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from some Chat program....
Jeff, Minneapolis: Chris, you've mentioned in an article and in this chat tonight about the Packers possibly facing a problem with how others outside the organization perceive them. I know that as a Packers fan in the Twin Cities I open the newspaper every day and find that some Twin Cities reporter cackling over the fact that the Vikings are using their salary cap space while the Packers are spending nothing. Have you seen a perception that the Packers are a mismanaged mess growing throughout the NFL, or is it still limited to disgruntled former players and nutty Vikings fans?
ch: The fallout from Javon Walker's comments, on the heels of Mike McKenzie's comments, and Brett Favre's indecision because he questions how good the Packers might be this year is a lot of stuff. If the perception is that the Packers aren't going to spend money and that they aren't player friendly - EVEN IF IT ISN'T TRUE - it still is very damaging. If free agents are saying no to the Packers without hearing the sales pitch that's a major problem. Ron Wolf said that one of the most important things he did when he arrived here was to begin changing the perception of Green Bay around the league. He said that was instrumental and essential to their success. Ted Thompson may have a similar challenge to deal with. Wolf had Holmgren, White and Favre to help change that perception. Thompson has $20 plus million under the salary cap and the upcoming draft. I wish him luck.
and this...
John Everding, Aurora, Co: Hello Chris- I am going to try and not be negative about our free agency activity thus far, but being a team with a whole bunch of dollars, it does not seem like we want to spend any. I guess we will get involved when there is nothing but mediocrity left. This team has the potential of being worse than last year unless we do something to improve all of our weaknesses. What are your initial thoughts on what is going on???
ch: I think the Packers are in trouble of being worse - if that's possible, and sadly, it is - than they were last year. It could happen, especially if No. 4 is gone and Mario Williams is gone by No. 5 and the Packers do nothing to improve the defense and Ryan Pickett and Grady Jackson sign elsewhere and Javon Walker holds out and Terrence Murphy doesn't come back from his injury and Ahman Green is never the same after his injury. You can't say I'm not optimistic.
Paul, Sacramento, CA: Chris, How bitter do you think F.A.'s like Longwell, Ruegamer, Davenport, Flanagan, and Grady will be if over the 30 million dollar scrooge GM, Thompson. It seems to me you can understand when your team is stuck against the cap, but when you have 30 million to spend, bitter feelings will seep into the locker room. How can that be productive for winning?
ch: That definitely is a problem. Longwell's gone, and Flanagan and Davenport and Jackson probably will be gone, too. So they won't be a problem, but guys that come back this year may not be too happy with everything that's transpired.
Jeff, Minneapolis: Chris, you've mentioned in an article and in this chat tonight about the Packers possibly facing a problem with how others outside the organization perceive them. I know that as a Packers fan in the Twin Cities I open the newspaper every day and find that some Twin Cities reporter cackling over the fact that the Vikings are using their salary cap space while the Packers are spending nothing. Have you seen a perception that the Packers are a mismanaged mess growing throughout the NFL, or is it still limited to disgruntled former players and nutty Vikings fans?
ch: The fallout from Javon Walker's comments, on the heels of Mike McKenzie's comments, and Brett Favre's indecision because he questions how good the Packers might be this year is a lot of stuff. If the perception is that the Packers aren't going to spend money and that they aren't player friendly - EVEN IF IT ISN'T TRUE - it still is very damaging. If free agents are saying no to the Packers without hearing the sales pitch that's a major problem. Ron Wolf said that one of the most important things he did when he arrived here was to begin changing the perception of Green Bay around the league. He said that was instrumental and essential to their success. Ted Thompson may have a similar challenge to deal with. Wolf had Holmgren, White and Favre to help change that perception. Thompson has $20 plus million under the salary cap and the upcoming draft. I wish him luck.
and this...
John Everding, Aurora, Co: Hello Chris- I am going to try and not be negative about our free agency activity thus far, but being a team with a whole bunch of dollars, it does not seem like we want to spend any. I guess we will get involved when there is nothing but mediocrity left. This team has the potential of being worse than last year unless we do something to improve all of our weaknesses. What are your initial thoughts on what is going on???
ch: I think the Packers are in trouble of being worse - if that's possible, and sadly, it is - than they were last year. It could happen, especially if No. 4 is gone and Mario Williams is gone by No. 5 and the Packers do nothing to improve the defense and Ryan Pickett and Grady Jackson sign elsewhere and Javon Walker holds out and Terrence Murphy doesn't come back from his injury and Ahman Green is never the same after his injury. You can't say I'm not optimistic.
Paul, Sacramento, CA: Chris, How bitter do you think F.A.'s like Longwell, Ruegamer, Davenport, Flanagan, and Grady will be if over the 30 million dollar scrooge GM, Thompson. It seems to me you can understand when your team is stuck against the cap, but when you have 30 million to spend, bitter feelings will seep into the locker room. How can that be productive for winning?
ch: That definitely is a problem. Longwell's gone, and Flanagan and Davenport and Jackson probably will be gone, too. So they won't be a problem, but guys that come back this year may not be too happy with everything that's transpired.