Ted Thompson?

by bizzle4 on Jan 27, 2009 5:14 PM CST

This is in reply sort of to the hiring the safeties coach. I just didnt want to fill that whole post with TT comments.

Everyone may have their own and different opinion on the Favre situation. I personally understood both sides of that. I would have loved to have #4 but Rodgers probably would have walked this offseason if he didnt play. So I believe I am not a biased. Most of the people on here seem to believe Ted is a good GM but is he really? I am not going to try to praise or bash him here just want to state what I think and hear so reactions.

So here is my thought on TT. He sucks for FA. He is a great rebuilding GM. He knows how to get young talent in the draft. But are we really a rebuilding team? Yes our record would say yes but everyone knows our record did not show our talent and the games we should have won. So do we really need/ want the young talent in the draft that really wont help us win now? I know every team wants to try to get the best players in the draft as possible but usually other teams go with the best players that they need. Ted seems to not do this! He seems like the next Matt Millen that gets the best possible player not matter what. (Lions 1st round WRS who cares if they dont have a QB to throw it to them attitude)

With all the changes the Packers have made coachingwise and schemes, there has been a ton of talk here on possible FAs that we would all love to see in Green n Gold! But we have to realize none of them will probably ever happen due to TT and his draft schemes. The Peppers Haynesworth talk and now the Asomugha talk. We easily have the money for any of them as the salary cap has been not an issue now for sometime. Also the with hard economy baseball players are seeing football FAs will probably see the same. So the market for these guys maybe less then everyone thinks. These players are all great and would be an great addition to our team. But we know the odds of us getting them are slim with TT. We have a good team we just need to fill some gaps that probably wont happen in the draft. We need some veterans.

So what does everyone think about TT and the possible FAs we could get but probably wont? So let the comments fly!

Poll

How do you rate Ted Thompson?

He is great. The draft is all we need!

10 votes

Good. Drafts good and keeps the players we have happy

48 votes

Ok. He believes in the draft but we need veteran FAs.

53 votes

Horrible. He ran a HOF QB away

10 votes

121 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

A Very good job

He has alot in common with Ozzie Knewsome, in that both take defense as a priority over offense. ‘Course Ted was a linebacker in his day, and Ozzie a HOF Tight End, so it’s not like Ted has had a radical revisioning of how to create a winning football team. They’re both also about drafting off their board and not for need. They’re about taking the best player available, not the player they need the most. How has this turned out well for Ozzie: How about drafting Ed Reed.

Maybe in order to understand mankind, we have to look at the word itself: "Mankind". Basically, it's made up of two separate words—"mank" and "ind". What do these words mean? It's a mystery, and that's why so is mankind.
-Jack Handey

by jobe on Jan 27, 2009 5:24 PM CST reply actions

yes but

that seems like signs of a rebuilding team. Yeah Ed Reed has worked for them but what about the years where there D is awesome (almost every year) but dont go anywhere cause they didnt draft what the needed an O! Also Baltimore went after FAs. QB McNair WR Derrick Mason, T Willie Anderson, DT Justin Bannan just to name a few FAs that are all/were starters for BAL. Who did the Pack get last year in FA? DB Frank Walker!
I am not really trying to bash on TT but more or less want to know why some are so in love with him.

by bizzle4 on Jan 27, 2009 6:02 PM CST up reply actions

Lets see

13-3 last year, NFC Title game, tons of cap room, lots of talent, youngest team in the nfl that will get better.
McNair cost them huge in the playoffs, and Willie Anderson very cheap. Don’t focus on the signings TT does make. Think about the one’s he has made. Woodson, Pickett, and Chillar have been alot more good than bad.

by jobe on Jan 27, 2009 8:01 PM CST up reply actions

True

Woodson has played such a big role the past few seasons I forgot he has only been here for a few seasons and Ted signed him. so +1 to you on that one.

The problems i still have with him is the last couple years we have had all this cap room and havent made a splash in the market for proven talent.

by bizzle4 on Jan 27, 2009 9:51 PM CST reply actions

When the time is right

Ted will pounce on a free agent. I believe that time will have arrived when Albert Haynesworth files for free agency.

by jobe on Jan 28, 2009 1:39 AM CST up reply actions

I hope you are right

There are a good number of Dline in the draft but I dont think any of them will be ready to step up and have a big impact that we need right away.

Also talking about the draft Mel Kiper has the Pack picking Malcolm Jenkins for Ohio State. He is the best corner in the draft but is that what we need/want?

by bizzle4 on Jan 28, 2009 6:19 PM CST up reply actions

Who I want and who we need

is Andre Smith, LT out of Alabama. But that’s probably not happening because it doesn’t look like we’re going to cut Clifton and he probably won’t be there at nine.We could trade down and draft either Cushing or Matthews out of USC. That’d be sweet.

by jobe on Jan 28, 2009 6:22 PM CST up reply actions

drafts good?

justin harrell?

by BenSheets15 on Jan 28, 2009 6:51 PM CST reply actions

greg jennings?
aaron rodgers?
nick collins?

because one guy has been a bust so far doesn’t outweigh players like these. harrell hasn’t been his only bust but he is his most high profile one. still to ignore his successes because of one bust is foolish

