Ted Thompson Is The Executive Of The Year

by Brandon on Jan 30, 2012 7:00 PM CST in Green Bay Packers News

Thompson named Sporting News Executive of the Year - JSOnline. As Tom Silverstein points out, this award isn't a good omen. He's won it twice: 2007 and 2011. And the Green Bay Packers have lost to the Giants in both of those seasons.

This award seems to have a little carryover from last February's Super Bowl. There's nothing wrong with going 15-1 during the 2011 regular season, but the Packers didn't make a lot of significant changes during the year. There were no veteran free agents signed from other teams. And other than Randall Cobb, there wasn't much immediate impact from the 2011 draft class. So I'd have to think that the depth that filled in at key positions in 2010, and during the Super Bowl when they had to replace Charles Woodson mid-game, played a role in this award.

There were far fewer injuries in 2011. However, the replacements didn't have the same impact. They didn't have a decent replacement for S Nick Collins, and they weren't able to replace DE Cullen Jenkins. The absence of those two players alone accounted for most of their defensive struggles.

Tweet Comment 41 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wow, I like TT, but not this year.

Ted gambled badly on Neal replacing Jenkins with no backup plan. Drafting Green in the 3rd instead of DE’s Pernell McPhee and Karl Klug still on the board proved the Pack’s undoing. And while Sherrod seemed like a need pick, Jabaal Sheard would have been a wiser choice given the fact we were not signing Jenkins. Waiting until the 7th round to pick a DE that didn’t contribute was not a General Manager of the Year highlight for sure.

by Paul Haugen on Jan 30, 2012 7:30 PM CST reply actions

Hindsight=NFL GM's critics best friends.

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 30, 2012 7:37 PM CST up reply actions 3 recs

OK

If criticism based on past performance = unfair-judgement-by-hindsight, then leave Chilly & Angelo & Shermie & Braatz alone.

by uglyfatpimplynerd on Jan 30, 2012 8:08 PM CST up reply actions 2 recs

He found two bad picks out of nine.

I understand critique of a team that goes 4-12/misses playoffs, but not one that goes 15-1 and sets records.

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 31, 2012 6:16 PM CST up reply actions

Really?

So you could have guaranteed that Jabaal Sheard, who had some red flags, would have been able to stand up and play as an OLB in a 34, something he has never done before? What would have happened if Newhouse was not ready to play this season when Cliffy got hurt and we didn’t draft Sherrod? Everyone would be talking about how TT messed up.

And both DE’s you mention weren’t surefire prospects. Karl Klug in particular has short arms, something you don’t want in a 34 DE. Add in him having completely different responsibilities in a 34 verses a 43, and you can’t say he would have had the same impact over here. And don’t forget who is playing accross from McPhee; stars such as Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs.

by Shoes31 on Jan 30, 2012 7:49 PM CST up reply actions

Ngata

TT could have had him, but went for Hawk instead. I think Ngata went at 13 that year.

I agree that you have consider the team a GM has assembled rather than one player or one pick. I think the team & coaching staff outperformed TT this year, but give him credit for getting those guys.

by uglyfatpimplynerd on Jan 30, 2012 8:02 PM CST up reply actions

Agreed

TT seems better with street free agents than number one draft picks, with the exception of Clay MatthewsIII. Cobb was a good pick, but he has to be held to account for lack of pass rush.

by Paul Haugen on Jan 30, 2012 8:11 PM CST up reply actions

Love Ron Wolf but do you know who some of his 1st round picks were

by the yooper on Jan 30, 2012 9:04 PM CST up reply actions

That Rodgers guy is ok. So is Bulaga.

I already told you! I deal with the god damn receivers so the linebackers don’t have to! I have coverage skills; I’m good at covering people! Can’t you understand that? What the hell is wrong with you people?!

by msc32887 on Jan 31, 2012 6:37 AM CST up reply actions

That Raji guy was kind of decent during our Super Bowl run, too.

(But he sucked in 2011! FIRE TADW TOMSON!!!)

by mike_o on Jan 31, 2012 7:27 AM CST up reply actions

LOL

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 31, 2012 8:36 PM CST up reply actions

"Rogers sucks, no doubt"

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2012 10:54 PM CST up reply actions

So he has ONE year with no pass rush and suddenly it defines him as a GM? Sorry man…that doesn’t even make sense.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Feb 1, 2012 9:35 AM CST up reply actions 2 recs

I'm sorry but I disagree

There I feel are many on this forum are pretty young and know nothing but success. and for the most part besides a minor glich between now and when Farve came to town in 1992 you have only expierienced winning. There are almost 31 other franchises that would like our future prospects. We already have a answer for all our aging players. I would not doubt that after next year we will be the youngest team in the NFL again. Clifton . Driver, Greene, Grant that drops our age by about a year,

