Packers News

Dougherty: Bart Starr's fortitude forged early

The first and only time I met Bart Starr was in August 2014. This was two years after Starr had suffered a mini-stroke. I’d heard his health was declining and was stunned when he greeted me and a photographer at the front desk. He had the straight-as-an-arrow posture of a soldier and a sprightly step. He smiled broadly and looked us square in the eye as he shook hands.

It was only after about five minutes in the interview setting that I realized that while Starr looked great physically, his ability to communicate had been compromised by the mini-stroke. It had caused aphasia, which impairs a person’s ability to connect thought and speech.

Yet, what came through was an unabiding sense of Starr’s commitment to decency and graciousness in every-day interactions. In talking about his strict father and playing for Vince Lombardi, he regularly dropped the word “blessing.”

Read Pete Dougherty's full column here.

Ice Bowl and beyond: Starr's greatest games

There’s no disputing the pinnacle of Bart Starr’s career as the Green Bay Packers’ quarterback.

Starr’s legendary game-winning drive against the Dallas Cowboys in the famed Ice Bowl was the culmination of the greatest era of Packers football.

But Starr, whose death at age 85 was announced Sunday, had other highlights in a 16-year career that ultimately landed him a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Pete Dougherty ranks the other greatest games of Starr's career.

Get the full story here.

Starr exemplary both on, off the field

The football part of his biography, impressive as it is, barely scratches the surface in describing Bryan Bartlett “Bart” Starr as a man.

What he achieved as the brilliant quarterback of the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s was beyond extraordinary: five National Football League titles in a span of seven years, the most valuable player in Super Bowls I and II, numerous passing records and the undying respect and admiration of teammates and opponents.

But as Gary D'Amato writes, he had a lot of life to live after he threw his final pass, and he lived it so very well.

Get the full story here.

Tributes reflect an icon who exuded class

Leave it to a Packers fan to sum up Bart Starr as well as anyone could: "Every time, nothing but class. Every. Time."

Paul Pagnozzi was stunned by the news that Starr, Packers Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback, died Sunday at age 85. Pagnozzi became a Starr fan while in grade school and finally met him in 1980. As Richard Ryman writes, they became friends and Pagnozzi chauffeured Starr when he was visiting New Jersey.

"It’s like I lost a family member. I can’t stop crying," said Pagnozzi of Hawthorne, N.J. "He was like a dad to me."

Get the full story here.

Ranking Bart Starr among Wisconsin icons

With the death Sunday of Bart Starr, Wisconsin fans bid farewell to one of the biggest icons — perhaps the biggest — in the state's sports history.

JR Radcliffe writes that if we created a Mt. Rushmore of the four biggest sports figures in Wisconsin history, he'd almost certainly be on it. We won't try to narrow it down quite that far, but if someone knew nothing of the Badger State's sports history, here's our take on 15 icons who stand out.

Get the full story here.

Smiths, Gary mixing and matching up front

With general manager Brian Gutekunst prioritizing positional versatility this offseason, the Packers adjusted how they’re training their defensive front.

Cohesion between defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery and outside linebackers coach Mike Smith is especially important. Montgomery is one of the few holdovers from last season’s defensive staff. Smith, who was with the Kansas City Chiefs last season, is new to the Packers but has previously coached with defensive coordinator Mike Pettine.

Smith is the position coach for Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, three primary additions this spring to the Packers' defense. Each could play snaps on the defensive line. So outside linebackers and defensive linemen will be training together often through the offseason.

As Ryan Wood writes, that starts with communication between the two position coaches.

Get the full story here.

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Packers Editor Stu Courtney can be contacted via email here and also via Twitter @Stucourt

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