1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:20,520 Speaker 1: Hi, everyone, Welcome to Packers Unscripted from Packers dot Com. 2 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:23,360 Speaker 1: I am Mike Spofford and he is my trusted colleague, 3 00:00:23,400 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: Wes Hodkowitz. Were coming to you here from our studios 4 00:00:26,680 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: at lambeau Field and West. Super Bowl weekend is almost 5 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: upon us, and with regards to Super Bowl weekend in Minneapolis, 6 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: the biggest news for Packers fans will occur on Saturday 7 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 1: evening because we will find out whether or not, at 8 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: long last, if Jerry Kramer will be inducted into the 9 00:00:49,200 --> 00:00:51,320 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame. Those decisions on the Hall of Fame 10 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:54,440 Speaker 1: class are made the night before the Super Bowl. They'll 11 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: be announced on the NFL Honors Show on Saturday evening. 12 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: The inductions then would take place the following summer. Jerry Kramer, 13 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:05,880 Speaker 1: for the eleventh time, is a finalist for the Hall 14 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 1: of Fame, the second time as a Senior Committee nominee. 15 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: And I know you and I share the same opinion 16 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:16,880 Speaker 1: on this. It's got to happen now. Well, and here's 17 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,200 Speaker 1: the It absolutely has to happen now. I mean, this 18 00:01:19,319 --> 00:01:21,959 Speaker 1: is it. Um. Jerry just turned eighty two years old 19 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:25,000 Speaker 1: last week, I believe so, uh, this is his final crack, 20 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: probably um. And here's the thing about this, this argument, 21 00:01:28,720 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: because I've heard it for a number of years, as 22 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: long as I've been covering the Packers, it's really hit 23 00:01:32,959 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: fever pitch and I don't know what it was like 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: the last time he was up as a senior finalist 25 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: and the conversation, what the narrative it was like. But 26 00:01:41,600 --> 00:01:44,120 Speaker 1: here's my argument. I laid it out an Insider inbox 27 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,920 Speaker 1: on Thursday. Jerry Kramer stopped playing football fifty years ago, 28 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,240 Speaker 1: be retired. This is still a topic. This is still 29 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:55,720 Speaker 1: something from when he was thirty two years old, when 30 00:01:55,720 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: he was eighty two years old, that remains in the 31 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:01,760 Speaker 1: public domain. I don't want to get into the minds 32 00:02:01,760 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: of Hall of Fame voters or why we're at the 33 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:07,160 Speaker 1: point that we are, But if popular opinion, if overwhelming 34 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,640 Speaker 1: public sentiment has us to this point, why is this 35 00:02:11,720 --> 00:02:16,079 Speaker 1: still a debate? It's an honest question because it's it's like, 36 00:02:16,560 --> 00:02:22,080 Speaker 1: are we doing what is right for the game of football? 37 00:02:22,520 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: And I think there's a lot of Pro Football Hall 38 00:02:24,560 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: of Fame voters, and I know several of them that 39 00:02:26,680 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 1: feel like everything up to this point has done that. 40 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,240 Speaker 1: But it just seems to me that if this is 41 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:35,120 Speaker 1: still a topic in two thousand, eighteen, fifty years after 42 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: he retired. Something in the program didn't work. And I 43 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:44,800 Speaker 1: think that's why, as I said this Saturday night, the 44 00:02:44,800 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: Pro Football Hall of Fame voters have a chance to 45 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 1: write one of the game's biggest wrongs. Yeah, and I 46 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 1: simplify this in a different way, because you're talking about 47 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: that fifty years have gone by a perfectly and I 48 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: like the way you phrase that, a perfectly valid way 49 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: to think about it. I go back to the very 50 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: beginning in the way I simplify this, and that you 51 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:07,000 Speaker 1: can talk about all the all the noise, and all 52 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: the reasons and all the comparisons and this and that. 53 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 1: But back in the beginning, essentially nineteen sixty nine, Jerry 54 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,840 Speaker 1: Kramer was one of fifteen players fifteen players in the 55 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,400 Speaker 1: league voted by the Hall of Fame voters onto the 56 00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: NFL's fiftieth anniversary team. One of fifteen players. Fourteen of 57 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,800 Speaker 1: those fifteen are in the Hall of Fame. Jerry Kramer 58 00:03:27,919 --> 00:03:30,320 Speaker 1: is the only one who is not. And if you 59 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: want to compare the number of all pros, and there's 60 00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:35,560 Speaker 1: the talk about, oh, there's too many Lombardi Packers in 61 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame. I mean, I just I'm sorry. 