ben Sims.
Other early success stories such as Zach Tom, Karl Brooks, Carrington Valentine, and Anthony Johnson Jr. further illustrate Gutekunst’s qualities as a talent evaluator. Over in New York, Douglas has certainly struck gold with some of his selections, but it helps to be picking high in the draft.
The Jets have made seven first-round selections since Douglas’ first draft in 2020, with an average pick position of 11.71. Gutekunst on the other hand has made five first round selections in that time with an average pick position of 23.6.
Douglas, unlike Gutekunst, swung and missed wildly at quarterback, taking Zach Wilson at number two overall in 2021. Whether he botched the evaluation or failed to put Wilson in a position to develop, it was this fiasco which eventually led the Jets to pursue Rodgers.
Rodgers, for his part, once said “people are coming here to play with me” when explaining why he should have more input on personnel decisions in Green Bay. But he is not the talent evaluator or recruiter he thinks he is.
His recruitment drive this offseason mostly consisted of bringing his friends from Green Bay, such as Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, and Adrian Amos, over to New York. Lazard and Cobb have been healthy scratches in recent games, while Amos was released this week.
The Packers will likely be getting a fourth-round compensatory pick for Lazard, who signed a four-year, $44million deal last March. Gutekunst has shown a talent for self-scouting his own roster.
Corey Linsley, who left for the Chargers in 2021, is the only significant free agent exit from Green Bay during Gutekunst’s tenure who made a significant impact on his new team.
Despite having the youngest roster in the NFL, $66million in dead cap and another $21million on injured reserve, Brian Gutekunst’s new-look Packers team currently occupy a playoff spot and have the league’s easiest schedule down the stretch.
Yes, it is safe to say Green Bay’s GM is a smart person.
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Mark Oldacres is a sports writer from Birmingham, England and a Green Bay Packers fan. You can follow him on twitter at @MarkOldacres
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Comments (180)
10ve 💚
December 04, 2023 at 06:22 pm
That same Pat McAfee today said that Gutey is a smart person, this time without the mockery 😀
TKWorldWide
December 05, 2023 at 06:36 am
“Mr. Tank Top” is a douche. His relationship with 12/8 hardly makes him objective as well.
PS Do we have a bunch of pro-McAfee folks here? Why?
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
December 06, 2023 at 10:15 pm
I used to like Mcafee before he became an attack dog for Rodgers. I get it, Rodgers is his friend and brings a ton of views to the show but his attacks on Gute were way out of bounds.
Coldworld
December 04, 2023 at 06:25 pm
Any thing this year is a bonus, but there is a lot to be excited about beyond that with this core of players. That was what this year had to be about as we shed our cap penance. That’s the real win with this group because most of it stayed with us and is still growing as players.
I’m starting to believe that Love might actually be every other teams nightmare: a 3rd Uber talented QB in a row. The more he’s allowed to do, the better the throws In terms of timing, velocity, wisdom and accuracy and the more his catchers rise up with it. This is a core of skill players we can have several years with potentially.
I can’t help feeling it wasn’t so much Love or the players as a coach never letting the foot off the break until we were well behind. The best thing Love may have done, for himself, his catchers and us, is lobbying hard for LaFleur not to abandon aggression and stick with the original plan and go for it out of the gate against the Lions. Now we are spreading the balm around, using motion,… winning.
Bearmeat
December 04, 2023 at 06:46 pm
What do you think of MLF now, CW?
Bitternotsour
December 04, 2023 at 10:35 pm
can't speak for coldworld, but for me the jury is very definitely still out. i think his staff choices are wanting. i'm concerned he'll revert to form and go back into a shell.
so MLF - he's getting a solid incomplete at this stage, but he is trending upward to be sure.
Guam
December 05, 2023 at 09:11 am
I am in the same place Bitter. Can't forgive Mennenga, Drayton, Butkus, or Barry and still have issues with his ingame adjustments. His game plans are finally going back to the originally promised "illusion of comp!exity" which I like. He is on the upswing but was in a deep hole for me.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 10:21 am
Well put. There is a difference between LaFleur the OC. The one thing we know he can do is the scheme he brought with him, to me that’s LaFleur the OC. Then there is LaFleur the head coach. Those are two very different facets.
As a coordinator, all too often with LaFleur the questions have been his regular tactical whippings, failures to adjust to teams and the disappearance of the scheme and the often highly cautious and unimaginative residue. Some blamed Rodgers, but that seems less plausible than this time last year.
LaFleur the Head coach is a string of issues with player decisions, coaching hires, even in the face of the visibly inevitable stubbornly pushed till that inevitability came to pass. And then the whole thing repeated. Was a head coach i struggle to seldom seen a worse training staff evaluator and manager manager and none who were successful with a similarly poor player personnel moves.
LaFleur is seemingly getting credit for Love’s emergence. Yet I think that could just as well be the veteran QB coach that Todgers had brought back. If LaFleur knew Love so well, why did it take 10 games to start designing a game plan that fit him after 3 years?
I suspect it was the second half sputtering of life that he finally stopped ignoring. Why were his game plans with a new starter contrary to almost every tenet of getting the new guy in rhythm and settled, leading to him having the longest YPA in the league by far 6 games in? I could go on, these aren’t the only head scratchers this season or previously.
No, I don’t trust LaFleur as a head coach. I do think he’s finally calling a system he’s better at and that suits Love at last. I also think that makes space for the skill players, lessens the pressure on the OL by stretching defenses and helping everyone make plays. The exact opposite of last year’s scheme and the scripted ones this year really.
I don’t think the OL or D questions have gone away. I do think Love has, for a few games at least, played far above reasonable expectations for this year. I think even then that Campbell having a howler was necessary to win and in both, the incredibly important factor of getting ahead early.
In Detroit the critical points were from a fumble return score and gifted short field. Against Kansas, we had Love stop him going conservative and some key sacks after long drives. Kansas and Detroit got knocked off their game. It’s also fair to say that the Chiefs aren’t what many thought at the moment. The best thing I can say is that we did not kick start them.
Euphoria is lovely, but for me it’s from starting to see the number of young players that are shoring ability and the breaking through the pall of timidity. Even Barry has suddenly started being more aggressive. Lo and behold we see better coverage despite injury and turnovers.
How much of that is really on LaFleur? At best a desperation change since the prior approach was failing miserably. I think it’s as much a case of necessity unwittingly unlocking potential previously hamstrung. In other words luck over insight and players unshackled showing what they can do on both sides of the ball. If the coaches truly knew that, they’d have been facilitating this from the start.
2 or 3 games can never be a truly reliable sample. We can’t judge our opponents properly without hindsight. What I see is talent flashing in numbers of young guys the odds say is ridiculously unlikely and that Love has, for a couple of games, looked not just like an NFL starter but generationally good. Many long forgotten players have had a couple of games where they wowed, so I’m not anointing, but there is a real chance lightning has struck thrice at QB.
If it has, I think it’s taken circumstances to force it on LaFleur not planning and that those circumstances have released the talent, helping skill players and defenders and definitely the OL alike and at the same time covering our weaknesses on the OL and against the run by knocking opponents off their game plans, prompting tactical mistakes and lessening their ability to pressure. It’s a win win cycle I wrote about a lot last year as well as this.
So Gute looks good, Love is threatening to become a really exciting prospect and no, I don’t trust LaFleur or see this as due to his insight or planning. More events forcing his hand finally. Now I just hope he and his team can’t do with this roster what they did with Rodgers, Adams and co and perennially find ways to blow it when it really matters through poor tactics, adjustments, personnel errors and simply ignoring ongoing obvious problems until they are finally exposed by better opponents.
You asked, I wrote. That’s how and why i have not changed my opinion of LaFleur or his staff and why I’m not giving him the credit for the last few games that do many seem to be. Right now Gute looks a lot better than many though, Love looks like he could be. That’s exciting, but it needs further testing and none of the long term problems have gone away, it’s just that we are finally playing in a way that is helping to take pressure off them, as it always would have done. The fact that it’s unleashing talent both magnifies the gain and points the finger at LaFleur for what went before.
Sorry for the length, but since asked and subsequently challenged above and below, I’ve laid out my reasoning and hopefully that’s a one off, like it or hate it.
MainePackFan
December 05, 2023 at 10:53 am
"LaFleur is seemingly getting credit for Love’s emergence. Yet I think that could just as well be the veteran QB coach that Todgers had brought back. If LaFleur knew Love so well, why did it take 10 games to start designing a game plan that fit him after 3 years?"
There is little doubt that Tom Clements is a big part of Jordan's development, as he was with Rodgers. I think the biggest part of the success JL is having right now is the accumulative reps he now has under his belt have allowed him to slow the game down mentally. The fundamentals taught by Clements are now secondary in JL's mind.
