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Inbox: It's time to take another look

There’s one man who can be described with two words

Sterling Sharpe
Sterling Sharpe

9. Choose a position and name the top three Packers all-time.

Doug from Neenah, WI

Top 3 by position: Cornerbacks Herb Adderley, Willie Buchanon and Charles Woodson. Throw in honorable mention to Tim Lewis whose career was shortened by a neck injury.

Jason from Austin, TX

I pick the obscure quarterback position. However, I'll disqualify the obvious three and my players will have special reasons why they're all-time Packers.

1. Don Majkowski – He's the magic man. Best nickname in the business

2. Matt Flynn – Flynn-sanity has the most TDs in a single game. Enough said.

3. Jay Cutler – A Bear? Yes. Cutler was 2-11 against the Packers and threw 22 picks. All-timer.

Margeaux from Tallahassee, FL

Although the names Max McGee, Boyd Dowler and Carroll Dale may not resound with Packers fans, they are at the top of my list as Packer receivers all of time. Though tinted with nostalgia, their exploits are legendary. Both McGee and Dowler punted. Dale gave Starr the deep threat and stats to match. One of the greatest plays in Packer history was the one hand grab between the goal posts in Super Bowl I by Max. He was and still is my favorite player of all time for his exploits on and off the field.

Dar from Mansfield, TX

Top three Packers' long snappers of all time: Larry McCarren, Ken Bowman, and Rob Davis (in no particular order). I realize I cheated a bit by including two centers who played before the LS position became specialized. That said, Rock deserves to be on at least one of these lists and he did fine work for Chester Marcol. Bowman and Davis we're both stalwarts for championship-level teams on which the kicking game was a strength. All hail the ball-hiker!

Joshua from Appleton, WI

My answer for top three in a position group and to have dinner with are the same. For me it's always the defensive line, played it from middle school through college and always wore No. 92 and the guy who really got me into loving football and always No. 1 on any of my NFL related lists was Reggie White. The other two gentlemen would be Aaron Kampman and Gilbert Brown; all three men have big personalities and really hope to meet the latter two someday.

Jeffery from Brooklyn, WI

Defensive backs: Mark Lee, Chuck Cecil and Mark Murphy.

Spencer from Hampshire, IL

I think the obvious answer is Jim Taylor, William Henderson and KUUUUUUUHHHHHHNNNNN.

Mike from Lake Villa, IL

Top or favorite three Packers at one position: Linebackers - Ray Nitschke, Mike "Mad Dog" Douglass, and Clay Matthews III.

Phillip from Corona, CA

Returners. The first is Herb Adderley. When I first started to cheer for the Packers, Herb seemed to do it all. Next is Desmond Howard because for that one year he was a main part of us winning the title, and my No. 1 returner is Travis Williams. As a rookie he was awesome to watch and seemed like every time he caught the ball he scored. Honorable mention is Roell Preston and No. 88, which I believe has a special place in II. Willie Wood, like Herb, did it all. Man, they all were great.

Charles from Ripon, WI

I decided to pick the position that touches the football every play and Green Bay has been blessed at with consistent long-term excellence: Center. By my count, only nine players account for 93% of the seasons since 1953. In 1953, Green Bay used a seventh-round pick on future HOF Jim Ringo. Vastly undersized but quick, Ringo was an All-Pro during the '60s. Next is the man that handed Brett the ball for three straight MVP seasons Frank Winters. Finally, there's one man who can be described with two words: "The Rock."

Michael from Morrison, IL

Top three punters (modern era): Craig Hentrich, Tim Masthay, David Beverly.

Dave from Waterford, OH

Linebacker: Ted Hendricks, Dave Robinson and Ray Nitschke.