62 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,360 Speaker 1: I toss all of it out, because if the guy 63 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: was voted to the NFL's fiftieth anniversary team, why is 64 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: he not in the Hall of Fame. It just to me, 65 00:03:46,520 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: it absolutely doesn't make sense if he was good enough 66 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: from that the same type of voters. And I realized 67 00:03:52,080 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: that people on the committee change over the years, but 68 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:57,800 Speaker 1: if the same essentially the same voting body voted into 69 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,560 Speaker 1: that fiftieth anniversary team, how can you know all these 70 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: these ten times as a finalist later he not get 71 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:06,400 Speaker 1: the votes to get in. I don't understand it. And 72 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,280 Speaker 1: I think you bring up a good point, Mike, because 73 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: it is the way that I view this thing. I honestly, 74 00:04:11,040 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: in two thousand and eighteen, I don't view this as 75 00:04:12,880 --> 00:04:15,560 Speaker 1: a referendum on Jerry Kramer, as strange as it sounds, 76 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,359 Speaker 1: because he's the one that's up to be a candidate 77 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: and inducting in the ProFootball of Fame. I honestly, and 78 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: I'll say this to all my friends that are on 79 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: that voting panel, I honestly think this is a referendum 80 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: on the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Itself, because I 81 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 1: think for too long the conversation about has been about 82 00:04:31,040 --> 00:04:34,159 Speaker 1: why Jerry Kramer doesn't deserve to get in, rather than 83 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: why are we standing in the way of it? And 84 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: I think a part of it is that not enough 85 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:41,039 Speaker 1: people have gone to bat for him over the years. 86 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: And I commend his daughter, Alicia, I commend his family 87 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: for continuing to push his cause because you know how 88 00:04:46,480 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: Kramer is. For as much as you know the Instant 89 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: replaybook and things like that, people at times criticized him 90 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:57,440 Speaker 1: for his outspokenness on certain different avenues. He's really not 91 00:04:57,520 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: a big self promoter in regards the pro football fame. 92 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 1: You talk to him earlier this year, he doesn't want 93 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:04,880 Speaker 1: to talk about absolutes and I need I deserve to 94 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,120 Speaker 1: be in. It's always been about I'm gonna be happy 95 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:09,560 Speaker 1: at the end of the day if it happens. It happens, 96 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:11,040 Speaker 1: if it doesn't, it's not going to change the way 97 00:05:11,040 --> 00:05:13,200 Speaker 1: I live. And I'll be honest with you, Mike, I 98 00:05:13,240 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 1: just feel like after this amount of time that if 99 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:19,359 Speaker 1: we're still talking about this western Hockwitz, who wasn't born 100 00:05:20,040 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: in n Let six is in this conversation, it should 101 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 1: have ended a long time ago. Yeah, And I commend 102 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: Jerry Kramer frankly for the way he's handled this over 103 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 1: the years because I've I've had multiple conversations with him 104 00:05:34,120 --> 00:05:38,120 Speaker 1: about it, um for interviews on packers dot Com and whatnot. 