1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: M Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,880 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford, sitting alongside my trusted colleague Wes Hodkowitz, 3 00:00:24,960 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: were coming to you here from our studios at lambeau Field. 4 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: Excuse me, certainly. Hope you all enjoyed your holiday weekend. 5 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:35,520 Speaker 1: But west some sad news came through Packer Land over 6 00:00:35,560 --> 00:00:38,920 Speaker 1: this Memorial Day weekend. And I'm talking about, of course, 7 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: the passing of the great, the legendary Bart Star, Hall 8 00:00:44,800 --> 00:00:50,280 Speaker 1: of Fame quarterback, former Packers head coach. And if there's 9 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 1: a Hall of Fame for human beings, he would certainly 10 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,680 Speaker 1: be in it, and a first ballot Hall of Famer, 11 00:00:55,720 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: I think in that respect. Just your reflections on the 12 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,560 Speaker 1: new was regarding Bart Starr and any interactions you may 13 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:05,640 Speaker 1: or may not have had with him over the years. Yeah, 14 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:07,840 Speaker 1: you know. It's so it's interesting, Michael. I woke up 15 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: on Sunday morning and got the news through our message 16 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:19,080 Speaker 1: and channels that Bart had passed. And it's difficult because, 17 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,320 Speaker 1: I mean, everyone knows what Bart was dealing with the 18 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: last four four and a half years. He really fought, 19 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:27,920 Speaker 1: He fought every single day, He fought to get back 20 00:01:28,000 --> 00:01:32,039 Speaker 1: for Brett Farve's Jersey retirement. He fought to be able 21 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:34,480 Speaker 1: to be here for the fiftieth anniversary of the Ice Bowl, 22 00:01:34,880 --> 00:01:38,240 Speaker 1: and every single day it was about, you know, his 23 00:01:38,360 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: passion for life helping. It really strikes you, and it 24 00:01:45,680 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 1: caused me to do a lot of reflection. We we 25 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: got a Cliff Crystals wonderful oh Bit, which is on 26 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 1: Packers dot Com right now, got sent through and our boss, 27 00:01:54,000 --> 00:01:58,560 Speaker 1: Duke Boberum said, you know, headline, subhead We do that 28 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: for every story to much and you mentioned legend at 29 00:02:03,360 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: the beginning. We're always so very careful to use that term. 30 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,639 Speaker 1: But as I was trying to figure out exactly what 31 00:02:09,680 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: the title should be for that oh bit, nothing else 32 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: really seemed sufficient. It just seemed like he was one 33 00:02:16,520 --> 00:02:21,720 Speaker 1: of those people there were that term fit. He was 34 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 1: everything he did as he was a Hall of Fame quarterback, 35 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,720 Speaker 1: As I said, he was a legendary leader. Everything him 36 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: and his wife Cherry did, they did together. And I 37 00:02:31,960 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: don't know, Michael, it was one of those deals where 38 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: he's gone, but the impact that he has now, the 39 00:02:38,680 --> 00:02:42,640 Speaker 1: lives that he's touched a few people in the world, 40 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 1: they are able to ever accomplish that Bart Star was 41 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 1: truly somebody special. Yeah, I mean, and just reading as 42 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,280 Speaker 1: you put together over the weekend the excuse me Insider 43 00:02:52,320 --> 00:02:55,880 Speaker 1: Inbox column for Monday morning, where you gave a few 44 00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: thoughts and just kind of stepped aside. And I'm sure 45 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,280 Speaker 1: there were a lot of missions to the inbox to 46 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: sift through, but you just posted a lot of people's 47 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 1: reflections and some of the stories in there of you know, 48 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: and their stories that a lot of people have heard. 49 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:15,400 Speaker 1: But the thing is, you know, for each individual who 50 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: you know encountered that you know, well, no, I'm not 51 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,839 Speaker 1: going to sign an autograph on a cocktail napkin. Give 52 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: me your name and address, and you know, next week 53 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: I'll mail you an autograph picture. Bart did that for 54 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,280 Speaker 1: countless Packers fans. And one of the things I do 55 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: know about him too from people that I've talked to, 56 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: is that he personalized every single autograph. He would put 57 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:42,720 Speaker 1: your name on it, you know, and and then obviously 58 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:44,440 Speaker 1: signed it. He did that for a couple of reasons. 