Enough about the pretty boys – let’s talk about the grunts, the hogs, the guys in the trenches. After all, they’re the real reason games are won and lost.

With that said, here’s part three of OBOD’s all-time 53-man roster: the offensive line.

(Note: I [...]]]> The first two parts of our series covered the “skill players” on offense.

Enough about the pretty boys – let’s talk about the grunts, the hogs, the guys in the trenches. After all, they’re the real reason games are won and lost.

With that said, here’s part three of OBOD’s all-time 53-man roster: the offensive line.

(Note: I did not worry so much about whether the player played on the right or left side. I strictly focused on finding the best players at each position.)

Offensive tackle

Starter: Forrest Gregg (1956, 1958-1970) – Gregg was the anchor of Green Bay’s legendary rushing attack, playing in 187 consecutive games. That stood as the franchise record until Brett Favre broke it in 2003.

But did Brett Favre earn “finest player I ever coached” status from Vince Lombardi? No, he did not – Gregg did.

With good reason. Thought to be undersized at 6-feet, 4-inches and 249 pounds, Gregg used his otherwordly athleticism to key the Packers to an average of 151 yards per game on the ground during Lombardi’s time as head coach.

That was enough to earn him nine trips to the Pro Bowl and a 1977 induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Starter: Robert “Cal” Hubbard (1929-1933, 1935) – A tackle in college at Centenary and Geneva, Hubbard moved to d-line while playing for the New York Giants. After being traded to Green Bay in 1929, Hubbard moved back to his natural position.

It was there that he shined. Hubbard helped turn the Packers’ running game into a force as they won world championships in each of his first three seasons.

He was an All-Pro every year from 1931-1933, a member of the NFL’s All-50 Year Team (1970) and a 1963 inductee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Perhaps the coolest thing about Hubbard, though, is this: After his career was over, in 1958, Hubbard became the American League’s umpire-in-chief. His work in that role was so good that, in 1976, he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And, yes, he is the only person ever to be in both hallowed halls. 

Backup: Bob Skoronski (1956, 1959-1968) – Gregg was so good at right tackle, it’s often forgotten who manned the left side for the Lombardi Era Packers. That man was Skoronski.

While never a standout, per se, Skoronski was a tough, solid, durable tackle, playing in 146 games during his time in Green Bay. He played in both Super Bowl wins and five world championships (and earned one Pro Bowl spot). Clearly, Lombardi understood his value.

On an offense with so many stars, it was Skoronski who served as offensive captain from 1965-1968.

Backup: Chad Clifton (2000-Present) – Some will be surprised by this selection, no doubt. After all, we often look at the things Clifton struggles with (injuries, false starts, etc.)

That’s a major mistake, though.

While never dominant, Clifton has been a steady, solid presence at left tackle for over a decade. He played the key position on a line that was amongst the best in the league at both protecting the passer (think of how few times Favre was sacked in the 2000s) and running the ball (see: Ahman Green’s totals from 2001-2004). Obviously, Favre’s quick release and Green’s massive skill set had something to do with that, as well. But you can’t deny Clifton’s ability to excel.

And remember this: Clifton’s career should have been over after the devastating cheap shot he took from Warren Sapp back in 2002. Not only did that hit not end his career, it seemed to make Clifton a better player. To me, anyone who can bounce back from that has to be on this list.

Offensive Guard

Starters: Jerry Kramer (1958-1968) and Fred “Fuzzy” Thurston (1959-1967) – So far, I’ve been listing these players one-by-one. For this spot, I’m making an exception. Some things are just meant to be together.

Such is the case with Kramer and Thurston.

In short, they were the two crucial pieces in the famed “Packers sweep,” one of the most dominant offensive plays in the history of pro football. It’s true that Lombardi’s vision and dedication to running the play correctly were big reasons for its success. But those things would have meant nothing had he not been able to find two players with the total package, in terms of skills, to be able to execute it.

He found them in Kramer and Thurston. Both players complimented their solid size with outstanding athleticism and toughness. Both players earned two All-Pro spots apiece for their efforts and have retained their status as massive fan favorites 40-plus years after their respective retirements.

Neither is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But, really, you can’t always measure impact or importance by a bust in Canton.

Backup: Mike Michalske (1929-1935, 1937) – After playing fullback at Penn State, Michalske transitioned to guard upon entering the pro game (his first two years were spent with the New York Yankees football team. Yes, that was a football team, too, once upon a time.)