105 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:43,520 Speaker 1: And his his answer up until this latest opportunity now 106 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,000 Speaker 1: to be a finalist again, his answer has always been, 107 00:05:46,800 --> 00:05:48,960 Speaker 1: the NFL has been so good to me and given 108 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:52,239 Speaker 1: me so much in my life, because it hasn't given 109 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: me this one thing. I'm not going to let that 110 00:05:55,279 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: ruin everything. I'm not going to let that, you know, 111 00:05:57,800 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: affect me on a daily basis as as as as 112 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 1: he goes about it. And as you said, now it's 113 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 1: been fifty years since he's been retired, it's been twenty 114 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:09,440 Speaker 1: years since he was last a finalist in via the 115 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:14,600 Speaker 1: Seniors Committee. Um, you know, I would I I personally 116 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:17,839 Speaker 1: for him, would hate to see him go through this 117 00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:20,640 Speaker 1: again and not get it. I mean, it would almost 118 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:22,039 Speaker 1: be better if he's not going to get it. It It 119 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: would almost be better if he had never come up 120 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: as a finalist again. In becomes the last chapter. So 121 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:30,799 Speaker 1: I'm really hoping on a personal level for Jerry Kramer. 122 00:06:31,120 --> 00:06:33,080 Speaker 1: Referendum on the Pro Football Hall of Fame and all 123 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:35,479 Speaker 1: that aside, which I agree with. For Jerry on a 124 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,400 Speaker 1: personal level, he's got to get it. There's a human 125 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:39,160 Speaker 1: being involved with this at the end of the day. 126 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: And I want to point out two more things here 127 00:06:40,839 --> 00:06:42,039 Speaker 1: because I know we're gonna have to get to a 128 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: break Pro Football of Fame is about guys who changed 129 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: the game, right, Yeah, that's that's who is supposed to 130 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,919 Speaker 1: be included in this illustrious group. You can talk about 131 00:06:50,920 --> 00:06:52,560 Speaker 1: the sweep, you can talk about the fact he was 132 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:55,080 Speaker 1: a place kicker. I mean, there's so many different things 133 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:57,640 Speaker 1: that you can mention in terms of what his credentials are. 134 00:06:57,680 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 1: That the team that you mentioned, the Pro Bowls, the 135 00:06:59,640 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: All pre Os. The other thing I go back to 136 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,720 Speaker 1: two is that he is one of the greatest ambassadors 137 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: of Green Bay Packers football. Whether it was in the 138 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 1: sixties or whether it's been in the two thousand's, he 139 00:07:10,000 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: is the face along with bart Starting a number of 140 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: other people, but he is one of the faces of 141 00:07:14,080 --> 00:07:16,360 Speaker 1: that generation of Packers and I just think that has 142 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: to come for something. Yeah, I think so too. With that, 143 00:07:18,640 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: we do have to go to a break back with 144 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: more and Packers unscripted. Right after this Welcome Back to 145 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: Packers unscripted, Mike Spofford alongside West, hod Kowitz and West, 146 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:47,520 Speaker 1: continuing our discussion of the upcoming Hall of Fame announcement. 147 00:07:47,560 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: To put Jerry Kramer's case aside for a minute. You've 148 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: got fifteen finalists for a maximum of five spots in 149 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 1: what they call the Modern Era class for the Hall 150 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: of Fame. Kramer is a Senior Committee nominee. His case 151 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:06,080 Speaker 1: is considered separately, just so people understand. When you look 152 00:08:06,080 --> 00:08:08,880 Speaker 1: at this group of fifteen finalists, maximum of five can 153 00:08:08,920 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: be chosen to be inducted. To me, this looks like 154 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: a tough class to crack. In the sense of what 155 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,760 Speaker 1: I mean by that is, Brian er, Lacker, Ray Lewis, 156 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: and Randy Moss are all eligible for the first time 157 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: to get into the Hall of Fame. I think all 158 00:08:26,080 --> 00:08:28,200 Speaker 1: three of them are Hall of Famers and have a 159 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,160 Speaker 1: very good chance of getting in. And then you add 160 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:34,080 Speaker 1: Terrell Owens, who came like one or two votes away 161 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,120 Speaker 1: last year from getting in. That right, there might be 162 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: four of the five in this class. Now, there are 163 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: some voters who don't necessarily always fully support guys the 164 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: first time they come up, they like to consider some 165 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:48,120 Speaker 1: of the other guys who have been on the list 166 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,680 Speaker 