Cause for Optimism

The Green Bay Packers were 11-5 last season, and they very easily could have ended up 13-3. Two late game losses, one being a near miracle pass by the now infamous Ben Roethlisberger, were the only reasons Mike McCarthy and company did not finish with 13 wins. With everyone returning and a couple newly added pieces, there is no reason not to believe the Packers will be a better team in 2010.

When someone gives me a present, I don’t look them in the eye and say “what a terrible gift!” No, when you are given a gift without having to pay back anything in return, you accept it gladly.

That’s how I view this draft/offseason. Every significant piece of this team is back, and the newly added additions can only make them better. Green Bay might not have won the Powerball Jackpot, but that 500 bucks from the local lottery will still help in the long run.

I think the defense will be just fine, so long as they continue to force turnovers. And we all know how deadly the offense already is. Aaron Rodgers will be an MVP candidate this year, and JerMichael Finley, Greg Jennings and Donald Driver should be absolutely electric once again. Oh yeah, and their 1250+ yard, 11 touchdown running back, Ryan Grant, he’s returning as well.

If the team that went 11-5 last season and lost an overtime heart breaker in the playoffs is still intact, then the offseason acquisitions are a welcomed gratuity. It might not be a shiny new car, but that scooter can still be put to profitable use. Yes, there is definitely cause to be optimistic as a Packer fan.