Cory's Corner: Trust In Brian Gutekunst

Prepare for another aggressive NFL Draft. 

Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst had his annual state of the Packers press conference as we get ready for the NFL Draft on Thursday night. 

The overwhelming questions lobbed his way were centered around a certain quarterback that wears No. 12. And Gutekunst made it abundantly clear what he thought about Aaron Rodgers. 

“I’m not going to get into specifics, but Aaron’s our guy,” Gutekunst said. “He’s going to be our quarterback for the foreseeable future.”

Those are some solid words right there. The No. 1 story about the Packers has been about Rodgers and what his future holds in Green Bay. Gutekunst would not get into contract details about restructuring, but he did cement how important Rodgers is to the Packers. 

“We’re real excited about Aaron Rodgers and his future with the Green Bay Packers,” said Gutekunst. “He’s going to be our quarterback for the foreseeable future…He’s such a unique, different player than anyone that I’ve ever been around. He affects our organization in so many different ways. You can’t value him because he’s so important to what we do. We’re excited moving forward and we’ll kind of see where things go.”

If those words don’t make you comfortable as a Packers fan, I don’t know what to tell you. There has been a lot of back-and-forth nationally by people giving unconfirmed reports of Rodgers being upset, Rodgers asking for a trade or the Packers not happy with their Hall of Fame quarterback. 

Frankly, none of that is true. 

Granted, Gutekunst didn’t answer the best question of the press conference that centered on why Rodgers wasn’t restructured to make space for potentially for other players. However, Gutekunst was quick to point out that the Packers signed the No. 1 running back, No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 1 defensive lineman this year. 

“I thought we were very active,” Gutekunst said. “We certainly did a lot, maybe a little bit outside of what we normally do as far as pushing money forward to continue to keep this team together so can continue to make a run.”

This will be Gutekunst’s fourth NFL Draft and his track record speaks for itself. This guy is not afraid to assemble a winning roster. Look, Jordan Love was drafted to prevent the Packers from turning into the Broncos, Jets, Lions, Panthers and believe it or not, the Patriots from desperately searching for their next franchise quarterback. 

Gutekunst will likely surprise again. But you know the details. Don’t be shocked when Gutekunst starts wheeling and dealing and goes up in the draft to get the do-everything Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah or Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley or the rangy safety from TCU, Trevon Moehrig. 

Gutekunst wants to bring another title back to Green Bay. He knows that he’s close and he also knows that if he hits it out of the park during the draft, the Packers will win the NFC. 

This team is really close. Now it’s time for Gutekunst to sprinkle his pixie dust.

 

 

 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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3 points
 

Comments (63)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Lare's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:31 am

If Gutekunst does move up, I hope it's for Trevon Moehrig.

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fastmoving's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:41 am

if he moves up, I hope he goes for President. Its the only way he can go in our organisation.

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stockholder's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:51 am

I'm going to puke. You can't believe a thing this guy tells you about Rodgers. He's lived on Rodgers shirt tales. And he's given Love the back-up. Gute blew the "All in" phrase. (With Love.) And he knows it. He can't trade successfully. And he should of found a veteran back-up first. But everyone keeps looking for the silver lining with GUte.

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murf7777's picture

April 27, 2021 at 07:00 am

If you were a Lions or Bears fan your continuous bitching would be valid.

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dobber's picture

April 27, 2021 at 07:49 am

"You can't believe a thing this guy tells you about Rodgers. "

I've got bad news for you about the Easter bunny....

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LeotisHarris's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:01 pm

If, and it's a *big* if, there's a silver lining here, it's that "Rodgers shirt tales" is a solid "All in phrase", and we "should of" simply been grateful for it.

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Stroh's picture

April 28, 2021 at 12:27 am

Good lord.. your a horses azz!!

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murf7777's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:54 am

“Don’t be shocked when Gutekunst starts wheeling and dealing and goes up in the draft to get the do-everything Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah or Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley or the rangy safety from TCU, Trevon Moehrig. “

YES, either do that or trade down and accumulate 4-5 second to third round picks. We need some major contributors more so than depth. This team is close to the pinnacle and a bunch of 4-7th rounders aren’t going to get us over the hump.

