It has taken me a few days to actually talk about the Packers, let alone write about them. But I am an adult and sports are well, just sports. There are far more important things to worry about in life. Will I be disappointed not to see the Packers get their shot at the Saints? Absolutely. However, it’s not the end of the world. The great thing about sports is that there is always next year. I was told by a football coach back in my glory years on the gridiron that “you have 24 hours to mourn and 24 hours to celebrate.” Well, I took more than 24 hours, but it was just such a weird ending that I think I am granted more time.
Instead of giving my two cents on the game or another step into stardom for Aaron Rodgers is taking or how Charles Woodson should have won “Man of the Year” as well on Tuesday, I think Chris and Gene did fantastic jobs covering those stories earlier this week here, here and here. Chris is going to have some great posts about the Packers offseason next week, so not wanting to step on his toes I want to cover some players that stuck out in my mind this past season, good and bad. It is easy to say that Aaron Rodgers was the offensive MVP, C-Wood the defensive MVP, Clay Matthews the top rookie, etc. But what about the others who went unnoticed or too noticed for their own good?
Most Surprising Player
Both Rodgers and Woodson could fit the bill here as while we all expected great things, we might have not expected this great. But what about Spencer Havner? The kid was probably one of the last players to make the team out of training camp and was brought on because he could play offense, defense and special teams. Well, we found out he also had a knack for the endzone. Four of his seven catches during the regular season were for touchdowns, not to mention his huge touchdown last Sunday. He also proved to a valuable lead blocker in certain sets and quite frankly made Donald Lee very expendable. Not bad for a guy who none us expected much from this year. Finley and Havner in 2010? Sign me up.
Most Disappointing Player
If you ask a fan, “What player upset you the most this season?” the two most popular names would undoubtedly be Mason Crosby and Jarret Bush. But in the grand scheme were they the most disappointing? Crosby has shown his faults prior to this season and Bush just isn’t anything more than a special teams player. That’s why I am going with Daryn Colledge. The offensive line was the weakest link of this team and if not for a mid-season turnaround, Rodgers might have not made it through the year. Colledge was playing for a contract and has shown flashes of deserving one before this season. Not anymore. He was easily the most disappointing player on the most disappointing unit of the team this year.
Most underrated player
Funny that after I bashed the offensive line I am going to shower some praise, but this goes to Mark Tauscher. A year after tearing up his knee and going through the whole offseason not being wanted by any of the 32 teams, the former Badger and Auburndale Apache might have saved the Packers season. The offensive was historically bad for the first half of the season and the team was at a crossroads at 4-4. In comes Tauscher, the line stabilizes enough and the rest is history.
Most overrated player
I think we have picked on A.J. Hawk enough. A solid player, but it’s clear he will never live up to his #5 draft pick status. Can a former undrafted free agent be overrated though? I think Atari Bigby was. I’m not calling for his ouster because the team has no one else and he wasn’t horrible (except last week when he absolutely was), but talk about a guy regressing. Bigby has forgotten how to tackle and has seem to lost his knack for the ball. How could have he been that much better than Anthony Smith?
Taking a step
Or leap in this instance. How could any end of the season list not include Jermichael Finley? Absolute freak. That’s all that needs to be said.
Don’t forget about me
I really loved what Donald Driver did this year. He showed some frustration with his contract this preseason, which was uncharacteristic of him. However, what was characteristic of him was letting his play do the talking. I can’t blame Thompson for being hesitant of restructuring a deal for an aging receiver after doling out top dollar for Greg Jennings. But pound for pound Driver is probably the toughest player on the team and should always have a roster spot until he hangs it up. Oh and he set the franchise record for most career receptions this season and is only just over 600 yards away from breaking the career receiving yards record. Well done sir, well done.
Thanks for the memories
Break-ups are always tough, especially ones that you both still kind of love each other, had a lot of great times and thought it would never end. But something happens along the way and you both know that it just isn’t working anymore and can’t drag it out any longer, awkward moments become frequent …..wait, wait am I talking about my dating history or the Packers? Anyways, it’s going to be tough to see Aaron Kampman leave (even tougher if he ends up across the border), but it has to be done. He just looked so uncomfortable at linebacker before his injury that the defense actually took off in his absence. All three of us at OBOD were excited for the 3-4 scheme this year, but all agreed that if one player could be hindered it would be Kampman. One of the classiest and hardworking players the team has had this decade, but the time has come.
Player I am most excited to see in 2010
Aaron Rodgers has one last step to take to join the pantheon of NFL quarterbacks of Manning, Brady and Brees. Can he do it? Tough to say. It would be the biggest jump in his career and he is only entering year three as a starter. He’ll make it sooner than later though. So the player I am most excited to see in 2010? You guessed it, B.J. Raji (RAJI!). A fan favorite among OBOD faithful since draft day and I am waiting for the day that Capers unleashes Raji to the world. That will come next season. Raji didn’t disappoint as a rookie, but left us wanting more. Early injures and being behind Pickett and Jolly didn’t help, but he should get a good chance to start opening day 2010 with Jolly and Pickett both free agents this offseason. The Raji Tsunami will come people and this is your official warning.
Is it too early to think about the draft? Wait, is it ever too early to think about the draft? Never. We had our time to mourn and now we have start looking ahead, which looks pretty bright. Oh and did I mention we are on twitter? Check us out @ twitter.com/olbagofdonuts!
-Adam Somers
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