We are more the half way through the last season of the twentieth century. Is this an indication of the future of the NFL and the Green Bay Packers? Let's hope it is not especially for the Packers.
I recently purchased the new Green Bay Packer media guide. On the cover there is a picture of Ray Rhodes with the glaring words " A New Era Begins." Well, I hope this is not the new era that the writers of the guide were hoping for. The Packers are experiencing their worst start since the Holmgren years. With the fear of appearing like a bandwagon jumper, I think it is time for another new era and a new coach. The Packer offense, which is pretty much intact from last year, is flat. A three-time MVP quarterback looks like a third-string rookie quarterback struggling to win a game. Rhodes, who was hired as "motivator", paces the sidelines as the offense strolls up to the line of scrimmage down by 17 points against Dallas looking like a "bunch of gun-shy whooped" dogs. Favre's desire to win is the only thing that has led to the wins this year. Also he might be blamed for the losses too. It is because he is trying to ignite a spark under "passive" Packer offense by forcing the big play. Where is the great motivator? Looks like he playing the game films from previous season when he lead the Eagles to a 3-13 season, and scratching his head in utter confusion. Was the desire to win drained out of the Packers when Mike went to Seattle? I realize Reggie is gone and Brooks retired, but the team still has its core players. The biggest change is Mike's exit. Packer fans stand watching the Seattle Seahawks evolve from a .500 team to a division leader in the AFC and the Pack are on the "Rhode" to no where.
I am getting pretty tired of guys like our own PackerIQ.com columnist, BLove, pointing his finger and laughing at another poor performance by the Packers. He was quick to point out that Dallas beat us without their three franchise players, and made us look like a last place team struggle for its first win. The worst part of it is that he is right. Just ask the Bears third string quarterback Jim Miller, who in his first start in Lambeau field sent the Packers home with their tail between their legs. Of course he had a little help from our coaching staff with three called running plays at the end of game which lead the the blocked field goal. Thanks Ray!
As we look around the NFL, we see a another new era. It's the era of the "individualized" focus. Gone are the dominant teams of the past- teams like the Green Bay Packers in the 60's, the Miami Dolphins of the early 70's and the Pittsburgh Steelers in the late 70's. What happened to the "Steel Curtain", "Purple People Eaters" and the "Dooms Day defense" or anything that resembles a team effort? With the advent of free agency and big money, fans are forced to watch a league of "stars" not teams. Owners like Jerry Jones fuel the fire by trying to buy the next title. Players are more concerned about a victory at the contract negotiation table than on the football field. The consistency in the league is gone. The game has become a roll of the dice. Any team at anytime can beat another team, and it is the fans that foot the bill. It is becoming harder and harder for this columnist to find something consistent and worth while to write about.