He is seeing the field better, reading the defenses better, getting the ball out quicker when he feels pressure, either as a check down or a throwaway. This in turn has opened up Lafleur's playbook. Combine that with growth of the rookies and voila, you have a winning streak, and hopefully the makings of a solid football team for years to come.
mnbadger
December 05, 2023 at 12:40 pm
MLF lost me during the last two years of the former qb.
His lack of professional courage took the whole team down, IMO.
In game, he still needs an adult to manage the clock and make challenge decisions.
His staff loyalty is empowering if you're qualified, it's unearned protection if you're jbarry.
I'm looking forward, trying to eliminate negativity.
It's easier to do now that the Packers are growing into the team that BG envisioned.
If we have a new DC and a few new/additional staff, 2024 could be really fun.
Not writing off the end of year, all gas, no breaks!
GPG!
Coldworld
December 04, 2023 at 11:37 pm
I really do not think any differently of LaFleur individually or as a head coach. It is good that we are finally seeing a scheme briefly promised in 2020, but as Mark Wahle said after the Detroit game, it took an awful long time for him to realize he wasn’t designing an offense for Rodgers. In fact I think part of Love’s struggles and those of the skill players resulted from LaFleur’s game plans and calls, which is why we improved when desperately chasing later in games.
I’m happy the youth is developing. I’m happy Love talked LaFleur into not abandoning his aggressive plan for Detroit when he suggests he would have. I’m very happy with the trajectory of Love recently, but also of those he’s throwing to. It’s almost like Love gave LaFleur the confidence to open up this offense. That would speak volumes wouldn’t it?
If Love turns this purple patch into something lasting then we have to hope that this time LaFleur can deliver when he couldn’t with Rodgers. Perhaps Love is already getting more out of him than another personality could. It’s a lot to hope for, but it looks like it’s that way round. Perhaps he can be to LaFleur what many think Brady was to Bellicheck.
croatpackfan
December 05, 2023 at 05:41 am
Coldworld, khm, khm, Belichik, not "Bellicheck"...
Just saying...
HawkPacker
December 05, 2023 at 06:03 am
Actually croat it is Belichick. I have read a lot of your posts and have seen your grammar/spelling issues but have not said a word about it even though those kinds of things are bothersome. I know you reside in another country and your english is quite good but a bit broken at times and that is why I have never commented to you on that.
Now to read that you are correcting someone........
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 09:15 am
Misspelling someone's name isn't grammar. It's just an obvious issue. It's like when those trolls used to spell Aaron Rodgers name either Erin or Rogers.
As for Belichick, he was a defensive tactical genius before Brady, a claim to coaching MLF does not have. He (Belichick) also got to a super bowl with drew Bledsoe, so it wasn't only Brady...
Finally, I admit to assuming LaFleur was fully formed, it's entirely possible that he's actually growing, getting advice, and mentoring and encouragement from his co-workers and bosses. Perhaps he's actually...coachable?
WestCoastPackerBacker
December 05, 2023 at 11:38 am
I don't think Belichick got to a super bowl with Bledsoe. Parcells got to a Super Bowl and Belichick was on the staff, but Bledsoe got hurt the second game of the season and Brady took over and led them to the Super Bowl his second year in the league.
HawkPacker
December 05, 2023 at 12:10 pm
I was referring to his comments he makes and not necessarily this comment.
croatpackfan
December 05, 2023 at 10:37 am
I have no problem if anyone properly correct me. It helps to learn English better.
If you do not know Belichick is by his grandparents Croatian. And his original family name is Beličić. In English there is no letters č and ć. Letter č is pronouncing similarly to English combination ch, but not quite the same. Letter ć is variation of letter č and pronouncing somewhat softer. No adequate English pronouncing. I suppose they pick ck as the finish of their English version.
And yes, you are correct. I misspelled his family name by not typing c in front of k, which is typo mistake. Thanks for correction. But it surely not Bell-i-check!
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 11:03 am
I did know his Croatian ancestry. I have a Croat friend who, very irritatingly at times always supported his teams as a result. That said, I also know of others with the same root name who spell it differently (or who’d families have come to have it spelled differently—common in the US where non English names are concerned.
He’s a man I find hard to respect but whose record demands it. He’s also a guy who who will end up inextricably tied to one QB by the looks of it. Before and after Brady he’s struggled mightily as a head coach yet was stellar with him for years and myriad rosters. There are undoubtedly many more factors, but that’s why I referenced him.
WestCoastPackerBacker
December 05, 2023 at 11:39 am
Are you saying there is no Spell - I - check for Belichick?
croatpackfan
December 05, 2023 at 12:05 pm
-I- did not -check spell- checker!
Gravedigger93
December 05, 2023 at 01:22 pm
Actually, it's Beli-cheat.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:28 pm
CW,
food for thought: is it possible JL10 is elevating the play of those around him? You suggest he might be doing that with MLF, something I had not considered.
Much has been discussed lately about the difference between a good QB and a GREAT QB. Is elevating the play of everyone around you the defining difference?
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 11:57 pm
Great talent can do things others can’t. Yes, I think a true great can elevate players or play calling. That may occur never or only once in a career. For the truly great, more often, but let’s not jump the gun. But when it happens everything just goes at a different speed.
Tundraboy
December 05, 2023 at 07:50 pm
"a scheme briefly promised in 2020, but as Mark Wahle said after the Detroit game, it took an awful long time for him to realize he wasn’t designing an offense for Rod"
Never thought of this even though I saw Wahle's comment,until you mentioned it. Makes sense more now that I'm not as frustrated, finally seeing progress, but I could see MLF doing that out of "continuity, bringing them along slowly as he transitions them from the hybrid Rodgers version of his offense, to the complexity version. All the same it's that passivity that concerns me. I hope he continues on this arc, but I think the next big step at season's end is for him to deal with the Barry and OL coaching elephants in the room.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:23 pm
My opinion of MLF has not changed. He can scheme well, and playcall well. Sometimes brilliantly. Those are OC duties. When he has to do that and ALSO face difficulty in game as a HC?
Nope.
He should delegate one or the other.
He runs an ok TC, but player development since then was either severely lacking or spotty at best. Has that turned around and fuels the team's turnaround? I can't tell. I'd love to see detailed analysis of the O line, against KC and losing a close early game. Just to see improved technique or what the O line does better now.
JL10 is getting the ball out quicker! That helps the O line. LVN still only has one tool, a bull rush. A bull rush that sacked Mahomes, and started the run of 3 sacks that resulted in the 8 point lead in the first half; the same 8 point differential in the final score. But if LVN still hasn't learned anything new after College, that seems like the develop part of GB draft and develop isn't peaking.
The idea of individual players hiring their own specialists to improve might work in the off-season, but I don't see how anyone does that during the season. Professional staff should be able to do that, I'd think. I don't know how much say MLF actually gets in choosing the rest of the coaching staff, but there are several positions that should be EASY to improve. I don't expect this current coaching staff to win a SB, ever, regardless of other variables. Return to dominant division winner and make it to the NFCCG sometimes? Sure.
LeotisHarris
December 04, 2023 at 07:13 pm
"The best thing Love may have done, for himself, his catchers..."
Language is interesting. There's a great old George Carlin routine out there where he discusses the differences in language used in baseball and football, but that's not important right now.
If you're like me, you've heard QBs referred to as Signal Callers, and Field Generals. I haven't heard them referred to as Throwers ("ya dat new Thrower for the Vikes looked good until he threw 4 Ints)". Running backs are called Ball Carriers, and Rushers, true. That's what they do Receivers have been referred to as Wideouts, Flankers, Split Ends, and other formation-related names. Who started this whole "Catcher" thing, and how has it gained traction?
I think it opens up a giant can of worms very close to the lid of Pandora's Box. If we allow use of "Catcher" to take hold in American football, can "Dropper", "Route Runner", "Stander", "Roller", "Jumper", "Hiker", "Faller-Downer" and the like be far away? Is it the dumbing down of language used to describe a once great sport that featured Wingbacks, Defensive Halfbacks, Rovers, and T-Formation Quarterbacks? Will we allow the soft bigotry of low expectations to ruin American football? As a Cheerer, I say no!
Houndog
December 04, 2023 at 07:39 pm
LOL. Really? Faller-downers? I love it!
Thanks for the laugh Leotis.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:30 pm
We've seen some pass catcher fall down and rolloverers lately. A highly specialized position?
Spock
December 05, 2023 at 01:30 am
Carlin's use of language was phenomenal. The baseball/football routine is a classic example.
https://www.bing.com/search?q=george+carlin+baseball+vs+football&cvid=fa...
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:38 pm
The original class clown :) I had never seen that, thanks for linking.
marpag1
December 05, 2023 at 06:33 am
Well, we do talk about "kickers" and "punters" so I guess it must be OK. Or at least that's what my former coachers used to tell me.