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greengold's picture

April 27, 2021 at 12:21 pm

This is NOT PERSONAL. I'm just asking, what is so great about the two players you are quoting on here? JOK, you forgot the E. He's 6-1. For a "DO EVERYTHING" kind of player, I expect an F-ton more than 1 INT and 3 PD.

As for Farley, seriously? You want to draft a player who had micro fracture surgery on his spine, and trade up for that?

Huh... We can throw Newsome into this discussion as well. He only played 3 games last year. 8 in 2019 and just 6 in 2018. Sounds like Kevin King style availability, with just 1 career INT.

NO, THANK YOU!

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murf7777's picture

April 27, 2021 at 02:01 pm

I've watched quite a bit of tape on JOK and you will find him to be very high level. Just watch his film against Clemson. 9 tackles, 2 FF, 1 TD and 1/2 sack towards the end of the game when a big play needed to be made. That's against top personal. He's sideline to sideline, reads play instinctively, disengages blocks decently, excellent in cover, blows up screens and is explosive.

Most of the better ILB today are in the 6'0 - 6'2 range because they need to be able to cover against, RB, TE and WR's and the taller you are the harder it is to be that quick twich. That is also why you don't see many 6'4 CB's. The ILB position has changed dramatically in the past decade. That is why I don't see Collins at 6'4 260 lbs being a great ILB, maybe and Edge, but not ILB.

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greengold's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:22 pm

Appreciate the info. I had not watched him, nor Collins. Just curious.

Thinking it’s best to be looking to size, speed, range and pass defend from the position, as well as get home for sacks. Filling up the FF & FR categories helps as well - as I consider those, sacks and TFL as indicators of HUSTLE.

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Coldworld's picture

April 28, 2021 at 09:54 am

The JOK question is not his ability in college, but how it will translate to the pros. It is a real question in my view.

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CoachDino's picture

April 28, 2021 at 04:12 pm

Coldworld you are exactly right, that's what it is for every draft pick. Now I'm a big JOK fan and think he can be a day 1 three down ilb that plays both the run and pass at a high level. yet, though ILB position is evolving into smaller guys, size is an issue that has derailed ILB careers. patrick Queen is the latest example, though I think he will get better. So bottom line IMO is yes there is a risk taking such a small guy, very small guy for ILB but I would do it just on his tape. He makes plays everywhere, is a mad man throwing his body around, stacks OL (not as easy in the NFL) covers fast slot rec, reads and reacts with the best of them etc...

Funny as I just got into it a bit about how the value of RAS scores and they have proven to be a strong indicator that should be taken into consideration. Here though I'm not sure of JOK's RAs it can't be too good considering hgt and wgt, I would override it.

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egbertsouse's picture

April 27, 2021 at 07:14 am

The Executive Committee needs to call in Murphy and Guter and ask, “What is your plan? Do you even have one? If Rodgers is your long term guy why did you piss away a 1st and a 4th on a QB? It may have cost us a trip to the Super Bowl. Explain your thought process. Was there a thought process or do you guys merely panic and react?”

Yeah, I know, it’s never going to happen. Not in GB. The EC is a star struck bunch of fans. They would never challenge these guys. Makes me wish we had an owner to hold these guys accountable.

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Savage57's picture

April 27, 2021 at 07:59 am

Yeah, because the Packers were so successful during the 70's and 80's when a bunch of old white men with no knowledge of how to run a pro football franchise were calling the shots.

Let's go back to doing more of what didn't work, but harder this time!

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flackcatcher's picture

April 27, 2021 at 10:55 am

Ah yes, the good old days when a county circuit judge was leading a million dollar organization...

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greengold's picture

April 27, 2021 at 05:40 pm

2 words: Mossey Cade.

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murf7777's picture

April 27, 2021 at 08:04 am

First off, it has been proven that the Packers do great when the Executive Committee stays out of the football operations....that should be enough said. Hmmm, from my perspective the best run football teams have owners who stay away from the sidelines and let their FO do what they do best; run the football operations. Just look at Dallas, they are a dumpster fire with an owner always meddling in the football operations.

