2025 Roster - Semi Live Thread <closed>

[tynimiller]

For a 5th round investment, he was a solid pick for sure. That said, I was fine that the Packers let him walk after 4 years, especially when I heard that the Chiefs were paying him $30M for 3 years. A deal they cut short after the 2nd year, due to what I would think was a poor return on their investment.

I have always loved the tall receivers, big body, even better. Might be my infatuation with Megatron when he was in the league. While I hated that he was a Lion, he was always so much fun to watch and so damn talented.

Whenever folks talk to me about mount rushmore type things...and wide receiver comes up I constantly have to fight that Calvin deserves it. DUDE WAS INSANE...I saw Moss in his prime, and there is NOTHING Moss ever did play wise that Calvin couldn't or didn't do as well.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Whenever folks talk to me about mount rushmore type things...and wide receiver comes up I constantly have to fight that Calvin deserves it. DUDE WAS INSANE...I saw Moss in his prime, and there is NOTHING Moss ever did play wise that Calvin couldn't or didn't do as well.

Honestly, if I had to build a fantasy team out of players from the last 30 years, Megatron would be my #1 pick at WR. I might even "Draft" another Lion, that I don't think got enough credit, Barry Sanders, as my RB.

I could be wrong, but didn't both of them retire earlier than expected, due to their growing dislike of the Lions ownership/management?

 

[tynimiller]

Honestly, if I had to build a fantasy team out of players from the last 30 years, Megatron would be my #1 pick at WR. I might even "Draft" another Lion, that I don't think got enough credit, Barry Sanders, as my RB.

I could be wrong, but didn't both of them retire earlier than expected, due to their growing dislike of the Lions ownership/management?

Don't get me started on Barry Sanders.....even as a Packer fan I will come up swinging at anyone that believes for a second he isn't the greatest RB ever.

 

[Thirteen Below]

.I saw Moss in his prime, and there is NOTHING Moss ever did play wise that Calvin couldn't or didn't do as well.

And without ever taking a play off because he wasn't the target.

Don't get me started on Barry Sanders.....even as a Packer fan I will come up swinging at anyone that believes for a second he isn't the greatest RB ever.

I totally agree.

And to think of what might have been, with our 2nd round pick...

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

And to think of what might have been, with our 2nd round pick...

I think you meant "with the 2nd pick in the draft"? Packers drafted Tony Steroid Mandarich and Sanders went to the Lions with pick #3.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

I thought that the NFL banned the use of smelling salts, due to what is felt to be a connection between them and the masking of concussion symptoms. However, I just read that players can use them still, but they can't be supplied by anyone from their team.

Isn't that pretty much like saying "The NFL requires players to wear these helmets for their own safety, but if you bring your own, you can wear whatever you like"?

 

[Thirteen Below]

I think you meant "with the 2nd pick in the draft"? Packers drafted Tony Steroid Mandarich and Sanders went to the Lions with pick #3.

Ah, shoot... what was I thinking? That was dumb.

Thanks...

 

[OldSchool101]

The entirety of the list of guys is precisely why I envision Gute and Co would be wise to deal a guy or two of those for draft capital in 2026 rather than have to wait for 2027 compensatory picks. Now that could look dramatically different:

Scenario #1
Enagbare traded for a 6th and Rhyan traded for a 5th

Scenario #2
Walker traded for a 3rd and Doubs also for a 3rd (either scenario we likely send a 6th or 7th along with)

I've brought it up before and I think you have as well for the benefit of others in the discussions of trades and comp picks - the ceiling for a compensatory pick is the 3rd round. GMs have to weigh it all with the future in mind also in that say a Rasheed Walker...does he end up signing a starting LT contract, if yes he likely might snag us a 3rd round compensatory in the formula for 2027 (could be offset by signings but you get what I'm saying)....is that potential 2027 3rd rounder worth more or less than say a 2026 4th round pick....

Now the construction of the rest of the roster is a big part of that...also not to mention what positional needs are incoming and how confident their scouting department sees the landscape of a position in the 2026 draft or the 2027 draft might also need considered.

I don't recall a group of pending FAs currently on rookie deals in GB in a LONG time...and because of that it will be interesting to see what does Gute and Co do...do we spread the return some by trading a guy or two now for quicker return while seeing the year through with others and getting return back in 2027 potentially....

Yes. Also the maximum number of compensatory picks is 4 after applying any FA’s. So imo IF you were going to part with multiple guys that could easily net you a compensatory selection in 2027? Might as well do it now when that return is faster and you eliminate the chance of dropping a comp pick.