1: longer because they know that those guys who are newly 167 00:08:51,720 --> 00:08:55,120 Speaker 1: eligible basically have twenty five years potentially a twenty five 168 00:08:55,200 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: year window to get in. But that being said, those 169 00:08:58,280 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: those guys who are finalists and who are eligible for 170 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:04,199 Speaker 1: the first time, those three plus Terrell Owens, that might 171 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,160 Speaker 1: be of this Hall of Fame Modern era class, Yeah, 172 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:08,719 Speaker 1: it very well might be. I mean, I look at 173 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,719 Speaker 1: in my mind, I don't know how you can have 174 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:13,560 Speaker 1: a Pro Football Hall of Fame class this year that 175 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: definitely doesn't have Ray Lewis and Brian or Lacker, and 176 00:09:15,800 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: I just think those guys completely changed the game. Randy 177 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:21,960 Speaker 1: Mossa had just a phenomenal career, and then obviously that 178 00:09:22,040 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: resurgence with the New England Patriots that I kind of 179 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: like in a little bit to what Charles Woodson had 180 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 1: with the Packers, where he probably had the credentials to 181 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:31,439 Speaker 1: begin with, but that just puts it over the top. 182 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: The twenty three touchdowns that one season. I know it 183 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:36,000 Speaker 1: it ended kind of quietly in two thousand and ten 184 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: and two thousand twelve, but I'm guessing if he didn't 185 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:40,959 Speaker 1: actually end up coming back with the forty, he'd probably 186 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,160 Speaker 1: be in the Hall of Fame already. Owens is such 187 00:09:43,200 --> 00:09:46,200 Speaker 1: a unique case just because of the ups and downs 188 00:09:46,200 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: of his career and certainly trying to figure out, you know, 189 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,600 Speaker 1: the balance between his physical athleticism and some of the 190 00:09:51,600 --> 00:09:55,080 Speaker 1: controversy that followed him. Uh. I basically, I'm putting it 191 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 1: down to this, I'm very curious outside of those top 192 00:09:57,360 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 1: three new candidates, who I think are all first ballot 193 00:09:59,840 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 1: Hall famers, who potentially fills out the rest of that 194 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: class some really good offensive linemen that deserves consideration. I 195 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: think several of them will eventually get in. Um. I 196 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 1: mean just it's all over the board right now in 197 00:10:11,040 --> 00:10:13,000 Speaker 1: terms of what they're going to be looking for. I 198 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:14,960 Speaker 1: know so many times when I talk to these guys, 199 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:17,440 Speaker 1: they mentioned how they wish it we were voting for 200 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,840 Speaker 1: ten guys. You know that that what you have to 201 00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,920 Speaker 1: limit it to is so exclusive that it really makes 202 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:26,040 Speaker 1: those decisions heart wrenching. Yeah. I think one of the 203 00:10:26,120 --> 00:10:28,480 Speaker 1: one of the cases to follow that's very interesting. I 204 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: was reading a little bit about is a former Dallas 205 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:35,520 Speaker 1: Cowboys cornerback Everson Wats. He's a finalist. And what makes 206 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:38,960 Speaker 1: his case really interesting is he's at the end, I believe, 207 00:10:39,080 --> 00:10:41,680 Speaker 1: of the twenty five year win or the twenty five 208 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:44,920 Speaker 1: years since he retired. This is his last chance to 209 00:10:44,960 --> 00:10:47,960 Speaker 1: get in through the modern era process without having to 210 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: to go the senior route later on. And there's you know, 211 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:55,200 Speaker 1: him getting to the finalist stage. Now at this point, 212 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,760 Speaker 1: there's been you know, an uptick in the interest in 213 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 1: revisiting his career and what he did for was Tom 214 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:03,440 Speaker 1: Landry Cowboys teams and what he did with, you know, 215 00:11:03,520 --> 00:11:06,480 Speaker 1: on a defense that also had some some other Hall 216 00:11:06,520 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: of Fame players like Randy White and Too Tall Jones 217 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,120 Speaker 1: and and guys like that. I just I think his 218 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: I think his case is interesting. I remember watching him 219 00:11:13,679 --> 00:11:16,880 Speaker 1: play for the Cowboys on television as a kid. I 220 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:18,640 Speaker 1: don't know, you