But, if Murphy and Gute want to respond I suspect they would say the following:

We want to leave our options open as we have Rodgers locked up for three years. Love gives us a high level developmental option at QB and if Arod gets hurt we plan to have him ready to come in and win a few games for us till Arod gets healthy. We will give Love many reps and training during practice and pre-season games to get him ready. In addition, we expect to build his trade value if we decide at some future date that it makes sense for the Packers to take advantage of a QB needy team who wants to throw high level draft picks at us and trade him.

We will look at Rodgers contract to restructure and/or extend when it makes sense for us to do so. There isn't any urgency to do so now just because the media and/or some fans says so. The media are the only ones creating any so called "panic".

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packer132's picture

April 27, 2021 at 09:16 am

Great post Murf. That's how I see it, though some fans think Gute does not want to win. I will take 13-3 (two years in a row) with a rookie coach and new playbook. I can't wait until the drat is finally here.

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murf7777's picture

April 27, 2021 at 02:13 pm

Thanks and I'm with you, can't wait till Thursday night. Personally, I think Gute has done a good job staying the course of what he believes is how to build a team and not waiver to the pundits.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 28, 2021 at 01:27 am

"There isn't any urgency to do so now just because the media and/or some fans says so."

Maybe. There are still some FA defensive linemen out there with the possibility of cap casualties in September. GB didn't have the cap space to sign any of the proven run-stoppers with some limited juice who are already off the market now.

Maybe Barmore falls and he is more Kenny Clark than Vernon Butler. [I don't think Barmore as a rookie is a run-stopper.] Maybe there is a suitable cap casualty this September.

Maybe Gute thinks Clark, Lowry, Keke, Lancaster and Previllon and/or rookie will suffice.

GB paid the $6.8M roster bonus to AR. Can't undo that. Could have asked AR to delay it if it is a waiting game. Didn't or couldn't do that. A reasonable inference is that Gute doesn't think he needs the space for 2021 or thinks it better not to reduce any rollover for 2022.

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CoachDino's picture

April 28, 2021 at 04:41 pm

Dead on Murf,
I do think Gute/ML and the rest of us fans/media didn't see Arod winning an MVP in 2020 either. He was declining, somewhat bucking the system and had a HUGE cap hit looming in 2022. Then Love became the best value on the board and with the above in mind and being the best value they went for it.
Now you have a Great prospect at QB and a MVP aging QB. Where is this such a bad thing?
Who were the superstars the packers missed out on? They actually could of picked a bust as likely as a starter.
Please stop wondering why they didn't restructure and look at Arods 2022 and 2023 Cap Hits. That will answer the question.
Here's an oxymoron I hear.
Why didn't they extend Arod and then go All In with the cap space savings. Think about that... "all in" means destroying your ability to field high level future teams due to pushing out your cap space from the all in year to the future years. OK but then why would you want a 40M/yr aging QB on a crappy team that now needs to cut key players to reduce the cap and rebuild through the draft. Why keep a QB that can take a terrible 4-15 team to a 8-9 team and then lose out on drafting a new cheap QB that you can rebuild your roster around. It makes no sense.
Think it through...MVP QB is going to be signed for top $ and years.
The cap is already terrible and moving anything more will ensure drastic cuts

Why not be smart and just wait and see. The hope being AR signs at a team rate and if not then either trade him and start with Love and add 3 new starting FA with the money you save not having AR or just stick with AR till he sucks all the while being a 500 team. Here's what's not happening, signing AR and building a great roster around him in 2023 thru 2025

Arod was dead on when he said they had a plan and his MVP season put a monkey wrench in it. It's obvious, its not a bad thing, it was a good thing, I hope AR has another MVP season. It doesn't change the cap space issue.

I think people just want Gutey to admit that Arods MVP season wasn't forseen and it makes this situation more complicated.

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LeotisHarris's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:27 pm

Packers Executive Committee:

John Skoug - President, Marathon Cheese
Thomas Olson - Attorney
Daniel Ariens - CEO, Ariens (you know, the snowblower guys)
Donald Long Jr. - Director, Nicolet Bank
Susan M Finco - Owner and President of Leonard & Finco Public Relations
Michael Simmer - CEO of BMO Harris Bank in Green Bay
Mark Murphy - Suit

egbertouse, could you somehow get your well-versed probing questions into the hands of this star struck bunch of fans so they can straighten things out? I think we all want them involved in day-to-day football operations. You'll have to ask MM to play a dual role and call himself on the carpet, or hold his own feet to the fire. Could be fun!