I was going to say in response to this that I would rather have a 4th or 5th Rounder in trade in 2026 than a 3rd or 4th compensatory. First, the obvious is you’d lose a year in a comp pick (2027). Secondly you have to wait for the Round to finish and then select in order. So we might he passing up the 4(118) in 2026 in exchange for a Comp like 3(99) in 2027. Give me the 2026 version that has no risk of FA offsets. I think you’d agree.

If we could get a 6th for Heath? I’d do it.
Or
a 5th for Rhyan
Or
a 4th for Doubs

 

[Voyageur]

Everything is relative. I can get pumped about depth signings because I think too much like a GM where you gotta take your PS and your last man up on the 53 as serious as the top shelf guys. With the plethora of WRs we have, Watson coming back and both he and Doubs in contract years I'd LOVE a depth guy to showcase a readiness to be that 5th or 4th guy in 2026 so as to allow us to maybe move a guy now rather than later.

On that level I totally agree. What bothers me is the fans that think that the instant a guy puts on a green & gold uniform they're on their way to Canton because they are going to be another super star.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Honestly, if I had to build a fantasy team out of players from the last 30 years, Megatron would be my #1 pick at WR. I might even "Draft" another Lion, that I don't think got enough credit, Barry Sanders, as my RB.

I could be wrong, but didn't both of them retire earlier than expected, due to their growing dislike of the Lions ownership/management?

They did both retire early. I don't recall if it was dissatisfaction w the Lion's org, but that is certainly plausible.

I think GB drafted Mandarich and passed on Sanders, not 100% sure. But yeah it's very easy to put both guys at the top of the list for their respective positions over the last 30-50 years.

A pity they had to play for such lousy teams, which makes their accomplishments even more amazing.

(I would have taken Moss over Megatron, but Moss loses on style points for taking plays off, and generally being a jerk. He was too talented for that **** and it diminishes his career, as incredible as he was.)

 

[gopkrs]

Besides Barry, we missed out on Deon and Derrick Thomas in that draft. All because of the Cardinals I think. Or we would have raken Aikman.

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Besides Barry, we missed out on Deon and Derrick Thomas in that draft. All because of the Cardinals I think. Or we would have raken Aikman.

Well sort of. I would say it was more "because of the Packers themselves." 14 games into the 1988 season, the Packers were 2-12 and looking squarely at getting the #1 pick in the 1989 draft. Instead, they won their final 2 games against the Viking and Cardinals. That allowed Dallas to slip into the #1 spot and select Aikman.

I think that moment in time was when I decided "It is ok to tank a game, if it means better draft positioning." A concept that has gotten me some flack on this forum over the years.

All that said. Had the Packers gotten that #1 pick, would they still have selected the Michelin Man or Aikman? We may never know. I will also say this, had Aikman been a Packer, odds are pretty high that Favre never becomes a Packer. Who knows how picking Aikman over Mandarich would have changed the projection of this team and how much it would have changed history, for both the Packers and Cowboys. The "Butterfly Effect" is real and this is a classic case of it.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Besides Barry, we missed out on Deon and Derrick Thomas in that draft. All because of the Cardinals I think. Or we would have raken Aikman.

So Aikman, Sanders and the Thomas guys were in the draft when GB selected Tony Mandarich? Mandarich and Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell come to mind when thinking about the worst first-round picks in NFL history.

Do you remember who the Packer GM was who drafted Mandarich? I think the coach was Dan Devine, and for all I know, he was the GM too. Dark days but I'm sure every team has a worst, first-round pick in their history.

And it works both ways. 22 teams decided to pass on Rodgers before TT grabbed him.

 

[OldSchool101]

So Aikman, Sanders and the Thomas guys were in the draft when GB selected Tony Mandarich? Mandarich and Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell come to mind when thinking about the worst first-round picks in NFL history.

Do you remember who the Packer GM was who drafted Mandarich? I think the coach was Dan Devine, and for all I know, he was the GM too. Dark days but I'm sure every team has a worst, first-round pick in their history.

And it works both ways. 22 teams decided to pass on Rodgers before TT grabbed him.

Tom Braatz was Executive Director of Football operations.

Linde Infante was the HC also

 

[Half Empty]

So Aikman, Sanders and the Thomas guys were in the draft when GB selected Tony Mandarich? Mandarich and Ryan Leaf and Jamarcus Russell come to mind when thinking about the worst first-round picks in NFL history.

Do you remember who the Packer GM was who drafted Mandarich? I think the coach was Dan Devine, and for all I know, he was the GM too. Dark days but I'm sure every team has a worst, first-round pick in their history.

