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Here's why I back the Pack

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Posted: Thu September 25, 1997

The world seems to be waiting for the Packers to die, but I don't think it's going to happen. I am surprised, certainly, that Green Bay hasn't picked up where it left off at the end of its dominating 1996 run. But after covering the Packers' 38-32 win over Minnesota last Sunday at Lambeau Field, I'm convinced they're still the team to beat in the NFL.

The Packers' defense is worrisome. Two of their five most valuable defensive players were missing on Sunday: cornerback Craig Newsome (gone for the year after knee surgery) and defensive tackle Gilbert Brown (out for more than half the game with a knee sprain). I like Tyrone Williams as a cover guy replacing Newsome. But I don't like Roderick Mullen in the nickel; he got beat consistently by Cris Carter and Jake Reed and could cost the Packers dearly as the season goes on. And Green Bay just can't play good run defense without Brown. On the first running play Brown missed Sunday, quarterback Brad Johnson ran for 28 yards. No draw, no play fake, nothing. Just a run. Embarrassing. If Brown misses a good chunk of the season, I can see the Packers losing any game they play.

After Sunday's game, coach Mike Holmgren told me he thinks that the only difference between this year and last is injuries. I can't buy that totally—the offense has been too inefficient, compared with last year's, with far too many dropped balls—but I will say if Newsome and Brown were playing every play right now, Green Bay would be too solid for anyone to beat.

What are the top five football towns, where fans support the team win or lose? Which five towns are the worst?
—Tony Raymond, Washington, D.C.

My top five football towns:

1. Pittsburgh. "When you walk on the streets of Pittsburgh on Monday morning, nobody has to say anything," Steelers president Dan Rooney says. "You can feel whether we won or lost."
2. Denver. The ground shakes at Mile High when Elway's leading a drive in the fourth quarter.
3. Washington. If the Redskins lose for the next 20 years, there will still be a line for season tickets.
4. Green Bay. These people were tailgating at 6:45 a.m. last Sunday. I know. I saw them.
5. I'm not going to make one up. I should say New York, because the Giants lost for a zillion years and still had a waiting list for season tickets. But Giants fans are so quick to jump on the team in down times that it's tough to call New York a good football town.

The worst:

1. Memphis. Do you even have to ask?
2. Atlanta. Falcons fans are so blasé. Of course, they have good reason.
3. Arizona. I really can't blame the people there for not loving the Cardinals.
4. Tampa Bay. For an area that loves football so much, Tampa has consistently underwhelmed me. Last year, when the Bucs still had a playoff prayer, there were empty 40-yard-line seats high at the Sombrero.
5. New England. Patriots fans may seem intense now, but wait until they lose for two years.

I'm a longtime Vikings fan. What are the chances that Dennis Green's days are numbered?
—Richard Gerry, Waterbury, Conn.

I don't want to sugarcoat this in any way, shape or form: If you think the Vikings should fire Dennis Green, I don't think you understand professional football. First of all, 46 or 47 of the 53 players on that roster would step in front of a moving truck for the man. Entering this season, Green had a .588 winning percentage over five seasons—tied for fourth among active coaches with at least five years' experience. He does this while coping with the fact that the Vikings rank 29th (out of 30) in terms of revenue. That means it's very hard to be competitive with other teams in signing free agents.

There is no defense for Green's 0-4 playoff record. It's terrible. And there's no doubt that the bottom line for a good coach is winning in the playoffs. But let me ask you this, Richard: If you were single, and Demi Moore were single and she had a broken leg, would you still like to date her? If the answer is yes, then I think you still want Dennis Green to coach your team.

How do you rate Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer?
—Chuck Long, Dallas

I'm a fan. I think Schottenheimer is one of the most organized men in the game. His players play hard for him, he is attentive to the little things, and he is not too stubborn to try something new. Now, I wouldn't have made that last comment before this year. Marty has recognized once and for all that if the Chiefs don't begin throwing the ball efficiently, they are never going to be more than a 10-win, first-round playoff loser. I'm not sure they're any better than that this year, but they at least have a chance to do something in the playoffs.

Who has the best tailback-fullback combo in the NFL?
—Scott Whiddon, Okinawa, Japan

Tampa Bay, with Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott. Ricky Watters and Kevin Turner in Philadelphia—not to mention Emmitt Smith and Daryl Johnston in Dallas—are really good. But even though they've only played together for four weeks, Dunn and Alstott are my pick. I don't think anyone in the league has a better running attack than Tampa's.

Alstott is so selfless. He doesn't care if Dunn gets the ball 30 times and he gets it five, all he wants to do is win. Dunn is the most explosive back to enter the league since Barry Sanders.

What's the story with wideout Brett Perriman in K.C.? Is he just the odd man out or is something else going on?
—Reg Sangha, Surrey, B.C.

Perriman suffered a pulled hamstring in his third or fourth practice in July. This complicated matters greatly regarding his role in the offense. Because he signed with Kansas City very late, Perriman hadn't even shaken hands with Elvis Grbac, the new quarterback, before the Chiefs reached their Wisconsin training camp. So Grbac and Perriman barely meet and then, boom, Perriman's gone for almost all of training camp.

Now that Perriman is back and 90% healthy, it's going to take him awhile to build chemistry with his quarterback. Furthermore, if you're winning and playing well, there's no sense spending a lot of time working in a new receiver.

The 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers have a young quarterback who struggled until the team drafted a running game. The Bucs also have a defense that includes a mix of speedy youngsters and wily vets. Do the '97 Bucs remind you of the '92 Cowboys?
—Spencer Clemson, Grand Prairie, Texas

I think we're probably seeing Trent Dilfer at a little bit better than he will play over the course of a season. And I don't think you can fairly compare the Tampa offensive line to the line that Dallas had in 1992—one of the great lines in recent history. But you're right. The 1997 Bucs have the same kind of tremendous young talent that Dallas had five years ago. I wouldn't be at all surprised if Tampa played in the NFC Championship Game.

What's wrong with Shannon Sharpe?
—Tucker Smith, Richmond

Good question but I don't know if I can shed much light on it. As far back as July, I could sense that John Elway was forming a bond with Rod Smith, the wide receiver who caught seven balls Sunday against Cincinnati. Coach Mike Shanahan really likes Smith. Elway has always liked Ed McCaffrey, too.

But it is strange that Sharpe as been used so little. If Sharpe is still underproducing in two or three weeks, I'll ask Shanahan.

Of the current crop of backup quarterbacks, who would you say is the most underrated?
— Todd Humphrey, Gaithersburg, Md.

Most underrated?

1. Glenn Foley of the Jets. I think there's a good chance that by 1999 he will be a Neil O'Donnell-quality starter somewhere in the NFL.

2. Jeff Lewis, Denver. If you gave Mike Shanahan the choice right now between Lewis and Peyton Manning, he'd take Lewis.

3. Craig Erickson, Miami. I doubt he's underrated, but I do think he'll be a starter soon and play better than he has in the past.

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