Making The Grade » Brats & Beer

January 28, 2008
posted under: Packers

The Press-Gazette’s Rob Demovsky yesterday handed out the annual report card, grading the Green Bay Packers players and coaches for the 2007 season. Let’s just say he’s not a believer in the bell curve, but overall his remarks were pretty fair.

Top marks went to Brett Favre, Aaron Kampman and Nick Barnett (all A minuses), while low grades went to non-starters Jarrett Bush, Tony Moll, Vernand Morency, and Frank Walker. Unlike last year when Robert Ferguson received an F, no one earned a failing grade for 2007.

It’s hard to argue with Favre and Kampman getting the highest grades for the year, both had outstanding seasons. However, Demovsky only awards B grades to both Donald Driver and Greg Jennings despite the numbers they put up. Jennings led the team with 12 touchdown receptions in just his second year and Driver had 82 catches in 15 regular season games, including a 10-reception day on Thanksgiving against Detroit. Couldn’t we bump those up to B plus at least?

Given that harsh standard, I think Demovsky went a little easy on Barnett. This is splitting hairs of course, because the Packers middle linebacker played rock solid and led the team in tackles once again, but there just seemed to be a lack of the big plays that would warrant an A minus on Demovsky’s grading scale.

He also takes the opportunity to knock Ted Thompson a little bit for not signing Randy Moss. Really, you’re still carrying that torch? After such an unexpectedly successful 13-3 season, playing the “what if” game seems a little unrealistic. What if Moss caught 23 touchdown catches from Brett Favre instead of Tom Brady? It would have been awesome. What if Moss had twisted his ankle in week one, played gimpy most of the season and been pissy in the locker room? It would have been the opposite of awesome and TT would have been blamed for wasting all that money on an aging free agent. We can go round and round on that one all day and then some.

With this season’s improvement over 2006, it’s probably going to be tough to get good marks from Mr. Demovsky in 2008. Hopefully, though, the Packers can get a few more on the honor roll.