More Green for Ted Thompson

by Brandon on Jan 7, 2008 11:59 PM CST in Green Bay Packers News

He deserves a five year contract extension. I didn't think his old deal was up after the season, I hadn't read anything about it this year, and I'm guessing he still had a couple of years left on his original contract and this takes the place of the remaining years. Some team would have probably asked for permission to talk to him, although I doubt Bob Harlan or the new team president would have given it.

He's done a great job rebuilding the roster and assembling the coaching staff, but he's also shown an ability to adapt and learn on the job. In his first season, he was far too eager to dump veterans like S Darren Sharper and WR Javon Walker who still have some quality seasons left in them. It seemed like the drafting of QB Aaron Rodgers and the departure of so many veterans was designed to encourage Favre to retire after the 2005 season. Starting after the 2006 draft, he's changed his ways and kept the remaining veterans on the team and signed players like CB Al Harris, WR Donald Driver, and RT Mark Tauscher to reasonable extensions to reward them and keep them happy in Green Bay. It might be often overlooked on the youngest team in the NFL with so many players that he signed, traded for, or drafted, but the core of the team is the veterans he has kept and they are the leaders of the team going into the playoffs.

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Rob Davis

Speaking of veterans, this guys leadership has been instrumental in the success we've had in 06 and this year with our special teams improvement and young guys buckling down and learning their jobs. He's the iron-man of our offensive line/special teams, posting over 50 special team stops, 18 over the last two seasons. He's never missed a game in his career, and continues to help out in the community and the locker room. He also fends off training camp rookies looking for a roster spot by giving his all, every game. All this from a guy who's almost 40. Impressive indeed, Mr Davis, the last of the unheralded pure longsnappers. I and many Packer fans salute you.

And Teddy deserves credit for keeping him on the roster.

by Billy on Jan 8, 2008 7:09 AM CST reply actions

Wrong!

I take exception with the characterization that Thompson was "far too eager" to get rid of veterans like Sharper and Walker. Sharper's performance was falling off and all Walker proved (to this day)is he is made of glass. Thompson was good at talent evaluation then including the "unmeasurables". "Packer People" is the term he uses. Team players are what we call them. Sharper, Walker, McKenzie and the rest were interested in money not their own performance. What have any of these players done? Sharper is consistantly on one of the worst pass d in the league. Walker's career is injury, injury, pay raise demand. The moves he has made since he got here were to build a winner inspite of Favre. What's best for the team comes first. This team has to be built to win when Favre retires. If it can win without Favre, it can win more with him. He has made tough move after though move to improve this team. Including letting fan favorites like Green and Henderson go. It's '70s and '80s Packer mentality that says you hang on to old, inefficant or bad attitude players for sentimental reasons.
What Thompson has done in two years is unprecedented. How many of the corner stone players has TT brought in? Keep up the great work TT.

by packfan on Jan 8, 2008 12:55 PM CST reply actions