59 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: One because that's partly his personality. He wanted to get 60 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:49,600 Speaker 1: to know and he would try to remember anybody's name 61 00:03:50,040 --> 00:03:52,600 Speaker 1: that that he would meet, along the way. But it 62 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 1: was also his way of saying, I'm not giving you 63 00:03:55,000 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: this autograph so that you can just go sell it 64 00:03:57,120 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 1: on eBay as a Bart Star autograph. He personalized every 65 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: autographed because it was for that individual and for that person. 66 00:04:04,480 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: And those are just a couple of things. Those are 67 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,280 Speaker 1: just the little things when when you read through, if 68 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: you have a chance to read through Monday's Insider inbox, 69 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: com a lot of really great reflections from from fans 70 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:18,719 Speaker 1: there um and uh, a lot of really just really 71 00:04:18,760 --> 00:04:25,240 Speaker 1: touching stories of small but meaningful interactions with an individual 72 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,599 Speaker 1: like Bart Star. And that's the thing at Bottoms. Any 73 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: interaction you had with the guy, he made it meaningful, 74 00:04:31,640 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: he did. I really enjoyed your talking about how he 75 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: personalized everything. There was one comment or uh in the 76 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:40,000 Speaker 1: inbox that had mentioned that he had written him about 77 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: this group of friends that he had uh and and 78 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: was you know, basically just kind of making small chat, 79 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,279 Speaker 1: you know, just typically like you'd send a letter to 80 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: someone you idolize, especially way back when when you didn't 81 00:04:49,880 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: have those social media era and Star wrote back, and 82 00:04:53,480 --> 00:04:56,159 Speaker 1: I think he was He signed football cards for each 83 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:57,680 Speaker 1: one of the kids, even though it was just the 84 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 1: one kid. He had personalized footpunk for every single child. 85 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:03,720 Speaker 1: And the other thing that really struck me. And I 86 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: don't know how much you know obviously with the men 87 00:05:05,320 --> 00:05:07,359 Speaker 1: Memorial Day Week and how much you're on social media, 88 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:13,000 Speaker 1: but the amount of people Michael that tweeted out photos 89 00:05:13,040 --> 00:05:16,400 Speaker 1: with Star when they were children. Uh, you know, Steve 90 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 1: Mariucci had a wonderful tribute. I don't know if you 91 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: caught that on NFL network and a photo of him 92 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: actually at a Packers training camp. I think it was 93 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: in X three or something like that, because you know 94 00:05:26,920 --> 00:05:28,880 Speaker 1: his family, they weren't able to afford to go to 95 00:05:28,880 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: Packer games, so their big trip was going down for 96 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:33,960 Speaker 1: training camp and then lo and behold, Steve Miriuchi becomes 97 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:38,240 Speaker 1: the quarterbacks coach for Brett farven Is. Suddenly, you know, 98 00:05:38,760 --> 00:05:43,359 Speaker 1: right there having conversations with bart stars childhood idol. I 99 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,160 Speaker 1: think it's really important for people to really you don't 100 00:05:45,200 --> 00:05:47,240 Speaker 1: really have to be a professional athlete to be able 101 00:05:47,279 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: to appreciate this, but it's about doing things for people, 102 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: no matter how small. You don't know who that kid 103 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: that's four or five, six years old is gonna end 104 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,000 Speaker 1: up being. I think it was it was a Zion Williams. 