know, I mean back then. I'm not 221 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: looking at these games thinking about who's going to be 222 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: in the Hall of Fame, but he was definitely an 223 00:11:23,679 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: upper echelon cornerback and uh. And I'll just be very 224 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,839 Speaker 1: curious to see what happens with his case because this 225 00:11:29,880 --> 00:11:33,120 Speaker 1: is sort of his his last chance by the regular route. Yeah, 226 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:34,840 Speaker 1: And I think the one thing that's really interesting to 227 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:37,680 Speaker 1: Mike the last few years, it seems like the narrative 228 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,680 Speaker 1: and sort of the argument for defensive backs has changed 229 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 1: a little bit. Yeah, when you look at not only 230 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: I mean, safeties are a position where have really been 231 00:11:44,720 --> 00:11:46,719 Speaker 1: difficult to gain traction. But to some extent, if you're 232 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:49,080 Speaker 1: not Dion Sanders, it's been really tough to get the 233 00:11:49,080 --> 00:11:52,000 Speaker 1: cornerbacks in there as well at times, just because you know, 234 00:11:52,240 --> 00:11:55,600 Speaker 1: being able to judge who really was the true, uh 235 00:11:55,640 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: you know, elite of of those generations. And I'll be 236 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:00,199 Speaker 1: honest with you, I don't know a whole lot abouts, 237 00:12:00,240 --> 00:12:02,400 Speaker 1: but I do know those defenses he played on in 238 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,240 Speaker 1: Dallas and then obviously the New York Giants. Um, there's 239 00:12:05,280 --> 00:12:08,360 Speaker 1: some talent, some really talented players around him. UM, so 240 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: it will be interesting. This is I think probably the 241 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,080 Speaker 1: most difficult thing for a lot of these these voters 242 00:12:13,160 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 1: is that it really you can have that twenty five 243 00:12:15,480 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: year window, as you said, where it's like, okay, well 244 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: the first time, and he'll have another chance next year. 245 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: But when you get to the end of that, um, 246 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:25,720 Speaker 1: you really have a decision to make again. He can 247 00:12:25,760 --> 00:12:28,160 Speaker 1: go into Kevin mill lies up, I mean, ty Law 248 00:12:28,280 --> 00:12:31,480 Speaker 1: is up. Edgar and James Joe Jacobe from the Washington 249 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:33,520 Speaker 1: teams over the years. I think another guy to watch 250 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 1: too that I'll throw in is is Tony Boselli and 251 00:12:36,080 --> 00:12:39,280 Speaker 1: say that because his career was cut short by injuries, 252 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: he was considered the premier left tackle in the game 253 00:12:42,160 --> 00:12:45,960 Speaker 1: during his time. The fact that that Terrell Davis got 254 00:12:46,000 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: in with the shorten it opens another door. Now. I 255 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,920 Speaker 1: still think Terrell Davis getting in a lot of that 256 00:12:53,000 --> 00:12:56,360 Speaker 1: had to do with his postseason domin on top of 257 00:12:56,360 --> 00:12:58,320 Speaker 1: what he did in a in a shortened career in 258 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,560 Speaker 1: the regular season, but the fact that he got in 259 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: it changes the perception on a guy like Basselli who 260 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:05,840 Speaker 1: was at the top of his game and at the 261 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:07,959 Speaker 1: top of the league but then didn't play as long 262 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:10,080 Speaker 1: as other guys like a Sterling Sharp people for that 263 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: matter as well. Yeah, I mean the fact that he 264 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:15,079 Speaker 1: only had really six seasons. He wasn't expansion picked then 265 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: by the Texans, Don Papers Texans. The hope was he'd 266 00:13:17,920 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: be able to, you know, put everything behind him and 267 00:13:20,120 --> 00:13:23,240 Speaker 1: keep playing. He didn't. Um, So it'll be very interesting 268 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: to see this year and if it happens, you know, 269 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 1: proceeding on the next year's how people view his career. Yeah, well, 270 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,240 Speaker 1: we gotta get to another breakback with more on Packers 271 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:52,160 Speaker 1: Unscripted right after this. Welcome back to Packers Unscripted. Mike 272 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,840 Speaker 1: Spofford in this chair, Wes Hodkowits in that one, and West. 273 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: Since it is Super Bowl weekend upon us here, we 274 00:13:57,280 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 1: should probably talk about the Super Bowl has been a 275 00:13:59,679 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 1: lot of time. I'm talking about the Hall of Fame stuff, 276 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: which I think is interesting debate. But Eagles against the Patriots. 