As post Super Bowl euphoria begins to subside, I note that we are already thinking about next year. There's a certain irony in that. Teams struggle and their fans sweat blood over the course of a season in the unlikely hope that they can win it all. And then - a few days later - the question turns to the next struggle. That tells us something about life (or at least human nature) and may prompt some questions as well.
I have to admit that I didn't think the Packers could do it this year. I thought that the loss of Finley and Grant took just enough way from the offense and I couldn't get away from the fear that someone would eventually exploit a defense that had become increasingly populated by guys that were entering sales trainee programs at the beginning of the season. But I guess Dom Capers really is a genius.
People have commented to death on the idea that Brett Favre's Wisconsin star has fallen in a way that no one could have predicted. Bart Starr did not fall as far after an uninspired turn as Packer coach ended by an utter brain freeze that gave the last game of the season - and the playoffs - the Bears in 1983. My son still remembers how incensed I was. He was not to be born for another month.
But the real miracle is that we now love Ted Thompson. We know that his draft will leave us scratching our heads. He'll be reaching and passing over media favorites. He won't sign a free agent. He'll explain nothing. But, for now and for a while, we will follow.
2 comments:
As a 49er fan who has watched the Packers dominate my team for the better part of two decades, I was decidedly indifferent to the outcome and can speak with some objectivity.
For the Packers to get to and win the Super Bowl as the No. 6 seed and with 15 people in IR is amazing. For them not to have quit after the crushing NE loss is telling. You are all lucky that when Mike McCarthy was a 49er assistant he was part of the brain trust that passed on Rodgers and took Alex Smith.
I think you have been a bit hard on Ted.
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