Please oh please make the signing of the kicker happen. Unexpectedly for me starting over at kicker has been the hardest transition over the last few seasons. You'd think it would be the QB change or starting a new defensive scheme last season, but I took those in stride and the team delivered well past my expectations.

When they finally made it so I didn't have to cringe every time they lined up for a kick rather than going for it on 4th inside the 40 it was a big relief.

I always thought Mr Wolf should’ve added step 10: be really good at doing these steps. Duh, right? But every GM/team/leader strives to follow a blueprint similar to that of Mr Wolf, but many flail and fail because they aren’t talented themselves nor can they identify “the best,” and so on down the list.

In my own line of work, I’ve saw this play out. I was a military flight instructor. The steps to be excellent at flying military aircraft were the same regardless of whom I was teaching. But some sucked at it and “washed out” while others were naturally really good at it a succeeded.

The talent level of the person executing the steps matters as much or more than the steps themselves.

We were blessed that Ron Wolf was incredibly talented at what he did.

I'm not demanding that the Packers make any high-risk splashy moves, but it feels like they are due for something out of the ordinary. Ron Wolf's two signature moves were trading a first round pick for Brett Favre and signing Reggie White. I still remember my dad scoffing at the Reggie White signing. They pay this guy millions of dollars, and they think he's going to make them great. Yeah, right. As if the big money guy is going to solve all of your problems. Well, he did!

Ted Thompson's big moves were more subtle: drafting Aaron Rodgers against everyone's wishes, signing Charles Woodson (who was not highly regarded at the time), and trading up into the first round to snag Clay Matthews.

What big moves has Brian Gutekunst made? Drafting Jordan Love, for sure. (Though we don't know how it's going to work out.) Signing Zadarius Smith and Preston Smith at the same time was pretty big, although it did not lead to a championship. Signing Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney in the same year was also pretty big. I think we will see another big move. I just don't know what it's going to be. My personal preference is a move at the wide receiver position, with pass rusher being second on my list. Better yet, how about both?

I'm not greedy I just want it all. Maxx Crosby, veteran FAs at WR and CB, and draft picks at each of those positions too. Plus O line picks.

Realistically, it'll be interesting to see if Gutey relies on the strength of this draft instead of getting a guaranteed winner like Maxx. I'll also point out that 2024 would have been very different if #85 & 8 had been targeted on third and short, and we'll have #88 in 2025. Getting a veteran FA WR would mean Gutey admitting he was wrong and should have had a veteran WR in '23.

GPG!

Ok - so Gute has No control over his Bust Rate.
And he will continue to fall short of expectations.
Well the success rates fall after the first round for wrs.
Truth be told: TT beat the odds in the second.
Gute hasn’t. Doubt he knows the difference.

His just enough Free Agents strikes are more, right than wrong.
The fundamental shift is Not what I would call the Packer way.
Gute’s only desire is to be one of the longest tenured GMs.

From 2017 -present
The last 7 Super Bowl champions had an offense
ranked higher than defense.
So it’s just incredible he won’t take a WR @23.

Al, your comments on the CBs are exactly the same as mine. However, if Jaire leaves, I would be good with investing in a free agent CB. I also wonder what the coaching staff thinks of Eric Stokes at this point. He hasn't been very good, but maybe this is the year he fully recovers from his injuries.

I also agree with "the Packer Way." This idea that a team "sucks" any year it doesn't win the Super Bowl is just so...CHILDISH.

On a different note: I keep becoming more and more convinced that (unless Hopper is a hidden gem) getting another high-quality, difference-making LB who can cover AND pass rush AND get TFLs, would be the best single addition to our defense. I'm big on drafting Jihaad Campbell, or Carson Schwesinger.

Really good thoughts. I’ve always been a fan who appreciates winning, even if it doesn’t end up in a SB victory. I know that we are the envy of 28 or so out of 31 other teams.

The joy of having friends and family together to watch the playoffs, whether win or lose has been priceless over the past 3 decades. Of course, I’d love to see the Packers win another SB in my time, but even if they don’t, I will always appreciate and be a proud fan of the Packers for being a first class winning organization.

"5. Using the four Cs to measure performance"

The one time I got four C's it led to no access to the family car for a couple months.

Wolf changed the trajectory of the Packers and it continues to endure. As for Jaire, barring a trade, cutting him makes zero sense; you’re paying him anyway and if you get 2 games out of him, it’s a push. If there is conduct detrimental, a suspension is an option. I don’t see that happening. Next offseason, he’s gone unless he returns to all-pro level.

Because GUTE failed on his past two first round draft picks he has no choice but to hit the free agent market to obtain an NFL veteran pass rushing DE and WR. It just happens there are plenty of free agents at those positions available come March 12th. GPG

I am curious what the Wolfman's 4 C's of performance measurements are. Competence, Commitment, Congruence, and Cost-effectiveness?