One more thing, though: We always need to add "of the football" to the expression. In other words, not just "a catcher," but "a catcher of the football." And not just "a runner," but "a runner of the football." People need to be instructed to "run THE BALL" and "pass THE BALL," otherwise they will surely be running Gatorade jugs or passing gas or something bad like that.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 10:49 am
I need me some Rye.
The purpose of the linguistic short cut was to include not only WRs, but TEs, H backs, F Backs, full backs and RBs … any player who may be asked to pluck a ball thrown by a QB from the air … and to emphasize that inclusivity.
I suppose I could have been formal and expressly defined that but then I wouldn’t have triggered Leotis’ humor, which, with of course inherently required him to fully understand the meaning to trigger it but is both funny and clever.
TKWorldWide
December 05, 2023 at 06:48 am
I remain your fan. Excellent work!
jaxpackfan
December 05, 2023 at 08:33 am
Leotis - in principle, I agree. However, I don't think his intention was to ruin the language of football! We all knew what he meant.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:31 pm
Why is your shit stuff yet everybody else's stuff is shit?
LLCHESTY
December 04, 2023 at 11:37 pm
What's impressive this year is how many day 3 rookies are making contributions. Brooks and Wicks look like keepers, Valentine could be too. If he can get a couple big hits out of the 5 day 1 and 2 picks next year this team could be special.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 12:00 am
It’s almost too good to be true. Or it’s too good to be probable. If it is sustained then you are right and Gute may yet end up in Canton. That’s one reason to be especially cautions before predicting that this level of play can be sustained.
If it is, approximately, over even the remainder of this season, then it will be starting to look like an almost miraculous piece of roster assembly by Gute and his scouting team. At this point that’s why I still find it difficult to credit. That type of success in player identification and assemblage is so unlikely it can’t be real, can it?
WestCoastPackerBacker
December 05, 2023 at 11:49 am
SEA did it in 2010 with Russell Okung, Earl Thomas, Golden Tate and Kam Chancellor all in one draft. Again in 2012 with Bruce Irvin, Bobby Wagner and Russell Wilson. Sherman was drafted the year between, but they basically built a Super Bowl winning roster off those 2 successful draft years. But those drafts were masterminded by Schneider's friend Scot McCloughan. He had also drafted a bunch of all-Pros when he was GM of the Niners, and was a scout for Green Bay back in the day. He was behind the Adam Timmerman pick. Schneider hasn't done as well for SEA without McCloughan.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 12:03 pm
Yes it’s happened before, but it’s exceedingly unlikely. It’s been claimed more often but proved wishful thinking. That’s what I meant by almost too good to be true. Let’s hope this proves one that sustains. If it is though, Gute will be in demand by teams as a full GM.
jannesbjornson
December 05, 2023 at 03:34 pm
Ronnie Lott, Carleton Williamson and Eric Wright, three rookie DBs starting for Walsh's SB Winning team. Veach's draft class, last season, helped win the SB for the K.C. Chiefs.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:42 pm
West,
Gutey got what, 11 picks? 13?
How many from the last draft look truly bad? Currently it appears as though he hit on more than four ...
marpag1
December 05, 2023 at 04:23 am
"I can’t help feeling it wasn’t so much Love or the players as a coach..."
Yeah, there it is. "You can't help feeling." But other than your quite unreliable "feelings," how do you know if Love (who had 100+ passer ratings in weeks 1 and 2) underperformed in the next several weeks because of bad play calling? Or was it that the gameplans were very properly and appropriately simplified due to the fact that love and the host of other very young players were not yet ready to handle it? How do you know which one it really was, or if it was a mixture of the two? You have little to no evidence to decide which one is the chicken and which one is the egg. I suspect that you "can't help but feeling" MLF is a problem because that's what you've been saying all along, and if you say something different now it is tantamount to admitting you were wrong.
But let's take a leap of faith and assume that your "feelings" are correct. Let's say that Matt LaFleur truly did bring the offense along very slowly, and much more slowly than it even needed to be. Let's say that he 'sacrificed' a handful of games at the beginning of this season due to this maddeningly cautious behavior. Bad, Matt!! Bad!! And let's also note the reality that at the end of all this woeful mismanagement, he currently has a team that has won 4 of their last 5, he has his brand-new 25-year old QB humming along at MVP-ish levels for the past three weeks, and that his team has taken down the division leading Lions and the reigning super bowl champions in the process, and that he has positioned his squad as a playoff team if the season ended today, and that he seemingly has his team in a damn fine position for possibly the next 10 years.
Yup. Like you, "I can't help but feeling" that quite a lot of this somehow rests on Matt LaFleur.
PearlyBakerBest
December 05, 2023 at 06:12 am
Some people just like to hear themselves type.
murf7777
December 05, 2023 at 06:17 am
I just hate it when my Coach is a winner. We should go out and get a coach with a losing record and harass him. Some folks like CW think everything boils down to play calling. When you are losing it’s all about bad calls and now winning he is actually calling good plays. Have you ever thought it might be penalties, miss catches that put the team into 2nd and 3rd and long that limits your play calling as well. Or maybe it’s just poor execution and now they’re executing the plays that are called properly.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 11:24 am
I do not think that at all. Indeed I don’t think a head coach needs to call plays at all. A head coach is the person who should shape everything to get the most from his talent, much of which is indirect through the staff and culture he builds. I do not think that has been LaFleur at any point in his tenure. A good head coach makes his team more than the sum of its parts. A bad one makes them less than their potential. A bad coach and a good team can look good against weaker foes, but the chances are not against near equals.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:49 pm
Yes, there are many possible dimensions to a good HC. MLF has some of them, and all of those fall under the job description of OC. If he stepped down to that role and Stenovitch stepped down to O line coach this team would be greatly improved assuming a new HC that's great at other things that pull everything together including a culture of winning, in-game adjustments, and clock management.
It would also help the team a lot if every player voluntarily gave up any pay over $20MM / year because they want to win, and that's a LOT of money to be paid for playing a game you love.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 11:36 am
You are entitled to your feelings Marpag. It’s really quite special to be in a position where hope for the future is so high.
Maybe Barry, Butkus being sub par are just fandom illusions. Maybe we’ve seen real progress on D and it’s just players letting them down. Maybe LaFleur is a good manager of players that we just haven’t understood.
Maybe the Drayton farce was just isolated and maybe we will see teams raiding our coaching staff again this winter because they see what I don’t, Or perhaps those failings are real and had a real impact on outcomes and thus are intrinsic to considering where we are now and how we got there.
Being wrong isn’t something to worry about. There’s no sun in error, only in false certainty. We all make mistakes, but the foolishness comes from not correcting them. At this point. As I’ve spelled out at length, I do not see a rebuttal and reasons to believe the change stems from elsewhere.
So no, I’m not at the point where I believe in LaFleur as a head coach or as the architect of the recent success. In fact I think he was both a factor impeding it earlier and may be a brake on it achieving it’s full flowering in future.
If I’m wrong and the current upswing proves to be the start of a great era, then I will be wrong and also a very happy Packer fan. But I won’t be an unthinking one or one you can deter from expressing my reasons for that when asked for them.
Tundraboy
December 05, 2023 at 07:58 pm
Bravo!
packer132
December 04, 2023 at 06:31 pm
I have been a Gute fan and even a fan of LaFleur at first. On many polls, Gutenkunst in usually in the top 10 out of 32 GM's. Nobody is going to hit on every move or draft. His first year as GM (2018) was not his best draft. Only Alexander remains 5 years later. The next year was a little better, with Gary, Savage, and Jenkins. His skills are still hanging on the Jordan Love pick in 2020. I liked the pick, as you take a QB when you don't need one. Several teams declined when their QB retired (Pitt and New Orleans). Rodgers sat for 3 years as did Love, and hopefully we are seeing Jordan grow and develop, just like Aaron did. Brian's best draft could be the 2023 class as 10 players have contributed already. Reed looks like a steal, as does Musgrave. The scouts know way more than us fans will ever know about players that they scout. I trust in the Pack.
4thand10
December 04, 2023 at 08:57 pm
I was more than OK with the AJ Dillon pick…. I’m biased because i always wanted to pack to get a big bruising RB…A Bettis type, a Fournette type, a Derek Henry etc to wear on teams. And …at the time Dillon was about as close to that as you could get where they were picking. I’m a firm believer that a team always needs a bruiser, a scat and a 3 down back for different types of Ds they face in a given season. I just wish they would have found a way to hang on to Jamal Willams. The Watson and Reed picks I liked..and so far they really have not proven me wrong. The surprises were Doubs, Wicks and Heath….they each make a “ oh, wow” play in games. I liked Kraft better than Musgrave coming out but i was proved wrong. But with a fragile Oline and a departing mercedes lewis I really wanted Darnell Washington…but early on it’s looking like Musgrave, Kraft and possibly Sims are turning into blockers and pass catchers with a lot of upside. But 2020…trading up and getting CD Lamb and then grabbing T Higgins would have been my choice. But it’s all super easy to look at in hindsight. For all I know Rodgers would not have delt them the ball anyway. Love is spreading the ball around just like Rodgers did early in his career so far…it’s nice watching an offense where opposing teams aren’t just focused on one guy and have to play the whole field. With the extended seasons now vs the 16 game that Rodgers had early in his Career…Love only has to win one more game to tie Rodgers first year starting. He wins 2 and he beats it and can’t be declared a Bust or a bad pick just yet. Credit to LaFluer for keeping these young guys fighting.