Frye is honestly gotta be one of the top 10 3rd Stringers in all of the NFL right now--colbyb

by verno329 on Jan 28, 2009 7:40 PM CST up reply actions

agree

this whole column i may have been ripping on TT but i will stand up for him when it comes to the draft! He has drafted some good talent! I love Jordy Nelson (personally i am in love with), James Jones, Mason Crosby (who woulda thought a 6th round pick was it? would lead the NFL in scoring his rookie year) But he does have a few busts like any other GM! remember Ahmad Carroll?? (hoping for this arguement was before TT cant remember) The only problem I could see and understand on the other side of this argument is harrell was hurt going into the draft did we really need to spend a 1st round pick on him?

by bizzle4 on Jan 28, 2009 11:02 PM CST up reply actions

Ahmad Carroll

was definitely a Sherman pick. Thompson’s first draft was in 2005, and his first round picks since then have been Aaron Rodgers, A.J. Hawk, and Justin Harrell. Trust me, had Thompson been responsible for the Ahmad Carroll fiasco, I wouldn’t be so defensive of him.

This entire conversation, while healthy, seems to have run its course. I believe in holding people accountable when their performance is inadequate, but this is not the case here. Thompson led the overhaul that followed the Mike Sherman era, which had a two-year period of growing pains (4-12 and 8-8), but Thompson used those opportunities to build through the draft, which is the best way to build a team that fits the coaches’ vision.

Yes, the Justin Harrell pick was a questionable move, and Harrell hasn’t contributed much to anything except the training staff’s schedule. He might be a bust, he might not be, but things are leaning towards the former. You know what? Let it go. People make mistakes, players miss tackles, GM’s miss on draft picks. It happens. Get over it.

Besides, it could be worse. He could have picked Adam “Pacman” Jones instead of A.J. Hawk. He could have gone with the sentiment that San Francisco and the rest of the league used (where Mike McCarthy had a voice) that Aaron Rodgers wasn’t cut out to be a first-round pick. Worst of all, Thompson could have given in to the demands of Brett Favre, brought in players that didn’t fit with the system, and keeping a QB that has clearly dropped off from last year, losing the franchise QB for the next decade in the process.

Let the man do his thing, guys. Trust me on this.

"I'm so clean, cats think I sip Ajax."

by Mitchell Maurer on Jan 29, 2009 7:52 AM CST up reply actions

I though so

I just didnt feel like looking it up but i didnt think Carrol was a TT pick. I wasnt trying to say he was I was trying to tell BenSheets15 that we have had other spoiled picks in the draft by other GMs too

by bizzle4 on Jan 29, 2009 1:56 PM CST up reply actions

wow

A defense of Allen Barbre. Never thought I’d hear that.

by ol Pete on Jan 31, 2009 9:48 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed

TT has crafted this team perfectly. it is not his fault the defense kept falling apart late in games. If the coaches do there job i truly believe this team can be a dynasty. of course we all wish for TT to get a big name in free agency but he only goes after FA’s if they are a perfect fit and a great attitude. Albert Haynesworth only plays to his potential in a contract year and julius peppers looks like he couldnt care less when he plays most of the time. thats why the only big name i see coming top Lambeau is Nnambdi. He has a great attitude (even in the career killer Oakland) and is the best corner in the League. we could slide Woodson to the slot since he is so dominant in that position even though most cornerbacks despise the slot. Have Harris and Nnambdi start, unfortuanelty Tramon williams will have to wait for Wood or Harris to retire to crack the starting lineup. This will also get rid of the Malcom Jenkins possibilty. We could then draft Eugene Monroe to fill Taucshers vacancy. If TT were to stop going for young talent our window for success would be just as short as almost every other teams. instead he continues to draft talented youth who keep us the youngest team in the league year after year. And you cannot say he is a bad draft guy when the only mishap is Justin Harrel. and who knows his career may be better than people expect. Greg Jennings? Nick Collins? Greg Jennings? Nelson? Jones? Crosby(who will be the best kicker in the league in 1-2 years)? And up and coming jeremy thompson

by klarue24 on Jan 29, 2009 11:56 AM CST reply actions

Does Jordy Nelson go in the plus column? How about Hawk? Given how many drafts he’s had, it doesn’t seem like all that impressive a list.

I’d say TT should get credit as a scrap heap shopper. That’s where he seems to do really well.

by ol Pete on Jan 31, 2009 9:55 AM CST up reply actions

Jordy is a + so far

Its to early to tell if Jordy will keep producing but a look at his numbers can show as of last season he is a plus. At the number 3-4 WR Jordy had 33 catches 366 yards with two touchdowns! Not bad for a rookie since one of the best WRs in packer history DD (may not realize it now but once he hangs up his cleats I think everyone will agree) only had 3 catches for 31 yards and 1 touchdown his rookie year.

As for Hawk he is a toss up right now for a plus or bust. he has decreased in every category since his rookie year excpet sacks (tied his rookie season with 3) But we all know he has the talent to be there and sometimes you do make plays on the field that are not shown in the stats. Such as forcing a runner somewhere where another defender is. But none the less he should rebound this year when moving with a healthy Barnett by his side and the switch to the 3-4. And will be plus to TTs draft rep!

by bizzle4 on Jan 31, 2009 11:05 AM CST up reply actions

agreed

yes, he has had some solid drafts, and i didnt point out the positivies only the negatvies. i am just still bitter about the wasted pick of justin harrell.

by BenSheets15 on Jan 29, 2009 7:09 PM CST reply actions