PackersRS
Cheesehead
I was thinking about this, about the 96' team and how Reggie and Favre are the only ones that made it, and about LeRoy Butler. So what about this 2010 team? Also got me thinking about jersey retirement.
(I grade chances as 1) Sure 2) Probable 3) Possible 4) Plausible 5) Improbable.)
QB Aaron Rodgers. If he keeps this pace, he's a first ballot like Favre. All time leader in QB rating both in regular season and postseason at only 27, Rodgers has the makings of an all time best. Even if he declines a bit, he would still make it.
Conditions for the HoF: Continuation of current production. Status: probable
Conditions for retired jersey: Continuation of current production. Status: probable
WR Donald Driver. Now he's the thoughest choice. I could honestly see his jersey being retired and him not making the HoF. Guys like Cris Carter have better production than him and aren't in the HoF. But the ring and being GB's all time receiving leader in everything will make a compelling case.
Conditions for HoF: Another ring, while being more fundamental to the championship. Status: plausible
Conditions for retired jersey: Another ring. Status: possible
WR Greg Jennings. This guy has the talent to be a HoF. If he has an extended period of production similar to this year (say 5 years), while winning another ring, he will make the HoF. Is young, and is starting to dominate the league.
Conditions for HoF: Is on the path, but will need a lot to make it, more years of dominance, and quite possibly another ring. Status: improbable
Conditions for retired jersey: The forementioned, plus breaking Driver's records. Status: improbable
CB Charles Woodson. Heisman Trophy winner. 2009 NFL defensive player of the year. 2010 SB champion. One of the greatest players of all time, when it's all said and done.
Conditions for HoF: The ring solidifies his HoF career. A first ballot. Status: sure
Conditions for retired jersey: Having his jersey retired is a harder task, given that he has only a 5 year stint with the Packers. But with Reggie White's precedent, I would say the #21 will be retired. Status: probable
CB Tramon Williams. This is a guy that has only 1 year of production, but what a year. If he somehow is able to repeat this for an extended period of time, much like Greg Jennings, I could see it. But will need another ring.
Conditions for HoF: Same case of Greg Jennings. Status: improbable
Conditions for retired jersey: It would take a dynasty with him being a key clog. Status: improbable
OLB Clay Matthews. He is similar to Greg Jennings and Tramon, but his path is easier. He's already a dominating force in the league, has been since his arrival.
Conditions for HoF: An easier case than Greg and Tramon, as he has produced from the get go and is younger than both, but will need to keep his production. Status: possible
Conditions for retired jersey: the forementioned, but with another ring. Status: plausible
S Nick Collins. As a safety, he won't get as much consideration as the other positions for the HoF. He will need a long stretch of dominance. Good for him that he's capable of that. He's already a top 5 safety, has been for 3 years now, but he'll need to make more plays than currently and be elevated to the Polamalu/Reed status.
Conditions for HoF: Perform like he did in the postseason for a longer period of time. Status: plausible
Conditions for retired jersey: the forementioned, but with another ring. Status: improbable.
--------------------
Those are the guys I see as of right now with a chance of making it. There are other 3 guys I could see in the discussion, but I don't think they have a chance.
- NT B.J. Raji will need to develop into a dominant force, something he wasn't in this SB. Jennings, Tramon, Matthews were dominant. He's like Collins in the postseason, but Collins has already 3 years of great play on regular season. Raji has a 6 game stretch.
- OG Josh Sitton plays in a position that simply isn't recognized, and in a line that was the Packers' weakness. He's probably a better guard than Collins is a S and Jennings is a WR, but the position and his fellow OLinemen don't do him any favors.
- TE Jermichael Finley. Here's a guy that absolutely dominated when played, but it's just too short of a production to make any claims.
There's my analysis. Agree/Disagree?
(I grade chances as 1) Sure 2) Probable 3) Possible 4) Plausible 5) Improbable.)
QB Aaron Rodgers. If he keeps this pace, he's a first ballot like Favre. All time leader in QB rating both in regular season and postseason at only 27, Rodgers has the makings of an all time best. Even if he declines a bit, he would still make it.
Conditions for the HoF: Continuation of current production. Status: probable
Conditions for retired jersey: Continuation of current production. Status: probable
WR Donald Driver. Now he's the thoughest choice. I could honestly see his jersey being retired and him not making the HoF. Guys like Cris Carter have better production than him and aren't in the HoF. But the ring and being GB's all time receiving leader in everything will make a compelling case.
Conditions for HoF: Another ring, while being more fundamental to the championship. Status: plausible
Conditions for retired jersey: Another ring. Status: possible
WR Greg Jennings. This guy has the talent to be a HoF. If he has an extended period of production similar to this year (say 5 years), while winning another ring, he will make the HoF. Is young, and is starting to dominate the league.
Conditions for HoF: Is on the path, but will need a lot to make it, more years of dominance, and quite possibly another ring. Status: improbable
Conditions for retired jersey: The forementioned, plus breaking Driver's records. Status: improbable
CB Charles Woodson. Heisman Trophy winner. 2009 NFL defensive player of the year. 2010 SB champion. One of the greatest players of all time, when it's all said and done.
Conditions for HoF: The ring solidifies his HoF career. A first ballot. Status: sure
Conditions for retired jersey: Having his jersey retired is a harder task, given that he has only a 5 year stint with the Packers. But with Reggie White's precedent, I would say the #21 will be retired. Status: probable
CB Tramon Williams. This is a guy that has only 1 year of production, but what a year. If he somehow is able to repeat this for an extended period of time, much like Greg Jennings, I could see it. But will need another ring.
Conditions for HoF: Same case of Greg Jennings. Status: improbable
Conditions for retired jersey: It would take a dynasty with him being a key clog. Status: improbable
OLB Clay Matthews. He is similar to Greg Jennings and Tramon, but his path is easier. He's already a dominating force in the league, has been since his arrival.
Conditions for HoF: An easier case than Greg and Tramon, as he has produced from the get go and is younger than both, but will need to keep his production. Status: possible
Conditions for retired jersey: the forementioned, but with another ring. Status: plausible
S Nick Collins. As a safety, he won't get as much consideration as the other positions for the HoF. He will need a long stretch of dominance. Good for him that he's capable of that. He's already a top 5 safety, has been for 3 years now, but he'll need to make more plays than currently and be elevated to the Polamalu/Reed status.
Conditions for HoF: Perform like he did in the postseason for a longer period of time. Status: plausible
Conditions for retired jersey: the forementioned, but with another ring. Status: improbable.
--------------------
Those are the guys I see as of right now with a chance of making it. There are other 3 guys I could see in the discussion, but I don't think they have a chance.
- NT B.J. Raji will need to develop into a dominant force, something he wasn't in this SB. Jennings, Tramon, Matthews were dominant. He's like Collins in the postseason, but Collins has already 3 years of great play on regular season. Raji has a 6 game stretch.
- OG Josh Sitton plays in a position that simply isn't recognized, and in a line that was the Packers' weakness. He's probably a better guard than Collins is a S and Jennings is a WR, but the position and his fellow OLinemen don't do him any favors.
- TE Jermichael Finley. Here's a guy that absolutely dominated when played, but it's just too short of a production to make any claims.
There's my analysis. Agree/Disagree?