Everyone wants to look at the Lions a a future up and coming team. I stated here and on POD they would make the playoffs this year but I think they will have a hard time doing it next year. Several key players are old their center, LT 35 yr. old free agent, the inspiration of there team Vanden Bosch, there best run stopper Corey Williams( everyone here remembers him). There player voted DMVP is a free agent Cliff Arvil I can’t see how they sign him he wants as much money as he can get. Look a t TT’s foresight what would Jordy Nelson get if he went to freeagency. They signede Tulloch for one year there best LB, gamble lost. They are against the salary cap with so many playres needed to be resigned. I could go on and on but I would have to have a assistant do it because it takes me forever to type

by the yooper on Jan 30, 2012 9:03 PM CST up reply actions

The Lions are in a tough spot

ESPN blogs crunched some early numbers, and something like 59.5 million of their cap space is going to be devoted to 4 players (Stafford, Johnson, KVB, Suh). Considering that the cap is going to be near 120 million for next year, 4 players will account for 50% of their cap room. Both Stafford and KVB restructured their contracts least season, so they can’t really help. Where they can recoup some cap space is with Calvin’s 22 million dollar salary. Cliff Avril is going to want some big money though, and right now they probably don’t have the cap space for him.

And like you said, they have some key pieces that are getting old, and in some cases little depth behind those pieces.

by Shoes31 on Jan 30, 2012 9:51 PM CST up reply actions

The Rams & Lions are the last team to be totally fucked by the lack of the rookie wage scale.

They each had a 1st & 2nd overall pick in ’09 & ’10. At least their money is tied up in Stafford & Suh rather than Bradford & Jason Smith.

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2012 11:35 PM CST up reply actions

This isn't some idiot-ESPN award

A panel of 32 coaches and executives chose Thompson for the award this season. Thompson, with 14 votes, finished ahead of 49ers G.M. Trent Baalke (7), Texans G.M. Rick Smith (5) and Bengals president Mike Brown (3).

This was voted on by actual coaches and GM’s in the league. I think that says a lot about TT, and it really makes all his critics look that much more stupid.

15-1 [One and done... *SIGH*]
Back on track to Super Bowl XLVII!
MattFlynn4StartingQB

by arodgb on Jan 30, 2012 7:39 PM CST reply actions 5 recs

Yeah I agree there…this is a very serious and legit award. I am surprised he won this year, he didn’t have any major hits but maybe its more of just an earned over time award.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jan 31, 2012 12:25 PM CST up reply actions

This

There’s nothing wrong with going 15-1 during the 2011 regular season, but the Packers didn’t make a lot of significant changes during the year.

I think that’s the major reason why TT won the award. Very little turnover and sound management.

by Shoes31 on Jan 30, 2012 7:39 PM CST reply actions

Only partly to blame

Ted is only partly to blame for the collapse this season. While I dont think he should have gotten this award this season he should have last season for having soo many guys step up and lead the way, however that is what bit the pack this year. Having several guys go down and then having to have guys like Walden, Zombo and Peprah step up and play well was great last year, but those guys played way over their actual ability. So when we lose jenkins,collins,and barnett everyone(including me) assumes that those guys that played over their heads could fill in and guess what they didnt. So those guys were expected to play like they played prior and when they didnt we failed. So TT needs to make a splash in free agency Charles style. We need to replace Zombo, Walden,Neal, Bush(how is this guy ever on the field in non special team plays), and Peprah needs to be a backup and nothing more. Losing three guys turned a super bowl team into a one and done joke. You need defense to win in the playoffs and no defense meant no superbowl.

by daywalker1 on Jan 30, 2012 9:35 PM CST reply actions

You do realize....

Peprah WAS “a backup and nothing more.” He was in there due to injuries, as was your whipping boy Bush. BTW, I think cutting ties with Bush would devastate the Special Teams. No way they drop him.

Also, “TT needs to make a splash in free agency”….at what cost? Which of our core young players would you like to not resign? I can’t believe, after all this success, that some fans still don’t get that the draft-and-develop strategy works WAYYYY better than the Vikeskins style of assembling a team…especially over the long haul.

Acme Packing Company: proof that anyone can be a sports journalist.

by JSOnline Castaway on Jan 31, 2012 8:43 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs

Can't think who deserved it more!

Congrats to Thompson on winning GM of the Year! Can’t believe people are wondering why he won it… He has built a SB Contender, who BTW Won the SB last year, had a roster and coaching staff the guided the team to a 15-1 regular season record, has the cap room to sign his FA and its a young team set to contend for the foreseeable future! Someone wanna tell me who in the NFL has done a better job building his team? There is no one more deserving than THompson!

Every team has holes and we all know what our are, but we still went 15-1 and are set up very well for the future! Give the man his Props!

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 30, 2012 9:57 PM CST reply actions 4 recs

Was by far the EotY last season, so better late than never I guess.

