First, a word on the Green Bay Packers. As you know, I am an unabashed fan due, in part, to working, living and raising my sons (who are still diehard fans) there. We attended the unexpected rout of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday—safe to say it was a good day for us. But I do believe I would still admire the Packers even without my association there. I not only have experience as part of it, but I also truly applaud “The Packer Way.”
“The Packer Way”? It’s very simple. Slow and steady. Draft and develop. No quick fixes. Trust the scouting and the draft board. Trust coaches won’t be afraid (as many coaches are) to play young and unproven players. Draft a quarterback that could be “the guy” long before you need to draft one. Re-sign core players before they approach their leverage point of free agency. It is not fancy; it is not sexy; there are few if any marquee free-agent signings. That being said, I get it. Most fans and media like the sexy free-agent signings and big trades, and patience doesn’t sell well. But it works.
Of course, the Packers’ story of this season may end Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers, but what a ride it has been. So many prognosticators had them as a bottom-feeding team, with Jordan Love a bust, the defensive coordinator fired and the post–Aaron Rodgers era starting out bleak. But here they are, rebuilding while winning, with the youngest team in the league and a Rodgers-sized cap hole of $40 million. And Green Bay has as bright a future as any team in the NFL.
Yes, I am biased. But I admire franchises with principled formulas for sustained success. Whether I was part of it or not, the Packers are a model franchise.