Minniman
December 04, 2023 at 11:27 pm
Darnell Washington is going to have a steady long career in the NFL as a Lewis type TE that's mostly a 3rd Tackle that can catch.
Go back and watch the Packers v Steelers game - he absolutely pancaked Gary on one play.
But as you said, the upside of Musgrave and Kraft offensively will win out.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 05:53 pm
4th and 10,
Kraft has not been proven the inferior to Musgrave. They can both be used appropriately, assuming Musgrave comes back 100%. It's still possible that Kraft has the better career, but I'm more interested in seeing them BOTH succeed!
Hopefully #33 comes back 100% this season ...
Coldworld
December 06, 2023 at 12:13 am
It’s going to be very interesting to see how Kraft contributes over the rest of the season now he’s playing as a weapon primarily. When we drafted them, I was excited but slightly puzzled since both at present are really weapons not blockers. Kraft however had to change. That’s a much bigger learning curve.
Beyond this season, Kraft and Musgrave could both be big weapons. Can we find a way to use both in the same offense productively and how does that affect other weapons? Either may become a plus blocker, but I think both could become true weapons. It’s going to take some ingenuity to fully utilize both.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 06:04 am
4th,
With AR inheriting a 13 & 3 NFC Championship game team in his first year with 1,000 yard receivers, experienced TE's, and a 1,200+ yard running back vs Love inheriting an 8 & 9 team with essentially no established players at any skilled position other than RB the mere fact Love is going to win more games in his first season is a 'huge' statement. Plus, this is in a year with the Lions being one of the top 5 or 6 teams in the league as well.
4thand10
December 10, 2023 at 08:56 pm
This is true.
SinceLombardi
December 05, 2023 at 04:13 pm
Reed was a nice second round pick. But to me Wicks could be the real steal (5th rounder).
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:03 pm
I'm not anointing Wicks as a replacement for Davonte Adams, "the next Davonte Adams," or anything of the sort; however, there ARE some similarities! They're speed is functionally identical, .01 seconds slower on one day, running in a straight line in gym clothes? Immaterial. That speed did not predict #17 would have such a great career, but he continues to. So far, Wicks manages to get open enough to be targeted, and comes up with contested catches at a rate high enough to warrant continuing that. I recently saw Reed as #1, with Musgrave and Wicks tied for #2 depending on who's open.
Watson was back, but Wicks is no less of a viable weapon now. Hopefully #9 is ok and returns to form this season, but our depth at WR is ... stellar.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 06:06 am
I was ecstatic of the Packers draft but when the Packers drafted Wicks (one of my pre-draft favorites) I about jumped to the moon. At that time, I claimed when drafted he had the talent to be a #1, or #2 draft pick. Most did not agree and the rest is history! :)
Bearmeat
December 04, 2023 at 06:49 pm
You all know I’ve been banging the “get rid of 12” bandwagon since 2015. The dude is an all time QB, but a toxic narcissistic team killer as a person. Gute saw slippage in 2019, drafted Love. 12 decided “eff you” and went into 2020 eff you season. Played brilliantly… but then.. the drama came with the leverage.
We SHOULD have shipped 12s ass to Siberia… er…. Denver… in 2021 for 3 1st rounders. But Murphy balked and possibly MLF. Gute wanted to move on, and he was absolutely RIGHT to do so.
Love always had all the tools. He needed time. And now GB is set for the future, while the Jets are absolutely hosed. All of 12’s friends are has-beens.
Hilarious. Not quite as cathartic as 2009 with BLF choking against the Saints, and then the Humpty Dump imploding while GB went on to win it all with a young, and not narcissistic AHole at QB. (That came later).
But it’s close.
ALL HAIL GUTE.
BradHTX
December 05, 2023 at 07:50 am
Right now, as I reply to this, the upvote/downvote ratio on this comment is 16.5/7.5… I have never seen a half number before and am really interested to know how this happened.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:05 pm
I've seen it before and even weirder, sometimes it goes away and returns to a whole number.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 06:11 am
Bearmeat,
Extremely well stated & 1,000% how I felt for many years. 'Toxic narcissistic prima donna was definitely a team killer. No one player should ever be given the privileges and allowed to behave the way he did. The mere fact he could not deal with Gutey drafting Love and then publicly thru his proxies wanting Gutey fired is one of the most pathetic things I have ever seen in GB.
stockholder
December 04, 2023 at 06:56 pm
Yours Truly once wrote- So now comes the flip flop.
The Reverse! Gute isn't smart. Gute succeeded
the same way all power hungry people do.
By using his power for his glory.
Pass the buck and pressure.
It went right on Rodgers and MLF.
The difference in Rodgers to Love is simple.
With Rodgers it was expected.
With Love it's- OH my God he did it.
We knew the reload had to take place.
Opening the check book and passing the Buck.
WAS THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION AFTER MMs Failure.
JerseyAl
December 04, 2023 at 07:02 pm
Would you like to explain what you are trying to say here? Whatever you're saying, I'm sure it can't be giving Gutey any credit.
stockholder
December 04, 2023 at 07:17 pm
love unwisely given, brings sorrow to the giver.
CheesedDeadHead
December 04, 2023 at 07:35 pm
Meshuga thy name is stockholder.
LLCHESTY
December 04, 2023 at 11:28 pm
Has someone told him Ayahuasca shouldn't be taken daily?
TKWorldWide
December 05, 2023 at 06:46 am
Brian Butch always calls it “Onalaska”, and it makes me chuckle every time!
murf7777
December 04, 2023 at 07:35 pm
Thanks Stockholder, that’s really clears things up.
Bitternotsour
December 04, 2023 at 10:39 pm
I swear to you that account is a bot. it's badly generated AI.
Minniman
December 05, 2023 at 02:36 am
If you want an interesting take on AI, I posed the following question to a common language AI model:
"ok what would be a suitable contract to offer Jordan Love (based on what the league average is for top 10 ranked quarter backs)"
Answer:
Jordan Love’s current contract is a two-year extension worth $22.5 million, with $13.5 million guaranteed. The average annual salary for the top 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in the NFL in 2023 is $47.6 million 2. However, it’s important to note that the salaries of the top 10 quarterbacks vary widely, with the highest-paid quarterback earning $55 million per year and the 10th highest-paid quarterback earning $43 million per year 2.
Given that Jordan Love is still in the early stages of his career and has only started a few games, it’s unlikely that he would command a salary in the same range as the top 10 quarterbacks in the league. However, the Packers could structure a contract extension that is more in line with the average salary for starting quarterbacks in the league, which is around $20 million per year.
Ultimately, the terms of a contract extension for Jordan Love would depend on a variety of factors, including his performance over the next few seasons, the Packers’ salary cap situation, and the market value for starting quarterbacks.
However, based on the current market for starting quarterbacks, a contract extension for Jordan Love in the range of $20-25 million per year would be reasonable.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:09 pm
I'd love to see JL sign a mid to long term contract at $20 MM / year. That's a LOT of money, would encourage other stars in GB to forego higher amounts, and help the team WIN.
JerseyAl
December 05, 2023 at 12:17 pm
while it may sound like it. he's been around and commenting way longer than AI has been a thing. He just likes trolling and keeping everyone guessing. To each their own, I guess.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 02:42 pm
He used to say the same type of things but in conventional prose.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:10 pm
Consider it a crossword puzzle.
stockholder
December 05, 2023 at 08:18 pm
Trolling? - Al- Ive always tried to stay on topic.
I don't try to provoke anyone.
Shedding light on another possibility has always
been my thinking.
I considered my opinion of Gute free speech.
If it doesn't agree with others. Too Bad.
Nobody is right all the time.
But to cave in to one way thinking.
Just isn't my way, as most here have found out.
JerseyAl
December 05, 2023 at 08:54 pm
I've never discouraged different opinions but you have never given Gutey any credit or benefit of the doubt for anything. If a pipe burst in a Lambeau Field bathroom, you'd come on here and blame Gutey. That's what makes it seem like trolling.
stockholder
December 05, 2023 at 10:31 pm
The article was about Gutey.
I'm not trying to be disruptive.
The "Train of thoughts" by others.
Has brought out a point vs counter point.
Taking offense of those points/comments
can happen.
