Morning Buzz: On Packers' past, future
Welcome to your Morning Buzz, rounding up news and views regarding the Green Bay Packers from around the web and here at PackersNews.com. Grab a cup of coffee and get caught up on everything you need to know about and around the Packers.
Our Bob McGinn starts us off with a unique column wherein Bob builds a fictional football team comprised of only players, coaches and executives who have a connection to Wisconsin. It’s a fun exercise and Bob does a great job coming up with some names you might not expect.
Rich Ryman has a great feature on Ed Policy, vice president and general counsel for the Packers. The son of former San Francisco 49ers president and CEO Carmen Policy, Ed Policy has an interesting background and path that led him to Green Bay.
Policy came to Green Bay for an interview, but first found himself in the Packers Hall of Fame with Murphy watching a video on the team's connection to the community.
"The message was clear. It was, 'We're going to talk about your background and your qualifications, and you might know about the law, and you might know about sports, and you might know about the business of sports, and you might have grown up in the NFL, but you know what, if you really want to succeed here ... you better appreciate the history and tradition and the importance of this community for this organization," Policy recalled.
Policy grew up a huge Cleveland Browns fan and was as shocked as everyone else when they moved to Baltimore in 1996, even though by then he was familiar with the nature of the NFL. It informs his actions in Green Bay.
"I kind of approach my position here with a healthy degree of paranoia," he said. "We are an extreme anomaly. It's critically important we are doing everything we can to make sure the Packers can exist and thrive here for the next generation and beyond."
The Packers announced several new plans for their upcoming Titletown District. You can get a look at what’s in store by clicking below:
Titletown District to offer winter, summer activities
Over at Bleacher Report, Mike Freeman has started an ambitious project, ranking NFL franchise greatness. The first part in what will be a four part series centers on franchises' “success” and it’s no surprise who comes out on top in that regard.
While it's true that the Green Bay Packers won most of their titles before the merger and further expansion, that shouldn't discredit the success the organization—established in 1919—has had over the past century. In recent history, the Packers have gone to the playoffs in 18 of the past 23 seasons while winning two Super Bowls under two of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game ( Brett Favre , Aaron Rodgers ).
If it weren't for a massive lull in the '70s and '80s when the Packers were an NFC bottom feeder, they would be a runaway choice for No. 1. However, the Super Bowl trophy is named after the man who coached the Packers to all those titles.
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky has a good look at how early playing time from the Packers rookie class could end up paying dividends down the road in the 2016 season.
Then there’s the Green Bay Packers , a Super Bowl contender despite playing 10 rookies in last Sunday’s game against the Detroit Lions . And with five key defensive players out, those rookies had a hand in a 34-27 win that sent the Packers into this week’s bye with a 2-1 record. Only one other team, the Indianapolis Colts , have played as many as 10 rookies in a game this season, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
The Packers had not played that many rookies in a game since Dec. 22, 2013, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers .
Clay Matthews has been in New York City on a promotional tour and he sat down with the NFL Network this morning.
Sports Illustrated’s Greg Bedard takes the league to task for its absurd pass interference penalties and uses the Packers passing game as an example of what is wrong.