105 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:04,600 Speaker 1: Is that that the duke basketball Williamson Williamson. Sorry, I'm 106 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,120 Speaker 1: not a big basketball fan, but he had mentioned a 107 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: couple of weeks ago too, he signs an autograph for 108 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,680 Speaker 1: every kid he comes across because he was that kid, 109 00:06:11,760 --> 00:06:15,200 Speaker 1: and he had professional athletes turned him down. There are 110 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: so many people, Michael, in that simple gesture of star 111 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:24,040 Speaker 1: doing that that became better children, better husband's, better wives, 112 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: better human beings. If we had more bart stars in 113 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:31,359 Speaker 1: this world. It's a cliche, but it truly would be 114 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: a better place. And what him and Cherry did in 115 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:36,720 Speaker 1: their extensive efforts in Green Bay, he did a lot 116 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:39,320 Speaker 1: of great things with Vincelentbardi. You don't take any of 117 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 1: those away, but it's what he did afterwards that made 118 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:47,920 Speaker 1: him the ambassador that he was and truly made him, Uh, 119 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,279 Speaker 1: as you said, a Hall of Fame human being. Yeah, 120 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: it's just it's emotional. It's emotional. Think about it. Yeah. Absolutely. 121 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:56,280 Speaker 1: In your sports writing career, did you ever have an 122 00:06:56,279 --> 00:07:00,479 Speaker 1: opportunity to interact with Never interviewed him, but a very 123 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 1: good friend of mine. You know, here's the thing, is 124 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 1: I got onto the beat um part already was starting 125 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 1: to there was some rumblings with some of the health 126 00:07:07,400 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: issues he was already sharing with two thousand and fourteen. 127 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 1: Obviously has a stroke and and and whatnot. But Mike 128 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,480 Speaker 1: vander Moss, my mentor, uh, someone I hold in really 129 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 1: high regard. He interviewed Star a lot, and I heard 130 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:21,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the stories through him. It's it's so funny. 131 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just hearing it through my grandfather and 132 00:07:23,960 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 1: in his experience as him a player and talking to 133 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 1: guys like Mike who interacted with him. And the other 134 00:07:28,640 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: thing is too. I remember when Pete Doherty, my former 135 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: colleague at the Press Becauette, went down an interview him. 136 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: I think, honestly it was probably one of his last 137 00:07:34,880 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 1: interviews that he conducted, maybe the last down in Alabama. 138 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 1: Sat down with him, and just the way that that 139 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: operation was run. He had a secretary and it was 140 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:46,680 Speaker 1: it was just like a small business that they had there. 141 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:48,720 Speaker 1: I mean, you just called that up. Okay, here's Bart 142 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,240 Speaker 1: Star and he set it up. He went down and 143 00:07:51,280 --> 00:07:54,800 Speaker 1: interviewed him, and just the humility that he showed, the graciousness. 144 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:57,000 Speaker 1: There are a lot of people that reached down inbox too. Saying, 145 00:07:57,280 --> 00:07:59,760 Speaker 1: you know, they interviewed him as a young radio personality 146 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: or a writer, and just how gracious he was in 147 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 1: those settings when he did not have to be. Yeah, 148 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 1: Bart start once he was, once he made it, he 149 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: didn't have to do all that stuff. I think that's 150 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: my biggest takeaway from this is that he had this 151 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,200 Speaker 1: great line about how the true mark of a man, 152 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:18,920 Speaker 1: the true mark of a human being, is how you 153 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: treat people when they can do nothing for you, and 154 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: Bart stars somebody that really gave back in that way. Yeah. Well, 155 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: fortunately I did have an opportunity to interview him two 156 00:08:26,800 --> 00:08:29,080 Speaker 1: times over the phone. I did meet him once in 157 00:08:29,160 --> 00:08:34,040 Speaker 1: person as well later on. But when I met him, 158 00:08:34,080 --> 00:08:36,079 Speaker 1: or when I came about him, um, I met him, 159 00:08:36,200 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 1: he was he came to Green Bay and I'm trying 160 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: to remember exactly what it was. It was. It was 161 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: for some sort of a street naming type