Who is on your Packers Mount Rushmore?
Ryan from Platteville, WI
Curly Lambeau, Vince Lombardi, Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers . Lambeau and Lombardi because we wouldn't be here without them. Favre because he represents a rebirth of the franchise, and Rodgers because he represents the modern successes of the team.
Linwood from Travelers Rest, SC
From left to right, my Packers Mt. Rushmore: Bart Starr, for bringing respectability to the Packers and autographing five Packers hats for my dad and his five sons at his Birmingham office in 2005; Vince Lombardi, for never giving up and always keeping his coaching simple, and to the basics; Brett Favre, for his boundless energy and unlimited ability to keep us entertained; and my dad, a Packers Fan Hall of Fame Finalist, for his awareness to pick up season tickets in 1962.
Dylan from Appleton, WI
A Packers Mount Rushmore needs representatives from all three periods of sustained success in the team's history. The Lambeau spot has to go to Curly Lambeau himself, for being both a co-founder and the clear face of the team while he was coach. The Lombardi era gets two spots for being the glory years – Starr, for being the leader on the field, and Lombardi, for being the leader off of it. The modern era is toughest to pick – Favre edges out Wolf and Rodgers for being the face of the 90s turnaround.
Joshua from Appleton, WI
My Packers Mount Rushmore is Reggie White, Ray Nitschke, Charles Woodson and LeRoy Butler. If he continues on his current path, I would put up Za'Darius Smith.
Paul from Ellensburg, WA
Don Hutson, Cal Hubbard, Jordy Nelson and Aaron Rodgers. I originally went with a different group based on who helped each championship team win and then departed to who I liked the most. Love Hutson and his dominance. Hubbard has an awesome story. Jordy is just too great a human to leave off and Rodgers may be my favorite all-time Packers player.
Michael from Fort Wayne, IN
The presidents on Mount Rushmore were selected to symbolize the birth, growth, development, and preservation of our nation. Likewise, my Packers Mount Rushmore recognizes the Packers who symbolize those same traits for the Packers organization: Lambeau, Lombardi, Bob Harlan, and Ron Wolf. My Packers player Mount Rushmore would be: Hutson, Starr, Nitschke, and White.
Mark from Geneva, IL
Bart Starr - He is one of the main reasons I became a Packers fan as kid growing up in central Illinois. He was also a great human being. Brett Favre - He helped bring the Packers back to being one of the top franchises in football and made games fun to watch. Reggie White - Also key to getting the Packers back to the Super Bowl. More importantly, he made Green Bay relevant in free agency. Aaron Rodgers - Best QB in the game; continued the greatness at QB.
Richard from Farmington Hills, MI
Lots of possibilities for Mt. Rushmore but I'll go with: Hutson (light years better than his contemporaries and records stood for decades); Lombardi (Resurrection I); Starr (five championships and the greatest drive in NFL history); Favre (Resurrection II).
Don from Riverton, UT
Packers Mount Rushmore (SB edition): Lombardi, Holmgren, McCarthy, (and soon to qualify) LaFleur.
Jeremy from Evansville, IN
Don Hutson, Vince Lombardi, Ron Wolf and Reggie White. Hutson was a man before his time. He embodies the early days of the league, and is often considered the greatest Packers player to ever play the game. Lombardi, need I say more? Without Ron Wolf, the Packers are probably celebrating Independence Day in Milwaukee right now, and White made it cool to come here. Twenty playoff appearances and 27 years later, Green Bay is still winning.
Who is your favorite obscure Packers player?
David from Verona, WI
Blaise Winter (GB 1988-91). In the late 90s, I was on a committee looking for a speaker for a group I was in and came across his name. My inquiry lead to a meeting and he was one of the best keynote speaker engagements ever. Blaise took time to understand our organization and the day of the event did more than speak, pick up his check, and leave. He spent the day engaging and encouraging attendees. I got to know him personally - he is a winner.
Richard from Greenwich, NY
Although I guess anyone with a Wikipedia entry shouldn't really be called obscure, Samkon Gado is by far my favorite obscure-ish Packer. An otolaryngologist now, he spent much of his life in Nigeria, went to Liberty College (then a 1-AA school) where he started only a couple times. Undrafted, he ended up on the GB practice squad and was called up after Ahman Green, Najeh Davenport and Tony Fisher were injured. He ended up setting a single-game GB rookie rushing record in 2005 (Editor's note: Gado was the most popular answer to this question).
