Packers: Love and Hate - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
Love
• The Packers' attitude. I asked players how comfortable they were with an increasing number of media and others picking them to make the Super Bowl. Interestingly, the Packers aren't running away from such talk.
"You picking us? Cool," coach Mike McCarthy said.
Normally teams despise this kind of discussion. The Packers aren't thumping their chests but they're not running away from the Super Bowl chatter, either.
This is a confident team but not arrogant. You see that all over the Packers.
"We finished last season strong and we think we're as good a team as there is in this league," said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "That's not arrogant. Last year maybe we were a little cocky. This year we're more mature and confident."
• McCarthy. There were doubters in the NFL about McCarthy when the Packers first hired him. Not anymore. He has proven to be a solid coach -- who, like Rodgers -- handled the Brett Favre fiasco well and has shown he can corral some of the strong personalities in the Packers locker room.
• Charles Woodson. The man has proven indestructible. Just when you think Woodson's body finally will give out, he keeps going and continues to be a dominant cover corner and tackler.
• Jermichael Finley. At practice, I watched Finley execute a pass route that was so perfect and athletic, at first I thought one of the smaller receivers ran it. But no, it was the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Finley. He could be the next Antonio Gates.
• Brett Favre isn't here. Self-explanatory.
Hate
• Defense. Since the Packers are my Super Bowl pick, there isn't going to be much to hate. The defense is more like a mild concern. Part of me still wonders if the Packers D has recovered from that wild, 51-45 loss to Arizona last season. The defense has improved but how much? That's the key question for this team.
• Brett Favre isn't here. Not as self-explanatory. Favre is back and last year he twice beat the Packers. Will that happen again?
Love
• The Packers' attitude. I asked players how comfortable they were with an increasing number of media and others picking them to make the Super Bowl. Interestingly, the Packers aren't running away from such talk.
"You picking us? Cool," coach Mike McCarthy said.
Normally teams despise this kind of discussion. The Packers aren't thumping their chests but they're not running away from the Super Bowl chatter, either.
This is a confident team but not arrogant. You see that all over the Packers.
"We finished last season strong and we think we're as good a team as there is in this league," said quarterback Aaron Rodgers. "That's not arrogant. Last year maybe we were a little cocky. This year we're more mature and confident."
• McCarthy. There were doubters in the NFL about McCarthy when the Packers first hired him. Not anymore. He has proven to be a solid coach -- who, like Rodgers -- handled the Brett Favre fiasco well and has shown he can corral some of the strong personalities in the Packers locker room.
• Charles Woodson. The man has proven indestructible. Just when you think Woodson's body finally will give out, he keeps going and continues to be a dominant cover corner and tackler.
• Jermichael Finley. At practice, I watched Finley execute a pass route that was so perfect and athletic, at first I thought one of the smaller receivers ran it. But no, it was the 6-foot-5, 240-pound Finley. He could be the next Antonio Gates.
• Brett Favre isn't here. Self-explanatory.
Hate
• Defense. Since the Packers are my Super Bowl pick, there isn't going to be much to hate. The defense is more like a mild concern. Part of me still wonders if the Packers D has recovered from that wild, 51-45 loss to Arizona last season. The defense has improved but how much? That's the key question for this team.
• Brett Favre isn't here. Not as self-explanatory. Favre is back and last year he twice beat the Packers. Will that happen again?