of thing 162 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: that was that was going on, And I just I 163 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,160 Speaker 1: had interviewed him on the phone a couple of times 164 00:08:49,600 --> 00:08:52,880 Speaker 1: in a couple of years prior, and he didn't necessarily 165 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:55,360 Speaker 1: remember me, and that was okay, But he didn't remember 166 00:08:55,400 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 1: Mike Spofford well. But having had an opportunity to talk 167 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,240 Speaker 1: to him on the phone. I wanted to. I wanted 168 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:04,200 Speaker 1: to just introduce myself for a brief moment. But it's 169 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 1: interesting because the first time I did get a chance 170 00:09:07,080 --> 00:09:09,400 Speaker 1: to interview him on the phone, I felt really horrible 171 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:13,720 Speaker 1: about it because what it was. It was after his 172 00:09:14,080 --> 00:09:18,400 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame center, Jim Ringo had died and uh no, 173 00:09:18,480 --> 00:09:21,200 Speaker 1: it's two thousand seven. Actually it was two thousand and seven. 174 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,640 Speaker 1: It was my second year here with Packers dot Com 175 00:09:24,679 --> 00:09:29,680 Speaker 1: and Lo and Behold. I actually, and very unfortunately, ended 176 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,240 Speaker 1: up being the one who informed him that Jim Ringo 177 00:09:32,320 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: had died. He didn't know, and I was making some 178 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:38,439 Speaker 1: phone calls to write a story reflecting on Ringo's career 179 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 1: in his life and all that, and I felt really 180 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: really bad about it. He was as expected, He was 181 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 1: extremely gracious about it. But what I remember the most 182 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: is that after our brief conversation, I didn't want to 183 00:09:50,160 --> 00:09:51,800 Speaker 1: hold him up on the phone too long. I just 184 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: wanted a couple of thoughts on Ringo's career. But I 185 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: could tell that as I was getting ready to say 186 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,200 Speaker 1: goodbye and hang up the phone own he was getting 187 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,600 Speaker 1: ready with his whole list of phone calls that he 188 00:10:03,679 --> 00:10:06,440 Speaker 1: was going to make so that none of his other 189 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:09,000 Speaker 1: former teammates were going to find out about Ringo the 190 00:10:09,000 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: way he just did, you know what, you know what 191 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:15,439 Speaker 1: I'm saying, Yeah, like he he was. He felt badly 192 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 1: that that the news hadn't maybe spread as quickly as 193 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:21,720 Speaker 1: it should have about a Hall of Fame teammate. And 194 00:10:21,840 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 1: as I said, I felt badly about about being the 195 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: one to tell him the good news. Is then later 196 00:10:27,040 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: that season, I got another chance to call him, and 197 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:31,560 Speaker 1: it was when he was going to be coming up 198 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 1: to Green Bay to be the honorary captain for the 199 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: two thousand seven NFC Championship game, you know, the second 200 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: Ice Bowl, so to speak, against the New York Giants. 201 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:44,200 Speaker 1: And what I remember most about that conversation, aside from 202 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,959 Speaker 1: the fact that Bart was absolutely totally convinced the Packers 203 00:10:47,960 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: were going to the Super Bowl and there was no 204 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:51,600 Speaker 1: way the Giants were going to come into a freezing 205 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: cold lambeau Field and beat the Green Bay Packers. Unfortunately 206 00:10:55,240 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: it didn't work out that way. But what I took 207 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: away the most from that conversation is how much he 208 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 1: was absolutely relishing in the team's success and that there 209 00:11:05,679 --> 00:11:09,720 Speaker 1: was again this sort of mini revival of the team 210 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 1: after some down years and the coaching change to to 211 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,520 Speaker 1: Mike McCarthy and Mike McCarthy and Brett Farve. We're, you know, 212 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 1: we're we're pushing the Packers back into prominence once again. 