277 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,320 Speaker 1: The overarching storyline here I think is really interesting in 278 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:13,080 Speaker 1: the fact that you have Tom Brady and Bill Belichick 279 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:16,959 Speaker 1: going for their sixth Super Bowl together against a team 280 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: that is searching for its first Super Bowl championship in 281 00:14:20,080 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: the Philadelphia Eagles, a team that has not won an 282 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: NFL title since the pre Super Bowl era, that being 283 00:14:25,880 --> 00:14:29,680 Speaker 1: nineteen sixty. They beat Vince Lombardi's Packers at Franklin Field. 284 00:14:29,920 --> 00:14:32,880 Speaker 1: That turned out to be the only postseason loss of 285 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: Vince Lombardi's coaching career, by the way, but six the 286 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: last time the Eagles want a title. They're trying to 287 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: break that drought, and uh and the Patriots trying to 288 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: simply add to an impressive legacy for me, Mike, this 289 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: is one of the most intriguing Super Bowls I think 290 00:14:48,280 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 1: in recent memory. And the reason I say that is 291 00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: because you have two imperfect teams vying for what I 292 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 1: think a lot of people refer to as perfection in 293 00:14:56,840 --> 00:14:58,440 Speaker 1: terms of winning the Super Bowl. And I say that 294 00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: because you look at this this Patriots team and how 295 00:15:01,400 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: they've had to sort of pull it together on defense 296 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:04,960 Speaker 1: a little bit. I think they finished the regular season 297 00:15:04,960 --> 00:15:08,280 Speaker 1: like twenty seven and total defense, but you know the 298 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,320 Speaker 1: way that they've kind of made the pieces fit in 299 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: the playoffs, and you know, you bring in James Harrison, 300 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:16,440 Speaker 1: he's playing significant snaps after not being on the roster 301 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,560 Speaker 1: a month ago. Kyle van Noy, who was sort of 302 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:23,200 Speaker 1: a discarded seen as a bus player coming out of Detroit, 303 00:15:23,600 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 1: he ends up being there starting outside backer. Uh. And 304 00:15:26,360 --> 00:15:29,520 Speaker 1: then you look at Philadelphia. They lose Carson Wentz, they 305 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: have to turn to a backup the running backs. They've 306 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:34,560 Speaker 1: had a carousel there throughout the course of the year, 307 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:38,160 Speaker 1: lost their starting left tack, lost their starting left tackle. Um, 308 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: all those things together, you still have to pull it. Oh, 309 00:15:43,000 --> 00:15:45,000 Speaker 1: you have to be able to find a way. And 310 00:15:45,080 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: I think both of these teams have done it. To me. 311 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,600 Speaker 1: I think you look at the Atlanta Falcons from a 312 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:52,120 Speaker 1: year ago, you look at a lot of these teams. 313 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: It's not a guarantee you get back, so when you're there, 314 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:57,120 Speaker 1: you have to make the most of it. I think 315 00:15:57,120 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 1: both of these teams. Whoever comes out on top ultimately 316 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,120 Speaker 1: is the team from this particular season. Yeah. From a 317 00:16:02,200 --> 00:16:05,280 Speaker 1: chess match standpoint, what intrigues me about this game is 318 00:16:05,320 --> 00:16:08,040 Speaker 1: the fact that we saw in the NFC Championship game 319 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,880 Speaker 1: the Eagles change the narrative. They changed the storyline with 320 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: what Nick Foles and that offense was able to do 321 00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:17,960 Speaker 1: against the Minnesota Vikings, the number one defense in the league, 322 00:16:17,960 --> 00:16:21,360 Speaker 1: that game plan with Doug Peterson, Frank Reich, that coaching staff, 323 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:24,000 Speaker 1: what they put together, and the way it was executed 324 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:27,520 Speaker 1: by those players to explode for that many points against 325 00:16:27,880 --> 00:16:31,320 Speaker 1: the top defense in the NFL. On the other side, 326 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: the customary procedure, I guess you'd say for a Bill 327 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:40,520 Speaker 1: Belichick defense, when he's got two weeks to prepare and 328 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 1: he's been in these super bowls before, is they come 329 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: out with defensive looks that have not been on film 330 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,800 Speaker 1: that the other team cannot be prepared for they haven't 331 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:51,840 Speaker 1: seen it before, and that offense has to be able 332 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: to adjust on the fly to what the Patriots are doing, 333 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: because they're going to dig deeper in their playbook and 334 00:16:57,120 --> 00:17:00,760 Speaker 1: find some things that haven't been used, and they're going 335 00:17:00,800 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 1: to try to surprise the opponent with it and see 336 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 1: how they react. From a chess match standpoint, that makes 337 00:17:05,760 --> 00:17:08,760 Speaker 1: this really interesting. It does. It's a very compelling matchup. 