Bill from Maple Grove, MN
Scott Hunter. He led the '72 team to the NFC Central title, ending a five-year title drought.
Marin from West Lawn, PA
Chris Gizzi. Him being a member of the U.S. Air Force and running out onto the field with the Stars and Stripes before the first Packers home game since 9/11 gave us all a lift we so badly needed at the time.
Dan from Marshfield, WI
Jim Weatherwax. This 6-year-old big boy could not get onto the gym stage to watch a Packer vs. School Alumni basketball game. Mr. Weatherwax stopped playing to lift me up onto the stage. I grinned from ear to ear and was the most popular kid in school. Thank you Jim.
Hansen from Waukesha, WI
Mine would have to be Mike Prior, largely because of his interception in Super Bowl XXXI, as well as being a captain of the special teams in that Super Bowl.
Rick from Greenfield
Travis Jervey. That guy was fearless. He looked like he relished playing special teams.
Samantha from West Salem, WI
I'm torn between Travis Jervey and Tom Crabtree! Did you see that video of Crabtree playing dodgeball with the elementary kids? EPIC.
Bill from Wilmington, DE
My favorite obscure Packer is Tom Crabtree. He was a tough guy who made plays.
Mike from Niles, IL
Jesse Wittenton, from the Lombardi era. Played opposite Herb Adderley and better pass defender, in my opinion. Vince called him the best CB in the league, until a knee injury took away his speed. Adderley got as many INTs as he did because the quarterback wouldn't throw to Jesse's side of the field.
Joe from Concord, CA
It's currently Tim Boyle. I really appreciate the fact that he's out there playing catch with the fans during pregame. He's not only tossing it out to the kids, but also to all the adults, like me, secretly wishing they could participate. Not having a dad around to play catch with me as a child, it's a very small yet profound memory I will always keep with me.
Tom from Eagan, MN
Elijah Pitts - sleeper draft pick who played backup to Paul Hornung most of his career.
David from Berthoud, CO
Chuck Cecil, for sure. There wasn't much to smile about in those years, but I remember smiling all week after seeing some of those bone-crunching hits.
Tucker from Belton, TX
My favorite obscure player is Chris Banjo. Chris played safety in high school alongside George Iloka (longtime Bengals starter at FS), and I played against them several times. Chris is the perfect illustration for me of how deep the talent pool is. We'd never seen anything like him in high school; he was everywhere. He carved out a nice career for himself, but I remember thinking, "If a guy like that is a perennial special teamer, what did those other guys look like in high school."
Matthew from Lawrence, WI
Doug Hart. I loved his play, but in his early years, he was hidden behind more famous teammates during the Super Bowl I and II years.
Derek from Eau Claire, WI
I used to play Madden '95 on my Sega Genesis and I helped George Teague lead the league in sacks by bringing him into the box and blitzing him off the edge every play. He had 106 sacks in a season. Every time I think of that it makes me smile.
Tim from Lino Lakes, MN
Aaron Kampman. He came from a small high school (Aplington-Parkersburg) not far from where I grew up. When a tornado ripped through that community in 2008, many lives and homes were destroyed, including my wife's cousins. What he did in the days/weeks that followed was simply the greatest thing a human being could do. Another equally impactful person was Mitchell Henry. Please read his story if you haven't already.
Barry from Green Bay, WI
Buckets Goldenberg. Only Forrest Gregg had more seasons as OL, plus as a DL has was so disruptive in opposing backfields it forced Sid Luckman to develop the draw play. From Odessa, Russia. Later on the team's Board of Directors. Plus, what a nickname.
Brian from Twain Harte, CA
My favorite obscure Packer player is Del Rodgers. He was a RB with the Packers from 1982-1985. He played for the 49ers from 1987-1988 and won a Super Bowl ring. He is now a sportscaster for KCRA in Sacramento (in 49ers territory). On the eve of the Packers-49ers playoff game in 2013, he was asked on air who he was rooting for. Del said "even though he won a ring with the 49ers, he will always be a Packer at heart because they were the team that drafted me."