JerseyAl
December 06, 2023 at 07:50 am
I'm not talking about this article. I'm talking about you as a whole on this site. Haven't heard one positive thing from you about Gute. That's where you lose credibility with people, hence my trolling comment. Of course, you can do what you want - I know you're never disrespectful to anyone on here, and that's always appreciated. I'm just pointing out that it wouldn't hurt you to mention some of his successes instead of continually painting him as some type of evil power-hungry villain that has ruined this team. That's all I'll say about it. Carry on.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
December 05, 2023 at 01:45 am
Al, even Rodgers high on peyote wouldnt know what this guy is talking about.
Tundraboy
December 05, 2023 at 08:00 pm
Bravo #2!
4thand10
December 04, 2023 at 08:24 pm
It wasnt expected with Rodgers. His first season was 6-10. No one knew he would be good or even great. No one really knew what to expect from Love and the book is still being written.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:11 pm
Thank you for inserting some common sense! ( I think I'm going to have to start calling him common stockholder)
Untylu1968
December 04, 2023 at 08:45 pm
You're talking like a sausage!🌭
BradHTX
December 05, 2023 at 07:52 am
I really thought my grandfather was the only person to say that. Thanks for the smile.
dblbogey
December 04, 2023 at 10:53 pm
You're now speaking in tongues.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:13 pm
Glossolalia is much more intelligible.
murf7777
December 04, 2023 at 07:40 pm
“Love has been incredible in the last three weeks, “. I think you could throw in the first two weeks where he threw 3 TD’s each as well. His completion percentage wasn’t as high, but a lot of that had to do with wrong routes and dropped passes.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
December 05, 2023 at 01:44 am
4 3-td games with 5 more games left to play. Not too shabby for a backup qb.
Cubbygold
December 05, 2023 at 05:32 am
For sure. His play has been impressive all year, there were just weeks where the entire offense was showing it's immaturity. People quickly forget all the penalties, or that many of Loves interceptions came in situations where he was chucking it up trying to create a miracle at the end of the game.
The improvement of the offensive line has been key. Back to back weeks there's been almost no penalties and they've created a lot of clean pockets to throw from. Run game has been better too. Surprise Surprise, love is able to thrive in that scenario
MainePackFan
December 04, 2023 at 07:58 pm
Brian Gutekunst is a heartless asshole. I don't like the man. When Murphy has to call a player after he is traded to show the player that he appreciates what said player did for the team, it tells you all you need to know about said GM's bedside manners.
My opinion of the man is irrelevant. If one considers the job of the GM is to make sure the team is successful for many years, he appears to have done that. I surely hope, as a long time Packer, that is the case.
However, if one considers the job of the GM is to also win a Super Bowl, thus far, he has failed miserably. He knew he had an aging QB, yet he consistently invested first round draft capital in the defense every year until he finally invested in the offense in the first round. Did he get a WR? Nope. A Tackle? Nope. He got a QB.
Hopefully, when the time comes, he doesn't hang Jordan out to dry in the same way. At the end of the day, what made Wolf and Thompson legends in Green Bay is that they won Super Bowls. If Brian Gutekunst wants to join the Ring of Honor, he needs to win a Super Bowl.
Bure9620
December 04, 2023 at 08:03 pm
I mean heartless is fine if that's what you think. The NFL is an insanely tough cut throat business. His job is to build the best roster possible and be completely emotionless and dispassionate while doing do.
MainePackFan
December 04, 2023 at 08:28 pm
At the end of the day, his job is to build a roster that wins a Super Bowl. One can make tough decisions and remain compassionate at the same time. Gutekunst, thus far, has failed at both of those things. Hopefully someday he figures out there is a balance.
Houndog
December 04, 2023 at 08:54 pm
MainePackFan,
You gotta remember, Gutey is a puppet, in the Mark Murphy system everyone answers to him, and he makes the final decisions. I'm not a fan of either one. Gutey presently has the equivalent of the job that Ron Wolf turned down in 1987 when they offered him the half-assed version.
When Bob Harlan took over in 1991 he did the right thing in deciding to turn the entire football operation to a "Football Man", the first guy he called was Ron Wolf, who accepted that job.
WestCoastPackerBacker
December 05, 2023 at 12:10 pm
Why would you not be a fan of the guys leading one of the top 3 winningest (is that a word) teams in the NFL the last decade? Look around the league. There are a ton of awful GMs and awful team presidents. GB has had incredible success and Gutey, under Murphy has continued that. Rodgers was looking done until Murphy brought in LaFleur, and then they win 13 games for 3 seasons in a row. That's a very difficult feat.
Now it appears Gutey has put together a competitive squad, even though it is the youngest in the league. It looks like he picked the next starting QB. The Vikings and Bears continue to struggle with finding a franchise QB in the draft. You would be hard-pressed to find better results anywhere. There are a ton of teams that are doing worse.
Does nobody remember the reason for the change in structure? Murphy stayed out of it for years, building the business side of things. And then found out that McCarthy and Thompson were barely speaking to each other late in Thompson's career. That does no good, so he designed a structure where the coach and GM report to him so he can make sure they work as a team instead of in "silos." So far, it has worked. They seem to be on the same page, and are moving into a new era and things are looking positive.
CheesedDeadHead
December 05, 2023 at 04:47 pm
"And then found out that McCarthy and Thompson were barely speaking to each other late in Thompson's career."
The last few years of TT's tenure he was spending most of his time talking to the plant on his desk. Maybe McCarthy was tired of having a GM in early/mid stage dementia while Murphy inserted a CPA into the GM role.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:23 pm
West,
why would you not?
Because they failed to produce more than 1 Lombardi over the entire careers of both Favre and Rodgers. Couldn't even get AR12 back TO a SB game.
That's why. In total.
More detailed analysis is possible, but MM's silos need to be done away with, and he needs to have nothing further to do with football operations.
Bitternotsour
December 04, 2023 at 10:41 pm
but apparently it's his job also not to hurt the oh so sensitive feelers of the former qb.
got it.
MainePackFan
December 05, 2023 at 07:51 am
My issue with Gutekunst has nothing to do with Rodgers. The failure in that relationship was a 2-way street. It was Rasul Douglas' first presser with the Bills that gave me pause as to Brian's communication style. If you didn't see it, I recommend you take a minute and watch it.
jannesbjornson
December 05, 2023 at 09:01 am
If the three pick doesn't start, what was the point of the deal?
MainePackFan
December 05, 2023 at 09:05 am
I wonder if Gutekunst wishes he hadn't made that trade now.
jannesbjornson
December 05, 2023 at 09:40 am
In years six, Wolf and Ted had teams headed to the SB.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:26 pm
Exactly.
Rasul Douglas was given away for nothing. And he continues to generate turnovers.
Leatherhead
December 04, 2023 at 11:12 pm
I think his job is to build a roster that can contend for the Super Bowl every year. I think he's the best GM we've had since Wolf.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 12:20 am
That there is even a credible possibility that you are right about that as we stand today is in itself quite a remarkable achievement on Gute’s part. If it proves to be real
Over time then he will be up there and we will likely be wondering how much further along we could have been had he had TTs authority.
I still think it’s a little early for this, it’s measured in weeks not a career, but we should all be excited that Love and this roster might yet prove to be as good as they’ve looked. That’s not a realistic hope, but it might nevertheless be.
jannesbjornson
December 05, 2023 at 09:46 am
He was all-in on the Silage Committee, day one. If he didn't like the terms, he could have hitched his wagon to the Texans. His early drafts were unremarkable with too many whiffs from the high picks and just the idea of retaining King turns my stomach. I backed the Love pick in 2020, but the next two rounds kept that team out of the SB.
Leatherhead
December 05, 2023 at 03:10 pm
Aaron Rodgers' poor play, especially in the clutch, kept this team out of the Super Bowl, not Dillon and Deguara.
jannesbjornson
December 05, 2023 at 03:43 pm
Two fumbles by A.Jones and a pathetic display of cornerback play by King accounted for 14 points going to TAmpa Bay in a matter of 2 minutes. The HC and defensive coordinator didn't have the acumen to call a timeout to re-set the D and Scottie Miller scores in the confusion. Not too complicated, set the picket line in front of the endzone and play to the ball. Rodgers is not the scapegoat.
jaxpackfan
December 05, 2023 at 08:49 am
There are 31 other GMs trying to accomplish the same thing. Not as easy as it looks to us fans.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:19 pm
Bure,
Gutey told Rasul Douglas that he got an offer he couldn't refuse, which did nothing but move one pick up by about 40 spots, into the third round. Where he's never had success. (Hopefully Rhyan and Kraft change that, but remain unproven)
That doesn't help get the best out of everybody.
I understand moving on from some of your best players to build for the future, but that is NOT an example of ruthless efficiency. That's just proving you're not a people person. Can a GM excel who's not a people person?
Look at the Chargers: VERY talented roster; obviously it takes more than that to be a great team.
