Maybe it's the Bears fan in me, but I'm thinking it's more of the sports fan in me when a talk of "Dynasty" comes up. That's what made all the talk this week about the Packers being able to get back to the Super Bowl for MANY years to come.
My favorite Packers writer, Jason Wilde, had it about right with his post earlier this week on them "being built to last" but that doesn't mean they'll get back to the big game multiple times over the next handful of years.
Now, before you jump down my back, hear me out here. You can look at history to show you dynasties don't come around too often. You can look at more recent history and see they are even more uncommon.
Let's look at that recent history. Dan Marino went to the Super Bowl in his rookie season. He never went back.
The very next year, the Chicago Bears were supposed to be the next dynasty after winning the Super Bowl with the youngest team in the NFL. Well, the strike in 1987 derailed that, after the Bears made the NFC title game in January 1987.
The 49ers, Cowboys and Bills are all dynasties of the 90s and late 80s, so there's a point to you Packers fans thinking it was going to happen.
But the Packers in 96 and 97 were thought to have many more coming, but Brett Favre never made it back after that, either.
In the 2000s the Rams had two years. The Giants have gone twice, with vastly different teams, but the last team, that beat the Pats was supposed to be a young group and could be a dynasty, but that went nowhere.
Yes, the Patriots are the only dynasty in the last 10 years. I would not count the Steelers, because for me, one of the criteria for a dynasty is at least back-to-back appearance in the Super Bowl. Yes, they could have won three, but that doesn't do it for me.
So, can the Packers become a dynasty? It's possible. For me, though, for all of those guys that had to step up this year, that means more guys think they deserve a piece of the pie and want to get the payday they feel they deserve either with the Packers or somewhere else if the Packers won't give it too them. That will make things a little more difficult for the Packers. That will already start this offseason (after a CBA gets agreed upon) when a handful of guys, including A.J. Hawk could end up in different places. Hawk is due $10 million if he stays around and was on the trading block before injuries went down, but Ted Thompson is not the guy that spend big money on good players.
To me, it was a perfect storm that got the Packers here. The story surrounding the Packers is injuries, but for them to not strike the key parts for multiple games (Aaron Rodgers and Clay Matthews each missed one) and it was up to the role players to come through when called upon. The chances for those guys to come through in the future is less likely. Obviously the core should stay in tact, but look at every title team in every sport and it's those role players that make the difference. Dare I say this was the best group of role players ever assembled outside of the big time players on the team and if a big chunk of them seek out the big payday, things could go south.
The one thing the Packers have to control this is what Thompson and Mike McCarthy have taken a lot of credit for over the last couple of months and that is talent evaluation. They might be two of the best at it in the NFL. That will be the biggest key to keeping things going and getting the Packers back to the Super Bowl. If some of those role players leave, different guys will have to be ready.
Things will have to fall perfectly for that to happen, though, and I don't think it will.
The big news yesterday from 1 Miller Park Way was the Brewers announcing their bobblehead days. As a fan, this might be as big of a day for me as Opening Day. This is the day I plan out and know at least a handful of games I will be attending. Leaving with some free garb doesn't hurt things.
Here's the schedule (And the full schedule from the Brewers)
Sun. April 24: John Axford Bobblehead (It's what's pictured and looks awesome!)
Sun. May 22: Casey McGehee Bobblehead (My favorite guy, so you know I'm pumped for this)
Sun. June 12: Zack Greinke Bobblehead (The Cy Young winner and the guy lots are putting all their hope behind)
Sun. July 10: Hot Dog Bobblehad
Sun. Aug. 14: Craig Counsell Bobblehead (Milwaukee's favorite son in his final season)
Sun. Sept. 25: Randy Wolf bobblehead (Have to give the big money guy his bobble)
While I was a bit upset there was no Yovani Gallardo bobble, I saw Adam McCalvy post this on his blog and it was pretty clear he was flexed out in favor of Greinke in what could be his only year in town. It's a safe choice and Yo is here for a few more years, so it's not the time to get upset about this. Either way, this should be a great season. All of those, minus the hot dog, will be welcome additions to my bobble family.
A bit of this day in history before we get into the Nussie Hunter segment. Bust Douglas knocked out Mike Tyson on this day in 1991. So good and so historical.
Now to the Nussie Hunter. The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue will show up in my mailbox next week and the folks at SI are drubbing up the press machine for it. One of our favorite girls, Brooklyn Decker was featured on this promo poster below. Will she make it back to back years on the cover? We'll have to see. Either way, check this out. And get ready for Monday night on Letterman to see who is on the cover!
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