213 00:11:20,920 --> 00:11:23,439 Speaker 1: And he was absolutely loving every minute of it. He 214 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: really really enjoyed it. And it wouldn't have mattered if 215 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: it was going to be twenty degrees or negative twenty 216 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,360 Speaker 1: degrees that day to be able to walk out for 217 00:11:32,440 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 1: the coin toss for the NFC Championship game for his 218 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,400 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers at lambeau Field. He was really looking 219 00:11:38,440 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: forward to, you know, coming up from Alabama that day 220 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:42,760 Speaker 1: to do that. That's why I wrote an inbox. I 221 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:44,160 Speaker 1: think it was in the Tuesday one. A lot of 222 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,440 Speaker 1: things happened this weekend um that to me, for my money, 223 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:51,800 Speaker 1: him and Jerry Kramer are the greatest ambassadors of Packers football. 224 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: I couldn't again. I would love to get Cliffs perspective 225 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:56,480 Speaker 1: on that. But the reason I said it as a 226 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: thirty something now is the fact that Star and c 227 00:12:00,080 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: are the ones that tied generations together. It wasn't just 228 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: about what they did in the sixties or their Hall 229 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 1: of Fame careers or anything of that sort. It was 230 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:11,200 Speaker 1: the fact that you know, I'm sure your son knows 231 00:12:11,240 --> 00:12:13,840 Speaker 1: about him. My son is going to know about him. 232 00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:15,960 Speaker 1: There are so many people that have been touched by 233 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:21,240 Speaker 1: him in the spans of generations. Grandfather's father's son, daughters. 234 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: I mean, it's just it's incredible, Michael, when you think 235 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:27,719 Speaker 1: about that, because sometimes we lose history, right, But there 236 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: was something about bart Star and the fact that he 237 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: had that appreciation for Packer's history and what it stood 238 00:12:33,440 --> 00:12:37,560 Speaker 1: for and what this organization meant that it made it 239 00:12:37,640 --> 00:12:42,320 Speaker 1: really easy for anybody, regardless of your age, to just 240 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,600 Speaker 1: respect what that man was all about. His legacy didn't 241 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,400 Speaker 1: get lost in the time in which he played. It's 242 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:49,960 Speaker 1: something that endures forever. Yeah, well, it's I tell you, 243 00:12:50,080 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: it's been something these last nine months that Jim Taylor, Forest, 244 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:59,359 Speaker 1: Greg Now, Bart Star, all between October and now unfortunately 245 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:02,960 Speaker 1: have left us. Yeah, that's right. Bob Scernsky another one 246 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: who is not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 247 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:07,680 Speaker 1: although bart Star, Bart started him in there, would say 248 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:11,680 Speaker 1: Bob Scarnzi, Bob Scronsky does deserve to be in the profo. 249 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:13,680 Speaker 1: I'm gonna put that out there too. I mean, Bart 250 00:13:13,720 --> 00:13:16,040 Speaker 1: Starr is one of the most mild mannered gentleman that 251 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:17,720 Speaker 1: you've ever seen. I'm gonna put this out there because 252 00:13:17,760 --> 00:13:20,559 Speaker 1: now part second that man got is fired up? Is 253 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:22,319 Speaker 1: I think you ever saw him get fired up when 254 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 1: it came to Bob Scorns. Yeah, he was convinced he 255 00:13:24,760 --> 00:13:27,439 Speaker 1: should be in the Hall of Fame. Yeah, completely felt 256 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,680 Speaker 1: he felt he was maybe the most overlooked player of 257 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: a of a great era Packer football. Throw that in there, 258 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 1: Yeah for sure. Well West, the Green Bay Packers get 259 00:13:36,920 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: ready for game day with the powerful noise canceling technology 260 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: of Bo's Quiet Comfort thirty five headphones. To learn more 261 00:13:43,520 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: at www dot bos dot com, Slash Packers Bows, the 262 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:50,400 Speaker 1: official headphones of the Green Bay Packers, and at Homer 263 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 1: Here in the stands, we all know that Green Bay 264 00:13:52,679 --> 00:13:54,480 Speaker 1: fans give it their all and that takes a lot 265 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: of energy. So grab a warm bowl of Campbell's Chunky Soup. 266 00:13:57,640 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: It's meaty goodness fuels the greatness of Packers fans everywhere. 