Forums
New posts
Search forums
What's new
New posts
New media
New media comments
New resources
Latest activity
Media
New media
New comments
Search media
Resources
Latest reviews
Search resources
Members
Current visitors
Log in
Register
What's new
Search
Search
Search titles only
By:
New posts
Search forums
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Open Football Discussion
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Interesting comments from Jerry Kramer
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="NCPackerfan" data-source="post: 22420" data-attributes="member: 29"><p>Jerry Kramer 'Takes Five'</p><p></p><p>In the Packers' old days, this wouldn't fly </p><p></p><p>Posted: Sept. 15, 2005</p><p></p><p>Approaching 70 and still active, Idaho native and former Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer has made a living playing football and, later, recalling the glory years when he played for the Vince Lombardi-coached teams that won five NFL championships. His latest venture is a Web site, jerrykramer.com, where he'll vend nostalgia items related to his 11 years as a Packer and one of the pillars of a dominating offensive line. He discussed the glorious old days - and what may be the inglorious new - with Journal Sentinel reporter Graeme Zielinski. </p><p></p><p>'Takes Five' </p><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Q.The Packers lost their two starting guards in the off-season (Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle) and some commentators suggested that guards are replaceable. I wonder what your impression of that characterization is.</p><p></p><p>A. I think commentators are much more replaceable than guards. I think commentators are a dime a dozen. I didn't get to see the game Sunday, but I think the offensive line in general, and certainly I'm speaking from a prejudiced position, but it starts there, the whole process starts there. If you can't move the ball and you can't protect the ball then you can't control the ball. So I think that offensively and defensively, you've got to have the big guys up front, to take care of the business. . . . You are dead without a good offensive line. Forget it. It's over.</p><p></p><p>Q.You mention the "big guys." The NFL has disputed some medical reports recently that talked about the size and the girth of the lineman nowadays and how it's unhealthy for their physical well-being to carry that much weight. You came from a different era. What's your impression of size and weight?</p><p></p><p>A. I don't think the NFL knows a damn bit about it. There were several studies when I was playing that indicated that the life expectancy of linemen was 54 years of age and that NFL players in general had a life expectancy of 57 years of age. . . . Certainly, we all know that excess weight puts a heavy load on the heart. Seventy pounds of fat is like carrying around a 70-pound cement bag on your back all day long and all night. Certainly, size has to be a consideration. Things are changing so rapidly. We're learning so much about medicine and the human body.</p><p></p><p>Q. Back to this year's Packers (who lost in execrable fashion to the Detroit Lions, 17-3, Sunday). It's certainly not good to lose to a team that you've dominated over the years. What do you make of the coming season?</p><p></p><p>A. I don't know a great deal about it, but it's obviously a very poor start. I did happen to catch the (pre-season) Detroit-St. Louis Rams game (Aug. 29). St. Louis looked sensationally sharp that night and embarrassed the Detroit Lions. I don't remember what the score was (37-13), but (the Lions) were outclassed and outplayed and outscored pretty severely. Now, if that's the same team that beats us, we're in deep doo-doo. . . . The one thing that did stick out and I read about it was the 18 penalties. That's unacceptable.</p><p></p><p>Q.Do you recall a Lombardi team that had 18 penalties, and if there was a Lombardi team that had 18 penalties, what would have happened?</p><p></p><p>A. (Long pause, followed by the wriest of smiles.) I had two holding penalties in my 11 years in Green Bay. Two flags for holding. I made maybe one or two errors a year. It was totally unacceptable (to commit penalties). Of course, we had a very basic system and we kept that system for a number of years so we didn't have a great deal of changes, and once you learned it, it was pretty much there. . . . But we just didn't make mistakes, and that was kind of one of the hallmarks of our organization. And when a kid (cornerback Ahmad Carroll) makes four or five errors in a row, we've got to take a hard look at the kid and his mental abilities. </p><p></p><p>Q.Knowing what you do about who's in the league right now and when you were still wearing pads, if there was a player who you wanted to drill, either because he jawed too much on defense or was a showboat, who would it be?</p><p></p><p>A. Probably (Oakland Raiders defensive lineman) Warren Sapp. I don't like his attitude. I don't like what he did to the Packer player, what was the kid's name? Chad Clifton. I thought that was (chicken leavings). I think (Sapp) is a big mouth. And those are the kind of guys you like to shut up.