Packers Question of the day - Who Would you Choose?
If you could reach back through time and space to bring back one Packers tight end to ever suit up for the franchise and plug him into the roster right now, who would it be?
Whether it be Paul Coffman, Mark Chmura, Keith Jackson - even Bubba Franks. Who would be your pick to help bolster the offense?
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Zachary Jacobson is a staff writer/reporter for Cheesehead TV. He's the voice of The Leap on iTunes and can be heard on The Scoop KLGR 1490 AM every Saturday morning. He's also a contributor on the Pack-A-Day Podcast. He can be found on Twitter via @ZachAJacobson or contacted through email at [email protected].
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Comments (46)
zoellner25
November 03, 2016 at 09:12 am
Who is Tom Crabtree?
Alver1989
March 02, 2017 at 02:57 am
Cool web-site you've gotten here.
RCPackerFan
November 03, 2016 at 09:16 am
Definitely not Bubba Franks. Our current TE's are already to slow.
For our current offense probably Finley would fit the best. We have been seeking his replacement since his career ended.
Hopefully when Cook comes back he can give us some of that ability that he has.
NMPF
November 03, 2016 at 09:19 am
Marv Fleming 6-4, 232lb. Big, strong, fast, great blocker. Never had gaudy # by any means. Played kind of a hybrid role before it was normal to do so. Would own the seam week in and week out.
Since'61
November 03, 2016 at 09:35 am
NMPF - I remember Marv Fleming pretty well. He was big and strong but I would not necessarily agree with fast. Lombardi used his TE as an extension of the OL. However, Fleming was good at finding the seem in those early zone defenses and due to his size he could be tough to bring down. Starr would also look for Fleming over the middle if the MLB blitzed. Marv was not targeted very much however. He was a very reliable blocker. John Mackey (Colts) and Mike Ditka (Bears) were better TEs, especially as receivers and Mackey was probably closest to today's type of TE, i.e., the threat down the middle. To help our current offense I would want Keith Jackson for a receiving TE and Paul Coffman as my blocking TE. Paul was tough, could block well and he has great hands. He didn't have great speed but he was a great 3rd and short receiver. Bubba Frank's would my red zone TE. Thanks, Since '61
NMPF
November 03, 2016 at 09:44 am
Coffman though undersized did have great hands, another possible redzone TE might be Ed West aka "the toolbox"
Since'61
November 03, 2016 at 12:23 pm
Agree, I like Ed West as well for the red zone. Thanks, Since '61
lou
November 03, 2016 at 02:47 pm
Eddie West aka "Tool Box" and "Velcro", a free agent who earned his job every year, was a starter most of the time and played in the NFL for 14 seasons, 12 with the Packers. You can never have enough to these type of players.
Ferrari Driver
November 03, 2016 at 10:27 am
Marv Fleming had the ability to be on Super Bowl winning teams.
Since'61
November 03, 2016 at 12:35 pm
Yes, 2 with GB and 2 with the "fish". Fleming played in 17 post season games with the Pack and the Dolphins. He had 22 receptions for 251 yards and 1 TD (with Miami) in his post season career. His post season numbers are very consistent with his regular season averages, which were basically 1 catch per game, for 11.6 yards per catch and a little over 1 TD per season. Thanks, Since'61
Klincker
November 03, 2016 at 09:21 am
Keith Jackson, cuz you gotta stay HUNNNNGRY for the Crimson Tide!
SpudRapids
November 03, 2016 at 09:24 am
Finley for sure... Though he ran his mouth and had a drop here or there he was on the verge of beginning Gronk like.
Finwiz
November 03, 2016 at 01:21 pm
Finley was NEVER going to be Gronkowski. This is an overstatement of the grandest proportion. Finley had the ability to get downfield, but lacked consistency catching the ball, and didn't show the ability to be explosive after the catch. Not to mention his game speed seemed to be less than what it looked like on paper. Is he better than what they have right now, which is nothing....yes.
Handsback
November 03, 2016 at 09:34 am
klincker, I thought Jackson played for the Razorbacks.? I could look it up but need to get going. Keith Jackson was a great TE and if they could have him...great things would happen.
I will add Cook can be a great asset. Once he gets back from injury, I think we will see a lost dynamic.
Oracle
November 03, 2016 at 09:51 am
Mark Chmura.....
Packer_Pete
November 03, 2016 at 10:20 am
Keith Jackson. Easily the best receiving TE to ever play for the Packers. The combo with Jackson and Chmura was great.
Certainly not Finley. Dude just ran his mouth. Never showed much on the field that warranted all that talk...
Razer
November 03, 2016 at 11:18 am
Drink for a man in the desert.
guzzi2000
November 03, 2016 at 10:23 am
Thanks NMPF, I couldn't remember Flemings name. I will throw in another old timer, Ron Kramer.
NMPF
November 03, 2016 at 10:36 am
15 yards per reception, devastating blocker. We sure could use that now.
