FanPost

The Packers Aren't Playing Today (So Let's Talk About Their Uniforms)

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Aesthetics is an underrated portion of the fan experience.

Not only do fans value beauty in the arena of play—the ball movement from the San Antonio spurs, the amoeba-like gliding of Aaron Rodgers in the pocket—the entirety of sport is shrouded in color and design. Even on the most basic levels of sport (AKA the Turkish Basketball League) teams like "Edirne Basket" need to choose a color and uniform that distinguishes them from their opponent (those red and black vertical stripes are so edgy!)

Now that we’re standing out in left-field (mentally, I mean), I want to put forth the argument that the Packers COULD BE the most aesthetically pleasing team in sports (this is what you get when the Packers don’t play on Sunday!)

They already have...

The name. Looks great on paper and is fun to say. "Packers" beckons back to the days of defunct old-schooly teams like the "Akron Pros" in the same way that "Dodgers" or "Reds" still does in baseball. Everyone knows it has something to do with a packing company, but in modern day-to-day use the word hardly means anything at all. There’s no real-world mascot—like a bear, for example—tying the name down. Instead, the word "Packer" has simply become synonymous with "damn good football player."

The city. Staying within the words, "Green Bay" is such a pleasant sounding place. It seems to float right off the map. The fact that most people could not find it on a map turns it into a kind of Narnia for football. While it has become a bit of a national joke that the stockholders really "own" the team, there really is no king in Green Bay. The team’s profits are invested right back into the franchise—from the DD GrassMaster field turf to the weight room—making it the democratic prototype for how a sports team can and should be run under ideal circumstances (minus the snow).

The stadium. Another great word for you: "Lambeau." There’s a scene in Donnie Darko when a schoolteacher touts "cellar door" as the best sounding words in the English language, but "Lambeau" has that Olympic-sized vibe to it that led to Wale’s great line: "Smoking Green Bay playa, I’m a cheesehead / In a Lambo, see me where the G’s at." In terms of looks, Lambeau Field is like a classic sports car with a really rich, obsessive owner that has had all of its parts buffed and the engine restored with a little extra Nitro in the tank. The modernization and expansion efforts at the stadium in the last 10 years have been outstanding, and its reputation as a mecca for football fans only adds to its Disney World-ish mystique.

The players. The Packers’ roster is full great names, starting with Aaron Rodgers. I’m really torn if I think the name "Aaron Rodgers" is so awesome only because the player is so good. For example, I can think of a universe where the name "Andy Dalton" is a truly bad-ass gun-slinging QB with a southern drawl and ice-cold blood, but in this world, the name Andy Dalton reminds me of the Mad Magazine kid and losing. AJ Hawk stands out as another classic name on the roster, along with Eddie Lacy, Sam Shields and Micah Hyde.

So, what is holding back the Green Bay Packers from shining even brighter?

Answer: The uniforms.

Don't get me wrong. Seeing that Packer yellow and green pop on an HD screen is beautiful. Something about the color just pops, especially set against the Packers’ deep, emerald green. According to the Packers.com FAQ page, the official color shades of the team are Dark Green (PMS 5535-C), Gold (PMS 1235-C) and White (now you can't say you didn't learn anything from this article).

When the Packers rolled out their Blue and Gold uniforms in 2010, the fan base acclimated quite well. Amazingly, the world did not end. Here’s a surprising fact about those uniforms: the NFL puts 5-year limits on alternate jerseys. Meaning the Packers will be rolling out new ones in 2015. This is already in the books! You really need to check out this man's blog if you are at all interested about the Packers and their uniforms (and why wouldn’t you be!?)

If this is really happening, then I want to submit some uniforms from around the league that have an especially aesthetic appeal for their consideration, although the decision has probably already been made. Still, if the Packers could model their new alternate uniforms in similar fashion, that would be great.

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1. ALL-GREENS

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The Kansas City Chiefs wore all-red uniforms last week in tribute to their standout safety Eric Berry, who is currently away from the team due to health concerns. Those are his favorite uniforms to wear, and who could blame him? I’d love to see the Packers ditch the yellow pants for a streamlined green look.

2. ALL-BLACKS

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The Baltimore Ravens’ all-blacks look is an instant classic.

3. ALL-WHITES

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This doesn’t look cool, does it?

All-white uniforms rock wherever I see them, whether in college or the pros. This is my personal favorite. I think the team would look fast in these uniforms if they give them a chance. Until the Packers buck up and install some new balling uniforms to go with their balling team, however, the trophy of most aesthetic team in the NFL will remain with my guilty please: the Miami Dolphins.

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