Aaron from Brooklyn, NY
Ruvell Martin. In three seasons with the Packers he caught 52 passes, but the most amazing part is that 40 of them went for first downs, including 15/16 in 2007. I always loved the value he provided despite not being the most talked about receiver and I'm extremely excited he is back for the minority coaching fellowship.
Brant from Millis, MA
My favorite obscure Packers player is Herman Fontenot. I think he scored four TDs with the Packers in his two years with the club, but he was the first Packers player I ever met. We were at the preseason game in Madison in 1990.
Isaac from Columbia, TN
Love this question. I think in 20 years both of these players will qualify as obscure. I choose them purely because of my father and what he would say when they made plays. Don Beebe - My dad would start chanting, "Beebeebeebeebee" really fast, and Brady Poppinga. My dad would exclaim, "Bada-bing bada-boom Poppinga!"
Ron from Broken Arrow, OK
Running back Eric Torkelson; played both halfback and fullback during his career. Like so many other players during the mid to late 1970s appeared to be an overachiever.
Who would you choose on your team if tasked with building a starting offense and defense of Packers players during your lifetime?
Jim from Monroe, WI
Thinking of all the players I've seen play in my 45-plus years of watching games with my dad and brother, who have both passed away, are some of my greatest memories. QB is the hardest to pick: Starr played in a lot of different areas, Brett was as tough as they come; but Aaron Rodgers is my pick for his proficiency and makes fewer mistakes. FB - Jim Taylor; HB - Ahman Green; WR - James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Jordy Nelson; TE - Paul Coffman. OT - Forrest Gregg, David Bakhtiari, Bryan Bulaga; C - Frank Winters; G - Jerry Kramer, Gale Gillingham, Marco Rivera; P - Craig Hentrich; K - Mason Crosby; PR - Micah Hyde; KR - Travis Williams. DE - Reggie White, Willie Davis, Aaron Kampman; T - Henry Jordan, B.J. Raji; OLB - Clay Matthews, Bryce Paup, Dave Robinson; MLB - Ray Nitschke, Fred Carr; CB - Herb Adderley, Craig Newsome; S - Charles Woodson, LeRoy Butler.
Mike from New Orleans, LA
QB-Aaron Rodgers, RB- Aaron Jones, FB-John Kuhn, LT-David Bakhtiari, LG-Daryn Colledge, C- Corey Linsley, RG-Scott Wells, RT-Mark Tauscher, TE-Jermichael Finley, WR-Jordy Nelson, WR-Greg Jennings. LOLB- Clay Mathews, ROLB-Za'Darius Smith, DT-Johnny Jolly, DT-Ryan Pickett, NT-BJ Raji, MLB-A.J. Hawk, MLB Nick Barnett, CB-Charles Woodson, CB-Al Harris, SS-Morgan Burnett, FS-Nick Collins. K-Mason Crosby, P-Jon Ryan, PR/KR-Randall Cobb.
Brett from Green Bay, WI
Offense: Aaron Rodgers, Ahman Green, John Kuhn, David Bakhtiari, Josh Sitton, Corey Linsley, T.J. Lang, Bryan Bulaga (Iowa), Jared Cook, Greg Jennings, Davante Adams. Defense: Kenny Clark, Cullen Jenkins, Aaron Kampman, Clay Matthews, Za'Darius Smith, Nick Barnett, A.J. Hawk, Charles Woodson, Al Harris, Nick Collins, Morgan Burnett.
Patrick from Hampshire, IL
QB – Favre; RB – Ahman; FB – Kuhn; WR - Lofton and Sharpe; TE – Finley; OT – Bakhtiari and Ruettgers; OG – Hallstrom and Sitton; C – McCarren. S – Collins and Prior; CB – Leroy Butler, Al Harris; LB – John Anderson, Koonce, Matthews; DL – Raji, Jenkins, White, Ezra Johnson.
Gary from Wildwood, MO
My Packer roster (Lombardi years to present). OFFENSE: QB - Aaron Rodgers. RB - Jim Taylor, Paul Hornung. WR - James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe. TE - Paul Coffman. T - David Bakhtiari. Forrest Gregg. G - Gale Gillingham, Jerry Kramer. C - Larry McCarren. DEFENSE: S - Willie Wood, LeRoy Butler. CB - Herb Adderley, Charles Woodson. LB - Clay Matthews, Ray Nitschke, Dave Robinson. DE - Willie Davis, Reggie White. DT - Henry Jordan, B.J. Raji.