As it turned out, his fullback skills were perfect for his new position. Michalske used his quickness and athleticism to become, arguably, pro football’s first truly great guard (he was the first guard inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1964).

And talk about toughness. Michalske, nicknamed “Iron Mike”, played 60 minutes of almost every game he was in as a Packer, playing on the defensive side, as well. And how many games did he miss attempting such a brutal feat? Nine out of a possible 104. Wow.

Backup: Gale Gillingham (1966-1974, 1976) – Okay, before we go any further, let’s just get this out of the way: I did not select Gillingham because he and I share an alma matter (the University of Minnesota). That’s not how I roll…although, it is cool. We haven’t produced too many great pros at the U lately.

Gillingham was drafted to follow the legendary footsteps of Kramer and Thurston and he did just that.

Gillingham had it all: durability (played in every game in all but one season), versatility (played both left and right guard) and, of course, outstanding success (five-time Pro Bowler).

That’s why he’s on this team.

Center

Starter: Jim Ringo (1953-1963) – By now, we all know the infamous story of Ringo’s raise demands/near instant trade to the Philadelphia Eagles at the hands of Lombardi. Let’s not focus on that here, though.

Instead, let’s focus on who Ringo was, as a player, for the Packers.

Like Gregg, Ringo was considered undersized at 6-feet, 2-inches and 235 pounds. And, also like Gregg, Ringo used his supreme athleticism and technique to find success. Lombardi knew how to use those skills, too, as Ringo was a key figure in the famous “Packers sweep” until he was traded.

The league certainly took notice. Starting in 1957, Ringo was voted to seven straight Pro Bowls and, in 1981, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Backup: Frank Winters (1992-2002) – Ringo was an obvious selection. Finding his backup proved a bit more difficult as I had to choose between Winters and Larry McCarren. McCarren was “The Rock”, a tough-as-nails player who holds the franchise record for games played at the position.

But, I mean, come on – you didn’t really think we’d leave off our site’s namesake, did you?

And it’s not as though Winters couldn’t player, either. Far from it. A hard-working, hard-nosed player, Winters used his smarts and toughness to become an elite center for the great Packers teams of the mid-to-late 90s. He earned a Pro Bowl spot in 1996 and his fun-loving ways and sharp wit – he once joked that “pizza and beer” were the secrets to his longevity – earned him a spot in the hearts of Packers fans everywhere.

Frankly, I can’t think of a better way to close out the offensive portion of our roster.

That’s all for week one. Starting Monday, we’ll begin listing off the defensive players so make sure to head back here.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

-Chris Lempesis

(Yes, I know they signed a receiver who spent most of last season in the Arena League, but I refuse to talk about it, okay?)

That being the case, I’ve decided to have [...]]]> Outside of an impending extension for Nick Collins (fingers crossed), there really isn’t much going on with the Green Bay Packers at the moment.

(Yes, I know they signed a receiver who spent most of last season in the Arena League, but I refuse to talk about it, okay?)

That being the case, I’ve decided to have a little fun with the other big Packers-related news of the day: the casting of Robert De Niro as Vince Lombardi in the biopic of Lombardi’s life, “Lombardi.”

First, let’s talk about De Niro – excuse me, Robert F’in De Niro. Seriously, this is a brilliant bit of casting. Don’t focus so much on the fact that De Niro doesn’t really resemble Lombardi. Instead, focus on the fact that he’s a brilliant character actor who is a master at crawling inside the skin of the people he’s playing (’cause, you know, he’s Robert F’in De Niro and all). Plus, last time I checked, the hair and makeup people in Hollywood are pretty good at what they do, so I’m sure Bobby will look a lot like St. Vincent in the movie. And he is going to crush this role, make no mistake.

Close your eyes. Now, imagine the man who played Jake Freakin’ LaMotta saying the following line: “I have never been on a losing team, gentlemen, and I do not intend to start now.” Yeah – pretty sweet, right?

Also, I’ve heard some griping about the fact that ESPN Films is behind the project. Yes, that wing of the company has had its share of misses, but it’s also done well lately with its “30 for 30″ series. If you don’t believe me, check out the documentary on the University of Miami football program in the 1980s. That was insane.