And it works both ways. 22 teams decided to pass on Rodgers before TT grabbed him.

Head coach - Lindy Infante
GM - complicated, as in "After Starr was relieved of his general manager role, Bob Harlan and Tom Miller assumed these duties. However, when Forrest Gregg was hired as head coach before the 1984 NFL season, he was "given full responsibility for football operations", although he was specifically not given the title of general manager. In 1987, Packers president Robert J. Parins stripped Gregg of some of his duties and hired Tom Braatz to be the team's executive vice president of football operations. Braatz would serve in this role until he was fired in 1991 and Ron Wolf was hired to be the team's general manager."

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Uggg....don't watch if "gruesome" isn't your cup of tea. I hope that rookie Bilhal Kone can recover and come back. His journey to the NFL wasn't an easy one.

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[Heyjoe4]

Head coach - Lindy Infante
GM - complicated, as in "After Starr was relieved of his general manager role, Bob Harlan and Tom Miller assumed these duties. However, when Forrest Gregg was hired as head coach before the 1984 NFL season, he was "given full responsibility for football operations", although he was specifically not given the title of general manager. In 1987, Packers president Robert J. Parins stripped Gregg of some of his duties and hired Tom Braatz to be the team's executive vice president of football operations. Braatz would serve in this role until he was fired in 1991 and Ron Wolf was hired to be the team's general manager."

My thanks to you and OS. Lindy Infante and Tom Braatz!?! Went back further than I thought, to the early 80s. Well if that situation created so much chaos that it eventually attracted Bob Harlan and Ron Wolf, I suppose it was worth it. Damn Wolf was walking into a minefield.

But we've had 30 plus years of great football since, two Lombardis ands two HOF QBs. Not bad!

I forgot that Starr was HC and GM. I wish he had never taken the jobs. He was too good of a guy for all that.

 

[Thirteen Below]

I could be wrong, but didn't both of them retire earlier than expected, due to their growing dislike of the Lions ownership/management?

No, you're not wrong. It was Sanders' primary reason, arguably even the only reason he reetired. He came right out and said he was sick and tired of the chronic systemic dysfunctionality of the entire organization, zero commitment to winning, and of seeing player after player escaping as soon as they hit free agency.

He said playing for the Lions just crushed his passion for football completely, and he was disillusioned after years of beating his body to a pulp just to achieve a .487 record. He just didn't care about the game anymore.

Johnsons said basically the same thing, but also cited his injuries. He just couldn't compete at anything close to a peak level anymore, was in constant pain, and was not willing to cripple himself for the second half of his life for a .375 team.

 

[tynimiller]

Uggg....don't watch if "gruesome" isn't your cup of tea. I hope that rookie Bilhal Kone can recover and come back. His journey to the NFL wasn't an easy one.

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ACL and MCL complete tears

 

[Schultz]

Don't get me started on Barry Sanders.....even as a Packer fan I will come up swinging at anyone that believes for a second he isn't the greatest RB ever.

Give me Walter Payton for a career, Barry Sanders for a season, Adrian Peterson for a game and Gale Sayers for a play.

 

[tynimiller]

Give me Walter Payton for a career, Barry Sanders for a season, Adrian Peterson for a game and Gale Sayers for a play.

I disagree but greatly appreciate this tactic - nice

 

[gopkrs]

Give me Walter Payton for a career, Barry Sanders for a season, Adrian Peterson for a game and Gale Sayers for a play.

Funny that we have had very productive backs. But not like these guys on the other Norse Division teams

 

[Pokerbrat2000]

Give me Walter Payton for a career, Barry Sanders for a season, Adrian Peterson for a game and Gale Sayers for a play.

Give me The Fridge for that 1 yard TD!

 

[El Guapo]

Give me Ahman Green for a career, Jim Taylor for a season, Paul Hornung for a game, and Aaron Jones for a play. As a bonus, give me Eddie Lacy for a post-game fried chicken and crawfish feast.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Give me Walter Payton for a career, Barry Sanders for a season, Adrian Peterson for a game and Gale Sayers for a play.

Well said Schulz and a good example of the folly of picking a "greatest rb in NFL history". Most of those arguments are emotional and subjective, and add little to a reasoned conversation of the pros and cons of each player.

Payton won a SB, and I don't think scored a TD in the game. That doesn't diminish his career, and he has a SB ring. And where do players from much earlier generations fit - like Jim Brown? We can wonder how a guy like Sanders would have played with a good team, but it's not worth the time.