Green Bay's dynasty path
The Packers have drafted well, but it's the culture of development that's paid off
Want a total misconception about the current success of the Green Bay Packers? Start with Aaron Rodgers.
One narrative you've heard is about how Rodgers fell down the draft board, and the team, despite its then-health at the quarterback position, drafted him and had to let him hold the clipboard until he was ready. He was talented and ready to start somewhere else, but, blocked by Brett Favre, Rodgers waited. The team would face the annual conundrum of what to do -- maintain the current success, or dive into the future? It waited. So now the current Packers are Super Bowl champions, and, because of the great patience Green Bay showed, they were rewarded.
And this is nice, if only it were 100 percent true.
To read Mel's full take on how Green Bay has reached this point, you must be an ESPN Insider.
-
ESPN The Magazine subscribers
-
Need more information?
- ESPN NFL Draft analyst since 1984
- Contributes to SportsCenter and ESPN Radio
- Writes weekly for ESPN Insider
SPONSORED HEADLINES
MORE NFL HEADLINES
- RG III: Goal Week 1 but career comes first
- Cards ink 3rd-round pick Mathieu to contract
- Rodgers wants Pack to retire Favre's No. 4
- Pats' Brady not surprised Welker left team
MOST SENT STORIES ON ESPN.COM
NFL WEEK 7 PREVIEW

FINAL WORD
WEEK 7 PICKS
HOT READ: Tim Tebow
- Keown: A cultural earthquake
- Sprow: The "winner" myth

- Dilfer: He'll succeed -- at first

- Karabell: Fantasy value?

- Tebow Time
| Expectations
POWER RANKINGS
- 49ers, Ravens gain ground
- Voters | Bloggers' analysis | Rank 'em
- Sprow: Most overrated, underrated

- Mike & Mike's take
| Bloggers
JOHN CLAYTON/ADAM SCHEFTER
- Schefter 10 Spot: Perfection for Packers?
- Clayton's 1st and 10: Plan B time
- Schefter: Why Raiders can win division

MORE COMMENTARY/BLOG POSTS
- Walker: Dolphins better off losing?
- Fox: Midseason QB changes spell trouble
- Kiper: Packers' path to success

- Joyner: Trouble looms for Chargers

- Williamson: Ranking AFC West QB situations
- Flem File: Wild scenes on the sidelines
- Kuharsky: Why is Chris Johnson struggling?
- Yasinskas: Payton's injury won't hurt Saints
- Graziano: Ryan's impact on Cowboys' D
- Week 7 Barometer: Don't question Pack

- Joyner: Mike Wallace tops Calvin Johnson

- MVP Watch: RB duo cracks the top 10
- Keating: Will new QBs improve teams?

- QB Watch: Winning quietly as a rookie
- Rookie Watch: Smith speeding up Ravens
- Kiper: Draft impact of Palmer deal

- Hill: Perfection for the Packers? It's possible
SCOUTS INC./OUTSIDERS
MNF: Ravens at Jaguars, 8:30 ET
NFL DRAFT
- Weidl: Help coming for rebuilding teams

- Kiper's Big Board: CB Claiborne rises

- McShay: Updated Top 32 rankings

- Nickel Package: Five slow starters


ESPN THE MAGAZINE: The Plan B issue
- Bowen: 5 second-year breakout candidates
- Edwards: The NFL's all-time Top 20 coaches
- Tuley: Best early-season win-total bets
- Red Flags: NFC East | North | South | West
- Kiper: 2014 Big Board | Top TEs | OLBs | ILBs