3 points
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Roadrunner23's picture

April 27, 2021 at 07:51 am

The endorsement of Rodgers was good to hear, when you have a future HOF QB you keep him, period!

Jordan Love is the insurance policy albeit an expensive one. Love is also an asset that can possibly come in to win a game or two should AR get dinged. Or he could be traded next year in a bad QB draft.
Or they could pick up his fifth year option down the road and start him when Rodgers hangs em up to host jeopardy full time in 3 years.

Either way the Packers are covered at QB for the foreseeable future , much to the dismay of the Lions, Vikings and Bears.

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dobber's picture

April 27, 2021 at 07:52 am

"Gutekunst was quick to point out that the Packers signed the No. 1 running back, No. 1 offensive tackle and No. 1 defensive linemen in free agency. "

Only one of those players actually made it to free agency, though. And when you extend a player--especially later in that last year--you're buying out their ability to test the market.

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packer132's picture

April 27, 2021 at 09:28 am

Gute didn't want the best DL and OL player to test the market. That's why they were extended before their contract was up. Packers had 25 free agents after the season, and he wanted to secure his best linemen during the year. Clark is only 25, and Packers would be in trouble had he tested the market.

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dobber's picture

April 27, 2021 at 09:50 am

"Gute didn't want the best DL and OL player to test the market."

Absolutely. BG didn't have the means to compete for these two on the open market (and to compete against how other teams would structure offers)...but he was willing to see how it went for Jones. Still, you have to ask, in order to get a guy to sign this close to FA and sell his opportunity to bid out his services, did the Packers have to give something they wouldn't have given otherwise?

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flackcatcher's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:07 am

Good question Dobber. Jones contract is team friendly in the current context. Got to wonder what was said in those negotiations with Ball, Gute etc.

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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 28, 2021 at 01:30 am

True. And while Bakh, Clark and Jones might have been top FAs had they made it there, their return does not make the 2021 team better than the 2020 team.

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scullyitsme's picture

April 27, 2021 at 08:18 am

I like gute, but I don’t put blind faith in anyone. We very well could of been one player away last year(a cornerback that doesn’t get beat deep? Maybe a receiver that could beat single coverage? )instead we drafted love and gave up a 1st and a 4th for no production last year. It was the wrong decision to draft love short term. It very well could of directly nixed our shot at the Super Bowl. Plus the Jordan love /Aaron Rodgers drama isn’t doing the team any good either. Hopefully it pays off in the long term.

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fastmoving's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:45 am

The pick was great and the drama is more a AR drama than anything else.

and it already did a lot of good..... as AR became a little lacy the last couple of years before.....

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Stroh's picture

April 28, 2021 at 04:45 am

How many rookies drafted in the late 1st last year might have been a difference maker? The only rookie that had a productive rookie year in the 20's was Jefferson really and he was out of range.

I would say drafting Love certainly had a very positive effect on Rodgers! You know the MVP playing with a huge chip on his shoulder!! That's a VERY positive effect and Rodgers wasn't an infantile like Favre has been to him! I don't see any drama affecting the team, even tho the media is trying to create drama, where it doesn't exist! Try again...

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scullyitsme's picture

April 28, 2021 at 11:51 am

There were/ are at least 4 wide receivers in last years draft that made a huge difference on the board, aiuyk, clay pool, sheanult, Higgins, many more at other positions, this is so odd to me that people keep spouting this nonsense that rookies don’t help.

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frankthefork's picture

April 27, 2021 at 09:33 am

I found out in life when someone has to defend themselves to look good, it covers up huge flaws and self doubt. Gute lacks self confidence and personally I don't have faith nor like this dude either. For the 25 some draft picks he has just 5 major contributors on the GBP. I would be proud at 40% not at a 20% success rate. I guess if a GM gets 3 studs a year that's good...to me that's average. And the 3 signings are not your draft choices Gute! So how you gonna sign Alexander? Drop Preston, Lowry and Turner.