Nathan from New Lisbon, WI

Top 3 return specialists (and only counting players I've seen play) are Micah Hyde, he wasn't usually a big threat to take it all the way, but his hands and style of always moving forward enabled him to break a few. Allen Rossum, I caught him right when I began watching the Packers, and he was a true hold-your-breath kind of player. Will Blackmon, he had a very short window, but I truly thought he would be one of the best returners of all time had he not been injured.

Bill from Janesville, WI

Not a position but a list of players injured early in their careers who might have had HOF careers: WR Sterling Sharpe, S Nick Collins and DB Tim Lewis. My honorable mention would be RB Eddie Lee Ivery. (Editor's note: I know I said I'd try to stay quiet for a little while after LeRoy Butler finally got enshrined in Canton but it's time to take another look at Sterling Sharpe's candidacy. Hey, that might be the headline? What do you think?).

Greg from Conway, SC

Safety Willie Wood, center Larry "The Rock" McCarren and kicker Chester Marcol.

Jerry from Des Moines, IA

The top three Packer centers: Jim Ringo, only Packers center in the NFL HOF. Plus, classic name for a football player or riverboat gambler. Larry "Rock" McCarren. You can't keep the Rock off the list. Larry was an outstanding player, is an outstanding broadcaster and one of the greatest Packers ambassadors of all time. Larry would be first if Ringo wasn't in NFL HOF. Ken Bowman, a Lombardi-era pick who was tough and scrappy. Honorable mention Frank "Bagadonuts" Winter.

Tom from Eagan, MN

Safety. 1. Willie Wood - Best undrafted player in the HOF. Had to write a letter to Lombardi just to get a tryout. 2. LeRoy Butler - Started the Lambeau Leap, the greatest tradition in the NFL. Finally getting inducted into the HOF. 3. Nick Collins - Will always remember his pick-six in the SB win against the Steelers. Career cut too short by his neck injury, or he would be in the HOF too.

Derek from Eau Claire, WI

The three best Packers (perhaps NFL) backup QBs of the Brett Favre era: Mark Brunell, Matt Hasselback and Aaron Rodgers.

Adam from Chippewa Falls, WI

The running backs: 1. Jim Taylor 2. Clark Hinkle 3. Ahman Green

Tim from St Louis, MO

I'm going to answer this twice, same position (sort of) but two different ways. How about some love for one of the most scrutinized positions in all of sports? Kickers. Better yet kickers who played primarily a different position. No particular order; Don Hutson known mainly as a game changing WR. Imagine someone like Allen Lazard lining up for a FG/PAT. Paul Hornung, a RB. It would be interesting to see Quadzilla kick a FG. Jerry Kramer, on the offensive line. Maybe Jenkins with all his versatility could kick a FG?

Tim (still) from St Louis, MO

Keeping who were actually kickers (minus a few times punting). Third would be Don Chandler, maybe not third statically but made some huge kicks with Super Bowl II standing out. Second is Ryan Longwell, team record-holder for a long time. I'll forgive him for joining the Vikings. First? Duh, Mason Crosby!! Who else? Two forgettable years but otherwise as solid as a kicker as you'd want and one of the best in the NFL.

Peter from Umatilla, FL

Special teams – Travis Jervey, Jarrett Bush, Ted Hendricks (seven blocked kicks in one season!)

Karl from Carmichael, CA

Guard: Mike Michalske "Iron Mike," who was with the Green Bay Packers from 1929-35 and 1937. He led the Packers to three consecutive National Football League (NFL) championships from 1929 to 1931 and was selected seven times as a first-team All-Pro between 1927 and 1935. Gale Gillingham was a five-time Pro Bowler, six-time All Pro, and a two-time AP NFL first-team All-Pro. Jerry Kramer, an All-Pro five times, and a member of the NFL 50th Anniversary Team in 1969.

James from Ottawa, Canada

Obscure, sure, but worth the recognition. The top three guard in Packers history: Jerry Kramer, Mike Michalske and Elgton Jenkins. I realize EJ is young and it's a lofty projection - but who can argue based on what we've seen so far?! Many, many more who deserved to be on this list, too!