Go Suns, Packers, Jays, and Huskers!

Read my thoughts on Creighton University athletics at Creightonian.com

I also edit things at Ridiculous Upside. Check it out.

by Omaha Sun on Jan 30, 2012 10:20 PM CST reply actions

Gave it to Dmitrioff who went 14-2, one & done

So, at least the award is consistent.

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2012 11:45 PM CST up reply actions

haha good point.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Feb 1, 2012 9:36 AM CST up reply actions

he looks a little like john o’hurley as peterman

http://schraderfan.tumblr.com

by schraderfan on Jan 31, 2012 8:35 AM CST reply actions

First-Time Poster, Long-Time Reader

Thompson oversaw one of the greatest stretches of success in NFL history, primarily because of the players he KEPT. Continuity – especially this year, with the lockout – was critical to any team’s success. Who creates continuity on the roster? The GM.

The fact that this team lost to the Giants does not diminish how well TT did. TT had the players to win the Super Bowl this year. It was the players, primarily the receivers with worse-than-normal dropsies, that led to the downfall. TT had nothing to do with that. With sustained drives leading to points (like they did all year long), this game likely has a different ending.

Acme Packing Company: proof that anyone can be a sports journalist.

by JSOnline Castaway on Jan 31, 2012 8:38 AM CST reply actions

Love your handle...

I left that site long ago… It became a dump of trolls and lacked intelligent conversation. Welcome to the best Packer site! I’m guessing the 20 article limit and cost are chasing them away.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 31, 2012 9:59 AM CST up reply actions

This times a million

the best Packer site

Seriously, not too many places where you can get intelligent football conversation mixed with humor out there. Stick around JSOnline Castaway.. you’ll like what ya see here. And if you’ve got a weird sense of humor. check out the OTs.

When life gives ya lemons, shut up and eat your damn lemons.
Brett Favre will lead the Vikings to a Victory in Super Bowl XLVI, Guaranteed! - REVENGE4FAVRE

by P-Townfan on Jan 31, 2012 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

APC has a wide variety of personalities, that's for sure...

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2012 11:48 PM CST up reply actions

Do you know if that 20 article limit something new that they just started doing? I got that message pop-up a couple days ago for the first time ever. Of course, maybe it was just the first time I read 20 articles in a month — though I kinda doubt it.

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Jan 31, 2012 3:58 PM CST up reply actions

Funny thing is

Is that even with that pop up there telling you that you already passed the 20 a month limit, you can still scroll and read the article. It’s just greyed out some and you can’t click on any of the links.

Actually, looking over the site just now, they appear to have redesigned it within the past month or so.

by Shoes31 on Jan 31, 2012 4:04 PM CST up reply actions

I was able to do that for a couple articles.

Then it got shut down. Once you reach your limit I think. Either way that doesn’t work for me anymore.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 31, 2012 10:56 PM CST up reply actions

Print media is dead & they're trying to sustain their model.

Good luck is all I can say…

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2012 11:49 PM CST up reply actions

They are struggling just like Blockbuster…they didn’t pay enough attention to emerging competition and suddenly their model was antiquated.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Feb 1, 2012 9:38 AM CST up reply actions

Must have just started in Jan.

I don’t remember seeing it in Dec or during the regular season.

Our Biggest Challenge is how we deal w/ Success!

by Strohman on Jan 31, 2012 10:55 PM CST up reply actions

Thanks for the welcome

Yes, I’m too cheap to pay for my Packers stuff. And this site, for some reason, seems to attract posters who are reasonable. There are some folks that I’ll miss discussing the Pack with, but not enough to pay!

Acme Packing Company: proof that anyone can be a sports journalist.

by JSOnline Castaway on Jan 31, 2012 10:07 PM CST up reply actions

Sadly, some of the spammer will probably end up doing the same and showing up here. Hopefully Brandon takes care of them swiftly though.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Feb 1, 2012 9:39 AM CST up reply actions

Which makes the loss all that much more depressing...

It was the players, primarily the receivers with worse-than-normal dropsies, that led to the downfall. TT had nothing to do with that. With sustained drives leading to points (like they did all year long), this game likely has a different ending.

13.

"Skip, once again, stop it; Be an analyst; don't be a douchebag."

by Wiedmann on Jan 31, 2012 11:47 PM CST up reply actions

????

I do not think so—-REASON—-CULLEN JENKINS—very disappointing and now no super bowl!!

by zappop777 on Feb 6, 2012 8:12 PM CST reply actions

You do not think?

So?

"Perfection is not attainable,
but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence."

"We're nobody's underdog!"
"We don't play scared!"

After further review,
The Munsters of the Midway still suck,
Skol is a four-letter word,
abd those upstarts in Detroit couldn't beat the Little Sisters of the Poor.

by NorthStarr on Feb 6, 2012 11:02 PM CST up reply actions