This year's draft has the best football talent seen in years...so Guter better hit on at least 6 players to impress moi and make up for the Cap hell and lack of young talent to replace the overpaid players on this squad. Alexander, Savage, Jenkins, Dillon and MVS will need to play, stay and get paid in the next several years....Add Runyan if he starts this year.

I expect more from our Gm, but I'm a spoiled Packers fan like most. I can only hold out and hope for a week to see what the fall will bring. Just don't mess up a 13-3 team 2 years running. And this time get guys that can start or rotate and not sit on the pine!

-2 points
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dobber's picture

April 27, 2021 at 09:56 am

"This year's draft has the best football talent seen in years..."

The analysis year after year is how talent rich the current draft class is. This one's rich in talent at some positions and weak in others. I think we're blinded by the money positions (OL, CB, QB), and don't see some of the real shortcomings of this draft (DL, Edge, TE, LB). It's a less-prepared and underscouted group of prospects due to Covid. I think we mis-characterize it based on the fact that we expect better prospects to be available late--not because this particular pool is so stocked, but because underscouted guys who will eventually out-perform their draft position will be available later. The converse is that there will be more blunders early (I think it was Coldworld who stated this before).

"...so Guter better hit on at least 6 players to impress moi and make up for the Cap hell and lack of young talent to replace the overpaid players on this squad. "

Not asking for much, are ya! ;)

6 points
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flackcatcher's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:57 am

Because of how the Packers draft and develop their team, this also could be one of the best drafts the organization has in a decade. Or in other words, a foundational draft. This team believes in its scouts to a degree most outside the NFL would not understand. So, if the draft plays out right, it could be a perfect storm for the Packer front office. With the number of players slipping into the lower rounds, and teams flatout missing on talent with lack of scouting, (thanks Covid-19) this could be a close to football heaven the front office will get. And besides, the reality is pretty harsh. At best, the Packers will be able to keep this current roster core for one more year beyond this, and that is only if the Cap remains steady. With the new TV contract not kicking in till 2024, the Packers will be operating with no Cap room at all. So yes, this draft is far more important than most of us understand to the Packers. Glad I'm not Gute.

1 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 28, 2021 at 01:36 am

There is a reason Gute was asked about the dearth of prospects beginning somewhere around the end of the 5th round.

Apparently one factor is a lot of late round prospects did not declare for the draft because their college season was either canceled or truncated so a bunch of guys could not showcase their talent. Hence, the dearth of talent feared on day three. Time will tell.

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Since'61's picture

April 27, 2021 at 10:32 am

frankthefork, If Gute were to hit on 6 players in this draft it would be the best Packers draft class since Jack Vainisi's 1958 Packer draft class. That class included Dan Currie (1st), Jim Taylor (2nd), Ray Nitschke (3rd) and Jerry Kramer (4th).
3 HOFers and 1 multiple All-Pro player. Essentially the foundation of the Lombardi era Packers, not to mention his earlier selections of Forrest Gregg and Bart Starr ('56) and Paul Hornung ('57).

I don't know if that level of talent even exists in this seasons entire draft class.

I have pretty high standards for excellence which are based on the Lombardi era but expecting to hit on 6 players when we have only 5 picks in the first 4 rounds may be a bit unrealistic. The flip side is who knows? Anything can happen. Thanks, Since '61

3 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:33 am

At 40 percent we should be planning to enshrine him in Canton. Unreasonable expectations just lead to disappointment. As to your ‘defending himself, adage. True, he could just refuse interviews. Would that show wisdom and confidence? Should he just say “no comment”?

I wish Goodall would move the draft back nearer to its old date. Better to argue about actual picks.

1 points
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TarynsEyes's picture

April 27, 2021 at 04:11 pm

"This year's draft has the best football talent seen in years..."

This is like driving past a New/Used car dealership at night after rain from a distance, and thinking how shiny and new they all look, and not reminding yourself that there are clunkers mixed in, and a fool who believed they were all good, will likely be taken for a test ride (Pro-Day), in a clunker, and not know it's a clunker, until after the contract has been signed and guaranteed.