Dominic from Chesapeake, VA
Offense - C Jim Ringo, G Jerry Kramer/Gale Gillingham, T Forrest Gregg/David Bakhtiari, WR James Lofton/Sterling Sharpe, TE Paul Coffman, RB Ahman Green/Jim Taylor. Defense - DL Willie Davis/Reggie White/Henry Jordan, LB Ray Nitschke/Dave Robinson/Fred Carr/Clay Matthews, DB Herb Adderley/Charles Woodson, S Willie Wood and LeRoy Butler. Kicker - Mason Crosby, P Tim Masthay and LS Brett Goode.
Jim from Monroe, WI
QB: Aaron Rodgers. RB: Jim Taylor and Ahman Green. TE: Ron Kramer. WR: James Lofton and Sterling Sharpe. OL: Ken Ruettgers, Forrest Gregg, Gale Gillingham, T.J. Lang and C Ken Bowman. DE: Reggie White and Willie Davis, T Gilbert Brown and Henry Jordan. LB Dave Robinson, Ray Nitschke and Clay Matthews III. CB Herb Adderly, Charles Woodson. S: Willie Wood and Nick Collins. K Mason Crosby. P Donny Anderson.
Venny from Montgomery, AL
Offense - QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Ahman Green, FB Jim Taylor, TE Jermichael Finley, WR James Lofton, Sterling Sharpe, Davante Adams, LT David Bakhtiari, RT Mark Tauscher, C Corey Linsley, LG Josh Sitton and RG Forrest Gregg. Defense - LE Reggie White, RE Willie Davis, DT Gilbert Brown and Kenny Clark, MLB Ray Nitschke, OLB Za'Darius Smith and Clay Matthews, SS LeRoy Butler, FS Nick Collins, CB Herb Adderley, Willie Wood, Charles Woodson. Good luck scoring on, and stopping, them.
Todd from Colorado Springs, CO
QB- Rodgers, RB- Taylor, Brockington, WR- Lofton, Nelson, TE-Ron Kramer, OT-Gregg, Bakhtiari, OG- Kramer and Gillingham, C- Ringo, DE- White, Davis. DT- Jordan, G Brown, OLB- Robinson, Matthews, MLB- Nitschke, CB- Adderley, Woodson, S- Wood, Dillon.
Tony from Bronxville, NY
Defense: DL: Davis, White, Ezra J, Gbaja-Biamila; LB: Robinson, Nitschke, Matthews; DB: Adderley, Butler, Collins, Jaire Alexander. Offense: QB: Starr; RB: Green, Kuuuuhn; TE: Finley; WR: Sharpe, Adams; Line: Bakhtiari, Kramer, Sitton, Gregg, McCarren.
What's the most random food item you've brought to (or cooked at) a tailgate?
Nate from Milwaukee, WI
Not really a random food, but we have a tradition where we cook a themed 'tailgating' menu in honor of the opposing team each week. Hopefully our season won't be disrupted as I'm looking forward to cooking gumbo or jambalaya for New Orleans, Cuban or medianoche sandwiches for Tampa Bay, breaded tenderloin sandwiches for Indy, pulled pork and hush puppies for Carolina, shrimp and grits for Jacksonville, pasties for the Lions, etc. It adds a whole other level of fun to the games each week.
Levi from St. Paul, MN
Bacon-wrapped venison chops on a charcoal grill.
Sal from Hailey, ID
Smashed burgers – and they're tailgate approved! Put your cast iron on the grill, get it smoking hot, smash two 2-oz patties and let them cook about 45 seconds (just until some done spots are showing through). Scrape them up and flip, add a slice of cheese to one, and wait about 10 seconds to get a sear before sandwiching them together (cheese in the middle) and putting them on a bun. PERFECTION.
Woody from Kill Devil Hills, NC
Fixing jambalaya and pineapple upside down cake. The group next to us offering to trade their T-bone steak for some jambalaya. Friends still talk about it over 15 years later.
