How Many ESPN Writers Does It Take To Preview The Packers? » Brats & Beer

August 27, 2008
posted under: ESPN

Answer: a whole lot of them.

The Worldwide Leader in Sports offers proof of its recent hiring boom for ESPN.com with a preview of the NFL that features no less than a dozen people weighing in with their soundbite opinions on each of the 32 teams. Judging from their thoughts on the Packers, though, I’m guessing that the help wanted ad posted on Craigslist must have said something like, “knoweldge of sports a plus but not required.”

Out of 13 people asked their opinion of Green Bay’s chances for this season, only Seth Wickersham found it necessary to even mention the defense, and he calls the unit “the best defense in the division.” Not a single word about the team’s thin and questionable defensive line, a unit the Packers are going to have to depend on to repeat as division champions. Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila’s knee injury? Not much of a factor, I guess, because Kevin Seifert singles him out as “Best situational player” further down the page. (What up with all the KGB love? It’s like 2003 all over again.) Ryan Pickett’s hamstring? Not worth mentioning. Johnny Jolly? MIA in this discussion.

Now I get that Aaron Rodgers is the hot topic, fine, but if you’re going to focus solely on the quarterback position you’d think that maybe the revolving cast playing offensive line might come into play somewhere. Apparently, though, Rodgers can do it all by himself just like Brett Favre did. No need to worry about Scott Wells and his mysterious “trunk” injury, nor the future of Josh Sitton. And don’t even bring up Daryn Colledge and Allan Barbre; we’re not even going there.

Seriously, the accountants at Walt Disney might want to ask for receipts for all that money Bristol is paying for this kind of “wisdom” and “insight.”