The film – set to be released on the weekend between the conference title games and the Super Bowl in 2012 – does not have a director yet (some have suggested Martin Scorsese, but if you look at his schedule of upcoming films, I’m pretty sure he’s booked until five years after his death). But it does have a writer: Eric Roth, the man behind such great films as “Forrest Gump”, “The Insider”, “Munich” and “Ali”. And, as Frank Constanza once said, it’s all about the writing. With Roth and De Niro already in the fold, this thing is off to a great start. 

Once the news of this broke Tuesday afternoon, Packers fans were abuzz with casting ideas for the flick. Some were hilarious – the Brett Favre as Bart Starr idea killed me – while others made good, good sense. 

I have my own ideas, of course, and I’m going to offer them to the film’s producers right now, free of charge (big-time movie producers read Green Bay Packers blogs, right?). Remember, the film will chronicle Lombardi’s role in taking the Packers from losers to five-time World Champions, with an added focus on his rivalry with Tom Landry, so there are a handful of key roles to be cast.

Paul Hornung: “The Golden Boy,” known as much for his taste for the nightlife (women, booze and gambling, all parts of a balanced diet) as he was for his elite football skills. The actor playing this role has to be likeable and charming – Lombardi looked at Hornung like a son, remember, despite his flaws - but also has to be kind of a jerk, too. Doesn’t Bradley Cooper (”The Hangover”, “Wedding Crashers”) knock this role out of the park?

Bart Starr: Quiet, calm and steady – with a great heart - Starr was the unquestioned on-field leader of those great Packers teams. While he was the antithesis of Hornung, Starr was equally beloved by his head coach. The actor charged with playing Starr will have his hands full. He has to command every scene he’s in without saying much – a tough task, indeed. Some people will likely kill me for this one, but Matt Damon would be a near-perfect pick. He’s great in roles where he doesn’t have to say much (”The Bourne Identity” films, for example) and would be believable as a leader of men.

Tom Landry: While Lombardi was loud and boisterous, Landry was the exact opposite – reserved and quiet. Similar to Starr, the actor playing this role has to do a lot without saying much. He also has to be an actor of great notoriety, as an unknown actor going up against Robert F’in De Niro just will not cut it. Adam suggested Ed Harris and I have to agree. Think of how he was in “The Rock” – absolutely in charge and powerful, yet not overbearing at all. Great fit.

Ray Nitschke: The toughest S.O.B. to ever walk the Earth, Nitschke was feared by pretty much everyone (he’s been dead all these years and he STILL scares me). The actor who draws this assignment will have to be convincingly terrifying and tough – in other words, most actors need not apply. Despite being 48 years old, Woody Harrelson has a grit and toughness to his acting that would fit the role nicely (”Natural Born Killers,” anyone?). Again, the hair and makeup people can work some magic on making Harrelson look younger. Okay, so I might have borrowed this one from Adam, too, but when he’s right, he’s right.

Marie Lombardi: Come on now, you didn’t think we’d forget about the woman behind St. Vincent, did you? This actress has to be able to hold her own with Robert F’in De Niro, yet never overshadow him, so there should be a quiet nature there. How ’bout Jessica Lange? Not bad, right?

Max McGee: While this film is sure to be heavily dramatic, it will need some comic relief. That will come in the form of whoever gets to play the ever-lovable McGee (still can’t believe he’s gone). Skipping out on curfew the night before the biggest game of his life to go on a bender? What actor WOULDN’T want this role? He’ll have to lose weight and work on the hair, but there’s just something about Danny McBride that makes me think he’d do well here. And, for the love of God, if you haven’t seen “Eastbound and Down” yet, do it now.

Jerry Kramer: Finally, if the film indeed culminates with “The Ice Bowl”, as it has been suggested, they’ll have to get someone to play Kramer (plus, you know, he was a pretty key member of those teams). Shame Chris Farley is gone – he’d have been perfect casting. If you’ve seen “The Full Monty” (or the television show “Still Standing”), you’ll know who Mark Addy is. He’s a big guy and, like Kramer himself, he’s a funny dude. He’s British, but has done American accents well in the past.

And if they need someone to play a Packers blogger, I’ll toss my hat into the ring (they had blogs in the 60s, right?)

So, that rounds out my cast for “Lombardi.” What say you, Packers fans? Who would YOU put in the movie? Comment, baby, comment!

-Chris Lempesis