Are the Green Bay Packers the Notre Dame of the NFL?

[Incubes12]

First of all, the players that care more about the things to do around them rather than the team they are playing for are the kinds of players you don't want on your team anyways. Even T.O. was smart enough to realize that he was rich enough to fly anywhere whenever he wanted to, when he decided to come to Buffalo.

Second of all, we usually compensate for the conditions with $$$$$.

[weeds]

Originally Posted by Raptorman

Well, I doubt Carter ever stayed in Green Bay.(Visiting teams usually stay in Appleton) So he must be dissing my hometown of Appleton. And since I am sure he had so much time to go out on the town before the game that he was bored to tears. There are things to do, maybe not the overpriced nightclub life that you have in places like Miami or New York, but you could certainly walk down the street and have a beer at Cleo's Brown Beam.

...and if you have Cleo's what more do you need? That's what I always say...sometimes.

First off, chris Carter is a nob. Always has been and always will be. I would suggest that no one listen to ESPN. It's just not useful. These clowns will play anywhere that dangles the most money at them...nothing else is a consideration, truthfully.

[Clay's Jock Strap]

Originally Posted by Jess

Ironic, considering our GM refuses to sign older, more established players.

Funny...

In all seriousness, we are lucky that younger guys eventually get older, married, have kids etc... I really think this in general only applies to the high picks since most lower picks and street FAs just want to be in the league and have more on their mind than the night life. But, with respect to the young prima donnas, typically, you can control a player the first 5-6 years of their career if you desire. The rookie deals are typically 4 and sometimes 5 years. If less then then they are restricted FAs and if not if you really like them there is the franchise tag. Hopefully, even if you have a player that isn't thrilled about being drafted by GB, by the time their deal is up, they are dealing from reality, not reputation and also, hopefully the natural maturation process has changed their point of view a little. IMO, if they never grow up these are USUALLY not the type of guy you want on your team anyway.

In any event, I think that aside from being great players, there is another reason you always want a Reggie White or a Charles Woodson on the team. These are guys that the young pups look up to, respect and listen to when they speak. Having at least one guy on the roster (hopefully more) like that IMO pays more dividends than just on Sundays. IMO they stabilize the locker room and they help the young kids get their head right. Listen to what Woody has had to say about Green Bay and how he at first dreaded the idea of playing for us and now cherishes it. Anyone think that a guy like that isn't a valuable asset in the locker room talking to the young kids who don't think Green Bay is the place for them?

IMO it is important to always try to have guys like this around - and as I said, when they can play at a super high level that is just one big bonus. Nobody in the world knew what Ted was talking about years ago when he said he wants to find players that are "Packer People." That term makes a lot more sense to me now than when he said it.

[Cardsmc25]

Originally Posted by Clay's Jock Strap

Funny... In all seriousness, we are lucky that younger guys eventually get older, married, have kids etc... I really think this in general only applies to the high picks since most lower picks and street FAs just want to be in the league and have more on their mind than the night life. But, with respect to the young prima donnas, typically, you can control a player the first 5-6 years of their career if you desire. The rookie deals are typically 4 and sometimes 5 years. If less then then they are restricted FAs and if not if you really like them there is the franchise tag. Hopefully, even if you have a player that isn't thrilled about being drafted by GB, by the time their deal is up, they are dealing from reality, not reputation and also, hopefully the natural maturation process has changed their point of view a little. IMO, if they never grow up these are USUALLY not the type of guy you want on your team anyway. In any event, I think that aside from being great players, there is another reason you always want a Reggie White or a Charles Woodson on the team. These are guys that the young pups look up to, respect and listen to when they speak. Having at least one guy on the roster (hopefully more) like that IMO pays more dividends than just on Sundays. IMO they stabilize the locker room and they help the young kids get their head right. Listen to what Woody has had to say about Green Bay and how he at first dreaded the idea of playing for us and now cherishes it. Anyone think that a guy like that isn't a valuable asset in the locker room talking to the young kids who don't think Green Bay is the place for them? IMO it is important to always try to have guys like this around - and as I said, when they can play at a super high level that is just one big bonus. Nobody in the world knew what Ted was talking about years ago when he said he wants to find players that are "Packer People." That term makes a lot more sense to me now than when he said it.

I completey agree with you about not wanting to have those guys who don't want to be here. At the same time, some of those players are the biggest impact players in the league. I wonder if when free agency comes around Green Bay is suffering with collecting some of the best.

I love history and I love how much the Clevelands, Green Bays, and even the Chicago fans love their teams. There are so many expectations for these players because these are working communities. I sometimes wonder if these factors aren't as important to young players these days.

