While it may not have been discussed for some time, I think most people agree that Sharpe would have been a HOF'er if he hadn't been forced out by injury. With Favre at QB and a WCO he would have generated the numbers and the Pack might have gotten more hardware from 1993-1998 when the Pack had Favre, Sharpe, White, and all the rest. With the shape he kept himself in, there can be little doubt he would have doubled his tenure in the NFL and likely be the second or third best receiver in terms of yardage in the recent modern era. Even just five more years probably would have gotten him into the HOF, assuming a Super Bowl or two in the 90's especially.
But what about Ahman Green? Green had only 6 truly productive seasons and yet ranks about 15th in yards from scrimmage for running backs from 1990-2009. He got hurt in 2005, came back in 2006 with a nice season in a mediocre year for the team, and if was still around as the Pack reloaded at the end of the 2000's, I think he would have gotten nice yards. But he wanted more money and he went to Houston. There, he suffered several injuries and his career effectively ended. But whereever he went, if he had had five more average seasons (say 1400 yards from scrimmage, very doable without the injuries) he would have vaulted to third in y-f-s for RB's from 1990-2009. That would be right up there with Faulk and Tomlinson and Sanders. Faulk and Sanders are already in and Green would have been sandwiched between the two.
To me, I think there were two Packer great careers cut short by injury (I say as such because if Green had been worth it, the Packers wouldn't have let him walk to Houston, but then again Thompson might have anyway).
Long story longer, it's too bad that their careers were cut short, but I think people need to keep these two guys in mind when they toss around the "the Pack didn't have HOF talent" comment, especially in excusing Favre's lack of championship success. While not having them for their whole careers, the Pack had White and now have Woodson (who if plays well for a few more years, and keeps his legacy clean, very well may be a HOF'er too). So, given speculation and more careers not ended by injury, the Packers will have had Sharpe, White, Favre, Green, Woodson, and now Rodgers in the fold over the last two decades. Only about 1% of the guys who play will make the HOF. The Pack have had about 471 guys play from 1992-2010, so that would be about 5 HOF'ers coming through. I think without injury the Packers would have met their quota. Toss in other guys like Driver, Grant, Walker, Al Harris, and others the Packers had some fine teams.
But what about Ahman Green? Green had only 6 truly productive seasons and yet ranks about 15th in yards from scrimmage for running backs from 1990-2009. He got hurt in 2005, came back in 2006 with a nice season in a mediocre year for the team, and if was still around as the Pack reloaded at the end of the 2000's, I think he would have gotten nice yards. But he wanted more money and he went to Houston. There, he suffered several injuries and his career effectively ended. But whereever he went, if he had had five more average seasons (say 1400 yards from scrimmage, very doable without the injuries) he would have vaulted to third in y-f-s for RB's from 1990-2009. That would be right up there with Faulk and Tomlinson and Sanders. Faulk and Sanders are already in and Green would have been sandwiched between the two.
To me, I think there were two Packer great careers cut short by injury (I say as such because if Green had been worth it, the Packers wouldn't have let him walk to Houston, but then again Thompson might have anyway).
Long story longer, it's too bad that their careers were cut short, but I think people need to keep these two guys in mind when they toss around the "the Pack didn't have HOF talent" comment, especially in excusing Favre's lack of championship success. While not having them for their whole careers, the Pack had White and now have Woodson (who if plays well for a few more years, and keeps his legacy clean, very well may be a HOF'er too). So, given speculation and more careers not ended by injury, the Packers will have had Sharpe, White, Favre, Green, Woodson, and now Rodgers in the fold over the last two decades. Only about 1% of the guys who play will make the HOF. The Pack have had about 471 guys play from 1992-2010, so that would be about 5 HOF'ers coming through. I think without injury the Packers would have met their quota. Toss in other guys like Driver, Grant, Walker, Al Harris, and others the Packers had some fine teams.