Ferrari Driver
November 03, 2016 at 10:25 am
Anyone remember Ed West?
I always admired this team oriented fellow and how unselfish he was in teaching and mentoring the man who took his job; an act that many veterans would avoid so they could remain in the starting lineup for an extra year or two.
Gianich
November 03, 2016 at 10:27 am
Nick the Pick Collins. He'd be helping those young corners over the top.
CJBauckham
November 03, 2016 at 11:25 am
+1 to reading comprehension haha
Though I'd love to have Nick back, too
Charvid
November 03, 2016 at 04:38 pm
Or how bout AL del Grecco?
4thand1
November 03, 2016 at 07:50 pm
Tom Berny
Norm
November 03, 2016 at 09:50 pm
How about Phil Collins?
Gianich
November 03, 2016 at 10:36 pm
Who needs a TE? See 2010. They got 7 ERs to sling it to this year. Rather have Phil.. I mean Nick Collins
egbertsouse
November 03, 2016 at 11:12 am
Never liked Finley, all talk and no walk. I'm old-school so I vote for Ron Kramer, great TE and, as my uncle once told me, a good guy to have your back in a bar fight.
lou
November 03, 2016 at 11:30 am
Agreed on Ron Kramer, probably the most talented to play for the Packers, a complete TE. He had perfect size, good speed, hands like Rich Rodgers,, and outside of Forrest Gregg was the Packers best blocker, he ate HOF MLB Sam Huff alive in the two championship games vs the Giants and had time to catch TD's as well. I believe he was All American at Michigan in both football and basketball, a well rounded athlete, also bright, very successful business man in Detroit.
Since'61
November 03, 2016 at 03:09 pm
Ron Kramer was a great blocking TE, he was also tough to bring down and dealt out plenty of punishment to opposing tackles. He was not terribly fast but he had all the tools forma TE of his era. If he played in this era he would probably seem slow but given the quality of tackling in todays NFL he would probably just rumble through the defenders into the zone. Plus you would not need to be concerned about him missing a block on a running play. He blocked like an extra guard for Lombardi's Packers. Thanks, Since '61
Hematite
November 04, 2016 at 05:37 am
Ron Kramer was the first to come to my mind as well!
bullsa21
November 03, 2016 at 11:15 am
Marv Flemming!
bullsa21
November 03, 2016 at 11:15 am
Marv Flemming!
bullsa21
November 03, 2016 at 11:15 am
Marv Flemming!
Handsback
November 03, 2016 at 12:16 pm
Marv Flemming was a solid TE, but after reading Instant Replay....he's wasn't always the coach's favorite.
stockholder
November 03, 2016 at 12:26 pm
I think the best TE to ever help a offense was Chmura. TEs were used to block in the 60s. The offenses have changed to much over the years. Farve, Rodgers, Griese, Starr, all knew when to throw to them. They all had good to great RB's. So the screen pass was used more too. The defenses have adjusted and players are bigger and faster. I don't believe any packers could fit in with todays team. But one guy I would want is Tony Gonzalez.
Tundraboy
November 03, 2016 at 01:17 pm
Coffman all day long. He would fit in perfect in todays offense. Clutch as any so I'll go for the sure hands and smarts. Wasnt slow either.
ger
November 03, 2016 at 01:23 pm
How about Ron Kramer
mrtundra
November 03, 2016 at 03:05 pm
If he wanted to play here, there was no one better than Keith Jackson.
Bear
November 03, 2016 at 03:14 pm
Don't understand the love for Finley? If you look at his stats he was average at most.
Mebrooks5291
November 03, 2016 at 04:10 pm
Rich McGeorge
Tundraboy
November 03, 2016 at 08:59 pm
Liked him.
lou
November 04, 2016 at 05:47 pm
McGeorge from tiny Elon college had excellent potential, could have lined up as a WR as well his first year. After a severe knee injury against the Raiders in Green Bay he was never as explosive. That was a Bad Day for the Packers, in addition they lost the best offensive guard in the NFL to a knee injury who the idiot Dan Devine moved to defensive tackle - Gale Gillingham and to top that off they lost the game on the "muff rule". I can remember leaving the stands and thinking what next.
NickPerry
November 03, 2016 at 04:26 pm
Keith Jackson
Point-Packer
November 03, 2016 at 08:14 pm
Mark Chmura. Hands down.
Norm
November 03, 2016 at 09:58 pm
Biting my tongue...
Handsback
November 04, 2016 at 08:11 am
OK, comparing stats from different decades is useless. Kramer was a great TE, don't remember him playing, but reading all the info on him....great player. Fleming, Chmura, Finley, Coffman and others were considered good...not great. Jackson was a great TE before the Pack got him. He was on his last legs but still contributed.
Mebrooks5291 and McGeorge mention is priceless. He was out of a small college in NC (I think) and was from Roanoke, VA. Closest big city from where I grew up. If Green Bay had decent QB at the time.....he may have had more people mention him.