2 points
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Stroh's picture

April 28, 2021 at 04:57 am

Dude you are out your damn mind. Gute is forthright and confident. I don't sense any false bravado in him whatsoever!

If you get 3 productive players your doing very well. That was Wolf's bench mark. 3 productive players in one draft is a home run. That's not studs, just productive. And since you brought it up, those 13-3 seasons and 2 NFCCG are under his watch! What the he'll is not to like about that?!! Maybe the HC wouldn't have wilted in both NFCCG, it wold have resulted in a SB!

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Since'61's picture

April 27, 2021 at 10:15 am

It was good to hear Gute give Rodgers a vote of confidence. However, as I have posted before, that costs the team nothing and is probably only as good as Rodgers performance in 2021. I would feel better about Gute's comments on Rodgers if the Packers had restructured Rodgers contract by now.

The reality remains that Rodgers is still the team and that the team still needs better players at DL, ILB and CB on defense and still needs a legit #2 WR either in the slot or on the outside. The team also needs to nail down the OL until the return of Bak. How well Gute addresses those issues during the draft this week will determine if the Packers can get to the next level.

I'm fine with waiting to handle the huge cap issues until after the season but they will be a big factor in Rodgers future with the team and in the makeup of the roster after 2021. I expect but I am not certain that we will begin to get a glimpse of that future once we see the draft selections. But as of today I don't see anything that is keeping Rodgers or Adams in GB after 2021. Thanks, Since '61

7 points
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scullyitsme's picture

April 27, 2021 at 10:41 am

Unfortunately I agree with just about everything. I defended the love pick at the time( somewhat casually ). But hindsight is 20/20 always and that’s what we do here. The love pick could of cost us a Super Bowl last year, we really were one player away in my opinion. Gute now is trying to keep the team and go all in during a COVID year when things are limited ( again hindsight is 20/20). If the band doesn’t make it this year it’s almost certainly rebuild/love time. Providing of course that love doesn’t suck.

-1 points
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greengold's picture

April 27, 2021 at 12:37 pm

I agree with your sentiment here, Since'61, but I'm not the least bit worried about extending AR, and re-signing Davante Adams. I'm certain Gutekunst and Russ Ball have their plans set on that, and I've heard (from Ken Ingalls?) the AR restructure will save the Packers a TON of dough if it occurs next year instead of this year. Guessing that is why we haven't heard anything from the team on that.

They will likely wait on extending/restructuring AR while getting a deal done with Davante, to clear cap for any deals they wish to make, sometime after the draft. Been thinking that for some time now.

I like your list of positions there. Pretty simple, and the Packers ought to be able to handle addressing every one of those needs this week.

3 points
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Since'61's picture

April 27, 2021 at 04:35 pm

Agree the Packers should get those positions addressed during this upcoming draft.

I hope that we hear from TGR concerning your Ken Ingalls comment on Rodgers restructure. TGR has an excellent understanding on the salary cap and contract issues and he has a great approach to explaining them to everyone.

Thanks, Since '61

1 points
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Thegreatreynoldo's picture

April 28, 2021 at 01:55 am

I read Ken Ingalls every day. IIRC, he has correctly (so far) predicted that the Packers will not disturb AR's contract any more than is necessary, but he consistently indicates that the reason is to keep their options open, not to save a ton of dough.

When one talks about saving a ton of dough, no one is talking about actually paying the player fewer dollars: rather, the cap number is manipulated. Yes, if the Packers insist on their traditional contract structure (primarily that the only guaranteed money is through the signing bonus), then yes waiting does push the cap hit out into future years.

As for Since 61's comment above, watch what they do, not what they say. So far, they've paid AR's roster bonus and haven't restructured or extended him. Time will tell. [It is fortunate that I don't have to pay a royalty on that phrase!]

2 points
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Since'61's picture

April 28, 2021 at 01:00 pm

Thanks TGR for taking the time to respond. I'm definetly watching what they do. Talk costs them nothing, whatever they end up doing will. Since '61

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greengold's picture

April 28, 2021 at 02:00 pm

Yes, thank you TGR!!! This makes sense. Felt the Packers were waiting on both the Davante extension and any possible restructure of AR until the time was necessary. No point in rushing into either when they don't have to.

