Dearly beloved, we gather here this evening to pay our last respects to the Green Bay Packers, a once-proud little engine that for 12 straight years could win with the best of them.
But as you can see, your Packers are now on life support, having been given their last rights, and all that’s left now is for Detroit, or Minnesota, or Jacksonville, whomever, to pull the plug.
On Monday, a national audience watched, many with hands over their eyes, as the Packers dropped their third straight game at Lambeau Field, destroyed by an allegedly suspect Tennessee team to the tune of 48-27, the most points that have ever appeared under "Guest'' on the Lambeau scoreboard.
There was supposed to be a sense of urgency about this contest, but the Packers played with the kind of urgency reserved for the preseason opener. This was a game that was supposed to test their character and, if that was the case, then a lot of these characters won’t be around next year.
Offense (four turnovers)? Defense (gave up 456 yards)? Special teams (committed a turnover that led to a Titans TD)? You know they’re right about what they say, bad things come in threes.
This kind of ineptitude has not been seen in these parts since 1991, the year before Brett Favre arrived. That was the last time the Packers dropped three straight at home, the last time they finished with a losing record, going 4-12, and the last time anyone around here saw Lindy Infante.
It’s the sad end to a proud franchise, but one that can only point the finger at itself, handing the keys to the kingdom to an inexperienced and overmatched Mike Sherman, who after just one year on the job as head coach, was told he could be the general manager and executive vice president, too.
The move was questioned then, regretted now.
It was the suggestion of former general manager Ron Wolf, who proved in his tenure here that he was the Jacque Cousteau of finding talent below the surface, but wouldn’t recognize a diamond if you put it in his hand.
Wolf believed Sherman was a star in the making. But, like a lot of Wolf’s No. 1 draft choices, Sherman proved to be a disaster in the making.
His failures as general manager have been numerous, paying a $6.5 million signing bonus to the injury-prone Joe Johnson; paying a $6 million signing bonus to keep defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt, who has all of 14 tackles in five games; to paying quarterback Tim Couch a $625,000 signing bonus, inexplicably never working him out before cutting him at the end of training camp; to firing defensive coordinator Ed Donatell last season, because he wasn’t doing the job.
Donatell is now the architect of a Falcons team that sits atop its division at 4-1, while his replacement, Bob Slowik, is the leader of one of the worst defenses in the league on a team that is in last place at 1-4.
On top of that, Sherman decided he had to rid himself of his best cornerback, Mike McKenzie, simply because McKenzie wanted out and believed him to be a distraction. The result has been McKenzie’s replacement, Michael Hawthorne, being the opposing quarterback’s main attraction, for wherever he is on the field, they’re going after him, as he’s saddled with the inability to cover a cough, much less an NFL receiver.
In three years running the draft, Sherman has only been able to come up with three starters, meaning he is either deficient at finding talent, or doesn’t have the kind of help on his staff that can bring it out.
Today the Packers have the basement to themselves in the NFC North, have lost four straight, and three in a row at Lambeau. This is not the stuff from which legacy’s are built or where streets are named in your honor.
But if this keeps up, they will build him a ramp. Sherman’s Exit.
(credit NBC Sports)
I don't know that I would put so much blame on Sherman, but something has definitely gone wrong somewhere. Letting McKenzie go was an extremely stupid mistake, and I do have to question why Mike Holmgren was passed on by Ron Wolf, because he wanted the General Manger position as well as head coach, only to give that exact position to Sherman one year later. This season may very well be the end of the 12 year glory streak Packers have enjoyed. I'm sorry to see the ride end. I was rather enjoying it...
Mimi
But as you can see, your Packers are now on life support, having been given their last rights, and all that’s left now is for Detroit, or Minnesota, or Jacksonville, whomever, to pull the plug.
On Monday, a national audience watched, many with hands over their eyes, as the Packers dropped their third straight game at Lambeau Field, destroyed by an allegedly suspect Tennessee team to the tune of 48-27, the most points that have ever appeared under "Guest'' on the Lambeau scoreboard.
There was supposed to be a sense of urgency about this contest, but the Packers played with the kind of urgency reserved for the preseason opener. This was a game that was supposed to test their character and, if that was the case, then a lot of these characters won’t be around next year.
Offense (four turnovers)? Defense (gave up 456 yards)? Special teams (committed a turnover that led to a Titans TD)? You know they’re right about what they say, bad things come in threes.
This kind of ineptitude has not been seen in these parts since 1991, the year before Brett Favre arrived. That was the last time the Packers dropped three straight at home, the last time they finished with a losing record, going 4-12, and the last time anyone around here saw Lindy Infante.
It’s the sad end to a proud franchise, but one that can only point the finger at itself, handing the keys to the kingdom to an inexperienced and overmatched Mike Sherman, who after just one year on the job as head coach, was told he could be the general manager and executive vice president, too.
The move was questioned then, regretted now.
It was the suggestion of former general manager Ron Wolf, who proved in his tenure here that he was the Jacque Cousteau of finding talent below the surface, but wouldn’t recognize a diamond if you put it in his hand.
Wolf believed Sherman was a star in the making. But, like a lot of Wolf’s No. 1 draft choices, Sherman proved to be a disaster in the making.
His failures as general manager have been numerous, paying a $6.5 million signing bonus to the injury-prone Joe Johnson; paying a $6 million signing bonus to keep defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt, who has all of 14 tackles in five games; to paying quarterback Tim Couch a $625,000 signing bonus, inexplicably never working him out before cutting him at the end of training camp; to firing defensive coordinator Ed Donatell last season, because he wasn’t doing the job.
Donatell is now the architect of a Falcons team that sits atop its division at 4-1, while his replacement, Bob Slowik, is the leader of one of the worst defenses in the league on a team that is in last place at 1-4.
On top of that, Sherman decided he had to rid himself of his best cornerback, Mike McKenzie, simply because McKenzie wanted out and believed him to be a distraction. The result has been McKenzie’s replacement, Michael Hawthorne, being the opposing quarterback’s main attraction, for wherever he is on the field, they’re going after him, as he’s saddled with the inability to cover a cough, much less an NFL receiver.
In three years running the draft, Sherman has only been able to come up with three starters, meaning he is either deficient at finding talent, or doesn’t have the kind of help on his staff that can bring it out.
Today the Packers have the basement to themselves in the NFC North, have lost four straight, and three in a row at Lambeau. This is not the stuff from which legacy’s are built or where streets are named in your honor.
But if this keeps up, they will build him a ramp. Sherman’s Exit.
(credit NBC Sports)
I don't know that I would put so much blame on Sherman, but something has definitely gone wrong somewhere. Letting McKenzie go was an extremely stupid mistake, and I do have to question why Mike Holmgren was passed on by Ron Wolf, because he wanted the General Manger position as well as head coach, only to give that exact position to Sherman one year later. This season may very well be the end of the 12 year glory streak Packers have enjoyed. I'm sorry to see the ride end. I was rather enjoying it...
Mimi