Overall, I think money talks. A MAJORITY of the NFL is there for the dollars, but I feel like you're going to run into some losses during free agency because of Green Bay's climate.

And for whoever said Chris Carter is a Nob... he made a GREAT point this year. He spoke about how the Packers lost a LEGEND quarterback, but were able to plug in a guy who gets it and has the talent.

[Forget Favre]

To form an opinion based on a non-Packer's opinion is just way out there.
If you think that players aren't coming to Green Bay because it's too boring then why is there a team at all?
I would like to think that players will be sign up because they just want to play football and help the team no matter where it's located.

[PackersRS]

As a fan of both organizations, I say yes.

They're both the most history rich organizations in their respective area, and both have a great number of fans displayed all over the country, and the world, moreso than almost every competitor.

Also, there's the independence trait. ND refuses to join any conference, and Green Bay is the only publicly owned franchise in USA.

There's the root trait. Though not exactly the beginning of GB, but Jim Crowley, one of the famous Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, was the first Head Coach of Vince Lombardi, during his days at Fordham University.

-

Now, about players not wanting to go to ND and GB because of the place, and lack of regard to tradition, to me it's pretty simple:

1) At College, HS players want to go to a place where they think they'll be allowed to star, and also be able to be highly regarded to the draft.

2) At the NFL, players want Money.

I see a list of decreasing value about the players' interest in joining teams. It may vary with each player, but I believe the majority feels this way:

College:
1) How he'll be used in the program, and if he'll be allowed to shine.
2) How well players from that program are drafted.
3) Sucess of that program.
4) Facilities.
5) Location.
6) Tradition.

NFL:
1) Money.
2) Money.
3) Money. (made my point)
4) Way he'll be used.
5) Staff and roster.
6) Sucess of the franchise.
7) Location.
Tradition.

As I said, it may vary from player to player. Veteran players that have never won the SB may regard the sucess of the franchise and the roster and staff more than the money. Some players do regard tradition and fandom when choosing. And college players may want to stay near home, or go where his friends will be heading.

But I firmly believe that, in the NFL, if the money is right, a player will go there, unless he has been greatly mistreated by the organization or by one of the staff member. If the Packers make an offer 1.5X bigger than the next team, the player will come...

[don_frosto]

Originally Posted by Cardsmc25

I love history and I love how much the Clevelands, Green Bays, and even the Chicago fans love their teams. There are so many expectations for these players because these are working communities. I sometimes wonder if these factors aren't as important to young players these days.

I completely agree with you there. It's that connection that distinguishes our teams from others. It's great knowing that our teams do more than just play football.

Now I admit, there might be some Green Bay bias here, but I'm just offering my opinion. I say HELL NO!! on putting us on the same level as Notre Dame. I mean for crying out loud, they play the military academies year in and year out. I know we kind of had an easier than most schedule this past year but at least it changes every year. ND isn't even in a conference, which really hurts them in the current BcS system. Don't wanna go on a rant here about ND so I'll just stop here.

And whoever said that we don't get nearly as much attention/press coverage as ND is completely correct. If talking just about the amount of press coverage a team receives (and maybe winning big games also ), I'd say the Cowboys are the ND of the NFL.

[JamesCA]

I think it's more a matter of going to a winning team that has a great fan base of support more than going to nightclubs that determines where a player wants to play. That and money of course, but with the type of money the players get these days I'm pretty sure there's more to it than money.

[Mr. StyleZ]

A lot of people in this thread are pretty naive it seems to me. Young people want to be able to go out and have fun. Yes, and the weather is a huge factor. Seriously.. this is the latest poll taken from NFL players on the Places they would LEAST WANT TO PLAY:

Oakland Raiders: 20%
Buffalo Bills: 14%
Green Bay Packers: 13%
Detroit Lions: 12%
Cleveland Browns: 7%

Now I think these results are self explanatory.

[Raptorman]

Originally Posted by Mr. StyleZ

A lot of people in this thread are pretty naive it seems to me. Young people want to be able to go out and have fun. Yes, and the weather is a huge factor. Seriously.. this is the latest poll taken from NFL players on the Places they would LEAST WANT TO PLAY: Oakland Raiders: 20% Buffalo Bills: 14% Green Bay Packers: 13% Detroit Lions: 12% Cleveland Browns: 7% Now I think these results are self explanatory.

They are. They tell me that the young players have no idea on what there is to do in the Green Bay area on their off time. Like they have so much off time during the season anyway, and they all go home during the off-season. Even my wife was surprised how much there was to do when we went home for Christmas this year. We actually had just as much to do as we did in NJ.