I recall when Ron arrived in Green Bay he was asked how he was going to turn the Franchise around and he said "get a top QB and surround him with an outstanding DEFENSE. Favre and Fritz's #1 ranked D...check and check.

Mildly surprised he did not have that objective in The Packer Way. But Wolf was the best, most transformational GM in Packer History...and Bob Harlan owns that Crown as the best President/CEO.

The current regime would do well to review " using the four Cs to measure performance." They knock it out of the park with Character (at least in the sense that any off-the-field antics will not upset the Martha Circle at St John's), but fall flat with Competitiveness, Consistency and Confidence.

''' Over the last 30 years, they are the second-winningest team in the NFL and have 27 winning seasons over that span. They've won 2 Super Bowls during that time and only three teams have more. I know the EntitledTown fans among you are rolling your eyes right now and calling that a "failure" (thanks Patriots), but it's not"

Thank you. I like knowing we're going to be able to put a good team on the field next season, because during the Long Dry Spell of 1972-1992, that certainly wasn't a given. We had a lot of 8-8 teams, sometimes worse, and rarely better.. Wolf transformed the organization. He transformed the scouting department, and the decision making processes. The ORGANIZATION is good. It's not a clown show, or a dumpster fire, like people enjoy saying.

Sign a proven FA CB and WR.

Draft a DL, OL, and CB in the first 3 rounds.

Draft the best WR on the board in the 4th.

Quality depth to wrap it up.

The Draft at 1265 is going to be fun!

Al, everything was going so well, and then you had to remind me of 1972-1992…

Actually, we did get to witness Greatness in Lynn Dickey, James Lofton, John Jefferson, Paul Coffman, Gerry Ellis, Mike Douglas, Steve Luke, Ezra Johnson… Rich McGeorge, George Cumby, Eric Torkelson, Chuck Cecil, John Brockington…

This draft is weird. Absolutely loaded at DT, ED, OT, OC, WR… like I may have never seen before.

Combine should prove to be fun.

Nixon is a good slot/3rd CB, Valentine a solid backup, Jaire an uncertainty ( we are paying him either way), so FA and high draft CB my highest priority, better coverage will improve pass rush. Draft top C and a WR in the early draft which improves our offense. We will still have cap space to sign an in season FA.

Al, not sure if it's just this "Packer Echo-Chamber," but it seems to me, since the success of Ron Wolf, a great many NFL clubs have been raiding the Packers' organization to staff their front offices and HC coaching positions. It seems just about everyone on Holmgren's staff was a HC at some point in his career. And the list of former Packer Front Office is just as extensive. So this Packer Way appears to be a blueprint for success, you just to insert the right pieces (e.g. stud left tackle, shut down CB, QB, and stud edge rusher) and have some luck along the way.

If I’m Guty, I attempt to add Jaire to a trade package for Garrett, Crosby, or Hendrickson. I want then proven commodity, especially when we are so close to making a run.
Al, and many of you, make great arguments concerning the joy of 30 winning seasons. I cannot deny the joy this brings. However, it appears the trend is now for teams to sell out for a SB and suffer the consequences of enduring a few losing seasons. Bitternotsour, has pointed out that I wouldn’t have won the “Marshmallow” assessment—he may be right?
I’m leaning towards grabbing the Marshmallow. “The Future is Now!”
Go Packers!!!

Back in 1978, I loved football. I was a huge Earl Campbell fan. I didn't really know much about football or any of the teams (I was 6), but I loved the game and watching Earl run over people. I turned 7 in October of that year and by chance, my brother bought me my very first real football helmet. It was, somehow, a Packers helmet. Where the heck my brother found a Packers helmet in Columbus, Ohio in 1978 is a mystery to this day. That aside, since I had a Packers helmet, THIS WAS MY TEAM! It was settled in my little 7 year old brain. I have their helmet, this is my team. The end. I had never seen them play, knew absolutely nothing about them. Didn't matter...they were my team. As luck would have it, they happened to be on TV that Sunday (this almost never happened in the Ohio market). I put on my helmet and watch them play for the first time. My excitement knew no bounds. About halfway through the 2nd quarter, I said aloud, "God...These guys suck! But they're my team. I don't care." That began a long emotional roller coaster. Being openly excited when we signed Yan Stenerud. Crying because Eddie Lee Ivory got hurt. Closing my eyes every time Lynn Dickey dropped back to pass. It makes me appreciate the times we're in now. Although I would love to see it continue until my dying days, I'm sure we'll suck again at some point before I leave this earth. And I'll love them then, too. They're just my team.

For the record AL, we still have gas station attendants in Oregon (for those who can't/won't fill their own tank). I don't talk football with them since I pump my own gas and since I don't see them wearing Packer gear. In fact, they are probably Seahawk and 49er fans who don't want to talk football (for obvious reasons). GPG!!!