338 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:12,040 Speaker 1: I still think, in my opinion, though, that the Patriots 339 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: are the team with the most amount of pressure on 340 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:16,360 Speaker 1: them because, as the Eagles up said, I mean, they're 341 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:18,200 Speaker 1: the underdogs. They're gonna ride that all the way through. 342 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:20,880 Speaker 1: Even though they've been a number one seed in THEFC, 343 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,880 Speaker 1: they've been an underdog every single week. The reason why 344 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: I see the pressures on the Patriots is because Nick 345 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: Foles in that Philadelphia offense that was not supposed to 346 00:17:29,080 --> 00:17:31,879 Speaker 1: do anything against that number one ranked defense in the NFL. 347 00:17:32,119 --> 00:17:33,879 Speaker 1: They surprised a lot of people. They opened up a 348 00:17:33,920 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: lot of eyes, and as you were seeing in our 349 00:17:35,280 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: pre production meeting, Doug Peterson, Frank right that the game 350 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,120 Speaker 1: plan that they put together for that contest remarkable. Now, 351 00:17:42,160 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: the question is can Doug Peterson, the lifelong backup, the 352 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: former high school football coach. Can they do it again 353 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,040 Speaker 1: against one of the game's very best it, I think 354 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:51,800 Speaker 1: to me, I'm going to be glued to the television 355 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:53,880 Speaker 1: for all four hours however long that thing goes. Yeah, 356 00:17:53,920 --> 00:17:56,680 Speaker 1: And Doug Peterson, the former backup quarterback in Green Bay, 357 00:17:56,720 --> 00:17:58,840 Speaker 1: he's got Brett Farve coming to get us to the 358 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:02,240 Speaker 1: Philadelphia Eagles in their final team meeting on Saturday night. 359 00:18:02,640 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: You know, maybe those little inspirational things, you never know 360 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,040 Speaker 1: how those can go. Yeah, and hopefully that that pre 361 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:10,200 Speaker 1: whatever meeting actually wraps up at the time kickoff starts 362 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,680 Speaker 1: on Sunday. Who knows how long far we'll talk. Right 363 00:18:13,040 --> 00:18:15,320 Speaker 1: with that, Let's take care of a little sponsored business. 364 00:18:15,359 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: Today is a perfect day to fill up with some 365 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,399 Speaker 1: new Campbell's Chunky Max Soup. Chunky Max is loaded with 366 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: more meat than you can handle, a lot more. We're 367 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: talking more than a comparable Chunky soup. So go on 368 00:18:25,880 --> 00:18:29,640 Speaker 1: fill up with new Campbell's Chunky Max Soup. Campbell's Chunky Soup, 369 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,960 Speaker 1: the official sup partner the Green Bay Packers back with 370 00:18:32,000 --> 00:18:51,960 Speaker 1: more on Packers Unscripted right after this welcome back to 371 00:18:52,040 --> 00:18:55,240 Speaker 1: Packers unscripted Mike Spofford. Here, West, Hodko, It's over there, 372 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,800 Speaker 1: okay West? Quickly before we go Super Bowl fifty two 373 00:18:58,840 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 1: Patriots against the Eagles, I want to know who you 374 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,720 Speaker 1: think an X factor in this game is going to be, 375 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 1: and then I want your prediction on what you think 376 00:19:06,680 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: is gonna happen. I think the X factor is gonna 377 00:19:08,280 --> 00:19:11,359 Speaker 1: be Rick Lovado, the former Packers long snapper that was 378 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:14,359 Speaker 1: serving sandwiches two years ago and now the New Jersey 379 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:16,560 Speaker 1: sub shop. Yeah, he's gonna be snapping in the super Bowl. 380 00:19:16,560 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: And no credit toil Rick. I really liked him during 381 00:19:18,800 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: his time. A good dude. I wish him well. But 382 00:19:21,680 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: to me, I think the biggest X factor honestly is 383 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:27,280 Speaker 1: going to be Nick Foles. And if Foles can can 384 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,439 Speaker 1: really I don't want to say chop up, but I 385 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,800 Speaker 1: mean he just did everything so darn effectively against Minnesota. 