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Leatherhead's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:29 am

Speaking as an old guy, the foreseeable future is frequently closer than you foresaw.

Nice to hear from the GM. I’m going to take him at face value until there’s a reason not to. We could get 4 good players in this draft who could make the 53 man squad.

Replacements for Ricky Wagner and Montravious Adams, and a replacement/upgrade to Kirksey/Burks. I’d also try to get a smart, speedy guy who can cover and tackle. If we could have that shopping list filled by the end of Day Two, I’m a happy camper.

4 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:38 am

The foreseeable future ends when something unforeseen happens, which could be today, tomorrow, a season ....

Nothing has changed, no greater commitment, but then this was a media/fan contrived morass anyway. Just sounds better than Murphy’s no comment.

0 points
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EnemyTerritory's picture

April 27, 2021 at 10:04 pm

Awesome post Leatherhead. The end is nigh but when that is is not foreseeable all the time. There was no endorsement of Rodgers beyond the end of this season. He is playing year to year basis.

2 points
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frankthefork's picture

April 27, 2021 at 05:27 pm

I am not asking for 6 pro bowlers guys...if your reading into 6 hits on the draft. I meant contributors not sitting on the pine. Starters and solid back ups! Shame on you for not reading and understanding facts.
Guter inherited AR12 and a winning organization for over 26 years of which 20 of them had us in the playoffs. He drafted 3 offensive players in the first 4 rounds last year...after getting our butts wiped by the 49ers. He drafted 2 defensive players when the pundits said...the packers needed to upgrade their DEFENSE.

Question? Does a defense win championships? Yes, and starts with the quarterback of the defense...a top notch ILB.
Our GM to your defending is average or #15 of 32. If he was in the top 5...no one is complaining. I just want better...no different than what AR12 your DEVAgod wants.
Go get defensive now! Plus get 2 WR's because GB can't afford both DA17 and JA23!

-7 points
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dobber's picture

April 28, 2021 at 07:31 am

"if your reading into 6 hits on the draft. I meant contributors not sitting on the pine. Starters and solid back ups! Shame on you for not reading and understanding facts."

Don't bitch at us for reading and interpreting the terse comment you wrote as it was written.

0 points
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fastmoving's picture

April 27, 2021 at 11:39 am

Trust In Brian Gutekunst....!! Nothing more to add.

Besides of "He more than earned it and everyone not from Neadertal can see that" of course...........

-3 points
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frankthefork's picture

April 27, 2021 at 12:39 pm

Wow; the support for Guter is like it is for Trumpers. It's not logical nor are they trustworthy(liars).
Just 3 good starters in 3 drafts...whipee! Gutenkunst is the god of GM's. Too much kool aid within...ugh.
Not one 2020 draft pick contributed to helping GB get to the SB. Period! That's the point of the article...trust!

Gute didn't draft for defense until the 5th round to improve the team....wow peanut butter and jelly is a satisfactory meal!
Dillion, Martin and Runyan will help in the future...we can agree, but this did Nada in this year's NFCCG when it really counted!

Trust is EARNED...and gute drafted up for a QB to sit for 4 years....yippee! Sorry NO TRUST yet.

-5 points
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greengold's picture

April 27, 2021 at 04:17 pm

All you've done is bitch about the Love pick and the run stop that was needed last year. You've offered nothing. WHO were the Packers going to take at 30 and 136 to stop the run?

32 solo tackles and 3 sacks. That is what the next 5 DL COMBINED to make after pick 30 in the 2020 draft last season.

Do you like Aaron Rodgers? He didn't start a game until his 4th season.

Meanwhile, the Packers saw a QB with the strongest arm in his draft class in a free fall, and went up and grabbed him to develop under Rodgers. Did the Packers need Jordan Love? Kind of. When they drafted him, AR was coming off a season playing on a broken leg, and he wasn't getting any younger, older than Favre was when we took AR. Should anything bad happen to take AR out of a game or two this season, we will have a backup who understands the system and has the ability to run it. How about that? Our season won't necessarily be completely over.

The cost to move up 5 draft spots to take him? A 4th Round pick. Meanwhile, 3 of the teams who passed on him are taking QB 1, 2, 3...