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>"It was totally unacceptable (to commit penalties). "</p><p></p><p></p><p>Hopefully Sherman has been stessing this point this week. (Of course it should have been stressed from day one)</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="NCPackerfan, post: 22420, member: 29"] Jerry Kramer 'Takes Five' In the Packers' old days, this wouldn't fly Posted: Sept. 15, 2005 Approaching 70 and still active, Idaho native and former Green Bay Packers guard Jerry Kramer has made a living playing football and, later, recalling the glory years when he played for the Vince Lombardi-coached teams that won five NFL championships. His latest venture is a Web site, jerrykramer.com, where he'll vend nostalgia items related to his 11 years as a Packer and one of the pillars of a dominating offensive line. He discussed the glorious old days - and what may be the inglorious new - with Journal Sentinel reporter Graeme Zielinski. 'Takes Five' Q.The Packers lost their two starting guards in the off-season (Marco Rivera and Mike Wahle) and some commentators suggested that guards are replaceable. I wonder what your impression of that characterization is. A. I think commentators are much more replaceable than guards. I think commentators are a dime a dozen. I didn't get to see the game Sunday, but I think the offensive line in general, and certainly I'm speaking from a prejudiced position, but it starts there, the whole process starts there. If you can't move the ball and you can't protect the ball then you can't control the ball. So I think that offensively and defensively, you've got to have the big guys up front, to take care of the business. . . . You are dead without a good offensive line. Forget it. It's over. Q.You mention the "big guys." The NFL has disputed some medical reports recently that talked about the size and the girth of the lineman nowadays and how it's unhealthy for their physical well-being to carry that much weight. You came from a different era. What's your impression of size and weight? A. I don't think the NFL knows a damn bit about it. There were several studies when I was playing that indicated that the life expectancy of linemen was 54 years of age and that NFL players in general had a life expectancy of 57 years of age. . . . Certainly, we all know that excess weight puts a heavy load on the heart. Seventy pounds of fat is like carrying around a 70-pound cement bag on your back all day long and all night. Certainly, size has to be a consideration. Things are changing so rapidly. We're learning so much about medicine and the human body. Q. Back to this year's Packers (who lost in execrable fashion to the Detroit Lions, 17-3, Sunday). It's certainly not good to lose to a team that you've dominated over the years. What do you make of the coming season? A. I don't know a great deal about it, but it's obviously a very poor start. I did happen to catch the (pre-season) Detroit-St. Louis Rams game (Aug. 29). St. Louis looked sensationally sharp that night and embarrassed the Detroit Lions. I don't remember what the score was (37-13), but (the Lions) were outclassed and outplayed and outscored pretty severely. Now, if that's the same team that beats us, we're in deep doo-doo. . . . The one thing that did stick out and I read about it was the 18 penalties. That's unacceptable. Q.Do you recall a Lombardi team that had 18 penalties, and if there was a Lombardi team that had 18 penalties, what would have happened? A. (Long pause, followed by the wriest of smiles.) I had two holding penalties in my 11 years in Green Bay. Two flags for holding. I made maybe one or two errors a year. It was totally unacceptable (to commit penalties). Of course, we had a very basic system and we kept that system for a number of years so we didn't have a great deal of changes, and once you learned it, it was pretty much there. . . . But we just didn't make mistakes, and that was kind of one of the hallmarks of our organization. And when a kid (cornerback Ahmad Carroll) makes four or five errors in a row, we've got to take a hard look at the kid and his mental abilities. Q.Knowing what you do about who's in the league right now and when you were still wearing pads, if there was a player who you wanted to drill, either because he jawed too much on defense or was a showboat, who would it be? A. Probably (Oakland Raiders defensive lineman) Warren Sapp. I don't like his attitude. I don't like what he did to the Packer player, what was the kid's name? Chad Clifton. I thought that was (chicken leavings). I think (Sapp) is a big mouth. And those are the kind of guys you like to shut up. "It was totally unacceptable (to commit penalties). " Hopefully Sherman has been stessing this point this week. (Of course it should have been stressed from day one) [/QUOTE]
Insert quotes…
Verification
Post reply
Staff online
PikeBadger
Moderator
Members online
PackerDNA
Sip
Half Empty
Todd Princl
ThePerfectBeard
Firethorn1001
ExpatPacker
scheeler
sschind
Schultz
Pkrjones
Big L
GreenBaySlacker
Packer Fan in SD
PikeBadger
gopkrs
shockerx
Sanguine camper
rmontro
AKCheese
DoURant
RepStar15
Catamount1971
DABIGZ
Latest posts
S
2024 draft discussion thread
Latest: Sip
A moment ago
Draft Talk
2024 2nd Rd pick #58 Javon Bullard S
Latest: AmishMafia
3 minutes ago
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
2024 1st Rd pick #25 Jorden Morgan OL
Latest: longtimefan
23 minutes ago
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
2024 2nd Rd pick #45 Edgerrin Cooper LB
Latest: tynimiller
47 minutes ago
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
C
I had This Nightmare
Latest: Calebs Revenge
Today at 5:38 PM
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Forums
Open Football Discussion
Green Bay Packers Fan Forum
Interesting comments from Jerry Kramer
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…
Top