Houndog
December 04, 2023 at 08:34 pm
@MainePackFan,
Kinda looks like the same "I can't handle the truth" so-called fan is handing out the 'Thumbs Down" to both of us tonight. LOL!
bottlefliper
December 05, 2023 at 01:30 am
You must be the Ivermetin heads Dunning Kruger brother? As your post always tell everyone. But at least you are not a "so called fan", at least not for the Pack and we are all thankfull for it
MainePackFan
December 05, 2023 at 05:47 am
Lol. I expected my take would be met with some resistance.
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
December 05, 2023 at 01:43 am
So what if he is? Would you accept a losing team if the gm was a cult of personality? His job is to build a winning team, not fluff pillows or coddle overly emotional fans.
PearlyBakerBest
December 05, 2023 at 06:19 am
It’s like John Dutton said: “I never had much success leading a man and being his friend.” Or something.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 06:16 am
Maine,
I am a little shocked with your feelings for Gutey. I don't believe any of us have any real insight to how things are done behind green doors. The mere fact AR and possibly a few other players make claims it doesn't necessarily mean it is completely true. Gutey never really addressed this issue publicly like so many other AR claims. I have to believe the truth lies somewhere in-between.
pantz_bURp
December 04, 2023 at 07:59 pm
Desiderata
"Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass.
Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."
by Max Ehrmann
***Maybe Gute's pen name is Max Ehrmann?
Houndog
December 04, 2023 at 08:30 pm
Does Max Ehrmann know anything about football?
revolson
December 04, 2023 at 09:46 pm
Much too heady for gutey.
Rarescope
December 05, 2023 at 12:09 am
Oh no, did you get into Stockholders ayahuasca stash again? At least this is better than that time you kept quoting the lewd bits from Chaucer and giggling to yourself till the sun came up.
pantz_bURp
December 05, 2023 at 09:55 am
Good to have you back Rare! (No matter how hairy it may be).
We are brothers and there ain't not a thing you can do about it...
*your sis says howdy. 😁
Pantz with Antz
Bure9620
December 04, 2023 at 08:00 pm
He should have drafted a WR!!! Haha sorry needed to get that out
Untylu1968
December 05, 2023 at 09:34 am
That or brought in two or three old washed up veterans to show these young bucks the ropes!
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 06:19 am
Unty,
:)
Houndog
December 04, 2023 at 08:05 pm
I'm not ready to jump on the Gutekunst bandwagon just yet, even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.
Yes, at the moment he's looking good, but let's not forget he was also involved in the negotiations that caused the salary cap hell. This year's crop and a few from last year are (at present) making his draft record look better than it really is. Take a look back and draw your own conclusions!
I'll give him a half-mulligan for now as while Gutey holds the title, Mark "Power Monger" Murphy is the real GM and doesn't know his ass from a hole in the ground. A 'real' GM would hold people accountable, and see to it that the team would have a 'real' defensive coordinator by now. But then, a 'real' GM wouldn't have accepted Murphy's watered down, title only, position. Let's see what happens when Murphy departs, and that won't happen soon enough for me.
bottlefliper
December 05, 2023 at 01:35 am
Did you already find your acorn? some never got one. At least you know Mark M. is stronger n his smal finger than AR in his whole body, and he won twich as many SB as AR who always found a way to loooose if it counts. Find a way to play like 3% of the SC.
But go and call Rogan for advice.....sure you believe him, just like the guy who draws the people to Green Bay, because they want play with him. hahahah....it was always the opposite, because AR throws everyone under the bus but himself....
WestCoastPackerBacker
December 05, 2023 at 01:04 pm
Why, why? Murphy played in the NFL, won a Super Bowl with WAS, was named an All-Pro and led the league in interceptions one season. He was the NFLPA rep for WAS and then went on to work for the NFLPA after retiring as a player. He went to law school and worked in sports administration at the college level turning around the football team of his former college, then was at Northwestern.
Any of us could hope to be so accomplished. Far from not knowing his ass from a hole in the ground, he knows the game from the players side as well as from the front office side. He's built a winner in GB on and off the field.
Along with the accomplishments of the team on the field (one of the top 3 winning franchises this last decade), he's upgraded Lambeau and somehow gotten the NFL to agree to hold the draft in Green Bay.
I think Murphy's done a stellar job. You might not like the structure but you can't say it hasn't worked out. As far as keeping Joe Barry, coaches hire and fire their own coordinators.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:34 pm
"The structure" explicitly means MLF can NOT fire JB. Can he even fire Stenovitch?
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 06:22 am
Houndog,
You think there aren't tens of thousands of football people & fanatic fans who would not take a GM position even if it is as you say "watered down?" When I applied for the position I would have done just about anything for the 'watered down' position. I still would!
joejetson
December 04, 2023 at 08:48 pm
It's hard to say whether Gute has done a good or bad job regarding building this roster. I say that because we don't really know if Murphy has given him full control of the football operation. Or has Murphy been meddling and over-riding Gute's decisions?
One glaring error was not trading #12 a year earlier when they could have really gouged Denver or the Jets or other possible bidders.
My guess is that Murphy ordered Gute to keep Rodgers. Remember the "We're not idiots" comment Murphy made about not moving on from #12?
Regardless, it's a refreshingly young, talented team Gute has assembled, despite the wild salary cap overspending the last few years.
Houndog
December 04, 2023 at 09:09 pm
JoeJetson
LOL, I had forgotten all about the "we're not idiots" thing.
I guess Murphy must have been feeling a little insecure that day, why would anyone need to make such a statement, cuz actions speak louder than words?
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:35 pm
I always refer to him as Mr We Are Not Idiots
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 12:45 pm
It was made very clear by Murphy at the time that he had resolved the issues and that was his call under his structure with Ball involved not just Gute.
JohnnyLogan
December 04, 2023 at 10:25 pm
Four weeks ago, the talk was all about how awful this coaching staff is; Barry is the worst hire ever, MLF is a cheerleader, and Gute has sent this franchise back to the 70s. Suddenly, we're headed for the playoffs, Love is on path to being our third straight HOF QB, and the future is ours. I'm happy to buy into the latest enthusiasm. I love how the Pack has played the last few weeks, as we all do. So why do I still want to replace our entire coaching staff? Exactly because I think there is a lot of good young talent on this team, and just maybe Love is the real thing. So I'd like to have a true DC and a coach who isn't just a glorified OC. As an example of how little MLF has to do with coaching the entire team, when asked what he thought of Nixon's interception, MLF responded that he didn't see it; he was busy looking at his board and planning the offense. He's basically a playcaller. But if we keep playing this exciting brand of football, I may have to change my mind and call him a coach.
GregC
December 05, 2023 at 06:22 am
For most of this season, about half the people on this board have wanted to run LaFleur out of town. That talk has cooled down now that the team is winning. At least you get credit for consistency for still wanting LaFleur (and the entire coaching staff) gone. But I think it's best not to think about those things until the season nears its end, a period that we are just now getting into. And lo and behold, the coaching staff is looking smarter now.
It's interesting that your case against LaFleur includes something he said during a press conference. This is a constant theme of the anti-LaFleur crowd. Who cares what he said in his press conference? It's just a bunch of coach-speak, same as every coach in the league. A coach who runs the offense and wasn't watching the defense? The horror!
I think LaFleur is much more than a playcaller anyway. Jordan Love looks like a very well-coached quarterback, and I think a lot of that--maybe most of that--is due to LaFleur. The comparison between Love and Justin Fields in the season opener was really telling. Which QB looked well-coached and which one didn't? And now we've just watched Love outplay Justin Herbert, Jared Goff, and Patrick Mahomes. Most of the credit goes to Love himself, but I think a lot of credit goes to LaFleur and the rest of the coaching staff for bringing him along slowly and teaching him how to play the position.
Another thing about LaFleur: He's never lost the team, even when they've struggled. The players seem to love him. That matters--a lot.
MainePackFan
December 05, 2023 at 01:03 pm
Good post GregC. Nobody inside 1265 is even considering getting rid of Lafleur. Nor should they be. He is the right coach for this team at this point in time. Whether you like him or not, it's hard to disagree that this year has been his finest moment as a HC. The last line in your post is spot on.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:56 pm
MPF,
lots of different facets to being HC.
Player development: this is THE most critical aspect this season. No way does he get an A. How much is the recent turnaround due to individual player development? Sincere question.
In-game adjustments: MLF simply doesn't do that. If plan A fails, he doesn't have a plan B. Even after halftime. A solid F.
Player evaluation: O line woes have been discussed constantly, with several here suggesting reasonable improvements. As a fan, I should NEVER know something he hasn't thought of. That's exactly what happened last season, yet he made the obvious change before week 8. Should've been made by halftime of week 1, AT THE LATEST.
Lower than a C, maybe better than an F. D-?
Clock management: many situations he has outright sucked. Against KC he preserved drives by calling for a TO, and that didn't come back to bite him. C?
