packersfan
Footballguy
If people wonder how the Packers have fallen to the pits of the NFL it all starts right here with some incredible pathetic drafting by Sherman as the team's GM. This is a rather ghastly recap by Len Pasquerelli in his column on ESPN.com today:
As the head coach of the Green Bay Packers for six seasons, Mike Sherman probably deserved a better fate, having posted a 59-43 mark (including playoffs) during a tenure in which he took the Packers to the postseason four times, won two division titles and experienced just one losing campaign. Then again, in his dual capacity as the general manager for four of those six seasons, it seems Sherman could not have done much worse, as was evidenced again this week when the Packers released third-year cornerback Ahmad Carroll. The oft-burned cornerback, beaten for 10 touchdowns and flagged for 20 penalties in just 34 games, was Sherman's first-round choice in the 2004 draft, the 25th player chosen overall that year, in a draft that has turned out to be a disastrous chapter in Green Bay history.
The release of Carroll means that all of the Packers' first-day picks from that draft -- Carroll, cornerback Joey Thomas, defensive tackle Donnell Washington and punter B.J. Sander -- are gone. In fact, they aren't in the league with any team. Just two of the six prospects selected by Sherman that year, backup defensive tackle Corey Williams (No. 6) and starting center Scott Wells (No. 7), are still on the Green Bay roster. But that 2004 draft is just the tip of a titanic draft iceberg during Sherman's years as coach/general manager. In the four drafts Sherman presided over while wearing his general manager's cap, the Packers chose 27 players, and just seven of them are still with the club . Three of the four first-round picks from that stretch -- defensive end Jamal Reynolds (2001), wide receiver Javon Walker (2002) and Carroll -- are gone. The lone first-rounder selected by Sherman and still on the roster is linebacker Nick Barnett (2003).
But it gets worse. Of the dozen first-day choices from those four drafts, only two are still in Green Bay, and Barnett is the lone starter. Seven of the 27 players Sherman chose are on other NFL rosters, but that means 13 of his selections are out of the league entirely. The players from those four drafts should, in theory, comprise the nucleus of the Green Bay roster, but instead there is a talent void. There's also a financial ramification, as reflected in the 2004 draft alone. Counting the four games in which Carroll played this season, the Packers invested $8.552 million in bonuses and salaries for the first-day picks from that draft. They spent $5.11 million on Carroll alone. And they have very little to show for it.
As the head coach of the Green Bay Packers for six seasons, Mike Sherman probably deserved a better fate, having posted a 59-43 mark (including playoffs) during a tenure in which he took the Packers to the postseason four times, won two division titles and experienced just one losing campaign. Then again, in his dual capacity as the general manager for four of those six seasons, it seems Sherman could not have done much worse, as was evidenced again this week when the Packers released third-year cornerback Ahmad Carroll. The oft-burned cornerback, beaten for 10 touchdowns and flagged for 20 penalties in just 34 games, was Sherman's first-round choice in the 2004 draft, the 25th player chosen overall that year, in a draft that has turned out to be a disastrous chapter in Green Bay history.
The release of Carroll means that all of the Packers' first-day picks from that draft -- Carroll, cornerback Joey Thomas, defensive tackle Donnell Washington and punter B.J. Sander -- are gone. In fact, they aren't in the league with any team. Just two of the six prospects selected by Sherman that year, backup defensive tackle Corey Williams (No. 6) and starting center Scott Wells (No. 7), are still on the Green Bay roster. But that 2004 draft is just the tip of a titanic draft iceberg during Sherman's years as coach/general manager. In the four drafts Sherman presided over while wearing his general manager's cap, the Packers chose 27 players, and just seven of them are still with the club . Three of the four first-round picks from that stretch -- defensive end Jamal Reynolds (2001), wide receiver Javon Walker (2002) and Carroll -- are gone. The lone first-rounder selected by Sherman and still on the roster is linebacker Nick Barnett (2003).
But it gets worse. Of the dozen first-day choices from those four drafts, only two are still in Green Bay, and Barnett is the lone starter. Seven of the 27 players Sherman chose are on other NFL rosters, but that means 13 of his selections are out of the league entirely. The players from those four drafts should, in theory, comprise the nucleus of the Green Bay roster, but instead there is a talent void. There's also a financial ramification, as reflected in the 2004 draft alone. Counting the four games in which Carroll played this season, the Packers invested $8.552 million in bonuses and salaries for the first-day picks from that draft. They spent $5.11 million on Carroll alone. And they have very little to show for it.
My memory is clouded, but I don't recall Wolfe needing to leave. Such a brilliant decision (in retrospect by judging how he did on his own) in letting Holgrem go as opposed to dual duties. I think Thompson set a good tone with the draft this year, but he needs to get more involved in FA with the cap room. Good (in a sad way) read
