It's funny because a lot of the Packers fans now want us to cut youth and pick up Kruger. The statistical chance of the Packers, of all teams doing that, is still zero. Last year the number of players we had who were ever on another team was 3. We signed a free agent TE, but did not resign Kuhn, so we might be at 3 again by the time the 53 man roster is made (or lower).
Ted Thompson and Mike McCarthy would agree with taking the young guys, for whatever that's worth. The devotees to the Green Bay system would tell you that football is a game of replacement while baseball is (decreasingly) a game of retention.
The Packers, thanks in part to the Browns, are 3-0. We also just got an early Christmas and Hanukah gift, as Bridgewater collapsed with what appears to be a season ending knee injury. I've said before that I actually like Bridgewater. I liked him before he went to MN, and didn't want him to end up there. So this sucks for him, in the year everyone was expecting him to take a major step forward.
It's fantastic for the Packers. I thought that the Vikings would be inferior to us, but much improved behind what had been one of the worst O-Lines in the country, but which had gotten much better in the off season. With a real OL, an improved QB behind it, and Adrian Peterson, they were going to be a handful...with a brand new stadium to energize the base to boot.
Now they will be manageable for us again, one expects. With the Bears and Lions both seemingly conceding the division through a weak-as-a-sieve secondaries, the Packers took a giant step towards the post-season before we played our first game.
Combine that with no major injuries in the preseason, and the starters out until the regular season, one can call the preseason a success.
The big question is whether the center defense will hold with a rookie ILB and a rookie Nose Tackle. With Matthews returning to the outside, a couple of all-pro corners, and Ha-Ha ready to become, potentially, the best safety in the league, the Packers defense could be the most dominant in a decade. That is, if the center holds.
And injuries. Geesh. They sure can screw up a season. Just ask the Vikings and their fans.
http://deadspin.com/it-looks-like-somet ... socialflowHere was the division primer, BEFORE the injury to Bridgewater.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... n-the-riseUnder the caption, "What we'll be talking about at the end of the season"
Minnesota Vikings: Mike Zimmer continues to build a team that will be a handful for years to come. The deep Vikes' defense comes in waves, never relenting -- even after injuries mount. Teddy Bridgewater proves he's more than just Adrian Peterson's caddy. This isn't a one-hit roster, but rather one ready to take on Seattle and Green Bay as a perennial NFC contender.Best to just stay out of the predictions business.