I just replayed Episode 63 (the last episode before the start of the regular season.) I was struck by the following exchange early in the program:

Chris:
"I think Ted Thompson has acquired some very good young talent, but I think to make the Packers a playoff team, they have to acquire some veteran talent. They have to acquire some more seasoned and mature talent. And I'm not sure you'll be able to get it done by going out and acquiring guys like RYAN GRANT! [laughs]

Dave:
"You know I drafted Ryan Grant in my fantasy football, thinking maybe someone would pick him up. [chuckles]. "

Chris:
"I think Bob McGinn said it all when the Packers traded for him, and Ted gave up a draft choice and went in front of the media and said 'see I traded a draft choice!' [chuckles]. Bob McGinn called Ryan Grant a nondescript 3rd-year player without regular season experience [chuckles]. That was in the first line of the story. This is almost like Ted saying, you know, 'I can uncover guys, I'm smarter than most people. I don't have to get Antonio Pittman, I can go out and find guys that nobody's heard of.'

And maybe he'll prove to be right."

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Yeah, I think Ted won that round!

Of course you were all over that one, right? I mean, you just knew Ryan Grant was going to explode, yes?

Hey, I gave Ted the benefit of the doubt. I said maybe he will prove to be right...and he was.

We've never been shy with our opinions, but neither of us have ever suggested that we know more than TT. Even Dave, who has been slow to warm to Ted, hasn't gone down that road.

So that makes me pretty comfortable with being wrong. I'm a fan with a laptop, a couple of cheap mics and a few opinions about a subject I care sincerely about but lack deep expertise. Ted and Reggie McKenzie are pros who spend most of their time breaking down film and studying guys. So everyone is just doing their job--Dave and me, as well as Ted and Reggie.

Oh, wait don't take my comment the wrong way. It wasn't meant to be a slam on you or Dave. I felt the same way at time and would've voiced the same opinion if I had a podcast.

In fact, I thought Thompson made a big mistake in hiring Mike McCarthy and at the time I suggested that they should've fired McCarthy half-way through the press conference announcing his hire.

So my comment was strictly in the spirit of "my goodness, look how far things have come in four months and boy, we had no clue what was coming this year."

Thanks for clarifying. In all honesty, there is no arguing about how clueless we are--and how often our gaffes happens.

For instance, we both scratched our heads about McCarthy. We both were puzzled by Ted's lack of activity (although this past off-season I've softened that stance, adopting my "steely-eyed assassin" position on TT). We both yawned about Grant. In think Dave was more in tune with the draft strategy than I was, but some of the guys selected (a DT in the first round?) got us both wondering.

Exposed. Undressed. Called out. We are amateurs, pure and simple.

A interesting exercise would be for someone to catalog how often we've been wrong about things. That would probably get everyone wondering why they waste time downloading the podcast, so maybe that isn't such a good idea after all!

That's why we have our buddy Chad, the writer from nfldraftscout.com, on with us from time to time. That guy knows his stuff and understands why things play out they way they do. Whenever you hear Chad is going to be on, that is must hear stuff.

Thanks for listening despite our lack of prescience.

Catalog you guys? You're supposed to be biased. Go look at how the professionals getting paid to write for a living did. I like to read Peter King at SI but I don't think he could call a sunset. At least Dr. Z comes out and admits how wrong he was at the end of the year. ESPN is even worse. I quit watching the TV talking heads because they barely beat .500 without a point spread and most of them get to choose the games they pick.

The fact is if anybody could pick them Vegas wouldn't bet em.

As for McCarthy go through his history again and see if you can find anything that makes you go "Oh, I missed that now I can see why he would be a good coach." I can't find anything but I think he and Joe Philbin (who?) have done a terrific job with the offense.

Thanks for this. It makes me feel slightly less stupid.

Kidding aside, I appreciate the perspective. I mean, we are what we are: a fan podcast. It's good to be reminded that guys who do this for a living offer just about the same level of insight and gaffes.