Jordan Love fell 20 draft spots. Do you understand how valuable that was to the Packers (from where GB normally picks, a drop from 7 to 30 is almost worth 3 R1s), wondering who the heir to the QB throne was going to be? They only had to trade an R4 to get there and snap him up. People forget, it was impossible to give a contract extension to Boyle this year. As a fan, I'm excited to see how Love develops under LaFleur & Rodgers' guidance. Meanwhile, they were hoping Adams, Lowry and Lancaster would develop under Pettine, who was forced on LaFleur by Mark Murphy, not Gutekunst.

BG understood the value of what was occurring: a franchise QB in a free fall of 20 draft positions, and he made a bold, responsible move for the future of the Packers organization. As a fan, I very much appreciate that. You should too.

frank, seriously, stick a fork in it.

3 points
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frankthefork's picture

April 27, 2021 at 05:35 pm

Hmm, that's tough...Queen LB and CB/S Sneed. Or Gladney winfield reck davis issaa wilson; too many to list. So sensitive and defensive.
Just draft any snot knocker of a LB early this time. I don't trust Gutey just yet.

-1 points
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Leatherhead's picture

April 27, 2021 at 06:29 pm

This is on target, green gold. That other stuff sounds like blather to me.

3 points
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blondy45's picture

April 27, 2021 at 08:47 pm

Right on Green & Gold, super post. Again the draft is for the future for the most part. All these teams 6-7, of them needing a starting younger QB. The top 5 teams this year drafting a QB are using prime draft capital. Those first 5 QB's off the board this year, are they immediate plug & play QB's? No, some will have to play & get their brains beat up, but they will not make their teams a Super bowl contender for years. The DRAFT IS FOR THE FUTURE. Gute wisely got perhaps our starting QB for the "future" while having our MVP QB perform better than he has played in years last year. We have not gotten to see our 2020 drafted players perform much yet. We will this year and the coming years. Draft evaluations take 3 years minimum to assess. In Gute I trust! Is it draft night yet?

2 points
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geronamaker's picture

April 27, 2021 at 03:26 pm

Follow-up question for Mr. Gutekunst:

Exactly how many future NFL seasons are "foreseeable?"

My guess is one unless Love shows the coaches he can't cut it.

2 points
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Coldworld's picture

April 28, 2021 at 09:59 am

Answer: “why do you think i couched it like that?”

1 points
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geronamaker's picture

April 29, 2021 at 08:14 am

hahaha, good answer Mr. Gutekunst.

I believe Rodgers is out in 22 unless we win it all in 21. I also believe Rodgers has enough talent around him to get this done. It is his ability to get it done at crunch time in the biggest games that remains the question mark in my mind. One of the alltime greats on the stat sheet but.....

1 points
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HankScorpio's picture

April 28, 2021 at 04:18 pm

I trust Gute as far as I can throw him. Sure, he has assembled a roster that has appeared in 2 straight NFC CG. Both were gut-wrenching losses (for different reasons). Frankly, I give ML much more credit that Gute for making it there. I think ML has done a remarkable job of turning chicken stuff into chicken salad. It's on Gute and TT that he has chicken stuff in the first place.

Gute has demonstrated that he has little patience to let the draft come to him. That's bad. His decision to sign Jimmy Graham was horrible. Retaining Graham for a second yr showed he didn't recognize the mistake. I fear we are witnessing a repeat of that with Preston Smith. Even his much-heralded FA class was signed to poorly structured deals that I said at the time would lead to issues right about now--although that is probably more on Russ Ball. As a result of all that, the Packer are in the kind of cap hell I don't remember since the Mike Sherman days. With a roster that was described above as more chicken stuff than chicken salad. I mean, if you are going to be in cap hell, shouldn't you have less gaping roster holes?

He can begin to right the ship tomorrow by making no selections tomorrow. Trade down for an early 2 + extra picks. On Friday and Saturday, avoid Punters, Long snappers, Kickers and Fullbacks before round 7 and probably altogether.. Gravitate away from ILB, IOL, RB and TE on Friday. Most typically, they are not highly paid players in $$ and Gute should treat draft capital the same way.

1 points
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