Playcalling: he's sometimes brilliant, and obviously worked hard at creating a winning scheme for the last two games. Hopefully he works just as hard this week, preparing for the Giants. Often he has said after games that he has to get #33 more touches, then continued to fail to, week after week. No way he gets an A here, and this is his strongest category.
Can he ever win a SB as HC? My crystal ball is broken but a lot of big games he's been outcoached. AND AR12 choked in the big moment. He'd be at least a good OC, and I'd much rather see him in that role.
MainePackFan
December 06, 2023 at 06:09 am
SST,
"How much is the recent turnaround due to individual player development? Sincere question."
If you dislike Matt Lafleur as a coach, you will say they develop in spite of him. If you like Lafleur as a coach you will give him credit for player development. Much like a grading system, it's subjective and unquantifiable.
I suspect any head coach we have will draw similar criticism and praise. That's the nature of the beast. What I will say is for two years in a row this team could have fallen apart after terrible starts, but they kept battling. Is Matt Lafleur perfect? Of course not, but if nothing else, I will give him credit keeping this team on the rails.
Tundraboy
December 05, 2023 at 08:23 pm
Agree. One has to be blindly stubborn not see that. But Barry....
JohnnyLogan
December 06, 2023 at 03:08 am
It wasn't "coach speak" when he said he didn't see the play. It's what he said about what he did or didn't do during a crucial point in the game. He wasn't watching! I can't imagine coaching a team and not having my eyes on the game in the last few minutes. He was planning his offense? He doesn't know when he'll get the ball, where he'll get the ball if he'll get the ball, or how much time he'll have left. What in the world was he planning? So yes, the horror!
WestCoastPackerBacker
December 05, 2023 at 01:11 pm
Okay a head coach turns the youngest ream around after the bye week, helping put a first -year starting QB in position to win 4 of 5 games, and people want to replace him? He IS developing young talent, right before our very eyes. Having young guys improve is exactly what you want to see and we are seeing it.
LaFleur was hired as a first time head coach as was McCarthy. You can see how each of them grew in their careers in GB. Coaches learn and grow as well as players. Having a young first time head coach means he's not going to do everything right.
We are seeing improvement on both sides of the ball. A HC cannot make both the offensive and defensive calls for the team. What if he'd seen the interception but then wasn't ready with the next play call when GB got the ball back. He was doing exactly what he is supposed to be doing. Somehow Barry had Nixon watching film that led to the pick.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 06:41 pm
Johnny Logan,
MLF as OC, Stenovitch as O line coach. Bring in a true HC who creates a culture of winning, toughness, and is great at making in-game adjustments including clock management.
Make the GM position a true GM, meaning get rid of the structure created by Mark Murphy. And remove him from all football operations, don't let him anywhere near it.
Do all that and this team should dominate! Other improvements include replace the entire strength and conditioning staff, get a TE coach who has actually played TE, and Vrable didn't bring along this WR room very quickly even though they look great now.
JB's defense is designed to win with a lead; it does that but little else. One trick ponies don't win Superbowls.
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 07:31 pm
I know you know this, but none of that is going to happen.
Leatherhead
December 04, 2023 at 11:09 pm
I remember when the front office didn't know what they were doing and we drafted guys like Bruce Clark and passed on guys like Joe Montana and traded for guys like John Hadl. Then Ron Wolf arrived and showed us how to run a professional football organization, and he put things in place that ended up producing products like Brian Gutekunst, who has been with the team since 1998. He scouted for 13 years before he finally got promoted. Then he was director of scouting, and director of player personnel and GM. He's done it the old fashioned way: He's earned it. He's a smart guy who does a good job.
You would have to think that when Murphy is forced to retire after the 2024 season, Gutekunst might be a guy who'd be considered as his replacement.
Minniman
December 05, 2023 at 12:12 am
Add in all the dumpster diving that he's done to complete the roster.
FWIW, here's a quick summary of the composition of the 51 man roster per draft position.
Sure, he's not perfect, but he works hard to build a competitive team - all while being hamstrung with cap issues.
Distribution on Active Roster per Draft Round
Undrafted - 15
Round 1 - 7
Round 2 - 6
Round 3 - 5
Round 4 - 6
Round 5 - 5
Round 6 - 4
Round 7 - 3
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
December 05, 2023 at 01:39 am
I like Gute where he is. The long running rumor is Ed Policy will replace Murphy.
Coldworld
December 05, 2023 at 04:51 pm
Whomever is GM, it should not be the President. The unraveling of Murphy’s system is the paramount step.
The GM should have authority over contracts and coaching as TT did. One vision with accountability in light of performance. A President to oversee it without personal day-to-day involvement and a board selected by someone not executively responsible for the on field performance. Harlen was right.
If that’s not Gute, and Love and this roster do prove a success, Gute will be sought after he could be poached without veto. The rule works on responsibilities not title.
Murphy’s own words state that Gute does not have the authority traditionally associated with an NFL GM. He controls neither coaching nor coaching hires and Russ Ball’s role was also carved out of TTs responsibilities per Murphy. This is reflected in formal statements of the structure and responsibilities.
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 05:34 pm
Could be a huge deal when Gutekunst is named executive of the year. To think the Packers could lose him to another team as a result of Murphy's power grab and shortsightedness.
Guam
December 05, 2023 at 09:03 am
I said a couple of years ago that Gute's career was going to be judged by the Jordan Love pick. Partly because of the lack of reinforcements for Rodgers during the twilight of his career and partly because selecting quarterbacks is such risky business. Given Rodgers last few years in GB and how Love appears to be working out, Gute is looking very prescient.
Leatherhead
December 05, 2023 at 03:12 pm
When Gute/Lafleur started, it was clear that their mission was to squeeze what they could out of Rodgers while simultaneously preparing his successor. A+, IMO. Two MVPs and then we got good trade value for Rodgers and Love has benefited from the time he's had to learn.
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 05:37 pm
It's almost as though Gutekunst had a plan...
I'd argue that the time Love has benefited most from was the time to age into his body and mind.
LeotisHarris
December 05, 2023 at 07:52 pm
"He's done it the old fashioned way: He's earned it."
Glad you're back posting, LH. Gute has done it "the old-fashioned way" per the NFL. How many guys go from an assistant coaching gig at a D-III school (UW-LaCrosse) at age 22 to a scouting assistant in the NFL at age 25 (Chiefs) without a little help from Dad's connections? John Gutekunst's son did.
However you cut it, nepotism plays a huge role in the rise of mediocre men who are recycled throughout the NFL. Gute, without his family connections, could just as easily be managing a Kwik Trip or coaching and teaching high school in Onalaska.
Next up, Russ Ball. Take a look at the resume of our "Cap guru,' then picture a bunch of old white guys sitting around a conference table and one asking "couldn't Ball do that?" and the others nodding.
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 08:11 pm
The other great entry point into the NFL is to get yourself onto the staff of one of those nepo-baby mediocre white guys and be identified as an up and comer.
To be fair, Russ Ball CAN use excel and build a spread sheet. Rumor has it he even can make pivot tables. He'll be perfect in Murphy's chair...
Leatherhead
December 06, 2023 at 09:40 am
His dad being a college coach helped open the door, but he worked under Thompson and others for 13 years before he started climbing the ladder. I'd chalk that up to working hard and being competent more than having a family connection.
Bitternotsour
December 06, 2023 at 10:12 am
Gutekunst earned his way up. Perhaps being a Green Bay native helped, but he did the grunt work.
LeotisHarris
December 06, 2023 at 06:36 pm
Gute was born in 1972 in North Carolina when his dad coached at Duke. Papa John Gutekunst went on to coach at Virginia Tech from 1979-83, then the University of Minnesota from 1984-1991. If Brian is a Green Bay native, he surely was a crafty child.
Without Papa John, the door doesn't open for young Brain at age 25 to make the jump from DII UW-LaCrosse to the NFL. He's fortunate to be where he is, and if he's done "grunt work", it involved sitting and watching film, not chomping a cigar and holding a stopwatch.
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 08:16 pm
It should be noted that Ron Wolf did not walk on water, nor was his reign without terrible mistakes. He hired Ray Rhodes. He hired Mike Sherman, and then he promoted/gave him the GM role. Man, what the fuck was he thinking.
Thank goodness the club resisted giving his far less talented son the same job. Maybe I thank Murphy for that one.
Leatherhead
December 06, 2023 at 11:02 am
I don't have a problem with Sherman the coach, but the GM stuff on top of that was clearly too much for the guy. Probably too much for anybody in this day and age. Fortunately, this mistake was recognized and corrected and the Thompson/McCarthy era began.
The teams that Sherman put on the field from 2001-2004 were pretty good teams. I think there was a 24-5 stretch in there at one point.
