You probably noticed I didn’t say much about the Green Bay Packers this year. Partly because I never say much about them anyway, but mostly because they kind of sucked.
Their season ended today with a loss (and a sweep for the year) to the Detroit Lions. Actually, my main disappointment in the day was that the Seahawks won their game earlier, which eliminated the Lions from playoff contention. I really would like to have seen the Lions in the playoffs – they’re certainly a better team than the Seahawks lately – but it was just too little, too late.
As it was with the Packers, who were all but out of it at 4 – 8, until they won 4 straight and would’ve gotten into the playoffs with a win today. But honestly, they didn’t deserve it. They got lucky with their recent wins, running into poor and inconsistent (yes, even the 13 – 4 Vikings) teams down the stretch and not putting together anything in which we could have any real confidence.
But the Lions came on hard in the last half of the season, and quite possibly could’ve made a run of it. Instead, though, we have to put up with the Seahawks getting completely drubbed by the 49ers next week. Oh well.
Anyway, as an owner, I feel it necessary to outline my three-step plan for next year and the years beyond. What I have to say here might be a hard sell, but it has to be said. And, hopefully, if the outfit has any brains, acted upon:
1) Firing Joe Barry (the Defensive Coordinator) is a no-brainer. He took a young, talented group, and vanilla’d them to death. His judgement in talent and his play-calling were both suspect throughout the season, and a few lucky games at the end where turnovers magically appeared were definitely not enough. His group was undisciplined all year, including a couple of ejections for sheer stupidity (even today, in their most important game of the year). He’s got to go.
2) Time for Aaron Rodgers to move on. Yeah, he had a broken thumb. He was a real “gamer,” right? But lofting long and inaccurate throws destined for interception – with a broken thumb, mind you – isn’t the best exhibition of judgment. He was working with plenty of talent, but could not bring the best out of them, and so he sulked and balked and had one of the worst seasons of his career. And I don’t think he’ll get much better next year. Oh sure, trade him and he’ll put up MVP numbers for a year just out of childish spite – whatever motivates him. But if not next year, then certainly a year after, he’ll be so washed up the team won’t get a 6th-rounder for him. It’s time for some youth with legs. If they don’t start Jordan Love, then the entire debacle of moving up to draft him in the first round was all for naught. Love is asking for a trade this off-season, and if he – a young QB with potential who’s had a couple of years to watch and learn from an MVP QB – leaves, what will the Packers have left but some low-first-rounder (at best) who will have no experience whatsoever, thrust into the starting role in his first or second season. So, goodbye Aaron Rodgers, hello Jordan Love and a chance.
3) Lafleur has to be put on notice, because he either called the plays or sat back and let his QB throw low-percentage rainbows several times a game. This kind of poor judgement won’t age well. Sure, he looked good for three seasons – with a Hall of Fame MVP QB and the best receiver in the league – but now it’s pretty clear he lacks creativity as a coach and he can’t control his players. So we give him a chance. See if he can put together something to kick off the Jordan Love era. But maybe put him on a short leash too. Personally, I think having Love as his QB would be a good thing for him. A fresh start with a potentially exciting playmaker. But we’ve got to make the right moves. As Kevin Greene famously said to Clay Matthews in Super Bowl XLV, “It is time.”
So there you have it. Pretty easy. I look forward to another 10 years (at least) of Packer dominance. And maybe even winning a playoff game. But only if they listen to me…