I think (for me) in the light of all Members/Posters here --- and no offense to anyone..... I really do not mean to slight any Member in here.. when it comes right down to it... We may have our fun once in awhile, but the bottom line for me is the Motto of our Club which "I" wrote....
"There's always room for one more Packer fan!"
Having made this grand statement -- AG & Slick (both) tend to write quite a bit, as I do... and they do usually hit the mark on whatever thread they choose to join in with... And, this time, I have to say hardly anyone else can bring both points to bear, any better than these two have just now.... (no, it's not kissin' up - do any of you ever think you might have what it takes to write sports articles... my friend Packernation does so for PackerChatters.com.. it's an interesting question, eh?)
SO -- With respect to Grady (Gravy) Jackson.... I agree with Slick - they should adjust his contract to bring it in line more closely associated with Hunt's contract. But, like AG is saying (and I outright said so awhile back with regards to McKenzie)... once a player signs a contract - they "should" remember that at the moment of signing they are setting themselves up for future disappointments.... "knowing" that the NFL contracts market will change - we all saw that with Mike McKenzie. Mikey didn't have to wait hardly two years and he was out of the new mainstream of contracts being signed..... Yet... I also think that with the realization of how the Pats have done and are doing business (and getting away with it as well) - then the rest of the Teams out there will without a doubt start doing the very same protocol and the year that McKenzie left us may well be considered the peak of the NFL Player Contract stock market line... and from now on, even though we'll be seeing higher numbers here & there... the comparison in contract dollar in previous years will be higher than it will become from now on....
Both of you strike a chord with respect to Gravy and his stepping in to take Gravedigger's place and end up doing it so well (he has earned the right to a pay raise, by doing a damn fine job, like you or I would expect, in our jobs)... like the article states - with him back in the lineup, even though he had NOT fully healed yet... we then went on to win in the second half of the season. Without him, it would have been as bad (I think) as 1999 - and that.. alone... would have sealed Sherman's fate. Agreed?
Like I was saying when I started this comment - You two have struck the chord more often than most others... But, even Chris Havel's missed one GLARING point... in his article... and that's the fact that in 2003, with both Grady & Gravy out there, sometimes in tandem... we were the Team to beat in the SuperBowl... NO ONE ELSE in the NFL, had two, I repeat TWO... Nose Tackles to work with, spell each other, and double team opponents... So far that was the best Defense Mike Sherman has ever assembled during his tenure. You would agree, I think, as well with this last thought.
In this year's Draft - I feel it is IMPERATIVE... that the Packers do everything they can to grab another truly great Nose Tackle.. somehow, some way... to not only spell Grady, but to stand beside him and give Jim Bates that edge we had two seasons ago. What would the Packers do, if Jackson's knees gave out again... Grady is a prime example of NFL Players truly being over weight.. and doomed most likely to some sort of heart problems and an untimely demise... pending he isn't smart enough to get the right medical support. I think he is an amazing NFL player.. smart, savvy, and he took to heart those tactics that Gravedigger showed him how to emply.... Gilbert Brown, in my book was a perfect example of the Lombardi type player.... He ranks right up there....!
But, if Gravy goes down - we're sunk in Brett's last Season as a Green Bay Packer - we'll be lucky to come up with an 8-8 Season.. make no mistake about it. We are short on Defense and I'd rather wait one year for the Packers to find that better QB to step in and at least try... to fill Favre's shoes... it will not be easy for anyone to do... so I already have myself set for at least one or two mediocre seasons after he leaves...
WE NEED ANOTHER NOSE TACLKLE and I'm in the middle of writing Ted Thompson a letter to that very fact. I'd rather take a D player at every turn of the Draft wheel this year... nothin but Defense... and then do it again for several picks next year... I want to see another Ray Nitschke out there on the Frozen Tundra.. mean as all get out.. ready to hurt some people on the way to OUR SuperBowl!
(Thanks for the cudo, EC)