386 00:19:33,800 --> 00:19:35,920 Speaker 1: There were no holes in his game. In that game 387 00:19:36,320 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 1: he put that he made the plays that were there 388 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 1: down field, and he was smart with the football. You 389 00:19:41,119 --> 00:19:43,320 Speaker 1: have to do that against the New England Patriots, I 390 00:19:43,359 --> 00:19:46,359 Speaker 1: think you saw the downfall. Even when Blake Bortles played 391 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,920 Speaker 1: a perfect game for fifty five minutes. When it came 392 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,760 Speaker 1: down to crunch time, the Patriots defense, they had the 393 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,280 Speaker 1: right calls. Bortles wasn't able to make enough plays. That 394 00:19:55,359 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: was the difference. I think if if Foles is able 395 00:19:59,400 --> 00:20:03,400 Speaker 1: to protect the football, I think that the Philadelphia Eagles 396 00:20:03,400 --> 00:20:05,480 Speaker 1: are going to get their first Super Bowl victory because 397 00:20:06,160 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: I see even with as you mentioned, all the changes 398 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:11,480 Speaker 1: that the Patriots are gonna make it, I'm fully with you, 399 00:20:11,480 --> 00:20:13,880 Speaker 1: they're gonna show a lot of unscarted luck. I still 400 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:16,240 Speaker 1: think this is a They played the best defense in 401 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,240 Speaker 1: the league last week, and if he did that to them, 402 00:20:18,760 --> 00:20:20,560 Speaker 1: if you could find a way to replicate that again 403 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,280 Speaker 1: in these two weeks that they have to prepare for it, 404 00:20:22,359 --> 00:20:24,600 Speaker 1: I think the Philadelphia Eagles call it on top. Yeah. 405 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: For me, the X factor is also with the Eagles, 406 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,199 Speaker 1: and I'm going with running back j A Gi if 407 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm saying correctly, because when you talk about protecting Nick 408 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 1: Foles protecting the football, I think I think A Gi 409 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:37,840 Speaker 1: and this running game of the Eagles is what is 410 00:20:37,840 --> 00:20:39,840 Speaker 1: going to be Nick Fole's best friend and his and 411 00:20:39,880 --> 00:20:43,639 Speaker 1: his potential protection against Matt Patricia's blitz is and whatever 412 00:20:44,119 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: that New England defensive coordinator is gonna throw Adam. As 413 00:20:47,200 --> 00:20:50,040 Speaker 1: far as a prediction, I'll say this, I think when 414 00:20:50,040 --> 00:20:52,840 Speaker 1: the Patriots are in the Super Bowl, it's extremely hard 415 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: to predict what's going to happen because if you look 416 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 1: at the if you look at Tom Brady's career in 417 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,639 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl, He's lost two Super Bowls, the David 418 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: Tyree helmet catch and the Mario Manningham diving sideline bomb catch, 419 00:21:06,320 --> 00:21:10,080 Speaker 1: and he's won two Super Bowls. When the Seattle Seahawks 420 00:21:10,119 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 1: decided to throw the ball from the one yard line 421 00:21:11,880 --> 00:21:14,520 Speaker 1: instead of run up with Marshawn Lynch and then last 422 00:21:14,560 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: year coming back from to three and the Julian Adelman 423 00:21:18,400 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: bounce all over the place, you know, catch in the 424 00:21:20,560 --> 00:21:22,160 Speaker 1: middle of the field. That was such a huge part 425 00:21:22,160 --> 00:21:25,760 Speaker 1: of that comeback. So prediction wise, I tell you, you know, 426 00:21:26,280 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: anything can happen. The Super Bowls with the Patriots have 427 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:30,879 Speaker 1: shown us that. But I'm with you. I think the 428 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,520 Speaker 1: Eagles pull this thing out. Yeah, And I'd like to 429 00:21:32,560 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: see if their backfield, as you mentioned, can outduel the 430 00:21:35,160 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 1: backfield of the Patriots. I think there's a ten or 431 00:21:37,040 --> 00:21:39,760 Speaker 1: eleven running backs playing in this game. They both have 432 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,200 Speaker 1: stacked really use a lot of different looks. If Jay 433 00:21:43,320 --> 00:21:45,760 Speaker 1: and you know, Corey Clement, all those guys can pull 434 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 1: it together, I think they're gonna come up with a victory. 435 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: All right. With that, we will call it a rap 436 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: on this edition of Packers Unscripted. Be sure to follow 437 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,400 Speaker 1: all of our coverage of the team on Packers dot 438 00:21:55,400 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: com on Twitter. He's at west Hot, I'm at Mike 439 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: Spofford at Packers for the m account. Thanks for tuning in, everybody. 440 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: We'll see you next time. M hmm.