267 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:04,640 Speaker 1: Try the delicious classic chicken noodle soup. Just visit your 268 00:14:04,679 --> 00:14:08,600 Speaker 1: local supermarket and ask for Campbell's Chunky Soup official sup 269 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:12,240 Speaker 1: partner of the Green Bay Packers. Okay, moving on to 270 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: some of the here and now with regards to the Packers. 271 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:18,960 Speaker 1: We are beginning week two of O T A S. 272 00:14:19,400 --> 00:14:22,160 Speaker 1: And one topic from last week I wanted to revisit 273 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: here you and I will get a chance to see 274 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:27,880 Speaker 1: another practice and interview players in the locker room again 275 00:14:28,040 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: on Wednesday this week. But one leftover talk from last week. 276 00:14:33,440 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: I thought it was interesting to me how Matt Lafleur 277 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: talked about the building of a wide receiver corps for 278 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,800 Speaker 1: his offense. And what I'm talking about specifically is he 279 00:14:45,840 --> 00:14:49,040 Speaker 1: said he kind of wants to get to know these 280 00:14:49,080 --> 00:14:54,560 Speaker 1: guys and figure out what what area of expertise each 281 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: of his receivers has, and then he says, then it's 282 00:14:57,720 --> 00:15:00,080 Speaker 1: up to us as coaches to take those area as 283 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:03,640 Speaker 1: of expertise and use them in the best possible way 284 00:15:03,680 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: within the offense. And now my biggest takeaway from that 285 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:10,560 Speaker 1: is that for all of the angst and discussion and 286 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,720 Speaker 1: questions about, well, how are the Packers going to replace 287 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:17,080 Speaker 1: Randall Cobb in the slot, departed free agent signed with 288 00:15:17,080 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: the Dallas Cowboys, had a great Packers careeries no longer. 289 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: Here I took away from that West that there may 290 00:15:23,400 --> 00:15:25,480 Speaker 1: not be when it's all said and done, in the 291 00:15:25,520 --> 00:15:27,640 Speaker 1: fifty three man roster is selected at the end of 292 00:15:27,680 --> 00:15:30,360 Speaker 1: training camp, there may not be anybody who's going to 293 00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:34,480 Speaker 1: get the label of slot receiver in this offense. Do 294 00:15:34,520 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: you think that's an accurate read on I think that's 295 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,600 Speaker 1: an accurate read. I thought your story really outlined that 296 00:15:38,640 --> 00:15:40,600 Speaker 1: well to kind of looking at the skill sets of 297 00:15:40,640 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: these players and also how the offensive game has changed 298 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,520 Speaker 1: a little bit. I go back to two thousand fourteen 299 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 1: when you think about when Julie's Peppers signed. Do you 300 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:51,040 Speaker 1: remember the angst among Packers fans at the time about Hey, 301 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,600 Speaker 1: this guy's pounds, how does he fit? How is it 302 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:57,200 Speaker 1: gonna be an outside lineback? And then dom and when 303 00:15:57,200 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: we started talking to the coaches, they talked about elephant 304 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:01,760 Speaker 1: rushers and things that sort. Let's be honest here, he 305 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: was Julius Peppers. He was going to get sacks, he 306 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:08,120 Speaker 1: was going to be successful in the defense because news flash, 307 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: he was Julius Peppers. Now, I'm not trying to compare 308 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: any of these young men to Julius Peppers, but I 309 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: think sometimes we get so pigeon held into thinking, Okay, 310 00:16:17,400 --> 00:16:19,920 Speaker 1: you need someone that is five ft eleven weighs a 311 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: hundred and nine pounds. That's the only way you're gonna 312 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:25,040 Speaker 1: be able to replace Randall Cop. It's not like that 313 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:27,840 Speaker 1: Randall Cop had injuries in the past, Jordy Nelson had 314 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:30,520 Speaker 1: to play the slot. Davante Adams has played the slot. 315 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: I think there is a level of multiplicity to this 316 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:36,200 Speaker 1: defense that I think some people outside looking in casually 317 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,280 Speaker 1: haven't quite been able to pick up yet. Slot receiver 318 00:16:39,440 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 1: is a valuable position in this league. It's the way 319 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,560 Speaker 1: things are now, with eleven personnel and with how spread 320 00:16:44,560 --> 00:16:46,640 Speaker 1: out the game is getting, you need to have difference 321 00:16:46,640 --> 00:16:49,680 Speaker 1: makers inside. I think we are starting to realize you 322 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 1: don't need to have a certain height requirement or size 323 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: requirement to play there. You need to have quick twitch, 324 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: you need to be smart, and you need to be 325 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: able to catch the football and traffic. But beyond that, 326 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: what's the difference if it's Randall Cobb or Jimmy Graham. 