Team photographer Evan Siegle shares his favorite photos from the 2021 Green Bay Packers season.

10. What is your favorite NFL/Packers book?

Gretchen from Dousman, WI

My favorite Packers book is and will probably always be Jerry Kramer's "Instant Replay." The up-close and sincere accounts he tells are true insight into what playing professional football was like in the 1960s. Jerry's voice is easy and truthful. The stories he tells have become Packers lore. This being said, a close second is Cliff Christl's "The Greatest Story in Sports." It's loaded with researched facts but spun into a readable story. What a treasure.

Keith from La Pine, OR

"The Fire Within" by Jim Taylor. I got the copy at a signing at Lambeau Field, from Jim Taylor, signed and face to face. Also, my first trip to Lambeau and possibly my only trip. Shook his hand and thanked him for the memories.

Randall from Manasquan, NJ

What is your favorite Packer book? It doesn't get any better than When Pride Still Mattered by David Maraniss. So may life lessons learned.

Ed from Green Valley, AZ

The book is called, "Quarterbacking" by Bart Starr and had a lot of pointers on how to become an accomplished quarterback, or quality player of any sport or profession.

Brandon from Vacaville, CA

"If I were a Green Bay Packer"…a kids book published in 1994. Published by Picture Me Books and partnered with NFL Kids (is that even still a thing?). You put a photo of yourself in the back cover and as you read the book "you" lead the packers to a last second comeback victory over the dreaded Bears! As a young kid, this book was my treasure and helped me feel the connect to our Packers. (Editor's note: Oh, I had one, and thanks to Jason Wilde, I now have another).

Jeffery from Brooklyn, WI

"Alive and Kicking."

David from Niedernberg, Bavaria, Germany

"Take Your Eye Off the Ball," as it gave me so much more insight to the game I love watching.

Bob from Freeport, IL

No question it's "Mudbaths & Bloodbaths: The Story of the Bears-Packers Rivalry" by Gary D'Amato and Cliff Christl. Really got into the fierceness/history that was displayed in the early years between teams and players. It really cemented my formative years. Also on my list are the more popular, "Lombardi & Landry," "When Pride Still Mattered," "Run to Daylight" and lastly "The Greatest Story in Sports" by Cliff again.

Keith from Cameron, WI

"Instant Replay." It was 1970 and I had finished Marine Corps boot camp and my specialty training and was sent Camp Pendleton, California. At the receiving barracks, next to my temporary rack, was "Instant Replay." With no one else there, I took ownership. As an 18-year-old kid from Wisconsin far away from home for the first time, it was just what I needed. Days later Vince Lombardi died – what a blow, but I still had "Instant Replay" to give me solace. (Editor's note: Thank you for your service. This was one of my favorite stories this past week).

Steve from Colorado Springs, CO

For me, it has to be Instant Replay, the diary-style accounting of the Packer's last '60s championship season by Jerry Kramer. When it came out, I read it seven straight times. Things like the story about Vince and the "diddy bag" made me feel like I there in the locker room. It is written with a sense of boyish joy of the sport of football that I could relate to. Thanks for the great OI question!

Marin from West Lawn, PA

Jerry Kramer's "Instant Replay" My parents bought a copy for me when it was first released in 1968. Even though I've read it many times since then, to me it shall forever remain the best book ever published about the Glory Years. What's fascinating is that each time I read this book, it seems to get better every time!

Jim from Troy, MI

My favorite Packers book…football book... heck, any book! "Instant Replay" by Jerry Kramer. I have vague childhood memories as of the '65 and '66 seasons. But I was fully engaged for '67. It was the first book I bought on my own. It was clever, funny, and of course, had a happy ending. It's a great chronicle of a great season. Lord knows how many times I've read it. I was also fortunate enough to meet Jerry Kramer, and got it autographed. Great guy.

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