The Club...what I call the organization.....has quite a few safeguards built in. Even noted Packer critic Colin Cowherd said that he thinks people underestimate the value of this organization and pointed to how Justin Fields and Jordan Love have been developed and used. If each had been drafted by the other franchise, Love would look like Fields and Fields would look like Love. The Packer way works.
Yes, front offices make mistakes. Ask the 49ers, who drafted Trey Lance. Ask the Jets. Ask Denver. Ask Minnesota. In fact, ask Minnesota a couple of times. Wolf and Gutekunst have made mistakes, but as I sit here today, this team is on track to make the playoffs with a young nucleus of a passing game that will be under contract for years, at least 5 draft picks in the Top 90, and more flexibility cap-wise than we've had in a while.
I don't think that was accomplished by a "clown show", or a "dumpster fire" of a front office, or blithering incompetents, as they've been portrayed at times. This is a solid organization that has some really good people working for it.
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 07:33 am
Leatherhead,
Well said, but I would prefer Gutey stay at GM, which is what he does very well. There is no indication Gutey has the necessary skills to run a whole football organization.
bottlefliper
December 05, 2023 at 01:02 am
Gute was always way better as the indirect agressiv but really weak chemtrailer he had to deal with. And by the way the best portrait of the Ivermetin junky I ever read................
"But he is not the talent evaluator or recruiter he thinks he is." nor is he the smarty he thinks he is. AR may be the biggest dunning Kruger in America and he really has great competion with wigs or the x guy. But at least AR knows who he can ask for advise. So he can always get help from Rogan....
Whould be fun so see the fastes healer on the planet sink the Jets next season, if he ist hurt again. What is a big if.....
MainePackFan
December 05, 2023 at 01:08 pm
At least we know where Aaron Rodgers is living these days. SMH
The_Baloney_Stops_Here
December 05, 2023 at 01:36 am
With Gute, Lafleur, and Love, the Green Bay Packers are in excellent hands. Feels good, man.
stockholder
December 05, 2023 at 06:30 am
But they'll never win a Super-bowl.
6 yrs of Gute; and the roster is still turning over.
From 2010 to Gute. MM couldn't do it.
And from Gute to present.
MLF won't be able to do it.
You are right back to the 70s.
When Wasting draft picks was the norm.
And the depth takes over for the injuried starters.
But do we here about the depth?
No- We only get Gute is such a Great GM.
.
ArlenWilliams
December 05, 2023 at 02:39 am
In the words of Marshal McCloud, "'Ere you go."
Cubbygold
December 05, 2023 at 05:25 am
Gute was right to draft Love when he did, most NFL fans have completely forgotten the few years of Rodgers play before his resurgence after the Love draft.
I'm excited to see what Gute does in this next draft. He's had to fill so many urgent needs over the years, and had to do it with little cap space. This team is showing signs of incredible depth, allowing Gute to really draft for talent and potential, rather than need.
stockholder
December 05, 2023 at 12:14 pm
unprincipled is the word I would use.
Bitternotsour
December 05, 2023 at 05:41 pm
It's nice to see you're getting there with your assessment of Rodgers. Unprincipled is a really good single word for him. Whether it's undermining McCarthy, or his GM, or lying about his vaccination status, the guy has been completely without principles.
It's nice to see you settle into that.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 07:08 pm
Still need to evaluate needs at DB. Would help to further evaluate at least O linemen Rhyan and Mt Caleb. Creating a great RB room next season will be interesting! I'd like to see Goodson back and #31 Wilson retained.
stockholder
December 05, 2023 at 07:07 am
When can you guys break free from the illusion of the all-knowing leader
and embrace the power of teamwork?
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 07:30 pm
Sufficiently vague to have been penned by Mr Common Stockholder.
TXCHEESE
December 05, 2023 at 08:30 am
Say what you want about MLF. The man is 16 - 0 in December. Finally, he is dialing up the motion and misdirection everyone was expecting with his hiring. As long as this team can stay relatively healthy, they definitely can make a push for the playoffs. If there's anything I've learned through the years watching the NFL, is once you're in the playoffs, it's anyone's game. Health, luck and confidence are huge.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 07:34 pm
I think players kept him from calling more effective plays, and the lack of creative plays in turn hurt the ability of players to execute.
Glad that's in the rearview mirror!
I hope he's putting as much effort into gameplanning against the Giants as he did KC.
Via.Lombardi
December 05, 2023 at 09:53 am
Pat McAfee is a bully and a jerk. No wonder his outfit of choice is a "wife-beater."
HarryHodag
December 05, 2023 at 11:18 am
Overall, I think Gute has done an above average job. Compare him to the Eagles and 49'ers and you see there's a ways to go.
Lets not forget it was Gute who signed His Darkness to the ridiculous contract not all that long ago, even after Denver largely was willing to trade everything but the Rocky Mountains for AR. He was the architect of "All In".
But the realization that His Darkness was ultimately a negative led the team to where it is now: on the cusp of being one of the elite teams in the league. If you imagine just a bit, the Packers will have five draft picks in the first three rounds, along with likely two picks in the fourth. They need a starting left tackle and at least one running back. But where else is there a need? They could use another linebacker and possibly an edge rusher. But the glaring NEED in past years is largely gone. This is a young, talented team that could be together for many years. Compare the Packers to the Bears. One has hope and the other has joined the Cubs in 'better luck next year'.
Gute learned at the hip of Ron Wolf to take chances. He is becoming more like Ted Thompson where you need to build the team through the draft. If you look around the league Gute is among the better GM's.
SicSemperTyrannis
December 05, 2023 at 07:41 pm
You're saying there's no need at DB? Remember before week 1 when everybody was saying it was barren?
LambeauPlain
December 05, 2023 at 11:40 am
I am reminded of the Wolfman's early, top two objectives after taking complete control of a dysfunctional football operation:
1. Get a talented, productive NFL Quarterback
2. Surround him with a top NFL DEFENSE
Gutey seems to have embraced his predecessor's top two objectives, sans the total control of the football operation. Murphy has, since his hiring, greatly diminished Gutey authority.
He has secured a talented and so far, a productive QB.
He has invested heavily in D draft choices and free agents. But he has little power to determine who will coach them. That remains with MLF and MM.
Barry Ball succeeds with turnovers and not breaking. They bend all the way down to the red zone, and did again on Sunday night. Thankfully they just gave up FGs in the first half and the Pack scored TDs. The INT by Nixon in the second was a savior.
This is a young, talented team, especially on D. The O is coming together under the QB. The D continues to live dangerously pinning hopes on keeping the opponent out of the end zone taking shots from the red zone or getting a turnover to stop the march to the scoring zones.
I doubt Gutey would have allowed MLF retain Barry if he was an actual GM. MM obviously did.
I doubt Gutey will be given Ron Wolf-like control until Murphy finally retires. And if he does get the nod to be Packers President, I believe he will run the organization like Bob Harlan and let the GM do his job.
exbody
December 05, 2023 at 03:21 pm
I was not 100% on board with Gutey but I must admit his vision and patience to stick to the process appears to have succeeded
When the Packers drafted AR, Brett Favre was firmly entrenched as the starter. But the Packers couldn't pass up his potential , despite Rodgers falling stock on draft day.
It's clear that the thought was to draft AR and have him watch and learn from a sure fire HOFer
Then when ready , the Packers had a QB that learned the system while learning from a great QB
Which brings us to today and the drafting of JLove that was meant with shock and anger
But credit to Gutey, he took the heat, followed the plan , shipped off a " checked out" Rodgers only after having JLove learning and watching another HOFer just like Aaron did with Favre
It was the right decision then and it looks as if it is playing out again
30 years of Favre to AR and possibly another top flight franchise QB in Love
Not too many teams can top that
GO PACK GO !!!!
SinceLombardi
December 05, 2023 at 03:29 pm
Hopefully he will be even smarter in the off season and ship Bahktiari to the Jets. At this point I would think even a third round pick and a salary dump is sufficient.
The Jets would not be able to refuse because co-GM Rodgers needs the protection and companionship.
White92
December 05, 2023 at 05:39 pm
This is kinda of like praising your kid for cleaning up the mess he made in his room
KnockTheSnotOutOfYou
December 07, 2023 at 05:59 am
For each of the past 3 seasons (yes, even during an MVP season) I stated on here that Gutey was more important to the GBP's than Aaron Rodgers. Many on here do not recognize the job he is quietly doing. In my opinion doing quite a bit better job than Ted Thompson. Yes, the last couple of drafts have been extremely good drafts for Gutey along with the selection of Jordan Love. With the development of these young players and with an upcoming draft with 7 picks in the first four rounds (guess it would be 8 picks if the Packers get a 4th round compensatory selection for Lazard) should Gutey do as great of a job as he did in the 2023 draft the Packers will be strong SB contenders. All of us should be happy to have Gutey as the GM of the Packers. The fact he is as young as he is the Packers will be blessed to have him at the helm for many years to come making the future look extremely bright.