327 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: Nobody seemed to be putting up any gripes when Jimmy 328 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,080 Speaker 1: Graham was lining up in the slot last season. So 329 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: my challenge is is to understand the big picture here 330 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,480 Speaker 1: and the fact that guys are going to be moving around, 331 00:17:12,960 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: and the more that you can have those guys playing 332 00:17:15,119 --> 00:17:17,879 Speaker 1: different positions, the more complex it ends up being for 333 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,159 Speaker 1: the defense. Yeah, the way la Fleur talked about it, 334 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: he talked about it in terms of responsibility on a 335 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:24,760 Speaker 1: given play. Now, the players they have to learn the 336 00:17:24,800 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: formations first where they line up, but then it's about responsibility. 337 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:30,879 Speaker 1: And the way he put it is, you may have 338 00:17:30,960 --> 00:17:34,120 Speaker 1: somebody lining up in the slot position and he may 339 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: have what's called a choice route or an option route, 340 00:17:36,760 --> 00:17:40,200 Speaker 1: which is where you have to read the defense and 341 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,159 Speaker 1: you have say a two way ago. Maybe you're supposed 342 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:44,760 Speaker 1: to break to the left or you're supposed to break 343 00:17:44,760 --> 00:17:47,280 Speaker 1: to the right, and you have to make that choice 344 00:17:47,320 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: based on the leverage of the defender in front of you. 345 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:53,200 Speaker 1: And the quarterback has to read the defense and see 346 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:55,439 Speaker 1: it the same way as the receiver. That's where the 347 00:17:55,480 --> 00:17:58,679 Speaker 1: whole being on the same page line comes from. So 348 00:17:58,720 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: that's one thing. But Matt Lafleur also might have a 349 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: guy line up in the slot position, but he might 350 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,520 Speaker 1: run a go route to occupy the safety to maybe 351 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,440 Speaker 1: open something up on the other side of the field 352 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: because the safety has to worry about this guy running 353 00:18:13,960 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: right up the hash mark all the way down the field. Now, 354 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:20,720 Speaker 1: slot receivers don't run go routes. But the only thing 355 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 1: about slot receiver in this instance is where he lined up. 356 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,000 Speaker 1: What matters is the job that he's given on a 357 00:18:27,000 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: particular play. And you know what Matt Lafleur is gonna do. 358 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:31,760 Speaker 1: He's gonna put the best guy at running the go 359 00:18:31,960 --> 00:18:34,919 Speaker 1: route in that position to do that, to occupy the 360 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 1: defense the way he wants the defense occupied. Right, exactly, 361 00:18:38,040 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: Slot receivers don't run go routes. You never played me 362 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:43,200 Speaker 1: and Madden, I was all the way slot receivers go routes. 363 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:45,960 Speaker 1: But to your original point, yeah, that's that's exactly right. 364 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: I mean, that isn't typically something you see. You see 365 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:49,680 Speaker 1: a lot of slants, you see a lot of crosses. 366 00:18:50,359 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: The thing that's been exciting, and it's hard to really 367 00:18:52,600 --> 00:18:55,920 Speaker 1: lay out all the things that they're doing so far 368 00:18:56,040 --> 00:18:58,840 Speaker 1: through the mandatory or excuse me, the voluntary minicamp that 369 00:18:58,880 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 1: we saw and then the one o t A practice. 370 00:19:01,320 --> 00:19:03,679 Speaker 1: But I don't know how you feel about this. It 371 00:19:03,800 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: is you're seeing different routes. You're seeing different patterns, you're 372 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,920 Speaker 1: seeing different emphasis ease of what these guys are stressing. 373 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:13,800 Speaker 1: I don't know how much I can get into all 374 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: that with some of the liberties that you have to, 375 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: you know, take with being allowed to watch practice. But 376 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 1: it does look different and what these guys are being 377 00:19:21,280 --> 00:19:23,600 Speaker 1: asked to do as receivers is going to be different 378 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: than in the past. And I think that's exciting because 379 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 1: if you can, if you can only go off of 380 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:30,159 Speaker 1: what you've seen, with what Matt Lafleur and Sean McVeigh 381 00:19:30,160 --> 00:19:33,399 Speaker 1: have put on film, it is interesting to watch. It 382 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:36,240 Speaker 1: is exciting, and it does move the football down field. 383 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,120 Speaker 1: Now you have to make sure that Geronimo Allison, these 384 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 1: young receivers, all those guys can handle it. But when 385 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 1: you're talking about a slot receiver running a go route, 386 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,880 Speaker 1: if you're getting some of these guys like MVS, let's 387 00:19:45,880 --> 00:19:49,000 Speaker 1: say he's lining up there, that's four three seven speed 388 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 1: you're looking at in the middle of the field. All 389 00:19:51,400 --> 00:19:54,760 Speaker 1: things that your defense, your secondary have to take into account. 390 00:19:55,200 --> 00:19:58,360 Speaker 1: To me, that's exciting because you really don't know where 391 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,480 Speaker 1: all these pieces are gonna fit. And that's the thing too, 392 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:03,680 Speaker 1: is we're going to go into training camp and as 393 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:05,439 Speaker 1: we watch O T A s here, I don't know 394 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: exactly how many receivers are on the roster, but it's 395 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,840 Speaker 1: a lot. Right when things get paired down at the 396 00:20:11,920 --> 00:20:14,080 Speaker 1: end of the preseason, you're gonna have I mean, we'll 397 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: see maybe five receivers on the roster, maybe six, will 398 00:20:18,680 --> 00:20:20,600 Speaker 1: see how that shakes out. So at the end of 399 00:20:20,600 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: the day, the guys who are the most well rounded, 400 00:20:24,080 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: you know, he said he's looking for areas of expertise. 401 00:20:26,800 --> 00:20:29,800 Speaker 1: He wants to know what each guy does best. But 402 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:35,080 Speaker 1: then after the thing you do best, those guys with 403 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: the more well rounded games are the ones who are 404 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: going to make the fifty three man roster. And then 405 00:20:39,800 --> 00:20:41,920 Speaker 1: there may be there may be one or two of 406 00:20:41,960 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 1: those guys further down the depth chart that have that 407 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: one that one really really special skill that he may 408 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:51,280 Speaker 1: try to utilize in certain ways, but then also developed 409 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:53,520 Speaker 1: that player to be more well rounded down the road. 410 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 1: That's just kind of how I see this playing out 411 00:20:55,800 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: in a very in a very abstract way right now. Actually, Michael, 412 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:02,440 Speaker 1: at least during over the last fifteen years, the best 413 00:21:02,480 --> 00:21:05,040 Speaker 1: example of that is Davante Adams Davante Adams is very 414 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,639 Speaker 1: specialized during his rookie season and what he could do 415 00:21:07,680 --> 00:21:10,280 Speaker 1: and what they were asking him to do. You flash 416 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: forward five years later now in the player that he's become. 417 00:21:13,200 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: That's what they're looking for from these young receivers on 418 00:21:15,320 --> 00:21:17,480 Speaker 1: this roster. All right, Well, with that, we will call 419 00:21:17,520 --> 00:21:20,119 Speaker 1: it a wrap on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be 420 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,080 Speaker 1: sure to follow all of our coverage of the team 421 00:21:22,119 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 1: and of this week's open O, t A and locker 422 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:28,000 Speaker 1: room session on packers dot com. Be sure to subscribe 423 00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: to us and like us on iTunes and other podcast 424 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,840 Speaker 1: services if you are so inclined as a podcast listener. 425 00:21:33,880 --> 00:21:36,200 Speaker 1: On Twitter, he's at west Hot. I'm at Mike Spofford 426 00:21:36,240 --> 00:21:39,639 Speaker 1: at Packers for the team account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody, 427 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:40,640 Speaker 1: See you next time.